USA > New Jersey > Camden County > History of the press in Camden County, New Jersey > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
PN
4897
B79 N53
HISTORY
OF
THE PRESS ===== ---
--------
-11-11-
---
---
---
-
-
--
-
---
---
----------
HOWARD R. KEMBLE
HOWARD R KEMBLE 404 BELMONT AV HADDONFIELD NJ 08033
Cornell University Library PN 4897.N53B79 History of the press in Camden County, N 3 1924 009 629 993 olin
R
Y
1865
UN
DED
A
Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924009629993
THE AMERICAN STAR.
,41. 1.
Tul bra,
eit Publie Sale.j.
.- Hla. Store
THE AMERICAN STAR
ANTI NEW JERSEY ADVERTISER,
WUL
FILD STAR & ADVENTILAR
SILVER PLATE
For Sale, PHIFER
Comune Hau of the tagn'y vì
Planing Muchi
THE CAMDEN MAIL, AND NEW JERSEY ADVERTISER.
COOPERING.
(milan itsphonetic l'inclure !
.
The Camden Allait,
AND GENERAL ADVERTISER.
F F . cnav.
SUD- PIGAINNLA
LAHDAY. FR
Black - ondwun D, Cloud Julcet
------
HISTORY
OF
THE PRESS IN CAMDEN COUNTY
NEW JERSEY
BY CHARLES S. BOYER
President Camden County Historical Society, Life Member Gloucester County Historical Society, Member Pennsylvania and New Jersey Historical Societies
WEST JERSEY PRESS SINNICKSON CHEW & SONS COMPANY, PUBLISHERS CAMDEN, N. J. 1921
COPYRIGHTED 1921 BY CHARLES S. BOYER
CONTENTS
Page
Gloucester Farmer.
12
American Star.
16
Camden Mail.
17
West Jersey Mail
20
West Jerseyman
20
West Jersey Bugle.
21
West Jersey Press.
22
Semi-Weekly Phoenix
29
Camden Democrat.
30
Camden Journal.
36
Camden Evening Daily
37
New Republic ..
39
South Jersey Advertiser
40 42
Camden Sunday Argus.
Camden Daily Post.
43
Camden Spy.
Youths' Monthly.
Camden Tribune.
Camden Sunbeam
The Gem.
The Bee ..
Saturday Evening Express.
Camden County Courier
Camden Daily Courier.
Camden County Journal.
New Jersey Coast Pilot
Atlantic Coast Guide.
Camden Echo.
Camden Daily Telegram
The Sunday Call
54 55 55
Stockton Advocate.
Camden Sunday Review
Camden Citizen.
Camden Post-Telegram.
Morning News.
Stockton Times.
The Outlook ..
New Jersey Sand Burr
60
Camden Argus ..
61
New Jersey Temperance Gazette
63
45 45 46 46 47 47 47 48 50 51 52 52 53 53
Camden Sunday Times.
55 56 57 58 59 60 60
East Side Press.
FOREWORD
T HE "History of the Press", which appears in the following pages, was prepared by Mr. Charles S. Boyer as a part of the "History of Camden" which he proposes to publish at some time in the future. The manuscript was so inter- esting that the publishers of the "West Jersey Press" requested the privilege of putting it into book form, that the record of newspaper publish- ing in this section might be suitably preserved.
It also seemed appropriate that the designing and printing of this volume should be done in the book department of the "West Jersey Press", the only paper now published in Camden as Mr. Boyer shows, which can trace its ancestry back one hun- dred years.
The publication of this book, we, also, feel to be a more fitting and dignified way of celebrat- ing a centennial anniversary than by issuing a special historical edition of the "West Jersey Press". Such editions, too frequently, are commer- cialized, and of little or no permanent value.
SINNICKSON CHEW & SONS CO.
PUBLISHERS, WEST JERSEY PRESS.
INTRODUCTION
T HE newspaper file is the very fountain head for local history. It furnishes maps of the world's progress and records, daily and hourly, of all that is going on about us. It has been called "the mirror of the present and the tele- scope of the distant". Within its covers are por- trayed, daily or weekly, the events of the commu- nity, as witnessed by the writer, and even though they may sometimes be exaggerated, or distorted, they still bring out facts and incidents which would otherwise have been lost to posterity or forgotten in the on-rush of later developments. Let us not for- get that the history of the nation is made up of the combined histories of the smallest political units and that if a community has not provided itself with an adequate local history, it has not fulfilled its highest destiny as an integral part of the state or nation. Nowhere else is there such a gold mine of historical information as that furnished in the daily and weekly newspaper.
