Van Vorhes, N. H. (Nelson Holmes), 1822-1882

Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes (NHVV) was one of the original owners of the Athens Messenger newspaper. NHVV was born on January 23, 1822 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The Van Vorhes family moved to Athens, Ohio, in 1836. NHVV's father, Abraham Van Vorhes (AVV) became publisher and editor of The Western Spectator . At the age of 14, NHVV became an apprentice to his father and four years later became principal editor and publisher of the newspaper. AVV left the paper to work in government appointments. NHVV's brother Andrew Jackson Van Vorhes joined the newspaper in 1844. At that time, the paper was called The Athens Messenger and Hocking Valley Gazette .

Sometime between January and November of 1844 the name of the paper was changed to The Athenian and Messenger . This name remained until October of 1846. The title of the paper varies from that point on: Athens Messenger and Hocking Valley Gazette (1846(?)-1861), Athens Messenger (1861-1893), Athens Messenger and Herald (1894-1902) and, Athens Messenger (1902-1909).

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