USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 31
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The EVANSVILLE JOURNAL establishment at the present time, is one of the largest and best, arranged offices in the country, comprising, as it does, all the departments of job and book printing and binding, each complete in itself. Under the efficient management of Mr. John H. McNeely, who has had charge of the mechanical department since April, 1858, it has gained a reputation for elegant work second to no establishment in the West.
The paper, in its several departments and editions, has an editorial force of five workers. In addition to the proprietors and principal editors, its railroad and river departments are conducted by Col. J. N. Silverthorn, a veteran newspaper writer, who has most faithfully and skillfully served the JOURNAL since 1862, when he first became connected with the paper. Its city department is well sustained by Mr. Frank J. Ryan, formerly of Chicago, and its telegraph and news depart- ments are at present in charge of Mr. Feldwisch, a young but promising journalist from Cincinnati.
In addition to this editorial force, the JOURNAL has a most extensive and interesting correspondence, foreign and domestic. Possessing these advantages it is not strange that it occupies a most influential position, not only on the Lower Ohio, but
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throughout the State and West as well. The people of Evans- ville point to it with pride as an exponent of their enterprise, intelligence and thrift, and it is accorded a cheerful welcome into every household.
William Johnson Lowry.
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LTHOUGH a comparatively small portion of a long and active life was spent in Evansville, William J. Lowry is justly entitled, from his high character and services, to a prominent place in the list of its men of mark.
He was one of the Pioneers of the West, and his life west of the Alleghanies dates from the beginning of the century. A worthy member of that hardy band, now so rapidly dis- appearing, whose muscle, brain, and daring spirit subdued the forests, opened broad farms and laid the foundations of great cities, Mr. Lowry was permitted to live long among the scenes of his early toils and hardships, and witness, before he closed his eyes, the vast changes of half a century.
He was born in Ann Arundel County, Maryland, on the 15th of October, 1795. While yet a mere child, his parents having heard of the fertile regions west of the Alleghanies, emigrated to Ohio and settled at Portsmouth. Here he re- mained with his father until 1812. Lite at that early time seems to have been more real than it is now. Divested of con- ventionalities, and going back to first principles, it developed courage, energy, self-reliance and the manly qualities at an age earlier than can be attained by our present civilization, Al- though but seventeen years old, young Lowry boldly left his father's house and began for himself the struggle of life. He went to Cincinnati and entered the employ of a merchant there, but continued only a few months. His young, ardent tempera- ment demanded a more enterprising pursuit, calling for more activity, and he entered the river trade. Unfortunately, for the next few years, the records of his life are meager. Quiet
WM. J. LOWRY.
,
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and unostentatious as he ever was in spirit, his enterprise and activity was a matter of course, and nothing was further from his thought than preserving material for a biographer. For the next eight years we must rely upon scanty traditions, preserved in the family, for any knowledge of his life, and yet it is known that in the eight years between 1812 and 1820, he followed the river for a portion of the time, and twice performed the venturous and hazardous feat of walking the whole distance from New Orleans to Louisville through what was then known as the Indian country ; that he was, during this time, employed by the Government to assist in surveys of public lands in Alabama, Florida and Missouri ; and singular to say, so quiet was he in reference to his own history, and so careless of the records referring to it, that, while it is known, that he served in the second war with Great Britain, first as Adjutant and afterward attained the rank of Major before he was twenty years old, the number of his regiment even is not known, nor in what engagements he participated.
In 1819, his father's family removed to Posey County, Ind., and settled near Springfield, the then county seat. In the fol- lowing year Mr. Lowry joined them, and for the eight succeeding years lived in and about Springfield. He was engaged in farming and trading, and with success, manifesting the same energy, sagacity and high probity, which afterwards distinguished him in his business career. In the year 1823 he married Miss Sarah Nettelton, also of Springfield. This was a peculiarly felicitous union, his wife possessing as strongly marked character as his own, being well fitted to assist him in the battle of life, and qualified to adorn the social position they afterwards attained.
