USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a record of its settlement, organization, and three-quarters of a century of progress > Part 57
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Dr. W. W. Krape, who has done many good things for Stephenson County, early recognized the beauty and the value of the land. He bought the tract several years ago and has spent a considerable sum in beautifying the grounds.
SCENE IN GLOBE PARK
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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THE CHAUTAUQUA.
For five years Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Krape have maintained a ten-day Chau- tauqua in the month of June. Considering the difficulties of transportation, the Chautauqua has been fairly successful. Some of the greatest stars of the Chautauqua platform have appeared here. Among these are: Hon. William Jennings Bryan, ex-Governor Richard Yates, Mrs. Lake, "Billy" Sunday, Hon. James E. Watson, Governor Hoch of Kansas, ex-Governor J. Frank Hanley of Indiana, Kryl's Band, etc.
The park affords one of the best sites for a big Chautauqua in Illinois, and some day, no doubt, such a Chautauqua, drawing 10,000 to 20,000 people daily with 5,000 campers, will be found there.
FREEPORT NEWSPAPERS.
FREEPORT JOURNAL.
The first edition of the Freeport Journal appeared on November 22, 1848, in the shape of a six column weekly folio. The promulgators of the enterprise which fostered the Journal were H. G. Grattan and A. McFadden. Mr. Grattan came to Freeport in 1848 from Janesville, Wisconsin, where he had started the Janesville Gazette, and having profited well from his business ventures in the newspaper line once before, he was induced to enter the field again in Free- port. The original edition, of which very few copies to-day survive, presented a very strange appearance. It was a small four page sheet, the first page being' devoted to literary selections, the second to telegraphic and editorial news, the third to local news and poetry, and the fourth to personal notes and advertising. Advertisements were also scattered through the other pages. A small notice at the head of the editorial column informed subscribers that the price of sub- scription was $2, if paid within six months, $2.50 if paid within a year, and $3 if deferred longer than twelve months. Taken as a whole, the make up of the paper was attractive and satisfied the public taste.
The first office was a tumble-down brick structure which occupied a lot on what is now the corner of Broadway and Beaver streets, northwest of the home of Judge Ormsbee. The second story of this ramshackle edifice was for a while' occupied by the infant newspaper, which lived and thrived there for nearly a year and continued to advance the interests of the Whig party. After leaving this building, which threatened to collapse at any moment, the office was in- stalled in a frame building on Galena street between Walnut street and South Galena avenue, the ground floor of which was occupied by the cabinet shop of A. W. Rice. One issue was dropped owing to the "bother" necessitated by the operation of moving and, once in its new quarters, the Journal re-commenced its aggressive career with renewed vigor and life. In 1849, Mr. Grattan re- tired from active partnership and Mr. McFadden remained the sole proprietor for two whole years. In 1851, he took in with him Hiram M. Sheetz. Just before this event, the quarters were again changed. The base of operations
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was removed to a site north of the old court house in a dilapidated old wooden building, which has long since ceased to exist. Part of this ancient structure was occupied by the Journal until stern necessity forced the Journal to move or perish in the general havoc incidental to the falling of the building. In 1855, the paper moved to the third story of Martin's Block on Stephenson street, between Van Buren and Chicago, where it was located for the next nine years.
In September, 1852, owing to the prosperity of the little sheet, and the in- creased demand for interesting and readable news, the paper became a seven column folio, being increased by the addition of, one column per page. New fonts of type were also purchased and the whole establishment revived and renovated. In comparing the Journal of 1852 with the paper of to-day, we are forced to admit that the former was not "newsy," to use an overworked ad- jective, but at the same time took a far greater and more energetic interest in the politics of the day. Its policy was always Whig, and its editorial columns were full of comments, invective and exhortations on the political situation of the times. After the decisive Whig defeat and the triumph of the Democratic party in 1852, the Journal had very little to say, and contented itself with occa- sional admonitions designed to prevent a repetition of the calamity in the future.
