USA > Alabama > Memorial record of Alabama. A concise account of the state's political, military, professional and industrial progress, together with the personal memoirs of many of its people. Volume II pt 1 > Part 23
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and publishing a paper when the war came on. His paper gave offense . because of the strong southern articles which it contained, and he soon afterward left and came to Montgomery. He served through the war gaining his title in the cavalry branch of the service. In the spring of 1865, he purchased an interest in the paper, and retained it until after his election to the position of state superintendent of education in 1870. Capt. J. F. Whitfield had in the meantime resumed his connection with the paper by purchase of an interest, and was in the editorial department. The paper was published, under the firm name of J. C. Gibson & Co., until the spring of 1567. when G. H. Gibson and Joseph Hodgson succeeded to the ownership, and in 1871. they disposed of it to Messrs. A. F. Hen- derson, J. L. Tait and J. W. Fannin. In a short while M. J. Williams purchased the interest of Tait and Fannin, and on the 10th day of May purchased Henderson's interest and immediately carried out an arrange- ment for consolidation with the Advertiser, and thus the Mail passed out of existence. In its day it was one of the most notable and powerful of Alabama newspapers,
A paper out of the regular order, the like of which had not before and has not since been published in Alabama, was the Southern Military Gazette. A lottery chapter had been obtained by Samuel Swan and others from the legislature of 1853-54, and a certain sum was to be paid to a military academy. located in east Alabama. This paper was the outcome of that lottery enterprise and published its advertisements, drawings, etc. Mr. Swan was the publisher. It contained a great deal of reading matter and was edited with ability. The first number appeared December 1, 1854, and the last in the latter part of 1857. Mr. Swan became a successful homeopathic physician and settled in New York city.
In January, 1853, the first issue of the "American Cotton Planter," Dr. N. B. Cloud, editor and publisher, made its appearance. It was a monthly publication and took high rank and circulated largely among the farmers of Alabama and adjoining states. In 1857, the "Soil of the South" was consolidated with it. The publication was continued until the begin- ning of the war, when it ceased to exist. While it was published it was the organ of the Alabama State agricultural society, of which Dr. Cloud was the secretary.
In May, 1>53, a venture was made in Masonic journalism. the "Masonic Signet" making its appearance at that time. Mr. J. W. Mitchell. formerly of Missouri, was the proprietor and editor. He was a man of decided ability and the author of a history of Masonry in the United States. The paper was published in Montgomery for two years, when it was removed to Marietta, Ga.
Mr. P. H. Brittan, a veteran in the press, commenced, in 1857, a small daily, the "Messenger It was not political and strove to furnish a
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strictly local paper. It met with some success but ceased to exist in January, 1858, by reason of merging into the "Confederation."
There was a growing sentiment of opposition to Mr. Yancey and his ideas as to the duty of the democracy in view of the coming presidential contest of 1860. The Advertiser was in full accord with the great orator and sustained him and his course with great ability. The Alabama Jour- nal suspended in the fall of 1857. and a number of democrats, who were opponents of the Yancey school, purchased its material and outfit and on the 18th day of January, 1858, the first issue of the "Confederation " appeared. Messrs. J. J. Seibels. W. R. R. Wyatt and P. H. Brittan were the owners and proprietors. the latter having. consolidated his paper, the, ' "Messenger," with the new enterprise. The paper was published both daily and weekly. Col. Seibels. the chief editor, was well known to the people of the state by his former editorial connections and the positions of honor that he had filled. Mr. Brittan, by long and varied experience, was a valuable man on any paper. Mr. Wyatt had been the editor of a village paper in Autaugaville, Autaga county. The paper was prompt to antagonize the friends of Mr. Yancey, and soon placed itself in line with those who, in 1860, stood by the fortunes of Stephen A. Douglas. It opposed the action of the democratic state convention of 1860, which instructed the delegates to the Charleston convention, in the event of a certain contingency. to withdraw from that body. In taking this, position it was on the side of John Anthony Winston, the ex-governor, John Forsyth, the brilliant editor of the Mobile Register, Alexander White, an eloquent and impassioned orator, a former member of congress and but lately out of the whig ranks, and many other able democrats. After the election of Lincoln. the Confederation opposed the policy of secession and advocated what was called "co-operation" or action of the states in a body instead of separately. Soon after the ordinance of secession, which was adopted by the convention on the 11th day of January, 1861. the Confederation was discontinued. Col. Seibels was colonel of the sixth Alabama regiment, one of the earliest to leave the state for the scene of conflict in Virginia, and participated in the first battle of Manassas. Gen. John B. Gordon was a captain in the regiment and rose successively from captain to lieutenant-general. Col. Seibels served one year and returned to Alabama and died in Montgomery in the fall of 1865.
