USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > History of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. : from the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1915 biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 29
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who, after the departure of Major Edwards, was the editor as well as the manager until he was elected to congress in 1896. He was succeeded as manager by Frank Freytag, who remained in charge until July 1, 1900, when he was succeeded by Chris L. Rutt. On August 1, 1900, The Gazette and The Herald were consolidated under the name of The Gazette-Herald, with Chris L. Rutt as man- ager and Frank B. Moore as editor. The owners were the Burnes estate and William M. Wyeth. About a month afterward the prop- erty passed into the hands of Walter B. Holmes of Memphis, Tenn., who conducted it two months and then sold it to C. B. Edgar and others, who at that time published The Daily News. Mr. Edgar published The Gazette-Herald from The News plant, with Chris L. Rutt as editor, until March 30, 1902, when he sold the paper to Lewis Gaylord of Colorado Springs, Colo. From the time of its consolidation until its sale to Mr. Gaylord The Gazette-Herald was published as an independent newspaper. Mr. Gaylord dropped the hyphen and the word "Herald," and published The Gazette as a Democratic paper until November, 1903, when a syndicate of Re- publicans bought it. E. E. E. McJimsey was editor at first, but he has since been succeeded by C. D. Morris.
The second newspaper started in St. Joseph was The Adven- ture, a Whig sheet, which made its first appearance in 1848. It was published by E. Livermore, and was at that period regarded as a worthy rival of The Gazette, its sole competitor in the county. In March, 1853, James A. Millan purchased the paper and changed its name, calling it The Cycle. It was independent. About a year after this Mr. Millan took into partnership E. C. Davis, the first state superintendent of public schools elected in Missouri. A short time after this arrangement, in consequence of difference of political sentiment, Mr. Millan being a Democrat, the partnership was dis- solved, Mr. Davis buying out his associate. The latter published The Cycle as a Whig paper about one year, when he, in turn, sold out to Matt France, who continued to publish it as a Whig paper for another year. France then sold to A. K. Miller and Jacob T. Child, who changed the name of the paper, calling it The Journal. This was about 1856 or 1857. In 1858, 1859 and 1860 The Journal was edited and published by John P. Bruce and Jacob T. Child. This paper strongly advocated the claims of Bell and Everett during the presidential canvass. It suspended publication about 1862.
It may not be improper to state here that in the spring of 1856 the first job printing office was opened in St. Joseph. This enter- prise was started by Millan & Posegate, on the south side of Fran- cis, between Main and Second streets. Eighteen months after, Mr. Posegate, who had learned the printing business in The Cycle office under Mr. Millan, issued the first number of The West. It was a handsomely printed, eight-column weekly. His associates in the enterprise were Wellington Cunningham, Washington Jones and Edward Y. Shields. The paper, with strong Union proclivities, was independent in politics. In the spring of 1859 a daily was started in connection with The Weekly West. February 6, 1860, Mr. Pose-
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gate bought out his partners and became sole editor and proprietor of the paper, warmly and ably supporting Bell and Everett for the presidency. In August, 1860, he sold The West to James Tracy & Co. The paper, under the management, advocated the claims of John C. Breckenridge to the presidency, and boldly avowed its secession sentiments. During the winter of 1860-61 the publication of the paper was suspended.
The first German newspaper in St. Joseph was The Volksblatt. It was started in 1856 by Leopold Marder, who, two years after, sold the paper to J. H. Buschmann. This was in 1858. Francis Rodman, afterward secretary of state, was editor. Wednesday, March 28, 1866, the daily evening edition, a five-column paper, made it first appearance, published by Gustavus Heinrichs. In 1868 R. L. Morgenstern purchased the paper, and Leopold Marder be- came editor. November 8, 1868, Conrad Eichler and H. W. Kastor assumed control. The firm was styled C. Eichler & Co. Mr. Kastor was editor. November 8, 1875, Herman Brunsing purchased the interest of Mr. Eichler. Mr. Brunsing was succeeded in 1886 by Mr. George L. Hermann-Muehe. Colonel Kastor retired some years ago, since which time Mr. Muehe has had sole charge. The Volks- blatt is the oldest continuous publication in the city.
