History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 126

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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The fourth anniversary of the Society was held at the Oliver House, April 23, 1862, the

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

programme including a supper, after which regular toasts were responded to as follows :

"Our Society "-Ralph H. Waggoner. " American Literature "-A. Leonardson. " Our Army and Navy "-James W. Clark. "The Ladies"-E. Ham- ilton. Volunteer toasts were responded to by J. Kent Hamilton, Moses T. Brown and John H. Doyle.

TOLEDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The establishment and successful manage- ment of the Public Library have been largely due to the active interest therein taken by Wm. H. Scott, the President of the Board of Trus- tees. Upon his return to Toledo in 1865, he became connected with the Toledo Library Association, and sought by personal attention and material contribution, to place the same upon a proper basis. It soon was made evident, that the requisite means for such purpose could not be seenred ; when Mr. Scott became satis- fied that nothing less than a Free Library, under the auspices of the City and supported by taxation, would meet the demands of the case. After protracted effort, he secured the approval of the plau by the Trustees of the Library Association, when he prepared for such purpose a bill, which was passed by the Legislature. Whereupon, the City Council, " deeming it essential to establish a Library and Reading Room," passed a resolution providing therefor and authorizing the levy of a tax for such pur- pose. A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of nine members, which was organ- ized June 24, 1873. By the organie law, the Board of Education was directed to " transfer to the custody and control of the Trustees of the Library whatever library or libraries may be in their possession or control, except such books of reference, maps, or charts, as the Board of Education may think proper to re- tain for use in School buildings, and thereafter no tax shall be levied by such Board of Educa- tion for a Library fund." The Library Associ- ation, by vote of its members, had instructed its Directors to transfer all its property-the Public Library assuming all liabilities. After paying all debts of the Association, there was left to the crdit of the Library fund $333.86. The number of volumes received from the Library Association, was 4,878, a number of maps and engravings, two lots on Forrer Street, and $105 in cash. Col. D. F. De Wolf, Super- intendent of Schools, with Wm. H. Scott, Chair- man of the Public Library Committee, selected from the School Library 1,320 volumes, to be retained for the use of the Public Schools.

The new Library was opened to the public November 3, 1873, at Northeast corner of Sum- mit and Madison Streets, with 6,198 volumes. From the first, popular appreciation of the movement was manifested, 4,457 volumes hav- ing been drawn during the first month; which favor has followed the establishment to the present time. The chief embarrassment now experienced, arises from the lack of adequate accommodations for the large and growing supply of books, which in 1887 numbered nearly 25,000.

The proportion of volumes issued to the number in the Library, furnishes the best test of the favor with which such institutions are held. In 1887, with 25,000 volumes, the cireu - lation was 113,458 volumes ; or over four times the number on hand. The latter number was an increase of 10,750 over 1886. The largest monthly issne for 1887, was 11,639, in March, and the smallest monthly issue, in July, 7,579. The largest weekly issne, March 7th to 13th, 2,664 ; and the smallest, June 27th to July 4th, 1,638. The largest daily issue was February 12th, 704; and the smallest, July 27th, 225. The daily average for the year was 371. The daily average for 1886 was 335.

The comparative record of Toledo and other Cities with Free Libraries, is found to be as follows for 1886:

Vols. in

Home

Cities.

Library.

Circulat'n.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

93,659

112,152

Brookline, Mass

31,632

47,921

Chicago

129,121

626,825

Cincinnati

168,444

210,966

Dayton

22,941

90,097

Detroit

59,653

147,616

Indianapolis

39,590

169,369

Kansas City

15,000

28,192

Lawrence, Mass

25,541

104,152

Milwaukee.

35,906

76,375

Newton, Mass.

25,084

90,230

Providence, R. I.

34,758

82,179

St. Louis

61,578

111,835

St. Paul.

