Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1917

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read)

The history of the newspapers of Fayette county is difficult to trace, owing to the fact that complete files of the papers have not been preserved. The only way to write the history of any paper is to have access to the files of the paper in question. It is not certain when the first newspaper was established in Connersville, but it seems that the Indiana Statesman was started in the county seat some time in 1824 by Abraham Van Fleet. Van Fleet, a native of New Jersey, had come to Connersville in 1820 from Lebanon, Ohio, where he had learned to set type on the Western Star, and started a paper of his own in Connersville as soon as he felt that he had sufficient patronage to make it a profitable venture. It is not known how long the paper was issued, but it appears very evident that it disappeared before 1826.

There is a strong probability that the Indiana Statesman was followed by the Observer, which made its appearance in June, 1826 (Vol. I, No. 4, was dated July 8, 1826), under the proprietorship of the same Van Fleet and one Daniel Rench. Undoubtedly it was printed in the same shop as the Statesman and the evidence would seem to indicate that it was the latter paper under a new name. At the time of the Observer's establishment it was a small four-column folio. In 1828 it published the local laws of the state. Some time before 1829 Van Fleet retired from the paper in favor of John Sample, who had been sheriff of the county from 182 1 to 1825, Sample and Rench issued their last number on May 8, 1830, having sold out to Samuel W. Parker.

The new owner and editor changed the name of the Observer to the Political Clarion with the issue of May 22, 1830, and made it a stanch Whig paper, a supporter of Henry Clay. Parker became one of the greatest lawyers of the county, served in the lower house of the state Legislature (1843) a"d in the senate (1840-42) and was a member of Congress from 185 1 to 1855. He was a graduate of the college at Oxford, Ohio, and had taught school before assuming charge of the Political Clarion. Parker retained the paper about two years, disposing of it on May 26, 1832, to Caleb B. Smith and Matthew R. Hull, who changed its name, their first (30) issue, June 2, 1832, bearing the title of Indiana Sentinel. The paper continued its support of the Whig party. Smith soon severed his connection with it, turning over his interest to Col. Henry J. Nefif. The Colonel evidently was not impressed with the possibilities of the paper, for a few months later he became identified with the Ft. Wayne Sentinel. Neff left the Sentinel to found the Winchester Patriot. After Nefif left Connersville, Hull continued as the sole owner of the paper for a time, just how long is not known, but at least until 1834, since in that year it had the contract for publishing the local laws of the state. Hull left Connersville and settled in Ohio, returning after several years to Fayette county.

The successor of the Indiana Sentinel is not definitely known. The Legislature of 1832-33 selected the Argiis, of Connersville, to publish the local laws enacted during that session, but when this sheet came into existence, when it disappeared, or who was responsible for its transitory career are facts that have perished along with the files of the paper itself.

Other Papers Of Brief Careers

Another paper, a sixteen-page religious monthly, bearing the title of Christian Casket, appeared in 1832 under the management of Elder John O'Kane and Dr. Ryland T. Brown. It was laid away to rest after about a year's struggle and was supposedly given a decent Christian interment befitting its title.

Samuel W. Parker and D. Van Fleet issued the first number of the Watchman on May 31, 1834, a successor very likely of either the Indiana Sentinel or the Argus. Parker had formerly been connected with the Political Clarion and he became the editor of the new paper. The ownership of the Watchman underwent several changes within a few years, William Stewart and John Sample being connected with it at one time or another before it disappeared about 1.84 1, although Parker continued as editor during these changes. It was, of course, a Whig paper, and from all reports it was regarded as one of the most ably-edited weekly papers in the state during its career.

