USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 31
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the chronicler of local news, the pro- tector and defender of home interests ; and recognizes the fact that its mission and that of the great journals of the day are totally distinct, separated by well-defined lines. This change has caused the country papers to be more liberally patronized, and given them a degree of influence which they never could have attained under the old method.
In the fall of 1827 John Wilkin and John Christy, young men from Cadiz, Ohio, came to McConnelsville with a small font of type, and while Edwin Corner was having an office built for them, with the assistance of a black- smith made a printing-press on the double-lever principle, from which, Oc- tober 10, 1827, was issued the first newspaper ever printed in Morgan County. The paper (which will be described further on) bore the title The Morgan Sentinel and McConnels- ville Gazette. The Sentinel was a five- column folio, its pages being about twelve by twenty inches in size, and would compare favorably with the bet- ter class of country weeklies of that day. But the circulation did not in- crease to an extent sufficient to make the investment profitable, and after about a year the publication was sus- pended. The press and type passed into the hands of Isaac Pepper, who began the publication of The Genius of Liberty. which was continued for a year or two. The Sentinel had been neutral in politics ; the Genius was decidedly partisan and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Jacksonian democracy.
A few facts relative to these early newspapers are thus detailed by Judge Gaylord in his reminiscences contrib- uted to the Democrat.
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THE COUNTY PRESS.
"One Isaac Pepper, a political advent- urer came to our village to establish and put in working order a democratic press. lle met with ready encourage- ment and purchased from one of the partners of Wilkin & Christy his inter- est in the Morgan Sentinel. The Sentinel in its course undertook to run in neu- tral ruts, with a leaning toward whig- gery ; and pretending to neutrality, it scarcely pleased any one. By such a course it became obnoxious to both par- ties, and consequently suspended and shut up shop. Party spirit at this time was running high. The presidential contest between Adams and Jackson- bank and anti-bank-were the engross- ing political topics of the day, and politi- cians were greatly worked up, and would fight one another at the drop- ping of a hat. In this memorable con- test nearly every man, besides a con- siderable sprinkling of women and all the boys, arrayed themselves on one side or the other, and valiantly contend- ed for what they conceived to be right.
"On a certain day Pepper repaired to the Sentinel office to take possession of the type, press and fixtures, and all other things thereunto belonging. The democrats and whigs lounging around, watching one another, noticing the movements of the valiant Pepper, made a rush pell-mell into the office, the one party (whigs) demanding an equal division of the type, etc., the other (democrats) objecting, and claiming all. On the running of the fighting poli- ticians toward the office (which was a small frame building on the Mrs. Powell lot), coats were thrown, sleeves rolled up, arms offensive and defensive seized, and a war of demolition threat- ened by the parties against the press, if
they failed to accomplish their ends and demands. The combatants quarreled and swore terribly, and severely im- peached each others' characters.
" At length an ardent whig, who saw that Pepper was likely to take the press. type and all the fixtures to himself and start a Jackson paper, proposed to com- promise the difficulty-that is, to give a little and take a little. He suggested that a mixed paper, representing both parties, should be published-on one side of the sheet the cause of whiggery, Clay and the United States Bank should be advocated, while on the other side democracy, Jackson and anti-bank should be sustained and have a hearing. A no less ardent democrat present pro- tested, and remarked that `a paper of that kind sent out among the people would be a pretty looking thing, with democratic truth on one side and on the other nothing but whig lies. They would none of it.' This last sock- dolager, coming so opportunely, settled the . press war,' and Pepper bore off the spoils. In the melee this same ardent whig got hold of a large American spread-eagle type and was about to make away with it when discovered by a democrat. Ile was commanded to lay it down, as . the British lion would be more appropriate and snit him and his principles, much better.'
" Pepper started his paper, earnestly advocated the claims of Andrew Jack- son, resulting in a majority in the county of about 200. Then it was that the whigs, not to be outdone and baffled in this way, started up a new press and then it was . war to the knife,' and . the knife to the hilt,' with occasional knock- downs, some biting, gonging and scratching among the valiant poli- ticians."
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
Number three of volume first of the Morgan Sentinel and MeConnellsville Gazette, bearing the date Wednesday, October 24, 1827, has been shown to the writer. It is much the worse for wear and the ravages of time, but still legible. At the head of the first col- umn stands the notice that " the Mor- gan Sentinel and MeConnelsville Gazette will be published once a week at $1.50 per annum, exclusive of postage, pay- able in advance : or $2.00 if paid half yearly, and $2.50 if not paid within the vear.
