Hendricks County, Indiana - Chapter 8: The Press, 1885

Impkovements in Journalism, and Increase in its Power. - Early Papers in Hendricks Cohntt. - Papers at Danville, Plainfield AND North Salem. - Journals now Published. - Sketches OF THE Editors.

In the development of modern civilization there is no more potent factor than the newspaper, and, at the same time, there has been no e;reater pfogre.^s in anything for fifty years past than in American journalism. Fifty years ago the country had few newspapers that could be considered paying property. The metropolitan journals devoted about as much space to foreign as to domestic news, while country weeklies seemed to consider that -which happened at home as of no importance whatever, and imitated the larger papers in style and contents. The telegraph and railroads, assisted by that enterprising spirit which is inseparably connected with successful journalistic management, have wrought most gratifying results. Local ne.vs has become the main feature of weekly country newspapers, and all journals of the better class are foremost in adraucing the bust interests of the localities fromlwhich their support comes.

In Hendricks County, journalism has kept pace in the march of improvement with other professions and industries. The wide circulation of the papers at present published, and the large number of outside pape.-s that are taken here, 'afford the best possible evidence that th3 people are intelligent, enterprising and progressive. In Danvilbj alone 200 copies of the Indianapolis papers are distributed every day.

Journalism in this county is not jet forty years old. In the spring of 1846 the Danville Advertiser was established, with Joseph Graham as publisher and Dr. H. G. Todd (still residing at Danville) as editor. Dr. Todd and several other public-spirited citizens bougiit tlie press for Mr. Graham, in order to secure a paper here. The Advertiser was a six-column folio, and composed almost entirely of reading matter, there being few advertisements. It was Whig in politics, and, indeed, it was founded purely in the interest of the "Whig party, for which it continued to act as an organ during the entire period of its existence. After a few years it changed hands, and fur a time it had a checkered career, iiaving various owners and being issued under several different names snccfssively, but remaining of the same political faith.

In 1856 it ajjpeared as theD anville Republican, under which title it was issued continuously until the' spring of 1864. A]iril 23, of that year, the first number of the iZ^/i^^/'jc/t.s County Union was published by W. P. Gregg & Co. It was an uncomi^romising war pa]>er, and had, flying at its mast head as a motto, the words, "To preserve the Union soldiers must vote at elections as well as fight in the field." The name " Union " was selected in preference to tlio former name of ''Republican," in order to gain the support of the war Democrats, which it succeeded, to some extent, in doing. It was ably edited, and was a success from the start. It continued under tiie management of the above firm, till July 14 of the same year, when Colonel Lawrence S. Shuler, a gallant soldier, became sole proprietor, with Colonel James M. Gregg as editor, and Gid. B. Thompson in charge of the local departtnent and assistant in the business management.

Colonel Shuler continued to publish tlie paper until April 20, 1865, when he sold it to James L. Singer, who became editor and publisher, and roimiincd as proprietor of the ]iaper until March 15, 1866, when John X. Seearc3 bought the office and became "editor and proprietor." Mr. Scearce continued at the helm of the Union for over thirteen years, changing the name in 1ST4 to the Danville Union. Under hi.m the paper pros|iered and was for most of the time on a good paying basis. During a part of his administration Dr. A. Furnas was agricultural editor, and contributed largely to the value and interest of the paper. In 18G6 O. H. Smith was educational editor. Jan. 2, 1879, Mr. Scearce Bold the Union to J. E. Sherrill, who had begun the publication of the Danville Repuhlicaii. Mr. Sherrill merged the Union into the Hepuhlican, but the new paper was of short lite. Jan. 30, 1S79, less than one month after the suspension of the Danville Union^ another Hendricks County Union came into existence.

-The new fiim was South, Hathaway & Co., and the paper at once struck the public favorably, there being something of an advantage in the old name, " Union." In a few weeks Mr. Sherrill sold his Re-publican office and business to the new Union firm, S. F. Wishard and Jim B. Greene being added to the same. A. G. South soon left the firm, and in a few months Mr. Qreene retired, the paper being continued by Hathaway & "Wishard. Aug. 4 of the same year Mr. Wishard sold his share to John K. Rankin, and Hathaway & Rankin wore the proprietors till Nov. 7, when O. H. Smith bought Mr; Rankin out, and Hathaway & Smith were then the publishers, while Mr. Smith became editor. In December, ISSO, Mr. Smith i)0Ught R. F. Ilathaway's share of the paper, and became editor and proprietor. Feb. 11, 1882, he sold to Parker & Bowen, of the Repuhlican, who continued to issue the Union from their office for about two months, on account of certain advertising contracts.

