Portage County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 10 of those read), 1885

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 10 of those read)

- BucK£Y£ Democrat - WfiSTE&N He^bbve Cabwet and Family Yisitoa - PLAxm Dbalbr - Fobtaob Sbnthibi/ - Pobtaob Oounty Wrio, and Uokb Coupakion and Whig - Portage Coumtt Democrat. Kepublican-Drmo- CRAT. AND Ravenna Republican - Independent Press, and Reformer- Hickory Flail and Fusion Thuesiier - Argus - De3iocratic Press - Portage County Republican - Kent Newspapers - Proposed Franklin Oazbtte - The Omnium Gatherum and its Successors: The Family Visitor, Literary Casket. Cuyahoga Rbpobtbr, Satubdat Kbview, Gommbboiai. Bulletin, Satubdat Bulletin, and Kent Satttrdat BuLLErm - KTbmt News of 1867 - Present Kent News - Gariiettsville Newspapkhs -Gar- ljX)R seventeen years snfceeding its organization, Portagp County had not -iJ one newspaper published wiihiu her limits, but in 1825 the tirst printing pc«8B wu net np in Baveona, fhoa fnrniBhing another link toward tonaain^ a community of progressive and intelllgont people. Just sixty years ago J. B. Butler, a young raan from Pittsburgh, Ptmn., made his appearance in Kavenna with a press, type and other materials of a newspaper of&ce, and April 23, 1825» iasned the firat nwnber of the Wettem Courier and The Weelem PvbVe Advertiser. It was a four pagp, twonty-colnmn sheet, 20x26 inches in size, and printed on the coarse, heavy paper of those early daya The subsoription prioe was 12.50 per annum, but if paid "half yearly in advance," ^2 was the amonnt eharged. An ofEear was made hy the editor to leoeive in payment for subscriptions "most kinds of produce, at the current market prices, if delivered at the stores of Mr. Z. Kent or Perry it Prentiss, in Ravenna." Mr. Butler was an eccentric yuuug man uf some talent, an admirer of Henry Clay, and yielded hie eapporfe to the administration of John Qniney Adams, ^fi^eh went into power March i. 1825. The Coi/n>r was started on a subscriptioD list of 320, which at tht» end cjf the first six months had grown to 050. It was a very good local paper fur tiiuse days, and was regarded as a great boon by the people of the eonnty, irreepeetiTe of political affiliations.

Upon the close of Volume II, April 14, 1827, ilr. Butler sold the Courier to "William Coohnan, Jr., and C. B Thompson, by whom its publication was continued. In May, 1828, Jamas B. Walker bought a half interest in the paper, the fim being Goolman, Thompeon ft Wi^rar. The CoMrier at this time was intensely anti- Jackson, and in the Presidential campaign of J 828 fought " ohl Hickory" bitterly, but to no })urf>ose, for he swept the State and Nation, though Adams carried Portage Couuty by a majority of 1,257. Mr. Thompson died March 15, 1829, leaving Goolman & WaUcer sole owners. On the Cth of June, 1S29, the latter disposed of his interest to Mi*. Coolman, who thus obtained the full ownership. When the Ohio Star was established at llavenua, in January, 1830, the Courier became the Democratic organ of the county, and so remained ontil it osased pnblioation. On the 15th of January, 1830, a ^Ir. Harsha purchased an interest, and the firm of Coolman & Harsha exii^ted until .\pri]. 1831, when the latter retired and Mr. Coolman was once more sole uwuur. In August, 1832, John Harmon, who for several months previonsly had been asBistant editor, par«diaaed the Courier of Ibr. Goolman. He edited and pnblisbed the paper until the fall of 1836, when he sold it to' Selby & Robbins, two youn^ men of Ravenna, who, in January, 1837, raised the subficriptioD price to 1^ iu advance, $2.50 within six months and |3 at th» oloee of the year. The OouriBr does not seem to have prospered under its new management and Mr. Hannon again tocftk fionM, but early in 1888 it oeaaad publication and was never revived.

