USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > Part 83
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The Democrat, which has no " patent " side, but is all printed at home, enjoys a liberal advertising patronage and a large circulation. Its locals are abundant, fresh and crisp. Its foreign and general news are stich as the public desire to become acquainted with. Its editorial columns are ably managed. The political measures and movements of the day are discussed fearlessly, yet dispassionately. The principles of the Democratic party are ably advocated, and all other measures that its editor believes for the welfare of the gen- eral public.
The present printing establishment connected with this journal is the largest in the county. It is fitted with all the modern con- veniences and improvements, among which is a steam -power press. The press was bought about 3 years ago, and the engine' about 1 year ago. H. E. Hanna, nephew of M. H. Abbott, a former proprietor, has been foreman for about 12 years. They are pre- pared here to do job work in nearly all its branches, and in the neat- est style. We will now speak personally of the leading editors who have conducted this paper.
T. G. Trumbull, one of the founders of this paper, was an attor- ney at law who came from Connecticut, and was a nephew of the celebrated painter, Col. Trumbull, of Washington's military fam- ily. He had, however, but little business at the Bar. In some respects he was somewhat peculiar. For example, when asked about early rising, he would reply that it was not best to be about until the world was well aired by the uprising sun. His health was feeble, his instincts were gentlemanly, his education good, and he was a man of retiring habit. He died many years ago and was buried in the Pittsfield cemetery, leaving no relatives in this vicinity.
George W. Smith went from here to Barry and started The Barry Enterprise, but scon got to drinking so that he could not control himself, and in Feb., 1861 fell out of a window of the
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Planter's House in Hannibal and broke his neck. He was a bril- liant writer, -indeed, a literary genius, and his flashes of wit and rhetoric have seldom been surpassed in local journalism.
John S. Roberts was born in Southern Pennsylvania Nov. 19, 1809; came to this State about the year 1836, stopping first at Shawneetown; afterward he and his brother were at Springfield and at Jacksonville, and edited a paper for awhile; also followed farm- ing. He came to Pike county in 1849 and bought The Pike County Sentinel, as above stated. In 1868 he was appointed Col- lector of Internal Revenue for this District, and held the office for a year or two; was also Clerk of the Legislature for several ses- sions, was Supervisor of Martinsburg township several terms, and was Justice of the Peace from 1869 to 1878, when he died, leaving a widow (nee Elizabeth Twiford) and two sons,-J. Willis Roberts, now Justice of the Peace in Pittsfield, and Town Clerk, and Rich- ard D., also a resident of Pittsfield.
Milton H. Abbott was probably a native of this State; he was married in Alton, Ill .; in a very early day he and his father pub- lished hymn-books, etc., in Vandalia, then the State capital. For stock he would ride horseback all the way to St. Louis and return. Of course, in such early times and under such difficulties, he could not carry on a very extensive business. After assisting on The Free Press, in Pittsfield, for a time, he went to Coldwater, Mich., where a storm blew down his dwelling, when he returned to Pittsfield. He commenced to edit The Pike County Democrat Oct. 11, 1860. After selling out the paper to Mr. Bush, in 1865, he emigrated by wagon to Oregon, finally settling at The Dalles, where he is now publishing The Dalles Democrat. Since going to that place he has lost his wife and three daughters. His brothers are not now living, and of his sisters only Mrs. E. J. Hanna, of Terre Haute, Ind., is living.
Joseph Merrick Bush, editor and proprietor of The Pike County Democrat, was born Jan. 16, 1822, in Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Mass .; graduated at Williams College (Mass.) in 1838, and re- moved the same fall to Pittsfield, Pike county, Ill., where he has ever since resided. He was admitted to the Bar, and in 1848 he married the daughter of John U. Grimshaw, and devoted the most of his time to farming up to 1865, when he purchased and took the control of the Democrat. He has held the office of State Senator, United States Commissioner for the Southern District of Illinois, Master in Chancery, President of the Board of Education, Pittsfield, President Pike County Agricultural Society, and has taken an active part in all measures looking to the advancement of the public interests. He has four sons, three of whom are grown to manhood, and two, William and J. M., jr., are connected with him in conducting the Democrat and its job rooms.
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GRIGGSVILLE REFLECTOR.
