Marietta, Ohio - The Press

The Press

THE beginning of the same century in which the west was settled witnessed the establishment of the first American newspaper. The Boston Mews Letter first saw the light April 24,1704. The first paper west of the Alleghenies was the Pittsburgh Gazeffe, started in 1785. While preparations were making in New England, and in the Congress of the Old Confederation for the planting of the first colony northwest of the Ohio, the first newspaper in Kentucky was printed at Lexington by William Bradford. It was called the Kentucke Gazetfe and the first number bore date of August 17, 1787.

The pioneer of the press northwest of the Ohio was the Centinel of the Northwest Territory, issued at Cincinnati November 9, 1793. This is the paper from which the Cincinnati Gazet/e claims to be descended and from which it takes date and number, although its present name dates back only to 1815. The Scioto Gazette (Chillicothe) was established in the summer of 1800 and is still published under its original name. Its claim of being the oldest paper-in Ohio is well based and indisputable. Zhe Ohio Gazette and the Territorial and Vir- ginia FHlerald was first issued at Marietta December 7, 1801. Nine years later - in 1810 - there were published in Ohio, according to Thomas' History of Printing, fourteen papers, four of which - the Scioto Gazette, Supporter, Fredonian, and Independent Republican - were at Chillicothe, and three - the Whig, Liberty Hali, and the Advertiser - at Cincinnati. The remaining seven were the Ohio Gazette and Commentator, at Marietta; the Muskingum Messenger, at Zanesville; the Patriot, at New Lisbon; Western Herald, at Steubenville; the Zmpartial Expositor, at St. Clairsville; and the Western Star, at Lebanon. The first paper in Marietta, as we have said, was the Ohio Gazette, and the Teritorial and Virginia Herald, issued December 7, 1801. It was published by Wyllys Silliman and Elijah Backus, lawyers, who bought their material in Philadelphia. Their press was a wooden one with a stone bed, which is now in the office of the Marietta Register. 'The paper was printed upon Front street, near the Stockade, for the first few years, and afterward moved to "the Point." Elijah Backus performed most of the editorial duties upon the paper. In his salutatory, according to Caleb Emerson, who wrote a historical article upon the press in 1839, he apologized for adding "Virginia Herald" to the title of the paper. " He might," he says, "rest this apology upon the generous and extensive patronage he has received from the inhabitants of the western part of Virginia," but he desires to place it upon broader ground, and continues :

He is, indeed, proud in having this opportunity, at this time, and by this measure to give his fellow-citizens on both sides of the Ohio a pledge of his equal regard, and an example of that liberality of sentiment which is not only so decorous in private character, but which forms so important a pillar in the fabric of social and political happiness.

Breathing the same air - having the same wants - being capable of the same pleasures - talking the same language - living under the same Nationai Government, what is there to limit or divide our affections? A river! A river whose kindred branches we inhabit - whose current, mild and unbroken, though composed of a thousand tributary streams, affords us an impressive lesson of unity and peace.

Surely this country ought to become one of the happiest under Heaven ! Blessed with a friendly climate - a rich and diversified soil - a rapidly increasing population, and separated on all sides from the rest of the world by lakes and mountains, we form a world of our own which can be ruined only by our own follies. Shall we admit, that of all the most fatal, a spirit of discord ?

At present we enjoy the protection of a Government recognizing an equality of rights and having liberty for its basis. May it be perpetual! But may we never forget that the best guarantors of our freedom

The paper was Republican in politics and supported Jefferson. It was of course very small in size, but that fact did not interfere with the charging of a high subscription price - two dollars and fifty cents per annum. The paper was made up of national and foreign news - the latter about two months old, and advertisements, most of which were of a legal or official nature. There was little or nothing of the matter which now gives weekly newspapers their chief value, and which is usually termed "local."

Royal Prentiss, afterward an editor of the paper, and a well known citizen of Marietta, was a printer in the office of the Ohio Gazelle and Territorial and Virginia Herald when it was first issued.

Mr. Silliman was a member of the first State legislature, which assembled in March, 1803. He went to Zanesville as register of the land office under Jefferson's administration, and was for many years a well known lawyer there. He died in Zanesville some time in the forties.

