History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 51

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

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

the proposed curtailment of what was deemed their vested rights,-and lengthy and ponderous arguments were made, designed to prove the uuconstitutionality of the proposed restriction. Believing that something could be said in favor of the bill as amended by the House, Mr. Churchill wrote an article, the authorship of which was kept secret, and it was published. Its appearance had much the same effeet upon the excited multitude as a red flag would have upon an enraged bull. The mob howled, and denunciations were poured thick and fast upon the head of the " Farmer of St Charles County," the nom de plume under which Churchill wrote. The authorship of the inflammable articles was de- manded, and their publication ordered to cease. But Mr. Charless was a lover of fair play and free discussion, and he would neither divulge the authorship nor stop their publica- tion.

After Mr. Warren started the Spectator iu Edwards- ville, Mr. Churchill acceded to the former's request, and eame here and assisted him in getting a start. He was con- vineed that Mr. Warren was unalterably opposed to slavery, and therefore they could work in harmony. He remained with him one year, then returned to his farm. In 1822 Mr. Churchill was elected to represent Madison county in the General Assembly. In the succeeding session of that body it was sought, as stated before, to call a convention to amend the constitution so as to admit slavery. It was in that struggle that the great abilities of Mr. Churchill shone out. Ilis pen, during the entire controversy, was busily em- ployed in writing caustic articles that burned through the eutiele of ignorance and sophistry, and left in their stead the healthy cicatrice of reason and common-sense. In 1824 he was reëlected as an anti-convention candidate, and con- tinued to be elected for several succeeding terms. In 1838 he was elected a member of the State Senate from Madison county, and in 1844 again elected to the legislature.

He was, to quote from one who knew him well, "a thorough- paced abolitionist all his life, firm and unyielding in his con- vietions of what he knew to be right. In the matter of politi- cal knowledge he was a walking encyclopedia of information, and it was as dangerous to attack him on any question of politieal knowledge as it was John Quincy Adams. He was always ready, and could at a moment's notice draw upon his vast storchouse of information, and woe be to the man who presumed upon his ignorance of any fact or point in the political history of this or any other country. His thorough knowledge of the point in question. or its history, would eonfound his antagonist, while his dry logie and plain matter- of-fact statements would leave him without any foundation to stand upon. He was accounted the best working man in the legislative body. He toiled like a dray-horse, but never made a speech exceeding five minutes in length ; but in that time, however, he said all that ought to be said upon the question."

Thomas Lippincott, the purchaser of the Spectator, con- tinued the publication of the paper until 1827, when he entered the Presbyterian ministry, and became a shining light in that Christian denomination. He was a native of Salem, New Jersey, and was born February 6, 1791. His

parents were Quakers ; while he was quite young, the family became very much scattered. In 1>02 he went to Philadelphia and resided with his maternal uncle, and soon after hecame a merchant's elerk. In 1813 he volunteered for the defence of the city, when threat- ened by the British forces. He married Patty Swift, in 1816, and in 1817 came west. In 1820 he became a resi- dent of Edwardsville, and here made his home until 1832. In 1822 he was elected secretary of the state senate. On the 8th of October, 1828, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Missouri, and spent the re- mainder of his life in that sacred calling. He is better known in the pioneer Ecclesiastical History of the county than in its journalism. But yet in the Convention times he did good and noble work for the cause of freedom, through the medium of his fertile pen. Mr. Lippincott was a man of pleasing deportment, friendly, intelligent, but of a serious, meditative mien. He was a good author, an honest public officer, an upright citizen and a devout and pious minister. The whole aim of his life was to aid and make permanent that which was good and true.

