Randolph County, Indiana - Chapter 16: Newspapers of the 'county, 1914

Chapter 16: Newspapers of the 'county

The newspaper press was an early arrival in pioneer days. Wherever was found a nucleus of two hundred or three hundred people, some courageous spirit founded a newspaper. These early disseminators of thought were meagre in the amount of local information, but gave extended accounts of the political doings at Washington, and letters from over the water from "the latest ship." Politicians were the most frequent contributors of letters «nd their versatility was something at which to marvel. Display advertising was almost unknown, as the notices of .merchants were set in two or three inches, single column and usually in smaller type than that of the other reading matter.

The fifst newspaper published in Winchester and also in the- county of Randolph was owned by Henry H. Neff, in 1843, and it was called The Winchester Patriot. It advocated the policies of the Whig party and was continued for a period of nine years under Mr. Nefif's management. As evidence of the. enterprise of the editor, there is extant at the present time an extra issue, announcing the declaration of war against Mexico in 1846 and containing President Polk's message on that question. This supplement is the only remnant left of The Patriot as Mr. Nef? lost nine volumes of his paper in a small fire at his home, but which did little harm to the rest of his personal property. .J

Upon the organization of the Republican party the paper became an advocate of the principles of that organization and the name was soon thereafter changed to The Winchester Journal: From this time up to 1870 the paper was owned by various publishers and likewise employed numerous editors. Among the number were Clint D. Smith, J. C. Beverly, Edward Walkup, Lon G. Dines and B. F. Diggs. Mrs. I. P. Watts, who was a sister of the latter, learned to set type in the Journal office in the days of. the war when printers became very scarce. Glancing through the files of the paper one finds many incidents of rare interest. The paper was a strong supporter of John C. Fremont in- 1856. In that year we notice a call for a Republican ptimary ekction. There is also announced a call for a woinan's sufferage convention and the ladies are urged to attend and not to fear the charge that the organization "means, to abet the slavery cause." We note also a call for the meeting of the Randolph County Teacher's Association at "Arbey."

This paper was a seven column quarto, all home print, and was given over very largely to politics. Prior to the war and throughout that period, the first page usually contained a speech from some leader in Congress. The second page was given over to editorial discussion and often the whole seven columns were taken up in this way. The third page contained Congressional news, usually about, two weeks later than the occurrence of the events in Washington. The fourth page was devoted to agriculture.

In about 1870 Amos C. Beeson bought the Journal and was associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. Marsh. In 1872, John M. Hodson bought Mr. Marsh's interest and the Journal was continued in the name of Beeson and Hodson until 1881 when Mr. Beeson became sole proprietor. .He continued as owner and publisher of the paper from that date up to his death in 1903. In the later years of his control his sons, Will C. and Charles, were associated with him in the conduct of the paper. Under their management the paper has established a constantly increasing and substantial growth. Its prime purpose has been to give all the news possible in clean, concise, but brief statements of fact. While it has always been Republican in politics it has not been radical or harsh in its treatment of party questions. At the present time the paper is owned by the Beeson brothers and there is no 'better equipped plant in eastern Indiana. The management has just installed a fine new Interstate typesetting machine, one of the very best on the market. In its job department all the latest and best machinery has been installed to take care of their trade.

Herald

In 1873 the Winchester Gazette was launched by James Williamson, but it had a brief existence, and in 1876 the plant was purchased by Rev. J. G. Brice and the present Winchester Herald was founded by that gentleman and his four sons, James, William, Norman and John, as an independent paper, with Democratic proclivities. It was issued from the third story of the Canada Block on the west si'de of the public ^square. A year or so later Enos L. Watson purchased a half interest, James Brice retaining the other half and the political complexion of the paper wa§; changed to that of Republican. About a year later Mr. Watson became sole proprietor and removed the office to the third story of the Knecht building on the south side of the square. A year later still a half interest was sold to Lee Ault and it was conducted under this ihanagement for a few months, when a third interest was sold to *R. A". Leave!!", but the latter soon' retired, selling his interest back. Again in a few months Mr. Watson became sole proprietor and later an interest was sold to Charles Harrison. The paper was edited by Thomas Harrison, brother of Charles, and this management lasted a year, when Mr. Watson again became owner. A few months later a half interest was sold to John Commons, of Union City, wlio moved to Winchester to take charge of the paper. A few months after his management began, he bought Mr. Watson's interest and conducted it for several years. Rev. L P. Watts then bought the paper for his son-in-law, Emerson Addington. A year or so later Mr. Addington sold a half interest to Rev. W. O. Pierce, a well-known Methodist minister. Within the next year Mr. Addington retired and Rev. Pierce became sole owner. Within a few months Reverend Pierce sold a half interest to Seward S. Watson. This management lasted for two years until Reverend Pierce sold His interest to C. C. Peelle. The paper was pub^ lished by this firm for four years when Mr. Peele retired and Charles L. Watson had a half interest for something more than a year. The latter sold his interest to UniOn B. Hunt, former secretary of State, who had editorial charge of the paper for the next two years. He sold it back to Charles L. Watson in 1893. ^I""- Charles Watson again sold his interest to C. C. Peelle. Mr. Peelle was in the office four years longer when he sold to his partner, Mr. Watson, who has had full coritrol for the last ten years.

