Putnam County, Ohio - Chapter 9: Newspapers of Put-Nam County, 1915

Chapter 9: Newspapers of Put-Nam County

In writing the history of Putnam county it is but meet that its newspapers receive specific mention, as they were not only among its first enterprises, but aided greatly in the development of the county. They have given the general news on almost every subject of a public nature and have been prone to comment in a fearless manner upon public events.

Before the Civil War there were but few daily papers in existence in this state, and they were not taken by the people generally, as the mail facilities were such that a daily paper would not reach the people here until at least a week after its publication.

In the early history of this part of the state a number of newspapers were started, not only to promote the development of the various counties, but to promulgate political opinions as well. As the counties were formed their political complexion was in doubt and the partisans of both the Democratic and Whig parties, the leading political organizations of that time, were anxious to obtain the ascendency. The general politics of that time in this part of the state showed a tendency toward Democracy. Whenever a Democratic paper was started, the Whigs, if they had the political strength, started a paper in opposition, to advocate their principles.

Partyism in those days, as between the Democrats and Whigs, was very intense and political questions were argued with a bitterness of feeling that does not now exist among political parties.

Among the county newspapers published in this part of the State before the Civil War were the Kalida Venture, in this county; the Defiance Democrat and the Defiance Banner, at Defiance; the Hancock Courier, at Findlay; the Western Empire, at St. Marys ; the Lima Argus and the Lima Reporter, at Lima; the Section lo Budget and the Delphos Oracle, at Delphos; th)e! ,Fulton Democrat, at Ottokee, and possibly one or two other papers.

In those days the successful publication of a county paper was a problem difficult of solution. While the subscription price was twice as much as that of the papers of today, the circulation of the papers was very limited and the patronage equally limited in the way of advertising. The art of ad- vertising was only in its infancy, for what is now known as commercial or business advertising was scarcely known and such an advertisement would have been a novelty. The only advertising of the kind was that of patent medicines, the proprietors of which were certainly the pioneers in business advertising. The great revenue and the main support for the newspapers then was what is known as "legal notices," and the great amount of them requiring publication afforded a revenue to ihe publisher sufficient to keep his newspaper afloat for the entire year. Notices of foreclosure, sheriff's sales, cases in chancery, road notices, etc., were numerous and filled many columns of the newspaper. In those days what is known as the delinquent and forfeited land lists, which required publication, was a great source of revenue to the printer, the list making from three to four pages of the paper and was considered as a bonanza by the papers which published it.

In those days the county newspaper had to cover considerable ground in its make-up. It had to give its readers literary matter, articles on scientific subjects, historical matter, natural history and much pertaining to the arts and sciences, as books were scarce and the masses of the people unable to purchase them. The proceedings of Congress and State Legislatures were published at length and the editorials were principally devoted to politics and the discussion of public and party questions. Considerable attention was also given to foreign news upon the arrival of steamships from foreign countries.

This fact no doubt had a bearing upon the subject matter which appeared in the county papers of that time, as they were compelled to keep their readers informed in regard to matters of state, and to express the views of the editor upon all issues of a public nature. In this respect the county papers filled the wants of the people, who at the time were greatly interested in such matters. The county paper in those days was certainly ably edited, as much ability was displayed in the articles of its editor. However, if the newspaper of today was each week filled with the same kind of reading matter as then published, its circulation would be very limited. But it was what the people of that day wanted and they were satisfied.

There was scarcely a reference to local events and only things of more than ordinary import were mentioned, and they in a very brief manner, except in a cases of murder or fatal accidents.

The county newspapers of ante-bellum days were very different in many respects from those of today. The paper upon which it was printed was made entirely of rags and was of excellent quality. The type used was much better than that of today, and would last five times as long, even if it was run on a power press. The old hand press did not injure the type by impression Hke the modern presses, and the type produced a clear and clean impression, -even if the appliances for inking it were very crude and simple. Then, too, money was a scarce commodity in ante-bellum days and the newspaper publisher was compelled to take anything he could use in payment on subscriptions or advertising. For this reason, wolf scalps, raccoon skins, corn, pork, chickens, eggs, stove wood, dried apples, and scores of other miscellaneous products were gladly received by the editor.

