History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ported his family, training his children in the virtues and the industries of a New England home. In this romantic place, with the grandeur of mountain scenery around him, the future editor and poet passed his boyhood. The sweet memories of this secluded dell inspired the following passage in one of his works :

" I recall a home like this long since left behind in the journey of life. It was a humble home among the mountains, hut priceless in its wealth of associations."

In 1834 the family returned to Belchertown, removed in a short time to South Hadley, then to Granby, and finally to Northampton. During these years Dr. Holland's father was interested in various inventions, one or more of which proved successful. Besides the advantages of the district schools in Heath and elsewhere, the son now had the benefit of the ex- cellent schools of Northampton, and made rapid progress. From these schools he was graduated at the age of nineteen, and began to teach penmanship. He had large classes in Chesterfield and Hinsdale, N. H., and in a score of other New England towns. Some of his pupils still preserve with care their old "copies" "set" by Dr. Holland. After this he studied medicine, and received the diploma of the Berkshire Medical School in 1844.

The same year he commenced practice in Springfield. His attention was, however, soon attracted to journalism, and his professional work was continued for only a short time. In 1847 he established The Bay State Weekly Courier, but sold out his subscription-list to the Gazette at the end of six months. He went South, taught in Richmond, Va., and was superintendent of schools in Vicksburg, Miss. Sickness in his family obliged a return North, and he came again to Springfield somewhat discouraged, and his future way uncer- tain. Passing the office of the Republican, on his way from the depot, he met Mr. Samuel Bowles. It is said to have been a mutual idea that arose in the mind of each at the same time. Mr. Bowles thought, "I would like to have Holland on my editorial staff." Holland thought, " I would very much. like a place on the Republican." These thoughts found their expression in words, either then or later, and in May, 1849, Dr. Holland became an associate editor of the paper. This was the real beginning of his public career,-a career that has made his name a household word throughout the Union. He remained as one of the editors of that journal for seventeen years, doing steady work and writing voluminously. His name and style and influence, joined to the untiring energy of Samuel Bowles, gave to the Springfield Republican the broad national reputation which it still vigorously maintains. Meanwhile, Dr. Holland extended his labors in authorship, and brought out many volumes. These are so well known that a brief mention will suffice for the purposes of this sketeh.

In 1858 he published the " History of Western Massachu- setts." The work was a great success, and was about the first of those pioneer town and county histories for which there is now so strong a public demand. A series of letters from " Max Mannering to his Dear Sister Jane" in the country proved the power of Dr. Holland's satiric blade. " Letters to Young People, Single and Married," by Timothy Titcomb, first appeared in the Republican. Though they were received with great favor, and Dr. Holland's talents were highly appre- ciated in Springfield, yet he met with several distinct refusals in the cities when he proposed to put the " Letters" in book form. Finally, provided with a letter of introduction, he called upon Mr. Charles Scribner, who appreciated the work at once, received the author kindly, accepted the book, and a life-long friendship was formed at that time. The success of the volume surprised both author and publishers ; thirty thousand copies were sold in a short time. "Gold Foil" soon followed," also " Letters to the Joneses" and "Lessons in Life." In the midst of all these labors Dr. Holland, under repeated solicitation, filled a large number of appointments

864

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

upon the lecture-platform. During the same year with the "Titeomb Letters" he gave to the world the poem " Bitter- Sweet," proving that to his titles of editor and author the people might justly add that of poet.

When the war of the Rebellion had closed and the tragedy of Abraham Lincoln's death was thrilling the nation, Dr. Ilolland was selected to deliver a commemorative address. Ilis words, inspired with grief and patriotic love, rose to the full sublimity of the subject, and his eloquent discourse is re- called as the best funeral oration ever pronounced in Spring- field. This led to his next book, " The Life of Abraham Lin- coln," which had an immense sale. Then he entered once more the field of poetry and published " Kathrina. " This poem was subjected to severe criticism, but the sale of the work was largely increased thereby.

