Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 130

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 130

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

Publishing a Newspaper .- New York had its ring with partners throughout the State; and Brooklyn had its ring with partners in New York and at Albany. With property assessed at about $200,000,000, Brooklyn had loaned her credit to the amount of about $40,000,000, which placed a mortgage of twenty per cent. on all property within its boundaries. Fraudulent ballots by the thousand were used upon election days; men were eounted into offices who were interested in perpetnating profligate extravagance; Brook- lyn's bonds were greatly depreciated, and the real estate of her eitizens was not considered proper security upon which to borrow money.

Under the guise of non-partisan and double-headed eom- inissions, a class of designing men had joined hands, who controlled every department of the eity government. Public patronage was liberally bestowed upon the press, and the city seemed given over to the criminal class. Committees of vigil and reform were inaugurated, and demanded the estab- lishment of an independent newspaper. In this emergency all eyes, as if by common consent, turned upon Mr. Barnes as the person who possessed the public confidence and the nerve to engage in such an undertaking. Unaided to the ex- tent of a dollar by anyone, and without hope of other reward than serving his fellow citizens, he invested a large amount of money, turned his back upon the ease of private life, and entered the arena of cditorial conflict.

The opposition eneountered by him, and the environments of the position, made the period referred to historical; and they involved an antagonism and an amount of labor hereto- fore unknown in American journalism.

Mr. Barnes' Argus made unceasing war upon double- headed commissions, which since have been abolished ; upon irresponsible heads of departments, since then inade respon- sible ; upon unlegalized primary elections, since then re- stricted and legalized; upon the increase of city debt, since then reduced over twenty-five per cent. per capita ; upon carrying national politics into municipal elections; and upon the fountains of corruption wherever they existcd, and was a continuous champion of "home rule." Although a Demo- crat upon general principles, Mr. Barnes supported Republi- cans for office, whenever, in his judgment, that party pre- sented the best men. At the election of 1881, Mr. Barnes presided over a public meeting of Democrats, held in behalf of a Republican candidate for Mayor. Although the Demo- crats have a majority of from ten thousand to fifteen thou- sand votes in the city, the influence of the Argus had so permeated the community, that Mr. Low, the Republican candidate, was elected by over three thousand majority.

A man of enlarged views, qnick sympathies and liberal constructions, Mr. Barnes answered his calumniators whose hold upon the public crib he compelled them to unloose, by referring to the changed condition of the city and to the mo- tives of those who have misrepresented him. Straight-for- ward in his dealings, robust and emphatie in his habits of speech, indulgent with the inexperienced, humane to the afflicted and generous to a fault, Mr. Barnes is restive with stupidity, exacting in his requirements, intolerant of pretend- ers, and has no sympathy for the cunning and artifice of sophists and insincere persons. It woukl be foreign to his nature to use subtle diplomacy or to expeet popularity in a political eaucus. He calls a spade a spade; and a hypocrit- ieal rascal in his presence, is not apt to feel that he is eon-

1174

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

sidered a saint. He was the only democrat in the Eastern States who publicly opposed the election of Mr. Tilden in 1876. Reproduction in Western newspapers, of articles from Mr. Barnes' caustic pen, is believed to have given Oliio to the Republicans; thereby clecting Hayes President of the United States.

Mr. Barnes met with a great loss in the death of liis tal- ented wife in 1875. Under the shadow of this affliction he shrank from public life and retired from bis newspaper when on a flood-tide of prosperity. Since that time he has been quietly engaged as a private banker in New York; in travel- ling and in literary pursuits. He was married to Miss Blaks- ley, of St. Louis, in 1878. Mr. Barnes is a close observer of passing events, reads democratic and republican journals alike, repudiates dogmas in religion, and supports a hospi- table house, embowered by trees and surrounded by conserv- atories, stocked with a practical library and adorned by works of art. presided over by an accomplished wife and an affectionate and charming daughter. When asked by a friend what part of his life afforded him the greatest pleas- ure in retrospect, his reply was, "the time when I was first able to assist my mother and her fatherless children."

