Dearborn County, INGenWeb Project

THE first newspaper published in Dearborn Connty was styled the Dearborn Gazette, published at Lawrenceburgh in 1817, by B. Brown, the office was in a little brick building owned by James Hamilton, located on the rear end of the lot on which is now known as the residence of Mr. John B. Vail. The motto of the paper was "Equal and exact justice. The printer of the establishment is remembered to have been Steele Sampson.

We have before us Vol. I, No. 5, of the Indiana Oracle, which bears date of September 29, 1819, "printed and published every Wednesday morning by Dunn & Russell." Just how long the Indiana Oracle was published by Messrs. Dunn & Russell we cannot say, but it was under their management at the close of the first volume, which was with the issue of October 3, 1820, when there was no indication of their withdrawal. The next record evidence we have is that No. 119, Vol. Ill of the Oracle appears under date of September 21, 1822, "printed and published weekly by Dunn & M'Pike, which with issue of July 19, 1823, came out under the title of the Indiana Oracle and Dearborn Gazette, so it is likely that the Dearborn Gazette had been in existence during these years and at this time was consolidated with the Oracle.

The successor to the Oracle and Gazette was the Indiana Palladium, the first number of which was issued Friday, January 7, 1825, printed and published by M. Gregg and D. V. Culley. The Palladium flew the motto "Equality of rights is nature's plan—And following nature is the "March of Man."

Of the Palladium and the men connected with it, C. F. Clarkson wrote in 1883: The first permanent newspaper, from which there has been continuously a live paper issued, was started January 10, 1825, by Milton Gregg and David V. Culley, called the Indiana Palladium. They were both able writers and practical printers. The office was originally located in the second story of what was called fifty-five years ago the 'bank buildin' being west of and adjoining the old residence of father Isaac Dunn. In the summer of 1829, the proprietors built a one-story office further east on the continuation of High Street, opposite the residence of that sturdy old citizen William Tate. They continued to publish the Palladium, making it a spirited and interesting paper, until September 12, 1829, when owing to some unfortunate difficulties Mr. Gregg sold out to Mr. Culley, who continued to publish it until he was appointed to a position in the land office at Indianapolis, by President Jackson. Mr. Culley was a decided Democrat, while Milton Gregg was a National Republican, which was previous to the day when, at the suggestion of James Watson Webb, the party took the name of Whig. "The writer went into the Palladium office, September 21. 1828, as an apprentice, but retired from it with Mr. Gregg. So long as Gregg & Culley published the Palladium, it was independent in politics, but when Culley assumed entire control, it espoused the cause of Jackson and Democracy. Mr. Gregg at once commenced preparations to start a National Republican paper, which he did in the second story over the old Ferris Drug store, corner of High and Short Streets, then occupied by Prichard & Noble, for drugs. The paper was commenced March 10, 1830, and was called "The Western Statesman". Previous to this time, there had been various vicissitudes with papers at "Brookville, Indiana", the last by Augustus Jocelyn. Gregg purchased of Mr. Joeelyn the Brookville printing materials. They were old and badly broken in sorts. Mr. Gregg sent a wild Hoosier teamster for the printing establishmjent, who laid a quilt on the floor and emptied all the cases on it—all sizes and varieties of types in one inglorious 'pi.' John W. Holland, who lived and flourished at Indianapolis long after, and if living yet, will vividly recollect aiding the writer in distributing the 'pi.' It took three weeks. C. F. Clarkson, who had commenced his apprenticeship with Gregg & Culley, finished it in the office of the Statesman.

A part of our apprenticeship was to ride horseback Friday and Saturday every week to distribute the papers to subscribers. The route was down by Aurora, Rising Sun, then north to Watts' Mill, then up by old Charles Dashiel's, around by Manchester, etc., home, leaving packages of papers in twenty or thirty places.

Mr. Gregg continued to publish the Statesman but a few weeks by himself. He sold out a half interest on the 28th of April, 1830, to Thomas Dowling, an able writer and shrewd politican from Washington City, who had learned his trade and politics in the old National Intelligencer office. Dowling became a prominent man in Indiana politics—standing high socially and financially. He died a few years ago at Terre Haute. He Tylerized in 1842,and, as a consequence, got a fat Indian contract, which made him financially comfortable for life.