Samuel Fairlamb became the proprietor of this paper in 1805, buying oi Backus, who had two years before absorbed Silliman's interest. Fairlamb changed the name to Ohio Gazette and Virginia Herald, and continued to publish it, though with some irregularities, until the close of 1810. He was a Philadelphia printer. Removing to Zanesville he led a somewhat precarious existence, and died in the Muskingum County infirmary twenty years ago or more.

The Commentator and Marietta Recorder, a Federalist paper, started in opposition to the Gazette, was first issued September 16, 1807, by Dunham & Gardiner. Mr. James B. Gardiner was well known during early Whig days in Columbus and Xenia. The paper only remained in existence about two years, dying from lack of patronage.

The Gazette also lacked the support necessary to maintain its editor, and was sold out by the sheriff. In October, 1810, the Western Spectator was issued and took the place, in a certain sense, of the old Gazefte. It was Federalist in politics and bore the motto "Be just and fear not." It was edited by one of the best known characters, and one of the ablest men, Marietta ever possessed - Caleb Emerson.* He was a vigorous writer, and made a very creditable paper. Joseph Israel was succeeded as printer or publisher in 1811 by Thomas G. Ransom. After a period of about two years and a half the paper was sold to the proprietor of the American Friend, which was first issued April 24, 1813. It was started as a Republican paper, and supported Madison's administration. The publisher was Thomas G. Ransom. David Everett, Timothy Buell, and D. H. Buell appear to have been associated in the ownership, and the first named was editor. He was the author of the lines, familiar to every school boy in the land, beginning:

He wrote these lines for a little pupil of his (Ephraim H. Farrer), while he was teaching school at New Ipswich, New Hampshire, his native State. He had read law at Amherst, New Hampshire, and attained considerable distinction as an editor in Boston; but his health having failed, he was obliged to seek a less vigorous climate, and so came to Marietta, arriving in March, 1813. He died of consumption December 21, 1813,

The Buells retained possession of the American Friend, and D. H. Buell became editor upon the first of January, 1814. In April of the same year, Royal Prentiss took an interest in the publication of the paper, and continued in partnership with the Buells until 1816, when he bought them out, and thus became sole owner. 'Timothy and Daniel H. Buell were men of mark (the latter was the father of William H. Buell), and conducted the paper in a manner which commanded much respect. Mr. Prentiss maintained the character of the paper, and remained in control until 1833. During a portion of the time G. Prentiss was associated with him. The name was enlarged in 1823 to the American Friend and Martetta Gazette. Royal Prentiss was a man of true worth and great popularity, as is attested by the fact that he was township clerk, lieutenant colonel in the militia, auditor of Washington county, and the holder of several other offices of trust and honor. 'The paper was not remunerative to Mr. Prentiss, as is indicated by his valedictory, which appeared May 11, 1833. He says that during his nineteen years connection with the /7zend, as proprietor, "the principal part of the mechanical labor has been performed by myself, without which, and close application to business, too, the paper could not have survived to the present." He gives as one of the reasons for selling, "that the profit of the business is not sufficient to remunerate me for the money and labor actually expended in carrying it on."

During a portion of the time that Mr. Prentiss owned the Friend, it was printed at his house on Fifth street, where Judge S. S. Knowles now lives. He was industrious and economical, but, with his revenue from the paper and from the several offices which he held, he managed to save only a small property.

The persons to whom Mr. Prentiss sold the paper in 1833 were John Delafield, jr., a young man of some literary pretensions, from New York, and Mr. Edward W. Nye (son of Colonel Ichabod Nye), now a resident of Williamstown, West Virginia. They dropped the first part of the name and left it simply the Marietta Gaze/te. During the next two years the paper was edited by Messrs. Delafield and Nye. Pazzi Lapham, a strolling printer, became interested in it in 1835, but remained only a short time. Messrs Delafield and Nye sold out in December, 1837. The former died at Memphis, in 1862. Isaac Moxon, the purchaser of the Gaze¢fe, was a strong Whig, but 'thought a little slow by some of the younger men of the community." He has latterly lived in Illinois. During the period from 1837 to 1841 Caleb Emerson and his son, William D., the latter still living in Marietta, were engaged upon the Gazeffe, though with some irregularity.

