USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 15
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Our copartnership with the Sherburnes not being wholly satisfactory, we made a proposition to buy out their interest, which they accepted, and we became sole proprietor. We then changed the name of the paper to the Lansing Journal and continued its publication until December, 1879, when we became imbued with the idea that a removal of our office to Mason City would enhance our financial condition to a marvelous extent, having been led to this conclusion from representations made to us by parties in whom we had implicit confidence. We therefore went there, remained a year, lost all the wealth, nearly, that we had accumulated in the previous several years, got discouraged and sold out to parties who moved the office to Chamberlain, Dakota, where the material is still doing good service in printing a paper, the Register by name.
Frank Hatton, who was then editor-in-chief of the Burlington Hawkeye, gave us the city editorship on that paper, but as we were in very poor health we had to relinquish the position after several months. Our family returned from Mason City to the old home in Lansing. around which our love still lingered, and does yet for that matter. Shortly after leaving the Hawkeye we went on the Dubuque Herald, doing editorial work and soliciting and corresponding on the road. It was while in this capacity that we made the deal with Mr. Hinchon for the purchase of the Democrat, of which we took possession in July, 1882, and here we are to-day, after the trials and tribulations incident to country jour- nalism in all its various forms, with a fair business, a well equipped office in its own home, and still possessed of a will to try to keep up with the newspaper procession in Northeastern lowa.
But a few months after the publication of the foregoing reminiscences Mr. Medary passed from this life, his death occurring on June 21, 1893, in his fifty- fourth year. He had on his fiftieth anniversary prepared a' most entertaining sketch of his boyhood days, which is too lengthy to insert here. In substance the record of his early life is as follows :
Thomas Corwin Medary was born at Champion, Trumbull county, Ohio, April 29, 1840, but his carly home was Deerfiekl, Portage county. His parents died while he was a boy, and his early life was one of hardships. As he himself said, all his relatives took a hand in managing him, and as a natural consequence
TWO VIEWS OF SOUTH LANSING
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he was "numerously managed to his sorrow." He was a mail carrier, a canal boy, worked on the railroad, drove stage while yet in his teens, and compelled ยท to make a living the best way he could. He learned the printer's trade, and removing with relatives to Iowa in 1856 worked a while at his trade in Indianola. The first two winters he chopped logs and worked in a lath mill in Mitchell and Winneshiek counties, and took the last of his little schooling, at Otranto. Dur- ing the summers worked at farm work. He then had employment in the old Decorah Hotel of "Uncle John Mason," and next secured work in the Decorah Republic office. From this time on his "Journalistic Adventures," as heretofore quoted, fills out the account of his somewhat checkered but finally successful career.
In 1860 Mr. Medary was married to Miss Ellen Price, of Lansing, who is still a resident of Waukon. At his death his eldest son, George C., took up the management of the Democrat, but survived his father but a few weeks, when the management passed to the second son, Edgar F., who inherits the qualifica- tions of a good practical printer and ready paragrapher.
In 1887 President Cleveland commissioned him postmaster at Waukon, which position he filled acceptably until the political vicissitudes of 1889. He was a member of the Masonic, A. O. U. W., K. of P., and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and of the G. A. R. The remains were deposited in Oakland Cemetery, with Masonic ceremonies conducted by Dr. J. C. Crawford, W. M.
ANOTHER "COUNTRY EDITOR", JAS. T. METCALF
At the request of the editor of this volume Mr. Metcalf furnishes the data for the following sketch, under date of Washington, D. C., April 12, 1913. No apology is needed for the presentation of matter largely personal, because the life of every man of action is full of incidents of interest to those who come after him. Mr. Metcalf's prominence among the editorial fraternity in north- eastern Iowa while conducting the Lansing Mirror, is well remembered. And his reminiscences of "men and affairs of Lansing," in our chapter devoted to that city, will be found very entertaining.
