...The first newspaper in Clermont County appeared in 1813. Before that time the pioneers relied on surrounding newspapers from Cincinnati and Chillicothe. The Doris Wood Branch Library in Batavia has a chronological listing of all the available newspapers from 1813 to 1991. All newspapers, in existence, are either on film or on hard copy at the library. Very few are indexed.... http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohclermo/materials.htm#Newspapers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Early Newspapers of Clermont County, OH: -------------------------------- THE POLITICAL CENSOR: This was the title of the first newspaper ever published in Clermont and was a humble beginning in an avocation in which so many citizens afterwards distinguished themselves. It was printed at Williamsburg, the ancient and honorable shire- town of the county, and its first number was issued Friday, Jan 15, 1813. This pioneer sheet was published, owned and edited by Thomas S. Foote and Robert Tweed, both well known public men of the day; the former, a noted lawyer, and for many years prosecuting attorney, and the latter elected coroner. The first Censor was a dingy sheet, like all the prints of that early day, and contained a few advertisements, no local news, and some items of national and foreign news two months old. Owing to the meager settlements and the troublous times attending the war of 1812, its lease of life was only of short duration, and from the data at hand we conclude that its period of publication was less than a year. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE WESTERN AMERICAN This newspaper was also published at Williamsburg. Its first issue bore the date Aug 5 , 1814 and its proprietors were David Morris and George Ely. The former was the editorial head and was a man of more than ordinary capacity, possessing great ability as a pungent writer; the latter is better known as the original proprietor of Batavia, and was probably the capitalist of the firm, who soon after disposed of his interest. The Western America was printed on a sheet twelve by nineteen inches, folded into four pages of four columns each, and issued every Saturday. Its terms of subscription were two dollars a year, if in advance and two dollars and a half at expiration of year. The paper lasted two years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE CLERMONT SENTINEL This was the first newspaper that incorporated as part of its title the name of the county in which it was issued , and to which it looked for its moral and material support. The first issue bore the date July 4,1818, and the place of publication was also Williamsburg. The publisher was Charles D. McManaman. It was published on Saturday , but how long it was issued we are unable to determine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE FARMER"S FRIEND This was published in Williamsburg , and its editor was William A. Camron,who removed an office to this place from Lebanon, Ohio.The Friend was begun in 1820, and was continued several years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE WESTERN PATRIOT This newspaper was published in Batavia, which had become the county seat, and its first issue was dated May 24 , 1824. It was printed by Z. Colby & Co., on Water Street every Saturday, at two dollars per annum in advance, or three dollars after the expiration of a year. After the paper had been published six months, and the funds to sustain it not coming in rapidly enough to lubricate the machinery, it advertised in a leaded notice to receive corn, wheat, flour, whiskey, oats, and pork in payment for subscription. In August 1826, appeared the last number of the Western Patriot, its publisher, Mr. Colby, having sold out his office, type, and printing press to David Morris. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES David Morris, who in 1814 had published the Western America, at Williamsburg, merged the Western patriot of Mr. Colby, when he purchased it and its good-will, into the Spirit of the Times, the first number of which was issued at Batavia on July 21,1826, some seven weeks before the Patriot sold out, and was of the same size at that paper. Mr. Morris held control of the paper until its publication ceased, some time in 1829,when after a short period, he became the editor of a new paper. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE CHRONICLE OF THE TIMES This paper originated in 1829 as a political rival of the Ohio Sun. It absorbed whatever remaining interests there were of the Spirit of the Times, and for most of the time David Morris was the editorial head. The paper was printed until the year 1835, when it ceased to chronicle the events of the times under that name, but was, after a period of about a year, merged into a brand new paper. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE CLERMONT COURIER The date of the first issue was March 19, 1836 and Andrew M. Gest and R.W. Clark were the founders, using the same type, press and room which had formerly belonged to the Chronicle of the Times. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE CLERMONT SUN,FOUNDED AS THE OHIO SUN On the first day of July 1828, the first number of this paper was issued in the village of Bethel, and was thereafter published every Wednesday by Samuel Medary, although the enterprise was begun and for some time fostered by Thomas Morris. The paper was a folio of five columns to a page, which measured thirteen and a half by twenty one and a half inches, and up to that date was the largest paper ever printed in the county. This seemingly extraordinary size was looked upon by the wiseacres as a daring adventure, fraught with great risk and possible misfortune. But the paper has been a success from the beginning. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE NEW RICHMOND PRESS The first periodical was issued in the days when New Richmond was the county seat, and was called The Luminary. The publishers were four brothers, A., C., J.,and W. Herron, and the printing office was in the upper rooms of the Seneca Palmer filling mill. Its first issue bore the date July 3,1823. It appeared every Wednesday for about a year at the subscription price of two dollars per annum if paid in advance. The paper soon died from lack of patronage after the county seat was removed to Batavia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- THE PHILANTHROPIST In 1834, James G. Birney, the celebrated champion of human liberty and equal rights, began the publication of THE PHILANTHROPIST at New Richmond, in a building which stands at Walnut and Willow Streets, and continued issuing the paper there for several years. Mr. Birney came to New Richmond with his newspaper, a large and well printed four page sheet, upon the assurance of the Donaldson brothers and other well known anti-slavery men that he could there pursue his work unmolested. Although the sentiments of New Richmond frowned down any attempt to disturb Mr. Birney in his avocation, yet danger from mobs was several times apprehended. Lawless men from Kentucky and other places threatened to sack the office, and the abolitionists and personal friends of the editor of THE PHILANTROPIST rallied to defend the paper. At the signal of danger a meeting was held in the old market house of that village, which was addressed by Caleb Walker and other friends of freedom, and the most emphatic assurance given Mr. Birney that they would stand by him, though it should require the sacrifice of life and property. On one occasion the villagers were violently alarmed by the report that a boat had been chartered at Cincinnati to bring up a party of pro-slavery men whose avowed purpose was to destroy the PHILANTHROPIST. Again the people of New Richmond assembled to take measures to sustain Mr. Birney, and some counseled a report to extreme measures should the destroyers come. Happily, better counsels prevailed, and the boat did not leave Cincinnati; but all that night the friends of a free press patrolled the town in front of the PHILANTROPIST office to protect it from possible assault. Some time in the spring of 1836, Mr. Birney moved his office to Cincinnati, and on the night of July 30th, it was destroyed by a lawless and infuriated mob who scattered the type into the streets, tore down the presses, and completely destroyed the office. Afterwards the friends and supporters of this famous abolition paper subscribed and purchased a new outfit for Mr. Birney, and he resumed its publication. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ----- Original Message ----- From: <Newchase7@aol.com> To: <OHCLERMO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 3:29 PM Subject: newspapers > Could someone please tell me the name / names of the newspapers that would > carry news of Clermont Co., esp. Tate township before / during / after 1816? > That was when my g.g.grandparents were married there - William Gosney & Mary > "Polly" Ellsberry / Elsberry / Elsbury. > Thanks, Beth