"Country produce will be received in payment for subscriptions only at the advanced price."
The first page contains three columns of advertisements. The board of cen- sors of the Twenty-Second Medical Society of Ohio announce a meeting at Barnesville the last Tuesday in October. Dr. John Cook Bennett follows with an advertisement over a column in length, offering his professional services to the people of MeConnelsville, and in proof that he is a full-fledged M. D. publishes several recommendations, including a certificate (in Latin) from the Twelfth Medical Society of Ohio. In these days such a doctor would at once be set down either as a quack or a "crank." Sylvanus Olney announces that his wife has left him without just cause, etc. Next comes a list of letters remaining unclaimed in the postoffice at McCon- nelsville, from which it will be seen that people in nearly all parts of the county were accustomed to receive their mail at the county seat. We subjoin the list verbatim :
Anderson, Abraham, 2
Butler, Lydia Ann
Atkinson, Jolm M.
Blackmer, Timothy
Atkinson, John Bailey, William
Anderson, Austin
Brewster, Nathan
Cox. Eliza
Mc Vey, Reuben
Cooper, Mrs.
McCollum, Archibald
Coombs, James
Maxwell, John
Camp, James
Murphy, Thomas
Crow, George
McPeak, Wm.
Dodson, Thomas D.
McClure, Hannah Nicholson, Wm.
Devin, Thomas
Newland, Eden H.
Devol, Arphaxed
Newlan, James
Dye, Vincent
Oliphant, Luseta
Ellis, Eben
Olliver, Wm.
Fouts, L.
Osburn, Jefferson
Frisby, Walker
Prouty, Daniel B.
Frisby, James
Russel, George
Gard, Lot
Smith, Catey,
Griffith, Eli
Stones, James
Hannah, John E.
Tucker, Littleton, 2
Hughs, John
Timberlake, Warren Tison, Andrew
Harman, William
Hambleton, John
Vanhorn, William
Hedges, Martha
Williams, Jacob
King, Iliram
Winchel, Enoch
Lawrence, Zacharialı
Worrel, Charles
Morehead, Alexander
JACOB ADAMS, P. M.
Corner & Stone advertise "new and cheap goods," which they will exchange for cash or produce. Among the latter are mentioned flaxseed, flax, feathers, beeswax, flannel, cotton-wool and linsey cloth, hides, deerskins, furs, whiskey, flour, shoe-thread, etc. A. Simpson & Co. also offer a general assortment of goods on similar terms. Next follows a legal notice relative to "Jesse Gause, absconding debtor." Notice is given that a petition will be presented at the next session of the general assembly for a State road from Marietta to Zanesville, making McConnelsville and Waterford leading points on the route. The remaining two columns are taken up by selections, the first a facetious anecdote detailing the "cause of the late war with Great Britain." "From the Democratic Press" is the caption of the following sarcastic bit :
" We have the honor and pleasure to announce that by the late arrivals from
Davis, Israel
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THE COUNTY PRESS.
England, the retailers, tailors and others have received direct from the manufacturer a large quantity of Eng- lish cloths, cassimeres, etc., and some very highly finished, well wrought, double gilt buttons, with the words, 'ANDREW JACKSON, 4TH OF MARCH, 1829.' impressed upon them. Those who in- tend to wear the livery, buttons and all, and thus at once, and at all times, and in all places, make known their devo- tion to General Jackson, their hostility to the American system, and their preference of British manufactures, would do well to get them made up with as little delay as possible.
" LOOK TO IT."
"Effects of Gambling," and "Prog- ress of Mathematical Improvement" are the headings of the two remaining articles on the first page.
The second page is nearly all occu- pied by the "Constitution and By- laws of the Washington Benevolent General Society of Washington County, Ohio," a charitable organization. " Lat- est from Greece," " British Reciprocity," "Conventions with England," a few brief notes relating to elections in Phil- adelphia, Delaware and Maryland, a few miscellaneous selections, and a con- tinued story, occupying the whole of the fourth page, comprise the remain- der of the literary contents of this num- ber. There are only three brief adver- tisements on the third page, and to fill out the remaining space, evidently intended for advertising, the editors have put in a few humorous anecdotes, printed in the very largest size of primer type. The advertisements are interesting. Ilere is one which shows that an enterprising spirit was abroad among the inhabitants of the Musking- mm Valley away back in 1827:
"NOTICE.