Gregg & Dowling continued in partnership only till November 2, 1830, when the latter retired and bought the Greensburg paper. At that time one A. F. Morrison was editor of the Democratic paper at Indianapolis. He was considered the strongest political writer in the State, and the small fry of all parties, though not respecting, feared him. Dowling fearlessly bearded him. It was one of the fiercest and probably the ablest newspaper warfare ever waged in Indana. "Mr. Gregg continued to publish the Statesman until the spring of 1831.

John Spencer, who was then sheriff of Dearborn County, having been appointed receiver of public moneys at the land office at Fort Wayne, resigned the sheriff's office. At that time Noah Noble was governor of Indiana, and he appointed Milton Gregg sheriff. At that day public officers performed the duties of the office in person, instead of doing as now, having deputies to transact the business, while they smoke cigars, talk politics, and prepare for re-election, or to succeed to a better office."Mr. Gregg being engrossed with the sheriff's office, in which there was more money than publishing a paper, abandoned the office entirely, yet in his name. He gave the editorial and mechanical department over to the writer hereof, then only twenty years of age. During the year I purchased it of Mr. Gregg, with the understanding that possession was to be given at the close of the newspaper year, which was March 8, 1832. I published the paper by myself until March 8, 1833, when I sold onehalf to D. S. Major. In July, of the same year, the other half was sold to J. R. Smith, who was a worthless vagabond, and soon left for parts unknown. The paper then had a precarious existence for some time under Major's administration, who, as a lawyer, had enough to do without a newspaper.

No. 1, Vol. II, of the Statesman was a five column folio and flew this motto, "The Constitution, Wisdom, Justice, Moderation," and was issued March 18, 1831, by Milton Gregg. Mr. Clax'kson, on assuming the management of the paper, in the prospectus said: "The great principles which this press shall maintain will be those of the Union, of the American system, and of internal improvements. * * * * It will support for the next Presidency, Henry Clay, of Kentucky, and for Vice-President John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania. With the issue of October 9, 1833, Mr. Major withdrew from the Statesman, leaving Mr. Smith the sole publisher until the following spring.

After the expiration of Mr. Gregg's term of office as sheriff", he engaged for a time in flat-boating and trading on the river, but again returned to his profession, and, it is said, in 1837 began the publication in Lawrenceburgh of a paper entitled the Political Beacon. No. 1, of Volume III, bears the date of October 26, 1839. This paper he published until 1844, when he sold to Messrs. Dunn & Watts.

On the 25th of January, 1840, said the editor of the Beacon: "Our banner is thrown to the breeze, on whose broad folds are inscribed the names of Harrison and Tyler, and in their cause, and for the interest of our common country, Dearborn County Register was suspended at the end of the first year, and the office and fixtures sold to B. B. Root, who continued the publication at Wilmington, of a paper styled the Indiana Whig, until 1844, when the office was removed to Lawrenceburgh, where it was continued by B. B. Root and James S. Jelley until the close of that year, when it was suspended, and the office and fixtures bought by John B. Hall, who, for the second time, began the publication of the Register. Again it has been stated that, in the fall of 1844, Mr. Root sold the Whig to Mr. John B. Hall. who changed the name to the Indiana Register, and in the following year moved the paper to Lawrenceburgh, and, purchasing the Political Beacon, consolidated the papers under the name of the Democratic Register. In 1850 Mr. Hall sold the Register to George W. Lane, who, in 1851, sold it to Messrs. Oliver B. Tarbett and Charles C. Scott. These gentlemen continued to publish it two years, and, in 1853, sold it to Addison Bookwalter, who published it until in 1871—his valedictory appearing in issue of January 6. Mr. Bookwalter's successor was Edward F. Sibley, who continued its publication until in 1877—his valedictory appearing under date of March 8. In the same issue appeared the salutatory of the Democratic Register Printing Company. On the 29th of March, of the same year, appeared the valedictory of J. H. Burkam and the salutatory of W. D. H. Hunter and W. H. O'Brien, who have since conducted the paper.