Edmund B. Flagg came to Marietta in 1842 and took the position of editor and proprietor of the Gazefte. He was a native of Maine and a graduate of Bowdoin college in 1835. In 1836 he was correspondent of the Louisville Journal, while travelling through Illinois and Missouri, and collected his correspondence and published it in two volumes bearing the title '"'The Far West." He was engaged in journalism in St. Louis and Louisville in 1837, 1838 and 1839, and in 1840 practiced law in Vicksburgh, with the distinguished Sargent S. Prentiss. While in Marietta he wrote two romances - ''Carrero," and "Francis of Valois." He was consul to Venice in 1850, and published a book upon Venice afterward. In 1851 he became editor of a Democratic paper in New Orleans, and was in the employ of the Government during Buchanan's administration. Mr. Flagg was the last editor of the Gazette. It was merged, in 1842, with another paper - the /ndelligencer - which had been started as a rival sheet three years before.

The Marietta /n¢elligencer appeared in the summer of 1839. 'This date marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the Marietta press. Beman Gates, the editor, was born in Montague, Franklin county, Massachusetts, January 5, 1818; moved with his father to Connecticut, in 1835, and in 1837, came west with a brother-in-law. It was his intention to go to Knoxville, Tennessee, and in fact he had an engagement there, but he was pleased with Marietta, and quite willing to seek no farther for a location. Still he would doubtless have gone on to. Tennessee had he not been detained by his brother-in-law's illness. He decided to remain and was confident of finding something to do. He obtained a chance to do writing in the recorder's office, and soon began teaching vocal music in the college. ly he received a proposision to become editor of a paper which had been projected, as a live Whig organ. The Intelligencer was started with young Gates (who had barely reached his twenty-first year) as editor, and George W. and Charles D. Tyler as the publishers. The Tyler boys, as they were called, were the. members of the firm who had the practical knowledge. The elder, George W., was a perfect type setter and a fine pressman. He and his brother were both several years older than Mr. Gates, and each of them had a family. They had beer printing for some time the Marietta and: Washington county Plot, edited by Charles B. Flood (a paper of which we shall have more to say in this chapter). The sum of six hundred dollars was raised by the Tylers though they were obliged to sell their houses to do it, and Mr. Gates added three hundred dollars borrowed money, to the capital. The firm immediately after deciding upon the issuance of a paper, bought a Washington hand-press, and a small quantity of large type, and the first Jntelligencer was given to the light upon the twenty-ninth of August, 1839. Three hundred copies of the first issue were printed. The paper was larger than any previously issued in Marietta, and very handsomely printed. The subscription price was announced as two dollars per year. The following was the young editor's salutatory:

The general plan upon which this paper will be conducted has been set forth in the prospectus. The subscriber, in commencing his duties as editor, wishes it to be distinctly understood that he has no prejudices to foster, no partialities to indulge, and no invidious feelings to gratify. He is perfectly willing to be advised in regard to the manner of conducting it, but, after all, his own judgment must decide what course duty requires him to pursue. He will not suffer himself to be influenced by the opinions of others in any way incompatible with perfect freedom of thoughtand action. He speaks particularly on this point, because

In politics his motto will be, ''Willing to praise, but not afraid to blame." He will be equally ready to bestow praise upon his political enemies, when merited, or censure upon his friends, when necessary. It will therefore be conducted with impartial liberality, and no efforts shal! be wanting on the part of the subscriber to render it distinguished by its practical utility.

Temperate and well written communications upon any subject that shall be deemed of general interest, will be thankfully received and inserted,

With this brief statement the first number or the /x¢e//igencer is offered to the public, that by it they may judge of its merits and of the

Beman Gates

We understand the new paper, the Marietta Intelligencer, is to appear next week. This paper is to eclipse everything, exterminate Democracy, astonish the natives and swallow the Gazeffe with all its appendages. Now, to the latter performance we shall object. Although we labor under disadvantageous circumstances, not having asked or received from our business men, county or town officers, a pledge of their entire patronage, nor have we the assurance of aid by able writers to assist us in editing or writing, still we are not disposed to stop business just yet. It has been argued to some of our subscribers that they might as well discontinue the Gazefte and subscribe for the /zfelligencer, because the Gazette must stop at all events. Had not the gentlemen better stay their judgment fora time, and see if the community will that we shall be crushed in order to rear a favorite upon the ruin?

