USA > Georgia > The history of the State of Georgia from 1850 to 1881, embracing the three important epochs: the decade before the war of 1861-5; the war; the period of Reconstruction, v. 2 > Part 28
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
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613
THE MACON TELEGRAPH AND MESSENGER.
He is President and Director of railroads, benevolent societies, press associations, etc., without limit, his energetic and discriminating busi- ness ability making him valuable everywhere and in all practical matters. Mr. B. H. Richardson, one of the brightest journalists of the State, is the city editor of the News.
The Macon Telegraph and Messenger was established in 1826. It has been a notable paper in Georgia annals. The name that has been continuously connected with the Telegraph, since in 1848, like Col. Thompson with the Savannah News, has been the familiar and honored one of Joseph Clisby, but it has had some very brilliant men associated with him. Among these may be mentioned J. R. Sneed, of the Savan- nah Republican; Captain Henry Flash, one of our genuine Southern poets, the author of that ringing lyric, " Ode to Zollicoffer;" Col. H. H. Jones, one of the truest men and most graphic writers of the Georgia press; A. R. Watson, another poet; A. W. Reese, an editor of trenchant writing capacity, one of the hardest political hitters in our State journalism. The Telegraph absorbed the Messenger some ten years or more ago, a paper established by Simri Rose, published at the time of consolidation by Rev. John W. Burke, and edited, among others, by A. W. Reese and Gen. Wm. M. Browne. Gen. Browne made fame as a Washington editor; he was on the staff of Mr. Davis during the war, and is now Professor of Agriculture at the State Uni- versity at Athens. When Mr. Rose started the Messenger, Macon was a diminutive village. No man did more to make it a handsome city than he. The beautiful cemetery bears his name. This and the Messenger were his pets. He was a bright Mason, too. The Messen- ger absorbed the Georgia Journal of Milledgeville. The surviving associates of Mr. Rose are the Hon. J. T. Nisbet of Macon, and that most accomplished writer, Rev. Joshua Knowles of Greensboro, Ga. Mr. Clisby has been spoken of elsewhere in this work. His writing has an Addisonian purity of style. His treatment of subjects is poised and conservative, while underlying and pervading his lucubrations, there is a perennial strata of the most exquisite humor.
The remarkable and unapproached paper of Georgia is the Atlanta Constitution. In sparkle, push, versatility, enterprise, genius and suc- cess, it has no peer in the South, except the Louisville Courier-Journal. Its career has been full of romance, and dramatic in the extreme. Duels and libel suits have been among its varied experiences. It was established the 16th of June, 1868, by Carey W. Styles & Co. The com- pany was J. II. Anderson, and W. A. Hemphill was the business man-
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THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.
ager, and has continued in that place to the present, a model of managing capacity, and more responsible for the business success of the paper than all others combined. Col. Styles edited the paper, and a red-hot administration it was, fighting Radicalism without quarter, and with a burning bitterness. Styles & Co. ran the paper four months, when Styles went out, and W. A. Hemphill & Co. took the paper, the company being Mr. Anderson, J. W. Barrick edited the journal until May, 1869, when Col. I. W. Avery took editorial charge. In 1870, Col. E. Y. Clarke bought Mr. Anderson's half interest. In 1872, the paper was changed into a stock concern. In 1874 Col. Avery retired from the editorship, buying an interest in the Atlanta Herald from Col. R. A. Alston and Henry W. Grady. Mr. N. P. T. Finch came into the paper in 1872. Col. Clarke was managing editor until 1826, when he sold out to Hon. E. P. Howell. The present proprietors are E. P. Howell, W. A. Hemphill, N. P. T. Finch, Henry W. Grady and R. A. Hemphill, who kept the books of the concern for four years in its early history, and has recently bought an interest, and become book-keeper again, a strong business addition to its corps.
