Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 15

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189

USA > Ohio > Hancock County > Findlay > Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens > Part 15

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school house and church until the completion of a brick structure court house in 1841. The old court house has since been removed to the south part of Main Street, just north of the First Presbyterian Church, (now the Donnel Block), and was occupied by Jacob Carr and family as a residence. After having served as a court house it was for many years used as a hotel. The county commissioners were very solicitous about the good usage and the author- ized occupancy of this new structure, and passed not a few orders touching the matter, and prescribing the terms on which it could be occupied.

The Court House was examined and ac- cepted by the commissioners in March, 1833. At their December session, 1834, it was "or- dered that the auditor do cause to be erected in the Court House a suitable seat for the Court. Also that he do procure two sets of chairs for the Court room." At a session of December, 1836, "Ordered that all religoius societies be prohibited from holding meetings in the Court House after the ist day of January, 1837." But the authorities soon relented, if indeed they ever attempted to enforce the order, for at their very next session, that of March, 1837, the rec- ords show this action: "Ordered that the Pres- byterian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, of the town of Findlay, each pay into the treasury of Hancock County, the sum of seventy-five cents per month for the time they occupy the same, for the use of the Court House for religious purposes, to commence from this date." At the same session it was "Ordered that the Directors of School District No. 1, in Find- lay Township, pay into the county treasury at the rate of eleven dollars for six months, for the use of the Court room for a district school."

But everything in time outlives its useful-

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ness, and in March, 1840, it was ordered by the commissioners "that the auditor of the county of Hancock offer the lot that the old Court House stands on, including said build- ing, at public sale, one third of the purchase

money in hand, the balance in two equal an- nual payments, on the third Saturday of May next, advertising the same thirty days previous to the day of sale." The property was sold to one Jacob Barnel.

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CHAPTER X.

THE PRESS. -

Early News Conditions-Presses in Use-The Old Time Compositor-Leading Newspapers of the County-Their Proprietors and Editors-Value of the Daily Press.

In the early history of our county mail facilities were poor, the mails being car- ried on horseback, and by the time the few newspapers taken by the people reached their destination, the news was stale. It took a month at least to get the latest news from Europe, and in the very early days of journalism in this section, local items were almost unknown. The papers were filled chiefly with the doings of Congress, the quarrels of the political parties, and foreign affairs. The daily then was not dreamed of, and such papers as there were con- tained few original communications.

The first newspapers were printed on the old hand press, the famous "Washington," which is still found in some country offices, especially in the South. Working this press required the strength of a giant, and of course but one page of the paper could be printed at a time. There were few edit- orials in those days; the editor relied chiefly upon scissors and paste-pot, and never troubled himself about "leaders" and the like. It required half the week to print the meager edition on the miserable presses then in vogue, and not infrequently

the editor took a turn at the press himself.

In those days also the enterprising re- porter was unknown. There was no county correspondence, no recording of neighborhood doings, no localizing at all. The old newspapers just plodded along. The publishers took nearly everything in exchange for subscriptions-wood, flour, garden produce, and even whiskey.

There was no "display" in the few ad- vertisements that found their way into the first newspapers of the county, and the knack of writing advertisements had not then been discovered. There were adver- tisements of musters, strayed animals, run- away apprentices, and little more, I believe that the newspapers of the past were as much read by their patrons as are those of the present day, because they had nothing else to read, if we except the few dry vol- umes that looked lonely on the bookshelf of the home. The papers were then read aloud at night to the household by the head of it, including the month-old news that filled the narrow columns. News not over a month old was considered fresh, and if a paper printed anything with not more

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than a week's age upon it, it was looked upon as a marvel of enterprise.

The old-time compositor was usually a character. He tramped the country afoot, and when the editor was out of town he "set up" the paper, worked the press him- self, collected subscriptions, and, in short, was the "whole thing." Some of these geniuses did not belong to the temperance societies, and now and then the non-ap- pearance of the paper was owing to the chronic "indisposition"-to use no harsher term. The tramp printer has almost dis- appeared, though now and then one puts in an appearance, works a few days, and again becomes the "Wandering Jew" of the profession.