.The history of founding a local newspaper is almost without ex- ception a story of unrealized hopes, misdirected efforts and unpaid bills. It is a well-known fact that more failures are recorded in the journalistic profession than in any other. Few are those who attain success in founding a country or a city newspaper. Often it is not for want of literary ability, for many who wield an able pen fail, but it takes as well a high order of business tact and talent. The successful editor and publisher must necessarily be a shrewd business man. He must be a man of business in all that that term implies, for in this field of labor one will find a greater variety of influences brought to bear against his efforts, diffi- culties unknown in other branches must be surmounted, the genius of dealing with people indiscriminately and successfully must be possessed; indeed, the successful editor of to-day must be a business man as well as a literary scholar.
There are few journals which continue long under their original management, seldom longer than two years. Not so with the Reflector, however, which continues under the control and man- agement of its founder, Mr. Strother. He came to Griggsville in 1871, and July 15 of that year, sent forth the first number of the Reflector. It was then a seven-column folio, and presented a neat and tasteful appearance. It was received with favor, and con- siderable encouragement offered the editor. He being a practical printer, was able to take advantage of many influences and soon found his enterprise upon the high road to success. At the end of the first year he had a subscription list of 400. This was steadily increased until at present it numbers upward of 700. The Reflector is purely a local paper; has no patent side, and in politics and religion is neutral. People take the Reflector because it is not hampered or circumscribed by party principles or religious creeds. It is free to applaud or condemn, to advoc ... e or oppose, to build up or tear down, any measure it believes beneficial and just, or in- jurious or wrong. Though neutral on political and religious ques- tions, yet he devotes space in its columns to the discussion of both. Mr. Strother is a veteran in the printing business, having begun to
. learn the trade at the early age of 13 years, and has continued it without intermission from that day to this. Thus, with practical knowledge of his business, he is enabled the better to superintend and carry it on successfully. As a writer he is clear, forcible and logical, and has made of the Reflector an excellent provincial paper.
F. K. Strother, editor and proprietor of the Griggsville Reflec- tor, was born in Granville county, N. C., Sept. 30, 1823; educated at Raleigh ; came to Adams county, Ill., in 1866. and here pub- lished the Clayton Sentinel (now the Enterprise) until 1871, when he came to Griggsville and issued the first copy of the Reflector July 15 of that year, which he still publishes, with a circulation of 850. January 18, 1851, he married Miss B. V. House, and they
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have 6 children: B. L., Homolea, Geneva A., Cora A., S. K. and F. T. Mr. Strother was with Gen. Canby in the South in 1867-8 ; was Government printer while there, where he remained until the reconstruction of the States. He has worked in the printing office most of the time since he was 14 years of age.
THE BARRY ADAGE.
The newspaper history of Barry well exemplifies a general rule characteristic of the profession of journalism. While in most other branches of business the first efforts at establishment in a new and growing place, are generally successful, in public journalism the charm of talking to the people in print, the social and political influence to be obtained as a stepping-stone to power and emolu- ment, and to ease and luxury, tempt the innumerable, impecunions graduates of the printing office to seek some unoccupied field in which to establish themselves and rise. Hence they start out, and for want of the means necessary to run a newspaper a year or two, with but very little pay, they try a new place, and thus continue to rove; and it is but a corroboration of this remark to note that all, or nearly all, the newspapers now successfully conducted in Pike county are owned and edited by old residents having some property.
