Hendricks County, Indiana - Chapter 18: History of Journalism, 1914

Chapter 18: History of Journalism

In this day of huge metropolitan newspapers and up-to-the-minute news -stories, it is hard to reahze the handicap under which the newspaper of fifty, -or even thirty, years ago labored. Facilities for receiving and publishing news had not reached the point of perfection attained today. The editor of today is a business man, a manager, a news medium; years ago he was a moulder of public opinion, a controller of local politics. The paper was known by the editor, but now the editor is known by the paper. Crude hand presses, meager supply of type and other simple paraphernalia of the early printing shops have given way to the linotype, power presses which turn out over a hundred papers a minute ready for the subscriber, and other wonderful inventions and methods used in modern newspaper production.

In Hendricks county the growth of the newspaper has been very substantial, although it has been retarded by the close proximity of Indianapolis and the large dailies there. The resident of Danville and other larger townships is enabled to receive the city paper almost as soon as a local edition. The papers in Hendricks county have been restricted to weekly "editions due to this fact alone, for otherwise the population and interest of the county would warrant more frequent issues.

The year 1846 saw the beginning of journalism in Hendricks county. In the spring of that year the Danville Advertiser was established, with Joseph Graham as publisher and Dr. H. G. Todd as editor. Doctor Todd .and several other enterprising citizens bought the press and gave it to Mr. Graham for the sole purpose of giving the town of Danville a newspaper. In size, the Advertiser was a six-column folio, composed almost exclusively «of reading matter. Very little advertising matter found its way into the sheet. Politically, the paper was Whig. The paper was established to promote the interests of this party and it continued so during the period of its existence. After a few years, the paper changed hands and from then on had a varied career, having several owners, appearing under several names, until 1856, when it came out as the Danville Republican. Under this title it was issued until the spring of 1864.

On the day of April 23, 1856, the first issue of the Hendricks County- Union was pulilished by W. P. Gregg & Company. The paper was decidedly in favor of war. At the top of its first page it printed each day, "To preserve the Union, soldiers must fight at elections as well as fight in the field." The name Union was selected instead of Republican in order to gain the support of the war Democrats, which in large measure it accomplished. The paper was under splendid editorial management and met success from the very start. The above mentioned firm continued to publish this paper until July 14, 1856, when Col. Lawrence S. Shuler, a soldier, became sole proprietor, with Col. James M. Gregg as editor and Gideon B. Thompson in charge of the local department and assistant in the management of the business. Colonel Shuler continued to publish the paper until April 20, 1865, when he sold it to James L. Singer, who became editor and publisher and remained as proprietor of the newspaper until ]\larc]i 15, 1866, at which time John N. Scearce bought the office. Mr. Scearce continued in charge for over thirteen years and changed the name of the paper to the

Danville Union

Under Scearce's management the paper had a very prosperous career. During a part of this time Dr. A. Furnas was agricultural editor and contributed largely to the value and interest of the paper. In 1866 O. H. Smith was educational editor. On the 2nd of January, 1879, Mr. Scearce sold the Union to J. E. Sherrill, who had begun the publication of the Danville Republican. Sherrill merged the Union into the Republican, but the new paper was of short life. On January 30, 1879, less than one month after the suspension of the Danville Union, another Hendricks County Union came into existence.

The new firm was South, Hathaway & Company, and the paper at once struck the public favorably, there being something of advantage in the old name Union. In a few weeks Mr. Sherrill sold his Republican office and busi- ness to the new Union firm, .S. F. Wishard and James B. Greene being added to the proprietors. A. G. South soon left the company and in a few months Mr. Greene also retired, the paper being continued by Hathaway and Wishard. On August 4th of the same year Mr. Wishard sold his share to John R. Rankin and Hathaway and Rankin were proprietors until November 7th, when O. H. Smith bought out the interest of Mr. Rankin. Smith became editor and in December, 1880. bought out Robert F. Hathaway's share of the paper, thus becoming sole editor and proprietor. On February 11, 1882, he sold to Parker & Bowen of the Republican, who continued to issue the Union from their office for about two months on account of certain advertising contracts.

