USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 67
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Many of those who had taken the overland journey had endeavored to carry with them considerable libraries, but the many miles of toil, the exhaustion of overladen teams, and the necessity of sacrificing
all that was dispensable to save that which was most important for the preservation of life, and to expedite progress, caused the way to be strewn with many treasured volumes, leaving the young immigrant to pass his first year bereft of the great comfort and consolation of his accustomed books.
Those who came by sea, around the Horn, had great advantages of transportation, and brought large numbers of books to the port of their destina- tion. Some of the vessels ascended to Sacramento, to Stockton, and to other points along the river, whence the passengers sought their way to the golden placers. But so great was their haste and so inadequate the means of transportation. that books were left among the rubbish of the ships, or stored where the tloods and fires soon or ultimately swept them from existence.
How many of the old pioneers, even to the present day, let their thoughts recur back with a pang in the remembrance of some lost treasure, and the dreary time passed in some lonely gorge; on some secluded river bar, or by some silent ravine, where, perhaps in sickness, or by the side of a sick friend. or waiting for the rains to come or the river to fall. he wished and sighed for the unattainable books. These were far away, scattered along the inbospita- ble desert, turning to rubbish in the bolds of ships. and going to destruction in the insecure warehouses of distant cities. In the wild mountain region where one deep canon after another intersected the country in quick succession, the passage of wagons was impossible without previous great labor in construet. ing roads, and the miner and the pack-mule sought their way with difficulty. Buildings were rnde, the life was strange and all were expecting frequent removals. Under these circumstances the comforts and pleasures of refined life were not expected, in fact were utterly ignored and banished from the thought. Cards came as the ready substitute for reading matter, and the public saloon-as every drinking-room is called-for the comfortable home.
EASTERN NEWSPAPERS FOR CALIFORNIA.
The expressman soon followed the miner, bringing the newspapers of the East, and of San Francisco. thus relieving the monotony and establishing a line of connection, which led, like an invisible thread, from the dark canons of the Sierra to the centers of civilization throughout the world. The papers of the Eastern cities published large editions expressly prepared for circulation in California, the most prominent being the Journal and Traveller of Box- ton, the Herald and Tribune of New York, and the Delta and Picayune of New Orleans. The St. Louis Republican, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and several New England papers also circulated largely. The " Steamer Edition " of all were filled with items from the surrounding country, collated and arranged with great care, and most eagerly were these col- umns sought by the wandering and homesick emi-
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grant, for the name of his native county or town, and dearly was every word treasured found under the head. They were like friendly letters from home, and every person mentioned seemed a dear and familiar acquaintance. The political and social news were no less closely scanned. Great was the excitement when the yell or the horn of the express- man was heard as he was entering some mining camp crying, " Here's your Herald and your Tribune, the Delta and the Picayune !" these being the great pavers of that day. Ile also brought the Boston papers for the " Yanks," and the Missouri Republican for the " Pikes." as the Missourians were usnally called.
The sale of these papers was very remunerative to the publishers, making California, particularly for the New Orleans Delta, the most profitable State in their circulation outside of their own. This large business continued through a number of years in the mining region, until the telegraph, and the Rebell- ion, and the great dailies of Sacramento and San Francisco changed the course. The isolation, the scarcity of books, the longing for news from home, the active and inquiring mind of the pioneers, made Californians a newspaper-reading people, and to this day they are distinguished patrons of this class of literature.
These papers, coming at long intervals at first, then monthly, and semi- monthly, sold readily at one and two dollars a copy, and years passed before the price declined to fifty cents, and afterwards to twen- ty-five cents each. Welcome, too, was the express- man. The postal system of the United States was then far inferior to what it is at present, and post- offices and mail routes lagged far behind the enter- prise and needs of the times. The express, in part, filled the void. profiting by the high price of letter carriage and the sale of newspapers.
The mixing of people from all sections of the U'nion was complete, and the papers of every State were read by all, thus moulding a cosmopolitan pop- ulation with new ideas and opinions. These feat- ures of carly newspaper experience and their intlu- ence were general throughout California where the new and enterprising emigration most congregated. The effects of general reading of such matter was marked and lasting, most civilizing to the people, and strengthening their attachment to the Union.