From the foregoing it is seen that the Democratic Register is the lineal successor of the Dearborn County Register, established at Wilmington in 1841. Mr. Benjamin V. Gould, now foreman in the printing department of the Register office, seems almost a part of the establishment, in as much as he entered the office as an apprentice in 1856, and with the exception of a short period, has been identified with the printing of the Register as foreman through that long period of years.

October 18, 1850, was issued the first number of a newspaper Lawrenceburgh, styled the Independent Press, published by H. L. Brown and James E, Goble, and edited by O. B. Torbett. The Press was a seven column folio. August 22, 1851, the Press was sold to Rev. W. W. Hibben, who, on the 9th of June, 1852, associated with him J. P. Chew, a pi-actical printer and foreman of the office, as assistant editor. On the 20th of October following, Mr. Chew became the proprietor and editor of the paper, and conducted it until April 12, 1856, when he sold to E. F. Sibley, then publishing the Aurora Standard, who combined the two papers, which were suspended in 1857.

For several years following 1857, with, perhaps, a short interim, a Republican paper continued to be issued at Lawrenceburgh, with different persons at its head, among whom were R. D. Brown, and Thompson Brothers. Within a period of five years subsequent to 1856, the paper had five different publishers, and was suspended as many times.

June 8, 1864, appeared the first issue of the Union Press, a six-column folio, published by Lyman Knapp. The Press firmly adhered to the cause of the North and supported the Union, urging a vigorous prosecution of the war and the abolition of slavery. July 4, 1867, the name of the paper was changed to the Lawrenceburgh Press.

Mr. Knapp in a short time was succeeded by J. P. Chew, in the publication of the Press, who had been, with the exception of about five years, identified with the Republican organ of the county as publisher and editor, since 1852. Mr. Chew continued to conduct the Press until June 27, 1878, when he sold thepaper to James E. Larimer, who has since published and edited the same.

Mr. Samuel Chapman, now a job printer of the city, was, for some eighteen years prior to Mr. Chew's withdrawal from the Press, associated with the printing department of the office in the relation of foreman and manager. The Press is the Republican organ of the county, and, as will be seen from what has been said above, is the direct successor of the Independent Press established in 1850. Mr. Torbett, whose name is connected with the history of the Press, died in Indianapolis in 1864. He commenced the practice of the law in Lawrenceburgh about 1848; was for a time connected with the Press, and subsequently with the Register. In 1849-50, he served from this county in the State Legislature, and was speaker of the House; was a talented man, the youngest in that body.

The first newspaper published in Aurora was the Indiana Signal, the first number of which made its appearance in August, 1836, edited by L. C. Hastings. In politics the Signal was Democratic, and was discontinued after the presidential campaign of that year.

In 1839 a paper was established at Aurora entitled the Dearborn Democrat, by the Aurora Printing Company, edited by Alexander E. Glenn, which was continued during the exciting canvass of 1840, then removed to Lawrenceburgh and published by C. W. Hutchins. For several years following the removal of the Democrat, Aurora was without a paper.

The Western Republican was started at Lawrenceburgh by Nimrod Lancaster in 1846, and in the fall of 1847 it was removed to Aurora. It was started as an independent paper, Vol. II, No. 32, appeared under date of November 22, 1847, published at Aurora by John B. Hall and Nimrod Lancaster, supporting Taylor. In 1848, the Republican became the property of Folbre & Co.

The Western Commercial was started in Aurora in 1848, by N. W. Folbre and W. H. Murphy, Vol. I, No. 11, bearing date of February 10, 1849. The Commercial was neutral in politics and religion, and continued to be published and edited by Mr. Folbre until on the 22d of May, 1851, when he retired and was succeeded by Messrs. Root & Bowers.

That year (1851) these gentlemen established the Aurora Standard, a Whig paper. These gentlemen continued the publication six months, and for six months longer the Standard was published by Mr. Bowers alone, when, in 1852, E. F. Sibley, then foreman in the office, purchased an interest in the paper, and continued in its publication until the paper was suspended in 1857.

