History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 50

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

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Slowly the new art male its way ; educators enlisted its cooperation ; authors sought its aid in the presentation and disseminationof the ir best thoughts ; gradually men appre- ciated its merits aud usefulness. Through these instrumen- talities intelligence spread ; the man of book learning, from being au object of contempt became an object of emulation ; men became readers as well as doers ; the acquisi- sition of knowledge was considered fashionable, and grew into a necessity. Thus did the press act, upon the people, but the reaction was as great ; the thirst for knowledge was only intensified by acquaintance with the products of the world's master minds, and as men saw that the lessons of the past might be used in the management of the present, they rightly concluded that the knowledge of the living would be as beneficial as the formal and abstruse theories of the departed. Thus current literature followed classical, and whetted the mental appetite for kuowing events as soou as

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

possible after their occurrence. To meet this demand is the special province of journalism, which differs essentially from that of literature ; it is less exacting as to dignity of state- ment and polish of expression ; is freer in the selection of topies, and more colloquial in their treatment ; aims to be a reflex of man's daily life, as literature seeks to present him at his best. The press was abreast of these social changes. From being a mere manufactory of books, the printing office became a receptaele of fresh information, a resort for the witty and the learned, a medium between the wise and igno- rant. Its influence grew as its circle widened, and when the people were ready for weekly and daily publications, they were forthcoming in obedience to the law of supply and demand.

The newspaper is the organ of journalism ; its authentic history dates from the days of Republican Rome. The first of which we have an account was the Aleta Diurna, a manu- script record of the proceedings in the Roman senate. It is frequently mentioned by contemporary authors, and seems to have had subscribers in distant cities. Cicero speaks of it as furnishing city news and gossip. Alexander Andrews, in his " History of British Journalism," thus tersely describes the origin and growth of newspapers in England : " First we have the written news letter, furnished to the wealthy aristocracy ; then, as the eraving for information spread, the ballad of news, sung or recited ; then the news pamphlet, more prosaically arranged ; then the periodical sheet of news, and lastly the newspaper."

The first well authenticated and regularly issued English newspaper was entitled, The Weekly News, from Italy, Ger- many, etc., 1622, and Nathaniel Butler is regarded as the father of newspaper enterprises. Parliamentary reports were first published in 1641, and the first advertisement was in- serted in a newspaper about 1648. For a long time the government exercised a strict and persecuting censorship, over the press, which was not remitted till the accession of William and Mary. France had newspapers as early as 1605, and Italy as early as 1570. There is in the British Museum a copy of a printed Italian newspaper bearing the above date. Germany had irregular news publications in 1594, and a regular weekly newspaper was established in 1615. Peter the Great helped to establish the first Russian journal in 1703, and for centuries China has had a court newspaper called by Europeans the Pekin Gazette.

In our country the first newspaper was issued at Boston September 25th, 1690. Only one copy is known to exist, as the paper was immediately suppressed. That copy bears the title, "Public occurrences both Foreign and Domestic," gives the names of Richard Pierce as printer and Benjamin Harris as publisher, and is now preserved in the State paper office in London. The Boston News Letter, published by John Campbell, appeared fourteen years later, April 24th, 1704, and was regularly issued till 1776. It is commonly but erroneously considered the first American newspaper, and was at first a half sheet, eight by twelve inches, with two columns to the page. The News Letter was followed by the Boston Gazette, December 21st, 1719. In 1721 James Franklin issned the first number of the New England Cou-

rant, which soon engaged in a heated controversy with Rev. Increase Mather and others on the subject of inoculation. So hearty was its criticism of public men and measures that the following year the Massachusetts legislature forbade James Franklin any longer to issue the Courant or to pub- lish any pamphlet or paper of like nature without its being first supervised by the secretary of the province. The name of James Franklin was taken from the paper and that of Benjamin Franklin, his brother and apprentice, then six- teen years of age, put in its place. The oldest living news- paper in the United States is said to be the New Hampshire Gazette, first published in 1756, and since issued without in- termission or any radical change of name. The Pennsylva- nia Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia), now North Americ in, 1784, was the first daily paper, and the next year was followed by the New York Daily Advertiser. In 1776 thirty-seven papers were published in the colonies; in 1810 the number had increased to 359, of which twenty-seven were dailies; in 1840, the number was 1631; 1850, 2526; 1860, 4501 ; 1870, 5871 ; and from the most recent reliable authorities the number at present is 6232.

