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 88

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 88

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Association, who had the editorial con- trol, indulges in following salutatory:

"In assuming editorial charge of the Patriot, we are not without a keen ap- preciation of the responsibility that attaches to the office, and more espe- cially do we feel this when we consider the ends to be met before we can reason- ably expect to retrieve the paper from the disfavor into which it has, to some extent, fallen, by reason of the unfortu- nate management of our predecessors, and before we can again establish it in the confidenee of the citizens of Greene county. But we enter upon our duties in full faith that, with the kindly favor of our republican friends, and all others in the county who desire to have an- other good local paper at the county seat, we shall soon succeed in re-estab- lishing the Patriot upon a sound and permanent basis. It will be our pur- pose to make it a paper particularly de- voted to the interests of Greene, a home paper that will be welcome in every household in the county.

"Although we came to your city a stranger, still we have found many who have spoken words of encouragement and furnished other evidence of good will, and we already begin to feel at home in your midst. It shall be our earnest endeavor to always so conduct the Patriot in the interests of progress, temperance, law and order, as to com- mand your respect and material and and liberal support. without which the efforts of the editor, however earnest and untiring they may be, will be in vain. Presenting, then, this our first issue, and asking for it a friendly recep- tion, and charitable criticism, we leave it with you."

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

In this issue of the paper appears the advertisements of Hodges & Burr, John J. Fitzsimons, attorneys; Dr. Bull; Carrollton Clothing Manufacturing Com- pany, Stohr, Hartley & Co., then lo- cated on the west side of the square, Miss Mary Day, dealer in hairwork; Hodges & Keeley, groceries; Davis & Bushnell, lumber, and others. It was a neat and tasty sheet. and bears the marks of Mr. Miner's ability as a writer and genial humor.

Messrs. Miner & Lindley, with a char- acteristic energy, backed by ability and good business tact, built up the journal until it was upon a most excellent foot- ing. They continued to run it until Oct. 1, 1875, when they disposed of it to Clement L. Clapp. In bidding adieu to his readers, Mr. Miner penned the fol- lowing words:

"With this issue of the Patriot our connection with the paper ceases and we resign the editorial and business man- agement to Mr. Clement L. Clapp, of Jacksonville, who has purchased the offiee.

"We part with the Patriot with reluct- ance. After 18 months of close labor we have succeeded in bringing it up out of the slough of disfavor in which it had long lain, by reason of its unfortunate management in the hands of our prede- cessors, and now have the satisfaction of seeing it planted on a good basis, with its subscription patronage daily increas- ing, and its advertising and job work enhanced 300 per cent. However, we feel that we are leaving it in good hands, and can assure our patrons that they will lose nothing by the change-on the other hand we confidently expect they will be the gainers. The gentleman

who succeeds us is a graduate of lowa College, and recently a tutor in Illinois College at Jacksonville; also editor of "College notes," which have for the past year formed a prominent feature in the Jacksonville Journal. He has had two years experience on the editoral staff of an eastern daily, and is other- wise well posted in the duties pertaining to his position; therefore, we expect the Patriot to still live and thrive and con- tinue to grow in favor with the people of the county. Thanking the good peo- ple of Carrollton and vicinity for the many manifestations of their good will toward us, and their appreciation of our labors in the attempt to furnish an ac- ceptable paper, and with special ac- knowledgements to our neighbors of the Gazette for courtesies, timely and sub- stantial, we bid adieu."

On Friday, Oet. 1, 1875, was issued the first paper under the control of the present able editor, Clement L. Clapp. He has brought the office, both in its paper and its job departments to a high state of efficiency, while the paper man- ifests the hand of a born journalist, one of the brighter lights of Illinois news- paperdom.

WHITE HALL REGISTER.

