Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 28

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The scope of the daily newspaper has become greatly enlarged. By the constantly increased use of illustrations, and the introduction of "features," the newspaper has encroached upon the domain of the magazine. The religious journal has also felt the growing prestige of the daily. As in ancient Rome, the Pantheon was dedicated to the worship of all the gods, so the newspaper of today meets the needs of all the people. Interurban lines of railway and the rural route have brought the morning and the evening news to the door of the farmer. The special correspondents have traversed all parts of the globe, and in time of war have shown daring and bravery by the side of trained soldiery.

NEWSPAPERS OF ROCKFORD.

The story of the newspapers of Rockford, daily, weekly and monthly, is replete with interest, and is now placed in permanent historic form for the first time.

The first newspaper published in Winnebago County was the Rock River Express. Its publi- cation began in Rockford, May 5, 1840, by B. J. Gray. In politics it was Whig of the most radical type. In a village of perhaps 300 inhabitants, there was very little of a local nature that could be published. The primary purpose of the paper's existence seems to have been to promote the election of William Henry Harrison to the presidency. Its ambition was satisfied ; but after it had been published one year, the press and printing material were sold and removed from the village. A file of this

The Register - Gazette.

* REGISTER.GAZETTE

THE REGISTER-GAZETTE, ROCKFORD

THE ROCKFORD MORNING STAR

ROCKFORD MORNING STAR

ME .. 'L

---

NELSON HOTEL, ROCKFORD

COUNTRY CLUB, ROCKFORD

763

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

paper, nearly complete, has been preserved in the public library.

The Rockford Star was founded in the autumn of 1840, as a Democratic paper, with Philander Knappen, editor. The printing material was owned by Daniel S. Haight, Daniel Howell, and Adam Keith. The office was located on the southeast corner of Madison and Market streets, in the building erected by Mr. Haight for relig- ious, court and other purposes. This old build- ing long sheltered one of the craft, William G. Conick, on North First street. J. H. Thurston was the "devil" in the office, a role which, according to his own statement, he was eminently qualified to fill. He also became quite an expert compositor. Mr. Thurston sub- sequently obtained employment on John Went- worth's paper, the Chicago Democrat, on the strength of a letter of Mr. Knappen, to the effect that he was a rapid compositor, could set a clean proof, and could sometimes make sense from Knappen's own manuscript. On April 28, 1841, Mr. Kappen was married to Miss Eliza Simons, of Harlem. Mr. Knappen sent a special wedding invitation to "Long John" Wentworth of Chicago. Mr. Wentworth attended and in his own way contributed to the hilarity of the occasion.

Mr. Knappen had been in Rockford but a short time when the Driscoll tragedy occurred, as a climax of the career of the "bandits of the prairie" in northern Illinois. Mr. Knappen did not understand the temper of the people; and his strong denunciation of the summary execu- tion of the outlaws aroused intense indignation. The citizens proposed to punish the editor. Soon after the issue of the paper the office of the Star was entered in the night and the type reduced to pi. Mr. Knappen later turned over the subscription list to Mr. Howell, of the Rock- ford house, where the office force boarded, and abandoned journalism in this unappreciative village. Mr. Howell did not realize anything from the assets placed in his hands. Thirty years later Mr. Thurston divulged the fact that D. S. Haight, Charles Latimer and Adam Keith were the perpetrators of the mischief. The Democratic luminary had been side-tracked in its orbit.

The Rockford Pilot began its brief career July 22, 1841. Mr. Thurston says he helped distribute the Star pi, and with this material assisted in issuing the first four numbers of its

successor. The Pilot was published as a Demo- cratic paper until October, 1842. It could no longer steer clear of the rocks. The editor, John A. Brown, had been defeated for representative : the Democrats had sustained a local defeat of their entire ticket, and on the 30th of October the last number of the Pilot was issued. The Better Covenant, a Universalist paper, was printed at the Pilot office during a portion of this period. Its editor was William Rounseville.

On February 17, 1843, J. Ambrose Wight began the publication of the Winnebago Forum, a Whig paper, with material which had been used in printing the Rockford Star. Mr. Wight was a graduate of Williams College, and first came to Winnebago County in 1836. He was a brother of James M. Wight, with whom he read law for a time. Mr. Wight retired from the Forum August 18, 1843, when he sold the paper to Austin M. Colton. The terms were easy. Mr. Wight said : "He asked me my price. I told him if he would take it off my hands, we would be square." Mr. Colton was more successful than any of his predecessors in the local news- paper field, and his place in local history is that of the best known "country editor" of the old school. Mr. Colton continued the paper under the old name until the close of the first volume in February, 1844, when it was rechristened the Rockford Forum. After Mr. Colton had "written for glory and printed on trust" for ten years, he sold the paper to E. W. Blaisdell, Jr., who came to Rockford in the latter part of 1853. In January of 1854 the new proprietor changed the name of the Forum to the Republican, and took his brother, Richard P. Blaisdell, into partnership. The Republican was published until 1862, when it was purchased by Elias C. Daugherty, and merged into the Rockford Regis- ter, of which he was proprietor.