The Independent Banner was started at Aurora, in 1852, by N. D. Folbre, the first issue appearing August 12. Mr. Folbre remained the editor and publisher of the Banner until his death, which occurred March 3, 1854. The publication ceased with the paper of March 8, 1854. Mr. Folbre was born in Ohio in 1824, and, with his parents, located in Aurora in 1826. In 1836 he entered the Signal office in Aurora to learn his trade. From 1838 until 1845 he was employed in the office of the Political Beacon at Lawrenceburgh, where he remained until 1845, when the press changed hands, and our subject controlled the printing department. Later he was in the office of the Western Republican, printed at Lawrenceburgh by Mr. Lancaster, and when the office was moved to Aurora in 1847, Mr. F. returned with it.

In 1859 W. H. Nelson established a paper at Aurora called the Aurora Commercial, which continued to be published by him until some time in the early part of 1861, when it was suspended. That fall the paper was revived by E. F. Sibley, and successfully conducted by him until 1868, when the establishment was sold to John Cobb. September 13, 1868, appeared the first number of a paper styled the Peoples' Advocate, published at Aurora by E. F. Sibley, which was continued by that gentleman until 1871. July, 1868, there was established at Aurora by a joint stock company of twenty-four members, who had purchased the press and printing material of the Aurora Commercial, a paper called the Dearborn Independent, an independent Republican newspaper. Up to February, 1869, this paper was edited and published by J. W. McDonald & T. J. Cobb. At this time Mr. McDonald retired and left the management and editing of the paper to Mr. Cobb, who, in April, 1873, sold the Independent to L. W. Cobb, who has since conducted the paper as proprietor and editor. Under the present management the paper has been conducted as independent in politics.

Isaac Stevens was born in the city of New York, in 1811, and in 1815 with his parents removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where, at the age of fifteen, he was apprenticed to the printing business, serving six years, thence coming from the ofiice of the Cincinnati Gazette in 1833, to Rising Sun. In the fall of 1836 he removed to Vevay, and there commenced the publication of a weekly newspaper, which business he continued in with the intermission of about two years, until 1857, tnen engaged in different branches of mercantile business until his death, which occurred in 1877.

Alexander E. Glenn was a man of considerable ability, and after leaving Rising Sun went to Aurora, where he was connected with the publication of a paper. In 1836 he represented Dearborn County in the Legislature, and in 1841 he returned to the city of Columbus, Ohio, taking the foremanship of the State Journal office. In 1853 he commenced the publication of the Ark, an Odd Fellows' Journal, which he edited for fifteen years. His death occurred at Columbus, Ohio, in 1872.

Vol. I, No. 1, of the Rising Sun Journal, a five column folio sheet, neutral in politics, was issued September 12, 1838, edited and published by William P. Stratton, who retired from the paper September 7, 1839, and was succeeded by John B. Hall, whose name appeared in connection with the paper September 21st of that year. The paper appeared under date of October 10, 1840, as the Indiana Patriot, being a six column folio, stamped as Vol I, No. 1, in which issue Mr. Hall stated that he had sold his printing office to G. M. Child, and discontinued the publication of the Rising Sun Journal.

The Patriot was to be Whig in politics. With the issue of December 5, 1840, Mr. Childs withdrew and J. B. Kent became the proprietor. The last issue of this paper at our command appeared October 9, 1841. The office was removed to Wilmington, and under date of March 27, 1841, appeared at Wilmington, Vol. I, No. 1, of the Dearborn County Register, neutral in politics, published by J. B. Kent. At the end of two years Mr. Hall again bought the office and published the first Cass paper in Indiana. After the division of Dearborn County and the removal of the county seat to Lawrenceburgh, Mr. Hall removed the office to that place, carrying it on until he sold out to George W. Lane in 1852, after which Mr. Hall went to Evansville, where he published the Evansville Enquirer for several years . In 1876 he was still connected with the press of that city.

Elder William P. Stratton, whose name is mentioned above in connection with the press of the county, was, while publishing the paper, pastor of the Christian Churches at Rising Sun, Ind., Petersburgh and Burlington, Ky. He was a practical printer, and though for forty years a preacher, had by secular pursuits supported himself and family. His death occurred in Cincinnati, in 1883, aged seventy-five years. In that city he held many positions of honor and trust. He baptized over 1,000 persons, officiated at over 2,000 funerals and married over 2.000 couples.

