History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 33

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923 > Part 33

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The "Transcript" was a financial success, but Mr. Julian retired within two months and Mr. Upham a month later sold his interest to G. C. Weld. California correspondent of the New York "Journal of Commerce." Mr. Weld was a model business man and a fine writer, but died within six weeks of the time he be- came one of the proprietors. The paper begin- ning to run down, it was consolidated with the "Placer Times." A year later, the "Times and Transcript" removed to San Francisco and took a leading position as a Democratic organ, under Pickering and Fitch. It died in 1856 of a Democratic controversy.

When the "Placer Times" was started the office was not equipped with a modern plant equal to those nowadays. A lot of old type was picked up out of the "Alta" office, an old Ramage press was repaired, a lot of Spanish foolscap was secured in San Francisco, and the whole was shipped to Sacramento on a vessel named the "Dice me Nana" ("says my mamma"), the first craft to carry type and press to the interior of California, and which made the trip in eight days. An office was built for the paper about six hundred feet from the northeast corner of the bastion of Sutter's Fort, and near what is now the corner of Twenty-eighth and K Streets. The structure was a queer mixture of wood, adobe, and cot- ton cloth, but it answered the purpose. The paper was 13 by 18 inches in size, and the title was cut from wood with a pocket-knife. All sorts of expedients were resorted to in cutting

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off and piecing out letters to round out a com- plement of "sorts" for the cases. The press had a wooden platen, which needed constant planing to keep it level, and the rollers were not a most brilliant success. The plant, like its owners, was a pioneer in that line, but with all its defects, it "filled a long felt want," and the merchants of the city rallied around the pioneer publisher and subscribed liberally to secure him from loss. It has been said that in this country the newspaper is the herald of progress, and the truth of the saying is well exemplified in the early history of Sacramento.

When the "Times and Transcript" were combined under the double head in June, 1851. the new paper was enlarged. The "Transcipt" had been started as an independent paper, but in 1850 it came out for the Democratic party, thus being the first interior Democratic paper. The "Times" had also originally been neutral, but had also in 1850 leaned toward Democ- racy. When the Squatter riot excitement arose, it had been valiant in defense of the real estate owners, but under its new manage- inent it became less partisan. At the time of the consolidation G. K. Fitch had become state printer and Lorin Pickering had the city print- ing. This formed an advantageous basis for the fusion, Fitch retaining a half interest in the printing and Pickering and Lawrence the other half. The three were the editors. The "State Journal" became an active rival to the new paper ; and in June, 1852, the "Times- Transcript" abandoned the field to its rival and removed to San Francisco, where it was published by the old firm, which was after- wards succeeded by George Kerr & Company, composed of George Kerr. B. F. Washington, J. E. Lawrence and J. C. Haswell. From them it passed to Edwin Bell and later to Vincent E. Geiger & Company. In the meantime Fitch & Company had acquired the "Alta Califor- nia," and December 17, 1854, they repurchased the old "Times-Transcript" and absorbed it into the "Alta."

October 30, 1850, the Squatter Association started a paper. styling it the "Settlers' and Miners' Tribune." Dr. Charles Robinson, who had become noted for the part he took in the Squatter riots and who subsequently became the Free-State governor of Kansas, was the editor ; James McClatchy and L. M. Booth were the associate editors. The type was brought from Maine by Cyrus Rowe. Except for Sundays, it was a daily for a month, but then declined into a weekly, and after another month it died quietly and took its place in the journalistic boneyard.

The "Sacramento Index" was started De- cember 23, 1850, by Lynch, Davidson & Rolfe, practical printers, with J. W. Winans, since a

prominent San Francisco lawyer, as editor. and H. B. Livingstone as associate. It was of good size, typographically neat and a paper of rare literary ability. It was the first even- ing paper in Sacramento and was printed in the "Times" office. Having taken ground against the action of a vigilance committee in hanging a gambler, it lost influence. After a career of three months it died March 17, 1851. and joined the Squatters' paper in the bone- yard.

