USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 14
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continued until October 1. 1858, when the present editor [1882] John II. Shearer, purchased it, and has continued the paper ever since under its ancient name-The Marysville Tribune."
John H. Shearer continued to conduct the business until his death, June 6, 1896, after which his son, John H. Shearer, Jr., took his interest. At the time of the father's death it was run by John H. Shearer & Son, the latter being William O. Shearer, and from that time on it was known as Shearer & Shearer, continuing thus until April 19, 1913, when W. O. Shearer died and John H. Shearer became sole owner of the business.
The daily edition of the Tribune was started September 26, 1898, and has continued without an interruption. The old method of typesetting was replaced with a multiple magazine linotype in December, 1912, and in July, 1914. a Webb perfecting press was installed, making the Tribune one of the best equipped offices to be found anywhere. The present size of the Evening Tribune is four pages, seven columns to the page. The Weekly Tribune consists of eight pages and at times ten and twelve pages are printed to ac- commodate the increased amount of news and edvertising matter.
The Tribune uses electric power, with individual motors for each ma- chine, and in addition to the perfecting press and linotype, the equipment in- . cludes two cylinder presses, three platten presses, perforating machine, punching machine, wire staplers, etc. The job work here turned out com- pares with that of any large city.
The Weekly Tribune in politics is Republican. while the Evening Tri- bune is independent. Both papers circulate very largely in Union county and the Tribune continues to outrank all other county papers in point of circu- lation Twelve people are employed constantly in the business, in addition to a well-organized corps of news correspondents in all portions of the county.
The present editor and owner is John H. Shearer, so that the Tribune has been owned and published for more than fifty-five years by father and sons.
Continuing the history of newspapers in Union county, Mr. Shearer wrote as follows: "In May. 1843. John Shrenk started a Whig paper in Marysville, entitled the Union Journal. It survived only fourteen weeks, when it gave up the ghost with the acknowledgment that 'through the un- fortunate schism of the Whig party in this county, for the last few years, the "locofocos" have the county offices, which secure to them the public print- ing.' All the numbers of the Journal were bound in book form and are well preserved.
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"The Eaglet was a small paper started in October, 1845, to catch the county printing on the suspension of the Argus after it came into the hands of Alexander. It was published by J. A. Cassil and lived only about three or four months.
"The Union Journal was a literary paper started in Marysville in the year 1853. It was edited early in its existence by A. Tolland Turner and printed by J. G. Cassil and Andrew Pollock. It was a good literary journal, but was clearly in advance of the times. It survived not quite a year and the material was purchased by J. W. Dumble, who removed it to Xenia and published a paper called the Nenia News. Later this paper was edited by Whitelaw Reid, who became later famous as the editor of the great New York Tribune.
"The Union Press was established in October, 1858, by Hylas Sabine. It was Republican in politics, and was continued until August. 1863, a period of four years and ten months. The last year of its existence it was edited by John B. Coats. The material of the office was purchased by the Vallandig- hamers, who at that time, in the midst of the war, treason and assailing of the government, were determined to establish a paper that would advocate 'the freedom of speech and the press'-that was to advocate license to assail the government and its friends while they were in the act of putting down rebels. Consequently, the Union County Democrat was built upon the ruins of the Union Press, and William M. Randall became editor. The first num- ber was issued August 26, 1863, and was continued until the fall of 1864, when its publication ceased and the material was sold.
"In the spring of 1872, having received new material. W. H. Gribble. of Bellefontaine, started the Press. After publishing it five months he abandoned it and the office and left the place. A botch by the name of Conklin was allowed to take possession of the office after Gribble left it, under the promise that he would continue the paper, but he possessed little ability other than to ruin the material, which he did most effectively. He published, or tried to publish, a small sheet entitled the Monitor, which was a burlesque upon typography and a disgrace to the profession. He finally left for other parts and the material of the office were partly disposed of in Marysville and the rest shipped back to the type foundry."
