OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY: Chapter 14 [HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY Chicago, 1884) *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Kay L. Mason keziah63@yahoo.com August 21, 2001 *************************************************************************** Chapter XIV. Press – Children's Home – Libraries and Societies. The Press. The first newspaper ever printed northwest of the Ohio River was issued at Cincinnati, Nov. 9, 1793, by Wm. Maxwell. It was entitled The Sentinel of the Northwestern Territory; its motto, "Open to all parties but influenced by none." This paper, after changing its ownership and name was continued until 1800. Newspaper history in Portsmouth begins with the issue of the Portsmouth Gazette. It appeared Aug. 5, 1818, and from that day, with a few short intervals, the newspaper history is a continuous one, and constantly growing in importance. The Gazette was printed and published by Abbot & Chaney. It was continued until March 17, 1819, twenty-six numbers in all. At that time Portsmouth was but a small village, and the country around very thinly settled. There was but one post office in the county, - at Portsmouth, - and but one mail route, which came down the Scioto Valley from Chillicothe to this place. The mail was brought down once a week on horseback. But the country was too new to support a paper, and it stopped. The Scioto Telegraph.- On the 4th of March, 1820, a young man by the name of Charles Hopkins commenced the publication of the Scioto Telegraph, in the house on the southeast corner of Second and Washington streets, just one year after the suspension of the Portsmouth Gazette. Mr. Hopkins was editor, printer, publisher, compositor, pressman and printer's devil. In fact, he did all the work in and about the printing office- job printing and all. Mr. Hopkins carried on the office himself until he published thirty numbers. He then took in Jeremiah Abbott, who had formerly published the Portsmouth Gazette, as printer, and changed the name to the Scioto Telegraph and Lawrence Gazette, C. Hopkins, editor, and Jeremiah Abbott, printer. It continued thus for about a year. The last paper was issued Sept. 1, 1821, Mr. Hopkins going East with the intention of returning in a few weeks, and Mr. Abbott going to Illinois. They neither of them ever returned to Portsmouth. The last issue of this paper continued the news of the death of Bonaparte at St. Helena. Portsmouth Gazette and Lawrence Advertiser.- There seems to have been an interval of nearly three years when there was no paper published at Portsmouth at all – from Sept. 1, 1821, to July 30, 1824. At the latter date John and James Carnahan commenced the publication of the Portsmouth Gazette and Lawrence Advertiser. On March 18, 1825, they took in Ebenezer Corwin as partner, and it was published under the firm of Corwin & Carnahan. Mr. Corwin was not a printer by profession, but he was a man of considerable ability and good education. He came from the city of New York with his brother, Daniel Corwin, in the year 1812. They at first purchased the Lafayette Mills from Emanuel Traxler, on the Little Scioto River. But after running the mills a few years, the business not proving profitable, they sold the mills to Samuel B. Burt and removed to Portsmouth. Daniel Corwin went into the grocery business and Ebenezer to teaching school. He also started a shop for the manufacture of spinning wheels for the use of the country people in manufacturing their wool and flax into wearing apparel. But not being a practiced mechanic himself, he discontinued that business and went into partnership with the Messrs. Carnahan & Corwin, and commenced to edit their paper on March 18, 1825. It is supposed the paper improved very materially under the editorial management of Mr. Corwin- he being a literary man and the Carnahans merely printers. It was continued by Corwin & Carnahan for about six months, and on the 28th of October the last number was issued. There appears to have been no paper published in Portsmouth during the next six months, except a small sheet for the purpose of continuing legal advertisements. Western Times.- April 18, 1826, the first number of the Western Times was issued by E. Corwin & Co. Who the "Co." was does not appear. But it is quite probably that it was Julius A. Bingham, who was a practical printer, and subsequently bought Mr. Corwin out. E. Corwin & Co. continued to publish the Times for one year, when Mr. Corwin retired, and Julius A. Bingham became sole proprietor, editor and printer. It may be asked, What were the politics of those papers? It would be too broad an assertion to say that there were no politics at that period. The Whigs and Democratic parties divided the nation as other parties in later times. In 1820 Colonel James Monroe was elected President unanimously without a shadow of opposition. He was the last of the Revolutionary heroes who aspired to the Presidency, and by mutual consent, as it were, they concluded to give him that high office without opposition. When Mr. Monroe's administration expired a new set of Presidential candidates sprang up, each with his friends and partisans to advocate his claims to that high office. The people divided into parties and had their party organs. May 7, 1827, Mr. Bingham bought the interest of Mr. Corwin in the Times, and the partnership was dissolved. The office of the Western Times, as published by Mr. Bingham, was a few doors east of Market space on Second street. The subscription price was $2 if paid in advance, and $3 if paid at