History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 28

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 28

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Messrs. Fleming and Coulter, soon after getting the control of the Advocate, commenced the publication of the

DAILY BELLEVILLE ADVOCATE.

The first number was issued, September 1st, 1854. It was a five- column folio, and a very neat, spicy publication. James S. Coul- ter, the editor, was a Protestant Irishman, and was one of those irrepressible characters so often found among the natives of the Emerald Isle. He wielded a sharp, vigorous pen, and was indis- criminate in the use of it, and sometimes would puncture a friend as well as foe.

November 14th, 1855, E. H. Fleming retired from the Advocate, from reasons of ill health. His interest in the office was purchased by J. S. Coulter, who continued the paper until June 11th, 1856, when Judge Niles again became proprietor and editor. On the first of July of the same year, Edward Schiller bought a half inter- est in the office, and continued one of the proprietors until Dec. 3d, 1856, when he retired, and Judge Niles published the paper until May 13th, 1857, when the office was sold to Collins Van Cleve, and T. C. Weeden. In the Salutatory of the latter, they assure the public that the Advocate will be continued as a Free Soil paper, which position it took in 1854. With the issue of July 10th, 1857, the paper was enlarged to an 8 column folio, with the name Bel- leville Advocate, in large fancy letters. The next week the letters were changed to a smaller size, which was a decided improvement. Messrs. Van Cleve and Weeden continued the publication until February 10th, 1860, when they sold to E. J. Montague, formerly of the Chester Herald. Soon after taking charge, Mr. Montague put a new dress on the paper, and it was then an exceedingly neat publication. In September, 1860, during the progress of the County Fair, the Advocate office published the first daily Fair Journal. It was called the St. Clair County Fair-Ground Journal. On the 25th of January, 1861, the News Letter, published in Mascoutah,

was consolidated with the Advocate, and Alex. G. Hawes, its editor, became the associate editor of the Advocate. The paper was then known as the Weekly Belleville Advocate and News Letter. On the 8th of February, 1861, the office passed back into the hands of Collins Van Cleve. Hawes remained connected with the paper until May 10th, 1861, when he retired. On the 1st of June, 1861, F. M. Hawes became editor, and Aug. 10th of the same year, pur- chased the paper. With the issue of Oct. 11th, 1861, the word " Weekly " was dropped, and the paper was known as the Belleville Advocate. Mr. Hawes conducted the publication of the Advocate until December 5th, 1862, when G. F. Kimball took charge of its management, and assisted Mr. Hawes in the editorial department.

On the 27th of November, 1863, Mr Kimball purchased the en- tire office including books, etc., for the sum of $1000. He con- tinued sole proprietor and editor until January 1st, 1867, when he sold a one-tenth interest to F. M. Taylor. Under the management of Messrs Kimball and Taylor, the business of the office was greatly increased. They embarked in the business of printing " Outsides" for a number of newspapers in Southern Illinois. They also, in addition to the Advocate, published at the same time, the Nashville Journal, Sparta Plaindealer, Mt. Vernon News, Collinsville Argus and Litchfield Monitor. They also did a large amount of book printing for St. Louis and other places. The firm continued until 1872, when a disagreement arose between the partners as to what position the Advocate should take upon the political questions of the day. The paper had been conducted as a Republican organ during the time of Mr. Kimball's connection with it, but now his political opinions had undergone a slight change, and he was inclined to the liberal wing of the party, and was in favor of carrying the paper over to its support. Taylor was a stalwart in his belief and insisted on keeping the Advocate in the well beaten track of the radical wing of the party. Their differences were irreconcilable, and the firm was dissolved. Mr. Taylor purchased the presses, material and building, and Mr. Kimball retired from the business. He went to Danville, Illinois, and there took editorial charge of the News, a daily and weekly paper, and from there to Decatur where he organized several newspaper enterprises.

In the summer of 1879, he returned to Belleville, and, for a few months, was interested in the publication of the Republican. On the 27th of November, 1879, he issued the first number of the Weekly Times, and in Feb., 1880, the Daily Times, and continued both publications until the following May when they were sus- pended.

In the summer of 1880, he was for a short time editor of the Advocate. In October, 1880, he removed to Sedalia, Mo., where he is at present editing and publishing the Daily News, a leading Republican journal of Central Missouri.

