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838
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
reaved partner farewell, ceases to be a wonder.
The place, thus made vacant, was filled by George N. Richards, a practical printer, whose name will frequently appear in the future pages of this sketch, as connected with the newspa- pers of the county. Mr. Richards continued his connection with "The Union" until the autumn of 1855, when he sold to George W. Flynn, a practical printer whose connection with that sheet closed with that of the writer, in August, 1858. Each year's struggles brought its suc- cesses, and, although the trial was a weary one, progress was visible.
In October, 1857, the proprietors of "The Union" established a branch office at West Urbana (now Champaign), a growing town, which office proved a success.
In May, 1856, when the political cohorts were marshalled for the eventful contest of that year, "The Union" took grounds with the anti- slavery party, and struck its best blows for "free soil, free speech, free press, and Fre- mont," and has ever since been a Republican paper.
As already stated, in August, 1858, pending the Lincoln and Douglas campaign, we disposed of our interest in "The Union" to David S. Crandall, and his son, Charles E. Crandall, who continued its publication until early in the year, 1861, when they sold to John Carrothers, a practical printer, from Urbana, Ohio. The Messrs. Crandall-especially the elder-pos- sessed great versatility of talent as newspa- per writers. Mr. D. S. Crandall had long been connected with a newspaper at Lockport, N. Y., and his natural gift as a writer, with his long and varied experience, made him the peer of any in a pen controversy.
Mr. Carrothers came in at the breaking out of the war and the breaking up of the cur- rency and business of the country. Added to the other difficulties in his way, these weighed him down and he went out of the printing business in 1863, having lost what money he put into it. In Mr. Carrothers' attempt to keep his paper above water, he purchased the Ga- zette office of Dr. Scroggs, and ran the con- solidated office as "The Union and Gazette" for a year or more, but without the desired success.
The material of "The Union" office, in default of payment, found its way back into the hands of the Messrs. Crandall, and continued to be
run by David S. and Dudley S. Crandall until early in the year 1868, when it passed into the hands of Nicolet & Schoff, both of whom are experienced newspaper men. In their hands it has had eminent success and has de- served, as it has received, liberal patronage. During the latter connection of the Messrs. Crandall with "The Union," the name was temporarily changed to "The Saturday Visitor," but the change not meeting public approval, the old name was resumed. (1)
Our Constitution.
On the 22nd of July, 1856, Jacob Zimmerman and George N. Richards, both printers of ex- perience, issued, in Urbana, the ñŕst number of a paper under the above heading. It was devoted to the success of the Democracy, and many hard blows were struck for "Buck and Breck" in the campaign of that year. The ed- itor, Mr. Zimmerman, was a young man, but little above his majority; yet, from his ready use of the pen in the service of his party, he very soon won his way to the confidence of his party leaders, and for his paper a promi- nent position among the journals of the State. His pen and ink controversies were marked by keen satire and a ready knowledge of political history, and he rarely came off sec- ond-best in such encounters. The publication of "Our Constitution" was continued in Urbana until the autumn of 1859, when the office was removed to Champaign, and its publication soon after ceased, and its proprietors sought other occupations. Mr. Zimmerman is now a resident of Mt. Carmel, Ill. (2)
(1) "The Union," the pioneer of a numerous family of its kind which has come forth to bless the county, came to its end about 1882, when its material was sold.and removed to an- other county. Both Mr. Nicolet and Mr. Schoff are dead; the former died here and the latter in Iowa, to which place he removed twenty years since.
(2)Mr. Zimmerman has, since the above was written, most acceptably represented his dis- trict in the General Assembly of Illnois, on two different occasions, and is a highly respected citizen of Wabash County.
A few years since, Mr. Zimmerman sent to the writer the printed files of "Our Constitu- tion," accompanied by the following note:
"Mt. Carmel, Illinois, June 5, 1883-My Dear Cunningham: I send you, per express, what I have remaining of the files of the "Constitution," being that portion only that I had bound before leaving Urbana. I have delayed somewhat for the purpose of taking a look through. I find so many things in these issues that I feel heart- ily ashamed of, that I hesitate alike to send or to keep them. If you can find anything in them
839
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Spirit of the Agricultural Press.