March 25, 1843, S. F. Covington issued the first number of a paper, styled the Indiana Blade, which was established for the purpose of securing the division of Dearborn County, and the location of a county seat at Rising Sun. An effort of this kind had been made at regular intervals for a number of years, but had always proven unsuccessful. On this occasion, however, the friends of the measure succeeded in electing George P. Buell to the Senate, and Col. Pinkney James, David Macy and Richard Spicknell to the House, who procured the passage of a law dividing Dearborn County, and creating the new county of Ohio.

February 22, 1845, Mr. Covington associated with him his brother, John B. August 23 of that year, S. F. Covington transferred the paper to his brother, John B. Covington, and took charge of the Madison Courier. In 1846 he returned and united with his brother in the publication, and continued until January, 1848. when he purchased the Madison Courier and again took charge of that paper. John B. Covington continued in charge at Rising Sun. March 11, 1848, John B. Covington sold the Blade to Amor & Jennison, and joined his brother at Madison in the Courier. In July, 1849, they sold the Courier to M. C. Garber. S. F. Covington went into the insurance business, and for many years was connected with the Indianapolis and Rising Sun Insurance Companies, having charge of the office of the Indianapolis company in that city. Afterward he went to Cincinnati and became secretary of the Globe Insurance Company, and is now its president. He has served as president of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, and is one of the best posted and most reliable and trustworthy commercial men in that city. John B. Covington became secretary of the Rising Sun Insurance Company, and acted in that capacity for several years; was engaged also in trading in produce, and has now retired to a rural home half a mile below Rising Sun. With the issue of June 3, 1848, George Amor was succeeded in the publication of the Blade by R. P. Moore, the paper to be conducted in the future under the title of the Indiana Whig, by Messrs Moore & Jennison; Vol. I, No. 1, of which appeared June 17, 1848.

In the salutatory it was stated that the Whig would support Taylor and Filmore. Fully persuaded of the importance of the approaching campaign, the interest already manifested by the Whigs of this representative district, and the importance of a Whig paper at this point, has alone induced the proprietors to embark in this new enterprise. With no encouragement but the efficacy of our principles, and the ultimate good which must necessarily flow from a proper promulgation of those principles, has induced us to launch our frail bark on the broad and boundless ocean of political warfare, and meet the enemy 'face to face' in open combat. The Democratic nominations are already made; the party drill of the 'opposition' has commenced; the tocsin has been sounded, and they are daily girding on their armor preparing for the conflict. It behooves us, then, as Whigs, to meet them. Therefore it is necessary we should have some medium through which to defend ourselves. We intend the Whig to be that medium; and in order to more fully disseminate the Republican principles of the great Whig party, we ask the Whigs of the district to aid us, and we will spare no pains to render the Whig worthy of their support. In fact, we intend making the Whig a political paper, giving 'measures, not men,' our preference. We are now on the eve of an important political campaign, one, too, fraught with more interest and magnitude than any preceding one. The trying issue has come. One more universal rally is necessary. With the spirit of 1840 breathing in every patriotic Whig breast, and the interests of our common country at stake, we can, by a strong pull, and a long pull, and a pull altogether, redeem the Whig party from the thraldom in which it was so unexpectedly thrown in 1844.

Mr Jennison was associated with the publication of the Whig but a short time, when the paper was conducted by Mr. Moore (Robert T.) alone. The latter was a sharp writer, a little rough and decidedly pursonal, and had several street difficulties. In point of ability the Whig ranked among the first papers of the State. Its editor defended and supported with noted talent the cause he espoused, doing himself credit and exercising no little influence by the bold and independent course he pursued. Under Taylor Mr. Moore became postmaster of Rising Sun; subsequently read law and was admitted to the bar; served as prosecuting attorney over this judicial district; removed to Cincinnati, where he died September 13, 1854, at the early age of twenty-eight years. The office of the Whig was sold to W. T. Pepper, who issued under date of August 24, 1850, No. 1, Vol. I, of a paper styled the Rising Sun Herald, to be neutral in politics. Vol. I, No. 1, of the Rising Sun Mirror was issued November 24, 1849, by John H Scott, which March 13, 1851, was consolidated with the Herald, to be neutral in politics, as each of those papers had been; the new paper to be edited by Mr. Pepper and published by Charles Scott. This paper was short lived, we judge, for in September, 1852, Mr. Pepper issued No. 1, Vol. I, of a paper under the title of the Hoosier Patriot, Democratic in politics. The Patriot was published but a short time. Vol. I, No. 1 of the Indiana Republican appeared in Rising Sun August 30, 1851, under the proprietorship of Hayden & Gregory. It claimed to be Republican in politics, of the same school of Adams, Clay and Webster, and supported Fillmore for the presidency. September 20, 1851, Mr. Hayden withdrew from the paper and was succeeded by William French, who in connection with Mr. Gregory published the paper until December 11, 1852, when Mr. French became sole pi'oprietor.

