Athens Newspapers, Athens County, Ohio
The first newspaper published in Athens, was The Athens Mirror and
Literary Register, commenced in 1825, by A. G. Brown. The Mirror was
political and literary in its character, printed once a week on paper of
super-royal size (sixteen pages about nine by five inches to each number),
and continued through five years. It was printed on a wooden press with a
stone bed, and required four pulls to each sheet.
Several copies of the old Mirror, running from January to May, 1829, are
before us, and furnish some interesting bits of local history. Each number
contains the advertisements of Joseph B. Miles, Ebenezer Currier, and
Thomas Brice, offering their -complete and extensive assortments of goods
for sale low for cash, or in exchange for wheat, rye, corn, pork, butter,
feathers, rags, calf and deer skins, fur skins, buck horns, ginseng, bees
wax, etc."
In February, 1829, the publisher announces that "all who wish to see a
fifth volume of the Mirror published, are desired to send in their names
before the 1st day of May, next; " and earnestly solicits increased
patronage. In the issue of February 21, 1829, the editor apologizes for
being delayed beyond the usual time for publication, by stating that "a
young man in our employ unluckily received a severe hurt while skating on
the ice." Probably that young man was John Brough, afterwards governor of
Ohio, etc., who was then employed in the office.
About this time the temperance question was considerably discussed in the
town. A sermon delivered on the subject, January 22, 1829, by the Rev.
Robt. G. Wilson, is published in full in the Mirror. A society was formed,
of which Dr. Wilson was president, the Rev. John Spaulding vice president,
and Professor Joseph Dana secretary, and a pledge was kept at the Mirror
office for signatures. The constitution of the society, printed in the
Mirror, is accompanied by the following note: "It is understood that
merchants and others having contracts or quantities of spirits now on
hand, shall have reasonable time to close and dispose of the same on
becoming members." The movement was pushed with great earnestness and
success by the good men who inaugurated it, and doubtless there was
sufficient need of reform. Some of the seed sown fell on good ground in
Ames township, and blossomed forth into the following unique
advertisement, which appeared in the Mirror of April 25, 1829:
"A CHALLENGE.
"ATTENTION GROG DRINKERS!!
"SAMUEL L. MOHLER, of Ames township, having been for sixteen years in the
constant habit of drinking, and getting drunk on an average, as often as
once a month, has resolved to refrain entirely from the practice in
future; and as a test of his sincerity, he offers to pledge the new wood
work to a good wagon, against any property of equal value, that he will
refrain from drinking ardent spirits longer than any other man who has
been in the habit, an equal, or half the length of time; provided both
live to make the trial. Any person disposed to take him up can give notice
to that effect. "April 10, 1829."
We are not able to state whether this interesting challenge was ever
accepted or not; perhaps Mr. Mohler's virtuous resolve went toward
improving that nameless place which is said to be "paved with good
intentions; " we can not tell.
A committee consisting of Thomas Brice, John Gilmore, Amos Crippen, and
Norman Root, appointed to settle the accounts of the town of Athens for
the year ending February 18, 1829, publish an itemized report, showing the
total receipts to have been one hundred and seventy-three dollars and
twenty-three cents, and total expenditures one hundred and twelve dollars
and ninety-four cents.
The Mirror was succeeded in 1830 by The Western Spectator, edited and
published by Isaac Maxon, who came from Marietta in 1825, bringing young
John Brough as a type-setter. The paper continued under Mr. Maxon's
management for six years. In 1836 it was bought by Mr. Abram Van Vorhes,
who changed the name to the Hocking Valley Gazette and Athens Messenger.
Under this name Mr. Van Vorhes edited and published the paper for several
years, enlarging it to imperial size, printing it with new press and type,
and otherwise greatly improving it.
In January, 1844, the Gazette was succeeded by the Athens Messenger,
edited and published for a time by Mr. Nelson H. Van Vorhes, and afterward
by him and his brother, Mr. A. J. Van Vorhes. In the spring of 1854, N. H.
Van Vorhes retired from the paper, which continued in the hands of his
brother until October 1, 1855, when the establishment was purchased by the
late Mr. George Walsh, who only retained control one year, when it was
once more sold to N. H. Van Vorhes.
Mr. Van Vorhes edited and published the paper till January, 1861; Mr. T.
F. Wildes, from January, 1861, till September, 186,2; Mr. Jesse Van Law,
from September, 1862, till November, 1865; Mr. J. W. Stinchcomb, from
November, 1865, till November, 1866; Mr. J. R. S. Bond, from November,
1866, till March, 1868, and Mr. C. E. M. Jennings, from that till the
present time.
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