History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 29

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 29

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).

The Androscoggin Free Press was established in the vil- lage of Brunswick by Moore & Wells in 1827, and con- tinued about two years.

The Brunswick Journal made its first appearance, under the management of William Noyes, in 1830. Associated with him a part of the time was Henry W. Fairchild, after- wards printer of the New England Farmer, in Boston. It was edited for a short time by Charles Packard, attorney- at-law. after which Francis D. and John S. Cushing were

110

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

the principal writers. The journal was Whig in its political principles, well conducted, and flourished one year and six months.

The Juvenile Key was commenced in 1831, as a child's paper, by Joseph Griffin. A considerable portion of the type work upon it was done by two children of the editor, aged respectively, at the time of their commencement, nine and seven years. Their names appeared as the publishers. This paper was afterwards enlarged, and took the name of the Family Pioneer and Juvenile Key, in which form it was published with good success four years.

The Esereptoir, a monthly, was published in 1826-27, by a club of students in Bowdoin College, and was printed by Joseph Griffin. It continued six months.

The Northern Iris was a monthly issued for six months in 1829. It was edited by Sumner Lincoln Fairfield, a gentleman from the South, of considerable ability.

The Eastern Baptist was published by the Baptist Asso- ciation in 1836. It was edited by Rev. David Nutter, printed by T. S. MeLellan, and continued one year.

The Regulator, Democratic, published in 1837 by T. S. Mclellan. Continued two years. I. A. Beard, editor.

The Brunswicker, published in 1842 by T. S. MeLellan ; John Dunlap, editor. Continued one year.

The Forester, published by Noyes & Stanwood in 1845; A. S. Stanwood, editor.

The Juvenile Temperance Watchman, edited and pub- lished by Howard Owen, 1854. At twelve years of age Mr. Owen manifested his industrious habits by publishing a little weekly called the Sun, in Roman letters. He is now one of the enterprising editors and publishers of the Kennebec Journal, at Augusta.

THIE BRUNSWICK TELEGRAPHI.

This paper was commenced in 1853 by Waldron & Moore, publishers, and William G. Barrows, Esq., editor. The publishers, in 1856, transferred their interest to George W. Chase, who published it as editor and proprietor one year, when Howard Owen, now of the Kennebec Journal, was admitted as a partner, and took charge of the agricultural department. In about five months Mr. Owen sold his in- terest to Mr. Chase. Early in 1857, Mr. Chase retired from the paper and went to Bath, where he published the Masonic Journal and taught music. Mr. A. G. Tenney, a graduate of Bowdoin in the class of 1835, purchased the Telegraph establishment in 1857. reissued the paper, and has continued to edit and publish it weekly. The character of the paper has been of the independent type.

Several persons prominently connected with journalism have heretofore been apprentices in the office of the Tele- graph. Mr. Owen has already been mentioned. Another is Mr. Asbury Macomber, publisher of the Suffolk County Journal, Boston Highlands, Mass.

BOWDOIN SCIENTIFIC REVIEW.

This review is issued fortnightly from Dingley's press, Lewistown. It was established in 1871, and has proved a successful organ of contemporary science and kindred sub- jects. Professor C. F. Brackett, M. D., and ti. L. Goodale, M.D., of Bowdoin College, are the editors.

The Orient is a paper published every alternate week during the collegiate year by members of the senior class at Bowdoin College. It was established in 1872, by J. G. Abbott, managing and principal editor.

BRIDGTON.

The Bridgton Reporter was first started in Bridgton in 1858, by Samuel 11. Noyes, of Nashua, N. Il., and edited by Charles Sampson, a native of Bridgton. In a year or two Mr. Sampson was succeeded by Enoch Knight, of Lovell, Me., now of the Portland Star, who, in the fall of 1861, went to the war as captain of the 12th Maine, and was succeeded in the editorial chair by George Warren, of Gorham. In May, 1862, the Reporter was purchased by Capt. Horace C. Little, of Auburn, and was edited again by Mr. Sampson, and afterwards by Miss Lizzie Flye, of Den- mark, Me. In the fall of 1863, Augustus Phelps, of Bridg- ton, bought out Capt. Little and changed the name to The Bridgton Sentinel, made it a political paper in the interest of the Republican party, with David ITale, Esq., of Bridg- ton, as editor. In March, 1864, the office, with all its con- tents, was destroyed by fire, aud Bridgton was without a local paper till the advent of

TIIE BRIDGTON NEWS,

which was established by H. A. Shorey, in September, 1870. The News is an independent weekly, published at Bridgton Centre. Mr. Shorey, the editor, is a practical printer, hav- ing served his time with George E. Newman, of the Eastern Times office, Bath. After his return from the army (being breveted major for gallant and meritorious services) he and Mr. E. Upton purchased and published the Bath Sentinel and Times (daily and weekly) until Sept. 1, 1869, when the paper was sold to W. E. S. Whitman. He was also editor of the Maine Temperance Advocate, begun at Bath in 1870, and discontinued in August of that year, and in September, 1870, he established himself in Bridgton. The News is a well-conducted sheet, serving well the local inter- est of the town and vicinity.

RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.

Notwithstanding the numerous political and other news- papers which have been issued, struggled for a time and died, or still survive, the religious press has been well cared for in Portland within the last half-century. It carly re- ceived the careful attention of its leading men in the various denominations, and has been well supported.

The Christian Mirror is a Congregational (Trinitarian ) paper, edited and published by Rev. I. P. Warren, D.D. It has had a period of continned usefulness of over fifty- seven years, having been established in August, 1822. It traces its origin to a little band of praying Christians, mem- bers of Dr. Payson's church. The first editor was Rev. Asa Rand, of Gorham, who died in 1871, at the age of eighty-eight. Ile filled the editorial chair most acceptably for several years, and during the transition state from Uni- tarian tendencies to strict evangelical views, managed the discussions with great discretion. He was succeeded by Rev. John L. Parkhurst, of Ringe, N. Il., who was editor one year. In 1827, Rev. Asa Cummings, pastor of the

111

THIE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PRESS.

church at North Yarmouth, assumed the duties of editor, and remained in the capacity of editor and proprietor twenty-nine years, or until 1855. Dr. Cummings gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1817, was tutor there and after- wards at Bowdoin. He died at sea two days out from Aspinwall, June 5 or 6, 1856, aged sixty-five, and was buried in the deep. lle was the sixth of sixteen children, born in Andover, Mass., but his father, Asa, died in Al- bany, Me., in 1845, aged eighty-five. His great-grand- father was one hundred and two years old. Dr. Cummings was a learned and excellent man, a hard-working editor, and an exemplary Christian. lle published the Memoir of Rev. Dr. Payson.

In August, 1855, Mr. Charles Austin Lord became edi- tor of the Christian Mirror, having been for several years associated with Dr. Cummings. Mr. Lord was a native of Maine, and formerly of the publishing house of Leavitt, Lord & Co .; of New York. He was afterwards for several years connected with the daily press of St. Louis.

The Christian Intelligencer, the first organ of the Uni- versalists in Maine, began to be issued as a quarterly of thirty-two pages octavo, by Rev. Russell Streeter, in Sep- tember, 1821. It was printed at the Argus office, by Todd & Smith, at a subscription price of fifty cents per annum. It began with two hundred subscribers, and at the end of the first volume numbered one thousand. At the com- mencement of the second volume it took the additional title of Gospel Advocate. Its third, fourth, and fifth vol- umes were enlarged to royal quarto size, and issued once a fortnight at one dollar a year. During its sixth year the form was changed to a royal octavo, and William A. Drew became assistant editor. In January, 1827, the paper was removed to Gardiner,-Parker & Sheldon, publishers, and William A. Drew, editor.

The Sabbath-School Instructor, a juvenile weekly, was started in May, 1830, by D. C. Colesworthy, Philip Greely, and William W. Woodbury. Mr. Cutter edited it for the first two years. Ile finally sold to C. P. Ilsley, who united it with the Portland Transcript.

The Christian Pilot, a half-sheet quarto (Universalist paper), was published by Rev. Menzies Rayner, at one dol- lar a year, from July, 1832, to July, 1835, when it was sold to J. C. Hill, removed to North Yarmouth, and edited by Rev. Zenas Thompson. In July, 1836, it was merged in the Gospel Banner, published by Rev. William A. Drew, at Augusta. For a time the Banner and Pilot were pub- lished simultaneously at Portland.

The Universalist Palladium was begun by Samuel S. Colesworthy, in October, 1839, and was edited by Rev. C. C. Burr. It continued to be issued semi-monthly for two years, when it was merged in the Gospel Banner.

The Eastern Rosebud was the name of a juvenile paper published about two years by Mr. Colesworthy ; also the Religious Instructor, brought from Norway. Their list was transferred to the Gospel Banner.

