THE PRESS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST.

- The Vinton County Press - McArthur, Zaleski and Hamden - Agricultural Society of Ante-Bellum Days - Safe Burglary - $1,000 Stolen and Safe Blown to Pieces - The Contents of Burglar-Proof Vault Saved - Contents, $40,000 - No Convictions.

THE VINTON COUNTY PRESS.

     The Vinton County Republican was the first paper printed in Vinton County.  It was removed from Logan to McArthur, and the first number issued April 13, 1850.  It was published by J. A. Browne and L. S. Bort, J. A. Browne, editor.  The name at the head of the first three numbers of the paper was Vinton Republican, but the editor explained:  "We propose to call our paper the Vinton County Republican, but have not now the proper type to put in the county."  The motto of the paper was: " 'Tis a base abandonment of reason to resign our right of thought."  Oct. 24 of the same year L. S. Bort became sole proprietor.  At the close of the first year L. S. Bort, J. K. Rochester and L. W. Bort became partners, Mr. Rochester retiring at the end of seven weeks, and L. W. Bort, Jan. 22, 1852, and again L. S. Bort became sole proprietor, and continued its publication until August of that year.

     Vinton County Flag - Aug. 26, 1852, the Republican was purchased by "a Democratic joint stock company,"  B. P. Hewitt and E. F. Gingham, editors, and the name changed to the Vinton County Flag.  May 20, 1853, E. A. Bratton purchased and took editorial charge of the paper, changing the name Aug. 19, 1853, to McArthur Democrat.  Motto: "The spirit of the age is Democracy," which was changed in August, 1854, to:  "No North, no South, no East, no West, under the Constitution; but a sacred maintenance of that instrument and true devotion to our common country."  Changed No. 8, 1856, to:  "Equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state, religious or political."  March 20, 1856, Alex. Pearce bought the paper, taking J. T. Spence as partner April 17, who remained until March 13, 1858.  Mr. Pearce sold

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out Dec. 27, 1860, to E. A. and W. E. Bratton, who again changed the motto to: "No North, no South, under the Constitution, but a sacred maintenance of that instrument and the Union."  May 7, 1864, W. E. Bratton retired, and returned Oct. 19, 1865, and continued its publication until the close of that year.

     The Vinton Record - Jan. 2, 1866, W. E. & A. E. Bratton took the Republican, and again the name was changed to the Vinton Record, with the motto: "The right is always expedient."  June 1, A. W. Bratton sold his interest to W. E., who sold Jan. 3, 1867, to Ruth C. Bratton.   E. A. Bratton was editor during all these changes except the year 1866.  Aug. 22, 1867, John T. Raper and W. H. H. Robinson purchased the office and restored it to its original politics.  Aug. 27, 1868, John T. Raper, bought out his partner and continued its publication until Nov. 23, 1876, during which time it did not miss publication one week, neither did they issue a half sheet, although the publishers were sometimes put to their wits ends to get out the paper.  One case particularly deserves mention.  During six weeks, while the hundred days' men were out in the service, Mrs. Ruth C. Bratton did all the work of the office except such assistance as her husband, who knew nothing of the business, was able to render in doing the presswork.  Mr. Raper sold the paper on the date above mentioned to Mr. A. Barleon, its present owner.  For the past three years Mr. Barleon has been assisted in the office duties by J. Ira Bell, and they have thus far been successful in giving to the reading public of Vinton County a good local paper, and ably presented to them the teachings of their party.  They have now many warm friends in this community who are always cordially greeted whenever they enter the "sanctum" of the Record.

     McArthur Republican - Dec. 10, 1852, the Bort Brothers commenced the publication of this paper.  It advocated the principles of the Whig party, and had for its motto the old motto of the Vinton County Republican: " ' Tis a base abandonment of reason to resign the right of thought."  Dec. 9, 1853, L. S. Bort withdrew, and L. W. Bort became editor and proprietor.  March 3, 1854, the Republican was discontinued for good and sufficient reason, as stated by Mr. Bort, that he was losing over $600 per year by its publication.  He said in his valedictory that he had "424 subscribers, thirty of whom were real, the remainder only professional."

     McArthur Herald - June 2, 1854, George Fultz and A. G Hard revived the old Republican under the name of the McArthur Her

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ald, they having rented the office for one year, and suspended May 17, 1855, to refit and refurnish the office for the publication of the Mineral Region Herald.  This paper made its appearance July 14, 1855, A. G. Hard, printer; W. L. Edmiston and T. Wells Stanley, editors.  May 26,1856, Mr. Stanley retired, leaving Mr. Edmiston in full charge of the paper.  It suspended publication during the summer of 1857.

     McArthur Journal -  Aug. 4, 1856, John W. McBeth revived the Mineral Region Herald and changed its name to the McArthur Journal, having for its motto,

"Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law,
No favor always us and no fear shall drive."