The establishing of papers was much more tim. idly undertaken in the early period of California history than at a later date, and it was not until Auburn had grown to be a thriving town of three years' growth, and two years a county seat, first of Sutter County and then of Placer, before it contained a newspaper. Local papers were more desired at that time to aid the political aspirations of some party or individuals than to proclaim the resources of the section, advocate its interests, instruct the people, publish legal advertisements, or give the nows. Mining for gold was the only resource
worthy of notice, and supplying the miner the only business. Advertising of mortgages, and foreclos- ures, and Sheriff's sales, and divorce suits, and " left my bed and board," and assessments, and delinquent sales, and " applications for patents," and many sources of newspaper revenue of the present day, did not then demand a paper in every county seat. The news current in the great world was brought by the Eastern papers, and all that transpired in the neighborhood was furnished in familiar gossip by the freely intermixing miners, or learned when all gathered on Sunday, as was the custom, at the principal stores, saloons, and camps.
TIIE PLACER HIERALD.
The opportunity for establishing a newspaper at Anbarn was excellent, as a general business venture, but still none was started until aid was given. On the IIth of September, 1852, the first number of the Weekly Placer Herald was issued by T. Mitchell & Co. The publishers were Tabb Mitchell, Richard Rust, and John MeElroy. The paper contained twenty columns, was 14x20 inches in size, and issued every Saturday morning. Terms, 86.00 per annum; single copies, twenty-five cents. In the salutatory the editor introduces his paper to the citizens of Placer County as follows :-
Through the partiality of friends, we have been selected to the responsible position of publishing the first journal in Placer County. Although some- what diffident of our abilities, the strong promptings of our inclinations urge us to the task.
In becoming a candidate for popular favor, a declaration of principles is due to the public. This time-honored usage we have no desire to disregard, but will state briefly the principles which will guide us in the conduct of the Placer Herald.
In all matters of religions or political concernment, the Herald will be FREE and INDEPENDENT. The peculiar advocate of no seet or party, we shall strive earnestly to do " equal and exact justice to all." * * Without " friends to reward or enemies to punish," we come among you, and trust our coming may be alike pleasurable and profitable to all. * * * Placer County being particularly a mining county, we shall labor especially for the development of this great branch of industry and source of wealth.
Thus the Herald was launched upon its career. The promises made were modest, dignified and fair. In looking back over its history, the proclamation of independence in politics seems a little deceptive. A very few issues showed the strong Democratic partisanship of the paper; with its second volume it declared openly for Democracy, and so it has con- tinued -a power in the party, and respectable through all the vicissitudes of its fortune. The paper was prosperous from the beginning. The editor's salutatory intimated that assistance had been ren- dered or encouragement given to start the enterprise. The first number was well filled with advertisements, and the patronage was liberal through many years.
Among the advertisements of the first number are the cards of B. F. Myers. Philip W. Thomas, James
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E. Hale, R. D. Hopkins, 11. O. Ryerson. and J. W. Scobey, as attorneys at law; the Empire Hotel, 11. M. House, proprietor, and Niles Hotel, Auburn; ller- rick's and Gardners's hotels at Yankee Jim's; Union llotel, kept by Ogden & Chadwick, Ophir; " Daguer- rean Rooms," next to Miners' Drug Store, Auburn; numerous San Francisco advertisements, and a speech on the Pacific Railroad, by Gen. James A. MeDougal, delivered in San Francisco August 24. 1852. Quite interesting histories and biographies could be written from the advertisements and notices of prominent men in the files of the old newspaper. The robust and hilarious pioneer can be traced in many from their early manhood through an eventful life, after rising to distinction, serving their country in office or in the field; some still on the stage, prosperous, honored and loved; others who have responded to the last call. and rest near the scenes of their early toils and triumphs. The history of Placer County and its people is in the columns of the Herald; the struggles of parties, the contests for office, the reports of finances, the announcement of rich min- eral discoveries, the records of the Courts, the con- troversy of the Pacific Railroad, the progress of agriculture, the births, marriages and deaths of its citizens, and all kindred topics, are contained therein. As a partisan journal, the Herald was fierce and act- ive. The Democracy, through the first decade, ruled the State-slightly broken by the episode of Know- Nothingism-and Placer County was one of the strongholds of the party. The county, too, then ranked as one of the first class in population and political power, San Francisco leading but slightly, followed by El Dorado, Tuolumne, Nevada and Placer in their order, and, of course, the county paper was strongly partisan in proportion. As such it flourished and prospered, and became widely known throughout the State.