Under this title Messrs. L. G. Chase and Al- bert Gore, in May, 1857, issued, at West Ur- bana, a handsome quarto. As its name indi- cates, agriculture and kindred subjects formed its leading features, while a liberal space was devoted to political and local affairs. The mix- ture did not prove a judicious one, and with the early frosts of autumn the "Spirit" and its editors wended their way to other parts, leav- ing the body of the "Press" and material in the hands of those whose credit had purchased it. Mr. Chase was a well informed man and a fair writer, but altogether too visionary for success in this field; Mr. Gore was an indus- trious man and a good printer.
Central Illinois Gazette.
Upon the ruins of "The Press"-or rather with its material-on the 10th of March, 1858, Dr. John W. Scroggs issued the first number of the "Central Illinois Gazette," a paper Repub- lican in politics.(1) William O. Stoddard be-
that will gratify your antiquarian taste, you are heartily welcome to them.
"I would like much to spend some time about Urbana, reviving old acquaintance, and I have frequently promised myself that pleasure. But, I don't know: years and some hard knocks have made me lazy about going from home, and have dulled the rest of enjoyment I felt in times gone by; and I am prone to reflect that, may be, it would not be well to obtrude myself on old friends who probably 'think of me at my best.' and force them to think, what a bore he has become.
"Remember me to the old timers-the 49ers, as it were-and believe me most sincerely, "Yours,
"J. ZIMMERMAN."
(1)"The Gazette," when thus issued, purpor- ted to be published by J. W. Scroggs and Co. and so it was, the Company being the firm of Cunningham and Flynn, then publishers of "The Urbana Union." The contract for the formation of the firm of J. W. Scroggs . and Co., which firm was of short duration, still in existence, reads as follows:
"Article of agreement made and entered into this eleventh day of February, 1858, by and between J. W. Scroggs of the town of West Urbana, County of Champaign and State of Illi- nois, of the first part, and Cunningham and Flynn, of Urbana, aforesaid County and State, of the second part, Witnesseth:
"The said Scroggs agrees to take the said Cunningham and Flynn into partnership in the publication of the "Central Illinois Gazette" (the prospectus for the publication of which, in the town of West Urbana aforesaid has al- ready been issued by the said Scroggs) for the term of one year from this date, allowing them to have half the income of said office, to-wit: one-half the income of the subscription list, one half the income of the advertising patronage and one-half the income from the job department, upon the following conditions:
"The said Cunningham and Flynn agree to put into said office, to be used in conducting the operations of said office, all of the type, presses.
came associated with Dr. Scroggs in the edi- torial management of "The Gazette." It soon attained a fair circulation, and took a prom- inent part in the contest of 1860. Upon the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, Mr. Stoddard was appointed to a secretaryship in the executive office, and retired from "The Gazette."(1) The publication of this paper was continued by Dr. Scroggs until the winter of 1862-3, when he sold out to John Carrothers of "The Union," and the two papers were con- solidated under the name of the "Champaign County Union and Gazette," and so continued for about a year, when the material was sep- arated and that of the Gazette office turned over to Mr. John W. Summers, a practical printer, by whom the publication of "The Ga- zette" was resumed.
Mr. Summers' connection with the paper con- tinued until the summer of 1864, when the office was sold to John Robbins, also a printer, from Ohio. Mr. Robbins' connection was short, for early in October, 1864, he sold the office to Messrs. George W. Flynn and George N. Richards, who, with the writer of this article as editor, on the 14th day of that month again entered the newspaper field, and continued the publication of the Gazette at Urbana.
This relation continued until April, 1866, when the editor retired from his connection with the paper. Messrs. Flynn & Richards dis- solved their co-partnership September 19, 1866, when the publication of "The Gazette" was continued by Mr. Flynn alone until the spring of 1868. when George Scroggs purchased a one-half interest in the office, which relation
stones, stoves and furniture now in their job office at West Urbana, except one font of pica body letter, one font of 4-line pica wood letter and one of six-line pica wood type, and a lot of quotations. They also agree to bear half the expenses and losses of said "Central Illinois Gazette" office, and that Geo. W. Flynn, one of the parties of the second part, shall de- vote all of his time and attention to said Ga- zette office.
