Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 12

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 12

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).

Edmund B. Wynn's first appearance in Watertown was as a student in the office of James F. Starbuck. He was admitted in 1846, and soon thereafter opened an office at Three Mile Bay, and practiced there till about 1852, when he removed to Watertown, and established an office here, where he has practiced ever since. He very soon became an attorney for the Rome & Watertown Railroad, and has continued and is now such attorney. He was for sometime a partner of Denis O'Brien, now a judge of the Court of Ap- peals, and also of Wilber F. Porter, but for several years last past has been alone. He was a candidate for the office of justice of the Supreme Court in the 5th district a few years since. He is now possessed of a vigorous con- stitution and good health, and is eminent as a railroad attorney.

Denis O'Brien was born in Ogdensburg, March 13, 1837. The events of his life have become a subject of public history. Though the positions he has held, and now holds, entitle him to a prominent place in the official records of the state, yet in the history of his adopted county, where the germ of his future success was developed, it is proper that a brief sketch of his life, character, and ability should be recorded. He was favored by nature with a strong physical constitution and equable temperament, which properly di- rected impart great intellectual strength. Thus endowed he early entered upon the realities of life with a determination to succeed. He studied law in the office of Messrs. Meyers & Magone, of Ogdensburg ; was admitted to the bar in May, 1861 ; and in November of that year removed to Watertown to

BENCH AND BAR.

reside permanently. From that time his business, and reputation in his pro- fession, gradually increased. From 1869 he was an alderman in the city for some four years, and afterwards was elected mayor. His judicious man- agement of these offices won the respect and confidence of the substantial portion of the city's population. His success in his profession gave him a high local reputation through the county. In 1880 he succeeded the late James F. Starbuck as a member of the State Democratic Committee. This gave him an opportunity of extending his reputation for ability and fidelity beyond the bounds of his county and generally over the state ; and he im- proved it. For four years he held this position. In November, 1883, he was elected attorney-general and reëlected in November, 1885, his term of office terminating January 1, 1888. His administration as state's attorney for this great commonwealth established confidence in his thorough capabil- ity and integrity with all parties throughout the state. In 1889 he remained at home, during which time it became evident that public opinion was tend- ing towards his nomination by the Democratic party for judge of the Court of Appeals. This seems to have been conceded on account of his exalted though comparatively brief public service. When the state convention met he was nominated with remarkable unanimity. The nomination was ratified by the people at the election by a large majority ; and he has now entered upon the discharge of the duties of his dignified and responsible position. It is not only heartily desired, but universally believed, that he will discharge his high judicial duties with credit to himself and honor to the already exalted standing of the Court of Appeals.

In concluding this sketch of the bench and bar of Jefferson County the writer concedes that there may be therein many errors, both of fact and of judgment. But the facts have been gathered from the best and most reli- able sources in his reach. The character of the judges and members of the bar, so far as it has been written, has been derived from tradition, and from the record, when the individual was not personally known ; and no exemption from error is claimed in the delination of character even where personally known.

The sketch properly ends at the adoption of the constitution of 1846. By that instrument the whole organization of our judicial system was changed, and from that time a new era in the practice and administration of the law commenced. Though over 40 years have passed since that time, yet from the records now so well kept, and the printed calendars required at every term of the Supreme Court, a history of the bench and bar from that time is comparatively an easy task. It is a history that should be written and pre- served before many more years pass away.

L.c. C.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

WATERTOWN.