The newspaper history of Illinois is as interesting and checkered as that of the race or nation. The first paper is- sned in the State was the Illinois Herald, established by Mathew Duncan, at Kaskaskia, the then, territorial capital, at or about, according to Reynolds' History, 1809. In this Reynolds is mistaken. The Herald was the first paper es- tablished in Illinois. Mathew Duncan was the editor and publisher. The first issne was made September 7th, 1814. In form it was a three column folio, wide columns. It retained that form until in the latter part of 1816, it was enlarged to a four column paper. Messrs. Robert Blackwell and Daniel P. Cook purchased the paper and office in the latter part of 1816. Two years later Mr. Elijah C. Berry bought an in- terest and the name was changed to Illinois Intelligencer. The office was moved to Vandalia in 1820 in consequence of that place becoming the State capital.

The second paper in the State was The Emigrant, which was published at Shawneetown by Henry Eddy and Single- ton H. Kimmel, who issued its first number in the fall of 1818. Mr. Kimmel's successor was Judge James Hall, who was a Philadelphian by birth, had served in the war of 1812, and had recently settled at Shawneetown. He was a lawyer by profession, but spent much time in literary work, and ultimately obtained more than local fame as an author. Among his writings are Legends of the West, Border Tales, Life of General William Henry Harrison, History of the Indian Tribes, (in the preparation of this work he was associated with Thomas L. MeKenny. This history was republished in London), The Wilderness and The War Path, etc. Judge Hall was a contributor to the North American Review, The Philadelphia Port Folio, The Knicker- bocker, was the founder and editor of the Illinois Magazine, which was published at Vandalia for some years and after- wards moved to Cincinnati, where its name was change, to The Western Monthly Magazine. When we add to this long list of labors, the editorial duties connected with several newspapers-The Illinois Gazette, The Illinois Intelligencer,

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etc., it will be readily admitted that few men have done so much for Western civilization and the intellectual improve- ment of the country at large .- Allibone.

Judge Hall held the office of prosecuting attorney, circuit judge and State treasurer. He died at Cincinnati, 1868, hav- ing removed thither in 1833. In the memorable convention of 1824 the E'migrant was a powerful opponent to the intro- duetion of slavery ; and its editors, particularly Mr. Eddy, struck not a few herculean blows against the pro slavery champions and sentiments of that campaign.

The journalistie history of Madison county begins with the establishment of the third newspaper in the State.

For facts and dates relating to it and the early press we desire especially to acknowledge our indebtedness to Hon. Joseph Gillespie, of Edwardsville, Illinois. He has for- nished us much information drawn from his inexhaustible storehouse of knowledge of the early history of the state. He was for many years a prominent actor and central figure in the political history of the state. A lawyer by profes- sion with a large and extensive practiee, a judge upon the bench and a prominent member of the Legislative bodies of the state, together with domestic cares and provisions for a competency in the future has made his life an unusually busy one but withal, he has found time to store his mind with mneh valuable information embracing a wide range of subjects and including a knowledge of art, science and literature. Although ripe in years his vigorous memory retains all the freshness and retentiveness of youth, and with a singular fidelity to facts it leaps back and spans the half century gone by, and calls up incidents the narration of which in minute detail and embellishment seems to bear the im- press of but yesterday. He has indeed come down to us from a former generation bringing with him the history and incidents of the past.

We also desire to extend our thanks to the members of the press of Madison county for favors shown, and information given, and especially to Mr. W. T. Norton of Alton, publi-h- er and editor of the Telegraph, who kindly placed files of that paper at our disposal from which we gleaned much valuable information concerning the press of forty years ago. We also desire to return thanks to Rev. Washington Leveritt, Librarian of Shurtleff College, Upper Alton and to the officers of the Illinois State Historical Society for files of old papers published in Edwardsville sixty years ago, by the aid of which we were enabled to obtain correct dates. We have also taken the liberty of quoting from Hon. E. B. Washburne's " Sketch of Edward Coles," "Tanner's Life of Lovejoy," and using information ( where absolutely correct) obtained from Madison County Gazetteer, published some fifteen years ago. From these and other sources we have been enabled to trace the history of the press from its first establishment in Madison county in 1819, to the present time ; and present it in a manner which we hope, will be acceptable to our readers. Prior to the establishing of a newspaper in the county, the people of this section of the country were dependent upon the Missouri Gazette, published in St. Louis, for the news from the outside world. Occasionally a stray copy of Illinois Emigrant, published at Shawneetown,

or the Illinois Herald, Mathew Dunean's paper, printed at Kaskaskia, found their way here. The third newspaper published in the state was founded by Hooper Warren at Edwardsville. It was the first paper printed in the county. It was called the

EDWARDSVILLE SPECTATOR.

