02/12/2024
“History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley,” by Joseph G. Butler Jr., provides a snapshot of the history of area newspapers, including The Vindicator, in this 1921 account. The following text is verbatim; the copyright has expired.
Newspapers
We have already reviewed, in chapter ten of this volume, the history of "The Olive Branch and New County Advocate," the first newspaper published in Youngstown. This publication ran its course between August 23, 1843, and March 7, 1845. It was a regulation weekly journal of that day, although not a vigorous exponent of the cause it assumed to champion.
For a year after the demise of the Olive Branch, Youngstown was without a newspaper, but on May 12, 1846, The Ohio Republican was launched by John M. Webb and Asahel Medbury. It announced itself as a "political and literary news paper," and as "independent, but not neutral." In reality it was rather staunchly Democratic in politics, its founders being members of that party and warm admirers of Andrew Jackson, the patron saint of Democracy. It supported Lewis Cass for president in 1848 and Franklin Pierce in 1852.
In 1852 the Mahoning Sentinel was started at Canfield with Ira Norris as editor, and about 1853 the Republican was removed to the county seat and consolidated with that journal under the name of the Mahoning Republican Sentinel. In 1855 John M. Webb became sole owner. In 1858 he sold out to William B. Dawson, but in 1860 repurchased the paper and removed it to Youngstown, where he published it under the name of the Mahoning Sentinel. It was an unpropitious time for an old line Democratic newspaper, and in October, 1861, it suspended publication. Revived in July, 1862, it was given temporary life by the Democratic victory in Ohio that year, but late in 1864 it passed out of existence permanently.
Youngstown Telegram
The Youngstown Telegram of today had its beginning in the Free Democrat, issued on December 31, 1852, by Edward D. Howard and M. Cullaton. Like its predecessor, its name is confusing today, since it represented the sentiments of the Republican party established a few years later. It was frankly anti-slavery, and free of allegiance alike to Democratic and Whig parties. In 1853 it supported Samuel Lewis, candidate of the Abolitionist party for governor of Ohio.
Early in 1855 the Free Democrat suspended publication, the True American appearing out of the wreckage, with D. S. Elliott and J. M. Nash as editors, Elliott having been owner of the Free Democrat in 1854. The True American supported Salmon P. Chase, Republican nominee for governor of Ohio in 1855, and became definitely allied with this newly organized political party. On December 1, 1855, the True American was sold to Col. James Dumars of Warren, who changed the name to the Mahoning Register. It supported the Republican ticket in 1856 and i860, and during the Civil Wrar was welcomed both in camp and at home. Colonel Dumars had something of the modern news sense, offering current news of home happenings as well as foreign news and long editorial opinions. On April 1, 1865, the Mahoning Register was purchased by V. E. Smalley & Co., Mr. Smaliey and John M. Edwards becoming editors. R. E. Hull and J. F. Hudson later became associated with Mr. Smalley, and in 1870 the firm became Hull & Hudson. Hull retired in 1871, and in December, 1873, Hudson sold out to C. A. Vaughan, A. R. Seagrave and W. H. Gault. In May, 1874, Walter L. Campbell purchased Mr. Gault's interest, and in December, 1874, the Register was made a daily paper.
The Youngstown Tribune, a daily and weekly, began publication on February 18, 1874, with James M. Nash, J. R. Johnston, James K. Bailey and L. F. Shoaf as its owners. In February, 1875, it was consolidated with the Register under the name of the Register and Tribune, continuing as a daily paper. Seagrave was later appointed postmaster of Youngstown, and Campbell continued as editor. In the fall of 1880 the name of the publication was changed to the Evening Register.
The Evening News, a daily paper, came into existence on July 16, 1877, backed by R. E. Hull, W. S. Stigleman, E. K. Hull. Thomas Kerr and C. E. Kennedy. In January, 1878, a stock company was formed and John M. Webb became editor of the News. In 1880 it was made a regular Republican organ, O. P. Shaffer succeeding Webb as editor and the Democratic stockholders retiring.
