USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. I > Part 29
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
"Angelica Ring," and initiated the clarifying of Allegany politics. He died in 1887.
The Tri-Weekly Conservative, a spicy and gossipy sheet, publi- cation of which was commenced and ended by Charles Clute, had an existence of thirty weeks.
The Bath Echo, published by Clute and McCall, lasted five months in 1874; then The Bath Sunday News was published about six months, in 1881, by L. R. Smith and Company, with A. Ellas JIcCall as its editor.
The Bath Plaindealer made its appearance May 5, 1883, and was published by A. Ellas McCall, Orson L. Drew and William Black. The two latter quit the enterprise in 1884. It is now pub- lished by Mr. McCall alone and is established on a paying basis. It is a free lance upon all subjects, containing more local items of interest than any other paper in the county. Its notes upon the early history of Bath and the Cohocton valley, acquired by inherit- ance and study, are interesting and usually reliable.
"THE CORNING JOURNAL."
The Corning Journal, the oldest newspaper established in the then village, now city of Corning, was first introduced to the public in May, 1847, by Thomas Messenger, as editor and proprietor, and under his management remained until July, 1851, when the plant was purchased by A. W. McDowell and George W. Pratt, M. D. Dr. Pratt became editor, and in April, 1853, he purchased Mr. McDow- ell's interest, remaining sole editor and proprietor until July, 1869, when he sold one-half interest to T. S. DeWolfe. Then Pratt and DeWolfe were the proprietors till November 1, 1874, when Mr. DeWolfe went out, and established the Corning Independent. Dr. Pratt became editor of the Journal July, 1851, and from that time continually until his deatlı, on October 3, 1906, a period of fifty-five years, the oldest editor in Steuben county.
GEORGE W. PRATT.
George Wollage Pratt was born April 17, 1821, at May's Mills, half way between the villages of Penn Yan and Dresden, in the town of Milo, then Ontario county, now Yates county, New York, the son of Joel B. and Cerintha Wollage Pratt. His father was a native of Colchester, Connecticut, born in 1795, and became a resi- dent of the town of Milo aforesaid in 1819. In June, 1834, his father and family removed to the town of Painted Post, now the city of Corning. Here his father, Joel B. Pratt, for a number of years operated a wool carding machine on what is now Hammond street in that city. Joel, the father, was a man of much intelligence, an active ultra-temperance man and one of the few earnest and fear- less anti-slavery men of that day to be found in Steuben county, enduring the reproach of being called an "Abolitionist," and the consequent exposure to business or social proscription and contempt as a "fanatic," by the servile and narrow-minded followers of the controlling politicians of that day. He died at the age of seventy- three years, on February 21, 1869, at the home of his son, George W., in Corning; his wife preceded him October 10, 1867, also at the age of seventy-three years, dying at the home of Claudius B. Pratt, a younger son, at Binghamton, New York.
Vol. I-14
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George Wollage Pratt went to school at Dresden and Avon, New York, before he came to Corning, on June 20, 1834, at the age of thirteen years. After that he worked in his father's carding shop on Hammond street and attended the local school as opportunity offered, qualified himself for a district school teacher, in which occu- pation he engaged for the money there was in it and as a stepping stone for higher aspirations. In 1842 he entered the Medical Col- lege, at Geneva, New York, from which he was graduated in 1845. Thereafter he located in Corning as a physician. He removed to Marshall, Michigan, in September, 1849, and there practiced medi- cine and engaged in newspaper work, being employed in the latter field from February, 1850, until May, 1851, as editor of the States- mun, an influential weekly Whig paper published at that place. He returned to Corning in July of that year and became editor and part owner of the Corning Journal, founded four years previous. He was the editor of the Journal continuously from July, 1851, un- til his death in September, 1891, at the age of seventy years. He founded the Corning Daily Journal, of which he was the editor as long as he lived. In 1905 the Weekly Journal was merged with the Daily Journal, to avoid the labor and expense of two newspapers.