Dr. Holland's earlier literary labor was done in his old home on lligh Street, Springfield. " Kathrina" was written at his new and elegant residence, Brightwood, one mile north of Springfield. Here, too, about this time, his mother died at the age of seventy-six, and was buried beside her husband at

Northampton, who died in 1848, aged sixty-four. Dr. Holland then went to Europe for two years, returning in May, 1870. In the autumn of that year Scribner's Monthly Magazine was commenced, the owners being the Seribners, Roswell Smith, and Dr. Holland. The latter became the editor, and brought to this new enterprise the advantage of his already acquired fame, his matured ability, and active energy. In this position he remains at the present time. Besides his magazine work he has published in book form, since 1870, " Sevenoaks," " Arthur Bonnicastle," "Nicholas Minturn," and others. Ilis entire works comprise eighteen volumes. It is a pleasure to know that with him authorship has not only produced meritorious works, but has resulted in substantial financial success.

Dr. Holland is now in the maturity of his powers at the ripe age of sixty, and full of vigor. llis magazine work has taken him from the people of Springfield, who esteemed him highly as a neighbor and townsman. He resides in New York City, but has a delightful summer home among the " Thousand Islands" of the St. Lawrence.

THE SPRINGFIELD UNION,

and the Printing and Binding Establishment of the Clark W. Bryan Company.

The Springfield Daily Union was started by the late Edmund Anthony, of New Bedford, who came to Springfield for that purpose, and the first number was issued Jan. 4, 1864. In the autumn of the same year Mr. Anthony admitted as partners in his enterprise A. D. Bullock, who had bern connected with the Fall River News, and Benjamin Weaver, of New Bedford, his son- in-law. In December, 1865, Mr. Anthony re- tired from the Spring- field newspaper field en- tirely, and the paper was handed over to the Union Printing Compa- ny, the principal stock- holders, besides Messrs. Bullock & Weaver, BOOK BINDERS being the late Rev. E. G. Scars, J. D. Bowley, and E. S. Sears. This company running be- hindhand financially, the firm of Taylor & Olmsted bought the paper, and, after con- ducting it a few months, on the dissolution of that firm, the Union was taken by L. II. Taylor in the division of the assets, John Olmsted ta- king another branch of the firm's business. Pre- viously, the Weekly Union had been started, and there was also by this time a considerable job-printing office conducted in con- nection with the newspaper. Mr. Taylor soon vested the pro- prietorship in another company, in which the partners, besides himself, were J. D. Bowley, Rev. E. G. Sears, Benjamin Wea- ver, and Myron D. Allen. Other changes speedily followed,

IELD DAILY ,WEEKLY UNION

& BLANK BOOK MANUFACTURERS

PUBLISHERS. PRINTERS & ELECTROTYPERSO

3THE CLARK W. BRYAN COMPY. GA

SPRINGFIELD UNION BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD, MASS,

E. D. Richardson and A. D. Dyer at one time having some in- terest in the concern, till, Jan. 1, 1872, L. H. Taylor and his brother, C. C. Taylor, became the sole proprietors, and con- dueted the newspaper and the printing business connected therewith till May 1, 1872.

As may be conjec- tured from this brief record of the numerous changes of proprietor- ship in less than ten years, the Union, like most other journalistic ventures, was not at first a financial success. The original proprietor, Mr. Anthony, though an experienced and cap- able newspaper man, was new to this partie- ular field, and not well acquainted with its es- pecial needs. Some of those who succeeded him were also compara- The tively strangers and in- experienced in the bnsi- ness as well, and the paper had to struggle THE SP against a good many adverse influences with- out the office as well as within. But it met a real want in the com- munity. The only daily paper then published in the city was the Spring- field. Republican. The Union, young and small as it was, boldly entered the field in competition. In spite of all discour- agements there were several persons of ample means in Springfield who were deter- mined it should live, and who were always ready to lend it a helping hand when in financial straits. Prominent among these was John Olinsted, who, though an actual owner only a short time previous to 1872 (when he again assumed an inter- est as a stockholder in the Clark W. Bryan Company), helped

SG5

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

the paper over a good many rough places and through num- berless dark days. Under the management of Taylor & Olm- sted the I'nion first began to pay its way, and finally, in 1872, was a good property. In this year occurred the most impor- tant event in the carcer of the paper up to that time,-its sale, with all its appurtenances, to the Clark W. Bryan Company for $50,000.