Before the union of the "Times" and "Tran- script," the competition between them became so fierce that the prices of advertising declined until they fell below the price of composition. At last the printers in both offices rebelled and the greater number of them quit. They held a meeting in a building adjoining the "Transcript" office, which thereby acquired the name of "Sedition Hall," and resolved to start a new paper, for which they secured as editor Dr. J. F. Morse. Buying their stock in San Francisco, they launched the "Sacramento Daily Union" at No. 21 J Street. March 19. 1851, renting rooms for it in the Langley brick building. The fate of several of the proprietors was tragic. Alexander Clark went to the Society Islands and was never heard from aft- erwards : W. J. Keating died a few years after- wards in an insane asylum; Joe Court was burned to death at the Western Hotel fire in this city, in the fall of 1874. The others were Alexander C. Cook, E. G. Jeffries, Charles L. Hansecker. J. H. Harmon, W. A. Davidson and Samuel H. Dosh. The latter subsequent- ly became editor of the "Shasta Courier" and died prior to 1875.

It was nearly a year, however, before type could be procured. A lot had been ordered, but failed to arrive. J. W. Simonton having made an appearance with a full-fledged print- ing office, with the intention of starting a Whig paper, was persuaded to sell and his stock was purchased by the "Union" men.

The daily edition of the "Union" started with 500 copies and was rapidly increased. The paper was 23 by 24 inches, with twenty- four columns, thirteen of which were filled with advertisements. It was an independent, outspoken paper and ably edited. The edition printed March 29, 1851, was entitled the "Steamer Union," and was designed for read- ing in the Eastern states. April 29, 1851, the "Union" hoisted the Whig flag, at the same time declining to be ranked as a subservient partisan. S. H. Dosh soon sold out for $600, and in June Harmon sold out for a like sum. On April 23 the paper was enlarged to the size it has since averaged, and appeared in the new type at first ordered. H. B. Livingstone became associate editor in January, 1852, and Hansecker sold out for $2,000, the firm then

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becoming E. G. Jeffries & Company. They next sold out to W. W. Kurtz for $2,100. The first "Weekly Union" was issued January 10, 1852. February 13, Cook sold out to H. W. Larkin, and April 3, Davidson sold to Paul Morrill. In May Dr. Morse retired as editor, being succeeded by A. C. Russell. who re- mained until August. Lauren Upson suc- ceeded him as editor, retiring for a time in 1853, when John A. Collins filled the place.

November 2, 1852, the "Union" was burned out in the great fire. A small press and a little type were saved and the second morning after the fire the paper came out foolscap size, but soon resumed its former dimensions. A brick building was erected for it on J Street, near Second. May 16, 1853, Jeffries & Kurtz sold to the other partners and to James Anthony. who had been in the business department of the paper since November, 1851. The firm be- came James Anthony & Company. Keating sold to Morrill, Anthony. Clark and Larkin, and in December Clark's interest passed to the firm. A steam engine was installed June 20. 1853, to run the press.

In May, 1858, Morrill sold his interest to J. Gray, and went to New Hampshire, remaining between one and two years, when he returned and bought back Gray's interest. In Febru- ary, 1875, the firin sold out to the Sacramento Publishing Company, which also purchased the "Sacramento Daily" and "Weekly Record" and the two papers assumed the title of the "Sacramento Daily Record Union." Besides the daily issue, the semi-weekly feature of the "Record" was maintained, being issued on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Since that time, the daily has been issued on each day of the week except Sunday, which day was added in 1893, with a double or eight-page edition on Saturdays and a mammoth sheet on each New Year's Day.

Mr. Upson remained chief editor of the "Union" about twelve years. He was suc- ceeded by H. C. Watson, who served until his death in June. 1867, and was succeeded by Samuel Seabough, who served until the merg- ing of the "Union" with the "Record." George Frederick Parsons, editor -in - chief of the "Record," then became editor-in-chief of the "Record-Union," and continued as such until his removal to New York in 1883, when J. A. Woodson became the editorial writer. When the "Record" was consolidated with the "Union," W. H. Mills, one of the proprietors of the "Record," became the manager and re- mained in charge until he removed to San Francisco in January, 1883, and C. E. Carring- ton was appointed local managing editor, with T. W. Sheehan business manager. April 1. 1889, Mr. Carrington retired and E. B. Willis

and T. W. Sheehan were appointed general managers of the paper, the former assuming the duties of managing editor and the latter remaining in immediate charge of the business department. Mr. Willis continued as manag- ing editor for seventeen years, the longest term of anyone who held that position, resign- ing to accept the secretaryship of the state commission to the St. Louis Exposition. Mr. Sheehan remained as business manager until after the paper changed hands in June, 1904, Alfred Holman becoming publisher. Mr. Hol- man remained as publisher until the paper was purchased by Col. E. A. Forbes in Decem- ber, 1906. In February, 1908, the paper again changed hands, the Calkins Syndicate pur- chasing it, but becoming involved in financial difficulties caused by broadening out and as- suming the proprietorship of several other papers in the state, the control passed from the hands of the syndicate. In 1910 the paper was purchased by Lewey E. Bontz, who had been superintending it for the creditors, and had been business manager from Holman's time.

