Vermillion County, Indiana - Chapter 12: Newspapers of Vermii.eion County, 1913

Chapter 12: Newspapers of Vermii.eion County

In Clinton the history of journalism may be summed up b\- the f<jllo\ving changes in offices and editors, regardless of the many locations or buildings in which the offices were kept, which is of little account, as all business houses and street numbers are sul>ject to changes, for which the ordinar)- reader cares little. One press printed all the earlier newspapers in Clinton. sa\e the Argus alone. In 1873 the Clinton Exf^oncnt was established by B. S. Blackledge and James R. Baker. It was decidedly a Republican organ. Its editor was F. L. ^Vhedon, from Ohio, at first. Baker soon sold his interest to his partner, and Mr. Blackledge conducted the paper until November, 1876. when he sold to L}-man E. Knapp. In June, 1877, he sold to R. S. Knapji, but it is related that King Alcohol foreclosed a mortgage and it "went up the spout." It raised its feeble efforts at existence next at Perrysville, as the Exponent of that place. It only survived a short time, and some time in 1877 it was bought by an attorne}' of Clinton, named H. A. White, who removed the material back to Clinton, and there started the H'cstcni ludianian, in the l)uilding later used as a meat market by Harry Dudley. It was not long before the politics was changed to that of National.

White sold to T. A. Kibby, H. S. Evans and John AIcMahon. In September, 1879, Mr. Kibby leased the office to L. O. Bishop and others. In June, 1S80, this firm purchased the Clinton Herald, to which the Jl'estern Indianian had been changed by Evans, and published it until July 1, 1882, w hen it was sold.

It was about this time that Alexander Myers entered the newspa]5er field, by establishing the Tomahazvk and Scalping Knife, which he very soon changed to the Democrat, wdiich died a natural death after six weeks' publication. In June. 1884. there came out the Clinton Sif tings. wJiich had trouble to "sift" out a living for al)out three years, then went the way of all the earth.

.\mong the pioneers in the newspaper field here, tlie Argus has pulled through to the present date, through storm and sunshine, ever advocating the honest, unbiased convictions of its editor. Lucius O. Bishop, who, through heated political campaigns and local Ijickerings, has steadily made new patrons and friends and held his old ones. He is a practical printer, and a writer of no uncertain language, hewing to the line, when the case demands it. but ever holding aloof from the low and sensational in the selection of his subject matter. The Avyits comes forth on Saturday each week in the year, full of bright, sparkling news items, and editorials such as the pen of Mr. Bishop has been able to inscribe for so many years. He. having been raised in a print-shop, knows its every intricate detail. It may be said, as of another paper, "If you see it in the Saturday Argus it is true."

The Clintonian, daily and weekly, was established in the eighties and was the direct successor of the Clinton Republican, a foiu"-])age, six-column paper. Republican in its politics. The Clintonian is owned and edited by J. W. Pierce and is run on an improved Campbell press, by an electric motor. Subscription rate, one dollar and twenty-five cents per year. It is independent in politics. November 5, igi2, a daily edition was established, a six-column, four to eight-page, rate fi\-e dollars per annuuL The plant is fully ecpiipped with linotype, folder and jobbers, all run by electricity. The office has been twice enlarged in the last five years. The present publisher consolidated the Clinton Flaindcalcr (run here from 1906 to 1908 bv C. G. A^annest and C. H. Vaughn) with the weekly Clintonian. The present publications are up-todate in all features and voice the sentiments of the enterjirising, progressive element in the community in which it circulates.

The Clinton Times ( weekly ) was established in the month of Mav, 191 1, by S. E. Mendenhall, who was succeeded in October of the same year by the law firm of Johnson, Brigham & Zell, who still own and conduct the paper, hiring a foreman for the mechanical part of the business. It is a Republican paper, a seven-column folio in size, all home-print. The rate of subscription per year is one dollar. .\ fine job department is attached to the newspaper business. It is located on East Mulberry street, and the paper is published each Thursday, finding a good circulation in Vermillion. Parke and Vigo counties.