Mr. McFadden left the business next year, disposing of his interest to Mr. Sheetz on April 15, 1853. Mr. Sheetz thus became sole owner and remained in possession until April 25, 1856. At that time the business was sold to C. K. Judson and C. W. McClure, who, under the firm name of Judson & McClure, continued to issue the paper for ten years. On May 6, 1858, William T. Tins- ley, who had recently been editor of the Lyons, New York, Republican, came to Freeport, and purchased an interest in the Journal. He remained here less than a year, however, and on March 17, 1859, sold out his interest and returned to Lyons, New York.
The Republican party, as an institution, was first formulated in 1856 and from that time the Journal embraced its policies. It cried out again and again through its columns against the advance of negro slavery, repeatedly took its stand for the principles of freedom and democracy as exemplified in emanci- pation and union and uttered bitter words against the advocates of secession and slavery. When the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter was flashed over the wires, the Journal took up the cause of the North and maintained its stead- fast and aggressive stand from that time until the wires at last brought the long awaited news of Appomattox Court House and peace. It was unflinching in the position it had taken against slavery, and maintained its position throughout the long struggle with never a trace of inconsistency or indecision. In spite of war times, the paper seemed to thrive, and there was certainly a great demand for the news. On April 9, 1864, the quarto was increased to a folio, and con- tinued to be published by Judson and McClure until the beginning of the year 1866. At that time, after Judson and McClure had effectively "held the fort" throughout the dark struggle, they decided to dispose of their business. This was carried into effect, and Bailey and Ankeny became the new proprietors. They remained in charge until May 9, of the same year, when General Ankeny retired. The interests of the Journal were then merged with those of the North-West, another newspaper being published in the city at that time, by General S. D.
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Atkins. General Atkins retired from the North-West, which then turned over its property to the Journal, and General Ankeny sold out his interest in the paper to J. S. McCall and M. B. Mills. This partnership continued in effect until November of the same year, when J. S. McCall became the sole proprietor. Mr. McCall made the second effort to establish a daily paper in addition to the weekly. The first effort had been made by Judson and McClure, soon after they took possession of the paper. But the financial panic of 1857 and the non-support of the townspeople, brought it to a sudden and ignominious close. The daily, which Mr. McCall started, suffered a like fate. It was an excellent paper, and thoroughly deserved support, but the Freeporters were slow to ac- cept innovations and disliked anything that savored of a change, even though it might be for the better.
After a somewhat disheartening experience in the newspaper business, Mr. McCall decided to quit that field of labor, and sold out to General Atkins, who was then postmaster of Freeport and still holds that position of honor. In 1869, he took charge and remained in possession until June II, 1873, when he disposed of his paper to William B. Thomas, Dwight B. Breed and Charles R. Haws. Thomas, Breed and Haws remained as editors and managers until May 26, 1875, when Haws sold out his interest to General Atkins, and the firm be- came Smith D. Atkins & Company. On the 2nd of September following, Gen- eral Atkins sold out his interest to Captain A. V. Richards, of Galena, and the firm became A. V. Richards and Company. This concern was also short-lived, although it began the publication of a daily newspaper in 1882, with rather more success than its predecessors had attained. In April, 1883, Captain Richards sold out his three-fourths interest to Smith Atkins, who again came into posses- sion of the paper and has since remained the controlling partner. In 1887, the paper was re-organized, and James R. Cowley, city editor, purchased an inter- est, becoming a partner with Atkins and Breed. At that time the office occu- pied the building on the corner of Chicago and Exchange (then Bridge) streets which had been built for the purpose by Jacob Kline. In the fall of 1892, the office moved to the building at 97 Chicago street, which it had purchased. It still occupies these quarters, which are, however, rather, too crowded. The present management comprises the following gentlemen : General Atkins, presi- dent; James R. Cowley, vice president; Dwight B. Breed, secretary and treas- urer. A daily and also a weekly edition is published. The circulation is large and the Journal is one of the most popular, as well as the oldest paper in exist- ence in the county.
DEUTSCHER ANZEIGER.
