Wayne County, Ohio - Chapter 16: Newspapers of Wayne County, 1910

W ayne county owes its first newspaper and newspaper press to Judge Le^-i Cox, one of the pioneer attorneys of Wooster, who passed away on the last day of 1862. Judge Cox came to the county from Pennsylvania and from th.e east he imported the materials of a journal office: at about the same time he isued ])roposals for the publication of a weekly paper in the village of Wooster to be known as the Ohio Spectator. W^hen he had secured what he considered sufficient support to carry out his plans, he took into partnership a young man by name, Samuel Baldwin, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyh'ania. The young partner in the concern was a printer by trade and thereby greatly aided Mr. Cox. who was unacquainted with the general work of a printing establishment. The two men began their work with much enthusiasm and in the summer of 1817 the hrst edition of the Ohio Spectator ap])eared.

d'he paper was of a medium size, but because of the newness of the materials and the excellent workmanship the paper made a good appearance. Politically it was neutral, promoting only what was the best for the welfare of both the town and the county. A few over three hundred residents were suhscril)ers, while the achertising maintained an average of two dollars the week.

The firm only existed one year, when Judge Cox withdrew and was succeeded l)y Asa \\b W. Hickox, of the Western Reserve. The alliance survi\-ed l)ut one year, when Mr. Hickox disposed of his interests to Mr. Baldwin. who continued issuing the paper for a time himself. But always weak ]diysically, the young man within a short time succumbed to the dread disease, consumption.

Mr. Baldwin's year was finished out by a relative. Dr. Thomas Townsend. as manager of the business office, while Joseph Clingan had charge of the printing. This management continued hut a short time, and at the end of a year the paper became defunct, and the county was without a publication, with the exception of a small sheet called The Electioneer, established entirely to support personal claims to office in the nearing election of 1820.

During the period just covered, Mr. Cox, the founder, had held a lien upon the office, and he resumed the possession of it and soon after issued proposals for a renewal of the Spectator.

The offer was not well patronized and consequently Mr. Gox sold out his interests to Benjamin Bentley, a Wooster man, who was desirous of instituting a paper there. Mr. Bentley not being a practical printer, he secured as a partner Mr. Clingan.

After the issuing and returning of the subscription papers, the Wooster Spectator appeared as a weekly from the day of January 13, 1820. This partnership lasted for two years, when Mr. Clingan purchased Mr. Bentley's interest. Mr. Clingan conducted the paper for five years himself.

The office again changed hands in the spring of 1826. when Col. John Barr, of Hagerstown, Maryland, bought it and issued therefrom a paper entitled the Ohio Oracle, devoted to the support of General Jackson. This publication lasted for a period of four years and, as one historian of the county says of it, "It is probable that this pretentious journal, in name at least, had no prototype and will have no successor." Colonel Barr sold his office after four years to David Sloane, of Wooster, who issued a paper called The Wooster Journal and Dcmocraiic Times. This publication, as its predecessor, ran for four years, when Mr. Sloane disposed of it to a brother-in-law, J. W. Schuckers, who published it for the same period. Both papers were very capably edited, and it was known that the man at the back of the editorial department, during both ])apers, was Col. John Sloane, one of the "most bitter, vituperative, incisive and ])owerful writers of the day." A Mr. Wharton was the printer.

Mr. Schuckers, in June. 1836, disposed of his interests to Daniel Sprague. ' who for a time published the paper under the name of the Wooster Journal and Democratic Times. After a period of about four years, however, he changed the name to that of the Wooster Democrat. Mr. Sprague proved himself a \'ery capable manager for sixteen years, when he sold out to H. C . Johnson and Enos h'oreman. The new managers changed the name of their publication to the Wooster Republican. After five years Mr. Johnson retired from the business and moved to Sandusky City. Mr. Eoreman continued the [laper, acting as proprietor and manager. On Julv 25, 1861. IMr.