TIIE STAR OF THE WEST

Was the second candidate for journalistic favors in Madison county, and the fourth paper published in the state. In Au- gust, 1822, Mr. Miller and son natives of Peunsylvania, came west, seeking a location to establish a printing office. They brought a press and type with them. They stopped in Ed- wardsville, and here were iuduced by promises of support and patronage, to remain and commence the publication of a newspaper. Their arrival was opportune, as an organ of the Convention party was wanted and needed to counteract the force of the Spectator. Arrangements were made with some of the leading citizens to furnish the necessary capital with which to purchase paper, ink and other incidental expenses contingent upon the starting of a newspaper. Among those who supplied the necessary cash were Hon. Theophilus W. Smith, Emanuel J. West and others. The interest of the contributors was represented by Mr. Stine. The firm was Miller & Stine, and under their management the first issue was made, the date of which was September 14, 1822. They condueted the paper for six months, when it passed into the possession of Thomas J. McGuire & Co. They changed the name to the

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN,

The first issue of which was made April 12, 1823. The mission of the Republicun was to advocate the cause of the convention party, and it was their recognized organ. The company was correctly supposed to be composed of the follow- ing named gentleman, and leaders of the pro slavery party : Hon. Theophilus W. Smith, the senator from Madison county ; Emanuel J. West, member from Madison in the Legislature, and William Kinney, senator from St. Clair. Senator Smith was the reputed editor and furnished the leading editorials. He had prior to his coming west considerable journalistic experience in New York, and from that fact it was suppposed possessed the necessary qualifications to cope with his

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

formidable rival and opponent, Hooper Warren, and his corps of able contributors to the Spectator. But the sequel proved, however much ability he possessed, his cause was not just, and freedom, right and justice prevailed. Mr. Smith was a smooth, plausible writer. Ilis articles read well, but there was a vein of sophistry running through them that was apparent to the honest seeker after the truth. It can be said of him that they possessed literary merit. Had he chosen to take the other side of the question, and his action been dictated by honesty, he would have been a formidable oppon- ent to meet in a pen controversy. He afterwards, as is well known to all students of Illinois history, occupied positions of high trust, representing the county in the State Senate, and was also one of the justices of the supreme court of the state.

The publication of the Republicun was continued until July 28, 1824, a few days before the election which by a large majority decided that freedom was the normal condition of the state of Illinois, and must forever remain free and uncontaminated by the influence of slavery within her borders. The mission of the paper was ended and its sus- pension was sudden, and it was never afterwards revived.

In 1823, Mr. Robert K. Fleming, one of the veteran printers of Illinois and among the first newspaper publishers in the state, established the Republican Adracute at Kas- kaskia. It was the mouth piece and exponent of the principles of the convention party in that section of the state, and during the contest was edited by Elias Kent Kane. After the election and defeat of the party it ceased publica- tion. The press and type were removed to Vandalia, and there the publication was revived. In the summer of 1827, Mr. Fleming removed the press and fixtures to Edwardsville and on the 14th of October, 1827, issued the first number of the

ILLINOIS CORRECTOR.

It was in form a four column quarto, Democratic in polities, and warmly supported General Jackson for the presidency. It was published every Monday morning. Price per annum $2.50. It was an exceedingly neat publi- cation, and its form was entirely new. All other papers publi-hed in the west at that time were folios. The Corrector was not a success financially, but it lingered along until November 20th, 1828, when it suspended. Mr. Fleming moved the material back to Kaskaskia, and there published the Recorder, until the spring of 1833, then removed to printing business until his death.

Belleville, in St. Clair county, where he continued in the . continued with the paper but a short time. Mr. Hessin re-

THE CRISIS,

Was the fourth paper established in Madison county. Its founder was Samuel S. Brooks. The date of the first num- ' soon after his retirement from the Spectator, went to Oroo- ber was April 14, 1830. It was a four column paper, pub- miah, Persia, where a mission had been established by Dr. Grant, and there printed a paper, and engaged in mission- ary work, and remained there until his death in 1864. lished every Saturday, in Edwardsville. Thirty-four num- bers were published, when its named was changed to the

ILLINOIS ADVOCATE.

Eighteen numbers of the paper were published, by Mr. Brooks, when the office passed into the hands of Judge John York Sawyer. The latter gentleman had established the

WESTERN PLOUGHIBOY,

in Edwardsville, November 1, 1830, and continued the pub- lication one year, when he came into possession of the _Idro- cate, and the two papers were consolidated under the name of the Illinois Advocate.