In his early manhood George W. Pratt was a strong anti-slavery man. Then he was an adherent of the Whig party until it was lost in name by the organization of the Republican party, in 1854. Since that event he has been a Republican. He was one of the two delegates elected from the second assembly district of Steuben coun- ty to the first Republican state convention in the state of New York, held at Syracuse, in 1855, serving as one of its eight vice- presidents. In 1861 he was appointed state canal collector at Corn- ing, serving continuously several years. In 1872 he was appointed by President Grant postmaster at Corning, and again in 1890 as- sumed the same position under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. In 1887, without any previous knowledge or intimation, he was appointed by Governor David B. Hill a member of the first board of managers of the State Hospital for the In- sane, at Ogdensburg, New York. This is called the St. Lawrence Hospital for the Insane and is one of the most complete and best appointed institutions of the kind in the United States. He was a charter member of the New York State Press Association, organized in 1853.
Dr. Pratt was married to Helen Malvina Hayt, of Patterson, Putnam county, New York, on September 19, 1846. She died in Corning April 4, 1880, at the age of fifty-five years. Their happy married life, of more than a third of a century, was blessed by six children. Claudius B., the eldest, died in the morning of life, nearly two years old. Theodore Steele, the second son, died at the dawn of his manhood, at the age of twenty-one years. The youngest child and only daughter, Sophia Steele, died at Corning, New York, No- vember 27, 1889, at the age of twenty-three years, the idolized darling of her grief-burdened father. Who that read that father's obituary eulogium - commencing "From henceforth Sophia Steele Pratt is a memory" can ever forget its sorrow-laden sentences ? Three sons survive: Ransom Pratt, of San Francisco, California; George E. Pratt, of Berkley, in the same state; and Harry Hayt Pratt. for many years associated with his father in the conduct of
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the Weekly and Daily Journal and now its sole editor. He is now postmaster at Corning.
George W. Pratt was well equipped for a newspaper editor and proprietor. After acquiring the Corning Journal he learned the art and mysteries of a practical printer and acquired a thorough knowl- edge of the vocation in all of its branches. In the early history of southern New York journalism, as editor of his paper, he instituted numerous reforms and practical improvements in the manner of displaying and presenting news on the printed page, being one of the first of the up-state editors to classify under proper headings the local and general news and to keep the news department free from "business" or "paid notices." He had a high opinion of the ethical demands of the vocation and business and was ever true to his ideals. His sense of justice was strong; his hatred of shams in- tense; and the frank, fair and fearless expression of his conviction, whether respecting plans, ideas or persons, never left the question in doubt as to the quality and direction of his judgment. Always he illustrated the dignity of journalism. To him the position of editor was one of much influence, as well as high responsibility. It was, indeed, the Fourth Estate and greater than all others.
As a writer, for virility, strength and power of statement, in the selection of apt and forcible language, he has not been sur- passed and seldom equalled in the history of rural journalism. In a larger field, with wider opportunities, he would have taken rank with the great editors of a half century since. He had an inexhaust- ible vocabulary, abundant information, a sinewy, graphic, compre- hensive and flexible style. He was equally apt in turning a breezy paragraph or in writing a bold, seriously aggressive and thoughtful "leader." As a controversialist, in the realm of personal journal- ism, he was a master. When attacked or aroused to a sense of per- sonal, political or social wrong or injustice his pen could impale like the spear of Saladin or hew down and hammer like the battle-axe of Richard. He feared no journalistic combatants or newspaper adversaries, however famous, able or well equipped, or widely cir- culated their issues.
In his compositions he could be severe and even savage, and could lash around the world those who betrayed or misrepresented his confidence; those whose actions were prompted by mercenary motives or were seeking aggrandizement either in estate or reputa- tion at the expense of another or of the public interest.
He never harbored personal resentments or cherished ancient and rusty insults. He had an honest detestation of whatever was base, treacherous, mean, low or grovelling. He was brave beyond reproach ; had courage to think, to write, speak or act, pursuing his convictions to their consequences. . His fidelity to ideals was his most prominent characteristic. His pen was never for hire. It- was never prostituted to base or unworthy uses. He had the ele- ments of power and courage, which all men love and respect. He gained position and influence by honorably and manfully fighting his way. His likes and dislikes were strong and unconcealed and his devotion to those he trusted was wrought with hooks of steel. His acquaintance was wide; his mind analytical and his judgment positive. He was on intimate terms with people of all degrees and shades of intellectual culture, and usually he understood the motives
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that induce men to move and act in the game of life. To those who intimately knew him he was a being to inspire strong admiration, affection and lasting regard. He had a heart of sympathy, a mind to plan and a determination to execute. When misfortune or dis- appointment befell his friends he did not desert them or console them with hypocritical words of sympathy. The suffering of a being-man or animal-always appealed to his sense of right and power to aid. Ile was just; a humane citizen, whose hand and purse were always ready to respond to the cry of misfortune or sorrow. Like all men of great strength, he had suffered misfortune, hard- ship and intense personal griefs, that were deep channels as he passed down the stream of life. He was uncomplaining; a cheery smile, a happy, hopeful word and the strong grip of the friendly hand always proclaimed how noble and glorious it is "to suffer and be strong."
