Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-11-10
Journalism in POCOmOke City
1865 1889
ARTICLE NO. 2 BY EBEN HEARNE

The readers of the Worcester Demo-
crat will recall that an article on the
above topic recently compiled by me,
was published in the Worcester DEM
ocrat in the Goth Anniversary num-
Der of the paper on July 81, 1889. I
realized at the time that the article
was incomplete and now I am very
glad that it is my power to state
some additional important facts.
After extensive researches and af-
ter inquiries of several persons, to
whom I feel indebted, have come in
to possession of much additional in
formation which will endeavor to re-
cord in chronological order.
After an existence of twenty years
and during its volumes 20 and Fl, the
Record and Gazette in 1885 was pub
lished under the proprietorship of the
late VIM. ]. S. Clarke, Edward H.
Clarke and Chas. o. Melvin, the lat
ter being editor and manager. In
1886, Loire C. Quinn was the local
editor and the late John c. Ellis was
foreman. In 1887, the Clarkes, faith
er and son severed their connection
with the paper and G. o. Melvin and
L. C. Quinn edited the same until the
paper was sold to Hearne, Quinn and
Co., on June 80, 1888 as stated in my
Article No. 1.
After A. j. Merrill sold the Record
and Gazette in 1885, he started a new
paper under the firm name of A. j.
Merrill and Co., and the said paper
was called the Peninsula Ledger. AS
write, there lies before me well
preserved copy of this paper, dated
June 8, 1889, Volume A, Number DO.
The late P. G. Fossett was associated
with Mr.. Merrill for several years as
local editor of his publications. Later
he moved to Philadelphia. In 1891,
the late E. II. Pritchett was the editor
and manager of the Peninsula Ledger.
In 1883, the late J. Lloyd Wilkinson
established a new paper in Pocomoke
City which he called "The Times" and
edited same and in its weekly issues
opposed the Democratic Organization
under the leadership of the late A. P.
German and John Walter Smith. Lat
err on, Mr.. Wilkinson, through "The
Times" espoused the cause of these
Democratic leaders and with them
was swept into public office. He was
elected in 1891 to the Legislature and
when it convened he was elected
Speaker of the House of Delegates
and soon became one of the most sue
cessful politicians in the State of
Maryland. His paper, "The Times
afr successful career, had its plant
destroyed in the great fire that visited
Pocomoke City on Nov. %; 1883, and
that catastrophe ended the existence
of the paper. A new weekly paper
called "The Enterprise" was establish
ed in 1894 and it was under the man.
agement of several journalists, the
most prominent of whom was the late
Eugene w. Tingle and after compar-
atively short career this paper was
combined with the Peninsula Ledger
under the name Of Ledger-Enterprise
and was owned by C. o. Melvin, A.
E. Tull and E. G. Polk, and w. B.
Vane and G. Robert Cooper were edi-
tors respectively. In 1897, Jesse B.
Fitzgerald was the editor and publish
er. He was succeeded by Milton L.
Veasey in 1898. Mr.. Veasey was edi-
tor and manager, C. o. Melvin was
Secretary and Treasurer, the firm
name being Ledger Enterprise Pub
fishing Co. Harry Dixon was one OF
the employees from 1900 to 1912. In
1905 and for some years afterwards,
Miss Marie G. Jones was the very eff
ficient local editor. The late VIM. Fl.
Petit of Snow Hill was also an en-
ploye Of one of the Pocomoke City
papers early in the present century
In March, 1898, the late Samuel M
Crockett established the present Po-
comoke City paper, Worcester Demo
crat, with an entirely new outfit and
office equipment. He was the editor
and publisher until his death, which
occurred on August 5, 1922. In 1915,
the Ledger-Enterprise was sold to
Plank and Johnston and e. T. John
ston of this firm edited the paper un-
til January 1, 1920, when the paper
was sold to Samuel M. Crockett, who
consolidated it with the Worcester
Democrat. Harry d. Melvin was con-
nected with this. paper for several
years and was the local editor from
Jan. /, 1922 until October %, 1922 on
which date the paper was purchased
from the s. M. Crockett estate by the
present editor and publisher, Edward