Mr. Brittan was elected secretary of state in 1559 and held the position until 1867. In consequence of this, on the 19th of November, 1859, he disposed of his interest in the paper to Mr. E. A. Banks, who had, on the 16th of the same month. purchased the interest of Mr. Wyatt. Mr. Banks remained with the Confederation until it was discontinued. He was a vigorous writer and imparted much of interest to its columns by his editorials. He was in hearty accord with Col. Seibels, was a warm friend of Douglas, and a bitter opponent of secession. Mr. Banks was teaching a flourishing school in Montgomery at the time he became
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a partner in this newspaper enterprise. He was a son-in law of the late Col. A. J. Pickett, Alabama's historian. Mr. Banks served through the war, and at its close entered business in Montgomery, but subsequently moved to New Orleans, where he died of yellow fever in '66 or 67.
The union sentiment which existed in Montgomery immediately prior to the war was made manifest through the Montgomery Daily Post. Its first number was on the 3d of April, 1850, under the proprietorship of Messrs. W. P. Smith, A. Prince and Warren Larkins. the latter the editor-in-chief, with Mr. M. P. Blue as local editor. It was not the expecta- tion or intention of these gentlemen for the Post to enter the field of politics, but to devote it to local and general news. On the 5th day of July, Mr. W. P. Smith became sole proprietor, and on the 5th of July, the Post declared for Bell and Everett. being the only paper in Mont- gomery which advocated their election, although there was a large ' number of voters in the city who were their enthusiastic supporters. Daniel Sayre, Esq., who had for years previously been an active editor in Talladega and Tuskegee became the editor of the Post when it assumed a political character, and did valiant service for the party, which claimed as the principal plank in its platform, a declaration for "the Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws." Col. J. F. Gaines also became editorally connected with the Post at that time, and after the election, became its proprietor and editor, and continued its publication until early in 1861. It opposed secession. Mr. Sayre at the time he took the editorship of the Post was the grand secretary of the grand lodge of Masons of Alabama, a position he filled until his lamented death a few years ago. Col. Gaines, although an opponent of secession, promptly entered the army, made a gallant soldier and was promoted more than once for gallantry, reaching the rank of colonel of cavalry. He lost a leg in one of the battles during Sherman's march through Georgia.
Returning to Montgomery at the close of hostilities he had arranged to continue his journalistic career, with Mr. Reid in the Advertiser, but he died July 19, on the night before the first issue of the paper, after the military order had been removed. Mr. Larkins. the first editor of the Post, died in the army at Norfolk, Va., July, 1861. Mr. Smith served from the beginning to the close. On his return home, was elected clerk of the city court of Montgomery and died in 1867, while filling that position.
In the fall of 1864, after the Federal occupation of Atlanta, the Memphis Appeal, which had followed the fortunes of the Confederacy and kept up its regular daily issues, except when moving from one point to another, was established in Montgomery and remained there until 1865, and soon after the close of the war resumed its publication at its old home in Memphis. It is still a paper of wide influence in the Mississippi valley. 4
The first newspaper started in Montgomery, after hostilities ceased,
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was called the Montgomery Daily Ledger. It made its bow on the 7th of August, 1865, under the management of Daniel Sayre and William Falconer, with Mr. M. P. Blue as the local editor. Mr. Sayre soon discovered that there was a wide divergence of opinion between himself and Mr. Falconer, and in two weeks Mr. Sayre disposed of his half interest to Capt. Ben- jamin H. Kieser, and in December following, Mr. Falconer did likewise. The Ledger was continued until May, 1886. when its publication ceased. Capt. Kieser was a veteran newspaper man and is still engaged in the business as editor and proprietor of the Herald in Roanoke. Randolph county. His first attempt at publication was the Southern Enterprise at Fort Gaines. Ga., and afterward the Banner at Abbeville. Henry county, Ala., the Banner at Clayton, Barbour county, Ala .. the Democrat at Tuskegee, Macon county, Ala. He was also for some years engaged in publishing papers at Opelika, Lee county, and is now in the same business at Roanoke, Randolph, county. He has always advocated the principles of the democratic party. His grandfather was Benjamin Hawkins, the. celebrated United States agent among the Indians in Georgia and Alabama before their removal, under treaties, to the west.
