Lorain City (part 26 of 77)

Myron R. Kerra was born in Wingfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., March 3, 1819; came to Elyria with his father, Colonel Ansel Keith in October, 1832; and was admitted as an attorney in 1841. He commenced the practice of law in Elyria in 1841, and in 1842 removed to Cleveland and practiced with Harvey Rice, in the firm of Rice & Keith, until 1846. In January, 1846, he returned to Elyria and was appointed clerk of the courts for Lorain county, and officiated in that capacity until the spring of 1852. In August, 1852, he removed to Cleveland, and since that time he has been and still is engaged in the practice of the law there. In June, 1867, he was appointed register in bankruptcy, and is still acting in that capacity.

H. A. TENNEY came to the bar in 1842, and was elected prosecuting attorney that year. _He remained in Elyria a few years engaged in the law practice and newspaper work, and then removed to Wisconsin.

Joun B. GREEN was admitted to the bar in Elyria in 1842, and, after remaining a year or two, removed to Newark, Ohio, where he died in 1845.

ELEAZER WAKELY was admitted to the bar in Elyria in 1844, and remained there about two years, when he removed to Wisconsin, and, subsequently, to Nebraska, where he held the office of federal territorial judge, in which he was succeeded by Judge Wm. F. Lockwood in 1861. He still resides in Omaha eminent in his profession.

During this period, 1831 to 1845, the law business of the county had increased, so that, in 1844, it was something more than half its present amount as indicated by the journal of the court of common pleas. Still, up te this time, very few, if any, of the lawyers had devoted themselves exclusively to the practice of the law, almost all engaging in newspaper publication and some in other enterprises. The relative amount of business done by foreign attorneys was much less than in the earliest period, but still a large number of attorneys from Cleveland and other points practiced occasionally in Lorain. Prominent among these were W. Silliman, of Wooster, and U. L. Lattimer, of Norwalk. ,

The period from 1845 to 1860 witnessed an almost complete change in the personnel of the Lorain bar. About thirty new men came to the bar during that period, and, at its close, Philemon Bliss remained the only resident attorney who had begun practice prior to 1845, although Mr. Clark, then residing in Cleveland, still practiced at the Lorain bar. Of some seven or eight of those who came to the practice within this period it is proper to make somewhat extended mention.

August 6, 1823, at Lanesborough, Berkshire county, Mass. He removed to Elyria in May, 1845, and, in 1846, entered the office of A. A. Bliss as a partner, and continued in the practice until December, 1856, when he remoyed from Elyria. During his residence in Elyria he was also associated with Mr. Edmund A. West, now of Chicago, in the firm of Bagg & West; and later with Mr. George Olmsted, now of Elyria, as Bagg & Olmsted. He also engaged at times in the drug and insurance business while in Elyria. After remaining a few months in Chicago, he removed to Iowa in March, 1857, and settled at Waterloo, where he now resides. He was commissioned in the army as A. Q. M. with the rank of captain, October 22, 1862, and served until November 26, 1865, being discharged with the brevet of major. He was elected circuit judge in 1868, and re-elected in 1872 and 1876, and elected district judge in 1878, which office he now holds.

STEVENSON BuRKE was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, November 26, 1826. He commenced studying law in the office of Powell & Buck, at Delaware, Ohio, and afterwards went into the office of H. D. Clark at Elyria, where he continued till his admission to the bar, August 11, 1848. In the following March he entered into partnership with Mr. Clark, which partnership continued until May or June, 1852. He continued to reside at Elyria with a rapidly increasing practice until 1861, when he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for the counties of Lorain, Medina and Summit. Prior to his elevation to the bench he was associated for a short time with Mr. Lake and Mr. Sheldon, under the firm name of Burke, Lake & Sheldon. This firm, however, lasted but a short time. In 1857 he was associated with E. F. Poppleton, and, in 1860, with H. H. Poppleton.

Mr. Burke was a sound and thorough lawyer and a man of remarkable industry, being, no doubt, the hardest working lawyer who ever practiced at the Lorain bar. He was elected to the common pleas bench October, 1861, and took his seat the February following, and continued to hold the office until February, 1869, having been re-elected in 1866. He resigned his office January 1, 1869, his resignation taking effect at the end of the judicial year the 9th of the following February. Immediately upon his resignation he became a member of the firm of Backus, Estep & Burke in Cleveland, Messrs. Backus and Estep having previously been partners in the practice in that city. Judge Burke also kept for a time an office in Elyria, where he still resided, in connection with Mr. H. H. Poppleton. This was soon discontinued, however. Not long after Mr. Burke went to Cleveland the partnership of which he was a member was broken up by the death of Mr. Backus. After a short time more Messrs. Estep & Burke dissolved their connection, since which Judge Burke has been practicing alone in Cleveland, and doing a large and highly lucrative business. He has become interested in several railroad and other corporations, and is at present a director and chairman of the finance committee of the C., C., C. & I. R'y Co., and general counsel of the company, and occupies the same position with reference to the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley R. R. Co., and holds prominent positions in a number of other railroad, mining and manufacturing corporations.

JoHN M. VINCENT was born at Mount Washington, Berkshire county, Mass., October 14, 1820. He came to Ohio in 1834. His collegiate course was begun at Oberlin, but concluded at Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1846. Returning to Elyria, he entered the office of H. D. Glark as a law student, and was admitted to the bar at the supreme court in Elyria August 11, 1848. Hntering at once upon the practice of his profession, he was elected in the fall of the following year to the office of prosecuting attorney of Lorain county, which he held two consecutive terms, being re-elected in 1851. He was elected to the same office again in 1855 and served one more term. Mr. Vincent was a man of quick and accurate perceptions, a thorough lawyer, a ready and effective debater, and withal a genial, kind-hearted gentleman. .With such qualifications he could not but occupy, as he did, a prominent position at the bar as long as his health permitted him to continue in the practice. He was elected to the lower house of the State legislature in the autumn of 1859, and served in that body during the session of 1860 and 1861. This legislative work was substantially the last of his life. Failing health forbade his continuing in the practice of his profession, and, in the summer of 1863, he went to Minnesota in hope of improving his health by change of climate; but, finding himself growing rapidly worse, he started to return home, but was compelled to leave the cars at Milwaukee, where he died September 23, 1863, mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His wife and son still reside at Elyria.

LionEL A. SHELDON was born August 30, 1831, at Worcester, Otsego county, New York, and removed with his parents to LaGrange, Lorain county, in 1834. He studied law in the office of Clark & Burke, in Elyria, and also attended law school at Poughkeepsie, New York, and was admitted to the bar at the supreme court at Elyria, in July, 1851.

In September, 1853, he commenced practice in connection with Mr. Vincent, which partnership lasted some two, years. He was subsequently associated, at different times, with George B. Lake, L. B. Smith, and W. W. Boynton. He remained in Elyria, in the practice of his profession, until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, in 1861. He held the office of probate judge, from November 25, 1856, to February 8, 1858, filling out the unexpired term of William F. Lockwood.

In August, 1861, he entered the army as captain in the 2d Ohio cavalry, and was subsequently a major in the same regiment. At the organization of the

42d Ohio volunteer infantry, he was commissioned its lieutenant-colonel, and on the promotion of its colonel, James A. Garfield, he became colonel of the regiment, and served with distinction throughout the war, receiving toward the close of the war, the rank of brevet brigadier general.

After the close of the conflict, he settled in New Orleans, and resumed the practice of his profession, and also became interested in politics. He was elected to congress in 1868, 1870, and 1872, and served with credit in those three congresses. In 1876, he was one of the presidential electors of the state of Louisiana. He still resides in New Orleans; spending his summers, however, on his large farm in LaGrange, Lorain county, the home of his boyhood.

GEORGE B. LAKE was admitted to the bar at Hiyria, July, 1851, and practieed in Elyria, with credit, until about 1857, when he removed to Omaha, where he still resides. He has attained there a marked eminence in his profession, and now occupies a seat upon the bench of the supreme court of Nebraska.

Houston H. PoprLeTon was born at Bellville, Richland county, Ohio, March 19, 1836. He removed with his father to Delaware, Ohio, in March, 1853, and entered the Ohio Wesleyan university, at that place, the same year, from which institution he graduated June 28, 1858.

He commenced studying law with. Mr. Burke, in Elyria, September 9, 1858, and continued with him till he entered the Cincinnati law college, October 15, 1859, and was admitted to the bar at Cincinnati April 16, 1860. He commenced the practice of law at Elyria, May 2, 1860, having formed a partnership with Judge Burke; and continued in the general practice until December 1, 1873, when he was appointed general attorney of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway Company, with headquarters at Cleveland, and at once took charge of the entire legal department of that company, which position he still holds, and fills with marked ability.

WASHINGTON W. BoyNTON was born in Russia, Lorain county, January 27, 1833. He was educated in the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar by the district court of Lorain county, at its September term, 1856, and immediately commenced practice. In March, 1859, upon the resignation, by Mr, George Olmsted, of the office of prosecuting attorney, he was appointed by the court to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term, which ended the first Monday of the following January.

In October, of the same year, (1859), he was elected to the same office, and continued to discharge its duties with credit to himself, and satisfaction to the public, until January, 1864, having been re-elected in the fall of 1861. Mr. Boynton continued in the practice of the law, at Elyria, with the exception of a short residence in Minnesota, whither he went on account of his health, until February, 1869, when he was appointed by the governor to the office of common pleas judge, left vacant by the resignation of Hon. Stevenson Burke. In October, of the same year, he was elected to that office, for the remainder of Judge Burke's term, which expired February, 1872. In the fall of 1871, he was re-elected for a full term, which expired February, 1877, at which time he entered upon the discharge of the duties of a judge of the supreme court, having been elected to that office in October, 1876. He is still a member of the supreme court.