On the 10th of November, 1836, the first issue of the paper now called the Hancock Courier was given to the few citizens of the small hamlet of Findlay. The Courier is older than the city, as Findlay was not in- corporated until two years later. It was the first newspaper in Northwestern Ohio and for a time it had a precarious existence. At that time it was an 18x26 inch sheet. The nearest paper mill was at Delaware, with no means of transportation save by wagon over muddy, and at times, almost impassable roads; it might perhaps be said that there were no roads at all. The paper was first called the Findlay Courier, but at the beginning of the second volume the name was lengthened to "The Findlay Courier and Hancock and Putnam Demo- cratic Shield." In 1851 the name was changed to The Hancock Courier, and this name has been retained ever since, except that the superfluous "The" was dropped in 1862.

The Findlay Courier was established November 10, 1826, by Jacob Rosenberg and edited and published by him until Jan- uary 17, 1839. Mr. Rosenberg was born in Bedford, Bedford County, Pa., October 13, 1811. He came to Findlay on the 29th of September, 1836, and started the paper shortly after, as stated above. On the 24th of January, 1839, Mr. Henry Bishop pur- chased the Courier and edited and published it until July 1, 1845. Mr. Bishop was born and raised in Franklin County, Ohio. In 1851 he was elected to the Ohio legislature and filled the office with ability for two terms. After selling out the office in 1845 he removed to his farm in Eagle Township. He was drowned in Eagle Creek in June, 1855.

On July 1, 1845, Mr. William Mungen purchased the Courier and conducted it until some time in November, 1849. In November, 1849, Mr. William Case rented the office for one year. He was an easy- going, careless fellow and never appeared to care whether or not the paper came out on time. During this year Mr. Mungen did most of the editorial work. At the close of Mr. Case's lease the office was rented to Mr. B. F. Rosenberg for a short time. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Henry Brown pur- chased a half interest in the Courier. (See his sketch in the chapter on Bench and Bar.) Some time in the spring of 1851 Mr. Aaron Blackford purchased the interest of Mr. Mungen in the Courier and continued in partnership with Mr. Brown until the close of 1856. Mr. Blackford's biography also may be found in the chapter on Bench and Bar.

In January 1857 Mr. Benjamin F. Rosen-

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berg purchased the Courier and conducted it for six months. Mr. Rosenberg was the son of the founder of this paper. On the 25th of July, 1857, the Courier passed into the hands of Mr. A. M. Hollabaugh, who published and edited it until March 1, 1861. On the eighth of March, 1862, Messrs. L. Glessner and son assumed the charge of editing and publishing the Courier and con- tinued until January 1, 1865. On the Ist of January, 1865, Mr. William L. Glessner assumed control of the Courier and edited and published the same until May 1, 1866.

Mr. Lewis Glessner assumed charge of the Courier from May 1, 1866, until his death, which occurred March 13, 1879. The Daily Courier was established March, 1887, by G. and Fred Glessner, from which time Fred Glessner assumed control and served as general manager and editor until Feb- ruary 24, 1898, when Arnold and Mr. Henry took possession for one year. Afterwards J. L. Patterson, T. A. Dean and others formed a stock company and purchased and assumed control of the Courier and under their management the paper made rapid progress. October 29, 1902, Mr. Patterson released his holdings to other parties and the paper immediately passed under the management of T. A. Dean.

In 1889 a company was incorporated with capital stock of $25,000.00 and on July 20, 1903, it was combined with the Findlay Union. On June 17th, 1904, control passed to H. W. Brown and his associates, Mr. Brown assumed control, which he had held to present date. The present officers are : C. E. Jordan, president ; M. G. Foster, vice- president ; W. F. Hosler, sec. and treas. ; and H. W. Brown, editor and general manager.

This paper dates back to the days when Han- cock County was just emerging from its primi- tive condition and Findlay was a straggling hamlet of cabins. It has published the obitua- ries of several opposition papers during the period of sixty-seven years, and has ever bat- tled for Democracy and the rights and liberties of the people.

The Hancock Republican, the first Whig paper published in the county, was established by Arnold F. Merriam in January, 1838. It had a brief existence of about one year and, probably owing to lack of patronage, died a natural death in its infancy.

The Hancock Farmer was started by Jacob Rosenberg in 1842 as a Democratic paper in favor of nominating candidates by the delegate system instead of by popular vote, the latter system being advocated by Mr. Bishop of the Courier. The Farmer was published by Mr. Rosenberg until his death in October, 1844, and afterwards by the administrator Jacob Barnd. Early in 1845 William Mungen took possession of the office and issued his first num- ber February 19th of that year. Toward the close of June Mr. Mungen purchased the Courier and consolidated the papers as the Democratic Courier.

