Prior to 1835, at least two newspapers were started in London, yet both were so short lived that even their names cannot be recalled by the life-long citizens of the town, and no traces of a file of either can be found. P. Lapham published the first paper, and Joseph Anthony, a brother to the late Gen. Charles Anthony, of Springfield, the next.
The first permanent newspaper established in London bore the name of London Sentinel, it was a double page six column paper, eighteen by twenty-four inches; Whig in politics, and flying the motto. "Whatever measures have a tendency in dissolve the Union, or contribute to violate or lessen the sovereign authority, ought to be considered us hostile to the liberty and independence of America." The Sentinel under the proprietorship and publication of George W. Sprung made its appearance in September. 1843. (t was so continued until March 1, 1851, when the name was changed to the Madison Reveille, the following prospectus of which appeared in the Sentinel of February 22, 1851:
"Events are daily transpiring around us which will leave an indelible mark upon the history of the coming future. Old things are passing away, and all things are becoming new. A sanguinary struggle between Might and Right—between Truth and Error—is heaving the Old World with the convulsive throes of Domestic Revolution, and time-honored abuses are trembling at the gradual approaches of modern progress. In our own country, the voice of faction and discord is calling out for the overthrow of our institutions, and the Hydra of Disunion has reared its gorgon head to clamor for the disruption of our confederacy. Of this excited and exciting age, the year that is before us forms a most important part. It will behold the final decision of questions intimately blended with the interests of every man, and every man is called upon to watch with prudent care the doubtful current of public events. But above all, this is an important year for the State of Ohio. Here we have the last General Assembly which will convene under the present Constitution of the State, together with our Constitutional Convention and their respective action. While a long and important session of Congress engrosses our attention, we must engage in a controversy which is to decide the great and fundamental features of our organic law. Following that comes the first election under it, when all our public functionaries will receive their honors, and their emoluments, directly from the dictum of the people.
"While these things are enacting, who should be without their county newspaper? Not one. On the 1st day of March next, the Sentinel will be brought to a close. The undersigned has made arrangements to issue, on that day, the first number of a new paper under the above title. These arrangements have been made not without great labor and expense, and we now look for remuneration to the generous support of the people of Madison County. The Reveille will contain a full detail of the proceedings of Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the Legislature—with the latest telegraphic dispatches and advices from Europe and California. Its department of general news shall not be exceeded by any county newspaper in the State. Its editorial management will be assigned entirely to Mr. E. E. Hutcheson, while its mechanical execution will devolve upon the present publisher and proprietor. Pains and expense will not be spared to make the Reveille a first-class family journal, and in all respects worthy of the liberal patronage, which an intelligent community will ever bestow upon their home paper. In politics, it is unnecessary to say the Reveille, will be Whig, and devoted to all the reformatory measures which distinguish that party. Conservative, while we are progressive, we will contribute our mite in advocating the perpetuity of the Union, the supremacy of the law, and the compromises of the constitution.
"The Reveille will be published at the following low rates: Weekly per year, in advance, $1.50; weekly per year, not in advance, $2.00."
The above prospectus bore the signature of Mr. O. W. Sprung. The first issue of the Reveille came forth March 8, 1851, bearing the motto, "The memory of Washington and the union of the States.—Sunto Perpetua;" while over the editorial column was the following motto: "The perpetuity of the Union, the supremacy of the Law and the compromises of the Constitution." This paper, like its predecessor, was issued every Saturday, and was of the same size. January 29, 1853, the motto was dropped from the head of the editorial column, and the Latin phrase sunto perpetua was discontinued the same month. On the 2d of February, 1854, the office was destroyed by the great fire which occurred on that date, and the numbers eleven, eighteen and twenty-five were single sheet extras published in Columbus, the latter issue closing the third volume, and ending the career of the Madison Reville.
On the 4th of March, 1854, the first number of the Madison Chronicle was issued under the same prorpietorship, the name having been changed at the suggestion of some of the patrons of the paper. It is but proper to here add that the citizens of London greatly sympathized with Mr. Sprung in the loss he had sustained by the fire, and assisted him in beginning anew. The Chronicle came before the public an 18x24 inch paper, with seven columns, without a head motto, but at the beginning of the third volume it adopted the following heading: "Devoted to Politics, Agriculture, Literature, Foreign and Domestic News," and over the editorial column was
"Our flag is there,
And long may it wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave."