January 1, 1853, H. C. Craft became associated with Mr. French in the publication of Whig Republican, the last number of which was issued April 22, 1854, and the paper was then removed to Jeffersonville, Ind. The Neutral Penant made its appearance in Rising Sun, October 13, 1853, published by H. C. Craft; and the Weekly News, Vol. I, No. 2, appeared under date of March 3, 1854, by Charles Scott. The latter not long after this removed his office to Vevay. May 6, 1854, was issued No. 1, Vol. I, of the Indiana Weekly Visitor, published by William H. Gregory, in the publication of which he continued until in 1859. Under date of November 7, 1857, under the head " Last of Republicanism," the editor observed: " The career of Republicanism has been run—the yearling is dead. The coup de grace has been administered in the State of Ohio—its only western stronghold—and it now lives only on its death bed in New York and New England. During its life it was, without intending it, a great ally to "the Democracy," for it elected Buchanan, when Fillmore alone could have defeated him; and a Congress, elected two years ago "American," it converted afterward into " Republican," to be succeeded, as it was certain to be, under such a wrongful conversion, by a Congress Democratic. "We were accustomed a year since to speak of the Freemont movement as a passion, an excitement and a fever, which was as certain to die out in a twelve month, as night and day were certain to succeed each other. We were very much abused then for the prediction, but time has proved it true." * * * How soon the resurrection, and what a grand life! Under the head "Obituary" appeared the following notice of this paper in the Hoosier Paper oi. March 5, 1864: "Died on Saturday morning, February 20, 1864, after an illness of several months, the Aurora Rising Sun Visitor, in the ninth year of its age. Requiescat in pace. "Little did we imagine, when we came to Rising Sun to publish the Hoosier Paper, that we would so soon be called upon to record the demise of this time-honored and valuable institution, which, with an intermission of a few months, continued to exist for nearly nine years. The publication of the Visitor was commenced by the late William H. Gregory, in the year 1855, if we recollect aright, and continued by him several years. During his administration, the Visitor was looked upon as one of the ablest papers in the State; but, after continuing the publication of the paper for about four years, he was compelled, on account of bad health, to retire from business. Mr. Gregory disposed of the office to Judge J. J. Hayden, then residing in this city, who published the paper about twelve months and then sold out to Mr. D. G. Rabb, and Mr. John W. Rabb took hold of the paper and published it through the presidential campaign]of 1860, and up to the breaking out of the Rebellion.

In April, 1861, Mr. Rabb recruited a company of troops under the call of the President for 75,000 men for three months service, and went with the Seventh Indiana Regiment, leaving the Visitor in charge of a publisher. When the call was made for three years troops, the said publisher left it in the hands of another 'publisher,' who 'run' it about one month, and then let it fizzle. After a lapse of several months, the concern was revived by Messrs. Frank Gregory & Co. (Mr. Ed F. Sibley), of the Aurora Commercial. For about a year the paper was published regularly 'every Saturday morning, the first and fourth pages being printed at Aurora. Finally, Messrs. F. G. & Co. sold the material, with which the second and third pages had been printed, to a firm in Ripley County, and thereafter the arduous task of printing the Visitor was performed at the Commercial office in Aurora, the work being expedited by transferring matter from the columns of the Commercial to those of the Visitor, and filling the fourth page, and a large portion of the other three pages with Aurora advertisements. From the time of the transfer of the concern from Rising Sun to Aurora, the people lost interest in it, and the aforesaid valuable(?) institution continued to grow gradually weaker and to struggle hard for existence; but finally, without a cry or a groan—it being so weak it couldn't groan—it succumbed and went 'the way of all flesh.' Such is the short but brilliant history of the Aurora Rising Sun Visitor. Again we exclaim, 'Peace to its ashes'.