This paper, one of the representative journals of Greene county, was first issued Aug. 21, 1869, by S. H. Davis and F. Glossop, the former in the editor- ial chair. It was a very neat seven-col- umn folio, at that time, and well gotten up, both mechanically and editorially. In obedience to time-honored custom, the editor opens with the following salu- tatory:

"When, in the course of human events, it is deemed proper by one or

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

more individuals, to dissolve the bands theretofore connecting them with the rest of the human family, and to enter upon the business of conducting a news- paper, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that he, she, or they, should declare the causes which impel him, her, or them, to make so rash a venture; or, in other words, not farther to travesty that venerable docu- ment, the Declaration of Independence, do what candidates for office assume to do in their long-winded speeches, to- wit: define their position, though heaven knows, if to define be to make definite, these latter personages are guilty of gross perversion of language, when they apply the phrase just quoted. Comply- ing with the demand aforesaid, and with the common practice of individuals in our situation, and greeting the good people of White Hall in particular, and of Greene county, in general, we pro- ceed to state that we have established the White Hall Register. First, because we expect to make it pay ourselves; sec- ondly, because we expect to make it pay our patrons; and third, because we ex- pect to make it pay White Hall. Whether or not our expectations shall be fulfilled is contingent upon two things, to-wit: The manner in which this paper shall be conducted, and the measure of patronage and encourage- ment which it shall receive from the public. If we did nothing ourselves capable of satisfactorily meeting the first named condition, we should not have made the attempt. And were we not reasonably certain that the latter condition would be satisfactorily met we should not be wasting stationery upon this salutatory. As touching the

whole matter, we have to say that we shall labor earnestly and with all our abilities to make the Register such a journal as no intelligent resident of this county, and especially of this town, can afford not to take and pay for, and we rely upon our efforts in this be- half, and upon the public spirit and enterprise of our fellow citizens, to se- cure the needed patronage. Now a few words as to the editorial conduct of the paper, its policy, its principles, if you please. First and foremost, that conduct will regard the interests of White Hall. The leading principles will be that whatever is good for White Hall is good for the Register ; and our policy will be squared by that sound doctrine. We shall do all in our power to make this a live, go-ahead town. We shall show up its advantages, natural and artificial, its desirability as a place of residence, its facilities as a trading point, its adapta- tion for manufacturing purposes, and, in a word, in every way possible, shall advertise it to the world. Of whatever will inure to the benefit of White Hall, we shall be the persistent advocate, and as persistent an opponent of whatever threatens the prosperity of the town. This is our town. We have come here to live and we mean to aid in making our home a good one. As to politics, the Register will be democratie. In this respect we shall not be 'red-hot' if to attain and maintain that high degree of temperature it be requsite, in writing of our political opponents, to use the lan- guage of the Billingsgate fish-wives, and to deal in personal abuse. We have no taste for the 'Parson' Brownlow and 'Brick' Pomeroy style of journalism. To all such who do, we will give the

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

friendly advice not to subscribe for the Register. While our political opinions are as above indicated, and those of the present National administration are dif- ferent, we shall not for that reason feel called upon to oppose every act of that administration. The good things that President Grant or congress may do- and we hope they may be many-we shall heartily endorse. And the evil things-whereof we pray there may be few-we shall earnestly condemn. And generally we shall not commend a polit- ical scoundel as a saint, because he is a democrat, or call an honest man a thief, because he is a republican. So saying, good people, we introduce to your ac- quaintance the White Hall Register, hoping that you and it may become fast friends, and that from the friendship may result much advantage to you and to us."

This firm continued the business but a short time, Frank Glossop retiring Nov. 6, 1869, and S. H. Davis carrying on the paper until May 28, 1870, when he disposed of the office and material to Charles H. Johnson. Mr. Davis had conducted the paper in a very able man- ner, some very fine editorials appearing from time to time from his pen.

