Washington County, Indiana - Chapter 13: The Medical Pruff'^sion Ot.d Time Doctors, 1916

Chapter 13: The Medical Pruff'^sion Ot.d Time Doctors

The minds of the niajorit\- nt people a century or more ago were strongly imbued with puritanical ideas. Many believed that in the moral and social realms whatever was pleasurable was sinful. The}' also believed that in the gastronomic world whatever tasted particularly good was necessarily unwholesome, and that the efficacy of medicines was in proportion to their nastiness and the consequent amount of discomfort that could be ihtlicted on the patient by their administration. Children especially were made to suffer by being deprived, wholly, or in part, nf the very things which e\-er\' healthx', normal stomach would cra\e. There is no doubt that the constant suggestions imparted to children in regard to the indigestibility of exerything they were particularly fond of, ine\ itabl\- weakened tlieir digesti\e powers, and man_\-, no doubt, were tluK moulded into chronic dvspeptics before their milk teeth \\ere all shed. It i> not a matter of w.-omler to us li\ing in this ad\-ance(l a.ge of ps\chologic;d research, thai -C"-' 'US results so (.if ten followed the inhibition of various articles of diet which went under the ban. The eating ot an_\'thing which do'ctors and people generally pron(.)uiice(l detrimental to good health was bound to produce bail results, unless it wah in the case of the small l)o\- who ])ai<l little attention to dietary restriction>, ha\ing more in fear the apjilication of the peach-tree switch for diM>bedience than for any serious results arising from an overindulgence in the things he was ]>ositi\el\- forbidden to eat. In the summer season, particularlv, the edicts were ])r<iclaime(l loudest against articles of diet which were considered most dangerous, such ;is melons, tomatoes, lilackberries and most fruits, all oi which are now eaten with impunity, the doctor now telling his patient to eat w liat be likes.

It was not, bowexer. rdone in regai'd to diet that doctors a century ago practiced upon the jtrinciple that whatexer was gratifyin.g to the ])atient must, for that reason, be inhibited. .\ cardinal principle of practice in cases of fever was that the patient must be kept in a close, warm room, without \entilation and on no account was a drink of cold water allowed, a warm decoction of slippery-elm bark being substituted therefor, and the thought of snow or ice in the sick room was terrible. Happily, most of the old doctors who practiced under the old regime are dead. A fever patient is now given the benefit of all the fresh air available. He is not only allowed to use cold water freely, but chopped ice is placed within his reach, everything being dune to add to his comfort.

Another popular idea in old-time practice \\as that the efficiency of medicine was measured by the nastiness. The botanical system of medicine was apparently devised with special reference to the principle, that whatever was pleasant to the taste possessed very little therapeutic value. Medicines were indicated by numerals and "No. i" stood for that supreme herbal abomination, known to botanists as lobelia inflata. It was sure enough an emetic, and if it was selected to stand at the head of the list solely because of its nasty taste, no better selection could have been made. It was always the first medicine to be administered, no matter what the disease might be. Then followed the process of steaming and sweatmg, a bit more of the initiatory torture process. The patient who suiwived the lobelia treatment, always felt better, for it would have been impossible for him to have felt worse than when that particular nostrum was performing its mission. The initiatory ^tep followed by the Allopath was to try the effect of "blue-mass." The discomforts and distress that resulted from a big tablespoonful dose of this sickening mixture made a patient both glad and surpri.sed to find himself alive when its effects subsided. E\en in early times the wise phy-sician practiced psychological treatment unwittingly when he doled out his dough pills, or laid aside his mysterious look and action long enough to drop a bit of encouragement and friendly cheer to his confiding patient.

There is now no doubt that the Indian cured disease by the practice of incantations, and the frightening away of evil .spirits by means of hideous noises and the diabolical "make up" in which he presented himself at the bedside of his patient. These practices can be accounted for now scientifically, under the j^rinciple of mental suggestion, which physicians of all schools and healers of all classes now recognize as one of the greatest of therapeutic agents. Paracelsus, more than three hundred years ago, made a very distinct discovery, which was that a false belief, however induced, whatever means employed, was just as efficacious for therapeutic purposes as a true one. faith being the sole condition precedent.

Women Doctors

While there were tew physicians in the country, and they remote from the back settlements, the .vomen doctors were very necessary factors in the body politic. To those isolated families scattered over the country where Washington county's domains are now defined, they were indispensable, and their ministrations were, in many instances, the only means available to relieve the sick and suiYering. The merits of their herbs may not well be disputed, nor need thev be defended, for they uften constituted the only choice in case of illness. Considering the limited supply of cures they could command, their resources for assuaging suffering and ministering to the afflicted were - in the light of modern science - little less than marvelous. There was scarcely an herb or weed, growing in the wilds of the forests, that they did not use in some way in treating diseases of different kinds, and various kinds of herbs were grown in the garden, the foliage and roots of which were carefully laid away for future use. Most of tliese medicines were made into "teas" to be taken in copious draughts as prescribed. Poultices were favorite remedies for many ills and the\- were very eft'ecti\e in relie\- ing most kinds of aches and pain^. Girls were hardlv considered qualified to marr}- unless they had ac(_|uired considerable proficiency in the use and application of nature's simple remedies, as were then in comnKm use. P'or chronic ailments of all kinds, bitters, made up of whisky, barks of trees and roots, were the standard remedies, and there were as many ditterent combinations prescribed as there were diseases to he treated.