The Dana News, one of the county's reliable, readable local newspapers, was established by M. L. (".riffith. of Monticello, Illinois, as a Democratic paper, which it is at this lime. The date of its establishment was October i. 1885. .\pril 15. 1S87. he sold the paper to J. T. Smith, who .sold to :\Iiss Beatrice Tayloi- in tHt^. She sold to C. \\'. Sturm in 1898. and in 1908 he sold to the present owner and editor, J. H. Jordan, who conducts a six-cohimn eight-page paper, and has a subscription rate of one doHar and twenty-five cents per year. The machinery in this office is now propelled by gasoline power, and has included within its equipment a good job office. The name of this paper has changed with the whims of everj- one who has owned the plant. First, the Nczvs; then the rcnnillion Democrat . under J. L. Smith: the Record, under Miss Taylor ; the Vermillion County News, under George W. Sturm, and changed back to its original title, the Dana News, by its present editor.

The ne\vspa])er history of Newport is indeed replete with mam' excellent and unique features. The first paper established there was the Olive Branch. by A. J. Adams, later of Danville, Illinois, fame. Its editor was A. D. Patton. Nearly the first, if not indeed the first, issue of this paper was dated December 29. 1853. Its head (like most papers in those days) had for a motto catchy words. "We hold the balance with an equal hand, and weigh whatever justice doth demand." Politicalh', the Ollie Branch was Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party became its organ in this section of Indiana. The first numbers of this pioneer newspaper had but little original matter, sa\-e an occasional editorial. The salutator}- occupied a column in length. It advertised with considerable gusto the fact that it liad contributors, naming these : Rev. David Taylor, Terre Haute : Robert Ross, principal of the Terre Haute public schools; Samuel Taylor, principal of the Newport Seminary: Dr. H. H. Patten, Princeton. Indiana, and J. S. Sawyer, of Vincennes.

The latest telegraphic news was dated Deceml^er 17th. twelxe days prior to the date of the paper's issue. Most of the advertisements were from Terre Haute business men. One item of real local news was that the Evans\-ille & Terre Haute railroad had just been completed between the two points. A. Henderson had the only home advertisement in the paper, which occupied an inch of space in one column, telling the people that he kept drugs and patent medicines, groceries and flour. J- -M- Hood gave notice that his telegraph office was situated on the east side of the Square with ]\Ir. Henderson. The subscription price for this paper was one dollar and fifty cents if paid in advance, and two dollars at the end of six months, also another fifty cents was demanded if it was not i^aid within the year.

The Hoosier State

Tliis old and uni\ersallv well kiicnvn publication was the outgrowth of the Olkr Branch, and had its hirth in 1853. It was published at Clinton for a time, but later returned to Newport, where it has ever since remained. The proprietors and editors include Pratt & Adams, James M. Hood. Samuel H. Huston (1855. at Clinton), Mr. Campbell, Mitchell, Vaul ( 1858), a company with WilliamE. Livengood, George W. English ( 1862-63). Col. H. D. Washburn. S. B. Davis. Joseph B. Cheadle. S. B. Davis (second time). Many of these men became state and national characters, in one field or another. The halls of Congress claimed Cheadle and the battlefield claimed Washburn. while Davis made a record as an editorial writer of more than ordinary note. Mr. Davis took the paper from Washburn in January. 1868.

