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While living in Portland, Madam Wood and her family occupied the western half of what is known as the Anderson house on the south side of Free Street. She was always spoken of here as "Madam Wood" and was accorded the place of honor in all gatherings of the best society. She was, owing to her peculiar type of dress, a conspicuous figure in public
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places. She was accustomed to wear the high turban or cap, and when she went out she wore a plain black bonnet so far forward as nearly to hide her features. Although Madam Wood was a communicant of the First Parish church under Doctor Nichols, she often attended the old brick church of St. Paul's, sitting in the Vaughan pew with her grand- children.
Madam Wood left some manuscript works which were never printed, though it is said that when the Waverly novels appeared, and she had read some of them, she was so dissatisfied with her own works that she gathered what she could of them and destroyed them.
Captain Keating, her son, was sailing a ship from the port of New York, and to be near his family his mother concluded to go there with all her family. This was in 1829 or 1830.
In January, 1833, Captain Keating arrived in New York Harbor and anchored in the stream, remaining aboard. In the night, the current set the running ice against the ship with such force as to cut her through, and she sank at her anchor at once, carrying down all on board, includ- ing the captain ; not one escaped. Madam Wood was now seventy-five years old. Although hers had been a life of vicissitudes, the loss of her last remaining child, an enterprising son, the stay and support of her declin- ing years, was a severe shock to her. The following summer she returned to Maine with a widowed granddaughter and a great grandson.
In her last years Madam Wood continued to write, at the request of her friends, papers of reminiscences, which from her great age and wonderful memory, were very valuable.
She died January 6, 1854, at the uncommon age of ninety-five years and three months.
CHAPTER XXX
BOOKS, PRINTERS, NEWSPAPERS, EDITORS
First Books In the year 1784 printing was introduced into the Dis- trict of Maine by Benjamin Titcomb, Jr., of Falmouth. Soon after the establishment of his office he received as a partner Thomas Wait of Boston. It is probable that some pamphlets were printed by this firm but book publishing began with the issue of a volume published under the name of the junior partner, bearing on its title page the quaint inscription: "Universal Spelling Book, or a New and Easy Guide to the English Language. Containing Tables, etc., etc., 28th Edition with additions. By Daniel Fenning, Late School-master of Bures Suffolk. Falmouth, Casco (Bay), Printed and Sold by Thomas Wait at his Office in Middle St., MDCCLXXXVI". Four years later, under date of August 14, 1790, the first copyright issued to a District of Maine publisher was granted to Samuel Freeman, the author of the "Columbian Primer, or the Schoolmistresses' Guide to Children in their First Steps to Learning". Other books by the same author were "The Town Officer ; or the Power and Duty of Selectmen. . .. and other Town Officers" and "The Probate Auxiliary : or, a Director and Assistant to Probate Courts, Executors, Administrators and Guardians," which informs us that the author was Register of Probate for Cumberland County and bears, what appears to the modern reader, the curious information that it was published in Portland, Massachusetts. Both of these volumes were printed by Ben- jamin Titcomb, the former in 1791 and the latter in 1793.
Hallowell soon became a publishing center. The first book which came from the press in this town was a work of fiction entitled "Female Friendship, or the Innocent Sufferer: a Moral Novel". It was published anonymously and printed by Howard Robinson in 1797.
Eliza S. True was the author of the earliest volume of Maine poems, which was published in 1811 under the title of "The Amaranth", being, it was said, "A Collection of Original Pieces in Prose and Verse, Calculated to Amuse the Minds of Youth without Corrupting their Morals". This publication was issued from the press of M. Mckown.
In 1816 appeared "The Village," the first book written wholly in verse by a Maine author, who was none other than Enoch Lincoln, afterward governor of the state.