There was not room enough in Youngstown, however, for two Republican dailies, or for two daily papers at all, and on January 21, 1882, the Register and the News companies combined, under the name of the Youngstown Publishing Company, to publish the Youngstown News-Register. A board of directors was chosen, with Robert McCurdy, Thomas H. Wells and H. O. Bonnell representing the Register and Gen. T. W. Sanderson, Mason Evans and O. P. Shaffer, the News. Frank B. Williams was elected seventh director, or "umpire," a position later filled by W. W. McKeown.
This was a stormy era in Youngstown newspaper life. The rivalry between the Register and the News had been intensely bitter and "personal journalism" reigned. It was not alone a newspaper war but a struggle for Republican political control and even a quarrel for business supremacy. C. H. Andrews was heavily interested in the News and between him and Robert McCurdy existed an intense business feud. McCurdy was a staunch supporter of Walter L. Campbell, while O. P. Shaffer was associated with Andrews. In the reorganization following the Register and News consolidation Andrews gained control of the directorate and Shaffer replaced Campbell as editor of the new paper. Campbell, a scholarly man, a lawyer, public speaker and an able writer, although wholly blind from youth, passed out of journalism. Elected mayor of Youngstown in 1884, he devoted himself thereafter to law and business.
In April, 1882, Thomp Burton, who had been connected with the News, started the Sunday Morning. As its name would indicate, it was a weekly paper, issued on Sunday morning. In September of that year he sold out to H. L. Preston and Henry Gow, who gave way to a company formed in December, 1883. With this reorganization Thomas W. Johnston became editor of the Sunday Morning, while Judge L. W. King became a contributor of political articles.
Early in 1885 another shakeup occurred in the News-Register management and O. P. Shaffer was replaced as editor by Frank Presbrey. This move brought a renewal of the old war, that had actually been only slumbering since the consolidation of the two old rival newspapers.
The Industrial Printing Co. was organized by C. H. Andrews, O. P. Shaffer, Mason Evans, Gen. T. W. Sanderson and Jonathan Head, and on April 6, 1885, the Youngstown Daily News, an independent Republican paper, made its appearance with O. P. Shaffer as editor. Shaffer was an able writer and an aggressive news getter and the new daily began immediately to make serious inroads on its rival.
This newspaper war may have been entertaining but it could not be financially profitable. Before long a movement was on foot to bring order out of strife, with the result that the Youngstown Printing Co. was organized on November 17, 1885, with G. M. McKelvey, Judge L. W. King, H. M. Garlick, William Cornelius and Hal K. Taylor as incorporators. The new company negotiated the purchase of the News-Register, Daily News and Sunday Morning, and arranged for the publication of an evening and Sunday Republican newspaper that was to come out of the consolidation. G. M. McKelvey was named president of the Youngstown Printing Co. and Hal K. Taylor, secretary. The Sunday Morning published its final issue on November 29, 1885, the News was discontinued on November 30, the News-Register ceased publication under that name on the same day, and on Tuesday, December 1, 1885, the Youngstown Evening Telegram came into existence with Judge L. W. King as editorial manager, Thomas W. Johnston, managing editor, H. L. Preston, city editor, George McGuigan, reporter, and William Cornelius, business manager.
The Sunday edition of the Telegram was discontinued about 1891 and the daily became the Youngstown Telegram, the "evening" being dropped.
In the following twenty years the Telegram underwent changes of ownership, but for thirty-five years has kept its present name after its previous long period of vicissitudes." James J. McNally became manager on December 2, 1892, and on July 6, 1894, was succeeded by J. Howard Edwards. Mr. Edwards was elected clerk of courts of Mahoning County in 1899, and on his accession to this office in 1900 was
succeeded as manager by George C. Phillips. Ralph R. Sharman succeeded Mr. Phillips in 1903 and remained until March, 1906, when the Telegram was purchased by R. T. Dobson of Akron. Mr. Dobson retained control but three months, disposing of the newspaper plant to S. G. McClure, of Columbus, in June, 1906.
Under Mr. McClure's management the Telegram has made remarkable strides and has gained immense prestige in Youngstown and in surrounding territory. It is aggressive, vigorous and fearless in its policies and a great influence in a great community.