Johnson commenced with the follow- ing address to the patrons of the paper and the public, as is the manner of the craft:

"The undersigned, with the retire- ment of Mr. Davis, assumed charge of the Register this week, and merges his individuality into the editorial "we." In so doing, we have no lengthy pro- fessions to make, or lavish promises to give. The politics of the paper will be unchanged. Its local policy will be as

heretofore, and the editor, to the full measure of his ability, will strive to merit and to win public approval. We have been with the Register since its es- tablishment, and its successive issues, together with the job work done in the office, are the witnesses to our know- ledge of typography. We think we know what the demands of the people here are in the way of a newspaper, and shall labor to supply those demands, with reasonable hope of success. In the performance of our duties, we ask the indulgent criticism of our patrons, and of the press. So saying, we doff our hat in greeting to the public, and utter our 'low d'ye do?' "

Mr. Johnson was an enterprising, go- ahead man, and with the issue of Sept. 3, 1870, the paper was enlarged to eight columns and presented a neat appear- ance. lIe continued to publish the journal until the month of Jan., 1875, when the White Hall Register Company was formed, with Henry Johnson, as president, and Charles H. Johnson, as secretary and treasurer. This company continued the paper from the issue of Jan. 9, until March, 1882, when Fletcher Cain became editor and proprietor. He commenced well, but July 28, 1883, the office passed into the hands of Palmer & Roberts, Mr. Cain stepping down and out, with the following witty valedic- tory, under the heading, "We've quit." "With this issue of the White Hall Register we step down from the editorial chair, and walk out of the reporter office. We are done.

"In our brief career as editor, we have doubtless made mistakes. If so, we do not beg that your criticism be lenient, but harsh and cutting; and if

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

our course has met the approbation of a single individual, we beg his pardon, as it was entirely unintentional on our part. If we have said anything we are sorry for, we are glad of it, and if we had the opportunity, would say it again.

"In retiring, we turn over the busi- ness to Messrs. Hiram H. Palmer and Prof. William J. Roberts, of the Rood- house Journal, two gentlemen of ability and integrity. Their personal beauty is perhaps not equal to our own, but they are men with heads on, and know what they are about.

"To satisfy the idle curiosity of out- siders, and save the office from the tor- ture of impertinent questions, we will say that our withdrawal is the result of a purely business transaction, and the fact that we have made a mint of money is more than we can bear up under. We will probably spend the remainder of the season at Saratoga, or somewhere else.

"All debts due the office will be paid to Messrs. Palmer & Roberts-we hope, and all liabilities will be assumed by them.

"In conclusion, we will add that we have made arrangements with a promi- nent dry goods house of this place, to furnish to subscribers, free of charge, handkerchiefs sufficient to wipe away all genuine tears shed over our withdrawal. As to ourselves, we will enter upon- but it's nobody's business what we enter upon.

The following announcement appeared in the same paper, which fully explains itself:

" After this week's issue the White Hall Register exists no longer. Realiz-

ing the fact that fewer newspapers and bet-er ones are what the people of Greene county desire and believing that by a combination of the two, we would be enabled to give our readers at Rood- house, at White Hall, at Carrollton, and in fact all over the county and state, a more interesting, more readable and more influential newspaper, the proprie- tors of the Daily and Weekly Journal have purchased the White Hall Register, printing presses and outfit, books, ac- counts, files and good will.

" The Daily Journal will also be pub- lished as heretofore.

" The Weekly Journal will also be continued as before, while the White Hall edition will be issued under the name of the White Hall Watchman.

"W. J. Roberts will open an office in White Hall and have headquarters there, while H. H. Palmer will continue at Roodhouse.

"This combination gives us the largest circulation of any newspaper in Greene county, and as the paper will go to thousands of readers (having 1,500 sub- scribers) in all parts of this and adjoin- ing counties, it will make it the best advertising medium in this part of the state.

" The Journal has just put in a large, improved Fair Haven newspaper press, and by the combination of the two offices has enlarged and increased facilities for all kinds of job work, which we guar- antee will be done as well as at any office in Greene county. The paper will continue to be democratic, but will boldly and fearlessly speak its senti- ments upon all questions of public policy.

"The Daily Journal is the only demo-

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cratic daily paper published in the 12th congressional district, except the Quincy Herald, and we bespeak the hearty sup- port of the democrats of this district."

