History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 27

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough
Number of Pages: 530

USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 27

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John Faust, after the dissolution of partnership with Gutenberg, took into partnership Peter Schoeffer, one of his servants, and an ingenious workman. He privately cut matrices for the whole al- phabet, and when he showed his master the type cut from these matrices Faust was so much pleased that he gave Schoeffer his only daughter in marriage. Schoeffer's improvement in casting type from matrices was made in 1456. Gutenberg's printing office ex- isted in Mentz until 1465. He died February 4th, 1468.

These are the great names in the early history of printing and each is worthy of special honor. In this connection it is fitting that mention should be made of William Caxton who introduced print- ing into England, and was the first English printer of whom there is any knowledge. He was born in Kent in 1422. In 1471 he entered the service of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy. During

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

his sojourn in Bruges he formed the acquaintance of Colard Man- sion, a well known printer of that city. He acquired the art and in 1476 returned to England and set up his wooden printing press in Westminster. The "Game and the Play of the Chesse," was one of his earliest publications. He died about the year 1491.

For a long time printing was dependent upon most clumsy ap- paratus. The earliest press had a contrivance for running the form under the point of pressure by means of a screw. When the pres- sure had been supplied, the screw was loosened, the form withdrawn and the sheet removed. The defects of this very rude mechanism were at length partially remedied and improved by William Jansen Blain of Amsterdam. He contrived a press in which the carriage holding the form was wound below the point of pressure, which was given by moving a handle attached to a screw hanging in a beam, having a spring, that caused the screw to fly back as soon as the impression was given. The Blaine press was made entirely of wood, and was in general use in Europe and America until the present century. The next improvement in printing presses was made by the Earl of Stanhope, who constructed one entirely of iron which printed the whole surface of the sheet at one impression-the size of the sheet being regulated by size of press. Numerous im- provements were made upon the Stanhope press, which culminated in the Columbian, an American invention patented in 1816, which in time gained a large share of approbation. Other inventions fol- lowed rapidly and all were more or less improvements upon others. The Washington hand press came into more general use in Ameri- ca than any other. Cylinder presses are the great modern invention in the history of the art. It was invented by Mr. Nicholson, an Englishman, and was patented as early as 1790. His patents co- vered and embodied almost every principle so successfully applied to printing since that day. Cylinder presses were much improved by Messrs. Applegath and Cowper in 1818. In 1814 steam was first applied to cylinder presses by Frederick Konig, a Saxon ge- nius, and the subsequent progress of steam printing has been so re- markable as to almost justify a belief in its absolute perfection. Indeed to appreciate the improvements which have been made in presses only, one ought to be privileged to stand by while the press- man operated one of the clumsy machines of Gutenberg, and then step into one of the well-appointed printing offices of our larger cities, where he could see the roll of dampened paper entering the great mammoth press, a continuous sheet, and issuing from it as newspapers, printed, cut, folded, and ready for the carrier or ex- press ._

Type founding, or the manufacture of type, originated in Ger- many along with printing, and dates as early as 1492. It was then connected with the business of printing, but in time it became a separate and distinct manufacture. The process of casting type was much the same, and done by hand from the 16th century until 1848, when Meller and Richard of Edinburg, Scotland, invented and patented a machine for casting types. In 1860 it was much im- proved by the patentees, and is now the most advanced and approved system of type casting in both Europe and America. The earliest type used were in the style now known as "Gothic," or Black- letter.