The pioneer newspaper in Jefferson County bore the high-soaring name of American Eagle. It was established in Watertown in 1809, by Henry Cof- feen. It was printed by Abram Taylor, Jr., and was Republican in politics, supporting the administration of President Madison. Judge Coffeen was one of the first settlers of Watertown, and possessed large influence. Where the materials on which the Eagle was printed were obtained is unknown, but it is not unlikely that they were the same employed in the publication of the Black River Gazette, established at Martinsburg, Lewis County, in 1807. The journal last named was a short-lived venture ; its publisher, James B. Robbins, removed to Watertown, and it is probably fair to presume that the press found its way here. The Martinsburg paper, it is believed, was the first one in Northern New York west of the Adirondacks. Of the Eagle and its conductors nothing more is known than has been stated. In January, 1812, Jarius Rich, who had read law in Massachusetts and been admitted to practice, but whose license had been revoked in consequence of his partici- pation in a broil in a justice's court, purchased the establishment from Cof- feen, changed the name of the paper to the American Advocate, and con- tinued in it until 1817. He appears to have been a man who had the cour- age of his convictions, who freed his mind when he had anything to offer, and who did not shrink from the consequences of his utterances. He was in the Advocate in 1813, when Com. Perry won his brilliant victory on Lake Erie, and naturally indulged in words of exultation. Referring to Perry's achieve- ments he suggested that the " old cock," as he termed Com. Chauncey, then · in command of the small fleet on Lake Ontario, ought to follow Perr'ys ex- ample. This enraged the Commodore, and he came straightway to Water- town. Entering the office of the Advocate he inquired for the editor. Rich told him he was the man. The Commodore then said he had come all the way from Sackets Harbor to obtain satisfaction, and proposed to cane him. Thereupon Rich seized the Commodore and pitched him headlong to the foot of the stairs. This ended the affair. In the spring of 1817 Seth A. and Dorephus Abbey came to Watertown from Albany, and finding the Advocate advertised for sale, by the sheriff, bought it, and, in connection with John H. Lord, a journeyman printer, started the Jefferson and Lewis Gazette. This paper was continued till April, 1819, when Dorephus Abbey and Mr. Lord went to Oswego, and S. A. Abbey started the Independent Republican, continuing it till February, 1825, when the house and office of the publisher were destroyed by fire, and the publication of the paper suspended. Pre- vious to this date (January 27, 1824), and perhaps because the paper was not sufficiently sub servient to the Democratic leaders, the Watertown Free- man was started by W. Woodward, who was backed by Perley Keyes. This

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NEWSPAPERS.

paper continued till 1833, when its name was changed to the Democratic Standard, under which cognomen it was continued till July 19, 1835, when it was united with the Watertown Eagle, which last paper was started September 1I, 1832, by J. Calhoun .* The new paper was called the Eagle and Standard. It was in the Eagle that Alvin Hunt made his début as editor. When the two papers were consolidated Mr. Hunt took the interest of Mr. Calhoun, when it was conducted by that gentleman and A. L. Smith. In October, 1836, Mr. Smith withdrew from the concern, and in November, 1837, the name of the paper was changed to the Jeffersonian, and under that appella- tion, and the Watertown Jeffersonian, the paper continued till united with the Democratic Union.

The Jeffersonian, under date of March 2, 1841, contained the following account of a "talking machine," then being used in England. It tends to the opinion that the telephone was in use long before the present instrument was perfected :-

RAILWAY TALKING MACHINE.

"A late English journal, in referring to the London and Blackwell Railroad, mentions a ' talking machine,' constructed with galvanic wires, by means of which conversation could be carried on between London and Blackwell with the greatest ease and precision. By way of illustrating the efficiency of this talking machine Mr. Stephenson said that he went to the station in London one day to enquire for one of the assistants. He was not there, but the attendant said that he could enquire if he was at the other end; he did so; in a few seconds the answer was that he was not there. But about five minutes afterwards the talking machine informed him in London that his assistant had arrived at the Blackwell terminus; upon which he instructed the attendant to say by the same agency, 'Tell him to come here directly.' In 10 minutes he arrived, the distance being seven miles. If the distance were 100 miles the con- versation could be carried on just as readily, for the conversation traveled at the rate of 20 miles a second."

December 5, 1851, J. W. Tamblin became the associate of Mr. Hunt. March 15, 1853, J. C. Hatch purchased Mr. Tamblin's interest, but resold the same in the following September. A daily paper was issued from the Jeffersonian office from May 10, 1851, till November, 1853.

August 29, 1846, the first number of the Democratic Union was issued: Thomas Andrews and James Swindells, publishers; Lysander H. Brown, editor. Swindells was in the paper only one week. April 15, 1847, Stephen Martin became an associate publisher. September 2 John A. Haddock succeeded Martin. In June, 1848, Mr. Brown withdrew from the paper, J. C. Hatch taking his place, when the politics of the paper were changed from the support of Cass to that of Van Buren for the presidency. It subsequently passed into the hands of Charles A. Stevens and John A. Haddock. In the great fire of May 14, 1849, the office was destroyed, but in two weeks the publication of the paper was resumed. September 12 Haddock became the proprietor and publisher, and October 15, 1851, Lysander H. Brown again

* Mr. Calhoun subsequently removed from Watertown, and about 1836 started the first newspaper in Chicago, called The Democrat.