The Corning Journal, since the demise of George W. Pratt, has been published by The Corning Journal Company, and is a consolidation of The Weekly Journal, established in 1847, and The Daily Journal, established September 7, 1891. It carries at its mast- head the legend: "Founded by George W. Pratt." The succeeding editor, Harry HI. Pratt, has faithfully followed the trail blazed by his father.
"BRICK" POMEROY.
Next in chronological review is the pupil and graduate of the Corning Journal, Mark M. Pomeroy. He was born at Elmira, in December, 1833, and was brought up on a farm at Seeley Creek, l'ennsylvania, between Elmira and Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. In April, 1850, he came on foot over the Caton hills to Corning and obtained employment in the office of Thomas Messenger, the founder and proprietor of the Corning Journal. Pomeroy learned the printer's trade and was afterwards employed for a time by George W. Pratt, proprietor of the Journal. Then he opened a job printing plant here and in December, 1853, began the publication of a seven by nine weekly paper, the Corning Sun. He conducted this lively sheet for several months and took in a partner, P. C. Van Gelder, to whom he sold his interest. Then he (Pomeroy) cstab- lished a weekly paper at Athens, Pennsylvania, and conducted it for about a year, removing to Horicon and later to La Crosse (both Wis- consin eities), in which latter he established Pomeroy's Democrat, which obtained a remarkable circulation during the Civil war and made its editor famous. In 1868 he entered the New York city newspaper field. Later he had papers at Chicago, Denver and again in New York, and died May 30, 1896, at his home in Blythebourne (then a suburb of Brooklyn and now a part of the city of New York), leaving a widow and several children. He was three times married. Incompatibility led to a divoree from his first wife. His second wife, from whom he was later divoreed, won fame as an actress under the name of Louise Pomeroy, being one of the most beautiful women and accomplished actresses before the public. Dur- ing the last fifteen years of his life he was actively engaged in the project of building a tunnel through a range of the Rocky mountains, west of Denver, the project being known as the Atlantic-Pacific Tunnel Company, of which he was president. He labored with superhuman energy to promote this project, but at his death the
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enterprise was only a fifth completed. His inability to command the capital necessary to push the work and his intense efforts to suc- ceed broke his health and caused his death at the age of sixty-three. As "Brick" Pomeroy, for a third of a century he was one of the best known men in the United States, being noted for his exceeding boldness of utterance, his power in controversy and his quaintness and originality of expression.
The Corning Democrat had its paternity in the Corning Semi- Weekly Sun, a paper established by Pomeroy and Van Gelder in 1853. Mr. Pomeroy was the principal editor and writer, and here, in Corning, laid the foundation for his brilliant career. In 1854 the Sun passed into the hands of Rev. Ira Brown, who changed its name and published it as the Southern Tier Farmer. Afterwards it came under the management of C. T. Huson and Frank B. Brown, and it was by them christened the Corning Democrat. From No- vember, 1859, to June, 1885, the paper was owned by Mr. F. B. Brown, but since that date and down to the death of Mr. Brown the firm name of F. B. Brown and Son has appeared as editors and proprietors. The daily edition of the Democrat was first published in 1884. Both the daily and weekly editions of this paper were Democratic in politics, persistently emphatic in utterance and decla- ration, but consistent; always representing and defending the in- terests, platforms and course of that party in city, county, state and nation.
After the death of Mr. Frank B. Brown the paper passed to the ownership and management of Mr. Edwin S. Underhill, of Bath, New York, one of the editors and proprietors of the Steuben Farm- ers' Advocate of that place, who changed the name of the Democrat to that of the Evening Leader without change of political princi- ples or adherence. It is a vigorous, enterprising, well conducted newspaper, having a daily circulation of over eight thousand copies, covering the county of Steuben, in New York, and the counties of Potter and Tioga, Pennsylvania, and is the largest journal between the cities of Elmira and Buffalo. It has been a vigorous and de- termined aid and support of the interests, growth and prosperity of the flourishing and wide-awake city of Corning, whose population has, during its period of life, increased over twenty-five per cent. At the last election (1910) Mr. Underhill, a Democrat, was elected to represent his congressional district on and after March 4, 1911.