The Indiana Telegraph

A paper which succeeded in maintaining itself for a score of years was the Indiana Telegraph, established in 1840 by Louis C. Fonts, as an exponent of the Democratic party. Fonts soon sold it to F. B. Thomas and W. A. Hotchkiss, the new owners' names appearing for the first time in the issues of December. 1841. How long they had charge of the paper is not known, but before 1845 it had passed into the hands of R. T. Brown. WilHani Stewart, who had previously owned the Watchman, secured the Telegraph from Brown prior to September 20, 1844, (Vol. 4, No. 18, dated September 20, 1844, gives William Stewart as owner and editor), and directed its wavering career for a short time. Stewart disposed of it to Seth W. Swiggett, who, in turn, sold it to a stock company of Democrats. Whether there was not a sufficient number of Democrats in the county to support an organ, or whether the new company found the paper a burden from other reasons, the facts are that it soon became the sole property of T. J. White. The new owner struggled with it for a short time and in 1859 relinquished it to John M. Higgs and one Smith. Two years later the paper passed into the hands of Frank Brown, and the new proprietor, hoping to improve its waning fortunes by changing its name, rechristened it as the Fayette County Union. It called itself a Democratic-Whig organ, but neither its new name nor its hyphenated party allegiance could save it, and it quietly passed away within a few months (1861).

Fayette And Union Chronicle

In 1850 appeared a paper known as the Fayette and Union Chronicle, founder unknown, but its history is succinctly set forth in a brief notice from the White Water Valley, quoted in tlie Brookrille American, October 4, 1850: "The Fayette and Union Chronicle is no more. It breathed its last two weeks ago at the early age of six months. We presume it died of repletion - too much patronage, if we can credit its own statements." The only additional fact concerning this short-lived paper is that it was a campaign sheet, and this sufficiently explains its abbreviated career.

Papers Accompany Temperance Wave

In the early fifties a wave of temperance swept over the country and was directly responsible for the establishing of a large number of papers. One such paper was established in Connersville, the Ladies Temperance Wreath, founded by Mrs. Lavinia Brownlee and Marie Louise Chitwood, the former a resident of Connersville, and the latter of Mt. Carmel, in Franklin county. Miss Chitwood was one of the most distinguished poets of her day, but died on December 19, 1855, before she reached the age of twenty-three. The Wreath was a magazine devoted to women's interests, to the cause of tem- perance, and also laid some pretensions to being a literary magazine. Its whole career seems to have been comprehended within the year 1854.

Genesis Of The Connersville News

When the Indiana Telegraph became a Democrat sheet in 1849 the Whigs at once started a new organ of their own, calling it by the peculiar name of White Water Valley. The new sheet was founded by Thomas Surger}^ and William S. Burrows, one of the ablest editorial writers in the state, became the editor. Some time before 1853 it changed its name to White Water J'alley Times, under which name it advertised itself for sale in that year. Who bought it, if it was sold, or what became of it, has not been definitely discovered, though it appears from the best evidence that the paper was sold to a man by the name of Maker. Whether he did or did not have a partner is not known, although it is probable that J. R. Randall was his associate. The absence of files of the paper makes it impossible to follow the wavering career of this paper which was to become the progenitor of the present Connerszille News. In 1854 J. R. Randall and W. H. Green appear as owners, Maker having sold out his interest, whatever it may have been, to Green. The new firm evidently considered the old name of the paper too heavy from a typographical and geographical viewpoint, and they proceded to drop the White Water Valley and call it by the simple name of Times.

The Connersville Times

The history of the Times from 1854 down to the present time is filled with a series of changes in ownership, the paper having passed through several different hands during the past sixty-three years. The paper was a weekly until its consolidation with the News, a daily, in 1881, and the names are so continued till the present. The Nezvs had enjoyed an independent career for some years previous to its consolidation with the Times. The various changes in the ownership of tlie Times will first be considered.

On November 16, 1854, the owners became W. H. Green and J. H. McClung, the latter at that time acquiring the interest of J. R. Randall. Two years later (May 15, 1856,) Green became the sole owner and he continued in full charge of the paper until he became auditor in the fall of 1867. He disposed of the paper to Augustus M. Sinks in December, 1867, and a short time later, the same winter, George M. Sinks, a brother, became associated witli the new owner. In 1870 a third brother, M. R. Sinks, was added to the firm. A. M. Sinks sold out his interest to his two brothers on May i, 1871, and joined Jeremiah Wilson in the practice of law. Some time during 1873 George M. Sinks became the sole owner and editor of the Tijiics and so continued until the summer of 1875, when he became postmaster of Connersville. The formal transfer seems to have been made on July i, 1875, the paper at that time passing into the hands of John A. James and William F. Downs.