In the early part of the last century "patent medicine men" caught on to the "l)itters" usage and waxed rich for many }-ears upon the credulity of the pul)lic. The fellow who put out a bitters for purifying the blood, possessed a sovereign remedy for all ills that fle.sh was heir to, for the reason that nearly all ills could ht traced to "liad blood." Liver remedies were most numerous of all, for a liad li\er. if neglected, was sure to bring in its train all sorts of ailments and misery. Some people, even in this age of progress and advancement, h,i\e not emerged entirely from the "bitters' age."

"Fees" were not often s|)oken of, and sometime^ not thought of, in those davs when all good neighbors "helped nut." I'mliably more often than

Otherwise those who needed the services of the woman doctor were not able adeqiiatel}- to compensate her, promising "some time to do as much for iier," when there was opportunity to do so. But the Good Samaritan was none the less \igilant and attentive, feeling that her first duty was to relieve the suiTering, and her own pecuniary welfare a second consideration. Whenever and from wherever the call came she was always prompt in the role of a ministering angel of mercy. No matter how dark or stormy the night, how far distant the call, her hor.se was quickly saddled by some male member of the household, while she donned her traveling habit and replenished her saddlebags with the necessary "roots and herbs" and was gone. It might be a midnight journey across the paths of wild beasts, along dimlyl>lazed trails beset by savages, across streams that were raging torrents, but nothing dismayed these fearless stout-hearted women who went forth on duty bent, never asking for or expecting an escort. They would, however, ofttimes be accompanied by the messenger who had been dispatched to secure her services, and who was sometimes needed to pilot the way through darkness and unfamiliar byways. The woman doctor had a horse that was always her own. and it usually was a pacing and swift-footed animal, the very best that the country produced, and it was cared, for, both at home and abroad, with great concern and solicitude. Perhaps the doctor would return by dawn, if her mission was ended, otherwise she would remain for days at a stretch, faithfully nursing the sick and not unfrequently acting in the capacity of cook, housekeeper and general caretaker. Their ministrations never cea; ed till advancing years warned them of the limitations nature set upon their powers of endurance.

Women practitioners were distinguished from men by the appellaticjn "Granny," instead of "Doctor," and they were proud of the title. Among some of our older people the names of Granny Lusk, Granny Robertson, Granny Scott, Granny Hinds and Granny Emery are still remembered. Dr. Mary Lusk resided on Walnut Ridge, and probably enjoyed the widest reputation of any "Granny" in the whole country. She felt equal to any emergency when human ills were to be treated and was quite a surgeon as well. It was not infrequently that she responded to calls over in Jackson county, twenty-five miles distant, and no doubt earned the wide reputation she enjoyed. It is said that a numljer of times she swam her horse across the Aluscatatuck river in order to reach her patients promptly when the call was very urgent. Epidemics of various kinds were more common in the early settlements of the county than they are now and at such times it hecame necessary for all the doctors in the country to be almost constantly in the saddle till the worst was < .er. Idierc is no question that the old time female doctor was more sympathetic in her administrations to the sick than men doctors, and knew, from experience, more about the nursing and dieting of patients. Rut the enactment of laws making it necessary for practicing physicians to lla^-e license before they could minister to the sick and afflicted, gradually paved the way for the retirement of the woman doctors about the middle of the last century.

Chaptjcr Xiv

Tlie first newspaper published in the town of Salem was called the Tocsin. The first number of this ancient publication was issued on March 17. iiSi8. It was a four-column folio, published weekly, at two dollars per annum, in advance ; two dollars and fifty cents, in six months ; or three dollars at the expiration of the year. "The highest Salem market prices for wheat, corn, beef, pork, corn blades, hay, oats, etc., will be allowed in the discbarge of delits due this ofiice," was the announcement made by the proprietor of the paper. In adrlition to local and legal advertisements - which were not \-ery extensive - the paper was filled up with congressional news, one month old, and news from abri;ad that had taken three months to get to this western country. No column rules were used, just a blank space being left between each column of reading matter.

The population of Salem at that time did not exceed one thousand inhabitants. But the early settlers were generally intelligent and enterprising, and a considerable portion of the people were well educated for that da\ : that is, they could read and write. They desired to keep posted on news from the outside world and as a necessary consequence demanded a well conducted home newspaper. Ilie paper started out with a subscription list of al)out two hundred and fifty names. When the Tocsin sprang into life, there were but very few newspapers published in Indiana. The state, as such, was little more than a yearling, consequently the Tocsin became at once the news, advertising and publication medium for the counties of \\'ashington, Jackson, Monroe, Orange and perhaps others.

The enterprising editors and projjrietors of this first newspaper venture were b'benezer Patrick and Reebe Booth. \\'h\- thev chose the term "'I'ocsin" ;is their news]iaper title does not a])])ear. Then there were no organized jiarty conflicts, the only exciting (|uestion of public notoriety being the (le])reciated paper currency then in circulation. Except the Florida Seminole trouble, there was neither war nor rumor of war. Spain and the United States were then jieacefully settling the question of their boundary lines in the south ami west. Still Patrick & Booth projMsed to sound a weekly tocsin on their newly-polished alarm liell. They were both active, energetic, enterprising men. Indeefl, to \enture on tlie publication of a village paper, at that time, demanded nerve and financial skill. It was to say the least, an unti >d experiment in a field entirely new. One of the old settlers was afterwards heard to say that Booth furnished the funds and Patrick the brains to start the thing going.

