USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 45
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Married, on Wednesday, 16th inst., by the Rev. William Worley, Mr. George Mark to Eliza Hines, daughter of William Hines, all of this county.
We have been informed that the type used at that period in the Gazette office, was a portion of the type owned by the Mormons as early as 1833, and used in the publication of a weekly paper, published by them at Independence, Missouri, called the Evening Star. In this paper, appeared weekly installments of "revelations," promising wonderful things to the faithful, and still more wonderful things against the un- godly Gentiles. So bitter and denunciatory was their paper that the indignant and outraged Gentiles seized the press and type, and threw them into the Missouri River. The type, thereafter, being partially re- covered, became the property of Mr. Ridenbaugh, who brought it with him to St. Joseph, where it did good service in the production of the Gazette for many years. The first journeyman employed on the Gazette was Ichabod Hathaway, who afterwards learned the profession of dentistry and immigrated to California. The first apprentice in the office was Henry C. Patchen. In 1854, the paper passed into the hands of Holly & Carter, and then to General Lucien Eastin.
In 1854, the Gazette was purchased by P. S. Pfouts and J. H. R. Cundiff, who, in 1857, began to publish the daily Gazette, the first daily newspaper ever published in St. Joseph.
In January, 1876, Captain Posegate, in an address delivered at a banquet, speaks of the founder of the Gazette as follows :
"To the memory of William Ridenbaugh we may drop a tear, for no better printer, nor truer-hearted nor bigger-souled man ever walked the streets of St. Joseph. No widow nor orphan ever appealed in vain ; no printer ever asked of him and did not receive. He had 'charity for all and malice for none.' Peace be to his ashes."
February 4, 1862, George Rees and Jacob T. Child, who had pur- chased from Wm. Ridenbaugh the office, equipments, franchise, etc., of the Daily and Weekly Gazette, which had been suspended since the pre- vious year, appeared in their first issue. Ridenbaugh, the original pro- prietor and founder of the paper, held a mortgage on the concern, which, being unsatisfied at the period of the suspension of the paper and with- drawal from St. Joseph of Pfouts and Cundiff, its owners and publishers, at the breaking out of the war, the same was foreclosed. Rees and Child
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
then became the owners of the Gazette, subject to the same mortgage, they being unable to pay the full amount of the value of the paper.
They published the paper together till July, 1862, when J. T. Child withdrew from the partnership. Rees continued the publication of the Gazette till the following November, when, deeming the risk and annoy- ance of publishing a paper under difficulties consequent on the distracted condition of the country incommensurate to the dignity and emoluments of the proprietorship, he surrendered possession to the original owner and mortgagee and retired to private life.
The paper was not again revived under its proper, original and present name till after the close of the civil war.
In the summer of 1864, Jacob T. Child and Charles Thompson, started, on the Gazette press, a paper called the Evening News.
It was a campaign publication, in the interest of George B. McClel- Ian, and expired after the Presidential election. The material with which they printed the paper they afterwards sold to the Tribune company.
June 28, 1868, the Gazette again appeared and in entire new dress, from new material purchased in Cincinnati, Ohio. William Ridenbaugh, Colonel J. H. R. Cundiff and Peter Nugent composed the publishing firm. To Cundiff was assigned the editorial management, Ridenbaugh assumed charge of the business office, and Nugent of the mechanical department. A job office was shortly after added. This association continued till the fall of 1873, when the paper was sold and Joseph Corby and Peter Nugent became the purchasers for the sum of $25,000. The issue of Saturday, December 20th, 1873, came out with "Jos. A. Corby & Co., Proprietors," at the head of its columns.
Some time after, the paper was sold by Mrs. Corby, who held a lien on the office. F. M. Tufts, George W. Belt and J. B. Maynard became purchasers and immediately assumed possession, styling themselves the "Gazette Printing Company."
Towards the close of November, 1875, J. B. Maynard retired from the co-partnership and was succeeded by S. A. Gilbert. The Gazette's issue of Sunday morning, April 7th, 1878, first appeared in quarto form and astonished its readers by its announced consolidation. under the style of Saint Joseph Gazette-Chronicle, the latter, an evening Demo- cratic paper, published by Rev. M. B. Chapman. F. M. Tufts was announced as business manager. Between these two papers a bitter war had recently raged, and the consolidation astonished the reading public.
