A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 12

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 12

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The Bridgeport Advertiser was started in 1806, by Hezekiah Ripley, and published weekly for several years at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents per annum.

The Connecticut Courier was commenced in 1810, by Nathaniel L. Skinner, and continued by him for upwards of a dozen years.

The Connecticut Patriot was commenced in 1826, by L. Bradley and Company, at their office on the corner of Main and State streets, opposite the Steamboat Hotel, afterwards the Franklin House.

The Spirit of the Times was published and edited by George W. Smith, Jr., at the corner of State and Water streets, which met with considerable success. This paper was started in 1831, when public opinion ran high on Masonry, soon after the disappearance of the unfortunate Morgan. It was devoted to the cause of anti-Masonry, and for a while had a circulation of eight hundred copies. It was afterwards sold to John Swaine.

The Bridgeport Chronicle was first published September 9, 1848, by B. H. Munson, at the corner of State and Water streets. It was issued weekly, at one dollar per annum, and enjoyed but a brief existence.

The First Bridgeport Leader suspended after fifteen numbers. It was edited by T. M. Clarke, subsequently editor of the Winsted "Herald," and published by the Bridgeport Printing Company. The date upon its first number is March 25, 1854.

The newspapers published in Bridgeport at the present time are the "Far- mer," Democratic ; the " Standard," Republican ; the "Morning News," Inde- pendent ; the "Evening Post," and the "Sun."

The Republican Standard was commenced in the year 1839, by A. A. Pettengill, who was both editor and proprietor. He purchased of Edmund Fanton at that time the "Bridgeport Republican," a weekly paper commenced by Mr. Fanton in 1830. In the spring of 1848, Julius S. Hanover was admitted to an interest in the business. In 1853 a tri-weekly edition was begun, followed in 1854 by the publication of a daily. In September, 1863, Mr. John D. Candee, formerly of New Haven, became the successor of the firm of Pettengill and

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Hanover, and on January 1, 1867, the Standard Association was organized, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, which has since been largely increased. At the time of the organization Mr. Candee was President of the association and J. W. Knowlton Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Knowlton was also business manager for about ten years. At the present time the paper is edited by Messrs. John D. Candee and George C. Waldo, the business management being under the direction of Mr. Alexander Wheeler. It has also a telegraphic news editor, Mr. S. O. Canfield, a city editor, Mr. F. C. Smith, and three reporters, Messrs. Frank A. Wood, F. H. Nash and Frank W. Boland. The job depart- ment is under the charge of Mr. Patrick Wade, Jr., and Mr. George B. Whitney ic foreman of the newspaper composing department. Wm. H. Parrott is bookkeeper and accountant ; and the entire force numbers from twenty-five to thirty men. Large daily and weekly editions are published and the paper has a wide circula- tion and influence. It has always been decidedly republican in politics. The fine brick building on the corner of Fairfield avenue and Middle street, owned and occupied by the Standard Association, was erected in 1870, at a cost of over $30,000.

John Dutton Candee, son of Benjamin and Almira C. (Dutton) Candee, was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., June 12, 1819. His parents were natives of Oxfon : Connecticut. He had four sisters and one brother. . H. ancestors in both lines were descendants from the earliest- settlers in the country who were of pure English blood, except one on the paternal side who came from France and settled in England.

Mr. Candee's parents removed from Pompey to Connec- ticut about 1825, and the following year his father died at Cheshire, leaving a widow, and six children from six weeks to fifteen years of age, without property. His mother removed to New Haven, where by great skill and hard labor she suc- ceeded in maintaining her family, but her struggles left a vivid impression on the mind of her son.

When nine years of age young Candee walked to Oxford to work on a farm with his great-uncle, Capt. Job Cander, and since that day he has supported himself without aid from any friend or relative. He regards the three years spent on that farm as among the most valuable of his life. Captain Candee was a soldier in the Revolution who never tired of telling stories of that war, and from these the boy imbiber., those sentiments of patriotism which fire his spirit, and someof times blaze out in the Bridgeport "Standard." When abou.() ten years of age he first learned something of the institutired

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of slavery, and he so instinctively felt the supreme wrong of that institution that he has ever been an intense opponent of all oppression and slavery all over the world.

When thirteen years of age he engaged in a printing office as a "roller boy" and continued at that trade ten years, and thereby mastered every detail of the business.