The Western Herald was established by John T. Ford in January, 1845, in the second story of the old frame building on the corner of Main and Sandusky Streets now the Niles block. It was the second Whig paper started in Findlay. October 5, 1845, Mr. James M. Coffinberry assumed full control and edited and published the paper as The Findlay Her- ald until January, 1848, when he sold the office to Dr. David Patton and the paper soon after was suspended.

In September, 1848, Robert Coulter came

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FOLK BROS. "FURNITURE, OFFICE & STORE FIXTURES.

ER.

FOLK BROS.' STORE AND OFFICE, FINDLAY

THE C.L.SHEPPARD SANITORIUM & REMEDY CO.

THE C. L. SHEPPARD SANITORIUM & REMEDY CO., FINDLAY

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TARBOX & McCALL PLANT, FINDLAY

CHARLES H. SHULER ELEVATOR, PLEASANT TOWNSHIP

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to Findlay, purchased the Herald office and began the publication of a six-column folio pa- per called The Hancock Whig. He conducted the Whig until February, 1850, when he sold out to William P. Resznor, who published the paper about seven months, then disposed of it to George C. Lyon in September, 1850. Mr. Lyon was a man of great energy and with the hope of benefiting the paper changed its name to The Hancock Journal. In July, 1851, Mr. Coulter, who on selling out to Mr. Resznor had removed to Springfield, Ohio, returned to Findlay and again became the editor and pub- lisher of the paper. Mr. Coulter published the paper until July, 1852, when the Journal sus- pended publication.

The first number of the Home Companion, a paper established by Samuel A. Spear, was issued June 8, 1854. It was a seven-column folio printed on a sheet 25 x 27 inches in size. The paper started as a non-political and more as an advocate of reform in the liquor law, and the advancement of education by the elevation and improvement of the public schools. In the spring of 1856 Mr. High L. McKee ob- tained an interest in the paper and was one of its principal promoters until April 24, 1857, when Mr. Spear became entire owner. On June 19, 1857, the name of the paper was changed to The Hancock Jeffersonian and it remained under the control of Mr. Spear until November 22, 1861, when it suspended busi- ness. After a few weeks Mr. D. R. Locke of Bucyrus, Ohio, came to Findlay and resusci- tated the Jeffersonian. Under the new man- agement the paper rapidly increased owing to the publication of the "Nasby Papers" which won for Mr. Locke a national reputation and the title of Petroleum V. Nasby. In Septem- ber, 1864, Irvin S. Chamberlin purchased an

interest in the Jeffersonian and in February, 1865, Mr. Locke sold his remaining interest to Otis F. Locke. In April the name of C. N. Locke appears in the editorial heading. On November 17, 1865, Mr. Chamberlin and C. N. Locke retired and Messrs. L. G. Thrall and Otis T. Locke became sole proprietors. In July, 1866, Mr. Thrall disposed of his interest to his partner and C. N. Locke again became one of the editors W. G. Blymer bought an interest in the Jeffersonian in December, 1866, and the firm was then Locke and Blymer. In February, 1868, C. N. Locke again purchased an interest and Locke & Blymer were editors and proprietors until September 4, 1868, when E. G. DeWolfe and Dr. A. P. Miller purchased the office.

On April 1, 1870, the paper came out in a ten-column folio as The Findlay Jeffersonian. In January, 1873, O. J. DeWolfe, a brother of E. G. DeWolfe bought Dr. Miller's interest and the paper continued under the manage- ment of the DeWolfe brothers until March, 1876, when E. G. DeWolfe became sole owner. The latter continued to edit and publish the Jeffersonian until April 28, 1876, when he sold it to his old partner, Dr. O. P. Miller, who be- fore issuing a single number sold the office to A. H. Balsey, who published the first number under the new management May 5, 1876. He continued at the helm until January 6, 1902, when Mr. John M. Hoffa, of Bowling Green, purchased the office, and under the new man- agement the paper is becoming one of the larg- est in circulation. On June 5, 1881, this paper was changed to the Findlay Weekly Jefferson- ian, because the daily which was started No- vember 15, 1880, was called the Findlay Daily Jeffersonian.

