(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OE ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 145 CHAPTER XVII. THE PRESS OF HIGHLAND COUNTY. Journals on Circulation at an Early Day.—Moses Carothers, the Pioneer of Hillsborough Journalism.—Establishment of the Hillsborough Gazelle and Highland Advertiser.—Early Contributors to its Columns.--Succession of Proprietors.—The Ubiquitous Colonel Pike.—His Paper, the Highland Democrat.--Advocacy of Railroad and Other Local Projects.--The Ohio News.—Daniel Scott's American Citizen.-O. P. Russell's Connection with Hillsborough Journalism.—The Mail.—The Several Papers Published During the Past Forty Years in Greenfield. THE town of Hillsborough had been settled only a few years before its citizens began to agitate the project of having a newspaper published in their village. For several years after the settlement of the county very few newspapers were circulated within its borders. The nearest newspaper at that time was The Scioto Gazette, published at Chillicothe by the grandfather of N. P. Willis, the poet. A few copies of this paper circulated in Hillsborough and vicinity. The Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Gazette also had some subscribers here at a very early day. Several old citizens also were patrons of Niles' Register, published at Baltimore, Maryland. This journal was looked upon in these early times as authority both in news and politics. As early as 1815 a movement was made to have a newspaper published in Hillsborough, but nothing was done until early in the year 1818. In the autumn of the previous year a young printer, Moses Carothers, had come to Hillsborough from Martinsburgh, Virginia. He had served his apprenticeship in the office of the Martinsburgh Gazette. This paper was edited by the veteran John Alburtis, a disciple of Jefferson and the Virginia school of Democracy, and one of the most noted editors of that day. Mr. Carothers had not only learned his trade well, but had imbided the political principles of his employer. He was an active, intelligent and energetic young man, of pleasing manners and sterling integrity of character. *All of this chapter, except that which pertains to the newspapers of Greenfield, is by Professor Henry S. Doggett, of Hillsborough. 146 - HISTORY OE ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO After consulting and advising with leading citizens of the town, Mr. Carothers determined to commence the publication in Hillsborough, of a weekly newspaper. The people of the town and county gave him a cordial welcome, and his enterprise a liberal support from the very start. A subscription list of over five hundred names was obtained, and patronage of other kinds promised. Captain Cary A. Trimble, of the army of 1812, was then a young and enterprising merchant of Hillsborough, and one of Carothers' warmest friends. Capt. Trimble went east in the spring of 1818, and Carothers made him his agent for the purchase of press, type and other material necessary to fit up a printing office. He purchased these in Philadelphia, and shipped them over the mountains with his stock of spring goods. They arrived in Hillsborough late in the spring. The press was what was called the Ramage, and was very much like the one used by Ben. Franklin in printing his first paper. It was made almost entirely of wood, the platten being of mahogany. It could not impress more than half a small sheet, and the practice was to impress half the sheet, then relax the handle, run the second half under the platten, and print it. The press and outfit would be considered insignificant at this day, but was at that time considered a very good one. The office was soon fitted up by Carothers in a building on Short street, owned by Governor Allen Trimble. The publication of the Hillsborough Gazette and Highland Advertiser, as it was called, was announced, and on the afternoon of June 18, 1818, the first paper was printed. This was an important and interesting event in the history of Hillsborough. It marked the first step of progress made by the citizens of the little village among the hills. It was an era in the history of the place not less noted than that marked by the arrival of the first train of cars many years later. At this time there were no newspapers in southern Ohio, except in Cincinnati and Chillicothe. The publication of this first newspaper gave the tam a reputation for intelligence and progress it has never lost. The first issue of the Gazette was a small sheet, eighteen by twenty-two inches, printed on coarse paper, in long primer type. Its literary contents were neither extensive nor varied. The first page and part of the second was filled with an article on "Paper Money," reprinted from Niles' Register. Then there was some foreign news of no importance, several weeks old, from a Baltimore paper. The editor's salutatory, a piece of poetry entitled ."Christian Comfort," a local item about a stray horse, and a column of advertisements made up the original matter. The character of the contents, however, soon improved as the editor gained experience, and the mail facilities became better. At the start Mr. Carothers did nearly all the work on his paper. He was editor, compositor and pressman. His first devil was a boy from the neighborhood, named John B. Seamans, who afterward published a paper at Washington C. H. Another