Thirsting for knowledge and living in sight of Yale Col- lege he became imbued with a strong desire to go through that institution, and although without means he accomplished his object and was graduated in 1847. Still he went on, and spent the next two years in the Yale Law School, under the tuition of Governors Bissell and Dutton. After graduating he went to lowa to practice his profession, but returned the following year to New Haven and opened a law office. For five years he was the prosecuting attorney or grand juror of that town, and it fell to his lot to enforce the so-called Maine w, which he did successfully. After that he followed his pro- cession for seven years in New Haven, being the city attorney for two years. While the profession of law secured satisfac- tory remuneration, yet by his peculiar sensitiveness and per- sonal tastes he did not like it, and hence accepted the editorial department of the New Haven "Journal and Cou- rier"" for three months, and, finding that occupation congenial he purchased a two-thirds interest in the Bridgeport daily and weekly "Standard," and entered upon his new duties September 12, 1863.

On the 29th of October following, he married Miss Sarah Bryant Smith, daughter of the Rev. Samuel F. Smith, D.D., of Newton Centre, Mass. They have had three daugh- ters, of whom two, Almira Louise and Hattie Kate are living.

When Mr. Candee assumed control of the "Standard " it was a small paper and in a very precarious condition, but it soon began to grow, and this prosperity has continued so that the paper has been enlarged several times. For a time : e did all the editorial work himself, but gradually was able ro add one assistant after another until it requires the work bef six men to conduct it editorially, while the business depart- to tent, which formerly afforded but light work for one man, in ow requires four, and the job department has correspond- for

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ingly increased. Determining to avoid certain errors of journalism, and to pursue a line of general progress for the public good, his paper has become a great success. This prosperity Mr. Candee does not attribute wholly to himself but much to his associates, with whom he has maintained very pleasant relations. Mr. George C. Waldo, associate editor, has been on the " Standard " for nineteen years ; Mr. Alexander Wheeler, the business manager, seventeen years, and the type setters on an average twenty years. The public career of the paper for nearly twenty-three years renders useless any effort to describe its principles, or those of its chief editor, and his associates. The prosperity of the paper in a commonly moral and intelligent community reveals its high moral tone and public spirit. In politics Mr. Candee is Republican, solely from a conviction that the principles of that party are right. He thoroughly believes in universal education and works with perseverance for that end and for public progress in all directions. He has asked for no office and has held none in Bridgeport except three years in the Common Council, but he accepted the nomination for Lieut .- Governor in 1882, and was defeated.

In person he is six feet and one inch in height, weighs about 260 pounds, stands erect, and moves with dignity and self-possession ; and in the most literal meaning as to his acquirements, is a self-made man.

George Curtis Waldo was born in Lynn, Mass., in 1837, and is the eldest son of the Rev. J. C. Waldo, a promi- nent Universalist clergyman, now for many years retired at New London, Conn. Deacon Cornelius Waldo was the first of the name to come to this country (1654), and from him the entire family with all its branches has sprung. The family is of ancient date, Deacon Cornelius tracing his descent back to Thomas, brother of Peter Waldo, founder of the Wal- denses (1170). On his mother's side Mr. Waldo is related to the old Huguenot family of Ballou, his mother being Elmina, daughter of the Rev. Hosea Ballou of Boston, and cousin of Eliza Ballou the mother of James A. Garfield. Mr. Waldo was graduated at Tufts College, Mass., in 1860, and studied law in the office of the Hon. Andrew C. Lippitt of New Lon-

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don, Conn., with T. M. Waller. Both he and Gov. Waller enlisted as privates in the first company raised in New Lon- don for the Civil War, and served through the campaign of 1861. After his discharge from the army, his health being poor, Mr. Waldo abandoned the study of the law and entered more active business in New London and Bridgeport from the years 1862 to 1867, and, in the latter year he engaged as city editor of the Bridgeport " Daily Standard." He occu- pied this position for two years and in 1869 he bought the interest of Major L. N. Middlebrook in that journal and became associate editor of the paper with the Hon. John D. Candee, a position which he has occupied ever since. In 1874 he married at New Orleans, Annie, daughter of Major Frederick Frye, formerly of Bridgeport, and their children are Selden Connor, Rosalie Hillman and Maturin Ballou. For eight years Mr. Waldo has been a member of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church Parish and for four years was its Junior Warden. He was, with the Rev. Dr. H. N. Powers, one of the founders of the Scientific Society and for five years its secretary. He was among the founders of the Historical Society and is one of its Vice-Presidents. For five years he was a member of the Board of Education, was a member of the Building Committees of the Board and the Town in the construction of the New High School, and for two years was chairman of the Committee on Schools. He has never sought political office, the duties of his business being all that he has had time to undertake. He was the first President of the old Eclectic Club, is one of the vice-presidents of the Sea Side Club, is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, was a charter member of the first lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and has belonged to other similar organizations. He is a connoisseur in art and literature, has many works of art and a fine miscel- laneous library. In 1882 he built the residence No. 85 Golden Hill, where he now resides.