12,995

55,649

Taunton, Mass

25,757

63,607

Toledo

22,777

102,788

Toledo (1SS7)

25,000

113,458

As seen, the average circulation of the 15 other Cities named, is 240 per cent. of volumes in Library, while that of Toledo for same year was 408 per cent., and for 1887, 452 per cent.

It is proper here to state that Toledo was the first City of Ohio to provide a Free Library for its citizens, independent of the Public Schools, as it was one of the first in the West ern States.

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CHAPTER II.

PUBLIC PRESS.

no other manner has Ameriean appreci- ation of the Press, as an agency for the promotion of mental, moral and material pros- perity, been more clearly shown, than in the prominent position given the same in nearly every advance of population and development in the great West. Close with the School- house and the Church, and always eo-operating therewith, the Newspaper has gone, as soon, and often before, the conditions gave reasonable assurance of meagre support. Its effectiveness has been recognized by the adventurous in vestor of capital in local enterprises, no less than by those seeking moral and intellectual benefits from its presence. These co-operating influences, stimulating the characteristie enter- prise of Printers, did much toward the early presence of the Press throughout the pioneer settlements of the West. The result very often was, that such ventures proved altogother pre- mature, and for lack of adequate support, entailed severe toil, protracted struggle and ultimate failure. The story of this department of pioneer experience, if fully written, would be one to place the Printers and Publishers prominent in the list of sufferers of the "early time." As already suggested, the value of the Press as an agency, led to its employment by the projectors of Cities and Towns, the "pe. culiar advantages " of whose localities could not be made known without such medium; and often a press and type went forward with the first shipment of goods to the chosen site. In this respect, the Maumee Valley was by no means an exception, sinee in some cases we find the Press here even in advance of the School-house and the Church.

The first newspaper issued within the present limits of Ohio, was The Centinel of the North- west Territory, at Cincinnati, in 1793. The Cincinnati Gazette claims lineal descent from the Centinel. The second was the Scioto Ga- zette, at Chillicothe, in 1800, by Nathaniel Willis, grandfather of N. P. Willis. It is still published, with its original name.

The third paper published in Ohio was the Ohio Gazette and Virginia Herald, started at Marietta about December 1, 1801, with Wyllis Silliman as Publisher, and Elijah Backns (grandfather of Abner L. Backus, of Toledo) as Editor. A copy of the first number, with others, is now in the library of the Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Mass. The establishment was sold out by the Sheriff in 1808, and the

paper suspended. The last Publisher of the paper (Samuel Fairlamb) died in the Mus- kingum County Infirmary, at an old age, about 1861. The paper was revived, and after many changes, came to have its present name, the Marietta Register. The press first used, had a wooden frame, with a stone bed, and evidently was of the Ramage patent, elsewhere referred to in this volume. It was burned in a fire in 1859, nothing of it now remaining save the bed, which is used for the top of a table. Full files of this paper since 1813, are now in the College Library, at Marietta.

The first newspaper published in the lower Maumee Valley, was the Miami of the Lake, which was started at Perrysburg, December 11, 1833, by J. W. Scott and Henry Darling. In June, 1834, J. Austin Scott bought the estab- lishment, and associated with himself as Pub- lishers, J. H. McBride and Henry Reed, Jr. In February, 1835, Mr. Scott disposed of his interest to Mr. McBride. Subsequently, under different names, it was published by H. L. Hosmer, H. T. Smith, Wm. P. Reznor and others.