Foreman issued a daily from the Republican office, which was continued until November 30th of the same year. This was the first daily in the county and was devoted entirely to war news. Mr. Foreman disposed of the office in August, 1870, his successors being Capt. A. S. McClure and Joseph G. Sanborn. Horace N. Clemens, who had been the city editor of the paper under McClure and Sanborn, assumed the controlling interest in the paper, and, under the firm name of H. N. Clemens & Company, took charge of the editorial management of the paper and business control. It was while under the control of Mr. Clemens that the Daily Republican made its first appearance, in June, 1887. George Kettler assumed the city editorship of the Daily Republican at its start, and has held the position through all the years, there having been numerous changes in ownership and editorial control, and at the time this article was written was still acting in the capacity he has always filled. Air. Kettler began work as a very young boy, in his early teens, in the job department, first holding that lowly position, "the printer's devil," but he had his mind set upon higher things and was not content until he reached the more lofty occupation of writer.

In 1891 Air. Clemens retired from the management of the paper, having disposed of his interests to David W. Solliday, a lawyer, born in the county, but who had resided for some years in Texas, and who assumed the duties of editor. The paper had a precarious existence for some time and then in 1893 Thomas C. Reynolds, of Akron, an editorial writer and publisher of much experience, assumed a controlling interest with Francis C. Whittier, of Akron, as secretary and business manager. In 1898 Albert Dix, who had been engaged in the newspaper business at Hamilton, Ohio, with his son, Emmett C. Dix, became interested in the business.

Under the management of the Messrs. Dix, the publication took new life, with Albert Dix as business manager and Emmett C. Dix in editorial control and assisting in the local work, with George Kettler in the news department. The circulation increased rapidly, especially in 1898, because of the fine news service during the war with Spain. The Alessrs. Dix proved progressive, with their every thought centered on the best available for the people whom they serve and consequently have kept pace with the times until their plant, at the present time, is probably the best piece of newspaper property owned in any city in Ohio the size of Wooster. The office is equipped with a Duplex printing press, printing the paper from the roll.

Having now completed the tracing, from origin to the present time, of one of Wooster's lines of the press, we will now direct our attention to another.

In the summer of 1862, Joseph Clingan, of whom we have already spoken, prepared for the publication of another paper in Wooster. It \vas in the same year that a German, by name John Sala, established in Wooster a German paper, known as the Wooster Correspondent ; it, however, had a very small circulation and existed but a short time.

Mr. Clingan, having completed all his arrangements, in September, 1826, sent out the first edition of a most excellent publication. The Republican Advocate. The paper, which had as one of its objects the advancement of General Jackson to the Presidency, was a complete success, and was well patronized, continuing for twelve years under the management of the original owner, when he sold out to Samuel Littell. Mr. Littell, who was already owner of the Western Telegraph, established by Martin Barr, combined the two papers, their politics being the same, and entitled the new sheet The Democratic Republican. This journal lasted three years, when it was transferred to James G. Miller and a Mr. Carpenter, a printer; these gentlemen published it for a year. Isaac N. Hill then leased the office, as had Mr. Miller from Mr. Littell, and issued for a few years The Democrat. After the expiration of this lease Mr. Littell sold out to Alessrs. Carny and Means, w'ho published until the death of Mr. Means.

Hon. John Larwill obtained the proprietorship after the death of Mr. Means and sold the office to Jacob A. Marchand, who continued as owner of the Democrat up until the time of his death, on August 28, 1862. On the first of April, 1862, Mr. Marchand had rented the office to Franklin Harry and John H. Oberly, for the term of one year. His death made it necessary to sell the Democrat, and Mr. 01)erly purchased it, conducting it for a year with marked ability. In 1864 Mr. Oberly sold out to Col. Benjamin Eason, who took possession as head of the paper on November 1, 1864. Mr. Eason sold the office in 1866 to the Hon. John I\ Jeffries, who, for a year, acted as manager, with his son, Linneaus O. Jeffries, as publisher. Mr. Jeffries then sold the office to Benjamin Eason and Asa Dimmock, the former doing a portion of the writing, although especially occupied with the managerial interests, as Mr. Dimmock was then prosecuting attorne\' of Coshocton county.