The first attempt to establish a newspaper in Barry was made by Geo. W. Smith, from Pittsfield, spoken of on a preceding page. He started The Barry Enterprise, but the office here was discon- tinned and the material was moved to Louisiana, Mo .. The next move to establish a paper here was made by Messrs. Shaffner & Goldsmith, who published The Barry Weekly Dispatch. The next effort was made by L. L. Burke, who started The Barry Observer, over White's store. This was run about a year, the last number being issued in the fall of 1871. In October of this year Mr. John H. Cobb took the same rooms and established The Barry Adage, in spite of the most discouraging obstacles. The people of the community had lost all faith in the newspaper business as a Barry enterprise. Mr. Cobb could find but two men who would pay as much as a year's subscription in advance, and not one who would pay a cent in advance for advertising. At least three-fourths of those who were approached on the subject would refuse to pay a cent for the new enterprise. Many men would go into a saloon or tobacco store and spend more in a day or two than would pay for the paper a whole year, then refuse even a single dime to encourage Mr. Cobb in his landable enterprise, in which, too, he finally suc- ceeded. The first number of his paper was issued about Nov. 1, 1871. In 1878, however, he sold out to Mr. Colgrove, who ran the in- stitution for a short time. Mr. Cobb, in company with Wm. Watson, bought back the office and the situation and conducted it together with reasonable success until recently, when Mr. Cobb retired, leav- ing Mr. Watson sole editor and proprietor. The paper is printed on both sides at the home office, is a weekly, and independent in
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politics. Price only $1.00 a year, which is certainly quite reasonable for a local paper. It is not hampered or bound by any political fetters, but is strictly speaking an organ of the people, and for the people. While it enjoys a fair advertising patronage, the merchants and business men of Barry are not fully alive to their best interests when they fail to give their local paper a hearty and liberal sup- port. Towns must be advertised as well as individuals and busi- nesses, and this can only be done through the medium of the press. There is connected with this paper a good job office.
Mr. Cobb tried a daily for a while, at Pittsfield, but that city was found to be too near the large cities, which furnish dailies at hand.
William Watson was born in Barry Feb. 16, 1857, and is a son of Jon Watson, deceased, an early settler in Pike county. Mr. Watson's future success with The Barry Adage is very promising. He is a pleasing writer for a young man, and gives to Barry an ex- cellent local paper.
THE UNICORN GREENBACK.
After The Adage had been under way four or five years there was a sheriff's sale of a press, stationery, etc., where Mr. Simeon Fitch was a bidder, and he rather jestingly remarked that he did not want any one to bid against him on the press, as he wanted to run a paper in opposition to The Adage. He also had a boy whom he wished to learn the art of printing and thought to purchase the press and material for this purpose. This was the ex- citing cause of many friends encouraging him to go into the busi- ness of printing and publishing a paper. Thus encouraged, and having a love for literary labor, he obtained another press and com- menced business, issuing the first number of The Unicorn on the 5th of October, 1877. He subsequently bought the press, which was offered at the sheriff's sale. The Unicorn was started as a Re- publican paper, but it soon espoused the Greenback cause and changed its name to The Unicorn Greenback. The Unicorn is a 8 column folio and filled with local and general news, discussions upon the political, financial and social issues of the country that agitate the public mind, and a general miscellany of excellent and instructive reading matter. As above stated it is a Greenback paper, and is one of the leading advocates for the measures and prin- ciples of the Greenback party in this section. The Unicorn is also one of the most zealous advocates of temperance and total absti- nence from the use of tobacco there is in the country. No smoking is even allowed in the printing office. The motto heading the newspaper is,-
" Tobacco, though handy, is risky to use : Together with brandy and whisky, refuse."
Mr. Fitch is pre-eminently a poetic editor, often throwing into rhyme the reports of proceedings in the city, and thus he amuses while he teaches and instructs. His paper has a much larger cir-
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culation than he at first anticipated, and promises to be one of the established institutions of the city of Barry. Thus, with his tem- perance and anti-tobacco principles and his novel way of rhyming locals, he is enabled to present to his readers a rare, entertaining and elevating class of reading matter. He will not taint the morals of the most saintly, and it grieves him greatly to see so many of his fellow men, and especially the young, polluting them- selves by the use of liquors and tobacco. It will take him a long time and much earnest work to change the habits and customs of this people in this respect, and that his influence will be felt, is be- yond question. No man ever engaged in a reformation more desired, and more earnestly and devotedly than Mr. Fitch, and that he may live to see a radical change in the filthy and injurious habits so common, we most heartily wish. He has a most potent enemy, and it will take constant hard battling to conquerit. Mr. Fitch, however, appreciates the magnitude of his labors, yet will use his pen and voice, his influence and purse to save the young and convert those already steeped in the use of liquors and tobacco.