the close of the year. The motto of the paper was, "Speak of things as they are." The editorials of the Times were lengthy and able, but the editor often complained of want of time for writing, as the mechanical work, which he did himself, greatly interfered. Mr. Bingham continued the publication of the Times till Jan. 20, 1831, nearly four years. The town and country had increased in population and wealth, so that the paper was well sustained. About the 4th of July, 1830, Mr. Bingham had a serious difficulty with his apprentice, Eli Glover, who was just then entering manhood. Young Glover left the office, and being baffled in an attempt at personal revenge for an article which appeared in the paper concerning him, sought to fight his opponent with his own kind of weapon. He, according, with the aid of influential friends, succeeded in starting successfully a new paper called The Portsmouth Courier.- Young Glover had secured the county printing of Jackson, Lawrence and Pike counties and the whole matter was set on foot without the knowledge of the editor of the Times. Edward Hamilton was hired to edit the paper and together they published the first number about the 1st of January, 1831. When Mr. Bingham saw the first number, he was struck with dismay. He saw at a glance that his doom was sealed. He had toiled through four years of labor and anxiety to build up a business, and had just got it on secure foundation, when, by indulging his passion in an unguarded moment, he lost it all. Portsmouth was too small to sustain two newspapers with any prospect of success for either of them. Mr. Bingham made a spasmodic effort to increase the circulation and patronage of his paper, but it was only of short duration. He only published three or four numbers after the appearance of the Courier, and finally discontinued his paper forever. He boxed up his printing materials and stowed them away in an old frame building, that stood near where Zoelner's jewelry store now stands. Here they remained several years, until David Gharky bought them to take to Muncie, in Indiana. The Portsmouth Courier was edited by Edward Hamilton for one year. It was opposed to the administration of General Jackson. At the end of the first year Mr. Hamilton retired from editorial control of the Courier and Elijah Glover remained as sole proprietor, editor and publisher. Mr. Glover took in as an apprentice his brother, S. G. Glover, and W. P. Camden as printer. In 1833 he sold out to S. G. Glover and Camden, and retired from the business. In 1834 Elijah Glover took back his brother's interest and continued the publication of the Courier in partnership with Camden till December, 1836, when Edward Hamilton bought the entire interest of the Courier and changed the name to the Scioto Tribune.- The first number of the Scioto Tribune was issued Dec. 6, 1836, Edward Hamilton, editor and proprietor; Wm. P. Camden, printer. We will here state that in 1843, some time after Horace Greeley had commenced the New York Tribune, he claimed that the New York Tribune was the first paper of the name ever published in America. To this Mr. Hamilton replied that Greeley was under a mistake, for the Scioto, which was afterward changed to the Portsmouth Tribune, had been published several years before the New York Tribune. So that if there is any merit in the name, and Horace Greeley claimed there was, Mr. Hamilton is entitled to it. In 1839 Silman Clark bought an interest in the Tribune and changed the name to the Portsmouth Tribune. About the year 1842 Hutchins and Blinn took charge of the editorial department and published it for a short time. But Mr. Hamilton took charge of it again and continued to edit it until the breaking out of the Mexican war in 1846. Mr. Hamilton was quite a dignified gentleman in his manners and deportment, a warm friend of those whom he chose to associate with, but a bitter hater of those whom he disliked. He was a Whig in politics and a strong partisan in feeling. In 1836 S. G. Glover, who had learned the printing business with his brother Eli, started a campaign paper advocating the election of the first Democratic paper published in Portsmouth. It was a small sheet, issued weekly and was discontinued immediately after the election, the party being too weak to sustain an organ at that time. In 1840, during the great logcabin and hard-cider campaign, which resulted in the election of General Harrison to the Presidency, the Democrats of Portsmouth and vicinity determined to have an organ through which to express their political opinions. They accordingly procured a press and type, and William P. Camden commenced the publication of the Scioto Valley Post.- The Democratic party of Scioto County at that time was greatly in the minority, and but few men of wealth or influence belonged to it, the offices and other patronage being almost entirely in the hands of the Whigs. Under these circumstances publishing a Democratic paper was an up-hill business. But Mr. Camden was very industrious and persevering, with a determined will to make it a success. He was a good printer and performed nearly all the mechanical labor himself; but he was no writer. It was almost impossible for him to write an editorial of any kind. Ye, notwithstanding all these difficulties, he continued the publication at intervals for nearly five years. During the publication of the Scioto Valley Post there was a small sheet issued from that office, for several weeks in succession, called the Ghost. It was a literary paper, mostly devoted to the incidents connected with the town. It gave nicknames to those whom it held up to ridicule, in such manner that everbody knew whom they meant without mentioning any names. It was supposed to be edited and published by Benjamin Work, an apprentice, and John Gharky, who assisted Camden in the publication of his paper. It was a lively little sheet, and held up the follies and foibles of the citizens in a funny manner without giving offense. Portsmouth Clipper.