In 1828, he removed from Springfield to Mt. Vernon, and exchanged agricultural for mercantile pursuits. He achieved success, and soon gathered around him hosts of friends by his uniform integrity and uprightness. Mrs. Lowry's brother, N. G. Nettelton, who had been engaged for some years in a prosperous business in New Harmony, Posey County, removed to Cincinnati and engaged in banking. Mr. Lowry removed to Cincinnati in 1855. The firm of Nettelton & Lowry did a profitable business and gained an enviable fame for the high standard of business honor it maintained in all its transac-
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tions. The life of a silent man who avoids speculations, and whose days are spent in the counting house, affords few salient points for the biographer. Not uneventful, for character is formed and matured and destinies are shaped there, but the events of such a life are not noted and remem- bered outside the domestic circles, and would be of little inter- est to the public.
In 1861, Mr. Lowry removed with his family to Evans- ville, and since that time until his death his home has been here and his interests identified with our city. For three years afterward he was President of the Bank at Mt. Vernon and its Business Superintendent, but in 1864 he severed his connection with Mt. Vernon, and since that time his business relations have all centered in Evansville.
In the autumn of 1872, while on a visit to his friends in Posey County, he received an injury from a fall. Up to this time, though in his 77th year, his great vitality and strength of constitution had given him remarkable health and vigor. He attended to his business as closely and seemed as capable of the necessary labor as much younger men. But after his accident, it became painfully apparent to his friends that his robust con- stitution was gradually giving way. His step, as he passed to and fro, became slower and more feeble. Still, tor such a life as his, there was no thought of rest. He could not brook the thought of inaction while work was possible, and so, until within a few days of the end, the sturdy spirit refused to yield, and the man of business was found in his place. On the 22nd of February, almost before the community had missed him from the bank or the street, William J. Lowry had quietly and peacefully breathed his last, in the bosom of his family. It was a fit ending for such a life : "Ceasing at once to labor and to live."
Mr. Lowry, as the founder and President of the Evansville National Bank and the senior member of the well known firm of W. J. Lowry & Co., occupied a high position in Evansville business circles. Others have been more prominently before the public and their names are perhaps wider known, but few have achieved a more solid, enduring or enviable reputation than he.
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In his social relations he was universally respected, and by his more intimate friends who knew him best, sincerely loved. Reticent by nature and closely immersed in business, he had neither the time nor inclination to enter largely into social life. When released from the cares of business, he cared more for the domestic circle and the comforts of home, than the demands of society. He had the advantages of a liberal education. He also had keen perceptions, shrewd business sense and high principles which fitted him to fill any position to which he inight aspire. Prudently careful of his own interests, he was yet economical without being miserly, and charitable with- out being injudiciously or excessively indulgent. Remembering his own early struggles, he was always ready to interest him- self in the welfare of the deserving, and his practical wisdom enabled him to become the adviser and helper of a number of young men who owe their prospects in life to his judicious counsel and aid.
While striving as a business man in honorable competition for the wealth of this world, Mr. Lowry was not unmindful of the riches of the next. For forty-three years of his life, he was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Quiet and unostentatious in his church as in all other relations, Mr. Lowry was yet a valuable and efficient worker in the church, and was always ready with his personal influence and ample means to cheerfully co-operate in any scheme for the promotion of the moral and religious interests of the community. The moral influence of such a life is incalculable, and it fur- nishes a valuable example to young men as illustrating how the closest devotion to business is yet not inconsistent with the deepest piety and most fervent christian spirit. Amid all the pressing engagements of his active life, he never failed in the conscientious, punctual performance of his religious duties, He died as he had lived, in the clear hope of immortality through Jesus Christ.
As a testimony of the high esteem in which Mr. Lowry was held by his business associates, we subjoin the resolutions of respect passed by the Board of Directors of the German National Bank, at a meeting held the day of his death, after the fact was made known :
46
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WHEREAS, In the death of Mr. Lowry this Board has not only sustained the loss of an associate, whose long experience in business would have been useful to the future of this bank, just entering upon its new field of duty and usefulness to the public, but they deplore the loss of a generous friend, a good citizen, and a true man, who filled all the relations of life with faithful- ness, and honored every position in which he was placed : Therefore,
Resolved, That this Board record their testimony of their appreciation of his worth while living, and of his loss when dead ; and desire to tender to his sorrowing family their earnest sympathy in this their great bereavement.
