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CHAPTER XXI.

THE PRESS.

History of Newspapers Published in Fremont, Clyde, Bellevue and Green Spring—Their Editors, Politics
Changes, &c.—A Mistake and its Consequences.

THE first step toward a complete civilization of a people is to open a way by which facts and ideas can be conveyed to and deposited in the storehouse of each one's heart and memory. This process may be likened to the removal from a highly productive region of country to other and new regions, rich by nature but unimproved and yielding nothing. 'To clear the way and prepare the track to such new region of undeveloped hearts and minds of the people is the peculiar office and result of common education. And here the simile ends, for the whole earth may, within some vast period of time, be reached and subdued, and put in direct or indirect communication with every other part. But new territory to be reached and developed in the cause of civilization will be found in every succeeding generation of men, and will be as perpetual as humanity itself.

When education has opened the way to the hearts and understandings of the people, then next in Importance comes

THE PRESS,

which may be likened to the locomotive and train attached, transporting rich cargoes of fact, science, thought, and information from the old to the new region; and when the new region is developed, the train returns with rich freights from the new to the old, thus establishing a vast exchange of new thought and facts to enrich the world.

The later inventions of the telegraph and telephone have not yet superseded the newspaper. The first is used for business chiefly, and beyond that is the hand

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maid of the press only; the second is too limited in its capacity for communication with the great masses of the people.

Notwithstanding the wonderful progress of invention, the newspaper yet remains the great engine for the rapid diffusion and transportation of facts and thoughts from mind to mind, and today stands the strongest helper in the great work of elevating mankind to a higher plane of sympathy and civilization.

It is probably true that the press has not always raised those seed thoughts of progress which have produced so much good. These have in part come from the scientist's laboratory, the advanced thinker's brain, or the pulpit. But the press has sown the good seeds of progress, from whatever source they came, further, wider, and more broadcast amongst the people than any other instrumentality among men.

It is, therefore, fitting that, whatever has been done toward establishing and supporting the press here should be made part of the county's history. Such a record will furnish interesting matter for reference and comparison in the future, and at the same time be only an act of justice to those who worked so hard, under financial discouragements, to establish this great medium of communication amongst the people of the county.

LOWER SANDUSKY GAZETTE.

The first printing press brought to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), was a small hand press, introduced by David Smith. The first paper printed on it was called the Lower Sandusky Gazette, edited and published, and in fact printed by the proprietor himself, alone, he being the only hand about the office. The first number was issued in July, 1829. The size of this paper when opened and entirely spread out, was seventeen by twenty-one inches, by exact measurement. Theeditor and publisher, type-setter and press man, all in one person, was a thin, pale, slip-shod specimen of humanity. He always wore his shoes, or rather slippers, broken down at the heels, and his socks were ragged. He was afflicted in the autumn of the year 1829, soon after the commencement of his brave enterprise, with fever and ague, which at that time no person of fashion was without in the dread month of September, who resided at Lower Sandusky. The editor and publisher's woodpile was always out doors in front of his office, and the pieces were eight feet long, to be chopped by himself into proper lengths of about four feet for the fireplace, from which the whole office was to be warmed in the winter. He would leave the care of the press whenever the temperature of his office fell near the freezing point, and go out to chop wood to replenish his fire, warm up the office, and then resume his place at the press, or case, or the editorial table, as the case might be. While, after a sudden, cold snap in the weather, Smith was cutting wood one winter in the snow, his heels being bare, were frozen before he could cut sufficient wood for the night, and his feet remained sore for a long time, during which kind friends volunteered to cut and carry in his firewood.

Smith found after a while that the paper would not pay, and being generally disgusted, left the country with his press, and the Lower Sandusky Gazette died of malaria and hard times at the age of about eighteen months. The future life and fate of Mr. Smith is not obtainable at the present day, but wherever he may be, whatever his fate, David Smith stands as the pioneer newspaper editor and publisher of the county, and we cheerfully give him the honor in return for his daring and sufferings in the attempt to establish a paper at that early day in Lower Sandusky.

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Mr. Reuben Rice, now deceased, late of Ottawa county, near Elmore, in a communication for the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society, on the 26th of August, 1875, said he was a practical printer, and settled on Portage River in 1823, after spending some time at Lower Sandusky and trading there. Mr. Rice, in this communication, further said:

That in the year 18 - year not recollected—there was a man by the name of Smith started a paper at Lower Sandusky, called, I think, the Lower Sandusky Gazette. He was taken sick and he—no, he didn't,—but his paper drooped and died, not a natural death ; but Sandusky being at that time a place infested with the effluvia arising from the marshes and stagnant waters, jeopardized almost every thing that had life, and some things inanimate as well as animate, suffered from the malaria of a sickly place, so the printing of the paper died out though the printing materials he removed. I had the honor of printing said paper for a few weeks while the editor and proprietor was sick, but whether this had a tendency to bring about a more speedy termination of the malady with which said paper was afflicted, I know not, but this I do know, that the paper was to no great degree benefitted by the operation, as the sequel goes to prove.

