Guernsey County, Ohio - Chapter 15: The Newspapers of Guernsey County, 1911

Chapter 15: The Newspapers of Guernsey County

Since the introduction of the printing press, all civilized portions of the globe have employed them for the dissemination of intelligence from one class to another. Perhaps it goes undisputed that the art of printing and the invention of the printing press has been the greatest discovery in way of useful, universal achievements the world has so far discovered. Without going into the history of the invention, or what it has accomplished in all branches of man's purposes to elevate and enlighten, and to Christianize mankind, the writer will at once go at the task of outlining the various newspapers that have from time to time been published within the limits of Guernsey county. If any are omitted it is through ignorance and not neglect or intention, but likely there may have been papers run for a short period which have escaped the author's mind, with the passing of so many years.

The first Democratic newspaper in the county was the Washington Republican, established at Washington in 1826 by Messrs. Hull and Robb. Mr. Hull dropped out in 1827 and Jacob Robb was sole proprietor. It was suspended fur a time, but in 1838 resumed publication and changed its name to the Democratic Star, which the wicked Whigs called the "Dog Star." Its editor was Peter B. Ankney. It continued until 1847 an(l was tnen succeeded by the Jeffersonian, by Gill & Leach. The Jeffersonian is the same as that still published at Cambridge, having passed down through various hands. The chain is about as follows: Arthur T. Clark had it in 1850; Lewis Baker edited the paper in the first years of the Civil war. and was succeeded as proprietor by Charles E. Mitchner, who ran for Congress. Following him came George McClelland, who was the successful man at the head of the paper until he was succeeded by John Kirkpatrick, who sold to John M. Amos 111 January, 1886. and in company with his sons still edits and owns the Jeffersonian.

The daily Jeffersonian was established as the first real daily publication in the county. The date of its starting was in 189 1. since which time it has not missed an issue on a week day. The weekly is now on its seventy-ninth volume and the daily on its nineteenth volume. It is one of Ohio's cleanest, most newsy newspapers, and it is an honor to the newspaper fraternity of this county and the entire state.

Lewis Baker, editor of the Jeifersonian, carried under a subhead throughout the Civil war these words : "Our country - may she ever be right. But, right or wrong - our country. We are a unit; party feeling has been entirely sunk all over the North. Political parties now rally to the defense of the Union and Constitution and under this banner every true man worthy the name American citizen can fight with a good heart - we are a unit."

In 1862, his motto was, "The Union as it was - the Constitution as it is. The Union of lakes, the Union of lands - the Union of States none can sever - the Union of hearts - the Union of hands - the American Union forever."

Before the Civil war - in 1850 - the following appeared as heads of editorials in September of that year, and serve to show that the Jcffcrsouiau has ever been alert to the interests of the party and the taxpayers of this county : "Against Railroad Subscriptions," "The Funded System," "Look Out for Deception," "Old Federalism Sticking Out," "Stop that Falsehood," "The Greatest Fraud of the Age." Then these questions are submitted: "Farmers of Guernsey county, are your taxes already high enough? Have they become oppressive? Then let all vote against railroad subscription." "Are the landholders of Guernsey county prepared to mortgage their lands to money lenders to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars? Their vote against railroad subscription."

The Guernsey Times

The Guernsey Times was founded by J. Aitken, at Cambridge, the first number being dated September 18, 1824. The subscription price was set at one dollar and fifty cents, if paid within thirty days after the time of subscribing; two dollars, if paid within six months, or two dollars and fifty cents if not paid until after the expiration of six months. Advertisements not exceeding a "square" were inserted three times for one dollar, twentyfive cents for each subsequent insertion. The first volume of the Times was not much larger than an ordinary office ledger. The paper consisted of four pages, each of four columns of leaded brevier, embellished with the atrocious woodcuts which were then in the height of popularity, and was made up mainly of foreign and political news, with now and then a local item. The advertisements were for the greater part demands for money by many of the merchants, coupled with threats of legal procedure, and a list of articles would be taken in lieu of coin, which was at that time extremelv scarce.

