350 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY wig came to the door and turned the sign up or down, as it was nine or three. The men who managed this institution were not only men of capital but men of brains also." Union National Bank. When the Western Reserve Bank went out of business the new bank, under the name of the First National, was formed, composed largely of the same stockholders and the same officers. The capital stock was $125,000, with a privilege of raising to $300,000. The following were elected directors of the organization : Samuel Quinby, Frederick Kinsman, Louis J. Iddings, B. P. Jameson, M. B. Tayler, H. B. Perkins, and J. H. McCombs. H. B. Perkins was elected president, and George Tayler cashier. George Tayler, who had been connected with the Western Reserve Bank, died in 1864, and his brother, MI B.. was elected to fill his place and served faithfully in that capacity for many years. He died in 1880. John H. McCombs succeeded him. William R. Stiles succeeded Mr. McCombs, and John H. Nelson was the last cashier of that bank. The Warren Savings Bank, organized with William Wallace, president; H. S. Pew, vice president; Oscar Caldwell, cashier, occupied the room where McClure's drug store now is for a number of years and did .a good business. Without cause, two or three times, runs were started on this bank, but so firm was the foundation that no harm was done it. A bank known as the Commercial National Bank was organized a little later than the Warren Savings 'Bank. When the spirit of combination entered into business concerns, banks in the Valley began to combine and the Commercial was absorbed by the First National. A little later the Warren Savings Bank combined with the First National, and as the three were in one, the name was changed to the Union National Bank. This bank occupied the building erected by the First National on the spot of the historic Western Reserve, and the stockholders, many of them, are the descendants of the original stockholders of the Western Reserve. The president of the bank is T. H. Gillmer; the cashier, William Wallace, and the board of directors is as follows : T. H. Gillmer, H. S. Pew, George H. Tayler, R. A. Cobb, John W. Masters, Alexander McKee, W. A. Smith, W. T. Griswold, J. L. Herzog, W. G. Lamb, D. R. Gilbert, O. A. HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 351 Caldwell, S. B. Craig, Henry Q. Stiles, C. C. Clawson, F. K. Smith, William Wallace. Second National Bank. The Second National Bank was organized in 1880 through the instrumentality of Kirt M. Fitch. D. J. Adams was the president; Aaron Wentz, vice-president; Kirt M. Fitch, cashier. The directors were K. M. Fitch, C. A. Harrington, R. W. Ratliff, Aaron Wentz, J. O. Hart, S. F. Bartlett, E. Finney, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lynn, D. J. Adams and A. A. Drake. A. B. Camp was teller. The stock was issued at $100 a share and the amount was $100,000. This bank was opened in the Iddings Block. It was a very profitable business undertaking for some time, when it met with loss through its cashier, and was afterwards reorganized. Gen. R. W. .Ratliff became the cashier and S. C. Iddings the teller. C. A. Harrington was later cashier and is now its president, and Samuel C. Iddings is the cashier. This bank has continued to do an excellent business and has stood by itself, not entering into any of the combinations or consolidations with the other banks. The following is a list of the board of directors : C. A. Harrington, W. Hyde, E. E. Nash, Homer E. Stewart, George S. Pond, John J. McClean, Fred W. Adams, R. A. Moherman, W. J. Masters, R. B. Wick, S. C. Iddings. Western Reserve National Bank. The Trumbull National Bank of Warren was organized in June, 1865, with an authorized capital stock of $150,000. The charter was granted on July 5, 1865. Its first board of directors were Charles Smith, Henry W. Smith, Harmon Austin, Giles 0. Griswold, R. S. Park, Warren Packard and Jesse Haymaker. The board organized by electing Charles Smith president, and John S. Edwards, cashier. Kirtland M. Fitch was later elected cashier to succeed Mr. Edwards and in January, 1880, Edward C. Smith was elected cashier to take the place of Mr. Fitch. S. C. Iddings was elected teller in April, 1880. Charles Smith died on June 19, 1882, and in July of the same year Mr. Harmon Austin was elected president of the bank. Daniel A. Geiger entered into the employ of the bank as its bookkeeper on April 3, 1883. S. C. Iddings having resigned, Mr. Thomas Kinsman was appointed teller in July, 1883. O. L. Wolcott was 352 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY elected cashier of the bank in May, 1884, to succeed Edward C. Smith. Edward F. Briscoe was appointed teller in July, 1884, in place of Thomas Kinsman. Giles 0. Griswold was elected president of the bank in January, 1885. At a special meeting of the board of directors of the Trumbull National Bank, held on April 4, 1885, there being present Giles 0. Griswold, George M. Tuttle, John M. Stull, Henry Tod, Jules Vautrot, Sr., Albert Wheeler, 0. L. Wolcott. Upon motion of Mr. Stull, it was resolved to organize a new bank with a capital stock of $100,000 to take the place of the Trumbull National Bank at the expiration of its charter on July 5, 1885, and a committee was appointed to secure subscriptions to capital stock. The Western Reserve National Bank was organized on May 26, 1885, and its first board of directors elected on that date were Giles 0. Griswold, Albert Wheeler, Henry J. Lane, George M. Tuttle, Kennedy Andrews, H. J. Barnes, H. S. Pew, Addison Rodgers and 0. L. Wolcott. The board organized on May 30, 1885, electing Albert Wheeler president ; 0. L. Wolcott, cashier; Edward F. Briscoe, teller, and Daniel A. Geiger, bookkeeper. The bank commenced business on July 6, 1885. Mr. Briscoe resigned in April, 1892, to accept the cashier-ship of the First National Bank, Cortland, Ohio, and Daniel A. Geiger was promoted to teller. 