In September, 184S, Henry W. De Puy estab- lished the Rockford Free Press, as a Free Soil or Barnburner organ. It was published until February, 1850, when it was discontinued for want of patronage.

The Rock River Democrat was founded in June, 1852, as a Democratic paper, by Benjamin Holt. David T. Dickson afterward purchased an interest. In 1855 Rhenodyne A. Bird became Mr. Holt's successor. The paper was published by Dickson & Bird until May 1, 1864. It was then purchased by Isaiah S. Hyatt, who con-

764

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

tinued its publication until June 12, 1865, when the plant was sold to the Register company.

The Rockford Register was founded by E. C. Daugherty in February, 1855. There were already two weekly papers in the field, the Republican and the Democrat, but Mr. Daugh- erty was confident there was always room at the top. In his prospectus, an original copy of which is seut us by a friend, Mr. Daugherty said he had "selected the flourishing and beauti- ful city of Rockford as his future home, believing the field ample for a new aspirant to public favor."

Mr. Daugherty had in him the elements of the reformer, and he founded the Register as a strong opponeut of the extension of slavery. He made a declaration of his principles in his prospectus. Commeucing with a limited capital, and contending against strong opposition, Mr. Daugherty lived to see both the original rival papers, and others, merged into the Register, which became a strong and influential paper. The Register absorbed other papers represent- ing an almost unbroken line since 1840. On Juue 1, 1859, Mr. Daugherty began the publica- tion of the Daily Register, but it was discon- tinued at the end of three months. In June, 1865, the Rock River Democrat was merged with the Register, which passed into the hands of a joint stock company. The impaired health of Mr. Daugherty compelled him to retire from active business life. I. S. Hyatt, who had, at two previous periods been connected with the paper as assistant editor, and later the pro- prietor of the Rock River Democrat, became, under the new management, the principal editor with E. H. Griggs as associate. By reason of breaks in the files, the record of changes in the management of the Register may not be abso- lutely complete. The possible omissions, how- ever, do not cover more than one or two years. On June 30, 1866, Mr. Hyatt resigned his posi- tion as editor, and was succeeded by E. C. Daugherty, who retained the editorial charge of the paper until February 23, 1867, when the condition of his health forced him to retire. Abraham E. and William E. Smith, former proprietors of the Indianapolis Gazette, became associated with E. H. Griggs in the management of the Register. These gentlemen retired June 29, 1867. Mr. Griggs became editor and man- ager, with J. E. Fox as associate. This manage- meut coutinued until October 7, 1871, when the

name of S. M. Daugherty, widow of the founder of the paper, appeared as proprietor. The fol- lowing week the Register announced that P. S. Martin was business manager. On January 6, 1873, Geo, E. Wright & Co. began the pub- lication of the Daily Register. It was a morn- iug paper, with no Sunday edition but on No- vember 8, 1873, the Register was changed from a morning to an evening paper. The time had not come, however, for the success of such a venture, and on February 10, 1874, the daily was discontinued. On March 13, 1873, Charles J. Woodbury & Co. assumed the management. Mr. Woodbury was a half-brother of Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, D. D., pastor of the Second Con- gregational church. Dr. Woodbury had the edi- torial instinct, and rendered some assistance in an editorial way.

The names of N. D. Wright and M. Collaton appear as members of the Register company on April 16, 1875. In January of the following year Mr. Wright was editor-in-chief; and on July 27, 1877, the Register was issued under the management of N. D. Wright and C. L. Miller. The latter had come to Rockford from Rochelle, where he had been connected with a weekly paper.