It was not until the Harrison campaign that the new Whig paper had three hundred paying subscribers, but the list'more than doubled during the year 1840, and its success was assured. It drew heavily from the Gazeéte. Influential Whigs interested themselves in extending the circulation of the Jn/elligencer, for it was helping their cause.

In 1844 Charles D. Tyler sold out his interest in the paper to Mr. Gates, and in the following year George W. Tyler also sold out, but continued to print the paper until 1856. The first named moved to Ontonagon, Michigan, where he published a paper for several years, and then located in Missouri. From October, 1851, to January, 1861, the Jntelligencer, was published both as a weekly and a tri-weekly. The circulation of the two editions was about eighteen hundred, and the weekly alone had more than twelve hundred, which was very large for the time.

In 1853 the New Orleans and Ohio telegraph line was established from Wheeling to the Gulf of Mexico, and in less than a month from the time the wires were put in use, Taylor was inaugurated President, and the /nfe//:- gencer, received his message by telegraph. Mr. Gates had regular paid correspondents at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and at Columbus during the sessions of the general assembly.

Caleb Emerson wrote a great deal for the paper. It is remembered that among other articles of a literary nature which he furnished, was a review, in 1840, of Carlyle's Sartor Resartus, which appeared at that time. At no other time has so much money been expended for journalistic labor in Marietta as during the sixteen years of Mr. Gates' connection with the /ntelligencer. When the railroad brought in the Cincinnati papers, the field of the Intelligencer was narrowed and made more purely local, and competition with the dailies being impossible, the

Mr. Gates sold out in April, 1856, to Dr. T. L. Andrews, who was editor and proprietor until June, 1862, when he in turn sold out to Rodney M. Stimson, and a few years later removed to Iowa. Mr. Stimson, who took possession as editor and proprietor of the paper June 5th and changed its name to the Marietta Register, came well prepared for the task before him. He had been for twelve years, from 1850 to 1862, editor of an Ironton, Ohio, journal. He was born at Milford, New Hampshire, October 26, 1824; entered Phillips Exeter academy - the junior class - in 1845, and graduated at Marietta college in 1847. Mr. Stimson was a member of the State senate three years, being first elected in 1869 and reelected in 1871. He was State librarian from March, 1877, to March, 1879 (see longer biography in chapter on the Bar of Washington County). During the ten years in which he was editor of the Register Mr. Stimson not only made his paper an excellent one by the usual methods of good editorial work, but gave it an exceptional interest and value by the publication in its columns of a large amount of historical matter pertaining to Marietta and the region round about.

E. R. Alderman & Co. (the company was J. W. Dumble) took possession of the Register May 20, 1872. Mr. Dumble remained in the partnership until 1875, since which time Mr. Alderman has been the sole proprietor and editor. He was born ina log cabin near Athens August 29, 1839 (the day that the old J/ntelligencer was first issued). He was thrown on his own resources when a boy; went to school and taught school in the western part of Washington county; was in the mercantile business six years in Racine, Meigs county, and came to Marietta in 1867 and engaged in the general and life insurance business. The Segister was enlarged by Mr. Alderman January 1, 1874, from an eight to a nine column paper.

We have now followed what may be called one succession of newspapers from the beginning down to the present. The Register it is claimed is the lineal descendent of the old Ohio Gazette and the Virginia and Territorial Herald.

There remains another succession to be spoken of - that which is represented by the Marietta Times. There were also several publications, for the most part shortlived, which belonged to neither of the lines of descent.

The first of this latter class (not heretofore alluded to) was the Marietta Minerva, first issued in October, 1823, by John K. and A. V. D. Joline, and suspended December 3, 1824.

The Marietta and Washington county Pilot was the first Democratic paper in the town, and the beginning of the succession to which the Zimes belongs. It appeared April 7, 1826, withthe names of George Dunlevy and A. V. D. Joline as publishers. The latter had editorial control of the paper. The //ot was at first neutral in politics, but in 1827 espoused the cause of Jackson. Party feeling ran very high in Marietta at this time. The Friend advocated the reelection of John Quincy Adams.