In the issue of June 15, 1878, still styled the "Gazette-Chronicle," the paper was changed back to its original, folio, form. F. M. Tufts and S. A. Gilbert were announced as retiring from the paper, and C. B. Wil- kinson and M. B. Chapman respectively succeeding to the management and editorship of the same. About this period, the name and style of the paper was "Gazette and Daily Chronicle." From the issue of Sun-
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day, September 29, 1878, the "and Daily Chronicle" was dropped and the paper again appeared under its ancient and original title.
The Gazette of November 21, 1878, says: "The entire Gazette establishment, including type, presses, accounts, good will and telegraph franchise was sold yesterday, under deed of trust, held by D. D. Burnes, of St. Joseph, originally given to secure the purchase money when Belt and Tufts bought the paper from Nugent and Corby, five years ago. Charles B. Wilkinson purchased the establishment as trustee for parties in New York, who advanced the purchase money. Mr. Wilkinson, this morning, assumes sole editorial and business management of the paper."
In the Gazette of March 12, 1879, appeared the following : "Upon the old original mortgage made by the Gazette-Chronicle Company, to George C. Hull, trustee, to secure a debt contracted during the reign of Gilbert, Tufts and Maynard, the Gazette was sold yesterday. The future publishers and proprietors will be the Gazette Publishing Co. This cor- poration will be under the direction of a board of trustees consisting of C. B. Wilkinson, Lewis Burnes and W. E. Smedley, of New York. Mr. Wilkinson will remain in charge of the editorial department."
Colonel C. B. Wilkinson remained editor of the Gazette till July 12, 1879, when he moved to Denver, where he died in January, 1881. November 17, 1879, Lewis Burnes died. The paper is still (1881) con- ducted by the Gazette Publishing Company, of which James N. Burnes, Jr., is President.
THE ADVENTURE.
The second newspaper started in St. Joseph was the Adventure, 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, (present Recorder of Deeds of Buchanan County), purchased from Livermore this paper, and changed its name, calling it
THE CYCLE.
It was published as an independent sheet. About a year after his pur- chase of this paper, he 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, J. A. Millan being a Democrat, the partnership was dissolved, E. C. 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 about the period of another year. France then sold to Asa K. Miller and J. T. Child, who changed the name of the paper, calling it
99
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE JOURNAL.
This was about 1856 or 1857. In 1858, '59 and '60, 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 enterprise was started by Millan & Posegate, on the south side of Francis, between Main and Second Streets. Eighteen months after, the latter sold out for the purpose of engaging in the publication of a newspaper, and on May 1, 1858, F. M. Posegate, who had learned the printing business in the Cycle office, under Jas. A. Millan, issued the first number of
THE WEST,
at that time, a handsomely printed, eight column weekly. His associ- ates in the enterprise were Washington Jones, and Edward Y. Shields, the latter a man of marked and widely recognized journalistic ability. The paper, with strong union proclivities, was independent in politics. F. M. Posegate, was afterwards one of the publishers of the St. Joseph Morning Herald, President of the St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, and Postmaster of St. Joseph nearly four years. In the spring of 1859 a daily was started in connection with the weekly West.
February 6, 1860, F. M. Posegate bought out his partners and be- came sole editor and proprietor of the paper, warmly and ably supporting the claims of the Bell and Everett party.
In August, 1860, he sold the West to James Tracy & Co. The Com- pany of the concern included B. Y. Fish, E. Y. Shields and George Baxter. The paper, under this 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 sus- pended. The Hoe cylinder press and other superior appliances of a first- class newspaper office, which belonged to the West Company, were sold and became the property of Colonel C. B. Wilkinson, who started there- with a Republican paper, the
ST. JOSEPH MORNING HERALD.