Although the above announcement says that the name of the paper would be changed to that of Watchmen, the edition was continued in White Hall under its old name of Register, the printing being done at Roodhouse. With the issue of July 4, 1884, Mr. Palmer retired from the firm, Mr. Roberts continuing the paper. In the latter part of Aug., 1884, the material of this office was removed to White Hall, but upon the 26th of November the office with all its contents was dis- troyed by fire, a total loss of about $1,600, to the publisher, upon which there was no insurance. With charac- teristic energy, however, Mr. Roberts did not allow the paper to miss an issue on that account, having it printed in the office of the Carrollton Gazette until June 1, 1885, when a new outfit was purchased. July 7, 1885, M. Owings became a partner in the enterprise, but only remained a short time. The paper is now run by W. J. Roberts, in White Hall, and is an excellent representative of mechanical excellence, and ability.

GREENFIELD INDEPENDENT.

This was the pioneer journal of the town of Greenfield, and was established by Morton & Pickett, in the spring of 1869. A neat paper, it had quite a lib- eral support, but after a time Mr. Mor- ton collecting all the outstanding ac- counts of the firm, and borrowing all that he could on the good name of the Independent, skipped out of the country, leaving Mr. Pickett the office, and the

debts to run the paper on. But it could not be, so this journalistic venture came to an untimely end.

THE COMET.

Mr. Pickett, who still kept the office of the Independent, published a paper by the above name for a time. Like the meteor from which it drew its name it was bright and sparkling, but sadly, erratic, appearing spasmodically, and finally disappeared in the dark void that has swallowed up so many other journals.

THE LOCOMOTIVE.

In the early spring of 1870, the ma- terial of the Independent office was pur- chased by A. G. Meacham and a part- nership formed between himself and a party by the name of Milton, a fine practical printer, and under the name of Meacham & Milton the Locomotive was started. They pulled the throttle valve wide open, and for a while the Locomo- tive ran along quite smoothly and drew a good advertising and subscription list. Finally, Mr. Meacham left, dissolving the co-partnership, and Milton start- ing a paper at Brighton, and one at Win- chester, moved the press to Brighton, although he still continued to print the Locomotive. W. T. Pickett became his partner and the journal was made semi-weekly, but after a short time the subscription list and good will was sold to C. H. Johnson, of the White Hall Register, who continued to print local editions of the Locomotive for some little time, but finally abandoned even that.

GREENFIELD NEWS.

In the spring of 1875, a man by the name of Walker brought a press and

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

the material of an office from Carlinville to Greenfield and commenced the pub- lication of a paper with the above head- ing. This was of a sharp, spicy nature, independent in everything, neutral in nothing; but for want of sufficient sup- port, soon, like its predecessors, came to an untimely end. The office was left in the hands of the backers of the en- terprise, and after remaining idle for some months was leased by Byron Orr and John Walker, who commenced the issue of

THE GREENFIELD DISPATCHI.

Walker was identified with the enter- prise but a few days when he abandoned it to his partner, Mr. Orr, who con- tinued the publication a few months, when he sold out to W. T. Pickett. This gentleman carried on the paper without any very flattering prospects until May 12, 1877, when finding it would not pay, he sold out to Mr. Farris, who was publishing the Greene county Democrat, at White Hall. After this the office remained idle until the publica- tion of the

GREENE COUNTY REPUBLICAN.

The first issue of this new effort in the journalistic field was dated July 7, 1877. A few days previous, R. D. Sud- deth leased the office and initiated the paper, and continued its publication until March 23, 1878, when the Green- field Printing Co. purchased the entire outfit, and taking possession of it, com- menced the publication of the

GREENFIELD WEEKLY ARGUS.

W. W. Havens was installed as ed- itor and general manager, and the first

issue was dated March 30, 1878. It was a seven column folio, and was well filled with advertisements. From the past experiences of the newspapers in this town, who had all to succumb to the inevitable, it was to the no small anxiety of the new editor, the establish- ing of this new journal. On taking pos- session, Mr. Havens penned the fol- lowing salutatory, which appeared in the first issue of the paper:

"It is with many misgivings and per- turbations that we essay to mount the editorial tripod.

"We are fully cognizant of the suc- cessive failures of the several newspa- per enterprises heretofore attempted. Hence, our diffidence; and were it not for the assurances and encouragement given us by the leading business men and the community generally, we would have refrained from becoming a target for our enemies to shoot at. However, as we have assumed the duties of editor, we shall endeavor, with the continued encouragement of our friends and the assistance of our local agents at all the principal points, in this and adjoining counties, to make the weekly Argus a success.