-In March, 1845, Anthony Drouillard commenced the publication of the Portsmouth Clipper. Mr. Drouillard not being a practical printer, took in partnership W. C. Wheeler, a printer, and continued the publication of the Clipper till Aug. 26, 1845. He then took in Stephen P. Drake as partner, Mr. Wheeler retiring. The Clipper continued to be published by Drouillard & Drake for six months, when the partnership was dissolved. March 3, 1846, Stephen P. Drake issued the first number of the second volume of the Clipper, and continued its publication for three years. Simon Pure.-In 1844 a small campaign paper called the Simon Pure was issued from the office of the Portsmouth Tribune, advocating the election of Henry Clay to the Presidency. It was edited by a committee appointed for that purpose by the Scioto County Whig Central Committee. The principle editors were supposed to be W. A. Hutchins and O. F. Moore, two leading Whig politicians and stump speakers of that day. It was a very spirited sheet and the editorials were vigorously written. At the close of the campaign the Simon Pure ceased to exist. March 7, 1848, the Tribune and Clipper were united by Messrs. Clark & Drake, and published by them up to Nov. 22, 1849, on which day the partnership was dissolved and the office sold to Mr. John Hanna, who published the paper from Nov. 23, 1849, till Nov. 22, 1850. On the 23rd of November Stephen P. Drake re-purchased one-half of the Tribune and Clipper. Its publication was continued by them up to June 9, 1852, when John Hanna, by a division of the office property, became the sole proprietor. Sept. 9, 1853, he sold the office to A. McFarland, who continued to publish it up to April 1, 1854, when he associated with him in business his brother, Daniel McFarland. This arrangement continued until April, 1857, when Daniel McFarland removed to Kansas. In 1861 Daniel McFarland, having returned from the West, bought the entire paper from his brother, who, since the dissolution in 1857, had been sole editor and proprietor of the daily and weekly Tribune. But at this time, after a trial of seven years, the daily was discontinued, the proprietors being fully convinced that a daily could not be published without a sacrifice on their part. In June, 1867, the office was sold to H. R. W. Smith and David Elick (the latter having been connected with the office in all capacities from "devil" to foreman in the past thirteen years). The firm of Smith & Elick published the paper up to 1868, when A. McFarland bought Mr. Smith's half interest and took charge of the editorial work. The paper under this management of McFarland was issued from an office located on Second street, south side, between Court and Market streets. In the summer of 1870 Mr. McFarland erected the Tribune Building, on the northeast corner of Second and Court streets, into which the office was moved and where it remains at the present writing, August, 1883. Here he introduced the first steam engine used in printing in Portsmouth. In January, 1876, Mr. H. R. W. Smith, who had been in charge of the telegraphic department of the Cincinnati Enquirer, returned to Portsmouth and again became interested in the Tribune. He acted as editor and the paper was issued under the old firm name of Smith & Elick until August of that year when Mr. Smith relinquished his interest and returned to his old position on the Cincinnati Enquirer. Mr. Smith had sold his interest in the Tribune to A. McFarland, Jr., who had recently become proprietor of the Portsmouth Republican. The two papers were now consolidated (Aug. 9, 1876), and the firm of McFarland & Elick continued the publishers until Oct. 1, 1877, when W. H. Bonsall leased the office and issued the paper in his own name until Jan. 1, 1881. At this time Mr. Elick sold his interest to Mr. McFarland, but remained in the office as foreman and job-printer. The paper was then conducted by Mr. McFarland alone as editor and publisher until Jan. 1, 1883, when he accepted the position of business manager for the Tribune Publishing Company, which, with its steam power presses and other publishing facilities, had begun to assume large proportions. Feeling the need of recreation after so long a term of editorial service he turned that responsibility over to other hands, and at the present time devotes his attention to the business management. The Democratic Enquirer was begun by James M. Ashley and Edward W. Jordan, April 6, 1848. They published two numbers and broke down. Neither of them had a cent of capital, and it did not sustain itself. Captain Francis Cleveland, having disposed of his farm on the west side of the Scioto, where the County Infirmary is at present located, bought them out and continued the Enquirer as a Democratic paper, with Jacob Miller as printer. Miller was taken in as a partner, and Nov. 21, 1849, they commenced the publication of a daily paper, which continued for several years. It was called the daily Dispatch, and was the first daily paper published in Portsmouth; the price, delivered to subscribers, being 10 cents per week. Mr. Miller sold out his interest to Alexander Pearce, and it was published by the firm of Cleveland & Pearce. After a time