On October 1, 1877, the Rockford Daily Reg- ister was started upon a permanent basis by Messrs. Wright and Miller, with E. C. Chandler as city editor. 'Mr. Chandler died in May, 1915, and was buried in Rockford. Early in 1878 E. M. Botsford accepted a reportorial position,' and in 1SS1 he purchased an interest. W. P. Lamb subsequently became a third partner. The firm of Miller, Botsford & Co. continued in the management until January 1, 1891, when Edgar E. Bartlett, W. L. Eaton and Eugene Mc- Sweeney, all of Kalamazoo, Mich., purchased the good will of the Daily Register and Daily Gazette, and consolidated them under the firm name of the Register-Gazette. In 1898 Mr. Bartlett purchased the interest of Mr. McSwee- ney, and in 1901 he purchased Mr. Eaton's interest. In the autumn of that year Mr. Bartlett sold a part interest to Archibald S. Leckie of Chicago, who became managing editor. Two years later, in October, 1903, Fred E. Ster- ling purchased Mr. Leckie's interest, and became manager of the editorial department. Mr. Bart- lett is president of the company and general manager; Mr. Sterling is managing editor, and Elliott S., Bartlett is advertising manager.

765

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

The Farmer's Monthly was owned and published for several years by Messrs. Bartlett, Eaton and McSweeney.

The Rockford Wesleyan Seminary Reporter was begun as a monthly publication in October, 1857. Only four numbers of this paper were issued. It was published by Rev. W. F. Stewart in the interest of the proposed Wesleyan sem- inary. The first number of the Cudgel was issued Jan. 17, 1857. It bore this legend on its title-page: "Published somewhere, circulates everywhere, edited nowhere." It was published semi-monthly, but only seven numbers were printed. Dr. George Haskell began the publica- tion of the Spirit Advocate April 15, 1854. It was an able propagandist of spiritualism. After twenty-three numbers were published, it was consolidated with the Orient, with headquarters at Waukegan. The last number of the Advocate appeared March 15, 1856. A complete file of this paper has been preserved in the Rockford public library.

The Democratic Standard was founded Octo- ber 30, 1858, by Springsteen & Parks, as a Democratic organ. After about a month the Standard was published by Parks alone, until February 5, 1859, when David G. Croly became proprietor. On May 18, 1859, the proprietorship of the Standard was changed to D. G. Croly & Co., the company being John H. Grove. A paper called the Daily News was established by David G. Croly, February 8, 1859, which was neutral in politics. Its publication was continued until April 30, 1860, when it was suspended for want of patronage. Mr. and Mrs. Croly won national reputation in journalism and letters after their departure from Rockford. Mr. Croly became city editor of the New York World and later was its managing editor. He was the author of biographies of Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, History of Reconstruction, and a Primer of Positivism. He died in 1889. On the suspension of the News, and the retirement of Mr. Croly, the publication of the Standard was continued by John H. Grove and James S. Ticknor for a few months. The paper was then sold to James E. and Joseph H. Fox, who estab- lished another paper under the title of the Daily News. It was a Republican paper, and the first number was issued in December, 1860. A few weeks later they began the publication of the Weekly News, which was continued until Sep- tember 21, 1861. The plant was then sold to

E. C. Daugherty, and its publication was dis- continued.

The Crescent Age was founded in 1859. Its editors were Dr. George Haskell and H. P. Kimball. It was a Spiritualist publication, and lived only a short time. The Rock River Mirror was established September 6, 1859, by Allen Gibson. It was neutral in politics, and was printed at the Register office. Later the name of N. C. Thompson appeared as associate editor, and still later the proprietors were Allen Gibson and E. D. Marsh. The People's Press was estab- lished July 25, 1865, by W. P. Furey, who pub- lished it until May, 1866, when a joint stock company was organized, which continued its publication until September 1, 1866, when it was suspended from lack of patronage. Words for Jesus, a monthly religious publication, was started in October, 1867, by Thomas J. and Hugh Lamont. Leaves from Forest Hill, a monthly, was published for some time during the school year, by the young ladies of Rockford Female seminary.

The Rockford Gazette was founded November 22, 1866, by I. S. Hyatt, as a small advertising sheet. It prospered to such an extent that in the following April it was greatly enlarged, and on April 25, 1867, the name of Benjamin Foltz appeared as editor. On August 29, 1867, the Gazette was issued with the names of Abraham E. and William E. Smith as proprietors. This partnership continued for some years. In 1878 the publishers began a semi-weekly edition, and on August 4, 1879, the Gazette was issued as a daily, and became valuable newspaper property. In 1882 Mr. Smith admitted Col. F. A. Eastman of Chicago, as a partner. This partnership was dissolved the following year, and Mr. Smith continued as sole proprietor until January, 1891, when the paper was merged into the Register- Gazette.