It is not known now that the Lower Sandusky Gazette was the organ or advocate of any political party, church, or sect. It was probably only a newspaper and advertising medium of no marked proclivities or objects except to live, and in this primary object it failed. From some time in 1831 to the month of June or July, 1837, a period of more than six years, no paper was printed in Lower Sandusky, and newspapers published in other localities and townships, which, in a small village is about equal to a daily paper, fed the appetite for news.

The next venture in the way of newspaper publication in Lower Sandusky was the publication of

THE LOWER SANDUSKY TIMES.

The press for this paper was brought here by Alvin G. White, who edited and published it for a time, under the auspices of some leading politicians of the county who were opposed to the administration of Martin Van Buren. The first number was issued in June or July, A. D. 1837. It was, under the management of Mr. White, a very useful medium for advertising, and in advocating moral order in society. Mr. White published the Lower Sandusky Times several years, when ill health caused him to retire, and Peter Yates succeeded him in the management and editing of the paper. Mr. Yates was a bitter partisan and a most acrimonious writer, and tinder his management the paper lost ground in popularity and patronage. The Democratic party being in the ascendancy in the county, it had no public patronage, and was printed at a loss to those interested. Mr. Yates' sharp, personal attacks on men, and the bitterness in the treatment of the feelings and opinions of the party opposed to him, finally resulted in a transfer of the management, and a change of the name of the paper. In 1839 Clark Waggoner, then a young printer, was placed in charge of the press and materials of the office, and commenced the publication of the.

LOWER SANDUSKY WHIG.

At this time events were tending to a great political excitement. Mr. Ogle, of Pennsylvania, had made his remarkable expose, in Congress, of the extravagance of the administration of Martin VanBuren. His great speech about the gold spoons and other golden furniture of the White House, and the immense defalcations which had taken place under his administration, amongst which was the notable defalcation of Swartwout, collector of customs in New York, were being exposed, and party spirit was being aroused under the cry of reform. The Lower Sandusky Whig, printed and published by Mr. Waggoner, was the organ of the Whig party of

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the county, through the memorable campaign of 1840. It had the patronage and support of such men as Ralph P. Buckland, who was an active leader in the Whig party, with many other able and influential men, such as Revirius Bidwell, John A. Johnson, Dr. L. G. Harkness, Barney Kline, Amos Fenn, Frederick Chapman, Alpheus McIntyre, William S. Russell, Norton Russell, Caleb H. Bidwell, Elisha W. Howland, Thomas L. Hawkins, Dr. Thomas Stillwell, and many others, whose names do not now occur to the writer, who took an interest in the support of the paper, and many of whom became contributors to its columns. Some of these men still live, and will remember the political contest; but most of them have "passed to that bourne from whence no traveller returns," unless they return to communicate with the Spiritualists. It was in the heated campaign of 184o that the now veteran editor of the Fremont Journal, Isaac M. Keeler, took his first lessons in the art of printing. The paper became an effective one in the campaign of 184o, and was rewarded for its labors by the triumph of its party in the election of William Henry Harrison to the Presidency.

It is proper here to place on record a description of the printing press on which the Lower Sandusky Whig was printed. It was what was called a "Ramage," almost a facsimile of Benjamin Franklin's old press, now so carefully preserved in the patent office in Washington, and the same one on which, years before, the Albany Argus had been printed. With three pulls to print one side of the paper, it was no small job to work off an edition.

The Lower Sandusky Whig was, after a few years, transferred to John Shrenk and changed to the

LOWER SANDUSKY TELEGRAPH.

Mr. Shrenk edited and published the paper with fair success until March, 1849, when it was purchased by James S. Fouke, who changed the name and edited and published it under the title of the

LOWER SANDUSKY FREEMAN.

When, at the October term of the Court of Common Pleas, the name of the city was changed from Lower Sandusky to Fremont, of course the name of the paper was changed accordingly. Mr. Fouke edited and published the paper until November 6, 1852, when it was transferred to Mr. J. M. Main, who issued about six numbers, when he sold the office.

On the 27th of January, 1853, Mr. I. W. Booth commenced, with the same press, the publication of

THE FREMONT JOURNAL,

and continued it until December 24, 1853, when John Mastin, became the sole proprietor.

