Note: Bluffton sixth graders in the 1953-54 school year (graduating class of 1960) created a booklet titled "The Bluffton Story." The following article is part of that booklet, which is now in the history collection at the Bluffton Public Library. This series continues each week on the Icon.

By Betty Ruth Stratton and Nancy Patterson
The first newspaper to come to Bluffton was the Bluffton Times which made its appearance in 1872, with Mr. P. R. Bailey at the helm. IN 1873, it was sold to Mr. Clark and Mr. Davis. Sometime later Mr. Davis bought out Mr. Clark and changed the name to the Bluffton Standard. This paper soon left town and the village was without a paper for about six months.

In 1875, a nineteen year old boy from Lima, Ohio, by the name of N. W. Cunningham moved to Bluffton and founded the News.

In order to get subscriptions, Mr. Cunningham made a house to house canvass. He even walked out into the country to solicit famers. The total subscription list of the first papers were less than five hundred.

The first printing office was located in the Hauenstein Block on North Main Street between Jefferson Street and Washington Street. The printing office was moved several times. n 190, it was moved to South Main Street were The Bluffton Meat Market is now located.

In 1903, it was located to the rear of Pine's Restaurant on North Main Street. In 1905, it was moved to its present location.

N. W. Cunningham sold his newspaper in 1891, to enter the banking business. Jess Huber, the next owner and editor, sold it one year later to In. N Heminger before going west to practice law.

In 1900, Heminger moved to Findlay after selling the paper to B. F. Biery, the Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Biery was the editor for fourteen years before his son, Mr. C. A. Biery, became the editor, a post he held until 1952, when he sold to Mr. Milton I. Edwards, the present owner.

The Bluffton News uses six tons of Canadian paper a year.