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became connected with the paper, and continued with Haddock till Novem- ber, when he became sole publisher. January 9, 1853, Messrs. L. H. Brown and E. R. Pollard became the publishers. Mr. Brown continued in the con- cern till 1854, when Haddock again obtained possession and soon after trans- ferred it to Elon Comstock, who consolidated it with the Jeffersonian, styling the combined papers the Jefferson Union. In December, 1855, Mr. Com- stock sold the Jefferson Union office to J. W. Tamblin, who, in May, 1856, sold two-thirds of the concern to J. A. Haddock and Royal Chamberlain, of St. Louis. In the fall of 1856 E. J. Clark purchased this establishment, and changed the name to Jefferson County Union, associating with him Royal Chamberlain. Three years subsequently he purchased Chamberlain's interest and was sole proprietor until January 1, 1865, when he sold the paper to R. A. Oakes. Previous to this time J. M. Sigourney, for a year or more, had been employed to edit the paper in Mr. Clark's absence.

January 16, 1861, Hall & Bragdon started the Watertown Daily News, which was merged in the Daily Reformer, January 20, 1862. At this time the Weekly News was purchased and edited by J. W. Tamblin. January 19, 1865, Stephen Canfield purchased the interest of Tamblin in the News, and the paper was merged in the Jefferson County Union: S. Canfield & Company, publishers; R. A. Oakes, editor. July 1, 1865, Mr. Canfield bought the interest of Mr. Oakes, who gave place to H. H. Young as editor. The name of the paper was changed to The Democrat; and in August Henry S. Munson bought the interest of Mr. Canfield and a daily was started called the Daily Democrat, with Young and Munson, editors. It was issued till February, 1866, when it, with the weekly edition, was suspended. This left the Democracy without an organ. In May following, however, Anson B. Moore purchased the plant, and, with H. H. Young as editor, revived the Democrat. In 1868 A. H. Hall purchased the paper and changed the name to the Re- Union, and continued the paper till 1870, when he sold to George Moss and Walter A. Boon. In 1872 they started the Morning Dispatch (daily), and it was continued by them, C. W. Havens, C. J. Hynes, and others until May 7, 1881, when the plant was sold to D. Kelley and Charles W. Clare, who run the daily one year, when Kelley retired and the daily was discontinued. The Re- Union has since that time been under the management of Mr. Clare, who has made it an entire success.

The Democratic press in this county has received its inspiration from Jarius Rich, Alvin Hunt, Lysander H. Brown, E. J. Clark, Royal Chamber- lain, and R. A. Oakes. The latter gentleman possesses fine literary talents, and never writes anything that is not written in the best manner. Mr. Cham- berlain was a very fair writer; Mr. Clark is both a ready writer and speaker. He has never done much out of the line of purely party politics ; but he has labored early and late in the service of the Democratic organization, and I judge without much profit to himself. Mr. Hunt was decidedly a strong writer, and made himself felt for nearly a quarter of a century ; Lysander H.

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Brown, in his prime, was ready with his pen, and made an excellent speech without preparation ; while Mr. Rich, we judge, was one of the "rough and ready " sort of men. Only one of these men, E. J. Clark, was a practical printer, and it is a noteworthy fact that not one of them ever accumulated any great amount of money out of the business, which is an evidence either of unselfishness or want of financial tact. Mr. Clare is the first and only individual connected with the Democratic press of this county who has made anything out of his calling. I have given precedence to the Democratic press because it is the oldest. The party has never been without an organ, except for a brief time noted above. To-day that organ rests on a more secure basis than at any previous period.

The anti- Masonic Press.

When the Abbeys came into possession of the American Advocate there was very little party feeling. Mr. Monroe had been chosen president the previous year, receiving 230 out of the 231 electoral votes cast. There was little opposition to the Democratic, then styled Republican, party. That little was chiefly local. It was therefore up-hill work for a purely party paper, as were those which had been published in Watertown. So their paper stopped at the end of two years. Another, however, was soon after started by one of the firm, Seth A. Abbey, which was called the Independent Repub- lican, probably because there were men of adverse political views. This paper, I judge, was the first one in Watertown which ventured to avow sentiments antagonistic to the Republican organization, though there was one at Sackets Harbor, established in 1817, which was undisguised in its opposition to so-called Republicanism.