The local press more clearly reflects the thoughts and customs of the times than any other record of a permanent character. Take up the earliest volume
8
INTRODUCTION
published in Camden and you will see that a large part of its columns is filled with advertisements. Two months old foreign news, or week-old home intelligence, occupies practically all of the remain- ing space, while strictly local news is given a few inches at the most. As the examination is continued you see the local news part gradually expanding, the editorial column taking on life and the advertis- ing pages reflecting the business of the community rather than that of the country at large. These changes stealthily creep into the newspaper col- umns in direct ratio to the growth and develop- ment of the community.
During the past twenty years the writer has been collecting data relating to the history of Camden and, in the course of these investigations, has had occasion to consult the various files of all the avail- able early newspapers published in Camden. A careful record was kept of the papers examined especially as regards their ownership and dates of founding. In addition, an extensive correspon- dence was carried on with libraries and historical societies known to have copies of these papers. This information is set forth in the following pages in order that one important phase of our local his- tory may be available to the future newspaper edi-
9
INTRODUCTION
tor, the historian and the citizen interested in Cam- den's rapid growth and progress. This bibliogra- phy is probably the first one ever compiled in our community and it is obvious that there may be some omissions and errors in a work of this kind, espec- ially in the first attempt. The endeavor has been to notice every publication which had newspaper possibilities, but no attempt has been made to list publications put forth in the interest of individual church, society or private organizations. The writer will be pleased to have any errors or correc- tions communicated to him.
CHAS. S. BOYER. April 17, 1921.
THE PRESS
The history of the press in Camden ante-dates the incorporation of the city by about nine years. Of the numerous local papers which have been is- sued from time to time, the "West Jersey Press" is the only one now published which can trace its origin back to the papers begun early in the nineteenth century. The claim of succession from the original "American Star" to the "West Jersey Press" is easily traceable step by step. The next oldest paper in point of years was the "Camden Democrat," which, however, is no longer pub- lished. The oldest of the daily papers now pub- lished is the "Post Telegram," since this newspaper is the direct descendent of "The Post," whose pub- lication was begun in 1875.
As in many other cities in the period from 1840- 1860 party strife occupied a prominent place in the editorial and news columns of the press. In Camden the bitter feeling between the "Demo- crats" and "Whigs" was reflected through the "Camden Democrat," particularly under the editorship of Charles D. Hineline, and the "Cam- den Mail," "West Jersey Mail" and "West Jersey- man," successively, under the able direction of Judge P. J. Gray. Hineline was a man of pug- nacious disposition, and his editorials attacking
12
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
the opposition were often vitriolic and fiery in tenor, while Judge Gray was a word-painter and his editorials, while scathing, never reached the level of unseemly personalities. In a majority of cases, however, there was always an "esprit de corps" among these men, which cropped out, even during the most heated political campaigns. They were ever ready to extend words of sympathy to a fellow publisher in distress and, on more than one occasion, the use of the printing plant of one paper was offered to its most bitter antagonist, when the latter's equipment had been destroyed by fire or accident.
THE GLOUCESTER FARMER
The first newspaper published in Camden was the "Gloucester Farmer", which had originally been established at Woodbury, the county seat of Gloucester County, on January 1, 1817, by John A. Crane, a former resident of Essex County. It was a weekly and, like all papers in the smaller com- munities, made only a feeble attempt at printing the local news, or directing public opinion on top- ics of the day. In January, 1819, it was moved to Camden, the headline stating that it was "printed and published by John A. Crane", while a later number, dated November 2, 1819, bears the head- line "printed by John A. Crane". Isaac Watts Crane, who had been practicing law in Trenton,
13
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
moved to Camden in July, 1819, and soon became interested with his brother in the "Farmer", doing all the editorial work, while John A. Crane, who was a practical printer, did the press work.
Isaac W. Crane was a native of Essex County and a graduate of Princeton College in the Class of 1789. He was admitted as an attorney in 1797, first locating at Salem and then in Bridgeton and prior to his coming to Camden had an office in Trenton. He was a highly educated man and a lawyer of considerable ability but on account of an eccentric turn of mind was neither a successful lawyer nor a brilliant journalist. After severing his connection with the "Farmer" he returned to Bridgeton and later became prosecutor of the pleas for Cumberland county. He resided in Bridgeton until 1850, when he returned to Essex county where he died in 1856.
