USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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HE history of printing dates back to the fifteenth century. Its discovery was like that of all great industrics, the result of an accident. No long rescareh or great study upon any one subject, evolved one great industry, or one grand original idea. It was while searching through tlie caverns of science and groping in its dark chambers that nien
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
have stumbled upon new discoveries, that when brought out and hield up to the intellectual light of the age, and practical thought, had had time to surround it with patient investigation; then the discovery took shape, utility, and became an industry. The dis- covery of printing was made by Laurentius Coster while rambling through the forests contiguous to his native city of Haerlen. To fill an idle hour he cut some letters on the bark of a birch tree. Lying down to sleep he wrapped his handiwork in a piece of paper. Dampened by the atmospheric moisture, the paper wrapped about the bark had taken an impression of the characters, and Coster saw on the paper inverted images of what he had cut on the bark. The phenomenon was suggestive, because it led to experiments that resulted in the establishment of a printing office, the first of its kind in that old Dutch town. In this office John Gutenburg served a faithful and appreciative apprenticeship, and from it at the death of his master absconded during a Christmas festival, taking with him a considerable portion of type and apparatus. Gutenburg settled in Mentz, where he won the friendship and partnership of John Faust, a man of sufficient means to place the enterprise on a secure financial basis. Several years later the partnership was dis- solved because of a misunderstanding. Gutenburg then formed a partnership with a younger brother, who had set up an office at Strasburg, but had not been successful, and becoming involved in lawsuits, had fled from that city to join his brother at Mentz. These brothers were the first to use metal types. Faust, after his dissolution with Gutenburg took into partnership Peter Schoffer, one of his servants, and an ingenious printer. Schoffer privily cut matrices for the whole alphabet, and when he showed his mas- ter the type cast from these matrices, Faust was so much pleased that he gave Schiffer his only daughter in marriage.
These are the great names in the early history of printing, and each is worthy of special honor. Coster's discovery of wood blocks or plates, on which the pages to be printed were engraved, w is made some time between 1440 and 1450, and Schæffer's im- provements, casting the type by means of matrices, were made about 1456.
For a long time printing was dependent upon the most clumsy apparatus. The earliest press had a contrivance for running the forms under the point of pressure by means of a screw. When the pressure had been supplied, the screw was loosened, the form with- drawn, and the sheet removed. Improvements upon these crude beginnings have been made from time to time, until the hand- presses now in use are models of simplicity, durability and execu- tion. In 1814 steam was first applied to cylinder presses by Frede- rick Koniger. Saxon genius and the subsequent progress of steam printing have been so remarkable as almost to justify a feeling in the final perfection of this wonderful art. Indeed, to appreciate the improvements which have been made in presses only, one should have stood by while the pressman operated the clumsy machine of Gutenburg, and then, if possible, have stepped into one of the well-appointed printing offices of our larger cities, where he could notice the roll of dampened paper entering the jaws of the great power presses, a continuous shect, and issuing from it as printed newspapers, cut, pasted and folded ready for the carrier, mail or express.
It would be interesting to trace more minutely the history of this great art from its humble origin in Haerlem through all succes- sive stages to the present, and to classify its products whereby " tongues are known, knowledge groweth, judgment increaseth, books are dispersed, the Scriptures read, stories be opened, times be compared, and all through the benefit of printing." For near a thousand years prior to its introduction, mankind had been sur-
rounded with the densest ignorance the world has ever known. Teutonic barbarians had swept over fair Italy, sacked her capital, and despised her civilization, as unworthy even the indulgence of men dependent upon muscle and sword for empire and liberty. Vandalism had been christened, and had mocked the wisdom of philosophers, while destroying and defacing the master-pieces of Grecian and Roman sculpture and architecture. Attila, the "Scourge of God," at the head of vast Tartar hordes from Asiatic steppes had traversed the Roman Empire, spreading dismay and disaster, until checked at the fierce battle of Chalons. Omar liad burned the great Alexandrian library, atter declaring that if its volumes agreed with the Koran they were needless, if they con- flicted they were pernicious. During this period feudalism had kept the noble at war with his sovereign, had unsettled governments, and made men soldiers with scarcely time for necessary practice at arms; amusements were popular only, as they contributed to mar- tial prowess, and poetry in the main was but a minstrel's doggerel concerning the chivalrous deeds of a listening Knight, or the wonderful charins of a favorite mistress. Pepin had humbled the Long Beards, and had laid the keys of their cities at the feet of the Holy Father. From the fall of Rome there had been but little talent and time to cultivate letters. A few ecclesiastics scattered liere and there were the custodians of the learning saved from the wreeks of Grecian and Roman knowledge. The masses were igno- rant. They believed the hand which commonly held the sword would be disgraced if trained to wield the pen. Books were for the monks' cell or anchorite's cave, and the objective points of all study were to escape purgatory, to cast a horoscope to turn the baser metals into gold. Superstition, priesteraft and thirst for material renown moulded public acts and private training. Piety was best shown in pilgrimages to the Holy Sepulchre. When the dust-stained devotees became objects of Turkish contempt and per- secution, all Europe rushed to the rescue.