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Early Newspapers On the first day of January, 1785, there appeared in the town of Falmouth the first issue of the pioneer newspaper of the District of Maine, under the name of The Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser. This paper, except for a suspension from 1866 to 1868, has, under various names, been published continuously to the present time. It came from the press of Titcomb and Wait of Falmouth and was printed on four pages, about the size of a sheet of foolscap, with three columns to a page. In 1786, the year of Portland's incorporation, the name was changed to Cumberland Gazette. It was again changed in 1792 to avoid confusion with a rival paper, the Gazette of Maine, which had been established in 1790 by Benjamin Titcomb after his withdrawal from the partnership with Wait. Under its new name of Eastern Herald it appeared in a larger form. No more changes were made until September, 1796, when Mr. Wait disposed of his interests to John B. Baker, who consolidated it with the Gazette of Maine under the title of Eastern Herald and Gazette of Maine. After the retirement of Mr. Baker the paper passed into the hands of Daniel George, "a man of genius." Following his death it was purchased by Isaac Adams, who merged with it the Portland Gazette, a sheet issued in 1798 by E. A. Jenks. Subsequent to this change it was known as the Portland Gazette and Maine Advertiser. In 1808 Mr. Adams took into partnership Arthur Shirley, whose connection with the paper lasted until 1822, when he left to become publisher of the Christian Mirror. During Mr. Shirley's long career as printer and publisher several important publications came from his press, among which were the Daily Courier, Family Reader, Portland Magazine and the Maine Washingtonian Journal. He published the first directory of Portland and the first book of sacred music printed in the state. In the year 1819 William Willis, later an eminent lawyer and his- torian, was engaged by Shirley to write editorials for his paper. This is the first instance in which the office of editor was separated from the business of the publisher. When the daily edition was established in 1831 it was called the Portland Advertiser, while the title of Gazette of Maine was revived for the weekly edition. Among its many distinguished editors we find the names of James Brooks, Erastus Brooks, Phineas Barnes, Henry Carter and James G. Blaine. From a subscription list of 1700 in the year 1796, the circulation has now increased to 26,267, the largest of any daily in the state.
The first daily newspaper in Maine was established in Portland in 1829 by Seba Smith. It was known as the Courier.
The oldest paper maintaining an unbroken existence and unchanging name is the Eastern Argus, established in 1803 in Portland. Its first pub- lishers were Calvin Day and Nathaniel Willis.
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In these days of almost hourly mail service it is hard to realize the eagerness with which the weekly delivery of papers was anticipated in the smaller towns in the early days. Local happenings were reported without delay by the busy newsmongers but the only connection with the outside world was found in the papers. In 1785 the mail was carried from Falmouth to Portsmouth and from thence to Boston on horseback and inhabitants of settlements not on the direct mail route were obliged to send messengers on foot to the nearest place selected to send letters and receive mail. In case of severe storms or unusually bad condition of the roads the postman was often delaved for two weeks and sometimes for more than a month. In Parson Smith's diary, written in 1785, we find this entry: "The post at last got here, having been hindered near five weeks."
As comparatively few people in the smaller settlements could afford individual subscriptions, it was the custom for whole neighborhoods to unite in subscribing for a single paper, which was read in turn by the several families and then carefully preserved for future reading. Con- gressional news, sometimes not more than sixteen days old, and foreign news. two or three months late, made up the greater part of the paper. A few items of local interest were given in the form of death notices- long and eulogistic-and advertisements. These varied from descriptions of proprietary medicines, sure to cure all ailments, to notices of marita] difficulties. No paper was complete without its advertisements of W. I. Rum, gin, wines and other cordials. Masters of runaway apprentices aired their troubles and offered munificent rewards, varying from two cents to ten dollars, for the return of their ungrateful servants.
The first paper on the Kennebec was the Eastern Star, published at Hallowell, then known as Bombahook, or "The Hook", in 1794 by Howard Robinson. The price was nine shillings a year. It was printed on four pages, 18 by 11 inches in size. After struggling vainly for about a year, during which time it passed into the hands of Nathaniel Perley, it came to an early death and was succeeded by The Tocsin. This paper was established in 1795 by Thomas Wait, Howard Robinson and John K. Baker, a former apprentice of Wait's. It was purchased the following year by Benjamin Poor and continued until 1797 when it, too, succumbed to starva- tion.
Soon after the establishment of the Eastern Star at "The Hook", a rival paper was started at Fort Western, a part of Hallowell, now known as Augusta. Its publisher was Peter Edes, who came to Maine from Bos- ton. The first issue of the Kennebeck Intelligencer, a sheet of four pages, 18 by 11} inches in size, was dated November 21, 1795. "For want of due encouragement and punctuality of payments" Mr. Edes discontinued the
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paper in June, 1800, but it was revived in November of the same year as The Kennebec Gazette. In February, 1810, the character of the paper changed and it became a party organ. Its name was changed with its character and it was known as the Herald of Liberty. For some time it flourished but in 1815 Edes became discouraged by unfavorable condi- tions and removed to Bangor, where he brought out the Bangor Weekly Register on November 25 and "could make out to live if nothing more".