The press and other appliances of The West Company became the property of Col. Charles B. Wilkinson, who started therewith a Republican paper, the St. Joseph Morning Herald. The first issue, a six-column daily, appeared Wednesday, February 12, 1862, Wil- kinson & McKibbin editors and proprietors. In the issue of April 10, 1862, the proprietorship was announced under the style of Wil- kinson & Co. Saturday, October 1, 1862, The Morning Herald ap- peared consolidated with The Daily Tribune. It continued to be published in this style until July 25, 1866, when "Daily Tribune" was dropped from its name and it again resumed its original sim- ple title of Morning Herald. In 1867, F. M. Posegate took charge of the business management of The Herald. He remained with the paper three years, the first two as business manager for Wilkinson & Bittinger, and the third as a partner of the former, he having bought the interest of John L. Bittinger. In the summer of 1869, Wilkinson & Posegate sold out to Hallowell & Bittinger. In April, 1870, the firm became Hallowell, Bittinger & Co., C. B. Wilkinson
constituting the company of the concern. When Mr. Hallowell withdrew, the firm became Wilkinson, Bittinger & Ward. July 8, 1871, Henry Ward withdrew and the firm became Wilkinson & Bit- tinger, continuing such till the whisky-ring developments of 1875, which wrecked the fortunes of both members of the firm. In the spring of 1876 John Severance, Wm. D. O'Toole and Major John T. Clements purchased The Herald. July 11, 1876, it appeared reduced from its former size, a nine-column, to an eight-column sheet, and continued to be so published till near the close of September follow- ing, when Tracy & Co. became owners of the concern, and immedi- ately restored the paper to its former size-a nine-column folio.
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The issue of September 26, 1876, was the first to appear with the. announcement "Tracy & Co., Proprietors." The head of the firm was Frank M. Tracy, the company included Robert Tracy and D. W. Wilder. In 1885 the property came into the hand of Col. J. W. Strong, who represented a stock company of local capitalists. After his tragic death, in June of 1886, the paper was managed by Col. Wm. M. Shepherd, with the late George C. Smith as editor, who was succeeded by Charles Alf. Williams. In 1889 J. L. Bittinger assumed editorial charge, the paper having passed under the con- trol of Maj. T. J. Chew and others. J. P. Knight was business manager for some years and was succeeded by W. B. Willim. Major Bittinger was succeeded in 1897 by Edward F. Trefz, who remained two years and was succeeded by Frank B. Moore, who had editorial charge until the consolidation with The Gazette in 1900.
Four different newspaper publications have borne the name of The News. The first daily evening paper issued in St. Joseph was established by Asa K. Miller in 1862. It was called The News and lived about two months. In the summer of 1864 Jacob T. Child and Charles M. Thompson issued, from The Gazette press, a campaign paper called The Evening News. It was published in the interest of George B. McClellan and expired after the campaign. The Mon- day Morning News was started August 20, 1877, by Isaac Pfeiffer. Colonel Wilkinson took charge of the paper after several issues and made a hit with it. The last issue of The Monday Morning News appeared in June, 1878, when Colonel Wilkinson assumed editorial charge of The Gazette. In July, 1878, a week or two after its sus- pension, the material and franchises of The Monday Morning News were purchased by George E. King, and used by him in publishing an illustrated weekly. In October following he sold out to Judge Andrew Royal and W. M. Patton, who continued its publication under the original name of Monday Morning News. This, some time after, was changed to Western News. May 3, 1879, The Daily Evening News was started in the office of The Western News by Judge A. Royal and George H. Cross. It was, at first, a small, four- column sheet. September 3 following this was enlarged. April 19, 1881, the paper was purchased by W. F. Bassett and J. W. Spencer, who enlarged and otherwise improved it. Gilbert J. Spencer suc- ceeded W. F. Bassett in the partnership. In 1888 the paper was sold by J. W. and G. J. Spencer to Byron Dunn and George W. Mar- tin of Maryville. In July of 1889 the property was acquired by Charles M. Palmer and E. B. Haskell. C. M. Shultz was placed in charge of the paper, and continued to manage it until August of 1894. In September of 1894 Charles B. Edgar became associated with Messrs. Palmer and Haskell, and published the paper until October, 1903, when he sold his interest to a company headed by Louis T. Golding of New York. The publication is now called The News-Press and represents the consolidation of The Daily News and The Evening Press. The Press was established in August, 1902, by W. H. Turner and Hobart Billman of Chicago, and was published
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for about fourteen months, when it was consolidated with The Daily News. Mr. Golding is now the publisher of The News-Press and Chris L. Rutt is managing editor.
The Stock Yards Journal was established by Charles Thorn- ton soon after the stock yards were opened, and was subsequently acquired by people interested in the stock yards, who still control the paper. E. Neff was in charge for a time. W. E. Warrick be- came publisher in 1899 and remained until the summer of 1913, when Ewing Herbert of Hiawatha, Kan., took charge. The Journal was established as a live stock market report, but early in 1915 began publishing a local edition.