On the 26th day of May, 1854, Isaac M. Keeler purchased a one-half interest in the press and paper, and became the editor of it, and continued the publication under the firm name of Mastin & Keeler.

On the 1st of December, 1854, Mr. Keeler bought out Mr. Mastin's interest and became editor and sole proprietor. Under Mr. Keeler's management the paper flourished, and became not only a paying concern, but the best record of passing events, local and national, in the county. He managed it carefully and ably in the interest of the city and county, and was always stalwart and able on the side of morality, law and order, and the right in politics, as he understood the right. The paper was born a Whig, and under his management did good service to that party, and also the Republican party since its organization.

Mr. Keeler continued to publish and edit the Journal until the 15th of Septem-

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ber, 1865, when he sold the establishment to Redway Brothers, under whose management the paper was published until the 5th of October, 1866, when they sold out to Messrs. Wilcox and Greene.

On the 22d of May, 1868, Mr. Wilcox sold his interest in the paper to his partner, J. H. Greene, who managed it some months, when he sold the establishment to A. H. Balsley. Mr. Balsley continued in the management of the paper until November 12, 1875, when Messrs. Harford & Grove became the proprietors and publishers, and conducted the Journal until December 12, 1877, when Mr. Keeler again became the owner of the Journal office, and resumed control of the paper, after having been out of the publishing business for more than twelve years.

The frequent changes in the management of the paper had not improved it in either popularity or profit in the publication of it.

Mr. Keeler says that in all the twelve years he was engaged in other business he had a yearning for the Journal office, where, for a period of twenty-five years, he had labored almost continuously.

Since Mr. Keeler resumed the management of the Fremont Journal, it has been much improved in all respects. It is now on a sound financial basis. The Journal is now printed on a Wells' cylinder power press, moved by steam power. It has in the job-room two steam power-presses, and has a full patronage.

Mr. Keeler, it is true, continues to edit and manage the paper, but has associated with him his son Samuel, who is local editor, and who is now in well advanced training in the newspaper business. The father now regrets that he ever left the management of the Journal. He intends, however, when the course of human events shall disable him from the proper discharge of editorial labors, that his son,who is already a promising proficient in the business, shall become the editor and manager of the Journal, and the indications are now quite plain that whenever the Fremont Journal shall pass to the control and management of the son the paper will be fully sustained in all those qualities which make it an able, and pure, and popular county newspaper.

The Lower Sandusky Times, the Lower Sandusky Whig, the Lower Sandusky Telegraph, and the Lower Sandusky Freeman were all staunch advocates of the Whig party and its principles, and the Fremont Journal has always been an earnest Republican paper, and has been consistent in urging the party to organize and contend for its principles. It opposed the election of Buchanan, and supported the war for the Union. with zeal and great effect.

THE SANDUSKY COUNTY DEMOCRAT.

It should be noticed that the Lower Sandusky Times, which by sundry mutilations and changes of name became the Fremont Journal, was first issued in Lower Sandusky in June or July, 1837. It soon appeared that A. G. White, the editor, was opposed to the Democratic party. After a few months the political course became clearly apparent, as it grew more and more pronounced in its political inclinations: This at once aroused the attention of the dominant Democracy, and they at once began to counsel, and devise the ways and means of meeting the advantages which the opposition had acquired by the establishment of a party organ in the county.

About this time Adolphus Creamer had purchased a tract of land at the head of navigation of the Portage River, then in Sandusky, but now in Ottawa county, and had laid off and platted a town there, which was named Hartford, and was to become a great city. Among

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other wise things, Mr. Kreamer, in order to make known the existence of the future city of Hartford, had determined to start a newspaper there, and had obtained for that purpose a printing press and type for a newspaper and moved them from Toledo to Hartford. It was an old and second-hand press, as was also the material. Mr. Kreamer was a good Democrat, and Hartford was then in the bounds of the county. The newspaper material had lain there some time but the paper did not make its appearance. A financial crisis occurred, and the sale of town lots in a wilderness, as Hartford was at that time, was cut off and the future prospects of the embryo town were shadowed by thick, dark clouds.