In August, 1877, Downs sold his interest in the Times to Charles N. Sinks and the latter continued as sole owner and editor until August 24, 1880, when the paper passed into the hands of John C. Ochiltree and William F. Downs. There appears to have been a time in 1880 or 1881 when Thomas Downs was a part owner. On March 9, 1881, Ochiltree and Downs (W. F. ) bought the Conner stnllc Nezvs from McClung & Bacon and consolidated it with the Times under the name of the Connersville Times and Nezi's. In August. 1 88 1, Ochiltree retired from the paper and the firm at that time became McClung, Bacon & Downs. In October, 1881, the News part of the title was dropped from the title. The paper during the eighties seemed to have been handed back and forth with reckless abandon between five dififerent men. Before the close of 1881 (November 9) A. M. Sinks and John C. Ochiltree are again at the helm. Both had had previous connection with the paper, but never as partners before. These two men maintained an unbroken partnership for nearly three years. Ochiltree severed his connection with it on July 2, 1884. leaving Sinks as sole proprietor. Sinks was one of the ablest men ever identified with the newspaper history of Connersville. For three years he handled the paper alone (1884-87). About this time he sold the paper, still a weekly, to J. W. Shackleforcl and Howard M. Gordon. Delia Smith, later Mrs. J. \V. Hull, secured a lialf interest in the paper in June, 1887, at the time the daily edition was established.

The Times-News Company

The first daily paper in Connersville was publislied by the firm of Downs & Smith, on June 9, 1887, with W. F. Downs as editor. They made such inroads on the field of the older weekly as to force consolidation. The next change brings the proprietory history of the paper to its present corporate form - the Times-News Company. On October 20, 1892, this company was organized under the la\\s of the state, the members of the company being J. W. Shackleford, Delia Smith and W. F. Downs, the latter serving as editor of both daily and weekly editions.

In 1895 J. H. Tatman bought the interest of Shackleford and six months later Tatman disposed of his interest to Downs and Miss Smith. The following year Tatman bought out Miss Smith, and Downs and Tatman continued as partners until the latter's death in March, 1904. Before that time E. W. Tatman had been a stockholder, having had a financial interest in the paper since 1897, and on the death of his father he assumed his father's interest. Downs died on March 23, 1905, and since that date E. W. Tatman, better known as Ned Tatman, has acquired practically all of the outstanding stock of the paper. Mrs. Downs, the widow of W. F. Downs and now a resident of Michigan, still controls a small share of the stock.

Present Staff Of The News

In 1916 the company built a new building with the intention of occupying it as soon as it was completed, but before it was ready for occupancy an opportunity presented itself to rent it at a favorable figure and the company decided to remain for the time being in its old quarters. The new building, erected at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars, stands immediately north of the postoffice. It was leased to Frank B. Ansted for a period of five years and is now used as a garage. The paper intends to move into the building upon the expiration of the lease. It is a handsome brick structure, with stone trimmings, and was built with a view to enlarging the facilities now enjoyed by the paper in its present quarters on Court street, north of the court house.

The managing editor of the N^cws is E. W. Tatman, who owns practically all of the stock of the Times-News Company. Earl W. Williams is the associate editor and Webb Sparks serves in a reportorial capacity. Louise Schroeder is society editor and Inez Williams is in charge of the business department. The general foreman is C. G. Chitwood, who has been connected with the newspapers of Connersville many years. The paper uses the services of three linotype operators, a number of typesetters and the usual complement of employees necessary to publish a daily paper in a city of this size, the total number of employees being fourteen. L. N. Boland, who for many years was actively identified with the editorial department of the Nezt's, is still connected with the paper, though only in a limited capacity. Mr. Boland is the oldest newspaper man in the city. During his early life he was prominently identified with a number of metropolitan papers. The News enjoys an unusual circulation for a city the size of Connersville, having a total circulation of three thousand one hundred, about two thousand of which is in the city. The paper is independent Republican in politics.