Of the weekly publications now in existence The Catholic Trib- une is the oldest. It was founded in April of 1879 at Kansas City, where it was published by Wm. A. Maynard and W. W. Davis. In October of 1880 it was moved to St. Joseph, where it was published for some years by Davis & Royal. Rev. Francis Graham, pastor of St. Patrick's church, was also the publisher of the paper for a time after Davis & Royal. Peter Nugent and Michael Lawlor became the proprietors in July of 1889, and this partnership continued until 1892, when Mr. Nugent became the sole proprietor. In April of 1894 Mr. Lawlor took charge of the property and has edited and published The Tribune since that time.
The Journal of Commerce was founded in 1886 by Frank With- erspoon. It was subsequently published by George W. Wrenn. In 1890 J. W. Spencer, who was then the publisher, sold the paper to C. M. Shultz. Ed M. Taylor succeeded C. M. Shultz, and for a time Purd B. Wright was interested with Mr. Taylor and edited the paper. In 1897 the Combe Printing Company acquired the property and placed it under the management of Ed O. Wild. The Combe Printing Company relinquished its ownership after several years and M. M. Burns was publisher until November, 1903, when W. P. Tracy took charge and changed the name to Western Dry Goods. This publication was subsequently discontinued and the present Commercial Journal, founded by C. C. Pierce in 1908, took its place. The Commercial Journal is still being published by Mr. Pierce.
The St. Joseph Observer, a weekly Democratic newspaper, was founded September 1, 1906, by Charles Fremont Cochran and Frank Freytag. Colonel Cochran died December 19, 1906, and his interest in the paper was purchased by Mr. Freytag, who has been the sole owner ever since.
The St. Joseph Union, devoted to the interests of organized labor, was founded seventeen years ago by B. E. Burnham, who edited it for a time. W. P. Tracy, Clayto Riley, Frank Chaney, A. G. Roberts and W. J. Jones have edited the paper at different times. It is now published by E. L. McDonald and Glen Stevenson.
Farm and Stock, a farm paper, was established by the pub- lishers of the Fruit-Grower and Farmer in 1909. Three years later it was sold to Lon Hardman, who later sold it to the New Gazette
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Company, the present publishers. The name has been changed to Profitable Farming.
The Western Fruit-Grower was started in January of 1897 as a monthly publication devoted to horticulture. The venture met with deserved encouragement from the beginning and the increase of business has justified many improvements. The name was subse- quently changed to The Fruit-Grower and Farmer. This publica- tion has a national reputation and has done much to advertise St. Joseph abroad.
A glance over the tombstones in St. Joseph's newspaper ceme- tery reveals the following inscriptions :
Free Democrat, May 29, 1859, to April, 1861. Those connected with the paper at various times were Joseph Thompson, Earl Mar- ble, E. H. Grant, Frank M. Tracy, D. W. Wilder, B. P. Chenoweth and Robert Tracy.
Daily Tribune, August, 1862, to October, 1864. A. K. Abeel, Philemon Bliss, Wm. M. Albin, James T. Beach and James Hunter were interested at various times.
Daily Union, December, 1864, to January, 1871. James Hunter, James T. Beach, E. J. Montague, Philomen Bliss, Willis M. Sher- wood, Wm. W. Albin, Wm. Fowler, A. N. Schuster, J. W. Strong, J. W. Dinsmore, the Union Printing Company, R. D. Mitchell, Eugene Ayers, Wm. Everett, C. W. Marsh and J. B. Hinman were at various times interested in the publication. Jacob T. Child was the first local editor.
New Era, a weekly, 1862-63, Harrison B. Branch, publisher. Vindicator, weekly, 1865, James A. Milan, publisher.
Daily Commercial, 1866; published by Jule Robidoux & Co.
Evening Tribune, 1870, Joseph Thompson and C. B. Bowman, publishers.
Daily Evening Commercial, 1872-74, Charles S. Scott, pub- lisher.
Board of Trade Circular, 1877-83, George Rees and others.
Reflector, weekly, 1872-73, James A. Millan, publisher.
Weekly Reporter, 1875, M. B. Chapman, publisher.
The Evening Reporter, 1878, Fred F. Schrader and Max Kauff- man, publishers.
The Tri-Weekly Telephone, 1878, F. M. Tufts, publisher.
The Good Way and The Bugle and Standard, 1879-81, Rev. J. W. Caughlin, editor.