Capt. Howell decides the political course of the journal, and writes editorials like rifle shots, that snap and go straight to the mark, and bring the blood. Mr. Finch is an editor of universal versatility and an industry that knows no bounds. He reads and culls every one of the hundred exchanges that come to the office, and writes fine leaders upon every conceivable subject. Mr. Grady's flashing and inimitable sketches, editorials and articles give an unremitting sparkle to the paper. On the staff of this journal are two of the best writers of the Georgia press, Mr. J. C. Harris and Mr. F. H. Richardson, and an industrious compiler, Mr. J. T. Lumpkin. Mr. Harris can compass anything in newspaperdom from a strong editorial to a pungent paragraph. Every- thing he writes is both strong and dainty. His book reviews are schol- arly and charming, with a vein of delicious humor and quaint reflection, and often a subtle and aromatic irony most exquisite. His Uncle Remus sketches have made him famous. Mr. Richardson is a scholarly young writer of rare promise. No journal in the Union has a better intellectual and literary equipment than this paper. This is strong praise, but it is every bit merited. His contemporaries on the journal will not consider it a derogation from their high claims to say that Mr. Grady is the genius of this powerful paper. There is a vividness, an audacity and a velvety splendor about his articles that are peculiar to himself, and that no other man has approximated.
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A w. Grainy.
Vel. Hemphill
A. P.T. Finch, Even P. Howell
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.
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THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION AND AUGUSTA NEWS.
The journal had a romantie time during Reconstruction. Its editors and proprietors had five dueling affairs. It then took that root in the affections of the people of the State that gave to it its first growth, and laid the basis for its enduring and remarkable prosperity. During those fiery days of Reconstruction, under the editorial management of Col. I. W. Avery, it battled with a steady conservatism, yet an unwea- ried devotion for the public interest, refusing the patronage of the Bullock administration, and fighting every measure of wrong. Mr. Grady's connection with the Constitution began then. He was a stu- dent at the University of Virginia, and wrote a boyish letter of gossip for publication. Col. Avery was struck with the uncommon vivacity and grace of the communication, and in accordance with his policy of making superior correspondence a special feature of the paper, he encouraged the boyish writer. When Col. Hulburt, as Superintendent of the State Road, who was a wonderful genius in enterprise, originated the first press excursion to go over the State Road, to have it written up, Col. Avery telegraphed to Mr. Grady, who had left college to return to his home in Athens, to come and represent the Constitution on that affair. Grady's letters, under the name of "King Hans," were the best of the hundreds written then, and were copied into the whole State press. This experience turned the bright boy into his native journal- ism, where his genius finds its legitimate field.
The Augusta Daily Evening News has had a flattering success. It" was issued November 20, 1877, by Wm. H. Moore, who had been with the writer in conducting the Atlanta Herald. Mr. Moore had associ- ated with him Messrs. Gow and Weigle, all practical newspaper men. Mr. Gow had the material, but none of the gentlemen had any capital. The paper paid its way from the start, and has gained a fine circula- tion and advertising patronage. Mr. Moore is a peculiarly snappy, vigorous writer, with a good stock of shrewd humor and piquant observation. He has, to a remarkable degree, the true journalist's keen instinct for news. His paper is a paragraphic epitome of current events, a trenchant critic upon all things and men, and a very unusually rapid and growing success.
The Columbus Times is a fine and influential paper that is the revival of one of the most venerable of our anti-war journals. It was started in its second career six years ago. It is now run by Wynne, De Wolf & Co., and is one of our best journals, conducted in a fair, conservative and enterprising way. The Rome Courier started as the Coosa River Journal in 1843, by S. Jack, Dr. H. V. M. Miller and W. Spencer. It
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616
THE REMAINING DAILIES OF GEORGIA.