apprentice, Shepherd Bereman, was taken into the office soon afterward; he, in after years, became the publisher of a paper at Wilmington, Ohio. These two young men deserve remembrance as the pioneers of the innumerable crowd of type setters sent out from the Hillsborough printing offices. As the town grew in size the Gazette prospered, aiding in and aided by the growth and prosperity of the village and county. During these early years there was in Hillsborough a circle of literary young men of education and culture. These young men were warm friends of Mr. Carothers, patronized his paper, and enlivened its columns with essays and criticisms on subjects of social, moral and political interest. Amongst this number were Gen. Richard Collins, Capt. Cary A. Trimble, Dr. C. W. Trimble, Dr. Allen Farquhar, Dr. Jacob Kirby, Dr. Jasper Hand, Col. Moses H. Kirby, and Col. William Keys. The last two named were afterward editors of the Gazette. Mr. Carothers published the paper for nearly ten years, and, considering the times, was successful in his enterprise. In his later years, as editor, he took great interest in politics, and in the political campaigns of 1824 and 1828, advocated the election of General Jackson to the presidency. Th paper exerted great influence in building up the Democratic party in Highland county. On the thirty-first of May, 1827, Mr. Carothers sold his office to William H. Allen, a young lawyer who had come to Ohio from Kentucky. He then purchased a farm in Madison township, to which he retired. While in Hillsborough, he married a Miss Carson, a niece of the late Dr. Doddridge, and of Benjamin Doddridge, the eloquent lawyer. He succeeded Gen. Richard Collins in the command of the first company of Hillsborough light infantry, and was afterward made colonel of the first regiment of Highland infantry. This was a prominent position in those days, when regimental and general musters, so graphically described by Tom Corwin, were the popular amusements of the patriotic people. Mr. Carothers died a few years ago, baving passed the remainder of his life in retirement on his farm, enjoying the confidence and respect of his neighbors, and of the community in general. He is remembered as the pioneer editor and publisher of Highland county. In the ten years, from 1828 to 1838, the Gazette changed editors and proprietors several times. These changes of ownership were the only noticeable events in its history. Then, as now, there were many persons who thought they could run a newspaper, and whenever the office was for sale, a purchaser was always on hand. William H. Allen, to whom Colonel Carothers sold the office, made some improvements in the paper, but in about a year sold it to Col. William Keys. It was published but a short time by him, when he disposed of it, in 1829, to Dr. Jacob Kirby and Col. Moses H. Kirby. These gentlemen published it for another year, when Colonel Kirby was elected secretary of State. Thereupon he transferred his interest to Hiram Campbell. When his term of office expired, Colonel Kirby removed to Wyandot county, where he has since resided, holding, at different times, the offices of probate judge, prosecuting attorney, and HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 147 member of the legislature. At this writing he is the State senator from his district, and although at a very advanced age, is in the possession of all his faculties in full vigor. The firm of Kirby & Campbell remained as publishers of the Gazette until 1839, when they sold the office to Emrie & Chaney. Under this arrangement Jonas R. Emrie became the editor of the Gazette. He was a practical printer, having learned his trade in the office under Mr. Carothers. He was also a writer of considerable ability, and a politician of no mean pretensions. From 1839 to 1856 Mr. Emrie was connected with the Gazette, excepting short intervals when it was run by William H. Cappe, in 1841, William H. Morrow, in 1848, and Robert B. Stevenson, in 1849, 1854 and 1855. Under Mr. Emrie's charge the Gazette was enlarged and gained largely in patronage and influence. It ranked among the best county papers in the State. During the years of Mr. Emrie's editorship the project of a railroad to Cincinnati was brought forward. The Gazette str0ngly and ably advocated the enterprise. The road was completed from Hillsborough to Loveland in 1852. Business in the town increased, and for a time in the fall 0f that year Mr. Emrie issued a Daily Gazette. The enterprise, however, did not pay, and was, after a few months, abandoned. The Gazette took great interest in the extension of the road eastward to Parkersburgh, and its columns teemed with articles urging upon the people the importance of pushing on the enterprise to a successful termination. When the bargain was made by which the Hillsborough road was sold out to its rival, the Marietta road, the Gazette was severe in its denunciations of the perpetrators of the fraud. The articles he published on this subject involved the editor in a libel suit which aroused great excitement in the town and vicinity. The ablest lawyers in the State were engaged on each side, and the trial of the case occupied several days. The case was argued for the plaintiff (D. J. Fallis) by Judge William Johnston and Judge James Sloane, and for the defendant (J. R. Emrie) by Hon. Thomas Corwin and Hon. Nelson