Soon after the consolidation, Mr. J Angevine secured a half interest in the paper. Four months later he sold out to William Peach, but he, too, soon retired, and Judge Saw- yer was left in undisputed possession of the journal. In 1832 Mr. Sawyer was elected state printer, aud he removed all of the material to Vandalia, then the seat of the state government. The Advocate was not a success ; its columns were little sought after by advertisers, consequently it had more space for essays and miscellaneous matter, and per consequence enjoyed some reputation on account of its good selections and literary merit.

In 1832, Alton began to loom up as a city of con- siderable commercial importauce, and some few of her san- guine eitizeus had great hopes of her out-rivaling her sister city-St. Louis. Alton was then the chief commercial and mercantile emporium of Illinois. IFer citizens became ini- bued with a desire to excel. Enterprise waved her magic wand over the city, and at ouce she spread out and extended her lines of commerce, and placed new territory under her commercial dominion. A newspaper was needed to speak for her flattering promises of future greatness. To supply this want, O. M. Adams and Edward Breath, two enterpris- ing young men of Alton, started a newspaper at Upper Alton, called the

ALTON SPECTATOR.

The first number made its appearance January 2Ist, 1832. The firm of Adams & Breath was dissolved April 20th, of the same year. On the 20th of October, 1832, the office of the Spectator was removed from Upper Alton to Alton City. Mr. Breath continued the publication until Septem- ber 20th, 1834, when he sold the press and material to J. T. Hudson, who continued Editor and publisher until June 24th, 1836, when W. A. Beatty beeame Editor and pub- lisher, and held control until November 25th of the same year, after which D. Ward published eight numbers. On the 10th of February, 1837, the office passed into the hands of William Hessin, who on the 17th of October of the same year sold a half interest to Seth T. Sawyer. The latter mained sole proprietor until December, 1838, when he sold the Spectator office to J. Clark Virgin, and soon after its publication was suspended.

Mr. Breath, the pioneer printer and publisher of Alton,

The Spectator was originally a five column folio ; subse- quently was enlarged to a seven column, same form. From an old copy we gather much of its history and that of Alton. Its columns were well filled with home advertisements, from which we judge that in its first years it was a paying invest-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

ment. Its editorial columns were taken up with discus- sions of the banking system of the country, which then seemed to be the leading question. In politics it advocated the principles of the Whig party. At its mast-head it floated the names of James W. Stephenson for Governor, John S. Hacker for Lieut. Governor, John M. Krum for Senator for Madison county, and Robert Smith for the Legislature. Before the suspension of the Spectator a rival had sprung up, which proved to be the first permanent newspaper established in Alton, and which is still in exis- tence. We refer to the

ALTON TELEGRAPH.

It was for a time the contemporary of the Spectator, and then its successor. It was founded by Richard M. Tread- way and Lawson A. Parks. The first issue was made Jan. 15th, 1836. From the start, it gave a warm and cordial support to the whig party. A few months after the paper was established Samuel G. Bailey, Esq., was admitted to the firm, which was then known as Treadway, Parks & Bailey. In the winter of 1836, the great question arose in Congress as to the " Right of Petition," which had for its able chan- pion John Quincy Adams, who, single-handed, defended the right of freemen to petition the executive or legislative bo- dies in behalf of any measure or in redress of their griev- anees.

The Telegraph was the only western journal that stood by Mr. Adams and supported him in that measure. The eir culation of the paper increased rapidly, and its subscription lists embraced residents as far south as Cairo, and as far north as the village of Chicago. Ou the 8th of January, 1837, Mr. Treadway died. The paper was continued by the remaining partners for a short time; then MIr Parks pur- chased Mr. Bailey's interest. In May, 1837, he sold a half interest to John Bailhache. The latter took charge of the editorial department, and soon after became sole owner of the Telegraph. He remained editor until April 3d, 1841, when from reasons of ill health, he resigned, and his place was taken by George T. M. Davies, a writer of unusual brillianey. He had charge of the editorial columns for several years, and was a contributor for many years afterward. His letters from " the seat of war ' in Mexico, in 1847-'8, published in the Telegraph, were widely copied. In May, 1838, he sold a half interest to S. R. Dollwe, who was a practical printer. On the 4th of April, 1840. William A. Beatty purchased an interest in the Telegraph. He took charge of the mechanical department. Hle died October Sth, 1840. The firm of Bail- hache & Dolbee continued without change until January Ist, 1850, a period of twelve years ; then Dolbee was suecee ded by William H. Bailbache, a son of the editor. The firm name then became John Bailhache and Son. In 1852, Mr. E. L Baker became associated with the paper, and soon after purchased an interest in it The firm name was then changed to John Bailhache and Co. Prior to that time, however, the

TRI.WEEKLY TELEGRAPH

was issued. In 1852, with the date of Mr. Baker coming into the firm, was commenced the

DAILY TELEGRAPH.

