Foreign Language Newspapers

In 1846, it was reported in the newspaper that the citizens of Sidney, Ohio, and its nearby area were a "reading people" because 310 of them subscribed to 76 different newspapers and 8 periodicals, in addition to the local paper. One of these publications was printed in French while five others were printed in German.  As late as 1891 a newly formed newspaper publication, "Shelby County Anzeiger", printed entirely in German, hit the streets of the county. It was the only non-English newspaper published in the area, and was probably an excellent source for information on local happenings for those experiencing difficulties communicating in English. It was an eight-page, seven column sheet with offices in the Oldham Building (now Canal Place) at 121 West Poplar Street in Sidney. It had a large circulation, particularly in the county’s outlying German settlements.  It was established by Frank Sieverding of Botkins, and, after passing onto the ownership of P .E. Sherman, followed by Hugo J. Antony of Minster, it ceased publication in the early 20th century.