The Evening Post .- Strangers who visit the busy establishments of the "Evening Post" are often surprised to hear old citizens who are conducting visi- tors through it say : "Now show us the press you first started with." And when, in response, a forlorn and battered three-dollar card-press is produced, they feel that the story of the " Post" is indeed one of small beginnings. Starting with this small press, George W. Hills, the founder of the " Evening Post," worked his

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way on until, though still a boy, he carried on a small but thriving job printing business in a little frame building at 304 East Main street. Several business men of East Bridgeport, who had been his earliest patrons, used to urge him, half-jest- ingly, to issue a daily one-cent paper. February 7th, 1883, saw the first number of the " Post," a neatly printed four-column sheet, 15x22, aptly described by a big

OWINTONO 18 850

The Evening Post

EVENING POST

contemporary as "handkerchief size." It received a hearty welcome from the public, and in May, 1883, it was enlarged to 5 columns. September, of the same year saw its expansion to six columns, and in July, 1884, it attained its present dimensions, being now a handsomely-printed 7-column daily, exactly the same size as the "New York Sun." From the first it found cordial supporters among wealthy and influential advertisers, who were quick to perceive the advantages of a penny paper with its wide circulation among people who usually spend their money in their own city. The profits of the paper were steadily devoted to its improvement, and Hoe presses and other machinery of the best description speed- ily took the place of the first primitive contrivances. In January, 1885, George W. Hills associated with him his brother Henry M. Hills, thus forming the present firm of Hills Brothers. It September, 1885, the " Post " migrated from the little frame building which it had long outgrown, to the stately brick block erected on Middle street, by A. L. Winton, Esq. Here increased prosperity has followed it. Its sworn circulation is 4,000 daily, and it has an immense advertis- ing patronage. Visitors receive a hearty welcome, and it is one of the sights of Bridgeport to see the "Post" printed and delivered to its waiting army of boys. Politically the "Post" is independent, and always ready to lend its support to "honest men and honest measures."

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The Morning News, as a daily paper, was first published on September 7, 1874, by Major Henry M. Hoyt, L. C. Prindle and John Beardsley. The office was under the Atlantic House from which it was issued just thirty days and dis- continued. It had been fairly patronized, but it neither made nor lost a dollar. On October 27, 1879, the "News" was started again by Major Hoyt, who con- ducted it with the assistance of A. W. French as city editor, and T. W. Wood as night editor, until February 1, 1885, when it was purchased by Rufus A. Lyon and L. C. Prindle. This firm continued until December 9, 1885, when by mutual con- sent Mr. Prindle purchased Mr. Lyon's interest, and became proprietor and editor, and thus it continues with good success. On December 27, 1885, Arthur W. French became the night editor.

The Bridgeport Sun, originally known as the " Budget," was established in 1867, by William H. May, at 21 Wall street. It is democratic in its principles and independent in character, and is now published in Hawes' Opera House Block, on Fairfield avenue, every Saturday morning.

W. H. May, the editor of the "Sun," was the editor of the "Boneville Trumpet," which acquired considerable fame as a comical monthly soon after the war, and displayed at its "mast-head" the motto :

" Independent, like it or lump it, We'll tell the Truth in the BONEVILLE TRUMPET."

During a period of fourteen months in Rebel prisons pens, at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas, he printed with a pen in imitation of types, a paper called "THE OLD FLAG," which was lithographed after his exchange and fac-simile copies furnished to old ex-prisoners. This is the only instance in the war of '61-5 when a newspaper was ever successfully published by prisoners in the hands of the enemy.