In the fall of 1837, about three months after the advent of the Lower Sandusky Times, the leaders of the Democratic party were called together for consultation upon the question of establishing a Democratic paper in Lower Sandusky. John Bell was perhaps foremost in this enterprise and was chairman of the meeting. An association was formed to purchase a press and publish a Democratic paper. Stock was liberally subscribed, and a committee appointed to visit Hartford and endeavor to negotiate with Mr. Kreamer for his press and printing material. In due time the committee reported, and the press and printing material were finally purchased for twelve hundred dollars. The press, etc., was hauled by wagon from Hartford up the Portage River to the Maumee and Western Reserve road, and by that to Lower Sandusky. The paper was to be published by the joint stock company, not incorporated, and was to be under the control of a committee, of which John Bell was chairman. A young printer by the name of William Davis was employed to superintend the mechanical department, and the editing was to be done by anyone who wished to write for the paper, the matter subject to the admission or rejection of the committee. The first number of the paper, under the title of the Sandusky County Democrat, was issued in the fall of 1837. The paper was managed in this way for a year, perhaps a year and a half, when it was found not to pay expenses. The office was, during this time, on the second floor of the old building on the southwest corner of Front and Croghan streets, where the First National Bank now (1881) stands. The company afterward gave the publication of the paper entirely into the hands of William Davis, the printer, on his agreement to faithfully publish and edit the paper, and to keep the stockholders from further charges and expense.

Mr. Davis took charge of the paper on these conditions, and managed it to some profit for himself until after the October election of 1838. At this election Homer Everett, then a young man not quite twenty-five years of age, was elected sheriff of the county. Everett had written for the paper during the campaign, and on his election to the office, of course, became the dispenser of considerable advertising patronage. For, be it remembered that the financial crisis of 1836 and 1837 produced more sheriff's sales than any period before or since in the history of the county.

The stockholders by this time had become willing to donate their subscription for the benefit of the party, if the paper could be continued without further charge upon them. There was about four hundred dollars still due from the committee who had given their notes for the press, and they offered it to Mr. Davis if he would print the paper and pay that sum, or keep the signers harmless from the notes. On these conditions Everett and Davis bought the paper in the fall of 1838, or early in

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the year 1839. From this time Everett & Davis published the Sandusky County Democrat until 1842, when they dissolved, and at which time Everett was admitted to the bar, and entered the practice of the law in partnership with Nathaniel B. Eddy. Mr. Davis continued to publish the paper until some time in the year 1842, when he sold it to Charles J. Orton, who, fur a time, had sole charge of it, after which Edward F. Dickinson bought an interest in the paper, and it was published a while by the firm of Orton & Dickinson, who transferred it to John Flaugher. Mr. Flaugher was a high-minded, honorable man, and a true Democrat, but his views on slavery and the war of the Rebellion were not satisfactory to the anti-war and pro-slavery portion of the Democratic party, who gave it a rather poor support, and the paper lost patronage and influence. In fact, as early as 1856, during the great discussion over the extension of slavery, the leaders of the extreme pro-slavery portion of the Democrats of the county started another paper, which drew off a large part of the patronage formerly enjoyed by the Sandusky County Democrat, and it had a hard struggle for life until, sometime in the spring of 1856, Mr. Flaugher sold the press and materials of the Democrat to Isaac M. Keeler, and the publication of the paper caused the radical pro-slavery Democrats of the county, who were dissatisfied with the principles advocated by the Democrat, to combine and bring about the establishment, in 1856, of

THE DEMOCRATIC MESSENGER.

This paper was started in 1856, under the editorial control of Jacob D. Botefur, who came from Boston. Mr. Botefur successfully conducted the paper for several years, but he had been reared where Democracy was composed of men of different characteristics from those of Sandusky county. Although his Democracy was radical enough, he did not understand the mental and moral condition, or tastes of those who supported the Messenger, and it was thought best for the party to put the paper in charge of men to the manor born, and Mr. Botefur accordingly sold out and retired from the editorial charge of the Messenger, and it passed to the hands and control of John B. B. Dickinson. After managing the paper for some time successfully, and with more talent than the paper before had shown, he was willing to retire from the charge of the paper, and sold it to Messrs. John and Frank Foulke, brothers, and young men of some literary aptness, but of too romantic proclivities to make a solid Democratic paper. The Foulke Brothers, after a short experiment, failed to please the Democracy, and failed financially.

This condition of things resulted in a transfer of the press and materials for the printing of the Democratic Messenger to Mordecai P. Bean, who assumed the editorship and publication of the paper. For a time Mr. Bean conducted the paper and gave it considerable party popularity, but the patronage declined and the party then placed the paper in charge of . J. S. Van Valkenburg, who conducted it until about the 1st day of April, 1872, when the establishment passed to the control of James M. Osborne, who had been a partner with Van Valkenburg about one year before, and who took charge as editor and publisher. Since Mr. Osborn took charge of the paper it has been a well-conducted political journal, thoroughly and decidedly Democratic. It is well received as the organ of the Democracy of the county. The Messenger office has a steam power-press, and a large job office attached, which is doing a thriving business aside from the patronage of the county officials, who are all of the Messenger's political party.

