History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 57

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 57

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In 1833 Backis purchased Silliman's in- terest in the newspaper, and enjoyed the dis tinction di being sole owner of the institution unti 1805. when he sold to Samuel Fairlamb. of Philadelphia. This gentleman handled the property until 18to. He seemed not to have made a conspicuous success of his venture. for we hear of him making his home later in the Muskingum County Infirmary, at which place he died. After leaving Marietta, Fairlamb led a life of a varied sort, we presume some- thing like that of the tramp printer of today ( We believe that this cult is at this time gron - ing beautifully less in numbers, for most offices of any proportion employ machine labor, and

talent is required that will remain at work after the machine is learned. )

In 1807 the Gasette had the usual thing happen to it. This event was the establish- ment of an opposition paper, called The Com- mentator and Marietta Recorder. The insti- tution carried this burden of name until 1809. when because of lack of support it said its vale- dictory. It was published by Dunham & Gardiner, the latter a printer of prominence. from Xenia and Columbus.

The year 1810 witnessed a shaking up in the affairs of the Gazette, for the income of cash or cordwood was so light that the sheriff of the county, generally considered the print- er's greatest friend (if he's on the same side politically ), had to sell the institution at public sale. After a few weeks with no local news- paper, the Western Spectator came into the field, employing, we presume, the physical ef- fects of the old Gazette. and doubt- less using its very limited subscrip tion list. The Spectator was edited by Caleb Emerson, che of the strongest men of his time, a man who e personality con- bined many high qualities. He was an attor- ney of ability and a writer of grace. His pa- per was Federalist in politics, and bore the le gend at its head "Be Just and Fear Not." While Mr. Emerson was editor, Joseph Israel was the pul lisler of the sheet during its first year, after which he sold his interest to Thom- as G. Ransen.

In 1813 the Sh Fuod vas merged into the .In our Friend, wInch was started as a Re publican paper, supporting Madison's adminis- tration. Thomas G. Ransone was the printer. and the editorial staff consisted of David Ever- ett. Timothy Buel and Daniel 11. Buell. To Everett is credited the authorship of the well- kilown ines, beginning, "You'd scarce expect one of my age." Everett had been a teacher at Ipswich, New Hampshire, and he wrote the mes for a bon pupil to recite as a public ud dress. Everett was a man of genins and learn- ing, having studied law at Amherst and having afterward served with distinction as an editor

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of a Boston newspaper. The rigorous clim- of the strongest editors and polished gentle- ate of the Northern Atlantic Coast States men who have appeared in Marietta journal- compelled him to seek a more salubrious spot, ism. and he chose young Marietta, but that did not prevent the ensuing of death by consumption 111 December, 1813, at the age of 44 years.

After the death of Everett, Daniel HI. Buell became editor of the American Friend and so continued for a few months, when the Buells took in as a partner, Royal Prentiss, one of the best known and capable of Marietta s early printers and editors. In 1816 Prentiss bought the interest of the Buells and continued as sole owner until 1833 when he sold the property to Delafield & Nye. For a period of time that Mr. Prentiss owned the Friend, it was edited and printed in the house on Fifth street now owned and occupied by Mrs. S. S. Knowles. Mr. Prentiss possibly made too much of a pa- per for his time, for he gave as his reason for selling that the profits were so light he could no longer in justice to himself continue in that line of business.

Jolin Delafield, one of the new owners of the Friend, was from New York; and his part- ner, Edward W. Nye, was a Mariettian, of pio- neer stock. The new firm edited and printed the paper, which they called simply the Mari- rictta Gasette, until 1837. During a portion of this time there was associated with them a strolling printer named Pazzi Lapham, but he remained but a short time, doubtless moving on to the next experiment looking for a har- vest of elusive gold.

Isaac Maxon was the next man to own the Gazette, having bought the property in 1837 from Delafield & Nye. Mr. Maxon conducted the sheet, assisted by William D. and Caleb Emerson, until 1842, when there appeared on the scene Edmund B. Flagg, a young man from Maine, and a graduate of Bowdoin College. Flagg distinguished himself in many literary ways, having run the gamut of letters from news to novels. In 1850 he was consul to Ven- ice; and he wrote an interesting book with that romantic city as its theme.