It would be interesting to trace more minutely the history of this great art from its humble origin in Hærlem, through all successive stages, to the present, and to classify its products. For nearly a thousand years previous to its introduction, mankind had been sur- rounded by the densest ignorance the world has ever known. Teutonic barbarians had swept over fair Italy, had sacked her capital, had despised her civilization as unworthy even the indul- gence 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 architecture and sculpture. 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 had burned the great Alexandrian library, after declaring that if its volumes agreed with the Koran, they were needless ; if they conflicted, they were pernicious. During this period, feudalism had kept the noble at war with his sovereign, had unsettled gov- ernments, and made men soldiers with scarcely time for necessary practice at arms ; amusements were popular, only as they contri- buted to martial prowess, and poetry in the main was but a min- strel's doggerel concerning the chivalrous deeds of a listening knight or the wonderful charms of a favorite mistress. From the fall of Rome, there had been but little talent and time to cultivate letters. A few ecclesiastics here and there were the custodians of the learning saved from the wrecks of Grecian literature and Roman knowledge. The masses were ignorant. They believed that the hand which commonly held the sword would be disgraced if trained to wield the pen. Books were for the monk's cell or the 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. Supersti- tion, priestcraft and thirst for inaterial renown moulded public acts and private training.

The Crusades broke the power of feudalism, dispelled much geo- graphical ignorance by making neighboring nations better ac- quainted, gave an impetus to commercial enterprises, awakened the sluggish intellect, enlarged the human mind and rendered it more tolerant, introduced the luxuries and refinements of the Greek empire, and brought about Magna Charta and Free Cities. With the expanding and increasing 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. Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz studied the chemistry of the Arabs, and were among the first devotees at the shrine of physical science. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and England sought new outlets for their surplus products of soil, loom and fisheries. Mental darkness can make no long-continued stand against such enterprise, and enterprise will ever find an exponent to herald its doings from nation to nation, and a medium to make its conquests the property of succeeding generations. Europe was in a commercial and intel- lectual foment when Coster set up his printing office in Hærlem, and inaugurated an industry until then unknown. To understand the effect of that industry upon humanity, compare the enlighten- ment, civilization and progress of the present with the semi-barbar- ism and stagnation of the middle ages. Printing is rolling back ignorance, vice and degradation, is unfolding the mysteries of nature, and is explaining the mandates of Him who made man in His own image, and expects the homage of the creature due the Creator.

The Romans in the time of the Emperors had periodical notices of passing events, compiled and publicly posted. These Acta Diurna (daily events) were the newspapers of the day. Before they were posted in the public places, where all who desired could see them, they passed under the inspection of the Emperor, and later of Censors, Quaestors or Magistrates, whose duty it was to carefully scrutinize and erase such imformation as they, or, the Emperor desired withheld from the people. The first newspapers in

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Europe are traceable to Germany and Venice and date back to soon after the discovery of printing. In 1536 the first newspaper of modern times was issued at Venice, but governmental bigotry compelled its circulation in manuscript form. In the latter half of the 15th Century small news sheets named the "Rugulationer " and "New Zeytung " appeared in different cities composing the con- mercial centers of Germany but they were generally in the form of a letter. The first newspaper established in Germany was the Frankfurt Gazette which still survives, and is credited with being the oldest newspaper in the civilized world. It was established in 1615. The first and nearest approach to newspapers in the English language were the pamplets called the "English Mercury," "News out of Holland," and others, that made their appearance in 1622. They, however, hardly deserve the name of newspapers. In 1663 the Public Intelligencer, printed in London, made its appearance. It was the first English paper to attempt the dissemination of news. It continued until the appearance of the London Gazette, which was first issued Nov. 7th, 1665, at Oxford. There were no papers printed oftener than once a week until in the reign of Queen Anna, then from the interest created by the war in progress, and the brilliant victories achieved by Marlborough, there was a de- mand for more frequent intelligence. To satisfy this demand the Daily Courant was issued every day of the week, Sundays excepted. The Courant was the first daily paper issued.

