Ohio History Journal

THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF THE

TOLEDO BLADE

 

By DOUGLAS C. MCMURTRIE

 

The Toledo Blade is approaching its one hundredth

birthday--a long life for a mid-western newspaper--

and it occupies still, as it did during its infancy, a com-

manding position in the life of its community. In view

of its long service, the history of its beginnings becomes

of special interest. There is here presented a detailed

record of the first decennium of its existence.

The Blade was not the first newspaper published in

Toledo. Printing was introduced in that town in Aug-

ust, 1834, when James Irvine Browne brought out the

initial issue of the Toledo Herald. After a few numbers

had appeared, publication was suspended because of the

illness of the printer and publisher.1 I have located no

extant copies of this newspaper.

This newspaper was soon revived, however, by the

same publisher, this time under the title of Toledo

Gazette.  There were several changes of ownership.

Publication continued at least until late in 1837, and per-

haps longer, it being quoted in the Blade of November 1,

1837. In 1838, the equipment of the office was sold and

 

1 The statements regarding the Toledo Herald and its successor, the

Gazette, are based on Clark Waggoner, History of the City of Toledo and

Lucas County, Ohio, New York, 1888, p. 637-638.

(428)

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  429

used to print the Sandusky County Democrat at Fre-

mont. I have located no copies of the Gazette, though

some were evidently accessible to Waggoner at the time

he wrote his History.

When we come to record the history of the Toledo

Blade, which was started about March, 1836, we are on

firmer ground, for a practically complete file of nine of

the first ten volumes is to be found in the Toledo Public

Library, to which it was given by A. W. Fairbanks, who

long played an important role in the operation of this

paper.

I have, unfortunately, no information regarding the

identity of the publishers of the Blade during the first

year of its existence. With the ninth issue of the second

volume, dated May 16, 1837, it was "printed and pub-

lished by A. W. Fairbanks & L. B. Willard." It was

advertised that job printing of all kinds was "neatly

and expeditiously executed at this office." In the issue

of May 23, 1837, it was stated that "cash will be paid

for any quantity of clean linen and cotton rags, at this

office."

In the issue of May 30, 1837, the third under the

new management, the partners make the following

address "to the public":

"Our names have been affixed at the head of the last

two numbers of the Blade as 'Printers and Publishers.'

When we assumed 'the responsibility,' fearful that

obstacles might interpose to the mechanical execution of

the first few numbers of the paper, and delays might

prevent its prompt publication, we made no public

annunciation. But being this week able, though yet

laboring under great difficulties, to produce a sheet of

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430      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

which we are not ashamed, we now hazard the usual

introduction of ourselves to the Public. We intend to

print the paper hereafter, well. We intend to issue it

promptly. As soon as possible we shall make improve-

ments in the office which will enable us to issue a more

respectable sheet, and also enable us to do all kinds of

printing as well as it can be done in the Western coun-

try. Being both practical printers, thoroughly trained

to the business, and having imbibed no speculative fever,

bought no lots, and therefore not above our business,

we intend to get an honest living by devotion to our

calling.

"Having come into the office strangers, and the sub-

scription list having been disturbed, we would thank any

gentlemen to whom the paper is not regularly forwarded

to send us his name and residence, and we will pledge

ourselves that no similar mistakes shall occur hereafter.

In the mean time we invite subscriptions to the BLADE,

both from residents and non-residents. The paper will

sustain the same politics as heretofore--its morals at

any rate shall not fall below the ordinary level--in

decency it shall sustain a far, very far more elevated

character than it did at one period of its career. We

shall maintain a defensive character, but when attacked,

shall make use of the most pungent truths with which we

can defend ourselves. With this bow to the public, we

ask their sympathy and support.

A. W. FAIRBANKS

L. B. WILLARD."

The address of the newspaper was given as "Blade

Office, Summit street, Toledo." In the issue of June 13,

appears the following removal notice: "The office of

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  431

the Blade is removed to the Brick building, one door

west of the Post office (up-stairs), where we shall be

ready to answer all orders for advertisements, job work,

&c., which we may be favored with."

Rather acrimonious comments regarding editorials

and news items appearing in its contemporary, the

Toledo Gazette, are encountered frequently, and the

editors were often crossing swords, or pens, with the

editors of the Maumee Express at Maumee City, and

the Miami of the Lake at Perrysburg.