A considerable number of lawyers commenced practice in Lorain county during this time, and remained for longer or shorter periods, including some who are still at the bar, who will be mentioned hereafter.

Epmunp A. West, 1846 to 1852. He was the son of Edmund West, one of the original settlers of Elyria. On leaving Elyria he went to Chicago where he is still practicing law, making a specialty of patent business.

GEORGE G. WASHBURN practiced law from 1849 to 1853. He then abandonod the law and devoted himself to journalism, and still resides in Elyria, the editor and publisher of the Elyria Republican.

John Sherman, 1851

ScHUYLER PUTNAM was admitted to the bar in 1852, at the first term of the district court under the constitution of 1851. He was a great-grandson of General Israel Putnam of revolutionary war fame. Says Mr. H. D. Clark in a recent letter, speaking of Mr. Putnam: '' He came to the bar at an advanced age, ripe in judgment and experience. He hada good legal mind, and in a long number of years as a justice of the peace, never gave an opinion that was reversed by a higher court. He was a moral, conscientious, upright man."

OC. G. Finney, Oberlin, 1854. He was a son of the celebrated divine, Reverend C. G. Finney, for many years president of Oberlin college. He returned to Oberlin a few years ago and entered into partnership with I. A. Webster, but his. health permitted him to remain only a short time.

Joun M. Lanaston, Oberlin, was admitted to the bar in Elyria in 1855, and practiced at Oberlin until about 1867. He now resides in Washington, D. C., where he is a law lecturer in Howard University.

From 1857 to 1859 SAMUEL and RALPH PLUMB practiced law in Oberlin under the name of Plumb and Plumb, and Ralph seems by the court record to have continued until 1861. Samuel Plumb organized a bank in Oberlin under the name of ''S. Plumb's Bank," which, on the passage of the National banking act was converted into the ' First National Bank

Lagrtes B. Smira was admitted to the bar in Klyria, in September, 1858, and practiced in Elyria, holding the office of justice of the peace for several terms, until June 1, 1871, when he was appointed probate judge, to fill the vacaney occasioned by the resignation of John W. Steele. He was elected to that office the same year for the unexpired term and still holds the office, having been re-elected in 1872, 1875 and 1878.

Epwarp D. HoLprook, son of Dexter Holbrook who still resides in Elyria, was born in Elyria October 10, 1835, studied law with Johnson and Rex in Wooster, and was admitted at that place in May, 1857. He commenced practice in Elyria in 1858, and remained until the spring of 1861 when he removed to California, where he remained studying the mining laws until May 17, 1862, when he removed to Idaho territory, where he rapidly rose to prominence and acquired an extensive practice. He represented that territory as delegate in the thirty-ninth and fortieth congresses. He continued to reside in Idaho, attending to his increasing professional duties until his death. He was murdered by Charles H. Douglas, at Idaho City, June 19, 1870.

WASHBURN SAFFORD practiced in Elyria for two or three years, beginning in 1855, in partnership with Judge Philemon Bliss, under the name of Bliss and Safford. During a portion of this time R. H. Allen, who practiced in Oberlin, was also a member of the firm, the title at the Oberlin office being Bliss, Allen and Safford. Mr. Allen remained in Oberlin a year or'so after the dissolution of this firm.

The period from 1860 to the present time can scarcely be called historical, and must be passed over rapidly. It has witnessed the advent of many more lawyers than any other period of equal length; but a majority of them are still young men, and the time has not yet arrived for them to have reached the eminence and distinction to which many of the older members of the Lorain bar have attained.

The most conspicuous figure among the men who have come to the Lorain bar within this period is Hon. Joun OC. HAL, one of the present judges of the court of common pleas. He was born March 3, 1831, at Orford, New Hampshire, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1857. He was admitted to the bar in Cleveland in the spring of 1861, and immediately removed to Elyria in company with J. C. Hill, with whom he had formed a partnership, under the name of Hale & Hill, and they opened a law office in the room occupied by John M. Vincent. This partnership continued one year, when Mr. Hale went into partnership with W. W. Boynton. -He rose rapidly in his profession, and in 1863 was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, which he held six years consecutively, being re-elected in 1865 and 1867. He represented Lorain county in the constitutional convention of 1873-4, and in 1876 was elected common pleas judge, succeeding Judge Boynton, He is still on the common pleas bench.

We shall now pass rapidly over the gentlemen who have been members of the Lorain bar since 1860 and who are not now in the practice there, and close this sketch with a mention of the attorneys now resident in the county.

Lewis BRECKENRIDGE was admitted to the bar in 1859, commenced practice in Elyria in 1861 and remained until 1872 when he removed to Cleveland where he now resides and practices.

J. OC. Hitt came to Elyria as.an attorney in 186], as already mentioned, as a partner with J. C. Hale. He remained in the practice until 1864, when he abandoned it and engaged in other business. He is now a resident of Elyria and cashier of the Savings Deposit Bank.

JamES B. HUMPHREY was admitted to the bar in Elyria in 1862, and practiced there until 1867 or 1868, when he removed to Allegan, Michigan, where he still resides. He is, or recently was, probate judge of Allegan county, and occupies a prominent position at the bar there.

RosweE.Lu G. Horr was admitted to the bar at the expiration of his term as clerk of the court in 1864, and entered into partnership with J. C. Hale. He continued in the practice about two years, when he removed to Missouri. He subsequently removed to East Saginaw, Michigan, where he still resides. He was elected to Congress from that district at the election in November, 1878.

JigrRBERT L. TERRELL was admitted to the bar in Elyria in September, 1864, and entered into partnership with W. W. Boynton, remaining about a year. He then removed to Tennessee, but subsequently returned to Ohio and settled in Cleveland, where he is now practicing.

D. L. BRECKINRIDGE was admitted to the bar in 1866, but continued to reside on his farm in Grafton till his death, in 1878, never devoting himself exclusively to the law.

A. C. Houeuton went into partnership with J. H. Dickson, at Wellington, in 1868, and remained in the practice there until about 1872, when he removed to Toledo.

M. W. Ponp, JR., in partnership with C. H. Doolittle, practiced in Elyria in 1869. He removed to Pennsylvania, but subsequently returned to Cleveland, where he now resides, engaged in the practice of the law.

(now Lorain), and engaged also in the lumber business. He continued to reside there until 1877, when he removed to St. Louis. His law practice was very meager.

Josepu C. CoLLisTer studied law with Hon. J. H. Dickson, at Wellington, and: was admitted to the bar in 1874. He entered into partnership with his preceptor, and remained one year, when he left the county.

C. A. BRINTNALL came to Elyria, from Medina, in the summer of 1876, with A. R. WEBBER, who still remains there. 'They remained in partnership a few months, when they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Brintnall left the county.

WaRrREN W. SampsEL, son of Dr. P. W. Sampsel, of Elyria, was admitted to the bar in Norwalk in the spring of 1878, and entered into partnership with N. L. Johnson, of Elyria, but after remaining a few months he removed to Toledo, where he still resides.

Judge BENJAMIN BISSELL and Mr. TINKER, both of Painesville, had an office in Elyria in 1872, in connection with Mr. J. V. Coon, under the name of Bissell, Coon and Tinker. Judge Bissell died recently in Iowa. Mr. Tinker still resides in Painesville.

The present bar of Lorain county consists of twentynine members, residing in all parts of the eounty, but principally of course at the county seat.

JoHN VY. Coon, the one of these who has been longest at the bar, was admitted at Elyria in August, 1846, and has continued to reside in Elyria or its immediate vicinity ever since, and has kept a more or less intimate connection with the practice during all that time. He has not, however, devoted himself exclusively to the law, having been engaged in farming and manufacturing enterprises, and. real-estate

CHar.eEs H. Doo.itrre came to the bar in Elyria in 1851. He was soon after elected justice of the peace, which office he held about six years. In the fall of 1857, he was elected probate judge, and held that office for nine years from the following February, being re-elected in 1860 and 1863. After the expiration of his term of office as probate judge, he removed for a short time to Painesville, but soon returned to Elyria, where he still resides. For several years past he has held the office of justice of the peace.

Hon. JosepH H. Dickson was admitted to the bar in August, 1852, at Elyria, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession there, forming a partnership with John M. Vincent. In the fall of 1853 he was elected prosecuting attorney, for two years from the succeeding January. In December, 1855, he dissolved his connection with Mr. Vincent, and removed to Wellington, where he has continued to reside up to the present time. He was elected to the lower house of the state legislature in 1867 and 1869. He still occupies a leading position at the Lorain bar.

GEORGE OLMSTED came from New York, and eutered into practice in Elyria in 1853, entering into partnership with S. Bagg, as Bagg and Olmsted. He was elected prosecuting attorney in October, 1857, and entered upon the duties of that office in the following January. He resigned the office, however, in March, 1859, after having served a little over one year. He then removed to Indianapolis, where he staid about a year, when he returned, and continued to reside in Elyria, and practice law, until 1862, from which time he was absent from Elyria about four years. He returned to Elyria, however, in 1866, where he has since resided. He was elected justice of the peace in 1871, and held that office for three years, being succeeded by Joshua Myers.

CHARLES W. JOHNSTON came to Elyria from La- Grange, where he had formerly practiced medicine, and entered upon the practice of the law in April, 1859. _ He formed a partnership with Hon. P. Bliss, the next September, under the name of Bliss and Johnston, which continued until Judge Bliss removed to Dakota, in 1861. Mr. Johnston' continued to devote himself exclusively to the practice, and still resides in Elyria, where he has an extensive business. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1869 and 1871.