0. L. Wolcott died on December 9, 1893, and Daniel A. Geiger was elected cashier of the bank in February, 1894. Albert Wheeler died on May 1, 1905, and in July of the same year S. W. Park was elected president, and Charles Fillius, vice president. The capital stock of the bank was increased from $100,000 to $200,000 on February 19, 1907, and on February 22, 1907, it took over by consolidation all the assets and business of the New National Bank and the Savings Bank Company, of this city. In 1905 the bank building was enlarged and remodeled at the cost of $16,900. The present board of directors are : S. W. Park, Alfred R. Hughes, Charles H. Angstadt, C. A. Crane, A. G. Ward, W. D. Packard, T. G. Dunham, Charles Fillius, W. A. Williams, D. L. Heiman, George H. Jones, C. L. Wood, C. B. Loveless, G. W. Kneeland, Jules Vautrot, Jr. The present officers are : S. W. Park, president ; Charles HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 353 Fillius, vice president; Daniel A. Geiger, cashier; J. H. Nelson, assistant cashier; E. F. Briscoe, assistant cashier. The Trumbull Savings & Loan Association. The Trumbull Savings & Loan Company was formed February 28, 1889, with an authorized capital of $100,000. Incorporators : Jacob H. Ewalt, S. A. Corbin, John W. Masters, J. R. Porter, Robert T. Izant. The first president was William Wallace, who served from March 16, 1889, when the company was ready for business, until January 10, 1893, when, at his request, he was succeeded by John W. Masters, who has served in that capacity ever since. Robert T. Izant was elected secretary at the beginning and still serves. The capital stock has been increased to $500,000, and the assets reach $700,000. The object of this association, aside from those of an ordinary bank, is to aid in building and buying houses and homes in Warren and vicinity. The company has a savings department and lends money exclusively on first-mortgages on real estate. It does no commercial business. It has never had to foreclose a mortgage, and never had but one loss, that of $300. It owns its own building, which stands on the northeast corner of High street and Park avenue. This was built in 1889. Over a thousand homes have been built and bought in Warren and vicinity through this company. Five per cent interest is paid on loans. The officers at the present time are : President, John W. Masters; vice president, William H. Kirkpatrick ; secretary and attorney, Robert T. Izant ; directors, William Wallace, Jacob H. Ewalt, D. W. Campbell, Jay Buchwalter, Albert Brown, William B. Kilpatrick, Edwin 0. Izant, E. L. King, Frank R. Adams. West Farmington—The Farmers Banking Company. The Farmers Banking Company, of West Farmington, was organized in October, 1897. They own their own building, and have a paid-up capital stock of $25,000. A. H. Clark has been president since the organization, L. B. Kennedy was secretary and treasurer from 1897 to 1900, I. E. Kennedy, from 1900 to 1903; A. H. Barbe, from 1903 to 1905; J. A. Ensign, from 1905 to 1909. The present directors are A. H. Clarke, C. E. Vol. I-23 354 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY Stevens, G. E. Minnich, George W. Willcox, A. Coulter, W. E. Bates, Charles Thorpe, M. W. Griffith, George Fram. Niles—The Dollar Savings Bank. The Dollar Savings Bank Company, of Niles, was incorporated November 14, 1904, organized January 2, 1905, and opened for business on January 11, 1905, with a paid-up capital of $100,000. The first officers of this bank were : President, W. Aubrey Thomas ; first vice president, Wade A. Taylor; second vice president, John W. Eaton ; secretary and treasurer, F. W. Stillwagon ; assistant secretary, W. Manning Kerr; assistant treasurer, William H. Stevens. These first officers are all serving in their respective capacities, with the exception of W. Aubrey Thomas, who, owing to his congressional duties at Washington, resigned in January, 1906, and was succeeded by George B. Robbins, who has since that date acted as the president of the bank. In July, 1905, the Dollar Savings Bank Company purchased the building, fixtures and outfit formerly occupied by the City National Bank, and located on the place of birth of William McKinley. The present board of directors consists of prominent and influential men of Niles and surrounding territory, and are as follows : George B. Robbins, Wade A. Taylor, John W. Eaton, Charles S. Thomas, Harry M. Stevens, William Cunnick, S. H. Stillwagon, John L. McDermott, F. J. Roller, W. A. Hutchins, G. P. Gillmer, John Warner, L. H. Young and John G. Leitch. Cortland—The First National Bank. The First National Bank of Cortland was organized in 1892 and commenced business in September of that year. The capital stock was $50,000. William H. Wartman was the first president. After he died N. A. Cowdery was elected in his place and is still serving. J. H. Faunce has always been the vice president. E. F. Briscoe, of Warren, was the first cashier ; Charles R. Dodge succeeded him. Both of these men accepted positions in Warren, one as cashier of the New National Bank, the other as cashier of the Savings Bank. Both of these were consolidated with the Western Reserve Bank of Warren, and Mr. Briscoe is receiving teller in that bank now. J. E. Kennedy, formerly of Girard, is the present cashier at Cortland. The bank building is the property of the bank. HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 355 North Bloomfield—The North Bloomfield Banking Company. The North Bloomfield Banking Company was incorporated in 1903. The first officers were : President, George E. Haines; vice president, 0. A. Huntley; secretary and treasurer, H. W. House. The present officers are : President, John S. McAdoo ; vice president, D. W. Russell; secretary and treasurer, 0. A. Huntley. The capital stock is $25,000, and the paid-in capital stock is $12,500. The board of directors consists of John S. McAdoo, D. W. Russell, S. T. Cauffield, S. S. Welshman, J. H. Cook, H. J. Wilcox, R. J. Knight, Jason Case, 0. A. Huntley. CHAPTER XXIII—NEWSPAPERS. FIRST NEWSPAPER ON WESTERN RESERVE, " TRUMP OF FAME."