For some years it had elear sailing, but dissensions in the Democratic ranks brought it opposition, and successive papers contested for the business. First the Broderiek wing of the party created a disturb- ance, sufficient only, however, to give zest to the political controversy. The Herald consistently adhered to the main, or "Chivalry," wing of the party, fighting with trenebant blows the " Broder- ickites," or " Mud Sills," the " Know-Nothings," the " Douglas Democrats," and the " Black Republicans," as they arose in their tarn. The latter party at last triumphed, and for a period the power and pre-emin- ence of the Herald waned, but it never weakened or despaired; believing in itself, its oft-repeated refrain Wan, ".Truth crushed to earth will rise again."
In the course of its long life, the Herald has had many changes of proprietorship and editor- ship. In the sixth issue the following notice is published :-
The partnership heretofore existing between the undersigned in the publication of the Placer Herald
is dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Mitchell having purchased the entire interest of his partners.
Auburn, October 14, 1852. T. MITCHELL. R. RUST. J. MCELROY.
Tabb Mitebell, now sole proprietor, had probably been editor from the first, as at that time Col. Rich- ard Rust was editor of the California Express, of Marysville, and J. McElroy & Co., being John McElroy and Andrew Brady, were the publishers of the same, having purchased the paper of Giles & Co., in July of that year.
December 4, 1852. the Herald announces that the firm name of the publishers from this date will be T. & C. H. Mitchell. Thus it continued until Sep- tember 17, 1853, when (. HI. Mitehell retired, and Tabb Mitchell became sole owner and editor. With the fourth volume the Herald was enlarged to six columns of twenty inches in length to each page. The next change appears January 12, 1856, when a notice is given that " James Anderson has purchased a one-third interest in the Placer Herald, and the firm name is Mitchell & Anderson," and the latter becomes the editor. This partnership continues until April 11, 1857, whenit is announced that James Anderson has retired from the Herald, and is suc- ceeded by C. II. Mitchell. The heading says the paper is published by C. H. Mitchell. The title of the firm is again changed September 10, 1859, to T. & C. H. Mitchell.
At this period begins the serions partisan struggle of the country. The Republican party is beginning to make headway, and the Herald pours upon it the vials of its wrath, denouncing the members as " Abolitionists," " Black Republicans," " Radicals," and like epithets, all of which fail to repress its growth or mar its respectability. The editorials of this period exhibit the bitterness of feeling prevail- ing at that time, which culminated in the success of the Republicans in 1860, the secession of the South- ern States, and the War of the Rebellion. As the war progressed, policy dictated a milder tone, and the Herald of April 22, 1865, turned its column rules in mourning for the death of President Abraham Lincoln, whom it had formerly denounced as clown, monkey, traitor and Abolitionist-the usual style of reference to him by the Democratie press prior to his assassination.
The next change of note in the paper is that on September 1, 1866, the subscription price of the paper was reduced to 85.00 per annum. The sudden death of its editor, James Anderson, took place Octo- ber 12, 1866. [See page IIS for biographical sketch of James Anderson.] October 19, 1867, the Herald was leased to Wm. I. Smith & Co, who were to con- tinue it in the same line of politics as usual; Governor Walkup being the editor. January 11, 1868, Gov. Joseph Walkup became interested in the paper, and his name announced as editor, the firm name being Jos. Walkup & Co .. the other members being Wm. II.
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Smith and Robert Hartley. April 17, 1869, Gov- ernor Walkup becomes the sole proprietor, publisher and editor, with Samuel H. Fisher as foreman.
