 A. S. Trowbridge founded the Virginia Argus and Hampshire Advertiser as a Democratic weekly newspaper in Romney in July 1850 . Trowbridge had been an educator in New Orleans , Louisiana , before moving to Romney . The Virginia Argus and Hampshire Advertiser newspaper billed itself as " A Family Newspaper — Devoted to Politics , Agriculture , Education , General News , and Amusement . " By October 7 , 1852 , the Virginia Argus was being published by Trowbridge & <unk> ; on May 26 , 1853 , it reverted to being published by Trowbridge alone . After Trowbridge had edited and published the newspaper for seven years , its limited success did not meet his expectations , and in 1857 he sold the operation to Samuel R. Smith and John G. Combs . 