The first newspaper issued in America was the Public Occurrences at Boston, Sept. 25th, 1690, by Richard Pearce, and was immedi- ately suppressed by the government, No man, or, set of men had the presumption to undertake a similar enterprise until fourteen years afterwards, when John Campbell, postmaster. established the Boston News Letter. The first issne was April 24th, 1704. It was a half sheet, twelve inches by eight, with two columns to the page. The Boston Gazette was issued Dec. 21st, 1719, and the American Weekly, at Philadelphia, one day later-Dec. 22d, 1719. In 1721 James Franklin started the Boston Courant, which was edited for six years by his brother Benjamin. From 1704 to 1748 there were but six newspapers published in America. From 1748 to 1783 the number increased to forty-nine. The oldest living newspaper in the United States is the New Hampshire Gazette. It was founded Oct. 7th, 1756, and has been published without intermission or radical change of name from that date to the present. The first daily newspaper in the United States was the American Daily Ad- vertiser, established in Philadelphia in 1784, now called the North American. The next year the New York Daily Advertiser was issued.

There are published in the United States and Territories nearly 9000 newspapers and magazines, of which 800 are issned daily ; 60, tri-weekly; 120 semi-weekly ; nearly 7000 weekly ; 40 semi-month- ly ; 90 semi-annually ; 17 once in two months, and between 50 and 60 quarterly. The Census of 1880 will show nearly one newspaper to every five hundred inhabitants. At the beginning of 1880 there were of journalistic publications in the United States, besides English, 220 German, 35 French, 25 Spanish, 25 Norwegian, Dan- ish and Swedish, 10 Bohemian, 10 Hollandish, 5 Welsh, 2 Portu- gnese, 2 Polish, 1 Hebrew, 1 Cherokee, 1 Choctow and one Chinese.

Real journalism, by which is meant the compiling of passing events for the purpose of making them more generally known and instructive, did not commence until about 1820. Prior to that date the ambition of journalists was to direct and crystallize public opinion. The columns of the journals were much occupied with discussions and dissertations upon every conceivable subject in which the masses had no direct interest or sympathy, and news was almost entirely ignored. To use a vulgar saying, newspapers were then

edited with the paste pot and scissors, Now, the real object of a newspaper is to get the latest, freshest news, and lay it before their readers in the shortest possible time. The innovation upon old forms and introduction of new methods whereby the publishing of news was made the first object of the paper, originated with the publishers of the New York Sun. It was the first real newspaper in the world. It was specially devoted to news both local and general, and soon attained a circulation unprecedented in the history of journalism. Other newspapers were not slow to observe the signals of success and followed in the wake of the Sun, and soon old fogy methods were lost in the hazy past. News is the dominant idea of the successful newspaper of the day.

Journalism 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. 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 are so powerful for good or ill as editors. More than any other class they form public opinion while expressing it, for most men but echo the sentiments of favorite journalists. Even statesmen, ministers and learned professers not unfrequently get their best thoughts and ideas from the papers they read.

For dates and facts relating to the early history of the press of St. Clair county we are indebted to the newspaper fraternity, who have kindly aided ns with information necessary for this chapter. We also desire to extend our thanks to Mr. E. H. Fleming, one of Belleville's veteran printers and journalists, James H. Hughes, T. Quick, Esq., Prof. Deneen of McKendree College, and others, for information which has enabled us to trace the history of the press from 1827 down to the present time.

Prior to the establishment of a newspaper in the region now known as St. Clair county, the people depended upon the Missouri Gazette, established in 1808 in St. Louis, now known as the Mis- souri Republican, for their news from the outside world. At this distant day it is nearly if not quite impossible to get reliable and correct information regarding the first newspaper of this county. No files, or old copies can be found in the possession of the older inhabitants, nor in the archives or among the records of the State Historical Society. We have therefore to depend in a large mea- sure upon the best recollections of men and women who lived in the pioneer days of Illinois. Many such can be found, but among them are various opinions and much confusion, particularly as to dates. We are convinced, however, that the first newspaper ever published in St. Clair county was called

THE WESTERN NEWS,

And was established by Dr. Joseph Green in Belleville, and was first issued in the winter of 1827-8. It was a small sheet, promising a weekly issue, but appeared semi-occasionally. It, however, was a newspaper, and the first ever printed within the present confines of St. Clair county. The next paper was the