The press is still (1881) in use in the Herald office. The first issue of this, then a six column daily, appeared Wednesday, February 12, 1862, Wilkinson & Mckibbin, editors and proprietors. In the issue of April 10, 1862, the proprietorship was announced under the style of Wilkinson & Co. Saturday, October 1, 1864, the Morning Herald appeared con- solidated with the Daily Tribune. It continued to be published in this
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
style till July 25, 1866, when "Daily Tribune" was dropped from'its name and it again resumed its original simple title of Morning Herald.
In 1867, F. M. Posegate, above referred to in connection with the West, returned to St. Joseph and took charge of the business manage- ment of the Herald, he having been absent a part of the seven years in Ohio, serving during said time four years in the Federal Army, during which he rose from the ranks in the Forty-eighth Ohio, to the grade of Captain. He remained with the Herald 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.
About the end of August, 1870, Albert H. Hallowell withdrew from. the partnership and severed his connection with the paper. The firm then became Wilkinson, Bittinger & Ward. July 8, 1871, Henry Ward withdrew from the partnership, 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.
A short time after, W. W. Davenport, formerly publisher of the St. Charles, Mo., Cosmos, was admitted a member of the firm, which con- stituted what they styled the Herald Printing Company. Under this administration the paper was a financial failure.
July 11, 1876, it appeared reduced from its former size, a nine-col- umn, to an eight-column sheet, and continued to be so published till near the close of September following, when Tracy & Co., became owners of the concern, and immediately restored the paper to its former size-a nine-column folio. 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 Co. included Robert Tracy and D. W. Wilder.
Robert Tracy subsequently severed his connection with the paper, and D. W. Wilder sold his interest to F. M. Tracy, recently appointed Postmaster of St. Joseph. D. W. Wilder, however, continued his con- nection with the editorial department, and June 2nd, 1879, a company being formed under the name and style of "The Herald Company," Mr. Wilder again became a stockholder in the concern.
The original style of the paper, from the period of its coming into existence, was the "Saint Joseph Morning Herald." The issue of Tues- day, October 10, 1876, appeared first with its present title, "St. Joseph Herald." From the first origin of the Herald, a weekly edition has, in connection with the daily, been regularly issued.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE ST. JOSEPH WEEKLY FREE DEMOCRAT
Was an eight-column sheet, its first number being issued May 29, 1859. The paper was printed on material brought from Kansas, and formerly used in the office of the Geary City Era, at that time owned by Joseph Thompson and Earl Marble. E. H. Grant edited the paper, and was assisted in the business management by Joseph Thompson. It was neatly printed and extensively patronized, but during the short period of its existence failed to prove a financial success.
John Doy, who had been tried in the St. Joseph Circuit Court and found guilty of negro stealing, was in the St. Joseph jail, awaiting the issue of an application for a new trial. On the night of July 23. 1859, he was rescued by a band of ten men from Lawrence, Kansas, and liberated. This occurrence, as may be supposed, created intense excitement in St. Joseph. E. H. Grant, the editor, was charged with being an accomplice in the jail delivery, and his life threatened. To avoid any unpleasant con- sequences that might result from this condition of things, he left St. Joseph and went to St. Louis. His wife, Mrs. Sarah T. Grant, then assumed the editorial tripod, and the paper forthwith began to display a degree of ability it had failed before to manifest. On September 3, 1859, Frank M. Tracy, now, (1881), Postmaster of St. Joseph, and one of the publishers of the Herald, bought out the interest of E. H. Grant and Joseph Thompson, and assumed the publication of
THE FREE DEMOCRAT.
Under this management, the paper was conducted till September 15, 1860, when D. W. Wilder, now, (1881), one of the editors of the St. Joseph Daily and Weekly Herald, bought an interest in the Free Democrat and became one of its editors.
November 24, 1860, B. P. Chenoweth became a member of the firm, the style of which was Tracy, Wilder & Chenoweth.