Mr. Bowen and J. O. Parker had established the paper known as the Hendricks County Republican on the 13th day of October, 1881. This paper is now, after an existence of over thirty-three years, the leading paper of Danville. On February 10, 1883, Mr. Bowen sold his interest in the office to William N. Crabb and the paper was published by Crabb and Parker, with Mr. Parker as editor and manager until the month of April, 1883. After Mr. Bowen's departure Samuel F. Wishard was local editor for one year. In March, 1884, Mr. Bowen returned to the paper, with which he was connected as local editor until April, 1885. In this month Crabb and Parker sold to Mofifett and Riddle, who continued the publication to good advantage. John C. Ochiltree was the next proprietor, followed in the year 1890 by Julian D. Hogate, who, in 1914, is still successfully publishing the Republican. It is the leading newspaper in the county, having a circulation of about eighteen hundred. It is a six-column quarto, issued Thursday of each week. The paper is neat in appearance ancl is strictly a news sheet. The Republican plant turns out a quantity of high class job printing in connection with the issue of the paper.

Other Danville Papers

Two newspapers were at one time moved to Danville from the town of Plainfield. Both papers bore the name Progress. The first was in 1877 by John N. Vestal, who suspended after six months, and the second occasion was in May, 1883, when George V. Mechler made a like venture. He, too. found the venture unsuccessful.

The first newspaper of that pohtical faith bore the sanguinary title of The Butcher Knife. It was founded in 1856 by George Gregg. Four years completed the life of this sheet and it died amidst the strong Union sentiment at the opening of the Civil war.

The Danville Indianian was established in 1870 by a group of men from Greensburg. Soon after it became the property of a stock company and afterward, for a time, it was in charge of Doctor Haggart, who was followed by two brothers named Ray. In 1872 the office was purchased by C. N. Walls, who remained in control until the fall of 1875, when the office and material were sold and transported into Illinois.

In February of the year 1878 E. D. King established the Democrat and remained as its editor and publisher until August, 1879, building up a strong and influential paper. At the latter date mentioned he sold the office to M. A. Bamett, who, in turn, closed out the office in October, 1881, to James O. Parker of the Republican. Just prior to this, E. D. King returned from a year's trip in Colorado and founded, on September 15, 1880, the which is now the leading Democratic paper of the county. The paper was started during a presidential campaign and found a fertile field in which to grow. It at once assumed an important position and today ( 1914) it still holds that reputation. At one time its editor was indicted for libel under the Grubbs law, but so obviously unfair was the action of the partisan grand jury that Mr. King was never brought to trial, the judge of the court quashing the indictment and throwing the case out. In August, 1882. E. D. King retired from the managerial helm of the Ga-zette and from then until August I, 1884, it passed through the hands of several proprietors. At that date it came into possession of William A. King and John W. Cravens. Cravens disposed of his interest in a few months and Mr. King became sole proprietor. He holds this position today, after thirty years of valiant service for the Democratic party. Just at present he holds the office of postmaster of Danville, in connection with his editorial duties. The paper is a weekly, published on -Thursday, being a six-column quarto and with eleven hundred subscribers. The paper has been uniformly successful throughout the many years of its existence. High class job printing is also made a specialty at the Gazette plant.

Plainfield Papers

There have been almost as many papers started in the town of Plainfield as there have been in Danville. The first one was called Once A Week,. being founded by John A. Deem in 1862. After a short run this was suspended. John N. Vestal afterward attempted to make the paper a successunder the name of the Citizen. After publishing it for some time, he sold it to Charles S. McNichols, who issued a paper for a period under the name of the- Tribune.

Plainfield Progress

On January i, 1879, George V. Mechler established the Plain field Progress, which he ran successfully for several years. Mechler was a Democrat of the first water and the community was Republican, so he compromised and published his paper as an independent sheet. In this venture he was successful and, thinking to gain more prestige at the county seat, he removed to Danville in May, 1883. At this place he was soon obliged to suspend publication. Immediately after his removal Horace G. Douglass and J. A. Fullen began the issue of a paper under the old name of the Plainficld Progress. These men issued their first number on iNIay 31, 1883. Fullen withdrew after a time and moved west. Douglass retained control, however, until May 12, 1884, when he obtained an appointment at the Reform School and sold the office to A. T. Harrison. The Progress was at this time a fivecolumn quarto. This paper was published until September 5, 1904, at which time it was succeeded by the established by P. W. Raidabaugh. From May, 1910, until June, 1912, C. C. Cumberwrite had control of the paper. At the latter date Fred E. Warner became the editor and proprietor and is still in this position. The paper has a general circulation, is six column, eight page in style, and is Republican.