In May, 1876, another change was made in which Mr. Eason sold his interests to Mr. Dimmock, who took into partnership Lemuel Jeffries, under the firm name of Dimmock & Jeffries. These gentlemen in turn sold it to James A, Estill, of the Millersburg Farmer, who took possession April 30, 1868. Mr. Estill retired February 25, 1869, and was succeeded by the Hon. E. B. Eshelman, of the Columbus Statesman, the paper being conducted by Messrs. Eshelman, Eranklin Harry and John J. Lemon, On October 23, 1872, Mr. Lemon sold his interest to John H. Boyd, who, on August 2, 1876, turned his share over to Thomas E. Peckinpaugh, the firm name then being known as Eshelman & Company.

Ephraim B. Eshelman, now head of the publication, widely known as "Old Figgers" because of his propensity for figures in dealing with public matters when serving in the Ohio Legislature, was perhaps the most widely known and copied editorial writer the city and county ever knew.

After several years' existence as Eshelman & Company, Mr. Peckinpaugh sold out his interest to H. P. Gravatt. In July, 1881, Mr. Gravatt became the owner of Mr. Eshelman's one-half interest in the firm. Mr. Eshelman was then for a time editor of the Akron Times, but in 1886 returned to Wooster and again became a part owner, securing the one-fourth interest of the late Dr. Leander Firestone, and again assumed the editorial management. The firm was now known as H. P. Gravatt & Company.

During all these years, starting in the office When a boy of sixteen years, Capt. Lemuel Jeffries had been acting as city editor of the paper, serving in that capacity all the years but those spent as a soldier in the Rebellion. Captain Jeffries was a writer of more than average ability, being exceptionally careful in the preparation of his copy, and was on the pay roll of the paper at the time of his death, on June 17, 1909. Mr. Eshelman, because of age, retired from the business May 12, 1902. and died in his apartment at the Archer House June 6, 1906.

The paper passed into the control of the Wayne County Democrat Company, a corporation, June 12. 1905, buying the property of H. P. Gravatt, then sole owner. The officers are John C. Hoffman, manager and president ; Fred H. Zimmerman, secretary and treasurer. The daily issue of the company, the W ooster Daily Nezvs, made its first appearance 'July 15, 1905. The city editor, at the present time. February, 1910, is Edward Hauensein, a }"oung man who is rapidly developing as a news writer.

While we have been discussing the growth of Wooster's two most important publications, we must not neglect to mention those lesser papers that had their existence contemporary with the Wooster Republican and the IVayne County Democrat, for w-ithout these this history would be incomplete. While some of these lived but short lives and meant little to the community, yet others were considered good publications during the years they lived. One of the first of these was founded by R. V. Kennedy and was called the IVaync County Standard, a Democratic sheet that did not survive l;eyond its first year.

Another was christened the American Eagle. It was established by a young man of the county, l)y name Howard Coe. It was to advocate the interests of the town men then seeking office (1885), but this noble bird had a woeful flight extending over the short period of but six months.

Among the more successful publications than those just mentioned was the IVayne County Herald, established in 1878. as a result of a split in the Republican pary. The paper had a rather hard battle for a number of years and passed through many changes of ownership and control. The paper finally became the official organ of the Prohibition party and for a number of years was a paying newspaper property. This was under the editorial management as well as the capable business management of John J. Ashenhurst. Other changes came in the years after Mr. Ashenhurst's retirement, and publication was finally suspended during the summer of 1909.

Elsewhere in this review we have made mention of a German publication in the city that had but a very meager growth and died almost before its beginning was completed, but we have now another to discuss, the \Yooster Journal, the only German paper that ever existed in the county and city. This publication was established in 1880 l)y Adolph Weixelbaum and was printed in the old Quinby building on the southwest side of the square, which later was torn down and replaced by the building now? occupied l)v the Annat store.

The ])aper ])rospered from the start, the German element giving it hearty support. During the gas excitement in h'indlay in 1886, Mr. W'eixelhaum sold the paper to his lirother. Max Weixelliaum, and went to that citv, where he embarked in the same business. His l)rother conducted the paper for several years, having the office on South street. I'or some reason or other, in later years it did not enjoy its ]iast prosperity and Mr. Weixelbaum went to d'iffin. where he purchased the old established German paper of Seneca county. Adolph Weixelbaum, the founder, is now in Lima, where he is very successful in his ventures in that city.

The Jacksonian, another of the more successful contemporaries, was a Democratic newspaper, established and published by J. F. and J. A. Marchand. The first issue appeared in August, 1881. Its mission before the public was the advocacy of the election of E. S. Dowell to the common pleas judgeship, as against C. C. Parsons, who was successful.