The first volume closed with the number dated ( )ctober 15, 1825, at which time the paper passed out of the hands of Aitken and became the property of Col. Cyrus P. Beatty, who successfully conducted it up to the time of his death, December 17, 1827. after which publication was continued b\ his widow. Colonel Beatty, upon assuming- control, enlarged the paper to five columns, and greatly improved the typography and general appearance of tinsheet. The published terms of the paper were as follows:

"The Guernsey Times will be published one a week, on a super-royal sheet, and good type, at one dollar and fifty cents per annum, if paid in advance, or within three months after commencing, two dollars if paid before the expiration of the year, and two dollars and fifty cents if paid after the expiration of the year. One-half of the subscription will be received in produce at market price, if delivered within the current year, or the whole, if paid in rags. Xo paper discontinued, except at the option of the editor, until all arrearages are paid. Xo subscription taken for less than a year, unless mentioned at the time of subscribing, and paid for in advance, at the rate of two dollars per annum, and a failure to notify a discontinuance before the term expires shall be considered as a new engagement. Advertisements by the year, inserted at Pittsburg prices."

The plant passed successively through the hands of Nicholas Bailhache I February 1, [828, to 1830), John Hersh, Jr. (May 1, 1830, to May 18, 1833, when it became John Hersh & Co.), John Hersh, Jr., and D. M. McPherson ( as Guernsey Times ami Ohio Gazette, from about April 20, 1832, to April 12, 1833). It is probable that after the dissolution of the partnership existing between Hersh and McPherson, the business was conducted by John Hersh. Jr., until the issue of March 8, 1834, when the firm became Hersh & Weirich, the new partner being C. E. Weirich. With the number for November 20,

1834. the paper again became the sole property of John Hersh. Jr., who continued publication until December 13, 1834, when the name was changed from The Guernsey Times ami Ohio Gazette to The Guernsey Times and Farmers' ami Mechanics' Advocate, and became the property of William W. Tracev. The paper flourished under Tracey. and when sold on December 12,

Beatty was succeeded on July 2. 1836. by Lambert Thomas, who was a prominent character in early Whig days. June 17. 1837, the firm became Lambert & J. S. Thomas, but the paper retained the same caption and sul>- head. June 9, 1838, Lambert Thomas again assumed entire control, and continued publication until December 7, 1839, when W. R. Allison became edi- tor and publisher. Allison, during his brief editorship, made but few changes in the appearance of the paper, the most important being his substitution of the motto : "One Country, one Constitution, one Destiny," the famous declaration of Daniel Webster, in place of the former sub-head, "Fanners' and Mechanics' Advocate." Allison was succeeded, March 21, 1840, by Charles J. Albright, who probably held his position longer than any of the editors who had preceded him, his resignation taking effect in the twenty-first year of the Times. He was succeeded by Messrs. Hatton and Green, who were editors jointly for a short time, when, with the number for March 20, 1846, the plant became the sole property of Richard Hatton, Mr. Green retiring from the newspaper field.

Richard Hatton sold the Times establishment to its former owner, C. J. Albright, in the spring of 1849, when the subhead became, "Let all the ends thou aimst at be thy country's, thy God's, and Truth's."

Albright kept it until December 28, 1854, when he sold it to Moses and C. P. B. Sarchet. In 1856 the plant passed into the hands of J. C. Douglas, who conducted it until January 1, 1862, who then enlisted in the Union army. He sold to Joseph D. Taylor and W. H. F. Lenfesty, and it remained in the Taylor family up to within a short time. David D. Taylor was at the head of the paper in the eighties and was still at his task in 1910, when he died. A sketch of this manly man will appear in the biographical section of this work.

The chain of owners of the Times, then, has been as above mentioned down to the time the Taylor family took it. From that time on, Taylor & Lenfesty controlled it until 1874, when David D. Taylor acquired an interest amounting to one-half its value, and in 1890 he purchased the balance and was sole owner up to his death. Upon his decease, the Taylor boys managed it until a few months had passed, when Prof. J. M. Carr and others bought the property of Mrs. Taylor, and Mr. Carr became its editor and manager. This only lasted for a few months as, on November 8, 1905, the Guernsey Times Company was organized by Judge W. H. Gregg and others who have the property at this date (November, 1910). This has been one of the most influential local papers in Ohio and has fought many a political conflict, though in a manly manner. Should the present management make as good a record as have the men who have been behind the editorial desk in the more than four score years of the paper's history, they will indeed be fortunate.

