USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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THE first number of The Plattsburgh Republican bears the date of April 13, 1811, with the title Republican, and
Present Assistant United States District Attorney for the Northern District of New York.
Wendell Samsung -
WENDELL LANSING is one of the veteran printers and publishers of the State. He belongs to the class commonly denominated "Radicals," and was one of the pioneers in the anti-slavery cause. Few men retain better their mental and physical vigor. Though seventy-two years of age, he is yet ac- tively engaged in editorial and business pursuits.
Mr. Lansing was born at Perryville, Madison Co., Sept. 18, 1807. He had the educational advantages of the common schools and the Cazenovia Seminary. At the age of twenty-one he entered a printing office at Greenwich, Washington Co., as an apprentice, and in eight months became the proprietor of a news- paper.
In 1839, on the solicitation of Free-Soil men, he was induced to go to Keeseville, Essex Co., and start the Essex County Republican, in the publication of which he was successful and prosperous for seven years, when failing health compelled him to quit the business, and for eight years he followed farming.
On the organization of the Republican party, in 1854, he was induced to return to Keeseville, and publish for the new party an organ, styled the Northern Standard, which advocated the cause of Republicanism with great vigor until the triumph
of the party in the election of Lincoln, in 1860. The Standard was then sold to the proprietors of the Essex County Republican, which had also espoused the Republican cause. He remained out of the business about three years, in the mean time raising a company of soldiers for the Union army, and ac- companying the 77th Regiment as long as health would permit.
In 1864 he purchased the Plattsburgh Sentinel, then a small sheet, which was subsequently enlarged three times till it attained its present size. In 1865 he formed a copartnership with his son, A. W. Lan- sing, and the paper has since been published by the firin of W. Lansing & Son. The circulation of the paper was increased from five hundred to two thou- sand five hundred.
In 1877 the office of the Essex County Republican, at Keeseville, was completely destroyed by fire, and on earnest solicitation W. Lansing & Son were in- duced to continue its publication ; W. Lansing re- turning to Keescville as editor and manager of the same, while his son remained in Plattsburgh as editor and manager of the Sentinel. For twelve years these two papers have been published under this arrange- ment, and with great success.
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THE PRESS.
the endorsement, " Printed for the proprietors by L. J. Reynolds." The causes which led to its establishment appear to have been as follows : On the 24th of February, 1811, the announcement was made that a " Republican" newspaper was about to be established in Plattsburgh, called the Political Observatory ; and on the 30th of March the first number of that journal appeared, under the manage- ment of Samuel Lowell, who announced in the first issue his espousal of the cause of Federalism, together with the fact that the Observatory would be conducted in that in- terest. This move created considerable excitement among leading "Republicans," and the result was that a stock company was organized; an old Ramage press, with a quantity of second-hand type, purchased in St. Albans, Vt., and transported in a skiff across the lake to Plattsburgh ; a room was hired in Widow Allen's house, near the square ; and on the 13th of April, as already stated, the first number of the new " Republican" organ was issued.
The names of the principal movers and stockholders in the enterprise were Peter Sailly (at whose house the meet- ing was held at which it was determined to procced with the publication of the paper), Col. Melaneton Smith, Judge Kinner Newcomb, Judge Charles Platt, Isaac C. Platt, Caleb Nichols, Dr. John Miller, Thomas Treadwell, Benjamin Mooers, John Dominey, Elias Woodruff, Thomas Miller, Ezra Thurbur, Judge Carew of Chiazy, and Judge Hicks of Champlain. The apparent anomaly in the name " Re- publican" as applied to a Democratic journal is thus tersely and comprehensively explained by Benj. H. Mooers, in a communication to Col. Stone, editor of the Plattsburgh Republican, and published in that paper, July 25, 1857 : "' Republicans' and ' Federalists' were the party names in that day (1811), and continued so until after the termina- tion of the war of 1812, when the defeated anti-war British party began to steal the appellation ' Republican' to hide their detested name of Federalists, and assumed the title of 'Federal Republicans,' etc. ; while the old Repub- lican party took to themselves the prefix of 'Democrat,' and has ever since maintained the cognomen of ' Democratic Republicans.' "
Col. Melancton Smith occupied the post of editor of the new paper at first, and on the 11th of October, 1811, the names of Heman Cady and Azariah C. Flagg appeared for the first time as printers of the Republican.
On the 8th of November, 1811, the name of Cady was dropped, and the Republican appears to have been " printed for the proprietors by Azariah C. Flagg." On the 13th of December, Mr. Flagg took full charge of the Republican as editor, a position in which he remained until about the 1st of March, 1826, when he was succeeded by Henry C. Miller, who was succeeded by C. P. Broadwell as " printer and publisher." In July, 1827, H. C. Miller and J. K. Averill became publishers of the Republican ; April 19, 1828, their names disappear from this connection, and on the 17th of May, Henry C. Miller became sole publisher, probably only for a brief period, however, and from this time for several years the Republican appears to have maintained but a feeble existence, having been during the latter portion of this period in charge of a man named Law. Aug. 3, 1833, Hugh Moran and Roby G. Stone
commenced the publication of the Republican, and con- tinued the same till Dec. 3, 1834, when the copartnership of Moran & Stone was dissolved by mutual consent, and Roby became sole publisher and proprietor, a position which he filled until the 1st of January, 1871, when he entered into partnership with Ransom R. Grant. This co- partnership was soon afterwards dissolved by the death of Mr. Stone, and on the 1st of January, 1872, Robert E. Baldwin became a partner with Mr. Grant, under the name of Grant & Baldwin. On the 24th of May, 1873, Mr. Baldwin retired, and Geo. F. Bixby entered the firm in his place, the title of the firm being Grant & Bixby, which it retains to the present time.