August 19, 1872. J. A. Filcher becomes associated in the publication, the firm name being Walkup & Filcher, rather an ominous name when divided into monosyllables. But Governor Walkup was distin- guished for his upright and honest character, and no filebing was ever permitted where he bad any con- trol or association. He took editorial charge of the Herald January 11, 1868, and continued until his death, dying suddenly in the lleruld office October 15, 1873. His biography is published elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. E. A. Walkup succeeded to the interest of her husband, it being announced on April 10, 1875, that from this date the Herald will be published by Mrs. E. A. Walkup and J. A. Filcher under the firm name of J. A. Fileber & Co.
January 1, 1876, A. C. Kinkade and J. Il. Gregory purchased the interest of Mrs. Walkup, and the paper was continued under the same firm name as before. At the same time the Herald was doubled in size. On the 5th of the following August, an item in the paper says: " A. C. Kinkade has sold his interest in the Placer Herald, and is going East to study the profession of the law. July 29. 1878. B. F. Gwynn purchased the interest of J. H. Gregory in the Herald and the firm became Filcher & Gwynn. Under this firm the paper was published one year, until August 9, 1879. with the beginning of volume twenty-eight. when the firm name of Filcher & Kin- kade is again at the head, continuing there until No. 1, volume 29, when J. A. Filcher becomes sole proprietor. Under this gentleman's rule the llerall has greatly improved in its literary matter, giving great attention to subjects of county interest and development, and maintaining its position as a Demo- cratie and anti-monopoly advocate. In the vicissi- tudes of party life, when the success of Democracy appeared hopeless, the Herald has swerved into " Dolly Vardenism," " Independence," " New Con- stitution." and such organizations, always claiming adherence to its principles of the past. but in its general course through its long career, no paper of California can claim greater consistency or higher respect.
The Herald has the distinction of being printed on the first press ever brought to California, having been brought here by Samuel Brannan on the ship Brooklyn, which arrived at San Francisco in July, 1846, three weeks after the hoisting of the American flag at Monterey. Upon this press was printed, in Brooklyn, New York, the Prophet, a Mormon paper. edited by Samuel Brannan, and after its arrival in California, the Stur in San Francisco. Doubly, there- fore. is the Herald and its office entitled to the honor of being the pioneer paper of California. Many others have come and gone, but the Herald still maintains its proud position, and under the charge of Mr. Filcher, is more than ever promising and prosperous.
TABB MITCHELL.
This gentleman, the founder of the Placer Herald, was born at Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, Vir- ginia, October 24. 1823: removed with his parents to Ohio when a boy, and learned the printing trade in his father's office, the Western Palladium, at New Lisbon, Ohio. There are few schools better for a studious and inquiring mind than the printing office of a country newspaper, and there, with the tuition of an able and careful father, did young Mitchell acquire the principal part of his education. While yet under the age of manhood he "went west," to the then Territory of Iowa, settling on the banks of the Des Moines River. at the village of Keosauqua, and there established the Times-a youthful printer and ambitious editor. Here he was when the news of the gold discovery in California aroused all such characters to the bright and attractive venture of exploration and gold mining in the newly-acquired region. In 1849 he joined the throng moving west- ward. crossing the plains by the northern route, and. as many others, was induced to take the round-about way called Lassen's Cut-off, cie the northern passes and Pit River into the Sacramento Valley. This brought him into the gold region on Feather River, and at Ophir ( now Oroville ). Long's and Bidwell's Bars he first engaged in gold mining. The labors and incidents of his mining career formed many pleas- ant reminiscences, which he delighted to relate in after years. His mining success did not meet with his expectations, and in 1852 he became inter- ested in the California Express, at Marysville, then the new and promising metropolis of the north. Soon thereafter overtures were made to the pro- prietors of the Express to establish a paper at Auburn, and on the 11th of September, 1852, the first number of the Placer Herald was issued under the proprietorship of Tabb Mitchell, Richard Rust and John MeElroy. Mr. Mitchell's newspaper life is told in the history of the paper which he had the honor of founding, and which is his enduring monu- ment.
While a resident of lowa, he was elected Clerk of Van Buren County, and in 1856 was elected Clerk and Recorder of Placer County, which position he filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to the public.