The Maine Wesleyan Journal was begun about 1830, by Rev. Gershom Fox, who was editor. For the first year or two it was printed by Todd & Holden, afterwards by lloratio King. It was finally removed to Boston and united with Zion's Herald.

Zion's Advocate, the present Baptist paper, was founded by Rev. Adam Wilson, editor, and printed by Day & Sum- ner. Mr. Wilson, after ably conducting it several years, sold to Kalloch & Smith, and J. B. Foster afterwards be- came editor and proprietor. For many years it was owned by Dr. Shailer, who, with J. W. Colcord, conducted it with great success. Rev. 11. S. Barrage is the present editor and proprietor.

The Freeman's Friend was started in Portland, in 1806, by J. MeKown. It was neutral in politics, and continued but a short time.

The Independent Statesman made its appearance in 1821, with Joseph Griffin as publisher. He subsequently took in a partner, Amos C. Tappan. The paper was gotten up by a combination of politicians to advocate the election of Gen. Joshua Wingate, Jr., for Governor, in opposition to Albion K. Parris, the Democratic nominee. The con- test that year was the most bitter and personal of any polit- ical campaign ever witnessed in the State; but Mr. Parris was elected Governor.

The firm of Griffin & Tappan was succeeded by that of Thayer & Tappan, and soon after Henry R. Stickney be- came a partner, the firm being Thayer, Tappan & Stickney. Finally, the whole control of the Statesman passed into the hands of Abijah W. Thayer as editor and publisher. Pre- vious to this, however, the paper had been edited at differ- ent times by Nathaniel Deering, N. G. Jewett, and James P. Vance. Mr. Thayer carried it on about a year, and then moved to Haverhill, and thence to Northampton, Mass., where he died several years ago. Dr. Nathaniel Low then removed from South Berwick and took charge of the paper, changing its name to the American Patriot. William E. Edwards was at this time the printer. Dr. Low continued the paper about a year, being meantime appointed postmaster for Portland,-a position which he held only a few months. The paper expired upon his removal, and the political faction which established it, after rallying under the name of National Republican, and sus- taining their banner a few years, became part of the Whig party. They had during the first year, by the aid of some Federalists, obtained a small majority in the House and on joint ballot. Those who remember this split in the party regard it as surpassing in rancor and bitterness any political contest ever known in the State. Canings and personal assaults were connnon, and caricatures of the most ludicrous cast were printed in the Statesman. The small majority, however, succeeded in making it the State paper.

The Wreath, a family newspaper, was commenced in 1822, by John Edwards, and afterwards continued by A. W. Thayer. It lasted about one year.

The Experiment, a semi-monthly, quite unique in char- acter, was commenced about 1825, under the editorship of James N. Purrinton, afterwards principal of the high school, in Portland. The articles were all written by a society of young men, of which Mr. Purrinton was the head, the design of the paper being mutual improvement by means of essays, criticisms, discussions, etc. Among the associates were John B. Brown, Daniel Winslow, Cap- tain Coffin, the writer, and others. The paper continued only for a year or two.

112

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

The Family Reader, a weekly paper, published and edited by Seba Smith, was commenced in November, 1829, and continued several years.

The Temperance Journal was published for several years by A. Shirley & Son, and subsequently by Eller Perk, Brown Thurston, and others. Contemporary with it was

The Peace Washingtonian, published by the Messrs. Nichols. We have no dates of the commencement or dis- continuance of these papers. During their existence a sharp rivalry was kept up between them, each being equally devoted to the cause of temperance, but differing widely in their plans and methods. Much good, doubtless, they both did in their separate spheres.

The Umpire was a weekly Whig paper, and at one period of its existence a daily also was issued. It was short-lived. Under the charge of F. O. J. Smith it warmly advocated Gen. Taylor's election, but closed its career soon afterwards.

The Orion, a weekly literary paper, edited by James Fur- bish, was published for a brief period by Mr. Edwards, of the Umpire.

The Yankee, edited by John Neal, was a famous paper in its day, though short-lived. It was published weekly by James Adams, Jr., from its initial date, Jan. 1, 1828. About eighteen months it continued to be published in Portland, the city of its birth, when it was united with the Bachelor's Monthly, including Mrs. Hale's Monthly and the Boston Literary Gazette, and removed to Boston, where it was published under the conduct of Mr. Neal and James Miller, the port. But, alas ! it could not survive such a marriage and change of place. As if this were not enough, however, it had also to be changed in form into a magazine. It only lived about six months after these fatal changes and its removal to Boston. The Yankee illustrated during its period in Portland the peculiarities of its editor in an emi- nent degree. At the time it was founded Mr. Neal was thirty-five years old, and a model of ingenuousness and im- pulse. Ile was open and frank as the day, yet persistent as force itself in what he conceived to be right. Ile published in his columns articles of astounding boklness and audacity, but if he found them in error he retracted manfully in the next issue ; if he believed them true he maintained them with unflinching firmness. Mr. Neal will long be remem- bered both in Europe and America for the productions of his gifted pen and the eccentricities of his genius.