In May, 1834, James Irvine Browne came to Toledo, from Easton, Penn. He was then about 28 years of age, a gentleman of education and refinement, and withal, quite a poet. He came under an arrangement with Edward Bis- sell and others, for the purpose of starting and conducting a newspaper, and it was expected that the printing press and materials would soon follow. Delays were caused in different ways. In the first place, there was no building which could be occupied for such purpose, and it was necessary to await the construction of the building which was to become Toledo's first printing office. It was located on the Sonth side of Lagrange Street, about half-way be- tween Summit and Water, on the second floor of a two-story frame building, and over a grocery and provision store kept by Daniel Washburu. Then a contest arose between " Upper " and " Lower Towns," for the location of the new paper. Finally, about the 1st of August, the materials arrived, a compromise between the "Towns" was effected, and ope. rations commenced. Mr. Browne set up his own type, and worked his own press, having neither "Jour." nor " Devil" to assist him. About the 15th of August, 1834, appeared the first number of the Toledo Herald, the first newspaper issued within the present limits of

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Lucas County. It was a very creditable sheet, in both contents and appearance. But three or four numbers were issued, when Mr. Browne was taken sick, necessarily suspending the paper.

Soon thereafter the paper was revived, under the name of the Toledo Gazette, and with the same management. Its early issues were some- what irregular, over seven months or 32 weeks having elapsed during the publication of 21 numbers. Like the Herald, it was started by Mr. Browne, who was the publisher in March, 1835 .* When he withdrew, is not known. In May, 1836, Sam. Allen gave notice that he was the owner of the office, and had purchased all interest in the paper from its second number, and in the advertising from March 15, 1836. July 2, 1836, Curtis A. Bana resigned as Pub- lisher. The materials of the Gazette office were subsequently purchased by the late Adolphus Kramer, for use in establishing a newspaper at Hartford (then in Sandusky, now in Ottawa County). The financial collapse of 1837 pre- vented such use of them, and in the year fol- lowing (1838) they were sold to a joint stock Company of Democrats at Lower Sandusky (Fremont), and were used in printing the San- dusky County Democrat, some of them probably yet remaining in the office of the Fremont Messenger.

The next paper established at Toledo and in the County, was the Blade, which was started early in 183. The earliest copies now to be found, are in the files preserved by Abel W. Fairbanks, who, in connection with L. L. Wil- lard, became a publisher in May, 1837. Mr. Fairbanks has placed the people of Toledo under special obligation to him, by donating to their Public Library complete files of that paper during his connection with it, about 13 years, Mr. Willard continued with the Blade but a few months, when Mr. Fairbanks became sole Publisher. During the political campaign of 1840, Andrew Palmer, formerly a Democrat, but an active supporter of Harrison for Presi- dent, edited the paper, continuing as such nutil December of that year. In April, 1841, S. S. Blanchard became a partner in the publication of the paper, continuing as such to July, 1842, at which time Edward A. Graves appeared as sole Publisher, with Daniel MeBain as Editor -Mr. Fairbanks then taking the Job Printing and Bindery departments of the business. Mr.

*Mr. Browne was the Publisher of this paper, as of the few issues of the Herald, only in the sense that his name appeared as such, because he was in charge of the office. He probably had no pecuniary invest- ment in the business. The proprietors were leading property owners of Toledo, who employed such agency for promoting their interests. Very promi- nent in that connection, was Andrew Palmer, him- self a practical Printer, and a former Publisher in the State of New York, who turned his experience to account, as more stated in the biographical sketch of that gentleman elsewhere in this volume,

McBain became a co-Publisher in January, 1843, and remained such until July, following, when he and Mr. Graves gave place to Mr. Fairbanks, as Publisher, who was alone until March, 1844, at which time Jessup W. Scott became the Editor, and continued as such until July, 1847, having, meantime, been associated as Publisher, from Mareh, 1845.

May 16, 1846, marked a point of progress of special importance in the paper's history. At that time appeared the first issue of the Tri- Weekly Blade. For ten years the Weekly edition had struggled for bare existence, against the obstacles and embarrassments common to like enterprises in young Towns, a portion of the time called to divide with vigorous com- petitors the limited support possible for the local press. July 19, 1847, H. L. Hosmer be- came a partner as Publisher and the Editor, remaining until March, 1849. Then Mr. Fair- banks resumed as Publisher, with Dr. Graham, as Editor ; which arrangement closed in October following.