PIONEER,

Which was the second newspaper, and first religious journal in the county. The Prospectus of the Pioneer was issued in December of 1828, and the first paper issued April 25th, 1829, at Rock Spring, the seat of Rock Spring Academy. It was established by Rev. Thos. P. Green, a Baptist minister, who brought a hand-press and type from Cape Geradeau, Mo. Rev. Green was a practical print-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

er. He was assisted by his two sons, also printers. The Pioneer was a five-column single sheet newspaper, edited by Rev. James M. Peck. In the fall of 1829, Green sold the office to Peck, and on the 14th of June, 1830, Ashford Smith took charge of the print- ing-Peck remaining editor. The business arrangement continucd until 1836, when a partnership was formed between Peck and Smith, and the office was removed to Upper Alton, and there made its appearance as the Western Pioneer and Baptist Banner. The form was a six-column folio. The Pioneer was printed in a franie building, 30 by 12, which is still standing, and used as an out-house on the farm of S. G. Smith, a son-in-law of Pecks.

In 1833, Robt. K. Fleming, editor and publisher of the Kaskas- kia Recorder, was induced to remove his printing office to Belle- ville, by the prominent and representative men of St. Clair county, who pledged him their support and patronage. In accordance with their wishes he packed up the type and presses, and with his family came to Belleville. As soon as he could " lay out" the office he commenced the publication of the

ST. CLAIR GAZETTE.

Its first appearance was about December 20th, 1833. The paper was continued by him for a number of years, under many dis- advantages. The publication was often interrupted, owing to finan- cial difficulties and other causes incident to the establishing of a newspaper in the pioneer days of Illinois. He changed the name of the Gazette to the

ST. CLAIR MERCURY.

The latter was the forerunner of the

REPRESENTATIVE AND GAZETTE,

the first number of which was issued May, 1838. E. S. Cropley was the editor and publisher. The Representative and Gazette was a large size folio, and was ably edited and liberally patronized by the merchants and business men of Belleville. Some of the adver- tisements are unique, while others will serve to recall the names of men who played a conspicuous part in the country and state half a century ago. Among the professional advertisements is that of Colonel J. L. D. Morrison, Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law, and is dated, Kaskaskia, July 27th, 1838, when the Colonel informed the public he has permanently located in the practice of his profession. Then comes Koerner & Shields, Attorneys at Law, the latter the hero of three wars, and United States Senator from three States. On the 6th of September, 1838, Lyman Trumbull and John Reynolds formed a co-partnership in the practice of law. Thomas Kinker, a cabinet-maker, informs the public that he "will attend to all business in his line from the cradle to the grave." But that which will strike the average reader as somewhat strange reading in these latter days, in view of the present political con- dition of the negroes under the late amendments to the constitu- tion, is the following "Notice," "Was committed to the jail in Perry County, Illinois, on the 22nd day of December, 1838, Two Negroes, supposed to be runaway slaves, viz. : A man and woman, &c." Here follows a full description of their persons and calling upon the owners "to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take them away, or, they will be dealt with as required by law." This notice was published six times and the printing fee was three dollars. From a leading editorial published February 2d, 1839, we subjoin the following excerpt, for the purpose of showing that, what was true then of political parties, is true yet. Under the head of " Thoughts on the present condition of parties

in this State," they quote, "The present condition of parties in our State opens a fair field for philosophic speculation. The numerical strength is nearly equal, their efficient means of operat- ing upon public opinion are nearly equal, and with party scales so nicely balanced, it will follow as certainly as the light of day succeeds the darkness of the night, that the party which relies alone on intrigue and political management will be defeated, and that one which trusts to the immutable principles of justice, honesty and equal rights will prove successful." No truer words than the above were ever penned.