Captain Cleveland sold out his interest to Mr. Pearce. It changed hands again, and Thompson & Norton published it awhile, and then George W. Nelson became the proprietor, who continued it up to October, 1855. Shortly after Cleveland & Miller got hold of it they changed the name to the Portsmouth Enquirer. Mr. Nelson, the last publisher of the Enquirer, was a very vigorous writer, and showed up the corruption of some of the city and county officials in a manner that had never been done. Subsequently Mr. Nelson changed the name of the paper to Ohio Pennant and continued its publication a few years when the editor went West and the Democratic party was again left without an organ. The material was afterward used in the publication of a tri-weekly Democratic paper called the Plain Dealer. It was published only through the Buchanan and Fremont campaign, edited by E. M. Horrel, who subsequently went into the rebel army. In 1857 Walter C. Hood brought his office from Ironton and started the Portsmouth Times. It was continued until about 1860, and after a rest of about one year was revived by its present able editor, Hon. James W. Newman, in company with his brother, R. Newman. In the interval J. F. Rater and W. C. Appler issued from the office a Fillmore campaign paper. Under his management this paper has been remarkably successful. It is Democratic in politics and very ably edited. In 1861 the veteran, Sam Pike, began the publication of an ultra Democratic paper which he called the Portsmouth Patriot. The first issue appeared April 18, 1861, but it was unsuccessful, and he was compelled to stop if after a few months. In 1852 Stephen P. Drake started the Scioto Valley Republican. It was independent in politics and an excellent literary paper. It was continued by S. P. Drake and his brother Samuel until about 1863, when it was stopped, both of its editors having gone into the army. About 1866 it was revived as a semi-weekly by Samuel P. Drake and S. F. Wetmore, but sold by them to C. E. Irwin in 1870 and continued as a weekly until 1876. In that year it was purchased by A. McFarland, Jr., and consolidated with the Tribune. The material was afterward used in the publication of the Portsmouth Blade. It was started in September, 1876, by Mr. J. E. Valjean, under the name of the Valley Blade, which was changed in 1879 to Portsmouth Blade. In January, 1879, new material was secured and the company reorganized. It is published by Mr. Valjean at the present time. The paper is Republican in politics, but is more especially characterized as a sensational paper, voluminous in local news. This feature has given it quite a large circulation and consequently it is successful from a financial standpoint. In 1874 Mr. Samuel P. Drake again came before the public with the publication of the daily Globe, which was continued for nearly two years; but Portsmouth had before this repeatedly shown her lack of enterprise by refusing to support a daily paper and this one went the way of its predecessors. In the winter of 1869 Warren and Daniel Davis started a paper called the Portsmouth Gazette. It only lasted about two months, but was revived by the same gentlemen after a few years and continued about two months again, when it was discontinued entirely. In 1878 Messrs. McNichols and Dunnington, two young men whose faith was strong, starting the daily Herald, which, after a fitful existence of two short weeks, passed from the field of action, its path marked only by financial disaster. Portsmouth District Quarterly.- This is a religious periodical published quarterly at Portsmouth, by the Methodist Episcopal church. It was started in 1880, and printed by Samuel P. Drake. In January, 1882, it was succeeded by the Portsmouth District Recorder, a monthly journal edited by Rev. M. V. B. Ewans. A German paper called the Ohio Correspondent was started in 1855 by Edward Raine. It was published by him until about 1873, when he sold out to Julius Bock, who subsequently sold it to its present proprietor, J. G. Fuchlinger. Other papers have been started and published for a short time in Portsmouth but were of little importance compared with most of those just given. The daily Herald was commenced by Pheps & Dumas in March, 1855, and continued by them until June of the same year, when John Hanna bought the establishment and continued the publication of the daily Herald and weekly until February, 1856, when the establishment was purchased by Shannon, Spence & Co., and the paper discontinued. The Scioto was a campaign started in 1840. It had but a short life. The Life Boat was a small paper published about 1845, by N. H. Parker. The Path Finder, a campaign paper edited by F. Cleveland, was being published in 1856. In that year Portsmouth had three dailies – the evening Tribune, morning Herald and daily Pennant. The Spirit of the Times was a Republican campaign paper started in 1857. The Daily News was published through the campaign of 1880, by Samuel P. Drake. It was started in the interest of Hon. Henry S. Neal, Republican candidate for Congress from this district. The Portsmouth Dispatch was started in 1853 or 1854. The Children's Home Association. This most worthy and benevolent institution was the work of a few Christian and philanthropic ladies of Portsmouth, who inaugurated it in the summer of 1874, and in October of the same year opened the institution for the benefit of the homeless children of Portsmouth and Scioto County. The work was successfully presented by the association until August, 1877, when, a suitable building having been erected by the county, it was