April 17, 1848, a second important advance was made, in the issue of the first number of the Daily Blade, the size of the sheet being 20x26 inches. In January, 1850, Stephen T. and H. L. Hosmer took the establishment, with the latter as Editor, Mr. Fairbanks then leaving Toledo to become a partner of Josiah A. Harris, in the publication of the Cleveland Herald. January 29, 1852, S. T. Hosmer withdrew, and Peter E. Latimer and Samnel Andrews, with H. L. Ilosmer, formed the firm of Latimer, Andrews & Co., Mr. Hosmer acting as Editor. In January, 1853, Hosmer, Andrews & Co. became the Publishers, Mr. Hosmer still being the Editor, with G. G. Lyon as his associate. This arrangement was closed in May following (1853) by the sale of the establishment to Joseph R. Williams, who both published and edited the paper for most of the time until September, 1856. At that time Clark Waggoner, of Toledo, and G. T. Stewart, of Norwalk, for $6,000, bought the establishment, including the news- paper, the job printing office aud the book bindery. Samuel G. Arnold, for some time previous in charge of the editorial department, remained in that capacity until the Spring of 1858, and was succeeded for a few months by Wm. C. Earl, when Mr. Waggoner took charge of the paper as Editor, and continued as such until his withdrawal from the establishment in August, 1865. In January, 1857, Alonzo D. Pelton became a partner in the business, and in September, 1865, became sole proprietor, with David R. Locke, as Editor. In 1867, Mr. Locke and John Paul Jones became partners in the firm of A. D. Pelton & Co. In 1868, Dr. A. P. Miller taking the interest of Mr. Pelton, the firm of Miller, Locke & Co. took the paper, who were succeeded by Locke & Jones, Mr. Locke continuing as Editor. In 1874 Mr. Jones be- came sole proprietor, with E. A. Higgins as

639

PUBLIC PRESS.

Editor; and was succeeded in 1876, by Dr. Miller and T. P. Brown, Dr. Miller being the Editor. In August of that year, the Toledo Blade Company was organized, with A. P. Miller as President and Editor ; T. P. Brown as Vice President; and Frank T. Lane, as Secretary and Treasurer. During the same year Mr. Loeke became the President and A. W. Gleason the Vice President of the Company. This corporation published the three editions of the Blade, and also Locke's Monthly and the American Farm Journal (two monthly publi- cations previously started), until March, 1877, when Alex. Reed and Heman D. Walbridge (as the Toledo Newspaper Company) became the Publishers of the Daily and Tri-Weekly editions, and continued as such until 1878, the Weekly edition and the Monthly issues still being published by the Blade Company, which resumed control of the Daily and Tri-Weekly in 1878, and since that date has continued to publish all editions of the Blade, the monthly publications, meantime, having been suspended. Mr. Lane has acted as Business Manager since the organization of the Blade Company in 1876, and Mr. Loeke as Editor since 1878. The present officers are, D. R. Locke, President ; A. W. Gleason, Vice President ; and F. T. Lane, Secretary and Treasurer. Beside those already named, Rev. Robert McCune, now of Ironton, Ohio; Abram P. Miller, now of Minnesota ; W. HI. Busby, now of Chicago; John H. McEl- roy, now of Washington, D. C .; and S. S. Knabenshue and Robinson Locke, of Toledo, have acted as Managing Editor of the Blade.

In addition to those regularly employed as writers, a large number of persons - especially in the first years of the paper, when its limited resources forbade much expenditure for edito- rial service-have rendered valuable gratuitous assistance in that department. Among the earliest of these were Geo. B. Way, Pierre M. Irving (a nephew of Washington Irving), Richard Mott, John R. Osborn, C. W. Hill, Andrew Palmer, Ralph P. Buckland (now of Fremont), Hiram Walbridge, M. H. Tilden and Judge E. D. Potter. In some cases the paper was supplied weekly by several of these, and sometimes a single writer would do all. Considering the embarrassments attending such service, the columns of the paper bear testi- mony to the ability and success of the volun- teers.