Two or three times the Herald has conducted a daily newspaper, publishing the same for a year or two, but because of lack of support, the enterprise has failed.

Democrat

At intervals during the period of the Civil war the Democrats established papers in Winchester but the period of their existence was limited. It was not until 1885 that a permanent organ of the party was founded by J. R. Polk. The same year The Ridgeville Banner was bought, consolidatedwith the Democrat and a stock company operated it. Later the paper was sold to Joseph Gorrell who successfully edited it for several years. It was then purchased by. Lew G. Ellingham, present Secretary of the State of Indiana, who conducted the paper here until the autumn of 18^94 when he re- moved the plant to Decatur, Indiana, and established the Decatur Democrat of which he is the present owner. The same fall another Democratic paper was started here by the Fawcett brothers, and after three or four months the paper passed to the management of Garland D. Williamson, who was editor and proprietor until October, i, 1895, when J. L. Smith, of Vermilion county, purchased the outfit and at once installed new machinery throughout, enlarging it from the five column quarto, four pages home print, to a six column quarto, all home print. Mr. Smith conducted the paper until March, 1897, when he sold it to Esta N. Arnold and A. R. Abshire. Within the next twelve months the paper underwent several changes of management and in 1899 it was sold to Mr. A. C. Hindsley who is at present time recording clerk in the office of the Secretary of State of Indiana. Mr. Hindsley successfully conducted the paper from that time until April, 191 1, when he sold it to C. K. Rockwell of West Alexandria, Ohio, and he in turn sold it in July, 19 11, to D. W. Callahan, present owner and editor.

Mr. 'Callahan has built up the paper very materially both in its mechanical and editorial departments. Practically renewing all of the plant and more fully equipping it for all class of printing, installing a typesetting machine the present year, 1914. Mr. Callahan is a very proficient printer and in consequence has built up a fine job department.

The paper is a loyal supporter of Democratic principles, not only during campaign years, but the whole year round, often taking the initiative as an exponent of genuine Democracy, consequently it has a loyal Democratic host of supporteirs who swear by its interpretation of political policies.

In 1881, William P. Needham established a newspaper in Winchester which he called The Pkantasmagorian. The chief aim of its proprietor seemed to be to discuss ethical, literary and philosophical themes, emphasizing in particular freedom in religious belief. Later the editor compiled a volume of essays from the newspaper which he called "Phantasmagorian Theology and Other Papers." Later still the name of the paper. was changed to Th,e Winchester RepuUiccm and conducted as such for a number of years, Mr. Needham also serving as city clerk during this period. His death occurring in 1899, t^^ paper passed into the hands of Joseph and Lewis Day and was called the Winchester Press, hni it suspended within the year and -the plant was sold and moved elsewhere.

Daily

The latest entrance into the field of journalism was the Winchester Daily iVew.s,, started May 15, 1914, by Mr. Arthur K. Remmel, who is both' editor ^^d proprietor. Tbe paper is purely ,in,dep«adent. The paramount putjpose is to give ail the news of interest to the coiBmunity. Mr. Remrael although a young man has had extensive experience in newspaper work, ha^fing been employed in the , Winchester Herald about ten years, served as reporter on the Peoria, Illinois Journal for four years- where toe was associated with H. M.. Pindell. Mr. Remmel secured his position on the Peoria paper through the good oiKces of Charles Fitch, the noted newspaper humorist. '

The News is a sev^n column folio and it has already made quite a good impression in the community. . It'Ss lihe earnest desii:e of the citizens; that the paper shall succeed.. A daily paper is an enterprise that the town can well afford to sustain and encourage.