Resolved, That the President communicate to the family this expression of respect and esteem for him who was so near to them in life, and whose decease they now deplore.
Resolved, That, as a last tribute of respect to the deceased, this Board, as a body, will attend his funeral.
Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be . published in the city papers.
SAMUEL ORR, President.
PHIL. C. DECKER, Cashier.
This was the testimony of the men who had been most closely connected with him, and their testimony was most cor- dially echoed by the community.
His excellent wife who had been his efficient helpmate; who had shared with him the toils, and enjoyed with him the prosperity of a long and useful life, did not long survive him. A fervent Christian, she did not murmur at the blow which deprived her of her protector and friend, but lived on in the firm faith of an early reunion. This expectation was not long delayed. On the 21st of September, but a little more than half a year after the death of her husband, MRS. SARAH LOWRY peacefully passed away to rejoin him in that Land where sepa- ration and bereavement are not known.
The Courier.
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ITS HISTORY, AND A MENTION OF OTHER DEMOCRATIC PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THIS CITY.
N attempting to give a succinct account of the establish- ment of THE COURIER, and the vicissitudes it encoun- tered in its early career, there is involved a good deal apper- taining to efforts previously made to establish a Democratic newspaper in Evansville, all of which resulted in failure. THE COURIER is the only paper advocating the principles of the Democratic party, which has obtained an enduring support in this city, and it is now secure upon a basis that enables it not only to live but to flourish without peradventure, its history, following in the footsteps of its Democratic progenitors, may not be uninteresting ; and it becomes our pleasing task to write up the record, which we will do, as best as we can, from the imperfect material now at our command,
The first Democratic newspaper ever published in Evans- ville was the South Western Sentinel, edited and published by Jacob Page Chapman, who was afterwards one of the proprie- tors, and for many years the managing editor of the Indianapo- lis Sentinel. The paper was started in 1839, continued during the Hard Cider aud Log Cabin Campaign of 1840, and went out of existence with the overwhelming defeat of Martin Van Buren in the latter year. For about seven years the Democrats of Evansville had no representative "organ," as party newspapers are sometimes called. In the Winter of 1847-8, Mr. H. C. Hunt- ington began the publication of the Vanderburgh Democrat, which lived about four years before it succumbed to a press of circumstances calculated to break down an enterprise which was yet an experiment. In its early career, the Democrat was a vigorous and influential newspaper, and it obtained a wide-
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spread weekly circulation, which has probably not been excelled by any of its successors, in the weekly issue, down to the present time. But in 1850, in consequence of local divisions between political leaders, the Democrat lost its prestige and the next year ceased to live. Before it expired, Ben. Stinson, Esq., well known to most of our citizens, began the publication of the Evansville Advertiser, which was the first daily Democratic newspaper ever published in this city, The editorial depart- ment was managed by Col. C. W. Hutchen, one of the most vig- orous political writers in the Western country. After a short experience, Mr. Stinson sold his office to Col. C. K. Drew, Sr., and Calvin Frary, who changed the name of the paper to the Evansville Republican, and in turn transferred the office to Messrs Clark & McDonald, who continued the publication of the Republican about one year. They sold out to William B. Baker, of the Terre Haute Journal, under whose auspices the paper died, in the summer of 1851, leaving the Democracy of Evansville without a local organ.
In the Presidental Canvass of 1852. an effort was made to revive the paper, and Mr. Charles P. Baymiller, from Madison, assisted by a Mr, J. W. Brewer, commenced the publication of a tri-weekly sheet called the Times, which was managed with some spirit until the election was over, when it ceased publica- tion for the want of support.
