County History as reported
in The Free Press Standard in 1933, page 5
Historian Delves Into Early
Newspaper Files of Carroll-co
Prior to the year 1840 the
newspapers of this county were not kept on file by the county auditor
and those copies that were filed by individuals for their own private
use before this time have not come under our notice. The old copies of
The Free Press, filed by Major McClave were sold to Harvey Cogsil of
Lee-tp; so that the following re-publication of our
research does not antedate the year 1840. In this year we find the
Carroll Free Press, vol viii, No. 1, "Edited by J. Pearce, and
published every Friday morning by T. W. Collier, at $2.00 per annum."
Among the local notices in this paper we find that "The Abolition votes cast in this county on Tuesday last, amounted to about twenty -- not one of which was polled for us. We trust the Abolitionists will now see the folly of separate organization on their part for political purposes -- unless, indeed, Whig Abolitionists are determined to play into the hands of the Locofocos."
It notices that a German pedlar was robbed of $250 in gold and about $150 in bank bills on the New Hagerstown road.
This issue contains an "abstract of the votes polled in Carroll County" at the October election of 1840 -- Whig majority of 11 in the county.
Among the advertisements contained in this issue are the following, and they are given here because they may be interesting at this late date:
Sole and Upper Leather for sale by McEldery & Miller.
25,000 hides wanted by Beatty & Young.
Wholesale and Retail Apothecary & Drug Store by R. Kennedy, one door southwest of Mr. Leggett's Hotel.
General Assortment of Merchandise. Cash paid for Wheat. W. D. Jenkins.
Silversmith & Clock Making by Frederick Gimbel.
Cash paid for flax seed delivered at the Carrollton Steam Mill by Isaac Atkinson.
3,000 Yards of Brown Sheeting just received by Jackson & Sinclair.
T. W. Collier and John McCormic dissolve partnership, and announce that hereafter The Free Press will be published by the former. The latter announces in another column that he will be at E. R. Eckley's law office the last Saturday of each month to examine those wishing to teach common schools within the county of Carroll.
James Allison and Luther Low make oath before David Watt J. P. that they have appraised an estray mare, valued at $30.
Matthew Atkinson & Son have a double column advertisement of merchandise.
Law cards for Van Brown, Atty. Pearce, Starkweather & Jarvis, attorneys, and Eckley & Coffin, Attys. appear.
W. Hodge, proprietor of the Bolivar Hotel, opposite the Sandy & Beaver canal.
Chair and Cabinet Making by Geo. Arbuckle.
Boot & Shoe Making by Christopher Wilson.
In the issue of February 11, 1842, it announces that John Quincy Adams had been reprimanded by both houses of Congress for presenting a petition from the citizens of Haverhill, Mass., praying for the dissolution of the Union.
Kennedy & Van Stronder, Tailors.
Friday, February 25, 1842. On Monday the old Carroll County Bible society was revived under the auspices of Rev. Shelden, and the following were chosen officers: President, George W. Butler; vice presidents, Isaac Jackson, George Y. Hampson and Adam Crosser; secretary, Dewalt Rothacker; auditor, A. L. Littell; treasurer, Joseph G. Kennedy; depository, R. McEldery.
The issue of Friday, October 24,1841, announces that the Lyceum will meet in the court house on Monday evening, the 27th inst., at early candle lighting when the following question will be discussed: Has the discovery of the Magnetic Needle been of more benefit to man than the discovery of the at of printing? The disputants: Affirmative, Van Brown, Isaac Atkinson and C. V. McMillen; negative, T. W. Collier, E. R. Eckley and John Dunbar.
In that same issue John Pugh, Sr., Leonard Harsh, Matson Ayers, James Peterson and Frederick Leyde gave notice to contractors that they would receive bids for a "framed meeting house" to be built at New Harrisburg.
November 10, 1842 -- President John Tyler issues a proclamation signed by Daniel Webster, secretary of state.
December 30, 1842 -- M. Ayers of New Harrisburg offers his Tavern Stand for sale.
January 13, 1843 -- Hull & Buss, at Oneida Mills, want 25,000 bushels of wheat.
January 13, 1843 -- Joseph McCorkhill of Lee-tp offers a reward for a runaway apprentice, and everybody is cautioned not to harbor him.
;A camp meeting will be held by the Methodist Episcopal church on the land of Mr. Gregg in Perry-tp, in this county, commencing on August 18, 1842.
Issue of October 23, 1846, William R. Lloyd, editor.
Thanksgiving proclamation of Gov. M. Bartley.
Meeting of the Hook & Ladder company at the court house.
Late news from the Mexican war.
Daniel McCook resigns his place as clerk of courts and William B. Lloyd takes his place.
Soldiers of the War of 1812 are called to meet at the court house on Friday, the 5th of January, 1847.
William Coleman, A. B., opens the Carrollton high school.
May 21, 1847 -- The citizens of Carrollton are called to meet at the court house to discuss the "building of a railroad from Carrollton to the Sandy & Beaver Canal."
December 10, 1847 -- A correspondent asks for a daily mail to Carrollton, fixing the terminal points at Steubenville and Canton.October, 1849 -- First agricultural fair of Carroll county held at the court house in Carrollton. George F. Kennedy, secretary.
One barrel of port wine is offered at retail by B. Stephenson.
Advertisement. "A book for the Times!" Entitled "Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly."
July 2, 1852 -- The Free Press in mourning for the death of Henry Clay.
Dr. V. Trago has moved to Carrollton and advertises himself as an Indian Doctor.
Friday, October 1, 1852 -- Barbecue on the Public Square. Speakers Senator Wade and John A. Bingham. Band music furnished.
October 29, 1852 -- Free Press in mourning for the death of Daniel Webster.
February 9, 1854 -- Contains Master Commissioner's sale of the Sandy & Beaver Canal, by John Clark, master commissioner.
Boot & Shoe Establishment -- Sign of the Golden Boot. John S. Rukenbrod.
November 28, 1845 -- Van Brown severs his connection with the Free Press as editor.
January 9, 1846 -- The Free Press announces that Mr. Owen of Indiana had introduced a bill before Congress for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution, out of money in the United States treasury for that purpose.
January 4, 1860 -- Contains the message of President Buchanan. A list of conflicting authorities on the slavery question.
Absolom Karn, dealer in furniture.
James Wilson, tailor.
Cupola Foundry, E. McGuire, proprietor.
Mrs. Mary Rukenbrod, Bakery.
Hardesty & Stahl's Steam Mill.
November 8, 1860 -- Contains the news that Lincoln and Hamlin were elected.
December 13, 1860 -- President's Message and criticisms on same by Horace Greeley.
This brings us down to the secession of the Southern States and the firing on Fort Sumpter -- since which time the history of the county has been an open book, some of it written in blood and tears, and veiled with crape as the insignia of mourning for those who went forth to preserve the stars on the escutcheon of their country, to preserve "the liberty of speech, the freedom of the press, the Constitution and the Union."
Following are some of the newspapers published in Carrollton since 1840, all of which have passed away and are numbered with "the things that were, but are not:"
The Picayune, published by Joseph Cable, in a one-story brick building on Main-st.
The Citizen Democrat, by A. W. Morrison and Geo. W. Barlow, over Butler's Clothing Store and on the ground now occupied by Joseph Butler's furniture store.