History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 15

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 15

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The idea of issuing a newspaper at regular intervals, that is, every week, first originated in the mind of Egenolf

Emmel, of Frankfort, and with his Frankfurter Journal, which made its ap- pearance in 1615, the transition from the irregular publications, such as the Relationen, to the newspapers, was made. The same journal still flourishes, and the house from which it was first issued, may yet be seen. The Journal appeared as a weekly up to the year 1740; then it appeared oftener; in 1795, it appeared five times a week, and subsequently be- came a daily.

In England, the mental appetite was fed by the News Letter, a manuscript production, which was only furnished at fabulous prices. It was in 1622, as above mentioned, when the first English newspaper was born. This was The Weekly News from Italie und Germanie, which was printed upon a mechanical contrivance, perfected by one Nathaniel Butler, who is thus the progeniter of the English press. The first attempt at the publication of parliamentary reports was made in 1641, when the parties and politics of the realm first occupied a place in the newspaper. It was some seven years later, in 1648, when the first advertisement appeared. This was in verse form, and was an invitation to call upon a fashionable tailor of the period, and purchase of him the styles then in vogue among the beaux.

The pioneer daily morning newspaper of the world was the London Courret, which was initiated in 1709, and con- sisted of only one page of two columns, each five paragraphs long, and was made up from translations from foreign jour- mals. The revolutions in journalism during the present century have been of so stupendous a type as to be almost beyond comprehension, were we not

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brought face to, face with the fact day by day. In this country, from the ad- vent of the Boston News Letter, in 1704, unto the present time, when the United States can boast of its 962 daily, and over 8,000 weekly papers, seems a tre- mendous step in the forward march of improvement, but is only a forerunner of what may be the achievements and power of an independent press in a free, republican country in the future.

Jersey county has had considerable opportunity to test the value of news- papers, as aids in building up its busi- ness centers, and making known its re- sources and advantages to the outer world, while the ennobling influences of the press has been incalculable; and, as a general thing, its citizens have always manifested a liberal spirit of en- couragement toward the various jour- nalistic enterprises that have originated in their midst, and which support is rapidly growing in extent and volume. It would be almost impossible to esti- niate in a money value, the advantages derived by Jersey county, in a business point of view, from the influence of the press, but it is beyond all cavil inesti- mable. At all times the press has, in advocacy of local interests, called into requisition respectable, and in many instances, eminent talent, which has a tendency to inspire its citizens, as well as friends, with hope and confidence in its prosperity.

As patrons of the press, as would be expected of those who people it, Jersey county's citizens have established a good name. As records of current history, the emanations of the local press should be preserved by town and county gov- ernment among the archives for refer-

ence. These papers are the depositories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and achievements, that go to make up the history of the day. One by one these things are gathered and placed in type; one by one these papers are gathered together and bound, and another volume of local, general, and individual history is laid away imper- ishable. The volumes thus collected are sifted by the historians, and the book for the library is ready.

There should be some means devised by which press records might be pre- served and made accessible. This is, of course, attempted in all offices, but by the removal of editors, who claim the files as their property, and a general carelessness on the part of all inter- ested, in many instances the files are sadly deficient.

BACKWOODSMAN.

This was the singular title of the first newspaper ever issued within the lim- its of the county of Jersey. It was es- tablished in the year 1837, at Grafton, by Paris Mason, who was sole proprie- tor; but the editorial management was under the control of John Russell, quite a noted and talented gentleman. He was a native of Vermont, born at Cay- endish, that state, July 31, 1793. He entered Middlebury college in 1814, against the wishes of his parents, and was driven to the drudgery of author- ship by the stern necessity of procuring funds for his education and living. Ilis first venture in this line was "The Au- thentic History of the Vermont State Prison," published by Preston Merri- field. He was a noted school teacher,

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after leaving college. While teaching in Bonhommie bottom, Missouri, in 1819 or 1820, he wrote for the Missourian, a local paper, an anonymous article entitled, " The Venomous Worm," that much resembled in pithiness, pungency and brevity the writings of Benjamin Franklin, which attracted attention over the world. It was afterwards placed in Pierpont's and in McGuffey's readers, as a specimen of native talent He took charge of the Backwoodsman on its inau- guration, and remained at the helm of that paper until the organization of the county, in 1839, when he removed to Louisville, Ky., and, in 1841 and 1842, edited the Advertiser, of that place. In 1828 he came to Bluffdale, a very ro- mantic place in Greene county, where he made his residence, except at such times as related above, until the day of his death, Jan. 21, 1865. As a writer (and he was considerable of an author) his language was chaste and classical, his style clear and concise, although sometimes vigorously ornate; his taste was pure and his thoughts always ap- propriate and frequently striking.