The Ohio Star was established at Bavenna by Lewis L. Bioe, and first issued January 6, 1830. Mr. Bice was a printer from New York, bat without means to start snoh an enterprise, and the capital to buy the preM and type was furnished by CyruB Prentiss and Jonathan Sloane, two well remembered pioneers of Bavenna. The Star was a four-page, twenty column sheet, 20x30 inches in dimensions, the annual subscription prioe being $2 in advance and $2.50 if not paid before the expiration of the year. It adopted as its motto, ** Be Just and Fear Not." The lirst prospectna isaued by Mr. Rice gave its title as the Western Star, bnt subsequently learning that a paper bearing that name was located at Lebadon, Ohio (which paper, by the way, was established by John McLean in 1806, and is still in active operation), heat once substituted "Ohio* ' for '- Western," and the first issue came out as the Ohio Star. In his pros- ' pectus the editor says: " ^Ve are opposed to all secret combinations and associations, onder whatever plausible diaraeter.*' But tha Ster was especially an anti'Maaonio paper, the workings of whioib order it vigorously attacked and exposed in every issue. It was also bitterly opposed to the Catholic Church, In August) 1832, the Star was enlarged to a twenty-four column paper, and otherwise much improved.

On the Ist of January, 1834, Mr. Rice retired from the editorship, barinp previonsly disposed of his interest in the Star to Laurin Dewey, who still continued the anti- Masonic and anti- Catholic warfare. When the Whig party succeeded the anti-Maaonie, embracing the elements of the latter organization, the Star became the local organ of Whiggiam in Portage Connty. In January, 1837, the subscription price wa? increased to $2 in advance, $2.50 within six months, and $3 at the close of the year. On the 8th of March, 1838, Lyman W. Hall, who came to Bavenna in September, 1830, bought an interait in the Star, and the firm became Hall ft Pewey. In June, 1838, the paper was again enlarged, and was now a fourpage, twenty- eight-column sheet, 24x36 inches in size. Mr. Dewey being elected Sheriff of Portage Oounty in October, 1888, disposed of his interest to Mr. Hall, who thus became sole proprietor. In December, 1880, he sold the Star to Root & Elkins, who engaged A. H. Ijowis to edit the paper. In Ajpril, 1840, Mr. Elkins bought out Boot, and he in turn retired in Deoember, ln42, having sold the office to Laurin Dewey and William Wadsworth. Mr. Iiewis still continued as editor of the Star, which j>OKition he filled continuously from December, 1839, until December, 1843. The firm of Dewey &. Wadsworth continued until April, 1844, when the latter purchased Mr. Dewey's intereet, and Mr. Lewis again aaanmed editorial control; Imt the follow* ing December he was elected Cledk of the House of Representativfla, in the Ohio General Assembly, and gave up the editorship of the Star to accept that position. In April, 1845^ Mr. Lewis obtained an interest in the paper, and tlie firm became William Wadsvrorth ft Oo., whieh eusted until Oetober, 1847, when the senior partner bought out Mr. Lewis, who^ however, filled the editors al chair until Deoember, in which mouth he ftuBSlj severed his connection with the paper.

Hisiobt Of Foetaqb Oouiitt

the iStar, and in September, 1852, enlarged the sheet, making it 25x89 inches in dimensiooB. He remaiiied the editor and proprietor until its amalgamation with tlio Home Com])an{nn and Whig, in April, 1854. Soon after the advent of tbo Free Soil or Abolition party, the Star, thoogh previously a Whig paper, became an advocate of the principles of Free Soilism. This was its political faith at the time of the amalgamation, though OMuidatably tinctorod with Know-nothingism, whioh had proviously made its appearancp in tlie political arena. The several elements ouibraced in tbo Whij^, Free Soil and Know-nothing partieB in Portage Countieu, had drifted so closely' t>ogethor m political aeatiment, tbat the amalgamation of the two papers aa ttie Portage Ownly Democrat, was a judicious move. The Dtmocrai was therefore their lineal aoeoeesor in the journalistic field.