After leaving the Herald office in 1868, he took a position as clerk in the office of the State Control- ler, where he remained four years. He subsequently removed to San Francisco, where he died February 11. 1879, aged 55 years and two months, his remains being returned to Auburn for burial. A brother, Charles H. Mitchell, for many years associated in the publication of the Herald, is now publishing the Grass Valley Union, and another brother, William K. Mitchell, died at Tombstone, Arizona, in April. 1881.
On the 31st of December, 1856, Tabb Mitchell was married at Anburn to Miss Carrie S. Smith, then
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recently from New York, and sister of E. G. Smith. Esq., of Sacramento. Three children were the fruits of the marriage-one son, Mayo, born February 10, 1860, dying in infancy, and two, Katie and Eddie, surviving their parents. Mrs. Mitchell died Decem- ber 23, 1879, at Auburn. respected and loved by all, and now rests beside her honored husband in the old burying ground near where they had dwelt so long.
J. 1. FILCHER.
The present proprietor and editor of the Herald is Joseph Adams Filcher, who was born at Burlington, Iowa, August 3, 1845, residing there until his four- teenth year, when his parents moved to California. Mr. Filcher's ancestors were English, his paternal grandfather, Joseph Filcher, being a brickmaker and Superintendent of that branch of manufacture for Earl Granville, in connection with his extensive iron and coal mines, and his maternal grandfather was Ralph Adams, a veterinary surgeon. Both lived to a good old age and were highly respected in the communities in which they lived. His parents' names were Thomas J. Filcher and Eliza ( Adams) Filcher, natives of Hanley, England. the first born March , 18, 1812, the latter April 5, 1815, and were married June 11, 1836. In 1841 they moved to America, settling in Burlington, Iowa, and in 1859 crossed the plains with ox-teams to California, when they settled in Yuba County and engaged in mining.
From early age Mr. Filcher has made his own way in the world, assuming the responsibility of his own support and education, making him in his mature years the self-reliant, independent man that he is. Work on a farm in Yuba County prevented him attending school except to a limited extent, two years aggregating the total of school attendance previous to attaining the age of twenty-one. From that time his carnings were devoted to paying his expenses at school, determined on having an educa- tion commensurate with his ambition for a higher position and usefulness in life. Ile entered the State Normal School in 1867, and for the five suc- ceeding years attended or taught school continually, teaching, principally, in that period, mn Yuba and Sutter Counties. In 1870he removed to Auburn and became the Principal of the public school in that place, which position be held until 1872. He then purchased a half interest in the Placer Herald. in company with Ex-Lieutenant-Governor Joseph Walkup, and participated in the editorial manage- ment until that gentleman's death, from which date he has had sole charge, and in 1880 became sole proprietor.
From the date of his first residence in Placer County he has pursued an active and prominent public career, advancing to the front rank of Placer's public men. In 1873 he was nominated on the Dem- ocratic ticket for the position of Superintendent of Public Schools, but it was not a good year for Dem- ocrats, and although Mr. Filcher received the high-
est vote of the party, he was defeated. A similar experience attended him in 1877. when nominated for the Legislature, the majority against the Demo- cratie party in the county averaged about 350, but against Mr. Filcher only tive majority. In 1878 the Democrats and Republicans united, as Non-Partisans, to nominate two candidates to the Constitutional Convention, and J. A. Filcher and S. B. Burt were the nominees. Both were elected and served through the long session of 157 days. framing the present Constitution of California. In this Convention Mr. Filcher served on the Committees on Water and Water Rights, on Legislation, and on Printing. No member was more attentive to his duties or took a greater interest in preparing that important instru- ment, and the speeches of Mr. Filcher were among the best and most carefully prepared of that body.
After the. session he returned to his paper and labored with good effect in procuring the adoption of the Constitution by the people. As a writer and speaker be is vigorous and lucid, his well-filled and interesting paper being evidence ot his industry, ability and patriotism.
Ilis social relations are of the highest order, and, although not a member, attends the church of his wife, the Congregational, being a member of the Building Committee, and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he was elected to the highest office in the Order. that of Great Sachem, at the Annual Great Council in July, 1881. 1le is also a member of the Order of Knights of Pythias. Of his public enterprises, he was very active in organizing the Alden Fruit Company, whose works are at Newcastle, and is Secretary of the company.
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