At the beginning of Volume IV, this was dropped, and the time of publication changed from Saturday to Thursday. The center head of the paper was also graced at this time by a cut of the new court house, the type made larger and the paper otherwise much improved. The Chronicle was conducted by Mr. Sprung until in May, 1863, when it passed into the hands of J. D. Stine and John Wallace, who changed the name of the paper to the Madison County Union. This firm conducted the paper until the following January, when Mr. Stine withdrew, and the paper was published by Mr. Wallace until the fall of 1864, when Mr. Stine became the sole proprietor. The Union bore successively the mottoes: "The Union of the States—One Country—One Destiny," and "Devoted to Politics, General News, Home News."
On the 11th of April, 1867, Col. C. W. Griffith, of Bellefontaine, formerly connected with the Bellefontaine Republican, became a partner of Mr. Stine, and on the 2d of May enlarged the paper one column, and dropped the motto. In May, 1869, Col. Griffith sold his interest to Col. George E. Ross, and the proprietors of the Union from this date until August, 1870, were Stine & Ross. The paper was then issued under the name of J. D. Stine, until October 20, following, when he retired with that issue, selling to Mr. Ross, the latter then associating with him D. L. Harbaugh. These gentlemen purchased a new printing press with all new material, type and fixtures. The next issue bore the name of the London Times, and was enlarged to a nine-column paper, and appeared on the same day of the week—Thursday. The firm of Ross & Harbaugh was dissolved Februaiy 4, 1874, Mr. Ross purchasing. The issue of November 3, 1875, appeared under the name of Ross & Acton, who conducted the paper until September 6, 1876, at which date it was leased to Peyton H. Acton and J. M. Klingelsmith, and the issue of that number was under the name of the London Weekly Times, with the following motto: "A Madison County Institution." In January, 1877, Klingelsmith disposed of his interest to Mr. Acton, who took in with him his brother, E. I. Acton, and the Times appeared October 3, 1877, under the name of the Acton Brothers, publishers. The next October, Mr. E. I. Acton went out, and the paper was continued under the name of Peyton H. Acton, until January 10, 1879, from which date until April 25 of the same year it was published by the London Publishing Company. The issue of that date began under the proprietorship of D. Mann & Son, with John D. Maddux, editor. The number of September 3, 1880, appeared without motto, and under the former title of London Times, with George E. Ross again the proprietor. Mr. James F. Kelley about this time became associated with Mr. Ross, and remained one year, when in August, 1881, W. S. Shepherd purchased a half-interest in the office, and until October, 1882, the Times was issued under the proprietorship of Ross & Shepherd. In October last, J. M. Craig purchased the interest of Mr. Ross and the paper has since been conducted by Messrs. Shepherd & Craig.
The Times is, as we have seen, the lineal successor of the London Sentinel, running back through various changes of name and proprietorship to the year 1843. In size, it is a 27x43-inch eight-column folio paper, issued every Friday morning from the "Times Block" on Main street, which building was purchased in 1874 by Mr. Ross. It is a newsy sheet, and devoted to the interests of the Republican party. It has a circulation of 1,700 copies.
The first cylinder press of the office was set up in 1875; it is a Campbell City Steam Press, and the first steam press brought to London. Steam power, however, has not yet been employed in the press work.
The Madison County Democrat, as its name implies, is a Democratic newspaper. It is the lineal descenclent of the Buckeye Union, a weekly newspaper established in London in 1857. by E. Douglass King, who had previously published the Recorder at South Charleston. The first number was issued on Saturday, February 21, 1857, was a respectable looking journal, "Independent in all Things." November 5, 1857, the name was changed to the National Democrat, flying the motto, "The World is Governed too Much" and Democratic in politics. November 12, 1857, the first issue of the new paper came out, a double sheet, seven columns, 18x24 inch paper, published on Thursday. On the 7th of January, 1858, the paper was sold to John M. Smith of Madison County, who associated with him, as editor, D. M. Creighton. On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Creighton retired from the editorial chair, which was then filled by M. L. Bryan and J. A. Kissinger, who published the paper under the proprietorship of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith died May 8, 1859, but the paper continued to be conducted as before, until the beginning of Volume II., when Mr. Bryan became sole editor and publisher of the National Democrat. Upon taking charge of the paper, in January, 1858, Messrs. Bryan & Kissinger published the following prospectus.