At Union City, on the Indiana side of the line, in the fifties and sixties, eight or ten newspapers were started and flourished for a short time, the only one of that period surviving being The Union City Eagle which was founded by L. G. Dines in 1863. The earliest paper of which we have a record published in that city was The Union Train founded in 1853 by a Mr. Putnam. A little later than this The Crystal Fountain was started and conducted by a Mr. Jones and about the same time The Chip Basket was started by W. D. Stone. These efforts were only ephemeral and only their names were saved from oblivion.

The Union City Eagle had about the usual experiences of other early newspapers namely, that of undergoing frequent editorial control. Among those who served as editors and managers may be named L. G. Dines, W. S. Dines, B. F. Diggs, B. H. Bonebrake and Bentley Masslich, the latter conditcting the paper from 1866 to 1885. It was then sold to W. S. Ensign. Mr. Ensign sold the paper to L. M. Davis who published it for a few years and it was then purchased by James W. Stanley. Under his control the plant was very materially improved; a high grade Mergenthaler typesetting machine was installed. On account of business reverses, Mr. Stanley was compelled to turn the plant over to his father and brother and the latter leased it to Don C. Ward. Mr. Ward is making The Eagle a first-class paper in every particular. He is publishing an eight-page daily which takes, all -the important local and neighborhood news together with state and national events, furnished by the Associated Press. In politics the paper is an independeiitiRepublican.but the editor is disposed to give all parties a fair hearing. This is done by letters, interviews and clippings from the partisan press. Mr.

In 1872 Tfe Independent was started by W. R. Hedgepath. The paper was a supporter of Horace Greeley for the Presidency that year and after the autumn election of 1872 it suspended.

In 1 871 The Union City Times was founded by John Commons, Republican in politics and conducted by that gentleman for five years. It was then sold to George Patchell, present owner and publisher, who has successfully -conducted the paper during this whole period. In 1895, Mr. Patchell began the publication of a daily newspaper which'also achieved success increasing in patronage and influence up to the present time. Both daily and weekly papers have been regularly issued since that time. Mr. Patchell's plant is well equipped with all the modern conveniences conducive to best results in the art preservative, which of course, includes the standard Mergenthaler typesetting machine.

The Plain Dealer was founded as a Democratic organ by Stephen M. Wentworth in 1877. Mr. Wentworth had acquired some considerable knowledge in the offices of the Cincinnati Enquirer and The PhiladelpUa Enquirer arid The New Era at New Orleans. This paper was for a number of years the only Democratic paper in the county.

Our best information is that after several years, at least six, the paper was sold and the plant consolidated with another local publication. At least when it sold the Democrats no longer had an organ.

The Farmland Enterprise was established in 1888 by Clint W. West, whq conducted the paper for many years until he became postmaster of Farmland in 1903, when the paper was sold to I. C. Penery, present owner and publisher. The Enterprise is an eight-page weekly, Republican in political views. It is a good advertising medium and is well supported by the business men of Farmland. The office is well equipped with modern machinery including an up-to-date typesetting machine.

The Ridgeville News was established March, 1889. ^il^^ most other local papers it has undergone many changes of editorial management but for the last fifteen years has been owned by James W. Stanley. It is an independent newspaper with Republican propensities. The paper is well supported by the business men and the reading public. It also has a well

The Lynn Herald was founded in 1898. It has always been Republican in politics but is never offensively partisan and touches but lightly upon politics except when campaigns are on. The paper has Been owned for riiany -years by Mr. Frank Wright, who is the present Republican nominee for the State Legislature from Randolph county. The Herald is well patronized by the business men and Mr. Wright has made it quite a successful venture. ;i - The Parker Review was estabftshed in 1899.. It is independent in politics, is the usual size, a six-colufan, eight-page paper. The present owner and proprietor is Mr. E. L. Ashcraft, who is an all around newspaper man and lives up to the best ideals set before the craftsman in this art.

At Saratoga a newspaper was established a few years ago, called The -Independent, which has had a precarious existence. It has had a half a dozen editors but none have been able to make it a successful venture. At the present time it is owned by Jartles Stanley of Ridgeville and the type is set and the paper printed at The News office in that town. Its field is so limited that its circulation: is necessarily quite small. \