Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II > Part 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

of Macon, will be recollected as a volume of poems of more than ordinary excel- lence. The Italian Bride, a drama, by S. Yates Levy, of Savannah, won its way on the stage and was quite popular for a time. Volumes of poems, in addition to those already mentioned have beeen written by Miss Annie R. Blount, of Augusta; Miss Carrie Bell Sinclair, of the same city; John C. Langston, of Bolingbroke; William T. Dumas, Mrs. Jennie Porter, and Miss Mary Gay. The latter's book, Life in Dixie, was sold to the extent of several editions. The War in Heaven, a thoughtful, religious work, by the Rev. James P. Simmons, has attracted general attention. Our Brother in Black, and other works, by Bishop Atticus G. Haygood, are widely read. The late M. Dwinell, of the Rome "Courier," wrote an attractive book of travels, and J. R. Gorman and Rev. M. B. Wharton have made successful ventures in the same field. Rev. J. M. Bonnell's Art of Prose Composition also deserves favorable mention here. Then, it should be stated that Clifford Lanier has written two novels, Thorn Fruit, and Two Hundred Bales. Other novels are Nellie Horton, by Rev. Dr. Warren, of Macon; Crown Jewels, by Mrs. Emma Moffett Tyng; Ca Ira, by W. D. Trammell; Helen Freeman In the Right Path, by Miss L. A. Field; Cachet, by Mrs. M. J. R. Hamilton, and several juvenile books by Rev. George G. Smith. The Life of Henry W. Grady, published by H. C. Hudgins & Co., of Atlanta, is a splendid popular biography of the great Georgia journalist, and another biography of Mr. Grady, issued by the Cassells, of New York, ranks very high. Its introduction is by Joel Chandler Harris, and is a remarkably interesting study of the orator and editor. There are, of course, various theological and school books by Georgia writers, besides medical and technological works, but they are not generally included in a chapter dealing with literature and journalism. Many things contributed to the press would have added greatly to the reputation of their writers if they had ever made their appearance in book form. The late P. W. Alexander wrote a capital series of war letters, and in later years his contributions to the newspapers were always characterized by rare excellencies of style. In reconstruction times the Hon. Henry S. Fitch, of Illinois, made Georgia his home for several years. He was United States district attorney, but his occasional newspaper articles had a Junius-like brilliancy and epi- grammatic turn and were widely copied. Ex-Senator H. V. M. Miller has occasion- ally consented to deliver literary lectures, and his efforts have been distinguished by their literary finish and instructive and entertaining qualities. Rev. Dr. W. P. Har- rison, for a long time the editor of the "Southern Methodist Review," made a national reputation for scholarship and brilliant writing. Mr. Woodrow Wilson has written several well-known books of a political character which have won favor with thoughtful readers. Dr. J. William Jones, the author of lives of Lee and Davis, and various other war books, was for some years a resident of Atlanta. Mr. C. H. Jones, editor of the St. Louis "Post-Dispatch," is the author of several volumes of literary essays. Judge Logan E. Bleckley will always be remembered as the author of In the Matter of Rest, and several other poems of striking origin- ality. Some of his lectures also display the qualities of wisdom and humor in a most remarkable degree. If this eminent man had devoted his leisure hours to literary pursuits it cannot be doubted that he would have made a name among the most eminent writers of our country. Mrs. Julia Truitt Bishop, now of Texas; Miss Julia Fischer, of Augusta, and Miss Harrydelle Hallmark, of the latter place, have made reputations with their stories and sketches.

Residents of older states glancing over the list of Georgia litterateurs may think that it is a brief one and contains but few well-known names, but the explanation is not far to seek. During the first five generations of the state's existence the people were busy making history. They were pushing the Indians westward, fight-

LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM.