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THE FREMONT COURIER.

This is a weekly paper published in Fremont, in the German language, to supply the reading wants of a large, industrious, and intelligent portion of the inhabitants of Sandusky county. The Courier was founded and first published in Fremont, March 10, 1859, by Dr. Ferdinand Wilmer, a German physician by birth and education. Dr. Wilmer was a man of much learning, a ready translator of the English and German languages, and became at once, through his paper, the advocate of the most extreme party measures of the Democratic organization. Dr. Wilmer was not a practical printer, and Mr. George Homan was the printer of the Courier until the 14th of June, 186o, when Mr. Homan withdrew from the firm, and Dr. Wilmer assumed sole control of the paper until August 28, 1862, at which time Mr. Paul Knerr took charge of the mechanical department of the office. Dr. Wilmer, however, continued as editor until the 6th day of November, 1862, when he sold the office to George Homan.

It was during the day of the 18th of April, 1861, when the excitement produced by the Rebellion was kindling into flame, and many patriotic Democrats were going into the service to fight for the Union, that one forenoon the Fremont Courier, printed that day, fell into the hands of Frederick Fabing, a prominent German citizen of Fremont and a thoroughly patriotic man at heart. Mr. Fabing read and translated an editorial article to the bystanders. The Courier was, at the time spoken of, printed in the third story of what is now known as White's block, corner of Front and Croghan streets.

The effect of this article in the Courier so well illustrates the temper of the times, that we give it as a part of the history of the Courier, as well as to show to future generations the true state of feeling at that memorable time. This can not better be done than by a simple and brief narration of what followed Mr. Fabing's interpretation of the Courier's article.

In thirty minutes after the nature of the article was made known by Fabing, Front and Croghan streets, facing the Courier office, were filled with men. There were men with set teeth, and pale countenances, and eyes that expressed unutterable indignation; in fact, the whole crowd, numbering from five hundred to a thousand determined and angry men, had congregated under the windows of the office. One of the most pallid countenances in that crowd was our cool, level-minded fellow-citizen, Stephen Buckland, as patriotic a man as the city contained, and it contained many good ones. As he saw the crowd swelling and every moment becoming more threatening, he secured a location on the northwest corner of Front and Croghan streets. Colonel R. P. Buckland and Charles O. Tillotson took a position about half way up the outside stair leading to the Courier office.

When the storm was about to burst, and a movement of the crowd, and the utterances from below indicated a rush up stairs, with threats looking to the destruction of the office, and to serious personal injury, if not the life of the editor of the Courier, Stephen Buckland mounted a railing running along the street, near the northwest corner of Front and Croghan streets, and holding by an awning post, called the meeting to order, saying, that if the paper had done wrong, as was claimed, he was in favor of doing all that was fair to suppress it. "True," said he "the paper can speak to thousands while by our words .we can speak to few. Now," said Mr. Buckland, "we must not do anything unmanly or rash. I move that Judge John L. Green be chosen chairman of this meeting, that we may deliberate in an

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orderly manner." The crowd listened, and Mr. Green was chosen chairman.

This firm and manly stand by Mr. Buckland had the desired effect. A committee was chosen, consisting of William E. Haynes, Charles O. Tillotson, Doctor Robert S. Rice, and Jacob Snyder, who were at once permitted to pass up the stairs to perform the duty assigned them.

In less than five minutes after the committee passed Tillotson and R. P. Buckland on the stairs, a window of the Courier office was raised, and the whole edition of the Courier, containing the offensive article, came whirling down like leaves upon the pavement. The papers were carefully piled near the middle of the street, and every one burned to ashes. None of the edition had been sent beyond the city limits, and the angry multitude was satisfied when the committee announced from the window that the whole edition was destroyed, and the type which printed the offensive article distributed, and that the paper would print no more articles to prevent the enlistment of men in the Union army.

The following is the translation of the offensive article, which appeared as editorial in the Courier of April 18, 1861:

The Union in its past proportions is irrevocably lost. The Republicans will be answerable at the judgment seat of history for the annihilation of the freest republic in the world, and the curse of the oppressed, whom they have robbed of the last place of refuge, and last hope that could become their part. The Republicans are now everywhere calling meetings of all citizens, irrespective of party, to devise means how to support the Government. They succeed in their ruse to get some easily deceived Democrats into their trap. We caution all our Democratic friends to take no active part In such meetings, for after the first heat of the excitement is over, they will repent of having been caught in such a dull way.