The Coiiiicrsz-illc Xctl's. the original paper bearing this title, made its initial appearance on June 7, 1877, with E. J. Smith as owner and editor. It was a six-column folio and was labeled as "A Truly Independent Journal." For some time after it was started one column of news was printed in German, but this feature was soon discontinued. On August 7, 1878, T. A. Taylor and E. B. Rawles bought the paper from Smith and made it the organ of the Republican party. With the issue of February 26, 1879, Taylor appeared as sole owner. On November 12, 1879, W. H. Green and G. C. Bacon became the owners, but Green soon disposed of his interests to J. H. McClung. The new owners struggled with the paper for a time, but the city was unable to support three papers. The Titnes and the Examiner had been in the field several years before the Nctcs and it was impossible for the latter to command sufficient advertising support to make it a financial success. Consequently, the owners of the News and the Times effected a consolidation of the two papers on Marcli 9, 1881. This earlier Nezcs is not to be confused with the present Xezcs. Tt lived and died a weekly, while the present A\^2i's was a dailv from its inception to its consolidation with tlie Times, and has had no lapses.

The Connersville Examiner

The Conncrsznlle Examiner, the Democratic organ of Fayette county, will soon have completed its fiftieth year of existence. On December 24, 1867, John Milton Higgs and F. M. Pickett issued the first number of the Examiner and it has had an unbroken career from that time down to the present. Higgs had learned the printing trade in the office of the Brookzille Democrat and came to Connersville in 1859, where he joined one Smith in the purchase of the Telegraph. The career of the Telegraph has been previously' noticed. Higgs soon accpiired the interest of Smith and continued his connection with the Telegraph until he sold it to Frank Brown in 1861. Higgs enlisted in the Union army on September 18, 1861, and upon completing his military service went to IndianapoUs, where he worked on various newspapers until he returned to Connersville to establish the Examiner.

Pickett remained with the paper until March 17, 1869, v.hen he withdrew, leaving Higgs as the sole owner. From that time until 1903 Higgs conducted the paper alone. In 1887 he established a daily edition which has since been maintained. In 1903 Mr. Higgs disposed of the Examiner to E. W. Ansted, Frank Buckley and others, the new owners installing Loring

Bundy, of New Castle, as managing editor. Bundy continued as editor until he was replaced by John W. Fawcett. -The latter in 191 1 was followed by H. C. Anthony, who was in editorial charge until 191 5, in which year D. E. Trusler, the present editor, assumed control.

On September 27, 1915, the Express Printing Company, of Liberty, Indiana, took the Examiner vmder lease for one year, the company placing D. E. Trusler in charge. At the expiration of the year the Express Printing Company and the Connersville Daily Examiner Company were consolidated and incorporated with a capital stock of thirty-thousand dollars, under the name of the Express Printing Company, the incorporators being F, L. Behymer, H. M. Hughes, E. W. Ansted, George W. Ansted and D. E. Trusler.

The new company at once began plans for a new home for the paper, and let a contract for the building of a one-story brick building, fifty by one hundred and seventy-one feet, at the corner of Grand avenue and Seventh street. The building was occupied in the early spring of 191 7. It has new equipment throughout and is prepared to do -all kinds of printing, binding, catalogue work, and various kinds of work done by first class printing establishments. There is an art department which was installed for the purpose of handling the immense amount of. engraving and etching demanded by the catalogues issued by the local manufacturing companies.

The present force of the Examiner include thirty employees in addition to the editor, D. E. Trusler. Robert Walker is reporter ; Miss Ethlyn Backous, society editor, and Miss Mary Kubler, general office assistant. George P. Spicer is circulation manager. The circulation of the paper has more than trebled since the present editor took charge in the fall of 1915, and now exceeds thirteen hundred daily. When the Examiner occupied its new quarters in the early spring of 191 7, F. L. Behymer, the president of the publishing company, and H. M. Hughes, secretary-treasurer, became permanent residents of Connersville. At the same time about twenty of the employees of the Express, published at Liberty, also located in Connersville. Mr. Behymer is the general manager and Mr. Hughes has charge of the book and catalogue department, Mr. Trusler continuing as the editor of the Daily Examiner.

The Bulletin

The Bulletin .was published monthly at Connersville from September. 1891, to January, 1893, by J. L. Heinemann for the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of Indiana. After January, 1893, it was published by others at New

Albany and Logansport. The subscription price of the paper was fifty cents a year and it had a wide circulation in the field it was designed to cover.