In 1842 the Gasette lost its name, having been merged into the Intelligencer, a rival that had been started in 1839 by Beman Gates, one

Maxon in the Gasette, in 1839, a few days before the appearance of Mr. Gates' Intelligen- cer, in the field, had the following to say con- cerning his expected competitor :

We understand the newspaper, the Marietta Intet- ligencer, is to appear next week. This paper is to eclipse everything, exterminate Democracy, astonish the natives, and swallow the Gasette with all its ap- petidages. * * It has been argued to some of our subscribers that they might as well discontinue the Gazette and subscribe for the Intelligencer because the Gazette must stop at all cvents. Had not the gentle- men better stay their judgment for a time, and see if the community will that we shall be crushed in order to rear a favorite upon the ruin?

Maxon and his successor, Flagg, clung to a vain hope for three years, when, as before mentioned, the Gacette and its appendages | were swallowed by the Intelligencer.

Beman Gates, then scarcely 21 years of age with no means at hand, was the first editor of the Intelligencer. Associated with him in the paper as partners in the business were George W. and Charles D. Tyler, two brothers, and most excellent printers. Mr. Gates did the lit- erary work, and the Tylers took care of the publication of the paper. The Tylers raised $600 (selling their homes to get the money), and Beman Gates added to this meagre amount the sum of $300, which he had borrowed from a friend. A "Washington" hand press was bought, as was also type of a large face, paper and ink. With this slight equipment was printed what soon became the best newspaper property in Marietta. It was a larger sheet than had appeared as yet-was well edited, and printed in a workmanlike manner. The sub- scription price of the paper was $2 a year.

In his salutatory Mr. Gates had the follow- ing to say concerning the new paper :

The general plan upon which this paper will be conducted has been set forth in the prospectus. The subscriber, in commencing his duties as editor, wishes it to be distinctly understood that he has no preju- dices to foster, no partialities to indulge, and no in- viduous feelings to gratify. He is. perfectly willing to be advised in regard to the manner of conducting it, but, after all. his own judgment must decide what

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course duty roptares him to pursue. He will not suf fer himself to be influenced by the opinions of others in any way incompatible with perfect freedom of thought and action. He speaks particularly on this point, because he has been charged with being under the control of influential men in this town.

In politics his motto will be, "Willing to Praise. but not afraid to Blame." He will be equally ready to bestow praise upon his political enemies, when mer- ited, or censure upon his friends, when necessary. It will therefore be conducted with impartial liberality, and no effort shall be wanting on the part of the sub- scriber to render it distinguished by its practical utility.

Temperate and well-written communications upon any subject that shall be deemed of general interest, will be thankfully received and inserted.

With this brief statement, the first number of the Intelligencer is offered to the public, that by it they may judge of its merits and of the claims it has upon their patronage.

One year after starting. the Intelligencer had 300 subscribers, but during 1840, the year of the Harrison campaign, the paper's circu- lation was more than doubled : and its success was well marked and not less merited.

Mr. Gates had an ambition to supply to the public a real newspaper-one which should cover the doings of the week both at home and abroad. Besides being a chronicle of the events in the town, the young editor received regu- larly from Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Cincin- nati, communications which related to business, society and state. When Taylor was inducted into the White House as President, Mr. Gates Rodney Metcalf Stimson was born at Mil- ford. New Hampshire, October 26, 1822, the received the President's message by wire and printed the same in his paper-a feat that was . son of Phineas Stimson and Rhoda Metcalf- both children of soldiers of the Revolution. of newspaper enterprise. So it was, too, for "Mr. Stimson attended school in the East, in- 1 cluding Phillips Exeter Academy. In 1845 lie came to Marietta College, being graduated in 1847. His first work was teaching country schools, after which he read law and was ad- mitted ot the bar of Marietta in 1849; later he went to Ironton, where on August 1, 1850, he started the Ironton Register, which paper he conducted for 12 years.

considered at that time as an astounding piece the provincial editor had as high ambition, and served his constituency as well in many respects as did the managers of the newspapers in cit- ies of greater pretensions. It was not long that Mr. Gates kept up the use of wires, for with the advent of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad came the great dailies from the latter- named city. The foreign news was read in these, and the Intelligencer became a purely lo- cal paper.

Beman Gates was born January 5, 1818, in Montgague, Franklin County, Massachusetts. With his father he moved in 1835 to Connecti- cut, and in 1837, with a brother-in-law, came

to what was in those days considered "the West."

