The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-06-11
KALDA, PUTNAM COUNTY OHIO, FRIDAY, /,

pect. While the highest praisc was
warded TO his powers as an advocate, and
) bis ability as a lawyer "money came
slowly in" To one who was constitu-
tionally Indifferent to speedy acquisition.
ihis,was matter Of small moment, and
Mr. Way found in tho charms Of social
intercourse, en- adequate compensation
foriardy accumnlaiions. His fine con.
versational powers, gen,lemanly deport-
mens and ready bumor, made him q
great favoriIe with the young people of
Urbana. His associations at this time,
while of pleasant, were not of profIa.
BILE character. They stole upon the time
+ which, had he devoted 10 his profession,
would sooner have secured him business
and placed him beyond the reach Of dis
coufagement. Becoming aware of this
himself, he renewed his application 10
his profession, and soon succeeded in
obtaining growing and profitable prac-
tice. Of his efforts at the bar, at this
period, but one opinion exists among
those who witnessed them. They were
able and brilliant, remarkable, for their
clearness of their logic, faullless elocu.
ton. and finished oratory.
EARLY in the spring Of 1884, Mr.. Way
married Miss Nc cCerd, the daughter of a
citizen Of Urbana. Marriage, with its
pleasant associations, was not unaccom-.
panied by corresponding cares. The
theatre in which Mr.. Way moved was lily
suited 10 his wishes, and he soon began
10 feel the necessity of wider field of
usefulness, and more productive practice.
The year 1885 marked The commence
ment Of period in Western history
which will moi soon be forgotten. The
immense amount Of currency, with which
the country had been flooded, had found
its way into the hand of specula,ors and
advanturers who were seeking opporuini-
ties in the great West for It's profitable
! Investment. Tia, was not the day of
railroads or physical improvement. Men
had not ceased to think that the safest
and most profitable invesimen, for money
was real estate. The southern shore Of
Lake Erie had just begun to attract the
attention Of the speculators. Every
little port eecame speedily field Of pro.
life operations. Thousands of the young
andAenierprising population of the East
ern States raked together their slender
means, and hastened 10 the West in
search Of speedy fortune. -'--~
Under the influence of these causes. a
town was commenced on the Maumee
River. where Toledo now stands, which
it was supposed, in few years woul
possess all tho advantages ofan immense
commercial metropolis. Attracted more
by the facilities which it promised for an
extensive practice in his profession than
by any desire 10 engage in real estate
speculation, after four years of toll and
disconragement, Mr.. Way removed with
his family, TO Toledo, in September, 1885.
AT the time Of his arrival; the town was
crowded with specua.ors. The contest
between Ohio and Michigan, concerning
the boundary between the States, had
been decided. Toledo was within the
territory given to Ohio. The town site
had passed into the hands of
advanlurers, who had laid it out into city
lots which they were selling at enormous
rates. The town was one continued
scene Of excitement. The public houses
were filled with fortune hunters,
At,he solicitation of the principal pro.
[ prieiors Of the place, Mr.. Way took
charge Of a printing press. which they
had procured, and established the Toledo
Blade. The first number Of this paper
was issued in the fall Of 1885. The lead.
ing article in the first number, from the
pen Of Mr.. Way, assining the reasons for
the name which he had bestowed upon
the paper, was fine specimen Of com.
position; and could it have been found,
would have filed space in this memoir.
simultaneously with the assumption of
editorial duties, Mr.. Way, resumed the
practice Of his profession; which soon
introduced him into an extensive busi.
ness During the first thee years Of the
existance Of the Blade, Toledo was the
abode ofseveral gentlemen offne literary
attainments, who having made extensive
purchases Of real estate, continued to re-
side there, with the hope Of disposing of
the same at advanced prices. Among
the number was the Hon. Joseph P.
Williams, now of Michigan, a writer Of
great strength and sarcasm. and Pierre
M. Irving, ESQ.,, nephew Of Washington
Irving, and, like his distinguished rela-
tive, delightful paslime writer. The
Blade, from time, I, lime, received the
contributions Of these gentlemen. Ii
was for a long time conducted with emf
nent ability, and by the character which
it's able editorials aud communications
obtained for il, both at home aud abroad,
it increased the notoriety Of Toledo. and
gained for i, the favorable consideration
Of men ofinfuence and station. In its
sharp contentious with Maumee City and
Perysburg, which were rival towns; To-
ledo experienced the benefit OF this in-
fluence, and owed to il, more than to any
other one cause, her ultimate triumph. ~
after his removal IN Toledo. Mr.