The history of the Deutscher Anzeiger differs from that of all the other Free- port newspapers, in that the periodical has never changed hands since its original inception. In 1853, it was founded by William Wagner, Sr., assisted by his son, William H. Wagner, Jr. Today the business is conducted by William H. Wag- ner, assisted by his own sons, and thus the ownership of the paper has never been changed. 1
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The founder of the Anzeiger, William Wagner, was an evangelical clergy- man, who had been forced to emigrate to America on account of the political upheavals in the fatherland. He hailed America as the land of freedom in which one could say what he pleased and speak the truth without fear of con- sequences. His subsequent experiences taught him, alas, that in America as elsewhere the man who acquits himself conscientiously is in frequent danger. Mr. Wagner founded the Anzeiger under the most adverse conditions. Not only were the public to whom he was catering adverse to the starting of any new project, whatever it might be, but he was absolutely without funds, and had no previous knowledge of the art of printing. His ceaseless energy and courage were responsible for the meager success which he presently attained.
As a starter, he purchased the presses and type fonts of a Galena newspaper which had previously suspended publication, and had them brought by freight to Freeport. Then began the publication of the Deutscher Anzeiger. The first edition consisted of four five-column pages weekly-apparently a very limited sheet-yet even at that it was frequently difficult to secure the necessary com- position for the regular edition. At that time it was impossible to obtain printed inside or plate matter, and practically the whole of the paper had to be set up at the home office, whose office forces at first consisted of four apprentices. It was impossible to think for a moment of engaging a practical compositor, as the expense was altogether too great, and the four novices, Wilhelm Wagner, Sr., his son, William H. Wagner, the German instructor, Mr. Knecht, and his son Philip, burned the midnight oil many a time in their efforts to restore the order of a printed page out of the chaos of a case of type.
At that time the printing part of the establishment was located in the office of the Freeport Bulletin, on the third story of the Wright Building, on the northeast corner of Stephenson and Adams Streets. Early in 1854, the pro- prietor decided to rent separate quarters, which should also contain the edi- torial rooms, and a location at No. 8 South Galena Avenue (then Exchange Street) was secured. At that time a hand press of the most primitive sort, which is still on exhibition at the Anzeiger office, was secured and the proud and happy publisher was able to accomplish the printing of his own newspaper. Shortly after this the circulation of the paper had so increased that the finances of the company permitted the employment of a professional compositor. Mr. Louis Crusius was engaged, and from that time on, the Anzeiger never missed an issue.
In spite of increased facilities, the publication of the German weekly was still attended by many difficulties. Mr. Wagner, in addition to his editorial duties, was also the pastor of a rural church, and found it necessary to devote much of his time to his pastoral calls. At the same time he was burdened with pov- erty, and the Anzeiger was barely able to endure the strain. It is said that in order to save freight charges on paper, Mr. Wagner used frequently to go into Chicago (free transportation being furnished him) and bring out great bundles of paper far too heavy for a man to carry. These he brought with him as baggage and thus saved unnecessary expense. In spite of his incessant labors it was not until his two sons became old enough to be associated with him in the business that prosperity began to smile on the venture.
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In the early part of 1855, having found the quarters too small, the business was transferred to the third story of the Rosenstiel Building, now 93 Stephen- son Street, in which location it remained until November, 1857. Occupying only the rear half of the story, and finding that space too contracted, the office was removed to the third story of the Child's Building, opposite the Brewster House. In February, 1859, however, Mr. Wagner was able to secure the en- tire floor of his former location, and so returned to his old quarters.
In that year, W. H. Wagner, son of the editor, who now conducts the busi- ness himself, became proficient enough in the art to be entrusted with the whole of the technical part of the business. Five years later he and Oscar Ziegler, Sr., brother-in-law of the senior Wagner, became associated with the paper as Wagner & Company, but Mr. Ziegler remained with the firm only two years.
The list of subscribers increased daily and another move became imperative. The company transferred its business to the Krohn Building, and purchased a new cylinder press, but the situation there was inconvenient, and soon after an- other change of location was made to the John Hoebel Building. This made the sixth move in the thirteen years of the paper's existence.