These gentlemen had, Oct. 13, 1881, started the Ilendrichs County Repuhlican, which is now the Republican paper of Danville. Feb. 10, 1SS3, Mr. Bowen sold his interest in the ofiiee to William N. Crabb, and the paper was published by Crabb & Parker, with Mr. Parker as editor and manager until the mouth of April, 1SS5. After Mr. Bo^ven's departure Samuel F. Wishard was local editor for one yea -. In March, lSS-4, Mr. Bowen returned to the paper, with which he was connected as local editor until April, 18S.5. In this month Crabb & Parker sold to the present proprietors, Mofl'ett & Riddle.

The Repuhlican has the same heading and size (30 x 44, sixcolumn quarto) as when first published. It is all printed at home, on the first successful steam press ever brought into the county. It is uniformly Republican in politics, but claims to be independent in everything else. Tlie job-printing department is a profitable one, as one man is emT)loyed constantly on job and press work. The Rep^ublica.)), whi "h had not a subscriber when its first issue was printed, now has a circulation of 1,600.

This completes the record of Whig and Republican journalism in Danville, except t'lat two papers have been moved, there from Plainfield, botli named the Progress. The first was in ISTTjby John

N. Vestal, suspended after six months, and the second occasion was in May, 1SS3, when George V. Mechlcr made a like venture. He, too, soon lost money, and gave it up.

The opposite political faith has been represented by several papers, all at Danville. The first bore the enterprising title of the Butcher Knife, and was founded in 1856 by George Gregg. It lived four years, arid then died out, in the midst of the strong Union sentiments which pervaded the community at the opening of the war.

The V>'i.xw\\\& Indian'mn was esti.blished in 1S70 by parties hailing from Greensburg. Soon afte-, it became the property of a stock company, and then for a time it was in charge of Dr. Haggart, who was followed bj' two brothers named Hay. In 1S72 the office was purchased byC. N. Walls, who retnained in control until the fall of 1875, when the ofiice aud material were sold and sent to Illinois.

In February, 1878, E. D. King founded the Democrat^ remaining editor and publisher until Au(;nst, 1879, building up an influential and profitable paper. At tl e latter date mentioned, he sold to M. A. Barnett, who in turn c osed out his office in October, ISSl, to J. 0. Parker, of the Rej. ublican, E. D. King, having returned from a year's absence in Colorado and founded, Sept. 15, 1380, the Ilendriclcs Counts/ Gazette, which is now the Democratic paper of the county, and one of tii 3 leading country journals of the State. Launched in the midst of ;. presidential campaign,- the Gazette at once assumed a leading and influential position. Its editor was indicted for libel under the Grubbs law, but so transparent was the action of the partisan grand jury that Mr. King was never brought to trial, the judge quashing the indictment and throwing the case out of court.

In August, 1SS2, Mr. King retired froiii the Gazette, and it passed through various controls, till Aug. 1, ISS-t, when its present proprietor, Will A. King, with John W. Cravens, purchased the good will and business. The lattergentleman in a few naonths resumed the mercantile business, and Mr. King became sole proprietor. He is a practical newspaper man, having been connected with his father as co-publisher :)f the Gazette at its commencement. There are probably few county papers that surpass the Gazette in- circulation and influence. It is conducted in a conservative manner that gives influence to its sayings, and as a paper of local standing, it receives a large patron.age from political oppo- nents over the county. Its subscription price is $1.50, and its circulation is between 1,200 and 1,500. In the spring of 1SS5 it became financially embarrassed, and at present writing its future is uncertain.

Plainficld has had several papers, the first being Once a Week, founded by John A. Deem, in 1SG2. This was suspended after a short time. It was afterward revived by John N. Vestal, who gave it the name of the Citizen, and published it for some time. He then sold it to Charles S. McNichols, who issued a paper for a while under the name of the Tribune.