handed over to a Board of Trustees appointed by the commissioners. There was during this period both a day school and Sunday-school connected with the Home, where the education and the morals of the children were carefully superintended. The following were the officers and members of the association: President, Mrs. D. B. Cotton; Vice-President, Mrs. Chas. Lloyd; Recording Secretary, Mrs. H. A. Towne; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. E. F. Draper; Treasurer, Mrs. J. Y. Gordon; Mesdames S. R. Ross, George Helfenstein, O. C. McCall, Samuel Reed, B. R. Miles, V. Burkel, M. H. Ball, B. B. Gaylord, J. K. Lodwick, W. A. Hutchins, M. Zoellner, John Wilhelm, I. N. Stanger, George Waller, L. C. Robinson, M. A. Gunn, Enos Reed, M. J. Waller, Charles Elden, Rose Stimmell, Jesse Swim, E. Pond, W. P. Martin, S. G. Moore, A. McGinley, Charles Winter, O. F. Moore, A. McGinley, T. H. Pursell, G. D. Selby, John G. Peebles, A. Pursell, John B. Gregory, P. C. Iams, G. H. Gharky, W. H. Johnson, John Purdum, A. M. Fulton, M. J. Barton, I. M. Tracy, J. M. Nichols; Misses M. J. Terry, M. J. Peebles, M. E. Peebles, Thirza G. Spry, M. Firmstone. From this very able report of the Secretary, Mrs. H. A. Towne, the following excerpts are taken, space not allowing for the full report: "The Home was opened Oct. 12, 1874, in the Hospital Building. In January, 1875, a donation was received from ten young ladies who had a table at a sale, and in February we were generously helped again by the proceeds from tableaux, given by a few of the ladies and gentlemen of the city; and again, in February a spelling match helped materially to raise funds. In April our German friends very kindly gave a concert for the benefit of the Home, and in July a contribution was received from a society of young girls. "During the year ending October, 1875, forty-eight children were received, thirty-three of whom were from the Infirmary; good, permanent homes were found for two; five were returned to friends, not parents; three were put out on trial; one sent to the Asylum for Imbeciles; one child was boarded at the Home for a few weeks; one was returned to the Infirmary; there was very little sickness of a serious character and only one death; most of the children were young, their ages ranging from two to twelve years; the majority under eight years. "The society has been managed by the usual officers, with five standing committees: An Executive Committee, Clothing or Business Committee, School Committee, and one to consider applications for admission, and one to decide upon children leaving the Home for other homes; also, a Supply Committee of two ladies, one appointed each week, when one member of the committee was relieved, each lady serving two weeks. This committee attended to the daily needs and expenditures, principally that of eatables. Thus has the Children's Home been conducted for nearly three years, entirely under the control of the ladies of the association. And in no sense has it been, during that time, a County Home, and at no time, since the organization of the society, was a private institution contemplated. Only necessities and circumstances compelled the ladies to maintain and control it so long." It was right that the institution should become a public burden, and the county accepted it as such, as soon as they could make arrangements, by the erection of a Home, to receive the charge. This was one, as above remarked, in the fall of 187, the first Trustees being J. Y. Gordon, John G. Peebles and W. Kinney, and when received thirty-seven children occupied the Home. Since the county opened the charge 365 children have been received and discharged from the Institution, 183 having been taken by friends and relatives, and 182 found homes for by those in charge. There are now seventy-one children inmates of the Home. The officers for 1883 are: Trustees, John G. Peebles, E. E. Ewing and Samuel Reed; Matron, Miss Mary McCord; Assistant Matron, Mrs. Mary C. Smith. The Home is a fine brick building three stories high, and basement, located on the east side of the city of Portsmouth, with grounds handsomely laid out, and the surroundings every way attractive and pleasant. Public Library. The first public library in Portsmouth was started in 1831 by a few friends of literature, of whom the center was Miss Eliza Dupuy. Miss Dupuy, who became an authoress of some note, resided on the corner of Second and Washington streets and there wrote her first book – "Morton, a tale of the Revolution." She drew around her a choice circle of literary friends, among whom were Dr. Hempstead, Judge William V. Peck, Edward Hamilton, John Glover, Francis Cleveland and others. This little society, by contributions from their private libraries, presented to the use of the town a very respectable library which was for several years kept on the corner of Front and Market streets. On the evening of Feb. 11, 1839, a meeting of the citizens was held for the purpose of establishing a public library and from it grew what was long known in the town as the public school library. The enterprise was very slow in reaching proportions sufficient to make it of practical value as we learn that in January, 1842, a meeting was held, at which it was resolved to keep up the effort until a library could be secured. This was a library of quite limited proportions and finally a lack of interest allowed many of the books to get lost. The bulk of the library was finally transferred to the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association and were kept until that organization died out, when