Mr. Davis, so 'ong connected with this paper, was the county treasurer of Vermillion countv when the lliirt)-fi\e thousand dollar robbery occurred. mention of which is given in detail elsewhere in this \olume. S. B. Davis was, at the time he quit the paper, the oldest editor in Indiana in point of consecutive service, and he always ran a staunch, uncompromising Republican paper. He was fearless, but always fair. In 1893, on May ist, he retired from the actual management of the paper, and took in with him his Son. changing the style to S. B. Davis & Son. Three years later he again took charge, but had for his associates his sons, I^ird H. and F. W. Davis, who assisted in the work of editing and ])ublisliing the i)aper. until the senior i:)avis' death, Ajiril 2, M)nS, since whidi lime the son, P.ird M., has conducted the paper, which property was left U> the wife of S. B. Davis, who is still residing in Newport. The name of the business has never been changed, but still runs as that of S. B. Davis & Son. Bird H. Davis, present manager and editor, commenced the printer's trade at the age of nine years, when he had to stand on a box to elevate him sufificiently high to set type from the cases. He knows all the ins and outs of new s]);i])erd(^m and stands high among his fellow iournalists. The circulation of the popular Hoasicr State is extensive, going as it does into thirt>'-two states ;ind foreign countries. It enters two hundred and twenty-five i)o.stoffices in this country. It is run on a power press, by gasoline engine. The Hoosicr Slate is now a six-column (|uarto, thirty by forty-four inches in size, and an eight-i:)age paper; its publication day is Wednesday, and its subscription rate is one dollar and twenty-five cents per

The A'Cicspapcr Union a few years since had this concerning the present editor. Bird H. Davis: "He was born in Newport, Indiana, April 29, 1869. He has a common and high school education. He did his first work at the case when only nine years of age, when he had to stand on a box to reach the case. He would work in the office during the summer months and go to school in the winter time until 1887, when he became foreman of the ofifice, which position he held until I\Iay i, 1893, when he became manager and local editor, and has served in that capacity until the ]jresent day ( 1904). He is married and has three children."

AMiat was styled the I'cniiillioti Transcript was started at New]K)rt in about 1872, as an opposition Democratic organ. b\- Harrison Junii). who ran it fifteen months, sunk one thousand nine hundred d(illars and then sold the plant, which was moved away.

Cayuga Newspapers

May 14, 1887. the first ])aper of tlie place was issued, as the Cavnj/ci Journal. James E. \\'hipple, editor and proprietor. The second paper in the village was the Herald, which was established about 1889. It was edited by gentlemen in the following order, as near as can now be determined : E. L. Hiberly, then Charles E. Cook, who sold to A. C. Confiff, the latter conducting the pai)er until March 4, 1893, when it passed into the liands of Hemphill & Huls: Hemphill remained its editor until June 2, 1894, when the paper was Ixiught by J. Wallace Miller, and was then imblished by the Miller Brothers till January i, 1904, when it passed to its present owner and editor, A. Carter Hutchinson. It is now a se^'en-column folio, all home print : subscription price, one dollar and twenty-five cents, and in politics is Democratic. The printing machinery of the office is now propelled by a gasoline engine.

Through the kindness of the present editor of the Cayuga Herald we are in possession of the following facts concerning other new.spaper ventures at Cayuga. A cop}' of the Cayuga Times, dated September 5, 1889, is in existence. John Wooldridge was its editor. The Tribitnc. another local paper of the \illage. made its appearance earl\' in the nineties, and was i)u])lished l)v Boone ("libbons. Its career was brief, dying for lack of financial support. Then came the Blue Pencil by "Bob" Osborn. It was conducted a short time at Cayuga and then mox-ed to Perrysxille, where it existed for about two years longer, when its owner moved tlie outfit to Clinton, tin's county.

The Nezt's-Letter, Vermillion county's first paper, was launched at Eugene in 1837 by Dr. R. M. Waterman and continued there six months. The plant was sold to J. R. Jones, who moved to Perrysville and there published the Perrysville Banner. T\\ o )ears later Clapp & Roney o\\ ned the paper and called it the Vermillion Register. It was next the Perrysville Republican, with Austin Bishop as editor and proprietor. R. B. Dickason published at Perrys- \'ille the Eagle in the years from 1852 to 1855, selling out to a Mr. Robinson, and he to Benjamin Snodgrass, who finally let the paper go down. This was the earlier and later history of journalism in Perrysville. The attempts to make a success of the Register and Banner and all the rest proved a failure financially. The Democratic organ, the Banner, was printed on a press first brought to Indiana in 1804, to Vincennes, whereon the Western Sim was also printed.