The Reporter was started June 18, 1872, by

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C. G. and J. K. Barnd and originally was a lit- erary paper. In October, 1872 J. K. Barnd sold his interest to C. G. Barnd and the paper attained a very. respectable circulation until early in its second year, it drifted into the grange movement, hoping to become a great organ among the farming community But the change proved a mistake and the paper's pat- ronage began decreasing. The name was fin- ally changed to the American Patron and when the grange movement subsided it became the Property Journal. It was published about five years and then ceased to exist.

Das Ohio Volksblatt, a German Democratic weekly paper, was started in 1877 by Adolph G. Zwanzig. After publishing the paper about one year he removed the office to Lima, where it was subsequently sold by his creditors.

The Findlay Weekly Republican was estab- lished by J. M. Beelman and James E. Gris- wold and the first number issued February 6, 1879. It was started in opposition to the Jef- fersonian, many Republicans not regarding that paper as sufficiently "stalwart" to satisfy their ideas of a party organ. In July, 1879, Mr. Griswold sold his interest to his partner who enlarged the paper to an eight-column folio. On the 3rd of January, 1881, E. G. De- Wolfe, then postmaster of Findlay, and Jason Blackford, a member of the Findlay bar, pur- chased an interest in the Republican. The fol- lowing October Mr. Blackford sold out to Mr. DeWolfe and the paper was subsequently en- larged to a nine-column folio. Capt. H. H. Alban bought Mr. Beelman's interest July 28, 1882, and the firm of DeWolfe & Alban edited and published the paper until the death of Mr. DeWolfe, which occurred August 8, 1888, when H. P. Crouse became editor and S. P. De Wolfe business manager. On April 1, 1900,

Mr. Crouse sold his interest to Jesse Huber, and I. N. Heminger and Mr. Huber became editor. On December 7, 1901, Mr. DeWolfe purchased more stock in the paper and became editor while Mr. I. N. Heminger became busi- ness manager. Mr. Alban about 1890 sold his interest to other stockholders and thus severed his connection with the paper. In November, 1903, the Findlay Publishing Company was organized and incorporated with a capital stock of $75,000.00, and purchased the Morning Re- publican and Evening Jeffersonian and contin- ued the publication of both editions and at pres- ent they have a combined circulation exceeding 6,000 copies daily. The officers of the Findlay Publishing Company at this writing are as fol- lows: President, Dr. U. L. MacLaughlan; vice-president, E. C. Taylor; secretary, J. D. Snyder; business manager and treasurer, I. N. Heminger. Mr. DeWolfe disposed of his in- terest in the Republican upon the organization of the Findlay Publishing Company in 1909. These papers moved into their new and com- modious building at 308 Broadway, where they now have one of the finest newspaper plants in Ohio.

The Findlay Star was established by W. S. Hammaker and first issued August 21, 1882. It was a live progressive little daily, thoroughly Democratic in politics and during its career of less than two years was a welcome friend in 550 homes and business places. On April 21, 1884, Mr. A. H. Balsey, of the Jeffersonian, purchased the Star and consolidated it with the business of that office. In 1903 the Jefferson- ian was purchased by the Findlay Publishing Company and is now published by that com- pany.

The Findlay Wochenblatt, a German weekly newspaper, was established October 28, 1886,

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by A. Weixelbaum. The paper had a success- ful growth, and on April 1, 1888, Mr. Chris- tian Heyn purchased the Wochenblatt and is now the owner. The Wochenblatt is regarded as a first-class German newspaper.

The Findlay Union was established in No- vember, 1890, by H. Wilts Brown and Rufus M. Hern and was published under this firm name until March, 1892, when on account of ill health Mr. Horn sold his interest. August I, 1903, the Courier Company purchased and consolidated the Union with the Hancock Cou- rier, Mr. Brown, former publisher of the Un- ion, becoming editor of the Courier.

Of papers published elsewhere in this county the following are worthy of special mention:

The McComb Record was started July 4, 1894, by E. L. Sutton and L. G. Herbert, and a few months later was sold to the H. H. Moore Printing Company.

The McComb Herald was organized in 1881, by J. F. Hickerson and others. S. B. Davis, R. M. Horn, H. M. Pomeroy and Daniel Dyer have at different times been editors and man- agers of this paper. Mr. C. W. Griswold is the

present editor and manager The McComb Herald has the largest circulation of any paper in the county, excepting the two Findlay dai- lies. It reaches at least twenty-seven per cent of all the people residing in McComb and the vicinity, giving all local and general news that would be of interest to the people. The circu- lation in round numbers has reached 1,200.