As already stated, the Blade was issued weekly only, from 1836 to May 11, 1846, when a Tri-Weekly edition appeared ; and April 17, 1848, the Daily Blade. Some idea of the circu- lation of the paper about those days may be had, when it is stated that in 1850 the local or Town subscriptions to the Daily edition num- bered 109; to the Tri-Weekly, 24; and to the Weekly, 67 ; making a total of 200 in Toledo for the three. It may be further remarked, that the Daily circulation was chiefly at home.

A few were sent down the Canals to persons interested in the Toledo market, but not many.

The Blade office has had nine different loca- tions, beginning with April, 1837, as follows ;

I. In a brick building, 20t Summit Street.

. The next door East, No. 203.

3. Summit Street, near Lagrange.

4. In Richard Mott's Block, a little below Cherry, on Summit Street.

5. A frame building, 204 Summit Street, now the site of B. Meilink's Furniture Store. Subsequently the Toledo High School was organized and held there until its removal to the present Central School build- ing.

6. In the Poag. Block, Southeast corner of Sum- mit and Madison Streets (up stairs).

7. In the Blade building adjoining (150 Summit), erected for the purpose in 1852.

S. In the second Blade building, 152x154 St. Clair Street, now wholly occupied by the Blade Printing and Paper Company.

9. In the third and present Blade building, South- east corner of Jefferson and Superior Streets.

The fourth newspaper in Toledo was the Toledo Register, which appeared September 14, 1841, Charles I. Scott being Editor and Publisher. It was Democratic in politics, and was the first paper in the County supporting that party, the Gazette having been neutral as to National politics, and the Blade a Whig paper. The Editor of the Register explained the appearance of his paper in this way: "The necessity for the establishment of a newspaper in this District advocating Democratic prin- ciples, has long been felt; but the success of the present undertaking depends upon the sup- port of those who feel friendly to the great political party it will endeavor to support." At that time, the rupture at Washington be . tween President Tyler and the Whigs, was ' taking definite shape, and the Register was in a measure in sympathy with the former in the contest. Mr. Scott continued to conduct the paper until 1843, when he sold it to Garret D. Palmer, who soon changed its name to Toledo Herald, and continued its publication until May, 1844, when it was suspended and was not revived. The Proprietor stated that the sus- pension of the paper was "on account of the general apathy of the Democrats of the District in supporting their newspaper press in such manner as was both their duty and interest to do. The present number, then," he continued, " will be the last, until an entirely different state of feeling exists among the Democracy of the County and this District." In another article calling attention to the Job Printing office connected with the Herald establishment, the proprietor stated that job work would be done " cheaper than the same could be done by any newspaper establishment West of New York." This fact was explained by saying that it was " customary for publishers to make their job work pay for a large portion of the heavy expenses of publishing a newspaper, and as he no longer bad such encumbrance on his

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

hands, he would be able to do work at 40 per cont. below the usual prices."

Fifth of the Toledo newspapers was the Gazette No. two, which appeared first in June, 1844, and was published by R. M. Morrison, formerly of the Manhattan Telegraph. The paper did not last long.