passed through various hands when, in 1849, A. M. Eddleman and S. M. Jack bought it and changed the name to the Rome Courier. Joshua Knowles, and Wm. J. Scott, in succession, owned it. In 1855 M. Dwi- nell and S. Finly bought, and in 1856 Mr. Dwinell became sole proprie- tor, and has owned the paper ever since and made a fortune out of it by his successful management. Mr. Dwinell was in the war when the paper was managed by B. G. Selvage. The Courier was suspended from May 17, 1864, to September 1, 1865. The daily was established February 1, 1881, after twenty-one years' successful publication of the tri-weekly. Since 1837 the Courier has absorbed four other papers by purchase and consolidation, the Calhoun Statesman, the Cedartown Patriot, in 1858, the Chattooga Advertiser in 1874, and Rome Commer- cial in 1876. Some of the best writers of our press have edited the Courier, notably Mr. Grady, Mr. Willingham and Mr. Harris. Mr. Dwinell has written an excellent book of European travel.
The Atlanta Daily Post-Appeal was established October 1, 1878, by Col. E. Y. Clarke, who sold it January 12, 1880, to David E. Caldwell, who has since owned and edited it, and has made it a well-established and paying property. The Post-Appeal may be called the war paper of Georgia. It generally takes the opposition to the majority, and it makes matters lively. It slashes right and left and has a large amount of vim and enterprise. It has had on its staff Col. Sawyer, one of the 'strong men of the Georgia press, and Mr. Wallace Reed, a graceful and well-known Georgia journalist. ` The Griffin Daily News was estab- lished in 1871. It was run for years by J. D. Alexander. It is now conducted by C. A. Niles, a capable and independent journalist. It is a staunch little paper, the steadiest, truest, most conservative jour- nalistic craft in the State. The Rome Bulletin was started in 1869, and is run by the Mosely family, who write well, and all write, Mrs. Mosely, who has recently diedl, being a most excellent journalist. The Savannah Recorder was established by R. M. Orme in 1878, but is now conducted by other parties.
One of the best and most pronounced little dailies is the Albany News and Advertiser, published and edited by Henry M. McIntosh & Co. This was the consolidation of the News, established in 1844, and the Advertiser, in 1877, the union occurring in September, 1880. Mr. McIntosh is one of the most vigorous and independent editors of the State press. He comes of the famous McIntosh blood.
The weekly press of Georgia has always included an unusual number of clear-headed, out-spoken, independent and, well-informed editors.
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612
THE RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY PRESS.
And it was never in as thriving and influential a condition as it is to-day. The mental activity of the age finds in the weekly newspaper, literary, . religious, scientific or political, the vent for that more quiet and philo- sophical phase of its operations, that deals not so much with the fact of news, like the daily journal, as with its application to life and society. The Georgia weekly papers have some remarkable instances of original and striking individuality, and can probably number as many potential and successful thinkers and workers as the press of any State in the Union.
The religious weekly press of Georgia is very powerful and capable. The two oldest papers are the Christian Index and Baptist, founded in 1820, published by James P. Harrison, and edited by Dr. Henry H. Tucker. Both are remarkable men. Mr. Harrison is the son of Hon. Geo. W. Harrison, Secretary of State under Gov. Town's administration, who was Governor from 1847 to 1851. He is a business man of extraor- dinary enterprise, practical, ambitious, accurate and successful, and withal a simple-minded, truc-hearted, loyal friend and gentleman. Dr. Tucker is one of the large-brained men of Georgia, a profound thinker, crystally candid, and a muscular, logical writer. The Wesleyun Chris- tian Advocate, owned and in part edited by the Rev. John W. Burke, with Rev. Atticus G. Haygood as chief editor, one of the most eloquent divines and powerful writers of the country, was founded in 1837, and is a fine journal. Mr. Burke, too, is a marked man, like Mr. Harrison, a marvel of energy and business triumph. In Butler, Taylor county, the Gospel Messenger, founded in 1878, and edited by Mr. J. R. Res- pess, is published.