Conner.Svili.E Papers Of Other Days

A city the size of Connersville can hardly support more than two papers, but this undisputed fact has not kept other ambitious newspaper men from attempting to start a third paper. At least two other papers have ventured into the Itxal field, both with daily editions, and both bidding for patronage in competition with the two present daily papers. It would seem to an outsider that the folly of tr\ing to conduct four daily papers in the city at the same time would be so apparent that it would be impossible to interest capital. However the fact remains tliat in the latter nineties four papers made their daily appearance in Connersville - Avtt'.s-, Examiner, Rcpitblican and Courier.

The Repiiblieaii appeared early in the nineties and at various times during its brief career had both daily and weekly editions. It seems to have disappeared before the end of the decade. About 1898 the Courier Publishing Company started the publication of a paper known as the Courier.

Sometime in the later nineties, A. V. Bradrick established a paper known as The District Farm I ton and he continued to issue it until 1899, when he sold it to E. E. Moore and B. F. Thiebaud. The new owmers changed the name of the paper to The Courier. The paper was later sold to John Moses, of Rushville, in 1905, and three years later, J. M. Hamilton and others organized a company and bought the newspaper plant and soon established an excellent morning daily, but the competition with Cincinnati and Indianapolis morning papers was too keen and the paper failed to pay. The company was composed of A. J. Roth, Claude Mathewson, Charles Myers, William Masters and J. M. Hamilton. On May 4, 1912, A. J. Roth became the sole owner of the paper and discontinued its publication, converting the plant into a job printing plant. Mr. Roth is still operating the plant.

Two other papers, both magazines, have had brief careers in Connersville. In 1893 John W. Hull established a monthly agricultural paper bearing the name of The National Sheepman, the title being sufficiently indicative of its general contents. It was issued regularly for about twelve years. The other magazine was owned and edited by John P. Brown and carried the name of Arboriculture. It was published bi-monthly for about five years during the decade following 1900. Brown was an authoritv on

The first issue of the Apostolic Holiness Herald made its api>earance Ma)^ 26, 1907. Its first proprietor was George S. Owen, and later Roscoe S. McBride became associated with Owen. The paper was a small, twelvepage monthly magazine, eight and one-half by twelve inches in size. It was not a financial success and suspended publication in October. 1908.

Conner.S'Ville Editors

In the preceding- pages has been given a brief history of the several papers and magazines which have appeared in Connersville since Van Fleet started the Indiana Statesman in 1824. It now remains to notice the more promment of the many editors who have b'een identified with these papers. It has been impossible to secure definite information concerning some of these men, but the main facts concerning several of the local editors have been collected and are given in the following pages :

Abraham Van Vleet, the founder of the first newspaper in Fayette county, was born in New Jersey in 1783. His career prior to his location in Connersville in 1823 is not definitely known, but it appears that about 1S12 he located in Lebanon, Ohio, and shortly afterward became connected with the IVesteni Star, then published at that place. It is not known whether he learned the printing business in the office of that paper, or whether he had ser\ed his apprenticeship before going there. It is well established that he came to Connersville in 1823, bringing with him sutTlcient equipment to publish a paper. The population of the town and county was evidently not large enough to support a paper, although a reference to the Indiana Statesman in the commissioners' records in 1824 proves conclusively that he had a paper going for a time at least in that year.

No copies of this first paper in the county have. been preserved, and consequently it is impossible to speak with definiteness concerning it. A fugitive issue of the second paper (Vol. I, No. 4,) published in the town, the Observer, carrying the names of Abraham Van Vleet and Daniel Rench as publishers, is dated July 8, 1826, which would indicate that it was started in the first week of June of that year. Van Vleet severed his connection with the paper sometime prior to 1830 and either turned his interest over to

John Sample. Jr., or to Rencli. Tt is certain that Sample wa.s part owner in May, 1830, since on the 8th of that month tlie paper contains the valedictory of Rench and Sample, conveying the definite information that they have sold it to Samnel \\". Parker. Win Fleet, according to the best authority, went to New York city in 1831 and died in that city the following year.