what remained were taken to the public reading rooms of this city where some still remain, a part having been transferred to the present Public City Library, after its establishment. The present library, which is a great credit to the city, is the work almost entirely of one man, Colonel J. E. Wharton, a brief sketch of whose life is appended at the end of this article. Of course, credit is due to many of the citizens who made contributions of books, but it is certain the contributions would not have been made had it not been for the efforts of Colonel Wharton. The energy displayed by this gentleman, infirm with age, that was rapidly closing around him, in a measure so fully for the benefit of others, is remarkable. His mode of collecting books was to take a wheelbarrow and, day after day, continue until he had traveled over every street and called at every house in the city for books. When the vehicle was loaded he took them to the old "Seminary" building, on the corner of Washington and Fifth streets, which belonged to the city, and which had been secured for the purpose of a library. By the time the library was ready for opening, which was in the fall of 1879, it contained about 1,400 volumes. The number now has been increased to 6,233, largely by donation, but since the establishment about $600 worth of new books have been purchased. The library building is a two-story brick, built for and formally used for one of the city school buildings. The second floor was taken out by the direction of Colonel Wharton, who had charge of the library up to his death, and a railing put around the edge of a floor extending out a few feet from the wall, forming a balcony. Cases for a cabinet were placed around the wall of this upper part but Colonel Wharton's project of filling them with a fine cabinet was interrupted by his death, and the work has never been carried out. A large oil painting of Colonel Wharton hangs from the balcony fronting the door. The library, since the death of Mr. Wharton, has been in the charge of Miss Nana A. Newton. J. E. Wharton was born at Heath, Mass., in 1809. He served an apprenticeship as printer, and then entered on the publication of a newspaper at Massilon, Ohio. From here he went to Wheeling, W. Va., and established what is now the Wheeling daily Intelligencer, the leading paper in that State. The best of his life was spent here. He was afterward editor of the New York daily Star, the Brooklyn daily Transcript, Parkersburg Times and Mansfield Herald, successively. From Mansfield he came to Portsmouth in 1875, and was for a few years largely interested in business enterprises among which was the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad. Through his efforts Portsmouth was made a port of entry. He died Nov. 3, 1881. City Reading Rooms. In the fall of 1876, Misses Mary and Maggie Peebles, two young ladies of Portsmouth, to supply a need long felt in the city, conceived and undertook the project of establishing free reading rooms. The benevolence of the accomplishment will be readily assented to by all. The two ladies visited other ladies in the city, whose co-operation they hoped to enlist, and were so much encouraged as to feel assured of success. A house was secured on Second street, the one now used, and the donation of books and money began. The plan conceived and carried out the first year was that the married men should pay the house rent, the married ladies pay for fuel and salary to those in charge, the young men to pay for gas lighting and the young ladies for periodicals and newspapers. After the second year those who were to pay the rent, which was very high, failed in their part, and Mrs. Rachel Hamilton volunteered to pay the rent alone, which she has done to the present day. David Ramsey and his two daughters, Adelle and Venetia, have been active supporters of the enterprise from the first, and were selected to take charge of the rooms, and still remain in charge. By the donation of a part of the Y. M. C. A. library, which was accepted as a nucleus, private donations at various times and what few books have been bought by the society, the library now contains nearly 1,000 volumes. The tables are well supplied with most of the leading periodicals, and with daily papers from Cincinnati and New York. The rooms, which are nicely furnished, are used for various religious and benevolent purposes, such as prayer meeting for young men, temperance prayer-meetings, etc. The institution has, without doubt, been a great benefit to the city by aiding to invigorate the moral and intellectual tone of the young people. The first officers elected were Mrs. Amanda Purcell, President; Mrs. Geo. O. Newman, Vice-President; Miss Adda G. Dunlap, Secretary; Miss M. E. Peebles, Treasurer. Miss Dunlap served only a month or so, when M. E. Draper was elected to fill the vacancy, which position she still occupies. Mrs. J. W. Crawford had taken the place of Mrs. Geo. O. Newman. The other officers remain the same. Independent Order of the Harugari Germania Lodge No. 63.