When Mr. Taylor purchased the Advocate office he formed the

WESTERN PRINTING COMPANY

which was organized and incorporated under the laws of the state. The principal stockholders were :- Mrs. Kate L. Taylor, wife of F. M. Taylor, Charles W. Thomas, E. L. Thomas, John Woods and F. M. Taylor. Subsequently the shares of stock held by the Thomases were purchased by Mrs. Taylor. At a later date she also secured the share held by Woods which was assigned to J. B. Lemen. F. M. Taylor was President, and John Woods, Secretary, and foreman of the office : Mrs. Taylor afterward .became Secretary. The com- pany continued the printing business until May 8th, 1880, when the office was closed, and Taylor retired from the business. J. H. Thomas purchased the material and presses and on the 4th of June 1880, resumed the publication of the Advocate, with G. F. Kimball

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

as editor. The latter soon retired from the paper, since which time Mr. Thomas has been both publisher and editor. The office of the Advocate was in the building now occupied by the Post office which was built and fitted up expressly for the paper. Jan. 1st, 1880, it was removed to the Zeitung building and the 27th of Sept., 1880, was removed to it present quarters.

The Advocate in form, as in proprietorship, has gone through many changes. It is now a six-column quarto, all printed at home. Ty- pographically it is a neat paper, and well edited. It was for years the leading Democratic paper in southern Illinois, and, in later days,. was the recognized organ of the Republican party in this Congressional district, and to-day it still retains its prestige of for- mer years.

The Advocate was for years the best known newspaper, perhaps, with few exceptions in the state. It has numbered among its edi- tors and contributors many of the leading and distinguished men of the state of Illinois.

Soon after the demise of the Representative and Gazette another newspaper bearing the title of

THE SPIRIT OF 76

made its appearance as a campaign paper in the interest of Har- rison and Tyler, candidates on the Whig ticket for the presidency and vice-presidency. Its first issue was in the latter part of July, 1840. The paper had but a brief existence. After a few issues it, too, took up its abode in the silent chamber of departed newspaper enterprises. The type and presses however remained, and passed into the possession of J. R. Cannon, who re-commenced the publica- tion of a Whig paper, which advocated the claims of Harrison, and after his election supported his administration with zeal and energy. He continued the publication until his death; then Chas. Sargeant bought the press and material and published an indepen- dent paper of which Elam Rust was editor. Rust afterwards removed to Decatur and in 1856 established a paper in that city, and died there in 1857. Sargeant's paper under the editorship of Rust was particularly noted, and will be remembered among the older citizens for its publications of personal paragraphs reflecting upon the character of reputable citizens of Belleville. In one instance, it is related, that such publication led to fatal results. All of the foregoing papers, including Sargeant's, ultimately fell into the hands of the Advocate.

The first newspaper published in the American Bottom, or that portion of it lying in what now comprises St. Clair county was called the

AMERICAN BOTTOM GAZETTE.

There is much confusion as to the date of its first issue, but from the best information obtainable we are convinced that it was in the winter of 1841-2. The publishers were Sumrix & Jarrott. It continued until 1844 when the office was swept away by the great flood of that year. The building from which the paper was issued was situated near what is now known as Main and Market Streets, East St. Louis, close to where the old " Bundy House " stood.

The next venture in journalism was a German publication known as the

BELLEVILLE BEOBACHTER

which was the second German paper in the State of Illinois. It was started in 1844 by Theodore Engelmann, who at that time was Deputy Circuit Clerk. During the same year he was elected Circuit Clerk. Not having time to attend to his paper, he sold the office to his foreman Bartholomew Hauck, who moved the office to Quincy and there established the Quincy Beobachter, which con-

tinued until in 1848. Engelmann's term of office as Circuit Clerk expired in that year. He opened up a correspondence with Hauck and induced him to remove his printing office back to Belleville, which was accordingly done in the latter part of the year last above mentioned. The office was arranged, and January 11th, 1849, the first issue of the