The next day, April 19, 1861, the Fremont Journal published the foregoing interpretation of the Courier's article, with the following comment:

When the liberty-loving citizens of our town and vicinity, without distinction of party, understood the above, their indignation knew no bounds. They at once secured an American flag and took it to that office, and saw that it was flung to the breeze from out of the window.

The edition of the Courier, which had just been printed, was destroyed, and the editor requested to issue an extra, both in the English and German language, giving some explanation of his treasonable and palpably false article, which he did.

DOCTOR WILMER'S CARD.

A CARD TO THE PUBLIC.—An article which appeared in my paper of this morning, it seems, has created an immense excitement in our town. But few papers have been circulated, the balance of the edition has been destroyed. I declare to the public, upon my honor as a man, that it never has been, and is not now, my intention to write or publish a word, or to commit any action, against the General or State Government, of advise it to be done by others.

F. WILMER.

Isaac M. Keeler was, at the time spoken of, when this affair occurred, editor of the Fremont Journal, and appended to Dr. Wilmer's card in his paper, the following fair and manly editorial comments:

The above explanation seems to have satisfied the people. We do not think Mr. Wilmer is a secessionist, or that he really had any intention of injuring the Government, but that he has permitted the partisan 1o get the upper hand of his patriotism. Let us all now throw aside party feeling, and unite in an endeavor to save the country at this serious crisis of its existence. Neither party, nativity, or sect, should now stand in the way of a hearty union of the people for putting down treason and rebellion, and of restoring peace and civil liberty to the whole country.

Mr. Homan continued the publication of the Courier until July, 1865. He, however, labored under some disadvantages, arising from the war, and. the position he had taken on that question. He therefore concluded to discontinue the publication of the paper, and its issue was suspended for a period of about eighteen months, when Messrs. Anthony Young and Paul Knerr bought the office, and recommenced the Courier, which again appeared. In 1867 Mr. Young sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Knerr, who remained the sole owner until

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1870, in which year Dr. Wilmer, who all the time edited the paper, became a partner with Mr. Knerr. Dr. Wilmer stood thus connected with the paper until his death, which took place on the 17th of July, 1879. Mr. Joseph Zimmerman, an editor from Cleveland, at once took charge of the editorial management of the paper. Mr. Knerr, meantime, bought of Dr. Wilmer's widow the interest his estate held in the paper, and continued to be sole proprietor of the Courier until July 1, 1881, at which date Mr. Zimmerman, by purchase, became sole proprietor of the concern, and so remains sole editor and proprietor of the paper.

The Courier is now doing well. Mr. Zimmerman is a fine writer, as well as a gentleman of winning manners, whose management and talents will make the Courier welcome to the German reading citizens of the county and elsewhere. While thoroughly Democratic, Mr. Zimmerman is not of that bitter partisan nature which will make his paper odious to his opponents; on the other hand, he is a gentleman of such broad views and intelligence, that no doubt the paper will prosper under his management.

THE CLYDE TIMES.

Mr. Joseph C. Loveland has the honor of making the first attempt to establish a newspaper at Clyde. He issued the Clyde Times in April, 1866, sold it in 1867 to J. M. Lemmon and Mr. Notly, who continued the publication about one year, and sold out to parties from Elmore, in Ottawa county, who moved the press and material away.

THE CLYDE NEWS

was the next paper printed in Clyde. It was started by Clark Brothers, from Berea, in 1868. Six months afterwards one of the brothers died and the printing of the paper was for a time suspended. In the fall of the year 1868, George E. Sweetland & Brothers bought the material and resumed the publication of the paper. In 1869 H. H. Sweetland became the sole owner, and for a time published the paper; then L. D. Sweetland bought an interest in the business. The two Sweetland brothers last named carried on the paper until 1870, when it was discontinued for want of support.

THE CLYDE INDEPENDENT.

This paper was started by W. W. White in 1870, who conducted it until 1874, when he sold the paper, and material for printing it, to F. J. Tuttle, on whose hands the paper lost patronage and died within a year. Mr. White emigrated to Canada, and, after his departure it was revealed that he had so badly dealt with the patrons of the paper as to ruin it, hence the chief cause of its failure in the hands of Mr. Tuttle.

THE CLYDE REVIEW.

In 1873 Mr. George E. Sweetland returned to Clyde and commenced the publication of the Clyde Review, and carried it on until August, 1877, when he suddenly removed the press and material, and himself also, to the State of Michigan, and the publication of the Review was discontinued. In August, 1881, Mr. Sweetland came back to Clyde and resumed the publication of the Review, beginning where he left off in 1877. It is a small sheet, printed in an amateur office owned by William Frederick, publisher of an insurance paper, Mr. Sweetland having no office or printing material of his own.

