Accordiing to the Abingdon history book published in 1968 by the Abingdon Publishing Co. Inc., p. 21: "In 1875, Frank L. Ritchey issued the first number of the "Abingdon Express." This was a small sheet at the beginning but gradually grew in size. It lasted about ten years.) The book has lots more, a litany of newspapers short- and long-lived in Abingdon; but this is all about Ritchey. Christy C. Bulkeley Abingdon native now in Sanford NC ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.