Kalida Venture

The first newspaper of Putnam county was very appropriately called the Kalida Venture and it does not take a vivid imagination to figure out why the editor chose such a name. The venturesome editor was Francis Gillette, who at the same time eked out a livelihood by practicing law in the county seat. From the time of the first issue, February 20, 1841, Putnam county has not been without at least one paper, although the editors have undoubtedly often had a hard time to make both ends meet. The files of this Venture have not been preserved and the dates of changes in ownership are difficult to trace. However, the succeeding owners are known and are given in the order in which they had charge of the paper.

Gillette was evidently not a success as a newspaper man, for within a short time he disposed of the paper to Horace Knapp, later the author of the "History of the Maumee Valley." Knapp struggled with the Venture until 1845, when James McKenzie, a prominent lawyer of Kalida, undertook to add editorial duties to his legal practice. This disciple of Blackstone must have been a man of ability, since he continued as owner and editor of the paper until 1854. At that time he was succeeded by Luther Wolf, and subsequently John Dixon became the sole owner and editor and so continued until the county seat was moved to Ottawa in 1866. Just when Dixon moved his plant to the new county seat is not known, but it appears to have been In 1865 or the year following. With the change of location went a change of name and the Venture appears in Ottawa as the Citizen. The change of location and name seemed to have been too severe a shock, and the newlyborn Citizen soon breathed its last.

Kalida Sentinel

In 1865 the Kalida Sentinel was established by Elam Day. As the name indicates, it was a Democratic sheet. Just why the name Sentinel was early appropriated by Democratic editors will probably always remain a mystery, but it is safe to say that every paper bearing the name has been of that political persuasion. As in the case of the Venture, the files of the Sentinel are missing and consequently exact dates are not available. Day was succeeded after a short time by Luther Wolf, who, in turn, was succeeded by Levi G. Lee. The paper must have been unprofitable, if frequent changes in ownership are any indication of the success of the enterprise. Lee evidently remained at the head of the paper only a short time, since it is known that M. G. Gillette was editing the paper during the Civil War.

At the close of the war, presumably at the time the county seat was changed to Ottawa, the Sentinel was moved by Gillette from Kalida to Ottawa and rechristened the Putnam County Sentinel, a name which it has now borne for half a century. Upon the removal, there was a change in ownership, Gillette taking in as partners Stephen Godfrey and Leonard Miller. Miller was intrusted with the editorial management and remained in this capacity until some time in 1866, when he retired from the newspaper business, Godfrey and Gillette continuing the paper until 1867.

In June, 1867, George D. Kinder purchased Godfrey's interest in the Sentinel and a year later secured the interest of Gillette, thereby becoming the sole owner. Mr. Kinder continued as editor and proprietor for a period of thirty-five years and during his long connection with it built up a newspaper medium which took high rank among the papers of the state. In 1900 Mr. Kinder decided to lay aside the cares of the editorial chair and sold his paper to a stock company. A stock company, with sorne changes in stockholders, has been in charge of the paper down to the present time, although it has had several changes in the editorial management. In 1913 A. P. Sandles became the managing editor and has since continued to serve in that capacity. While Mr. Kinder has no financial interest in the Sentinel, he still retains his chair in the office of the paper and has assisted in the publication of practically every issue for the past fifteen years with the exception of the four years he spent in the treasurer's office. The love for his old paper keeps him in close touch with the business and the probability is that the Sentinel will continue to bear the impress of his individuality as long as he lives. Few men in the state have been connected with the newspaper

Der Demokrat was established at Ottawa in 1887 by C. W. Bente. He remained in charge of the paper until September, 1890, when he sold it to Henry Holterman. A year later Mr. Holterman disposed of the paper to Carl Wohlfarth, who was sole owner and editor until May, 1892, at which time he sold a half interest in the paper to H. F. Rauh. The new firm was. known as the Demokrat Publishing Company and continued in charge of the paper until March 4, 1893. On that date Mr. Rauh bought the plant at receiver's sale and at once made plans to place the paper on a sound financial basis. He succeeded beyond his expectations and within a short time it was enjoying a large circulation and advertising patronage and became one of the leading German publications of the Northwest. Mr. Rauh has now been in charge of the paper for nearly a quarter of a century and has built up a circulation which extends far beyond the limits of Putnam county.

Ottawa Telegram

During the Civil War, in 1862 or 1863, John M. McElroy, now editor of the National Tribune of Washington, D. C, started a paper in Ottawa which he called the Telegram, but, for reasons not known, it was destined to live for only a short time. McElroy soon disposed of the paper to Jacob S. Foster, who struggled with the wavering sheet a few months and then discontinued it.