On the 10th of July, 1554, Mr. Parks, one of the original proprietors of the Telegraph, purchased Mr. Bailhache's in- terest, and from that date until May 15th, 1855, the business was conducted under the firm name of E. L. Baker and Co.

In 1854, the agitation produced by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill and the repeal of the Missouri Com- promise had a startling effect upon the people and political parties of the country. The agitation continued until it overthrew and broke up the Whig organization, and that party, with its splendid records of the past, was entirely dis- membered, and sank to rise no more. The Telegraph then, as from the date of its first issue, was a strong advocate of the emancipation theories of the time, as advocated by Henry Clay, who was its beau ideal of practical and lofty statesmanship. It took firm ground against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the opening up of new territory for the acquisition of the slave power. Upon that subjeet it was the most outspoken, bold and aggressive journal in the west. The Courier, of which we shall speak hereafter, the democratie paper, took the same position as the Telegraph, and opposed the introduction of slavery into the territories, as did many other able newspapers of that party in the north. The discussion upon the Kansas Nebraska bill took a wide range and was productive of much bitterness, and became so absorbing as to totally destroy one party and rend the other in twain. The final result was the reorgani- zation of parties into two great bodies-the one iu favor and the other opposed to the farther introduction and spread of slavery.

The two papers, Telegraph and Courier, that started and ad- voeated widely different political principles were thus by the whirligig of polities brought to occupy the same political bed, and in the fight for free soil stood shoulder to shoukler. There was not room for two newspapers on the same side. Under the circumstances overtures were made with a view of consolidating them, and after some negotiation the pro- prietors of the Telegraph sold their subscription lists to the publishers of the Courier. Mr. Bailhache and Mr. Parks continued to carry on the job printing business until the death of the former, which took place in the fall of 1857. As Mr. Bailhache was one of the pioneer printers of Madison county, and was also an able journalist, and the first to establish the press permanently in Alton, we append a brief biography of him.

John Bailhache was born in St. Quen in the Isle of Jersey in the British Channel, May 8, 1787. He was the son of John and Mary ( De La Perrille) Bailhache. In his youth he possessed remarkable aptitude for learning. Being delieate in health his friends predicted for him a premature death. The French was his mother tongue. He studied English and made proficiency in Latin and Greek. He served an apprenticeship of five years at the printing busi- ness. At the request of Rev. Peter Sarchet, who had chil. dren in this country, he accompanied him to the United States in 1810, and settled in Cambridge, Ohio. He became a half owner of the Fredoniun, a paper published at Chilli_ cothe, Ohio, and a few months later became sole proprietor.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

In August 1815 he purchased the Sciota Gazette and united it with the Fredonian, which then bore the name of the Sciota Gazette and Fredonian Chronicle. A few years later he sold the papers, and was elected State Printer. IIe moved to Columbus, and soon after became the proprietor of the State Journal. He continued his connection with the journalism of Ohio for twenty years, and in that time took an active part in the politics of the state. In 1836 at the solicitation of friends he came to St. Louis. Failing to se- cure an interest in the Missouri Republican, he came to Alton and purchased a half interest in the Telegraph, and took charge of its management May 1st, 1837, and continued with the paper under the various changes stated above. His editorial life reached over a period of forty-two years. The great aim of his journalistic life was to contribute to the elevation of the tone and character of the Western press, by advocating and upholding whatever was innocent and pure, and discountenancing all vice and immorality in what- ever guise it might appear. The peculiar views of all were treated with fairness and courtesy. As a writer of political editorials he was far above the average journalist of his day. He was well educated, a ripe scholar of fine literary attain- ments, and a student all his life. His mind was well stored with useful information mainly obtained from books ; there- fore in the actual and business affairs of life he was not as practical as others, nor did he succeed as well as some who bad less literary and intellectual capital. He was a man who had many warm personal friends who were attached to him as by " hooks of steel. " He held various offices of honor and trust, in both this state and Ohio. In 1841 he represented Madison county in the State legislature. His death, which was the result of an accident, occurred September 2d, 1857. He was a devout believer in the prin- ciples of Christianity, aud was reared in the faith of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which belief he lived and died.

