KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XIX] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dave Ketterer Ketterer@empireone.net September 1, 2002 ************************************************ A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and incidents of men connected with the county from its first settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other officers of the county, also of those who have served in a military capacity from its first organization to the present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and other institutions of learning and religion within the county. By A. Banning Norton. Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862 Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern District of Ohio. ____________________________________________ CHAPTER XIX. HISTORY OF THE PRESS IN KNOX COUNTY, THE OHIO REGISTER--THE AURORA--STANDARD-- ADVERTISER-WATCH. MAN--GAZETTE--DAY- BOOK— BANNER--TRUE WHIG-TIMES.--THE VARIOUS DAILY AND WEEELY PAPERS, RELIGIOUS, AND POLITICAL PUBLICATIONS, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EDITORS AND THEIR ADVENTURES. In July, 1813, a press was pat up in Clinton, and the first newspaper ever issued in Knox county then made its appearance, styled The Ohio Register, printed and published every Tuesday by Smith and McArdle. Samuel R. Smith was the proprietor of the town of Clinton, and he induced John P. McArdle, who was a good practical printer, to engage with him in the publication of a newspaper, and in the printing business generally, at that place. McArdle emigrated from Ireland, March 17th, 1801, and came to this county in 1809. He is now living, in his 78th year, at Fremont, in this State. Smith, as elsewhere stated, is alive, and surveying in Texas. The waning fortunes of Clinton, and the rising greatness of Mount Vernon, caused the office, after two years of tribulation, to be transferred to the latter place, and accordingly, on the 24th of April, 1816, the first paper ever issued in Mount Vernon made its appearance, bearing the name of "The Ohio Registcr," and having the laudable motto..- "Aware that what is base no polish can make sterling." It was the prolongation of The Ohio Register, published for two years at Clinton by Sam'l H. Smith and John P. McArdle. From the Editor's "Address to his Patrons," we extract the following : "On moving the office and establishment of The Ohio Register to this place, it will be expected the editor (according to custom) will say something to his patrons. "The editor, well aware of the difficulties attending the task he has undertaken, to instruct, enlighten and please the public must not only produce that which is excellent in its kind, but he must continually vary the matter and manner of his lucubrations ; he must, to a certain degree, be all things to all men. The serious, the gay, the learned and the unlearned, not only expect that their tastes will be studied and their inclination gratified, but the same individual becomes dissatisfied with a long course of the same species of entertainment ; he hopes to he delighted and surprised ; he must find productions which are meant to be instructive, and novelty in those which are designed for amusement. I-low the editor will execute the duties of his employment, time will discover ; he is not disposed to boast of his education, to make a parade of his abilities, or to seduce the public with a multiplicity of specious promises. It is too common for editors of newspapers to undertake more than they are able to perform. "The editor is determined not to subject himself to accusations of the nature above-mentioned ; and although lie feels a considerable degree of diffidence, he would have it fully understood that he expects and desires to be judged by his work. One thing however he confidently promises, the most assiduous and persevering industry will he exerted to render his paper worthy of the patronage which he hopes he will meet with. * * * * * * Finally, the Ohio Register shall not be a receptacle for party politics, or personal abuse. On those principles the publication of the Register is commenced in this town, and the editor hopes that he will receive that share of patronage which will enable him to continue it, * * * * * * "terms: The Ohio Register will be published every Wednesday, and will be distributed to subscribers in Mount Vernon and Clinton, and forwarded to those at a distance by the first opportunity, at $2.00 per annum if paid in advance, or $2.50 if paid within the first six months, or S3.00 if paid within the second six months. Those who receive their papers by post, are to pay the postage. No subscription received for less than