Georgia has a weekly literary journal, the Sunny South, established in 1875, by the Seals Brothers, with Mrs. Mary Bryan as editress, that equals any paper in the Union. It has a national circulation, and is a brilliant publication. Another literary and society weekly of peculiar merit, is the Atlanta Gazette, founded by Henry W. Grady, in 1878, and now owned and edited by Williams & Palmer. The Atlanta Pho- nograph is a weekly literary and political paper, started in 1878, by W. H. Christopher, a young man of some uncommon qualities. The Weekly Post is a good paper owned by Col. E. Y. Clarke.
The oldest news and political weekly is the Milledgeville Union and Recorder, now owned by Barnes & Moore. This paper was the combi- nation of the Southern Recorder and the Federal Union in 1872. The Recorder was established in 1819 by Grantland & Camak, who sold to Grieve & Orme. The Union was started in 1825, as the Statesman and Patriot, and sold to Henry Solomon, and the name changed to
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the Union in 1830. John G. Polhill was the editor. In 1831 John A. Cuthbert, who has just died in Alabama, and who was a congressman from Georgia, was associated with Mr. Polhill in 1831. Mr. Wilkins Hunt, Park & Rogers, and Armstrong & Campbell, in succession owned the paper. Boughton, Nisbet & Barnes bought it in 1851. Ex-Gov. H. V. Johnson edited it once. Mr. J. M. Moore became part proprietor in 1862. Mr. Nisbet retired in 1867. Mr. Boughton died, and Barnes & Moore are the present proprietors. The consolidated journal, the Union and Recorder, is one of the honorable land-marks of Georgia history, and has furnished to the writer more valuable polit- ical historic material than all other sources combined. It is, to-day, a progressive paper, representative of the State's best civilization and most virtuous and independent public thought.
The Mountain Signal at Dahlonega, the center of the famous gold region, was put forth in 1839. It is now owned by Col. W. P. Price, one of the valuable and most public-spirited men of Georgia.
The next paper in age is the Sandersville Herald and Georgian, founded in 1841, and now run by Wm. Park. The Lagrange Reporter was started in 1843 by Dr. Bronson, with Col. W. B. Jones and Hon. John F. Awtry as printers, and the name then was the Lagrange Her- ald. B. H. Bigham and Col. Jones owned the paper a while. Wm. J. Scott of "Scott's Magazine," edited it for a period. Alexander Speer, a most remarkable man, father of Judge Speer of the Supreme Court, and grandfather of Emory Speer, the congressman, was editor a long time. Thomas J. Bacon, a relative of Speaker A. O. Bacon, conducted this journal. The paper had a stirring administration under C. II. C. Willingham, who was threatened with arrest for his unsparing denunciations of the military reconstruction government. Mr. J. T. Waterman bought the Reporter in 1872, and ran it for eight brilliant journalistic years, making it a model in every respect. He sold to Wm. A. Wimbish, who has recently disposed of the paper.
The next weekly paper in point of time was that exquisite specimen of typography and sustained taste and ability, the North Georgia Citizen, published and edited at Dalton by J. T. Whitman. It was started in 1847 by Ware & Wyatt, as the Mountain Eagle. Its name has been often changed-to Spirit of the Times, North Georgia Times and Citizen. In 1858, the proprietor and editor was J. Troup Taylor, and not J. R. Christian, as stated in chapter ten, page seventy-nine. In 1859, J. T. Whitman, the present owner, bought the paper. It was partially destroyed by Gen. Sherman's men, and was suspended a
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GEORGIA WEEKLY PRESS.
while. It has been Democratic, conservative and ably conducted, and is one of the solid institutions of Dalton. In 1854 Col. C. W. Hancock established the Sumter Republican in Americus, when the place had three hundred people. It was a Whig paper, but has been Democratic since the war. It was suppressed by Gen. Steadman a month, in 1865. It is a fine journal, and Col. Hancock is a leader of the Georgia press. It has a splendid scope of territory, it has grown steadily in circulation, and its present and only proprietor, if he lives fifty years longer, will leave it a legacy of honor and profit to his descendants. The Southern Watchman, at Athens, was also estab- lished in 1854. The Southern Enterprise, at Thomasville, began its life in 1855, and is now brilliantly run by Mr. C. P. Hansell.