C. M. Wooster, formerly owner of the San Jose "Mercury" and "Herald," bought the "Union" from L. E. Bontz and Lynn Simp- son on June 12, 1918, and after running it less than a year sold out to Ben S. Allen, present owner and editor, and John S. Craig. a banker of Woodland. Craig retired a few months afterward, Allen having taken over his interest in the paper. Allen is a Stanford University graduate, and first gained his news- paper experience on San Francisco dailies. He then was sent to London as the representative of the Associated Press, and afterward was Herbert Hoover's publicity representative dur- ing the war. John A. Henshall is the manag- ing editor and Lester F. Adams, city editor.

May 19, 1889, the publication of the "Sunday Union" was begun and it was mailed to all the subscribers for the "Weekly Union." the semi- weekly having been discontinued. The fine three-story building which was built for the "Union" in 1861. on the east side of Third Street, is now occupied by the "Union," the name of the paper having been changed from the "Record-Union" to the "Union" by Mr. Holman during his proprietorship. The build- ing was remodeled by the Calkins Syndicate during their ownership and a splendid new press put in, besides other expensive changes.

Among the earliest of the defunct journals comes the "Democratic State Journal," . the initial number appearing February 5. 1852. It was a morning paper, about the size of the "Record-Union." V. E. Geiger & Company were the publishers and Geiger and B. F. Washington were the editors. It battled val- iantly for the Democratic party, supporting John Bigler in his political aspirations, while

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its contemporary, the "Times and Transcript." supported William M. Gwin. Early in 1853 Washington retired, and was employed on the "Times and Transcript." and B. B. Redding. afterwards land agent of the Central Pacific Company, became editor. The destruction of the office by the great fire of 1852 greatly impeded the paper, and in June, 1853, a new firm was composed, consisting of B. B. Red- ding, P. C. Johnson, S. J. May and James McClatchy. In April, 1854, Johnson sold to Colonel Snowden, and in June, Mr. May sold to Redding and Snowden. All of these pioneer newspaper owners have been dead for many years.

In the fall of 1854 William Walker, who afterward became known as General Walker, of Nicaragua filibuster fame, the "gray-eyed man of destiny." became editor. Mr. Mc- Clatchy sold out to D. J. Thomas in October, 1854. Walker retired in February, 1855, and McClatchy became editor, being succeeded in a month by John White. In 1856 Snowden sold out to Redding and Thomas and in June. 1857. the party having failed to give adequate support to it, the paper was sold under at- tachment and bought in by the printers in the office. It resumed publication in about four weeks, with Henry Shipley & Company as publishers, and after various vicissitudes yielded up the ghost June 24, 1858. At one time it ran a column in French and was the only Sacramento paper that had a department in a foreign tongue.

In August, 1852, T. Alter began the publi- cation of a weekly Baptist paper, with O. C. Wheeler and E. J. Willis as editors. It had its office in the courthouse and lived about a year, losing $3,000 to its publishers.

November 17. 1852, E. Williamson & Com- pany, with James McClatchy and D. J. Thom- as as editors, started a settler Democratic daily paper, super-royal in size, and in April, 1853, S. J. May bought a fourth interest and became editor. It was burned out and started again in an old deserted kitchen bought from the county for that purpose. On July 30 it was fused with the "State Journal."

The "California Statesman," a morning pa- per published by J. W. Gish & Company and edited by Henry Meredith, started No- vember 13. 1854. It was Democratic and sup- ported William M. Gwin for United States senator against Broderick. March 1, 1855, Gish & Woodward, the publishers, sued Gwin and Hardenbergh' on a claim that they had agreed to pay $2.500 for the support of Gwin by the paper. They alleged that Gwin also agreed to give the paper the public printing. They placed their damages at $20,000, but were thrown out of court on the ground that the

agreement was contrary to public policy. Hardenbergh then sued for possession and the "Statesman" died.

The "California Farmer and Journal of Use- ful Science," which had been published in San Francisco, appeared in Sacramento in May, 1855, as a weekly paper, published by Warren & Son. and J. K. Phillips & Company. In 1856 it moved back to San Francisco.