North Salem Newspapers

J. J. and H. E. Hennon came from Roachdale, Putnam county, in July, 1884, and until March, 1885, published the North Salem Reporter. This was a six-column quarto, independent in politics. In the month last mentioned, however, Messrs. Hennon returned to Roachdale.

111 1892 the North Salem Herald was established as an independent newspaper. It is still in operation, a weekly six-column quarto, and is edited by John H. Wetz, who took charge January i, 19 14. Previous to this date Samuel Sherman Waters held the office of editor. The paper has a circulation of five hundred.

The Clayton Weekly Press

The Clayton JJ'eekly Press was established on January 6, 1914, succeeding the Clayton Enterprise. The Enterprise had been established by a Mr. McDaniel, and was later owned successively by Harrison F. Weesner, then by H. E. and Paul Hathaway. The Clayton JJ'eekly Press is an independent Democratic paper, with a circulation of six hundred. The paper is an eight-page quarto, patent insides. Cal Sinninger is the editor and owner of the paper.

Brownsburg Record

In the year 1881 A. S. Clements established a paper in Brownsburg known as The Modern Era. It then changed to the name Brownsburg Courier, and later to the present title. It is a very prosperous paper in 1914, with a circulation of approximately one thousand. It is a six-column quarto, independent in politics, and is issued weekly by U. S. Watson, the editor and publisher. Previous to Mr. Watson's management Charles A. Sedgwick, Walter Burns, Carey Gaston, John R. Sheehan, G. A. Johnson and Charles A. Hughes presided over the destinies of the paper. Mr. Watson assumed control on June 10, 1912.

Religious Publications

There have been quite a number of religious publications issued in Hendricks county within the past years, most of them devoted to the Friends denomination. There was the Friends Bible School Teacher, with twentyfive hundred circulation, a quarterly magazine of sixty-four pages for Sunday school superintendents and teachers; the Friends Advanced Quarterly, thirty-two pages, with a circulation of seventeen thousand, for the main body of the Sunday schools; the Friends Intermediate Quarterly for younger classes in the Sunday school, thirty-two pages and seven thousand circulation ; the Friends Lesson Sheet, weekly, two pages, forty-five hundred circu- (9) lation, for general study in Bible schools; the Youth's Friend, eight pages, illustrated weekly for young people, seventeen hundred circulation; Child's Lesson Leaf, for the primary department of the Sunday school, four-page weekly, thirty-two hundred circulation. The Africa Record, eight pages, missionary information, published quarterly, and with fifty-five hundred circulation.

These publications were all edited and published by P. W. Raidabaugh and were moved to Plainfield from Chicago in 1901, and were transferred to the American Friends Bible School Board, located at Fairmount, Indiana, on January i, 1914.

The Pittsboro Sun

The Pittshoro Sun was established in January, 1893, by Frank C. Harrell. It was bought by E. C. Weaver during its first year of life. He placed it on a firm basis. On December 25, 1898, Samuel James became the owner, remaining in charge until June, 191 1, when he sold to Evart Watson, a young man who made good in the twenty months that he conducted the paper. In February, 1913, the Sun again changed hands, Gregory Walden, of Howell, Michigan, becoming its publisher.