James Thomas Metcalf was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, February 25, 1845. Printing offices attracted him from childhood, and he importuned his father so much that the latter reluctantly consented to his becoming the "devil" in the office of the Belmont Chronicle, in 1857. There he remained three years. In 1860 he went to Wisconsin, worked in various places, and returned to Ohio in 1861. Only his youth prevented enlistment in the three months service, in April; but in August he joined Co. E, 15th Ohio Regiment. Of this he writes :
"I was the youngest in my company, and perhaps in the regiment. We were organized at Mansfield. When my turn came to step forward from the ranks, to approach a stern-looking army officer, who passed upon the recruits, my knees shook, and I trembled violently, but tried to appear as old as possible. I felt sure he would reject me, but, after scanning me from head to foot, (it seemed an age) he nodded acceptance, and ordered me to return to the ranks."
His first experience with printed blanks, which led to that which became almost his life work, was as "company clerk," in making up the pay roll. etc. Camp fever became epidemic, when the regiment was near Bowling Green, Ken-
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tucky, and he was sent to Louisville hospital. December 31. 1862, he was pro- moted to be a sergeant of ordnance ( hospital steward ) in the regular army and served as such three years. Upon his discharge is written by the commanding officer: "The best officer in every respect I have ever known: he is competent, honest, faithful, trusty and industrious."
After filling many positions of trust, he was appointed a clerk in the War Department, at Washington. in April, 1866. December 31, 1867. he was married at Florida, Ohio, to Miss Lavinia M. Cook, whose death occurred May 9, 1906. Four children were born to them, all of whom are living.
While residing in Washington he had a visit from his cousin, John T. Metcalf. then on his way to his home at Viroqua, Wisconsin, and it was agreed that the latter should look over the newspaper field in the west, and they would become partners if a suitable location were found.
John T. Metcalf, born February 9, 1842, in Ohio, was an apprentice in the office of the Circleville Watchman, went to Wisconsin, and while at Portage enlisted April 19, 186t. in the Second Wisconsin Regiment. He was transferred to the Fifth U. S. Cavalry in 1862. lle participated in no less than forty-five engagements during his six years' service. Few sokliers have a record more hon- orable : he was never sick a day while in the service, nor was he injured in battle, although several horses were shot from under him, and his musket blown out of his hands at Bull Run. He is in failing health, and resides at the Soldiers' Home in Washington.
.A year after the visit referred to John T. wrote that he had learned of the office of the Lansing Mirror being for sale, visited the town, was favorably impressed with the outlook for business, and advised that the partnership arrange- ment be carried out. At once the bargain was made, and July 23. 1870, they became owners of the Mirror, paying therefor $1200 to T. C. Medary, who soon afterward returned to his former home in Ohio. .
The initials of the owners being alike. the firm name of "Metcalf & Co." was used, and continued until July 17, 1874, when John decided to join relatives in Kansas, and his interest was purchased by James, who retained the owner- ship until the fall of 1891.
Of later events he writes :
"For the three years I served as an apprentice I received respectively $20, $25 and $30, a fact not without interest as compared with the wages paid now- adays. From that day in 1857 when I began the printing business I have made my own way in the world. My career as a printer remains one of the happiest memories of my life. While other activities had my attention in after years, 1 have never ceased to be intensely interested in and have kept in close touch with every branch of printing and publishing. The printing art is a real educator, and I know of no occupation which opens up so diversified a field for after-life employment in other directions. The composing-room became my high school and the world my university.
"It is the proverbial inclination of old age to regard the past with an appre- ciation it cannot accord the present. In the winter of life we do not find the bloom and aroma that we perceived in its spring and summer. We are more inclined too to admit the errors of younger manhood, and to feel that at least in some directions we have gained wisdom through experience. There are some things
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which the country editor is prone to indulge in, and of which I too plead guilty with regret. If I should again become an editor. I would not use my paper to asperse a contemporary, albeit he might be a horsethief, and I could prove it! I would not indiscriminately 'puff' Tom, Dick and Harry. as is the tendency nowadays, nor would I use my columns to dun delinquents."
The local papers of the period named were certainly creditable to the com- munity, and stood well throughout the state.