Youngstown Vindicator
Like its contemporary, the Youngstown Vindicator underwent many trials, changes of ownership and reverses in the first twenty years of its existence. In fact it was more than once threatened with complete extinguishment, but managed to survive these early day struggles and during the more than half century of its life has continued publication without absorption of any other newspaper, merger with any paper, or change of name. Being the organ of the minority Democratic party it escaped the battles for political control that distinguished the life of its chief rival in the hectic political days of the '70s and *8os and its history is therefore less lengthy because less stormy.
For almost five years after the demise of the Sentinel there was no Democratic newspaper in Youngstown, the vacancy in the field being filled in June, 1869, when J. H. Odell launched the Vindicator as a weekly paper. Mark Shakey was interested with Odell for a few months in 1870, and in September, 1873, Odell retired and was succeeded by O. P. Wharton. Wharton remained but seven months, the paper being repurchased in April, 1874, by Odell and W. A. Edwards, Odell becoming editor. In February, 1875, the Vindicator was sold to S. L. Everett who remained in charge less than six months, disposing of the plant in July, 1875, to Col. William L. Brown, a lawyer, newspaperman and prominent Democratic political figure. O. P. Shaffer and O. P. Wharton were active chiefs of the editorial staff of the Vindicator during Colonel Brown's ownership.
In April, 1880, Colonel Brown disposed of the Vindicator to Charles L. Vajlandigham and John H. Clarke, the latter then a young lawyer. Vallandigham remained here but a year, selling his interest in 1881 to Judge L.D. Thoman. Tn 1882 Thoman and Clarke sold out to Dr. Thomas Patton, who published the Vindicator until his death in 1884,
when the ownership passed to his son, W. H. Patton. Early in 1887 the younger Patton disposed of the Vindicator to J. A. Caldwell, who, in conjunction with Charles Underwood, launched a daily paper a few weeks after they had attained possession of the newspaper plant.
It was an ambitious project, but financially a failure. The two-daily plan, had been tried intermittently in Youngstown for fifteen years and there was not patronage enough to justify it. In November, 1887, fire gutted the newspaper office, which was located in the building in North Phelps Street now used by the Erie Railroad as a baggage room, and Caldwell gave up.
By order of the court Attorney A. J. Woolf offered the plant at public sale and the lone bidder was William F. Maag. Maag, in fact, had attended the sale only as a spectator and had no intention of buying the newspaper, nor indeed had he any money with which to buy it. With the paper on his hands, however, he gained a limited financial backing and took into partnership with him John M. Webb, veteran newspaperman. It was a fortunate move, since Webb was a writer of more than ordinary ability and pleasing style.
In 1888 Mr. Maag organized a stock company to assume ownership of the Vindicator. Sale of the stock proceeded slowly, and it was a year later, or on September 3, 1889, that the Vindicator Printing: Co. was formally organized with John M. Webb as president, Judge E. M. Wilson, vice president, John H. Clarke, secretary, and William F. Maag, treasurer and general manager.
In the meantime a daily edition of the Vindicator had been projected, and it made its appearance on September 23, 1889, with John M. Webb as managing editor, William B. Dawson as associate editor, and William F. Maag as business manager. Webb died on February 2, 1893, his burial services being held from the present Vind.cator building, then nearing completion, and Dawson died in 1903, while Mr. Maag remains as active manager of the Vindicator after more than thirty years of service.
On Sunday, June 12, 1896, the Vindicator began the publication of a Sunday edition and has continued this issue for almost twenty-five years. Both as a daily and Sunday newspaper it has more than kept pace with the growth of the city and maintained its high standing as the leading independent Democratic paper of Northeastern Ohio.
Other Newspapers
Youngstown's daily papers are limited to the Telegram and the Vindicator, but it supports nine weekly papers, published in English or foreign languages.
The Youngstown Labor Record, published by the Record Publishing Company, is, as its name indicates, the organ of organized labor in Mahoning County. It succeeded the Labor Advocate, a weekly that was started in 1903 and suspended in 1907. Harry Deehend, is editor.