Sometime between November, 1819, and Sep- tember, 1820, the ownership passed to Isaac W. Crane, who associated with him Edward G. Dor- sey, under the firm name Edward G. Dorsey & Co. A dispute between these partners soon arose and in the "Columbian Herald", published at Woodbury, under date of October 14, 1820, appears a "Notice", signed by Edward G. Dorsey, announcing the dis- solution of the firm and also in the same issue an "Advertisement" of Isaac W. Crane, stating that "the matters in dispute are now in the hands of arbitrators". The arbitrators decided in favor of
14
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
the latter, and on December 18, 1820, he sold the paper to Philip J. Gray. It was now moved back to Woodbury and combined with the "Columbian Herald" (established September 28, 1819). On December 20, 1820, Mr. Gray issued from his office in Woodbury the first copy of "The Herald & Gloucester Farmer" as Vol. II, No. 66 of the Herald and Vol. IV, No. 194 of the Farmer.
Tracing the history of this journal until its final removal to Camden in 1840, we find that under the above title the paper was published until Septem- ber 15, 1824, when the name "Village Herald and Weekly Advertiser" was adopted, "because of the confusion and mistakes often occurring in taking the Herald to be one paper and the Gloucester Far- mer to be another".
Mr. Gray continued to publish the "Village Herald" until August 26, 1829, when, in order "to turn his attention to a business more lucrative", he sold it to Joseph Sailer. Under the new proprietor the name was changed to the "Village Herald and Gloucester Advertiser". The only copy so far lo- cated is in the New Jersey Historical Society's col- lection and is dated Woodbury, Wednesday, Sep- tember 22, 1830.
In 1837, the paper passed into the hands of Wil- liam Johnson, son of Isaac Johnson, a former sher- iff of Salem county. It was soon discovered that the son was not nearly so shrewd a political mana- ger as the father and the latter, who was the real
15
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
owner, after a few years concluded to dispose of the paper as a "Democratic Stock Concern" to an association of twenty-five prominent Democrats of the county, an arrangement which was consummat- ed early in the year 1840. The first thing the stock- holders did was to vote its removal fromWoodbury to Camden, then a part of Gloucester county.
The first number of this newspaper after its re- moval to Camden, was issued on April 15, 1840, under the title of the "West Jersey Democrat" .* Its publishers and principal stockholders were Isaac Bullock, then postmaster of Camden, and William Johnson. The former soon getting into trouble with the Government over his post office accounts, the establishment, in some way, not gen- erally understood, was turned over to Charles S. Garrett, who in August, 1840, issued the "Demo- crat", as publisher and proprietor and continued the publication for a few weeks. He then disposed of it to Samuel Irwin. The Johnsons always main- tained that they were defrauded out of the owner- ship of the paper and their friends, who were nu- merous in the lower part of Gloucester and throughout Salem county, refused to sanction the passing of the title through Garrett to Irwin. The latter became discouraged and, about the middle of the year 1841, discontinued the paper and sold the materials piece-meal.
* The publisher issued a two page prospectus dated April 13, 1840, a copy of which was offered for sale in the Nelson collection in 1915.
16
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
THE AMERICAN STAR
"The American Star", a Whig organ, the second newspaper published in Camden, and the first one to maintain under various names a continuous exis- tence, was established by Samuel Ellis, a former school master and the first city clerk of Camden. Its first issue was dated Tuesday, April 17, 1821, and was a four page, five column paper, twelve inches by nineteen and one-half inches in size.
At the head of the first column it carried the following announcement :
"THE AMERICAN STAR
Is published every Tuesday, at Two Dollars per annum payable half yearly. No subscription will be received for less than six months, and a failure to notify a wish to discontinue will be considered as a subsequent engagement.
Advertisements inserted three weeks for one dollar, when not exceeding one square, and contin- ued weekly for twenty-five cents. Larger adver- tisements at the same rates".
Under the title, "The American Star," it was published by Mr. Ellis until December 29, 1824, when he changed the name to "American Star and Rural Record" and the day on which it was issued to Wednesday. Just when Ellis' connection with this paper ceased is uncertain, but he was still the owner as late as June 9, 1830, and, together with
17
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
his brother, Charles H. Ellis, who had an interest in the printing office, until December of that year .*
In the latter part of 1830, Isaac H. Porter and John Wolohon, both of whom had been appren- tices under Samuel Ellis, issued a prospectus of a newspaper to be called "The Camden Mail". From this announcement, we quote the following to show their ideas in bringing out another publication :
"Our observation and experience have convinced us, that exclusive devotion to any one party, does not afford the widest field of usefulness for a news- paper. We consider that a public journal belongs to the whole public, and not any part of it; and that its paramount duties and best efforts are due to society in general and to the weal of the whole community and country. Under guidance of these principles, our paper will be neutral in all mere party conflicts ; and in our whole manage- ment of it, we will endeavor to be impartial".