     From Aug. 7 to Nov. 21, 1862, the paper was discontinued, while Mr. McBeth was in the army, publication being resumed on the last mentioned date.  He continued the paper until the time of his death, which occurred in the beginning of 1863.

     McArthur Register - J. G. Gibson revived the Journal, April 23, 1863, under the name of the McArthur Register,,  with the motto, "One flag, one country, one destiny."  Sept. 1, 1865, Mr. Gibson severed his connection with the paper, and H. S. Sutherland appeared as publisher, with Captain H. C. Jones, editor, and Captain J. J. McDowell, assistant, the intention being to suspend publication at the close of the fall political campaign, and accordingly, Oct. 26, 1865, the paper suspended.

     Zaleski Herald - The Zaleski company bought the material of the Register, moved it to Zaleski and leased it to W. L. Edmiston, who commenced the publication of the Zaleski Herald, Feb. 11, 1866.  Feb. 7, 1867, W. E. and Ruth C. Bratton, succeeded him, and commenced the publication of the Zaleski Echo.  The Echo was a neutral paper and its publication only continued for about a year and a half under their supervision, and was purchased Oct. 18, 1868, by A. W. and E. A. Bratton retired from the firm and the name was changed to the Vinton Democrat.  Its politics were also changed to democratic as its name would indicate.  Sept. 19, 1869, it ceased publication, and July 14, 1870, the material was purchased and added to the office of the Vinton Record.  Thus ended up its eighteen years of doubtful existence.

     The Democratic Enquirer made its first appearance Jan. 24, 1867, J. W. Bowen, editor and publisher.  The venture grew out of the disaffection of some Democrats with the Bratton Brothers

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for renting out two columns of their paper (the Democratic organ) to Captain H. C. Jones, for the use of the Republican party.  By the subsequent sale of the Record, Aug. 22, 1867, the Enquirer became the recognized organ of its party, and as such is published at the present time, with Mr. Bowen still at its helm.

     The Literary Gem made its appearance May 1, 1867, with D. F. Shriner, publisher, and L. D. Martin, John C. Pugh, and C. M. Sage as editors.  It was a semi-monthly, and made the fourth paper in the county at that time.  Only three numbers were issued when it quietly subsided.

     The Raccoon Reporter -  was established in 1868, at Zaleski, by Major E. A. Bratton.  It was printed at the office of the Echo.  It was intended to aid in securing the navigation of the Raccoon River, and disappeared after a short period of irregular publication.

     The Christian Witness. - Jan. 23, 1873, J. W. Bowen became the publisher of the above-named paper which was edited by Elder J. V. B. Flack, with the editorial office at Haynesville, Clinton Co., Mo.  This paper advocated the principles of the Christian Union Church.  Mr. Bowen continued to publish the paper here until Jan. 13, 1877, at which time the paper was discontinued here, and moved to another place of publication.

     The Hamden Leader. - was established Dec. 24, 1874, by J. W. Bowen, as a strictly independent paper, with the motto, "The greatest good to the greatest number."  Feb. 10, 1876, F. Mont Smallwood became the editor, and continued in charge of the "Sanctum" until the paper was discontinued.  Dec. 5, 1878.

     McArthur Journal. - The first copy of the Journal was issued Aug. 14, 1879, with Brown, Bray & Co. as publishers, and M. M. Cherry and E. B. Drake in the editorial department.  The Journal advocated the principles of the Republican party.  Dec. 14, 1879, M. M. Cherry became its sole editor by the withdrawal of Mr. Drake.  Jan 8, 1880, the firm name of a. W. Brown & Co. appears as the publishers, and April 22, 1880, j. Ira Bell became editor, Mr. Cherry resigning on account of other business.  June 24, 1880, Mr. Bell resigned to accept a position with the Vinton Record, and again Mr. Cherry assumed the editorial duties.  April 14, 1880, the paper was purchased by Hugh J. Savage & Co., who published the paper with E. M. Entler as editor.   June 30, 1881, the name was changed to the Vinton County Democrat, and March 27, 1882, Mr. Entler purchased the interest of Mr. Savage, and has since continued the publication.  Upon Mr. Entler's assuming

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sole change, he changed its politics, and it has since been a strong advocate of the Democratic principles.

     Hamden Enterprise. - This paper first made its appearance January, 1880.  The proprietors were:  Wm. Cassill, F. M. Smallwood and K. J. Cameron.  The two latter were practical printers, and all three gave their time to the paper.  At the end of six months Mr. Cassill withdrew from the firm, and the remaining partners, Messrs. Smallwood & Cameron, continued its publication, getting up a very creditable local paper until Apr. 7, 1883.  On May 7, 1883, the firm dissolved by mutual consent.  Just previous to this, that is, on April 7, 1883, Messrs. Smallwood & Cameron started a paper at Wellston, Jackson County, which was taken in charge by Mr. Smallwood.  At the date of dissolution, May 7, 1883, Mr. Smallwood took the Wellston paper, a five-column Quarto, called the Wellston Argus, while Mr. Cameron assumed sole control and proprietorship of the Hamden Enterprise.  The Enterprise is now in a good financial condition, and has a high reputation as a progressive local paper, independent in politics, but untiring in its devotion to the building up of the material interests and future prosperity of the village of Hamden.