In 1839, when Jerseyville was made the seat of county government, a joint stock company of Jerseyville people purchased the paper and material and removed it to the county seat, and in the spring of 1840 its publication was resumed, with A. S. Tilden as editor. This gentleman did not remain long, but was suceceded by Fletcher and Par- enteau, who had obtained control of it and changed its name to that of the

NEWSPAPER.

This paper had a life of only about four months, when the office was de-

stroved by fire, and it never was revived. Mr. Fletcher afterwards started and pub- lished the Carrollton Advocate, in 1842.

THE DEMOCRATIC UNION.

During the year 1854, the above named paper was established at Jersey- ville, by Thomas Wright, who came from Indiana. The Union was the first democratic paper ever published at Jer- seyville. Its publication was continued by Mr. Wright until 1856, when it was suspended and he left town. The fol- lowing year Henry H. Howard revived the paper, and was succeeded in 1858 by John C. Doblebower, who continued to publish the Union until the 1st of April, 1865, when it was discontinued. The following valedietory appeared in the last issue of that paper:

" We approach the above subjeet with feelings of the greatest regret. We are filled with compunctions because the ehange we have recently made from the editorial chair of the loved and cherished Democratic Union to that of the Alton National Democrat, while it has, perhaps, been an advantage to us, has resulted in the death of our old friend. This was wholly unexpected by us, nor did we know such was the intention of the com- mittee to whom we sold, until the ar- rangements were so far completed as to make it unadvisable to negotiate upon that point. * *

" To our friends and patrons in Jersey county and elsewhere, we return our hearty thanks for the liberal and con- stant support they have given us; we shall cherish their friendship and kind- ness to the latest moment of our fu- ture existence. We should be pleased

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

if that kindness and liberality should follow us into our new relations, and hope to have the pleasure of receiving a share of their support and patronage while we shall occupy our new position as the editor of the daily and weekly Alton National Democrat. To the editor and the paper that shall succeed us and our paper, the Democratic Union, we wish the most unbounded success; and we welcome both into the field of journal- ism in Jersey county, hoping that they may successfully maintain and defend the good old cause of Jeffersonian dem- ocracy."

The office material was purchased by a stock company, and a new journal was immediately inaugurated in Jerseyville, which was christened

THIE JERSEY COUNTY DEMOCRAT.

The first issue of this paper appeared April 7, 1865, under the editorial man- agement of Augustus C. Smith. It was a seven-column folio, all printed at home and displayed a good amount of adver- tising-the life and existence of a coun- try paper at that time. Mr. Smith con- tinued in editorial charge of the Demo- crat until the issue of April 20, 1866, when the stock company was dissolved, and Thomas J. Selby became editor and proprietor. With the issue of October 9, 1869, Mr. Selby disposed of the paper to A. A. Wheelock and L. L. Burr. On that date of the Democrat, the follow- ing notice of the change was made by the new proprietors:

"The undersigned, having purchased of T. J. Selby the Jerseyville Democrat, appear before the old friends and patrons of that paper confident that with their effort and co-operation, the enterprise

will prove a success. They come with- out promises or pledges, save only the discharge of their duty as public jour- nalists, and with the determination to devote their time and talent to the best of their ability, to build up and main- tain a local paper that shall reflect the interests and advance the prosperity of the citizens of Jerseyville and the county.

"The name of the paper will remain unchanged. Its politics will be demo- cratic, aiming, at all times, to discuss political questions fairly and candidly, and reserve the right to condemn cor- ruption and wrong, wherever brought to light. The support of the public generally is respectfully solicited."