The Sunday Eagle .- In 1874, Mr. Cohalere estab- lished a weekly paper, with James Mc Dermott, recently involved in Irish troubles, as editor. It attained sud- den prosperity. It was published in Dr. Cochran's building in Fulton street. The proprietors of the Eagle had it enjoined from using their title, and it appeared for some time as the " Brooklyn -. " It was soon afterward discontinued.

The Brooklyn Catholic appeared Feb, 20, 1869, a weekly religious paper, issued by Rev. Dr. Gardner and Rev. E. G. Fitzpatrick, editors and proprietors, and was managed with great ability and apparent sue- cess. It was suspended the following year. It was printed by Patrick Ford and Brothers, and on its sus- pension the Irish World appeared by the same print- ers; but, though edited and printed in Brooklyn, it was apparently published in New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City and Newark. About its thirteenth number, W. E. Robinson was announced as its editor with Patrick Ford, assistant editor. It had then about three or fonr thousand circulation. In about a year it was running toward a hundred thousand. The editors had some misunderstanding concerning the conducting of the paper, and Mr. Ford was announced as the principal editor, Mr. Robinson's name having been withdrawn. It is now published in New York.

The Brooklyn Bee, was published in September, 1878, at 353 Fulton street. It was a sprightly two-eent weekly, in favor of labor and against monopolies.

Thomas Kinsella of the Eagle. It was a lively paper, and for some time prospered with a large circulation and vigorous editorials; but was discontinued in its second year. It was published at 301 Washington street, corner of Johnson street, now occupied by Hubel's restaurant.

The Brooklyn Daily Ledger, was started October 3, 1877, by Henry M. Smith, editor, and Harry M. Gardner, Jr., publisher, at the corner of Court and Joralemon streets. Mr. Smith had been for a time chief editor of the Union, and on severing his connection with that paper, established the Ledger. It was a one- cent afternoon paper, and lived about a year.

All the foregoing papers, with many of their editors, have passed away. From the numerous dead we turn to the living.

The Brooklyn Freie Presse .- This flourishing German daily was originally started in Williamsburgh, September 2d, 1854, by Edward F. Roehr, who landed here in 1849, a refugee from Germany, because of the failure of the Revolution of 1848. The paper was first a weekly, called the Long Island Anzeiger, printed in New York for a few weeks and then transferred to Darbee's office in South First street. Soon after, type and a hand- press were bought, and a printing and publishing office was opened at No. 98 Montrose avenue. After about a year the paper was discontinued.

Nearly ten years later Henry Edward Rochir, eldest. son of Edward F., entered into partnership with his father in the printing business, and the Long Islund Anzeiger again appeared December 3d, 1564. It prospered so well that it was several times enlarged, and October 13th, 1869, was issued semi-weekly: July 18th, 1871, its issues were made tri-weekly: September 30th, 1872, it was published daily, and its name changed to the Freie Presse. In 1873 Colonel Henry E. Roehr purchased his father's half interest and became sole proprietor, and in 1875 secured the premises at No. 30 Myrtle avenue. April 20th, 1873, a success- ful Sunday issue was commeneed, ealled the Lony Islander, which was the first Sunday edition issued by any Brooklyn paper; in 1882 it was enlarged. The circulation of the Freie Presse having increasel so largely, greater press facilities became necessary and, in 1882, Colonel Roehr purchased a Hoe type-revolv- ing, Webb-perfecting press, which prints, euts and folds from the type, two sides at a time, 12,000 im- pressions per hour.

The paper is edited with marked ability, and reflects

The Brooklyn Sunday Sun, was started in 1874. One of its managers and its chief editor was | great credit on its enterprising publisher.

COL. HENRY EDWARD ROEHR.

THE PRESS.

1175

COL. HENRY EDWARD ROEHR.

COLONEL HENRY EDWARD ROEHR .- Among the German- American citizens of Brooklyn, who, by their energy, perse- verance and business tact, have made a mark for themselves, no one ranks higher than Col. Henry Edward Roehr, the sub- ject of this sketch. Born in Schleiz, in the Principality of Renss, Germany, in the year 1841, he was but seven years old when the ever memorable revolution of 1848 broke forth and shook up the old bones on the thrones of Europe in a lively style. One of the leaders in the revolutionary movement in the small Principality where Col. Roehr hails from, was his father, Mr. Edward Franz Roehr, who, although being an officer of the small military establishment of that little poten- tate, Prince Henry the LXII., by word and deed did his ut- most to arouse the people against their tyrants. He assisted in organizing the Land wehr (militia), and was elected a dele- gate to different bodies. But the overthrow of the revolution of 1848, and the collapse of the uprising of the people in the southern part of Germany in 1849, sent him with thousands of other refugees to the ideal land of their dreams, the great republic of America.