THE CLYDE SENTINEL.

In the winter of 1874–75 A. D. Ames, who was publishing a paper at Green Spring, came to Clyde and began the publication of the Clyde Sentinel. George J. Holgate afterwards became his partner, and, in company with his brother, R. P.

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Holgate, subsequently bought the paper and material. The Sentinel was discontinued in May, 1880, when it became merged in the

CLYDE ENTERPRISE.

The Enterprise was established in March, 1878, by Mr. H. F. Paden, with whom H. N. Lay was a partner until May, 1880, and A. D. Kinney from that date until July, 1881. In May, 1880, as above mentioned, the Clyde Sentinel was discontinued as a distinct publication, and its material and subscription list transferred to the Enterprise. The Enterprise, under the management of Mr. Paden, has become a public favorite. He wields a free, graceful, and fluent pen, and is a genial gentleman, of straightout Republican principles, though courteous to opponents when duty will permit him to be so. The Enterprise under his editorial control has obtained a much larger circulation than any former paper of Clyde, and seems to rest on a solid foundation, not only financially, but in public favor. While we acknowledge ourselves under obligation for much information concerning the press at Clyde, we must clear him of egotism by saying that the favorable comments on Mr. Paden and his paper are made by the writer, and must not be attributed to himself.

THE PRESS OF BELLEVUE.

Although the wealthy, pleasant village of Bellevue is not wholly within Sandusky county, it may be interesting to some of the people of the county to have the history of the whole press of that place put on record in this work, and we therefore do so.

The first venture was made by G. W. Hopkins, in the fall of 1851. He opened an office in the old Howard house—now defunct—on Monroe street, and issued

THE BELLEVUE GAZETTE,

with the still more pretentious title 0f Huron, Seneca, Erie, and Sandusky Advertiser, having a spread eagle at its masthead, bearing a scroll with "open to all" emblazoned upon it. The paper was a five-column folio, in coarse type, devoted to current news and the ventilation of such ideas as contributors were ambitious to furnish. C. C. Cook, at present deputy postmaster, served in the capacity of "devil," thus being the first "printer's devil." His most vivid remembrance is that of his duty to ink the forms on an old wooden Franklin press—a duty with little sentiment and no poetry to allure him on to continued service. The people felt disposed to give the paper a fair support, but its editor was a victim to that human bane—strong drink; so, after a brilliant but brief career of six months, the fledgling perished.

In April of 1861, Mr. O. B. Chapman opened a printing office in Squire's block, corner of Main and Sandusky streets, and issued

THE BELLEVUE INDEPENDENT,

a seven-column folio, devoted to general and local news. This was the first year of the great rebellion, and it would seem that the stirring events of those times would furnish the necessary pabulum to make it a success. But it continued only a short time, and then perished for reasons not now apparent.

We now come to consider the first successful paper established in the village—one to which the town is largely indebted for many of its most valued improvements, being always intensely devoted to the welfare of the place and the advocacy of such public works and measures as would secure its greatest prosperity. We therefore think its editor worthy of more than a passing notice. Mr. E. P. Brown says of himself that he was born at Oxford,

HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 239

Ohio, March 5, 1842, of distressingly poor but outrageously honest parents, and claims that the laws of hereditary transmission have not, therefore, allowed him a fair chance. His early life was one of toil, with little advantage in the way of education, an old darkey preacher being his best tutor, but was successful in obtaining a "sheepskin" in a public school and valedictory honors. He learned the trade of printer in the office of the Oxford Citizen at the age of fourteen, when he obtained employment in a Cincinnati job office. He enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio volunteer infantry at Urbana, Ohio, in 1861, and fought the enemies of his country for two years, lacking a week, serving in all the engagements of that regiment until the battle of Shiloh, when a rebel bullet between the eyes placed him hors du combat. He was left for dead, and was thus reported, and had the pleasure of reading his own obituary, containing much of a laudatory nature, a privilege seldom accorded the human family; but subsequent events show him to be an exceedingly lively corpse. His wound gave him an honorable discharge from the Thirteenth, but he finally reentered the army in the one hundred day's service as substitute for a Dutchman, in the One Hundred and sixty-seventh regiment, receiving three hundred dollars therefor. After the close of the war Mr. Brown casually made the acquaintance of William L. Meyers, of the Tiffin Tribune, who proved a fast, firm friend, and proposed that, since Bellevue was an excellent place to establish a paper, they embark together in the enterprise. They did so, but at the end of the first six weeks Mr. Meyers became discouraged and sold his interest to his partner for four hundred and fifty dollars, on a year's time. Mr. Brown himself had had but two years' experience in editorial work, and never managed anoffice on his own responsibility, hence he entered upon it with fear and trembling, almost certain he would fail inside the first six months. The outfit of type was purchased of the Franklin foundry, amounting to eight hundred and twenty-three dollars. A six-column Washington hand press and a half-medium Wells' jobber was purchased second hand of other parties, for two hundred and thirty-seven dollars. This comprised the outfit. On Saturday, August 10, 1867, the first number of