Barrere. It resulted in a verdict for nominal damages (six cents) against Emrie. During Mr. Emrie's career as editor of the Gazette, the subject of a better system of public schools occupied the attention of the people. Mr. Emrie ably advocated the passage of the school law of 1853. He was a member of the first board of education of the union schools, was the first probate judge for the county, and was a member of congress from the district to which Highland county then belonged. He removed to Mound City, Illinois, .where he died a few years ago. In 1856 the office was sold by Mr. Emrie, to John G. Doren, now the editor of the Dayton Democrat. He sold out in about a year, to Logan & Seaman. They carried on the business until March, 1860, when the office was purchased by H. S. Doggett. The paper, during the campaign of 1860, supported Hon. Stephen A. Douglass for the presidency. The next year, when the war of the Rebellion broke out, the paper came out warmly in favor of the Union cause. During the year 1861 it gave its influence toward putting down the Rebellion, and met the approval of a large majority of its patrons. In January, 1862, the office was purchased by Samuel Pike. He at once changed the tone of the paper in regard to the war, and advocated what was then known as the "peace policy." It was at a time of great excitement. At one time threats of mobbing the office were made by soldiers in camp at Camp Mitchell, near town, on account of an article that had appeared in its columns. Colonel Pike was a bitter partisan, and from the fact of his having published papers in the south, had a warm feeling for her people. His course seemed to be endorsed by the result of the election in Ohio that autumn, for the Democrats carried the State. The next year, however, witnessed so great a reaction that Brough was elected by one hundred thousand majority. Disgusted with this result, Colonel Pike sold the Gazette to William H. Munnell. He was a States Rights Democrat, of the most extreme views. The paper became the organ of his peculiar opinions and those of William M. Corry, of Cincinnati. It became unpopular, even with its own party, and in 1865 Colonel Pike returned t0 Hillsborough and brought with him a new press and outfit for publishing a paper. Munnell about this time removed the press and material of the Gazette office to Cincinnati, and published a States Rights paper there in connection with Mr. Corry. A short time before Munnell's departure, Colonel Pike had commenced the publication of a weekly paper called the Highland Democrat. The publication of the Gazette having ceased with Munnell's departure, Colonel Pike changed the name of his paper to that of the Hillsborough Gazette. He continued its publication until 1867, when he sold the office to Malay & Marshall. Colonel Samuel Pike was probably the most widely known editor ever connected with the press of Highland county. He was born April 6, 1804, in Grayson county, Virginia, but spent his early life on a farm in Penn township, and when grown to manhood, removed to Leesburgh and engaged in mercantile pursuits. His first appearance as an editor and publisher was in Leesburgh in 1832. The Ohio legislature had the winter before passed an act chartering the Belpre and Cincinnati railroad. Joel Wright was one of the parties named in the charter, and he took great interest in the enterprise. To advocate its construction he bought a press and type, and started a small newspaper called the Highland County Democrat and Railroad Advocate, and installed Colonel Pike as editor. The paper was published about a year. Colonel Pike then removed to Peru, Indiana, where he started a paper. Thence he went to Bloomington, Illinois, and either bought a paper or started a new one. Afterward he had papers in Piketon, Covington, Paducah, Maysville, and many other places. He drifted back to Leesburgh in 1841, and published another paper there for a short time. He continued in the business in various other places until 1862, when he came to Hillsborough and purchased the Gazette. On leaving Hillsborough, in 1869, he returned to Leesburgh, and on the thirty-first of August, 1871, issued the first number of 148 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. a paper called the Independent Press. The following spring he sold this to Mrs. Adams, who published it a short time at Bainbridge, Ross county. Thus, forty years after his first essay in the newspaper business, Colonel Pike finished his career as an editor in the same little village where he had commenced it. During his life he is said to have been connected with more newspapers than any other man in the world. As an editor he had very considerable ability, but was always a bitter partisan. In private life he was a social, genial, and high-toned gentleman. He died in Leesburgh, December, 15, 1874, aged seventy-five years. The Gazette came into the possession of Malay & Marshall. The firm changed two years afterward to Marshall & Feagles, and in 1872 became J. C. Springer & Co., Mr. Marshall being a member of this firm. The proprietorship of the paper remained unchanged until the death of Mr. Springer in July, 1876. The last work that Mr. Springer did on the paper was to write an account of the centennial celebration of the Fourth of July in Hillsborough. This report was very full, and entailed a great deal of work on the