Patrick had learned the printing business liack east before he came to Indiana. He was a versatile genius. He was an editor, an associate judge (under a provision of Indiana's first Constitution), a preacher and a school master. As a writer his style was generally terse. At times he was not a little witt}', then sarcastic, and not infrec|uently editorially belligerent. As a tyjxT he was considered a "thoroughbred" workman, and the paper he got uut was a model of neatness, notwithstanding the fact that the press and material he had at his command were somewhat rude and imperfect. .\s a preacher he was plain, free from sing-song delivery and occasionally zealous to'the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Nor did he in his ministerial functions always eschew fun. He was a practical joker. On a certain occasion, being called upon to ride a few miles into the country to marry a couple of rather "green Hoosiers," and being under the necessity of ha\ing his horse shod l)efore he could make the trip, he inquired of the blacksmith what he would charge for the shoeing. The smith replied: "Half the marriage fee." Patrick readily promised to give this. He journeyed out to the country, tied up his couple, got a good dinner, and when he got ready to start home the ilelighted groom rushed u]) and tijld him he was a thousand! times obliged to him for his trouble. Patrick, on returning to .Salem, \-ery promptlyhunted up the blacksmith, to whom he said: "I give you fi\e hundred thanks for shoeing my horse. I got a thousand as the marriage fee, and according to contract, I give you one-half."

As associate judge. Patrick was much more than a mere cipher on the bench, and with the co-operation of his equal on the bench, his positive character often led him to oppose the rulings of the chief justice, and overrule his decisions. .As a school master, Patrick did not consider himself a great success, although he taught a niuuber of schools. He said: "In the schoolmaster's profession there is too much tuonotou}', too much of the spirit of 'Baker' for me." "Baker" was a word that headed the first two-syllable c^ilumn in "Webster's Speller." E\en in that early day he saw the evils of intemperance, and was a radical ad\ocate of prohibiting both the manufacture and sale of whisky altogether, although at that time farmers had no wav of disposing of their surplus corn so profitably as to lup/e it made into whisky and the products of still-houses brought more ready money into the county than any other one thing. In the Tocsin, Patrick frequently gave utterance to his temperance sentiments. On this question his trumpet gave no uncertain sound.

An Early Temperance Advocate

The name of Beebee Booth will live long in the early history of the county, if for no other reason than that he was the father of Newton Booth, who rast his lot among the early emigrants to California and afterward became governor and United States senator of that state. But Beebee Booth was a man possessed of more than ordinary ability; fine-looking, mild-spoken and withal a gentleman in the truest sense of that oft-abused term. For many years he was a successful merchant and manufacturer, and so affable were his manners that the young ladies of that day, when about to take upon themselves matrimonial alliances, thought Booth & Newly's store the only place to obtain choice, up-to-date wedding outfits.

Booth was also an early advocate of the temperance movement, and was one of the active originators of the Washington County Peace Society. While connected with the paper he frequently contributed to its columns and assisted in shaping its policy. The ofiice was located above his store, which was the corner building on lot 8, on the north side of the public square. The office was reached by an outside stairway in the rear of the building, and it was here that Mr. Patrick received an injury on the head and from which' it was said he never fully recovered. The door that opened into the office got fastened some way, and while Patrick was pulling and at it vigorously, it gave way suddenly and he was precipitated backwards to the foot of the stairs, upon a pile of wood, where he was picked up in a very much battered and bruised condition; the most serious injury being about the head.

At the close of the first volume of the Tocsin, Booth's connection ceased, and Patrick continued the publication. In the first issue of the paper, March 22, 1819, Patrick said, editorially: "We this day issue the first number of the second volume of the Tocsin. We did not allow the profits of the office, at the commencement of the paper, would more than defray the expense for two or three years: but did we consider all our subscribers' dues as good as cash in the old stocking, safely deposited in the drawer, we might reckon to ourselves a small profit, as compensation for our labor. (2S)

What is due for subscription we hope will be considered as money lent, without drawing one cent of interest - which debts in honor require the most prompt payment. We acknowledge a profit from job work, but from the paper we acknowledge none. Our paper is beneficial to us in this respect only, it secures to us the principal part of the job work in this part of the country. We do not expect to derive profit from the paper for some years. We shall be highly gratifietl to see it diffusing knowledge and just principles for the support of our freedom and the security of our rights. Should our country increase in wealth and population, as it has done, we shall undoubtedly be well rewarded for our labor."

This announcement showed that while he could find very little encouragement in the first year's experience in operating the paper, he could still see ahead bright prospects for the future. In April, 1819, Matthew Patrick became associated with his brother in the concern, but remained with it less than a year, when Ebenezer Patrick again operated the paper alone, which he continued to do till the close of the third volume, near the first of ]\Iay, 182 1.

Then followed a newspaper interregnum in Salem for a year, the patronage not being suiticient to pay for the issuing of the paper, to say nothing of profit for time, labor and a return on capital invested. Ebenezer and Eleazer Wheelock, nephews of Mr. Patrick, purchased the material used in printing the Tocsin, and on ^la}' 3, 1822, issued the first number of a [)aper, entitled the Indiana Fanner.

development of the new lands, still covered with forests, all o^-er the county. Quite a numlier of lengthy communications from tillers of the soil found a place in the Farmer, thus making it popular with everybody. In the latter part of the \ olume, the art of President-making received some critical attention. It was suggested that the time had fully arrived when the sovereign people should take more interest in pul)lic affairs, particularly in the selection ijf men who were to rule over them and make their laws; that there should be a departure from the "line of safe precedents." and that "cabinet successions" and congressional renominations by a fa\ored few should be at an end.

