History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 60

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 60
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 60

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May 5, 1×43; M. B. Martin, commissioned November 7, 1×1 ; Charles Armitage, e muniainned November 7, 1×16 ; 31. B. Martin, commisioned November », 1817 ; M. B. Martin, Commissioned No- vember 15, 1x18 ; James W. Baldwin, comintrigued November 14, 1×10 , George H. Bruen, commissioned November11, 1849 ; J. nathan Pierwot, commissioned 1×49 ; ML. J. Snydor commisioned November 13, 1×50 ; William B. Williams, commissioned 1850 ; David W. Baldwin commilesdonedl 1850; William B. Williams, commissioned Novem- ber 12, 1851 ; 31. J. Snyder, commimioued November 12, 1x51 ; David

Baldwin, commissioned November 12, 1851 , William R. Smith, ocmminioned November 10, 1852 ; William II. Williams, conitIs- sioned November 10, 1852, M. J. Snyder, commissioned November 10, 1×52; William Leondell, commiriourd November 16, 1X3; William B. Smith, commissioned November 16, 1-53; Josinh Q. Strarues, canmissioned November 16, 153 ; Jobn Thatcher, commissioned November 15, 1854; Thomas S. King, commissioned November, 15, 1854, John Thuteher, commisioned November 14, 1855; Thomas >. King, oumieloned November 14, 1855 ; Charles S. Chandler, commissioned November 14, 1855 ; Jacob G. shock, commissione November 12, 1:56; Lewis Braun, com- mined November 12, 1:00 ; Phineas Frazee, commissioned November 12, 1866 ; William B. Grover, commissioned November 10, 1×57; John H. 11. Brientnall, commissioned November 10, 1×57, Frederick Kalb, commissioned November 10, 1857 ; Alfred F. Munu, commissioned November 9, 1xs. r. W Benjamin, commisioned November 9, 15 %; la Campbell, commissioned N. vember 9, 1x78. 4. W. Benjamin, comotoned November 15, 1×59; Ira Campbell, commissioned November 15 , 1:39 ; Amzi J. Dean, commissioned November 15, 1850; C. W . Benjamin, commissioned November 1, Isme; Amos I. Max, commissioned November 15, 180; la Campbell, commissione November 15, 1x00, Charles M. Zel, commissioned November 15, 151 ; Ama J. Dran, commissioned November 15, 1861 ; David S. Smith, com- missioned November 15, 1801; John Rose, commissioned November 12, 186 _; Charles M. Zch, comminej med November 25, 18n2; David * Sinth, commissioned November 10 153 ; John t. 1.lyd, commais- sioned Sievember IL. 1963 ; Charles M Zeh, commissioned November 12, 1×43; G. Sandford, commissioned November 1, Jel. A. J. Matthews, conumisiones November 15, 1x61, George Taylor, commissioned November 15, 1501 : David S. Smith, commissioned November 1, 1867 ; Isaw P. Baldwin, commissioned November 13, IM1 . John . Ball, commissioned November 13, 1×7 ; Leander Wil- liama, commissioned November I, Ists, John F Chase, comma- sioned November 11, 1868 ; Robert Lang, commissioned November 11, 186% , John F. Chose, commissioned November 10, 1:19 ; Rubert Jang, commissioned November In, 1869, Ira Campbell, commis- sioned November 10, 1809 ; John F Chase, commini ned November JG, 1-70, Robert Lang, commissioned November 15, 1870; Alfred F Munn, commissioned November 1, 187; W. V. W Vreo- Iand, commissioned November 15, 171. Herman, Stoeckel, commissioned November 15, 1871; Alfred F Mann, cummis Minned November 13, 1872; W V. W. Veroland, commissioned November 13, 1×72, Herman stoeckel, commissioned November 13, 1872. Alfred F Munn, commissioned November 12, 1,73; Joseph R. Oborne, commisioned November 12, 1873; Herman Storckel commissioned November 12, 1-7J, C. M Zeh, commissioned Novem - Der 11, 1874 ; Lewin II. Smith, commissioned November 11, 1571. James D. Orlwirne_ connvisioned November 11, 1871 ; W V. W. Vreeland, commissioned November 9, 1875; Allen Barrett, commi- Mioned November 9, 1873; Jraph Polerne, commissioned Nuventer 9, 1575; Enoch B Woodruff, commmewoord November 13, I. D. M. Dill, commissioned November 13, 15:5 F D. Mandeville, commisioned November 13, 1875 ; Charles W. Ingen, commissioned November 16, 1551 , Jimoph W Road, conindirioned November 14, INN1 ; Altred F. Muon, commissioned November In, 15-1.