" A petition will be presented to the next general assembly of Ohio for the passage of an act to incorporate a com- pany with authority to raise by sub- scription the necessary funds to improve the navigation of the Muskingum River by dams and locks for the passage of steamboats from Marietta (at the mouth of the Muskingum) to the point where the Ohio Canal connects with the Mus- kingun River, near the town of Dres- den.
" MANY CITIZENS.
"October 18, 1827."
John James advertises that he will pay thirty-seven and a-half cents per bushel, " in salt or store goods," for all merchantable flaxseed delivered at his oil mill, three miles up the river from Malta, on Oil Spring Run.
Under the head of "Six Cents Re- ward " Bolser Keith advertises for the return of Adam Keith, an apprentice to the blacksmith business, who ran away from the advertiser in Manchester Township, on the 15th of September. "Any person securing him so that I may get him again shall receive the above reward, but no thanks or charges."
Three later numbers of the Sentinel. are still in existence-numbers 6, 8 and 9 of volume first. In these the first page is nearly all covered with adver- tisements. Francis A. Barker, county auditor, submits a report for the year ending June 4, 1826, of receipts and expenditures of the county ; from which it appears that the former were $2,480.26; and the latter 82,002.23. Number 6, dated November 14, 1827, contains the first annual report of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. and mirabile dictu! a few local notes.
16
242
IHISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OIIIO.
We copy them to show what were the " "topics of the time" at that day :
"We learn that the engineer with his company, employed in examining the 1
Muskingum River, arrived at Marietta on Monday, the 12th inst., having com- pleted the survey in eighteen days. The distance from Zanesville to Mari- etta is a little over seventy-five miles : the fall from the dam at the former place to low-water mark in the Ohio is 116.29 feet, viz : from the dam at Zanes- ville to the foot of Deadman's Ripple, 27.00; from Deadman's Ripple to the foot of McConnel's Ripple, 18.58; from McConnel's Ripple to Luke's Chute, 24.70 ; from Luke's Chute to Wright's Ripple, 29.64; from Wright's Ripple to the Ohio, 16.41. By the present cal- culation there will be thirteen dams, including the one at Zanesville."
"CASUALTY .- On Saturday last, as three men were crossing the river about six miles above this place, one of them, Mr. Adam Bankus, fell overboard and was drowned. His body has not been found."
Under the head of " Administration Meeting " " Many Citizens" issue a call for a meeting of citizens friendly to the reelection of John Q. Adams to the presidency, to be held at the court- house, Saturday, the 24th of Novem- ber.
Then comes the following, evidently the work of some enterprising local reporter :
"(COMMUNICATED.) "STEAMBOAT.
"On the 11th inst., a little before daylight, our citizens were aroused by the unexpected noise of the steamboat ·Speedwell,' Captain Reading, on her way to Zanesville. Notwithstanding
the early hour of her arrival, a consid- erable number of our townspeople had collected in time to welcome her by exchanging salutes. After discharging some lading for this place, and taking on board a considerable number of passengers, she proceeded and was greeted on her arrival at Zanesville by the citizens with gaping and gazing! We hope for the credit of the place. should a similar opportunity offer, they will manifest the SPIRIT of the times in a more appropriate manner. Captain R. informed us that it was his intention to run the ' Speedwell ' between Pittsburgh and Zanesville when the water will ad- mit of it."
In 1834, from the old press and mate- rial used in the publication of the Sen- tinel, and afterward of the Genius of Liberty, C. Weirick issued the Morgan Record, which was continued a year or two.
In 1836 Hiram II. Robinson, after- ward county treasurer, took the office and published the paper, changing its name to the Muskingum Valley Demo- crat. His editorial career was longer than that of any of his predecessors. He continued in the chair until 1841, when the paper, retaining the same name, passed into the hands of T. C. Cake, who engaged Elijah Hayward to edit it. The editor was a man of emi- nent ability as a lawyer and politician, and among other official positions had been one of the judges of the supreme court of the state.