     K. J. Cameron, the present editor and proprietor of the Hamden Enterprise, was born in Vinton County, Ohio, Mar. 5, 1860.  At the age of fourteen yeas, and in the year 1874, he commenced to learn the printing business in the office of the Hamden Leader.  He held the position of "devil" for one year, and then removing to Mc Arthur entered the printing office of the Enquirer of that village, and soon, by hard work and attention to business, reached the position of foreman of the Enquirer job office.  In November, 1879, he left McArthur, after working about four years with but two weeks' vacation in all that time, to enter upon the newspaper business, and on his native heath, in the twenty-second year of his age.  He was selected at above age Clerk of Clinton Township on the Democratic ticket, receiving the nomination from both parties, thus having no opposition, and served one term with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people whose servant he was.  Mr. Cameron has now before him a bright and promising career.

FORMER EDITORS.

     Of the former editors and publishers J. A. Browne died at Logan in the fall of 1863; L. S. Bort and J. K. Rochester died at the same place; George Fultz, at Chillicothe, Jan. 22, 1858; John W.

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McBeth, at McArthur, on or about the 17th of February, 1863; J. G. Gibson, in McArthur, Feb. 11, 1866.  A. G. Hard at last accounts resided in Nebraska, and W. L. Edmiston was teaching school in Indiana; W. H. H. Robinson is Deputy Clerk of Clermont County, Ohio; and T. Wells Stanley died at Delaware, Ohio, May 19, 1883; E. F. Bingham is practicing law at Columbus, Ohio, and is a prominent Democratic politician; P. B. Hewitt is at Fort Madison, Iowa; John T. Spence went to Highland County, where he engaged in farming; H. S. Sutherland is a railroad conductor in Alabama; J. J. McDowell went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was engaged in the iron commission business; W. E. Bratton is at Springfield, Ohio; C. M. Sage is a hotel proprietor at Hot Springs, Ark;  H. C. Jones, John C. Pugh and E. A. Bratton are lawyers in McArthur; Mrs. Ruth C. Bratton resides in McArthur; a. W. Bratton, foreman in the Athens Herald office at Athens, Ohio; Alex. Pearce is Deputy-Recorder for Vinton County and resides in McArthur; L. D. Martin is in the Railway Postal service between Grafton, W. Va., and Cincinnati, Ohio; Dan F. Shriner is foreman in the Border News office at Adelphia, Ohio; John T. Raper is editor of the Scioto Valley Gazette at Cincinnati, O.; J. Ira Bell, formerly editor of the McArthur Journal, is now foreman in the office of the Vinton Record.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

     In ante-bellum days Vinton County boasted of an agricultural society.  Fairs were held, the people turned out and exhibited themselves  andsuch stock, grain, vegetables and works of art as they had at hand, and it was a few days of pleasure that was heartily enjoyed, and gave a new inspiration to life.  If this society ever held more than nine fairs the writer has been unable to find the record, but while the fairs have disappeared the ground still lies out of doors with the same fence standing up in places as monument of an unfortunate failure.
     June 1, 1872, an effort was made to organize and carry out to success an agricultural and mechanical association.  A meeting was called at the above date and resulted in the formation of a company, and the election of officers was as follows:  President, Benoni Hixon; Vice-President, E. A. Bratton.  Managers: William Bray, Elk Township; L. A. Atwood, Richland Township; T. M. Bray, Clinton Township; Benjamin Hawk, Wilkesville Township; John Calvin, Vinton Township; Robert Township, Madison

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Township; George R. Bell, Knox Township; Thoams Magee, Brown Township; John Bray, Swan Township; R. S. Barnhill, Jackson township; S. H. Haynes, Eagle Township; M. H. Walker, Harrison Township.  This seemed to have been the Alpha and Omega of this move to inaugurate an association.

POPULATION OF VINTON COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS.