one year, and no paper discontinued until all arrearages are paid. A failure to give notice of discontinuance of a subscription, at or previous to the end of the time subscribed for, will always be considered as a new engagement." The following good rule in regard to advertisements was set forth " The COST must accompany all advertisements, otherwise they will be continued at the expense of the advertiser until paid for." In those early times there were many who courted the muses, and among their effusions we find a lengthy piece which appeared May 1st, 1816, and we have heard it ascribed to John H. Mefford. Me extract a few verses descriptive of "Mount Vernon walk" and " Owl Creek's fertile banks," gratified, that as Shakespeare has it- "the poets eye in a fine frenzy rolling," prophetically told in that. early day, how For lurch- nymph and gentle swain, Its gentle stream shall long remain A pleasing prospect for the view !'' And though fools wisdom's lovely ways For want of sense, hate all their days, May all MOUNT VERNON walk errect In all the paths she may direct. Then shall not wars furious guns Bereave parents of faithful Sons; The cries of children we'll not hear Whose fathers left them arms to bear; NOT shall a true and loving wife Mourn for losing a husbands life, Who fell a victim to wars rage Before he passed the middle age. A fair damsel shall not complain For a true sweetheart in war slain; Nor citizens for faithful friends weep Who gave life their country to keep; But fields shall bear, and we be blest With crops the choicest and the best; And gentle cows shall come at will Our pails with richest milk to fill. Our barns shall be filled with plenty, And Springs emit water gently, Which shall in small clear currents flow, To refresh man, or panting roe. Abundance shall our tables spread, And servants never long for bread; But look up satisfy'd, and say, "Lawful commands we will obey." Then long shall Owl creek's fertile banks Be a peaceful walk for all ranks, Where the sycamore tall does grow, And where the elm its shade doth show. For lovely nymph and gen'rous swain, Its gentle stream shall long remain A pleasing prospect for the view; Where songs of birds are ever new. On the 15th of October, 1817, the first six months of the second volume of the Ohio Register having been completed, the editor calls upon subscribers to pay up old scores- "For without this one thing necessary, it is impossible to expect that we can live; money would be preferable, but if that is scarce with you, rags, wheat, rye, corn, and almost all kinds of market produce will be taken in payment." On the 5th of November he proposes to "take for subscription, advertisements, hand-bills or bookbinding, wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat, &c., delivered at Davis' mill in this town, in preference to some unchartered paper." (A sly dig this at the Owl Creek Bank, Mr. McArdle.) On the 8th of April, 1818, he says- "Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." HARD TIMES!! So they are, but that is not my fault.-The next number of the Ohio Register will complete the 2d volume that has been printed in Mount Vernon. From many of our subscribers we have received nothing but promises for services rendered. But these will not always answer the purpose. Like the notes of some of our banks, they soon depreciate when thrown into market, unless it is known they are bottomed upon a specie capital; and like them "they will not pay debts abroad." But to be brief, "we want money and must have it." Remember the trite old saying. "the laborer is worthy of his hire." As soon as this volume is out we intend altering the paper into a different form. As we expect on a large quantity of paper in the course of two or three weeks, (for which we must pay the cash) we hope those in arrears will call immediately and settle their respective accounts." On the 15th of April, A. D., 1818, Vol. 2, No. 52, was issued. Those who were in arrears and so often and politely requested to call and settle did not do so; the large quantity of paper could not be paid for in cash, and John P. McArdle goes down under the debt of unrequited kindness-unrecom- pensed services. And the people of Mount Vernon, for a time, were without a newspaper because there were not enough among them having the high sense of honor to "pay the printer !" From this period until 1844, there was no paper published uninterruptedly as long as the Ohio Re- gister. Various new papers were started, and the editors became dissatisfied, the publishers discouraged, and, after a little experimenting with journalism, went to some more profitable business, engaged in some new enterprise, or left the country. And we regret