The Watchman was a amaH'monthlj paper of free' thought or intidel tendencl§e, established in Ravenna in January, 1835, b7~<fohoHarmon. It was issued from the Courier office, which paper Mr. Harmon was then publishing, and lasted only a brief time, as the commnnily would not at that period give their support to such a publication.

The Bttoftsye DemoeraJt was started in Bavenna on capital fbmished by a coterie, of gentlemen, among whom were John B» King, Rufus P. Spaldmg, Joseph Lyman and Aaahel Tyler, under the firm name of John B. King & Co., with Lie Grand Byington as editor. The Deuiocrat was intended to fill the place fA the Cktwker, which had disoontinned pnblication the prerious year, leaving the DemoonMj of Portage County without a local Ofgan. Its first number made its appearance May 24, 1838, and was a four-page, twenty-fourcolumn paper, 22x^)2 inches in dimensions. The Democrat was thoroughly devoted to the Inteieets of the Democntic party, but after an existence of about nine months it oaased publication, issuing its final number Febmaiy H 1839.

The We8tem Reserve Cabinet and Family Visitor was first issued in Bavenna January 1, 1840, by Lyman W. Hall, who pre^oBsly owned and edited (lie Ohio Star. The Cabinet and Visitor was a small twenty-column sheet, 18x27 inches in size, a kind of religio-poHtical, literary and scientific paper, started to supply a supposed craving for such advanced reading matt^. The subscription price was $1.50 per annum. The initial number was an experiment, and the second number did not make its appearance until ICarch 5, 1840. 'With the beginning of Yolumelll in March, 1842, the paper came out enlarged to a twenty-four column sheet, 21xBB inches in size, but upon the close of this volume, February 21, 1843, it was discontinued, because of the delinquency of its sabsoriberB. Joeing from the editor's valedictory, it would seem tiiat there was not sufficient encoura^emeiit to warrant a contlnnance of the pablicatioa

The Fiaiii Dealer was a Democratic paper startod in Ravenna in 1844, for the purpose of giving a helping hand towud ttie election of James K. Polk to the Presidency. A Mr. Canfield wan editor and publisher, but after a very brief and flickering existinice, it gave up the ^trun;rrle and ceasf^d publication.

The Portage Sentinel, the next journalistic enterprise in liavenua, was established by Samnel B. l&rris, Jr., and Boswell Batterson, and first issned J ane 5, 1845, as the local Democratic organ of Portage County. Tt was a four-page, twenty- four-column sheet, 22x32 inches in dimensions, and had placed at its head the followi^ motto taken from the inaugural of President Folk: "The Cknistitation - The Safegoard of our Federal Gompaot" Its subscription price was $1.50 in advance, 12 if paid witliln the year and $2.50 after that period. In Jane, 1847, the Smtiml came out in a new dress, enlarged to a four-page, twenty-eight-column sheet of 24x30 inches, and flying the following suggestive motto from JeOferson: "Opposition to Tjranny is to God.*' On the 24th of Mareh, 1851, Mr. Batteraon, on aooonnt i of poor liealth, severed his connection with tlio pnpor, lonving Mr. Harris sole proprietor. With the issue of August 2, 1854. he too retired from the Sentinel, having previously sold tho office to Alphonso Hart and K. E. Craig, nnder the firm title of Hart ft Craig, who b^an a new serieB, Vol. I, Na 1. On the 24th of August, 1S54, the name of the paper was changed to the Weekly Portage Sentinel, and also soraewhat enlarged. In January, 1855, Sir. Hart became sole owner, but with the beginning of Volume III, August 14, 1856, he aold an interest in tiie SenUnel to James W. Bomerville. T%e partnenhip of Hart A Somervillo continued until December 31, 1857, when Mr. Hart disposed of his interest to tho junior partner. Throughont Mr. Hart's editorial control the Sentinel was intensely Democratic, opposing the American and new- bom Bepnblioan parties, and tiieir local organ, the Fcrtage County DemocnU, with an unsparing pen.