COUNTY SCHOOL. SUPERINTENDENTS.

Charles M. Davis (present Incumbent), commissioned 1868.

AI'NITOR. 1

Jabez II Hazar (present incumbent), commissioned May, 1275.

COUNTY PHYSICIANR.

Leslie D. Ward, commiedaned May 10, 1876 ; Peter V. P. Hew let, commia- wioned May 8, 1578 : l'eter V. P. Hewlet, commissioned May 11, 1xx1.

1 This office was created in 1475.

218

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE PRESS OF ESSEX COUNTY.1

New Jersey Journal .- It was not until the year 1791 that a press of any kind was established in Newark. Up to 1791 the only publication in the county of Essex was the New Jersey Journal, which was first issued in 1777 by Shepherd Kollock, during the white heat of the Revolution, when the Jerseys were aflame with the conviction that "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." The Journal was published at Elizabethtown, and still flourishes under the title of the Elizabeth Duily Journal Under Kollock's man- agement the paper performed services for the American cause which cannot now be measured in words. Indie- ative of the vicissitudes through which it passed during the war is the fact that it was often forced to change its place of publication. At one time it had to be removed from Elizabethtown to Chatham. It was issued weekly, its price in 1781 being "three shillings in produce or the value thereof in money." Its tone may be judged by its reference to Benedict Arnold as " that fiend and dog of hell." In an issue published during 1781 it informed its readers that some refugees from Bergen County tried to capture Josiah Hornblower, but failed, though Hornblower had a narrow escape. It also announced that New Jersey prisoners in the Sugar-House, in New York, were allowed only six ounces of flour and six ounces of pork per day, the pork being " often very bad."

The first newspaper published in Newark was

Wood's Newark Gazette and New Jersey Advertiser .- This was a weekly journal, issned for the first time on May 13, 1791. Like the press generally of the period, the Gazette was a feeble, un- pretentious concern, a vehicle mainly for the political opinions of village Solomons in no way connected with the publication, except as voluntary contributors. There is an issue of it dated Oct. 2, 1793, with this title, Wood's Newcark Gazette and Paterson Advertiser (No. 21, Vol. 3), so that it was probably the mustard seed of journalism in Paterson as well as in Newark. In November, 1797, the paper again changed its title, and this time its proprietorship. With the last issue in October, 1797, John Wood retired, and the Newark Gazette and New Jersey Advertiser was " printed by John H. Williams for the Proprietors." Who those proprietors were is uncertain ; but there are good reasons for believing that among them was Jacob Halsey, a printer who had been forced to fly from Flatbush, Long Island, early in the Revolution for having announced the landing of the British. He was pursued from place to place by the British, and finally made his way to Springfield, then in Essex County, having previously been secreted at Millville. It is certain that about the close of the last century

Halsey was the proprietor of the Newark Gazette und New Jersey Advertiser, and carried on in connection with it a printing-office, book-store and bindery. The whole concern he disposed of, about the year 1800, to John Wallis, who was in his employ as an appren- tice, and who was a native of the city of New York, having been born there in Partition Street (now Ful- ton Street) during the year 1780. Young Wallis purchased with the property the balance of his time as an apprentice, giving for the whole his father's notes. He appeared to have succeeded so well that he was able not only to pay off the notes, but to accumulate sufficient means to enable him to retire from the business and begin the study of law, the profession of his choice. This he did about the year 1807 or 1808. Wallis was a Fed- eralist of the strictest school. Essex County being at that time intensely anti-Federalist. The bulk of the circulation of the Gazette while Wallis conducted it was in Bergen County, which then included the present Hudson County. Indeed, Wallis had ten Bergen subscribers to every one in Essex. In his time politics ran at so high a pitch that persons of opposite political sentiments would have no association with each other, and would hardly speak with each other unless necessity compelled them to do so. Mon- tagnes and Capulets changed from fictions to realities in the persons of the followers respectfully of Alexan- der Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Wallis married his first wife in Newark. By her he had two children, both of whom, likewise his wife, died during his connection with the Gazette. Upon selling out his establishment in Newark, Wallis went to New York, and, as student and clerk, entered the office of Cad- wallader D). Coldlen, then one of the most distinguished members of the New York bar. About the year 1810, Wallis was admitted to practice in the courts of New York, and rose to a respectible eminence in his pro- fession. In 1811 he married his second wife, by whom he had children who survived him. One of these is now a leading member of the New York bar. Counselor Wallis continued to practice until 1841, when he retired to a farm which he had purchased in the ancient township of Acquackanonek, in Passaic County. There he died, 1854. Among the contribu- tors to the Gazette during Wallis' ownership of it was the late Chief Justice Joseph C. Hornblower, son of Josiah, who, like Wallis, was an enthusiastic Feder- alist in politics. Wallis and the future chief justice were hard hitters, as is made manifest by the fact that when Wallis sold out he had on his hands six or eight libel suits, which had been instituted against him by politicians who had been cut to the quick by his lashes in the Gazette. These suits Wallis congrat- ulated himself upon getting rid of in a manner safe and inexpensive to himself, by his removal to New York. The Gazette is thought to have ceased publi- cation soon after Wallis left Newark.