On New Year's Day, 1868, the Anzeiger was doubled in size, and the work- ing force enlarged. Five years later, a new building site 20 x 60 feet, on Chicago Street, was purchased, and the Anzeiger proceeded to fulfil its long cherished hope of erecting an office of its own. The joy of the proprietors at moving into their own establishment was indeed somewhat dampened that year by a suit for libel brought against the firm by a certain Mr. Broad, of Freeport. That Mr. Broad may have been justified in his suit is possible, for the court brought a verdict against the firm of Wagner & Company for the sum of $263. It was not much in the face of the $25,000 which Mr. Broad had asked, but it was a great sum to the struggling firm of Wagner & Company. Through the generosity of Mr. Wagner's parishioners in the town of Silver Creek and a benefit concert given by the German citizens of the city, a sufficient sum was realized to cover the debt.
In January, 1876, the size of the paper was again increased and this time assumed its present proportionsf On November 26, 1877, the members of the firm experienced a great sorrow in death of Wilhelm Wagner, senior partner and founder of the paper. Early in 1878 a new cylinder press was purchased, and Wagner & Company suddenly found the building they had built ten years before too small for them. A site on the corner of Chicago and Galena Streets was bought and a three story structure built in 1884. This was occupied until October, 1902, when the company removed to its commodious new quarters on the corner of Chicago and Spring Streets. The present firm name is W. H. Wagner & Sons, the business being conducted by William H. Wagner and his sons Albert and Oscar. The new printing establishment is by far the finest and most up-to-date in the city. The company now makes a specialty of fine job work and binding, and its weekly newspaper, the Deutscher Anzeiger, is now the only German newspaper in the city. Some time ago a small weekly sheet called the Sonntags Gast was instituted, but has since been discontinued. The subscription list of the Anzeiger has not grown of late years to any great extent, for the use of the German tongue in Freeport is becoming less each year.
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The high standard of the paper, however, is maintained, and, even in the face of existing conditions the periodical has a long lease of life before it.
THE NATIONAL SWINE MAGAZINE.
The National Swine Magazine was launched about seven years ago. It is devoted exclusively to swine raising. A year and a half ago it was bought by the W. H. Wagner & Sons Company of Freeport, under whose control the paper has improved in quality and circulation. The editor is Mr. Amos Burhenz, a practical farmer, of Waterville, Minnesota. The writers for the magazine are all practical farmers or professors in agricultural colleges. The circulation now is about 17,000, having increased 100 per cent since acquired by the W. H. Wag- ner Company.
FREEPORT BULLETIN.
The Freeport Bulletin, under its present name, dates back to July, 1853, but in reality it had its birth six years earlier in the shape of a tiny pioneer sheet, known as the Prairie Democrat, which was the first newspaper to make its ap- pearance in Freeport. In 1847 Freeport was a growing settlement of about the same proportions as the Lena of today. In a town of that size there was a natural demand for a newspaper, and this growing need was one reason for the founding of the Prairie Democrat. The other, and more vital cause, was found in the fact that Hon. Thomas J. Turner, who represented this district in Congress, wished to gain control of a periodical through whose editorial col- umns he could speak, and express his opinions upon the various subjects then agitating the body politic. With this end in view, he founded the Prairie Dem- ocrat, and secured the services of S. D. Carpenter to direct the business end of the venture. In November, 1847, the first issue of the paper was published.
When the Prairie Democrat was first launched forth upon its mission, the number of store and office buildings in Freeport was few. At first a room was secured in the old court house building, and the business of the paper conducted there. But the stay of the Democrat in the court house building was of short duration. It subsequently removed to a frame building on the corner of Ga- lena and Chicago Streets, where it remained during Mr. Carpenter's adminis- tration of affairs.
For three years, Mr. Carpenter continued to fill his dual role of editor and manager, and then apparently became wearied of so thankless a position. He left the business, and turned over his interest to J. O. P. Burnside, who there- upon took charge. Mr. Burnside's introduction into the affairs of the paper does not seem to have caused any material change in its political attitude or even its make-up and general appearance. He moved the place of publication from the old stand to the corner of Stephenson and Chicago Streets. Here he pub- lished the paper for two years, and under his efficient administration it contin- ued to thrive, in spite of the appearance of a new rival in the field in the shape of the Freeport Journal. In 1852 he disposed of the Prairie Democrat to George P. Ordway, who ran it for a year and then re-sold it to Mr. Burnside.