The first issue was made May 23d, 1819, less than one year after the State was admitted to the Union. In form it was a five column folio neatly printed and ably edited. Few, if any newspapers were ever established in the west, that at once took a more prominent position, or, in so short a time, commanded and wielded a greater influence than the Spectator. It was in its day, the most potential newspaper west of the Allegheny mountains.

In looking through volumes one, two, three and four, we judge that the paper was a success, financially, provided its patrons paid up promptly. About one-half of the paper was taken up with home and foreign advertisements. Some of the local " Ads." are unique, and at the present day would appear quite odd. For example: A druggist in Edwardsville advertises a large stock of " Elegant Medi- cines," and calls particular attention to his " Castor Oil which is a real pleasure to take."

The Spectator made its appearance before the days of rail- roads and telegraph, consequently news from Washington or even from the seat of the State government was from ten days to three or four weeks in reaching Edwardsville, but it was news nevertheless. In the meantime the columns of the paper were much occupied by essays on every conceiva- ble subject in which, generally, no one had any interest ex- cept the writer. This was especially the case in " off" years when there was no political excitement or elections. In times of great political excitement, or in presidential cam- paigns, the editorials were exceedingly lengthy and of a pon- derous character, though usually possessing literary merit. As news became the dominant idea of the newspapers the heavy leaders were dropped, and paragraphing became popu- lar. Mr. Warren, Editor and founder of the Spectator, was a practical printer. He worked at the "case " in the office of the Missouri Gazette, and while there set up and published, under an assumed name, a series of articles upon public and political questions affecting the weal of the State which attracted the notice of the leading statesmen of Missouri, and called forth replies from Thomas H. Benton and others of equal reputation and ability. All with singular una- nimity agreed in attributing the authorship to men in high position in the State. The articles in question were evi- dences of the writer's profound knowledge of the, subjects discussed and were written in that bold vigorous style that carried weight and conviction to the reader.

When Mr. Warren established his printing office in Edwardsville he was fortunate in securing the services of George Churchill, who was a practical printer and a writer of well-known ability, and who subsequently became one of the prominent men of the State. These gentlemen edited and " set-up" the paper the first year. The Missouri Com-

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promise was then the great absorbing and leading political question, and in its discussion they dealt heavy blows against the institution of slavery and its acquisition of new territory. After the first year, and when the Spectator was firmly established, Mr. Warren conducted the paper alone or at least assumed its entire management and editorial control.

As before stated, he was a bold, able and aggres ive writer. His editorials were never written upon paper, but standing at the " ease " he would compose and at the same time put them in type. In the Convention times of 1824 he took a bold and manly stand and did much to defeat the sehomes of the slavery party who sought to make Illinois a Slave State. In 1825 he sold the Spectator to Thomas Lippin- cott and Jeremiah Abbott, the former editor and the latter printer. Before dismissing the Spectafor under Mr. Warren's management, it is proper to speak of the many able eon- tributors to its columns. In order to better understand the position of the paper at that time it is necessary to state that the leading question which then agitated the public mind of the State was whether a convention should be called the object of which was to change the constitution so as to admit and legalize slavery. Upon this question the people were divided. The leaders of the dominant party in the State with few exceptions, were in favor of the Convention, and many able and plausible reasons were put forth by them in justification of their position and in proof of its great advantage and benefit to the commonwealth. "A great cause beget- great leaders." Opposed to the Convention were those who said, God helping them, the State of Illinois should never be polluted and cursed by that monster sin and crowning evil of the century, slavery. Of these was Edward Coles, then Governor of the State and the recognized leader of the Anti Convention party, whose facile and powerful pen wrote columu after column, denouncing the schemes of the leaders of the pro-slavery party, and urging the voters of the State to stand firm against the eneroachments of the slave power. He contributed many articles to the Spectator, and had much to do in sustaining the high character of that journal. He was the heart and brains of the Anti-Conven- tion party, and entered into the contest with a determination to succeed. He organized the forces of freedom throughout the State, traveling from one distant point to another, mak- ing speeches, writing for the newspapers and urging the friends of the cause to come out and by their ballot forever settle the question of the admission of slavery into the free State of Illinois. He was a thorough and intense hater of the system of slavery. He lived long enough to see it go down amidst the thunders of war, though drenched and baptized in the blood of pure patriotism. He was by nature a chivalric, high-toned gentleman, and a pure practical philanthropist who desired and labored for the amelioration of his species. He is dead. To day among the present inhabitants of Illinois, little is known of him ; but for his great service to the State he deserves to live in the grateful memories of her people, and his noble acts and deeds should be written with a pen of steel upon columns of brass that they might be as enduring as truth and justice, the grand 26