In 1844 W. N. Watson came into possession of the office and issued the Olio Democratic Guard. The Inde- pendent of April 12, 1844 (James A. Adair, editor), noted the appearance of the new paper in the following words : " OHIO DEMOCRATIC GUARD .- This is
243
THE COUNTY PRESS.
the title of a paper published in this place, the first number of which ap- peared last Wednesday. It is the con- tinuation of the Valley Democrat, which has been suspended for a few months. The Guard is conducted by W. N. Watson who is partially known to our citizens, having formerly published a paper here some years ago. As the name imports he claims to be the organ of the democracy of our county, and as such says : 'We fearlessly launch our barque upon the boisterous ocean of political strife.' The want of time has prevented us from giving his salutatory more than a hasty perusal, but we saw sufficient to satisfy us that he goes the full length of the hard-money doctrine. He flings his banner to the breeze in- scribed with the names of VanBuren, Johnson and Todd."
In 1845 Watson sold out to A. T. Clark, who-as was said by some under the impression that a part of the name seemed to confine the scintillations of his pen to a too limited sphere-issued the paper as the Democratic Guard, which under his management continued to sparkle for two years, until January, 1848. With a change of owners came a change of name, and the Morgan County Chronicle appeared with F. A. Porter and Silas H. Davis, publishers, and Daniel B. Linn editor. Mr. Linn was a lawyer and a very able writer. Under his control the paper attained to a high degree of excellence. This was an exciting period politically -the Cass and Taylor campaign occurring in that year-and the paper had a good support and was read with satisfaction and approval by members of the party from which it received its chief support. At the end of the year Mr. Linn ceased to act as editor. The Chronicle was
continued a while longer by the same publishers.
June 1, 1854, appeared the first num- ber of the Enquirer, which proved one of the best papers the county ever had. It was a large seven-column folio of neat typographical appearance, and de- voted more space to the discussion of local affairs than had hitherto been the custom with the county press. The Enquirer was edited and published by D. B. Linn, a gentleman whose educa- tional training and natural capabilities rendered him well fitted for the edi- torial chair. He devoted his paper to the interests of Morgan County, first, last, and all the time; and though it was a political sheet (democratic) it was by no means "offensively partisan." Under his management the circulation ran up to over 800, which was good for those days. The "know-nothing" ex- citement was then at its height, and the Enquirer discussed this and other lead- ing questions of the day in an intelligent and capable manner.
In 1859 Linn sold the Enquirer to Cyrus McGlashan, who continued its publication until March, 1864, several of the later numbers being half sheets only. Charles II. Bean next secured the press and material and published the Valley Democrat from April to November. The publication was then suspended and the material taken in charge by the Democratic Press Asso- ciation.
July 20, 1866, there appeared the first number of the Conservative, dem- ocratic in politics, issued from the press formerly owned by Linn. William Glenn was the editor and publisher. After publishing the paper about three months, in the thirteenth number he announced: "This will be the last
244
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
number for four weeks." The suspen- sion was for financial reasons, and he did not resmine the publication. But on the 2d of November, 1866, the paper again appeared, published by Moore & Kelly. It was continued by them until January 26, 1867, when Moore's name was dropped and Joseph A. Kelly be- came editor and publisher. He con- tinned the paper until March, 1871. April 7, 1871, he issued the first number of the Independent, which was published in McConnelsville until November fol- lowing, when he removed the office to Malta, where the Independent survived a year or two longer. It ahned at neutrality in politics, as was indicated by its name, but its editor was a dem- ocrat and finally turned it into a pro- hibitionist paper. Mr. Kelly has since been engaged in journalism in Missouri, and is now connected with the Repub- Tican, the leading democratic paper of St. Louis.