ing battles, clearing away forests, building towns and cities, constructing railways and opening mines. The men among them who had first-class literary ability devoted themselves to law, medicine, politics and the ministry, and in these callings they became famous. Bright intellects like those of the Toombses, Stephenses, Cobbs, Browns, Hills and Colquitts spurned the slow work of the pen when they knew that their eloquence at, the bar or in legislative halls would advance them to the very highest positions and win fame and fortune. Such men as Pierce, Hay- good, Candler, Tucker, and Hawthorne in the pulpit have swayed more people than they could have done through the medium of their pens, and as they were practical men looking for immediate results they avoided the arduous and uncertain pathway of literature. Very few of Georgia's greatest intellects embarked in journalism. The rewards were meager and they felt that it would profit them more to throw themselves into the exciting field of politics and leave the work of chronicling their deeds to inferior minds of a more patient and plodding cast. Then sectionalism at an early date blighted southern literature. In the great centers of the north, where the best facilities for publication and distribution existed, it was natural that the writers of that section should have the preference, and the impression gained ground in the south that books by southern writers were not wanted, and that they would be discriminated against in the regular channels of trade under the control of northern publishers. So there grew up in the south a literary class which had no medium of expression except in conversation, letter-writing, pulpit discourses and speeches at the bar and in the political arena. It was not indolence that prevented these students and lovers of literature from writing books; it was their well-grounded conviction that the publishers and critics of the north and of Europe were against them and would not give them fair play. The Harrises, Johnstons and Edwardses of the anti-bellum period in Georgia could have written stories that would have answered Uncle Tom's Cabin, but they never penned a line because they felt assured that their books would not be placed on sale and that the combined northern and European press would be against any literature that came from a slave-holding people. But in politics, at least, they had a fair field in which indi- vidual ability could not fail to gain the world's recognition. And the southern statesmen were not mistaken in this view. They ruled the republic almost from its formation down to a recent period, and the cultured circles of Europe are familiar with the names and the careers of a long line of illustrious presidents and public men who came from every state in the south, from Virginia to Texas. Literature ebbed in the south because politics offered all the most attractive prizes.

GEORGIA GAZETTE.

On April 7, 1763, the "Georgia Gazette," edited by James Johnson, made its appearance in Savannah. It was the first newspaper in Georgia and the eighth to appear in the colonies. It was conducted as a weekly until 1799, when it was suspended. At that time in the sparsely settled colony it was very difficult to sup- port a newspaper, and "The Gazette" was necessarily a small affair, containing marriages, deaths, the arrival of vessels, and brief articles on political subjects. Before the revolution it was completely under the control of the royal governor, Wright, and later it seemed to follow the fortunes of the dominant parties, whether they were royalists or patriots. It contained many of the proclamations and resolutions of those days, all of which will be found reproduced in the histories of Stevens and Jones. In the History of Savannah, written by Hon. C. C. Jones, Jr., O. F. Vedder and Frank Weldon, the chapter devoted to journalism contains

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

an interesting account of the rise and progress of the newspapers of that city. In January, 1802, "The Georgia Republican," a semi-weekly owned and edited by John F. Everett, was started. This was the second newspaper in Savannah. In 1807 John J. Evans was associated with Mr. Everett and the paper was changed to a tri-weekly with the name of "The Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger." In 1810 Mr. Evans took entire charge and was succeeded in 1814 by Frederick S. Fell as editor and proprietor. A. McIntyre became a partner in 1817, and the paper was soon enlarged and changed to a daily for a few months, when it returned to its tri-weekly issues. Mr. Fell remained with the paper in sole or part control until his death in 1831. Emanuel De La Motta then conducted it until 1837, when I. Cleland joined him. De La Motta retired two years later, and William Hogan the year following became Cleland's partner. Cleland shortly withdrew and was succeeded by Charles Davis. The paper then began to advocate whig principles, and was changed to a morning daily. In 1849 Mr. Hogan sold his interest to Joseph L. Locke, who became the managing editor, with Mr. Davis as commercial editor and business manager. Mr. Davis later sold to Francis J. Winter, but his death shortly afterward left Mr. Locke in entire control. Mr. Locke finally sold his entire interest to Mr. P. W. Alexander in 1853. Mr. A. W. Moore was associated with Mr. Alexander, but soon retired and was succeeded by James R. Sneed. In 1856 Mr. Alexander sold his interest to Mr. Sneed and F. W. Sims. Mr. Sneed was in editorial charge of the paper until the city was captured by Gen. Sherman in 1864. Under instructions from the Federal commander the paper was seized, and John E. Hayes, the war correspondent of the "New York Tribune," who was with the army, took charge as editor, remaining in that position until his death in September, 1868. The paper was then sold to its old editor and pro- prietor, James R. Sneed, who sold it to Col. William A. Reed about a year later. In the course of a few months it suspended. It was revived by Scudder & Hardee, who sold it to "The Advertiser," a new paper. In 1878 the subscription list was sold to "The Morning News." Among the editors on the staff of "The Repub- lican" at different times were S. T. Chapman, Edward De Leon, Thomas H. Harden and Thomas W. Lane. Dr. William A. Caruthers was also a valued con- tributor. The paper was at first on the side of the republican or Jeffersonian party, but after 1828, when it was the champion of Andrew Jackson, it went over to the whigs and did good work for that party, although it did not support Winfield Scott for the presidency. It opposed secession vigorously, but when Georgia went out of the Union it was loyal to the state and the Confederacy until the invaders took possession of it and turned it over to a republican editor.