The Evening A'cws, the first regular daily paper ever published in the city, was started by the above gentlemen in February, 1884, and was continued by them until 1887, when it was taken over by H. N. Clemens, then publisher of the Republican, who changed its name to the Daily Republican.

The Evening Journal was founded by Calvin D. Myers in 1898, and after about one year became the property of J. F. Marchand, who continued the publication until 1906, when it was discontinued. The Jacksonian in 1906 passed into the control of the Wayne County Democrat Company and the Evening Journal into the hands of the Wooster Republican Printing Company.

Having thus as concisely as possible endeavored to describe the origin and growth of the papers of Wooster, the county seat, another subject, that of the papers of the county at large, remains to be reviewed, and to this end we now turn. The county is exceptionally well represented with newspapers, considering the size of the towns therein, and all of these publications show a marked degree of prosperity.

The Orrville Crescent was established in the spring of 1867 by John A. Wolbach, who while working at his trade in Wadsworth procured a press and a lot of seconddiand material and moved the outfit to Orrville. the trip being made on a sled. IMr. Wolbach conducted the plant for some years, when he leased it to Ruth, of Loudonville, and in the spring of 1879 sold it to Cherry and Colburn, of Wadsworth. This firm published the paper liut eight months, when they sold out to James A. Hamilton, of Cleveland, on October 14, 1879. In the intervening years Mr. Hamilton sold the property twice, in 1891 to Emerson Brothers, of Indiana, who published the paper less than a year, after which it was again bought by Mr. Hamilton, who sold it again in 1900 to Naftzger and Krieble, of Orrville. On repurchasing the property Mr. Hamilton gave his son, Harry, a third interest, but later purchased the son's interest. In the fall of 1909 the property was placed in the charge of A. R. Williams and James G. Hamilton, Jr., a son-in-law and son. who are now conducting the paper.

In about 1904 the paper was changed from a weekly to a semi-weekly, and in 1908 was changed to a tri-weekly. The Crescent has kept pace with the modern newspaper and is equipped with as fine presses and assortment of job and newspaper type as any office in the county. In the eighties i\Ir. Hamilton purchased a Thorne typesetting machine, it being the first typesetting machine to be brought to Wayne county. In 1901 he ordered a twoletter Mergenthaler linotype machine, it also being the first one of its character to be introduced into Wayne county.

When Tfr. Hamilton first assumed control of the paper, a five-column quarto, patent inside, was in use and the circulation was about five hundred. It was later changed to an eight-column folio and then to a nine-column folio. When changed to a semi-weekly it was made a seven-column paper and since being issued as a tri-weekly it has been divided up between a fivecolumn and six-column folio in size. Since its establishment the Crescent has had a steady growth until at the present time it is a welcome visitor in many of the country homes of eastern Wayne county.

The Orrville Courier, although founded in very recent years, has had a remarkable growth and, aside from upholding only the best for the town, i: is one of tlie best of the many county papers. The management has always made an effort to secure every item of interest in the county, by no means limiting it to the town, and thereby making it a publication to be highly appreciated by the farming community.

d'he Courier was established in June, 1903, by the Courier Publishing Company, an established company headed by P. E. Krieble. At its beginning it was edited as an independent paper until, as we have mentioned, it now stands as one of the foremost of the county's publications.

J. F. Adams, then i)rincipal of the high school, was the first editor. The Courier was first published as a weekly until 1907, v hen it was made a semiweekly, under the editorship of Glenn D. Willaman, and has remained such up to the present time. In September of 1908 P. E. Krieble assumed the editorial management and is still acting in that capacity.

The village of Dalton also has in its midst a liright little newspaper. The Garjette. Walton C. Scott was the founder of this publication. On August 3, 1875, be issued one edition called the Dalton Banner, a four-column folio, in which, in an editorial, was slated that the town and communitv would be canvassed and if sup])ort enough was subscribed the paper would be enlarged and publication continued. Conse(|uently, on October 5, 1875. 1^^^ maiden number of the Dalton Gazette, a six-column folio, appeared and was pub- lisliecl as a biweekly for one year, and since that time the Ga::cttc has appeared regularly once a week. The Gazette was edited and pqblished by the fonnder, Mr. Scott, for thirty-one years, np until the time of his death, on December lO, igo6. Since that time the Gazette has been published by his son, E. F. Scott, who assumed charge on the first of December,. 1906. At the present time the Gazette is being published as a six-column quarto.