In March, 1849, appeared the Toledo Com- mercial Republican, Daily and Weekly, of which Miller & Co. were Publishers, and Chas. R. Miller, Editor. It was what then wasknown as " Free Democratic," or Democratic with " Free Soil " proclivities. Under such manage- ment it was continned until 1851, when James Myers and Josiah Riley became the Publishers, with Mr. Riley as Editor. This arrangement continued for two or three years, when Silas W. Wilder succeeded Judge Myers as co Pub- lisher. In June, 1854, Mr. Riley became sole Proprietor, and remained such until November following, when Wilshire Riley became his partner. This firm continued until September, 1855, and was then succeeded by Riley, Boyd & Co., James A. Boyd, a practical Printer, being a member of the firm, which published the paper until 1858, when it was suspended. In February, 1862, under the name of the Tole- do Commercial, it was revived by J. A. Boyd and C. H. Coy, of the firm of Boyd & Co., Mr. Riley continuing as Editor. This arrange- meut continued until January, 1864, when the Commercial Printing Company was organized, with the following officers : Directors-Peter Lenk, James C. Hall, S. A. Raymond, John W. Hiett and W. H. Jones; President-S. A. Raymond; Secretary and Business Manager- J. W. Hiett. This arrangement continued for · something over a year, at which time the paper passed into the hands of I. R. Sherwood, J. W. Bailey and Joseph E. Marx, with Stephen J. Meany as Editor. Sam. Andrews, G. T. Stewart and P. T. Bartlett became partners in the paper.

În September, 1866, Clark Waggoner and Ralph H. Waggoner, constituting the firm of Clark Waggoner & Son, purchased the establish- ment, and continued the business until April, 1871, the former acting as Editor and the latter as Business Manager. The Toledo Commercial Company was then organized, with Clark Waggoner as President and Editor, and R. H. Waggoner as Secretary and Treasurer. By this Company the business was continued until it was succeeded by the Toledo Newspaper Company, March 1, 1877, the Messrs. Waggoner withdrawing in January, 1876. The latter association continued the business until suc ceeded by S. D. Rich, November 18, 1878, who remained about one year, when A. W. Search, of Coshocton, Ohio, took the paper for a few weeks, when the paper returned to the Com- mercial Company, in whose interest it waspub- lished until November, 1880. At that time, J. B. Battelle & Co. took it and changed its

name to Toledo Telegram, and published it until March, 1883, at which time it was pur- chased by James M. Comly, Andrew W. Fran- cisco and Alfred E. Lee, from Columbus. In July following, Captain Lee withdrew, and the business was continued by his associates until the withdrawal of Mr. Francisco in 1885. Gen. Comly and A. D. Pelton, as Comly & Co., then took the paper and conducted it until the deatlı of the former in 1887, he having been the Editor since March, 1883, the name Commercial, meantime, having been resumed. Since his death a son (Guy S. Comly) has had charge of the paper, Mr. Pelton acting as Business Manager.

January 1, 1873, the Toledo Printing and Publishing Company was organized, with the following officers : President, Colonel J. C. Frankenberger; Secretary and Treasurer, S. G. McCullough. In 1876, H.S. Chapin became the President, and continued as such until 1883, when John Paul Jones succeeded to the position, and acted as such for one year. The name of the corporation, meantime, was changed to " The Toledo Bee Company." For over three years, its business consisted in Job and Book Printing exclusively. In April, 1876, H. S. Chapin started the Toledo Evening Bee, and soon thereafter that paper was transferred to the corporation, which has published it since that time, and continued the Job and Book Printing business. H. S. Chapin was the Editor of the Bee from April, 1876, to December, 1883, when he was succeeded by J. P. Jones, who continued as such to January, 1885, at which time F. J. Oblinger became Editor, acting as such until succeeded by R. W. Harris, in Sep- tember, 1885. In October, 1886, Elmer White became the Editor, and continues as snch. A. D. Pelton was the Business Manager, from April, 1876, to January, 1880 ; R. A. Brinker- hoff from January, 1880, to January, 1881; F. P. Chapin from January, 1881, to January, 1882; S. G. Mccullough from January, 1882, to October, 1SS6, when he was succeeded by Mr. Chapin, the present incumbent. From its commencement until October, 1886, the Bee, politically, held a position of independence. Since the date named, it has been a Democratic paper. Its editions have been Daily and Weekly, which have steadily increased in size. For a time it was printed on a single-cylinder Hoe press; which was sneceeded by a fonr- cylinder press. It now uses a Webb Perfecting press, of the most improved style.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 126

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408