The Corning Independent, another aspirant for fame in local journalism, first came into existence at Corning, in December, 1874, under control of T. S. DeWolfe, by whom it was published for two years, when he sold it to Dr. A. J. Ingersoll, and by him it was con- tinued as the organ of the Greenback party, under the editorial man- agement of Mr. Uri Mulford. The paper suspended publication and animation in 1879.
The Evening Chronicle, a daily newspaper, neutral in nothing, was started in Corning on May 4, 1891, by the witty and vivacious Edward Mott, and after having swelled and sparkled there for a brief season of wondering public attention, "sank into eternity."
Corning and Painted Post were in the early years of the last century, and later on, synonymous and interchangeable terms, be- cause principally the Post itself was a migratory stick of timber. It will not be out of place here to mention the Painted Post Gazette,
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
established in 1846, by Mr. Fairchild. It survived less than a year. The Painted Post Herald was started by Messrs. Ransom Bennett and B. M. Hawley, in 1848. It lived one year; then went down stream. After a number of years, in October, 1870, Bronson Hig- gens and Ferenbaugh began the publication of the Painted Post Times. It continued with indifferent apathetic existence until 1877; and thereafter was not.
EDWIN HOUGH AND "HORNELLSVILLE TRIBUNE."
The first paper was issued in Hornellsville (now Hornell) on November 15, 1851, by Edwin Hough. The place then had a popu- lation of seven hundred.
Edwin Hough was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, July 3, 1809, of English parentage, who had been adherents of the Lord Pro- tector. After his death and before the restoration they fled to Con- necticut for an asylum. Edwin Hough early attended the excellent public schools for which that state has always been noted, and at the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to a book and job printer to learn the arts and mysteries of the printer's trade. After he be- came twenty-one years old he went to the city of New York, where he worked for two years as a journeyman printer. Then he wan- dered west and worked as a journeyman printer at Canandaigua, Warsaw and Batavia, New York. In 1834 he went to Buffalo and there published the Spectator, a religious paper issued in the inter- est of the M. E. church, for three years. As a journeyman he then entered the office of the Lodi, now Gowanda Banner; afterwards changed to the Cattaraugus Freeman and then published by G. N. Starr. There for three years Mr. Hough worked as a journeyman printer, by the side of Horace Greeley, after which he bought the paper from Mr. Starr and moved the establishment to Springville, Erie county, New York, and issued the Springville Express. Not satisfied with this location, he was on the lookout for a better place, when he met, at Dunkirk, Ben. Loder, president of the struggling New York and Erie Railroad, and acquainted him with his object. Mr. Loder advised him to locate in Hornellsville, saying that it was to be the "end of two divisions of his railroad" and a place of con- siderable promise; that there was no newspaper nearer than Bath, on one side, and Angelica, on the other. Mr. Hough determined to follow the suggestion of Mr. Loder. So, in March, 1851, he loaded his press, printing materials, supplies and tools on sleighs and started east. Arriving at Olcan, New York, he found the snow gone and all was bare ground; nothing daunted, he pressed on alone for Hornellsville, to stake out and preempt a claim and location, leaving his cargo and property to await more favorable traveling. Arriving at Hornellsville, Mr. Hough found Captain Benjamin Smead, of Bath, there for the same purpose. After both of these prospectors had looked over the locality and listened to all the glowing expectations of the inhabitants, neither was disposed to yield to the other, and finally, at the suggestion of an old resident who had been a horsedealer and drover, they agreed to "leave it out" to three men, who were to be selected by lot drawn from a hat. The persons so selected were Major Thomas J. Reynolds, Sheriff Oliver Allen and Job Gaff, of Howard. They unanimously decided in favor of Mr. Hough. So Hough brought on his printing outfit, estab-
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lished his place of business on the second floor of the brick building of John H. Lillie, on the southeast corner of Main and Broad streets, in the building now occupied on the ground floor by Young's drug store. Ineluded in the purchase from Mr. Starr was the ease at which Horaee Greeley worked as a journeyman printer. This was used in the office for a long series of years, and was subsequently presented by Mr. Henry Greenhow, then owner of this printing of- fiee, to Mrs. Gabriella Clendenen, a daughter of the great editor.
