The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-05
BY JOHN H. sHEARER.

Mr.. John NJ. Laird, one of the pioneer
printers of Somerset. 1t Is strange with
what avidity the old "reminiscences of
thirty, forty and fifty years ago are
sought for, especially by the older class
of people who were then just coming
upon the stage of action, but who can
we'll remember the incidents and ro-
mances of that "long time ago"
Mr.. Laird is correct so far as his con-
nection with the publication of the Perry
Record is concerned, as 1 find by refer
ence to a copy of that paper now before
me; but I think he must be in error as
to the history of the press in Somerset
prior to his advent. During 1s2o-2l,
shortly after the formation of the county,
there existed two factions which were in
continual warfare with each other. From
the few fragments of history that have
come down to us from those ancient
DAYS, it would seem that Roswell Mills,
John B. Orton, c. G. Hood, Henry Crum-
rine mot Aumrine, as Mr.. Laird has it),
and few others, we're the principal Piv-
OTIS around whom turned the local issues
Of the day. Those were exciting days,
as any old pioneer of that region who is
yet living will tell you.
Mr.. Laird states that she was advised
that each of the factions" he enumerates,
''had paper published at Somerset; one
called the RattIesndke, and the other the
Scorpion" My recollection is tolerably
distinct as far back az the days of the
Perry Record, and having been more or
less connected with the press in Somerset
since 1886, it is passing strange that l
never heard of the existence Of such pa
pers as Mr.. L. mentions.
The first paper ever printed in Somer-
set, as tradition has it, was established on
the 2Sth day of March, 1921, by John
Lidey and E. P Alfred, and was called
The Western World and Political Ticker,
three copies Of which now have in my
possession, to-wit: Vol. l, Nos. %, 26
and 27. These issues are dated respect
lively, August p, September 10 and 26,
1921. The Perry Record took the place
of the Ticker during the following
spring.
The Ticker, as it was called for short,
has perhaps never had an equal in the
way of defamation and low scurrility. II
was started into existence with the ap-
parent view of scilting every body that did
rat o4+ooh h;p,salf to tba eide he xxyao a Il
vocating, and the result was, as Mr.
Laird intimates, state of society not en-
vie1 by the "peace-maker." The TickteI
had no published motto, but the proprie'
tors had one we'll defined in their own
minds, and it occasionally found expires
sion in it's columns That was the one
quoted by Mr.. Laird: 80 for lash," &c
1t is quite likely that the Ticker, with it,
rattlesnake and scorpion nature, was de
nominated by those names by the oppos
ing party, and in this way, no doubt, Mr.
Laird has been led into error.
Following the Perry Record came tn,
Peoples AdrOcate. This paper was pub
lished by John Miller, now a very agec
man, residing, as learn, in Columbus
/ do not recollect certainly who owned
the establishment at this time, but my
best impression is that it was either Hen
ry Crumrine or Henry Filler.
The AdUocate was purchased in April
$780, by VIM, F. and Louis J. Moller
and the name changed to Western Pos
and Perry Advertiser. They published
the paper jointly till June, 1884, whel
William F. Meller assumed entire con
troll of it, and took off "And Perry Ad
vertiser," making the name simply West
ern Post. In February, 1885, Louis
Moeller repurchased the press and chang
ed the title to Western Post and Perr
Democratic Advertiser. In April, 1885,
Moller sold the concern to S. H. McAfe
and Jonathan W. Ream, both young me-
who had served their apprenticeship i
the Office. The partnership of McAfe
& Ream was dissolved in September
1889, when the paper went in the nam
of s. H. McAfee, although had then
half interest in the establishment. /
August, 1910, William F. Moeller bough
out the interest of McAfee for younge
brother-Alexander Meller-who, nc
relishing the profession, gave it up, an
his interest was purchased a week or tw
later by A. t. M. Filler. In Septembe
of the same year, the firm name ws
changed to J. II. Shearer & Co., and a
terwards to Shearer and Filler. Th
partnership continued till the 1st of Eel
ruary, 1845-the writer having purcha
ed Mr.. Filters interest, and thus for tE
first time come into full possession of tt
office. The paper run from 1885 to 1S4
under the title of the Western Post an
Perry Democratic Advertiser. Havir
purchased a new outfit, November Is
1854, the name of the paper was change
to the Somerset Post. In Februar
1S47, leased the Office to James '
Shirley and John w. Bugh, for the p
riod of two years. Mr.. Bugh retired
November, 1848, leaving Mr.. Shirley
All out the unexpired term of the leas
which closed in February, 1849. At Il
expiration of the time, again assume
control of the paper. In July, 1856, I SO
the establishment to E. s. Colburn, WI
merged the paper with the Perry Cou
ty American, under the title of the Per
County American and Somerset Po
This was fatal to the old Post, which h
been in existence more than quarter
century. 1t refused to play "seco
fiddle" to Native Americanism, and
nally expired in December, 1856. '
took our materials back, and Mr.. G.
born removed his to New Lexington,
which point the county seat had been
moved.
Thinking it out of the question to g
vanize the Post into life again, and So
erset being left without a paper, we
January, 1857, procured new mater
and started "The Somerset Reviey