In political matters, the Farmer was independent, as no indications as to who its fa\'orites were could be detected. Jackson's bra\"erv and militarv exploits were admired; the diplomacy of Adams applauded; the eloquence and statesmanship of Clay commended, and the acknowledged integrity and trustworthiness of Crawford not overlooked. From May 3, 1822, to April 17, 1826, Patrick and the Wheelocks, one or the other, sometimes both, were directors of the paper. In the spring of 1824 Wheelock went to Bloomington to start a paper called the Clarion, but some time in 1825 he was back in Salem again and assumed full ownership of the Farmer. In the early part of 1826 his health failed and Patrick rented the office for a vear, and in assuming charge of the same, changed the name back to the old title, Tocsin.

In this last volume of the Tocsin. Patrick's political preferences took decided shape. The two great national parties were assuming shape and people lining themselves up on one side or the other, according to their convictions. One was called the Administration, or Adams party; the other the Jackson party. One the Whig, the other the Democratic party. The Tocsin sided with the Adams party. But, in the main, there was no great poHtical excitement till about the close of 1826, when Henry S. Handy purchased the oitice of Wheelock, and the Tocsin gave place to the Annotator.

The first number of the Annotator was issued on January i, 1827. Handy was a sprightly little man, with a remarkably prominent nose. He was well educated and possessed a strong personality. He came to Salem a perfect stranger, but after a year's residence became quite a prominent figure in public affairs, and was chosen to pronounce the oration at the celebration of the ninety-sixth anniversary of Washington's birth. His performance was regarded as a very learned effort. From some circumstance now not remembered, the editor of the Annotator was commonly called "General" Handy, but like the boy said of Marion, he was a "monstrous little man to be a general.'' The Annotator was considerably larger than any of its predecessors had been. It was made a twenty-four column folio. In the outset it took a decided stand against the Adams party. A strong preference in favor of Andrew Jackson for the ensuing presidency marked all his editorials.

The date of the first issuance of the Annotator noted the beginning of the first Democratic paper ever published in Washington county. During the entire first volume Handy was sole editor and proprietor. In volume II, number 2, his name appeared as proprietor and J. Allen, as printer. This number was issued on March 8. 1828. About the beginning of this year a very large Jackson mass meeting was held in Salem, in which "General" Handy was quite conspicuous, being the author of a lengthy address to the l>eople - which was adopted at the meeting - every paragraph of which began with the then note<.' phrase, "Believing as we do." The paragraphs in the address were numerous, and the phrase became a political by-word during the canvass of that noted year.

On June 7, 1828, John Allen's name appeared as junior editor, and H. S. Handy announced himself a candidate for Congress. In the issue of July 12, Handy withdrew from the congressional race and departed for Xew York. His coming into the county was unannounced anfl his departure was as sudden and unexpected.

John Allen became sole proprietor of the Annntator and so continued to the close of the second vokmie. The third vohmie was commenced on May 2, 1829. At that time distinctive western interests were constant themes of political discussion, and Mr. .\llen came to the conclusion to prefix, as a matter of policy, the term "Western" to the existing title of his paper, and thus originated the If cstcni Annotator. William Tannehill, a printer, now took stock in the plant, and this relation was maintained to the close of the third volume. Prior to the date of his forming the co-partnership with Allen, Tannehill had started a paper entitled the Salon Literary Register, but he published it but a short time, and finding that it was a losing adventure, suspended its publication.

On August 19. 1830, a competitor in the newspaper line entered the field. Eljenezer Patrick, the old newspaper war-horse, laitl aside the schoolmaster's birch, picked up the printer's stick again and unfurled the banner of the Indiana Times. But the life of this paper was doomed to be brief. .^ little less than four months had gone by when the Times office and everything it contained went up in smoke - this on December 21, 1830. This calamity stopped for a time newspaper controversy in Salem. Patrick's loss by the fire was considerable, as the plant was a new one, but ere long, out of the ashes of the Times was hatched the Phoeni.r.

Wishing to a\'oid political controversy, Patrick hoisted the flag of neutrality, under which he sailed for about ten months. But neutral colors did not keep peace between the columns of the PJweni.v and the Annotator. Both editors were inclined to be belligerent. Keen were the darts and pointed the arrows hurled back and forth in this ink and type warfare. In the presidential campaign of 1832 the Phoeni.r man hauled down his neutral flag and spread to the breeze a broad Henry Clay banner, and from that tune

In the latter part of December, 1832, James G. May became one of the editors of the Annotator. Patrick at once opened a scathing broadside upon him. May retaliated in like kind, with all the power of cruel irony and bitter sarcasm at his command. This warfare lasted till the death of the Phoenix, which occurred on June 15, 1833. Allen gave it a pithy obituary notice. On May 4, 1833, John Allen became a candidate to represent the county in the ensuing Legislature, and soon thereafter the editorial management of the IVcstern Annotator devolved chiefly upon James G. May. Allen was a very popular man and would no doubt have won the office to which he aspired, but on July 6 he died of cholera. His wife's death preceded his six days. They left behind them a little five-year-old boy, of whom they were very fond. The boy was carefully cared for and educated, went west and became a noted man - B. F. Allen, of Des Moines, Iowa.