George V. Mechler, Nov. 11, 18S0, issued the first number of the Plainfield Progress, which he ran suceessfally two or three years. Though a Democrat himself, he published it as an Independeut sheet (being in a strong Republican locality) and was very successful. In fact, he became, so to speak, too prosperous, and in May, 1S83, removed to Danville, to compote with the journals at the county seat. This was a disastrous step to him, and he was soon obliged so suspend. Immediately after his removal Horace G. Douglass and J. A. Fullen commenced the issue of a paper under the old name of the Plainfield Progress. But two weeks passed between the two papers, Messrs. Douglass & Fullen issuing their first number May 31, 1SS3. i\Ir. Fullen shortly withdrew, going West, wlience he has, however, returned. Douglass retained control until May 12, 1SS4, when he obtaiiseJ au appointment at the Reform School, and sold the oflice to A. T. Harrison, the present editor and proprietor. The Progress was at first a five-column quarto, but was soon increased in size to six columns. It was politically independent, under Mr. Douglass, but Mr. Harrison has made it a Republican sheet. It is not rigidly partisan. The Progress has made a general circulation m the southern part of Hendricks County, and in adjacent parts of Marion and Morgan counties.

North Salem is the only other village in the county that has been blessed with a printing office. J. J. and H. E. Heniion came from Eochedale, Putnam County, in July, ISS-t, and until March, 18S5, published regularly the North Saleni Reporter, a six-column quarto, independent in politi'^s. In the month last mentioned the Messrs. Hennon returned to Rochedale.

Jesse W. Riddle, of the Pejnihlican, was born in Perry County, Ind., July 31, ISOl, the son of James H. and Catharine (Goad) Riddle. The father is still living,a farmer ofPerry County. Jesse was reared on the paternal farm, and received a good English education, first in the district schools and then in the Centra] Xormal College, of Danville, wliere he graduated in June, 18S3. He then followed teaching for two years at Pittsboro, this countj, when in April, ISSo, he entered upon journalism bj purchasing a half interest in the Ecjmilican.

Will A. King, editor and proprietor of the Gazette, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 5, lS6i, and is the oldest of the children now living of E. D. and R. A. King. At an early age he entered the printing office of his father, and became a thorough workman in the ''art preservative of all arts." His father is an editor of over thirty-years e.xperience, and under his careful guidance the son not only acquired the mechanical knowledge of the business but became thoroughly competent to assume any position connected with the newspaper office. In 1SS2 he became co-publisher with his father in founding the GazetU^o? which he is now the sole head. His conduct of the paper is highly commended bv men of all parties. It wields a strong iafluence in its partv, and lias a circulation and advertising patroi age largely above tlie averao-e of county papers throughout the Stace. Mr. King is unmarried.''

Arthur T. Harrison, editor and proprietor of the Flainfield Progress, was born June 1, 1858, in Cliesterfield, Madison Co., Ind., the son of John A. and Nancy E. (Diltz) Harrison. The father was a school-teacher for a number of years, but, removing to Anderson (the county seat) in 1859, he practiced law there until his health failed, a few years since. His wife died in 1SG3. Mr. Harrison was the leading lawyer in his county, and one of the ablest and best-known members cf the legal profession in Indiana He was a liard worker, and popular with all who knew him He was Prosecuting Attorney fron 1S62 to 1SG6, two terms, and was a candidate for Eepreaentative in 1S59; but, as a rule, he avoided politics. The son alter ded school at Anderson from' his fifth to his fourteenth year, and tlien served two years as an apprentice to the printer's trade o i the Anderson Herald. A term at school was succeeded by six months more on the Herald. At the earnest request of his fatlier. he then entered the latter's office to study law. He was soon thrcvn upon. his own resources, owino. to his father's failure in health. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1,879, and to practice befcre the Supreme Court in ISSO on motion of Judge Walter March, of Muncie. He then practiced law in Madison County until March, 1883, the last year in part nersliip with J. F. McClure. His incliaatioas all tlie time led Iiim toward journalism, and during lS7S-'9 Le was local editor of the Madison Herald. In March, 1SS3, he went to Bement, 111., where for nine weeks he ran the Gazette for the owner. Returning to Muncie, he worked on the Dally JSlews until May, 1SS4, when he came to Plainfleld and purchased the office, business and good will of the Progress, which he has since very creditably conducted. Mr. Harrison was married Sept.^ll, 18S3, at Mooresville, Morgan County, to Miss Clara Davis, daughter of Joshua M. and Rachel (Demoss) Davis. In politics Mr. Harrison is a zealous Republican. He and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.