Lincoln County's pioneer was the Wiscasset Telegraph, issued in December, 1796, by Russell & Hoskins. It was made up of four pages, 21 by 18 inches. Nearly a year after its establishment a slight change was made in the title to The Wiscasset Telegraph, which was at that time pub- lished by Hoskins and Scott. It was discontinued on the death of Hoskins in 1804.
During the same month in which the tick of The Telegraph became audible, there were heard the blatant tones of the Oriental Trumpet in Portland. After nearly four years of existence its voice was silenced.
In December, 1797, the Wiscasset Argus made its appearance, under the direction of Laughton & Rhoades. It did not enjoy a long life.
Russel's Echo; or, the North Star, was Oxford County's first news- paper. It was published at Fryeburg by Elijah Russel in February, 1798. It evidently was not successful in spite of the publisher's offer to allow his subscribers to "pay in anything or cash", as its last number appeared in January, 1799.
The Castine Journal and Universal Advertiser came into being at Castine in January, 1799. It was a four-page paper about 18 by 11 inches. published by David Waters. In May of the same year its title was changed to Castine Journal and the Eastern Advertiser. It is thought to have ceased circulation about December 26, 1800. It was the first newspaper printed in Hancock County.
In 1803 the Annals of the Times began its short life in Kennebunk. In the year of its death, 1805, the Kennebunk Gazette was started by James L. Remick, who published it until 1842. For a few years after his retirement the paper was continued by his son. The Annals was York County's first experiment in journalism.
The first paper published in Penobscot County was the Bangor Weekly Register, established by Peter Edes in 1815, after his removal from Au- gusta. In December, 1817, it was purchased by James Burton, Jr., who changed its name to Bangor Register. It lived until August, 1831, and was succeeded by the Penobscot Journal.
Eastport was the home of the first Washington County paper, which appeared in August, 1818, under the name of Eastport Sentinel. It was Federal or Whig in politics and was published by Benjamin Folsom until his death in 1833. It has lived to a ripe old age and is still thriving.
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No newspaper was established in Waldo County until July, 1820, when the Hancock Gazette made its appearance. Its first publishers were Fellows & Simpson, with William Biglow as editor. After a few numbers had been issued Penobscot Patriot was added to its title. In June, 1826, it was again changed to Belfast Gazette. Only eight volumes were pub- lished.
Sagadahoc County also produced a "Gazette"-the Maine Gazette- issued by Torrey and Simpson at Bath in December, 1820. In 1832 the paper was consolidated with the Maine Inquirer, established in 1824, thus becoming the Gazette and Inquirer. Though many later consolidations and consequent changes of name have occurred, the paper is still in exist- ence.
George V. Edes, a nephew of Peter, was associated with Thomas J. Copeland in the publication of Somerset County's first news sheet, the Somerset Journal. It was issued at Norridgewock on May 15, 1823. Under various names it continued until about 1826, when it was removed to Ban- gor and published under a new title.
The promoter of the Thomaston Register, the earliest publication in Knox County, was Jonathan Ruggles, later Justice of the Supreme Court in Maine and United States Senator. It made its appearance in May, 1825, under the direction of Edwin Moody, who sold the establishment in 1831. The new owner substituted for the old title the name of Independ- ent Journal. The following spring the business was discontinued.
The first attempt to establish a printing press in Franklin County was made by W. A. Dunn in 1832. The Sandy River Yeoman was the result of the effort. Its difficulties were many and after a year's struggle it gave up in despair.
The ancestor of the Piscataquis Observer, now published in Dover, was the Piscataquis Herald, born in Dover, June 1, 1838. Only one change in the name, that from Herald to Observer, has been made. George V. Edes, who previously published the Somerset Journal, was responsible for its early success, aided by the Whigs of Piscataquis County, whose organ it was.
. The first paper presented by Androscoggin County was the Lewis- ton Journal, whose initial number was issued at Lewiston May 21, 1847. The size of the first sheet was 33 by 23 inches. William Waldron and Dr. Alonzo Garcelon were the publishers, with Dr. F. Lane as editor. The press and printing materials for the Journal were brought to Lewiston from Portland with a team by Col. William Garcelon. In 1850 Dr. Garce- lon's connection with the paper ceased and Waldron conducted it alone until 1856, when Nelson Dingley purchased a half interest. A year later he assumed entire control. Under his management the paper became more decidedly political and has since been recognized as one of the leading Republican papers.