The Clark W. Bryan Company was a newly-formed corpora- tion, its three principal stockholders being retiring partners of the firm of Samuel Bowles & Co., publishers of the Springfield Republican, with which all of them had been connected for many years. Two of these partners-Clark W. Bryan, long the business manager of the firm, and J. F. Tapley, the head of the bindery-took with them, in the division of assets, the extensive book- and job-printing office and bindery of the old firm of Samuel Bowles & Co .; and to conduct this business the Clark W. Bryan Company was formed, with $200,000 capital, ten or twelve of the most enterprising business-men of Springfield and vicinity taking from $5000 to $10,000 of stock each. The capital was purposely made large enough to permit the purchase of The Union ; and the contract was made and the new proprietors took possession May 1, 1872. W. M. Pomeroy, the third largest stockholder in the company, who was formerly a partner in the firm of Samuel Bowles & Co., had been for several years the managing editor of the Republican, " having risen," as that paper said at his de- parture, " from the lowest place in its editorial-room to the highest." He left the Republican subsequent to the change, disposing of his share by sale, and, with the transfer of his interest, became editor of The Union, which position he has since held without interruption.

Fresh life and vigor, as well as new capital, were infused into the paper under its new management, and for the first time it took its proper and natural place in the estimation of the public. It was specilily enlarged, dressed in new type, and the circulation of the daily-less than 3000-was more than doubled in a few months, while the increase of the circu- lation of the weekly was still more marked and rapid. Special attention was paid to that most important function of a daily newspaper,-the gathering of news. The town has not yet forgotten nor ceased to admire the enterprise of The Union, which, on that memorable Sunday morning, in November, 1872, when a brief dispatch announced that Boston was burn- ing up, and everybody was crazy for details, chartered a special train, sent its reporters to the burning city, and pub- lished their special reports in an extra the same afternoon, which were read even more eagerly than the extras during the war containing the news of a great battle. The next day the special reports were continued, supplemented by those of the Associated Press, and more than 15,000 copies of the paper were sold,-a number small in comparison with the editions of a few papers in the larger cities, but much greater than had ever been printed and sold of any newspaper in Spring- field up to that time. The special promptness and enterprise of the paper were again displayed by the issue of Sunday ex- tras in addition to its regular issues at the time of the Mill River disaster, in May, 1874, and on many other occasions of lesser moment, which it is impossible to specify. The charac- ter of a prompt and reliable newspaper, which The Union at once began to deserve under its new management, is still maintained ; indeed, it has forced so great an advance as to be almost a revolution in the whole business of news-gathering, especially in its local field.

Politically, the Union has always been strongly and con- sistently Republican. But while holding firmly the princi- ples of the Republican party, it has ever claimed and exercised the right to criticise the men and measures of this party, when, in its view, they were wrong or headed in the wrong direction. As an instance of the political sagacity of the Union, it may be mentioned that it is one of the two or three political papers

of the country that did not lose its head at the time of the Presidential election of 1876, and claimed from the very first that Mr. Hayes was rightfully elected President, and would have the office if the will of the Southern States could be correctly voiced, and its confidence in this position was abun- dantly justified by the action of the Electoral Commission.

In the furtherance of its purpose to make a journal that shall be a favorite in the family, the Union has always de- voted great attention and as much space as possible to general literature, agriculture, science, and the arts. Among those who have graduated from its editorial-rooms in the last few years are Edward Bellamy, whose short stories are eagerly sought for by all the magazines, and whose first book has been warmly praised by the critics not only of the United States, but of England ; and Edward II. Phelps, one of the most capable men in the country in all departments of news- paper work, and now editor and chief proprietor of the New England Homestead. Among the present editors are Joseph L. Shipley, who has been Mr. Pomeroy's principal assistant since the fall of 1872; Elijah A. Newell, who has had a prom- inent place on the local department since 1867; Ed. Warren and E. Porter Dyer, Jr., whose connection with the paper is more recent, but who have been with the paper long enough to make their value appreciated. Clark W. Bryan, the bus- iness manager from 1872 to 1878, is now editor and publisher of the Great Barrington Courier, one of the most flourishing papers in Berkshire County. Andrew J. Jones, who now has charge of the newspaper business in the counting-room, has been with the paper since 1867. George V. N. Russell has been foreman of the newspaper-room since 1867, and Charles A. Martin has been pressman of the paper almost from the start.