Commercial Advicer, 1878-82, I. J. Dewitt, publisher.
Daily Anzeiger, 1879, Kurth & Schrader, publishers.
Saturday Democrat, 1880-85, George E. King, publisher.
Daily Sun, April, 1881, W. W. Davis and Phil Schmitz, pub lishers.
Grip, a comic weekly, 1884, Abe Steinberg and A. J. Fleming, publishers.
Daily Evening Journal, 1885-87, O. M. Gilmer and Frank Mar- tin, publishers.
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Weekly Leader, 1880-90, Joseph Crane, publisher.
The Weekly Wasp, 1889-93; H. U. Hayden, publisher; Homer J. Kline was the first editor.
Daily Ballot, 1890-91. This was a morning newspaper venture by the late Wm. Hyde of St. Louis. It involved heavy financial losses.
Weekly Argus, 1893; J. Matt Davis, editor.
The St. Joseph Republican, 1894; James T. Beach and Captain Sullivan, publishers.
The Saturday Record, established by J. W. Spencer in 1898, and later converted into a daily afternoon paper.
The Daily Times, 1897-98; George C. Crowther, Joseph Albus and O. M. Gilmer, publishers.
The Modern Farmer and Busy Bee, edited by Emerson T. Ab- bott.
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The Daily Star was established as an evening newspaper by the Kellogg Syndicate November 27, 1905. It was published until March 22, 1909, when it died.
There have been many ephemeral publications in St. Joseph, principally weekly society ventures, whose graves are unmarked, that started briskly and with the assurance of a high-school essayist upon the road to fame and fortune, but inevitably went to pieces upon the same old financial rock.
CHAPTER XXX.
REMINISCENCES - NEGRO SLAVERY IN BUCHANAN COUNTY-STEAMBOATS-THE TOWN OF ELWOOD-A REMINISCENCE OF EARLY ST. JOSEPH-THE GRASS- HOPPER SCOURGE-A FEAT IN PEDESTRIANISM- THE FIRST FREE DELIVERY WAGON-AN EFFORT TO SECURE WATER FROM BED-ROCK-ST. JOSEPH MEN WHO BECAME FAMOUS.
As was stated in a previous chapter, there were over 2,000 negro slaves in Buchanan County when the war broke out. These were owned principally in the country. The condition of the slave here, as elsewhere, depended upon the master. It was to the slave- holder's interest, of course, to keep this class of property in good condition that it might yield the best possible returns. The slaves, in the main, were well cared for, and their lot was not so bad. They were expected to work ten hours per day for the master and were allowed half holidays on Saturday, where the conditions permitted, and also on Sundays. They were given no education, as a rule, though there were instances where the master taught his slaves to read and write. This practice was frowned upon, however, by the majority of owners. The negroes had many social privileges, but were restricted to some extent by a pass system, which was en- forced by a patrol. No negro could leave his master's place after night without a pass. This he had to show to the patrol, who were mounted and who guarded certain prescribed districts. The ne- groes called them "patterolers," and it was the delight of the more venturesome youngsters to elude the vigilance of these much-hated officers. The patrolmen were paid by private subscription. There were licensed preachers of various Protestant denominations, and these held religious services in different places about the country, at stated times, and there was generally a white man present to see that seditious utterances did not creep into the sermons. Marriages were solemnized, and where the man and woman belonged to dif- ferent estates the husband was generally permitted to visit his wife on Saturdays and Sundays. The children always belonged to the owner of the mother.
Slaves were paid for the work they did overtime, or as in hemp breaking, for such work as was done over and above a stated task. They were also given patches of ground to cultivate and could sell the products. Men were given two suits of clothing and two pairs of shoes per year, and women two dresses, besides other necessary wearing apparel.
Where a slaveholder had more slaves than he could use, he let them out for hire. The general price for a man was $150 per
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year, his maintenance, medical attendance and clothing. It was prescribed how many hours he should work and that he should be paid individually for the work he did beyond the contract day. Women brought about $100 per year hire. In some instances negroes saved enough money to purchase their freedom. One case is recalled, however, where the slave fruitlessly paid over one thou- sand dollars. The master kept no account; neither did the slave. . The master died, and when the estate was sold the slave was sold also. He had nothing to show for his payments. The slave was Alf Foutz, who was pressman on The Gazette before the war, and who, after the war, held a similar place on the Atchison Champion for many years.
The negroes, as a rule, spent their money freely and Saturday was made a busy day in St. Joseph by them.
Slaves were hired out during Christmas week for the ensuing year, and this was generally done on Market Square. The masters brought them into town and sold their services to the highest bid- ders.