"It is mutually agreed that J. W. Scroggs shall edit said paper and control the editorial department of said paper, and that Geo. W. Flynn shall have control of the mechanical de- partment of said paper, and it is agreed that the operations of said firm shall be conducted under the name and style of J. W. Scroggs & Co.
"In witness whereof, we have hereunto placed our names this eleventh day of Feb., 1858.
"J. W. SCROGGS "CUNNINGHAM & FLYNN."
(1)Mr. Stoddard has since won an eminent place among American authors as a writer of books and for the press.
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840
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
has continued up to the present day.(1) Mr. Flynn was a fair writer, and was excelled by few as a newspaper manager. His long con- nection with the press of the county has made his name familiar to the entire people, and given him a knowledge of the business here possessed by no other person. He has stood at the helm of newspaperdom in the county, when the waves of adversity had well nigh overcome the cause, and he has again seen it at its best, bringing in success.
While "The Gazette" was thus conducted, the business of bookbinding was added and, about September, 1871, J. O. Cunningham be- came an equal partner. The book-binding and job department was removed to Urbana, then the headquarters of the Illinois, Bloomington & Western Railroad Company, and there the firm enjoyed the patronage arising therefrom, In 1872 the firm was dissolved by mutual con- sent, George Scroggs becoming sole proprietor of "The Gazette" and Flynn & Cunningham of the binding and job establishment.
Out of the contract for dissolution grew a suit which was tried in the circuit court and terminated in the Supreme Court of Illinois. (See 81 Illinois Reports, page 110.)
Mr. Flynn subsequently became associated with J. H. Woodmansee in place of J. O. Cun- ningham, and these gentlemen removed the establishment to Danville, where it became the nucleus of the Illinois Printing Company, a corporation. Mr. Flynn died August 12, 1888, at Danville.
Mr. Scroggs secured for "The Gazette" a position of great influence in the State and party. He was elected to the Lower House of the General Assembly in 1878, where he served with distinction and was also appointed our Consul at Hamburg, Germany, from which place he came home to die from the effect of a musket-shot wound in the breast received . at Bentonville, N. C., in 1865, while a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteers (in the last: days of the Civil War).
George Scroggs learned his trade in the office of "The Gazette," before the war, when it was owned by his father. He is probably the best newspaper writer in the county and
being yet a young man, will eventually win for himself a name and fortune in the news- paper world. "The Gazette," under the man- agement of the last few years, has been very successful and remunerative. The news office in Champaign, in its presses and material, is excelled by few in the interior of the State. Its job office and bindery in Urbana, run by steam-power, is the equal of the other, and to- gether they offer facilities for printing and binding found in few counties in the State.
Urbana Clarion.
Under this name Messrs. Erastus A. Mun- ger and Lyman E. Knapp, on the 22d day of October, 1859, issued in Urbana a small paper, neutral in politics. Its existence was continued in this form until the following year, when the office was purchased by William Munhall, and the name changed to "The Hickory Boy," and under the editorial management of J. W. Jaquith. Esq., it did battle for Douglas in the political campaign of 1860, but suspended pub- lication soon after that, surviving, perhaps, un- til the spring of 1861.
The name "Champaign County Democrat" was assumed soon after the election in 1860, and under this name Mr. Munhall continuea the publication after or near the close of the war, always intensely loyal to the cause of the Union of the States.
Homer Journal.
In 1859, Mr. George Knapp, as the exponent of a company of citizens, started "The Journal" at Homer. Its publication was continued un- til the breaking out of the war, when its ed- itor, taking part in the struggle, the publica- tion ceased and the material went into the hands of the citizen owners.
In November, 1865, under the management of John W. Summers, "The Journal" was re- suscitated. It subsequently passed into the hands of Mr. Rhodes, and later to Mr. John S. Harper, by whom its publication was contin- ued as a Republican paper until some time in the year 1870, when, after emigrating to Sid- ney, Philo and Tolono successively, it and its editor disappeared from the county.
Champaign County Journal.
A paper under the above name, Democratic in politics, was started January 1, 1866, in Ur-
(1) This statement, as explained in the note at the opening of this chapter, refers to conditions existing in 1870, or previous to that date. See 'Champaign Gazette,' later.