BELLEVILLE ZEITING

was made. Mr. Engelmann took charge of the paper editorially, and continued until 1851, when he gave up journalism, and retired to his farm near Mascoutah, where he at present resides. Hon. Gustavus Koerner then became the editor, and remained in charge for two years. In 1853 Dr. Wenzel, one of the oldest newspaper writers of the West, succeeded Koerner. He remained editor until the 23rd of February, 1856, when he retired to take charge of the Belleville Volksblat as editor aud proprietor. On the 18th of March, 1858, Mr. Hauck sold the Zeitung to Frederick Rupp. On the same day, Franz Grimm, the editor and proprietor of the Volksblat, concluded an arrangement with Rupp by which the latter paper was consolidated with the Zeitung. By this arrangement Rupp became the Business Manager and Grimm the Editor. He continued as editor until Sept. 25th, 1861, when he laid down the pen to take up the sword. He enlisted in a company which be- came a part of the 43d Regt. Ills. Vol. Infantry, and fell fighting for his country, April 6th, 1862, in the desperate battle of Shiloh. His valedictory or final leave-taking from his old friends, tells best the story of his patriotism and bravery, and what manner of man he was, He says, in substance, "Firmly convinced that it is now time for every man able to bear arms to arise at once in defence of his home and country, and preserve the only Democratic republic on earth, he must now take a decided stand, and stake his life, if necessary, upon the issue of this terrible crisis. I have resolved to give up my present quiet and peaceful profession, and to exchange the pen for the sword. I assure my friends that this resolution was not hastily formed, nor from one reason only. Yet I say in the words of Hutten, 'I have ventured it ; the die is cast : let it roll on in iron.' Bidding friends and foes good bye, for how long the eternal God only knows, I hope to live in their friendly memory until we meet again, or, until my hour shall strike on the bloody field of battle."

After Grimm, came Ludwig Seybold as editor, who in turn was succeeded by Adelbert Loehr. Under the editorial guidance of these gentlemen, the Zeitung kept up its prestige, then renowned for true and genuine love of freedom and justice to all men. In December, 1863, Dr. Charles Neubert becoming the managing edi- tor. He at first kept the paper in the well beaten political track marked out by his predecessors, but after awhile he deviated and ran into extremes. Mr. Rupp, then sole proprietor, not agreeing with him, the Doctor was asked to give up his position, which he did, after being editor for nearly eleven years. In 1872 the Zei- tung made a slight departure, and espoused the cause of the anti- Grant liberal movement under the leadership of Horace Greeley. After Dr. Neubert's withdrawal from the paper, Henry E. Miller became its editor. On the 3d of January, 1873, Mr. Rupp died and soon after the press materials and business was sold to Sebas- tian Fietsam. June 22d, 1874, he sold a half interest in the Zei- tung to Mr. Semmelroth, who had been proprietor of the Stern Des Westens, but had sold that journal to Frederick E. Scheel. Mr. Miller was succeeded in the editorial chair by Bernhard Hartmann, who remained until the 20th of June, 1875, when Eugene Seeger became editor. On the 19th of August, 1876, was issued the first number of the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

DAILY ZEITUNG,

which has continued uninterruptedly to the present, and has gained a large circulation in Belleville and the surrounding country. On the 20th of October, 1877, Messrs. Fietsam and Semmelroth purchased the office of the Stern Des Westens, and consolidated it with the Zeitung. Mr. Seeger gave up the editorial management of the paper, February 5th, 1877, and L. W. Habercom took his place, and continued therein until Oct. 9th, 1879 when he retired, and his place was most ably filled by Curt Heinfelden, who still occu- pies that position. On the 24th of June, 1880, Mr. Heinfelden purchased Mr. Fietsam's interest, and became an equal partner with Mr. Semmelroth in the Zeitung. The present editor is a native of Prussia, and came to America in 1875. His first journalistic work was on the New Yorker Staats Zeituny, soon after his arrival in this country. In May, 1876, he became associate editor of the Cincinnati Volksfreund. In 1877 accepted a position on the edi- torial staff of the Ilinois Staats Zeitung in Chicago. In 1878 was one of the editors of the Anzeiger des Westens, St. Louis, Mo., and from there came to Belleville, and since that time has been identfied with the Zeitung. He is writer of great brilliancy, and has given his paper an enviable reputation and position among the German news- papers of the state. Mr. Semmelroth, the business manager of the Zeitung is a practical printer of much experience, and has been con- nected with the Journalism of St. Clair county since 1856. He has by his energy and industry contributed much to making his paper an absolute necessity to the people of St. Clair county. Since 1856 the Zeitung has advocated the principles of the Republican party. It then took a firm and positive stand against the introduc- tion of slavery into the territories, and stoutly maintained the doc- trines of popular sovereignty. All through the war it was on the side of the Union, and did much to cultivate Union sentiments among the people, particularly the German class. It enjoys the largest circulation among the Germans, of any paper in Southern Illinois. It also circulates in other states, and a large number of copies are sent to residents in different parts of Europe. The Weekly Zeitung is in form, a six column quarto, and the Daily an eight colunin folio.