Evizur G. JOHNSON was admitted to the bar in 1861, but continued to reside in LaGrange, where he held the office of justice of the peace until March, 1869, when he came to Elyria to assume the office of county auditor, to which he had been elected the previous October. He continued to hold that office until November, 1877. In the autumn of 1876, however, he opened a law office in Elyria, and is still engaged in the practice.

Norman L. JOHNSON came to Elyria from Massachusetts in 1863 and entered upon the practice of the law, to which he has devoted himself ever since, and at which he is now doing a very considerable business.

Ira A. WEBSTER was admitted to the bar at Elyria in September, 1867, and soon after opened an office in Oberlin, where he still resides. In 1877 he also opened an office in Elyria.

CHARLES DOWNING was admitted to the bar in 1867 in Elyria, where he still resides. He has devoted his attention mainly, however, to the business of insurance.

Watrer F, HERRICK commenced practicing law in Wellington in 1874, and is still there. He served in the Ohio legislature in 1860 and 1861, and was a colonel in the army during the war of the rebellion.

- Lester McLEAN was admitted to the bar at Warren in the spring of 1875, and immediately removed to Hlyria, where he is still engaged in the practice, - now in partnership with EK. G. Johnson.

J. W. STEELE was admitted to the bar just-before the breaking out of the war. He entered the army and served through the war. He was elected probate judge of Lorain county in 1867, and held that office till June 1, 1871, when he resigned. He commenced practice in Oberlin in 1877, and is still there.

Joun H. Faxon, of Elyria, was admitted to the bar at Columbus in 1876. Mr. Faxon is an old resident of Lorain county. He was elected sheriff in 1844 and 1846, and to the legislature in 1873 and 1875. He has also held the office of justice of 'the peace for a considerable number of years.

In 1877, C. G. JEFFRigs, an attorney of several years standing, moved to Elyria from Akron and opened a law office, and is still in the practice.

This completes the list of the members of the bar of Lorain county. This bar, throughout its history, has been characterized by a high degree of morality and integrity, as well as ability and learning on the part of the members, and has been singularly free from that which has been the bane of so many of the greatest and most brilliant lawyers of the country, the addiction to the use of intoxicating liquors.

'Ten of its members have been elevated to the bench (aside from probate judges) and held fifteen different judicial positions, viz: Frederick Whittlesey, common pleas judge in Ohio; Philemon Bliss, common pleas judge in Ohio, territorial chief justice of Dakota, and supreme judge of Missouri; William F. Lockwood, territorial judge of Nebraska, and common pleas judge in Ohio; Eleazer Wakeley, territorial judge of Nebraska; Cyrus Olney, judge in Iowa; 8S. Bagg, circuit and district judge in Iowa; S. Burke, common pleas judge in Ohio; George B. Lake, supreme judge of Nebraska; W. W. Boynton, common pleas and suprome judge in Ohio; and John C. Hale, common pleas judge in Ohio.

The bar furnished one of the delegates, Mr. Clark, to the constitutional convention of 1850, and the single one, Mr. Hale, to that of 1873. Two former Lorain lawyers are lecturers in law schools: Judge Bliss and Mr. Langston; and two, Judge Bliss and Mr. Tiffany, are the authors of legal treatises.

So far as the writer has been able to learn Philemon Bliss seems to have held the largest number of important official positions: two terms in congress, and (including probate judgeships) five different judicial positions.

To Mr. Myers belongs the distinction of haying been the longest at the bar, from 1844 to 1877. The next longest, and by far the longest practice of the leading lawyers of the bar, was that of Mr. H. D. Clark, from 1834 to 1865.

With this we take our leave of the bar. It is sufficient to say of it in closing, that it has stood high compared with those of similar counties, for learning, industry, integrity and eloquence.

Chapter Xiii

Newspapers are both ''annals" and '' history." Not only do their columns contain a record of events in chronological order, but the causes and effects of such events are also considered. Newspapers also contain a perfect record of their own history; but, like any other record, it is of no use to mankind unless it is carefully preserved. In the early days of a new settlement, the pioneers have enough burdens to bear, enough present wants to supply, to engross all their time, without giving thought to what their children, in after years, may desire to know of the details of their pioneer life; hence the rarity of the record of those events, and the difficulty of obtaining, in many cases, any correct data concerning them. It is doubtless for the same reason that publishers of newspapers took so little pains in pioneer times to preserve their files. With the exception of two volumes, no files have been preserved of any newspapers published in this county prior to 1850. When it is known that there were almost yearly changes in the ownership and editorial management of these early publications, and that only straggling copies can now be found, the difficulty in giving an accurate history of the press in this county will be apparent; but through the interest taken in this labor by many who were formerly connected therewith, and the kindness of others who have forwarded occasional copies of the early publications, these obstacles have been chiefly overcome, and, with the conyiction that the labor of rescuing these interesting details from oblivion was undertaken none to soon, the reader may rest assured that the history of the nearly three dozen newspapers and other periodicals that have been published in this county will be found substantially correct. The history of each publication will be given in the order of its date, commencing in Elyria; and,-as a matter of equal public interest, a brief notice of those who were prominently connected with them is appended.

The Lorain Gazette

The first newspaper printed in Lorain county was called The Lorain Gazette, published in Elyria by Archibald 8. Park, who in the spring of 1829 was conducting a newspaper in Ashtabula, Ohio, called The Western Journal. Desiring to change his location, he came to Elyria, and made arrangements with Mr. Heman Ely to purchase the necessary material for a newspaper and job office. On his return, he sent him a bill in detail of the articles needed, which Mr. Ely forwarded to New York The material was shipped on the 6th of May, by way of the Hudson river and canal to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Cleveland, and thence to Elyria in wagons. The following is a copy of the bill and accompanying letter, found among the papers of the late Heman Ely. It shows that at that day it required but a small sum to purchase what was then considered a sufficient outfit for a newspaper and job office:

"Dear Sir: - Herewith you have a bill of articles shipped you this day. I think it to be judiciously arranged for a country office. Not finding any second-hand type that I judged would please you, and as I have reduced the price oi my small pica 6 per cent., and my bourgoise 8 per cent. per pound, and the price of other sizes about in the same proportion, I concluded it best to send you new type. Should you find anything wanting, name it, and it shall be sent. The press, boxing and cartage I have charged only at what I had to pay, which is $10 less than you could have got it at had you applied in person. I purchase largely of the man, and my custom isan object to him, If my bill is to be charged to you asa cash sale, you will be entitled toa disct. of 744 per cent. on all but the press, boxss and cartage, viz: on $202.55, which disct. I shall have to credit you in account.

Mr. Park sold his paper in Ashtabula, and removed to Elyria with his family, arriving June 18, 1829. The press, known as the ''two-pull Ramage," constructed almost entirely of wood, was put up in the small one-story building, two doors east of East avenue, on the south side of Broad street, (now No. 22,) where the first number of the Lorain Gazette was issued July 24, 1829. The first stickful of type set in this county was by Calvin Hall, then sixteen years old, who accompanied Mr. Park from Ashtabula as an apprentice. It is made a part of this record, not only as a matter of general interest, but because it is doubtful if the same number of high-sounding words have since been compressed into a single stickful. It was as follows:

"The sack of the city had commenced. The fire darted from a hundred roofs; the crash of broken bars and bolts rang through the blood-stained streets of the long peaceful Mother of the Arts. Barbarians of gigantic stature, their hair flowing wildly on their shoulders, and wielding spears of prodigious length, with flerce gestures and dissonant cries, trampled the venerable halls of the Areopagus, and violated the. holy stillness of the Parthenon."

The Gazette was a five column folio, sent by mail for two dollars, and delivered in the village for two dollars and fifty cents a year. In politics, it supported the whig party. A copy of the first number, now in the Elyria library, contains the name of ''A S. Park, printer, publisher, and proprietor." Frederick Whittlesey was editor of the paper, for the first six months, after which its publisher assumed entire charge, and its columns were chiefly filled with selected miscellany and news items. In the fall of 1830, Mr. Abraham Burrell, also a practical printer, became a partner in the paper, and its publication was continued by Park & Burrell, until the spring of 1832, when it passed into the hands of James F. Manter, who changed its name to The Elyria Times. Only an occasional copy of the Gazette is now extant.

Archibald 8. Park served his apprenticeship in the office of Heacock & Bowen, publishers of the Ashtabula Recorder. He was subsequently connected with two wore journals in Elyria, and not finding the business sufficiently lucrative, abandoned the case in 1834, and engaged in other business. He still lives in Elyria, hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-four years, where he has ever sustained the character of an honest and upright citizen.

_Frederick Whittlesey, the pioneer editor of the county, removed to Cleveland in 1835, where he died November 13, 1854, aged fifty-three years. He was held in high esteem, and among various offices that he filled with credit, were that of clerk of the Cuyahoga court of common pleas, and senator in the legislature from Cuyahoga county, for several years.

Abraham Burrell was thoroughly taught the printers' art in the state of New York. He came to Elyria in the spring of 1830, and went to work as compositor in the Gazette office. He was subsequently printer of the Ohio Atlas, Buckeye Sentinel, Elyria Courier, Lorain Argus, Lorain Eagle, and for a number of years of the Jrdependent Democrat, published by the writer, in whose employment he died November 23, 1868, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Burrell was emphatically the veteran printer of Lorain county. He was aman of remarkable industry, was strictly honest in his dealings, but he experienced' many of the ups and downs incident to his profession. He was better fitted for the mechanical than the business department of a newspaper, and worked more hours

The Elyria Times

This paper immediately succeeded the Gazette, and also supported the whig party. Mr. Manter published it three months, without changing its size or price, under promises of adequate support, which were not realized, and about the first of June, 1832, he sold the office and good will to A. S. Park and Josiah A. Harris, who added new material, enlarged the sheet, and changed its name to The Ohio Atlas and Elyria Advertiser.