In common with all immigrants, and not being a mechanic, Mr. Roehr's first experience in America was anything but pleasant. He came to Williamsburgh, our present Eastern District, shortly after landing, and, after working on a farm, in a whalebone factory, and trying to make life sweeter by manufacturing candy with a fellow-refugee, he at last en- gaged in an enterprise more to his liking and taste. It con- sisted in selling Gernian books, periodicals and papers; the first few dollars earned by this occupation were sent to Ger- many, and soon enough was saved to bring Mrs. Roehr and four children to the shores of this country, after a most tedious sea voyage of nine weeks. This arrival happened in 1850, in August, and as shortly thereafter a new German paper was started in New York, called the Abend Zeitung, Mr. Roehr took the agency for Brooklyn, and young Edward, not quite nine and a half years old, was soon actively engaged in carrying out these papers.

The business of Mr. Roehr prospered, and, in 1852 he opened a bookstore in South 7th street, or what is now Broad- way. Edward had to assist in tending the store, and here at an early age acquired a taste for books that has never left him. The book-store was soon thereafter moved to No. 90 Montrose avenue, into the heart of our present " Dutchtown," where it was thought a better chance for selling German books would exist. Here Mr. Roehr, Sr., conceived the idea of establishing a German paper, which he carried out September 2d, 1854, by commencing the publication of the Long Island Anzeiger, and establishing a German newspaper and job printing office. The subject of this sketch here thoroughly learned the mysteries of the "black art," and many a day rolled forms on the hand-press and " stuck " type together. But the An- zeiger did not prosper, and expired peacefully August 23d, 1835. Meanwhile, Mr. Roehr however had established another journal, "The Triangel," a German Masonic paper which was pubhshed for 25 years in succession.

Young Roehr, however, stuck to his case and press, and, although still very young, became quite an efficient printer. In 1857, however, he thought it was about time that he should see something of this great country, and he accord- ingly set out on a journey to see the land and improve him- self in his trade. Albany was the first place where he stopped,

and obtained work at the office of the Albany Freie Blaetter, at the big salary of $2.50 per week and board. IIere he set type, made up the forms and printed the paper on a hand press, and also began to write small items for the paper. From here he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked but little in different offices, because business was very dull. In the fall of 1858, he was abont to attach himself to the German Theatre in Cincinnati, he having previously attempted a little amatenr acting, when he received a call to assume charge of the job printing office of an Evansville German paper at a very liberal salary. In this position he remained about eight months, when he left the situation, much to the regret of his employer, Mr. Val. Schmuck. After visiting other cities, he returned to Williamsburgh in the fall of 1859, and resumed work in the printing office of his father, where he remained until the spring of 1861.

When, in the spring of 1861, President Lincoln issued his first proclamation for volunteers, and the young and patri- otic men of the country flew to arms, young Roehr, then in his twentieth year, was the fourth man who signed his name to a call for volunteers that was issued by the Turner Socie- ties of New York, Brooklyn, Williamsburgh, and other cities in the vicinity of New York, and assisted in organizing com- panies I and K of the Twentieth New York Volunteers (Col. Max Weber), also known as the " Turner Rifles." He marched out as First Sergeant of Company I; and, although he had