After the death of Mr. Bailhache, Mr. Richard Ennis formed a partnership with Mr. L. A. Parks in the job- printing business. Mr. Ennis soon retire l, and his place was taken by J. T. Beem. The firm of Parks & Beem continued until the spring of 1861, when the Courier ceased publication. Then L. A. Parks, J. T. Beem and Samuel V. Crossman associated themselves together, and revived the publication of the Telegraph. The firm con- tinued until Mr. Beem volunteered and entered the service. Parks & Crossmau continued to publish the Telegraph until 1864, when Crossman retired, and Thomas S. Pinckard became his successor. The latter withdrew from the firm, February Ist, 1866. Mr. Parks remained editor and sole proprietor until August 10th of the same year, when Charles Holden purchased an interest in the paper, and the firm of L. A. Parks & Co. was formed, and continued unchanged until August, 1867, at which time W. T. Norton secured a third interest, the firm name remaining and continuing the same until the death of Mr. Parks, which event occurred April 1st, 1875. Then Messrs Holden and Norton purchased Parks' interest, and continued the publication of the paper until May 1st, 1880, when Holden retired, and Mr. Norton

became sole owner, and has continued to the present time, The paper was started under the name of the Telegraph. On the 17th of April, 1841, its name was changed to the Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review. In the year 1853 the words "Democratic Review" were dropped, and " Madison County Review " substituted. It was then pub- lished as the _Ilton Telegraph and Madison County Record, which name it retained until its suspension, or until the time when the subscription lists were sold to George T. Brown of the Courier.

Mr. Lawson A. Parks, one of the original founders of the Telegraph, was born and raised in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, April 15th, 1813; iu 1833 he came to St. Louis, and worked in the office of the Missouri Republican. On the 8th of January, 1836, he came to Alton, and there in connection with Richard M. Treadway, founded the Telegraph. He was a practical printer, and at the time of his death was perhaps the oldest printer and publisher in Illinois. In his youth he had but little opportunities for receiving an education, but by long continuance at the case, and in the newspaper business, he gained a thorough knowledge of the practical questions of the day. He was a strong, bold, rather than an ornate writer. His editorials read well, and never left the reader in doubt as to his posi- tion upon any question. He was eminently a self-made man, possessed of a strong, vigorous mind. He formed his own opinions, uninfluenced by others. Although reared in a slave state, and under slavery influence, he early imbibed a hatred against the system, and as soon as practicable came north to the free state of Illinois, where he could speak and write unmolested and unrestrained, of that foul blot and enormous sin of the nineteenth century.

Mr. Norton, the present editor and proprietor of the Telegraph, is a native of Alton, and a son of Rev. A. T. Norton, a Presbyterian minister, and for many years the editor of the Presbyterian Reporter. He graduated from Shurtleff College in 1866, and soon after obtained an inter- est in the Telegraph, aud adopted journalism as a profession. The Telegraph, under Mr. Norton's administration, sus- tains the high character given by his predecessors. He is a smooth, fluent and pleasant writer, and a gentleman whose acquaintance it is a real pleasure to make.

The office is fitted up in a superior manner. The presses are run by a Bachus water motor of three horse power. The motor is simple iu construction. It contains within the iron case a wheel provided with buckets It is con- nected with the sheet mains by a supply pipe; the di- ameter of the nozzle entering the motor is not larger than a lead pencil, but the expansion of the water is so great that after it enters the motor, a four inch waste pipe is re- quired. The stream from a supply pipe striking the buckets, canses the wheel to revolve rapidly, furnishing the necessary power to run all the presses. It has great advantages over steam power in cheapness, durability and cleanliness.

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 51

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