Daniel Rench

Daniel Rench was born in Maryland about 1800 and came w^ith his parents to Jackson townsliip, Fayette county. Indiana, about 181 2. He became associated with Abraham Van Vleet in the publication of the Ohscn'cr, the .second paper issued in the county, and was connected with it as part or sole owner from 1826 to 1830. Rench and Sample, then owners of the Obscri'cr, disposing of it to Samuel W. Parker in May, 1830. Rench was a man of ability, as is evidenced by the offices of trust to which he was elected by the people of the county. He became the first auditor of the county in 1841 upon the creation of that office by the Legislature, and served continuously until 1855. He was elected recorder in the fall of 1865, and served from August 18, 1865, until his death on Februar}^ 10, 1872.

William Stewart

^^'illiam Stewart was born in Pennsylvania in 181 5 and came with his parents to Conners\-ille in 1821. He served as an apprentice in the office of the Observer. His connection with the papers of Connersville is more or less obscure, due to the fact that files of the early papers have not been preserved. He was first part owner of the Watchman and later became the sole owner, this connection falling within the forties. Sometime prior to 1845 ^is bought the Indiana Telegraph from Dr. Ryland T. Brown, but soon sold it to S. W. Swiggett. Stewart was a representative in the Legislature in the thirtieth and thirty-first sessions (1845-46). Stewart died in February, 1865.

Matthew R. Hull

Matthew R. Hull was born in Taylor county. Virginia, December i, 1809, and came to Fayette county in 1828. He was a saddler by trade and followed his calling at various places in the county before engaging in the newspaper business in Connersville in 1832. At one time he had a shop at Alquina. He seems to ha\e been a man of unusual energy and ability and became one of the leading men of the county. When he was only twentytwo years of age he joined Caleb B. Smith in the purchase of the Political Clarion of Connersville, the new owners issuing the first number of the paper (June 2, 1832) under the name of Indiana Sentinel. The following year Hull became the sole owner of the paper and he continued alone for some years. It seems that sometime after Smith severed his connection, Col. Henry J. Nef¥ became identified with the paper and he may have taken over the interest of Smith. At any rate the Colonel soon left Hull in full possession. How long Hull continued the paper is not definitely known, but it seems to have been discontinued before 1839. In that year Hull was elected to the lower house of the state Legislature, serving through only one session, the twenty-fourth. Sometime in the forties Hull left Connersville, located in Ohio, and from the best accounts available, engaged in newspaper work in that state for several years before returning to Fayette county. He was an ardent abolitionist, a radical- temperance man, and took an active part in local affairs as long as he was a resident of Fayette county. He died on July 22, 1875.

A monthly magazine, The IVcstern Life-Boat (Des Moines, Iowa), 1873, page 362, says Of Hull: "M. R. Hull was an eminent instructor, and who but for instability of purpose would have become one of the most eminent men of the nation. He had much natural ability, a superior education, and was one of the most eloquent orators in the West. This same Hull started an abolition paper in Ohio. He now [presumably 1873] is in Fayette county, Indiana, carrying on a carriage and wagon factory."

George M. Sinks

George M. Sinks, a brother of Augustus M. Sinks, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, February 20, 1846. He served in the Civil War from 1861 until 1864. In 1868 he located in Connersville, where his brother, Augustus M., had a short time previously bought the Times. He continued as part or sole owner of the paper until 1875, in which year he was appointed postmaster of Connersville, serving in that capacity until 1883. Upon retiring from the postoffice he became secretary-treasurer of the Indiana Church Furniture Company and filled that position until he retired from active business life in 1898, though he was for many years afterward the president of the Favette National Bank.

John C. Ochiltree

John C. Ochiltree was bom in Union county, Indiana, March ii, 1846, and receixed only a common-school education. He began teaciiing school before reaching his majority and continued teaching twehe years. In the fall of 1880 he came to ConnersviUe and on August 24, 1880, bought the Times in partnership with \\". F. Downs. The following spring (March 9, 1881,) Ochiltree and Downs consolidated their paper with the Ncivs, then published by McClung & Bacon. In August of the same year Ochiltree disposed of his interest in the paper to the other members of the firm, but about two months later (November 9, 1881,) Ochiltree and ,\ugustus M. Sinks became the sole owners of the paper. On October 2, 1884, Ochiltree sold his interest to Sinks and on the 6th of the following November moved to Indianapolis where he lived for several years. He then located at Dayton, Ohio, where he was editor of the Dayton Daily A'czt's up to within a year or two of his death. He is buried near Glenwood, Indiana. Ochiltree was a very fluent and versatile writer, and turned his liand with equal facility to prose and poetry. He issued two volumes of his writings.