A little paper calle d the "Friend" made its appearence December 25, 1865. It was intended for the entertainment of boys and girls. Its proprietor was an accomplished Frenchman, Prof. P. H. Gourney. As he made arrangements to move to Baltimore, its publication was only of a few months' duration. For some years Prof. Gourney taught school in Baltimore and has also issued a fine school book for beginners in French.
In 1833 or 1867, a daily evening paper was started under the name of the Picayune. Having no record of it, the names of those connected with it cannot be given. The editorial management, however, was in the hands of Thomas G. Jones, a young lawyer who was just entering upon the practice. The articles attracted great attention and were recognized at once as the product of no ordinary mind. The Picayune did not last long, but its editor has continued to grow in public favor and is now the able and distinguished governor of Alabama.
In August, 1868, Capt. B. H. Screws, whose genius as a writer has been for years well recognized, and whose pen and ink sketches of men and matter during some of the most interesting periods of Alabama's history. were greatly enjoyed, established a weekly paper, the "Capital City Record." It was what its name purported, and furnished an excel- lent compilation of all that was transpiring of interest in the city and country at large. After one year's trial, he discontinued it. No man in Alabama has warmer friends than Capt. Screws. He has served the people of his country in the legislature and held other positions of honor and trust.
January 1, 1857, the second educational journal was founded . in the state, this one issuing from Montgomery. It was also a monthly and
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was called the Alabama Educational Journal. It was devoted to the cause of popular education, science, literature, morality, and had a semi- religious tone. The publisher was William F. Perry, state . superin- tendent of education. and it was printed by Barret & Wimbish. The venture, in the then comparatively new and practically untried branch of journalism in Alabama, must have enjoyed some measure of success, for the publication of the Alabama Educational Journal was continued for some time. It is of record that Noah K. Davis, during the years 1858-59, was publishing a journal in Montgomery bearing this same name and devoted to the same cause, but it is not known, for certain, that it was the same concern.
The Southern Teacher, a journal of school and home education, was established by W. S. Barton, July 1, 1859. It lived to see the second volume. The Alabama Educational Magazine was established April, 1871, by Joseph Hodgson, state superintendent of public instruction. It after- ward took the name of the Advance. This one probably attained a greater degree of success than any of the other journals of this class, but it, too, has long since departed this life.
John Hardy spent the greater portion of his life editing and publish- ing newspapers in Alabama. His first efforts were at Wetumpka, and afterward at Cahaba and Selma. At the latter place, in 1853, he estab- lished the State Sentinel, and advocated the cause of the union wing of the democracy. In the spring of 1867, he removed his office and materials to Montgomery and issued the Sentinel as the organ of the republican party. It was the first attempt to establish a newspaper of that faith in Alabama. During his entire career he had been in antagonism to Mr. Yancey and his wing of the democracy and was regarded as a union man during the whole war period. The first issue of the Sentinel in Mont- gomery was on the 17th of May, 1867, and again Montgomery's great chronicler, M. P. Blue, was announced as local editor. Daily and weekly issues were published, but there was but little support of the paper, and in less than eighteen months after its first appearance. the "State Sentinel" was discontinued. Mr. Hardy made no further investments in Alabama journalism. He was appointed United States marshal and served during Johnson's and a portion of Grant's term. He died some years ago at his home in Dallas county.
Another republican paper, however, made its appearance September, 16, 1868. It was started under the name of the State Journal by C. T. Thweatt & Co. From January 8, 1869, Capt. J. W. Dimmick was the proprietor of the paper. It had a number of changes in proprietors and editors during its career. Among the editors George M. Drake and J. B. Bingham were regarded as men of superior ability. Mr. Drake is at present in the foreign mail department of the post-master general's office at Washington, while Mr. Bingham has passed out of the knowledge of the people of Alabama, but a few years ago he was editing a democratic
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paper at Brunswick, Ga. On the 1st of March, 1870, Mr. Arthur Bing- ham, then state treasurer, purchased the entire establishment and owned it until its publication ceased a few years afterward. The next daily newspaper established in Montgomery was the "Morning News" by Messrs. J. M. Richards and J. E. Roberts, sometime in '72-or 73. It was a sprightly lively sheet but its life was short and its proprietors, finding that outgo was greater than income concluded to suspend. There was still another daily established along in the early seventies, the"Sun." It, too, was a paper of merit, but its chief proprietor, Capt. J. M. Falk- ner, concluding that the field was not large enough. disposed of it to the Advertiser. One of the finest agricultural papers ever published in Ala- bama was the "Plantation" by Hon. Jefferson Falkner. during the year 1878-9. It secured a large circulation and gained a wide reputation. There were other publications during these years, but not of sufficient . length of life to warrant any special reference to them.