- The lodge was organized Aug. 14, 1866, by A. Froehleich and August Rheinhart, of Cincinnati. The charter members were thirteen in number, officered as follows: H. Rosenberg, O. P.; C. C. Bode, U. P.; Christian Hehl, Scribe; John Hennecke, Treasurer; Charles Dahler, Financial Scribe. The first initiates were Jacob John, John Findeis and Leonard Wilhelm, received Sept. 3, 1866. The lodge had as high as eighty members in 1872, but at the present time the number has declined to forty-five. The order is a beneficial institution for mutual aid, and is very liberal. During the year 1882 over $400 in money were paid out in funerals alone. The lodge is in a prosperous and flourishing condition, with a financial wealth of nearly $3,000 invested in Government bonds and elsewhere in safe investments. The officers at present are: Christian Hehl, E. B.; Christian Stamm, O. B.; Peter Hawk, U. B.; Jno. M. Gausle, Scribe; Henry Helwig, Financial Scribe; John Verner, Treasurer. Masonry. By John K. Lodwick. The order of Free and Accepted Masons dates back with the early history of Portsmouth. Aurora Lodge, No. 48, was established on the 21st day of August, 1818, by a dispensation from Henry Brush, who was at that time M. W. Grand Master of Ohio, to the following: Brothers Ezra Osborne, Captain Samuel Gunn, Nathan K. Clough, Wm. Daily, George Clark, Robert Scott, Silas Cole, Wm. Oldfield, together with a number of other Masons residing in the town and vicinity, and on the 21st day of September, 1818, the Grand Master being present, opened a lodge in due and ancient form, and on the 24th of the same month the officers were publicly installed in the court-house, which at that time stood in the center of Market street, about opposite the present Portsmouth National Bank. The first officers under the dispensation were: Ezra Osborne, Worshipful Master; N. K. Clough, Senior Warden; George Clark, Junior Warden; Wm. Daily, Treasurer; Jacob Evans, Secretary; Silas Cole, Senior Deacon; Lloyd Talbot, Junior Deacon; Robert Scott, Tyler. The lodge continued working under a dispensation until the regular communication of the Grand Lodge in 1820, when a charter was granted empowering them to convene as a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. And at the stated meeting, Dec. 26, 1820, the following officers were duly elected to serve the ensuing year: Samuel S. Wilkinson, W. Master; G. S. B. Hempstead, S. Warden; Wm. Oldfield, J. Warden; Marcus Bosworth, Secretary; Jacob Offneer, Treasurer; James Abbott, S. Deacon; Wilson Gates, J. Deacon; James Hammell, Tyler. Brother Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead was elected Worshipful Master December, 1821, and re-elected for the following fourteen consecutive years. Brother James Lodwick was first elected Junior Warden in December, 1822, and continued a zealous, active member, always filling an office, and never missing a meeting when in the city, until within two months of his demise, Oct. 11, 1879, aged eighty-two years, and the last twenty-five years of his life and at his death was Treasurer of the lodge. The early years of Masonic work does not show a rapid increase in numbers, as it was during what is known as the "Morgan, or Anti-Masonic, crusade." Its pioneer charter members and patrons, however, ranked among the first in the community, both morally and socially, as the following enrolled members will show: Captain Samuel Gunn, Wm. Daily, Dr. Thomas Waller, N. K. Clough, Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, Hiram Willson, Silas Cole, Wilson Gates, Marcus Bosworth, Ezra Osborne, Robert Scott, Moses Gregory, Dr. Jacob Offneer, Rev. Stephen Lindsley, David K. Cady, James Lodwick, Washington Kinney, M. Kehoe, Wm. Hall, Hon. Wm. Salters, Jacob P. Noel, Robert Lucas, Arthur C. McArthur, Joseph Waddel, Jonathan Cutler and Captain Shackleford. The last named, Captain S., crossed the ocean in a skiff, his only companions being a cat and a dog. All these, with most others who, as pioneers, are identified with the early history of Portsmouth, have passed to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns," Dr. Hempstead, the first Master elected under the charter, being the last survivor. He died July 9, 1883, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, the first elected Master and the last called, honored and respected by all. It can without boasting be said that Aurora Lodge had to this day continued her usefulness, selecting her members with such care that in but few cases the mention of a brother's name will call forth a blush. The founders and early fathers of Masonry, above named, have left descendents, children and grandchildren, who are sustaining an active and honorable part in carrying forward the cause which they loved, and bid fair to transmit their trust unimpaired to the coming generations. The first meetings of the lodge were held in ‘Squire John Smith's building, on the southeast corner of Front and Market streets, at present known as the Cook or McDowell corner. About the year 1831 the lodge moved its quarters to (the then more central part of town) James Lodwick's residence (building yet standing) on Front street, corner of Pine alley, between Massey and Madison streets, and again in 1843 to the Whitney brick, on Market street, south of Second street; from thence to the Cook building on the west side of Market, between Second and Third, and in 1867 to the Masonic edifice, at present occupied by all the Masonic bodies, on the southwest corner of Washington and Third streets. The corner-stone of this edifice was laid by M. W. Grand Master Wm. B. Dodd in 1865. The building was erected by the liberal subscriptions of citizens and brethren, and Aurora Lodge is indebted to Brothers Wm. Salters and Jacob Offneer for a legacy from each by will, the first $1,000, the latter $500. The following brethren have from its organization to the present time (1883) sustained the office of Worshipful Master: Ezra Osborne, Samuel Gunn, Samuel Wilkinson, G. S. B. Hempstead, William Oldfield, James Lodwick, Moses Gregory, A. C. Davis, Geo. Stevenson, Robert C. Jordon, Rev. Jacob