Centinel of Freedom .- The second paper published

) From Atkinson's " History of Newark."

Im suttle 7

219

TIIE PRESS OF ESSEX COUNTY.

in Newark, and the only one which for nearly ninety years has continuously appeared, weck in and week out, is the C'entinel of Freedom. The first number was issued on Oct. 5, 1796, the publishers during the first year being Daniel Dodge & Co., Daniel Dodge being the printer and Aaron Pennington the editor. The Centinel (original orthography) was published " near the Court-House,"-the old First Church edi- fice. On Oct. 4, 1797, the paper appeared under the auspiees of Aaron Pennington and Daniel Dodge, publishers. It was now issued in a somewhat enlarged form, with a new typographical dress and a new head- ing, the latter elaborately gotten up in German text, with many Hourishes, and embellished with a most warlike design,-a knight in full armor, in an attitude of defense, the champion of " the Rights of Man," as the motto set forth. In the initial number of the second year the conductors of the paper felicitated themselves on the "gayety of its attire " and its en- larged columns as likely to be " more alluring " and ufford better facilities for the entertainment and in- formation of its readers. On the Ist of October, 1799, the health of Aaron Pennington failing and Mr. Dodge retiring, the paper passed under the control of Jabez Parkhurst and Samuel Pennington, a brother of one of the former proprietors. Parkhurst sold out his in- terest on the 1st of January, 1800, to Stephen Gould, and in December of the same year the office was re- moved to the "sign of Franklin's head," one door south of the jail, or, as it was afterwards stated, two doors south of the court-house. Parkhurst held for several years the office of county clerk, and afterwards removed to New York, and became one of the most successful dentists in that city. After Parkhurst's re- tirement the Centinel was conducted by Samuel Pen- nington and Stephen Gould until May, 1803, when Gould retired. The following November, Pennington retired also, and the Centinel passed into the hands of William Tuttle, who had been an appretice to Pen- nington, and John Pike. Pike retired the next year, and in August, 1804, the paper was published by William Tuttle & Co. The paper continued under the control of Tuttle & Co. until it was sold to the proprietors of the Newark Daily Advertiser. It was while under the control of William Tuttle and his brothers, John and Uzal, that the modern mode of spelling the word Sentinel superseded the old orthography in the title, for which the publishers apologized by throwing the censure for the inno- vation on the artisan who engraved the new head- ing.

The Centincl was intensely Republican in the sense that the partisans of Jefferson used that title. It was the sworn foe of the Gazette under Wallis and his predecessors in control of that paper. Through the types of the Centinel the Federalist views of Wallis and Ilornblower were vigorously combated by Pen- nington. Referring to this subject, a surviving mem- ber of the Pennington family wrote recently,-

"The readers of the Secark tiazette and Centinel, as pat chel at the chwe of the last and the beginning of the present century, will fud good ground for the belief that there has been some improvement Nice then in the manner of conducting juditical controversy The animosities of party strife did not always expend themselves in Der newspaper aquilo, but personal brawls and even street fighter were not of infrequent occurrence. In one instance, an editor enfeebled by pulmonary dimare was tailed by a robust antagonist, and only varved from vinhomes by a more vigorous brother, who weized the threatening lash and laid it efect- ually about the shoulders of the amailant. Another Intile rencontre is de- scribed as having taken place about this time, near the town putup, at the jonction of Hroad and Market Street, that resulted in more than a war of words between two prominent gentlemen of the rival Factions, one of whom afterwards became an eminent criminal Inwyer and the other a judge of our higher courts. Both have beartily laughed over it since, and In the second generation of their descendants, unlike the feud of the Montagues and C'upulets, it has been condoned by a happy matrimonial alliance."