SAVANNAH GEORGIAN.

The "Savannah Georgian" started in November, 1818, with Dr. John M. Harvey as editor. It was a bright newspaper, but the editor unfortunately differed with his constituents in regard to many important matters, and there was not a good understanding between him and the public. The people did not patronize the venture liberally and Harvey sold out to I. K. Tefft and H. J. Finn. In leav- ing Savannah, Harvey wrote a poem of much local notoriety, in which he heaped curses upon the city, enumerating in it every bad feature which he thought was connected with Savannah. Finn, who was an actor, soon returned to the stage, and died a well-known and popular comedian. Mr. Tefft sold out to George and William Robertson, and in 1832 Dr. R. D. Arnold and W. H. Bullock became joint editors and proprietors. Henry R. Jackson, Philip J. Punch, and S. S. Sibley

LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM.

were the next owners of the paper. Gen. Jackson soon retired and P. B. Hilton was admitted into the partnership. There were other changes, until it came under the control of Albert R. Lamar, who conducted it until 1859, when it was suspended. Lamar, who will be spoken of again in these pages, was one of the most brilliant editorial writers ever known in Savannah. He was a man of strong intellect, thorough culture and he had the courage of his convictions. While he was really of a genial nature, he knew when to dip his pen in gall, and when he was in the mood few writers could equal him in flaying an opponent.

SAVANNAH MUSEUM.

In 1820 the "Savannah Museum" was started, but after running a few years it was discontinued, the field being too narrow at that time for another newspaper. "The Morning News," established in 1850, of course ranks as the leading daily of the city without any exceptions in the past. W. T. Thompson, the litterateur, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, was the first editor. He held his position through several decades, and while compelled to take a vacation under Sher- man's rule for a few months, he retained his chair until his death in 1882. The historian to whose work we have referred says that under Thompson the paper was vigorous from the first, standing up for democratic principles, regardless of the dictates of the politicians. It bore its part in the great secession and war period, and in 1867 J. H. Estill purchased an interest and finally added to it, until he had the entire control. Estill is what is called a self-made man. A native of Charleston, he has been connected from childhood with the printing business. He worked as a printer in Charleston and Savannah and when the war began he was a pressman in the latter city. He served with Bartow in the war and when peace was restored again worked as a printer and pressman. When he obtained control of "The Morning News" he gave his entire attention to his business and in 1876 the paper was able to erect a handsome building. Mr. Estill, if he had devoted himself to editorial work, would have made a reputation, but he is a man of affairs, and his time has been fully occupied with great enterprises for the past generation. He has been remarkably successful, and it should be said to his credit that he has always manifested a just and proper appreciation of the work of his staff writers. His relations with Mr. Thompson, for instance, were always fraternal, and when Joel Chandler Harris was on "The News," Mr. Estill began those intimate rela- tions with him which have continued down to the present time. "The News" was a fearless paper during the reconstruction era, and ably seconded its contempo- raries in the other leading cities of the state in restoring good government under the rule of the democracy. It was one of the first dailies in Georgia to organize a good system of special correspondence in Washington and other centers, and it was the first to equip itself with those conveniences of machinery which are now considered indispensable in all first-class newspaper establishments. It had the first folding machine and the first mailer used in Georgia. It bought new and improved presses and year after year kept the paper up to date, increasing its tele- graphic service from 1,800 words per day to 6,000.