About the first of June. 1874. the Marysville Journal was established by C. M. Kenton, which was soon after changed to Union County Journal. The Journal and Tribune were the only papers published in Marysville in 1883. From 1887 to 1904 the Journal was conducted by A. J. Hare, and since that date by the Journal Publishing Company, B. B. Gaumer, manager
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and editor. It is now an eight-page, six-column quarto paper, run on elec- tric power presses. This plant has been equipped with six presses, all still in constant use in various departments of the business. The subscription rate is $1.00 per year. It circulates in town and county. Politically, it is Democratic. The building is a fine large brick and is owned by the company.
Editor Shearer concluded his able article on Union County Newspapers by the following paragraph :
"It is difficult at this late day to secure enough of the old papers to enable us to get a chain of all the changes that have taken place in pro- prietors and publishers of the early papers of the county. A change seemed to be necessary whenever the means of a new proprietor was exhausted. From 1839 to the beginning of the Tribune, the county was almost in its native forest state. The few settlers who were laboring hard to open up their farms were not in any condition to be liberal supporters of the press, and few of them had much time to spare for reading. The times have greatly changed since then [he wrote this in 1882]. We have so many advantages at the present day, and there is so much in the way of improving the county. that we cannot form a proper estimate of the struggles of the early pioneers. The press of this county has done a fair share in advocating and bringing about this millenium of advancement and prosperity."
NEWSPAPERS OF MILFORD CENTER.
The first printing office in Milford Center was opened in 1877 by E. H. Clark, a young man. He only printed bills, dodgers and visiting cards. In 1883 Clark sold the office to the Herdman brothers-William and James- who began publishing the Darby News, the first paper published at Milford Center. It was independent in politics, but in 1884, at the beginning of the Blaine political campaign, when James G. Blaine ran against Grover Cleve- land and was defeated by the latter, the Herdman brothers espoused the cause of the "Plumed Knight" and when he went down to defeat the news- paper collapsed and Herdman brothers left town between two days, never to return. Then Rolla and George Whitehead began the publication with the same plant, which they had bought from the former publishers. They con- tinued until 1886, then sold to W. H. Lawson, who, after rearranging the office and greatly improving it, began the publication of a new paper called the Milford Echo. This paper was short-lived, ending its career in 1887. In the same year Major C. M. Kenton and William C. McCampbell started the Milford Center Ohioan, and its publication has continued to 1914. Mr.
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Kenton was a good newspaper man, having been the editor of the Marysville Journal for several years and, having a real warm friendship for the work, he threw his magnetic influence into the paper. Later he dropped out and left the business in the hands of McCampbell, who was a printer with little experience. Ile sold the office fixtures and good will to Eli Gabriel in 1890, and in 1892 Mr. Gabriel sold the paper to Charles M. Kenton, who leased the office for a short time to Rankin Reed and Clarence S. Lawson, who con- tinued publishing the paper until Mr. Kenton sold to Frank Holtcamp, of Elmore, Ohio, in 1894. Mr. Holtcamp issued the Ohioan until 1895, when he sold the business to Clarence S. Lawson, who, after publishing the paper for a year, sold the office to Edward Sanborn and David Story. Mr. San- born resided here, but Mr. Story was from Vinton county, Ohio. Story's health failed and the office was sold to Clarence S. Lawson in 1897. After publishing the paper for about one year it was sold to Charles F. Monroe, who sold the office in 1898 to Norton Nash, of Milford Center, and he pub- lished the paper two years, selling out in 1900 to A. W. McAdow and Dr. W. H. Wills. This partnership continued until 1907, when Clarence S. Lawson purchased the office and he, with his estimable wife, issued the Ohioan in a worthy and commendable style until 1909, when the office was purchased by Harry L. Agner, of Marysville, who is its present owner and publisher. Mr. Agner has installed a new press, put in new material and made sundry improvements in the publication. The subscription list has been greatly enlarged and the tone and makeup of the paper has made a very decided change for the better. It can be truthfully said that the paper is highly appreciated. Mr. Agner is a good printer, with a thorough knowl- edge of the work. He was for twenty-five years foreman in the Journal office at Marysville.
The above account of the newspapers at Milford Center has been fur- nished largely through the kindness of Eli Gabriel.