WILLIAM TUTTLE was born near New Vernon, Morris to, N. J., Aug. 22, 1781, his ancestors being among the earliest settlers of that county. His grandfather, as well as his father and four brothers of his father's, were not only brave soldiers during the Revolutionary war, but they were men of sterling worth and intelligence, who exerted upon their com- munity a religious and moral influence which con- tinues to be felt at the present day. Joseph Tuttle, father of William, was a man of remarkable qualities. An enterprising aud industrious blacksmith, he soon became the possessor not only of a snug home, but of the respect and esteem of his neighbors. They honored him with a public office, which interfered, however, so much with his private business that in the end he became a bankrupt, and, with a growing family about him, was obliged to struggle wearily for a living. But he was a devoted Christian and a tender-hearted parent, who would not suffer his children to grow up ignorant or irreligious. His godly example and precepts, as well as those of his lovely wife, were lessons which were daily and profit- able placed before their offspring. William lost this good mother before he was eight years old, but he never lost the gentle spirit with which she had en- dowed him nor the effect of the sweet influence which she had exerted upon his tender mind; and to say this is, perhaps, to sum up the life of this lad, who, from the cradle to the grave, was a living witness of the force of virtuous precepts and examples.

But the life of William Tuttle, simple and unevent- ful as it was, had much to do with the lives of those who grew up with him and with the lives of those who came up after him. The effect of his writings and tenchings upon the community in which he lived, as well as the results of his labors of love, mark him as a man whose name should never be forgotten.

Like the lads of the neighborhood, he went to the country school, but, unlike many of them, as his in- valid father's cash-book shows, he spent the hours for play in "covering corn," " driving oxen," "threshing grain," "chopping wood," "plowing," and other work which he found to do in a farming settlement, and which he gladly did in order to help n now crip- pled father, who, in a chair by the side of his anvil,

220

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

slowly and painfully toiled for his daily bread. This poor father could illy spare the service of this gallant boy, but he had the wisdom and fortitude to defy any sort of suffering rather than to impede the career of a child of so much promise.

Consequently, at the age of fifteen William was sent to Newark, N. J., to learn to become a printer. " A boy in age, he was a man in action," says his biographer, Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, D.D., from whose " Life of William Tuttle " the facts of this short sketch are mainly drawn. In truth, this lad estab- lished a reputation for industry, integrity and sobriety within six months after he had entered the printing- office in which he passed his probation, prior to be- ing indentured. At the end of that time his em- ployer sold ont his establishment, and William, being then on a visit at home, and under no obligation to return, went once more to school, aiding and cheer- ing at leisure hours his invalid father. But he had left a good name in Newark. A letter was received ere long by his father making inquiries as to his en- gagements, and expressing a desire to secure his services, if he felt disposed to enter another printing- office. The result was that he became regularly in- dentured as an apprentice at the printing business.

In later life Mr. Tuttle wrote a history of his ap- prenticeship, from which it may be seen that he lost no opportunity to improve his mind by reading and study. Ile began at length to exercise himself in writing, and in order to test his abilities in this direc- tion he sometimes copied his essays in a disguised hand, and sent them through the post-office to the editor of the newspaper upon which, as a printer, he was at work. His efforts were successful. His articles were printed with an occasional remark of approbation from the editor, who little dreamed that

On the 22d of August, 1802, Mr. Tuttle's appren- tireship came to a close, and soon afterwards he was made foreman of the printing establishment. On the 224 of November, 1803, in connection with Mr. John Pike, a fellow-journeyman, he purchased of the pro- prietor, Mr. Samuel Pennington, the establishment, including the newspaper Centinel of Freedom ; and Mr. Pennington, in announcing to the public the transfer of the paper, says: "In making this transfer I have taken a serupulous care that the press has not gone into hands that will prostitute it to venal purposes." The copartnership between Mr. Tuttle and Mr Pike continued only until Aug. 14, 1804, when Mr. Pike withdrew, resigning his interest in the concern to Mr. Pennington, the recent propri- etor, and thus Mr. Tuttle became the partner of his

former master. Mr. Pennington was, however, en- gaged in a business which would not allow him to give any attention to the printing establishment, but Mr. Tuttle managed its affairs so well that on the 1st of July, 1808, he purchased all Mr. Pennington's in- terest therein, and now became the sole proprietor and editor of the leading and most popular journal of the State. In his hands the Centinel lost none of the vigor or popularity which it had enjoyed since its commencement, in 1796, and, in speaking of Mr. Tuttle in connection with it, a contemporary opposed to him in politics, says : "I never saw him angry, nor ever saw another person angry with him. As the editor of a political paper, he was always firm and conscien- tiously sincere in the principles which he advocated, but never offensive in his language or opprobrious in his epithets." This is a high encomium to be be- stowed by a political opponent upon an editor, espe- cially in times when political discussions will often ruffle the tempers of the wisest and best of men.