The Youngstown Journal, labor and current topics, was launched in 1907. by Byron Williams and still continues under Mr. Williams' ownership and management.
The Citizen, a weekly paper devoted to current local events, was started in 1914 by D. Web Brown and purchased by David Tod early in 1919, the Citizen-News Company being incorporated soon after with a capital of $50,000 to issue a morning daily. Since the death of Mr. Tod, a few weeks after he gained control of the paper, it has been published by Mr. Brown, who has acquired its ownership and continued it as a weekly. Chester A. Dickhaut is the editor.
The Amerikai Magyar Hirlap; weekly, is the organ of the Hungarian-speaking population; the Youngstownske Slovenske Noviny of the Slovak-speaking; 111 Cittadino Italo-Americano and La Nuova Italia of the Italian-speaking; Romanul of the Roumanian-speaking; Kampana of the Greek-speaking.
Newspapers of the Past
Youngstown has also seen the birth and death of many newspapers in addition to those that passed out of existence through the medium of merger or absorption. The earliest of these, of course, were the Olive Branch, Republican, and Sentinel, whose history has already been given.
In 1865 the Mahoning Courier was started by Patrick T. O'Connor and Richard O'Connor as an independent weekly. Later it became a Republican organ and still later Prohibitionist. It was in the Courier office in 1870 that the use of steam power in the operation of a printing press was first called into use in Youngstown. In 1872 the O'Connor brothers sold out to A. D. Fassett, who made the paper a labor organ, under the name of the Miner and Manufacturer. In June, 1873, Fassett launched the daily Miner and Manufacturer, the first daily paper in Youngstown. Fassett was an aggressive, even combative, newspaperman, but with the establishment of the Daily Register in December, 1874, the Miner and Manufacturer went out of existence.
On May 5, 1875, Patrick O'Connor, who had in the meantime become an itinerant Methodist minister, began the publication of the Youngstown Commercial, in conjunction with L. F. Shoaf. Its existence covered a period of but six months. In 1876 O'Connor again entered the newspaper field with the Morning Star, a Greenback organ. It suspended after a brief existence, but was revived by O'Connor in 1879 under the name of the New Star, continuing as a Greenback paper until about 1881.
The Rundschau was started in 1874 by Henry Gentz as a German-language paper and was sold in 1875 to William F. Maag. Mr. Maag retained ownership until the paper was discontinued in 1917.
The Free Press was started by O..P. Wharton in 1881. It remained in existence about a year.
In 1883 Thomp Burton began the publication of the Saturday Night, a literary paper and one devoted to current local events. In June, 1885, Burton sold out to George W. Penn and C. J. Miller and the paper suspended some months later.
The Daily Morning News came into existence later in 1888, with J. Edd Leslie, John F. McGowan and R. E. Hull as publishers. It lasted about six months.
In 1888 Monroe W. Johnson, a lawyer and former prosecuting attorney of Mahoning County, started the Daily and Weekly Herald. It went out of business at the end of three months. This paper was published in a building where the Vindicator Block now stands and the equipment was purchased by Maag & Webb, publishers of the Vindicator.
The Buckeye Record, established by Thomp Burton about 1890, had a similarly brief existence.
The "News" appears to have been a popular name for Youngstown newspapers a generation or more ago. The fourth journal bearing this title came into being in 1892, when Charles M. Shaffer founded the Sunday Morning News. It continued until July, 1896.
The Ohio Sun, a one-cent afternoon paper, was started in 1893, but quit after a short existence. It was financed largely by outside capital.
The Morning Call was launched by an association of local newswriters in March, 1897, but lasted only a few weeks.
The Daily Times, a morning Republican publication, was established in the fall of 1903, backed by a stock company of local men and with L. A. Paisley as editor. It was a more pretentious effort than most of those that had preceded it and was started at a most propitious time, as Youngstown was just beginning its modern growth. In spite of favorable circumstances it succumbed to reverses and suspended early in 1904.
Photo: Joseph G. Butler Jr.
