History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 62

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 62
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 62

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Kip, of California, and the other to Mr. Nelson S. Easton, of New York.

THOMAS T. KINNEY, son of William Burnet Kin- ney, the subject of the preceding biography, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1827. His primary educa- tion was received in the old Newark Academy, which stood on the site of the present post-office, corner of Broad and Academy Streets. He continued his clas- sical studies preparatory to a collegiate course under Rev. William R. Weeks, D.D., and was graduated from the College of New Jersey, Princeton, in 1541, under the presidency of the late Dr. Carnahan, and that galaxy of professors. Drs. James W. Alexander, Albert B. Dod and Joseph Henry, all of whom are now dead. His inclinations tending strongly towards natural science, he attracted the attention of Professor llenry, wh> chose him for an assistant during his senior year, and the intimacy thus formed ripened into a life-long personal friendship. The degree of A.M. was, in due course, conferred upon Mr. Kinney, who, in the mean-time, had entered upon the study of law in the office of Hon. Joseph P. Bradley, now of the United States Supreme Court. In 1844 he was admitted to the bar, but never availed himself of his privileges as an attorney. His father was appointed to a foreign mission in 1×51, and the cares and responsibilities of managing his private affairs de- volved upon him, and he was thus brought immediately into the field of journalism, to every department of which he devoted himself with unusual industry and enterprise, introducing steam-power, improved ma- chinery, and business methods which have since come into more general use. He was also largely instru- mental in inaugurating the system of news-gathering which culminated in the establishment of that com- prehensive organization known as the Associated Press. In process of time he became the sole owner of the Newark Daily Aderrtiser, and is still its proprietor. Although identified with the local finan- cial, industrial and political movements of his time, he has never sought nor accepted a nomination for any politieal office. The Newark Board of Trade, of which he was one of the projectors, made him its delegate to the couvention that organized the Na- tional Board of Trade in Philadelphia. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which he was a corporator, and in which he has always taken a deep interest, chose him as its president several years since, and that office he still holds. He is also a member of the State Board of Geology, as well as of the State Board of Agriculture, and of the latter body was the presiding otheer from 1878 to 1882. When the Legislature authorized the conversion of the Soldiers' Children's Home, at Trenton, into an Asylum for Indigent Deaf and Dumb Children of the State, he was appointed as one of the trustees, and is still a manager of that institution. In 1860, Mr. Kinney was a delegate to the Chicago Convention, and labored with great earnestuess for the nomination

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

of Abraham Lincoln. Among his local connections, he is a director in several institutions, including the National State Bank, the Newark City Ice Company, the Electric Light and Power Company, the Stevens & Condit Transportation Company, and the Neve- sink Park Company, near Sandy Hook. He is also a member of the Board of East Jersey Proprietors, a life member of the New Jersey Historical Society and an hereditary member of the Society of the ('in- cinnati in the State of New Jersey.

Notwithstanding his multifarious duties, Mr. Kin- ney gives the closest attention to the management of the journal over whose interests he has for so many years presided. Ile is not only its proprietor, but virtually its editor, scrutinizing everything of import- ance that appears in its columns, and by his diree- tions, as well by his pen, maintaining the high char- arter which it always possessed while under the control of his distinguished father. The fondness for natural science which he developed while in college has never been lost, but the in-door life of a writer and a student has led him to seek his recreation in music and painting, not as a performer himself, but as a lover and judge of the excellencies of others. To gather about him choice works of art, and to pro- mote its culture in every department, seem now to occupy most delightfully his leisure moments.

Temperance Advocate .- There was a temperance paper established in Newark, in about 1840, with the above title, edited by an Englishman named d'ox.

Tariff Advocate .- A lively Henry Clay, high tariff, anti-Democratic paper, was published for about a year prior to the close of the Clay and Fre- linghnysen campaign of 18.44, the editor being Sam- uel Hull, the founder of the Morris Jerseyman. The Tariff' Advocate was a daily morning paper.