In 1856 the Monroe Advertiser was launched at Forsyth. J. P. Harrison ran it long. J. C. Harris began his bright journalistic career upon it. It has always been a model of a paper, and Henry H. Cabaniss now keeps it up to its unsurpassable standard. In 1857 the Cartersville Erpress was put forth. In 1853 the Gainesville Ergle commenced a strong career, J. E. Redwine long managing it. Its edi- tor is a bright. writer, H. W. J. Ham. In 1859 the Early County Ne cs, at Blakely, and the Elberton Gazette, at Elberton, were established, both first-class journals.
The Warrenton Clipper, so far as we can learn, is the only war-born paper in existence, it having been established in 1863. It has had a stirring time, one of its editors, Mr. Wallace, having been murdered. It is now run by Rev. John A. Shivers, one of the noted men of the State press, a bold, born editor. After the surrender, the Newnan Herald came to us first in 1835, and also the Georgia Enterprise at Covington. The year 1866 saw an increased activity in the birth of papers. The Marietta Journal, Waynesboro Herald and Expositor, Dawson Journal, Eatonton Messenger, Greenesboro Herald, Hawkins- ville Dispatch, Jesup Sentinel, Sparta Times and Planter, and Washing- ton Gazette, all vigorous bantlings, inaugurated healthy, influential jour- nalistic lives. The Marietta Journal was issued when the town was in ruins and garrisoned by Federal soldiery. It served a good mission, and gave hope to the county. It fought reconstruction boldly, and was menaced time and again. R. M. Goodman & Co. owned it up to 18:5, when Neal & Massey bought, and still run it. It is a first-class journal. The Waynesboro Herald and Expositor is under control of R. O. Lovett, and was a consolidation, in 1880, of Expositor, started in 1866, and the Herald in 1878. The Eatonton Messenger has been a
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specially valuable and vigorous paper. It was called first the Pr., and Messenger. It has changed hands and names several times. Its . publisher and editor is Geo. W. Adams. . It is one of the progressive journals of Georgia.
In 1867 the Valdosta Times was established. In 1868 the Barnes- ville Gazette was introduced to the public by Lambkin & Pound. Mr. Pound, McMichael & Allen, and lastly J. C. McMichael owned the paper in succession, the last gentleman now being the proprietor. The journal has been twice enlarged, so great has been its prosperity: It is read in six counties, and is a strong publication. The Brunswick Appeal was started also in 1868. The year 1869 saw several excellent weeklies given to the public, the Madison Madisonian, the Calhoun Times, the Fort Valley Mirror, the Perry Home Journal, the Rome Bulletin, and the Talbotton Register and Standard. The Madisonian was the project of Dr. J. C. C. Blackburn, for thirty years identified with our State journalism. It is ably conducted, Dr. Blackburn being aided by his son, B. M. Blackburn, and especially and wisely devoted to local news. The Talbotton Standard was the enterprise of two remark- able young men, John B. Gorman and J. T. Waterman. Mr. Gorman was a gallant soldier, has been a successful business man, and a great walker, traveling on foot over 1,200 miles, and is altogether a genial and original character. The Standard was consolidated with the Register in 1880, and is now owned by J. B. Gorman and O. D. Gorman, and edited by O. D. Gorman, who is a facile writer, and noted for his enterprise and fearless views. It is one of the model papers of the State, and wields a deservedly great influence in the progressive county in which it is published.
