Preble County, Ohio - Chapter 12: The Press of Preble County, 1915

Chapter 12: The Press of Preble County

The first newspaper published in the county, in 1816, was called Western Telegraph , which was the original Eaton Register , to which the name was changed about the year 1820. The paper was started by two young men, Blackburn and Daly, and was financed by C. Vanausdal, but in a short time it failed. Vanausdal continued the publication himself for a time, but, finding that it was not a paying business, and he being engrossed in other affairs, he discontinued it

In 1819, Vanausdal was elected a state representative, and, while at Columbus, met Samuel Tizzard, a representative of Ross county, who was a printer. Tizzard was induced to come to Eaton the next year to look the matter over. He finally purchased the office and early in 1821 revived the paper under the style of the Weekly Register, and it has continued ever since. Tizzard in 1830 sold out to Enoch Edmonson, who, a few years later, was accidentally killed, and, in 1839, Tizzard again became the owner, continuing the paper's publication until his death in 1844.

Samuel Tizzard was a Universalist and helped organize the first society of that church in Eaton. In 1827 he began, in Eaton, the publication of The Star of the West, as a religious paper of that faith. Some two years later the office of publication was removed to Cincinnati, where it has continued to be the chief western advocate of that church.

After the death of Samuel Tizzard, his son, William B., became the owner of the Register, and finally a few years later formed a partnership with Isaac Morris, which continued until 1874, when it was sold to W. F. Allbright & Company, which, a year or so later, became Allbright & Sons. On the death of W. F. Albright in 1898, it was continued by his sons, and on the death of E. J. Allbright, in 1912, the paper was taken over by the brother,

C. E. Allbright, who is now the sole owner. The paper has all its life, now nearly a hundred years, taken a high stand on all moral questions, and has held deservedly the respect of the whole county, even of those who do not agree with its political doctrine, for it has always been Whig or Republican in faith. It has a large circulation in the county as well as in adjoining counties.

Other Newspapers

During the Harrison campaign of 1840, the Democrats felt the necessity of having a party organ to advance their cause. A stock company was formed and the publication of the Eaton Democrat was begun. This paper changed hands quite frequently for the first twenty years of its life, until about 1865, when it passed into the hands of L. G. Gould, who continued its publication as a Democratic organ for some thirty years alone, then joined E. B. Harkrader as a partner. In 1898, Gould again became sole owner. He died in 1901, and in 1902 the family sold the paper to Earl H. Irvin, who has since continued its publication. He has made a paper that is Democratic in its politics, but withal fair and just to its opponents, and it not only has a wide influence in the community, but the friendship and respect of many citizens of the opposite party.

I must add that our former townsman, "Uncle" Jacob Chambers, always claimed that the county papers contained the record of the county history, while that history was being made, and that files of the papers ought to be saved for future generations. In 1849 Mr. Chambers had a law drafted, which, as amended, was finally enacted into law by the Legislature, in 1850 (48 Vol. O. L., p. 65). The law is yet unchanged, being General Code, section 2459, and provides that the county commissioners must subscribe for the principal paper of each of the two great political parties, and have them bound each year and kept on file in the auditor's office for the use of the public. In the auditor's office now is a copy of the Register and the Democrat for each year since then.

In 1880 E. M. Kennedy started the Camden Gazette , which later was owned by Will S. Cornshull. He continued the paper for a number of years, but about 1902 he sold the plant and discontinued the publication.

The Eaton Herald was started in 1898 by E. B. Harkrader & Brother, as an independent paper, and after a suit by L. G. Gould against him on his contract not to engage in the business in the town for a series of years, the paper was sold to Eby Eikenberry, of Camden, and Harkrader continued as editor. In 1902 the paper was sold to C. B. Unger, who has ever since continued the sole owner, and has made it an independent paper of wide circulation and influence, it having a weekly issue that goes to every corner of the county. I would add that all of the Eaton papers have linotype machines.

In 1877, C. W. Bloom, a young man living on a farm, bought a small ptess and outfit, and began the publication of a little sheet called The Amateur, which continued a few months. He enlarged it and called it The Business Mirror, arid in r882 C. M. Hanes bought him out and published the paper one year, at the end of which time Mr. Bloom again became the owner, moved to town, changed the paper's name t o The Mirror and continued it alone until 1902, when he took in, as a partner, Arch R. Raney, who, in 1906, bought Bloom out and has continued ever since as the sole owner. From its inception to the present time, this paper has been independent in politics, and always advocated the cause of temperance and morality in public as well as private life in a truly independent manner. The paper has built up a strong circulation and has made itself felt as a paper of wide and increasing influence. It must be said that The Mirror was the first paper in the county to install a linotype machine.

On April 15, 1886, J. M. Gale and Charles Wilson started a paper at West Alexandria, called The Twin Valley Times, and published it for a couple of years, after which they sold it. The paper passed through various hands until, in March, 1898, Snyder and Griswold started The Echo. The Times meanwhile having gotten into financial difficulties, the plant of that paper was sold, being merged with The Echo, which ever since has continued, being now owned and published weekly by C. W. McIntosh, having a wide circulation in this and adjoining counties. It is a live local paper, deserving the patronage it receives.

The Preble County Ncivs was started by W. E. McChristie in 1902, in Camden, and he continued the publication until 1906, in which year he sold the plant to Earl H. Irvin, who moved most of the plant to Eaton, continuing the publication there in connection with The Democrat , but keeping a representative in the Camden office. In 1914 Irvin sold the paper and plant to Ray Simpson, who has again moved it to Camden. This paper has always been neutral in politics, but fair to all, and has a good circulation and its share of patronage.

Paper With A Stinger

The Eldorado Bee was started as a weekly local paper by C. Wenger about the year 1891, and has changed hands some four or five times. It is now owned and published by H. R. McPherson, and has a considerable local circulation in Preble and Darke counties on account of its live local news. At first it was run for about a year as the Eldorado Nezvs, when its name was changed to its present style, because the danger of the sting would bring more respectful treatment

The Lewisburg Leader w as started in 1897 by P. C. Coleman and S. G. Shelter, the latter probably being the silent partner, for within a year or so Coleman took over the entire management and made the paper a success. He continued the publication until 1906, when he sold the paper to G. M. Kumler, who since then has been sole owner and publisher, and has pushed the circulation to about eleven hundred weekly. On account of its local news, the circulation of this paper is in Preble, Darke and Montgomery counties. Because it is dependent upon all parties for support, it is neutral politically, but the owner sometimes has to curb his Republican leanings.