writer, who was personally very much interested in the success of the celebration. Soon afterward, the Democratic congressional convention met in Hillsborough, and Mr. Springer was very active in trying to secure the nomination of Henry L. Dickey. The excitement of these two occasions brought on the sickness which resulted in his death. A cotemporary writer, Judge Thompson, says of him: "It can be justly recorded that he was an editor of very versatile and rare talent, a ready writer, possessed of much knowledge in every relation, of life. As a man, he was faithful and honest, and in every position a genial gentleman, without prejudice, envy or malice toward any human being." After Mr. Springer's death, Mr, J. R. Marshall became the sole proprietor of the Gazette. He removed the office into new quarters and fitted it up in the best manner, so that now it compares favorably in equipment with any country office in the State. In 1877 he engaged Mr. James W. Bridwell as city editor. Since that time the paper has improved very much as a local town and country journal, and is now enjoying a greater business prosperity than at any previous time in its history. It claims a circulation of one thousand, six hundred and fifty, and constantly increasing. For nearly thirty years after the settlement of Hillsborough the Gazette was the only newspaper in the town, During this time the Whig party had grown in numbers, power and influence, The Whigs for years felt the need of a party organ devoted to the promulgation of the principles of their party. The propriety of starting such a newspaper had often been considered by leading Whigs in the town and county. Nothing definite was done until the year 1836. In the autumn of that year negotiations looking to the establishment of a Whig paper in Hillsborough were opened with Mr. James Brown, a printer of Washington City. These resulted in Mr. Brown moving to Hillsborough early in the year 1837. He issued the first number of his paper called the Ohio News, on the 21st of April of that year. It was a five- column paper filled with general news, literary items and advertisements. The Whigs of the county gave the new paper a generous patronage, and it was self-supporting from the beginning. It advocated the principles of the Whig party, and took an active part in the exciting campaigns of 1840-44. During these years and afterward it had as contributors many local politicians of ability and education. Among these were Dr. John M. Johnston, Thomas Bereman, and others. For a short time, about 1848, the paper was edited by the late Judge James Sloane. Several editorials and contributions appeared in its columns at this time which created considerable interest and excitement in the county. Shortly after its foundation the name of the paper was changed from the Ohio News to the Highland News. The paper was leased one year to A. P. Russell, of Wilmington, who edited it during that time. Mr. Russell was a young man of fine literary attainments, and was shortly afterward elected secretary of State. During the war he was the financial agent of Ohio in New York. He is well known in literary circles as the author of "Half Tints" and "Library Notes," both of which books have a large sale. The Highland News was sold, in 1852, to Boardman & Hanna. It was published for one year by this firm, when it passed into the hands of J. L. Boardman, senior member of the above-named firm. He has been the editor and proprietor ever since. The changes in the ownership of the News have been but few, and it may be said to have been owned nearly all the time since its start by Mr. Brown first, and then Mr. Boardman. On the dissolution of the Whig party, the News became the organ of the Republican party, to the principles of which party its editor had always been inclined, The News has always exerted its influence for the prosperity of the town and county. It has been the zealous advocate of public schools, railroads, and other public improvements. It has always been in favor of temperance, and gives the aid of its columns to the various movements undertaken in the town and county. Since January, 1878, Edward L. Boardman, the son of the proprietor, has been associated with the paper, as local editor. His industry and zeal have imparted renewed interest to its columns. The News is in a prosperous condition, and claims a circulation of about one thousand, five hundred. While the Gazette and News are the only papers now published in Hillsborough, several others have been started. These met with varied success, but none of them survived very long. The first one of which we have any knowledge was a small four-page sheet, called the Compiler. This was issued from the Gazette office, about 1826, by James F. Wright, an apprentice in the office. It found considerable favor among the younger portion of the community, but was only published for about one year. The next newspaper enterprise was the starting of the American Citizen, an independent newspaper. This paper was commenced January 1, 1854, by William Rhoads, HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 149 as publisher, and Daniel Scott, as editor. At the outset it was independent in political opinions, and was devoted to literary matters and local news. The editor, Mr. Scott, was a member of the Highland county bar, and a gentleman of education and culture. The