In Creston, one of the villages of northern Wayne county, there is another independent paper under the management of F. M. Sulliger. Eater than thirty years ago, we regret to say, we can secure no data of this interesting publication, as prior to that time all of the files were destroyed.

At the beginning of the period mentioned C. A. Mellen was the editor and manager, and at that time the Journal, as the publication is known, was a very small sheet. The paper remained in the capable management of Mr. 'Mellen for about five years, after which he disposed of it to C. A. Stebbins. now a banker of Creston. After a number of years Mr. Stebbins disposed of the plant, selling it to Mr. Sulliger, who, as stated, is now at its head. Mr. Sulliger has owned and managed the paper for the longest time of any of its owners and has done more to secure its prosperity. The printing department is equipped with a power press, the only machine of its kind in the village. Mr. Mellen, the founder, was a most versatile and fluent writer and, though well advanced in years, continued contributing to the publication up until the time of his death in igcg.

The Doylestown Journal is another of Wayne county's weekly publications. It is known that the paper was founded in the month of September, 1874, by George W. Everetts, but between that time and 1889 the files were destroyed and definite facts as to its growth in that period can not be ascertained. When Mr. Everetts purchased the plant the outfit was brought to Doylestown from Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, and placed in the basement of the Presbyterian church, and for several years was located and operated in this building. J. V. McElhenie, now a resident of Canton, Ohio, was the second owner of the paper. For a time after his purchase Mr. McElhenie discontinued the paper, but later resumed it. During its existence the paper has been owned by William Smith. George A. Corbus, A. R. DeEluent, Dr. B. F. Putt and W. .S. Hochstettler. W. R. Gillespie, the present editor and proprietor, purchased the plant from Mr. Hochstettler in Alay, 1906.

by J. W. Hutton, who, in turn, was succeeded liy the Rev. F. C. McCauley, who changed the name of the publication to The Buckeye Fanner. The paper had a very precarious existence, and in 1876 the office was purchased by E. T. Atkinson and George W. Brenizer, who changed the name of the publication to the West Salem Monitor. These gentlemen were at the helm for a number of years and on retiring disposed of the plant to Robert Watson, of Canal Dover. After Watson's death the widow continued as editress, l:ut was not well supported and finally, in 1888, suspended the pulilication. .After nearly .two years without a paper, Mrs. MAtson and daughter. Miss i\fary Watson, resuscitated the paper, and in August, 1891, disposed of tlie business to J. W. Kiplinger. Mr. Kiplinger remained in charge of the paper until February, 1893. Mrs. Watson had in the meantime changed the name to the West Salem Reporter. A. F. Dunlap, the present owmer, bought the plant in Feliruary, 1893, its head has brought the paper to the point where, as w-e mentioned, it is conceded to be one of the best papers published in the county. Mr. Dunlap, w'ho does his own writing, lioth editorially and locally, is a man of wide experience in the business, and well deserves the success that his efforts have attained.

In another portion of the county there is another newspaper that lias established for it.self a name as well as a large circulation, - we speak of the Shreve Nezos. This paper was established by AV. J. Ashenhurst in the eighties; in 1896 the plant was purchased by L. S. Miley and Gen. .\. B. Critchfield. Mr. Miley purchased the General's interest in 1903, since which time he has been the editor and sole owner. In the period of ownership and management from 1896 to 1910 the circulation and management of the Neu'.z have (piadrupled. The paper is independent in politics, and is strictlv a home newspaper, devoted especially to local and county news. One of the distinct principles of the Nezvs, and one for wdiich it deserves heartv praise, is freedom from sensational "slush" - to pulilish only the clean, wdiolesome happenings of the vicinity.

Mr. Miley, the enterprising manager and editor, was horn in Holmes county, a Democrat liy birth and adoption; he taught school for a time, after which he entered at Ada Normal University and later Mt. Union College, at which places he received his education.