The paper historically served the communities of Manvers, Cavan, Cadmus, Burketon, Maple Grove, Starkville, Wesleyville, Zion (Hope Township), Port Hope, Clarke, Kirby, Nestleton Station, Leskard, Haydon, Pontypool, Bethany, Hampton, Cartwright, Courtice, Newcastle, Solina, Enfield, Tyrone, Newtonville, Long Sault, Enniskillen, Yelverton, Darlington, Blackstock, Elizabethville, Clarington and Bowmanville.

Upon absorption of the Orono News, the paper dedicated a number of columns to just that topic, and similarly for the Newcastle Independent.

Climie married Elizabeth Sanderson in March 1864 and edited the paper until August 1, 1878, when it was purchased by Moses Aaron James for the sum of $3000.

Moses was born January 14, 1848, in the parish of Bradworthy, Devonshire, England, the son of John James and Elizabeth Oke.

In the late 1800s, the Statesman was being printed out of the Bible Christian Publishing House, owned by Cephas Barker of The Bowmanville Merchant and Observer.