Citizen was carefully edited, and its literary contents were of a high order. About a year after the commencement of the paper the office was sold by Mr. Rhoads to Walker W. Doggett, who had for many years been foreman of the Gazette office. Mr. Scott continued as editor under the new publisher. The able manner in which the Citizen was edited soon gained it favor with the people, and its subscription list increased until it equalled that of either of the other papers. Mr. Scott, about this time, began, in its columns, an exhaustive history of Highland county. He bestowed a great deal of labor on this work, and its publication added to the popularity of the Citizen. The paper also became, for a time, the organ of the Know Nothing, and afterwards, of the American party. In the midst of the prosperity of his paper Mr. Doggett, the publisher, died, in 1857. The office was then sold at administrator's sale, and purchased by J. McVickers, who continued the publication of the paper, with Andrew B. Livingston as publisher, and Mr. Scott as editor. Under this arrangement the paper was published for about two years. Mr. Scott then severed his connection with it, and, soon afterwards, its publication was abandoned. The material of the office was sold off piecemeal, and most of it taken away from Hillsborough. Daniel Scott was, for five years, the editor of the Citizen. Whatever reputation the paper had was the result of his labors. While engaged on this paper, he commenced writing and publishing in its columns a history of Highland county. This ran through the issues of the paper for about two years, and was continued, after its suspension, in the Gazette for a few months. It is to be regretted that the work was given up by Mr. Scott before its completion. Editing the Citizen was, with Mr. Scott, a labor of love, for which he says he received less pay and less thanks than any man ever did for five years' work of any kind. A few years ago Mr. Scott removed to Girard, Kansas, where he now resides, enjoying a good practice as a lawyer. The next newspaper enterprise in Hillsborough was the starting of a paper called the Independent. This was commenced in March, 1862, by Myers & Haggerty, two printers. It was a small six column paper, independent in politics, but supported the prosecution of the war then going on. Its career was run in about three months, when it succumbed to a want of patronage. For a short time, Lewis A. Allen was engaged upon it as local editor. Another newspaper venture in Hillsborough was the Mail. This paper was started by C. C. Butler, in December, 1871. It was Republican in politics, and, for a time, divided with the News the patronage and support of the Republican party in town and county. The Mail was well printed, and edited with some ability, but did not receive sufficient patronage to establish it upon a paying basis. It was published for nearly two years, but financial difficulties overtaking the enterprise, a final number was issued October 5, 1873. The press and material were afterward the subject of litigation, and were sold at public sale. The editor of the Mail, C. C. Butler, was a man of education and very considerable literary ability. He lacked the capacity to coin these into greenbacks, with which to pay the expenses of a printing establishment. Since the Mail, there has been no effort to publish another newspaper in Hillsborough. The bad luck that has attended former enterprises seems to deter others from the attempt. That the field is fully occupied, seems to be the general impression. It is also conceded that the newspapers of Hillsborough have always been as good, if not better, than those of adjoining counties. Their influence has generally been on the side of right, and their columns have been but seldom disgraced by unseemly personalities. May they increase in prosperity and usefulness, and may the coming historian have much good to record of their future career. GREENFIELD PRESS. The first effort to establish a newspaper in Greenfield was a weakly one, and proved futile. An ambitious printer who came to the village in 1840, and engaged in turning out job work for the local merchants, proposed to start a small paper, but before any issue was made the would-be pubhsher met with sufficient discouragement to cause his removal to some other field of operations. John F. Wright, a botanic and steam doctor, came to Greenfield from Leesburgh, in 1844, and established a small paper, which is still remembered by a few of the older citizens. It was called the Paint Valley Spectator. There was not sufficient support for a paper to make its publication extremely fascinating, and hence Dr. Wright did not remain long in the business, though he resided for a number of years in the village. He was a man of considerable character, and the fact that during his stay in the town he was elected justice of the peace, is evidence that he was quite popular. He went from Greenfield to Cincinnati. The next publishers were Messrs. Strickland & Simmons. They bought out Wright, and published a paper during Polk's administration, for which they secured a fair support. The name of the paper was changed to the Greenfield Blade. Simmons died not long after entering into the newspaper business, and Strickland continued alone the publication of the journal, though for only a short time. C. D. Smith and James Gibson