The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-02
A NEW YEAR.

WIN Ills ISSUE LIE SOl.J MBlAN eu-
ters upon its nineteenth year, and in a
few more weeks the COLUMBIA DEMO
Graf will have completed its forty
eighth year 1t is with much pleasure
that we announce that this paper was
never in a more prosperous condition
than it is to-day. Its subscription list
numbers nearly 1900, and its jobbing
patronage is very satisfactory, having
filled 625 orders for job printing dur
ing the year The margin of profit on
newspaper like The COLUMBIAN, at
$l.50 is very small, but as our list of
subscribers is composed Of the solid
men of the county the per centage OF
loss is very small, and as we are not
compelled to carry several hundred
dead-heads in order to keep up our
circulation, we are enabled to continue
the subscription at the same low price.
II may not be ont of place at this time,
to quote from the History of Columbia
County by Col. J. G. Freeze, brief
sketch of this paper, and its predeces-
sors that have merged into it, in con-
nection with the representation of the
COLUMBIAN building at the head of this
article.
The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT was es.
tablished, and the first number issued
April 30, 1887, by John S. Ingram.
Then, or shortly after, he was joined
by Franklin S. Mills. They conducted
the paper for one year, and in 1888,
sold it to Capt. Henry Webb He
gave it permanence, and in lS47, in
March, sold it to Col. Levi L. Tate,
who continued it until 1866, and in
February, of that year sold it to Elijah
r. keller. He consolidated it with
the Ssar OF the North and called the
combination the Democrat &c Star,
and subsequently changed the name to
the Bloomsbury Democrat. 1t was
continued under that name until Janu-
ary, 1869, when it was bought by
Capt. Charles b. Brockway, and merg.
ed into The Columbian.
The paper was, under all its names
and varying fortunes, consistently dem
ocratic in politics, and was always de-
servedly influential. Of its editors,
Ingram went from here to Pottsville,
Mills to New Jersey, Tate to VIII
Transport.
Capt. Henry Webb was born in
Windham in the state of Connecticut
July 2S, l796, and died in bloomsbury
September %, lS4S.
S,,. NJ otah
lished by Reuben w. Weaver anc
Benjamin S. Gilmore, February
1S49. Gilmore retired August l, 1850
and the paper was continued by Mr.
Weaver until his death, December
1857.
1t was subsequently sold by his ad
ministrator and bought by Williamson
Ii. Jacoby, in January, 1858. He pub
lished 1t until October l6, 1862, whel
he went into the army, and the pape
was suspended until August, 1868
when he returned and resumed tn
publication. 1t was carried on unde
the old name until February, 1866
when it was consolidated with tn
Columbia Democrat then owned b
Elijah r. Ikeler, as the Democrat an,
Star.
At the end of about seven months
Mr.. Ikeler sold his interest in the es
tablishment to Josiah p Shuman, an
Jacoby and Shuman ran the paper III
til January, 1867, when Mr.. Shuma
retired, and Jacoby continued the ps
per as the bloomsbury Democrat, III
til January 1869, when he sold it I
Capt. Charles b. Brockw way who mere
ed it into the Columbian.
The paper was always democratic
political faith.
THE COLUMBIAN was established ;
the organ of the johnson Republican
under the management OF George |
Moore, who published thirty-fiye nun
bers. The good will, subscription Ii
and material was then purchased by
: number of Democrats OF the count
and placed under the charge of job
G. Freeze, January 4th, 1867, as
y Democratic newspaper, beginning We
: l. No /. He continued until Febr
airy 18th, 1867, when Capt. Charles
= Brockway became associated with hir
:, and eventually bought up the stoc
y and took entire charge and ownersh
y of the paper. 1t was enlarged Ju
:, 18th, 1867, and began to be printed {
steam power press. On the first
January, 1869, by the purchase of Il
: bloomsbury Democrat, from Mr.. j
), coby, The COipm6iaR became Il
= sole Democratic paper in the count
q On the lst Of Jan, 1871, Henry
:, Dieffenbach bought the paper and pu
= llshed ii one year, when Capt, Bruc
way resumed the control. Ia Ju
= 1873, Mr.. Dieffenbach again took Il
y paper and continued until October |
c 1875, when Charles b. Brockway al
George L. Elwell purchased it, Th,
e continued il to October LIST 1879, wb,
D.. Capt Brockway retired, aud on tn
!, day Mr.. John X. Biltenbender, pra
y tical printer purchased an interest
y the paper, and the publishing firm b
e came Elwell and Bittenbender.
&c Since January 1867, the Columbia
:, has been democratic in politics, al
a devoted to the general policy OF tn
party. In October 1881 the office W
u moved into three story brick bull
ing erected specially for it, on Ma
!, street, and now occupies the first flo
= and basement of the building. II
presses are run by water power, and
: all its appointments the office is one
a the finest newspaper establishments
= the state.