THE TIMES

Of afternoon journalism in Savannah it may be said that "The Times" was the first evening paper that made a success. It was founded in 1882 by Richardson & McNally. Mr. H. Richardson had been for a long time the city editor of "The News," and McNally had been its bookkeeper. They made a success of their

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

venture and Mr. Richardson is now equally successful as the editor of "The Columbus Enquirer-Sun." The paper was sold to Mr. Gazaway Hartridge, who improved it very much. Its successor is "The Press," whose editor, P. A. Stovall, has made a reputation as a brilliant journalist and as the author of a life of Robert Toombs.

JOURNAL, COURIER, MIRROR, EXPRESS AND ADVERTISER.

"The Evening Journal," "The Courier," "The Mirror," "The Evening Express" and "The Daily Advertiser" were started in recent years and lived only a short time. Among other papers in Savannah now living are "The Journal," a German weekly, "The Savannah Local," "The Independent" and "The Tribune." "The Old Homestead," a literary monthly, after a successful career of several years, was moved to Atlanta, where it recently suspended. While it is generally admitted that W. T. Thompson was Savannah's foremost journalist, it is a well-known fact that Gen. Jackson, Dr. Arnold, Miles Levy, Charles N. West and others have at various times volunteered as editorial writers in some public or party emergency, and their pens have rendered the press good service. Ex-Senator Thomas M. Norwood is another writer whose name is well known in journalism. He is one of the most distinguished lawyers in Savannah, and has served in both houses of congress. He is the author of a popular novel entitled Plutocracy, and is a fre- quent contributor to the newspapers. His style is noted for its pointed, epi- grammatic and scholarly characteristics, and his newspaper articles are widely read and copied. But, as a rule, the best talent of Savannah has not been attracted to journalism. The most successful newspaper men of the city have come front other places. "The Morning News" is a first-class daily, but with the Atlantic on one side and a sparsely settled territory on the other, natural limitations make it impossible for it to obtain the wide circulation and influence secured by north- ern and western newspapers, which are in some instances really inferior to "The News." The bright young men of Savannah, therefore, are not inclined to go into local journalism. The bar offers them more tempting prizes, and among its mem- bers will be found some of the most distinguished men in the union. No suc- cessful journalist in Savannah could ever hope for the fame and fortune that come to a popular lawyer with a good practice.

THE INTELLIGENCER.

Maj. John H. Steele was the editor of Atlanta's first daily newspaper, "The Intelligencer," owned by Judge Jared I. Whitaker. Steele began his work in 1851, and was a power in the state until his death in 1871. He was a man of culture of the old school, and his thorough acquaintance with politics and public men made him a valuable man in his profession. "The Intelligencer" was a dem- ocratic newspaper, and during Gov. Joseph E. Brown's four gubernatorial terms, embracing eight years in all, it rendered substantial services to the party, as it was the leading daily in North Georgia. Maj. Steele always furnished a thought- ful and well-written editorial page. He was particular about small points, which are now neglected by most of our editorial writers. He believed in a dignified discussion of political issues, and anything flippant or unfair was especially ab- horrent to him. When the occasion required it the major called to his aid the ablest pens in the state, and under his management for some twenty years it was everywhere recognized as an enterprising and influential newspaper for those times. Even during his six years connection with it after the war, when age and

LITERATURE AND JOURNALISM.

disease liad greatly impaired his usefulness, he was noted for his clear head, remarkable memory and the readiness with which he wrote his political leaders.

SOUTHERN MISCELLANY.

"The Southern Miscellany," a literary weekly owned by Col. C. R. Hanleiter, was moved from Madison to Atlanta in 1846, and survived for a brief period. Col. Henleiter is still living, but his co-worker, Maj. W. T. Thompson, the jour- nalist and story-writer, died in 1882 in Savannah, where he was editing "The Morning News."

SOUTHERN TEMPERANCE CRUSADER.

Col. John H. Seals deserves more than a passing notice in this chapter on the writers of Georgia. He was born in this state something more than sixty years ago, and while yet a young man he began in Atlanta the publication of "The Southern Temperance Crusader," a journal of considerable literary merit. Mrs. Mary E. Bryan was on the staff from the beginning, and the venture would have been a permanent success but for the fact that the war broke out about two years after it was started and caused its suspension. Its popularity was so great, however, that when Col. Seals started "The Sunny South," in 1875, with Mrs. Bryan to aid him, the paper at once leaped into public favor and secured the largest circulation ever enjoyed by any southern literary weekly. A few years ago Col. Seals sold "The Sunny South" to Messrs. J. R. Holliday, Clark Howell and C. C. Nichols, who still own it and continue its publication under the editorial management of Mr. Henry Clay Fairman.

