W.J. Brown & Co., purveyors of T.
White’s Toothache Drops, D. Judkins’ Specific Ointment ("cures the worst
Felons or Whitlows on the application of forty-eight hours"), and Vegetable
Rheumatic Drops, used Smith’s newspaper to advertise Sydney as its place of business.A
June 27, 1834, notice published in the newspaper by "Many Democrats" invited the
"Democratic Citizens of Shelby County, who are favorable to the present
Administration and its measures" to meet at the Court House in Sydney to appoint
delegates to a convention to be held in Wapaukonetta. On the other hand, a notice signed
by "Many Voters" called on those "opposed to the measures of the present
Administration" to meet. Both those "favorable" and those
"opposed" agreed that the meeting place should be spelled Sydney.
Attorney Joseph S. Updegraff announced locating "himself in Sydney"
and was later party to this 1836 notice: "The Stockholders in the Sydney Lyceum
Library are requested to meet on Tuesday evening, the 1st of March, at 6 o’clock, at
the office of J. S. Updegraff, Esq. in Sydney, for the election of Officers, &c."
Updegraff, proving to be very active in civic affairs, later abandoned support for the
"y" spelling. In 1839 editions of the Ohio Argus and Sidney Aurora
newspaper, he published notices as secretary of the county Whig party, secretary of the
organizing committee for the county Agricultural Society, and captain of the Sidney
Guards, all using the Sidney spelling. An 1845 edition advertised Updegraff’s new
Sidney Agency for Fire Insurance.
Even the military joined ranks with the "y" contingent. Adj’t Tho’s
W. Ruckman published this 1834 notice in the Herald: "The Commissioned and
Staff Officers of the 2d Regiment 2d Brigade and 12th Division Ohio Militia, will meet in
Sydney, on Tuesday the 26th day of August next, armed and equipped as the law directs, for
the purpose of two days drill muster."
Only the Postmaster, Col. James Wells, a War of 1812 veteran and presumably with the
full weight of the Federal Government behind him, defied the new spelling affectation,
solidly sticking with an "i" spelling in his Herald listing of
undelivered mail. "The first post-office in the county was established at Hardin
in 1819, Col. James Wells post-master; but was removed the next year to Sidney, where the
colonel has continued since to hold the office, except during Tyler’s administration,"
according to Howe, writing of 1846 Sidney.
The January 3, 1835, Herald reported that: "The following act to amend
the act to incorporate the town of Sydney, has passed through both branches of the General
Assembly of this state, and has become a law...." And, the newspaper announced
that: "The following persons were elected Officers of the corporation of the town of
Sydney, on the 6th instant: Mayor, William H. Huntington, Recorder, Calvin B. Woodruff,
Trustees, Samuel Mathers, John Whitmire, Abraham F. Perkins, Patrick G. Goode, and Hugh
Thompson, Treasurer, William Murphey, and Town Marshal, David Hendershott" (The
Republican Herald, Apr. 11, 1835).