"As to the political cast of the Argus, we can only say that we are a republi- can, but not exactly of the Hayes type. Nor, are we so blind and reckless a sample, as to advocate republican nom- inations for the county offices in Greene county, because, we believe that the re- publican party, before it can succeed or be fairly represented in this county, must by some manner of honorable means, either in its own or some other name, gain numerical strength sufficient to overcome that immortal twelve

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

hundred democratic majority that that now invariably places any man in office that secures the nomination. In our opinion, that government, cither lo- cal state or national, should be watched over by the people, and they divided into two parties, as nearly equal as pos- sible. When any party, no matter what, largely predominates over the other in numerical strength, the tendencies to fraud and extravagance are increased just in proportion to the excess of one party over the other. Hence we desire to see a reduction of the democratic majority to something reasonable. Then the local affairs of Greene county will be in a more satisfactory condition to all except the few aspirants for office.

"Our observations have been, that a newspaper that neither makes one glad nor sorry, is of short life. Therefore we shall make free to censure, in our own manner, such crookedness, either individual, social or political, as may come under our notice. At the same time, we shall be more prompt, if pos- sible, to award the meed of praise to the deserving.

"Knowing, as we do, that we cannot please everybody, we shall attempt the next best thing, to please ourselves, hoping that a large majority of our read- ers will see the utility of such a course, and be pleased accordingly.

"We have taken hold of this newspa- per enterprise with a limited amount of "shekels," and in consequence must remind our friends that in order to make the enterprise successful and at the same time give them a live paper, money must be had. Therefore, we hope our friends will not hesitate to come for- ward with their cash subscriptions. Our

patrons need not fear that the enterprise will fall through as the others have done, for we have come here to stay. We have got to stay, because we can't get away.

" With your forbearance, gentle criti- cisms, and patronage, we will endeavor to publish a paper that will make your faces wider, instead of longer, and be a credit to our thrifty little village, and ourself."

The .fryus continued under the man- agement of Mr. Haven, until the time of his death, which took place upon the 8th of Dee., 1884.

W. W. Haven was the eldest son of Isaac and Mercie Haven; was born in Addison county, Vt., on the 1st day of Aug., 1831. In the year of 1843. he immigrated to Greene county, in com- pany with his parents, his brother Roh- ert, and his sister, now Mrs. James French, settling northeast of Green- field, and engaged in the pursuit of farming, and attending school. Young Haven acquired a good education, and in 1849 he was employed in the store of R. M. Booker, where he served for about one year. He was next engaged in teaching singing and publie schools, and established quite a reputation throughout the eastern portion of the county, as an efficient teacher of music. On Oct. 27, 1853, he married Georgia A. Kemper, born Dec. 25, 1834, in Ken- tucky, who survived him. After his marriage he continued the profession of teaching, until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the 40th Ill. Inf., and served until the close of the war, and received an honorable dis- charge. He was with Sherman at Shi- loh, in his march to the sea, and through

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

the Carolinas. On his return, he en- gaged in farming until 1870, when, in company with W.S. G. Allen, he entered the grain and milling business, which proved pecuniarily disastrous. He then engaged in journalism, first as a corres- pondent, then as managing editor of the Argus, in which he continued to his death. Mr. Haven also spent much of his time as an auctioneer, and had a good business in this and adjoining counties. Though pecuniarily unfortu- nate, Mr. Haven possessed energy and pluek to a great degree, and abilities of no mean proportions. Socially, he was a genial and agreeable companion, fond of a good story, and ever ready to add to the entertainment of those with whom he associated. At the formation of the lodge of the K. of P., at this place, he was a charter member, as well as one of the originators of Weisner post, G. A. R., maintaining his mem- bership in each until his death. In politics, he was a stalwart republican, and a warm defender of republican measures and principles. He had three sons-V. H. Haven, Leon Haven, and Gilman Haven. He was buried in the cemetery at Rubicon, where the de- ceased members of his family were in- terred.

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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 88

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