In 1871 the Catoosa Courier was published, and has a large circula- tion, under R. M. Morris. The Hinesville Gazette was first issued in 1871, and that sterling journal, the Gwinnett Ileruld, published now by Col. Tyler M. Peeples, at Lawrenceville. This is one of the strong weeklies, and edited by an ornament of the newspaper calling. The Me Duffie Journal, at Thompson, and the Louisville Neues and Farmer and Bainbridge Democrat by Mr. Ben. Russell, complete the list of 18:1. The Carroll County Times is a vigorous weekly, founded in 1812 by Edwin R. Sharpe. It has a pure moral tone, and steadily strives to ele- vate public sentiment. Carrollton is the terminus of the Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama Railroad, and the county is large and its prospects bright. The Eastman Times, the Toccoa Mars, the Green- ville Vindicator by J. T. Revill, the Lumpkin Independent, all came
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out in 1872. The Vindicator is conducted with singular power and independence. The Greensboro Georgia Home Journal was founded in 1873 by Rev. J. Knowles, an eloquent preacher and an able writer. The Hamilton Journal and Middle Georgia Argus at Indian Springs, Oglethorpe Echo at Lexington, and Montezuma Weekly, and the Thomasville Times by J. Triplett, also appeared in 1873. In 1874 the State Line Press at West Point, by S. P. Callaway; the Covington Star by J. H. Anderson, the Jonesboro News, Quitman Reporter, Summer- ville Gazette, and the Durien Timber Gazette, by Richard W. Grubb, were established. These are all the very highest types of weekly jour- nals, bold, able and enterprising. Mr. Callaway aided to found an admirable system of public schools. Mr. Anderson's career has been romantic, he figuring largely in the famous Kansas troubles, and is one of the strong men of our press. Mr. Grubb is a genius. His bright, newsy paper has been a departure in journalism, and is to-day a recog- nized leader among our State publications. In its files it has embalmed the local history of its county and the famous citizens. It has given some twenty-five sketches of the journalists of the State. His office has been twice destroyed by fire. As delegate to political conventions, member of State Democratic Committee, he has been unusually honored. The Gazette has a large circulation, copies of it going to Hong Kong, Calcutta and Europe. The year 1875 saw the birth of the Berrien County News at Alapaha, the Brunswick Advertiser, the Carnesville Register, Hartwell Sun, Irwinton Southerner and Appeal, Jefferson Forest News.
The Rome Tribune, the Marion County Argus, the Dublin Gazette, the Ellijay Courier and Butler Herald, Crawfordsville Democrat, now under charge of a bright Atlanta youth, Mr. Ed. Young, De Kalb News at Decatur, Franklin News, Henry County Weekly by Brown & McDonald, Walton County Vidette at Monroe, Coffee county Gazette, Swainsboro Herald, all had birth in 1876. The Crawfordsville Democrat was established by W. D. Sullivan, then sold to M. Z. Andrews, who disposed of the paper to Ed. Young & Co. Mr. Young has doubled the size and circulation of the paper in a month, and its editorial manage- ment shows the first order of ability. The Tribune was founded by that powerful writer, Col. B. F. Sawyer, and is now run by an efficient editor, T. E. Hanbury. The Argus, published by W. W. Singleton at Buena Vista, is a conservative and well conducted journal, having a large scope of territory. The Dublin Gazette was the enterprise of John M. Stubbs. It had a number of editors, A. T. Allen, J. M. G.
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Medlock, Ira T. Stanley, J. H. Etheridge, and now it is managed ably by David Ware, Jr. The Ellijay Courier was begun by Lumsden & Blatts. It changed hands several times, until in 1877 it came into the vigorous control of W. F. Combs, its present efficient editor. It is the official paper of Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens. It has been a faithful advocate of our public school system. The Du Pont Okefeenokcan, Walker County Messenger at La Fayette, Quitman Free Press and Griffin Sun belong to the year 1877. Mr. C. R. Hamleiter edited the Sun vigorously, and recently sold it to Randall & Randall.
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