Mr. Manter learned the art of printing in the office of the Patriot, Utica, New York. After working at the case in various places in that State, he removed to Ohio, and in May, 1826, came to Elyria, where he engaged in farming. The three months during which he published the Zimes, concluded his labors as printer and publisher. He now resides in Elyria, at the age of nearly eighty-one years, remarkable for his physical and mental vigor, and respected for his many excellent traits of character. He has no recollection of the date when he commenced or concluded the publication of the Zimes, except that it was in the early part of 1832, and, so far as is known, no copy of it is now in existence.

The Ohio Atlas And Elyria Advertiser

Soon after the purchase of the Times, by Messrs. Park & Harris, they issued the Ohio Atlas and Elyria Advertiser. he first number was dated July 12, 1832. It was a six column folio, presenting a much better appearance than its predecessor, and for twelve years, under the editorial charge of various persons, it sustained a high character, as a newspaper. Its motto was the interrogative, '' What is it but a map of busy life?" Its terms were, $2, if paid within six months, and $2.50, if not paid within one year. Among its regular contributors was Rev. Alfred H. Betts, of Brownhelm, whose letters to the young, over the familiar initials, "' B. H. A.," continued for some years, and were widely read. A few months after the paper was started, Mr. Park sold his interest to his associate, and retired. Up to this period, Mr. Harris was its editor, and, on the retirement of Mr. Park, Abraham Burrell became its printer, and remained in that position nntil it was discontinued in 1844.

Mr.. Harris conducted the paper, as editor and proprietor, until the 21st day of November, 1833, when he sold the office to Frederick Whittlesey and Edward S. Hamlin. Albert A. Bliss, then a law student in their office, became its editor. The paper was increased to seven columns, and otherwise im-

'proved in its general make up, as well as in its spirit and ability. On the 10th day of July, 1834, A. A. Bliss and Thomas Tyrrell became its editors and proprietors, and on the 27th of November, of the same intimation that, although his connection with the paper had been personally agreeable, his purse had been somewhat depleted thereby. He did not long remain absent from the chair editorial, for, on the 22d of January, 1835, as appears by a single tattered copy of the Atlas of that date, he resumed his duties as editor. The fragment of the copy contains the following editorial notice:

For reasons, which it is unnecsssary to detail, the subscriber has again become connected with the Atias. All business relating to the establishment, other than with the editorial department, will be transacted by the proprietors, T. Tyrrell & Co. A, A. Buiss,

The exact time when Mr. Bliss finally retired from the paper cannot be ascertained, but it was about the beginning of 1836. On the 10th of February, 1836, the name of E. 8S. Hamlin appears as editor, and A. Burrell & Co. as publishers. Mr. Bliss went to Cleveland, temporarily, and, in connection with Charles Whittlesey, conducted the Cleveland Gazette through the campaign of 1836. Not long after Mr. Hamlin took charge of the paper he sold it to an association of gentlemen, consisting of D. W. Lathrop, H. Ely, 8. W. Baldwin, Wm. Andrews, Ozias Long, Franklin Wells, and, possibly, others, who formed a stock company, and, under the new management, Mr. Lathrop became its editor. A. Burrell continued to be its printer. The exact date of this transfer is not known, but it was previous to July 27 1836. Under the management of Mr. Lathrop, the Aédas took an advanced position on all the moral questions of the day, and was an able champion of the principles of the whig party. The exact date of his withdrawal is also not known, but it was about July 1, 1842. Mr. Burrell continued to print the paper, and its editorial labor was performed by Wm. F. Lockwood, and later, by Ezra L. Stevens, who, on the 12th of June, 1844, became part proprietor of the office, suspended the publication of the Atlas, and issued it under the name of the Buckeye Sentinel.

Of those who were connected with the Atlas, Josiah A. Harris removed to Cleveland, and in 1837 purchased the Cleveland Herald, which he published for a number of years with distinguished ability.. He died in that city August 21, 1876, aged sixty-eight years, lamented by all who knew him.

Albert A. Bliss was born in Canton, Conn., March 23,1811. He removed to Elyria in June, 1833, where he was admitted to the bar, and for a number of years occupied the highest position as an attorney. He represented this county in the legislature during the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth and fortieth general assemblies, in 1839, '40 and '41, where he took a prominent position as a debater. He subsequently established the Elyria Courier, and in 1846 was elected treasurer of state, serving five years. In May, 1863, he removed to Jackson, Michigan, where he now resides, widely esteemed for the unblemished character he has ever borne.

Edward 8. Hamlin ranked among the best members of the Lorain bar, was elected to congress to fill a vacancy in 1844, and served during the second session of the twenty-eighth congress, A short time after his term expired, he removed to Southern Ohio, where he lived a number of years, and then removed to Virginia. He now resides in Egremont, Mass. Mr. Hamlin first settled in Elyria in 1830.

Rey. D. W. Lathrop, who edited the Aflas for nearly six years, came to Elyria in 1824. He participated in the organization of the First Presbyterian Church in Elyria, in that year, became is first pastor, and labored in that relation for about six years. After relinquishing his editorial charge, in 1842, he was employed as agent of the American Home Missionary Society, and in 1848 removed to New Haven, Conn. At this time, he is residing in Jackson, Mich., aged eighty years. He was a man of much ability and untiring industry, and even now spends much of his time in writing.

It is deeply to be regretted that so few copies of the Ohio Atlas, containing so much of personal and local history that would be valuable at this day, have been preserved.

The Literary Register And Miscellaneous Magazine

Soon after A. 8S. Park sold his interest in the Aélas, he went to New York and purchased a newspaper outfit, including an iron press, the first ever brought here, and on the fourth day of October, 1833, issued the first number of a weekly paper with the above title. It was a three-column quarto, and was entirely filled with original and selected matter - no advertisements. It did not prove to be a profitable venture for its publisher; and after continuing it one year, Mr. Park sold the establishment to Dr. Matson, H. K. Kendall, Edwin Byington and Dr. E. W. Hubbard, who issued the first democratic paper ever published in the county and called it

Advocate

Soon after the transfer above referred to, the purchasers negotiated with Samuel L. Hatch, of Chenango, N. Y., who removed to Elyria, and on the second day of October, 1834, issued the first number of the abovenamed paper. Mr. Hatch was its nominal editor, but most of the proprietors contributed to its editorial columns. It was a six-column folio, its terms being one dollar and seventy-five cents in advance, two dollars within six months, and two dollars and fifty cents within one year. In January, 1835, LeGrand Byington, then quite a young man, came on from Chenango, purchased the paper, and continued its publication, a part of the time in connection with Calvin Hall, until May 17, 1837. During this time, political excitement ran high, and the cause of the democratic party was championed by Mr. Byington with great energy, and his paper fairly bristled with pungent personal paragraphs. Not being sustained in the effort to make the paper remunerative, he declined to publish it longer; and at the date above mentioned, the establishment passed into the hands of Horace D. Clark, who dropped the ''and Working-men's Advocate" from its title, and issued his first number May 24, 1837. Calyin Hall was employed to print it. Mr. Clark continued to conduct the paper until August 30, 1838, when he transferred it to E. R. Jewitt and Calvin Hall, the former having charge of the editorial, and the latter the mechanical department. Mr. Jewitt retained his connection with the paper for about one year, when he retired, and Mr. Hall continued its publication until the spring of 1840, when it was purchased by Charles Chaney, who changed its title to The Lorain Standard. The Republican and its immediate successors were never pecuniarily prosperous. Like some of the whig papers of that and a later period, they were sustained by their partisan friends, who came to the rescue with their contributions occasionally to relieve their publishers from embarrassment. The whigs were generally most able or most willing to sustain their organs, and the amount of the delinquency which either party was called upon to contribute depended largely upon the county patronage, which at that period alternated between the two.

Horace D. Clark came to Elyria, July 4, 1834. During his residence here, of nearly a quarter of a century, he occupied a prominent position at the bar, was an active politician, but not ambitious for official position. He was a member of the convention which formed the present constitution of Ohio, in 1850, and removed to Cleveland some time previous to the commencement of the civil war. He now resides in Montreal, Canada, enjoying the fruits of a long and active professional career.

Samuel L. Hatch removed to Norwalk in 1835, and, in company with Joseph M. Farr, established the Norwalk Experiment. His subsequent history is not known to his associates in Elyria.

LeGrand Byington distinguished 'himself while here as a bitter partisan of the pro-slayery school, and more particularly as the author of a series of articles called '' Chronicles," in prose and poetry, which were published in three numbers, over the nom de plume of 'Peter Porcupine, Esq." in which all his prominent political opponents were savagely caricatured. He went to Ravenna in the spring of 1838, where he published a paper for a few months called The Buckeye Democrat, and from there he remoyed to Pike county, Ohio. _ He represented Pike county in the fortieth and forty-first general assemblies. While there he married, and subsequently removed to Iowa, where he now resides in Iowa City, reputed to be the wealthiest citizen of the State.

Calvin Hall remoyed to Cleveland January 3, 1841, and assumed the management of the Cleveland Advertiser, a weekly paper, and for a time issued a penny daily called the Morning Mercury. At the close of the year the Advertiser was purchased by A. N. and J. W. Gray, who, on the 8th of January, 1842, transformed it into the Plain Dealer. Mr. Hall still resides in Cleveland, where he has worked at the case for thirty-six years.