Noth withstanding the ability with which the Representative was conducted, and the evidence of its prosperity shown by the large number of advertisements with which its columns were crowded. it failed about the close of 1839, and from it rose

THE BELLEVILLE ADVOCATE,

Which has withstood the rude shock of time, and come down to us from a former generation. It has lived through all the vicissi- tudes attending upon journalistic enterprises and has been, with but few slight intermissions, regularly issued from its first number to the present. It is credited with being the first permanent newspaper in St. Clair County. The first number of the Advocate was issued March 27th, 1840, James L. Boyd and John T. C. Clark were the editors and publishers. It was printed in a build- ing on the corner of Main and High Streets, and issued every Saturday morning. In form it was a five column folio, price $2.00 per year. Twelve lines made a square. In looking over No. 8 of Vol. 1, wherein is printed their terms to advertisers, we were impressed with their good sense and business judgment as is shown in the following : "Advertisements of personal altercations will invariably be charged $2.00 per square for first insertion, and $1.00 for each continuous insertion, payment to be made invariably in advance." This, no doubt, had the effect to make disputants con- sult their pocket books before engaging in a public altercation, or the longest purse won the day. In their Prospectus, the editors say to the public that "the Advocate will be conducted on pure Democrative principles, both editors being Democrats of the Old School of Jeffersonian politics, differing from the monopolizing Hamiltonian Autocracy in their whole political creed." The paper warmly supported Martin Van Buren for President, and Lyman Trumbull for member of the State Legislature. Mr. Clarke re- tired from the Advocate a few months after the first issue ; Boyd continued the publication until the winter of 1841-2 when the paper passed into the hands of Philip B. Fouke, and from him to Robert K. Fleming, the founder and publisher of the old Gazette and Mercury. It is fitting that we should here make a brief biographical sketch of Robert K. Fleming, one of the pioneer printers of Belleville. He was born in Erie County, Penn., and learned the printer's trade in Pittsburg. He came west while yet young, and worked at his trade in St. Louis. From there he went to Kaskaskia and started a paper, and there married a Miss Leland, a native of Mass. By this marriage there were five sons and two daughters. In 1833 he came to Belleville and engaged in journalism, and here continued until his death in 1874. It may be said of him that he had few faults, but many virtues. All of his sons became printers, and all were more or less, connected with the newspapers of St. Clair County. Edward H. Fleming, son of Robert K., gradually got control of the office, and it remained under his management until 1849, when the California gold fever carried him to the Pacific Coast. He left the office in charge of his brother, William K., who was also a printer. The latter in the summer of 1849 commenced the publication of the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

DAILY BELLEVILLE ADVOCATE,

The first daily newspaper published in St. Clair County. During William S. Fleming's administration of the Advocate Jehu Baker was editor. He is regarded by contemporaries and others as being the ablest editor ever employed on the Belleville press. On June the 29th, 1850, Fleming sold the Advocate to John W. Merritt, a newspaper publisher, who afterwards located at Salem, Illinois, and at a later date better known as the editor of the State Register at Springfield, Illinois. Merritt remained in control of the paper until the latter part of the summer of 1851, when he sold to Judge Niles. In 1851, E. H. Fleming returned to Belleville from California, and started

THE BELLEVILLE SUN.

Thirty-six numbers were issued when it was consolidated with the Advocate, and a partnership formed under the name of Fleming and Niles. The latter was editor, and the former foreman, and attended to the mechanical part of the office. In .October, 1852, Fleming and Niles purchased the Illinois Independent, and consoli- dated it with the Advocate. On the 19th of July, 1854, Judge Niles' interest in the paper was purchased by James S. Coulter, and he retired from his editorial labors for a short time. As a newspaper writer, Judge Niles was far above the average. He was a strong, forcible writer, though sometimes voluminous. Brevity was not exactly his forte, yet articles from his pen showed a thorough knowledge of the subject in hand. He gave the Advocate a promi- nent position and high standing among the journals of Illinois. He was better fitted, however, to fill the editorial chair of some metro- politan journal than the sanctum of a country newspaper.

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History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 27

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough Number of Pages: 530

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough
Number of Pages: 530