With the issue of September 29, 1870, Wheelock & Burr sold the Democrat office to J. A. J. Birdsall and J. I. McGready, formerly of the Macoupin Times. In the first issue, under the control of the new firm, the following salutatory appeared.

"Having purchased the office of the Jersey county Democrat from Messrs. Wheelock and Burr, with the present issue, the undersigned assumes its con- trol and management.

"It is customary upon such occasions to publish a long salutatory, full of pledges and promises, and abounding with fine words. We shall do nothing of the kind. It is one thing to promise and another to perform. Any man can tell what a good newspaper ought to be. Few men can make one. Without at- tempting the former, we shall try our best to accomplish the latter.

"The only pledge we have to make is, that it shall be as good a newspaper, and as soundly democratic, as we know how to make it."

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Mr. Birdsall was connected with the paper about one year, when he retired and Mr. MeGready became sole editor and proprietor. In the issue of Oct. 27, 1871, speaking of the change, Mr. Mc- Gready says :

"Having purchased Mr. Birdsall's in- terest in the Democrat, the responsibility of continuing the paper devolves upon myself. I hope to be able, in a short time, to present to the people of Jersey county a paper in every way worthy of their support, one, at least, equally as good as is generally published in a place the size of Jerseyville. Of course, I shall look particularly to the democracy of Jersey county for encouragement and support. The paper will be 'demo- cratic at all times and under all cireuni- stances.' I therefore call upon all the democrats to give me whatever support they can in the way of subscriptions, advertising and job work. It has been said by some one who has evidently made the matter a particular study, that 'money makes the mare go,' and it will make a printing office just as 'goish.'"

From this time until 1880, the Demo- erat was under the exclusive control of Mr. McGready. During that time, he brought it to a high standard in journal- ism in this part of the state, and be- came very popular with all classes, with- out regard to political belief, and also enjoyed a most prosperous existence. At the beginning of the new year of 1880, the Democrat was changed in form to a six-column eight-page paper, pre- senting a very neat and tasty appear- ance, in which form it has continued permanently. Mr. McGready disposed of the paper to its present editor and proprietor, J. M. Page, Nov. 11, 1880,

after a most successful career of over ten years. In severing his connection with the Democrat, in the last issue un- der his supervision, he took occasion to say:

'. Having sold the Democrat office to Mr. J. M. Page, our management with the paper ceases. We return our thanks to our friends for the liberal patronage and encouragement extended us during ten years connection with the demo- cratie organ of Jersey county, and ask that it be continued to the new proprie- tor, who is in every way worthy of the confidence of the party, and the people generally. Subscriptions up to Octo- ber 1st, and advertising and job work up to Nov. 1, 1880, will be payable to me. With our best wishes for the read- ers of the Democrat, we bid them good- bye."

On presenting himself to the friends and patrons of the Democrat, Mr. Page indulges in a salutatory which appears in the issue of November 11, couched in the following language :

"Having purchased the Democrat of its late proprietor, Jesse I. McGready, whose retirement from the paper is caused by his election to the office of circuit clerk, we offer our salutatory to our friends in to-day's issue. We shall continue the Democrat in its present form for a while at least. It will still be dem- ocratie politically, and we shall strive to instill into the minds of our readers the true meaning of all that the phrase signifies, feeling, as we do, that the well- fare of this country needs patriots not only to fight for its perpetuity when as- sailed by enemies, but to preserve it from the peculations of unscrupulous ofliceholders, the tyranny of demagogues

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

and the machinations of ambitious party leaders. These evils to be shunned are to-day found in the bosom of the repub- lican party, nurtured and protected by it, and unless throttled by the honest yeo- manry of the country will sap the vital- ity of our free institutions. Men whose characters have been weighed in the scales of public opinion and found want- ing, even when balanced by friendly hands, have been elected to fill the two highest offices in the gift of the people, and we see in the near future a plot to overthrow the constitutional liberty of this country, and establish on the ruins thereof a monarehial government, against the thought of which the feeling of the patriot should rise above that of the partisan. The perpetuation of our pres- ent form of government, we believe, is in the success of democratie principles in the field of politics, and we shall en- deavor to impress this upon the minds of our readers until the sun shall rise upon this nation to find it freed from sectional strife, and a man seated in the presidential chair who will be put there by the honest vote of a free people, honestly counted, and not a political demagogue. We shall strive to make the Democrat a newspaper in fact as well as in name, and to succeed in this, ask all our friends to aid us. If you know of an item of interest tell it to us, that all may be enlightened. All personal- ities calculated to engender bitterness of feeling, one towards another, we shall try to exclude from our columns; but if such do at any time appear, don't come at us with a shot-gun, for that will do no good, but if told in a gentlemanly manner, we will make the amende honor- able, and be more careful in the future.