The Times has long since been a weekly and daily combined, and has visted the homes of many thousands of the people of Guernsey and adjoining counties. Long live the Times!

The only surviving son of Lambert Thomas, who was for main years prominent in Cambridge affairs, and formerly editor of the Guernsey Times, Joseph Sterling Thomas, who died December i. [910, at Cambridge, was a well known resident of this city. Mr. Thomas was educated as an art and literary student, having studied in the greatest cities of the world, lie was horn at Zahesville, Ohio, but in verj earl) childhood was taken to Philadelphia, where his natural fancy and affinity for the arts led to rapid advancement. So marvelous was his skill, and so great his aptitude, that it was decided to give him the advantage of foreign study. After graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, he went abroad to continue 1 1 i^ studies. His private preceptors were Thomas P. Otter. George L. P.ensell. Stephen Ferris and Joseph Bailly, the eminent French sculptor. Me remained in Europe during the years 1S7S-7C). In London he studied diligently along loth art and literary lines, and produced many pictures which were highly commended by noted artists and critics. He also contributed widely to newspapers and magazines, being an able writer as well as an artist. Upon his return to Philadelphia, he was robbed of a choice and interesting collection of pictures, models, vases, has-reliefs. and liric-a-lirac. by disreputable persons who visited his studio.

Mr. Thomas was a direct descendant of Judge Gomher. one of the founders of Cambridge, and of John Afordby Beatty, father of Col. Cyrus Parkinson Beatty. Gomber's brother-in-law and business partner. The Afordhy-Beattys are old Virginia and Maryland stock of great antiquity and distinction.

Mr. Thomas regarded as his most unique experience the occasion upon which, at an early age. he penetrated through the Black Hills to the base of the Rocky mountains, after roaming through the wilds of Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Dakota, etc., walking a distance of one thousand miles in six weeks.

Tlic People's Press was established by Wes. Dunifer and later it was conducted by J. F. Solmon and he changed it to the Cambridge Democrat. Still later it was bought by a stock company of which J. R. Barr was manager and editor, and conducted as the Republican-Press, the same style as it is now known and run at present by the Times company, as a weekly family paper of

A Curious Editorial

Shortly after J. C. Douglas had assumed the editorship of the Guernsey Times, the following amusing editorial appeared, in the issue for July 24, 1856:

"Yes, you thieving buccaneer, bring back my boots. Verily, editors are a persecuted race. Scarcely have I gotten seated upon the tripod, when some thieving rascal, without the fear of God, man, devil or printer before his eyes, steals my boots. May they corn his toes, pinch his feet, palsy his hands, and when he goes to draw them on. may the straps break, and let him fall over backwards and break his 'cussed' neck, and thus escape the hangman, if he don't bring them back."

"Acknowledgment. - We are indebted to the Hon. Daniel Webster for a copy of his speech in Senate of U. States, on the Deposit Question - also a copy of his Report, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, on the same subject - both in pamphlet form - for which he will please accept our thanks."

The Cambridge Herald

The Cambridge Herald was established as a weekly Republican newspaper about 1868, by Mr. Farrar, who a few years later sold to W. B. Hutchinson and finally, after several changes, in 1882 became the property of Messrs. Mahaffev and Ogier, when it became an independent paper and was thus conducted for a period of twenty-eight years, or until sold in August, 1910, to \Y. < ). Moore, who is the present editor and proprietor, with the veteran newspaper man, C. L. Blackburn, as associate editor. It has been a clean, spicy, home paper, published each week, giving the most important news of city, county, state and nation. In connection with this paper, there is a first-class job department. Its weekly visits are highly appreciated by a large and increasing patronage.

During the more than a quarter of a century that Mr. Mahaffev was conducting- the paper, he was four times a candidate for public office, but in all that time he never had his name flaunted in his paper and was independent in all things. And for this, he was popular and hold office in his state, showing that the masses believe in a citizen who "blows not his own horn."