In 1845 the Advocate was an established fact, and gave ample evi- dence of its financial healthfulness. This being the fact it would seem that there was little demand or room for another newspaper. Yet in the year above mentioned, Louis P. Pensoneau commenced the publication of the

ST. CLAIR BANNER.

In 1847 he sold out to D. W. Gelwicks and Louis Tramble. They changed the name to the

BELLEVILLE TIMES,

and continued the publication until January 12th, 1849, when the paper was sold to Messrs. Harvey and Walker. Up to that date the Times had been devoted to the advocacy of Democratic prin- ciples, but the latter gentlemen carried the paper over to the Whig camp, and it supported the administration of Gen. Taylor, the President. That there might be no possibility of mistake on the part of the public as to its new position, the name was also changed from the Times to the

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN.

Messrs. Harvey and Walker continued editors and publishers until October, 1852, when it was purchased by Judge N. Niles, and was absorbed by the Advocate. The Republican was edited with more than average ability, and in its day was the most potential organ of its party in Southern Illinois.

THE ILLINOIS ADVOCATE

Was established in 1848, in the town of Lebanon, and the first number issued January 18th of that year. The intention of its projectors was to make it the organ of Methodism in Illinois. It was edited and published under the direction of members and trus- tees of McKendree College. Rev. Davis Goheen and Benjamin Hypes were the publishing committee; E. Wentworth, editor, and A. W. Cummings, S. Mattison, W. Goodfellow, and S. M. E. Goheen Assistant Editors. When first issued it was a four column folio. With the commencement of the second volume it was en- larged to a six column, same form. It was devoted to general intel- ligence, literature, science, morality, religion ; local, foreign and miscellaneous . news. The paper was continued until 1852, when the office was closed from lack of patronage. In 1855 Collins Van Cleve purchased the material and made additious thereto, and commenced the publication of a paper called the Lebanon Gem, which he continued until 1856, when he took the subscription lists to Belleville, where he had become interested in the publica- tion of the Advocate, and from there sent the paper to his old sub- scribers in Lebanon until the subscriptions had expired. From 1856 to 1860, there was no paper published in Lebanon. On the 4th of March, 1860, No. 1, of Vol. 1, of the

ILLINOIS SON OF TEMPERANCE

made its appearance. George W. Moore, an ardent and enthusi- astic temperance worker, and James P. Snell, were the editors and publishers. The name of the paper indicated its mission, and it was designed as the organ of the Southern Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance. Articles and editorials were contributed by the leading writers favorable to the Temperance cause in Illinois. Mr. Moore purchased the office at the St. Louis type-foundry. He had no knowledge of the business, and therefore Snell was im- ported from Aurora to Lebanon to take charge of the mechanical department, and was given a half interest in the profits of the office. It was soon discovered that he knew but little more than Moore. The result was that in June following he was retired from the business, and Mr. Moore continued the publication of the Sun until the fall of 1862, when the office was closed and the type and press boxed and sold back to the type-foundry in St. Louis. The paper was in form a four-column folio. It attained a circula- tion of over one thousand copies.

THE LEBANON JOURNAL

was established in 1867, by H. H. Simmons, and continued uuder the same proprietorship until January 18th, 1873, when the office was sold to Dr. T. W. Eckert, now of the Belleville Republican. He edited and published the Journal until May 1875, when he sold to J. S. Padon. In August, 1876, Dr. Eckert re-purchased the paper and published it until May, 1877, when he sold it to Nelson Abbott. The latter failing to comply with the terms of the sale, the mortgage was foreclosed, and the Journal reverted to Eckert, who continued to publish it until November 4th, 1878, when he sold to J. R. Connor, who in turn sold it to J. F. Ash. The latter gave a mortgage upon the press and material, and de- faulted in the deferred payments, and in consequence the office passed into the hands of Prof. O. V. Jones. The name of the paper was changed from the Journal to

THE LEBANON REVIELLE

after it passed out of Eckert's control, and kept that name until February 18th, 1881, when the name was changed back to the Journal. Prof. Jones associated with him in the management,

105

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

C. W. Metzger, a practical printer, late of the Centralia press. Under the management of these gentlemen we have no doubt but that the Journal will be conducted in such a manner as will make it a necessity to the good people of Lebanon and vicinity.