The campaign opened early, and was quite bitter locally. During the heated controversy between the local papers in 1828, an amusing incident occurred, and one which was rather embarrassing to the /i/o¢. In some manner, (probably through the agency of a printer of the Ariend office) the letters at the head of the /:/o¢ were transposed so as to read ZLzpot, and an edition of the paper was worked off and circulated before the mistake was discovered. The friend in its next issue thus commented upon the change:

Whether he has blundered into the truth, or whether he has just begun to practice on his motto of ''no concealment,' we pretend not to determine. If he really means to fight no longer under false colors, he will do himself some little honor for candor, if not for truth.

Mr. Joline became postmaster at Marietta under Jackson in 1829 and remained in office until 1834. He subsequently went south and died in Memphis in 1845 or 1846. The last number of the /2/o¢ was issued in May, 1830.

John Brough, afterwards auditor of State, and still later governor of Ohio, and his brother, Charles H., had learned the printer's trade under the Jolines, and buying the material of the defunct P7/of, they started the MWestevn Republican and Marietta Advertiser, issuing the first number January 8, 1831. John Brough was at this time not twenty years of age. The Friend spoke of him as "Master" Brough. He showed, however, at this early age, considerable of the ability and force which were more fully developed in his later years. He made the Republican a strong paper, and supported Jackson's administration very energetically. His motto was, "Freedom of speech is man's inalienable birthright - the liberty of the press his impregnable safeguard." The paper was published in Marietta only about two years, then removed to Parkersburgh, and after a few months to Lancaster.

In the quarrel between Jackson and Calhoun the Broughs took the Calhoun side. The Nullifiers, as the Calhoun men were called, had only a very small representation in Washington county, and the paper lost its patronage; hence its removal.

Briefly, the career of this remarkable man, John Brough, was as follows: He was born in 1811 at his father's home, Cleona farm, at the mouth of Duck creek. His father died in the epidemic of 1823; his mother had been dead for several years, and the orphan boy at the age of twelve years entered the /7zend office to learn the printer's trade under Royal Prentiss. He subsequently went to Athens, where he maintained himself while studying in one of the departments of the State university. From Athens he came to Marietta, and was the "Master Brough" and the "little lad" of the Republican. We have spoken of his removal to Lancaster. It was in that place that his talents received their first recognition. He was elected in 1838 as the representative of Fairfield and Hocking counties in the legislature. By this legislature he was chosen, when only twenty-eight years of age, State auditor, which office he filled with ability for six years. In 1845 he went to Cincinnati to study law. In 1841 he had bought the Phenix from Moses Dawson, and started the Anguirer in company with his brother, Charles H. Brough. He was editor-in-chief of this paper in 1846-47, his brother having gone as a colonel into the Mexican war. In 1848 John Brough left the Enguirer and was elected president of the Madison & Indianapolis railroad. He remained in that position and exhibited great ability as a railroad manager until 1863, when he was elected governor of Ohio by one hundred and one thousand majority. He died while holding this position.

In 1834 a Democratic paper was started as the successor of the Republican, by John S. McCracken, who published it about eight weeks. Its support was insufficient; and one morning a note was found in the office, signed by McCracken, which ran thus: 'I'm off, as the fly said when it lit on the mustard pot." The paper stopped.

The Marietta Democrat was started in August, 1835, by Charles B. Flood, who has since been, for several years, on the editorial staff of the daily Ohio Statesman, clerk of the Ohio'senate and supervisor of public printing. He published the paper until 1838, when it was transferred to Jacob Baughey. It soon failed, and the material became the property of Daniel Radebaugh, jr., who issued in April, 1840, the first number of the Washington County Democrat, a paper which remained in existence for only a very short time. It was revived in 1844 by J. C. C. Carroll, and published until after the presidential election of that year, when it passed out of existence.

In 1849 the Democracy of the county had long been without an organ, when Amos Layman, who had but recently graduated from Marietta college and was reading law, was prevailed on to start a Democratic paper. He procured new material throughout, and gave the paper a new nane - TZhe Marietta Republican. Mr. Layman made the new Democratic organ a success, and it became a paying and prosperous paper. After conducting it for more than five years, he transferred it to Andrew W. McCormick, and accepted a position in the Indian service of the Government. Mr. Layman was afterward, for six years, the editor of the Dazly Ohio Statesman of Columbus, succeeding George W. Manypenny. The duties of the position he performed creditably and acceptably during all the years of the civil war, and afterward, until he resigned it to take the office of clerk of the Ohio house of representatives. Mr. Layman held this position two terms, and has the reputation of having been the best clerk that body ever had. He afterward had the supervision of the publication of the debates and proceedings of the Constitutional convention of 1873-74; was executive clerk in the office of the Goyernment during the administration of William Allen; and assisted the Codifying Commission of Ohio, from 1875 to 1880, in the work of revising and consolidating the statutes of the State. He was for a long series of years a member of the State Central and Executive committees of his party, and secretary thereof; was a delegate to the Democratic National convention of 1856, and one of its secretaries.

