A History of Ovid New York Newspapers

The following information is an attempt to provide details into not only the history of Ovid New York newspapers, but also the sources available online and offline for the genealogist and historian to access the newspapers, or transcriptions therefrom. Newspapers remain a vital source of material for genealogists. They often provide vivid insight into the lives of our ancestors unlike other factual records.

The pioneer printer of Seneca County was George Lewis, who, in the year 1815, started in the village of Ovid a small sheet entitled the Seneca Patriot. The office of publication was located on Seneca Street, in the upper story of a building on whose site the engine-house now 1 stands. Only 6 copies of this first paper of Ovid is known to be in existence. At the close of a single volume, Mr. Lewis changed the name of his paper to The Ovid Gazette, and when Elisha Williams secured the removal of the county seat to Waterloo, Lewis removed hither with his press in May 1817, and continued the issue of his paper as The Waterloo Gazette, which became known as the first paper published in that village. 2

There is a typewritten manuscript found at Brigham Young University in which contains extractions of the marriages and deaths from miscellaneous newspapers, for Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Ovid, Trumansburg and Geneva, 1807-1908. Written by Crystal W. Fegley, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1970. Microreproduction of typescript (71 p.), written in 1969. This film can be loaned from the Family History Center. Film Num. 833158. It is not known which specific papers in Ovid were transcribed, and how much overlap there may be with a similar manuscript written by Mary S. Jackson and Edward F. Jackson: Marriage and death notices from Seneca County, New York newspapers, 1817-1885, and Jesse Howell Finch: Vital records from the Ovid bee.

In 2006, the Interlaken Historical Society wrote an Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994, Geneva, N.Y. : Geneva Printing, 2006. Those papers which comprised this index can be found below and are annotated as being indexed.

The early papers of Ovid Village were:

1. Seneca Patriot. (Ovid Village, N.Y.) 1815-1816. A weekly newspaper issued in 1815 by George Lewis, who after the first volume changed the name to The Ovid Gazette. The best source for viewing any version of this paper remains with the American Antiquarian Society which has 5 issues for 1815. The only other location which has a different issue then those 5 is with the Boston Public Library which has a single edition for 1816.
   • American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA
     Newspaper Project, original, 5 Issues: 24 Aug 1815 – 15 Sep 1815, 6 Oct 1815
   • Boston Pub Library, Boston, MA
     Original, Miscellaneous newspapers, 1813-1818. N.2346-1, 4 June 1816.
   • New York Public Library Res Library, New York, NY
     Original, single issue, 8 Sep 1815.
   • New York State Library, Albany, NY
     Original, 2 Issues: 1 Sep 1815 – 8 Sep 1815.
2. The Ovid Gazette. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1816-1826. A weekly newspaper published by George Lewis was moved to Waterloo, N.Y. in May 1817 and became The Waterloo Gazette. Chronicling America’s Historical American Newspapers claims that the Ovid Gazette continued to be published after May 1817, showing Michael Hayes as it’s publisher in 1821, Hayes & Fowle in 1824, and then again Michael Hayes in 1825-1826. The best source of this one newspaper publication appears to be a microfilm reel available at various locations consisting of most issues from the years of 1821-1824. We’ve highlighted these locations below. It should be noted, that while the microfilm does not have the complete year of 1821, Cornell University indicates it does, but it has no additional years. The only extant edition appears to be located at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland Ohio though the single issue at Cornell University may be the original as well (it’s listed as “unknown”). The Ovid Gazette became known as the The Ovid Gazette, and General Advertiser in 1827, likely indicating a transfer of ownership at that time. 1821 Index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
   • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
     Issues 24 Jan 1821 – End of Year 1821
     • With typewritten note by B. S. Monroe containing brief information on the newspaper’s publisher, Michael Hayes.
       Single issue, 9 May 1826. Type of document is not listed.
   • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
     Available as Mircrofilm, 1821-1824 (not inclusive).
   • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
     Available as Mircrofilm, 1821-1824 (not inclusive).
   • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
     Available as Mircrofilm, 1821-1824 (not inclusive).
   • New York State Libr, Albany, NY
     Available as Mircrofilm, 1821-1824 (not inclusive).
   • Suny At Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
     24 Jan 1821 – 17 Mar 1824. This is likely the same microfilm available elsewhere, and would indicate this is an incomplete set of papers for that time period.
   • Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
     Newspaper Project, original, single issue, 1 July 1824.
3. The Republican. (Ovid Village, Seneca County, N.Y.) 1820-18?? Published by George Lewis. It is likely that this paper ended in 1827 when it assumed the name of the Seneca Republican and began to be published by James Bogart. This would explain the J. Finch Committee’s confusion in the start date of the two different papers, thinking they were one and the same. Only one issue remains microfilmed, dated 29 Mar 1820. This single issue is available as microfilm at the following locations:
   • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
   • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
   • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
   • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
4. The Ovid Gazette, and General Advertiser. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1827. James Bogart, a pioneer newspaper publisher in Geneva, was the proprietor, and Michael Hayes the superintendent and editor. The press was initially entitled The Ovid Gazette, and was changed to the name Seneca Republican upon Mr. Hayes becoming owner of the paper, which change transpired within a brief time after its publication began. Only one issue remains microfilmed, dated 3 Apr 1827 and it lists itself as vol 10, no. 24, which would indicate it is simply a fuller name for the older The Ovid Gazette. This single issue is available as microfilm at the following locations:
   • Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY
   • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
   • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
   • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
5. Seneca Republican. (Ovid Village, N.Y.) 1827-1830. Initially entitled The Ovid Gazette, and was changed to the name Seneca Republican upon Micahel Hayes becoming owner of the paper, which change transpired within a brief time after its publication began. Though removed from the immediate line of the canal, the Republican was known as the Clintonian advocate. In 1830, it was changed to the Ovid Gazette and Seneca County Register, and published for a brief period under the charge of John Duffy. Only 3 issues of this newspaper are known to exist.
   • 19 Dec 1827, Original, single issue
     • Library of Congress, Washington, DC
   • 9 Jan 1828, Newspaper Project, original
     • American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA
   • 20 Feb 1828, Newspaper Project, original.
     • American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA
6. The Ovid Gazette, and Seneca County Register. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1830-183? A weekly newspaper which was published for a short time by John Duffy. It likely was succeeded by The Ovid Emporium. Only one issue of the newspaper is extant, that located at the Huntington Library Art Gallery & Gardens in San Marino, CA. How it got there, we’ll probably never know, but it’s there. Another issue, however, is more widely available on microfilm.
   • 7 Sep 1830, original, single issue.
     • Huntington Library Art Gallery & Gardens, San Marino, CA
   • 30 Nov 1830, available as microfilm, single issue.
     • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
     • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
     • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
     • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
7. The Ovid Emporium. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1831-1832. A weekly newspaper was published for one year only by Bishop Orenshier in 1832. Only a few issues remain.
   • 24 Apr 1832, original, single issue
     • Chemung County Historical Society, Inc., Elmira, NY
   • 13 Jun 1832, microfilm, single issue
     • Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY
     • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
     • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
     • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
   • 11 Jul 1832, original, single issue
     • Union College, Schenectady, NY

8. 

   The Ovid Bee. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1838-1870. A weekly newspaper started at Ovid, in 1838, by David Fairchild, as a neutral paper. Mr. Fairchild was from Otsego County, New York; he had been publishing at Trumansburg, a paper termed the Trumansburg Advocate, and, moving to Ovid early in 1838, issued the first number of the Ovid Bee, on February 21 of that year. The paper was published under the firm name of David Fairchild & Son. The father soon sold to his son Corydon, and in November, 1838, began at Hammondsport, Yates County, NY the publication of another paper.  3 Corydon Fairchild changed the name of the publication to the Ovid Seneca County Bee in 1870. The best source of this one newspaper publication appears to be a microfilm reel available at various locations consisting of most issues from the entire publication years, as well as Jesse Finch’s transcriptions which can be found at Ancestry. We’ve highlighted these locations below. 1838-1865 index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.