never before handled a musket, he soon made himself pro- ficient and acquainted with all the details of the service. In a little skirmish that took place at New Market Bridge, about five miles from Hampton, Virginia, in December, 1861, he was wounded in the head, and came very near having his military and other career suddenly stopped. He, however, soon recovered, got a turlough for a month, and soon there- after, when Col. Weber was promoted Brigadier-General, and one step of promotion went through the regiment, was promoted Second-Lieutenant. It is said that he never felt so proud in all his life, as when he first donned shoulder- straps. With his regiment, after leaving Norfolk, Va., lie joined, in June, 1862, the Army of the Potomac in front of Richmond, when the 20th Regt., N. Y. Vols., was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps. With these troops the regiment took part in the "seven days' fight," resulting in the retreat to Harrison Landing. Here Lieutenant Roehr was taken ill with camp fever, and when again sufficiently well to assume duty, he was assigned to the command of the Brigade Ambulance Corps. He continued in charge of this trust through the campaigns in Maryland (South Mountain and Antietam) and the first battle at Fred- ericksburgh, Va., when, having been promoted First Lieu- tenant, he joined his regiment again, and assumed his duties as such. As First Lieutenant he also performed the duties of Adjutant, Quartermaster and Commandant of Companies, and finally took part with his regiment in the battle of Mary's Heights, in the rear of Fredericksburgh, Va., May 4th, 1863. The time of service of the regiment having now ex- pired, the same was ordered home May 6th, and he returned with his comrades a few days later to New York and Wil- liamsburgh.

In the attempted re organization of the 20th Regt., N. Y. Vols., he was selected as a Captain, bet as it soon became apparent that there was no chance of re-organizing the regi-

1176

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

ment, he laid aside all further military aspirations, and re- turned to his former business. After working in a few offices in New York, he thought of establishing a small printing office for himself, when his father offered him a share in his business. It was, of course, accepted, and, with the money that he put in, a" Campbell Country Press" was bought, and the old hand-press, which had done service for ten years, was put in a corner. It now occurred to young Roehr that there would be a splendid chance of starting a German paper in that part of the city, at that time and now knownas " Dutch- town." Numerous German societies had sprung into existence in the last few years, business prospects seemed very good, and many matters of common interest to the German popula- tion of the Eastern District of Brooklyn seemed to demand their discussion by a German paper. When this idea was first broached to Mr. Roehr, he, however, strennously opposed the plan, believing that this second enterprise would in no wise end differently from the first. But, persistently arguing the matter, and showing that things were quite different from ten years before, when the whole German population of Brooklyn perhaps did not number more than 10,000, while in 1864 it counted at least 40,000, young Roehr at last snc- ceeded in getting his father's consent to the publication of the new paper, for which the old name, Long Island Anzei- ger, was again chosen. As it was not intended that the paper should be looked upon as a campaign issue only, the publication of the same was postponed until after the elec- tion of 1864, when. on Saturday, December 3d, the first num- ber of the new Long Island Anzeiger was published. The office of the paper at that time was in No. 40 Stagg street, and the paper itself was four pages of five columns each ; each page measuring 23x164-or, 23x33 over all. To be can- did, it should be said that the typographic appearance and the press-work left much to be desired. However, the start was made. and many were the predictions that about six or eight months would be sufficient to lay the new paper to its forerunners. But this proved to be a mistake, for the paper crept on slowly, it is true; but already, on the 28th of July. 1866, it was presented to its readers in an enlarged form, as a seven-column paper, 24x38 inches. The growing business soon made it necessary to look out for larger quarters than the house, No. 40 Stagg street, could afford, and in conse- quence thereof, the three-story brick house, No. 61 Montrose avenue, was erected, and the business moved into the same on the îth day of August, 1869. Larger quarters now hav- ing been secured, the paper was published twice a week, commencing October 13th, 1869, and the price reduced from five cents to four cents per copy. This increase in the edi- tions proved such a snecess, that, not quite two years later, on July 18, 1871, it was again determined to enlarge the scope of the paper, and to publish it three times a week ; the size of the paper was cut down to its former length and width, and the price also again reduced, thistime to three cents per copy. It now seemed as if the Long Island .Inzeiger would, for a long time, remain what it was, a tri-weekly paper, but the intermission of one day in its publication only served to more distinctly show that there was quite a "link " missing to report faithfully and extensively the events of each day.