December 31, 1860, the publishers of the paper were indicted by a special grand jury for uttering and circulating incendiary publications. Judge Silas Woodson, afterwards Governor of the State, then occupied the bench. He charged the grand jury with special reference to the Free Dem- ocrat, a copy of which he then held in his hand. The publishers, get- ting wind of this, moved their editorial headquarters across the river to Elwood, Kansas, Joseph Thompson and Robert Tracy, however, contin- uing to print the paper in St. Joseph. About this time D. W. Wilder severed his connection with the Free Democrat, which was thereafter published by Tracy and Chenoweth. This continued till April, 1861. On the 13th of that month appeared the last issue of the Free Democrat in St Joseph.
ยท
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH ..
The proprietors, and every employe of the office, immediately entered the Union army. All lived to return home at the close of the war. We state this latter fact on the authority of Mr. Joseph Thompson, a printer in the office, who was connected with the paper from the begin- ning of its career in St. Joseph till its final suspension.
THE EVENING NEWS.
the first paper of its kind in St. Joseph, was started in 1862, by Asa K. Miller, and lived about four months. This was about two years prior to the appearance of a campaign paper of the same name before referred to.
In August, 1862, appeared the first issue of the
DAILY TRIBUNE,
4 A. K. Abeel, editor and publisher. It was a seven column sheet, Republi- can in politics. Shortly after starting the paper, Abeel sold a half inter- est in the same to Judge P. Bliss, and they continued to publish it together six or eight months. Colonel Albin, James T. Beach and James Hunter then purchased the other half from Abeel. A bitter war of words ensued about this period between the Tribune and the Morning Herald with reference to the claims of the rival journals on public adver- tising patronage. This continued till October, 1864, when the Tribune and Herald were consolidated.
On the 7th December, 1864, appeared the first issue of the
SAINT JOSEPH UNION,
a daily and weekly paper established in consequence of the uniting of the Tribune with the Herald, and published in the interest of the extreme radical Republican party. The founders and first publishers of this journal were James Hunter and James T. Beach, at that time City Attorney. E. J. Montague became its first political editor and con- tinued to fill that position a year and a half, when Judge P. Bliss assumed editorial charge. He continued in the same about a year. The first local editor of the Union was Jacob T. Child. Sherwood, Albin and Har- rington, late in the following year, became interested. Other parties became from time to time by the purchase of stock, interested in the publication of the Union.
In the spring of 1866, James Hunter sold his interest in the paper to William Fowler and to A. N. Schuster. In the summer of the same year, Fowler, Schuster and others, who owned stock in the paper, sold out to J. W. Strong, who published the same till October following, when he sold and transferred the paper to James T. Beach and J. W. Dinsmore. They continued to publish the paper till early in 1868. Another stock
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
company, called the Union Printing Company, was formed about this time. To this company Beach & Dinsmore sold out. The paper was then managed and edited by R. D. Mitchell. In March, 1869, about a year after this arrangement, the company sold out to Eugene Ayers and William Everett, who published it till about January 1, 1871, when it was sold to C. W. Marsh, formerly of the Hannibal Courier, and J. B. Hinman, now of the Chicago Times. During the period included between March, 1869 and January 1, 1871, the subscription list was doubled. Marsh & Hinman published the Union about a year, when it finally suspended.
There probably never was a paper published in the state with refer- ence to which there was, at different times, as much litigation. From the founding of the Union till the period of its sale to R. D. Mitchell, Willis M. Sherwood had large pecuniary means invested in the same.
NEW ERA.
In August, 1862, appeared in St. Joseph the first issue of the New Era, an eight-column weekly, published in the interest of the new order of things, by Harrison B. Branch, at that time Superintendent of Indian Affairs. In 1863 this paper was sold to a party who moved it to Savan- nah, Missouri.
DAILY COMMERCIAL.
The Daily Commercial was a small paper established in 1866, by Jule Robidoux & Co. Its career was brief.
THE EVENING COMMERCIAL.
The Evening Commercial, a daily Democratic paper, was started by Charles C. Scott, in 1872, and published by him two years.
THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
The Weekly Standard, the first illustrated paper published in the county, appeared in its first issue, Sept. 7, 1871. It was conducted by R. R. Calkins and continued till February 1, 1875. It was independent in politics.
THE VINDICATOR.