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The Aroostook Pioneer has the distinction of being not only the first newspaper published in the county but a paper "started in the wilder- ness". In 1858 Joseph B. Hall, senior member of the firm of Hall and Gilman, purchased the old outfit of the Bangor Gazette and carried it by team from Bangor to Presque Isle. When Mr. Hall severed his connec- tion with the paper in 1860, Mr. Gilman assumed sole charge. Eight years later Mr. Gilman removed the paper to Houlton, where business prospects seemed brighter. It is still published in Houlton under the original name.
Religious Newspapers Among the many religious publications appearing in Maine, a few of the early ones are worthy of especial men- tion. The Christian Intelligencer, the first Universalist organ in the state, was printed in 1821. The Christian Mirror, published in 1822, was one of the pioneers of the religious press and attained a cir- culation which was remarkable at the time. Previous to the Civil War it was sent to every state in the Union, to parts of Europe and to Asia. Its first editor was Dr. Asa Rand. During its long history it took a prom- inent part in many important discussions. In the year 1830 appeared the Sabbath School Instructor, a juvenile paper published by D. C. Colesworthy, and the Maine Wesleyan Journal, a Methodist publication edited by Ger- shom H. Cox. The Journal was later conducted by Horatio King. It was finally transferred to Boston and united with Zion's Herald. Two of the organs of the Baptist denomination were the Maine Baptist Herald-the first paper fully coinciding with the faith of the primitive Baptists-pub- lished in 1824, and Zion's Advocate, edited by Rev. Adam Wilson in 1837. The Freewill Baptists issued the Family Instructor in 1841. Other Uni- versalist publications appeared in the Christian Pilot, about 1832, and the Universalist Palladium, about 1839. Both of these papers were later merged in the Gospel Banner, a weekly religious newspaper which had been established in 1835 under the editorship of Rev. William A. Drew. This in turn, after several years of prosperity in Maine was merged into the Universalist Leader, now published in Boston. The Universalist Ban- ner, a monthly paper, was first published in 1904. It is printed in Au- gusta. In 1856 the Evangelist, a Congregational paper, started at Port- land some months previously, was removed to Lewiston and published. from the Journal office until 1861-2, when it was discontinued.
Two early papers devoted to the cause of negro emancipation were the Advocate of Freedom, edited by Professor Smyth, in Brunswick in. 1838, and the Liberty Standard, published in the same town four years later. The second publication was edited first by Rev. Elijah P. Love- joy, Maine's martyr to the cause of antislavery, and later by Rev. Aus- tin Willey, an ardent supporter of the same cause. Enthusiastic workers for temperance published papers that exerted a strong influence in bring- ing about state prohibition of the liquor traffic.
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From a small beginning of only eight papers published in the Dis- trict in 1810, there are now about one hundred sixteen in the state with a total circulation of between three and four million. Augusta ranks first, Portland comes next and then follow Bangor and Lewiston. It is said that the quantity of work done in Augusta exceeds any other town of its size in the Union and surpasses many of several times its population.
Pioneer Printers Benjamin Titcomb, Jr., who established the first printing office in Maine, was a native of Portland. In his later years it was a source of great pride to him that he "struck off with his own hands the first sheet ever printed. in Maine". His part- ner, Thomas B. Wait, came to Falmouth from Boston in 1784. For a short time previous to his connection with Titcomb he ran a stationer's shop but was with Titcomb in 1785 when the Falmouth Gazette appeared. In later times he ran the paper alone for several years. He published in 1807 an edition of Blackstone's Commentaries in four volumes. In con- nection with John P. Sawin, "an ingenious mechanic" he invented a circu- lar power printing press, patented in February, 1810. It was of suffi- cient importance to receive a lengthy description in Thomas's History of Printing, issued the same year. Titcomb withdrew from the firm in 1790 and issued a rival publication, The Gazette of Maine. Eight years later he left the printing business entirely to devote his time to preaching. In 1804 he became pastor of the Baptist church at Brunswick, retaining that position for forty years. In 1819 he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and made the opening prayer. He was one of the original trustees of Waterville College, now Colby College, and was always greatly interested in its progress.