Ottawa Gazette

The Ottawa Gazette was founded in September, 1881, by C. L'H. Long, who retained his connection with the paper for a few years and then disposed of it to George Bassett. The new proprietor continued in charge but about six months and then sold it to Hoffa & Vale, the new proprietors managing the paper until the spring of 1893. In that year C. P. Godfrey became the owner and ran the paper until about 1901. He was succeeded by J. H. Letcher and after struggling for a few years with the sheet he sold it to E. B. Walkup, who continued as owner and editor until 1913. At that time a stock company was organized to take over the paper. This stock company was composed of the following persons: J. P. Leasure, Jean P.

Vale, G. A. Stauffer, L. E. Eastman, Angela Eastman, A. Graham, D. R.. Jenkins, St., H. I. and E. M. Kahle, Samuel Burkholder, William Rimer,. Guy R. Coit and Charles Veach. Jean P. Vale was made editor and manager and continued in this double capacity until April 26, 1915. She then retired from the paper and the editorial management was assumed by G. A. Stauffer, while B. H. Spitler became the business manager. At the sametime L. E. Eastman became the secretary of the board of directors.

Leipsic Free Press

The Leipsic Free Press was established on September 13, 1878, by WW. Smith, who remained the proprietor and editor until his death, on February 14, 1912. For many years he issued it as a semi-weekly. After hisdeath his son, George F., assumed charge of the paper and still continuesas editor.

Leipsic Tribune

The Leipsic Tribune was founded in 1891 by Pratt Kline. He wassucceeded by H. F. Wendle, who retained connection with the paper as proprietor and editor for a number of years and then disposed of it to W. H. Holderman, the present editor.

Other Columbus Grove Papers

There have been at least two other papers published at Columbus Grove - the Record and the Clipper, but neither paper had more than an ephemeral existence. The Clipper was founded by F. S. Kline in 1893 a^^id lived amore or less precarious existence for about three years.

Kalida Record

The Kalida Record was established in the nineties by E. J. Bolerjack, who was succeeded by W. N. Curtiss, the present owner and editor. Curtissalso printed the Ottoville Leader, a weekly paper devoted to Ottoville news and advertising, from December, 1912, to March, 1915.

Pandora Times

later disposed of it to D. B. Basinger, the present owner and editor. Mr. Basinger also issues from his press the Missionary Worker, a semi-monthlypublication, and the Baeschafter, a monthly German paper.

Continental Union-News

The Continental Union-Nezvs was started several years ago and was disposed of to J. H. Hartman, who has been the editor since that time. Since he has the only paper in the town, he has made a financial success.

The files of the Videttc are in very poor shape and many of the numbers ^re missing entirely, consequently the early history of the paper is hard to get. The Vidette was founded in 1873 by W. C. Tinge, but just how long he continued to edit the paper cannot be ascertained, nor who became his successor. The following is as complete a list of the editors as could be secured :

Ottoville Tri-County News

The Ottozille Tri-County Ncivs was established in 1906 by Mr. Fluhart, a newspaper man who had been conducting a paper at Continental. The first issue of the paper was printed in Continental, but all of his succeeding issues were printed in Ottoville. Fluhart purchased a job printing outfit of C. B. Wannemacher, of Ottoville, in 1906, which Wannemacher had been operating since March, 1904. Fluhart's paper gave special attention to the news of Putnam, Van Wert and Paulding counties, hence the name of Tri-County News. A few years later, Fluhart sold the paper to Thomas Siebold, who -continued it under the old name until about 1910. In that year he moved ihe plant to Middlepoint, Ohio, where he is still in the newspaper business.

Ottoville Leader

After the Tri-Coiinty Nra's was discontinued, C. B. Wannemacher bought a good newspaper plant and in July, 1910, issued the first number of the Ottoville Leader. He printed the paper regularly until July 28, 191 1, when he issued his last number (Vol. II, No. 53). Shortly afterwards, Wannemacher disposed of his plant to W. N. Curtiss, who sold the press and part of the equipment, and installed the rest of it in the office of the Kalida Record, of which he was the owner and editor. In December, 1912, Curtiss began to issue the Ottoinlle Leader from the press of the Record in Kalida and continued to do so until the spring of 1915, when he discontinued it. At the present time Ottoville is without a paper, although the Kalida Record -devotes one page each week to Ottoville news and advertising.