February 9. 1880. he was appointed Supervisor of Census for the Second Jowa District. This appointment was made upon the unanimous recommendation of the lowa delegation in Congress. At the conclusion of the work the Superin- tendent wrote that "it was the best of the state, and completed the first." It is worthy of note that three such appointments fell to Allamakee county; the others being George H. Markley and David W. Reed.
Of his connection with the postal service he writes :
"Having had such an attack of the ague as used me up for a time, I decided to temporarily quit business. 1 leased the Mirror office to Woodward & Metcalf -the first named. Earl M. Woodward, a young lawyer, who came from New York state; the latter my brother, George W., who had been with me several years in the office. I went to Kansas, and was so much benefited by a few months' change that I concluded to engage in other business. By merest accident I happened to hear of a vacancy in the postal service, and within a few days there- after, merely by writing a single letter (February 2, 1882), I was appointed a postoffice inspector. I was graduated from a business college in 1866; from childhood I had a love of figures, and of details connected with them. There was a fascination about accounts, and this natural trait, developed by practical familiarity with printed matter and blanks, served me so well in after years that I have always regarded my scholarship in the college as the best investment I ever made. It was pleasing to be assigned by the postoffice department to the money order branch of that service, and I was directly connected with it for the next five years. My experience in the service, then and afterward, covered travel in every state and territory, Canada, Mexico and Newfoundland. and I was by President Cleveland appointed as a representative of the government to visit Norway, but this trip was later found not to be necessary.
"I might write at great length of the life I led during these years, of the privations and perils I was subjected to, and of many thrilling events in which I took some part, covering my duty. From delinquent postmasters I collected very large sums of money, often at great personal risk, in localities far from home, and amidst circumstances not without personal danger, but I never met with any mishap.
"I had widest authority and discretion, but it is a source of satisfaction, now that I am on the downhill of life, to know that I exercised no undue harshness toward the hundreds of weak, misguided men with whom I had to do; with others, my heart always prompted mercy, and I never failed to show kindness and compassion toward those who were the subjects of misfortune and unwise enough to use the funds which they were entrusted with. I have seen such keenness of suffering, even suicide, following in the near wake of gambling, liquor, evil associations, and kindred wrong-doing, as few men perhaps have
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any knowledge of, and, were I to recall these events, the chapter would disclose many circumstances which might well appear to be imaginary rather than facts. "September 27. 1885, I was made inspector in charge of the division head- quarters at Chicago, with twenty-five others under my direction ; the duty of train- ing newly-appointed inspectors was assigned me, and I filled this position until September 14, 1887, when, tiring of the service, and desiring to be with my family, I voluntarily resigned, to become secretary of the Lansing Lumber Com- pany, and I at once entered upon a business entirely new to me, but very pleasant because of being at my home.
"One day in April, 1889. I received a telegram from Washington, 'Will you accept position chief clerk money order system?' and I was surprised beyond measure, not knowing of such a vacancy, and not expecting to ever return to Washington. I held the matter under advisement for a day, and was then undecided, but finally answered, 'Will be in Washington' ( naming a day), thus leaving the matter open for consideration. On reaching the city I found two positions open for me. if I desired to accept them, and, after much thought. decided to take that of chief clerk of office of first assistant postmaster general, temporarily, which was followed by appointment as chief clerk of the money order system, May 31st, in which position 1 served until promoted to be superin- tendent. September 16, 1897.
"It was my privilege to serve under eleven postmasters general. The war with Spain brought about conditions never before known in the governmental service, and there were no precedents to guide the officers of the department in meeting conditions which arose immediately. It became my duty to devise methods whereby funds might be sent home by soldiers in the field, as well as remittances made them ; when the army reached Cuba conditions were wholly changed, as the currency there in use was not only depreciated but not current in the States. The greater obstacle was the use there of a foreign language, and this was of an especially trying nature when the Philippines were annexed. In like manner, different conditions had to be met in Porto Rico and Hawaii. The banks in Cuba were unable to meet conditions of trade, and as a conse- quence many millions of dollars accruing from sales of money orders were sent to New York, in the shape of depreciated Spanish coins, and the annoyance and vexation which resulted may well be imagined but not described. I may be pardoned for claiming some credit for the successful operation of this vast busi- ness, without any serious losses, and for the establishment, through my own per- sonal labor, of systems which proved to be highly successful and permanent. It was upon my recommendation that eventually the government exchanged all the Spanish and other coins in Cuba for our own currency ; if this had been done at the time it was suggested a vast amount of trouble and loss might have been avoided.