- CHANGED TO " WESTERN RESERVE CHRONICLE. "-PECULIAR CLIPPINGS FROM "TRUMP OF FAME” - “TRUMBULL COUNTY WHIG “ - “ TRUMBULL COUNTY DEMOCRAT "- WARREN DAILY CHRONICLE "-"THE NEWS LETTER "-" THE CON- STITUTION "-"THE WARREN RECORDWESTERN RESERVE DEMOCRAT" - " WARREN TRIBUNE" - " THE LIBERTY HERALD" - " THE CORTLAND GAZETTE "-" CORTLAND HERALD"-' `NILES INDEPENDENT "-" NILES NEWS." The first newspaper published on the Western Reserve, the Trump of Fame, was issued on Tuesday, June 16, 1812. Its offices were at the corner of Market street and Liberty street (Park avenue). This building was burned in the fire of 1867. Thomas D. Webb, often referred to in other parts of this history, was the editor, and David Fleming the printer. The latter owned the type. Miss Elizabeth Iddings, the granddaughter of Mr. Webb, says it was the intention to call this publication "A Voice from the Wilderness." When they got ready to set the head, they found the letters V and W lacking among the type of proper size. Therefore they had to abandon the name, and substituted the Trump of Fame. Mr. William Ritezel, in an article which he wrote for the Chronicle, on "The Pioneer Paper of the Western Reserve," said "In those days it was common to have a cut of some kind at the head of the editorial column, and the printer being at a loss for a proper emblem to grace that department, appealed to Judge Pease to suggest something suitable. His Honor promptly responded that he thought an `Owl would. be the right thing in the right place, with the legend immediately under it, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness." ' " It is not clear therefore whether Judge Pease suggested HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 357 the name of "The Voice from the Wilderness," or just the emblem. Probably it was the latter, and the firm members themselves chose the former. The name the Trump of Fame was neither suggestive nor appropriate, and it was changed by Mr. Fitch Bissell, who owned the publication in 1816. Benjamin Stevens, whose interest in all things in early Trumbull County was great, suggested to Mr. Bissell that it would suit the people of this community better if his paper bore a less high-sounding name. He then suggested the Western Reserve Chronicle or Gazette. We are told that Mr. Bissell did not approve of this suggestion but in a few weeks accepted it and on the 4th of October. 1816, Volume 1, Number 1, of the Western Reserve Chronicle was issued. From the first number of the Trump of Fame we quote the following: "Trump of Fame, printed in Warren, County of. Trumbull, Ohio, by David Fleming, for Thomas D. Webb. The Trump of Fame is printed every Tuesday, and forwarded as early as possible to subscribers. "Price to subscribers whose papers are conveyed through the postoffice, two dollars per annum, to be paid in advance, or two dollars and fifty cents, payable at the expiration of the year. Terms to companies who take the paper at the office and pay for them in money on their delivery or half-yearly in advance, one dollar and three-quarters. "Post riders supplied on reasonable terms—and it is an indispensable condition that payment be made at the expiration of every quarter. Advertisements inserted three weeks, one dollar for every square, and twenty-five cents for each additional insertion. "Many kinds of productions of the county will be taken in payment if delivered at the office, or at such places as may be designed by the editor. "All letters to the editor coming through the post-office must be postpaid or they will not be attended to." The first editorial reads : "It may, perhaps, be expected that the editor will make some declaration of his political creed; he would be very sorry to disappoint the public expectation, but he has 358 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY ever viewed those protestations of friendship or enmity made with an intention of courting the favor of any class of people, of doubtful authority. He will assure the public that he is no monarchist nor aristocrat. "His paper shall be open to the decent communication of any political faith, with liberty to himself of commenting upon anything that shall be offered for publication. As he is the nominal editor, he has determined to be the real editor. Men frequently involve themselves in private feuds, and to vent their spleen and malignity against each other make a newspaper the vehicle of their slanderous tales. News of this kind can never be interesting to the community and they may be assured that no consideration, either of favor or of pecuniary kind, shall ever induce the editor to permit its insertion." July 8th, under the head, "Hymeneal," are the marriages and they note those of England and Connecticut in particular. One reads : "In Lincolnshire (England), Corporal Dupre to Miss N. Trollope, with a fortune of 12,000 pounds. Miss Trollope fell in love with him when he was on parade with the soldiers. The next morning she communicated her sentiments to him, which he joyfully accepted, and on the following day he led her to the altar of Hymen." The number of July 8th has the declaration of war drawn by Congress, and signed by Henry Clay, speaker of the house of representatives; William H. Crawford, president of senate, pro tem; approved by James Madison, dated June 18, 1812. The message of Madison is also given and signed by James Monroe, as secretary of state, also. July 8, 1812, Adamson Bentley occupies a full half-column of the Trump of Fame, telling of one John North, who in March came through this country posing as a Baptist minister. He also posed as a single man. Bentley took great pains to find out about him and declares him a fraud. In a marriage notice of July 15 we find the following verse: "Hail, wedlock! Hail, inviolable tye! Perpetual fountain of domestic joy. Love, friendship, honor. truth, and pure delight. Harmonious, mingle in the nuptial rite." HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 359 In the same number is announced a camp meeting, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church, to commence the 28th of August, in Smithfield, on Mr. Marry's land, Trumbull County, Ohio, Jacob Young, Thomas J. Crockwill, managers. August 19, 1812, Trump of Fame: "General Perkins has ordered a muster of the commissioned and staff officers of the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia, to be held at the house of Asael Adams, in Liberty, on the 2nd and 3rd day of September. Also, that the field officers appear with their side arms and the captains and subalterns and staff officers, with muskets, and that they perform camp duty that night." The following advertisements are of interest : Nathan L. Reeves, Taylor, and Ladies Habit Maker, calls his place of business The