William Franci.S Downs

William F. Downs was born at Anderson, Indiana, December 25, 1854, and in 1862 located with his parents in ConnersviUe. On November 9, 1868, he entered the employ of A. M. and G. M. Sinks, publishers of the Times. He served seven years a.s a compositor and then became foreman of the mechanical department. On July i. 1875, being only twenty years of age at the time, he joined with John A. James in the purchase of the Times. Two years later the firm disposed of the paper to Charles N. Sinks. In September, 1880, Downs and John C. Ochiltree Ijecame the owners of the Times, and a little more than a year later Downs sold his interest to A. M. Sinks and John C. Ochiltree. Downs now became city editor of the Examiner for a period of two years. On June 9, 1887, Mr. Downs, with Delia C. Smith, founded the Daily Nexi's. From its inception it was a success, Downs becoming the first editor of the daily edition of the Neivs. On October 20, 1892, Downs & Smith, owners of the Nca's. combined the paper with the Republican and during several changes Downs continued to hold an interest in the paper until his death. Downs was cit\' clerk from 1884 to 1890, and served as mayor from 1890 to 1894. Upon the resignation of Miles K. Moffitt as county clerk, May 22, 1898, Downs was appointed to fill out the unexpired term, and served by subsequent election until his death, March 2^^, 1905. He is buried at Sturgis, Michigan, where his widow is now living'.

John Milton Higgs

John M. Higgs, one of the founders of the Examiner, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, April 5, 1841, and received his education in the district schools and in Brookville. Before reaching his majority he entered the office of the Brookville Democrat and remained with the paper five years. In 1859 he came to Connersville and in partnership with one Shiith bought the Indiana Telegrapli from T. J- AVhite. Higgs continued his connection with the paper until just before he enlisted (September 18, 1861) in the Union army for service in the Civil War. He served throughout the war and after his return home located in Indianapolis, where he found employment on the Indianapolis Sentinel and Gazette. The Democrats of Fayette ' county had no organ of their own after the war, and Higgs was prevailed upon to return to his old home and establish a Democratic' paper. He induced F. M. Pickett, ah editorial writer on the Indianapolis Herald, to join him in the venture and on December 24, 1867, the new firm issued the first number of the Connersville Examiner. Pickett withdrew from the paper on March 17, 1869, leaving Higgs as the sole owner. The latter continued it as a weekly until 1887, when he established a daily edition of his paper, both of which have continued to come from the press down to the present time. Higgs maintained his connection with the paper until 1903, when he sold it to a stock company. Higgs retired from active affairs after disposing of the paper, and lived a cpiiet life until his death, No\'ember 7, 1909. His widow is still living in Connersville.

Augustus M. Sinks was born on March ly, 1838, in Clermont county, Ohio, and was educated at the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching at the age of nineteen and followed the profession for four years, reading law in the meantime. He was admitted to the bar m 1863 and in that same year was elected clerk of his home county. In 1867 he located in Connersville and bought the rfmi'.f from W. H. Green, who had been elected auditor of Fayette county that fall. He' assumed control of the paper in December and maintained his connection with it until May

1, 1871, when lie sold his interest in the paper to his two brotliers, G. M. and M. R., who had previously been associated with him in its publication. Upon disposing of his interest he formed a partnership with Jeremiah M.. \Mlson for the practice of law, the firm being dissolved when Wilson was elected to Congress. Sinks was attorney for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Indianapolis Railroad and for the Ft. Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad for ten years. On November 9, 1881, he and John C. Ochiltree bought the Coiiiicrs7'il!c Times and after the retirement of Ochiltree, July 2, 1884, Sinks continued as sole owner of the paper until 1891, when he disposed of it to J. W. Shackleford and Howard M. Gordon. Sinks was city attorney of Connersville for six years. He took a great interest in Masonic \\ork, serving ten vears as master of Warren lodge, four years as high priest of the chapter, five vears as illustrious master of the council, four years as commander of the commander}-, and one year, 1885, as illustrious grand master of the grand chapter. Royal Arch Masons, of Indiana. He died in Cincinnati in 1912.