The Vindicator, a Democratic paper, published by James A. Millan, first appeared in 1865, as a weekly. At the end of the first year of its existence, a daily edition was also issued from the same press. Both then continued to be published till the close of the second year.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE REFLECTOR.
The Reflector, a weekly Democratic journal, published by James A. Millan, made its first appearance in St. Joseph in March, 1872, as an eight-column sheet. This was, soon after, enlarged to a nine-column. It was discontinued at the end of the first year.
THE EVENING TRIBUNE
was a small campaign daily published fifty-three days, from September, 1870, by Joseph Thompson and C. B. Bowman, in the interest of the straight Republican party.
THE BOARD OF TRADE CIRCULAR,
an eight page four column monthly, was published from March, 1871, to April, 1873, by Woolworth & Co. The Co. of the concern was George Rees, "the printer."
THE WEEKLY REPORTER.
an independent journal, was established by Rev. M. B. Chapman, and made its first appearance May 8, 1875. It was published as the Reporter till September, 1875, when its name was changed to Saturday Chronicle, Loren Boyle becoming a partner in the publication of the paper. In July, 1876, the Daily Evening Chronicle was issued from the same press. On Saturday evening, April 6, 1878, appeared the last issue of the Even- ing Chronicle. On the following morning it appeared consolidated with the Gazette.
THE MONDAY MORNING NEWS.
was started by Isaac Pheifer. Its first issue appeared August 20, 1877. It soon fell into the hands of Col. C. B. Wilkinson, whose brilliant and versatile gifts of mind, coupled with his large and varied newspaper experience, soon achieved for his little paper a reputation which no other similar enterprise had before enjoyed. The last issue of the Monday Morning News appeared in June, 1878, when Colonel Wilkinson assumed editorial charge of the Daily and Weekly Gazette, which he afterwards purchased, as stated in our sketch of that paper.
In July, 1878, a week or two after its suspension, the material and franchises of the Monday Morning News were purchased by George E. King, and used by him in publishing an illustrated weekly. This enter- prise was crowned with success.
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.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
May 3d, 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 3d following, this . was enlarged to a five-column sheet. April 19, 1881, the paper was pur- chased by W. F. Bassett and J. W. Spencer, who enlarged it to a six-column sheet, and otherwise greatly improved it. It has a large and rapidly increasing circulation. The weekly edition is still styled the Western News.
THE EVENING REPORTER,
started by Max Kauffman and Fred F. Schrader, made its first appear- ance in June, 1878. In September following the paper died.
THE TELEPHONE
was another ephemeral periodical which came into existence August 12, 1878, and died in early infancy, its last issue appearing October 20, 1878. It was a tri-weekly, edited by .F. M. Tufts.
THE COLLEGE CHAPLET
was a handsome four-column, eight-page, double sheet, published in 1877, '78 and '79. The columns of this periodical were filled with the productions of the young ladies of St. Joseph Female College.
THE GOOD WAY.
The Good Way is a religious periodical which was started in Savannah, Mo., March 1, 1879, Rev. J. W. Caughlan, editor. February 1, 1880, it was moved to St. Joseph, where it is now (1881) published by the Southwestern Holiness Association, J. W. Caughlan, editor. It was, at first, an eight page, twenty-four column paper. It now embraces thirty-two columns.
THE BUGLE AND STANDARD.
The Bugle and Standard, started by Caughlan & Park, in Savannah, Mo., in August, 1879 ; was moved, with The Good Way, to St. Joseph, in February, 1880, where it continued to be published till April 25, 1880, when it suspended. It was, at that time, edited by R. M. Tunnell, formerly editor of the Milan Ventilator.
THE ST. JOSEPH DAILY ADVOCATE.
The St. Joseph Daily Advocate, a one cent, four page evening paper, 10X13 inches, was started September 20, 1880, by J. D. McClain, the present (1881) editor and publisher.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE CATHOLIC TRIBUNE ..
The Catholic Tribune, a weekly journal, was founded in Kansas City, Mo., April, 1879. It was there published by Wm. A. Maynard and W. W. Davis. In October, 1880, it was moved to St. Joseph, where it has since continued to be published by Davis & Royal. It is an eight page, six column paper.
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