to say that the people seemed to lave no proper appreciation of their journals, for there is not in existence a complete file of any of the old papers, and in fact scarcely a number of either to be found. During this time the ablest men who were connected with the press, and the most violent in opposition to each other, were Charles Colerick and William Bevans. They were arrayed against each other as candidates for office, and each for several terms held the position of Sheriff of the county. Both were from Western Pennsylvania-Bevans from Fayette, and Colerick from Washington county-and well skilled in the political wire-working and maneuvering for which the politicians of that county have ever been famous. In the division of parties, the former was for Adams and the latter for Jackson. The great bone of contention, however, was the county printing, and that might with much truth be said to have been the only principle at issue between them. About 1822, Charles Colerick with his brothers, John and Henry, made their appearance in this county, while Bevans was Sheriff, and they set about establishing a small printing-office. In 1824 Edson Harkness, a printer, surveyor and schoolteacher, emigrated from "Down East" to Mount Vernon; and in 1825 he started a very small news- paper, which he styled The Western Aurora, and, after 1831, when he disposed of it to Wm. P. Reznor, who had learnt his trade in the office and lived with Bevans. In 1832, C. P. Bronson became associated with him, and for a time the paper was published by Bronson & Reznor, until, in October, 1833, Dan Stone buys out the office and carries the paper on a few months alone; and then Dr. Morgan 1. Bliss is associated with him, and it continues, under the style of Stone & Bliss, until November 2.9th, 183.1, on account of severe and protracted illness, the latter withdraws, and Dr. Lewis Dyer, in a salutatory of two mortal columns, enters the publishing it two years, he sold out, in 1827, to James Harvey Patterson, from Fayette county, Pa., and William Smith, from Washington county, Pa., who, under the firm of Patterson & Co., continued its p~ib1ication until 1829, when they transferred the establishment to William Bevans, who carried it on until list as editor, as a permanent business; but in January, 1835, he disappears, and Dr. John Thomas succeeds him, who, being like his immediate predecessor, of a philosophical turn of mind and inclined to treat upon physiology, hygiene, temperance and the laws of health, found the age unsuited for moral reform, and, seized by one of his fits of "azure devils," suddenly abdicated the tripod, leaving Dan Stone alone in his glory, who continued "solitary and alone" until May 16th, when lie too published his valedictory, and the paper fell into anonymous hands ; and it bad thenceforth a very short and precarious existence, and has passed from memory forever. The first name of the paper published by this press was the Western. Aurora-the last name was the Mount Vernon Gazette. This office was first set in operation at a small frame house where Dr. Thompson's saddler silop now is. Among the hands who worked in it were John Borland, now of Hocking county, Patterson. Reznor, and Wm. Crosby. Elliott C. Yore was the carrier-boy in 1825- 6, and Lewis Lindsay in 1827-8. About these times the rhymester of this office was Dan Jewett, a brother of Cynthia, wife of Ira Babcock. He wrote the Carrier's Address of the year 1828, and, as the first verse is worthy of consideration in these times of disunion, we give it for considerationresidence now stands, on lot No. 113, Main street; subsequently it was on the lot where General Jones now resides, on the west side of the Public Square, Mount Vernon, and from thence was moved into the second story of the Market-House, where Mefford's "Ye lovers of Freedom, I pray yell attend, And listen awhile to the post-boy, your friend; Lay aside all disunion, United let's stand, The friends and supporters of our happy land." One of the political songs of that time will occur to the mind of our old settlers by the first line: "Jackson fought Duff Green like--." Another will be remembered by suggesting the chorus: "O, Johnny Q.. my Jo John, since last I wrote you, I have been disappointed, John and I s'pose you know." In 1838 a new office was established here, and a paper called the Western Watchman published by Samuel M. Browning, and for a few months John Teesdale was connected with this paper as editor, and had bargained for the establishment; but being a philanthropic Englishman, happening to insert an abolition article, he found it advisable to leave and never complied with his engagement as to paying for it. In 1839, October, the