It is needless to say that Mr. Tuttle was a success- ful man. It could not well be otherwise with one possessing his habits as a business man together with his wonderful industry. That he ever became wealthy, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, can- not be said ; but that he possessed riches which the world cannot give nor take away is beyond all doubt. Although not a professor of religion until he had reached the age of twenty-six, he displayed from boy- hood to the grave the spirit and the conduet of a veritable son of God. In the journey of life it is rare to meet with a man so utterly unselfish, so entirely devoted to the welfare of his fellow-men. But in a sketch so limited as this must necessarily be it is in- possible to convey a proper idea of this man's quiet and beautiful career. If, as an unregenerate man,

it was his own apprentice who was thus contributing | he was the essence of gentleness and love, the very to his columns. It is evident that during his youth and, indeed, throughout all his life, he was a great student and a close thinker. Many of his letters which appeared in the biography above mentioned are models of excellency both as to style and thought.

soul of honor, what was there not in him of exalted virtue and profoundest piety as a professed ser- vant of the Lord? Such was the homage paid to his sincerity and truly Christian spirit that at the carly age of thirty-one he was chosen an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, an office which he held up to the time of his death,-a period of more than thirty years,-and the duties of which he per- formed with unexampled fidelity. From the time that he was called to this office he appears to have lived more for the welfare of others than for himself. His diary gives evidence of this, and though in it he makes no note of his own charities, it became well known that he was the daily visitor of the poor, the sick and the suffering, and that wherever he went he carried cheer and comfort. Indeed, during the last six years of his life he attended to no business, except that of his notaryship in old bank, in order that he might have more time to perform his deeds of love ; and during those six years he gave in charities all his income, reserving only what was necessary for his daily wants. Truly, like Abou Ben Adhem, he

221

THE PRESS OF ESSEX COUNTY.

could say to the angel, " Write me as one that loves his fellow-men."

The angel came to him just as he had accomplished one of his many errands of mercy, and was directing his footsteps homeward. His body fell by the way- side. This happened Feb. 22, 1847.

The Rural Magazine .- The Rural Magazine was issued for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 7, 1798. It was a weekly concern, "intended to con- bine the utility of a monthly magazine with the ad- vantages of a weekly gazette," and was to be devoted to "judicious selections of essays on Religion, Mo- rality, Agriculture and miscellaneous subjects in prose and verse." It was published weekly by John H. Williams " for the proprietors," the price bring " 12 shillings per annum." The Rural Magazine lived only one year. It told its own sad story in the last issue, Feb. 9, 1799, when it said "a very slender patron- age afforded it but a scanty subsistence." It was too heavily laden with literary riches to suit the mental appetites of the townsfolk of its period. Nevertheless, another literary weekly,

The Modern Spectator, was published in 150x by E. B. Gould, "opposite the Episcopal Church." It came also to an untimely end.

The Newark Messenger, clited by William Ward, was started on Friday, Oct. 10, 1817. H was a weekly paper, published by Peter Couderer, ! "opposite the Upper Common." It declared itself "open to all parties, but influenced by none." Despite its liberality, the Messenger lived only about one year.

The New Jersey Eagle .- On Friday, July 28, 1820, the New Jersey Eagle was issued for the first time, the publisher being Edward M. Murden and the editor Joseph T. Murden. Before the Eagle had completed its first year of existence it changed hands, the pub- lisher of the thirty-sixth number being J. Johnson and the editor W. B. Kinney. On Jan. 19, 1821, there was yet another change : Gorham A. Hull ap- peared as printer, Kinney being still editor. Hull and Kinney continued in charge of the Eagle until June 21, 1822. James E. Gore next appears as Kinney's partner, but only to give place, on March 28, 1823. to Daniel A. Cameron. In May, 1825, Kinney trans- ferred his interest to Moses Lyon. The issue of May 20th of that year contained Mr. Kinney's valedictory and an introduction of Mr. Lyon, his successor, whom he referred to as "a gentleman of discernment, taste and information, who brings to its execution (the editorial function) talents and acquirements entirely adequate." The gentleman thus introduced conduc- ted the Eagle four and a half years. On July 4, 1828, T. B. Crowell, who had been the editor of "a respectable journal in New York State for twenty years," succeeded Lyon. Crowell became sole editor and proprietor of the Eagle during August, 1829. It so far prospered under his control that he was encour- aged to issue it semi-weekly in 1835, the first semi- weekly edition being on Friday, February 13th, of

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 60

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840