841
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
bana, by Messrs. Daniel McKinzie and George W. Gere. "The Journal" did not long continue under the management of these gentlemen, but, in April of the same year, passed into the hands of Mr. Jarvis D. Hurd, who continued sole proprietor for about one year, when Mr. B. B. Andrews became associated with him. In the autumn of 1867, the publication of "The Journal" ceased.
Illinois Democrat.
On the 30th of March, 1867, George N. Rich- ards and Rufus . P. Canterbury, having pre- viously purchased the material of the extinct "Journal," issued in Champaign the first num- ber of "The Illinois Democrat," a paper, as its name indicates, devoted to the service of the Democratic party. The publication of "The Democrat" was thus continued until March 7, 1868, when Mr. Canterbury sold out to Mr. Richards, who continued as sole proprietor until April 2, 1869, when P. Lochrie, Esq., a practicing attorney, became associated with him. On the 8th of October, 1869, Mr. Rich- ards relinquished his entire interest to Mr. Lochrie, who has continued sole editor and proprietor to this date. Mr. G. W. Gere, for a short time early in 1869, conducted the ed- itorial department.
Mr. Richards has since undertaken the pub- lication of a paper at Holden, Mo., where he now resides. He is a printer of long and varied experience, a writer of good ability, and, as will be seen by the preceding pages, has long been connected with the newspaper enterprises of the county. Mr. Lochrie, the present editor of "The Democrat," although not a practical printer, has succeeded in mak- ing his paper essential to the community, and in securing a good circulation. (1)
Urbana Tocsin.
About one year since, the Tocsin, published by Frank M. Snyder, was started in Urbana. Its publisher, Mr. Snyder, is a practical printer, and has for many years worked at his busi- ness in Champaign and Urbana. M. W.
Mathews, Esq., a practicing attorney, conducts the editorial department.
(This closes the portion of the history of the press of Champaign County, referred to in the opening part of this chapter as taken from "Lothrop's Champaign County Directory" of 1870.)
About 1870 Mr. Snyder changed the name of "The Tocsin" to "The Republican," and remained editor of that paper until 1878, it being the only paper then published in Urbana. It met with many adversities. On October 9, 1871, at the time of the great fire in Urbana, the office was entirely destroyed by fire, leav- ing Urbana with no paper. In December, 1871, it was re-issued by Mr. Snyder and so contin- ued until some time in the year 1874, when the office was again burned. Some of the material having been saved, it was at once re-established. It continued in this form with varying success until the year 1878, when it was again burned and suffered an almost entire loss. Not to be defeated by this third fire, Mr. Snyder resumed the issue of his paper in the spring of 1880, and continued it for some months when it was sold by him to Rev. David Gay, who soon thereafter removed the office to Chrisman, Ill.
Mr. Snyder, although over seventy years old, is still a practical printer working at the case, and is probably the oldest practical printer in the State of Illinois, having served as a printer in this county since 1852.'
The Champaign County Herald.
About the beginning of the year 1877 "The Champaign County Herald" was started as a Republican paper, employing an entirely new outfit of presses and type in the office over the First National Bank in Urbana, where it is still published. Its publishers were, at first, S. C. Harris & Co., who were represented by Andrew Lewis, who finally became the sole owner of the plant. Mr. Lewis continued to run the paper until in May, 1879, when he sold out his entire in- terest to M. W. Mathews and C. B. Taylor, who continued the publication as before, giv- ing to its editorial columns new vigor, till some time in May, 1881, when Mr. Taylor sold to Mr. Mathews, who became and con- tinued to be the sole publisher from that day until the day of his death, which took
(1) Mr. Richards was a Union soldier in the Twenty-fith Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and has continued his life as a journalist in Mis- souri until quite recently. He now holds the office of Judge of the County Court at War- saw, Mo,
S42
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
place . May 10, 1892. Mr. Mathews gave to "The Herald" a reputation second to no coun- try paper in the State of Illinois, and achieved for himself a high reputation as a newspaper man. In his hands the office was a profitable investment and continued to grow under his able editorial and financial management. For the greater part of this time he was ably assisted by L. A. McLean, who largely man- aged the financial affairs of the paper, and contributed to its editorial columns. After Mr. Mathews' death, under a provision con- tained in his will, the publication of "The Herald" was continued for the benefit of his estate under the editorial and financial man- agement of Mr. McLean, until the present time, except that Mr. McLean retired from his connection with the paper some three years since, leaving it in the charge of Mr. John Gray, who has shown himself to be a competent newspaper man. The press work of "The Herald" is done upon machine presses, and by electrical power.