   • Vital records from the Ovid bee – $$$
     This manuscript, published in 1971 and still under copyright, is available to Ancestry members. Finch, Jesse Howell. Vital records from the Ovid Bee: published at Ovid Village, Seneca Co., N.Y., 1822-1869. unknown: The J. Finch Committee, 1971.
   • Marriage and death notices from Seneca County, New York newspapers, 1817-1885
     This manuscript, written by Mary S. Jackson and Edward F. Jackson, and published in 1997 and then again in 2006 by Heritage Books includes death and marriage notices to the Ovid Bee.
   • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
   • Geneva Historical Society & Museum, Geneva, NY
     One issue, damaged, 2 June 1858.
   • Library of Congress, Washington, DC
     One issue, March 14, 1838, collected in N.Y. portfolio no. 16.
   • New York Historical Society, New York, NY
     Newspaper Project, original, one issue, 10 April 1844.
   • Cazenovia Public Library, Cazenovia, N.Y.
     Available as microfilm, one issue, 30 October 1850.
   • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
     Available as microfilm, 1838-1853 complete, 1854-1856, not inclusive, 1867-1 June 1870, complete.
   • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
     Available as microfilm, 1838-1853 complete, 1854-1856, not inclusive, 1867-1 June 1870, complete.
     Original, 1839-1868, various issues.
   • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
     Original, issues of 6 Nov 1844, 11 Feb 1846, and 11 Aug 1858.
   • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
     Available as microfilm, 1838-1853 complete, 1854-1856, not inclusive, 1867-1 June 1870, complete.
     Original, issue of 29 Jul 1863.
   • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
     Available as microfilm, 4 issues, 15 Nov 1843, 5 Nov 1845, 4 Nov 1857, and 11 Nov 1863.
   • New York State Historian, Cooperstown, NY
     Original, 2 issues, 11 Feb 1846, 4 Jan 1854.
   • New York State Library, Albany
     Available as microfilm, 21 Feb 1838 – 1 Jun 1870. Official inventory claims the entire series, but it is likely the same microfilm available elsewhere listed as follows: 1838-1853 complete, 1854-1856, not inclusive, 1867-1 June 1870, complete.
     Original, 12 Apr 1854
   • Univ of Wyoming Library, Laramie, WY
     Available as microfilm, scattered issues wanting, 7 Jan 1846 – 6 May 1866.
9. Seneca County Sentinel. (Ovid, Seneca County, N.Y.) 1860-1866. Commenced at Ovid, January 19, 1860, by A. S. Williams, under Republican colors. Mr. Williams sold to T. R. Lounsbury, a native of Ovid, and later Professor of English Literature in Yale College. During the same year, 1860, the paper was bought by S. M. Thompson, and by him conducted till 1861, when it passed into the control of D. G. Caywood. Sale was made to Riley and Baldwin; the latter disposed of his interest to his partner, John Riley, who removed the office of publication to Farmer Village. Here it was owned by Oscar M. Wilson, and published by the firm of O. M. Wilson & Son. It was removed to Trumansburg, where it began to be published as the Tompkins County Sentinel. The following are known issues. Only those published from 1860-1862 are known to have occurred in Ovid.
   • 19 Jan 1860, microfilm, single issue
     • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
     • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
     • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
   • 23 Feb 1860, original, single issue
     • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
   • 14 Nov 1861, original, single issue
     • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
   • 26 Oct 1865 – 1 Mar 1866, microfilm
   • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
   • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
   • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
   • Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY
     Bound with the Trumansburg sentinel, 1866-68. Unknown dates or type.
10. Ovid Seneca County Bee. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1870-1873, published by Corydon Fairchild from June 8, 1870 – 26 February 1873, and then sold to Oliver C. Cooper who changed the name to The Ovid independent. Finding the need of rest, Mr. Fairchild removed to California soon after. All of the original editions remain with a private collector. Full index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 8 Jun 1870 – 26 Feb 1873, microfilm
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • New York State Libr, Albany, NY
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
11. The Ovid Independent. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1873-1900, published by Oliver C. Cooper from 5 March 1873 through December 1900. Upon his purchase of the successful Ovid Bee, Mr. Cooper changed the name to Ovid Independent, and hoisted the motto, “Independent in everything – neutral in nothing.” Cooper associated with him, as a publisher, Nelson Hyatt, and the paper was conducted by Hyatt & Cooper until the great fire of October 12, 1874, burned out the entire establishment. Mr. Hyatt then retired, and the junior member of the firm, Oliver C. Cooper, re-established the paper, and carried it on through, with reputation and profit. This paper merged with The Ovid Gazette in 1900 and became known as The Gazette and Independent from 1900-1914. 1871-1873 index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 5 Nov 1873 – 5 Dec 1900, microfilm, scattered issues missing, 1874-1876; scattered issues, 1882-1897
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • New York State Library, Albany, NY
      • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
    • 5 Nov 1873 – 31 Dec 1873, unspecified
      • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