THE NATIONAL AMERICAN.

Among the early newspapers in Atlanta was "The National American," a tri- weekly, owned by Col. C. R. Hanleiter, and edited by Col. J. S. Peterson. In the period just before the war it was an able newspaper, and its editor gave so much of his time and attention to the study of southern statistics that he was soon recog- nized as an authority on the subject. He is still an active figure in journalistic and business circles, and he is the same enthusiastic and well-informed champion of Atlanta and Georgia that he was forty years ago when he first sought a home in the struggling town in the forests.

SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY.

It does not come within the province of this chapter to attempt to narrate the story of the various weeklies which have been started in Atlanta. Many of them were short-lived, and others never had any circulation and never succeeded in impressing the public. "The Southern Confederacy," however, deserves more than a passing mention. It was a weekly started in 1859 by Dr. James P. Ham- bleton. The paper in a short time became the most violent secession paper in the south. In 1860 it published its famous "black-list" of northern republican merchants, and advised all southerners not to trade with them. Dr. Hambleton soon retired from journalism, and since the war period has been heard from only occasionally. At last accounts he was a resident of Washington city.

MINOR DAILIES.

During the war period numerous dailies were published in Atlanta, and among them were "The Intelligencer," "Southern Confederacy," "Gate City Guardian,'

II-5

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

"Commonwealth," "Reveille," "Knoxville Register" and "Memphis Appeal." "The Register" was edited by L. J. Dupre and John C. Whitner, and among its editorial contributors were such prominent men as Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar and Gen. Howell Cobb. "The Confederacy" was managed by Col. George W. Adair and Mr. J. Henley Smith. It had a good staff, and Henry Watterson, of Louis- ville, Mr. A. R. Watson, the well-known poet, and Mr. J. N. Cardozo, the econo-" mist and statistician, were all connected with it. Watson and Cardozo have been dead many years, but the others are in the midst of their useful work. During the war the newspapers found it a hard matter to obtain their necessary supplies of machinery, paper and ink, but they kept up bravely until the last, frequently printing entire editions on brown wrapping paper and wall paper. The editors and printers were not subject to conscription, and this fact explains the ease with which they kept their ranks filled at all times. The siege killed several news- papers, but "The Memphis Appeal" and "The Intelligencer" fled southward, and the latter lost no time in returning to Atlanta after its evacuation by the Fed- erals in November, 1864. Sherman had occupied the city for two months and a half, from Sept. 2 to the middle of November, but in that time no newspaper was started. Everything was in suspense and nobody had enough confidence in the situation to begin the publication of a paper. Immediately after the restora- tion of peace "The Intelligencer" had a rival in the shape of "The Daily New Era," under the management of Col. J. S. Prather. The following year "The Era" was sold to Dr. Samuel Bard, who soon changed it into a republican organ. In the course of two or three years a stock company purchased the paper and installed the Hon. William L. Scruggs as managing editor. Mr. Scruggs con- ducted the paper very successfully until the chaotic conditions of reconstruction times made the venture unprofitable and it was forced to suspend. The editor, however, was not a loser by the change. He had manifested such signal ability as to attract the attention of President Grant, who offered him the mission to the United States of Colombia. Col. Scruggs accepted this important post and made such a splendid record as a diplomat that he was reappointed. He also served as consul at Canton, China, and was twice sent as minister to Venezuela. In the meantime "The Sun," "True Georgian," "Constitution" and "Herald" came into the field. "The Intelligencer" and "The New Era" made way for the new- comers, and after a brief career all of them were out of the way with the excep- tion of "The Constitution." "The Herald" at one time gave promise of perma- nency. It was managed by Henry W. Grady, Robert A. Alston and A. St. Clair- Abrams. Alston was killed in a fight with one of his friends, Capt. Edward Cox; Abrams went to Florida, where he became prominent in politics, and Grady joined the staff of "The Constitution."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166