The Richwood Gasette was established August 16, 1872, by J. H. Vaughan and W. H. Nicholson, with J. H. Vaughan as editor. November 13, 1873. Mr. Vaughan became sole proprietor and continued in charge until October 20, 1870, when it was purchased and edited by Robert Smith and W. Ferguson. Two years later Mr. Smith bought his partner out and one year from that date, October 20, 1882, he disposed of a half interest to George W. Worden. The paper was independent in politics and was devoted to good. clean wholesome local news items and excellent editorials.
The change of ownership, etc., have been as follows: James Vanghan
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sold to Robert Smith, and he to W. H. Stout. The next change was when Mr. Graham owned it. Following him came George W. Worden. It is now a six-column quarto, with the finest mechanical appearance possible for a paper to present. It is independent in politics and has for its motto "Equal right to all, regardless of race, color, religion or politics."
The Gazette is run from a Potter cylinder press propelled by a gas en- gine. The office is located in the old Marriott building. The paper met with slight loss by fire in 1900. The general appearance of this office is superior to any country office known in the state today. The various departments look more like a parlor than a printing office.
The next newspaper venture in Richwood was by J. S. Blake, January 28. 1882, when the Richwood Reporter made its first appearance. This journal was also an independent paper and met with success from the first number. It was published at first on each Saturday. After a year or two it was de- stroyed by fire and never re-established.
The Octograph Review was a short-lived publication of Richwood, which dropped out several years ago.
(II)
CHAPTER XI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Ever since the days of Galen, medicine has taken a high place in the world's professions. It matters not whether among the enlightened races, or even among the uneducated and savage tribes, from the earliest ages in the world's history the "medicine man" has been sought after when the fevered brow and low state of physical strength has come to mankind. After the time of Galen, the profession took on a dignity before unknown, and with the march of the centuries has advanced with all other sciences. Per- haps, it has made a greater stride within the last seventy-five years than any other science known to the civilized peoples of earth. While some people always seem to delight in disparaging the doctor as long as they possess health, yet, when stricken with disease, they are the first to call the family physician. In his hands they feel that life and health are most secure to them and to their families.
With the settlement of every new country the physician has always been found in the vanguard. He wards off diseases found in undeveloped coun- tries until such times as men have founded their homes, drained the swamps and driven the causes of bodily ailments from the community. What would any new country have done without the doctor and his saddle-bags, when fever and ague were rife in the land. In days of cholera. such as the epi- demic in the thirties and fifties in Ohio, what would have been the loss with- out the physician at the bedside to direct every movement of the stricken patient ! He is needful in all communities and has come to be appreciated by all thinking men and women. The pioneer physician usually rode horse- back and that not of choice, but because he was better able to reach the bedside of the sick. Streams were unbridged and he could swim his faith- ful animal where he could not otherwise have gone. Thus we find him fol- lowing the trail by blazed trees through the forest land; many times in the darkness of night did he prove himself as much of a genuine hero as though on the battle field. The present physicians do not have such difficulties, for today their drives are shorter and with the excellent highways and modern means of travel, such as the automobile and electric lines, many more pa- tients can be seen. Yet the faithful physician has no easy life even today.
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He must needs keep up with his practice and at the same time must read many hours each week on the latest theories and practice of medicine and surgery. While colleges are numerous and excellent, yet the good physician must keep studying in order to achieve success. The world now demands the best and nothing less will be received at the hands of the sick man.
SOME UNION COUNTY PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Gideon Hawley was perhaps the first physician in Union county. He married Rebecca Townsend and subsequently moved west, where he died. His widow later returned to friends in Canada.
Dr. Daniel Bowen, a native of Vermont, settled at Milford about 1815, and was the first doctor of the place. He died December 12, 1825, aged forty years.