Simeon Fitch, editor and proprietor of the Unicorn Greenback, Barry, Ill., was born in Delaware county, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1818, and is a son of Samuel Fitch, deceased; was educated in Franklin, N. Y., and at the age of 21 he commenced teaching school, which pro- fession he followed 10 years, a portion of the time engaging in farming during the summer season. He emigrated to Pike county in April, 1842, where he has since lived. May 1, 1845, he married Lucinda A. Piper, by whom he had one child, since deceased. Mrs. Fitch died April 24, 1854, and Ang. 3 of the same year Mr. F. married Eliza Kerr, and of the 8 children born to them these 6 are living: Ella, Edward E., Charles S., Owen L., Anna and Mary. Edward attends to the farm, while Owen L. assists his father in the printing-office. Ella is a teacher, and is now Mrs. Dr. E. T. Myers, of Farber, Mo.
MILTON BEACON.
This is one of the leading organs of the Greenback party in Illi- nois, and wields an influence second to none. This fact is evinced in the interest manifested by the people of Milton and vicinity in this late political movement, and also in the fact that the citizens in this district are uniformly well posted in political matters. Constant readers of this journal are difficult antagonists to contend with in argumentative contests on political questions. They have been under the instruction of a wise, original and logical tutor, and have gained much information bearing upon the great and im- portant political questions, especially the financial, now before the public.
The Beacon, although comparatively a new publication, has proven a grand success under its present able management. Dur- ing the winter of 1874-5 a temperance organization known as the Milton Moral Reform Society published a small paper called the
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Milton Reform. This sheet was issued for the purpose of setting forth the aims and objects of the order. It was distributed gra- tuitously, and was received with much favor by the citizens of the town. The effect of this small publication was to create a demand for a larger paper. After its second monthly issue Mr. A. G. Lucas proposed to start a five-column folio paper, providing the Society would discontinue the publication of the Reform, and turn over the advertising already secured. This proposition was accepted, and on the 16th of April, 1875, the Milton Beacon made its ap- pearance. It came forth, however, as a six-column instead of a five- column paper, as originally intended.
The history of all new papers is one of a hard struggle for ex- istence; on the whole, however, the Beacon has been unusually suc- cessful. After a lapse of three months Mr. Lucas found the ex- penses incident to founding a paper greater than he had anticipated, and suspension was likely to follow. It was the wish of the busi- ness men that the paper should continue. Accordingly in order to sustain the enterprise, a stock company was formed. This com- pany consisted of F. M. Grimes, T. B. Morton, J. O. Bolin, C. E. Bolin, J. M. Faris, S. Hudson, W. Hess, W. D. Mitchell and L. N. Hall. Mr. Grimes was chosen President of the company and Mr. Morton, Secretary. J. M. Faris was appointed editor. He forthwith enlarged it to a seven-column paper, and advanced the subscription from $1.00 to $1.50 per year, adopted the " patent out- side," and continued its publication until April, 1876. On that date the paper was sold to F. M. Grimes, its present editor, who has since purchased all of the shares except two, which have not yet been offered for sale!
Mr. Grimes entered upon his new field of labor with considerable enthusiasm. He brought to bear in this enterprise a well stored mind, a ready pen, business ability and personal popularity, and as a result has obtained a most signal success. During the past year (1879) this paper reached a circulation greater than that ever at- tained by any other paper published in Pike county, a fact of which its editor may well be proud.
Mr. Grimes continued the patent side until January, 1877, when he began the printing of the entire paper in the office. We will remark in this connection that in point of equipment this office ranks with those much older. It is supplied with a large assort- ment of the best material and modern conveniences of the preserva- tive art. Mr. Grimes carries a full line of job-printing material, and executes some fine specimens in this line.
The Beacon was started as a neutral paper, politically. But the editor believing duty called him to do battle against certain measures which he considered highly detrimental to our common country, and to advocate others which were subservient to national prosper- ity, he unfurled the standard of the Greenback party and has since done valiant service in its behalf. He wields a powerful pen, and carries conviction to almost all who will unprejudicedly and candidly
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follow his arguments. As an antagonist he is dreaded by the most influential. As an advocate he is earnest, untiring and concen- trates his unusual powers in behalf of the measure or person that he is supporting. We congratulate the people of Milton and vicinity in having in their midst a paper conducted with the ability and enterprise of the Beacon.
