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Michael Weyand

The strongest editorial force in Beaver County for the last half of the 19th Century was wielded by Michael Weyand. In a time when printers were rovers, Michael Weyand was the exception, remaining in Beaver where he had come in 1838 as a 13-year-old apprentice printer on the Beaver Argus. After four and a half years in this role, he became a journeyman, and by 1851 owned a half interest and was co-editor of the paper. He sold his interest in 1859 but returned to the newspaper business and his beloved editorials in 1874, as editor of the newly established Beaver Times, which was to become the Dailv Times in 1899 and is now the Beaver County Times. In his 32 years as an editor, he was famous for his stinging editorials, first anti-slavery and always staunchly Republican. In his long career he never had a libel suit, although many threatened, for his criticism and denunciations made hundreds writhe. He entered politics, serving as Prothonotary for six years, as a Presidential Elector, and was appointed postmaster of Beaver in 1900.