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The Montgomery Daily Dispatch was the name of a paper which appeared early in October. 1885. It was published at $6.00 per annum and every day. This was the first time that it had been attempted to furnish seven papers a week in the state. The paper was a stock com- pany. The first editors were Messrs. M. A. Baldwin and Alva Fitz- patrick, both young men of decided ability, which was soon developed in the columns of the Dispatch. Mr. Baldwin, however, soon retired, and Mr. Fitzpatrick was left in editorial control. There were many changes in the ownership of stock, but D. S. Troy, a man of great wealth, was the principal stock-holder. In the summer of 1888, Mr. Richard Weight- man, who had acquired considerable reputation on the press of New Orleans and Washington, became editor. On the morning of August 10, 1889, the Dispatch announced its suspension. the Advertiser having bought its subscription lists. In a few weeks, Messrs. Horace Hood and J. B. Simpson, who had been on the editorial force of the Dispatch, brought out the Evening Journal, which is still published, and with the Advertiser, which is published in the morning, the journalistic daily field is filled in Montgomery.
In 1888, Mr. H. G. McCall, who had bought the Alliance Journal. heretofore published elsewhere, moved it to Montgomery and continued its publication for about a year, and in 1889 its name was changed to Alliance Herald, with Frank Baltzell as editor. The latter was a strong advocate of the Alliance cause and always took a part in political con- tests. Since the election in November last, it has not presented a very vigorous appearance and the indications are that it will not much longer continue publication. For some years the Alabama Baptist, a paper owned by Major J. G. Harris, has been published in Montgomery. Until quite recently it was by a lease arrangement. in charge of Messrs. Hare and Pope, who conducted it with great satisfaction to the large and
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influential religious denomination in whose behalf it is published. It is now under the management of its owner. Major Harris.
There is a paper in Montgomery called the "Montgomery Methodist." published by Rev. J. B. Cumming and largely in the interest of the Dexter Avenue church, using it as a means of keeping up an interest in the erection of the handsome building for which the foundations have been laid.
Rev. W. C. Whitaker, rector of the church of the Holy Comforter, publishes each month an exceedingly interesting little paper in the interest of the Protestant Episcopal church. It is called the Diocese. and is gradually growing in circulation.
Major. T. J. Key is publishing in Montgomery a first class monthly magazine. the Argriculturist, and giving great satisfaction to its patrons.
Several papers have been published and edited by negroes at different times in Montgomery. With one or two exceptions they have been con- ducted with moderation. A notable exception was in the case of one Duke, whose violent utterances, a few years ago, were calculated to stir ' up race riots, and he concluded that it was better for him to seek some other locality, which he promptly did. There is a disposition among the negroes to support the papers published by men of their own race, but not until recently have they given countenance to any which did not advise support of the republican party. At present they have a very good weekly paper which notes all their social happenings, weddings, school entertainments, church meetings, etc., with a good deal of political matter at odd times.
A paper by the name of the Clarion was established at Claiborne in Monroe county in 1820. We have no further information concerning it and cannot give name of its founder. length of life or any of its early history. Claiborne. at that time, was a point of great importance and the place of trade for people living at long distances and on both sides of the Alabama river. Many of Alabimi's most distinguished sons were once citizens of the place. among them men who have been governors, senators and representatives in congress. Its former greatness disap- peared with the advent of railroads to the east and west of it. the Alabama river being its line of transportation. A paper called "The Southerner" was published at Claiborne for many years. suspending some time after 1-61 and before 1865, but no accurate information about it is obtainable. The first paper published in the county after the war was published at Claiborne and under the name of the Monroe Journal. It was conducted by S. B. Byrd. Sr .. and afterward by S. B. Byrd. Jr. The latter afterward conducted a paper in Louisiana. The Journal, in 1-70 or 1871, was removed to Monroeville and for some years was edited by S. M. Davidson.
