The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

2
Democratic paper, with a view of pur-
chasing type and othermaterials to equip
a printing Office. Mr.. Snowden was
agent for Johnson's Type Foundry in
Philadelphia. Mr.. Patterson purchased
I2O pounds of long primer, and about
40 pounds of English job type and a
font of canon for head lines for posters.
Mr. p asked Mr.. S. to assist him in Sc
curing practical printer to manage the
paper. Mr.. S. recommended (me) his
nephew, who had graduated in his Office
the previous Fall. / was not in the city,
but after corresponding with Mr.. Patter-
son, left Pittsburgh for Somerset, Ohio,
on the first week of May, 1922. I took
the stage a rough two-horse wagon by
way of Washington and Wheeling
there were no turnpikes in those days.
The roads were muddy and the passen-
gers had to walk great part of the way,
and frequently to confi=cate rails from
neighboriDg fences, to pry the wagon out
of mud-holes. We were to be landed in
Somerset on Saturday noon, but owing
to the bad roads we did not get there till
Sabbath afternoon, when landed at Ea-
toms Hotel, where | remained a boarder
for eighteen months. On Monday morn
ing called on Mr.. Patterson, and found
that he had no more idea of the mate
rial necessary to fit out printing Office
than a child. He had provided but a
small font of long primer, small font of
job type, and font of large type for post
ers, and an old dilapidated Ramage press,
and two bundles of paper, royal size.
Printing paper in those days was known
as "Den,f', but little larger than fools
cap, Royal" about the size of modern
deed paper, "Super Royal" " Eagle, :" I'm
periol," "Dou6Ie Super Royal" the largest
size then made.
found that the community of that
then new county, was terribly demoral-
ized and cut up into factions, not on gem
eral politics, but on local issues, such as
the County seat on which there had been
a most bitter contest, between Reading,
Somerset and Lexington. Somerset, be-
ing on the road from GAINESVILLE TO Ian
caster, settlers naturally located near that
thoroughfare. l was advised that pre-
vious TO this time, the principal factions,
had each paper published in Somerset,
of deni size, and scurrilous character
One called the "RottlesHeke;-' the head
ing represented in a rude engraving, an
enraged 'Rattlesnake,' with open mouth
and representing men fleeing from the
snake The other was called the ''Scol-
pioa," the heading a large engraving
representing an infuriated Scorpion, with
an enormous tail coming down on the
backs of cringing and retreating men.
These papers had very brief existence,
but sufficiently long to put the entire
community at loggerheads, and cause in
Vulnerable libel and slander suits. 1t
was impossible to get an impartial jury.
The venue was changed in some cases,
and in others after remaining on the
docket for sometime, hot blood cooled
down and compromise effected. These
papers were printed on English and worn
out plea type, purchased from some of
the offices at Columbus. The ink was
made each week from lamp-black, flax
seed oil and saltpeter. The nominal ed
itors were adventures and fled to escape
prosecution as well as personal violence.
One of them went to St. GENEVA and
was for some time engaged in publish
ing paper at that place. These papers
were sold out by constable for debts in
CURED, and type cases and stands pur-
chased by different individuals John
Lidey, then County Auditor. purchased
a small Ramage press and some worn
out job type. The motto of the ''Scor-
pion" was, 40 for whip, to lash the
rascals naked through the world.n The
Rattlesnake's motto, | do not remember.
I'VE gathered up three old cases and two
stands and proceeded to put the newlong
primer in case, and set up outside mat
ter. Found that the new type was not
sufficient to setup one side. John Lidey
and Rev, Andrew Hinkle, Lutheran
Minister, who was also pretty good en-
graver, had purchased some type at the
sales of the scorpion" and Rattlesnake"
papers, came to the rescue, and / was
enabled to get out the first number of
the Perry Record" without having a
single subscriber. The citizens of Som
erset and adjoining neighborhood gener-
ally subscribed, with the full under
standing that the paper was to be free
from the influence of any of the factions
by which the community was distracted.
| The friends of the enterprise assured all
timid persons that the reason for pro-
curing stranger to manage the paper,
was, that he might be impartial to all
facti ons. l concluded in this state of
affairs to accept Ira9es instead of part
nership, or becoming sole proprietor.
There were only three Post Offices in
the County. One in Thornville, Som
erset and Lexington. There were some
post offices on or near the lines of ad-
joining counties. An exciting Con-
gressional election took place, in which
D. Chambers of Muskingum, Gen. Nc
Connell of Morgan and w. W. Irwin
aRnd Lyman Beecher of Lancaster, were
candidates: Beecher was successful.
Jacob Catlin and some one, in one of the
other counties in the district were can
didates for Senator. Catlin was elected
A Presidential election was approaching
jackson, Clay, Adams and Crawford,
were the candidates. The voters of
Perry county were chiefly divided be-
tween Jackson and Clay. There we're
but two lawyers in the County. John
B. Orton and Peter Odlin, now of Day.
ton, Ohie. Orton was warm Clay man.
Odlin and merchant named Hanna,
the only supporters of Adams in the
County. The excitement on this ma