E. R. Jewitt, who was the last regular editor of the Republican under its original name, was a man of very positive convictions, and, during his editorial charge, the paper lacked none of the qualities that would recommend it to the intensely partisan portion of his party. After leaving the editorial chair he remained in Elyria until the fall of 1840, when he left and entered the ministry as a member of the North Ohio Conference. For many years he has devoted his energies to the cause of christianity with the same zeal that characterized his political efforts. He now resides in Sandusky City, with health much impaired, engaged in selling books and stationery, aged sixtyseven years. He still retains his connection with the conference on the superannuated list.

The Lorain Standard

This paper was issued soon after the purchase of the press and type of the Republican by Charles Chaney, the first number being dated April 7, 1840. It was also a six-column folio; terms, $2 in advance, and $2.50 after six months. It was printed by Horace C. Tenney, who was also associate editor. Mr. Chaney continued its publication as a democratic paper until November 3, 1840, when, not finding its self-sustaining, he discontinued it. A complete file of this paper is now in the Elyria library, presented by Hon. Horace A. Tenney.

Charles Chaney never again engaged in a newspaper enterprise. He continued to reside in Elyria, quietly pursuing the several branches of business in which he was at different times engaged, where he died July 30, 1874, aged eighty-two years. He was a justice of the peace for 'several years, and served one term as treasurer of the county.

The Independent Treasury

When Mr. Chaney discontinued the Standard, the press and type remained idle until November 18, 1841, when the material was purchased by Edmund 8. Ellis, who started a new democratic paper with the above title. It was of the same size and form as the Standard; terms $2 in advance. On the 13th of April, 1842, Mr. Ellis sold the paper to Horace A. Tenney, and removed to the central part of Ohio. Mr. Tenney published it until November 16, 1842, - the close of the first volume, - when he changed its name to

The Lorain Republican

He continued the Republican in the same size and form, and with varied success, until the fall of 1844, when it was discontinued for want of adequate support.

the Republican. He spent most of his time in journalism while he resided here, and, in 1845, there being no prospect of a revival of the democratic paper, he boxed the press and type and shipped them to Galena, Illinois, where they became the property of the Galena Jeffersonian. 'The old press is still in use in that city. Mr. Tenney now resides in Madison, Wisconsin, where he has lived many years, and where he has held numerous offices of trust and responsibility. He is at present engaged in writing biographical sketches of the members of the Wisconsin constitutional convention of 1846-1847.

The Dollar Democrat

Soon after the suspension of the Republican, in the fall of 1844, Eleazar Wakeley, then a young attorney in Elyria, issued one number of the Dollar Democrat; but sufficient encouragement not being given for its continuance, it was suspended. From this period until March 14, 1848, there was no democratic paper published in this county. Mr. Wakeley removed to Wisconsin, where he was appointed territorial judge in 1854. He now resides in Omaha, Nebraska, where he has acquired wealth and honor in his profession.

The Buckeye Sentinel

This paper, as has been before,stated, was successor to the Ohio Atlas, the first issue appearing the week following the suspension of that paper, and bearing date June 19, 1844. Ezra L. Stevens was its editor, and Abraham Burrell publisher. During the exciting campaign of 1844, the Sentinel urged the election of Henry Clay for president with much spirit and ability, and, a short time after its close, Mr. Stevens sold his interest to Mr. Burrell and retired. Mr. Burrell continued to publish the paper, acting in the capacity of both editor and printer for nearly two years, when it became nececsary to reorganize the establishment in order to put it ona paying basis. Mr. A. Bliss purchased the press and suspended its publication, succeeding it in November, 1846, with a new paper called The Hlyrta Courier.

Ezra L. Stevens, after completing his collegiate studies at Oberlin, entered the law office of Hamlin and Lockwood, in the fall of 1843, but finding journalism more congenial to his taste, devoted most of his time to politics. On retiring from the Sentinel he went to Olmsted Falls, and commenced the publication of The True Democrat, which he conducted for some time, and then removed the office to Cleveland, where, in connection with E. 8. Hamlin, he converted. it into a daily. The paper subsequently went into other hands, and is now the Cleveland Leader. After leaving The True Democrat Mr. Stevens removed to Washington, where for a time he was engaged as a newspaper correspondent. He still resides there, and during the past quarter of a century has been in the government service.

to Toledo, where he now resides. He was recently elected to the office of judge of the common pleas court, by the united recommendation of the bar, of all parties.

The Elyria Courier

On the suspension of the Sentinel Mr. Albert A. Bliss purchased a new supply of type in Boston, and commenced, in connection with A. Burrell, the publication of The Elyria Courier. The first number was issued November 10, 1846; A. A. Bliss, editor, A. Burrell, printer. It was a seven column folio; terms, $2,00 a year. During the session of the legislature the following winter Mr. Bliss was elected treasurer of state, and on the 27th of February, 1847, he sold his interest in the paper to John H. Faxon, then sheriff of the county. It was published by Faxon and Burrell, until April 13, 1847, when Mr. Faxon became sole proprietor and published it until December 7, 1847, when he sold the paper to Edmund A. West. Mr. West employed J. Wesley Udall as printer, and continued its publication as a whig paper until the campaign of 1848, when he refused to support General Taylor for the presidency, and the Cowrier became an organ of the ''Free Soil" party. About the first of November, 1849, Mr. West sold the paper to Jerome Cotton, who had acquired a good reputation as a Washington correspondent of several leading journals. He changed the title to Elyria Weekly Courier, and continued to support the free soil party; but many of the active whigs who supported Van Buren in 1848, fell back into the ranks of their old party, and the Courier gradually lost much of its support. On the first of June, 1850, an association of gentlemen, among whom were Myron R. Keith, Landon Rood, and Benjamin C. Perkins, purchased the Cowrier establishment of Mr. Cotton, with the design of converting it into an organ of the whig party, and on the 10th of the same month George G. Washburn took charge of it as editor, Mr. Udall continuing to print it. Its original title was restored, and from this time forward the paper became self-sustaining; but on the 10th day of February, 1852, the office and all its contents were destroyed by fire, without insurance, in the first great conflagration that destroyed commercial block. After the lapse of fourteen weeks a new outfit was purchased by George G. Washburn and George T. Smith, and its publication was resumed, with these gentlemen as editors, and Mr. Udall printer, until January 25, 1854, when Mr. Washburn sold his interest to his partner, and soon after the Courier and Independent Democrat, then published by Philemon Bliss, were united, retaining the name of the latter.

John H. Faxon, subsequently filled various offices acceptably, both state and national, and for two terms represented the county in the lower branch of the legislature. He is still an honored resident of Elyria.

Jerome Cotton resumed his position as correspondent, after leaving the Courier, but his health began to decline, and in the summer of 1851 he returned to Elyria, where he died September 21, 1852, of consumption, aged twenty-eight years. He was a ready and spicy writer, giving promise of much ability in the profession of journalism.

George T. Smith retained his connection with the Democrat until November, 1855, when he sold his interest to George G. Washburn, and soon after removed to Illinois. He now resides in Cleveland, engaged in the practice of law.

The Lorain Argus

When Edmund A. West purchased the Courier office he failed to make satisfactory arrangements with Abraham Burrell to print it for him, and employed J. W. Udall instead. This threw Mr. Burrell out of employment, but he soon formed a partnership with Sylvester Matson, purchased a press and type, and on the 11th day of January, 1848, issued the first number of the Lorain Argus. It was a seven column folio; terms $1.50 in advance, $2.50 after one year. No responsible editor was announced, and various persons contributed its political matter for nearly two years. Among the number of those most prominent were H. D. Clark, John M. Vincent and John H. Sherman. Mr, Matson did not retain his interest long after the first year, disposing of it to other parties, and the the first of January, 1851, Mr. Sherman was announced as editor, but he withdrew on the 22d of July following. From that date until December, 1851,, Mr. Vincent was its responsible editor. Geo. B. Lake then took the editorial chair, swb rosa, and contributed most of the editorial matter for several months. On the night of August 10, 1852, the building in which the paper was printed, called Garvey's Exchange, took fire, and was mostly consumed. The press, most of the type, and nearly all of the furniture in the printing office were destroyed. With the insurance money, Mr. Burrell purchased the old press and type formerly used by the Sandusky Register, and being aided pecuniarily by E. C. K. Garvey, resumed its publication, considerably enlarged by lengthening its columns. Mr. Garvey soon secured

Burrell as printer, conducted it until November 17, 1852, when he sold it to Bird B. Chapman & Co., and L, 8. Everett, who had been nominal editor during Mr. Garvey's ownership, became its responsible editor. The title of the paper was changed to The Lorain

Mr. Everett retired from the Argus, November 16, 1853, and at that date John H. Sherman purchased an interest in the office, and became its editor-in-chief. The exact time when he retired is not known, but he remained only a few months; and on his retirement, the paper was published by Mr. Chapman; and during his frequent terms of absence, various parties wrote for its columns, Mr. Burrell contributing his share. Having lost the county printing, the paper began to be a burden to its proprietor, and on the 18th of April, 1855, Mr. Chapman discontinued its publication, packed the material and shipped it to Nebraska, where he established the Omaha Nedraskian.

Sylvester Matson removed to Cleveland, where he enlisted in the United States army, and served out his term. On the breaking out of the rebellion, he volunteered in the cause of the union, and was killed in one of the great conflicts of the war.

John H. Sherman was a young man of considerable ability as a writer, but his connection with journalism here was brief. He left Elyria, in connection with Mr. Chapman, in 1855, and went to Nebraska, where for some years he was connected editorially with the Omaha Nebraskian. He died in Council Bluffs, in 1865.