After the suspension of the Repudlican, in 1863, there was no Democratic paper in Marietta for nearly a year, but Walter C. Hood supplied the want by issuing, September 24, 1864, the Marietta Times. Hood sold out in 1871. He became State librarian while William Allen was governor, and died in February, 1875 while holding that office. He was a native of Somerset, Perry county, and previous to the time of his location in Marietta had established papers in Portsmouth and Ironton.

S. M. McMillen, the present editor of the TZimes, brought out the first issue that appeared under his management August 3, 1871, although he had been for a short period anterior to that time connected with the office. He has enlarged the Zimes to eight columns. Mr. McMillen is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Allegheny, August 19, 1840. He was connected with the Steubenville Gazette prior to coming to Marietta.

The newest candidate for public favor is the Marietta Leader, first issued by Frank A. Crippen and Will S. Knox, February 23, 1881. It is a handsome eightcolumn paper, of newsy character. Mr. Crippen was born March 1, 1845. He served some time on the Cincinnati papers; located in Marietta in 1878, and was local editor of the Zzmes for two years previous to the establishment of the Leader. Mr. Knox is a son of M. G. Knox, and a grandson of Captain William Knox, of Harmar, and was born October 31, 1860.

nine numbers each. The Marietta Collegiate Quarterly was first issued in November, 1865, by the senior class. Only one volume was issued. The Marietta Olio was started in November, 1872, and isstill continued. After the first volume the name was changed to the College Olio. It is published by the two literary societies.

The German press history dates back to 1856. The first journal published in the German language in Marietta was issued August 3rd, of that year, by William Lorey, and bore the name Der Marietta Demokrat. This paper was published by Mr. Lorey until 1865, when it passed into the hands of Messrs. Mueller & Schultz, who shortly after abandoned its publication. It was then revived by its former publisher, Mr. Lorey, but he issued it only eighteen weeks and then suspended publication.

In 1861, Messrs. Joseph Wildt and Frederick Neuberger, under the firm name of Neuberger & Co., started a Republican German paper Der Beolachter. This paper was at first edited by Mr. Wildt and after he entered the Union army, by Doctor F. W. Neuberger. Der Beolachter only existed about nine months - German Republicans being too scarce in those days in Washington county, to give the paper a proper support. Mr. E. Schmidt, foreman of the office tried to revive the paper under another name but did not succeed. Mr. Wieldt died in 1875, in Cincinnati, and Doctor Neuberger died in 1867. E. Schmidt also died a few years ago, and Mr. Lorey a few months ago in Marietta.

In 1867 the Rev. Constantine Arnold, pastor of the German Protestant St. Luke's church, started an independent paper, Der Patriot, and published twenty-two numbers. He was granted the use of the material of the former Beolachter. This material had been bought by F. Neuberger & Company for five hundred dollars, and consisted of the type and presses of the once famous Cincinnati sheet, Der Hochwachter, an anti-religious paper published by Frederick Hassaurek. Mr. Arnold was obliged to leave Marietta, and the paper ceased to be. In October, 1868, Mr. Winchester issued the first number of the Marietta Zeitung, published with the assistance of Mr. F. Neuberger, of the former Beolachter. Some twenty odd numbers were published by Mr. Winchester, and in April, 1869, he sold out to Jacob Mueller, who, assisted by his son, Louis Mueller, now conducts the paper. Mr. Mueller was born in Rheinish Bavaria, July 29, 1833, and came to America in 1849, after graduating from school and journeying through France. He located at Albany, New York, for a short time, and then became a resident of Cincinnati, where he resided for seventeen years. His wife having died, he removed to Marietta in 1866, and married as his second wife, in 1869, Lizzie, daughter of Colonel William C. Buck. He was engaged in commercial business prior to his purchase of Der Zeitung.