In politics, the Blade consistently supported the

Whig cause.

In the issues of July 4 and July 11, 1837, the Blade

published in two installments the "Charter and By-Laws

of the City of Toledo," the text being set in wide meas-

ure, much wider than the regular columns of the news-

paper. The invariable reason for composition in a

wider measure was the desire to use the type to print

a booklet. The charter was undoubtedly issued in

pamphlet form, and would have comprised nineteen or

twenty pages. If this was done, it would constitute one

of the earliest Toledo book or pamphlet imprints.

The 25th issue of Volume II, dated September 5,

1837, was "printed and published by A. W. Fairbanks,"

alone, and the reason for the change is set forth in the

following notice:  "Dissolution.--The protracted ill-

ness of an aged mother at Detroit, requiring the pres-

ence of Mr. Willard at that place, the partnership

hitherto existing between him and Mr. Fairbanks, as

publishers of the BLADE, is necessarily dissolved. The

latter will now have the sole control of the establish-

ment."

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432      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

With the issue of October 25, 1837, the day of pub-

lication was changed to Wednesday. "We shall en-

deavor to issue it at an early hour in the morning,

though today its appearance will be unavoidably delayed

by the sudden and unseasonable departure of a journey-

man."

A single leaf only constituted the issue of January

16, 1839. Failure to receive paper from the Monroe

paper mill was blamed.

Bound in before the first issue of 1840 is a separately

printed broadside, on writing paper, which is an interest-

ing Toledo imprint: "Carrier's Address to the Patrons

of the Toledo Blade, January 1, 1840." The imprint at

the bottom reads: "A. W. Fairbanks, Plain and Com-

mercial Job Printers, over the Post Office, Summit

street."

In the issue of February 26, 1840, which is Vol. IV,

No. 50, and in the two subsequent issues, appears still

another removal notice: "For the accommodation of

the Post Master, we have been induced to remove from

our former location; we can now always be found in

the large building, (up-stairs) occupied by Dr. C.

McLean, as a drug-store below, nearly opposite the Ohio

House, Summit street." At this time the Blade was still

"published every Wednesday morning by A. W. Fair-

banks."

With the issue of February 17, 1841, the name of

A. W. Fairbanks disappears from the masthead, and no

other name replaces it. There is no mention in this or

the preceding issue of any change in the name of pub-

lisher.

In the Blade of April 7, 1841, a correspondent ad-

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  433

dresses the editor as "Mr. Fairbanks." And in the issue

following, that of April 14, A. W. Fairbanks was listed

as "Publisher & Proprietor." This latter issue had

mourning rules between all columns, because of the death

of President Harrison.

The week following, with the issue of April 21, 1841,

we find notice of a "New Co-Partnership" which reads

as follows: "The subscribers, having formed a co-

partnership, the business will, after the 5th of May, be

conducted under the name of Fairbanks & Blanchard.

In addition to the publication of the BLADE, they intend

to add thereto a Book Bindery, where all kinds of bind-

ing and blank work will be done on short notice. The

subscribers intend to make many additions to the Job

department of their office this spring, with which they

hope to be able to do all kinds of Book and Job work

with neatness and despatch, and to the satisfaction of all

those who may favor them with their orders.

"A. W. FAIRBANKS

"S. S. BLANCHARD."

In accordance with this notice, the Blade of May 12,

1841, Vol. VI, No. 9, appeared as "Published by A. W.

Fairbanks & S. S. Blanchard." The paper continued

thus until the issue of March 11, 1842, Vol. VI, No. 52,

which appeared on a Friday, it being explained that the

day of issue had been changed to that day of the week

because the Toledo Register was published every Tues-

day, and the new arrangement would, in effect, give

Toledo a newspaper twice a week.

The first issue in the seventh volume was misdated

March 19 (should have been March 18), 1842. With

Vol. XLIII--28

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434      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

the issue of May 13 of the same year, A. W. Fairbanks

again became sole publisher, Blanchard having with-

drawn.

But still another change in publishers was imminent.

With the issue of July 7, 1842, the Blade was published

by Edward A. Graves. Fairbanks gave up because of

his inability to collect the accounts due him. He con-

tinued the business of job printing and bookbinding.

