CHAPTER XII.

                    THE CLAY COUNTY PRESS.

    The history of journalism in Clay county covers a period of sixty-
three years, dating from the publication of the first paper, but a period
of only fifty-six years of continuous publication.
    The first paper to appear in print, executed and issued in the county,
was the Indiana Globe, a small folio sheet published at Bowling Green,
by Samuel Kriedelbach, of which the first number appeared Saturday,
July 11, 1846. There is no file of the Globe in the county archives, nor
is there any pioneer of the county living who can tell how long it
continued publication, but not more than a few months, perhaps to the
close of the year of its birth. There is at this time but one copy of
this paper known to be in existence, which is preserved in a family resid-
ing in Vigo county bearing date September 26, 1846. The news
columns of the Globe were set in small pica type. The advertising
patronage was but meager. The suspension of this paper was succeeded
by the protracted interval of nearly seven years without a newspaper
in the county.
    The Eel River Propeller was established at Bowling Green in 1853,
by Samuel K. Christie, publisher and editor, of which the first issue was
made Saturday, August 27. A month later, publication day was changed
to Wednesday. The Propeller was a five-column folio, neutral in politics,
devoted to education, news, agriculture, markets, manufactures and arts,
but more particularly to the interests of Clay county. Mr. Christie, who
was a vigorous writer and experienced newspaper man, continued publi—
cation of the Propeller until December of the same year, when he sold
the office to James M. Oliver.
    The Clay County Advocate succeeded the Propeller, James M.
Oliver, publisher, John Osborn, editor. The Advocate was a five-column
folio, published Wednesdays, independent in all things, neutral in nothing.
The publication of the Advocate, under the management and labors of
Oliver and Osborn, was continued about eighteen months, when, in the
month of June, the office was sold and transferred to Thomas
Dillon.
    The Clay County Citizen, published and edited by Thomas Dillon
made its first appearance, August 11, 1855. The Citizen was the same
size as the Advocate, published Saturdays, devoted to everything inter-
esting and instructive. The Citizen was an improvement on its predeces-
sors in the features and qualities which make up the live and progressive
local newspaper, but Mr. Dillon’s health proved too delicate for the
work he had undertaken. On the 3d day of November of the same year

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