The World in a Nutshell was a paper similar to the Yan- lice, begun in 1830. Its forte was universal censure, and under the disguise of an impersonal editorship, it astonished and alarmed the community by the exposure of all sorts of secret misdoings which were little thought to be known. Who the writers were and how the information got out no- body could discover. It was a profound and terrible mys- tery, and no one felt safe while the unseen eye and the hidden hand lurked in ambush for the faults and foibles of the community, which were sure to be exposed in a sheet which made its regular appearance no one knew whence. They could not even find out where the mysterious sheet was printed. This paper no doubt served a good purpose, but it continued only for a short time.

Thu. JJeffersonian was removed to Portland from Paris, Oxford Co., in 1533. by lloratio King, afterwards acting

postmaster-general, who published it several years with a good degree of success. It was Democratic in politics. Upon its discontinuance

The Weekly Standard was started by John S. Hartley. It was continued a year or two, when Mr. Hartley moved to Washington, and the paper expired.

The Portland Tribune, a literary weekly in quarto form, was started in 184I by D. C. Colesworthy, and continued under his management over four years. Among its con- tributors were John Neal, William Cutter, Nathaniel Deer- ing, Mrs. E. Oakes Smith, S. B. Beckett, Charles Holden, J. W. Mighels, G. W. Light, G. A. Baily, and others. Many of its original articles were extensively copied. In 1845 this paper was sold to John Edwards, and united with the Portland Umpire.

The Workingman's Advocate appeared in 1835, edited by Dr. C. H. MeLellan, and published by Day & Sumner. In about a year its subscribers were transferred to the Daily Courier.

The Yankee Farmer, by S. W. Cole, began to be pub- lished in 1836. After several years it was removed to Boston and united with the New England Farmer.

The Pleasure Bout was a misnamed paper published several years in Portland by Jere. Hacker, a Friend, who afterwards removed it to New Jersey. It was cynical in tone, and not by any means the pleasant and agreeable craft to sail in which its name would imply.

The Political Nostrum was for a while the organ of a faction of the Democratic party known at first as the " Mor- mons" and afterwards as the " Wild Cats." It was issued between 1835 and 1840, but continued only a short time.

The Journal of Reform was published by D. C. Coles- worthy in 1836-37. It was the first paper in the State de- voted to temperance and anti-slavery. The popular anti- slavery Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew, while at Bowdoin College, was a contributor to this paper.

The Youth's Monitor was commenced by D. C. Coles- worthy in 1839-40, and continued about two years.

The Argus Renewed, a paper so called, appeared in 1839. It was started by some disaffected parties to displace the old Argus, and was published by Ira Berry ; but it failed of its object.

The Eastern Farmer, an agricultural paper issued in 1841, was published for some time by Ira Berry and F. (). J. Smith, the latter being editor.

The Genius, a paper devoted to amusing and harmless vagaries, by Josiah Lord Thomas, was onee published in Portland and continued for some time.

The Portland Daily Express was issued by D. C. Coles- worthy in 1844, and continued less than a year. The dailies from the Advertiser and _Ergns offices having been previously established, there was uo room for a third daily, and it died after the first volume. It supported Henry Clay for the Presideney and numbered John Neal among its contributors, and " yet it was not happy."

The American made its appearance about 1850, a daily Democratie sheet. The party was then in the ascendeney in the State. For a while it flourished on the pabulum of State advertising, but soon joined the long procession of its departed predecessors, contemporaries, and successors.

113

AUTHORS AND ARTISTS.

The State of Maine (daily, tri-weekly, and weekly , was commeneed in July, 1853, by May & Marble, who removed the Northern Light from Hallowell on the invitation of John M. Wood, who was to furnish the money, the editorial control to be assumed by John A. Poor. Mr. Wood having bought a controlling interest in the Advertiser abandoned the State of Maine, and Mr. Poor conducted it till 1859, when he purchased the Advertiser of Mr. Wood, and, with Messrs. Waldron and Little as partners, consolidated the two papers. The State of Maine was Whig in politics, but its special hobby was the development of the internal resources of the State.