In March, 1854, Dr. Morse and S. Colville issued the first and only number of a month- ly magazine called "Illustrated Historical Sketches of California," with a minute history of the Sacramento Valley. It was a good number. but the business department was poorly managed and the second number never appeared.

The "Pacific Recorder" appeared July 15, 1854, edited by E. J. Willis and issued as the organ of the Baptist Church. It was a neat semi-monthly, and in July. 1855, it became a weekly, but in March following it was dis- continued.

June 8, 1855, the "State Tribune," a daily paper, appeared, edited and published by Par- ker H. French and S. J. May. It was pro- fessedly independent of politics, but had Dem- ocratic proclivities. In September French sold out to May and left with the Nicaragua expe- dition. J. N. Estill became editor August 1. and opposed John Bigler and the Democracy so vigorously that it soon became prominent as an opposition journal. French returned to the state and bought into it again, but some of the arrangements for payment were left in such form that difficulty ensued. He sold to George W. Gift, who had assigned to Mon- son and Valentine, who attached the paper. S. J. May and his three remaining partners set out these things in a card and issued a new "Tribune." so that on October 16, 1855, two "Tribunes" appeared, each claiming to be the genuine one. May & Company's issue was from the material of the defunct "Statesman." The other "Tribune" was published by Far- well & Company. Both papers were ardent American or Know-Nothing sheets, and each was very bitter against the other. The war lasted two weeks, when Farwell & Company's "Tribune" gave up and the "Tribune" came out with James Allen & Company as publish- ers, still advocating Know-Nothingism. It lived till June 1. 1856. A new paper sprang up the next day from its ashes, called the "California American." and was as radical in its Know- Nothingism as its predecessor. James Allen, J. R. Ridge and S. J. May were the propri- etors. Allen at the time was state printer and was said to have sunk $15,000 on the paper, which never was a success. He died in Feb- ruary, 1856.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

The "Water Fount and Home Journal," a weekly paper, was issued December 15, 1855, by Alexander Montgomery & Company, with Montgomery as editor. It was the official organ of the Sons of Temperance and lived only nine months.

December 6, 1855, George H. Baker and J. A. Mitchell started an independent evening paper called the "Spirit of the Age." In June, 1856. it changed its name to the "Sacramento Age," and was enlarged, with A. A. Appleton & Company as publishers. In the summer of 1856 it was sold to the Know-Nothings and made their fight till the election was over, dying in 1857.

December 24, 1855, A. Badlam & Company started the "Daily Evening Times," a gratui- tous advertising sheet 10 by 18 inches and worked on a wooden press made by the pub- lishers. It died of inanition in March, 1856.

December 11, 1856, C. Babb and W. H. Harvey, with Paschal Coggins as editor, started the publication of a daily morning independent paper of small size, called the "City Item." It lived seven months.

Cornelius Cole & Company commenced the publication, August 15, 1856, of the "Daily Times," a morning paper. Republican in poli- tics. It was very lively in the canvass for Fremont, and was edited with ability. It be- came an evening paper in November and is- sued a weekly, but became so weakly that it succumbed January 24, 1857. Mr. Cole, the editor, afterwards became United States sen- ator.

The "Chinese News," which began publica- tion in December, 1856, lasted for a couple of years, first being a daily, then a tri-weekly, next a weekly and finally a monthly. It was printed in the Chinese language, Ze Too Yune, alias Hung Tai, being editor and pub- lisher.

The "Temperance Mirror," a quarto month- ly, issued one number in January, 1857, O. B. Turrell, publisher, and W. B. Taylor, editor. It removed to San Francisco, where it died in March.

The "Daily Morning Bee" was born Febru- ary 3, 1857, as an independent in politics. J. R. Ridge and S. J. May were the editors, and the proprietors were L. C. Chandler, L. P. Davis, John Church and W. H. Tobey. It was much smaller than the present "Bee," having but five columns to the page. April 6, 1857. it became an evening paper, and in the fol- lowing summer Ridge retired and James Mc- Clatchy succeeded him. The firm changed in 1858 to F. S. Thompson, L. P. Davis and W. H. Tobey and the paper changed its size to seven columns. April 8, 1860, Thompson's interest was purchased by J. O'Leary and the