The Sentinel, after a puV>lication of nearly seventeen years, issuod its final number February 8, 1862. By virtue of a mortgage, Samuel D. Harris took charge of the cnBoe, sold the* material to Lyman W. Hall, of the Portags County Democrat, and tlius the Sentiiiel became extinct.

The Portnge County Whig was established in Ravenna by John S. Herrick in August, 1848. It was a four-page paper, of twenty-eight columns, printed on a raeet 28z% inches in dimansions, and published at f 1.50 per annnm in advance, and $2 at the end of the year. It advocated the political principles of the Whig party, and Boon gained a respectable circulation. On the 24th of August, 1853, the beginning of Volume VI, the name of the paper was ohani^ad to the Home Compamon and Whigt and so remained until its amal* gamation with the Ohio Star in AfMril, 1854.

The Portage County Democrat sprung from the amalgaraation of the Ohio Star, owned and edited by Lyman W. Hall, and the Home Companion and WhtQj of which John & Hcqrriok was the editor and proprietor. It was estab« lished by the firm of Hall, Herrick & Wadsworth, the last- mentioned gentleman having been connected with the Ohio Star from December, 1842, until July, 1848. The Democrat was first issued April 5, 1854, and was a fourpage, thirty-two*oolnmn paper, 26x40 inches in sise, published at $1.50 per annum in advance, or $2 at the close of the year. The new paper took for its motto JefTerBon's saying: "Resistance To Tyrants Is Obedience To God," which had proviuubly been the motto of the Sentinel. In the State election of 1855 the Know-nothings and the newborn Bepnblioan party united on all of the candidatee excepting Governor, and the Democrat supported the combination ticket, and Salmon P. Chase, the Republican Gubernatorial nominee.

In 1858, three years after its organization, the Republican party of Ohio embraced within its fold most of the strength of the Whig, Free Soil, and Know-nothing parties, previously the opponents of the Democracy. The Denifn'raf was its local organ in Portage County throughout this gathering in process, and, with the changes in name, has so remained up to the present

With the issue of April 80, 1856, Mr. Wadsworth*s oonnection with the Democrat ceased, H. R. VV. Hall, son of tho senior partner, taking his place, the lirm b«?coTiiing Hall. Herrick & Co. In March, IS,")*.), Mr. Herrick sold liis interest to the Halls, and tho title of the firm changed to L. W. Hall ^ Son, who continued the business, raising the subMsriptitm price to $1.S0 in advance, f2 at the end of six months, and f'i.nO after that period. In April, 1801, the junior pai^er severed his relations with the Democratf retiring on account of his physical health becomin^^ impaired. Lyman W. Hall continned as editor and proprietor, giving his earnest and vigorous Bupp>ort to the Union cause. In March, 1802, he took his son into the office aa associate editor. The hifi^h prirf> of lalx^r, paper, niul nil other materials during the war. nece.ssitated the advancement of the snbscription price, which, in March, 18(51, was raispxl to $2 in advance, and the following December to $2.50. In March, U. B.

W. Hall again obtained an interat in the paper, and the finn beeame onoe inor(> L "\V. Hall Son. On the 18th of April. ISGO, the Democrat came out fnlaryed, and in an entirely new dresH. printed from new type- It was now a four-page, thirty-six column paper, 2bx-44 inches in size. In November, 1S08, the Demoerat annooooed ae ita terms $2 in adYaaee^ $2.60 within the year, and $3 if not paid until the end of the year. On the 9th of March, 1870, the junior partner retired from the firm, his father continuinfij alone nntil April. 1871, when he turned over the office to his son, U. E. W. Hall; but in April, 1878, the elder Hall again asemned joint control, L. W. Hall & Son oompoaing the firm.