The Medical Profession

The medical profession in Hendricks county had its beginning before the organization of the county, for of all the professions in which man is engaged that of medicine is the first demanded. True it is that great progress has been made in the science since its introduction into Hendricks county, but nevertheless, the early patient probably had as much confidence in the methods of the pioneer physician as the present-day patient has in the most advanced methods. Trust and dread did occasionally go hand in hand in administration of the first doctor's treatment. There was the lancet, to take from the patient all the blood he could spare and still live, hoping thereby to destroy the tenement of the demon disease and force him to seek some other abode. Another indispensable remedy was, "the Spanish-fly blister," which was applied on the same theory, indiscriminately upon adult and child. Calomel and blue-pills were common remedies for most diseases determined by the doctor's diagnosis, and a sure remedy when the doctor's diagnosis left uncertainty in his mind. To work out of the human system the calomel and blue-pills, after they had done their savage work, gamboge, castor-oil and senna, one or all of them, were freely administered. The accepted theory of the profession at that early day was if the patient survived the first course, it was soon repeated until the patient, in the opinion of the doctor, was only suffering from the remedies. The surgeon in those early days of frontier life ranked with the skilled carpenter and blacksmith. In fact, the former made the doctor's splints and other appliances of wood, and the latter made his operative cutlery, forceps and other implements of steel.

If the physician in those early days, with his multiplied trials to contend with and groping in the darkness, could become enthusiastic in his efforts to carry conviction to others, what might be his exulting joy now, since the light of intervening years of scientific progress and investigation has so changed the theory of disease and remedies. Both medicine and .surgery have made greater progress in harmony with scientic truth in tb.e last half century than during all previous history. Medicine, however, with its component sciences and surgerv', is not alone in this rapid and wonderful progress, which is world wide, but there has been a general awakening in the world of thought during this recent period, discovering and inventing the most wonderful aids to modern life. We can but marvel when we endeavor to tabulate the innumerable lists. This revolution has placed medicine, as a profession, a long way on the road of science. As nature, with its most intricate vital forces, is the superior physician and first in charge of every case of human disability, the present doctor is now on such friendly terms with nature that he lends rational assistance to his superior and thereby gives most welcome aid to the afflicted.

On the 29th day of April, 1854, the medical society of Hendricks county was organized at Danville. The doctors signing the constitution were Henry G. Todd, D. J. Depew, J. A. Comingor, David Todd, Risdon C. Moore, Henry H. Moore, Thomas P. Seller, \\'ilson Lockhart, J. Joel Wright, Leroy H. Kennedy, Thomas B. Harvey, Henry Cox, B. Bartholomew and \^^ F. Harvey. Henry G. Todd was elected the first president; Wilson Lockhart, vice-president; J. Joel Wright, secretary; Leroy H. Kennedy, corresponding secretary; Henry Cox, treasurer; Thomas B. Harvey, Bradley Bartholomew, Henry H. Moore, censors.

The constitution was as follows : "We, the undersigned practitioners of medicine and surgery in the county of Hendricks and vicinity, for the purpose of promoting harmony and good fellowship, and of elevating the cause of medical and collateral science, associate ourselves under the following constitution :

"Art. 2. The officers of this society shall consist of a president, vicepresident, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and three censors, all of whom shall be elected by ballot, annually, and each oflicer shall serve until his successor is duly installed into office.

"Art. 3. Any regular and reputable practitioner of medicine may laecome a member of this society, by signing the constitution, paying into the treasury two dollars, and complying with such other regulations as may be hereafter provided by law.

"Art. 4. Any distinguished literary gentleman may become an honorary member of this society, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting; provided that notice to that efifect had been given at any previous meeting of the society.

"Art. 5. The society shall have power to form a library and a cabinet of specimens, in the various departments of natural science, and pathological specimens and illustrations, both from the donations of individuals and other societies, and by levying taxes and fines, agreeable to the regulations which may be hereafter provided by law.

"Art. 7. This society shall meet at such times and places and engage in such deliberations as may from time to time be agreed upon, and may enact by-laws for its government, not inconsistent with this constitution.

"Art. 8. The society may admit honorary members upon compliance of the applicant with the same forms as are prescribed for the admission of bona fide members, except that no initiatory fee shall be required. He shall not be permitted to vote, nor shall he participate in any of the proceedings, except by express permission of the society.

"Art. 9. One-third of all the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but on all subjects involving the rights, interests or standing of am- member, a majority of all the luemliers shall be ])resent.

"Art. 10. This constitution may be amended at any stated meeting of the society, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present: provided, the amendment has been prosposed, in writing, at a previous meeting."