If the proprietors of the Anzeiger had possessed a sufficient amount of capital, the solution of this dilemma would have been easy enough, and the publication of a daily paper the very next thing. But the publication of a daily paper would not only increase the running expenses of the paper to very nearly double the amount; it might, also, if the enterprise should turn out unsuccessful, carry down with it the hard and unceasing labor of eight years. After, however, tuking every thing into consideration, and fully believing that the

German people would also fully support the daily, as it had heretofore given its unstinted help to the earlier publications. it was finally resolved to publish the paper daily, and Sep- teinber 30, 1872, was decided upon as the day, from whence the paper should so greet its readers.

The paper up to this time, with its name of Long Island Anzeiger, had been principally known as an Eastern District enterprise, and as an organ of the Germans of that district ; and in order to give it, with its entrance upon the field of daily journalism, a wider scope, and make it the representa- tive of the Germans of the whole city, it was resolved to change the name to the Brooklyn Freie Presse, and an office was established in the Western District. The price of the paper was fixed at 15 cents per week, and a Hoe double- cylinder press was procured for the press-work. The publi- cation office remained at No. 61 Montrose avenne.

The expected success of the daily issue, however, did not come, and Col. Roehr about this time did some of the hardest work of his life. He not only attended to the business part of the concern almost alone, but also superintended the job printing room, procured advertisements, and even personally canvassed for subscribers among the Germans, and paid due attention to the editorial conduct of the paper ; and last, but not least, commanded the 32d Regiment of the National Gnard. In the year 1873, he purchased his father's interest in the business, and became the sole owner of the paper.

Slowly the paper kept growing in circulation; the publica- tion office, however, being about two and a half miles away from the City Hall and the Courthouse, the Post Office a mile distant, it soon became apparent that, to make a real success of the paper, a change of base was necessary, and that to the Western District, near the public offices of the city, and its mercantile and political centres.

After looking about for some time, the house, No. 30 Myrtle avenue, was at last secured, and, in May, 1575, the erection of a two-story brick extension was begun and other alterations made to prepare the house for its new use. 1x the publication of the paper at the old office had to be con- tinued, a new steam boiler and engine had also to be bought. On Saturday night, June 5, 1875, the presses, type, &c., were moved from 61 Montrose avenne to 30 Myrtle avenue. Everything having carefully been previously arranged, on the following Monday, June 7, 1875, the Freie Presse, for the first time, was issned from its present location, No. 30 Myrtle avenne, a block away from the City Hall. Court-house, and Municipal Department Building.

This " change of base " proved to be of great service to the paper, for it not only enabled it to publish the latest munici- pal news, but it also gave it a position of influence and prominence. The circulation also at once commenced to grow, and has done so steadily up to the time of this writing, and will no doubt do so in future.

To the Freie Presse also belongs the distinction of having been the first paper to come out with a Sunday edition. This occurred on April 19, 1873, when the Long Islander made its first appearance. It was given gratis to the readers of the Freie Presse, and consisted only of four small pages. But it was so much favored by the public, that on December 6, 1874, it was enlarged to eight pages. On April 11. 1575. it was again enlarged, and the price for the same fixed at three cents, while that for the daily issue was reduced to two cents. On January 14, 1880, the paper was agam increand 50 its size was 28x12 inches. One page was deveted to Masonic matters, this page taking the place of th Triangel, mentioned above, which, after nn existence of . years (and in the latter years being edited by Colonel Rochr , was merged into the Long Islander.

1177

THE PRESS.

This venture, however, not finding that appreciation which it was expected it would, the Masonic page ceased to exist on January 1, 1881, having liad an existence of just two years. On September 22, 1882, another enlargement took place, and a column being added to each page, its size measured 33x46 inches, making it one of the largest and best Sunday papers published in the German language in the United States.

The increased circulation of the paper made it necessary to look for some better facilities to do the press-work. After examining a number of presses, it was finally resolved to order one of Hoe's web perfecting presses, which prints di- rect from type, cuts and folds the paper at the rate of 12,000 copies an hour. This press was put in operation in the month of December, 1882, and proved itself a great success. It necessitated an outlay of nearly $18,000, but gave the paper the opportunity to supply all the demands for it in seasonable time.

Thus, Col. Roehr has the proud distinction of being at au early age (42 in 1883), at the head of a paper which is, in a great measure, his own work, and which bids fair to become, in the near future, one of the best German papers in the United States.

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.

Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 130

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360