From the files of the old Pcrrysiille Banner for February. 1839, the following interesting items have been extracted, throwing light as they do on men and customs of that period:

J. R. Jones was editor and proprietor. This is the twenty-fourth number of its issue. It contains five columns to the page and was published at two dollars a year if paid in advance : otherwise, three dollars. The number contained a large amount of congressional and legislatixe news of this state and but ^ery little original or local matter.

Hiram Barnes, of Perrysville, advertises for a "professional" man to take charge of an ox team. Fdmuud James, a justice of the peace, of Helt township, publishes an attachment notice, on the affidavit of Silas Rhodes, against the chattels of Simon and Martin Gilbert. The name of Permelia Smith appears as the administratrix of the estate of Daniel Smith. George W. Palmer, justice of the peace, notifies the readers that Fphraim Driscol, of Highland township, had taken up an estray steer, four years old, which was appraised at twelve dollars by James ^^'elch and Tom Lowers. James Thompson, school commissioner of the county, gives fair warning that he will sell fifteen tracts of land for taxes, if not paid Ix^fore the day of sale. S. and B. Turman notify the people where they can procure cheap dry goods, etc. William W'hipps gives notice of his appointment as administrator of the estate of Thomas J. Reed, lately deceased. Perrin Kent also gives notice to the effect that he has taken out letters of administration on the estate of John Taylor, late of Warren county, deceased. The widow and heirs of Jacob

Parke give due notice that the}- wiU make application to the next court to have commissioners appointed to assign and set off the widow' s dower, in the real estate of said deceased. Dr. Waterman gives notice that the partnership heretofore existing betw^een himself and Dr. Small is dissolved. Crawford & Jackson, proprietors of an oil mill, advertise that they will gi\-e the highest price for flax and hemp seed, or castor beans. George W. Palmer offers a onehorse wagon and harness cheap for cash. J. \Y. Downing, justice of the peace, gives notice that an iron gray mare taken up by James Rush was appraised by William T. Dole and A. M. H. Robinson at forty-five dollars liefore him on November 24, 1838. William Bales, sheriff, ad\ertises the real estate of John Fousdick for sale at public auction to satisfy- a judgment in favor of Silas Kellough, William Dunning and I. Dill. Joshua Skidmore, of Clinton, gives notice as follows : ''Whereas my w-ife, Mary, has left my bed and board without just cause or provocation, I do hereby warn all ])ersons, body politic, or corporate, and of whatever name or title, not to credit or harbor her on my account, as I am determined not to pay any of her debts after this date, January I, 1839." The names of Durham Hood and Margaret Craft appear as administrators of the estate of John Craft, late of Eugene. Roseberrv & Jewett, dry goods merchants, of I^errysville, occupy about one-third of a column in enumerating their large arri\-al of new goods. William J. Nichols and James IP Corey, of Eugene, inform the people where to get their saddles and cheap harness. Dr. T. S. Davidson tenders his professional services to the citizens of Perrysville and adjoining country. Hall & Gessie announce the reception of new goods in a neat two-inch card. Jones & Smith call attention in a four-inch card to their stock of fall and winter goods. Nathan Reed and J. H, McNutt recjuest that those indebted to them for professional services come forward and scjuare up by cash or note immediately. Jacob Riley informs the readers that he has found a silk handkerchief supposed to be worth a dollar and a quarter, which the owner can have by paying for the advertisement. G. ^^^ Palmer, justice of the peace, gives notice that John Fultz has taken up two estray heifers which w-ere appraised at six dollars each, by Samuel Lacy and James Crawford, before him December 15, 1838.