James Harvey Tatman

Xo history, however concise, of the upbuilding of Connersville could be deemed just to the future unless it told of the life and the business career of the late James Harvey Tatman. Most of his life was spent in Connersville. Few more active members of the business circles of their day and no more rugged and strong-principled Christian gentleman ever added to the city's growth.

Born in Kentucky. Mr. Tatman came with his parents to Franklin county, Indiana', ^vhen he was still a little child. About the year 1858 he came to Connersville and the remainder of his life -was lived within the city. He died on September 9. 1905 in his eightieth year.

In the course of his life in Connersville Mr. Tatman was a photographer, which art he mastered and prospered in. Af one time, during the w^ar, he employed three assistants constantly. He was later associated with A. C. Cooley in the furniture manufacturing business ; he was a partner with L. T. Bower in a saw-mill industry; at one time he was interested with Henry Moyer in the retail furniture business ; he platted a large tract of ground in the western district of the city which is known as Tatman's addition ; he operated the largest apiary in Fayette county and was engaged in an active way, but on a smaller scale, in other enterprises.

Mr. Tatman was president of the Times-News Company for many years and upon it, as upon everything he touched, he left the imprint of a char- acter of strong and admirable angles. His eagerness in the conduct of business exceeded his strength of body. His ardor as a believer in Methodism exceeded both and his death took from the city a man who died as he had lived, and whose memory is revered today. The widow, Mrs. Josephine B. Tatman, who in her young womanhood was a contributor of verse to earlyday periodicals, still resides in the beautiful family home at the southwest corner of Grand avenue and Ninth street.

Edwin Wright Tatman

Edwin Wright Tatman, although a comparatively young man, has nevertheless been classed for a number of years among the city's forward rank of business spirits. He is president and general manager of the Times- News Company. His public activities in the Commercial Club, which he served as vice-president and treasurer, his identity with all public-spirited and philanthropic movements, and his labors in behalf of the industrial development of Connersville are predominate characteristics. Cementing all this he has a wide accjuaintance and a salient penchant for being on the advance side of issues, questions and movements.

Mr. Tatman was born in Connersville in a house that occupies the same original lot on which his own house now stands, on July 21, 1878. His business career is a rather remarkable one. His connection with the Evening News, of which he is now the publisher and principal owner, began in his teiith year and has lasted, without interruption, until the present. He began as a newsboy and continued to be a newsboy until the day of his graduation from the Connersville high school. He was then in his eighteenth year. The Monday following he took up his duties as bookkeeper for the company. About a year later the company, theretofore in charge of William F. Downs and J. W. Hull, underwent a change, Mr. Tatman's father acquiring a half interest in the establishment. At the time of this transaction young Mr. Tatman was made business manager. He was peculiarly fitted for that position, having grown up from the humblest duties of the establishment to the position - which he still holds - of the person who knows more about the business, in and out, than any other person connected with it. The years since he began as a newsboy have given him a business education not to be found in any college.

active otherwise, being interested in local banking and manufacturing enterprises and ha\ing \aluable realty holdings. He is a member of the board of directors of the b'armers and ^Merchants Trust Company, of Connersville.

D. E. Trusler, the editor of the Daily Exainincr. was born near Connersville on February ii. 1888. He was educated in the rural schools and in the Conncrs\-ille high sciiool. \\'hen onl}' seventeen years of age he enlisted in the I'nited States na\-y an.d remained in the service four years, 1905-09. serving first on the "Charleston" and later on the "West Virginia." He was on board the "Charleston" when Secretary of State, Elihu Root, made his famous trip around South America in that vessel. For three years he was stationed on the west coast of the United States and during that time visited all the important ports in the South Sea. Australia, China, Japan and other jiarts of Asia. He has been in practically every port in the world, having crossed the ecjuator no less than twenty-eight times in the course of his travels.

After being mustered out of the navy in 1909, Mr. Trusler was employed by the Rex Buggy Company until 1912, when he became a reporter on the Connersville Nezvs. He became editor of the Daily Examiner in September, 191 5, and has succeeded in trebling the subscription of the paper since he. took charge of it. Mr. Trusler v.as married on January 29, 1910, to Eva Caldwell.