Ed. Gray will still have charge giving personal supervision to all job work; and we ask a liberal patronage from our citizens for this class of work, guaran- teeing satisfaction in all cases. In look- ing over our subscription list we notice the absence of the names of some of our prominent democrats. This should not be, as every party needs an organ, and in order for that organ to discourse first- class music to its patrons, the bellows should be filled by a high-pressure sub- scription list. This inspires the editor with enthusiasm, and his paper is filled with the vitality consequent thereon. We have a host of friends in this county who have often remarked: 'Joe, if we can do anything for you, let us know;' and we wish to say to them: Now is the time; come up with your $2.00 for a year's subscription to the Democrat, give us your job work, and tell us all you know, that we may tell it to others. The length of time intervening between this, our salutatory, and our valedictory, will depend entirely upon the success of our enterprise, as we do not intend to sacrifice ourself upon the altar of our country, and when we die have written as an epitaph upon our tombstone: ' Here lies a fool, who thought he could run a newspaper without being possessed of either money or brains.' We shall publish the paper at the old place of business, 'and will always be happy to greet our friends in our sanctuni. In closing this article, we quote an item from the Johnson county, Nebraska, Journal that applies to our case exactly: ' If you like the paper, help extend its circulation. If you don't like it, if it will relieve your feelings any to swear at it or its editor-pitch in.' "

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Since the accession of Mr. Page to the editorial chair of the Democrat, it has continued to enjoy a most flattering patronage. The paper is a six-column quarto at the present time, neatly printed, and manifesting in its make-up the oversight of a practical printer of first-class ability; ably edited, and with a large amount of spicy local matter and pungent editorial comment.

Joseph M. W. Page, editor and pro- prietor of the Jersey County Democrat, is among the business men of Jersey county who have, by the exercise of industry, energy, a sterling character, and of their natural abilities, won for themselves an honorable station in life. Ife is a native of Stoughton, Massachu- setts. Elisha Page, his father, was born in the same state, and was united in marriage to Almira Wightman, of Bos- ton. She still survives her husband. By this union there were five children, three of whom are living-Lizzie H., who has been a teacher of high stand- ing in the Stoughton high school, Bos- ton, during a period of over 30 years; Elisha W., farmer and grain dealer, Girard, Ill .; and the subject of this sketch, who was born May 20, 1845. Ifis father dying when Joseph was only three years of age, the responsibilities of real life rested heavily upon the mother and older members of the family, who were compelled to provide for themselves at a time when more favored youths were receiving an education and fitting them- selves for the battle of life. Joseph received a good education in the public schools of Stoughton. He graduated at the age of 16, just at the opening of the late civil war, and yielding to those patriotic desires which so marked his

career in after life, he enlisted in the 12th Massachusetts infantry; but after the usual examination to qualify as a soldier, he was not permitted to be mus- tered in, to his bitter disappointment, on account of age and ill-health. He returned home, where he remained attending school until the next year, when he again enlisted in the 35th Mas- sachusetts regiment, but was rejected for the same reason as on the previous occasion. In the spring of 1863, he bade farewell to friends and companions of the home circle, and launched his craft upon unknown currents, steering to the west. He landed at Greenville, Bond county, Ill., where he was em- ployed to work on a farm. Soon after, he went to St. Louis, and engaged him- self as a clerk in a wholesale grocery store, where he worked diligently for some time. Being irrepressible and thoroughly imbued with patriotism, he still desired to serve his country in time of need, and again offered his services to the government. This time he en- listed in the 40th Missouri infantry, in August, 1864, was accepted, and served till. the close of the war, being mustered out in August, 1865. He served under Generals Canby, Schofield and Thomas, taking an active part in various can- paigns. He was in several engagements in different states-at Spring Hill, Co- lumbia, Franklin, Nashville, second battle of Corinth, Mobile and Fort Blakeley. After the close of the war, he returned home, where he remained nearly a year, and in the spring of 1866, again came west, this time to Jersey- ville. He had now reached the age of 21, and upon his arrival his aggregate capital amounted to 25 cents. Then

