HISTORICAL GAZETTEER OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK, Compiled by Millard F.Roberts, 1891: Chapter 6, The County Press

History of the Press of Western New York By Frederick Follett, Rochester, N.Y. Printers' Festival, 1846

This County seems to be the first in which an attempt was made to establish a Newspaper Press in Western New York. In 1796, WILLIAM KERSEY and JAMES EDIE, commenced at Bath, the publication of a paper entitled the "Bath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser."
In 1816 or '17, DAVID RUMSEY commenced, at Bath, the publication of the "Bath Gazette."
About the same time, BENJAMIN SMEAD started a paper called the "Steuben Patriot," to which was soon after appended, "and Allegany," making the amended title read, " Steuben & Allegany Patriot."
In the fall of 1819, ERASTUS SHEPARD commenced the publication of the "Western Republican," and continued it until 1822, when the materials went back to Elmira, and the publisher to an eight years' foremanship in the office of JAKES BOGART, at Geneva.
CHARLES WILLIAMSON, if I mistake not, is considered as the founder of Bath. He was the agent of some foreign land-owners in Western New- York, which was the means, no doubt, of imparting to him, and to his acts, an influence far greater than was possessed by others. His imagination, I am told, did not stop at the founding of a Village, but soared in the prospective, to the developement of the resources of a City. For this purpose, a race course was laid out, a Press was established, and various things were done, which were deemed essential by him to mark the founding of a magnificent city — at least in the imagination! The great power and influence of the "Patroon of the West," as Mr. Williamson was sometimes called, did not save the "Gazette & Advertiser " from a fate too common among similar establishments of a later day. How long it managed to keep up an existence — what became of its materials or its publishers, are questions entirely out of my power to answer.
BENJAMIN SMEAD relinquished the business to two of his sons in 1824 or '25, and the paper haa since been published under the title ol the " Farmer's Advocate."
DAVID RUMSEY, who made the attempt in 1816 or '17, to revive the old Gazette, was from Salem, Washington county. The attempt seems not to have been a successful one, as the paper was continued only about a year, when the materials were disposed of to Mr. Cowdery, who took them to "Olean Point."
Thus have I been compelled to turn off " Old Steuben," with a mere skeleton picture of what her Press is, and has been. This is no fault of mine, neither is it the fault of the Committee who originally had this matter in charge. It is the more to be regretted, as Steuben was the first county in which an attempt was made in Western New York to establish a Newspaper Press. — The Printers of that county have been desired to furnish the data upon which a more full and perfect sketch of its rise and progress could have been traced. They have failed to do it, and with them reals the fault.

Gazetteer of the State of New York: Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, And General History of the State, and a Complete History and Description of Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality. With Full Tables Of Statistics. By J. H. French. Syracuse, N.Y.: Published By R. Pearsall Smith 1860.

The Bath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser, the first paper published in Western New York, was established at Bath by Wm. Kersey and James Eddie in 1796, and was continued several years. In 6 months from its first issue its circulation had reached 1000 copies.
The Steuben and Allegany Patriot was started at Bath in 1815 by Benj. Smead, and was continued until 1822. It was then changed to
The Farmers' Advocate and Steuben Advertiser. In 1849 it passed into the hands of William C. Rhoades, and in 1857 into those of P. S. Donahe, by whom it is now published as
The Steuben Farmers' Advocate.
The Farmers' Gazette was commenced at Bath in 1816 by David Rumsey.
The Steuben Messenger was started at Bath, April 17, 1828, by David Rumsey, and was published by him, Saml. M. Eddie, Wm. P. Agnel, and Chas. Adams successively until 1834, when its name was changed to
The Constitutionalist, and its publication was continued successively by R. L. Underhill, Whitmore & Van Valkenburgh, and Dowe & Richards, and by the last named firm as
The Steuben Democrat, until 1844. The paper was then suspended. In 1848 it was renewed by L. J. Beach, and in 1849 it was transferred to Geo. H. Bidewell, by whom the publication was continued until 1852.
The Steuben Whig was published at Bath during the political campaign of 1828, by William M. Swain.
The Steuben Courier was established at Bath in 1843 by Hull & Whittemore. It is now published by H. H. Hull.
The Temperance Gem was published at Bath in 1854, by Jenny and Caroline Rumsey.
The Addison Record was published in Addison by Isaac D. Booth from 1840 to 1842, and in 1849 by Dryden & Peck.
The Addison Advocate was published by H. D. Dyer in 1848-49.
The Voice of the Nation was commenced at Addison by R. Benton in 1852. In 1855 the paper passed to Anthony I. Underhill, by whom it was published until 1856, when it was removed to Bath and its name changed to
The Steuben American, and its publication continued until May, 1857.
The Canisteo Express was published at Addison in 1850 by T. Messenger.

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