THE CAMDEN MAIL AND NEW JERSEY ADVERTISER
Shortly after issuing this prospectus they pur- chased "The American Star and Rural Record" and on January 5, 1831, issued the first number of "American Star and New Jersey Advertiser", as Volume I, No. 1. In an editorial in this issue they state :
"The principles under which it will be conducted are expressed in the Prospectus which we lately
* After Ellis sold the "American Star and Rural Record" he continued the printing business, but finally entered the employ of Judge Gray, and died about 1840.
18
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
issued for a newspaper, to be entitled "The Camden Mail and New Jersey Advertiser". * * * *
The project of a newspaper, has, of course been given up".
"It is our intention to have issued the paper upon a larger sheet than this (121/2 X 21), but in consequence of our purchase, we will be obliged, for the present, to confine our limits to the usual size of the "Star", as our press will not print a larger one".
On January 8, 1828, Dr. John R. Sickler issued a broadside containing the prospectus of a weekly paper to be issued in Camden under the title of "The New Jersey Statesman" .* The paper was to be a Jacksonian organ, with the object of clearing up "the unfounded aspersion which veniality and misconception have cast upon General Jackson" and to "point out the grounds for his preference to Mr. Adams". The paper does not appear to have been issued. At a later date, Dr. Sickler pur- chased the interest of Isaac Porter in the "Camden Mail" and soon associated with him John Wolo- hon. It was continued by Sickler and Wolohon under the name of the "Camden Mail and New Jersey Advertiser".
The only copy under this management, so far located is in the collection of the New Jersey His- torical Society and is dated April 18, 1832. It is a four page, six column paper, very neatly printed
* A copy of this broadside was sold at auction in New York on February 4. 1916, and the writer had the opportunity to verify the above information.
19
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
and a good specimen of early typography. The partnership of Sickler & Wolohon did not last very long, Dr. Sickler buying out Wolohon's inter- est and publishing the journal under his own name.
Exactly when Dr. Sickler purchased the inter- est of Wolohon is not known, but it was prior to September, 1832, for on the twenty-eighth of that month Wolohon made an assignment for the bene- fit of his creditors to Isaac H. Porter, which did not in any way affect the credit, or business of the "Mail". The only known copy of the paper as published by J. R. Sickler is dated January 30, 1833. In a short time a Mr. Ham purchased the interest of Dr. Sickler, but whether the latter issued the paper regularly, or only occasionally, is un- known. Dr. Sickler announced in 1834 that he had opened a drug and medicine store at his residence on Market street between Third and Fourth, from which we may infer that his newspaper connections had been entirely severed.
CAMDEN MAIL AND NEW JERSEY ADVERTISER
On April 2, 1834, Philip J. Gray, returning to journalism in Camden, bought the "Camden Mail and New Jersey Advertiser" and continued its pub- lication under the same name, with the interrup- tion of some months between the transfer from Mr. Ham to Judge Gray, during which time it was only issued at infrequent periods.
20
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
One year later Mr. Gray adopted a new title for his paper, namely "Camden Mail and General Advertiser". This was the first number of the second year under the new management and was continued under this name until August 27, 1845.
The purposes and objects of the paper are so clearly stated in the headline as to need no further words of explanation. It read, "Tis our aim to in- terest the mechanic and manufacturer-to enliven the fireside of the farmer-and to note the changes in the political and moral world".
THE WEST JERSEY MAIL
From September 3, 1845, to February 24, 1847, the paper was issued under the title "The West Jersey Mail", The owner having bought new type decided to enlarge the form and "at the instance of friends", also concluded to change the name of the publication.
THE WEST JERSEYMAN
The paper under the new title "The West Jersey- man" was issued March 3, 1847, and this name was retained so long as Judge Gray continued to be its editor and publisher.
In the Prospectus of "The West Jerseyman", the editors say :
"The Paper will be devoted to the full and free discussion of the topics of the day, and will sustain
The West Dersen Mail.
----
-
West Dergryman.
Perftp
-
-----
.. .
---
Ceccano in Conden
----
------
---
ddlest Jersey
Bugle.
WEDSESDAY, JASUART # 124
FOL ILVIL-
West
A Compradiun of Arws -- Desolet Is the Hofriests of the first aus Ettout dongtrossanal thatnste
Parts.
NIL 1.