In the fall of 1-66 or spring of 1-67, the Monroe Eagle was founded at Monroeville by the sons of S. B. Byrd and edited by Rev. W. W.
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Spence. The Eagle was issued but a few years. During its existence, however, it was one of the best edited weekly papers in the state, Mr. Spence being a remarkably able and vigoroas writer. The issue then was the removal of the court house from Monroeville to Claiborne, and it gave life and impulse to the two papers then published in the county. For a few years after the suspension of these two papers, Monroe county was without one. Mr. Horace Hood, now of the Montgomery Evening Journal, re-established the Monroe Journal at Monroeville and managed it capably and acceptably for some years, making it an excellent weekly and county paper. Upon his retirement and removal from the county, Mr. I. Q. Salter succeeded to the management, and the Journal is still conducted by him.
In 1867 the county of Hale was created. Until that time the larger portion of its territory had been within the limits of Greene county.' Greensboro, the county seat of Hale county. was among the earliest towns in the state to enjoy newspaper advantages. as the Green County Patriot was established there in 1825, by Thomas Easton, and was published under that name for a number of years. In 1834, it was succeeded by the Greene County Sentinel, with Daniel F. Brown as editor, who sold it to Thomas DeWolf, and he, in a few years afterward disposed of it to Mr. McCormick, Mr. DeWolf moving to Cahaba, where he published the Dallas Gazette for some years prior to his removal to Montgomery. Mr. McCormick did not long retain the Sentinel, but sold it to John B. Ritenhouse, and moved to Tuscaloosa and from that point to Montgomery. In a few months Mr. Ritenhouse made a sale of the paper to Charles Briggs. The Sentinel passed into the hands of Col. John G. Harvey in 1843. He changed its name to the Alabama Beacon, which it has borne from that day to this. The Beacon. therefore, is among the oldest papers in the state, Col. Harvey was a graduate of the Military academy at West Point. He was a cultured gentleman and set a fine example to all his editorial associates. During his connection with the Alabama press, he was never involved in any unseemly contest, yet no man was more prompt to express his honest convictions on all questions that arose. He was a life long democrat, and the Beacon never know any other political creed. He remained in charge of the paper until his death. which occurred on the 3d day of July, 1590. For nearly half a century he gave his patrons a weekly paper couched in purest English, and breathing only the most elevated and refined sentiments. After Col. Harvey's death, James Bon- durant took charge of the paper and published it until January, 1892, at which time it passed into the hands of Messrs. H. G. Bonners and Edwin Jack, who maintained its high character,
In November, 1876, the Greensboro Watchman was established by W. C. Garrett, who published it for a few years and sold out to Alexander H. Williams, who died in 1855. The paper was then purchased by William E. W. Yerby, who now owns and edits it, Since its first issue, to the
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present, the Watchman has been a bright, newsy paper, attractively pub- lished and well edited.
The Southern University Magazine is the name of a most creditable magazine. established in Greensboro in 1986. and still published under the auspices of the two literary societes of the university at Greensboro. The only point in Hale county, outside of Greensboro, in which a paper has ever been published, is Newbern. In 1892, Mr. S. Hardenburg established the Newbern News, which he is still publishing weekly.
We are still in the twenties in tracing out the history of the papers of the state, and so far, all that were established prior to the close of 1826, have been noted. In 1527, Lawrence county was for the first time en- rolled among those with a newspaper published within its limits. It was started at Courtland and was called the Courtland Reporter. Its editor and proprietor was Wiley Conner, and not being well sustained he discon- tinued its publication in less than two years from the date of its first issue. The Moulton Advertiser was established at Moulton, the county seat of Lawrence county, in 1828, by Col. A. A. McCartney. He came from Pennsylvania, was a practical printer and possessed of a fair education. Along in the forties he disposed of it to Judge T. M. Peters and Matt C. Galloway. Judge Peters being a lawyer and having other and more im- portant business to look after, sold out to young Galloway and retired within a year from the date of purchase. Galloway continued the publi- cation of the Advertiser for several years and was succeeded by his cousin, Levin J. Galloway. The latter held the paper for a year or two and disposed of it to Samuel H. McCord, who published it until 1851, when D. C. White became its owner and editor. That relation he has oc- cupied ever since. a period extending over forty-two years. It has always been democratic in politics and very popular with the people of north Alabama. Up to 1551, it had been a five-column folio, but after Mr. White obtained control he enlarged it to a six-colunin folio and two years afterward made a further enlargement to seven columns.
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