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��HISTORY OF EICHLAND COUNTY.

��newspaper establishment was started entirely on credit. Mr. Purdy's difficulties were not yet at an end. The first three years the con- cern did not pay expenses : the press was too small and it was found necessary to purchase a new press and renew the entire establishment. The income from his professional practice, how- ever, enabled him to meet his notes at matur- ity, suslain and improve the establishment un- til it became self-supporting and eventually prosperous. His practice requiring his whole attention, he sold the establishment in 1832. In 1830, Josiah L. Reed established another press in Mansfield, and printed a Democratic paper, called the Wcstcni IlcraJd. which he conducted about a year or two. In 1832, T. W. Bartley, Dr. Rentzel and J. C. Clilkison formed a part- nership, bought out both the Purdy and Reed offices, consolidated them and commenced the publication of the Ohio Spectator, with the understanding that it should be an impartial journal ; but, in a short time, it proved one-sided, and Mr. Gilkison withdrew from the establishment. It was soon sold to H. Leyman, and, not long after, Leyman sold to J. H. Hoffman, who, with Rentzel, conducted it to the end of the first volume (still Demo- cratic), when they failed, and this office re- mained closed until 1836. Meanwhile, in 1832, John and Charles Boreland commenced the publication of the RlchJand Whig, which advocated the principles its title denotes, and was conducted by them about two years, when it failed for want of patronage.

In 1836. John Meredith and John Warnock purchased the Spectator office of Hoffman & Rentzel. and continued its publication as a Democratic journal, of super-royal size, for some two j'ears, under the title of the Ohio /Shield, when Meredith purchased \yarnock's interest, enlarged the paper to doul)le-medium size, and changed its title to that of the Shield and Banner. The publication of the paper was continued bv Meredith, and Meredith & Max-

��well, until May, 1841, when it was purchased by its present editor, John Y. Glessner. Thus it will be seen that the Shield and Banner is the pioneer paper. It had a hard struggle for ex- istence in the start, but has been published under different names sixty -two 3ears, with only an occasional break-down for the first few years. It has been published under its pres- ent name more than forty years, and by its present editor nearly forty years. In 1838, Mai'ain & Devine established a Whig paper called the Richland Jefferson icon, which they conducted one year, when they failed for want of patronage, and the establishment w^as pur- chased .by J. C. Grilkison & Sons. It was con- ducted by these gentlemen nine j^ears, with a sub- scription list of about eight hundred. They then sold out to M. Day, Jr.. and E. W. Smith. Messrs. Da}- & Smith changed the name of the paper to the Mansfield Herald. In 1852, Mr. Day purchased Mr. Smiths interest, and con- tinued the publication of the 7/^'rt//(7until 1855, when it was purchased by R. Brinkerhoff. D. R. Locke (Nasby) and James G. Robinson. In 1856, Mr. Locke retired, and became proprietor of the Bucyrus Journal ; Messrs. Brinkerhoff & Robinson continuing the Hercdd, and in the fall of 1857 received M. Day. Jr.. into the firm. In the spring of 1858. Messrs. Day and Rol)inson retired, and the paper was conducted by R. Brinkerhoff alone until May. 1859, when he sold out to Dr. Myers and his brother. Lorenzo D. Myers. When Dr. Myers died, his interest passed into the hands of his Itrother. Wesley Myers. The Messrs. Myers continued its pub- lication until October 13. 1875, when it was purchased by its present proprietors, Messrs. George U. Harn & Company.

In 1844, a Democratic campaign paper was started by Wiley & Tidball, called the Mominy Pennant; and about the same time a Whig cam- paign paper, called the Richland Bugle and In- dependent Press, was established l)v William Johnson, both of which were discontinued at

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