Morning Post .- Another morning daily published in Newark about this same period was the Morning Post. The Post was as strongly Democratic ax the Adrocute was Whig and high tariff. It was edited by Dr. Samuel G. Arnold, and published by Aaron Guest. Among those particularly interested in the Post were Gen John S. Darcy and Elias Van Arsdale. Arnold, though not a trained journal- ist, was a powerful writer, and developed great aptitude in the management of a newspaper. The Post is said to have displayed, at least on one occasion, a degree of enterprise such as is rarely excelled in modern journalism, alive, active and energetic though it be. On the night of May 1, 1843, an appalling tragedy occurred at a place called Changewater, near Port Colden, in Warren County. John Castner, his wife, their child, and John P. Parke, Mrs. Cast- ner's father, were foully murdered, the motive being Just of property. Joseph Carter, Jr., Abner Parke and Peter Parke, sons of the murdered Parke, were accused of complicity in the quadruple crime. Because of the many curious phases of the case, no less than the startling character of the tragedy, the deepest interest

was felt in the trial even at this distance,-some sixty odd miles away. According to our authority,-a surviving Newark journalist who used to set type on the Post,-this interest was seized hold of by the Post, a pony express was established, and reports of the trial were printed daily in that paper. The reporter would have his "copy " ready almost as soon as the court adjourned each afternoon, and it would be started off' at once from Belvidere. At Morristown a fresh pony would be ready, and by four or five o'clock in the morning John C. Webster, the rider, would come dashing into town with the Post dis- patches, and the paper with the report would be printed in a few hours.

Newark Evening Journal-Out of the ruins of the two papers named, Morning Eagle and Jack- sonian, all of which had passed into the hands of Senator William Wright, sprang the Newark Eve- ning Journal, the first number of which was issued on Monday, Nov. 2, 1857, the first year of Presi- dent Buchanan's term. The editorial management of the Journal was placed in the hands of Edward N. Fuller, a New Hampshire journalist of the strongest Democratie proclivities. For more than a decade the Journal had a hard battle for existence.

It was constantly cramped financially. Once or twice it came to the brink of the fate of its forerunners -the Eagle and Jacksonian, and onee was forced to suspend temporarily ; but hard work and zeal revived it, and in the latter part of 1867 the business manage- ment and part ownership passed into the hands of Judge William B. tiuild. From that time forward, the Journal-the title of which was then changed to the Newark Daily Journal -- rose steadily in power, influence and prosperity. In the latter part of 1871, Mr. Fuller retired from the paper, and Judge Guild became sole proprietor, "The Journal Printing and Publishing Company," organized with the founding of the Journal having dissolved. In the editorial department Fuller was succeeded by Joseph Atkinson, who first became connected with the Journal as the successor of Henry Farmer, in the city department, in the spring of 1868.

During the war, the Journal made itself obnox- iousto many members of the political party whose banner it upheld by its bold and fearless, if not always wise and prudent, attacks on Mr. Lincoln's adminis tration. The paper opposed coercive measures toward the South, and refused to hoist the national flag, until angry demonstrations were made towards the es- tablishment. Then, by advice of peace-making friends, it did so, with the following explanatory flourish :

"OUR FLAG 18 THERE !

" At the request of our neighbors, and by afvice of several of our good Democratic, anti-war and anti-mab friends, but without the slightest threat or attempted Intimidation from any quarter, wo to-day threw ont from the Journal office the fing of our country, -- the emblem of the fraternal U'bion formed by the immortal Washington and his com- patriota, and rendered snered by our Revolutionary battles fought against n foreign foe. I'pon that flag we have placed the mottoes-' Froc

THE PRESS OF ESSEX COUNTY.

Speech, 'Free Press, -the symbols of a free people. Hy that Hug and theme mottoes we shall stand to the last-over mindful of the patriotic reinitusrenres of our whole country, and praying for its reconstruction upon the old Republican basis, as it will be, when reason shall take the place of sectional juusion, and the spirit of a peaceful and patriotic fraternity is restored to the people, Fo mute it be."

The spirit which led the Journal to oppose the war moved it to oppose the drafts. This latter course ended in the editor's arrest on a charge of inciting insurrection. Mr. Fuller was arrested on Friday, July 25, 1864, taken before a Iunited States Commissioner and held in seven thousand dollars bail. On Wed- nesday, Feb 15, 1865, the case came up before Judge Field in the United States Circuit Court at Trenton, when Fuller retracted his former plea and pleaded guilty, and the matter was disposed of by the imposi- tion of a trifling fine. Fuller insisted that he "never designed to favor mob-law or incite to insurrection," and in whatever he had written or published had "never been moved by seditions." The following month Fuller withdrew from the Journal because of a difference of opinion with the Board of Directors of the concern. lle complained that he had been charged in Democratie quarters with having carried the Democratic banner too high-even at the mast- head. The evening of the afternoon of Fuller's retirement (April 1th, 1865), Lincoln was assas- sinated. Next day the Journal appeared in deep mourning over the dreadful event. For six months after Fuller's retirement the Journal was edited by one or two Democrats with facile pens. On September 19th Colonel Morris R. Hamilton, one of the best known among New Jersey Democratic journalists, took command. A year or so afterwards, however, Mr. Fuller regained his old place and held it until 1871, as already described.