In the spring of 1853, Capt. John B, Hall, came to Evans- ville from Lawrenceburgh, and purchased the office of the Independent Pocket, a neutral paper, began the publication of the Evansville Daily Enquirer, and continued it about six years. Col. Charles Denby, was the first political editor of the paper and conducted it during the stormy scenes of the know-nothing reign in 1852. Under his management the fame of the paper extended throughout the whole nation. The editorials were able, determined, startling and crushing, and the paper not only received the emphatic endorsement of all who were opposed to the plottings of the Midnight Cabal, but the conspirators them- selves learned to fear its utterances as being fatal to the accom- plishment of their schemes. As a writer Col. Denby was chaste, forcible and scholarly, and his productions commanded the re- spect of his most malignant and violent political adversaries.
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He returned from the tripod to enter upon the profession of the law; greatly to the regret of all men who desired to see a Dem- ocratic paper firmly established in Evansville. He is now one of the greatest lawyers in Indiana.
In the early part of 1859, Capt. Hall disposed of the Enquirer to A. T. Whittlesey, Esq,, who conducted the paper about one year, and sold out to the late Capt. Nathan Willard and S. S. Whitehead, of Illinois. On the breaking out of the great rebellion in the spring of 1861, Capt. Willard went into the union service, and the newspaper suspended publication. It was never afterwards resumed. Again the Democrats were left without an organ. Mr. John H. Scott published a small weekly paper during the summer of 1862, called the Gazette, but it abandoned the political field after a short time and was conducted for a year or two, first as an independent newspaper, and afterwards as an advertising sheet.
The political campaign of 1862, resulted in a complete Democratic success in Vanderburgh County, and, before another General Election came on, the leaders of the party were encour- aged to commence the publication of a daily newspaper, devoted to the principles upon which the victory at the October election in 1872 had been obtained. To this end a subscription of about four thousand dollars was raised, the office of the Evansville Volksblat, a German Republican Paper, purchased, and the services of the lamented Robert S. Sproule procured to condcet a newspaper that would at once be a party organ and a reflex of the rapidly developing greatness of Evansville. Mr. Sproule brought to his assistance a perfect knowledge of Indiana men, a good acquaintance of the political history of the State and a thorough conversation with the feelings of the Democracy in every State of the Union. He had the assistance of Ben. Stinson, Esq., an excellent business manager, and of Mr. J. B. Maynard, a finished newspaper contributor, but their united efforts could not make the new Evansville Times a success. Following the election of 1864, like its prototype of a dozen years before, it suddenly demised, leaving the Democracy with a printing office, but no newspaper. The following Winter, George W. Shanklin, Esq., took hold of the office and for a few weeks carried on a sprightly little sheet called the Evansville Dispatch.
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The venture was not a success, financially, and the paper made its last appearance dressed in mourning for the martyred Lin- coln, the very day the citizens of Evansville turned out in pro- cession to pay fitting tribute and respect to the death of the President.
We arrive now at the time when the EVANSVILLE DAILY AND WEEKLY COURIER sprang into existence. The printing office was, in effect, capital held by five trustees for the benefit of the subscribers to the fund, out of which the material was purchased. The trustees were Hon. John A. Reitz, Judge William F. Parrett, Hon. Thomas E. Garvin, Col. Charles Denby and the late Richard Raleigh, Esq. These gentlemen were em- powered to make any disposition of the presses and meterial that would secure the establishment of a Democratic newspaper in Evansville. While matters were in . this shape, a visit was made to Evansville by Alfred S. Kierolf, William M. Holeman, J. B. Cavins and H. H. Homes, four practical printers, who proposed to start a Democratic paper in the city that was es- teemed to be the future commercial metropolis of Indiana. At the start the gentlemen did not receive encouragement. They were strangers, and sought to do, in a strange land, that which old residents had failed to accomplish But they persisted, and finally overcame all opposition. They were permitted to commence the publication of a newspaper, and so faithfully did they fulfil all the conditions of their enterprise that they became in a little time the owners of the old Times establishment. On the 7th day of January, 1865, the COURIER made its debut in Evansville, with Alfred S. Kierolt as managing editor, Mr. Cavins, local editor, and Mr. Thomas Collins, now editor and publisher of the Mt. Vernon Democrat, as foreman of the news room.