Nichols, L. G. Terry, T. J. Pursell, B. F. Coats, Elijah Nicholls, J. H. Johnson, R. W. Farden, Thomas L. Jones and C. S. Caddo. The first Masonic funeral was that of James Burtwell, on the 22d day of September, 1818, the day after the formal opening of the lodge. The remains were escorted to the court-house, where a discourse was delivered by Brother Stephen Lindsley. The procession, consisting of seventeen brethren, then repaired to the graveyard, which was on the grounds now occupied by the Portsmouth Iron and Steel Works, overlooking the Scioto River, and west of Madison street, where the remains were deposited with Masonic ceremonies. On the same evening the lodge convened and conferred the degree of Entered Apprentice upon G. S. B. Hempstead and Lawson Drury, making them the first to receive the honor. On the 6th of July, 1867, several brethren of Aurora Lodge organized Portsmouth Lodge, No. 395, receiving their charter in October following. Bro. G. W. Flanders was the first Worshipful Master. Since then the office has been filled by Colonel Wm. Bowles and R. A. Bryan. This, like her parent lodge, is in a healthy, flourishing condition, and her list of members embraces names of note and influence. Royal Arch Masonry.- Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 23, was organized in 1821, and worked under dispensation until 1840, when a charter was granted. The first officers under dispensation were: G. S. B. Hempstead, High Priest; Ezra Osborne, King; Wilson Gates, Scribe; Thos. S. Currie, Captain of Host; A. C. Davis, Princ. Sojourner; Peter T. Lowe, R. A. Captain; John Rowe, Saml. Nixon, and A. C. McArthur, 1st, 2d and 3d Vails. The first officers elected under the charter were in their order: G. S. B. Hempstead, R. H. Pattillo, Wm. Hall, M. Kehoe, Geo. Stevenson, W. Kinney, Jas. Lodwick, Wm. P. Gray, Geo. Shultz, T. S. Currie, Moses Gregory. Since then to the present time the office of High Priest has been sustained by the following companions: G. S. B. Hempstead, R. H. Pattillo, Rev. Erastus Burr, M. Kehoe, A. C. Davis, Robt. Montgomery, Frs. Cleveland, John A. Warner, Thos. L. Jones, Wm. A. Connolley and J. H. Johnson. In 1845 there was enrolled forty-eight members. Of that number but fifteen are now living, and but four under its jurisdiction. Royal and Select Masters.- Solomon Council, No. 5, of Royal and Select Masters was organized Nov. 1, 1839. A charter was granted at the meeting of the Grand Council, October, 1841, and was surrendered Aug. 9, 1862. The first elected members were: John Barney, I. G. M.; A. C. Davis, D. I. G. M.; Wm. Hall, P. C. of C. W.; M. Gregory, C. of G.; J. Cutler, Treasurer; Lemuel Moss, Recorder; A. C. McArthur, G. S. and S. Since then, or during its existence, the principal office has been sustained by A. C. Davis, R. C. Jordon, John K. Lodwick and J. C. Kehoe. Knights Templar and Knights of Malta.-Calvary Commandery, No. 13, was organized Jan. 11, 1853, under warrant, with Sir Van Der Lyn Tracy, Eminent Commander; Sir Samuel Gould, Generalissimo; Sir M. Gregory, Captain of Guard. Assisted by Sir Thomas Orr, of Chillicothe, and Sir M. Z. Krider, of Lancaster. Several councils of Red Cross and commanderies of Knights Templar and appendant orders were held on several successive days and evenings, during which time a number of Sir Knights were created. While acting under a warrant, in addition to the foregoing officers, the following were appointed to serve in the office indicated: Sir Kt. Rev. E. Burr, Prelate; Sir Kt. Jas. Lodwick, Treasurer; Sir Kt. Frs. Cleveland, Recorder. And for the following twenty-five years, or until death and infirmity prevented, they were elected to and filled those positions and are the only one honored by their portraits being placed conspicuously in the hall. The petition for a charter was presented by the following Sir Knights: M. Gregory, V. D. L. Tracy, Samuel Gould, A. C. Davis, L. G. Terry, Thomas C. Lewis, Rev. E. Burr, Robert C. Jordon and John K. Lodwick, of whom at this time-August, 1883-the three last names only survive. The first to receive the "fatal mandate" was Sir V. D. L. Tracy, who was also the first elected officer. The charter was granted at the meeting of the Grand Encampment in October, 1853, and the first election held under it was in December of that year, when the following officers were elected: Sir V. D. L. Tracy, Eminent Commander; Sir George Stevenson, Generalissimo; Sir Washington Kinney, Captain General; Sir Rev. E. Burr, Prelate; Sir J. L. McVey, Senior Warden; Sir L. G. Terry, Junior Warden; Sir James Lodwick, Treasurer; Sir Frs. Cleveland, Recorder; Sir John K. Lodwick, Standard Bearer; Sir Alexander Pearce, Warder; Sir William S. Wynn, Sentinel. Since the organization the following Sir Knights have been elected as Eminent Commanders: V. D. L. Tracy, Samuel P. Drouillard, J. H. Johnson and John A. Warner. Sir Knight Johnson was elected for thirteen consecutive years. At the present time the order is in a very flourishing condition, numbering in its membership 107 members. Germania Lodge, No. 135.-This lodge was organized June 9, 1869, by Grand Master James Turner, from Dayton, Ohio, with twenty-two charter members. The first officers were: J. T. Miller, N. G.; Daniel Clemons, V. G.; Christian Hehl, Sec.; H. Rosenberg, P. Sec. And P. J. Le Grand, Treasurer. The order own their own hall, which is handsomely furnished, and the order is in prosperous condition, the membership at this time being eighty. The officers for the present year are: Herman Wessel, N. G.; Geo. L. Hummel, V. G.; Christian Hehl, Sec. And P.: John Findice, Treasurer.