paper was published by S. Dewey & Co. but for a very short time. And a new candidate for public favor called the Family Cabinet was published for a few weeks, and then compelled to give up the ghost "under the pressure of existing circumstances." And thus we have traced the one side up to 1840, now let us retrace our steps and bring down the other. The Colericks, as heretofore stated, had come from Washington, Pa., where their father had a printing office at a very early day, and they had been brought up to the business. No copies of their papers are extant. They were intelligent and energetic men and labored under great disadvantages for many years, as did other newspaper men in this county. In 1827 their paper was called The Democrat and Knox Advertiser. The early carriers for their paper were Ignatius Colerick, their nephew, and Henry Estabrook. In March, 1831, Samuel Rohrer purchased the office and published the paper. In October, 1832, F. S. & P. B. Ankeny became proprietors, and enlarged its size and name--Mount Vernon Democrat and Knox Advertiser. The name was changed the next year to Looking Glass and Whig Reflector, and in the campaign of 1831, between Cols. Peres Sprague and James McFarland, it was very bitter against the former, who ran on the Independent ticket, as may be judged from the following chorus, which we extract from a song of the times as showing the acerbity of the contest: "Yankee Doodle, Sprague's the boy, Yankee Doodle dandy; He plays a good hand at cards And loves a good glass of brandy." The people did not regard these vices as disqualifying Sprague for office, for he received, for Representative, 1,518 votes to 1,289 for his opponent! This printing office was also migratory in its disposition, having been during its existence on Mulberry street, on the lot where H. W. Ball now lives, on the old' Jeffres lot where Barnes' marble factory is, and in the second story of the frame where Robert Irvine's shoe store now is, on Main street. In June, 1835, Charles Colerick established The Day Book, which was conducted by him with much energy and spirit until he volunteered as a soldier and went to Texas, when the office was bought by Delano and Browning, and the paper continued by William Byers until in the winter of 1837-8 it was transferred to S. M. Browning. When the campaign of 1840 opened, the Whigs having become dissatisfied with the abolition article of John Teesdale and caused him to give up the publication of that paper, found it necessary to pass resolutions in their county convention inviting Whig editors to view this location, and appointed a committee, of which Johnston Elliott was chairman, to advertise in the leading Whig journals in the State for some one to come on and publish a paper. Under this call James Emmet Wilson, a son of Judge James Wilson, of Steubenville, came and started the Knox County Republican, and in about six months associated with himself as publisher Milo Butler, his brother- in-law. He was a poor stick; and this paper which started under the most favorable auspices in the triumphant cam- paign of 1840, in the fall of 1841 was discontinued by reason of the inertness and inability of the said Wilson and Butler to give the patrons a "live Whig paper," and because they were too much of the Teesdalian order.---- A hiatus ensued-Wilson and Butler went to preaching. And in 1842 Wm. H. Cochran, who was teaching school in Newark, came up and chartered the office and issued The Times; and from that office has been continued a paper, under different names and editors and proprietors, until the present day-the Mount Vernon Republican brings up the list. This paper has been known to its readers as The Times- -The Republican Times--The Ohio State Times, etc., as conducted by Cochran and Silmon Clark; G. E. Winters, J. H. Knox, 0. B. Chapman, Witherow, J. W. Shuckers, the Republican joint stock company, and H. M. Ramsey. At present it is under the editorial management of W. C. Cooper, Esq. Other names may have been omitted who, for short periods, edited the paper. After the Day Book office had been bought up and merged in The Western Watchman, an effort was made to establish another paper; and The Democratic Banner was started in April, 1838, by Chauncey Basset and - Robb. During the summer it was edited by C. J. McNultv; but upon its sale to Edmund J. Ellis, it was continued with- out an editor in 1839, and, until it was sold to John Kershaw, in 1841, it was issued without an editorial, except as some partisan, able to write, would furnish it an article gratis. Kershaw edited and published it until, in June, 1844, he sold it back to E. J. Ellis, and then it was edited by U. W. Morgan, until, in 1845, it was