The Winnebago Chief was started November 21, 1866, by J. P. Irvine as editor and proprietor ; July 3, 1867, Hiram R. Enoch was admitted as a partner, and the name of the paper was changed to the Winnebago County Chief. Mr. Irvine subsequently retired, and Mr. Enoch remained sole proprietor until December, 1882, when the journal passed into the hands of Foote & Kim- ball. In March, 1883, the paper was sold to D. Miller & Co., who published it three years. In March, 1886, a Mr. Gardner, from the southern part of the State, purchased a half interest.

766

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

This partnership was dissolved, Mr. Gardner taking the job department, and D. Miller & Co. retaining the subscription list aud business. of the paper. In August, 1887, the Journal was sold to Hon. J. Stanley Browne, by whom its publication was continued until the good will and subscription list became the property of the Rockford Morning Star compauy.

The Golden Censer was founded May 1, 1868, by John Lemley. It was an undenominational religious aud family paper. It was first issued semi-monthly and subsequently changed to a weekly, passing into the hands of a stock com- pany November 1, 1877. The principal stock- holders were: O. R. Brouse, Rev. C. E. Mande- ville, and N. E. Lyman, who was then presideut of the People's Bank. The Censer, uuder this management, attained a circulation of 18,000, the largest ever reached by a Rockford paper. In time, however, the circulation was greatly reduced, until iu August, 1896, when the Censer, with barely 2,000 subscribers, was indefinitely suspended. In March, 1897, the Calvert Brothers purchased the good will aud material and re- sumed publication, with Charles A. Church as editor. The policy of the Censer was greatly changed, and an able corps of local contributors was secured. In less than oue year the circula- tion advanced to 6,000. But this number did not make the paper self-sustaining. In April, 1898, Charles A. Church became sole proprie- tor, aud on June 1st of the same year the good will of the paper was sold to a Chicago publication.

The Christian Gleaner, a monthly, was pub- lished at the Censer office for some years. It was made up of selectious from the Ceuser, and contained very little original matter. The sub- scription list was finally absorbed by the Censer about 1891. The Rockford Daily Journal was started in August, 1870, by Lumley & Carpenter. It lived two days. Andrus' Illustrated Monthly was founded in January, 1872, by D. A. K. and W. D. E. Andrus. It was discontinued in Sep- tember, 1873. The Methodist Free Press was started by John Lemley in September, 1872, and was continued until January, 1875. The Curi- osity Hunter was issued in September, 1872, as a monthly by D. A. K. Andrus, and was continued uutil July, 1874. In 1876 it was resumed at Belvidere. Nowadays was launched by E. C. Chandler & Co., January 1, 1874. Only one number was issued. Rockford Sunday Herald

was started May 11, 1879, by E. C. Chandler. It was discontinued December 21, 1879. The People's Champion was launched by E. W. Blais- dell September 29, 1880. Only five numbers were issued. Our Home and Science Gossip was started by D. A. K. Andrus in March, 1881, and was continued about two years. The Rock- ford Semiuary Magazine was founded in Janu- ary, 1873, with the name of Caroline A. Potter, class of 1855, as editor. In later years the magazine was edited by the senior class. After the seminary was raised to the rauk of a college iu 1891, the name of the paper was changed to the Rockford Collegian. Its publication was discontinued in 1895. One number of Stamp News was issued in 1873 by D. A. K. Andrus.

The Rockford Industrial Times began a brief career in February, 1874, with W. F. Barrows as editor. A few months later the name was changed to the Hornet. The second volume began with a second change in name, the Rock- ford Times. John R. Coursen aud Fred Dayton were the proprietors. The issue of August 4, 1875, announced that Mr. Coursen had sold his interest to Louis A. Manlove. The first number of the Rockford Daily News was issued January 26, 1878, by D. A. K. Andrus, Geo. W. Sherer and F. O. Bennett. Sunday morning, Juue 3, 1878, the Daily News created a great sensation by publishing a harrowing story of a communist attack upon the government. When it was learned that the story had no foundation in fact, Mayor Watson ordered the office closed by the city marshal. After many changes the Daily News suspended in October, 1880. The Western Banner was established as a temper- ance paper in 1878, by J. E. Hampton, F. Wil- son and H. S. Wilbur. The paper was priuted on a hand press in the office of the Rockford Journal. It died December 19, 1878. The Morning Herald was started June 11, 1881, by Miller & Welch. It was published until Octo- ber, 1882.

The Rockford Furniture Journal was founded in 1888. A leading spirit in the agitation for a trade paper was the late Lyon P. Ross, who was then secretary of the Forest City furniture factory. The Furniture Journal company was organized, in which A. F. Judd and George W. Sherer were the principal stockholders. The Journal was published monthly nearly two years, when the subscription list and good will of the paper were sold to Abraham E. Smith.