Since December 1), 1808, the paper had at its head the cut of a printinjjpress placed between ^'Portage" and "County," and over the press the word " B^rabliean." In July, 1875, they placed at the head of the first oolnmn, on page 1, the Portage County liispulilican Deitiocrat." In March, 1877, the name was ehnnf^od to the Republican Democrat, and an ei<^htpage style adopted, containing fifty-six colunms, printed on a sheet 85x48 iiMhee in dimenrions, bat Uie snbscription price remained aa before the changei Financial disaster finally overtook the long-time publishers of the paper, and with the issue of Febrnary 27, 1878, it passed from their ownership and control into the hands uf J. D. Horton and C. A. Beed, assignees of L. W. Hall & Son. who engaged H. R. W. Hall to edit and mana*;o it. On the 2d of May, 1878, the aasignees sold the paper and office to the KeiMihlican-Deroocrat Publishing (.'ompany, a stock company organized for the purpose uf baying it, and who are jiow the owners, although some changes hare ocenrred in the pentnmel of the company. The sheet waa at onoe reduced in size to 30x44 inches; and in July, 1878, the subscription price was eatabliBhoil at S2 in advance. ]\Ir. Hall continned to edit and manage the Republica n Democrat until September, 1882, when he waa succeeded by Arthur Mosley, Esq., the present efficient editor and manager.

On the iBt of March, 1882, the company bought oat the Portage Ooim^ Republican, a Republican paper which had been in operation in Ravenna about fo\ir years, and on the 2d of May, 1888, the paper came out as the Ravenna Republican, the publishers regarding that title as more consistent and eaphoniooB than the old one, which was both anwieldj and misleading. The Rejmblican was enlarged April 30, 1SS{, and is now an eight- page, fifty, six-cohimn })a})er, 35x 18 inches in dimensions. The annual subscription, however, remaiuH at $2, and like its predecessor, it is issued every Wednesday. Daring its long and varied career, this paper, nnder ita aereral namee, has always stood in the front rank of country journals, and it is still the aim and earnest oft'ort of the puhlisiiors and its present editor and managor to lieep the Republican fully abreast with the progressive journalistic spirit of the a^e. In connection with the paper is operated a first-class job office, equipped with the best and most approved machinery and printing ai)pliancoB. Tiie Republican is the oliiciai organ of Portage County, and claims a circulation of about 2,300.

jonmal, independent of party or sect," with W. B. Orvis editor and pnblisher. I was a four-pat^e, twenty-Bight-column sheet, 2 txI^H inches in size, and was published at i|1.50 per annum. In December, 1855, the paper came oat as the Indtptndenlt Press and Rtfamat^ and A. Fkyne becamo tMOoisted willi Mr. Orvis in its publication. The latter retired in January, 1856^ and ma succeeded by Willard Burr. The followinj^ February the name of the paper was reversal being then named the Iieforrner and Independent Fresa^ and in April tha latter ptft of tli^ title wae dropped. In September, 1860, Jamea Gregg took the plaoe of Mr. Bnrr on the paper. Wiili the beginninif of Volume III, the Reformer was reduced in Bize and also in price to $1 per annnm. Bat those changes do not seem to have been judicious, as the paper soon afterward gave np m alruggle and waa awnberad among the many dead nawa- [>a{>er enterprises iriioBO wcetks are to be found in every town from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The Hickory Flail and Fusion Thresher was e small Demooratic humor- ; ona campaign paper publiahed in Bavenna during the Onbernatorial campaign of 1855. It was a fonr-pa^e, sixteen -column nheefc, 17x28 inches in eiia. i The Hickory Flail supported William Medill for (Governor of Ohio, and was edited and published by a coterie of DemocratB with the sole porpose of accomplishing that object, bat though the Demoeraqr of the State BMde a gallant fight they were defeated, and Uie Flail went down at the aame timei.