For many years prior to his death the late Colonel James W: Wall was a regular contributor to the columna of the Journal. Wall wielded a most powerful pen, one quite as facile and pointed and polished as it was powerful Subsequently the Jour- nal's columns borrowed attractions from the graceful pens of George R. Graham, the founder of the once famous Graham's Magazine, and J. K. Hoyt, now of the Advertiser. On the 18th of October, 1884, the immediate and responsible control of the Journal passed out of the hands of William B. Guild, and under the control of a publishing company, of which Judge Guild remains a member.

Newark Morning Register' was first issued May 4, 1869, from its then office, over Conover's drug store, corner of Broad and Market street, by R. Wat- son Gilder and Newton H. Crane. After three months of turmoil and trouble the infant journal ceased to breathe, whereupon the remains were pur- chased by Burke C. Stout, an old compositor of the Washington Chronicle and W. D. Metiregor. Subsequent to this, the Register was published on

the co-operative plan. May 4, 1871, Chancellor Runyon, G. N. Abeel, A. A. Smalley and I_ McGre- gor, W. Il. Camp, David Anderson, Fred II. Teese, Samuel Klotz, J. Ward Tichenor, Herman Schalk, A. M. Reynolds, Joseph G. Hill, W. N. Truesdell, II. W. Duryce, William Parker and Hugh Holmes, formed a publication company, which was incor- porated under the title of the "Newark Printing Company." This company having secured title_to the Register took charge of its publication, with W. A. Ure as its business manager. During this period the management paid at the rate of sixty cents per thousand ems, leaded nonpareil, for its composition, which resulted in the suspension of the paper. The National Railway Company next assumed its publi- cation, which led to the retirement of Col. G. N. Abeel and Chancellor Runyon. Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer, secured to his brother-in-law, L. B. Clarke, of this city, the position of business manager, which he held till June 15, 1875. At that date Dr. M. HI. C. Vail became the sole proprietor of the Register, having purchased the paper at a sheriff's sale, and from that day to the present, it has not been an ex- periment or a journalistic venture, but, on the con- trary, its success was guaranteed. Its circulation and general make-up are both in keeping with the spirit of progress, which has created a demand on its daily issne. Ils columns are free from that which is cor- rupting in tendency, and rej lete with that which will enlighten and elevate the masses.

Among its editorial force, we may mention Newton II. t'rane (late Consul at Manchester, England), R. Watson Gilder. W. D. McGregor, Dr. Peters. (for- merly of the Commercial Advertiser), William Ilutch- inson, (John Sands), Charles Jay, Dr. Thomas Dunn English and M. H. C. Vail, present editor and pro- prietor, with James W. Tucker, publisher.

The Newark Sunday Call.'-The history of a successful newspaper is always interesting, and is an important part of the history of a community in which it is located. The pioneer of Sunday journal- ism in Newark, from an obscure beginning, with a limited circulation and advertising business, the Sunday Call has grown rapidly until it stands fore- most among the newspapers published in New Jersey, in character and influence.

The initial number of the Call was issued on May 18, 1872, by Mr. F. F. Patterson.

On October 6th, of the same year, the Call passed into the possession of three Newark gentle- men, Dr. S. B. Hunt, Col. G. N. Abeel and Mr. Henry Hill, who published it for about five months, when the first proprietor resumed control, and man- aged the enterprise about six months, and on Sep- tember Ist. 1873, soll the paper to William A. Ure, and James W. Schoch. The history of the Call, under its present management, was then begun. The

I Frons sketch in the Register.

1 By Henry Farmer.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

eirenlation was only about eleven hundred, and at that time there were only about two columns of pay- ing advertisements. The equipment of the establish- ment was meagre, and with this may be coupled the fact that 1873 was the pauic year, when all newspa- pers lost circulation, and many were compelled to suspend publication.