Mr. Gates' destination was Knoxville, Ten- messee, but he was pleased with Marietta. and illness coming upon his brother-in-law, both were detained here. Mr. Gates found work in the county recorder's office. Ile also taught music, and for years conducted a sing- ing school which was a popular institution, and is spoken of at this day by the elderly people, who have many fond memories clustering about the school and its master schooled in old-fash- ioned politeness.

In 1856 Mr. Gates sold the Intelligencer to Dr. T. L. Andrews, who conducted the paper until 1862, when a new Richmond came into the field in the person of Rodney M. Stimson, who came from Ironton, Lawrence County. Ohio, and had been founder and editor of the Ironton Register, Mr. Stimson was a man born to the purpose of editing a newspaper, and he had the information and the style to hold a most exalted position upon a metropoli- tan paper or periodical. He threw his person- ality into the paper, and made it shine with the good things from his bright mind. The first thinig he did was to change the name of the paper to the Marietta Register, which name it holds to-day.

Mr. Stimson was married July 23. 1851. to Juliette B. Hurd, of Ironton, who died Janu- ary 19, 1861. The son, Milford, that was born to them, died in Cincinnati in 1890. October 28. 1862, our subject was married to Julia I. Sheppard, of Marietta. One daughter, Eliz-

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abeth Gillet Corwin, was born to the union. Mr. and Mrs. Stimson, Mr. and Mrs. Corwin and two children-Julia Stimson and Rodney Stimson-form at present the interesting household of Mr. Stimson.

Mr. Stimson was not only a man peculiarly fitted to the business of conducting a newspa- per, but he was a politician as well, and the people of his county were not long in recogniz- ing his ability as a public servant. In 1869 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature as Senator from this district and was re-elected to the posi- tion in 1871. He served also in the Republi- can National Conventions, as delegate, which nominated John C. Fremont and James A. Gar- field for the Presidency. He was delegate from Washington County to the Ohio State Republican Convention 17 times ; and was the author of the Republican State platform in 1873, the same being unanimously adopted without the change of a word. In 1881 Mr. Stimson was tendered the office of Assistant Librarian of Congress, but he declined, as did he also a place in the U. S. Treasury Depart- ment which carried with it a salary of $3.000 a year and expenses. Mr. Stimson was libra- rian of the Ohio State Library for the years 1877-79, and was retired because he was on the wrong side of the fence from the powers that were.

In March, 1881, Mr. Stimson accepted the position of librarian of Marietta College at a salary of $600 per year, a position he held until 1892, when he resigned. In 1900 Mr. Stimson presented to Marietta College his mag- nificent private library, which contained over 19,000 volumes-over 1,000 of which related directly to the Civil War and slavery-the most complete of its kind in any private collec- tion.

May 20, 1872, the Register changed hands again-Mr. Stimson selling the property to E. R. Alderman & Company. Of this new firm the company was Joseph W. Dumble, who in 1875 withdrew from the firm to become owner of the Middleport Republican.

Mr. Alderman was born .August 29, 1839. near Athens, Ohio, and the early years of his life were spent amid the most primitive sur-

roundings. While yet a boy he was thrown upon his own resources, but he had the stuff in him of which men of strong character are made. As a young man he taught school in Washington County: later he kept store at Racine, Meigs County, coming to Marietta in 1867. Ilere he engaged in the insurance busi- ness until 1872, when he with Mr. Dumble bought the Register.

Mr. Alderman's management of the Regis- ter was distinguished by particularly good busi- ness direction ; and the property, already well established, grew hardier and more influential with the passage of time. The paper was printed as a weekly until 1883, when it was changed to a semi-weekly, which it continued to be until 1889, when it was issued tri-weekly. In June, 1894, the Register appeared as a daily evening paper, and continues as such at the present time, enjoying an extensive circulation with consequent influence.

E. R. Alderman, from the date of his assuming editorial duties to the time of his death-June 1, 1901-made it his whole duty and his pride to see the Register prosper ; and in his editorial work he spared not the person whoni he thought at fault. He was a virile writer and phrased his ideas in good, clean English. At the time of the establishment of the daily, the ownership was merged into a stock company, the holders of shares being E. R. Alderman, L. A. Alderman, A. D. Alder- man, E. S. Alderman, William Sharp and D. R. Gerken. Since the death of Mr. Alderman, the paper has been managed-ably, too-by his son, A. D. Alderman, who possesses the fear- lessness of his father, and in whose ambition to make the Register prosper is fully as great as was that of his father. Mr. Alderman, as edi- tor and manager, is ably assisted in the edito- rial department by John W. Lansley, who spent his early life in Beverly; and in the business department by D. R. Gerken, who is a native of Marietta.