     When Vinton County was organized the following municipal townships, already independent divisions of their respective counties, were united to form the county of Vinton, to wit:
     From Athens County, Elk, Vinton and Brown, to the last of which had been added two tiers, or one-third of Lee Township, of which had been added two tiers, or one-third of Lee Township, of the same county; from Hocking County, Jackson, Swan, and Brown; from Jackson, Richland and Clinton; from Ross, Harrison and Eagle; from Gallia, Wilkesville.
     The population of these townships in 1850 was:  Elk, 1,645; Brown, of Athens, 648; Vinton, 460; Jackson, 835; Swan, 1,139; Brown, of Hocking, 439; Harrison, 580; Eagle, 476; Richland, 1,193; Clinton, 886; Wilkesville, 1,037; total, 9,338. 
of this total population each of the following counties contributed as follows:  Athens County, 2,753; Hocking, 2,413; Jackson, 2,079; Ross, 1,056; Gallia, 1,037; total, 9,338.
     In the organization the two townships named "Brown" were called North and South, respectively.  This did not long remain.  Brown Township, of Athens County, having one third of Lee attached, gave it eight miles east and west by six miles north and south.  In December, 1850, the citizens of the east half of the township petitioned for the organization of a new township to be called "Knox," which was granted, and which left South Brown with the other half, or four miles by six.  In the spring of 1852, South Brown petitioned the County Commissioners for a change of name from South Brown to Madison, which was granted.  These have been the only changes made since Vinton was organized.  The following is the population by decades, commencing with the census of 1860:

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POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS - 402 SQUARE MILES

     "$1,000 REWARD - VINTON COUNTY TREASURY ROBBED.

     "Between three and half-past three o'clock Sunday morning, Feb. 11, 1866, the county safe was blown open.  The burglars had opened the two outer doors of the room by means (as is supposed) of false keys.  The two outer doors of the safe are large and heavy, and were blown off with a tremendous force, tearing off the hinges and throwing the doors across the room, mashing the counter and sinking the corner of one door in the west wall of the building.  The front part of the safe was torn to pieces, the partition wall between the Clerk's and Treasurer's office was a perfect wreck, and the papers on file of the Clerk, in cases against this wall, were mixed up with brick and mortar in admirable confusion.  The damage done to the court-house and safe is probably over $1,500.  The robbers were disappointed in not getting into the burglar-proof safe, and only got some loose change, amounting to about $600 belonging to individual  depositors.  It has hardly paid for engineering, and we think little Vinton came off first best in this raid.  The above reward will be given for the apprehension and conviction of the burglars."
     The above was published in the Vinton County Record, Feb. 15, 1866.  It was pretty well understood who committed the burglary.  There had been three men hanging about the town, and particularly about the court-house, and had become very intimate with the County Treasurer, David Foreman.  He had been warned that these men meant no good, but he was completely blinded.  The chief of the gang was a man named Maley Thompson, and

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he was always lying around in the Treasurer's office.  They succeeded in blowing open the safe and securing in all, from $1,000 to $1,200, but the main booty they were after was in the burglar proof department inside of the safe.  In the blowing off of the big doors, one was thrown against the side of the room with such force as to break down a partition and fill the room with plaster and papers, and the other imbedded one end of itself in the wall and the other end cut a hole in the floor, and was found standing or leaning against the wall of the room.  There is o doubt but the noise frightened the thieves, and, with the crash of falling partition, gave them the belief that the whole town had been aroused.  They hastily gathered what they could find and decamped, not daring to stay to blow up, if they could, the other, or burglar proof department.  There were cash and United States bonds in the latter place amounting to over $40,000.  This they entirely missed.  There had been a previous attempt to steal the key of the safe from the Treasurer, and by getting the outside door open be prepared to tackle the burglar proof vaults.  One of the men had secreted himself under the Treasurer's bed.  Mr. Foreman, after he had retired one night, felt confident he heard the steady breathing of a person in his room.  He got up, dressed, lit a lamp, and sure enough there was under the bed one of these men.  He pretended to be drunk and said he had crawled in to sleep his drunk off, and was too far under the influence to know what he had done, and got under the bed instead of on top of it. He pretended to stagger, but said he was all right, and Foreman let him out, and then retired to bed.  He had believed the fellow and thought nothing further of the incident until the safe was burglarized.  It was then plain enough to him what the man was there for.  The men's names were Maley Thompson, the leader, a man by the name of Mills, and one other from Cincinnati.  Thompson and Mills were arrested, but nothing could be proved against the latter.  They were in jail some three or four months, when Thompson broke jail before his trial came off and was never afterward caught.  Mills was released, nothing being proved against him, as above stated.  The leader, Thompson, while not admitting his guilt while confined, said enough to give parties to understand he did it.  He said while in jail they would never bring him to trial, and he did make his escape.  The man from Cincinnati was bailed out, and that was all that was heard of him.

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     A special act of the Legislature gave the county commissioners the power to reimburse or credit the amount stolen from the county, which was placed at $300, to County Treasurer Foreman at their discretion.  They allowed him that amount in his settlement.  It was the general feeling that the county was extremely fortunate in not being in a worse fix.  The Treasurer was not believed to be in any way involved, only a very badly duped man.

TAXATION VINTON COUNTY - FOR 1882

END OF CHAPTER XLIII.

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