      • Index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 5 May 1875, original, single issue
      • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
    • 16 Apr 1876, original, single issue
      • New York Historical Society, New York, NY
    • 23 Aug 1876, original, single issue
      • American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA
    • 30 Aug 1876, original, single issue
      • Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.
    • 2 Jan 1884, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 8 Apr 1885, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 25 Oct 1887, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 20 Aug 1889, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 15 Dec 1891, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 28 Mar 1893, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 4 Apr 1893, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 4 Jan 1899, microfilm, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 6 Sep 1899, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
12. The Ovid Gazette. (Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y.) 1894-1900. A weekly newspaper by Charles E. Garnett, published from 1894-1900. This paper merged with the Ovid Independent in 1900 and became known as The Gazette and Independent from 1900-1914. The only known repository of issues of this newspaper are:
    • 29 Dec 1899 – 30 Nov 1900 (not inclusive), microfilm.
      • New York State Library, Albany NY
13. The Gazette and Independent. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1901-1914. A weekly paper, merged from both the Ovid Independent and the Ovid Gazette in 1901, and published by Charles E. Garnett. 1901-1914 index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 9 Jan 1901 – 10 Sep 1914, microfilm, issues missing. He sold the paper in 1914 to J. W. Shaw who changed the name to the Ovid Gazette and Independent.
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • New York State Library, Albany, NY
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
    • 22 May 1901, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 23 Apr 1902, original, single issue
      • Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, N.Y.
    • 11 Jun 1902, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
14. The Ovid Gazette and Independent. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1914-1934. Published weekly by J. W. Shaw. In 1934 he sold the newspaper to S. E. Mekeel who continued publishing as the Ovid Gazette. 1914-1934 index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 8 Oct 1914 – 2 Jan 1934, microfilm
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
      • New York State Library, Albany, NY
    • 8 Jun 1916, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 30 Aug 1817, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford  Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 22 Apr 1920, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 7 Oct 1920, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 14 Dec 1923, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 11 Jan 1929, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
15. The Ovid Gazette. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1934-1937. Published weekly by S. E. Mekeel. In 1937 he changed the title of the newspaper back to the Ovid Gazette and Independent.
    • 1934-1937, microfilm. Full index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
    • 4 Jan 1935 – 15 Oct 1937, original
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
16. The Ovid Gazette and Independent. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1937-1967. Published weekly by S. E. Mekeel when he sold the newspaper to the I. T. Publishing Corporation who continued publishing the newspaper as the Ovid Gazette. 1937-1963 index available under title: Index to the Interlaken and Ovid Newspapers, 1822-1994.
    • 1937 – 1964, microfilm.
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
      • Interlaken Public Library, Interlaken, N.Y.
      • New York State Library, Albany, NY
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
    • 21 Nov 1958, original, single issue
      • New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY
17. The Ovid gazette. (Ovid, N.Y.) 1967-current. Published by the I.T. Publication Corporation, was sold to Newski Inc. in 1893 and they removed the publication from Ovid to Trumansburg NY. Newski sold the paper to Odyssey Publications in 1991 who presently publish the paper today.
    • 1967, original, whole volume
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 1969 – 1973, original
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 1979-1980, original, various issues
      • Ulysses Historical Society, Trumansburg, N.Y.
    • 20 Aug 1980 – present, original
      • Odyssey Publications, Trumansburg, N.Y.
    • 28 Jan 1981, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 20 May 1981, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 27 Jan 1982, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 10 Feb 1982, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 17 Feb 1982, original, single issue
      • Edith B. Ford Memorial Library of Ovid, Ovid, N.Y.
    • 1987 – present, original, single issue
      • Ithaca Times office, Ithaca, N.Y.
    • 6 Feb 1980, original
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.
    • 9 Jul 1980, original
      • Whittier Library, Lodi, N.Y.

Citations:

1. 1876[↩]
2. Ovid’s newspaper history can be found on page 614 of Gazetteer of the State of New York, by J. H. French, Syracuse, N.Y., 1860, and on pages 53 to 55 of the History of Seneca Co., New York, Everts, Ensgin & Everts, Phila., 1876.[↩]
3. See advertisement, p. 220, in Child, Hamilton, Gazetteer and Business Directory of Seneca County, N.Y., for 1867-8. Syracuse: H. Child, 1867.[↩]