At the time of Allen's death the sixth volume of his paper lacked but tweh'e numbers of completion, which May, as surviving partner, completed. May continued to run the paper till the fall of 1834, a part of the time his brother, William May, being in charge of the mechanical department of the paper. About September i, 1835, they issued a prospectus for the eighth \olunie, in which many improvements were contemplated, but before the new volume was begun, James G. May was chosen superintendent of Decatur County Seminary, which position he accepted, and thus ended the Westcrn Annotator. The property being for sale, was in due time turned over to Dr. Charles Hay and Royal B. Child, the purchasers. They changed the name to the Indiana Monitor.

The Cholera Epidemic

Doctor Hay was an old-school Henry Clay Whig, and as a matter of course the Monitor was an unadulterated advocate of Whig policies. Doctor Hay came to Salem from Lexington, Kentucky, to practice his profession. He gained many lasting friends in consequence of the devoted attention he bestowed on the afflicted during the prevalence of the cholera in Salem during June and July, 1833. R. B. Child, the other proprietor, was a practical printer and took full charge of the publishing end of the business. Under their management the Monitor was continued through three volumes, when Child disposed of his interest to Z. W. Rowse, and the name of the paper was changed to the Salem Whig.

Rowse was a new man in the community, hut. he was taken up at once by his pohtical friemls and encMurageil in his new enterprise. lie was young and energetic, and had entered upon his work in Salem at the beginning of a great pohtical conflict. He forged ahead and struggled hard for the triumph of his partv in that Imtly-contested struggle of 1840. Thn )ughout the canvass the Whig fought with vehemence for "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." During the entire conflict that comity alwa_\s due a manly oijponent was scrupulously awarded. The bouts the Salcvi JVhig had with its lively competitor, the Republican, were conducted in a gentlemanly manner, free from scurrilous and personal innuendoes.

On December 30, i8.|.o, the partnershi]) lietween Hiay and Rowse was dissolved. Doctor Hav retiring. He, with other leading business men of the town, had lost their all in the disastrous failure of the old company store and mill, and concluding that a new start could be made sold out and went to A\'arsaw, Illinois, in the spring of 1841. Mr. Rowse continued the publication of the Wing till his death. March 16, 1841, and with his death the Salon IJ'hif/ ceased.

During most of the time that Doctor Hay was at the head of the Monitor and the Whig there was a lively competitor in the field. The county was strongly Jacksonian, and as sonn as the Annotator changed hands and became the organ of the opixwition, the Jack>on men were not long in getting together for the imrpose ( they so de.arly cherished. .Xccn! and sufficient funds were cimt James Markwell. lugether wit! former as pniprietnr and the la imiton Republican wa> ^tarteil. selves as Repulilicans. hence the name.

For the ensuing twn year> there were -everal change-; in the management of the paper. In December. i8;^(). jr.hn L. Menaugh was for a time manager, with J. < ). \\ alter-; a^ pulilisher. .\nd again James Markwell was on the tripi'd. .\s it wa- being run there was not enough in the business to justif\- the emiiloyment o\ a competent man to operate it regularly and successfullv. In ITTruary. 1840, the office was closed, whereupon satisfactory arrangement-; were made an<l bTary and Tucas became bona fide owners of the plant, and imm that time on it was o])erated successfully. On the 28th of ]\Iarcli, 1840. thev issued the hr-t numlier of the new. or sectind series, of the paper.

racy in the campaign of 1840. This canvass was the most exciting in the political history of the country up to that time. The Democrats were put upon the defensive in defending the acts of Van Buren, who was their candidate for re-election. The Whigs poured hot shot into the ranks of their opponents, inflicting them with every form of dart that partisan art and malice could invent. Business men advertised to pay farmers six dollars a barrel for flour if Harrison should be elected - three dollars if Van Buren should be successful. To what extent this obligation was carried out is not known.

In the fall of 1840, just before the election, Lucas married, and, it is said, changed his politics, and severed his connection with the Republican. In December, 1841. Frary disposed of the establishment to Thomas P. Williams, and C. L. Dunham became editor. On June 22, 1843, Dunham retired and Thomas P. Baldwin took upon himself the duties of editor, and conducted the paper through the memorable campaign when Polk and Clay were pitted against each other. The question of admitting Texas into the Union was the one upon which the people were divided, the Democrats favoring and the Whigs opposing same. On April 20, 1845, ^- B. J. Twyman assumed editorial management and changed the title to the People's Advocate.

During the second life of the Republican two hundred and fifty-two numbers were published. Twyman remained with the paper less than a year, but Williams continued the Advocate till his death, which occurred about October i, 1845. Here Calvin Frary once more purchased the plant, and on October 12. 1845, issued the first number of the third series of the IWishington Republican. He continued its publication until he sold out to John I. Morrison, in November, 1847, from which date it is not so difificult to trace down the life history of the Salem Democrat of today.