The Observer, a ten-cent quarto, was published in 1864 by Stephen Berry. No editor was avowed, but it was evi- dently intended for a classical periodical. Its Latin quota- tions were numerous and apt, but it did not continue long.

The Riverside Echo was established in 1866 for the ad- vocacy of temperance. It was edited by Rev. J. E. C. Sawyer, and published by an association.

The Athenaum, a semi-monthly, was published by S. Coleman a short time.

The Wreath was commenced in March, 1842. In May it was doubled in size and issued once in two weeks. It continued till October, 1843 Was devoted to family in- terests and Sunday-schools, edited by C. L. Adams, and published by Brown Thurston.

The Portland Enquirer, edited by John Q. Day and pub- lished by Brown Thurston, was started in 1848. It was subsequently edited by Austin Willey, and continued its weekly visits for some eight years.

The Journal of Education, monthly (forty Svo pages), edited by A. P. Stone and twelve prominent teachers of the State. Published by Brown Thurston. This paper was started by G. M. Gage, at Farmington, December, 1866, under the title of the Maine Normal, and was moved to Portland in June, 1868.

Good Speed, a monthly, commenced by F. J. Rich, in February, 1871, and sold to H. A. McKenney the following December.

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Messrs. Hoyt, Fogg & Donham publish The North East, a missionary paper of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Maine. They also publish The Union Bible Teacher, containing comments for old and young on the series of Union Sunday-School Lessons, and a complete set of the Quarterly and Monthly Lesson-Papers on the " International System" for the use of Sunday-schools.

The Maine State Year-Book and Legislative Manual has been published by this firm since 1870. It is a direc- tory of the State and a valuable hand-book of statistics for ready and convenient reference.

The Helping Hand, an illustrated monthly religious paper, is published by the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of Portland.

People's Illustrated Journal, a literary monthly, is pub- lished by George Stitson & Co.

Home Fireside Magazine is the name of a literary monthly published by II. Hallett & Co. It was established in April, 1879.

Living Issue is a weekly temperance paper published by the Maine Temperance Alliance.

Portland Price Current is a monthly commercial paper published by M. N. Rich.

The Masonic Token is published quarterly by Stephen Berry.

CHAPTER XX.

AUTHORS AND ARTISTS.

Sketch of Authors, Native and Resident, of Cumberland County -- Catalogue of their Works-Distinguished Naval Officers Orators and Statesmen.

Ar the head of this list we place Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, who was born in Portland on the 27th of February, 1807. The house where he was born stands on the corner of Fore and Hancock Streets. It is " an old, square, wooden house upon the edge of the sea." At the time when it was built by the poet's father, Hon. Stephen Longfellow, the sea flowed up to the edge of the road opposite, but it has since been pushed away by the made land of the Grand Trunk Railway. The house is three stories, and still in a good state of preservation.

Of the writings of Mr. Longfellow it is unnecessary here to speak : they are known and admired wherever the Eng- lish language is spoken, and have been translated into many foreign languages. As a poet and man of letters he ocen- pies a place second to no other American author in the hearts and affections of thousands at home and abroad who have been charmed and inspired to nobler thoughit and endeavor by the beauty and purity of his writings. In his poem entitled " My Lost Youth" he speaks of Portland as

"the beautiful town That is sented by the sea."

Nathaniel Parker Willis was born in Portland Jan. 20, 1807, but little over a short month earlier than Mr. Long- fellow. It is rare that two such poets are born in the same city so near the same time ; a parallel instance probably cannot be found. Mr. Willis was descended from an an- cestry of publishers : his father and grandfather, both of whom were named Nathaniel, having been printers and journalists by profession. The former was an apprentice in the same office with Benjamin Franklin ; the latter estab- lished the Eastern Argus in Portland, and afterwards re- moved to Boston, where he founded the Recorder of that city.

As a poet, journalist, and letter-writer N. P. Willis was distinguished for his clear, sprightly, and graphic style, and for his rare skill in the use of words, of which his " Pen- cilings by the Way" may be taken as a fair example.

The birthplace of N. P'. Willis, and of his sister, Sara Payson Willis (" Fanny Fern"), now Mrs. James Parton, of Boston, was a two-story frame house in Essex Street. The cradle in which all the children of the family were rocked is still preserved. It is of solid mahogany, and was earned by Mrs. Willis with the labor of her own hands. We find it stated in Allibone's " Dietionary of Authors" that the sales of Miss Willis' " Fern Leaves" series in Enrope and

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 Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 29

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780