sold to D. A. Robertson, who after a short time resold it to Ellis, who continued its publication until its sale, in November, 1847, to William Dunbar, who had associated with him in its publication for some six months George W. Armstrowr; and for the remainder of his time edited and published it himself, until, in December, 1853, he sold it to Leckey Harper, then of the Pittsburg Post, who has since edited and published it. During Mr. Dunbar's management, a daily Democratic Banner was published in the winter of 1852 for thirty days. Upon the nomination of General Taylor for President, in 1848, the editor of the Times refused to support the Taylor and Fillmore ticket, because Zachary Taylor lived South and owned slaves; whereupon another printing- office was brought to Mount Vernon that should advocate Union principles, and, to distinguish it from the bogus article, it was styled The Mount Vernon True Whig, and was published for seven years-edited during the campaign of 1848 by Joseph S. Davis, Esq.; in 1849 by John W. White, and the remainder of its existence by A. Banning Norton. With the exception of a brief period, when it was published by Higgins and White, the foreman of the office was that excellent printer, George Smith, now in the Keokuk (Iowa) Daily Gate City. For three years Norton's Daily True Whig was published with the motto of Davy Crocket—"Be sure you're right, then go ahead;" and having become satisfied in that time that this place would not sustain a daily, unless out of the pocket of the publisher, and hence that it was not "right" to continue it, in March, 1855, its diurnal appearance ceased. The motto of the True Whig was taken from Washington's Farewell Address, and would in these times be somewhat original: -" Frown indignantly upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together its various parts." It was adopted as ex- pressive of the determination to stand by the Constitution and the Union, and to oppose abolitionism and sectionalism of every form and description. Several short lived newspapers have made their appearance in the county within the past eight years, which, by being named, may be kept fresh in the memories of some of the people. They were the Rainbow, which was of the nature of the "Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville Courier" of these war times—migratory in disposition, and altogether fleeting. It was opened out at Mount Vernon by Rev. A. Laubach, sojourned a. while at Fredericktown where the Reverend editor was sold by a vile acrostic; then tarried a brief space at Belville, and the last heard of was among the Senecas, at the city of Tiffin! The Lilly, which advocated short frocks and emigrated to the far west with Amelia Bloomer-the Universalist Advocate at Centerburg, which Daniel Wolfe found must proclaim glad tidings to all people without price, or not at all, and The Western Home Visitor, which was too large for Mount Vernon and could not find a home at Columbus. After these came The National, when its publishers Agnew & Ragnet, found it without a nationality, and after three months search in the exciting times of 1858 it gave up the ghost! The Knox County Express was started by Agnew & Tilton, in December, 1860, and is now published by C. M. Phelps & Co., and edited by Judge J. S. Davis. The Banner, Republican and Express are the papers published in Mount Vernon in July, 1862, and The Western Episcopalian at Gambier, in this county. The Episcopalian is devoted to the interests of the Church, and of Kenyon College more particularly. It was first started as The Gambier Observer, upon the Acland Press, at Gambier, in 1827, and has been continued from that time to the present under different editorial and financial managers. George W. Meyers was for many years its publisher, and its present publisher is R. M. Ed- monds. It has been ably edited by Dr. Sparrow, Dr. Wing, Dr. Muenseher, Dr. Colton, the Rev. Norman Badger, and George Denison, and has been favored with many very able articles from the pens of professors of the college and other friends. Tue first book printed in Knox conuty was "The Ameican Revolution," written in scriptural, or an-cient historical style—"Honi soi qui mal y' pense." Clinton, Oltio. Printed by Smith & McArdle at the office of The Ohio Register. Year of our Lord, 1815." 170 pp. And the second was "The Columbiad, a poemm on the American War, in 13 cantoes, by Richard Snowden." pp. 38. The next was James Smith's Vindication." There was also published at The Ohio Register office "A caveat against the Methodists, by a Gen- tleman of' the Church of Rome." I have not sent these Prophets, yet they ran ; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.