HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                  93

Qliver, was established at Brazil in 1860, the first issue dated December
20. The Independent was a seven-column paper, devoted to general
news, literature, agriculture, religion, and commerce, etc., etc. The
Independent office, in material and outfit, was the Hoosier Patriot office,
which Serrin & Co. purchased at Bowling Green and removed to Brazil.
On the 4th of July, 1861, the Independent was discontinued.
    The Home Weekly was the next paper published at Brazil. In 1864,
Abram Wright bought the old Independent office, which be used for
some time for jobbing purposes, and in 1865 commenced the publication
of the Home Weekly, a seven-column folio, with a “patent inside.” The
Home Weekly was Republican in politics. It was afterward changed
to Independent Home Weekly. In June, 1868, Mr. Wright sold the
Weekly office to T. J. Gray, who merged it into the Manufacturer and
Miner office. No copies of the Home Weekly are on file in the county
archives.
    The Manufacturer and Miner was established at Brazil, July, 1867,
Thomas J. Gray, editor and publisher, with E. M. B. Hooker, associate,
who was succeeded by J. B. F. Taylor, In 1869, Gray was succeeded
by the firm of Ainsworth & Gray. In 1870, the Miner Publishing Com-
pany was organized, composed of C. W. Ainsworth, Thomas J. Gray, A.
D.Cotton, B. F. Masten, Reese P. English and John McDowell, with a
capital stock of $6,000. Two years later, Mr. Ainsworth became the
owner of the office, under whose proprietorship Isaac S. Herr, and after-
ward Will P. Blair had editorial charge of the paper. Up to this time,
the Manufacturer and Miner was a seven-column folio sheet, Republican
in politics, but devoted mainly to the manufacturing and mining interests
of the county. On the 1st of April, 1873, Riley & Cassell became pro-
prietors, Cassell, editor, when the paper was changed to a five-column
quarto, and in August following to a six-column quarto, independent
in politics, Cassell retiring and S. B. Riley becoming sole proprietor.
Subsequently, Riley changed the title of the paper to the Brazil Miner.
    On the 24th of May, 1873, Herr, Gray & Earle made the first issue
of the Saturday Evening Echo, at Brazil, a seven-column folio, Repub-
lican in politics, Isaac Herr, editor; D. G. Earle, associate, which was a
continuation of the Saturday Evening Echo, published by the same firm
at Evansville, of which seven numbers had been issued at that place. On
the first of October of the same year the title was changed to Brazil
Weekly Echo, issued Thursdays, and enlarged to eight columns. In the
same month Gray sold his interest to Herr & Earle. On the 12th of Feb-
ruary, 1874, Herr & Earle sold the Echo to T. J. Gray, who continued
the paper same size and politics. In January, 1875, the Clay Publishing
Association bought the Echo and made it a Democratic party organ. In
January, 1877, the office was transferred to George W. Deighan, who
assumed entire control of the paper as the organ of the Democratic party,
and named it the Western Mirror, which suspended publication about the
first of March, 1881.
    Having bought the press and material of the Mirror office, A. F.
Bridges began the publication of the Brazil Register on the 28th day of
April of the same year, a seven-column folio, Republican in politics, issued
Thursdays, changed to a five-column quarto, September 9th following,
and to a six-column quarto, January 19th, 1882.
    In the month of April, 1880, Lansing & Lusk launched the Argus-
Magnet, at Brazil, a seven-column folio, Democratic in politics, which