. While war destroys and demoralizes, not infrequently it pre- pares the way for beneficent reformations. The Crusades broke the power of feudalism, dispelled much geographical ignorance by making neighboring nations acquainted, gave an impetus to com- mercial enterprise, awakened the sluggish intellect, enlarged the human mind and rendered it more tolerant, introduced the luxu- ries and refinements of the Greek empire, and brought about magna chartas and free cities. With the expanding and inereas- ing commerce, arts came to the front, trades flourished and practice began to test precept. The middle classes, whose condition ever determines the character of an era or nation, obtained concessions and rights to which they had been strangers for centuries. The mental world began to move. Famous journeys and discoveries were made. Bacon and Schwartz studied the chemistry of the Arabs, and were among the first devotees at the shrine of physical science. Wycliffe translated the Bible into the English vernacu- lar. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and England, sought new out- lets for their surplus products of the soil, loom and fisheries. Men- tal darkness can make no continued stand against such enterprise as will ever find an exponent to herald its doings from nation to nation, and a medium to make its conquests the property of suc- ceeding generations. Europe was in a commercial and intellectual ferment when Coster set up his printing press in Haerlem, and in- augurated an art until then unknown. The world was ready for the newspaper. To understand the effect of this invention upon humanity, compare the enlightenment, civilization and progress of the present with the superstition, semi-barbarism, and mental stagna- tion of the middle ages. Printing is rolling back ignorance, vice and degradation, unfolding the mysteries of nature, and explaining
9
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the mandates of Him who made man in His own image, and ex- pects the homage of the creature due the Creator.
The Romans in the time of the emperors had periodical notices of passing events, compiled and distributed. These Acta diurna, or daily events were the newspaper of that age. In 1536 the first newspaper of modern times was issued at Venice, but governmental bigotry compelled its circulation in manuscript form. In 1663 the Public Intelligencer was published at London, and is credited with being the first English paper to attempt the dissemination of gen- eral information. The first American newspaper, was the Boston News Letter, whose first issue was made April 24th, 1704. It was a half sheet, twelve inches by eight, with two columns to the page. John Campbell, the postmaster, was the publisher. The Boston Gazette made its first appearance December 21st, 1719, and the American Weekly, at Philadelphia, December 22d, 1719. In 1776 the number of newspapers published in the colonies was thirty- seven. In 1828 this number had increased to eight hundred and fifty-two, and at the present time not less than ten thousand news- papers are supported by our people.
Journalism, by which is meant the compiling of passing public events, for the purpose of making them more generally known and instructive has become a powerful educator. Experience has been its only school for special training, its only text for study, its only test for theory. It is scarcely a profession, but is advancing rapidly towards that dignity. A distinct department of literature has been assigned to it. Great editors are writing into biographies, and formulating their methods and opinions : historians are rescuing from oblivion the every-day life of deceased journalists. Reprints of brilliant productions, such as the letters of Junius, are furnish- ing models. Interviews with famous journalists, touching the different phases of their profession, are deemed worthy of publication in book form. Leading universities have contemplated the inauguration of courses of study, specially designed to fit men and women for the duties of the newspaper sanctum. These innovations are not untimely, since no other class of men is so powerful for good or evil as editors. More than any other class they mould public opinion while expressing it; for, most men but echo the sentiments of favorite journalists. Even statesmen, ministers and learned pro- fessors not infrequently get their best thoughts from the papers they read.