Red House. John Mann, jun., "Informs his friends and the publick generally that he continues to carry on the hafting business, in all its various branches at the sign of the hat,' at the southeast corner of the publick square in this town." Ephraim Quinby and Wm. W. Morsman advertise a new carding machine, which is "highly recommended." Adamson Bentley, the Baptist minister, had to piece out his salary by engaging in business. June 16th he and Jeremiah Brooks give notice of dissolution of partnership. Many of the advertisements were for stray animals; many for giving notice of debt. "LOST. Between Leavittsburg and Warren, a large pitching fork, marked on the ferrule, I. L. A favor will be conferred by leaving it at the sign of the Cross Keys in Warren." "Davis Fuller, Saddler. Informs his friends and the publick in general that he still continues the saddling business in the town of Hartford, Number 5, in the first range, etc." Hats, furr and wool hats are made by Frederick Kirtland at Parkman. 360 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY $20 Reward will be given by the subscriber to any person who will give such information respecting the person who cut the bridle of the subscriber in the evening following the 30th day of last month, as that he may be convicted, in a court of law. Thomas D. Webb advertises for a lost book, "Crown—Circuit Companion," with the name of Samuel Huntington written therein. "Whereas, my wife, Phebe, has frequently wandered from the path of duty which that infallible criterion, the Word of God, plainly points out, and has conducted herself in that unbecoming manner which is a disgrace to her sex, and still persists in the constant and willful neglect of her duty as a wife, I therefore forbid all persons harboring or trusting her on my account and I will pay no debts of her contracting after this date. Azel Tracey." "Hartford, September 18, 1827." Under the date of October 11, 1827, Phebe replies by saying she often has asked for a trial among impartial men and "I am still in full communion with the Presbyterian church and enjoy the confidence of its members. The opinion of my neighbors, also, I am happy to present as testimony of my general character." Neighbors say, "We have been well acquainted with Mrs. Tracy from her youth to the present time and we believe her to be shamefully abused. and thus publicly slandered without any just cause." In the September 27, 1827, number of Chronicle a reward of six and one-fourth cents is offered for the return of a runaway apprentice. The notice is by Richard Iddings. Under headline, "Beware of a Villain": "Says the things stolen were a Castor hat manufactured in Salem, N. Y., by Jno. Adams; two handkerchiefs and a pair of stockings. The name of the thief is Wm. Briggs, who lodged with the subscriber and before daylight he decamped. Said Briggs is about seventeen, with long and remarkably slim legs. walks lame, has a down look when spoken to, is very impu- HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 361 dent and talkative when encouraged. $5 is offered for him. A. B. F. Ormsby, Cleveland." In 1828 we find that Hapgood & Quinby, proprietors of the Trump of Fame, advertise that a boy ran away from them named Orin Cook. Although this boy was 18 years old, he was bound out to them. "All persons are cautioned against harboring or employing said runaway. 25c reward will be given to anyone who will bring him back, but no expenses paid." They then ask exchanges to copy. As said above, the first number appeared in June, 1812. Eighteen months from that time James White became a member of the firm. In 1814 Mr. Webb retired, Samuel Quinby taking his place. The firm was then known as James White & Co. This company sold to Fitch Bissell as above stated. In 1817 Samuel Quinby again owned the paper, having for assistant Elihu Spencer. Mr. Spencer died in two years, and George Hapgood took his place on March 14, 1819, and kept it for twenty-two years. During this long service of Mr. Hapgood, as editor, there were several changes in the ownership of the paper. After Mr. Quinby came Otis Sprague, 1819; E. R. Thompson, 1821; William Quinby, 1822; John Crowell, 1828; Calvin Pease, 1830; A. W. Parker, 1832. In 1848 the Whigs established a paper known as the Trumbull County Whig. Later its name was changed to the Western Reserve Transcript. The Transcript of June 16th quotes this from the Mahoning Free Democrat: We have been in a good many printing offices in our time and have seen females employed in setting type in more than one, but we must say that we never knew a proprietor to employ girls to do the work who was not either too poor or to mean to pay journeymen a fair price for their labor." The editor says : "From what we can learn respecting the young man who presides over the columns of the Free Democrat, we have set him down as a conceited ass, who will have his bray at all hazards." He then explains they do not intend to employ female workers over journeymen and that the female employees he has have got as much brains as other people. "We hold that females ought to be permitted to engage in any business for which they are physically and mentally capacitated." 362 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY Mr. Hapgood retired from the editorship of the Chronicle in 1841. In 1853 E. D. Howard purchased the paper, and the next year the Chronicle and the Western Reserve Transcript became the Western Reserve Chronicle and Tra'nscri'pt. James Dumars continued to be the editor, and the paper was published in the Empire block which had been the home of the Chronicle. In 1855 Mr. George N. Hapgood (the sons of George Hapgood Sr.) and C. A. Adams bought out the printing establishment including the paper, and restored to it its old name the Western Reserve Chronicle. Floris B. Plympton, long connected with the Commercial Gazette of Cincinnati, received his first editorial experience in Warren. He worked on one of the early papers, and afterwards was connected with the Chronicle. From the latter paper we quote the following : " Floris B. Plympton married to Cordelia A. Bushnell of Ravenna. `It will be seen from the above that our whilom friend has at length adjured bachelordom, and has exchanged the friendship of life for its love.' " Mr. William