Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....The Press 1881
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 25, 2006, 4:15 am

Book Title: History Of Fountain County

THE PRESS.

   The first paper printed in the county staggered under the name of "Western
Constellation," issued first in 1836, by Henry Commigore and George W. Snyder.
The paper was next conducted by J. P. Carleton, who was succeeded by J. R.
Jones. Mr. Jones changed its name to the more simple "People's Friend," as it is
still known. John R. Jones was a native of Virginia. He located in Covington and
took charge of this paper about 1841. He brought a hand-press with him from
Cincinnati, by boat, on the Wabash river. He was the real founder of the
"People's Friend," as it was larger than the "Western Constellation," and
entirely a different paper. It was democratic in politics, and has continued
under the control of a long line of illustrious democratic editors to the
present time. In 1846 Mr. Jones sold to Solon Turman, and bought the "Vincennes
Sun," changing its name to "Jones' Sentinel," which he controlled till his
death, a few years after. Solon Turman came from Perrysville, and published the
"People's Friend," till 1853. In 1851 he was elected to the state senate to fill
the unexpired term of Robert Lyons. In 1853 he sold to Edward Pullen, moved to
Greencastle, and began the practice of law with his father-in-law, Henry
Secrest. In 1873 he was made judge of the Greencastle circuit, by appointment,
and in 1873 was elected to the same position. Edward Pullen sold, in 1850, to
Charles L. Hansicker, and went south. He became major in the confederate army,
but has not been heard from since a prisoner at Johnston's Island. Charles L.
Hansicker was a lieutenant in the Mexican war, and became recorder of Fountain
county. He sold the paper April 1, 1858, to H. R. Claypool, and in a short time
after died in Covington of consumption. H. R. Claypool was born in Fountain
county, Indiana, February 24, 1828, and has had an unbroken residence in this
county. He studied law under Gen. Linder, and was admitted to the bar in 1852,
at Charleston, Illinois. He located in Covington in April of that year, where,
in 1858, he obtained control of the paper. Having been elected to the special
session of the legislature, he sold his paper to his foreman, M. V. B. Cowan. In
the spring of 1859 Mr. Cowan sold to John H. Spence, who sold, in 1874, to
Benjamin Smith. T. D. Collins bought out Smith, and sold to Edward Hanes in
1877, who in turn sold to the present proprietor, Charles Guinn. Spence's
"People's Paper" is the republican advocate of Fountain county. John H. Spence,
its editor and one of its proprietors,—Albert Weber being the Co.,—was born in
Covington, Indiana, September 4, 1833. From 1860 to 1854 he resided in
California, engaged on the paper "The Daily Mining Express." On his return to
the states he worked at different times on the "Evening News," St. Louis,
Missouri; "The Flag," Bloomington, Illinois; "Cole's County Ledger," Charleston,
Illinois; started the "Gazette," the first paper published in Mattoon, Illinois.
In 1859 he purchased the "People's Friend," Covington, Indiana, which he
published about fourteen years. Mr. Spence then started an independent paper in
Veedersburg, called the "Fountain County Herald," but finding it unprofitable,
moved his office to Attica, changing his paper's name to "Attica Herald."
Meeting with little success, he removed to La Fayette, and published in the
interest of the greenback party of Tippecanoe county. Not taking kindly to the
principles of that party, he espoused republicanism, and aided materially with
his paper, "The La Fayette Republican," in the election of the entire republican
ticket in 1874. After that election he removed his office to Covington, and
began publishing "Spence's People's Paper," in the interests of republicanism,
which enjoys a large circulation. The "Journal" is a paper published in the
interest of the greenback labor party and temperance. It is yet young in years,
but widely circulated.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.

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