The Hoosier Paper was started in Rising Sun February 20, 1864, by John P. Lemon and D. B. Hall (the latter is now the publisher of the Rising Sun Local), which gentlemen continued its publication until in the following August, when Mr. Hall went into the United States service, and Mr. Lemon continued the publication of the Hoosier until the February following, when he sold to Mr. J. E. D. Ward. The following is extracted from the salutatory of the Hoosier: "Politically, our paper will support the present administration in all its acts in the conduct of the war. * * * "We know no difference between a traitor in arms and a traitor at heart, and think they should be served the same way—hanged as high as Haman. While our brave soldiers are fighting the enemy, we deem it our duty to fight them at home and we shall do so to the last extremity. We do not want to see this war end unless it be with honor to the North. Just so soon as Jeff Davis & Co. come to see 'the error of their ways,' and come back under the shadow of the old stars and stripes, in obedience to the Constitution and laws of the country, or the whole race of rebels is exterminated and our armies and navies have encompassed their territory, then we are for peace—not before".

On the 11th of March, 1865, Mr. J. Edwin Donelson Ward issued No. 1, Vol. I,' of the Observer and Recorder, whose political complexion was purely loyal, conforming to the views and doctrines of the Republican or Union party, "to support the Government in all of its measures to put down the Rebellion". Mr. Ward continued to publish the paper until in 1866, retiring July 14, and on the 21st of that month and year Messrs. Frank Gregory and Charles Beat took possession and issued the Recorder, which gentlemen set forth in their salutatory that it was their intention to publish an independent newspaper, devoted to the interests of Ohio County and Rising Sun.

On the 12th of January, 1 1867, the name of the paper was changed to the Ohio Comity Recorder. With the issue of the paper bearing date of September 26, 1868. Mr, Beaty retires and the Recorder is published by Mr. Gregory until June 2, 1873, when the paper was sold to the present proprietor, Frederick J. Waldo, who June 7, 1873, sent the paper out a quarto, six columns, independent in politics but not neutral.

The paper is now published under the name of the Rising Sun Recorder, and is Republican in politics. October 17, 1874, D. W. Calvert commenced the publication of a paper in Rising Sun styled the Saturday News, independent in politics. The News was continued in Rising Sun under the same proprietorship until in the spring of 1878, when the office was removed to Aurora and the paper there published under the same management, though changed in politics to a Democratic paper until the spring of 1881, when its publication was discontinued.

Vol. I, No. 1, of a weekly paper styled the Rising Sun Local, a six column folio independent in politics, published by Banner Hall, made its appearance in Rising Sun July 26, 1879, with Murray T. Williams as local editor. The Local has continued under the same name and proprietorship, though several times enlarged and otherwise improved from the beginning. It is now Republican in politics, and Mr. Hall, the editor, is still assisted by Mr. Williams.

The Local, since November 13, 1880 an eight column folio, is a live and interesting sheet. The Rising Sun Herald is the name of a weekly penny paper established in the city in 1884, by Master Frank Downey, who is both editor and publisher. The Herald is printed on a sheet about 7x10 inches, and is a spicy little paper devoted to the best interests of the general public. Vol. I, No. 46, of the Herald bears date of February 20, 1885. Giving our prediction for what it is worth, founded on our observations of the conduct of the " Liliputian," we judge our young friend (if he continues to see in person to the prompt delivery of the Herald of a February morning, with the mercury ranging from 15° to 20° below zero, the Ohio River almost frozen over, with the city itself frozen up, before one has a fire or his breakfast, as the writer experienced last winter), will rise to the foremost rank of his profession.

The printing offices of to-day throughout Dearborn and Ohio Counties are well equipped with presses of modern make and with improved facilities for the dispatch of all kinds of job work, and the men engaged in the conduct of the several newspapers are men of ability and well qualified for the profession, and are endeavoring to advocate such measures as are in the line of progress and advancement ennobling to man, and are for the best interests of the public generally. The men conducting party papers are, generally, of strong political convictions, and are not silent on political questions, but are ever on the alert in the furtherance of the principles of the party to which they are attached. Biographies of the members of the press will be found in the biographical department of this work.