The First Universalist Society' was organized in April, 1844, and they built their first church edifice the following summer on Cannon street, the Rev. Samuel B. Britain, formerly an Episcopal clergyman, being their minister. The church was organized January 12, 1845, with the following members : Ammon Williams, Charles M. Marvin, Richard Thompson, William Gould, Oliva Williams, Lucy A. Landon, Mary A. Davis, Maria Thompson, Thomas Lewis, S. S. Lyon, Sarah W. Lyon, Elizabeth C. Britain, Henry Edwards, Amanda Wells, Harvey K. Knight, Samantha Mettler, Francis Marshall, Amy Edwards, Lewis B. Edwards, Alba Briggs, Susan Robinson, Ann E. Pollard and F. P. Ambler.

Previous to the organization of the society Rev. Menzies Raynor and Rev. Forbyce Hitchcock preached here as missionaries. Mr. Britain left about 1846, and the Rev. F. S. Fletcher succeeded him, remaining two years. The Rev. Hosea Ballou preached here a number of times before 1850. The Rev. Moses Ballou was settled here September 1, 1848, and remained six years. The church edifice was burned in May, 1850, and the present one built on Fairfield avenue, near Broad street, that year. The Rev. Edwin C. Boll was ordained pastor here July 30, 1855, and remained about one year. He was educated in Trinity College in Hartford. The Rev. Thomas Lathrop was settled pastor here several years, beginning in 1861. The next pastor was the Rev. Selden Gilbert, commencing in

5 Received too late for insertion in its proper connection, on page 678.

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May, 1868, who remained about one year. In 1869, Miss Olympia Brown, after- wards Mrs. Olympia Willis, became the pastor of this church, and labored with success until in 1875 when she resigned, and the present pastor, the Rev. John Lyon succeeded her.

The addition to the church edifice, securing a comfortable Sunday school room and parlor, was built in 1880, and the church debt was paid in spring of 1886, by the special and persistant labors, of the pastor.

Rev. John Lyon, the present pastor of the Church of the Redeemer, was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, December 31, 1844. He received his early education in the excellent national schools of Glasgow, and when about four- teen years of age became attached to the Bridgeton public school as a pupil teacher, remaining there some four years, attending at the same time the Glasgow University, which he entered in his sixteenth year. Soon after entering the univer- sity he opened a private school, which was successful during the four years he directed it.

Determining to come to this country he left Glasgow, and after a stormy passage of fifteen days arrived in New York on Washington's birthday in 1867. Proceeding West he taught school in Michigan for nearly three years, and married in Detroit, Carrie C., youngest daughter of Mr. Henry Barnum, formerly a citizen of Bridgeport, Conn. Removing to Nebraska, he followed teaching, at the same time studying for the ministry. On January 22, 1871, he was admitted to Orders in the Episcopal Church, and on April 6, 1873, ordained to the priesthood. Withdrawing from the ministry of the Episcopal Church he received in July and August, 1874, calls from the Liberal Churches in Bolton and Ware, Mass. He accepted the latter and was duly installed. On November 16, 1876, he received a unanimous call to the First Universalist parish of Bridgeport, and accepting it, entered upon the duties of pastor on the first Sunday in December of the same year, now nearly ten years since. His labors have been very earnest, steady and influential, espe- cially in regard to the great questions of moral reform of the present day. In 1882 he visited Scotland, to secure rest and revive old memories. In 1886 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Tufts College, Mass.

Besides writing considerably for public journals both

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essays and sermons, he has published " What I Believe Con- cerning Endless Punishment," and the reply to it by the Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, "What I Believe Concerning Endless Punishment," with " Replies thereto by the Rev. John Lyon," 82 pages, 12mo. He has also nearly ready for the press, " Vergilia, a Tale of the Primitive Church," 300 pages, 12mo.

Rev. Edwin Johnson,' the seventh pastor of the Sec- ond Congregational Church, was born in Plymouth, Ct., December 1, 1826, and died in Morrisania, New York City, December 26, 1883, aged 57 years. Mr. Johnson was grad- uated at Yale College in 1846, being the class poet, and after two years' study at Union Theological Seminary, New York, graduated there in 1850. He married Miss Sarah K., daughter of James and Lucy Bartlett of Portsmouth, N. H., who with three daughters survives him.