The large printing and binding business of the Clark W. Bryan Company, carried on in connection with the publica- tion of the Union, had a small beginning, as do most great enterprises. It was founded in 1853, by the purchase, by the firm of Samuel Bowles & Co., of which Clark W. Bryan had just been admitted partner, of the job-printing office of Geo. W. Wilson, then located in the third story of the building corner of Main and State Streets, over the " old corner book- store," and the absorption of the bindery of J. F. Tapley, started some time previous as a separate concern, though for a while the bindery was conducted under the firm-name of Tap- Jey, Bowles & Co. The printing-office was soon removed to larger quarters on Market Street, in the rear of the Republican office, and the bindery occupied the room vacated by the printing-office. The business of both bindery and printing- office grew so rapidly that new presses and machinery had to be continually added, and soon both were cramped for room again. In 1858 a new buikling was erected on Main Street expressly for the concern, and for the first time the three de- partments-the newspaper, the printing-office, and the bindery -were brought under one roof. This was the building now occupied by D. II. Brigham & Co., the clothiers. For some time previous the whole business had been done under the simple firm-name of Samuel Bowles & Co. Ten years later the new quarters were found too strait for the enormously- increased business, and the Second National Bank erected, on the opposite corner of Townsley Avenue, still another new building for the concern. This building had a front of 50 feet on Main Street, was 120 feet deep, and four stories high, and the whole building was occupied by the firm, with the ex- ception of one corner, where rooms were reserved by the bank for its own use. In 1872 the firm of Samuel Bowles & Co. was dissolved, Messrs. Bryan & Tapley taking the printing- offices and bindery as their share of the assets, and the Clark W. Bryan Company was organized, as stated above. In June, 1873, the whole business of the company was moved into the spacious building on the corner of Main and Worth- ington Streets, which it still (1879) occupies. This is one of

109

HISTORY OF THIE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

the most prominent business blocks in the city, being 50 feet front, 130 feet deep, and five stories high. The whole of it, with the exception of one small store on the first floor, is ocenpied by the company for their business office and for their publishing, printing, electrotyping, and book-binding rooms.

During the whole twenty-six years of its history the business of this concern has increased steadily, and the establishment is now second to none of its kind in New England. It does a very large amount of general job-printing and custom-binding every year ; turns out large editions of books for publishers monthly ; makes and sells thousands of dollars' worth of blank books annually ; manufactures patent calendars by the million every autumn, and hundreds of Tapley's patent let- ter-file -- very popular with business-men-every week. For ten years succeeding 1861, an important part of the business was the manufacture of photograph albums, this concern being the largest producers of that once popular article in the country. The company now makes a specialty of printing and binding fine illustrated catalogues for manufacturers, florists, ete., and so high is its reputation for this class of work that it has orders from far and near. Indeed, Springfield and the near vicinity could not begin to support so large and com- plete an establishment. The business relations of the house extend over the country and to the British provinces, from Halifax and St. John at the northeast to New Orleans at the southwest, from Portland and Boston on the Atlantic Ocean to San Francisco on the Pacifie. A few of the larger cities in the country may have equally extensive establishments, but no other city of the size of Springfield can boast of one which is its equal in the variety and completeness of its re- sources, all concentrated under one roof.

The present officers (1879) of the company are as follows : Directors, John Ohinstead (president), George W. Tapley, W. M. Pomeroy, Charles A. Nichols, Lewis J. Powers ; Clerk, llenry S. ltyde; Treasurer, J. F. Tapley. The superintendent of the printing-office is Nelson F. Twing; of the bindery, Henry E. Ducker.

THE NEW ENGLAND HOMESTEAD

was founded in 1867, by Henry M. Burt, who commenced its publication in Northampton. For the first year it was published monthly, but in 1868 the office was moved to Spring- field, and May 16th of that year appeared the first number of its issue as a weekly. Mr. Burt continued as editor and publisher until Oct. 18, 1878, when it was purchased by Messrs. Edward 11. Phelps and Herbert HI. Sanderson, who had previously been connected with the daily press of Spring- field, Mr. Phelps having been, since 1872, local editor of the Union, after filling the same office for several years on the Republican. They introduced new features into the paper, and two months after making their purchase began the issue of a city edition, which they made the medium of mu- sical and dramatic criticism, personal and society gossip, and local intelligence generally. This edition is mostly circulated in Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, while the regular edi- tion finds its readers among the farmers throughout New Eng- Jand, and especially in the Connecticut Valley and west of it.