With the issue of July 22, 1842, the name of Daniel

McBain appears as editor, Graves continuing as pub-

lisher. With Vol. VII, No. 45, dated January 20, 1843,

D. McBain is listed as editor and publisher. By March

17, Daniel McBain is indicated to be editor only with

no publisher specified.

A. W. Fairbanks returns to control of the Blade with

the issue of July 14, 1843, in which he is designated as

"printer and publisher," with the name Daniel Mc-

Bain, however, still listed as editor. It was explained in

the issue, however, that McBain's work on the news-

paper ceased with that issue. In the Blade of the fol-

lowing week, July 21, his name still appears as editor,

but it was dropped in the issue of July 28, no editor

being specified.

With Fairbanks continuing as printer and publisher,

J. W. Scott became associated with the Blade as editor,

his name appearing first in the issue of January 12,

1844. The arrangement continued thus into the ninth

volume, the first number of which was dated March 15,

1844.

It was announced in the Blade of March 28, 1845,

that J. W. Scott had purchased an interest and that the

paper was published by Scott & Fairbanks. Scott con-

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  435

tinued to fill the editorial chair. In the issue of May 16,

1845, his name was given as Jesup W. Scott. The last

issue of the first ten-year period, Vol. X, No. 51, (should

read 52) was dated March 6, 1846. With the opening

of the next volume the Blade became a tri-weekly with

a smaller page size. Its first issue as a daily appeared

April 17, 1848.

During this period, the columns of the Blade not

given over to reprinted articles and advertising, were

devoted largely to partisan politics--national for the

most part, with state rivalries coming in for a share of

attention. There was little local Toledo news as such,

though deaths and marriages were often reported. The

arrivals and departures of lake steamers were regularly

recorded.

There appeared in the Blade from time to time--as

in all newspapers of the period--notices regarding the

appearance of other newspapers, which are of special

value to the student of printing history. I will therefore

give here some of the more interesting items of this

character which were noted in my examination of the

file.

First, however, there should be mentioned a "Chron-

ology of Printing," reprinted from the Grand Gulf Ad-

vertiser in the Blade of June 20, 1837. It was signed

by "H. V." who says that "editors are requested to add

to the foregoing, or supply deficiencies." Leaving out

the earlier dates of printing in Europe, we find the fol-

lowing data bearing on printing in the United States:

1719. American Weekly Mercury, the first paper in

Philadelphia, printed.

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436      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

1728. The New York Gazette, the first paper in that

State, published in June.

1729. Maryland Gazette printed.

1731. Printing in South Carolina.

1732. First printing on paper made within the present

limits of the United States.

1739. First printing in Georgia.

1771. Printing in Louisiana.

1776. Fifty-six newspapers printed in the United

States.

1797. First printing in Mississippi.

1799. The Mississippi Gazette printed in Natchez.

1814. Printing in Alabama.

1828. Nine hundred newspapers in the United States.

1836. One thousands [sic] three hundred newspapers in

the twenty-six states, territories and District of

Columbia.

As will be noted, the dates for the first printing in

South Carolina and Mississippi are practically exact,

while the dates for Georgia and Louisiana are far from

correct.

Also in the Blade of June 20, 1837, are proposals by

John M. Gallagher for publishing at Columbus, the

Ohio Political Register.

In the issue of July 18, 1837, the Cincinnati Repub-

lican is quoted as follows: "we have now before us a

very imposing looking newspaper, far superior to our

own in appearance, and certainly not inferior in interest,

called the Iowa News, published at Du Buque, upper

Mississippi, Wisconsin Territory ...."

And in the issue of July 25, 1837, we read this in-

teresting note giving us new information on journalism

in Michigan: "J. Ketchum Averill--'he--that wander-

ing knight so fair,' is now editing a new paper in the

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  437

village of Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. It is

called the Coldwater Observer, and according to the

Detroit Morning Post, takes true democratic ground,

and is ably (?) edited . . ."

In the Blade of August 22, 1837, the Grand River

Times is quoted. It is referred to again in the issue of

January 3, 1838.

In the issue of September 19, 1837, the Monroe

Democrat is quoted--another Michigan newspaper title

otherwise unrecorded.

In the Blade of September 5, 1837, we read that

"The Whig Central Committee of Hancock County,

Ohio, advertises that a competent editor, with a knowl-

edge of the mechanical part of printing, can meet with

encouragement at Findlay, the seat of justice of that

county ...."