Carrie S. Gregory

James. B. Gregory

767

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

About 1894 Mr. Smith sold an interest to P. D. Francis, and a year or two later, he sold his remaining interest to J. Newton Nind. Messrs. Francis & Nind continued its publication for some years in Rockford. In the meantime other trade papers were purchased and con- solidated, The publication office was removed to Chicago, and the Journal, now a semi-monthly, is one of the most prosperous trade papers in the west.'

The Monitor, a weekly publication in the interest of the Prohibition party, issued its first number in May, 1885. It was published by the Prohibition company, with James Lamont as secretary and editor. In 1890 the Monitor was sold to James Lamont and Charles M. Whipple. Its publication was continued by the Monitor Publishing company until July, 1897, when, owing to business troubles the Monitor was suspended. The Chicago Lever was purchased in 1892 by the Monitor Publishing company, and brought to Rockford. It was published each Thursday and was a national organ of the Prohibition party. James Lamont was edi- tor. In July, 1897, the Lever was sold to James Lamont and Liberty Walkup, who, in February, 1899, sold it to Dickie & Woolley, and the office of publication was transferred to Chicago. In September, 1899, it was merged with the New Voice of Chicago. The Sunday Mercury, started in December, 1890, by C. H. Seiders and Alex Majors, was a creditable paper, but only a few numbers were published.

The Rockford Morning Star is the first suc- cessful morning newspaper published in the city. The late Hon. J. Stanley Browne, the editor-in-chief, came to Rockford in 1887. He had served two terms as a Democratic member of the New York legislature from Otsego County, and for five years was secretary to Lieutenant- Governor Dorscheimer, when Samuel J. Tilden was governor. Mr. Browne's first newspaper work in Rockford was in 1887, when he became editor and publisher of the Rockford Journal. In the following spring a stock company was organized for the publication of the Morning Star, and March 20 the first number was issued. Many changes have been made in the business and reportorial staff, but, with a brief interim, Mr. Browne was editorially connected with the Star from the first. Mr. Browne died at Rock- ford November 14, 1915, He has been succeeded as managing editor by John V. Riley, for many

years connected with the Star as advertising manager. Roscoe S. Chapman is publisher and general business manager.

In the spring of 1890 the Republican, now the Republic, company was organized with a capital of $10,000, of which about $7,000 was paid in. The first board of directors was as follows: W. H. Worthington, H. H. Robinson, H. C. Scovill, W. G. Conick, H. O. Hilton, W. J. Johnson, Harry Marean, C. H. Godfrey, J. A. Johnson. The first number of the Republican was issued April 10, 1900, with H. O. Hilton as editor; Harry Marean, business manager, and Will J. Johnson, city editor. The Republi- can was a morning daily, without a Sunday edition. In politics the paper was radical Republican. In 1893 C. D. Allyn, who had been on the staff of the old Daily Gazette, purchased an interest, and the company issued an evening edition. There were several changes in the business management, Mr. Marean being suc- ceeded in turn by Will J. Johnson, W. H. Worth- ington and C. D. Allyn. In 1896 Charles L. Miller, Harry M. Johnson and John E. Warfield purchased a controlling interest in the plant. The name was changed to the Republic. The officers of the company are: C. L. Miller, presi- dent; H. M. Johnson, vice-president; H. T. Peterson, secretary and treasurer; H. W. Pol- lard, business manager. Thomas Barney Thomp- son is managing editor,

In 1892 Charles A, Church organized a stock company, with a capital of $5,000, for the publication of the Spectator. Abraham E. Smith was business manager, and the paper was printed in the office of the Smith Publishing company. The first number was issued May 21, 1892. The Spectator was strictly a literary and family paper with an able corps of contributors. Among the latter were the late Mrs. Eva T. Clark, Mrs. Marie T. Perry, Mrs. Caroline A, P. Brazee, Mrs. Mary Urquhart Lee, Mrs. H. M. Johnson, Hon. Charles E.' Fuller of Belvi- dere, and the Rev. C. H. Moscrip of Rockford. From a literary point of view, the Spectator was eminently successful, but the expense of maintaining it was far beyond the receipts that a new paper of its kind was able to com- mand. After one year the distinctive features of the Spectator were abandoned and the paper was issued as a daily. The first number ap- peared May 15, 1893. The financial stringency which came so suddenly upon the country dur-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972