Alva Dean Alderman, editor-manager of the Register, was born at Racine, Meigs Coun- ty, Ohio, October 21, 1864. He came, with his parents to Marietta in 1867. He attended both a private school, conducted by the Misses

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Eells, and the public schools of Marietta, later going to the Academy of Marietta College. After preparing himself for college, Mr. AAlder- man attended Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, where he took a literary and scientific course.

In 1884 Mr. Alderman went into the office of the Register, where he began the actual work of reporting. He had at times prior worked about the office, so that he had a comprehensive idea of the mechanical part of the issuing of a newspaper. For years after undertaking the work of reporting, the news portion of the Register was in charge of A. D. Alderman, and for two years prior to his father's death, he was in entire charge of the paper. Much of the modern machinery installed in the past few years is the result of his motion.

Mr. Alderman was married October 7, 1886. to Elizabeth Comly McCoy, eldest daugh- ter of the late William W. and Elizabeth ( Davis ) McCoy, the latter of whom survives.

Three children were the result of this union : Comly Dean, born July 5. 1887; Gladys Mar- jorie, born December 13. 1891 ; and Royal Mc- Coy, born August 16, 1896.

Mr. Alderman is with his wife a member of the First Congregational Church of Marietta. Mr. Alderman is an Elk and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He was the first chief of Ma- rietta's paid fire department, serving from 1894 to 1898, and having served for years prior as a volunteer fireman. .As chief, he quite distin- guished himself by his arduous conduct, and in one fire he met with an accident which near- ly cost him his life, after which, because of injuries and press of business, he tendered his resignation.

Mr. Alderman is quite a factor in politics, both local and State. He was a member of the Republican State Central Committee, in 1898: and in 1899 he was a member of the State Ex- ecutive Committee, and in 1902 he was chosen to act in a similar capacity. Ile is a member of the Board of Trade, and in his capacity as member and newspaper man he has done much to secure industries for Marietta.

Thus runs the story of the Register to date. It is a particularly interesting one, having cov-

ered next to the longest period of any paper in Ohio-the Scioto Gazette, of Chillicothe, being the only paper that antedates it.

The next oldest newspaper now published in Marietta is the Times, a Democratic paper -the only one of that political tendency ( print- ed in the English language) in Washington County.

The Times made its first appearance Sep- tember 24, 1864, with Walter C. Hood as own- er and editor. Mr. Ilood was born in Demo- rest, Perry County, Ohio, and was a man pecu- liarly adapted to the editorial work of a news- paper. He was an odd man, who had his own ideas of the world and society ; and who com- bated that which he thought wrong with an ar- dor and vigor that marked the real genius. As a business man his career was not distinguished by particular success ; but he was a man of the utmost probity-and with his intelligence he commanded the largest respect. Mr. Hood was a true type of the old-fashioned man. Ile had a rather plain face, was deaf, and had a peculiarly rasping voice. When he spoke, however, the people listened, and it was gen- erally to their advantage so to do. Ile was critical of the lighter affairs of life, and was constantly, in his talk with friends, saying sar- castic things about society and other things artificial. He detested pride, and for that which was not genuine he had the utmost ab- horrence. The writer once heard him say that if he was to have his portrait painted he would want every "crow's-foot" to be put in about his eves, so that the likeness might be true, and I show him exactly as he was. This remark but showed how he felt on all things, and he was thoroughly consistent. Mr. Hood went from here to Jackson County, where he died : jand the people there thought so well of him that over his burial place in Oak Grove Come- tery, Marietta, they caused to be erected a handsome granite monument.

After Mr. Hood left Marietta, which was in 1871. he held the office of State Librarian. under Gov. William Allen. Ile died while in office in 1875.

In the year 1871 Mr. Hood sold the Times to S. M. McMillen, a native of Pennsylvania.

