The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-09-20
For the Gazette and Democrat.
The Lancaster Press.
BY GEO. sANDERsoN.

The first newspaper printed in the town
of Lancaster was entitled "The Mirror
and Fairfield County Advertiser." Itwas
commenced early in 1906, and was edited
and published by Jacob Hinkle, from Ky,
on roal sheet at subscription price Of
two dollars year. He continued the pa
per about six months, when Tor want Of
support, as he alleged, sold his printing
materials,and withdrew from the concern.
James B. Gardiner, who had Just made
his appearance in Ohio, and who in sub
scquent years, rose to considerable dis
tinction in the State as an editor, politician
and statesman, worked as journeyman
printer for Hinkle in the Mirror Office.
In the fall of 1906, John G. Gilklson
took charge of the Office, changed the title
ofthe paper from that of the 'Mlrror" to
that of the "Westorn Oracle ard Farmers
Weekly Nuseum,' and published the pa.
per about one year, wien he discontinued
his connection with it, and removed to
Mansfield, Ohio. His brother, james
Gikison aided him in the office. The
writer Of this article entered the Oracle
Office, as an apprentice to the printing bus
iness in the spring of 1907. and completed
his servitude in the office Of the "Fredo-
man." a weekly paper edited and publish.
ed by Robt. D. Richardson, in Chillicolbe.
In 1908, James Wilson, practising
physician, and Elijah B. Merwin, an At
torney at Law, Lecame owners of the
materials, and continued the Oracle about
one year, Neither Of them knew anything
about the printing business. and finding
that the concern intertered with their pro-
fessional concerns, in which they were cx.
tensivcly engaged at the time, discontin-
ucd the publication and Lancaster was
without paper until the following year.
In the spring of 1910. Peter Parcels,
Of Chlllicothe, established a weekly paper
in Lancaster, and the writer Of this article,
became The publisher, Itappeared under
the title Of the "9Olitical O6servatory."-
About six months after its commeuceme
Parcels sold the office to company, con-
sisting Of Philemon Beecher, Eluathan
SeOfcld, John Creed, and Elijah B. Mer-
win. The title ofthe paper was changed
to that Of the "Indepcndent Press" and
the writer continued to print the paper
and manage the business OF the Office
until April, 1912, when it became evident
that the United States would soon be com
PEELED to declare war with Great Britain,
he changed his employment for that o.
the camp. Russell E. Post then publish.
ed the paper Cor the propriotors until late
In the fall Of that year, when Jacob D, Die
trick issued proposals for publishing thu
"OhiO Eagle" lie also purchased tn,
printing materials Of the "Press," and il
the spring Of 1918, issued the frst mum
Der Of his paper, or rather it was con
tinuanco of the "StC untOn Eagle" whicl
he had previously edited and published il
Staun.oO, Virginia.
The foregoing is brief history Of tn
Lancaster Press, from its first commence
ment in 1906 until the rise of the Obi
Eagle in 1918; aud the writer is the onl,
person now living, who was connecte'
with the newspaper press in Fairfield
county during that time. All the other
havs passed away-some Of them man
years ago.