With a number of changes in title, and a few intervening weeks of suspension between times when changes of ownership were being made, the present Salem Democrat can trace its life line back to January i, 1838, when Markwell and Lucas first started the Washington Republican. The same press and tyi^e purchased new for the Republican forever thereafter was used in printing a Democratic paper, and up to the time of the burning of the Democrat office, August i, 1875, old Robert Harrison, the "typo" who learned his trade under Patrick and Booth, said he recognized some of the joli and display type in the office that was purchased when the Republican was first started.

plant and on April 22, 1841, issued the first number of the Western Commentator. He chose for a motto the dying words of President Harrison, then fresh in the minds of all, which indicated the shade of politics that was to be sustained by the new paper. The editorial department was assigned to James G. May. In September, following, the office was purchased and taken to Madison, Indiana, where the Cu)iui!C)itator was changed to a temperance daily.

Railroad Reaches Salem

The Whigs in the county now felt the need of an organ to l:>attle for their principles. Marcus L. Deal and Miles M. Birdsong were prevailed upon to start a paper, and in January, 1845, they began the publication of the Salem Weekly Nezvs. This paper lived till November 27, 1852. For a time previous to its close I\Ir. Deal was alone in the work. In volume VI, n'umber 2. issued on January 17, 185 1, was a lengthy article, under flaming headlines, announcing the arrival of railroad cars in Sa'em. This important event occurred on January 15, 185 1.

The AVu'j- lived through two vigorous presidential campaigns, l)attling zealously, first for Zachariah Taylor in 1848, and then in 1852 fur General Scott, In number 33, volume MI. ?vlr. Deal announced that two more numbers would close the Nc7vs. and in the same number it was announced that the A'e'7*;' Albany Tribune would treat patrons of the Xeti's. filling out all over-paid subscriptions, and thus ended the Salon Jl'eelcly Xez^'s.

On the 19th of June, 1855, Howard' Coe and Lionel R. Kuniville unfurled the American True Flu;/. In volume I the editors of the Flag had quite a war of words with Z. S. Garriott. at that time editor of the Washington Deniocrat. which, like all similar wars, en(le<l when the contestant's ammunition was all expended.

In number 31, Tanuarv S, 1856, Rum\ille took lea\e of the Flag and left the countrv. Coe continued the publication till the close of the volume, when Thomas Collins Ijecame owner and ushered in the .iniericau Citicen. the first "issue of which appeared on June 19. 1856. This was during "know-nothing" times, when the old Whig party was giving way to the formation of the new Republican The campaign of 1856 was an exciting one. The "know-nothings" was an American party and very strongly opposed to foreigners in every way. Xew citizens were mobbed at the jiolls and in many instances robbed of tlit-ir rights to vote by the combineil ett'ort of this secret order of "know-nothings." Their career entled with the closing of the 1856 campaign.

On June ii, 1857, the Citizen ended its days. The office remained closed till February 18, 1858, when A. C. Trueblood and B. F. Hicks brought forth the Salciii Ti)ncs. They were both practical printers and edited their paper as well. On November 10, 1859, Frank Hicks retired and E. P. Huston took his place. During Trueblood & Huston's administration the bloodiest conflict that has ever marked American politics was begun. They were very strong administration supporters after Lincoln's inauguration.

.\. C. Trueblood's name apjieared for the last time in connection with the Times on May g. 1861. He joined the army, disposing of his interest in the paper to John I. Morrison. In this arrangement, Morrison and Huston came together, having prior to this date been political opponents. Morrison had joined the ranks of the Republican party. On the 6th of June, 1861, the Times was clothed in mourning for Stephen A. Douglas, who had recently died.

On June 13, 1865, the name Salcvi Times gave place to the Union Adz'oeate. The condition of the times induced the change. In number 41, of this series. Huston retired, and Morrison became the sole proprietor of the .-Idvoeate. Later on he took into the firm David A. Burton, as publisher. Morrison continued his relation with the Advocate to the close of the sixth volume, June 24, 1864, and in his valedictory stated that most of the editorial work for the preceding six months had been done by James G. May.

George \'. Smith became proprietor and publisher of the Advocate, with May as editor. Thus began the seventh volume. About March 9, 1865, r. H. and J. P. Cozine purchased the establishment. They operated the paper but a short time. The printing material was sold and shipped away.

.\bout the middle of March, 1869, J. S. Butler and O. T. Kendall commenced the ]niblication of a paper entitled the Salem Mercury. The life of this paper was short, probably not more than six months. In September, 1872, D. M. .Als]5augh and C. .\. Allen liegan the publication of the Salem Republican, hut it ceased on January 5, 1873. .T- H. Taggant started a small sheet in 1874, entitled the Free Press, Init only about eighteen numbers were issued.

On Xo\enil)er 26, 1874, Lyman S. Fulmer started the Independent, and continued its publication until .'Xpri! 22, 1875, when S. B. Voyles, F. L. Pron and J. M. Caress purchased his plant and kept it up till December 16. 1875, when John L. Menaugh became owner, who operated it for a short time and sold to parties at Fredericksburg, where a paper was started.

The Democratic Paper

At this point it is nc-essary to return to November, 1847. ^^ is a matter of some historical importance to look up the origin and progress of the newspaper that can rightfully claim the longest life of any newspaper ever published in Salem. Though of long duration, it has been the victim of various mutations. The Democratic organ of the county has heretofore been traced down under various titles, from January. 1838. to Xovember 2/, 1847, at which time Morrison and Taylor purchased the plant and issued the first number of the IVashington Democrat.