Other Cambridge Newspapers

The Sun was another newspaper that in its day cut considerable figure in this county. It was established by S. M. Johnson, now of Fairview, and was once the property of Lykes, Ferbache & Hyatt; then Lykes run it alone for about eight years, when it went down. It was independent in politics, and was under its various managements edited usually by Mr. Blackburn, now associate editor of the Cambridge Herald. It was published up to within a few years and was a home paper of decided opinions as to the propriety of local matters, and the temperance cause especially.

Other journals of more or less importance were the News and Republican, that merged with the Times, and an educational publication edited by Prof. McBurney for many years and finally removed to another part of Ohio and still a standard educational publication.

Newspapers At Pleasant City

The first attempt at sustaining a newspaper in Pleasant City was in the establishment of the Record, by S. O. Riggs, and following him came the News, by A. T. Secrest. neither one of which had a long or very eventful career.

The third newspaper in the place was founded by H. W. Kackley and tin's was styled the Citizen, which was rather short-lived, as had been its two predecessors.

Idie fourth paper founded was the Leader, by H. D. Flanagan, who started his paper on October 31, 1905, and continued only nine weeks. It was launched under the name of the "Pleasant City Printing Company," nonpolitical. Xot having been entered as second class matter, a cent a paper had to be attached as postage on same and still the circulation had reached five hundred and fifty and every inch of advertising space was taken. Failing to secure second class rates in time to justify its further publication, the paper was discontinued.

A church publication, styled the Parishiniire, or some similar title, was established at Pleasant City in 1904, by W. F. Birely and Rev. C. F. Floto, but this did not continue very long.

proprietor, C. L. Stranathan. This is the Recorder founded in February, 1907, It is the best paper ever published in the village. It is now an eight-page, seven-column paper, filled with spicy local news and general political and world-wide news. Its advertising patronage is excellent and the mechanical appearance is seldom surpassed in so small a place as Pleasant City. The latest machinery is employed in printing this paper, together with an excellent grade of job work.

Byesville Newspapers

The first newspaper here, as is usually the case, was not of long duration. About ninety per cent fail as did this paper. Two papers were launched onto the sea of local journalism here before the founding of the present excellent paper, the Enterprise. It was November 1, 1899, when L. W. Smith, backed by D. S. Burt and aided by E. E. Green, established the Enterprise. From that date until 1900 it was published at home, but printed at Cambridge on the Republican presses. Then it was purchased by its present owner, who moved his own plant from Marietta and permanently located at Byesville. July 20, 1905, it was sold to Ella M. Beer, who died soon after, and in order to protect the interests he still held in the business, the present owner was compelled to take it back in October, 1906. It is now conducted under the head of the Enterprise Printing Company, with J. A. Skinner as manager and proprietor. It is Republican in politics, a lively local chronicler of all that is fit to be published, but never sensational. It is a six-column, eight-page paper, well edited and finely printed on a power press. It enjoys a large circulation and its job department is always full of paying jobs, which formerly went abroad. It has performed its part in the upbuilding of Byesville.

Cumberland Newspapers

The enterprising town of Cumberland is now supplied with one thoroughly up-to-date newspaper, the Echo, established in September, 1885, by W. A. Reedle. The present proprietor is W. G. Nichols, who has been at the helm since 1898. Others who have owned and operated the enterprise of paper publishing here have been, Johnson & Frisby, Albert Johnson, Miss May Stranathan and H. A. Goodrich. It was originally called the Cumberland Ncii's. It is independent in politics. The mechanical department is modern. Job printing is executed in excellent style on a Cincinnati jobber, while the Echo is printed on a Fairhaven cylinder press. This local journal chronicles all the news of this section of the "Kingdom of Guernsey" that is fit to be put

Quaker City Papers

The Quaker City Independent was established in 1875 by J. D. Olmstead & Son. In 1882 it was bought by J. \Y. & A. B. Hill, then the youngest newspaper firm in Ohio. The paper is well received by a large patronage, as a clean, bright, newsy journal of local and editorial writings of all the current