For dates and facts relating to the early history of the press of Macon county, we are indebted to Messrs. Hamsher and Mosser and W. J. Usrey, who have kindly placed at our disposal careful and correct records and files which have supplied us with a great amount of information necessary to this article. We also desire to extend our thanks to L. M. Andrews, Hon. S. S. Jack, J. A. Brown, H. B. Funk, of Monticello, Shoaff Bros. of Paris, Ill., A. R. Arbuckle, W. H. Addis, Dr. Chenowith, T. O'Banion, John J. H. Young and others, for kindness shown and information given, which has enabled us to trace the history of the press of Macon county, from the first appearance of the Gazette, in June, 1851, down to the present time, and present it in such a form as we hope will be acceptable to our readers.
Previous to the establishing of a newspaper in Macon county, the people were dependent upon the St. Louis Republican and Spring- field papers for information from the outside world.
In the spring of 1851 James Shoaff, a resident of Pekin, Illinois, came on a visit to Decatur. He returned home, packcd up his printing office, placed it in a wagon and brought it here, set up the press, and arranged the material, and on the 26th day of June, 1851, the first issue of the first paper published within the borders of Macon county made its appearance. It was called
THE DECATUR WEEKLY GAZETTE.
It is somewhat difficult at this distant day to imagine the enthu- siasm with which the Gazette's first appearance was greeted. The necessity for an organ was seen at once. It was needed to speak for the county, for its agricultural resources, for its flattering promises of future greatness, for its rights and privileges as an organized member of a great state. The country was then sparsely settled, and journalism was in its infancy. That the surrounding counties might reap the benefits of the paper located here, agents were appointed to receive subscriptions for it in Bloomington, Pekin, Leroy, Sullivan, Clinton, Shelbyville, Urbana, Springfield, Jacksonville, Monticello, Mt. Pulaski, Charleston and Taylorville. In a short time a good list of subscribers was obtained. For a while the Decatur Gazette furnished the above places with foreign and home news. James Shoaff was editor and proprietor. The paper was printed in the west room of the "Son's Hall." It was an eight column folio, neutral in politics. The subscription price was $1.50 if paid within the year, and $2.00 if paid at the end of the year. Terms of advertising were : half column $18.00 per year; whole column $28.00. It was neatly printed and well patronized. Mr. Shoaff continued the publication of the Gazette until November 1st, 1856, when he sold the office to A. J. Davis and Isaac N. Underwood. The latter gentleman soon retired from the paper and was succeeded by James P. Boyd. After Davis and Underwood purchased the paper they converted it into the Demo- cratic organ of the county. The politics of the paper remained the same until the breaking out of the late war, when it espoused the cause of the Republican party, or at least supported all measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war, and suppression of the rebellion. The office remained in the possession of Davis until 1864, when he sold it to Lewis Cass, who took in as a partner J. J. Strong, a practical printer. It remained in the hands of Cass and Strong until July 11th, 1865, when the good-will and subscription lists were sold to W. J. Usrey, of the Chronicle, and from that date it was known as the Gazette and Chronicle. The material was sold and shipped to parties in Rockford, Illinois.
In order to trace the further history of the paper it is necessary to go back to 1855. The second journalistic venture in Macon county was made by Charles H. Wingate and William J. Usrey. The latter had determined as early as 1851 to start a paper in Decatur, but before he had time to mature his plans, Jantes Shoaff founded the Gazette. At that time there was not room nor support for two newspapers; therefore, Mr. Usrey, for the time being, abandoned the enterprise. Mr. Wingate had formerly owned a printing office in New Hampshire, which he had sold to parties on deferred payments. They failing to meet their payments the office reverted to Wingate, who brought some of the type to Decatur, and together with Mr. Usrey added other material, purchased a press, and started the
ILLINOIS STATE CHRONICLE.