"It was my aim to negotiate with Russia and Mexico arrangements for exchange of business upon the basis followed with other countries, efforts of others in that direction having failed. I personally visited Mexico, and success- fully made the arrangements; with Russia a convention was also made, upon favorable terms, and so much to the satisfaction of that government (there was no money order system in Russia before that time) that the emperor was
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gracious enough to confer upon me the decoration and medal of honor granted only to those who have served the state with distinction.'
"I might write at great length upon matters of interest connected with my public service, but already these personal reminiscences have taken too much space. I can look back only with pride upon every act, and can point to results in evidence of an intense interest and unfailing industry in seeking to perform my duty. Of these things others however might better state the facts."
As to the facts indirectly alluded to in Mr. Metcalf's closing paragraph it is enough to say that in our own judgment, and that of his old acquaintance here- about who knew him so long and well, he stands fully justified of any aspersions cast upon his official integrity by those envious of his well earned success in the department which he so ably and faithfully served .- Editor.
OTIIERS OF THE FRATERNITY
It appears upon good authority that the Lansing Intelligencer, established by H. H. Houghton, November 23., 1852, was the first paper in Iowa north of Dubuque, preceding the Clayton County Herald ( at Guttenberg) by only a few weeks. Mr. Houghton was at the time conducting a paper at Galena. Illinois, being indeed a veteran in the profession, apprenticed to the trade in 1824, in Ver- mont. Becoming interested in the welfare of the town, of which he was one of the founders, he brought this press to Lansing and placed W. H. Sumner in charge, from all evidence a man of considerable ability whose early death was a loss to the community, as well as to the craft. He was succeeded by H. R. Chat- terton likewise an able editor, of whose peculiarities Mr. Medary tells in his recol- lections. A sketch of Mr. Houghton's remarkable career appears in the Lansing chapter. Considering the Lansing Mirror as a continuation of the Intelligencer, the Waukon Journal became the second paper established in Allamakee county, free soil like its contemporary, and first issued in the spring of 1857, by Frank Belfoy, who soon disposed of it to Frank Pease who changed both its name and its politics, but his Herald was discontinued in '59. After a few months T. H. McElroy came on the stage of action with the Transcript. All three of these erratic stars are recalled in Medary's entertaining paper.
These were followed by some individuals of greater strength of character and greater merit. E. L. Babbitt and W. H. Merrill came from New York state, where they had published the Wyoming County Mirror, and in May, 1860, estab- lished the North Iowa Journal at Waukon, republican-in politics and ably edited. Mr. Babbitt was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln, but he was in poor health, and disposing of the paper late in '61 both he and Merrill returned to Wyoming county, where Babbitt died in 1863. Mr. Merrill, born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1840, entered the Wyoming County Mirror office at Warsaw in 1855, and became one of the proprietors and editors. After returning from Waukon to Warsaw he conducted the Western New Yorker until 1875, when he went to Boston and became editor of the Golden Rule, in company with Rev. W. H. H. Murray, of "Adirondack" fame. He was called to New York in 1886 and for fifteen years was chief editor of the New York World. Returning to Boston in 1905 he became associate editor of the Boston Herald, and died at Bingham, Massachusetts, September 6, 1907. in his sixty-seventh year.
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Of the next proprietors of the Waukon Journal the writer has but little recol- lection, further than they were both lawyers and not practical printers, hence unqualified for the successful conduct of a country paper; and no record of their subsequent careers is at hand. Goodwin sold his interest to Calkins, who became postmaster upon the resignation of Babbitt in 1862 and turned over his interest in the paper to his printer partner Chas. B. Cole, who took the plant to Lansing and made it democratic.