The new proprietors were both practical and ex- perienced newspaper men, and were content to work and wait, confident in the results of earnest endeavor and having full faith in the future of Sunday journal- isin in Newark. Their first care was to obtain con- petent and trustworthy service, and it is noteworthy, that all those who were first employed in the principal departments of the Call, still retain their positions with largely increased experience and responsibilities. Mr. John J. Leidy, the editor, bas sedulously eulti- vated the local field and has always given close atten- tion to topies of public interest, treating them in an independent and unpartisan way, while the general management of the several departments of the paper show a keen appreciation of what constitutes news and makes the paper popular with the masses. The C'all has several times been enlarged and improved. In October 1882 the ohl folio form was changed to an eight column quarto. This was found in the spring of 1884, inadequate to the demand of advertising patrons, and the paper was enlarged to its present size, 52 x 43, or eight pages of nine columns each.

The circulation is now very large, and the proprietors are reaping a well-deserved harvest from the adver- tising department. The Call is printed on a four- cylinder lloe press, which is capable of throwing off printed sheets at the rate of ten thousand per hour. Power is supplied by a gas engine of ten horse power.

The Newark Free Press-was first issued October 28, 1883, from the office of L. J. Hardhan, 243 Mar- ket Street, Newark, as a purely independent Sunday newspaper, with L. J. Hardham as publisher, and Joseph Atkinson as editor. Later in the autumn of that year the Press came out as a purely democratie sheet, and on the Ist of January, 18844, Mr. Atkinson was appointed city clerk, by the democratic mayor elect, and, in February Mr. Hardham withdrew from the newspaper enterprise, when the publication office was removed to 791 Broad Street.

October 1. 1884, the Newark Free Press was sold to James F. Connelly, and on the fifteenth of the same month, the paper was merged in The Press, a morn- ing paper of strong democratic proclivities, with William E. Rieck as editor.

The Press-a morning paper of twenty-eight columns, made its first appearance on Wednesday morning, October 15, 1884. The Press is an out- growth from the Sunday Free Press of Newark, and is published by James F. Connelly & Co., 96 Market Street, Newark. In national affairs it promises its support to Democracy, and in local and State affairs, it promises support to men and measures best caleu-

lated to advance the interests of local and State affairs.

Die Friedensfeife (The Pipe of Peace) .- This was the first German paper established in Newark ; Dr. Carl Friedrich Benjamin Edler, who came here in 1850, being its founder. It was a humorous weekly publication, and quite popular among the Germans.

The New Jersey Staats Zeitung was also estab- lished by Dr. Edler, who conducted its editorial de- partment up to the time of his death, October 18, 1865.

Newark Zeitung-This was the first daily Ger- man paper in Newark, and was established February 9, 1853, by Fritz Anneke. Five years later, the paper passed into the hands of Benedict Prieth, who changed its name, and on April 26, 1858, issued it under the name of

New Jersey Freie Zeitung-Under Mr. Prieth's experienced management, the paper has become a prosperous and valuable property, the leading Ger- man-American newspaper of New Jersey, having "a voice potential" in the direction of public affairs considerably beyond the limits of its place of publica- tion.

Mr. Prieth died October 29, 1879, leaving the entire management of the paper in charge of his widow, who still continues in the discharge of her duties with an ability and skill, equal, if not superior to many of the sterner sex, holding like positions. She is ably assisted by Mr. Frank Kuhn, who has charge of the editorial department.

BENEDICT PRIETHI was born at Graun, in Tyrol, January 7, 1827, and was the third child of Gabriel Pricth, clerk of the court of that city, and Anna Prieth, his wife. Designing to devote himself to the practice of law, he studied at Innspruck, Gratz and Vienna, in which latter place he joined the student- legion in 1848, and after the suppression of the revo- lution was seized as a political offender, and confined in the prison of Salzburg, whence, at the close of 1849, he was released and sent to his home, in Tyrol. After having been connected some time with the Bozener Zeitung, he went to Switzerland, and, attaching him- self to the Bund, in Berne, continued his studies in München and Tübingen, receiving his diploma as Doctor of Jurisprudence.