The first issue was made on February third, 1855. It was a seven column folio. The partnership of Wingate and Usrcy continued until June ninth, 1855, when Wingate retired and Usrey becaine editor and proprietor. The Chronicle politically reflected the sentiments of the anti-Nebraska party. The Re- publican party had not yet come into existence. The political mission of the paper was to unite the remnants of the Old Line Whig and Know Nothing parties and all other opposition to the Democratic party on one common platform. For this work Mr. Usrcy was eminently qualified. The Chronicle continued under his management until August twenty-two, 1861, when he enlisted in the
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
thirty-fifth regiment, Illinois volunteers, and was appointed adjutant. The office was leased to Messrs. Hamsher and Mosser, who contin- ued the publication until August seventh, 1862, after which the office remained closed until October twelfth, 1863, at which tinie a partnership in the job printing business was formed between Usrcy and J. N. Underwood, who resumed the publication of the Chroni- cle April twenty-sixth, 1864. Underwood retired from the firm July twelfth of the saure ycar. On the eleventh of July, 1865, the consolidation of the
GAZETTE AND CHRONICLE
took place. Mr. Usrey continued the publication until August tenth, 1871, when the office was closed out, W. L. Hammer be- coming the purchaser. The material afterward became part of the Tribune office.
In the campaign of 1856 the Chronicle had been printed daily, five hundred copies of which had been circulated gratuitously. In 1868 the Daily Chronicle was again commenced. The Gazette com- menced a daily issue in 1856, but could not compete with the gra- tuitous circulation of the Daily Chronicle, and in a short time aban- doned the enterprise.
Mr. Usrey, who was an experienced printer, was born iu Natchez, and learned the printer's trade in Vidalia, Louisiaua. He came to Illinois in 1843, and may be placed among the pioneer newspaper inen of this State. He is a man of good native ability, and possesses much political information, which renders hin well qualified for newspaper work. The Chronicle took a conspicuous part in the organization and formation of the Republican party. It took an advanced position in the great cause of freedom and human rights, and maintained it until the curse of slavery was overthrown and driven out of the land. As a writer of polished articles he was clear, concise and vigorous.
THE DECATUR DEMOCRAT.
In 1856 the leading Democrats of Macon county concluded to have a newspaper that would reflect their sentiments upon the political questions of the day, and that would more nearly represent their views in the coming campaign than the Gazette, which, to a certain extent, had adhered to its original neu- tral position in politics. The latter occasionally left its neutral ground, and then it was Democratic. A strong, bold, uncompro- mising organ was wanted. With this idea in view they purchased type and a press, and on the fourth of April, 1856, the Democrat made its first appearance. Eli Hosea was the editor. He contin- ued the publication until December sixteenth, 1856, when the office was sold out. Elam Rust, by N. W. Tupper, proxy, became the purchaser. He associated with him his son, George W. Rust, and the name was changed to
THE HERALD,
the first number of which was issued January second, 1857. The elder Rust died in the early part of that year, and his son con- tinued the paper until the latter part of the following May. When the office was sold in 1857 Mr. Rust purchased it for ninety- eight dollars, the amount of a claim against it. Mr. Prather and Dr. Baldwin, two gentlemen who contributed means towards its original purchase, still had claims upon the office that remained unpaid. This incumbrance was purchased by Dr. W. J. Cheno- weth, who became a part owner of the paper. The firm of Cheno- weth and Rust coutinued for a short time, when Rust withdrew and James Brent, a practical printer, was given a half interest, or effected an arrangement with Chenoweth, by which he became an equal partner in the profits of the office. In the winter of 1857-58
a difference of opinion arose between the partners as to which wing of the Democracy the Herald should support-Chenoweth being a Douglas Democrat and Brent in opposition. The differences being irreconcilable, Chenoweth sold the office to Milan S. Beckwith, who removed it to Pana, Illinois, and there, with the presses and materi- al of the old Democrat, commenced the publication of the first paper printed in Christian county. The Herald was in form a six column folio ; Brent eularged it to a seven column, same form.