The Argus was started in Ravenna by H. A. Waldo, some time after the demise of the Sentinel, and was intended to take the place of that paper as a loeal Demoeratio organ. The writer has been unable to find a copy of the Argus, and therefore can iell nothing of its aiae or exact date of publication; but it made my little imprceoion in the newapaper field, and ran mily a few months.

The Democratic Press was eetablished in Ravenna by the veteran editor and publiaher, Samnel B. Karris, and first iasned September 3, 1868. It haa always be<^n a four-paf>:© paper. 27x39 inches in size, issued every Thursday, and containing thirty two columns of matter. Mr. Harris had been absent from the editorial chair for about foorteen years, or since retiring from the SenHnelt of whieb he was one of the fonndera, Angnat 2, 1^4; bat a local Democratic paper in Portage County became a necesHity, and b^.' ct^ncluded to f^o into the enterprise. The Frens was stiirted at ?2 per anniun in advance, and $2.50 if the subscription was allowed lu ruu, but in August, liS78, the price waa redneed to $1.50 and $2 respectiTely. With the b^tnning of Vol* ume XIII. in Anc^ast, 1880, Mr. Hnrrls gave his son an interest in ws Prsss, and the f\rm has Hince been H. D. Harris «fc Son.

The rresa began its career ou a subscription list of 3CK), but grew rapidly under the good management of Ifr. Harris until to-day it possesses a cirtmlation of about 1,000 copies, and is regarded as one of the leading Democratic country papers in northeastern Ohio. Mr. Harris is one of the oldest edii^rs and publishers in the State, born in Ravenna Township, Tortage County, May 17, lol6, his whole life has been passed on hia native heath, &e greater portion of it in Ravenna. His memory goea back to the days when Poriaga County was almost a wilderness, and possessed not a singjle newspaper of any sort He worked as a printer on the Courier^ the Ohio Star, and the Buckeye Democrat^ and his knowledge of the newspapers of this county is more eztensiTe than that of any other man now living within her boundariee. Ha distinctly ~| , remembers seei n p the old press of the Courier hauled into Ravenna, and langhs ' over the avidity with which itd tirst issue (April 23, 1825) was scanned by the few people then living in the Till age. May he long continoa to fill the editorial lished in Ravenna. It was starttnl aa a Republican paper in April, 1878, by J. H. Fhihart, in opposition to the Rejmblican- Democrat. The Bepubliran was lirBt an eight-page, 30x44 inch sheet, but about two months before it was Bold it was enlarged to 85x48 inohea. It was printed on the oo-operative plan, with patent inside. On the first of ^farch, 1882, tho office and paper was purchnned by the Bepublican-Democrat I'ubiishing Company, and abisorbed bj that institution.

Franklin Mills (now Kent), occurrocl in May, when D. Radobuugh, foreman of the Courier office in Ravenna, issued a prospectus for a paper to be founded by him at that village, and to be called the Franklin Gazette. The nrineipal objeot intended hf the enterprise was to advocate the election of llartin Van Enron to the Presidency, but for want of funds tho scheme did not fully materialize, and nothing further than isauing theprospecioswas ever aocomplisbcd.