It was an auspicious day for the men who had struggled long and faithfully to give to the Democracy of Evansville a mouthpiece that would speak no uncertain sound, when the COURIER first appealed for support to the people of Evansville. The paper enunciated its principles without fear or trembling, and although it has gone through many changes, the oldest and staunchest friends are among those who rejoice in its prosperity, and look back to their subscriptions that gave it birth, as bread
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cast upon the waters that will return to give them encourage- ment in their efforts to maintain good government in this sadly mismanaged land, after many-very many-days.
Mr. Homes retired from the COURIER very early in its ' career, Early in the Winter of 1866, Mr. Cavins disposed of his interest to Mr. S. R. Matthews, then the senior partner of Matthews & Fullerton, dealers in wooden and willow ware, kitchen and pantry goods, in this city. Mr. Matthews contin- ued but a little time as a partner, when failing health induced him to sell out his interest and return to his old home in Ken- tucky, where he died. Messrs. Kierolf and Holeman continued the paper, and formed a partnership with Mr. Albert C. Isaacs, now of the firm of Healy & Isaacs, the next Spring. Mr. Isaacs soon withdrew, and was speedily followed by Mr. Kierolf, the editor, leaving Mr. Holeman the sole proprietor.
When Mr. Holeman found himself the sole proprietor of the COURIER, he entered into a contract with Robert S. Sproule to manage the editorial columns. That gentleman entered upon his duties with his accustomed energy, and during his control revived the spirit of its inception, and gave the friends of the paper a promise of a brilliant publication. Unfortu- nately, the establishment had contracted pecuniary obligations which forbid its further production without another change, and Mr. Holeman made a sale of the concern to George. W. Shanklin, Esq., who had the means at his disposal to lift the enterprise above the fear of Sheriff's executions.
When Mr. Shanklin became the purchaser, a strong effort was made to induce the retention of Mr. Sproule as political manager. But the new proprietor had already made arrange- ments with Mr. W. T. Pickett, of Maysville, Ky., to do the edi- torial work, and Mr. Sproule was compelled to retire. Mr. Picket was no unworthy successor. He was a fluent writer, a genial gentleman, and closely devoted to the editorial profes- sion. During his control, Mr. John Gilbert Shanklin returned home from Europe, where he had passed three years as a student, and became associated in the management of the paper.
About the time that the Evansville Times was started in 1864, by means of subscription, the Evansville Demokrat, the excellent German paper still bearing that name, was begun in
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the same way. Peter Maier, Esq., was its first editor and pub- lisher. He disposed of his right to l'eter Gfroerer, Esq., who, in turn, sold to Dr. Charles Lauenstein, and he associated his brother, Mr. Fred. Lauenstein, with him in the publication. In March, 1869, the Lauensteins purchased the COURIER from Mr. George W. Shanklin, and became the proprietors of both papers. Under their management the COURIER has become valuable property and has been rapidly amassing wealth. The best evidence of this is to be found in the fact that they paid $6,000 for the COURIER and sold it for $18,000, to the present proprietors, after an ownership of less than five years.
After the Lauensteins had become the purchasers of the COURIER, they looked around for an experienced editor take the management of its columns. They first endeavored to enter into an engagement with R S. Sproule, but did not succeed. They were next induced to offer the position to Mr. A. T. Whit- tlesey, who was then about to retire from the Evansville Post Office, where he had served the public for two years. Mr. Whit- tlesey took control of the columns of the COURIER in the latter part of May, 1869, and continued in the management until the middle of October, 1872. How well he succeeded as an editor, need not be told the readers of this paper. Perhaps at no time in its career was the paper so extensively quoted as authority by other publishers, and his editorials, preserved for future use, stand as the vindications of his judgment and the positive char- acter of bis mind. A disagreement with the proprietors upon a question of policy severed his connection with the paper. He is now a resident of Indianapolis, acting as Secretary for Governor Hendricks.
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