Progress Of Society

The society continued from year to year until the opening of the Civil ^^'ar, when, most of the members having enlisted, so few were left to hold meetings that they were discontinued until the year 1866, when the times for its regular meetings, specified in its by-laws, were i)l)ser\ed, and have been e\er since.

At the annual meeting of the State ]\Iedical Society, in 1872, as a basis on which to organize this society under the statute relating to voluntary associations, passed resolutions providing for the incorporation of county medical societies. It was not, however, until the annual meeting of 1875 that the requisite number, twelve counties, reported to the secretary of the state societ}'. The state society, now having adopted the delegate system of representation from incorporated auxiliary county societies, the Hendricks County Medical Society, at one of its regular meetings, in the year 1875, changed its constitution, as was thought, to comply with the state society. The delegates from the Hendricks count}- society were admitted at the annual state meeting in 1876. However, the constitution of the Hendricks society was defective in regard to its seal. When this fact became known, most of the physicians of the county who were not members of this society organized a new society, and, as a result, at the annual state meeting in 1877 there were two sets of delegates, each claiming to represent the Hendricks County Medical Society. The committee appointed to straighten out the matter took cognizance of the fact that the old society in Hendricks had acted on good faith and the mistakes in the constitution were not voluntary ; therefore they allowed the old society to continue, after that trouble had been remedied and the constitution rewritten.

Before 1890 the physicians who had been enrolled upon the books of the society were T. J. Adams, B. Bartholomew, J. T. Barker, J. H. Brill, J. A. Comingor, Henry Cox, Amos Carter, D. J. Depew, A. Davidson, T. F. Dryden, M. F. Depew, C. R. Dixon, J. A. Eastman, T. Evans, Thomas E. Ellis, F. C. Ferguson, C. E. Farabee, J. N. Green, Thomas C. Graham, Thomas B. Harvey, W. F. Harvey, W. J. Hoadley, A. Heavenridge, G. H. F. House, G. K. Hurt, L. H. Kennedy, Wilson Lockhart, W. T. Lawson, H. H. Moore, R. C. Moore, B. Mendenhall, J. W. Mansbridge, J. H. Orear, J. A. Osborne, J. H. Oscar, M. G. Parker, J. S. Ragan, Thomas R. Seller, F. W. Smith, H. C. Summers, J. T. Strong, H. G. Todd, David Todd, R. C. Talbott, J. J. Wright, J. F. White, C. A. White.

Present-Day Physicians

George G. Allred, Joel T. Barker, Thomas R. Barker, Thoma,^ J. Beasley, W. J. Hoadley. F. H. Huron, Wilson T. Lawson, W. M. O'Brien, Mary A. Soper, Charles A. Underwood, Charles A. White, of Danville; A. P. W. Bridges. Amos Carter, Ernest Cooper, John S. Ragan, James C. Stafford, Clarkson B. Thomas, of Plainfield ; M. W. Brooks, A. K. Gilbert, R. E. Jones, D. Monroe Reynolds, of Clayton: James P. Cope, of Bridgeport; A. W. Davidson, John L. Marsh, A. E. Rhein, Thomas G. Smith, of Brownsburg; John S. French, William H. Harrison, E. F. King, Oscar T. Scamahorn, William H. Terrell, of Pittsboro; Alexander Hamilton, of Cartersburg; John D. Hendricks, of Lizton; Leora F. Hicks, Benjamin F. Little, Thomas J. O'Brien, of Stilesville; Charles F. Hope, Stephen Hunt, U. S. Wright, of Coatesville; Maria A. Jessup, of Friendswood; Charles A. Mc- Clure, of Belleville; B. M. O'Brien, of New Winchester; E. R. Royer, Oscar

First Physicians

The first doctor in the town of Danville was Doctor Garrett. No data is available as to his practice here. Doctor Collins was an early comer to Eel River township. James H. Heady was one of the first in North Salem. R. C. Moore and L. H. Kennedy were the first practitioners in Belleville. In Stilesville there was Jonathan N. Green; in Clayton, Doctor Lyon and C. T. Lawrence; in New Winchester, William Robbins and T. T. Brazier. T. P. Burk was an early doctor in Lizton. In Pittsboro and Middle township the first physicians were Doctors Witty, Hoadley and Cloud. They were practitioners of the allopathic school.