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having been born there August 19, 1840. With only a short experience in the business of issu- ing a newspaper, Mr. McMillen entered upon the duties as editor. He brought a rugged nature to bear upon the paper and the party, exercising more policy than did his predecess- or, Mr. Hood, with the result that he built up a good paying property. His was the only paper of its complexion in Washington County, and with his fine sense of policy-knowing what to do at the proper time, and how to do it-what "Mac" said generally followed, to such effect that during his regime members of his party were elevated to office in many in- stances.

In 1890 Mr. McMillen sold the Times to Benjamin J. Mckinney, a citizen of this county.

Mr. McMillen went from Marietta to Springfield, Ohio, where he owned and oper- ated the Springfield Democrat, a daily of con- sequence in the party both in Clark County and in the State. Mr. McMillen later sold this paper and went to Mansfield, where he bought a paper and again sold, in order that he and his family might go to Europe, there to live and educate the youngest son, Francis, who at the age of five years showed great apti- tude for the violin, and who now at the age of 17 bids fair to rival the world's greatest per- formers on that most difficult instrument. At this writing Mr. McMillen is still abroad.

Benjamin J. Mckinney, the present owner of the Times, and its editor as well, was born in Virginia in 1850, the son of William P. and Indiana (Jackson) Mckinney, both of whom were Virginians by birth. The subject of our sketch spent his days in Virginia until the age of 15, when he came to Belpre, this county, where he completed the course offered by the common schools. Later he enjoyed a course of business training at a prominent commer- cial college of Pittsburgh. With these quali- fications, supported by an unusually bright mind, young Mckinney entered the business world by securing a position as book-keeper in the Parkersburg National Bank, and he filled the place satisfactorily for a period of about

six years. At the age of 26 Mr. Mckinney was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the office of auditor of Washington County, and succeeded himself at the close of his first term by an increased majority-a fact which spoke well of his proficiency and satisfactory conduct of the office. After serving as auditor of Washington County two terms, Mr. Mckinney was appointed chief clerk in the Auditor of State's office at Columbus, and remained there for a period of four years. He returned to Marietta at the time he gave up the chief clerk- ship with the expectation of entering the work of newspaper-making, and overtures were made between himself and Mr. McMillen to such effect that August 1, 1890, saw Mr. Mc- Kinney the owner and editor of the Times. Into the Times, which had but a short time before been completely overhauled as to ma- chinery and equipment, Mr. Mckinney put his time and his talents. He is a writer of par- ticular force, his editorial work showing a sar- castic quality that to the operator of a news- paper is a possession carrying no inconsidera- ble effect to the reader. In 1898 Mr. McKin- ney was a member of the Ohio Centennial Commission appointed by Buslinell, but later dissolved by act of Legislature.

The Times up to October 20, 1898, was a weekly, at which time it was issued as a daily and weekly. The daily is printed in the even- ing, and enjoys good support among the peo- ple, especially within the party.

In 1871 Mr. Mckinney was married to Florence Browning, daughter of A. H. and Augusta S. Browning, of Belpre. Together they lived devotedly until the summer of 1902, when Mrs. Mckinney died.

To Mr. and Mrs. McKinney was born an interesting family of eleven children, as fol- lows: Helen, born January 18. 1872 (de- ceased 1901) ; Grace, born November 14, 1873 (deceased 1882) ; Stella, born February 14, 1875 (deceased 1898) ; Frank B., born No- vember 4, 1876; Florence, born April 11, 1878; May, born April 13, 1880; William P., born April 24, 1882 ; Louise, born February 4, 1884;

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B. Jackson, born September 20, 1886; Frances born September 17, 1888; and Ilarriet, born November 30, 1892.

The next paper in point of age is the Mari- etta Zeitung, a paper printed in the German language, and published by Jacob Mueller. The Zeitung was first issued in 1868 with E. Winchester as its projector and manager. The editor of the paper at the time of starting was F. Neuberger, a German of education and abil- ity. The paper had a clientele from the start. there being many German-Americans in Wash- ington County; but Mr. Winchester had not the best ideas of direction, and no knowledge of German, so the paper led only a partially suc- cessful career until March, 1869, when the property was purchased by Jacob Mueller. Mr. Mueller, together with his son. Louis, gave personal attention to the business, and it was not long till the Zeitung was looked upon as indeed an institution in Washington County journalism. The father and son continued to publish the paper until 1895, when the son withdrew and went to Anniston, Alabama. Later the son died in Newport, Kentucky, a young man whose value would stand high in any community.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 57

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490