THE LEBANON COURIER

was established in 1876 by E. H. Elliff. The press and type were removed from Trenton to Lebanon, where the office was set up, and the Courier issued as a campaign paper. It advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and was edited with consider- able ability. After the campaign closed, the office was removed to Red Bud, and from there to Columbia in Monroe county. It was there purchased by Peter Baker, and run as a campaign paper in 1880 in the interest of the Republican party.

BELLEVILLE VOLKSBLATT

was the name of a German paper, established Feb. 23, 1856, by Dr. F. Wenzel. In his salutatory he sets forth the object and mission of the paper. He says "that the interests of the farming population would have his first and principal attention. The farmer is the truly free man in this Republic. Free from corruption and unacquainted with political wire-pulling and bar-room diplomacy, he preserves in the midst of demoralizing influences a free and independent position. The farmers are the healthy heart of the nation ; on them rests the hope of progress. If the farming popula- tion did not form a barrier against the tide of unexampled corrup- tion and demoralization of the great American cities, one would nearly despair of the future of the United States." Iu another article he protests against the further extension of slavery, and stated that the Germans as a class were opposed to that peculiar institution. Dr. Wenzel continued editor and publisher from Feb. 23, 1856, to Sept. 12, 1857, when he sold the paper to Franz Grimm, who in March, 1858, consolidated it with the Zeitung as stated in another page in this chapter. Dr. Wenzel left Belleville, and went to St. Louis, and there, in connection with Carl Dænzer, established the Westliche Post, a German newspaper of national reputation. During the late war he was special correspondent for his paper, with headquarters at the front, and died while in that service.

DEUTSCHER DEMOKRAT.

No. 1 of vol. 1, made its appearance July 1st, 1856. It was a radical, outspoken Democratic newspaper, edited and managed by Louis Didier. With the appearance of No 38 of vol. 1, A. Ruoff became the editor and publisher. This arrangement continued for a few weeks, when Didier became editor the second time and G. A. Harvey publisher. The paper was suspended soon after.

THE EAGLE.

The first number of the Eagle was issued February 13th, 1854, by Messrs. Bevirt & Shoupe, two young men, both practical printers but having no editorial experience. It was placed' under the editorial control of " Gov. Reynolds," who conducted it for a short time. When first issued it was a daily, but it was soon changed to a weekly, and at the same time underwent a change in the name. It was called the

ST. CLAIR TRIBUNE.

About the same time John B. Hay and William Orr, the latter a young man of brilliant talents, and a fine newspaper writer, became the editors. This arrangement continued a short time. The office was sold to Edward R. Stuart and G. A. Harvey, who remained editors and publishers until September 3d, 1854, when

William E. Hyde, now managing editor of the Missouri Republi- can, bought Stuart's interest. The firm of Hyde & Harvey continued until 1856, when Mr. Harvey became the sole owner of the office. He continued the publication until July 1st, 1857, when he sold to Van Cleve & Weedin, owners and publishers of the Advocate. The Tribune was an eight-column folio, printed on a Hoe-press, the first power press ever brought to Belleville. The same press had formerly been used in the office of the Republican of St. Louis, and it now does duty in the office of the Anzeiger, Mascoutah, Ills. The intention of the publishers was to make the Tribune office the best and most complete in southern Illinois, and for this purpose large sums of money were expended; but the fail- ure of patrons to pay and the lack of sufficient means to carry on the business and tide it over the financial crisis of "'57," forced the proprietor to offer it for sale, and it found its way to the Advo- cate office, where many of its predecessors had gone before.

George A. Harvey, its editor and manager, had much to do in building up the newspaper business of Belleville. He was a prac- tical printer. He learned his trade in the office of the Hollidays- burg Register. He came west to Belleville in 1849, and worked for some time as a compositor in the office of the Republican in St. Louis. After his connection with the Tribune, he was the proprie- tor of the Democrat, which will appear in its regular order, and for a number of years afterward was engaged in literary work, and as correspondent for the Republican, St. Louis. He was regarded as a good newspaper man, and a sound, practical, though not brilliant writer. He died January 9, 1877. In the winter of 1858-9, a campaign paper was started by a stock company composed of gen- tlemen of avowed allegiance to the Buchanan wing of the Demo- cratic party. It bore the name of

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History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 28

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