In 1870 J. A. Kelly's paper, the Con- sercatice, hitherto the democratic organ of Morgan County, became a prohi- bition journal, and the democratic party in the county was consequently without a local paper. Many leading democrats, not favoring the change, withdrew their support from the Con- servative, and began to look around for some one to start a new paper that should be faithful to the time-honored principles of the democracy. The mat- ter was much discussed in the councils of the party in the fall of 1870 and the winter of 1870-71, but for some time no one was found willing to take the lead in the new enterprise. Some time in May, Francis A. Davis, by reason of failing health, caused by ex- posure in the army, was out of employ- ment, having been obliged to give up
his occupation-that of a steamboat- man. He had had some experience in the printing business, having worked in his father's office when a boy, and was induced to enter the journalistic field and start the much-desired demo- cratic paper. On the 1st of July Mr. Davis started for Cincinnati, where he purchased a press and a full outfit of new type and fixtures, paying cash for the same out of his own funds. In due time the material for the new office arrived in McConnelsville, and on Fri- day, July 15, 1871, the first number of the Democrat was issued. At that time the subscription list contained the names of fifty-seven paying subscribers. After the appearance of the first number the circulation rapidly increased to about five hundred copies, remaining at this figure during the first year of the paper's existence. When the people began to sec that the Democrat had come to stay. the list gradually in- creased, reaching its present circulation. The Democrat now has between 1,300 and 1,400 bona fide subscribers. Its course has been such as to commend it to the party and the citizens generally. Mr. Davis' editorial career has been longer and-we venture the opinion- more successful than that of any other democratic editor in Morgan County. The Democrat, which started as an eight column folio, is now a six-column quarto.
Francis Asbury Davis was born near Uniontown, Perry County, Ohio, Octo- ber 8, 1834. He received a limited com- mon school education. He learned the trade of a printer in the office of his father, who published a paper in Somer- set, Ohio. In 1849 he left home and came to McConnelsville, where for sev- enteen years he led the life of a boat-
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THE COUNTY PRESS.
man. In June, 1861, Mr. Davis took an active part in raising in Morgan County a company of volunteers, which was mustered into the service as Company H'of the 25th Regiment O. V. I. He was elected first lieutenant, and for six months was the acting captain of the company. The hardships and expos- ures impaired his health, and in Sep- tember, 1862, he was discharged on ac- count of disability.
In 1871 Mr. Davis started the Demo- crat, which he has since edited and pub- lished. The paper has been very suc- cessful under his management.
He was married July 14, 1861, to Miss Virginia Watkins, daughter of James Watkins, Esq., of McConnels- ville. They have four children, Charles M., Ralph C., Francis A. and Vir- ginia E.
Having thus traced the rise and progress of the local democratic organs of the county, let us turn to the other side and narrate the origin and growth of the whig and republican journals.
The first of the whig papers in the county was the People's Adrocute. It was published by John White and M. Brister. The first number was issued some time in the year 1836, and the paper was continued for two years and three months. No copies of this paper are known to be in existence at the present time.
Early in the year 1839, from the same press which had printed the Advocate, John Teesdale issued The Ohio Whig Standard and Morgan County Democrat. No. 40 of volume 1, bearing the date September 27, 1839, has been shown to the writer. Under the somewhat lengthy title of the jour- nal-which is printed iu heavy black capitals - there appears the motto,
"VERITE SANS PEUR," sandwiched be- tween the following: "J. TEESDALE, PUBLISHER, OPPOSITE PUBLIC BUILDINGS."
The Standard was a remarkably good-looking paper, much larger than the average country journal of that time, and neat in typographical appear- ance, barring the occasional appearance of an italic capital where a roman would have been expected. The paper con- tained four six-column pages. each about 15x21 inches in size. The sub- scription price was $2 per year if paid within three months, $2.50 within the year, $3 after the lapse of one year.
The Standard was evidently a thor- oughly partisan paper. On the first page, under the head of "Office-hold- ers, or Locofoco Nominations," the purposes of the Democrats are set forth tersely and in no very compli- mentary language, the opening para- graphs reading as follows :
"To run up the expenses of the goverment from thirteen to forty millions."
"Selection of none but partisans for office."
And much more to the same purport. Then follows an article headed . Whig Nominations," wherein the whigs, of course. promise to do everything that is good. Next follows over two col- umns, taken from the Ohio State Jour- nal, relating to official rascality, sub- treasurer's defaleations, etc., all of which has such a familiar, modern sound that one could fancy himself reading yesterday's paper but for the recurrence of the word whig and other now obsolete names. A column and a half is taken up with extracts from legislative proceedings at Harris- burg, Pa., during an investigation into the causes of a conspiracy or fancied
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
plot against the State troops. Under the head "Ohio in 1788" appears a copy of an article originally published in the Salem, Mass., Mercury, relating to the Marietta colony. The " Farmers' Department," occupying the last col- umu of the first page, and extending over on the next page, contains selcc- tions on various topics. Next comes a selection from the Cincinnati Gazette relating to foreign affairs.
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