by Dr. Alonzo Dowoy, with W. Vt. Beach as editor, and first ispued September 7, 1859. It was a small four-page, twenty-column shoot 2(>x26 inches in size, politically independent and issued weekly at $1.25 per annum. It ran under the above title abont two months, bat November 17, 1859, changed its name to the Famihj Visiior^ which was the same size and price. The Visitor was issued irregularly for three months, and on tbe 16th of February, 1860, the paper was changed to a monthly, called iho Literary Casket^ with Marshall Dewey as editor and publisher. It was snbseqnently isslied 8emi*monthly, changing back and forth, in size and time of issue, as the circumstances and I patronage justified. In connection with this venture Mr. Dewey started, in May, 1800, the Cuyahoga Reporter, also a semi monthly, of which only a few numbers were issued. For aboat five years the Carieet ran along in a sort of / "a half dead and alive" manner, but Mr. Dewey was evidently determined to I keep up the fight, and December 2, 1805, the paper came out as the Saturday V Review. It was issued weekly, and December IC the sheet was increased in size, though still a five column folio. The Review ran along through the summer of 1806 and was then for a short time suspended. Mr. Dewey nrrain resolved on a change of name, and in October, 1866, sent forth tlje Cmnmercial BuUetiiij a small four-column folio, which increased in size with the passing years nntil it became quite a respectable looking newspaper. In tiie meantime the name was changed to tho Snfurdaji/ Moniivg Bullet in and afterward to the Saturday Bulletin, the paper having by this time grown to a fourpage, 22x30 inch sheet of twenty-four columns. The BuUetin was edited and ^ pnbliahed by Mr. Dewey np to &e issue of May 1, 1876, though for some yeara previously its financial condition was at a low ebl), its annual subscription price changing according to circumstances, being but $1 when Mr. Dewey sold the office.

the Bftllctin of Mr. Dewey, was President of the Akron Daily Argus Publishing Company. With the first issue. May 6, 1876, Mr. Slinich changed the name to the Kent Saturday BuUetin and increased the price to $1.50 per annum in advance, at which figiire the subscription has ever since remained. On the '2*.'(h of July, 1876, the BnUptiu was enlarged to a four page, twenty-eightcolumn paper, 23x35 inches in dimensions, and on the 16th of November, 1878, it was slill farther enlarged to a 26x39 inch sheet of thirty-two colamns. Thus it remained until October 29, 18S1, when the Bulletin was changed from a folio to a quarto - an eight-page paper of forty-eight columns. The progreBS made undor flie wUtorahip and manugemmtof Mr. Minich was very notioeable from the moment he took the helm. The BuUclin had then a very small subscription list and little advertising patronage. Ho soon infused new life and into the concern, and to-day the paper is enjoying a more liberal patronage than ever before. The beet evidenoe of the BulMMa prosperity is the steady increase in its subscription list and the general grow^ of the businees from comparative insignificance to its present high position among the newspaper properties of Portacje Comity. In the fall of 1884 the office was refitted with new steam printiui; laaehinery, and it now possesses all the conveniences of a first-class job office. The policy of the BuUetin under "SSi. Bfinich has always been Uiorooghly independenii and it now daims a oircolation of about 1,4(X) copies.

The Kent Netoa, established by L. D. Durban dc Co., and first issued October 28, 1867, was the next newspaper started in Kent It was a foar'page» twenty-pigbt column paper, 24x30 inches in size, published at $2 per annum and aJvocatod the principles of the Repuijlinan party. The AV/r« began on a subscription list of about 600, and Mr. Durban, who published a paper at Newcastle, Penn., put his son in charge of the offlisek The paper did not prosper under the young man's management, and after a career of about one vear, the father <rave up the experiment, and removed the printing material to bis own office at Newcastle.