Francis Marion Grimes, editor of the Beacon, was born in Montezuma township, April 28, 1837. He is the son of James and Nancy (Davis) Grimes, well known early settlers of Pike county. His father was born in County Down, Ireland, Feb. 9, 1789, and his mother in Warren county, Ky., Feb. 15, 1797. They were united in marriage Nov. 11, 1813, and came to Montezuma town- ship in 1836. His father died Sept. 19, 1873, and his mother still survives at a ripe old age. Our subject was reared on a farm, and received a good common-school education. At the age of 19 he be- gan teaching school and taught for 20 consecutive years in the schools of Montezuma and Pearl townships, this county. As a teacher he was eminently successful, as attested by the above, and also by the fact that he never held any other than a first-grade cer- tificate. He quit teaching in April, 1876, and took possession of the editorial chair of the Beacon, which he has so ably filled to the present time. March 17, 1859, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. Colvin, the sixth child of Thomas and Rebecca Colvin, now deceased. To them have been born 6 children, namely,- Albert, Luther, Perry, Henry, Ina and Rollo. Mr. G. has been a member of the Christian Church for 20 years, and a zealous worker in the temperance canse for many years. He now also holds membership in the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Workmen lodges. He formerly voted with the Democratic party, but paid little atten- tion to politics, believing, however, that the financial question was paramount to all others at the present; has for the past year devoted his time and energies to the interests of the National Greenback party.
PERRY PARAGRAPH.
This is one of the eight newspaper publications of Pike county, and like the others, has experienced its ups and downs. It is con- ceded to be one of the most difficult things known in the business world to establish a local paper upon a paying basis. It requires more energy, patience and perseverance to found one than almostany other business. It is less remunerative, more vexatious, and requires the expenditure of greater mental and physical force than other enterprises. Few there are who properly appreciate the labors, the trials and difficulties of a country editor. He enjoys none of the advantages, yet he is expected to send forth a sheet that will com- pare favorably with the large dailies of cities.
Mr. Cobb, the editor of this paper, and other editors can appre- ciate the force of these remarks perhaps better than people in gen- eral. He recently started the Paragraph, and has met with fair
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success. The paper is independent politically, religiously and in everything else. It is free to advocate or oppose any measure or view brought before the public.
H. C. Cobb was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1845, and is the son of James and Mary (Hale) Cobb, both natives of the Empire State. His father is of Welsh ancestry, and his mother is a direct descendant of Sir. Matthew Hale. Mr. C. was united in marriage Aug. 12, 1871, with Elizabeth Purviance. Three children have been borne to them, only one of whom is now living. Mr. C. learned his trade in New York, where he was connected with several papers in the State.
THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
This is the latest newspaper enterprise of Pike county, and has promise of becoming one of the most popular and influential. It first greeted the public Dec. 11, 1879, an eight-column folio. The typographical appearance of the Press is neat and tasty. Indeed, it would reflect honor to older established offices to send out such excellent quality of work. 'The Press office is furnished all through with the best material and presses, and for mechanical execution the job work done at this office will compare favorably with that turned out from the larger establishments of the State. Its present editor, A. Hughes, and its proprietors, Hughes & Nelson, are thor- oughly enterprising newspaper men, and that the progress they have so early made is appreciated by the general public, is evinced by the unusual success attending their enterprise.
The Independent Press, which is published at Griggsville, was founded, as its name implies, as an independent journal so far as politics or religion are concerned. Its editor believes he can exert a greater influence under that banner than under any other. He will not be influenced by party or sect. He advocates such measures, national, municipal, religious and social, as will best subserve the interests of the mass of the community, regardless of any party, clique or individual. As such a journal, it deserves, as it has, the patronage of all classes. As the better to set forth the principles of this paper, we quote from its salutatory a remark or two in reference to this point. The editor says : " The Press will not be a partisan sheet in accordance with the generally accepted tenets of either of the established political parties. Our politics and religion will be independent so far as the paper is concerned." * * * " In our advocacy of measures, be they cosmopolitan or local, we will only be guided by what we conceive to be the right, and will best conserve the true interests of this city, county, State and nation. In the interest of the merchant we shall advocate the best means of developing trade ; in the interests of all we shall, by using every means in our power, fight against rings, monopolies, and every species of fraud that has a tendency to retard or lessen the people's interest."
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