E. C. K. Garvey was aman of great business activity, but with little business capacity. He removed to Kansas during the '' border-ruffian" troubles, where he espoused the ''free State" cause with much ardor, and was on one occasion lynched by the ruffians, but was neither intimidated nor subdued. He was residing in Kansas when last heard from, many years ago, but it is hardly probable that he is now living.

Bird B. Chapman removed to Omahaand was elected the first delegate in congress from that territory, which was organized in 1854. He contested his opponent's seat for the second term, but was unsuccessful, securing however his pay and mileage. In 1859, he returned to Elyria, where he resided until 1862, when he removed to Puf-in-Bay island, where he died after a lingering illness, September 12, 1871, aged fifty years.

George B. Lake removed to Nebraska, and entered upon the practice of the law with marked success. His character and abilities were soon recognized by the people, who have for several terms elected him to the highest judicial position in the State, and he still resides in Omaha, an honored member of the supreme court.

L. 8. Everett came to Elyria, a democrat in political opinions, during the Kansas-Nebraska troubles; and when the Independent Democrat, which represented the free democracy, was started, he became its first editor. He was a man of much ability and large experience as a journalist, and his immediate return to the democratic fold, after waging a vigorous warfare against that party in the columns of the Democrat, showed that he had facility to change, as well as - ability to assert his principles. After leaving the Argus, he removed from the county, and for a time wrote for the Plain Dealer, but returned in 1866, and commenced the publication of the Lorain Constitutionalist, which he conducted about one year, when

John M. Vincent was an honored cet of the legal profession, and his connection with journalism was only incidental. He subsequently, in connection with Philemon Bliss, established the Independent Democrat, but immediately afterward devoted his entire attention to his clients. A sketch of his life will be found in the history of the bar.

The Independent Democrat

This journal was started at a very important epoch in the history of our country, and as its publication was continued for a quarter of a century, nearly all of the time under the proprietorship and management of one individual, it is due that a brief notice of its origin be here given. The passage of the fugitive slave act of 1850, and its attempted enforcement by both of the great national parties, aroused a spirit of hostility, both to the act and the system it sought to perpetuate, on the part of many who still clung te their old party organizations, although opposed to slavery. In the campaign of 1852, both the whig and democratic parties virtually allowed the pro-slavery element to dictate their platforms, and from this period the tendency to break away from old associations began to be developed. It was to aid in disintegrating these old parties, and in forming a new one based upon the broad platform of human rights, that the Independent Democrat was established. 'The funds necessary to purchase the outfit were contributed by various persons who had formerly been affiliated with the old parties. Prominent among those who furnished pecuniary aid were Norton 8. ''ownshend, then a resident of this county, and Salmon P. Chase, then United States senator from Ohio, and late chief justice of the supreme court. Far the greater portion of the necessary funds were contributed by Philemon Bliss.

Philemon Bliss, formerly a whig, and John M. Vincent, formerly a democrat, had charge of the enterprise, and on the 5th day of August, 1852, issued the first number, as editors and publishers. Jonathan D. Baker was employed as printer. It was a seven-column folio; terms, $1.50 per annum. It was ably conducted under their management until January 12, 1853, when Mr. Vincent retired, leaving Mr. Bliss in sole charge. On the 13th of April following, Joseph H. Dickson was employed to edit the paper; and on the 10th of August, the same year, John H. Boynton and Mr. Dickson assumed the entire charge, and conducted it until the 28th of December, when it was again turned over to Mr. Bliss, who published it until February 1st, 1854. Meanwhile several persons printed the paper. Mr. Baker withdrew October 12, 1853, and was succeeded by A. J. and G. McElleran, who remained only one week, and were succeeded by Tower J. Burrell, who printed it until the 1st of February, 1854.

editors and proprietors, and J. W. Udall, of the late Courier, printer. Under this management, the paper was continued until November 28, 1855, when Mr. Smith sold his interest to the writer of these annals, and during the succeeding year the Democrat was published by Bliss & Washburn. The latter was editor and business manager, and the former, who had previously been elected to congress, was corresponding editor. At the close of the year, 1856, Mr. Washburn became, by purchase, possessor of the office, and for upwards of twenty-one years following, was its sole proprietor, editor, and business manager, In 1859, the title was changed to Elyria Independent Democrat. On the 24th of March, 1858, Mr. Udall was compelled to relinquish his post as printer, on account of failing health, and Abrahain Burrell, who was associated with his son in the publication of the Eagle, withdrew from that journal, and took Mr. Udall's place, which he faithfully retained until his death, November 23, 1868. At his death, his son, S. A. Burrell, who was a journeyman in the office, assumed the duties of printer, and retained the position until the paper was discontinued.

On the 1st of February, 1877, the interests of the Democrat and Elyria Republican were united, retaining the name of the latter, as more appropriate to the principles which the Democrat had, for a quarter of a century, ever steadfastly advocated. Coming into being when the public mind was in a state of unrest concerning the designs of the slave power, the Jndependent Lemocrat took an active part in unifying and crystalizing that sentiment in opposition to the further encroachments of slavery upon the public domain. It lived to witness the rapid growth, and final success, of the new party of freedom. It witnessed the inauguration of the great slaveholders' rebellion, and casting its lot with the loyal millions, rejoiced with them in witnessing its final overthrow, and the restoration of all the States under the flag of the Union. During all these eventful years, the aim of its publisher was to so conduct it as to merit the approval of loyal men, and not disappoint the hopes and expectations of its founders.

J. H. Boynton has filled various important positions in the gift of the people, with such entire acceptance, as to merit the public esteem that is universally bestowed upon him.

J. D. Baker removed to Paulding county, Ohio, in October, 1853, and, for a time, edited and published the Paulding Democrat. His subsequent history is not known.

J. W. Udall entered the office of the Ohio Aélas as an errand boy, at the age of thirteen years, making himself useful in every part assigned him. In those days, the mails were very irregular, and for a few of the first years of his apprenticeship, in addition to his labors as ''deyil " and compositor, he performed the office of post-rider - taking a large sack of the papers each week, upon a horse, and distributing them in bundles, to each neighborhood, in the north part of the county. This duty he performed with remarkable fidelity; and whether it rained in torrents, or the scorching sun sent his heated rays upon the earth, or stern winter its freezing blasts, the weekly advent of the post-boy was expected with as much certainty as the rising of the sun. When the mail facilities of the county rendered this branch of service no longer necessary, Mr. Udall devoted his time exclusively to his duties in the office, serving an apprenticeship of seven years before he aspired to the position of a "' jour." He became an expert printer, and ever enjoyed the fullest confidence of his employers, scarcely losing a day from his case after he became a journeyman. When he realized that his disease (consumption) was beyond remedy, he went to his sister's house, in Hudson, Ohio, where he was kindly cared for until his death, which occurred August 18, 1858, aged thirty-three years.

The Lorain Eagle

After the suspension of the Argus, there was no Democratic paper printed in the county for nearly two years. In the spring of 1857, a sufficient sum was pledged, by subscription, to purchase the material, and on the seventh of March, of that year, A. and T. J. Burrell issued the first number of the Lorain Eagle. It was a seven column folio, published in Elyria; price $2 a year, in advance. On the 24th of March, 1858, Abraham Burrell withdrew, and took the position of printer of the Independent Democrat. His son, T. J. Burrell, continued to publish the Hagle until after the rebellion broke out, when, in consequence of its equivocal position concerning the management of the war, it ceased to pay expenses, and was discontinued in August, 1861. During the five years of its existence, no responsible editor. was announced, and what editorial matter was not written by its publishers, was furnished by various persons during the political campaigns.

The Lorain Constitutionalist

On the third day of October, 1866, Mr. L. 8. Everett issued the first number of this journal, a democratic paper, which was a seven-column folio; terms, $2.00 a year. Mr, Everett was not the owner of the establishment, but announced that he published it 'for the proprietors," whose names are not given. F. 8S. Moore was its printer. On the 8th day of July, 1867, a joint stock company was formed, consisting of A. A. Crosse, H. H. Poppleton, N. L. Johnson, P. W. Sampsel and others, with a capital stock of three thousand dollars, divided into shares of ten dollars each, which assumed the responsibility of the publication, Mr. Everett still officiating as editor, until near the close of the first volume, when he withdrew. It was then '' Published by the Lorain Printing Company," and N. L. Johnson, president of the company, contributed most of the editorial matter. Mr. Moore continued to serve as printer. This relation existed until June 9, 1869, when Mr. James K. Newcomer assumed the editorial and business control of the paper, the proprietary interest still remaining in the printing company. 'The word '' Lorain" was dropped from its title. On the night of January 22, 1870, a fire broke out in the office, and, before it was extinguished, a large portion of the type was destroyed, the presses alone escaping injury. The damage was.estimated at one thousand dollars. Mr. Moore, proprietor of the job department, lost a portion of his material. With the aid rendered by the proprietor of the Democrat, the Constilutionalist appeared on time the next week, and, after February 16, it appeared regularly, with the word '' Lorain" again replaced in its title. Mr. Newcomer retained his position as editor until the close of the political campaign of 1870, when he withdrew and F. 8. Moore became its publisher, N. L. Johnson furnishing the leading political articles. Mr. Moore continued to publish it until November 1, 1871, when Mr. J. V. Faith took charge of the editorial and business department, under an agreement to publish it one year without charge to the proprietors, in consideration of which he was to become its owner. On the 15th of March, 1872, its size was increased to an eight-column folio, with its outside columns printed on the co-operative plan, in Chicago, and its title was changed to The Lorain Constitution. On the 26th of September, 1872, the co-operative plan was abandoned, and, without change in size, it was all printed at home. On the 10th of October, 1872, Mr. F. 8. Reefy purchased the entire establishment, and has continued its publication to the present time. On the 13th of February, 1873, it appeared as a five-column quarto, and was continued in that form until the 5th of the following June, when it was changed to a nine-column folio, on the co-operative plan. On the 30th of September, 1875, it was reduced to an eight-column folio, and, in consequence of the incorporation of the village of Lorain at the mouth of Black River, its title was changed to The Elyria Constitution, which name and size it still retains.