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was shown the true metal of his charac- ter, for at this age how few young men would entertain the ambition to appren- tice themselves for a number of years to learn a trade and call for the sufficient will power and energy to accomplish the object they have in contemplation. This, Mr. Page did. He engaged him- self with Wm. Embley, architect and builder, for a period of three years, to learn the carpenter's trade, receiving for his services, the first year, the sum of $100, and $25 additional for each of the following years. Being apt, as well as industrious, he soon became a skill- ful workman, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship, was employed as fireman, with a lucrative compensation. by N. F. Smith, Jr., for whom he worked until 1877, when, on account of of threatened disturbance, occasioned by strikers who boldly disregarded law and order throughout the entire country -he having gained by his fearless, upright manner the confidence of the people and a reputation for undaunted bravery-was unanimously elected city marshal, his predecessor having been removed. Soon after he was elected, an incident occurred that now confirmed the respect and esteem in which he was held by the people. With the assist- ance of but two officers, Kinsla and Dunphy, he recaptured a train that was taken complete possession of by several hundred strikers, captured the leaders, and brought them to the bar of justice. They were sent to the penitentiary for a term of two years. He succeeded in subduing the mob spirit that had been gaining ground in the vicinity. For this meritorious conduct, he was pre- sented with a family pass by General

Manager McMullin, of the Chicago & Alton railroad. It is gratifying evidence of the manner in which he was endorsed by this people, as he was elected with- out opposition for four successive terms. In November, 1880, he resigned, and purchased of Jesse I. McGready, who had been elected circuit clerk, the Jer- sey County Democrat, the official organ of city and county. He has continued the publication of this news journal to the present. Under his ownership and vigorous management, many improve- ments have been added the office has been equipped with an Acme engine and large Campbell printing press, the paper has grown to be the pride of the party it represents in this county, has proved a paying investment, and continues to be one of the most potential democratic organs in this congressional district. It is in a great measure due to his efforts as a worker, and to the political articles published in his paper, that the county has remained so strongly democratic. Politically, he is most soundly indoc- trinated in the principles of the demo- cratie party, and has been an active member of that political organization since he cast his first vote for Seymour and Blair, in 1868. In political cam- paigns he has taken an active part, is an effective campaigner, and his time and services are in great demand in all interesting political times. He has held various offices of public trust at differ- ent times, among which have been city alderman, clerk and treasurer, is now chairman of city and county democratic central committees, secretary of con- gressional committee, 12th district, member of central committee of 7th circuit, secretary of Jersey County Sol-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

diers' Monument Association, and of the Jerseyville Manufacturing Co., Sir Knight Commander of Washington di- vision No. 2, U. R. K. of P., Chancel- lor Commander of Antioch lodge No. 65, K. of P., Post Commander of Lowe post No. 205, G. A. R., member of Jer- seyville lodge No. 295, A. F. & A. M., and of Apollo lodge No. 877, K. of H. His fidelity to publie trusts received still further evidence of the approbation of the people by his being appointed by the three judges of the 7th circuit as master in chancery of Jersey county, in the spring of 1885. In all his under- takings he has been eminently success- ful, and it is evident that all he has accomplished has been through his own efforts, and that, too, from very disad- vantageous beginnings, when he had no friends-not even an acquaintance, and in a strange land, thrown upon his own resources. His success in life is only an evidence of what can be accomplished by the exercise of sober industry, backed by an indomitable will-power. The world's measure of success is success. On the 17th of March, 1871, he was united in marriage with Sadie M. Remer, who is of American parentage, a native of New Jersey. Her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Remer, are yet living, and are residents of Jerseyville. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Page are both con- sistent members of the Baptist church,' he having joined in 1871. They have one child-Theodore.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 15

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150