A few months after the question of starting a paper in Hornells- ville had come up Mr. Hough visited Mr. Greeley at his place of business in New York, told him of his venture and contemplated paper. Mr. Greeley asked Hough what he would call the paper. Hough said he had not decided upon a name and asked Greeley for a suggestion. "Call it the Tribune; that's what I called my paper." So when Mr. Hough returned he named his paper accordingly, and the first number of the Hornellsville Tribune was issued on Novem- ber 15, 1851.
In the closing years of the sixties of the last century Mr. Gree- ley accepted the invitation to deliver the commencement address at Alfred University, ten miles west of Hornellsville. It was in the month of June, and Mr. Greeley stopped off at Hornellsville to call on his friend and eo-laborers of early days. He found Mr. Hough at work in his garden. The meeting was joyful, and at Mr. Gree- ley's invitation Mr. Hough accompanied him to the university. There these two veterans of the press separated-one whose ideas so tersely expressed had beeome the watchwords and rallying cry for the nation; the other had just as faithfully performed his part in his limited field.
Mr. Hough died May 3, 1870; Mr. Greeley died November 29, 1872.
The promises of support for the newspaper about to be started ' were not flattering. One storekeeper said he would take twenty dollars' worth of advertising for a year if Hough would take his pay out of his store. Another publie-spirited resident agreed to take the paper for two years if he could pay for it in slab-wood. The first job work was the announcement of the removal of the law office of Horace Bemis.
The place of publication and editorial office of the paper re- mained -at its first location for two years, then moved aeross Broad street, to the second floor of the building occupied on the first floor by Julius Cohn, as a elothing store, while Mr. Hough retained con- trol of the paper. In politics the paper was vigorously Whig and Republican, until 1868, when Mr. Hough sold the. Tribune to Daniel R. Shaffer, whose editorial qualifications were limited; but that defect was supplied by the employment of A. S. Baker and C. M. Beeeher, both bright men and able and intelligent editorial writers, who gave the paper a clean and high reputation for ability and reliability. This was its high-water mark.
JOHN GREENHOW AND WILLIAM H. GREENHOW.
In June, 1870, Mr. Shaffer traded the Tribune plant with John Greenhow for the Canastota Herald, then owned and published by Mr. Greenhow at Canastota, Madison county. Thereupon the firm of J. Greenhow and Son, composed of John Greenhow and William
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H. Greenhow, became the editors and proprietors of the Tribune. From that time the Tribune has continued an able and fearless ad- vocate and supporter of the principles enunciated by the Demo- cratic party in its national and state platforms.
Locally, the Tribune has been among the foremost, and often the foremost aid and advocate of all improvements for the advance- ment of the city of Hornell, and contributing money, time and services in their furtherance. Its efforts and objects have been con- densed in the sentence, "Hornell, first, last and all the time."
In February, 1878, a daily afternoon edition of the Tribune was commenced, as the Evening Tribune. It became popular with the citizens from the start; this emerging from the shell of conser- vatism, met with the approbation of all.
John Greenhow was a good man, a valuable member of society, wliose life efforts had been to the latest to make his fellow-man better and happier; but his age and the circumstances of his early and mid-manhood life, did not harmoniously or desirably fit into the strenuous activities and free-lance methods of the daily newspaper. In 1880 he sold his interest in the Tribune to Mr. Charles F. Peck of Nunda, Livingston county, New York, a newspaper man of ex- perience and marked ability. The firm Greenhow and Peck was then organized, and they became the editors and proprietors.
Mr. Peck was an able and skillful writer of vitriolie and pun- gent tendencies, without regard to the victim or subject of attack, and his spear knew no brother. While he was with the Tribune, there was "something doing all the time." Horsewhippings, flouring, burning in effigy and libel suits were common resultant occurrences. William H. Greenhow became the sole owner of the Tribune in De- cember, 1884, and Mr. Peck went to the city of New York and be- came connected with a press syndicate. Charles F. Peck is a man of large ability and a generous friend, and when not stirred up, a desirable associate.
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