The Elyria Republican

H. A. Fisher issued the first number of this journal, October 24, 1874. It was printed on the forms of the late Black River Commercial (nine-column folio) with this exception, that its four pages were all printed in the office. He continued its publication until the 20th of February, 1875, when James W. Chapman became associated with him as equal partner. This relation continued until the 10th of the following July, when Mr. Chapman withdrew. On the 7th of August, 1875, it was changed to-a sixcolumn quarto (its present form), and on the 1st of the following November, Mr. A. H. Smith purchased an equal interest in the establishment, and for the following fifteen months the paper was published by Fisher & Smith, E. G. Johnson being its political, and H. A. Fisher its local editor. On the Ist of February, 1877, Mr. Fisher purchased the interest of Mr. Smith, and the Independent Democrat and Republican were consolidated. Under this arrangement the Democrat was discontinued and the Repub ican was published by Washburn & Fisher, with Geo. G. Washburn as editor-in-chief, H. A. Fisher local editor, and A. H. Smith printer. On the Ist of October, 1877, Mr. Washburn purchased Mr. Fisher's interest and assumed entire control of the paper. On the retirement of Mr. Fisher, Mr. Smith took the position of local editor and superintendent of the mechanical department, with Mr. Wm. T. Morris as job printer. Under this management the Republican continues to make its weekly visits to its large list of readers.

The foregoing concludes the record of the press in Elyria, with the exception of a few papers of brief duration, to which reference is here made: During the political campaign of 1838, the whigs published a small sheet called The People's Banner, edited by Albert A. Bliss, and the democrats a similar paper called The Jeffersonian, edited by Joel Tiffany. These papers were conducted with much spice and ability. In 1840 the whigs published for three months Old Tips Broom, edited by D. W. Lathrop and other prominent whigs of that day. It was ably conducted and contributed much towards securing the victory that followed the famous ''Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign. In 1864 H. M. Lillie published for a few weeks a small two-column quarto devoted to the cause - of temperance. Its publisher, who was a reformed inebriate, returned to his cups, and his paper was discontinued. Its name cannot be recalled. About the year 1868 two or three numbers of a very creditable paper were issued, called The Lorain Templars' Offering. The name of its publisher is not remembered, but he was a stranger, and proved to be unworthy of confidence.

The Elyria Volksfreund

This was an eight-column folio, published in German, by F. 8. Reefy, at the office of the Constitution. The first number was issued February L, 1873; terms, $2.00 a year. For the first two months its outside pages were printed in Philadelphia, after which it was all printed at the publication office. At the end of three years Mr..Reefy sold the paper to Henry Minnig, who published it about a year, when it was discontinued for want of support. The types were then purchased by the Biene printing company, of Cleveland, and the new proprietors made an effort to establish a German paper here, called The Weekly Post, but it was not successful.

There have also been published in Elyria at various times and for various periods, a number of very creditable amateur sheets, a notice of which cannot be given in the space allotted to this history.

The first steam-power press used in Elyria was introduced by Mr. Reefy, in the office of the Constitution, in January, 1873. It is called the Fairhaven cylinder press. This was followed, in June of the same year, by Mr. Washburn, who introduced a large Potter cylinder power press in the office of the Demoerat, running it, however, without steam. In February, 1875, another Potter press of the same size was introduced in the Republican office, with steam power.

The Press In Oberlin The Oberlin Evangelist

Soon after the organization of the collegiate institute at Oberlin, on the plan of furnishing a liberal Christian education to both sexes, regardless of color or caste, there began to be felt a necessity for some medium through which the eminent reformers who composed its faculty could reach the public ear. Nothing was done, however, toward supplying the want until November 1, 1838, five years after the institution was founded, when the first number of the Oberlin Evangelist was issued. It was a quarto of eight pages, 9x12 inches, and was published every two weeks, at $1.00 a year. After five years, its size was increased to 10x 14 inches. It was at first edited by an association of the college professors, and was published by R. E. Gillett. In 1844, Prof. Henry Cowles became its editor, and continued in charge until it was discontinued, December 17, 1862. At about the same time, James M. Fitch became its publisher, and remained such until December, 1858. He was succeeded by Shankland & Harmon, and in April, 1861, V. A. Shankland took sole charge as publisher, and continued until the end.

The Lvangelist was always an able paper, candidly and earnestly discussing the reforms sought to be secured through the aid of Christian effort, and for many years each number contained a sermon by Professor, afterwards President, Finney, reported in short-hand by Prof. Cowles. Its twenty-four volumes form a portion of the college library, and in after years will become of great value.

Prof. Cowles, in addition to his duties as instructor in the college, has published several volumes on the prophetical books of the Bible, besides other works of lesser note, and still resides in Oberlin, venerable in years, and beloved by all.

James M Fitch conducted the book and periodical printing for the college for many years, with ability and credit, and died in Oberlin June 7, 1867, widely esteemed and deeply lamented by all who knew him.

The Peacemaker

This was the title of a small paper conducted by Rey. Israel Mattison, and devoted to the advocacy of peace principles, as held by Elihu Burritt. His residence was in '' New Oberlin," a mile from the village, where he edited the paper and put it in type, and it was printed on the Hvangelist press, by Mr. Gillett. It was first issued about the beginning of the year 1839, and was discontinued in 1840, when its publisher remoyed to Illinois.

Soon after James M. Fitch became publisher of the Evangelist, in 1844, he issued a small folio, 18 x 24 inches, with the above title. It was published at irregular intervals, but not receiving sufficient support to warrant its continuance, it was suspended after about one year.

The Oberlin Quarterly Review

This was an octavo of one hundred and forty pages, published by James M. Fitch from 1845 to 1849, making four volumes. It was devoted to the discussion of theological questions, and was ably conducted, the first year by President Manan and Rev. William Cochran, and afterwards by Mahan and Prof. Finney.

The Village Item

This was a small, spicy littie sheet that was issued from the press of the Avangelist, in May, 1852. But afew numbers were printed. Soon after it was discontinued, Mr, Fitch, publisher of the Zvangelist, made the first practical effort to establish a secular newspaper in Oberlin, and issued

This was a six-column folio, very neatly printed, and filled with well selected articles and ably prepared original matter. It struggled through its first year at quite an expense to its publisher, who, in June, 1853, announced that "Zhe Oberlin Weekly Times will not be issued again until we have further encouragement," which he failed to receive.

This was an octavo of thirty-two pages, issued in 1858 by the publisher of the Hvangelist, and, as its title indicates, was devoted to the interests of the college, being edited and sustained mainly by the students. It was discontinued after nearly three years, at the breaking out of the war, in 1861.

The first weekly paper in Oberlin that proved to be of a permanent character, was The Lorain County News, the first number of which was issued on the ?th. of March, 1860, by V. A. Shankland and J. F. Harmon, at that time publishers of the Oderlin Evangelist. It was a six column folio, price $1.00 per annum. During the first year of its existence the News was edited by A. B. Nettleton, who laid down the pen to assume the sword in defense of the union. He was succeeded by J. B. T. Marsh, then .a student. At the commencement of the war, in 1861,

Mr. Harmon sold his interest in the publishing business to his partner, and enlisted in the army where he served three years. Mr. Shankland continued to publish the paper alone until March 5, 1862, (the close of the second year), when Prof. H. E. Peck purchased an interest therein, and the business was continued by V. A. Shankland & Co., with Prof. Peck and Mr. Marsh as editors. In the summer of 1863 both the editors withdrew from the News, Mr. Marsh enlisting inthe army. In July, 1863, William Kincaid, then a senior in college, assumed the position of editor, and served in that capacity for one year. He was succeeded by L. L. Rice, who edited the paper until October, 1865. In July, 1864, Mr. Harmon returned from the army and again became joint owner of the paper, and in November of the same year he purchased Mr. Shankland's interest and became sole proprietor. In October, 1865, he sold the entire establishment to J. B. T. Marsh, who conducted the paper as editor and proprietor until July 31, 1867, when he sold it to Elbert W. Clark, who employed Prof. C. H. Churchill as editor. Under this management the Mews was published for about two years, when Mr. Clark sold the office to E. P. Brown, at that time publisher of the Bellevue Gazette;;who conducted the paper as editor and publisher until February, 1870, when he sold it to Richard Butler, who on February 9, 1871, sold the establishment to Justus N. Brown, a graduate of the Oberlin theological seminary. After conducting the paper about three months as sole proprietor, Mr. Brown sold en interest in the office to A. R. Wildman, who for some time previous had been foreman in the office of the Standard of the Cross, and who took charge of the mechanical department in February, 1872, Mr. Brown still occupying the post of editor. In May, 1873, Mr. Wildman sold his interest to J. H. Lang, but continued to retain the position of foreman. About the first of December. 1873, Brown & Lang sold the office to George B. Pratt and J. H. Battle, Mr. Pratt being one of the proprietors of the Oberlin Times, formerly the New Hra, and at that date the Times and News were consolidated, retaining the name of the latter, which was changed to the The Oberlin Weekly News, the title it now bears. The new paper started out with a large list of subscribers; a large addition to its stock of type and machinery was purchased, and the office was put in complete order, at great cost to its proprietors, who anticipated a sufficient revenue to meet the liabilities thus incurred. Their anticipations were not realized, and on January 27,1875, Mr. Pratt disposed of his interest and retired from the office. The paper was then conducted by J. Il. Battle, in company with his father, William Battle, until July, 1876, when Matthias Day, Jr., formerly editor and proprietor of the Mansfield Herald, became the editor and proprietor. 'The paper at this time was decply involved in debt, and Mr. Day reduced its size and otherwise diminished the cost of its publication, hoping to be able to sustain it. Finding it impossible to meet its liabilities, in

December, 1876, he sold the office to Iral A. Webster and Edwin Regal, who retained Mr. Day as editor. In May, 1877, Mr. Regal retired, and Messrs. W. L. & M. G. Mains purchased an interest, the new firm being Webster, Mains & Co., Mr. Fred. Webster serving as local editor. This arrangement continued until December 1, 1877, when William H. Pearce, previously editor of the Grindstone City Advertiser in Berea, purchased the interest of the Messrs. Mains, and became its editor and business manager, the firm being Webster & Pearce. On the Ist of January, 1879, Mr. Webster sold his interest and retired. The News is now published by W. H. Pearce, who may well congratulate himself on seeing it established on a paying basis.