Ritezel was the editor and proprietor of the Trumbull County Democrat. After that paper became Republican, it was consolidated with the Chronicle, Mr. Ritezel becoming the junior member of the firm. This was in 1861. Soon Mr. Adams retired, and Mr. Hapgood died. Mr. Ritezel was editor and proprietor of the TVeekly Western Reserre Chronicle until 1877, when a company was formed, B. J. Taylor and Frank M. Ritezel being associated with him. In 1897 the Chronicle moved into new offices built for them by Lamb & Strong, adjoining the old Ritezel homestead. Mr. Ritezel died in 1902, having been editor of the Chronicle for forty-one years. Mr. Taylor retired in 1905, and the William Ritezel Printing Company was formed. The Chronicle is now owned by Frank M. Ritezel and F. M. VanGorder. The Warren Daily Chronicle was started in 1883. It was the first daily in the city. The early numbers of the Chronicle contain little or no local news. People were supposed to have curiosity and inclination enough to learn the doings of their neighbors and fellow citizens themselves. Elihu Spencer was the first editor to devote space to local events. Although the Chronicle has had among its owners and editors men of fine business ability and integrity, the two best HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 363 known were Mr. George Hapgood and . Mr. William Ritezel. They each had a long time of service, the latter nearly twice as long as the former, and they lived at such different times that there is no possibility of comparing their ability or the results which they obtained. In Mr. Hapgood's day it cost little to run a newspaper or printing office, and an energetic, clever young fellow could buy and pay for a partnership in a concern. In Mr. Ritezel's day it took a great deal of ability to properly and successfully manage a paper. In Mr. Hapgood's day there were fewer books, fewer magazines, mail facilities were small, and a successful editor must be a student. In Mr. Ritezel's day the competition was great, politics were complicated and it took calm judgment and a just mind to lead the dominant party of that time. .Mr. Hapgood was loved and respected by his subscribers who were personally attached to him. Mr. Ritezel, a vigorous, conservative writer, moulded opinions of his readers, and had the respect of all of them. Mr. Frank Ritezel, the present editor of the Chronicle, has carried out the policies of his father, and under his management the paper has grown. His work is referred to in another part of this history. On July 1, 1909, the Western Reserve Chronicle (weekly) and the Warren Daily Chronicle will find a new home in the Masonic Temple block. The News Letter. Thomas J. McLain, Sr., and his brother, J. G., established the News Letter, in 1830, which was the Democratic organ for a goodly portion of the Western Reserve. It was the strongest Democratic paper of its time and received a good financial support from Democrats. In 1839 this property was sold to Christopher Columbus Seely and William Baldwin, and the name was changed to the Trumbull Democrat. In those days it was necessary that editors and proprietors should know the printer's trade. Neither Mr. Seely nor Mr. Baldwin were printers. Mr. Baldwin died, and the men who were standing at the head of the Trumbull County Democracy, Dr. Daniel B. Woods and Sharon Cotton, bought the paper, not expecting it to be a financial success, but that the party might have an organ. John M. Edwards, who was for so many years identi- 364 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY fled with and interested in public affairs of Trumbull and Mahoning counties, was the editor. He was of the family of the great Jonathan Edwards, of Massachusetts, and a connection of John Stark Edwards, Trumbull County's first recorder. He was an able editor, but for some reason the business part of this paper was not well managed and there were frequent changes. At one time a Mr. Harrington owned it, and later Mr. J. B. Buttles and E. B. Eshalman were joint proprietors, Mr. Eshalman remained in the firm but a little time, and in 1854 the paper became the property of Ritezel & Mills. William Ritezel was a practical printer and in the days immediately preceding the war lie developed editorial powers. As stated above, when the question of secession or union, slavery or freedom, was the question, Mr. Ritezel declared himself in favor of union, and in 1861 his paper was consolidated with the Chronicle, which had already absorbed the Transcript, and this new paper retained the old name the Chronicle. The Constitution. Jefferson Palm was one of the early Democrats who sympathized largely with the South. During the high feeling in the early days of the war, he suffered much for what he believed to be right. At the close of the war, he moved to Kentucky, but there he found that the southerners had little use for northerners, no matter what their beliefs were, and he returned to Warren. He was one of the very first Democratic newspaper men. He was a compositor in the office of the News Letter, and afterwards, in 1840, started a periodical, Mercury, for John G. McLain. The type and fixtures belonging to this paper were moved to Youngstown and used for printing the Olive Branch. The Mercury was discontinued. When the Chronicle and the Democrat united, it left the Democratic party without an organ. It was hard for this party to sustain a paper because there was such a variance of belief among the members. Many were Democratic in name only; some were in favor of modified means of putting down the rebellion; while a few were outright southern sympathizers. In 1862 the Democratic party founded the Constitution. Jefferson Palm was the editor. More than a thousand names were entered on its subscription list. In 1867 Judge Mathew Birchard and E. H. Ensign. both Democratic lawyers, bought the paper and later it became HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 365 the property of William Birchard, the son of the former. In the early '70s Lucius Fuller, the son of Ira Fuller, one of the strongest Democrats of the county, was city editor. This paper was discontinued early in the '80s, when Mr. William Birchard, because of continued ill health, retired and moved to Washington. The Warren Record. In 