He was acting pastor at Milford, Conn., one year during 1850 to 1851; was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church at Jacksonville, Ill., beginning June 6, 1851, where he remained about seven years; was installed pastor of the Bow- doin street Church, Boston, Mass., June 29, 1859. On Octo- ber 16, 1861, he commenced labors at the Hammond street Church, Bangor, Me., where he remained until late in the year 1865. He was pastor of the Congregational Church in Baltimore, Md., from 1867 to 1869, and was installed pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Bridgeport, Conn., November 8, 1870, and continued its pastor until November 2, 1876. After this he preached regularly, until his death, in the Congregational Church at Morrisania, N. Y., where he had charge of a school for young ladies.

During his successful labors with the Second Church in Bridgeport, there were 202 persons added to the membership -107 on profession of faith and 95 by letter, and therefore left the church in a good state of prosperity. He was a ready writer, and contributed articles to religious press and various magazines, and in 1873 published the "Mouth of Gold," a series of dramatic sketches illustrating the life and times of Chrysostom.

· See page 646.

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Upon receiving the intelligence of his decease the Second Congregational Church, passed the following :

" WHEREAS, the sad intelligence was received yesterday of the death of Rev. Edwin Johnson, formerly pastor of this church, therefore

"Resolved, That we have heard with sincere sorrow of this affliction which has befallen his family, and that we take this means of conveying to them our sympathy, and assuring them that their grief is also ours, and that we share with them the sad feelings of loss and bereavement which they now suffer.

"Resolved, That this church desire to place once more on record its high esteem for Rev. Mr. Johnson as a consistent and eminently faithful pastor, and as a sincere and unselfish friend whose loss we deeply lament.

"Resolved, That as an expression of our feeling, a com- mittee be appointed to attend the funeral in our behalf, and convey these assurances to his sorrow stricken family ; the following persons being the committee: Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, the pastor, Deacons Edward Sterling, Edward W. Marsh and Thomas Calef; and Messrs. S. W. Baldwin, L. D. Sanford, M. Neville and E. A. Lewis.

Deacon Blakeslee, of this church, was chosen February 3, 1874.

Rev. Robert G. S. McNeille was born in the city of Philadelphia, April 1, 1841, and was the second son of Perry R. McNeille, a merchant of that city, and of Hannah (Shep- herdson) McNeille. His early education was obtained prin- cipally in the public schools of the city and he graduated at eighteen from the high school with the degree of A.B. He subsequently graduated at Yale College in the class of 1863, and after a course of law in the office of G. M. Wharton, Esq., and in the University of Pennsylvania, he followed for two years the practice of that profession. He then graduated from the Yale Theological Seminary in New Haven and after a term of travel in Europe became, in 1870, the first pastor of the East Church, now the Humphrey Street Church, which he had founded while in the seminary.

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He accepted a call to the Porter Church, in Brockton, in 1872, and subsequently became pastor of the South Congre- gational Church in Bridgeport in December, 1877.

St. John's Episcopal Church closed on page 627 with a sketch of the Rev. Dr. Maxcy's labors in it. Since the writing of that article work has been commenced on the new chapel at the north end of the church. This chapel will be 86 by 67 feet, one story high and basement. The cost is estimated at $30,000, and the expense is defrayed by the legacy of the late Catharine A. Pettengill, the material being the same as the church edifice-blue stone. The chapel will con- tain a lecture room, two parlors, library, kitchen, pastor's study, and retiring rooms. The building will be called the " Burroughs Memorial Chapel."

The Rev. Edgar A. Enos, of Towanda, Pa., became rector of this church in December, 1885.

Private Schools' were well sustained in Bridgeport from about 1830 until the consolidation of the public schools in 1876, and the establishment of the high school grade.

Rev. Samuel Blatchford and Rev. Elijah Waterman had private schools, not only for candidates for the ministry but for others; and Rev. Birdsey G. Noble had one, also, on Fairfield avenue in 1834. Amos A. Pettengill kept such a school in 1838. Also the following: Mr. Abbott, in the basement of the South Church in 1835-6 ; Mr. Isaac H. Johnson, in the same place in 1837; Mr. Warren W. Selleck, on the corner of Main and State streets in 1835 and continued for twenty-five years, with several changes of location ; Rev. Henry Jones, Cottage Classical School, already spoken of; Rev. Guy B. Day, a classical and English school ; George W. Yates, at 89 Courtland street in 1845. Mr. Yates removed to Bennington, Vt., and the school was continued by Mr. Day for many years ; Emory F. Strong had a select school and military institute ; and Seth B. Jones one of the same kind at 176 Park avenue, which is still continued.

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A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 12

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor] Number of Pages: 904

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904