West Jersey Press
LXXX. . . " >
C. SMIJEN. N. J., SATURDAY, JANUARY ;, 18g@:
Local News.
Church News,
Chatterings.
4 Comclar Ervara af Steir 4 5mmmiry of the Weil's brings The mert with the Different Occurfreres af tefrrest In lbr ufart
Jeviens Infriesh.
Such WITH.
-
-
1
-
--------
------- -
....
------
----
.
-----------
----
Thẻ pò thị rally / kan
cusen
CAMDEN, N. A., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 14LD.
....
New Jersey news.
---------- -----------
--
21
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
the supremacy of the laws, the maintenance of public morals, and those conservative principles which distinguish the great Whig Party of the Union".
In the first issue of The West Jerseyman, Mr. Gray announced that he had "associated with him George W. Hartshorn, a young man whose liter- ary attainments and business qualities cannot fail to add to the interest and usefulness of the paper". The name of P. J. Gray, however, continued to be printed on the title page, while the firm name of Gray & Hartshorn appeared at the head of the editorial page. This partnership lasted until the issue of May 1, 1848.
In January, 1849, William Elliot became a part- ner with Gray in this publication and beginning July I, the price of the paper was raised to two dollars per year. This partnership continued until December 31, 1850. During the ownership of the "West Jerseyman" by Judge Gray, his two sons, Samuel H. Grey, afterwards Attorney General of New Jersey, and Martin P. Grey, who was later one of the Vice Chancellors of the State, were asso- ciated with this paper for some time.
THE WEST JERSEY BUGLE
The "West Jerseyman" was sold to Thomas M. Newbould of New York, who on January 4, 1860, issued the first number of the "West Jersey Bugle". Newbould in his announcement said,
22
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
"We have thought fit to call our paper the "West Jersey Bugle", a title in consonance with its con- templated brisk and lively character, and all efforts will be used to make it a journal entertaining and unexceptionable to every family, and stirring in the politics attendant upon the present agitation of our country. Our little Bugle sounds a charge against the present National Administration, and though we emphatically plant ourselves in opposi- tion to Slavery Expansion, yet we utterly eschew the system of bitterness practised by partizan jour- nals, and wish to conduct all controversy in a spirit of conciliation and kindly feeling".
D. W. Belisle in a lecture in 1866 said, "He blew his 'Bugle' for a short time, when it was dis- covered that his vim was not acceptable to the Republican Party, whose organ it was, and Mr. Newbould retired". Newbould, when he retired from the West Jersey Bugle, took up the publica- tion of the Philadelphia "Star", a weekly paper.
WEST JERSEY PRESS
Newbould was succeeded by Dr. S. C. Harbert of Salem, who on April 25, 1860, adopted the name "West Jersey Press". In taking over the "West Jersey Bugle" Dr. Harbert said :
"We start A No. I, with new title-new type- new everything-and have not awaited the slow process of issuing a prospectus.
A necessity was believed to exist for the pub- lication of a paper, located at a convenient point
23
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
for obtaining full information on the current events of the day, to circulate throughout the eight lower counties of West Jersey; to meet this appar- ent want, and to advocate especially the political and general interests of the First and Second Con- gressional Districts, has prompted us to undertake the task."
When the call for volunteers was issued by Pres- ident Lincoln, Dr. Harbert immediately offered his services and left Camden on August 21, 1861. Judge Gray took temporary charge of the paper until October when Charles Githens, a practical printer of Philadelphia, bought an interest in the West Jersey Press, which was now conducted un- der the firm name of Harbert and Githens, until May, 1862, when it was purchased by Mr. Sinnick- son Chew. The first issue under the new proprie- tor is dated May 7. This paper has remained in the Chew family since that date and is now pub- lished by the Sinnickson Chew & Sons Company. Sinnickson Chew was the editor from 1862 until the time of his death in 1901, when Harry C. Dole became the editor. Mr. Dole died on July 8th, 1920, and since that time the editorial manage- ment has been in the hands of William H. Chew, the eldest son of Sinnickson Chew.
Sinnickson Chew learned the newspaper busi- ness in the Woodbury "Constitution" office and af- ter serving his apprenticeship returned to Salem where he became connected with the "National
24
HISTORY OF THE PRESS
Standard". In a short time he and William S. Sharp purchased that paper and continued its pub- lication until 1862, when he bought the "West Jer- sey Press". The first steam driven printing press in Camden was installed by Mr. Chew shortly after he assumed control of the West Jersey Press and for years after printing presses of this type ceased to be a novelty, the slogan "steam printing house" was used by this establishment.
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.