The Champaign Times.
About August, 1872, Maj. William Had- dock, who came to this county from Effing- ham, Ill., purchased the type and material of "The Illinois Democrat," published then in Champaign by Peter Lochrie. The name of the paper was changed to that of "The Lib- eral Democrat," which entered at once upon the advocacy of the election of Horace Greeley to the Presidency. A year or two subsequent thereto the name of the paper was again changed to "The Champaign Times," and its publication was continued under the editorial and financial control of Major Haddock from that time until his death, which took place early in the year 1879.
About April 1st of that year William H. Smy- zer, William J. Mize and Isaac Fielding bought the material used in "The Times" office and at once entered upon the publication of that paper. Soon after that time Mr. Elmer F. Powers became part owner of the office. In 1887 Mr. Smyzer sold out his interest in the office, following which Mr. Mize sold out his interest, since which time the paper has been the sole property of Messrs. Powers and Field- ing, under whose control, both editorial and
financial, it has continued until the present time.
From this it will be seen that, for more than twenty-five years "The Times" has been prac- tically under the same management-an in- stance of newspaper longevity entirely un- known to Champaign County or to any other near-by county, so far as known.
"The Times" has, at every period since un- der this management, prover itself one of the best newspapers published within the county, and is a universal favorite among the Demo- crats whose interests it has consistently ad- vocated from the beginning. Its circulation is large and it has proven itself to be a money- maker.
"The Times" employs, in the work of type- setting, a linotype, a labor-saving device un- known to printers of the olden time. The old hand-press of Major Haddock has given place to modern presses operated by electrical power.
The Champaign Gazette.
.Continuing the history of this paper (see "Central Illinois Gazette" on an earlier page in this chapter) it is proper to say that, un- der the able and brilliant management of Colo- nel Scroggs, it continued, as it had been, a very influential journal to the day of his death, which took place October 9, 1879.
Under the provisions of the will of Colonel Scroggs, the publication of the paper was con- tinued by his executor, Mr. H. J. Dunlap, for several years. In the meanwhile, it having commenced the issue of a daily edition, Mr. Dunlap, as executor, sold the office to Mr. H. H. Harris, of Champaign, under whose finan- cial control it continued under the editorship of J. R. Stewart, aided by Mr. O. L. Davis. For several years it was so published until the plant was sold by Mr. Harris to Messrs. Stewart & Davis, who still continue its publi- cation.
Under the management of these gentlemen "The Gazette" has always maintained its rep- utation for able editorial management, and has been a profitable investment. It is now the oldest newspaper in the county and easily stands at the head of the journalism of its party.
"The Gazette" is published daily and weekly, and, like all modern offices which keep up
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843
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
with the times, employs a linotype in its com- posing room, while electrically operated ma- chine presses deliver its issues to rural mail carriers for its patrons.
The Champaign County News.
On February 21, 1891, under the proprietor- ship of a corporation formed for that purpose, there was issued in Champaign the first num- ber of the "Daily and Weekly Champaign County News," under the editorial manage- ment of E. B. Chapin, formerly of "The To- lono Herald." Mr. Chapin had a well estab- lished reputation as an aggressive and ener- getic editor, achieved in his management of "The Tolono Herald" for many years before his coming to Champaign. In his subsequent work with "The News" his character as a newspaper man has not been allowed to dete- riorate, and he is now regarded as one of the ablest newspaper men in the county. From appearances it will be safe to say that "The News" has paid its proprietors from its first inception, and is now a profitable establish- ment. "The News" editions are printed by electricity upon modern presses, while its work of composition is done by means of the linotype.
Urbana Messenger.
This name will serve to remind residents of Urbana who resided there about fifteen years years since, of an earnest effort made by some gentlemen who were strangers here, for the establishment of a morning daily under the above name. . The attempt proved a failure for some reason, but not for the want of in- dustry, it is believed. The paper was pub- lished for some months, when it failed. It was the first daily paper in Urbana. Inquiry has failed to furnish the names of the enter- prising gentlemen.
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