Arlington can boast of a paper second to none for towns of its size. This paper is pub- lished by Mr. Frank Bitler, a very able writer.

There were other papers in various localities of this county, some are still living, while oth- ers have lapsed into oblivion. "But," in the words of a former historian, "whatever their length of life was or may be, the newspapers are one of the best educational mediums we today possess. The farmer, the laborer, the merchant, the banker, the mechanic, the profes- sional man; the business man in all stages of physical, mental or moral duties have each an equal opportunity to instill in their minds the current history as it swiftly glides across the stage of time."

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CHAPTER XI.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

Hancock County Medical Men of the Past and of the Present.

The first permanent physician in Han- cock County, was Dr. Bass Rawson, who was born April 17, 1799, in the town of Orange, Franklin County, Mass. He was one of five brothers, who removed from Massachusetts at an early day and settled in Ohio, four being physicians. In his boy- hood he worked on a farm and attended a country school. From the farm he went to learn the trade of hatter, which he worked at until he was about twenty years of age, but, his health somewhat failing him, he determined to relinquish it and engaged in the study of medicine. With this end in view he entered an academy at New Salem, Mass., which he attended several terms. In the meanwhile he taught school for the purpose of earning money to defray the necessary expense of his education. At the age of twenty-five he married and immigrated to Ravenna, Ohio, where he re- mained a few months. He then removed to Otsego County, New York, locating at Richfield. Here he again taught school. Previous to his leaving Massachusetts he had studied medicine for a few months, but on his return to the east he took up the study seriously, with the intention of quali-

fying himself as a physician, Dr. Thomas, of Richfield, becoming his preceptor. In the winter of 1826-27 he attended medical lec- tures at Dartmouth College, New Hamp- shire, and at the close of the collegiate term returned to his father's house at New Salem and continued the reading of medicine with Dr. Brooks of Orange. In June, 1828, he re- moved to Ohio and practiced a little more than a year with his brother, Dr. Secretary Rawson, who resided in Medina County, Ohio. In September, 1829, he removed to Findlay, where he settled permanently in the practice of his profession. The place had been but recently settled and only twelve white families resided within its limits, the Indians being more numerous than the whites. Here the doctor practiced without cessation, for over sixty years. He was a member and earnest supporter of the Presbyterian church. In politics he was a Republican. His death occurred December 28, 1891. The writer remembers a little incident that happened to the Doctor, and which he used to tell.

When making the trip from Medina County, to Hancock County, they stopped along the roadway to rest and prepare a

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meal. While thus engaged, a man rode up and asked if this was the new doctor that was coming to live in the neighborhood, the Doctor replying that he was, the man then said that he had a very sick wife, and would the Doctor please come right away and see her. And so, eating a hurried meal, the Doctor went away with the man. Thus his practice was started, even before he had reached the end of his journey into the new country that he had picked out for his future home.

Charles Oesterlin, M. D., was born in Weinsburg, Kingdom of Wurttemberg, October 5, 1807. When quite young he at- tended school at Laufen on the Necker. At fourteen he entered the gymnasium at Stuttgart, from which he graduated at the age of eighteen in a thorough literary, scientific and classical course. He then went to Tubingen, where he engaged in medical studies under an able professor. In 1832 he came to America and after spending some considerable time in traveling through the country located in Ashland, Ohio, in 1834. September 30, 1836, he came to Find- lay, where he was engaged in his profession until his death, which occurred January 18, 1889. In 1846 he embarked in merchandis- ing here for two years, at the end of which time he retired. From 1848 to 1862 he served in the councils of the city ; in 1871 he was elected to the legislature and filled that office for one term. In 1863 Dr. Oesterlin visited his native land and again in 1876, when he was recalled by the loss of several thousand dollars through the breaking of the Findlay Savings Bank Company. In June, 1885, along with his estimable wife, who had always accompanied him, he again

started for his old home in the Fatherland but got sick in New York and did not cross the ocean, but returned home. Mr. Oester- lin was an ardent supporter of all measures tending to advance public interest. He was probably the first to advocate boring for natural gas at this place and was one of the stockholders of the Findlay Natural Gas Company.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 15

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1189

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189