With the name of John I. jNIorrison all Indiana was once very familiar. He faithfully filled the responsible office of treasurer of state, was a member of the convention that formed the present state Constitution, besides other important positions of public trust. But the crowning work of his life was found in his ofiice of teacher. In this his ability, tact and fidelity made real men and women, and of these there were by no means a few who made their mark in life.

]\Ir. Taylor was a practical printer and took charge of the printing department. When the banner of the IVashiiujton Dcnwcrat was llung to the breeze, the Weekly Xezvs was well advanced in its second \o!ume. Opposing politics and competition gave spice to both papers. In the presidential campaign of 1848 Air. Taylor lal)ored hard for the election of Lewis Cass, the regular Democratic nominee, and devoted all his energy, both on the stump and in the editorial chair, to restrain Indiana Democrats from falling into line with Wan P.uren. the then great leader of Democratic seceders. About December i, 18411. th^' paper passed to \A'illiams X: Owens. In the issue of Januar}- 5. 1850, William Williams appears as proprietor and T. X. Jordan, editor. This relatiim w.-is sustained during fort\- weeklyissues, when Air. Jordan retired, saying in his \ aledicturx- that he had not had a single S(|uabble with an\- of the editorial fraternitx'.

For a time Air. Williams worked .-dnne. but < -n Fchruar}- _'8. 1S52, Horace Heffren and William Williams st,,,,,! fMrih a^ joint edit..rs. The services of Heft'ren \\ere secured \o gi\e additiniial strength to the paper during the state and presidential caiuass of that year. Hetfren was a new lawyer in the county and an able and iiiignaci(Tus Democrat. There never was a political campaign during his entire life that he did not tii^ure in prominently one way or another. The political struggle of 185 j \\as a fierce one. The Whig jiart}- had nominated General Scott for the prcsi- dency, while the Democrats had Frankhn Pierce. Scott had shown himself a iiost on the battlefield and for a time it was apprehended that he would prove as formidable in the political arena, so it behooved the Democrats to be on the alert if the}- hoped to win.

Through the sixth volume Mr. Williams worked alone. In the seventh volume. ]\Iarch ,^, 1834, Z. .S. Garriott entered the concern as joint editor. He made no bow to the patrons of the Democrat and in the same volume, number 48, as silently withdrew. In volume VIII, number 27, August 17, 1855, Garriott appeared as sole editor, Williams publisher and promoter. This relation existed to the close of the eighth volume, January i, 1856. That year Mr. Williams was elected to the office of auditor of the county, but retained the proprietorship of the Doiiocrat, with Garriott as editor. In numlier 2, \olume XI. January, 1858, Z. S. Garriott stood forth as both editor and proprietor till August 25, 1859, when he stepped out and Levi D. Maxwell became publisher and proprietor.

Z. S. Garriott was a young man of ver)' promising talent, a talent which unimpaired, would have rendered him, had he li\ed, one of the powerful men of the state. Maxwell continued the publication O'f the Democrat up to April 19, i860. Wilunie XII. num]>er 4(), contained his valedictory and the salutatory of Horace Heffren, who. with Thomas Telle as publisher, now controlled the destinies of the paper. This arrangement lasted till June i, 1861, when both editor and publisher entered the army. For a month or two an old printer named Robert Harrison got out a paper, when on August 22. 186 1. G. V. Johnson took charge, changed the name and issued a paper bearing the title ^f the Banner of Liberty. He continued this publication to number 5, of the second vohmie, when O. T. Kendall with H. Heffren as editnr. tnok charge, and on Sejitemljer 25. 1862, the name Washington Democrat w.as i-esunieil.

This orcjer was continued till September 1863, when George Fultz and William P. Greene became purchasers and proprietors, the latter being editorin-chief. This arrangement continued for about one year when Fultz became sule owner. During this ownership, which continued for about seven years. O. T. Kendall was local editor and publisher for several years, and was succeeded by M. P. Armstrong, who remained on the paper till Fultz sold out. \\hile he owned the pa])er Fultz was sheriff of the county for two terms and was an as])irant for other county offices. He was, in 1872. his ]iarty's candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated. He was a very enterjirising and hard-working citizen, but had very little education and never gaxe a great amount of attention toward establishing a first-class country printing office. He always had other things on hand vhich he considered of more importance than the newspaper and it might be said that while he owned it, the paper ran itself.

On February 22, 1872. Warder W. Stevens and A. A. Cravens became joint editors and proprietors and with the first issue the name of the paper was changed to the Salem Democrat. They were both energetic young men and had recently graduated from the state university. They started out to make improvement in everything pertaining to the establishment. The old printing press, called the "Washington hand press," had seen service for more than thirty years and the type had long before been worn out and unfit to use. All this material was exchanged for new. The office was removed from a dark, dirty second-story room on South Main street, that stood on the south end of lot 16. to commodious quarters on the third floor, No. 7, Lyon's block, with editorial rooms and business office underneath, on- the second floor. The "patent outside"' was soon disposed of and the paper was all home print. A new job press was installed and first-class printers employed. In short, the entire establishment was put in shape so that it was a credit to the town.

The business moved along seemingly without any mishap until Saturday night, August l, 1874, when the entire three-story block which stood on lots 5 and 6, and known as Lyon's block, was burned to the ground. A few cases of type were all that was saved from the printing office. Newspaper files and subscription list were rescued from the editorial rooms. The proprietors, with commendable energy, took' their typos to New .\lbany, where, in the Ledger-Standard office, the regiilar issue of the following Wednesday was issued on time. An entire new outfit was procured and installed in time for the issuance of the next number, so that not a single issue of the paper was prevented by the conflagration.