The News was originally a six column folio, price $1.00 per year. For the first few years a line in the heading read, ''Published at Oberlin and Wellington," one page being edited for atime by parties in Wellington. In 1863 it was enlarged to an cight column folio and the price advanced to $1.50, and soon after to $2.00 ayear. In January, 1866, it was again enlarged and made a nine column folio. During a part of the year 1867 it was an eight column paper, but was again restored to the nine column, and so remained until December 10, 1874, when Messrs. Pratt & Battle changed it to a six column quarto. 'Two years later, under the management of Mr. Day, it again became an eight column folio, which size it still retains. At the same time the price was reduced to $1.50, as at present. The News has always been republican in polities, and its editors haye generally taken an advanced position on all moral and educational movements.

By the foregoing it will be seen that the Mews has been owned, in part or in whole, by nineteen different persons since its establishment, a little less than nine- still living, and several have acquired some prominence in their respective fields of labor. The limits of this history will only admit a brief notice of those most prominently connected with the paper during the time.

A. B. Nettleton won a general's commission in the army, subsequently edited the Sandusky Register and the Chicago Advance, and now resides in Philadelphia.

J. B. T. Marsh was subsequently one of the editors of the Chicago Advance for eight years, and now resides in Oberlin, holding the position of treasurer of the college and mayor of the village.

L. L. Rice was a veteran editor of forty-two years' experience when he edited the News, had been private secretary of Governor Chase, and was since for twelve years superintendent of public printing in Columbus, He now resides in Oberlin, venerable in years, and respected by all who know him.

The News was first printed upon an Adams bookpress, which was purchased by J. M. Fitch, in 1848, and was used for printing the Hvangelist and other papers, also, several books, including the first edition of ''President Finney's Theology." In 1863, a ' Campbell cylinder press, the first cylinder press in the county, was purchased, and run by haud up to 1871, when a steam engine, also the first in the county used for printing purposes, was attached by J. N. Brown. In January, 1874, Pratt & Battle disposed of the Campbell press, and procured a large and expensive Potter press, which, in February, 1878, was sold by Webster & Pearce, and a country Potter cylinder press procured, which is now in use in the News office.

The Standard Of The Cross

This was a small sized quarto, published weekly, the first number of which was issued in Oberlin, in August, 1868. Rev. W. C. French, D.D., was its editor and publisher. It was the successor of the Gambier Observer, (afterwards called the Western Episcopalian,) which was established in Gambier, Ohio, in 1830, as the representative of the Protestant Episcopal church in Ohio. , Its editor was rector of the greater portion of the time, in rooms in the the church in Oberlin, and the paper was printed, rear of the church edifice. In 1873, the office was removed to Cleveland, where it is still published by Dr. French, through whose ability and industry the paper has secured a general circulation in Ohio, and continues to be the recognized exponent of that church in this State.

The Oberlin New Era

New Era. He was as}: ialist in his practice, and in consequence of the News declining to publish his advertisements, he started this as an opposition paper, and by furnishing it at a low price, and canvassing, at considerable cost, for subseribers, succeeded in securing a good circulation. It was an eight column folio; price, $1 a year. Rey. H. O. Sheldon, J. F. C. Hayes, and others, were employed as writers, and H. P. Whitney was its business manager. It did not realize the object of its publisher, and in the fall of 1873, he sold it to C. A. Sherman and George B. Pratt, and the name was changed to The Oberlin Times. After the issue of a few numbers, it was consolidated with the Jvews, by Messrs. Pratt & Battle.

The Oberlin Review

This is a sixteen page semi-monthly paper, now published in Oberlin, and devoted to the interests of the college. It is owned and conducted by the students. 'The first number, containing twelve pages, was issued April 1, 1874, with ©. N. Jones, as managing editor. It was printed in the News office, at $1.50 a year. On the 16th of September, 1874, it passed into the hands of the Union literary association, of Oberlin college, a corporate body composed of the Phi Kappa Pi, Phi Delta, Alpha Zeta, Ladies' Literary, Aelioian and Beth Nun Aleph societies, which has continued it publication to the present time. Its editor-in-chief, together with a board of associate editors, is elected annually by the association. The following persons haye successfully served as editorsin-chief: J. A. Winters, E. J. Malle, Arch Hadden, E. A. Tuttle, I. W. Metcalf, W. W. Beacom, and H. C. King. With its second volume, the paper was enlarged to sixteen pages, and its subscription increased to $1.75 per year. For the past two years, it

The Oberlin Gazette

The first number of The Oberlin Gazette was issued December 7, 1876, by A. R. Wildman and E. M. Brice. It was a seven column folio, all home print, for the first seven months, and its terms were $1 per annum. On the 19th of July, 1876, Mr. Wildman purchased Mr. Brice's interest, procured his paper with outside pages ready printed, in Cleveland, and continued its publication until June 6, 1878, when he sold it to W. W. Woodruff, under whose direction it is still published on the co-operative plan.

Both A. R. Wildham and E. M. Brice are practical printers, of much experience, and an honor to the craft. The latter is now editor and proprietor of the Blue Rapids (Kansas) Times. Mr. Woodruff is a novice in the art of printing. The Gazette is considered independent in politics, though with strong republican proclivities. During the campaign of 1878, its editor mainly supported the prohibition ticket.

The Press In Wellington The Wellington Journal

The first newspaper printed in Wellington was issued March 11, 1852, and called The Wellington Journal. George Brewster was its editor and L. 8S. Griswold, associate editor. Its first proprietorship cannot be ascertained, but on the 25th of the same month Jonathan D. Baker purchased an interest in the office and became its printer. April 22d of the sume year George Brewster withdrew from the paper, taking the position of corresponding editor. On the 29th of April the title of the paper was changed to Journal and Free Democrat, but on the 22d of July its original title was restored. At this date J. 8S. Reed and E. Boice became its proprietors and George Brewster its editor. Mr. Brewster retained his connection with the paper for about one year, and for a time L. 8. Griswold edited it. Henry T. Culver, J. W. Hill, C. F. Brewster and T. Burns respectively succeeded each other as printer. The paper failed to sustain the cost of its publication, and was discontinued after about two years, but the precise date can-

The Wellington Enterprise

In the summer of 1865, James A. Guthrie of Delaware, Ohio, removed to Wellington and commenced the publication of The Wellington Enterprise. The first issue was dated September 25, 1865. It was a folio, printed on a sheet 25}x38 inches, and its terms were $2.00 a year. On March 1, 1866, Mr. Guthrie sold the paper to John C. Artz, who reduced the size to seven columns, and the price to $1.50, On the its outside pages were furnished on the co-operative plan. Mr. Artz remained its editor and proprietor until October 1, 1876, when he sold the office to Dr. J. W. Houghton and D. A. Smith. Dr. Houghton and his wife, Mary H., became its editors, and Mr. Smith, being a practical printer, took charge of the mechanical department. The size of the paper was increased to a sheet 26x40 inches, with co-operative outside pages, but its price remains at $1.50. On the 15th of December, 1877, Mr. Houghton purchased his partner's interest, and is row its sole proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton were novices in newspaper work when they assumed the charge of the Enterprise, but their industry and painstaking have placed it on a substantial basis. It has always supported the republican party, and its column reflect the well-known characteristics of its editors - fairness in discussing disputed questions, and progress in all the reforms of the day.

The Press In Lorain Black River Commercial

It was a five-column quarto; terms, $1.50 a year. On the 3d of July, 1873, its form was changed to an eight-column folio; and on the 18th of September, it was reduced in size to six columns. On the 8th of January, 1874, it was restored to an eight-column folio, with patent outside pages, and on the 9th of the following May, its size was increased to nine columns, and thus remained until it was discontinued, September 12, 1874, for want of adequate support. At that date, the material was removed to Elyria by Mr. Fisher, who commenced the publication of a new puper, called the Hlyria Republican.

The Lorain Monitor

A small five-column folio, called the Lorain Monitor, has recently been issued in Lorain by Lawler & Brady, with patent outside pages. Its history is yet to be written.

The Press In Amherst The Amherst Free Press

This paper was issued July 31, 1875, in North Amherst, by F. M. Lewis, editor and proprietor. It was a six-column folio, patent outside pages, independent in politics, and its terms were $1.50 a year. After three weeks, Mr. J. K. Lewis became associated with his brother in its publication, and continued until July 22, 1876, when he withdrew, and C. H. Lewis took his place in the firm. On the 18th of August, 1877, F. M. Lewis again took sole charge of the paper. On the 27th of November, following, its price was reduced to $1.25 a year, and its size was increased to seven columns. It is chiefly devoted to local interests, and its publication is continued by Mr. Lewis as editor and proprietor.