The Independent Republican was kept running till February, 1825, when the office was burned, a period of nearly six years. The next year, October 19, 1826, Theron Parsons & Co. established Thursday's Post,* and con- tinued it until January 17, 1828, when H. L. Harvey purchased the estab- lishment and changed the name of the paper to the Register. May 1, 1830, he took Benjamin Cory into partnership with him. Two weeks later the name of the paper was changed to the Watertown Register and General Ad- vertiser. In May, 1831, Mr. Cory became sole proprietor. Up to this date the paper had been neutral in politics, but soon after became the organ of the party opposed to President Jackson. In the meantime-May, 1828- a paper was started which was called the

" It was in the office of the Post that the late Judge Mullin worked as an apprentice several years, commencing in 1826. In 1828 Parsons started the Censor, at Adams, the publication of which was continued six months at that place and then removed to Water- town and the anti-Masonic paper in existence there, and published by Parsons or Harvey, was discontinued.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

Independent Republican and Anti-Masonic Recorder, which lasted until the Censor was removed to Watertown from Adams, January, 1830, and was called the

Watertown Censor, and was published by Abner Morton, was anti-Dem- ocratic in politics. It was succeeded by the

Anti-Masonic Sun, which was published by Enoch Ely Camp. It was soon changed and published 39 weeks, commencing December 19, 1830, by Dr. R. Goodale, as

The Constellation. Subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the

Jefferson Reporter, and published it from September 11, 1832, till January 21, 1834, when he removed to Monroe, Michigan, taking his press with him.

September 19, 1831, Mr. Cory dropped the words General Advertiser from the title of his paper, and it appeared as the Watertown Register till March 25, 1835, when it was changed to the North American, with John Haxton, editor. Under this cognomen the paper continued until September, 1839, when H. S. Noble became the publisher, and restored the name of Watertown Register. Noble kept in the Register till March 12, 1842, when he sold to William Hough. On the 9th of April Hough sold to William Welch, who conducted the paper until May 20, 1843, when he discontinued it and started the Black River Journal. Subsequently Joel Greene purchased a half interest in the concern, and the paper was continued two years (until 1845), when Welch sold out and went West.

In the spring of 1846 Greene commenced the publication of the Daily Journal, ran it a short time, then changed it to the Watertown Tri- Weekly Journal, and as such it was continued till August 26, 1846, when A. W. Clark became the purchaser, and established the Northern State Journal. Two years later George W. Smith and H. S. Noble became the publishers, the firm being styled Smith & Noble. John Fayel subsequently bought into the concern, and was joined by A. W. Clark, Smith & Noble retiring. In 1856 Clark & Fayel sold the paper to the " American party," but after a few months it came back into their hands.

Clark & Fayel continued in the paper until July, 1863, when the partnership. was dissolved. Indeed Mr. Clark paid little attention to the paper after tak- ing his seat in Congress in 1861 .* When Mr. Fayel retired from the paper he took an office in the Postoffice Department at Washington, but failing health compelled him to relinquish the same, and he died at Saratoga, where he had gone in the hope of obtaining relief, July 12, 1864, at the age of 39. years, and after a service of 12 years as associate editor of the Journal. The paper then passed into the hands of J. Budlong and Orson L. Haddock. After a few months, however, Haddock sold his interest to Budlong, and Bud-

* Just when Clark & Fayel left the Journal has not been ascertained. They were in the paper (at least their names were) December 2, 1862.

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long sold the same to H. H. Smith, September 16, 1865, and under their management the Journal was continued most of the time as a semi-weekly until April 1, 1867, when it was sold to Solon M. Hazen, and continued by him until it was finally disposed of to the proprietors of the Reformer, May 15, 1868, and the paper discontinued. In August 28, 1850, L. Ingalls, A. H. Burdick, and L. M. Stowell started the New York Reformer, independent in politics. Mr. Burdick retired from the paper October 16, 1851, and Mr. Stowell left it March 11, 1858. From this date to August 26, 1858, Mr. In- galls had no partner. At that time John A. Haddock was taken into the concern. March 22, 1860, this notice appeared in the Reformer :-

"Hon. Beman Brockway, late of Oswego County, will hereafter be associated with the un- dersigned in the conduct of this paper INGALLS & HADDOCK."