Dr. Spencer Garwood, Milford Center, was born in Logan county, Ohio, 1835. He was reared on a farm until he reached manhood. He had only the common advantages of the country schools of his time. He later entered Farmers' College at Cincinnati and remained three years. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio, serving three months. He then re-en- listed in the Eighty-fifth Regiment, and was sent to the front where he saw much hard service and severe fighting. He was promoted to the captaincy of Company K. He was at the battle of Cold Harbor and later guarded rebel prisoners at Camp Chase. Previous to his discharge he entered the Ohio Medical College and in 1864 entered the medical department of the Michigan University, from which he graduated. He then practiced two years in Coun - cil Bluffs, Iowa. He also opened a drug store between Council Bluffs and Salt Lake City. He then removed to Columbus, Nebraska, where he was postmaster and conducted a drug store two years. He also practiced at Des Moines, Iowa. and Fort Scott, Kansas, where he lived fourteen years, prac- ticing his profession. In 1880 he went to Washington, D. C., and practiced until the spring of 1882, when he located at Milford Center in this county.
In 1837 there were but five physicians found practicing in Union county : John K. Brookins, at Richwood; Winthrop Chandler, in Liberty township: Benjamin Davenport, in Union township; Ira Wood, at Marys- ville : Reuben P. Mann, at Milford.
In 1840 the physicians were paying a license of fifty cents per year. There were ten in number-John P. Brookins, Jeremiah Curl, Benjamin Davenport. Reuben N. Mann, Charles Morrow. David H. Silver, Stephen Kinney, Marquis Wood. David Welch and Winthrop Chandler.
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Dr. G. W. Plimell, of Irwin, was born in Madison county, Ohio, in 1839, a son of John Plimell who settled in this county in 1818. His early years were spent on the farm. In September, 1861, he volunteered in Company A, Fourth Ohio Infantry, participating in many a hard fought battle of the Civil War. At Lookout Mountain he was severely wounded in 1863. In 1865 he began the study of medicine under his brother, Dr. J. T. Plimell. In 1876 he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1877. He immediately located at Irwin, where he built up a fine practice.
Among the physicians now recalled as having at one time or another practiced in this county are the following: Dr. S. F. Kinney located at Marysville with his family in 1839. when the county was yet thinly popu- lated. He died May 31, 1872. aged eighty-three years. His good wife died in 1874, aged over eighty years. Both were highly esteemed citizens.
In 1839 Dr. MI. Wood had an office in Marysville on the east side of the public square. He died during the following winter.
Dr. J. Curl, whose office was on Main street, east of the courthouse, and Dr. Sewell Hosford, a "botanical" physician, both located in Marysville in the fall of 1839.
Dr. B. V. Buffington, physician and surgeon, of Marysville, was born near Harper's Ferry. Virginia, in 1838, and his parents later found a home in this county, residing at Milford Center. where young Buffington attended the common schools. When twenty-two years old he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Leonard, of Urbana. Ohio. After four years of hard study and faithful application he commenced the practice of his profession. In 1873 he graduated at the Eclectic College, Cincinnati. He came to Marysville in 1868.
Dr. N. P. Davidson, Marysville, was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1849, lived on a farm until fifteen years of age, when he left home for him- self. He worked by the month one year and then went to Clay county. Illinois, where he remained until 1872. He taught school in the winter and worked on a farm by the month for four years. He returned to Ohio in the autumn of 1872 and entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, and there remained a student two years. The next three years he taught in vari- ous counties in Ohio, and read medicine under Dr. G. W. Dawson of Hock- ing county, three years, finishing his course in 1877. In 1882 he graduated from the Columbus Medical College. In 1877-78 he practiced with his pre- ceptor, and in 1879 began the practice at Oakland, Ohio, where he continued
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until the fall of 1881. The following spring he established himself at Marys- ville. He practiced in Hilliard, Ohio, from about 1890 until his death.
Dr. David W. Henderson, Marysville, was a descendant of the famous family of the Stewarts, of Scotch and Irish origin. The Doctor was the son of John and Annie (Jack ) Henderson, pioneers of Union county, Ohio, who effected settlement here in 1837. Doctor Henderson was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1823. He was fitted for college at the Marysville Academy, and entered Ohio University at Delaware. He re- mained until 1847 and then volunteered as a soldier in the war with Mexico, from which war he returned in 1848. He at once commenced to study medi- cine under Dr. R. Hillis, of Delaware, Ohio, completing his studies at the Starling Medical College, from which institution he graduated in 1852. The following spring he came to Marysville where he was in successful medical practice for many years. As a surgeon he was eminent. In the Civil War he was commissioned surgeon of the Ninety-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volun- teers and remained in the service until April. 1863, when ill health compelled him to resign and resume practice at his home. He was highly successful as a physician and accumulated much property. He was a member of the Marysville Library and Literary Society and also a member of the board of education and board of health. He died July 23, 1910.