Slaves were sold at public auction, also, but this practice was almost confined to cases where an estate was sold, though several slave buyers, who shipped their wares south, were located in St. Joseph and constantly bought up such negroes as were offered. When slavery was abolished, there were few males in bondage, most of them having been either shipped to Texas before the war or been surrendered by masters who took advantage of a bounty of $350 for every slave that was enlisted by them into the Federal army. A great many, too, had escaped to Kansas by the aid of the Jayhawkers.
Slaves held in the city were used as house servants, porters and the like, and they were either owned or hired by the masters.
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In early days a great fleet of steamboats "plowed the turbid current" of the Missouri, bringing settlers and supplies for this vast virgin territory. During the '40s, '50s, and half of the '60s the river was dotted with many boats. Beyond Main street were nu- merous large warehouses required for the immense river traffic. They were all washed away later by encroachment. Hemp, hemp rope, hides, tallow, furs, whisky and tobacco were the principal products shipped down the river. St. Joseph was the business cen- ter for the whole river district, and from here supplies were sent all over the western mountains and plains. Here, too, most of the California pioneers of 1849, 1850 and 1851 were supplied with out- fits for the long journey to the Pacific.
At times there would be as many as twenty steamboats at the wharves in one day. The city charged a wharfage of $5 for each boat, and the wharfmaster was an important personage in our early city government.
Many "mackinaw" boats would arrive about June of each year, loaded down with furs, mostly belonging to Joseph Robidoux. The
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cargoes would be reshipped here on steamboats if the terms were favorable, but it Uncle Joe thought the steamboat men were trying to "work" him, he would continue the trip to St. Louis with his mackinaws. Frequently these boats would be lost in passage. St. Joseph was practically the head of navigation, but in the early days a few boats would go up to the mountains each year, loaded with supplies and trinkets for the traders, consuming a whole season on the trip.
When the railroads were built there was little business left for steamboats, and they dropped out one by one, seeking other fields, until now they are a curiosity on this river.
A word of Elwood will not be amiss in these reminiscences. Fotheringham's directory for 1860 shows 166 male residents of the place. At the present estimate of population, based upon city direc- tories-five to the name-this would show that Elwood had a popu- lation of 830 at that time. The business directory shows that there were three attorneys, one of them, D. W. Wilder, later prominently identified with the political history of Kansas and with the press of St. Joseph; another, Thomas A. Osborn, later governor of Kan- sas ; the third, A. L. Lee, who was secretary of the town company and also interested in a bank in St. Joseph, and who subsequently gained distinction as a brigadier-general in the Union army. There were two bakeries, two blacksmiths, a brewery, a brickmaker, two butchers, six carpenters, a coffee house, a dentist, a druggist, seven general merchants, two hotels, a livery stable, two painters, three physicians, a plasterer, a restaurant, several real estate agents, five saloons, a saw-mill, a tailor, three wagon-makers, a jeweler and one dealer in stoves and tinware. There was also a newspaper, the Elwood Free Press, published by H. D. Hunt.
There was a city government. George W. Barr, later a resi- dent of St. Joseph, was mayor; Dr. J. W. Robinson, clerk and re- corder; Wm. H. Hugh, assessor; Thomas A. Osborn, attorney ; R. S. Sayward, treasurer; Charles O. Smith, collector and city mar- shal. Wm. H. Hugh, D. B. Jones, J. H. Hatcher, Andrew Disque, W. L. Lewis, L. C. Booth, Wm. Luke, W. C. Groff and A. W. Tice ocmposed the city council. There was also a police force, consist- ing of three men.
There was an Episcopal church, and the Congregationalists held services occasionally in a hall. There was a board of public schools ; also a library association and a building association.
The New York Daily Times of December 18, 1858, says of Elwood, that it "is one of the most promising places in Kansas, and from the eligibility of its position and great local advantages, bids fair to become the chief commercial metropolis of the future state. Situated directly opposite St. Joseph, it is placed by the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad in direct communication with the most populous and wealthy cities of the East, and by the first of April will be with- in fifty hours' travel of New York. It is the starting point of the
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railroad chartered to Palmetto, on the South Pass route to Salt Lake and California, and of the St. Joseph & Topeka railroad, which will command a great portion of the trade of New Mexico. ^It lies on the west bank of the Missouri River, on the verge of an extensive and thickly wooded bottom, which requires no grading,; its streets are broad and rectangular, and its levee can be approached with safety by the largest boats, and is sufficiently spacious for an im- mense commerce."
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