-Jeremiah, chap. 23, verse 21. C. & J. Colerick published a directory of Knox county, compiled from the tax list, amid showing the value of every man in the county as listed for taxation. In 1833, the Laws and Ordinances of Mount Vernon were printed by the Day Book office and bound. And in 1832 the Charter and Ordinances of Mount Vernon were printed at the True Whig office and bound, maki1l~ a work of 50 pages. An Essay on Justification by Faith, with particular reference to the Theory of Forensic Justification, by Joseph Muenseher, A.M., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Mount Vernon, 1847." pp. 63 In 1858, John W. White published George Sey- mour, or Disappointed Revengea drama in 3 acts. 88 pp. And the Book of Chronicles, humorously illustrated, being a history of the dissensions amuong the harmonious democracy of Knox upon the Kansas question, written by Telegraphic Inspiration pp.32. From the Acland Press a number of pamphlets and small works have been issued pertaining to Church and College affairs. Among others, Tissue's Greek Forms, a very valuable book, by one of the Professors. The Rev. Dr. Muenseher has now in press .. A Commentary on the book of Proverbs," which will make about 400 pp. duodecimo; and "A Treatise on Biblical Interpretation," 350 pp. duodecimo. We have seen a portion of the proof sheets of each- they are neatly executed, and from the acknowledged ability and learning of the author will be of much value. Our young friend Charles H. Scribner, Esq.. has prepared for the press an excellent Treatise on Dower- which will be a Law book of much size. and of very great value to the legal profession and the public generally. The pioneers of the press in this county, who, a half century ago, spread the first information before the people in the columns of a paper, are both living, having passed the "three score years and ten allotted to man" – McArdle being almost a score over the time, and Smith over a century old. They are still hale and hearty, while the younger brothers of the press have not become "fat and forty ;" and those who immediately succeeded them, have almost all passed to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns." Of the editors-Col. Charles Colerick, after having served a tour in the Texan revolution, and assisted in achieving, though he did not live to behold the recognition of her independence, is dead. Gen. William Bevans, after having served his fellow-citizens creditably in many official positions, has departed. Dan Stone, a quiet, unassuming man of much goodness of heart, died in this town, where his widow and two sons survive. Dr. M. L. Bliss died shortly after he left the paper. James Harvey Patterson moved to West Union, Adams county, and, after the death of his wife, went South. John Thomas was a very singular genius, well read, particularly in anatomy, geology, conchology, and herpetology et als. ologies, but was so much subject to the blues, or what lie called "azure devils," as not to enjoy life; he would not drink out of a cup or saucer that had a flaw or crack in it, nor eat with a knife that line did not see scoured bright-consequently lie worried himself out of the world before his time. W. H. Cochran and H. M. Ramsey died with the editorial harness on--the latter this spring--both much lamented by a large circle of friends, and their widows reside in Mount Vernon. S. M. Browning died at Bur- lington, Lawrence county, about 1852. Dr. Dyer resides in Iowa, Reznor in Illinois; Harkness also is in Illinois, where he is noted for his large nurseries of excellent fruit trees; Kershaw is an attorney in Philadelphia, Pa.; Morgan is a Brigadier General, with the army in Tennessee; Bronson is in Boston, Mass., making blood-food for curing consumptives; Robertson, after having served as U.S. Marshal for Minnesota, settled down there in the practice of the law; McNulty, the only editor of the county sued for libel, from whom Elder Power recovered a large verdict, after having volunteered as a soldier in the Mexican war, died and was buried at Helena, Ark., by his brave comrades. Ellis had better have been dead than to have be- come a traitor to his country, and been driven beyond the lines. He was publishing the Boone County Standard, at Columbia, Mo., when he sinned against light and knowledge. Three of the old set-Smith of the Clinton Register, Smith of the Western Aurora, and Norton of the True Whig-a few years ago found themselves residing in the same district in Texas. Two of them yet remain there, while the third is writing these lines, having, from love for the Constitution and the Union, found it necessary to seek once again the shores of Owl Creek. Such are life's changes.