Dr. J. M. Southard, Marysville, was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1823. He was reared on his father's farm in Licking county, and attended the common schools. He read medicine in the office of Drs. Waters and Rowe, of Newark, Ohio, when he entered Starling Medical College. Colum- bus, from which he graduated in 1854. He then located at Marysville, where he soon grew into a large and lucrative medical practice. He died March 16, 1891.
Dr. M. Thompson. Marysville, was a son of the pioneer family of this name. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1828 and received his education at the Marysville Academy, and in 1852 began the study of medicine. He graduated from Starling Medical College in 1857, and was a resident physician of Pharisburg for twelve years. In 1869 he formed a partnership with W. L. Miller in the erection of the Marysville Mills, of which he became sole proprietor in 1872.
Dr. John Beach was the first practicing physician in Unionville. He came fresh from medical schools and after practicing a few years removed from the county, being now deceased. His brother, W. Morrow Beach, also deceased, remained at Unionville some years in the practice of medicine. Doctors did not seem to remain long here: possibly the business they sought
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was not very plentiful, as the country was "distressingly" healthy. There were also Drs. I. N. Hamilton, later of Marysville, and Dr. Charles McCune, both now deceased.
Dr. T. B. Asbury was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1824, the son of an Englishman, a noted Methodist preacher, and a nephew of that celebrated bishop of the Methodist church of that name. Dr. Asbury was the only child in his parent's family. He was reared to manhood in Columbus, Ohio, and received his collegiate education at Allegheny College, Pennsylvania. He read medicine with Dr. Edward Ellis, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, gradu- ating from Berkshire Medical College of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in March, 1844. He then entered into his profession at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he practiced five years. He then came to Frankfort (Jerome), Union county, Ohio, remained there till 1861, and then removed to Columbus. In 1872 he went to Worthington, and in 1880 returned to Union county, but is now deceased.
Dr. J. E. Herriott, Jerome, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1849. He received his literary education in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and in 1871 began reading medicine with Dr. James Cutler of Richwood. He at- tended the Starling Medical College, and later the Medical College of Cin- cinnati, graduating from the latter in 1873. He at once came to Jerome and entered into the successful practice of his chosen profession. He is now prac- ticing in Trenton, Missouri.
Dr. J. S. Howland, New California, was born in Brown county. Ohio, in 1843. His boyhood days were passed in Lewis, Pendleton and Mason counties, Kentucky. He attended school at the Normal in Lebanon, Ohio. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, serving with dis- tinction under Generals Burnside, Thomas, Sherman and Gilmore. He re- turned from the war to Fayette county, Ohio, to which place the family had removed, and there taught school from 1868 to 1875. when he turned his attention to the study of medicine. He read three years with Dr. Richard- son, of Somerville, and then took a course in the Miami Medical College. In February, 1877, he located at New California, and about 1885 removed to Plain City.
Dr. Thomas P. Shields, of Mill Creek township, was born in Cumber- land county, Virginia, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. After attending the common schools, Dr. Shields took a course in Washington College (now Washington and Lee) in Lexington, Virginia, and then attended lectures in the University of Virginia and the University of
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Pennsylvania. After his graduation he settled on the old family homestead, where his mother lived, and practiced medicine and surgery. He joined the Confederate forces and was later made a surgeon, doing hospital work mostly. In 1867 he moved to Union county, Ohio, settling with his family in Mill Creek township on a farm belonging to his sister. From that date he became a farmer and stock raiser. In fact, he was never counted a regu- lar practitioner here in Union county, but was a member of the profession and so recognized by the best physicians. He died about 1911.
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