THE EVENING TELEGRAM,

issued in November, 1878, by Henry M. Burt, as editor and proprietor, is an ontgrowth of the Saturday Ercuing Tele- gram, established by Mr. Burt in March, 1871, and the San- day Telegram, in May, 1873. The Erening Telegram is a penny Saturday-afternoon paper, devoted mainly to the dis- cussion of local events. Mr. Burt publishes, during the sum- mer months, Among the Clouds, a daily newspaper, on the summit of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire, at an elevation of 6283 feet above the sea level, which he established in 1877, and it is the only paper ever published on the summit of any mountain in the world. Mr. Burt is a practical printer, having served his apprenticeship with the late William A.

Ilawley, in the office of the Hampshire Guzett, , in Northamp- ton, in the years 1847-51, inclusive, and subsequently to 1856 was employed in the job-printing office of .I. & L. Metcalf, in the same town. His first editorial experience was in Ne- braska, in connection with the Bellerue Gazette, a weekly paper, of which he was joint publisher and editor with the Jate Gen. Silas A. Strickland, in the years 1857-58. Mr. Burt returned to New England in the autumn of 1858, and in the following year the press and printing material with which Mr. Burt issued the Bellerue Gazette were sold to Byres & Daily, who took them to Denver, Col., and upon them printed the Rocky Mountain News, the first paper ever printed in Colorado.

After returning to Massachusetts, Mr. Burt was assistant editor of the Springfield Republican for nearly a year, com- meneing with April, 1850, having charge of the telegraphie, New England, and city 'news, which position he relinquished in 1860 to establish the Northampton Free Press, a semi- weekly newspaper. He is the oldest founder of a newspaper now residing in Springfield, and has established more papers than any one else in the Connecticut Valley, as will be seen by the following list, with the dates of his connection with them appended : Northampton Free Press, semi-weekly, 1860- 64; Holyoke Transcript, 1863; Brattleboro' (Vt.) Record, semi- weekly (in connection with D. L. Milliken), 1866; New England Homestead Monthly (at Northampton), 1867 ; New Englund Homestead, weekly (in Springfield), 1868-78; Satur- day Erening Telegram, 1871-73; Sunday Telegram, 1873-76; Among the Clouds, daily during the season, 1877; and The Ercning Telegram, 1878. The two latter Mr. Burt still con- tinues to publish.

THE HERALD OF LIFE,

The publication of the Herald of Life was begun Oct. 21, 1863, in New York City, by the Life and Advent Union, which was organized the preceding August for the purpose of promulgating the doctrines of the speedy personal coming of Christ, the unconsciousness of the dead, and a future life by a bodily resurrection for the righteous only. George Storrs was elected its first editor, and continued in that office until Aug. 17, 1871, when he declined to serve longer, and Leonard C. Thorne was elected in his place. He continued editor until Aug. 8, 1877, when he retired, and was succeeded by William N. Pile, the present editor. The paper was published in New York until September, 1872, when it was removed to Spring- field, Mass.

THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON,

a monthly magazine for the household, was established in January, 1878, by Edward F. Merriam, son of George Mer- riaum, the senior member of the firm of G. & C. Merriam, publishers of Webster's Dictionary. During the first year of its publication Rev. Washington Gladden was its editor, but since January, 1879, it has been under the editorial manage- ment of Mr. Merriam, its proprietor. Mr. Gladden conducts " The Still Hour," the " Editor's Table," and " Literature." The magazine has been indorsed by Mr. Whittier, Mrs. Stowe, and Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, and no periodical publication ever received a more welcome reception from the press. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, in a letter to the editor, says : " Your magazine belongs to the new era which is coming ; everybody thinks and speaks well of it." Though in its infancy, the Sunday Afternoon is already on a solid basis, and justly merits its present popularity.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 101

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896