On the 24th of August, 1857, Mr. Prieth arrived in the United States, and, having relatives in Newark, N. J., proceeded immediately to that place, which he soon after determined to make his home. A lawyer by profession, with habits of study and ability to master in a short time the practice of the courts of this country, he might have become a successful prac- titioner; but he also possessed much experience as a journalist, and a very great fondness, too, for that profession. This seeming to him the readiest and tho pleasantest road to fortune, he resolved to enter upon it, and accordingly we soon find him engaged as a writer for the New Jersey Zeitung. In this con- nection he continued until the next spring, April 26,

B. Push

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THE PRESS OF ESSEX COUNTY.

1858, when he became the sole proprietor and manager of the paper, changing its name to that of New Jer- sey Freie Zeitung. Putting forth now all his energy aud talents, he soon made his paper a favorite with all the German population of Newark, and at the time of his death it was one of the most prosperous and valuable journals in the State of New Jersey. In politics Mr. Prieth was a stanch Republican, and his paper became the embodiment of his noblest thoughts and feelings. lle never spoke without due consideration, and what he uttered always commanded attention and rarely met with disapprobation. Ilis excellent judgment, his great love of humanity and his strict integrity seenred for him an influence among his countrymen that is seldom witnessed. Throughout the long war of the Rebellion his voice and pen were ever active in the Union cause, and though then but a young citizen of the republic, he was an intelligent and faithtul one. It is said of him that, on returning from a visit to Germany, some years before his death, " he came back convinced that the true home of enterprise and energy was here; that America was far better governed than Germany." His love for his adopted country was, beyond doubt, most genuine.

Mr. Prieth died on the morning of the 29th of ()e- toher, 1879, after a long and painful sickness, through- out which he exhibited the utmost patience and resig- nation. The announcement of his death, although for several weeks expected, produced a profound son- sation. The German citizens of Newark, in great

The Orange Journal was first issued on Saturday, July 1, 1854, by Edward Gardner. It was then the only paper in Essex county outside of the City of Newark. Orange then comprised the entire territory now designated as North, South, East and West numbers, assembled, almost spontaneously, in one of | Orange. Its population was rural, there being little the largest public halls of the city, to pay a tribute to , or no manufacturing, and a weekly paper was all- his memory. The members of the Press of all polit- ical parties met in the rooms of the Board of Trade to rehearse his virtues and to express their sorrows ;

sufficient for their demands. In 1860, Mr. Gardner disposed of the property to Messrs. Henry Clay Bloom- field and Henry Farmer. At this time it had enlarged the lodges of which he was a member, and the bank, its pages and increased the number of its columns. and insurance company of which he was a director, all gathered together in their several places of meet- ing to testify to the respect and high esteem in which he had been held. It was the dying wish of MIr. Prieth that he might receive an unostentations burial, but, while his request was, as far as possible, complied with, it could not keep back the thousands who assem- bled at his funeral, and who, but for the distance, would have followed him to the grave.

The Freie Zeitung is still the property of Mr. Prieth's family, and continues to be a successful and ably-managed journal.

Der Nachbor-(The Neighbor) was established in 1851 by Conrad Hollinger. This was a humorous weekly paper, and had a large circulation while it lived. Mr. Hollinger died March 26, 1870.

The New Jersey Volksmann-was established in 1856 by Mr. Hollinger. At first it was issued as a weekly, then semi-weekly, and finally as a daily newspaper. In its early years it had a hard struggle for existence, but at length it beenme quite a success. After the death of Mr. Hollinger, it passed through

quite a range of vicissitudes, and finally followed its founder to the grave.

The New Jersey Democrat was established in 1868 by Franz Umbscheiden, who continued it about one year, when it died for want of support.

The New Jersey Reform was established in 1872, and edited by Dr. C. F. J. Lehlbach for a few months, when the paper died a natural death.

The Newark Post was born in October 1874. and died in May 1875.

Several other German prints of more or less merit, have lived and died in Newark.

The Orange Volksbote-was established in 1872, and the first number issned October 5th of that year, by Darnstaedt & Erdman. In 1876 Angust Erdman, the junior partner, purchased Mr. Darnstaedt's interest in the paper, since which time Mr. Erdman has been the editor and publisher. The Volksbote is a six column paper twenty-three by thirty-three inches, and issued weekly. As its name indicates, it is German, and is devoted to the general welfare of those of that nationality, in the city of Orange, where it is published. In politics, the Volksbote adheres to the democratic party in national matters, and in local affairs its support is given to whom it believes to be the best man for the office.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 62

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