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When Mr. Burnside took possession of the paper for a second time he real- ized that a complete reorganization was necessary. The appurtenances of the office were "decrepit with age," and the type and cases were utterly unfit for use. They were accordingly replaced with new materials, and in July, 1853, the Prairie Democrat, re-christened the Freeport Bulletin, commenced publica- tion, after a short interval, as a weekly paper. The Bulletin catered to Demo- cratic readers, of which there has always been a preponderance in Freeport, and steadily grew in strength.
Mr. Burnside was in time succeeded by Bagg & Brawley, who remained in charge for a brief period and sold out to Giles & Scroggs in 1861. In 1864 Mr. Giles sold out his interest in the business to Mr. Scroggs and that gentleman con- tinued as sole proprietor for five years. In 1869, Mr. Giles bought the whole business and continued to publish the Bulletin himself for seven years. During Mr. Giles' editorship the paper increased in subscription and authority through this section of the country, and came ultimately to be regarded as the true index of Jeffersonian democracy in northern Illinois.
On the second day of January, 1873, Mr. Giles relinquished his hold, and announced that the office had been disposed of to Taylor & Aspinwall, who would henceforth conduct the business. The alleged buyers never gained possession, but instead the business was turned over to C. C. Schuler, of Freeport, and J. W. Potter, formerly editor of the Bolivar (Missouri) Herald. These gentle- men took charge of the enterprise on January 16, 1873, but not until June 19 of that year did the paper appear in its "new dress." New type fonts were pur- chased and the appliances of the establishment were renewed and repaired. The partnership of Schuler & Potter continued for over a year, and then, in Octo- ber, 1874, Mr. Schuler sold out his interest to Mr. Potter, bade farewell to the patrons of the Bulletin and departed to engage in the banking business in Iowa. Iowa.
On September 18, 1877, the first issue of the Freeport Daily Bulletin appeared, with the editorial departments in charge of F. Chas. Donohue and O. F. Potter. For some time the Bulletin and the Daily Herald, a publication which has long since been discontinued, continued to be the only daily papers in Freeport. Very soon the Journal became a daily publication and subsequently other rivals entered the field. The Bulletin, however, still retains the honor of being the oldest Free- port daily newspaper still in existence.
On the 23d day of May, 1885, Mr. J. W. Potter's very busy life was closed, and his son, O. F. Potter succeeded to the management of the business. Mr. Potter, Jr., continued in charge for ten years, and sold out his interest, afterward returning to take charge of the editorial department of the paper.
In 1895 Messrs. H. Poffenberger, P. O. Stiver and H. F. Rockey came into possession and conducted the paper for a number of years. Mr. Rockey soon retired from the business and the firm became Poffenberger & Stiver, which it still remains.
The office of the printing establishment is located at No. 99 Chicago Street. Both a daily and a weekly edition are printed. The subscription of the daily is held to be the largest of any paper in the city at present, and it is doubtless the case, for the Freeport Bulletin is the only democratic newspaper in the city
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which is printed in the English tongue. The Deutscher Anzeiger adheres to the Democratic party, but is printed almost entirely in German, the editorial department of course printing its editorials in that language. In view of this fact the Bulletin is to all practical intents and purposes the only Democratic newspaper in the city today. It has always steadfastly adhered to the prin- ciples of Democracy, and from the establishment of the Prairie Democrat in 1847 has constantly taken a forceful and aggressive stand in every election, whether national, state, or municipal. It is enjoying a deservedly wide popu- larity and is one of the leading newspapers in this section of the state.
FREEPORT STANDARD.
The Freeport Standard is Freeport's youngest newspaper, and concerning - its life history there is not much to be said. It was the direct outgrowth of the Freeport Democrat, which dissolved and passed into the hands of W. W. Krape.
Mr. Krape was a man of influence in the community and had long wished that he might be able to express his personal and political views through the editorial columns of a newspaper. When the Freeport Democrat was offered to him, he immediately seized the opportunity to possess himself of the long de- sired medium. In addition to this, he wanted a job office where he might print the numerous publications and pamphlets of the Knights of the Globe, and the Cosmopolitan Insurance Company, of both of which organizations he was head.
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