NEWSPAPERS
OF MONROE COUNTY,
OHIO
The following
are comments made by the four respective newspapers found in Monroe County in
1906. While they are limited in detail, they provide a feel for the nature of
the newspaper business in the late nineteenth century. Competition was fierce and the end-game was
frequently survival. From these brief
notes it is easier to understand some of the bluntness of comments found by
reading some of these old papers and the biting comments that appear in the
newspaper clippings contained in Paul E. Young, Jr. s document titled, Difficult
Days in the Winter of 1896 This document is found on this website and can be
accessed by clicking on the highlighted title.
The Monroe
County Republican, as the name indicates, is Republican in politics, but the
publication of reliable local and general news, wile it is news, is its
specialty. This Souvenir was printed by
the Republican Job Office, and will give an idea of the facilities of the
plant, a more extended mention of which is made on another page.
The Sentinel, a
Democratic paper, owned and edited by W. M. Williams of Woodsfield, Ohio, was
launched in the Journalistic field October 11, 1906, on which date the first
number appeared. Its appearance was the
result of a popular sentiment on the part of the people of the county in favor
of a paper that would be free from the domination of all financial or political
influence, so that issues both local and national might be discussed in its
columns without fear or favor, and in the interest of the masses; also, a paper
that would tend to foster and encourage public sentiment in favor of our public
schools, that both teachers and pupils might be inspired to higher ideals of
life. During its short life it has
fully justified the confidence reposed in it by the supporters, as is evidenced
by its constantly growing subscription list, and the general favor with which
it has been received.
The oldest
newspaper in Monroe county, and one of the oldest in southeastedrn Ohio is the
Spirit of Democracy, it being 50 years old in 1904. Its first editor and founder was James R. Morris, followed by
Col. Jere Williams as the second editor, the next man in the editorial chair
being Henry R. West. Mr. West was
succeeded by G. W. Hamilton, and he was likewise succeeded by James R.
Alexander, as editor and proprietor, with Dennis Buskirk as assistant manager
and in 1899, Mr. Buskirk became editor and manager, which position he how holds
with both credit too himself and profit to the paper. The Spirit has from the conception, been the standard of the
Democratic party in Monroe county.
While strictly partisan it is under Mr. Buskirk s management extremely
liberal and a newspaper in every sense.
The plant is up-to-date and includes a Campbell Press and Brown
Folder. The Spirit has one of the
largest circulations in the County, and is one of the best of family
newspapers.
On Friday, June
20th, 1873, this paper was started with Will H. Kernan and Hon. John
P. Spriggs, as editors. It was then
called the Monroe County Democrat. It
is not necessary to add anything as to the history of the men who started this
paper, as the late J. P. Spriggs was known to every business man of the county,
as to his capability in editing a newspaper.
In their first issue they say, This paper is to be Democratic devoted
to the cause of Democracy published in the interest of the Democratic party,
as a county organ, and general newspaper.
It is to be published in the interest of no faction, class section or
clan. Democratic in its principals,
LABORING TO PROMOTE THE MOST GOOD TO THE GREATEST NUMBER.
On January 2,
1874, John B. Driggs and Charles H. Goodrich took charge of the plant and
continued the publication of the paper until March the 19th, 1875,
when Mr. Driggs sold all his interests in the office to Jerre Jackson and
Charles Goodrich and they made it an Independent paper. In May, 1876, Mr. Goodrich purchased the
entire interest of Mr. Jackson. He, in
taking charge says, In all our eighteen years experience in the newspaper
business we never saw such vindictive pure hatred manifested against a
newspaper, as has been brought to bear against this one from the first number
that it was issued. Mr. Goodrich continued
as an independent paper until Nov. 20, 1877, when he made it a publican
newspaper. On February 1st, 1878, he
changed the name, making it the Monroe Gazette. Mr. Goodrich was connected with the paper almost nine years. By his untiring energy he succeeded in
building up a lucrative business, when many predicted from the start that he
would fail.
On the 20th
of May, 1882, John W. Doherty bought the plant. He was a man of ability and sterling integrity and while
advocating the principles of the Republican party, he endeavored to treat all
with fairness. He continued to publish
the paper until death claimed him, January 14th, 1889. His uncle, John W. Doherty, of this place,
published the paper until May 17, 1889, when it was purchased by George A.
Keepers and O. M. Greenbank, who for seventeen years published it in the
interest of its party and who remained proprietors until it was purchased at
public sale by Mrs. O. O. Snyder, who sold it to Jennings, Walton and Reef, who
on August 16, 1906, under the new management, brought it back to its first
love. In a few weeks both Jennings and
Walton retired, leaving Arnold Reef, proprietor and editor, who is laboring
faithfully to make the paper that will meet the demands of his patrons and be
welcomed to every home in Monroe county.
A foot note states: The Monroe Gazette has had a checkered
career, but it still lives [as of 1906].
Picture from the book, Souvenir of Woodsfield and Monroe County 1906
issued by The Monroe County Republican, Woodsfield, Ohio, 1906
Photo scanned and provided by Richard Harrington -- e-mail: Richard Harrington
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