The issue of September 12, 1837, notices a new paper

in Michigan: "The Monroe Gazette.--This is the name

of a new Whig paper recently established at Monroe,

Michigan. It is under the editorial charge of Mr. Hos-

mer, lately connected with the Maumee Express, and

bids fair to be conducted with great spirit. Success

attend it." It was Hezekiah L. Hosmer who was re-

ferred to. He later established, in 1849, the daily edi-

tion of the Toledo Blade.

In the same issue the plant of the Cincinnati Whig

was offered for sale by Jame [sic] F. Conover, editor

and proprietor.

The Michigan City Gazette is referred to in the

Blade of October 10, 1837: "The last number of this

paper came to us in an enlarged form and with altered

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438      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

politics; two commendable changes. It will hereafter

be conducted by J. M. Stuart & Co."

In the issue of October 17, 1837, we learn that "The

Constitutionalist is the name of a new Whig paper re-

cently established at Adrian, Michigan. It is neatly

executed and promises to be a valuable ally to the Whig

cause."

Here is an exceedingly important item, indicating

the probable establishment of a newspaper of which we

have otherwise no record whatever. In the Blade of

July 25, 1838: "The press upon which our paper was

recently printed has been carried to Legrange, Cass

county, Michigan, where it will continue to ply in the

good Whig cause."

The White Pigeon (Michigan) Gazette is quoted in

the Blade of August 13, 1838.

In the issue of November 14, 1838, is noticed a new

publication appearing at Augusta, Kentucky: The

Colonizationist and Literary Journal. This, as its name

implied, offered a solution of the slave question alter-

native to abolition.

The Blade of November 21, 1838, advises us that

"The Ohioan and New Era is the title of a small sheet

just started at Akron, Ohio."

And from. the issue of the week following we learn

that "The Mechanic and Indiana Gazette, is the title

of a paper published in Indianapolis, which we have just

received."

The issue of December 5, 1838, with reference to the

Defiance Banner says: "We are sorry to see this spirited

sheet stopped, but for the want of support the editor

says it must be."

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The First Ten Years of the Toledo Blade  439

In the Blade of January 30, 1839: "The proprietors

of the Akron Balance, Portage County, Ohio, offer for

sale their printing establishment. For particulars ad-

dress Smith & Bowen, Akron, Ohio."

From the issue of February 20, 1839, we learn that

"The Saratoga County Exchange is the name of a new

paper just started at Ballston Spa, New York, upon the

ruins of the Republican, a Van Buren Loco Foco organ.

The Exchange advocates the cause of the Whigs . . .

Curtis & Davis, editors and proprietors."

And in the same issue: "We have received the first

and second numbers of the Western Advertiser, pub-

lished at Cincinnati, by J. A. Ames, type and stereotype

founder, and manufacturer of presses . . ." This was

largely, it appears, a house organ to promote Ames'

business.

There is reference in the Blade of February 20, 1839,

to a newspaper at White Pigeon, Michigan, now known

only through notice in another paper.  The present

reference, however, gives us its full title for the first

time. "White Pigeon Republican and St. Joseph County

Advertiser. A new paper bearing the above title, by

Munger & Adams, has been received. It is a large

and well-executed sheet. We welcome our old friend

Munger back again in the chair editorial. It would be

a sin for the people of St. Joseph County to let the

Republican go down for the want of support. Politics,

Van Buren."

The Blade of April 14, 1841, reports that the plant

of the Huron Advertiser was damaged by fire;

In the issue of March 25, 1842, we find more news-

paper news: "Kalida Venture. Our old friend Knapp,

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440      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications formerly of the Manhattan Advertiser, but more re- cently of the Democratic Eagle, has taken the chair edi- torial of the Venture." The reference is to H. S. Knapp. The publisher of the Blade writes in the issue of May 20, 1842: "We learn that the Manhattan Advertiser is to be revived next week, by a Mr. Morrison." He de- plores the fact that men like Morrison, who are not practical printers, are invading the newspaper field. This was R. M. Morrison, who later established the short-lived Toledo Gazette, second paper of this title, in 1844. In the issue of June 10, 1842, the Michigan Whig of Adrian is quoted. The receipt of the first number of the Manhattan Telegraph, which was the revival of the Advertiser pre- viously noted as being in prospect, was acknowledged in the Blade of June 24, 1842.

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