c. 2014 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(6-14)
Geauga County history,
found in the oddest of places.
A recent tour through the cyberspace
realm of eBay, the ‘world’s online marketplace’ revealed an unexpected listing.
It was for two complete issues of the bygone Geauga Republican newspaper, dated
in December, 1879.
A quick check at the
esteemed Library of Congress website indicated that this newspaper had been
published weekly, from 1872 to 1921.
Libraries from Illinois,
Massachusetts and Ohio were listed as having copies on hand. Our local Geauga
County Public Library was designated as a repository of many issues, available on
microfilm.
I purchased the print pair
for sixteen dollars. It seemed reasonable for such artifacts from the county,
delivered in good condition.
They arrived in a
cardboard mailing tube.
Opening this cylinder felt
not unlike breaking the seal on a message in a bottle. I took care to unpack
the treasure with a proper amount of decorum. I waited for an hour long after
dark, when it would be easier to concentrate.
There was a gentle ‘pop’
of air as I tugged on the end cap. Then, my eyes went wide as I began to read
the masthead of these faded manuscripts:
“Geauga Republican. Published every Wednesday at
Chardon, Ohio by J.W. Converse. Terms $2.00 per year, in advance. Office No. 2
Randall Block.”
Immediately apparent was
the slower pace of gathering information, in bygone days.
The paper seemed much like
a modern ‘news aggregation website.’ Sort of a low-tech version of those
provided by Yahoo! or AOL.
Much of the content was
not truly local in nature, or even current as we would define that term in the
modern era. Most stories were weeks old and sourced from a collection of other active
journals around the nation. Yet in that distant era, these reports must have
been welcome to readers who were eager for a glimpse of life beyond the county.
County-specific content
came chiefly in the form of advertising:
“FIELD & QUIGGLE. Mr. O.P. Quiggle, having sold
his store building and lot in Hambden, and wishing to dispose of his stock of
goods as soon as possible, has concluded to offer his whole stock, in company
with J.T. Field, of Chardon, Ohio. The above-named parties have entered into a
co-partnership, to be dissolved at anytime, at the option of either party, and
have agreed to offer both their stocks, in small or large quantities, to suit
customers, under the old firm name of FIELD & QUIGGLE. The firm will offer
many goods at 25, 50 and 75 cents. On the dollar cost, and any customer who
wishes may find many bargains. The two stocks merged in one will doubtless be
the largest, most varied and most complete in the county. Everybody call and
see. It will now be a good time for all indebted to the individual parties to
call and settle old accounts, and the said parties will expect it without delay
or trouble to any party concerned. Our terms, both in buying and selling, will
be READY PAY.”
In fact, ad rates were
clearly stated on the GR’s front page, in a block at the upper, right-hand
corner. A single-week promotion cost $1.00 for a one-inch square. $1.50 for two
inch, $2.00 for three. An entire column ad fetched the considerable sum of
$10.00.
In a sense, the journal
seemed to provide a foundation that would make the ‘Weekly Mail’ possible, for
future generations.
A business directory,
included at the upper-left corner, provided names that have become the stuff of
legend for Geauga residents:
“O.S. Farr, attorney at Law and Solicitor in Chancery,
Office in Randall Block, over Store No.6.
N. H. Bostwick, Attorney at Law, Office over Bank of
Geauga Savings and Loan Association, Chardon, Ohio.
D.W. Canfield, Attorney at Law. Office No. 1 Randall Block,
over Post-Office, Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio.
H.F. Canfield, Attorney at Law. Office over
Post-Office, Chardon, Ohio. Special attention given to collections.
Hathaway & Osbournes Attorneys at Law. Office No.
13 Union Block, Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio.
Durfee & Stephensons, Attorneys at Law. Office in
Union Block, over Kelley Brothers’ Store, Chardon, Ohio.
L. L. Bennett & A. L. Bennett, Eclectic physicians
& surgeons. Chardon, O – Chronic Diseases & Specialty. Also Proprietors
of the Electro-Therapeutic Bath. Office at residence of Dr. A. L. Bennett on
South St.
J. W. Atwood, M. D., Eclectic Physician, Chardon, O.
Special attention paid to the treatment of acute and chronic diseases.
Cancerous diseases a specialty. Office at his residence on South Hambden
Street. He may be found at his office on Fridays and Saturdays, other days
being devoted to general practice.
S. L. Wadsworth, Notary Public. General Collector, and
Pension Agent. Residence Auburn, Ohio.
L. M. Moffett, Architect and Builder. Chardon, Ohio.
Plans, Specifications and Estimates furnished at reasonable rates.
J. F. Bruce & Son. Dealers in Tin and Sheet from
Ware and Stoves. Union Block, Chardon, Ohio. A good stock always on hand.
Branch & Searls. Dealers in Pine Lumber, Lath and
Shingles. Dressed Lumber of all descriptions. Yard at Burton Station, Geauga
Co., Ohio.”
My eBay discovery had
opened a time portal of sorts. Through each line of faded print, I was able to
peer into a lost world. A place literally here at home.
And the journey had only
begun...
Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to:
icewritesforyou@gmail.com
Send postal mail to: P.O. Box 365, Chardon, OH 44024
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