characteristics that dominated and controlled every action of the I fe of Governor Coles .*

Morris Birkbeck was another contributor to the Specta- tor during the "Convention times." " He was a Englishman by birth, and received a thorough classical education, after which he devoted himself to the study of agriculture, and soon enjoyed a wide erlebrity as being one of the best practical as well as theoretical farmers in Eng- land. He came to America in 1817 and settled in Illinois. He was an intense hater of the system of slavery as it existed in the United States, and when the elcetion was ealled to decide the question of calling a convention to change the constitution he continued busily employed writing pamphlets, communications, letters, etc., in opposition to it. Hle contributed a series of letters to the Spectator over the nom de plume of " Jonathan Freeman," which were widely eopied and extensively read. They were written in a plain and pleasing style, full of facts and embellished by homely but apt illustrations. It is conceded that Mr. Birkbeck contributed more and did more valuable service through the aid of his pen to defeat the Convention party than any other man in Illinois. His services were such as to eutitle him to the lasting gratitude of the people of Illinois."

Among other able contributors to the Spectator were George Churchill, Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Daniel Blackwell, Jonathan H. Pugh, Daniel P. Cook, Thomas Lippincott, Henry Eddy, Thomas Mather, George Forquer and others. Quite an array of able men, and all were writers of acknowledged ability. It must be remembered that the struggle continued through a period of eighteen months, from the passage of the Bill and the election, which was set for August 5th, 1824. Into the canvass was injected a bitterness and malignity which the azita ion of the slavery question only coukl produce. It must not be forgotten that on the side of the convention, these writers met no mere pig- mies, but men worthy of their intellectual steel. There were indeed giants in those days. The papers in Illinois advoca- ting the side of the convention were the Republican Adrocate at Kaskaskia, edited and managed by Elias Kent Kane, afterward United States Senator, and the Illinois Republican (of which we shall speak hereafter) at Edwardsville. The real editors and managers and contributors to these pap rs were the leading and prominent men of the state, among whom were ex-Gov. Bond, and six gentlemen who after- ward became United States Senators, viz , Jesse B. Thomas, John MeLoan, Elias Kent Kane, John M Robinson, Samnel McRoberts and Richard M. Young. The other principal writers and contributors were Chief Justice Phillips of the Supreme Court, William Kinney and Zadre Casey subse- quently Lient. Governors of the state, Gen. Hargrave, Emanuel J West, John Reynolds, afterward known as the " Ranger Governor " of Ilinois, and Alexander P. Field.

These gentlemen endeavored to make their side of the ques- tion presentable to the people, and perhaps no other men in the nation could have argued a bad cause more cogently or eloquently than they, but despite their labors and vast

* Washburn's sketch of Gieo. Coles.

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amount of ability brought to their aid, the earnestness, su- perior tactics and above all the justness of their cause, en- abled the Anti-Convention party to win. The newspapers of that day were in a great measure mediums through, and by which the people were reached, and had probably more influence in shaping and crystalizing popular opinion than ever before or since. When the contest was over and the result determined, then indeed, was seen the power of the press. We very much doubt if any newspaper published since in the west had such an array of talent and able contributors to its columns as the Spectator of sixty years ago.