To Ezekiel Goodale is ascribed the honor of establishing the first permanent printing house in Hallowell and the first book store east of Portland. He settled in Hallowell in 1802. For a time he conducted a book shop only but in 1813 his printing establishment, "At the Sign of the Bible" was opened. Several important volumes issued from his press, among which were reprints of valuable books published in the old country. One of his early publications was "McFingal: a modern epic", written by John Trumbull, Esq., and inspired by the events of the Revolution. The Maine Farmer's Almanac, considered next to the Bible in importance in many homes, first came from his press. For over sixty years it was published in Hallowell but in 1880 was purchased by Charles E. Nash of Augusta, where it is now published. Goodale's firm also published the first Maine Reports. Williamson's History of Maine was printed at the same establishment, as were early volumes of the Revised Statutes of Maine. Goodale imported from England the best books of the time, in- cluding the latest novels. Some of his advertisements call attention to the Rambler, the Spectator, works of Shakespeare, Milton, Scott, Byron,
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Moore and Fielding, also to "Guy Mannering: a new novel by the author of Waverley" and "Childe Harold : a poem by Lord Byron".
The pioneer printer at Augusta, then a part of Hallowell, was Peter Edes, who came to the Fort Western settlement in 1795 and immediately commenced publishing the Kennebeck Intelligencer. He had contemplated a partnership with Wait in Portland in 1785 but had remained in Boston. After a few years spent in Newport, R. I., he again determined to estab- lish a business in Maine. His position as the most important figure in the early history of printing in this state is due in part to his connection with his father's establishment in Boston. This had given him a knowl- edge of the business which few others possessed and a certain amount of prestige as the son of the famous journalist of the American Revolution. It is thought probable that political motives prompted him to start a paper in the vicinity where two news sheets had already been established. Although one had died an early death, the other was still in existence. During the publication of his newspaper at Augusta Mr. Edes changed its name three times. In 1800 it became the Kennebec Gazette, later, at the request of his patrons, it was changed to Herald of Liberty. In 1815 Mr. Edes decided that a change of location was necessary if he desired to make a living and he accordingly transferred his business to Bangor. His types and press were moved by Ephraim Ballard with a team of six oxen. Because of the weakness of the Kennebec Bridge it was considered wise to take the four-ton load across in sections. Three weeks were required to accomplish the journey to Bangor and return and the expense was one hundred forty-three dollars, which Edes considered "quite mod- erate". His venture in Bangor also proved unsuccessful and he retired after about two years' struggle.
Nathaniel Willis, one of the first publishers of the Eastern Argus, deserves more than a passing notice. His dauntless courage in support of his convictions, causing his imprisonment, has been mentioned in connec- tion with that paper. After leaving Portland Mr. Willis was for a time engaged in literary work in Boston. His next move was to New York, where he later became co-editor, with Morris, of the New York Mirror. Mr. Willis was distinguished for his graceful style and for his rare skill in the use of words.
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Editors Of the prominent men who have attained eminence in the field of journalism the list is almost endless-Coles- worthy, from whose press came many popular publica- Publishers tions; Seba Smith, editor and author of the famous Jack Downing sketches; Samuel Freeman, judge, editor and author; E. H. Elwell, editor, author and historian; Melville W. Fuller, Chief Justice of the United States, also a successful journalist ; Ilsley ; Kingsbury ; Foster ; Berry; Holden; Lapham, editor and historian; Blaine; Manley; Burleigh;
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Willis ; Fessenden ; Barnes; Dingley ; Haskell; Noyes; Clark; Putnam and even the children in the most remote districts know the names of Heath, Holden, and Ginn. To many of our journalists their native state has seemed too small a field and they have sought recognition in the larger cities. Among those who have found a prominent place in Metropolitan Journalists metropolitan journalism are the names of Russell Eaton, Nathaniel Willis, Erastus and James Brooks, Arlo Bates, Seba Smith, John Neal, Elijah Lovejoy, Isaac Mclellan, Came, Waters, Haskell, Niles, Gammon, Haines, Lincoln, Sawyer, Cole, Macomber, Herrick, Wheeler and Minot. Special mention should be made of Edward Stanwood, author, historian, sociologist and for many years connected editorially with the Boston Daily Advertiser and the Youth's Companion; Edward P. Mitchell, one of the most distinguished Maine journalists, now with the New York Sun; L. S. Metcalf, editor of the North American Review and founder of the Forum; Frederick M. Somers, publisher of Current Literature and the Forum; and Frank A. Munsey, one of the most spectacular figures in American journalism.
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