September 27, in the same year, Mr. Haddock retired from the paper, and Isaac M. Beebee became interested in the same. He remained in the paper until October 10, 1861, when he resigned to go to the war, and Ingalls and Brockway became the publishers. December 17, 1863, Lafayette J. Bigelow became connected with the paper and continued his interest therein until his death, which occurred January 13, 1870. On the Ist of June following Charles R. Skinner came into the establishment as a partner, the firm name being Ingalls, Brockway & Skinner. December 12, 1873, Mr. Brockway pur- chased the interest of Mr. Ingalls at public sale, and at private sale the in- terest of Mr. Skinner the Ist of August, 1874, since which time he has been the editor of the paper, and he and his sons, J. W. and H. A. Brockway, the proprietors of the establishment.

It will be seen that the array of names concerned in bringing into exist- ence the Republican press in Watertown, and bringing up what is now the Daily Times and Weekly Reformer, is large and respectable, to say the least. Benjamin Cory was a solid man, both physically and intellectually. H. S. Noble did good work. William Welch, who was the founder of the old Black River Journal, is a good deal of a man, and had he remained in the paper would without doubt have made his mark here as he has else- where. A. W. Clark, though never a strong writer, was a good newspaper man, possessing a level head and a good heart. George W. Smith, who is still living at his home in Herkimer, in his day excelled both as a speaker and writer. John Fayel was one of the cleverest writers and best hearted men ever connected with the press in this county. Lotus Ingalls's varied talents are too well known to require special mention. Mr. Stowell wrote pointedly and well. Mr. Haddock wields a ready pen, and, had he stuck to journalism, could hardly have failed to achieve credit. Lafayette J. Bigelow was the readiest speaker Watertown has ever had, and he wrote well. Charles R. Skinner is a rapid and excellent writer, and ought to have continued in journalism and let offices alone. But he got into politics, somewhat acci- dentally, and does not find it an easy thing to get out. The life-work of the writer will be left to speak for itself.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

Besides the foregoing there have been numerous newspaper ventures in Wa- tertown. Among them may be mentioned the Herald of Salvation, a Univer- salist semi-monthly magazine, by Rev. Pitt Morse, commenced November 30, 1822 ; first year printed by S. A. Abbey ; second, by W. Woodward. It was then united with a magazine in Philadelphia.

The Genius of Philanthropy, temperance, started by H. L. Harvey, who bought Thursday's Post, January 17, 1828, and issued a new paper, called the Watertown Register, and united the Genius of Philanthropy with it. Just when the last named publication was started is not stated.

The Monitor, quarterly, started January 1, 1830, and designed as a record of the benevolent societies of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

The Student, by the students of the Black River Institute, and printed by B. Cory, commenced August 1, 1837. It lasted one year.

The Pioneer Phalanx and Independent Magazine, edited by A. C. S. Bailey, and begun in November, 1843, monthly-only one number issued. It was to be the organ of the Fourier Association in Watertown.

Watertown Spectator, for temperance and no license, by Joel Greene, com- menced December 22, 1846, lived two years.

The Sinai and Calvary Reporter, quarterly, by Rev. Joseph A. Livingston, begun October, 1852. Only one number issued in Watertown.

The Phare des Lacs (Beacon of the Lakes), commenced in May, 1858, by C. Petit, editor and proprietor, was published several years in Watertown, then removed to Buffalo, and from there to Toledo, where it was discon- tinued.

At a later date several papers have come into being, to wit: The Water- town Post, which was started July 16, 1870, by George C. Bragdon & Co., G. C. Bragdon, editor. November 2, 1871, Mr. Bragdon retired and the firm name was changed to Hanford, Wood & Plumb, W. C. Plumb, editor. In 1872 Mr. Plumb retired from the paper and was succeeded as editor by J. H. Treadwell. In June, 1874, R. A. Oakes succeeded Mr. Treadwell, and the following September the paper was purchased by L. Ingalls, who has since edited it.

In 1883 the Republican was started by Gen. Bradley Winslow, who edited and published it until 1884, when it was merged in the Watertown Post.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 12

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384