"In assuming the control of the National Democrat, we take upon ourselves a responsibility which we feel will task our utmost endeavors to accomplish, viz., sustaining a Democratic journal in Madison County. It remains yet to be proven that the undertaking is practicable; but from evidences already received, we are led to believe that success will ultimately crown our efforts; that a Democratic organ is much desired in this county, every member of the party will emphatically declare; and it needs but little effort on the part of each to insure the publication of such a one. We need not comment on the benefits arising from the permanent establishment of local newspapers, for they are acknowledged by all to be a necessary auxiliary to fireside enjoyment and intellectual advancement. We are flattered by promises of aid from some of the first political and literary talent of this community (chiefamong whom may be mentioned our gentlemanly predecessor), and a number of our friends abroad have given us assurance of their favor by promising an occasional correspondence. Our efforts to furnish an instructive and amusing miscellany and to give a weekly synopsis of the most important news, will be untiring. We shall pay particular attention to matters relating to live stock and commercial affairs, and endeavor to keep our readers posted to the latest hour of going to press. We desire to invest the "Dem." with a local interest by publishing such items of note as may transpire from time to time throughout the county. It is our determination that a high moral tone shall pervade our columns, and we sincerely trust that we may not, for a moment, forget the courtesy due gentlemen of the opposition. Our paper, so far as our efforts can make it, will be what its title imports—a National Democrat. We shall advocate the principles of right and truth as inculcated by the acknowledged teachers of Democracy—always bearing in mind, that as we interpret it, Democracy means to vest in the people the right to regulate their domestic institutions in their own way. Take from a people the smallest iota of self-government, and thus much you approximate the antipodes of Democracy. Let the people rule untrammeled by any sectional interest, and all will be well. To them belong the God-given privilege of governing themselves, and let that right be religiously respected."
November 21, 1861, the Democrat was reduced to a six-column paper, and so remained until the 20th of March. 18G2, when it was enlarged to its former size. During the period of its publication as a six-column paper, it was without a motto. The name of the paper was also changed March 20, 1862, to the Madison County Democrat, bearing the motto: "A Weekly Journal Devoted to the Interests of the People of Madison County." It was enlarged to an eight-column paper with the issue of March 31, 1870, and the motto changed to the one it now bears: "Devoted to the Interest of its Patrons." On the 22d of March, centennial year, it was made a nine-column paper. At the time Mr. Bryan became connected with the Democrat, the press-work was done on a Washington hand press. This was destroyed by the fire of September 30, 1867, when it was replaced by a similar one of the same make. In December, 1880, the office was supplied with a Campbell country cylinder press.
September 30, 1867, the Democrat office burned with all of its contents, and there being no insurance on the property, it was a total loss. Mr. Bryan, however, made the best of the situation, and by the aid of the citizens of London, was soon equipped for furthering the mission of the Democrat. It is but justice to the enterprise of the publisher to here state that the readers of the Democrat were only without their companion for two weeks. The paper is still published by the veteran editor of London, M. L. Bryan, who has conducted it for a quarter of a century. It is issued every Wednesday morning from Riley's building on the corner of First and Main streets. Circulation, 1,250. Mr. Bryan has long been identified with the press of this and neighboring counties, having, previous to coming to London, been engaged in the printing business in the city of Columbus and villages of Circleville and Batavia. In 1842, he was engaged as a type-setter on the Ohio Statesman, and had prior to this, learned his trade in the office of the Clermont Courier. He remained in Columbus one year, then went to Circleville, where he operated the Circleville Herald for one year; then returned to Columbus, and after a year's stay there, he removed to London. During his life at the capital, he, in connection with others, established the Daily Reveille of that city.
The London Enterprise, a Republican weekly journal, published under the proprietorship and editorship of John Wallace, was established by this gentleman, January 1, 1872. The first issue made its appearance Thursday, January 18, and bore the motto: "Devoted to the Interests of the People and its Publisher." In size, the Enterprise was 25x38 inches, double sheet, with seven columns to the page. Under the head of Salutatory, in the first issue, appeared the following: "In accordance with a time-honored custom, we 'rise to explain.' The Enterprise will not be a political paper, but will make a specialty of local news—improving the bare one advantage we possess over the city press. We have no promises to make, but will let each issue of our paper speak for itself. Our terms will be two dollars per year as near in advance as we can get it. Persons who feel that they cannot pay for the paper had better not take it from the post office."
At the urgent solicitation of many prominent Republicans of the county, the Enterprise was made with the issue of April 10, 1879, a Republican paper, the principles of which party it still advocates. The paper is now just closing its eleventh year, during which period it has undergone no change in name, size or proprietorship, its motto only being changed, or rather shortened, so as to read: "Devoted to the Interests of its Patrons." Mr. Wallace, the publisher, is a practical printer, having served an apprenticeship in the office of the London Sentinel under Gr. W. Sprung. He was also connected with the Union as one of its publishers for a period during the late war, and is a man of considerable experience in journalism. The Enterprise is still located in Toland Block, where it began its career. Its circulation numbers about 1,000 copies. The office is well supplied with presses, and all kinds of job-work is executed.