THE BELLEVUE GAZETTE

saw the light. The interest taken by the business men in the success of the paper is shown by the material aid they accorded it. C. A. Willard, a leading business man, solicited all the subscriptions. Business men pledged one thousand two hundred dollars, deposited in Sinclair's bank, to be paid at the first issue, and taken in advertising during the first year, which was conscientiously done, and made the capital used by the energetic, intelligent, and careful management of Mr. Brown, insuring success.

At the time the first number was printed, an all-absorbing interest gathered around the press. Indeed, the room was full, and as the clean, handsome twenty-four-column sheet was taken off the press, Mr. Willard's rhapsody was beyond expression. Peter Brady, present village mayor, was present, and as deeply interested as any until, in looking over the church notices, the blunder was discovered of dubbing him Rev. Peter Brady, pastor of the Catholic church. This was too much, and any idea that the editor may have had that Mr. Brady was a member of the clerical profession was immediately dispelled then and there. Proper correction being made, the printing of the edition proceeded.

240 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.

Under Mr. Brown's careful management and the fulfillment of every anticipation the citizens may have had as to the benefits the village would derive from the paper, it proved an unbounded success, and all fears on his part of a failure were dispelled like clouds before the morning sun. In the course of the next three years Mr. Brown purchased a Hoe cylinder railroad press at a bargain, one which originally belonged to Dan Rice, and was used to print his show bills. This enabled him to branch out in the business. He, therefore, engaged in furnishing ready-prints for other offices, and introduced steam. Business increased on his hands until Mr. Aiken, the originator of the ready-print method of publishing newspapers, made him a very advantageous offer to accept the management of a new establishment in Cincinnati, which he did, and ultimately became, as he is now, the sole proprietor—only another example of what pluck, energy, and good management will do.

Mr. E. J. Hammer bought the Gazette when Mr. Brown went to Cincinnati, entering upon its management July 1, 1874. Mr. Hammer was not a large man, but had large ideas, aspiring to greater things than the conduct of a one-horse country paper. Although that was very well done, yet his more ambitious views led him to unite with George B. Pratt to start the Norwalk Chronicle, which, being a county paper, was a step, at least, in the direction of excelsior. He finally turned the Gazette over to his father, Rev. George Hammer, of Van Wert, Ohio. The old gentleman, though very kindly disposed, had little or no practical skill in the publishing business, hence found it an elephant on his hands. In the spring of 1877, he sold it to Messrs. C. D. Stoner and S. C. Thompson, under whose care the paper throve, finding a cordial, generous support among the people of the community, whose attachment for an old friend was proof against mismanagement of the former proprietors, as well as the machinations of enemies. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Thompson retired from the paper, and C. D. Stoner conducted it until the following year, when he associated with himself Mr. C. R. Callighan, a promising young man, under the firm name of Stoner & Callighan, who continue the publication with a fair degree of success.

At the time, Mr. E. J. Hammer had started the Chronicle, and therefore contemplated the sale of the Gazette, as well as removal to Norwalk, H. F. Baker, son of Hiram Baker, one of the early pioneer settlers in Lyme township, proposed to buy it, but, unable to agree upon the price, he decided to purchase new material and start another paper. He had really no experience in the printing business, but his son, H. L. Baker, had mastered some of the intricacies of the trade in the Gazette office, and having a natural tact for it, they together hoped to make their venture a success. This determination was acted upon; an office was opened in the new Union block, and on Thursday, October 21, 1875, the first number of

THE BELLEVUE LOCAL NEWS

was issued. The paper flourished from the start. Being managed with full average ability, and by those brought up in the community, well versed in all its lore, it represents the local interests of the town with greater intensity than any other has been able to do. In April, 1878, Mr. Baker purchased the old Burlington stone building, contiguous to the new city hall, and tearing down the old front, rebuilt of brick in the same style of the city hall, which together make as fine a block among the many fine business houses as the town can boast. The proprietors put steam presses and engine into their new quarters and are conducting a flourishing business.