1876 the Warren Record came into existence. Jefferson Palm, who, as we have seen, assisted in the founding of the first Democratic paper, the News Letter, the second Democratic paper, the Constitution, was editor and proprietor of the Warren Record. Selden B. Palm, his son, was associated with him. In 1882 the Record was sold to a company, and published under the name of the Democrat. Some of the members of this company were Jefferson Lamb, John R. Woods, J. W. Klump, of Mecca, and James L. Lamb. Freeman Moore was its first editor, and he was succeeded by Robert Paden. Jefferson Lamb bought this property from the other owners and M. M. Padgett became the editor. Under his editorship and Mr. Lamb's management, this property became more valuable. When Mr. Padgett left Warren to engage in newspaper work in the west, David Fisher was made editor. April 1, 1907, Horace Holbrook purchased the property of Jefferson Lamb, and is now editor and proprietor. Mr. Holbrook is a vigorous editorial writer and has caused the Republicans of Trumbull County some discomfort, and the non-partisan reader some amusement, since lie became the editor. The Warren Tribune. In August, 1876, the Warren Tribune made its appearance. W. S. Peterson, who had been a Congregational minister and later the editor of the Canfield News, was the editor and the proprietor. Some years later his two sons, A. M. and 0. M., were associated with him. Mr. Peterson was a well educated man, was an able writer, and apparently loved a scrap. It is thought that he came into Trumbull County to oppose Garfield and the machine. He had hardly gotten under way before Garfield came up as a candidate for United States senator and no longer represented this district in Congress. Warren never 366 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY had had controversy among newspapers of one party and the Tribune made things lively for office-holders and other persons. When Mr. Peterson sold the paper, he secured a position in Washington and lived there for some time before his death. William H. Smiley bought the Tribune in March, 1884. He became the editor and Frank D. McLain, whose father so long before had founded the News Letter, and whose brother, Hon. Thomas J., had been a writer of a good deal of note, became the city editor. He is now with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Warren never had a brighter sheet than that edited by Mr. Smiley. He was a forceful writer, a man of great integrity, and his paper devoted to the principles of the Republican party made a place for itself in the community. Names which he gave to people and to things still exist. "Spinster" Dell will never be forgotten, and neither will the "Idler." Mr. Smiley was a self-educated man and a very talented one. He wrote verse which was very creditable. In 1891, wishing to give personal attention to some business of his in the south, lie sold the Tribune to R. D. Lampson, of Ashtabula. Mr. Smiley established a daily paper which only existed a little time, but Mr. Lampson established the Daily Tribune, which has grown and expanded ever since. In 1892 Mr. Lampson sold out to C. H. Newell and H. F. Harris, and the latter were the editors until 1894, when it was purchased by W. C. Deming and F. E. Russell. At that time the Tribune Company was formed. Prior to this, the Tribune had been most of the time a success in all ways excepting that of finance. J. W. Russell was president of this company, W. C. Deming, editor, and F. E. Russell, business manager. Zell P. Hart was employed by this company, and when Mr. Russell retired a new company was formed in which she and George Braden were included. Mr. Braden in the beginning attended to the advertising and like business. Later Thomas H. Deming and C. B. Rigg, who had had charge of the mechanical part of the work, bought stock in the company; Mrs. Hart became the business manager, William C. Deming retained the editorship, and Thomas Deming was city editor. In 1900 W. C. Deming purchased the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Tribune, and is still its editor and president of the company. Mr. Deming removed to Cheyenne and Thomas H. Deming took his place as editor. The business management was in the hands of Mrs. Hart. In 1907 she HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 367 married W. C. Deming, and Eugene Sabin succeeded her as the head of the business end of the Tribune. The present owners of the Tribune are W. C. Deming, Zell Hart Deming, T. H. Deming and C. B. Rigg. The present officers are president, W. C. Deming; secretary and treasurer, Zell Hart Deming; vice president, C. B. Rigg, business manager, E. P. Sabin; editor, Thomas H. Deming. Soon after the formation of the present Tribune Company with W. C. Deming and Mrs. Hart at the head, business prosperity began for the Tribune and has continued ever since. The paper is Republican in principle and has a wide circulation. It has fearlessly stood for all things progressive in the community, and has done much for Warren and Trumbull County. The Liberty Herald. At different times there have been papers published in Trumbull County, for a short time only. One of the early ones was the Liberty Herald, edited by Tait & Walling between 1840 and 1850. The Cortland Gazette. The Cortland Gazette was established and edited by John Johnson in the early '70s. The office was burned and the files destroyed in 1887 or '88. Cortland Herald. The Cortland herald was established and edited by H. D. Holcomb from 1888 to 1894. H. C. Freeman purchased the property and edited the paper for five years. In 1899 it suspended. The following year, 1900, the plant was purchased by Carl C. Hadsell, who reorganized it and who has been conducting its publication ever since. The Niles Independent. In 1867 the Niles Register was established, the publishers being Edward Butler and E. E. Moore. Rev. William Camp- 368 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY bell was editor. In 1868 the name was changed to the Niles Independent by J. H. Fluhart. In 1871 M. D. Sanderson, a brother of Hon. Thomas Sanderson, of Youngstown, bought the plant and conducted the paper for several years. Later he had as a partner Captain Dyer. In May, 1876, the paper was purchased by McCormick & Williams, and in 1883 the interest of Mr. Williams was taken over by Mr. McCormick, who controlled and edited it until his death, twenty-two years ago. Mrs. Ella McCormick assumed the editorship and business management. She is the only woman owning a newspaper in Trumbull County. In 1894 Andrew A. Mooney, of New York, became editor, and the policy of the paper was changed from that of independent to Democracy. Niles News. The Niles Daily News issued its first number December 1, 1890. M. J. Flaherty, agent of the Pennsylvania Lines of the city, was the publisher. At that time the News was a four-page paper, twelve by twenty inches. In politics it was independent, but later became Republican. The following men, in the order given, have acted as editors : D. J. Williams, J. C. McNally, Ivor J. Davis, W. C. Brown, J. McGowan, George C. Braden, and Sam E. Davison. Mr. Davison formerly lived at West Union, Ohio. The News has always had a large number of subscribers, with a fine circulation in Niles, and a general circulation in the county, particularly the lower part. It is now an eight-page paper, and is a credit to the community in which it is published. CHAPTER XXIV—CEMETERIES. FIRST BURYING-GROUND IN WESTERN RESERVE.—WARREN CEME- TERY AND ITS DISTINGUISHED DEAD.—COFFINS AND HEARSES.—OAKWOOD CEMETERY. The first graveyard in Warren was probably located on the land now owned by the Iddings family on South street. There were few graves there, with some headboards, at the time John S. Edwards excavated for his house. There were burying places, probably of Indians (possibly of white men), notably where the old Methodist church stood on the river bank, and where Charles Angstadt's house stands on South street. The first cemetery on the Western Reserve of which there is now any record is situated on Mahoning avenue (Warren) at the rear of the present residence of J. E. Beebe. As stated elsewhere, the turnpike, now known as Mahoning avenue, ran farther to the west and undoubtedly the cemetery was located on the street. The land was given by Henry Lane, Jr., to be used only for cemetery purposes. A strip for an entrance, about eighteen feet wide, was bought later of Joseph Crail, who occupied the present Beebe home. A few years ago the fence separating this from Mr. Beebe's land decayed and another one has never been erected. At different times efforts have been made to have this cemetery abandoned, without success. In May, 1846, the town council appointed Joseph Perkins and George Hapgood to superintend the erection of a suitable fence around the grounds of the cemetery. About sixty-five rods of fence was required, of oak boards and sawed oak posts, of suitable height. The body of Mrs. John Hart Adgate was the first interred in that cemetery (1804), and the last was Mrs. Eunice Woodrow, wife of William S. Woodrow. Zephaniah Swift, chief justice of Connecticut and the author of Swift's Digest, who died while visiting some members of his family here, was first Vol. I-24 - 369 - 370 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY interred in this old burying ground, later removed to Oakwood Cemetery, and has within a year been moved to a second resting place there. He was the great-grandfather of Miss Olive Harmon. Whittlesey Adams says : Many soldiers of the war of 1812-14 were buried here whose graves were originally marked by wooden headstones, but are now wholly unmarked. We mention herewith only a few of these having a local historical interest remaining yet in the old cemetery. Many of these graves are marked by substantial, well preserved head-stones and monuments with inscriptions. General John Stark Edwards was the first county recorder, in 1800, of Trumbull County, which then included the entire Western Reserve. He was elected to Congress from this district in October, 1812, and died February 22, 1813. A monument such as deep affection would suggest was placed over his grave. Daniel Dana, died in 1839. A Revolutionary soldier and the grandfather of Charles A. Dana, the noted editor of the New York thin, and also the assistant secretary of war under Abraham Lincoln during the Civil war. Calvin Austin, associate judge of the common pleas court, 1802 to 1807. Samuel Leavitt, state representative, 1813-1814. General Roswell Stone, a brilliant young lawyer and state representative in 1826, died in 1833. William Cotgreve, state representative in 1815-1816. Elihu Spencer, died in 1819, editor of the Western Reserve Chronicle in 1817 and 1818. Thomas D. Webb, editor of the Trump of Fame in 1812 to 1815, the first newspaper published in the Western Reserve. He was also state senator in 1828-9. Samuel Chesney, assistant postmaster of Warren from 1812 to 1833. John Tait, a fearless and enthusiastic disciple of Alexander Campbell during the twenties and thirties. William L. Knight, prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County, 1835-1839. John Supple, an educated expert accountant and bookkeeper of Gen. Simon Perkins, 1830-1844. HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 371 Henry Lane, a state representative in 1816, 1818, 1819 and 1826, who was also a donor, about 1800, of the land on which the old cemetery now stands. Eli Hoyt, member of the Warren Guards, and killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in March, 1843. E. W. Coats, a prominent merchant during the forties. The grave is surrounded by a substantial iron fence, but the head-stone is broken and down. After his death in 1846 regularly once a year his widow, during her life, journeyed from her distant home in eastern New York state to Warren to tenderly plant flowers on and care for his grave. Howard, only son of Hon. R. P. Ranney, chief justice of the supreme court of Ohio for ten years, 1851-1862, died in 1846. Samuel Elwell, father of Gen. John Elwell, who was a state representative in 1854-5, and author of a well known work on medical jurisprudence. The wife and daughters of Zalmon Fitch, who was the first cashier of the Western Reserve Bank, the first bank on the Western Reserve, from 1812 to 1838. The children of Oliver H. Patch, merchant and mayor of the city in 1849. The wife and children of Cyrus Bosworth, sheriff of Trumbull County from 1825 to 1829, and also a state representative in 1822-3. The wife of General