The history of the Spectator would be incomplete without a short sketch of Messrs. Warren and Churchill, its editors, and the pioneer printers of the west. Hooper Warren was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1790, and while yet in his infancy the family removed to Vermont. While still a yonth he was apprenticed to the printing trade in the of- fice of the Rutland Herald, Vermont. In 1814 he removed to Delaware, and three years later to Kentucky, where he worked in a printing office with Amos Kendall who, subse- quently, became Postmaster-General. In 1818 he came to St. Louis and worked at the case. Iu March, 1819, he came to Edwardsville, Madison county, Ill., and in May follow- ing founded the Edwardsville Spectator, and continued its editor and publisher for six years. In his salutatory to the public he avowed his anti-slavery principles, and ever after remained true to them, aud advocated them with all the zeal aud energy of which he was capable ; and that, too, through one of the most exciting and fiercest political contests ever known in the state or country. His bold and able champ- ioning of the cause of the anti-convention party and his strictures upon the acts of the leaders of the opposition called down upon him the wrath of the opposition, and particularly that of Senator Theophilus W. Smith, who uu- dertook to publicly cowhide him. Failing in his purpose he drew a dirk, but Mr. Warren drew his pistol, which proved a most excellent and effective peace restorer. After he sold his paper Mr. Warren went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there edited the National Crisis. One year later he returned to Edwardsville when from some cause unknown to the writer the office of the Spectator fell back into his possession. He removed the type and material to Springfield, Illinois, and there published for two years the Somgamo Spectator. In 1829 he removed to Galena, when in company with two other gentlemen he established the Galena Advertiser and Upper Mississippi Herald. In 1831 he removed to Henne- pin, where for five years he filled the offices of clerk of the circuit court and county commissioners' court and justice of the peace. In 1836 he went to Chicago and published the Commercial Advertiser. In 1850 he published the Bureau Advocate at Princeton. One year later he returned to Chi- eago, and in connection with Z. Eastman, for three years, published the Free West and Western Citizen, after which he retired to his farm in Henry county. He died August 221, 1834. Such is a brief sketch of one of the pio- neer publishers of Illinois. He was eminently a man of work as well as thought. He rarely took time to write, but

standing at the ease he composed and set up the thoughts as they came crowding from the brain. He was the most taci- turn of men, and in that particular was truly remarkable- rarely speaking-and then in monosyllables and never using a superfluous word. He was a quiet, calm, good listener to any proposition or question propounded or addressed to him, and gave his assent or dissent iu the fewest words possible. In politics he was liberal, yet, when after mature delibera- tion he formed his opinions, he was inflexible and immova- ble. He was the advocate, and in warm sympathy with the rights of the mass, and a staunch friend of the natural and God-given rights of all men, and all races, and hence was the bitter and unrelenting foe of human slavery.

George Churchill, the co-worker and partner of Hooper Warren in the publication of the Spectator, when first estab- lished, was born at Hubbardtown, Rutland county, Vermont, October 11th, 1789. He received a good education in his youth. As he grew to manhood he imbibed a taste for liter- ary work, which induced him to learn the-printer's trade. In February, 1806, he entered the office of the Albany Sen- tinel as an apprentice, served his time, after which he worked as a "jour " printer until he had accumulated suffi- cient funds to purchase a half interest in a small printing office. Business being dull, he sold at a loss, went to New York, and worked at the case for five months, then came west. On his way he spent some time iu Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Louisville. In the latter city, he worked in the Courier office, then owned by Nicholas Clarke. He afterwards worked in the office of the Correspondent, owned by Col. Elijah C. Berry, subsequently a well-known citizen of Illinois, and auditor of public accounts of the state. In June, 1817, he came to St. Louis, and while there made fre- quent trips across the river to Illinois. Seeing the rich and fertile soil of the state, he determined to abandon the prin- ter's trade and engage in agricultural pursuits; and, with this idea in view, he selected the northwest quarter of section eight, in township three, range west, and entered it, and there made himself a home and resided until his death, which latter event took place in the summer of 1872. In order to fence and improve his farm, he found it necessary to work at his trade, in order to earn the money to make the necessary improvements. Iu the spring of 1819 he worked in the office of the Missouri Gazette iu St. Louis, then conducted by Joseph Charless. At that time arose the famous " Mis- souri Question " in Congress. The citizens of the territory petitioned Congress for an " Enabling Act," by which the people could elect delegates to meet in convention and form a constitution for a state government, with a view of admis- sion into the Union. The act passed the House of Repre- seutatives, with the proviso, that the " Introduction of sla- very, or involuntary slavery, be prohibited," etc. When it reached the Senate, that body struck out the proviso, and the House refused to concur ; therefore, the bill failed to pass that session. The action of the anti-slavery men in Congress created the most intense excitement in the territory, and more particularly in St. Louis. Every man who could wield a pen rushed into print. The columns of the papers, especially the Gazette, were crowded with denunciations of

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 50

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698