were the next publishers after Strickland, and there was a considerable interval between the departure of the latter and the arrival of the former. This firm issued their first paper—the Greenfield Independent, in the latter part of 1853, and it was the first Republican paper published in the town. Smith was the publisher or printer, and had charge of the mechanical department, while Gibson was the editor. The latter was a man of fine ability, and devoted a great 150 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO., deal of earnest and intelligent labor to the success of his journal and of the principles he had espoused. He came to Greenfield at the solicitation of the Rev. Dr. More and Judge Rothrock. After a little more than two years had elapsed, or early in 1854, Smith & Gibson sold out the paper, and retired from the business. Gib- son remained at Greenfield and practiced law. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in the army, and passed two years of danger and hardship. He died May 2, 1865, from disease contracted in the service, and his widow still resides in Greenfield. Smith removed to Indiana. U. H. Taylor purchased the Independent of Smith & Gibson and conducted the paper until a short time before the breaking out of the war. He brought large ability to the profession and threw his whole strength and talent in the work of getting up a good paper. He changed the name of the paper from the Independent to the Greenfield Illustrated News, and made the paper all that the name implied, publishing many very excellent woodcuts, chiefly portraits of prominet citizens. In 1860 the paper passed into the possession of his brother, George W. Taylor, who published it under the name of the Greenfield Republican until some time in 1861, when he leased it for a short period to one Eaton. G. F. Rucker bought the paper in the latter part of 1861 and remained its owner for about one year, finally sacrificing it that the men engaged in its publication might enter the army. When Mr. Rucker took the property he entrusted its management entirely to Thomas U. Sellers and Newton Hayes, who carried it along in excellent shape until August, 1862, when they enlisted in the army. After the material had lain idle for about a year, Mr. Rucker sold it to Solomon Burke, who edited for some time the Greenfield Republican. Lewis Allen had the paper for a short interval, and published it as the National Union, but it went again into the hands of Mr. Burke, and the name of the Republican was again displayed at its head. During the years of newspaper history which we have here briefly, but as perfectly as possible, outlined, the press in Greenfield underwent many changes of ownership and varying degrees of prosperity, but, toward the close of the period of the war, the paper became a very poorly paying property. It was in a very sadly deteriorated condition when, in 1865, it was purchased by Mr. G. W. Sprung. He took the weak and fast failing journal from Mr. Burke in the latter part of June, and brought out his first issue on the sixth of July, being assisted by his son. At the time of Mr, Sprung's purchase, the paper was a six column sheet, of rather poor appearance, and had a subscription list of only one hundred and fifty names. It was an up-hill task to bring it to a paying condition, but, by hard work, the new proprietor succeeded. When the first volume was completed, the name was changed to the Highland Chief, and the paper was enlarged to seven columns. Mr. Sprung had, for a short period—in 1869 as a rival the Highland Mail, a paper started by C. C. Butler, in Greenfield, not long after removed to Hillsborough. On October 9, 1871, the Chief and the material of the office became the property of R. R. Sprung, son of the former proprietor, who had from the first been associated with him in the management of the paper. The paper has ever since been in his control, and has been kept by him fully up to the standard it attained under his father. It is a well edited, newsy weekly paper, and of excellent typographical appearance. It has been unwaveringly Republican. Mr. G. W. Sprung, who is still connected with the paper, although the chief burden of responsibility falls upon his son, is one of the veteran printers and publishers of southern Ohio. He was born February 22, 1813, in Baltimore, Maryland, and learned his trade in a German printing office in Hanover, York county, Pennsylvania, serving as an apprentice from his eighth to his twenty-first year. He started, in 1834, as we see by a history of York county, a German paper called the Codorus Gazette, in Jefferson village. This he conducted for two years. After that, he was engaged at his trade in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, for two or three years, and then came, with his brother Alexander, to Columbus, Ohio, where they engaged in publishing a German paper. In 1840 the brothers removed to Marion, Ohio, where they started the Mirror, which they published for a number of years. Mr. Sprung removed from Marion to London, Madison county, Ohio, and remained in that town for twenty-one years, during which period, with- the exception of one year, he was engaged in publishing the Madison Chronicle, a paper which has been well known as one of the leading local organs of Whiggery and Republicanism. Mr. Sprung came directly from London to Greenfield.