T. J. McLain, editor of the Warren Weekly News Letter from 1830 to 1838, who was also a banker and mayor of the city. The children of A. W. Parker, editor of the Western Reserve Chronicle from 1832 to 1853. Hiram, a brother of Hon. Lewis M. Iddings, consul general at Cairo, Egypt. Lucy, a daughter of James Hoyt, mayor of the city in 1845-8. Mary Forman, 1838, the mother of John C. Forman, a prominent business man of Cleveland for the past. forty years. Mr. Arthur Woodrow, whose father and mother rest in this picturesque spot, has given the editor the names of the 372 - HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY following persons whose bodies at one time were buried in this cemetery : H. Rutan ; J. Adgate ; Cornelia Crowell, daughter of General John Crowell; Dr. Sylvanus Seely; William McFarland ; Robert McFarland; Isaac Ladd ; William Woodrow; William Smith Woodrow ; Robert Gordon; Horace Rawdon ; Johnathan Rawdon ; Charles Stevens ; Henry Harsh ; Jacob Harsh ; Susannah Canfield, an aunt of George and M. B. Tayler, and David Bell. William Smith Woodrow lived in a house which stood on the lot Dr. Sherwood now owns. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker. He had a shop on that place, and his son, Arthur Woodrow, says : "Many a night have T_ held the candle while father made and stained a black walnut coffin. At that time a solid black walnut coffin could be bought for $5.50, and when covered with black it cost from $8.50 to $12.50." Mr. Adams says : "Previous to about 1841 a bier instead of a hearse was used at the funerals in Warren. A bier was a framework on which the coffin or casket containing the corpse was laid before burial, also on which it was carried on the shoulders of four men from the house to the grave. The bier when not in use was kept in the conference room of the basement of the frame church building of the Presbyterians on Mahoning avenue. The bier ceased to be used about 1841, when Peter Fulk, a liveryman, brought out a very plain, solemn appearing vehicle on four wheels and two side curtains and called it a hearse. Its cost was not exceeding $75. This was used until about 1867, when John O. Hart and Nathan Folsom, who had a livery stable located on the southeast corner of South Park avenue and Franklin street, brought out a carriage of better appearance, with glass sides and of more modern style. This hearse cost about $600." In 1848 Jacob Perkins, Frederick Kinsman and Joseph Perkins purchased about sixteen acres of land east of Red Run on the present Niles avenue, in order that the growing town might have a suitable place for burying its dead. One or two informal meetings of persons interested were held and, finally, in 1850 John Harsh, L. J. Iddings, Frederick Kinsman, Joseph Perkins, Mathew Birchard, Richard Iddings, D. B. Gilmore, HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY - 373 Hiram Iddings, B. F. Hoffman and Orlando Morgan, at a meeting held in the Iddings & Morgan store, Chester Bidwell and Jacob Perkins also being present, resolved to incorporate the Oakwood Cemetery Association. The improvements made on this cemetery, with one exception, have been from the sale of lots. Frederick Kinsman left by will a sum of money to be used in making a lake, but the trustees concluded that it was not best to have a body of water on that ground, and the money reverted to the Kinsman heirs, who used it in purchasing a memorial window for the Episcopal church. The year before the association was formally organized, Elizabeth Lewis Iddings, the only daughter of Richard and Justina L. Iddings, died and her body was interred on this land. This was, therefore, the first burial in Oakwood Cemetery. The association bought from the assignee of S. L. Freeman additional land, and now the tract is several times as large as the original. The last purchased from the south side of the Erie track is a beautiful wood to which there had been no direct access by road, since the land in front of it was purchased. A few years since, the association erected a chapel at the entrance of the cemetery where services could be held, and during the past year Mrs. H. B. Perkins has erected a white marble chapel and vault which she has presented to the association in memory of her husband, Henry B. Perkins. This building is large enough for burial services and is a handsome, artistic structure. CHAPTER XXV. AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.-FIRST MILLS. The early settlers were deeply interested in agriculture and when they gathered together socially or for the purpose of raising buildings, they compared experiences with beneficial results. In the Chronicle of January 7, 1819, is a notice of a meeting of the people of this vicinity at the house of James Hillman, December 22, 1818, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. George Tod, William Rayen and Calvin Pease were a committee to prepare and report articles. Robert Montgomery was clerk of the meeting and Samuel Bryson, chairman. An address was made, which is printed, explaining in detail the objects, one of which was to encourage domestic manufacturers. "By domestic we mean products of family industry. Idleness is destructive to every social as well as moral principle. Many families are idle for the very best of reasons —because they have nothing to employ themselves about. They are in the habit of buying that which they want ; and that which they do manufacture they slight, because it is only for everyday use. An emulation is wanted. If family fabricks were made of better material, with more care and pride, foreign stuffs would soon be out of fashion and of course out of use." In August, 1821, at the Cattle Show and Fair, the committee announced "Plowing match to start at 12:00 o'clock." These early fairs were not for the people of present Trumbull County alone but for the whole vicinity. Mrs. Angeline War-wood, whose father was Mr. Lee, of Farmington, remembers attending a fair held in the court house when she was a girl. She is now eighty-five and lives in Warren. This was probably for domestic products only, possibly fruits. Mrs. Warwood says that members of her family entered rag carpets, and she remembers how these carpets and quilts were hung for display from the balcony in the court house. - 374 -