Building Of The Iu.Isiness

On October 28, 1874, A. .\. Cravens retired from the paper on account of failing health. Warder W. Stevens becoming sole proprietor and editor. The paper was soon made ti) rank among the first weeklies of the state and from a mechanical standpoint it was generally conceded to have no equal. Increased patronage was such that it was soon necessary to add new facilities to the printing department and accordingly a fine power press, operated by a two and one-half horsepower steam engine was installed on December 22, 1875. the first that was ever in Salem. The office was now complete in all its appointments and enjoyed an extensive patronage. For some time, three papers, beside the Democrat were printed in this office. For the first two years, after the Indiana Student was started (a state university college paper), the printing was done in Salem. For nearly three years the Democrat turned out a neat little paper called the Mirror, edited and published by Rev. W. M. Jordan, of Salem, devoted to religious and temperance matters. For some considerable time there was also printed a thirty-six-page monthly, called Ancient Landinarks, edited and circulated by Rev. W. H. Krutsinger, of Ellettsvillc, Indiana, devoted to religious topics and the Christian church.

During the time the paper was conducted by Mr. Stevens a special feature was old-time reminiscences, and from the pens of H. Heffren, James G. May, and others much of the early history of Washington county has been preserved, as gathered from the mouths of pioneer settlers. A special "Centennial Issue" of the Democrat, printed on February 23, 1876. contained eight pages of matter devoted exclusively to the early history of the county. Warder W. Stevens stepped down and out of the proprietorship and editorial management of the Salem Democrat on February 26, 1883, having been connected with the paper for over eleven years, issuing five hundred and seventy-two numbers.

Dr. R. J. Wilson took over the Democrat office on February 26, 1883. Full of energy and enterprise, coupled with ability, his administration was very successful. Wilson conducted the paper till June, 1886, when he sold out to D. A. Jennings, from Ohio. Jennings was smart but not properly balanced. Every individual that had a skeleton in their closet had it brought forth to public gaze. He made himself so very unpopular that he was waited upon one dark night by a vigilance committee and received some rough treatment. He sold out to Menaugh Brothers, E. W. and C. C, on October 13, 1898, who conducted the paper till December 21, 1908, when Charles R. Morris and Henry E. Smith purchased the plant and are now operating the same.

.After disposing of the Democrat. Jennings started a sheet which he called the Searchlight, which he sold to Cauble and Garriott a year later, who changed the name to the Washington County Democrat, which had a peaceful death a year later and the remains were purchased by the then proprietors of the Salem Democrat.

John Gresham started the Washington County Dispatch in the summer of 1895, ran it two years, when it was suspended for lack of patronage. In 1874 Lyman Fulmer started the Salem Independent which he ran for a year and a half, and getting into trouble sold the plant to J. L. Menaugh, who operated it a few months and sold out to Allan Smith, who moved the plant to Fredericksburg and started a paper. The Democratic Sun was started in 1889 and for iunr or five years was under the management of C. C. Menaugh, when it was merged with the Salem Democrat.

In tracing the historv of the Republican-Leader, now edited and published by John W. Lewis, it seems proper to begin with the year 1878, when the Salem Press made its first appearance under the editorship and proprietorship of Charles A. Allen. The Press was a four-column folio and Republican in politics. On the ist of January, 1881, it was enlarged to a five-column folio and the sulxscription price advanced from sixty cents per annum to one dollar. After five years of the usual newspaper experience of "ups and downs'" the plant was transferred to Heber H. Allen, the brother of Charles A., and it was enlarged to a seven-column folio. The paper enjoyed a very good circulation and was liberally patronized in the advertising and job-work departments. It was the organ of the Republican partv of Washington county, well managed and ably conducted.

About the year 1884 the plant passed into the hands of Lew O. Saltmarsh, a voung printer of experience and ability. The name was changed to the Republican Press, but was subsec|uently called the True-Blue Republican and under that name continued to advocate the principles of the Republican party. Harvey Morris was the political editor of the True-Blue Republican during the ownership of Mr. Saltmarsh.

It was in the year 1881 that James A. Kemp issued the first number of the Salem Leader and ardently supported the principles of the Republican party. The publication prospered from the beginning and after a few years Mr. Kemp found it necessary to enlarge his plant. He built a commodious building on the north side of the public square, which was the home of his paper for manv years. He added a power press and new t}pe to the plant and made many other changes in the business, among which was the purchase of the True-Blue Republican - its name, its type and presses, its subscription list and good will. He then enlarged the paper and changed its name to the Republican-Leader. It has lieen the only Republican paper published in the county since that date.

In 1003 Mr. Kemp sold the jiaper to James A. Prow and F. A. Martin. Mr. Martin did not retain his interest very long, having sold it the following year to Dr. H. C. Hobbs. It was in the year 1907 that J. W. Lewis, the present owner and manager of the Republican-Leader bought the plant of Dr. Hobbs and at once assumed control. He is a practical printer with a large experience in all departments of newspaper work and has added many new and interesting features to the paper since he assumed the editorship and management. Its subscription list has been materially increased and it is enjoying satisfactory advertising patronage.