The pieeent Kent ^Tsios is the only Democratic paper ever pnbltshed in Kent. It was established by A. C. Davis and Richard Field, and first issued July 8, 1881. The Newn was then a four-page, sixteen-oolnmn paper, printed on a sheet 15x21 inches in dimensions. The firm of Davis' & i?'ield existed only a short time, the latter retiring from the bosinesB. On the 5tii of Angnst, 1881, the News came Oitt in quarto form - an eight-page, thirty-two-column sheet 30x42 inches in size. In June. 1882, the News Publishing Company purchased the ofiGLoe, with Paul B. Conant as editor and publisher; but the following fall he was snooeeded by O. S. Rockwell, who has since edited and published the paper. On the 15th of December, 1882, the Netv8 was enlarged to a four-page sheet, 24x35 inches in size, and containing twentyeight columns of matter. Its issues of May 11 and 18, 1883, were published, as an experiment, as the Penny News (being the same size as its first number issued two years before) and sold at one penny. The experiment, howsTer, does not seem to have proven successful, for after two numbers the paper went back to its old title, appearing on the 25th of May, 1S83, as a fifty -sizcolumn quarto, wfaidi made it <»ie of the Isi^est newspapers in this section of the State. On the 10th of May, 1884, the Netva was somewhat reduced in size, and has since been an eight-page, forty-eight-column paper, 30x44 inches in dimensions. In 1884 the office was re-equipped, a Campbell steam printing press introduced, and the present comfortable quarters in the Rockwell Block occupied. The Netoa has always been thoroughly Democratic, and complete in the current news of the day. Under Mr. Rockwell's management it has made itself felt in the local political arena, and though it has had an uphill struggle for existence, is now safely established, claiming a circulation of about l.OW copies, at a subscription price of $1 per annum in advance. TIm News has come to stay, for its columns are full of lifo ami onerp^y.

Garrettsville Neimjmpera. - The tirst newspaper published in the bustling town of Garrettsville was the Garretlsville Monthly Review, by Warren Peirce, and first issned in Af>ril. 1865. The office was in an old frame building, now (January, 1885,) a part of the stracture occnpied by the poeiofifoe. Mr. Peiroe was born in Windham Township, Portage County; came to GarrettBrillo in 1851, and 8oon aft«r opened a small job printing office. For a while he manufactured hib own presses, and did job work- Prior to 1805 he purchased a small hand-prees of the Cleveland Herald Company, and with it published the first and subeequMnt editions of the Beview, which wae a four-page sheet, 12x20 inches in dimensions. He oontinoed the Heview about sixteen mouttia at 50 cents per annnm, and then pnve up its publication.

The Garrettsxyille Journal was also t^tablished by Mr. Peirce, and first issued July 10, 1867, as a four-page twenty- four-column paper, 22x32 inches in siza In 1870 he enlarged it to a 26x40 inch sheet of thirty-two oolnmns, pnbliahed at $1.50 per year. A short time before this enlarppmnnt he purchased a large cylinder power press, which is now operated by steam. On the IDtli of September, 1873, Mr. Peirce sold the Journal to Charles B. Webb, who, Ootober 25, 1888, changed it to an eight-page paper of forlj-eiglit oolumns, printed on n sheet 30x44 inches. By his energy and persistent efforts Mr. "Webb has increftsed the iiatronHp::e of the Journal, until he now claims a circulation of about 1,200 copies. During its entire existence the Journal baa been independent in polities, its owners demoting their energies toward publishing a good local paper for their readers, irrespective of their political opinions. The presses and job office are still owned and operated by Mr. Peirce, who does quite a large business in the job printing line.

The H<mB Bamr was another QarrettaTille pnblieatioii, started bj Mr. Peirce in January, 1860. It was a literary magazine, 9x12 inches in dimen* sions, and contained sixteen pages. He ran it for two years at a subscription price of 50 cents and 75 cents per year respectively, and then 0old it to the Rot. W. Olonse, of the Baptist Ohoreh, who remored the offloe to Olevaland, where the Bazat SOOQ afterward failed for want of patronage.

Atxvaier Neirsjmpers. - Two papers have bi'en established at Atwater, y'lz.: the Sharp iSickle and the Atwater Neim. The Sickle was published, by a lir. Hicks for some time prior to his death in 1879, and the press nsed is now in possession of William Stratton, of Atwater. The News was first iB.sued in July, 1884, but ceased publication after a few niimhers. Owing to the fact that the News was printed at Alliance, full postal rates were collected at the Atwater poetoffice, which was tiie main reason for its diacwnlinnanee.