firm name changed to L. P. Davis & Com- pany. December 28, 1863. C. H. Winterburn bought out Tobey; he sold his interest to James McClatchy, February 12, 1866. Mc- Clatchy bought the interest of Davis June 26, 1872, and the firm name became James Mc- Clatchy & Company. August 1, 1872, J. F. Sheehan purchased a one-third interest from McClatchy. Since that time the paper has been further enlarged and is today one of the most prosperous and profitable journals in the history of Sacramento. James McClatchy ad- mitted his son, Charles K. McClatchy, to a partnership in the business and the firm mem- bers were then J. F. Sheehan, James Mc- Clatchy and C. K. McClatchy. On October 23, 1882, James McClatchy died at Paraiso Springs, leaving his title and interest in the paper to his wife and two sons. January 29. 1884, J. F. Sheehan sold his interest in the paper, it being purchased by the members of the McClatchy family, the firm name remain- ing James McClatchy & Company. From then until more recent years the paper was con- ducted by the two sons, C. K. McClatchy as managing editor and V. S. McClatchy as busi- ness manager.

At date of writing, C. K. McClatchy is the editor : V. S. McClatchy, the publisher ; Carlos McClatchy, son of C. K. McClatchy, assistant to the editor: J. Earl Langdon, managing editor, and H. R. McLaughlin, city editor.

The paper enjoys prestige and a large cir- culation, has the full Associated Press day report and special service, and is regarded generally as being one of the leading and most influential papers published on the Coast. It was the first evening newspaper in California to install a fast stereotyping plant. Its equip- ment now includes a big battery of Linotypes and other labor-saving machinery. In the pressroom a monster press, with a capacity for printing and folding sixty-four pages at one time, is in daily operation.

In July, 1857, the "Star of the Pacific," a religious journal. Rev. A. C. Edmonds, a Universalist minister, editor and proprietor, removed from Marysville to this city. In De- cember. 1857, it suspended animation, revived in May, 1858, and passed away that fall.

The "Daily State Sentinel," a Republican paper, was issued in small size July 27, 1857, by J. R. Atkins & Company, as a morning paper. In October C. D. Hossach & Company took hold of it and C. A. Sumner became its editor. It had bright prospects for a while, but followed to the charnel-house in 1858.

C. A. Sumner, August 22. 1857, began the publication of a sheet called the "Eye Glass," but only one number appeared.

The "Covenant and Odd Fellows' Magazine, a monthly of thirty-two pages, started August

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31, 1857, with J. D. Tilson publisher and A. C. Edmonds, editor, but gave up the ghost with the tenth number, in 1858.

The "Temperance Register," H. Davidson & Company, began as a monthly September, 1857, changed to a semi-monthly in October, and on December 12 became a monthly again and then died.

A Sunday paper, the "Herald of the Morn- ing," appeared in December, 1857, with J. C. McDonald & Company, publishers, and Cal- vin McDonald, literary editor. It was a spir- itualistic paper and passed to the spirit land in four weeks.

The "Phoenix," afterwards the "Ubiqui- tous," was a scurrilous sheet, fathered by E. McGowan, issued as an occasional in the fall of 1857, and as a weekly during the following winter. The hot summer weather killed it.

The "Watch Dog." a similar publication, issued January 1, 1858, died in the following March.

During the same March, the "Sacramento Visitor," by Brown, Ingham & Company, J. Coggins, editor, a daily evening paper of mod- erate size and lively and independent in tone, began publication, but ceased to exist June 1. 1858.

The "Sacramento Mercury," a straight-out Democratic newspaper, began publication March 28, 1858, with H. Foushie, publisher, and W. S. Long, editor. It was about half the size of the "Record-Union" and in the summer A. Montgomery became its editor, but it died October 12, 1858.

The second "California Statesman" took the place of the old one in May, 1858, with S. W. Ravely, publisher, and A. C. Russell, editor. as a Democratic daily. It succumbed June 24, the same year.

The "Californian," second of that name, a neutral daily of small size, was edited by D. J. Thomas. It was born July 9, 1858, but lived only one week, departing July 15.

The "Baptist Circular," the third effort of the Baptists to start a paper in Sacramento. commenced in August, 1858, with Rev. J. L. Shuck as editorial manager, but only survived until the next spring.

In 1858 and 1859 the Democracy became split into two factions-the Lecompton and the anti-Lecompton. The contest between them became so hot that the anti-Lecompton- ites, goaded by the assaults of Charles T. Botts from the Lecompton side, started a paper called the "Daily Register" and issued every morning except Monday. It was about the size of the "Bee." Dr. Houghton furnished most of the money and the firm was Harvey, Houghton & Company. The editors were J. C. Zabriskie and William Bausman, who held small interests. It was vigorous, but

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History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 33

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026