George W. Haislet published the Lansing Union from 1863 to '66, but he was so widely known throughout northeastern Iowa for his newspaper ventures that no extended mention is due here. His activities were chiefly in Winneshiek and Howard counties. He published the Decorah Radical from 1876 until his death in 1881.
Charles W. McDonald, who established the Waukon Standard in January 1868, was an excellent printer who had been publishing the Blairstown, Iowa, Gazette, previous to this venture, which has endured and thrived for over forty years. No question existed as to where Mr. McDonald stood politically, as from the very start he displayed at the head of his Standard the line, "For President, Schuyler Colfax, subject to the decision of the Republican National Convention." At the end of three months Mr. McDonald availed himself of a favorable oppor- tunity to sell out, to R. L. Hayward & Co., and went east, first, and then west, continuing in the same avocation until 1882, when he was superintendent of schools of Aurora county, South Dakota.
Of A. M. May, who then became the editor of the Standard and so con- tinued for a generation, this writer may be unable to speak with unbiased judg- ment, having been first an employee and later business associate for fourteen years. During this period the institution saw some pretty close times. encountered occasional problems of both financial and editorial management, built a brick building in which the Standard is still housed, and developed a stability and a character that have become a valuable asset to the concern to this day. Not always did we agree in these various matters; but however we differed the writer does not recall an instance in which he doubted the sincerity of the other's convictions or his honesty of purpose. As an editor Mr. May was a logical reasoner, a trained thinker. a ready and forceful writer, and put up a good fight for whatever cause he championed, winning or losing. And perhaps he is still capable of it to-day though retired a decade from the editorial chair. It occurs to us in looking back through the old Standard files for history material that, though mistakes were made, on the whole the editorial services of those thirty years for republican principles were never properly appreciated. In these latter days, there is not one-tenth of the editorial labor devoted to public questions as was given by such writers as A. K. Bailey, A. M. May, or W. N. Burdick, in their prime. Doubtless it does not pay-and never did, financially-but there seemed to be a satisfaction which they enjoyed in laboring for a principle.
W. N. Burdick, who conducted the Postville Review for twenty-six years, from 1875 until his death in 1901, was born in New York in 1837, his parents emigrating to Kane county, Illinois, in 1830. With them he went to West Union, Iowa, in 1852, where he worked on the farm until 1856, when he engaged in a printing office at Decorah, and subsequently at Cresco for a short time. He then resumed farming for two years, after which he entered the mercantile business.
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For nearly seven years he was postmaster at Cresco. In 1873 he became a partner with G. W. Haislet in the Winneshiek Register at Decorah, soon after purchas- ing the entire interest. In 1875 he sold out and purchased the Review, at Post- ville, which he continued to publish until his death. He wielded a facile pen, writing in an entertaining manner on almost any subject and not without a poetic vein. His political argument was insistent and plausible, if not always orthodox. It was a pleasure to read his articles, as we are reminded by a recent research in some local files of the seventies, at a time when the N. E. Iowa Editorial Association was holding semi-annual sessions. Mr. Burdick's and Mr. Shannon's poetic effusions on these occasions, while perhaps not exactly epic, were greatly appreciated by the ( for the time being ) epicures, assembled; and the banquet addresses by A. K. Bailey of the Decorah Republican, C. H. Talmadge of the West Union Gazette. H. 1 .. Rann of the Manchester Press, J. W. Shannon of the Elkader Journal, Judge Toman of the Independence Bulletin, and Hofer of the McGregor News, indicated a lot of keen intellects among the district press.
At the present day the newspapers of Allamakee county comprise the fol- lowing : Lansing-Mirror by Geo. W. Metcalf ; Journal by John J. and Thos. FF. Dunlevy ( Waukon branch ) ; Waukon-Standard by John H. DeWild : Repub- lican by A. P. Bock; Democrat by Ed. F. Medary; Postville-Review by the Burdicks and Bert E. Tuttle : Volksblatt by Paul Ronneberger ; and New Albin- News by Ludwig Schubbert : all in the hands of good practical printers and expe- rienced newspaper men and all apparently flourishing.
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