William A. Browne, publisher, Covington. Among the business enterprises of Covington none are of more general interest than the home paper. The fint attempt to publish a paper here was made by S. W. Eley, and the first issue of the Stillwater Valley Gazette was brought out by him in July, 1870, the enterprise being quite liberally supported by the citizens of this vicinity, but, for some reason, the editor did not succeed in building it up, but on the contrary, the patronage declined until the present editor, Mr. Wm. A. Browne, took it in charge in 1874; he changed its style from a four to an eight column sheet, its name to the Covington Gazette, and otherwise improved it, receiving an increased patronage as his reward; in March, 1879, Mr. Browne bought out the company which had previously owned it, becoming proprietor as well as editor, and is now doing a very satisfactory business. The press upon which the Gazette is printed is an old-style double-end Adams, and is said to be the first press used on State work in Columbus; what offices it may have graced since, we are unable to state, but it now turns off very good work. Mr. Browne, born in Pennsylvania in 1842, is a son of the Rev. W. A. Browne (deceased), who was a member of the Maryland M. E. Conference, also brother to Miss Emma Alice Browne, known as a contributor to the New York Ledger and other periodicals; when he was 12 years of age, he entered the offlce of the Cecil County Whig, and has been an occupant of a printing office ever since, during which time he has worked in many different offices in different parts of the United States; was an employe in the office of the St . Louis Republican, and several years also of the Cincinnati Times, Commercial and Enquirer. It will be seen from the foregoing that Mr. B. is a self-made editor; the printing offlce furnished both means and opportunity for his education, making it inte nsely practical, and eminently fitting him for the position which he now occupies; through his energy, the Covington Gazette has come to be an established and successful fact, a credit to the town and a great benefit to this part of Miami Co.; his lively editorials will be long and gratefully remembered by the pioneers of the Dayton, Covington & Toledo Narrow Gauge Railroad. He was married in 1864 to Miss Sadie Hawkins, of St. Louis; they have five children.