THE DECATUR MAGNET
was founded in 1858. The press and material were purchased of the Cincinnati Type Foundry. P. B. Shepherd and Robert Irwin were the projectors. Irwin remained in the firm but a short time. The twenty-fifth of January, 1859, was the date of the first issue of the Daily Magnet, P. R. Shepherd, publisher; P. B. Shepherd and John Ryan editors, with James Shoaff as local editor. It was a four column folio. When Shepherd and Irwin purchased the office of the Cincinnati Type Foundry, they paid part cash and gave their notes for the balance. When Irwin retired Shepherd assumed all liabilities. The note given for the payment of the office remained uupaid, and in December, 1859, the type foundry closed up the office, and it was sold to Henry C. Bradsby. He assumed the pub- lication of the Magnet, with James Shoaff as editor and manager. In 1861 the office was leased to E. N. Buck and Isaac N. Under- wood. In the latter part of 1862 James Shoaff purchased the office and continued the publication of the paper until March twenty-third, 1868, when he formed a partnership with Major Asa Miller, which continued until February twenty-first, 1871. (Mr. Shoaff issued the daily Magnet, commencing September thirtieth, 1867.) At the latter date he traded his interest in the Magnet for the material and presses of the Democrat office, which he removed to Paris, Illinois, and there commenced the publication of the Gazette. He remained there until his death, which occurred April twelfth, 1874. The Magnet was Democratic in politics from 1862 aud during Mr. Shoaff's connection with it.
It is fitting, in the chapter on the Press of Macon county, that some extended mention should be made of the pioneer publisher of the county. Mr. Shoaff was a native of Williamsport, Marylaud, and came west at an early age and settled in Paris, Illinois, where he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Illinois Statesman, and published his first paper, the Owl, in Charleston, in 1843. The year following he went to St. Louis and worked at the case in the Republican office. Thence he went to Greenville, Illinois, and pub- lished a paper. In 1848 he commenced the publication of the Reveille in Bloomington, and from there removed to Pekin, where he published a paper, and removed the office to Decatur, where he commenced, in 1851, the publication of the Gazette. He embarked in the dry goods business, aud failed in 1858, when he went back to journalism. In 1861 he removed to Bement, Piatt county, and commenced the publication of a small paper called the Bement Union, and continued the same for three months, when he raised a company of soldiers for the war, which was afterwards known as company "A" of the 35th regiment, Illinois volunteers, and was elected second Lieutenant. July third, 1861, he enlisted, and re- signed February third, 1862, and returned to Decatur and re- engaged in the printing business, in which he continued until his death. We quote from the Republican of April sixteenth, 1874, which says of him: "He was a remarkable man, and possessed of indomitable energy, and could accomplish as much work in a given time as any man whom we know. Perseverance and industry were his chief traits, and he would tolerate no idlers about him. He had an unbounded faith iu himself, and this peculiarity enabled
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
him to accomplish what others, with more skill and knowledge, would have deemed impossible. He was not what might be called a good writer, and yet he had the faculty of "getting off" short squibs and locals which though positively not witty or brilliant, seemed to make him famous by reason of their unique character. He was, perhaps, the best known country editor in Illinois. Per- sonally, he was a most genial companion, and had thousands of friends.
The Magnet, under the management of Miller & Addis, was con- tinued until its consolidation with the Tribune, which took place June 20th, 1874. In order to trace the history of the Magnet it is necessary to go back to 1872. In March of that year, Mr. A. H. Corman moved his printing office from Maroa to Decatur, and con- solidated it with the material of the old Gazette and Chronicle office, then in the possession of W. L Hammer. John A. Brown represented Mr. Hammer's interest, and was local editor of the paper. Mr. Corman was editor and manager. The first issue of
THE DECATUR TRIBUNE
was made March 26th, 1872. The paper continued under the same management until June 20th, 1874, when it was consolidated with the Magnet, and was then known as
TIIE MAGNET AND TRIBUNE.
The Magnet and Tribune Company was composed of Asa Miller, the former editor of the Magnet, A. H. Corman, George Sylvester, and W. L. Hammer, who became a member of the company by virtue of his interest in the Tribune office. Of the new enterprise Asa Miller was chosen editor-in-chief. W. L Hammer retired from the company soon after the consolidation. The Magnet and Tribune was continued as the organ of the Democratic party. The company continued the publication without any further change until March 26th, 1875, when the co-partnership was dissolved, and
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