The Republican has attained an enviable reputation as a wide-awake, thoroughly reliable newspaper, and exerts a strong influence in the Democratic party.
THE PLATTSBURGH SENTINEL,
of which W. Lansing & Son are the proprietors, is the successor of three publications, viz. : Plattsburgh Whig, the American Sentinel, and Plattsburgh Sentinel.
The Whig was started by G. W. Platt in 1835, and in 1838 it passed into the hands of Mr. Eastman, and its name changed to Clinton County Whig. In 1842 it was pur- chased by J. W. Tuttle, who conducted it five years, when it went into the possession of Seymour B. Fairman, who subsequently became one of the publishers of the Elmira Daily Advertiser. In 1853 it was purchased by Albert G. Carver, and soon after changed to the Plattsburgh Express. It was continued as the Express until 1860, when Mr. Carver purchased the Plattsburgh Sentinel of Mr. Tuttle, mentioned hereafter, and, uniting the two, issued the eom- bination as the Express and Sentinel. In the great con- flagration of 1867 the establishment was destroyed by fire, and the list was sold to W. Lansing & Son, and united with the Sentinel.
A "Know-Nothing" sheet, called The American Sen- tinel, was started by Warren Dow in 1855. In 1857 it passed into the possession of J. W. Tuttle, and was trans- formed into a Republican paper, taking the name of the Plattsburgh Sentinel. Mr. Tuttle conducted it with marked success until 1860, when he sold it to Mr. A. G. Carver, who combined it with the Express, mentioned above. In 1861 another paper was started by Warren Dow, called the Plattsburgh Sentinel, which he continued about three years, when it passed into the possession of W. Lansing & Son, who subsequently, as before stated, combined with it the Express and Sentinel.
The Sentinel ranks among the leading local journals of the State. It is Republican in politics, and a fearless ex- ponent of the principles of that party. A. W. Lansing, editor ; H. H. Story, assistant editor.
The Northern Herald was started April 10, 1813, by Fred. C. Powell. In 1815 it was changed to the P'latts- burgh Herald, and soon after discontinued.
The Northern Intelligencer was begun at Plattsburgh, in May, 1821, by the late Fred. P. Allen. The Aurora Borealis was established in 1828, and in 1832 it was con- solidated with the Intelligencer, the paper taking the name of the Plattsburgh Aurora, and soon after discontinued.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The Democratic Press was published at Plattsburgh, in 1834, by J. K. Averill.
The Free Democrat was published in Plattsburgh, in 1848, by Oliver Hart, with P. S. Palmer as editor.
The Northern Democrat, a monthly medical journal, was started in Plattsburgh, in 1849, by Dr. Horace Nelson. It was afterwards changed to the The Lancet, and continued until 1846.
The Cottage Gazette was published in 1851, by Arthur C. Nelson.
THE ROUSE'S POINT HABBINGER AND CHAMPLAIN PO- LITICAL AND LITERARY COMPENDIUM.
It was in the autumn of 1823 that a printing-press was brought into the town of Champlain by one Samuel Hull Wilcocke, and the first newspaper ever printed here was then started. The career of its editor deserves a passing notice. This curious genius commenced in June, 1820, the publication, at Montreal, of a scurrilous sheet entitled The Scribbler, made up of scandal, criticism, satire, ribald per- sonalities, and amorous verses. For its publication and for forgery he was driven from the city, when he fled to Bur- lington, Vt., where he continued his publication under the fictitious name of " Lewis Luke Muccallow, Esq.," dating it still at Montreal, while printing it at Burlington. After a year or two he removed his press to Rouse's Point, when, December, 1823, in addition to the Scribbler, he began the publication of the Harbinger, etc. Here, through the Scrib- bler, he poured forth his venom upon the Canadian authori- ties, who had exiled him, and scandalized the inhabitants, to whom he gave nicknames and queer titles. In 1826 he re- moved to Plattsburgh, where, unable to endure his sheet, the grand jury indicted him for imposing a nuisance on the community. He abandoned the Scribbler and began the publication of The Colonial Magazine, which he abandoned after printing three numbers. He subsequently returned to Canada and secured a position as reporter for Parliament at Quebec, where he died. Wilcocke continued the Har- binger through the year 1825, and then sold it to Chas, P. Broadwell, who changed its name to The Frontier Sentinel. It was issued by Broadwell a few weeks, when it was sold to Ketchum Averill, and soon after discon- tinued.
The Champlain Beacon was established at Rouse's Point, by Ketchum Averill, in 1850, by whom it was con- tinued until January, 1852, when it passed into the pos- session of David Turner, and its name changed to the Rouse's Point Advertiser. It was discontinued in 1858.
The Herald of Freedom, a monthly, was issued by the Champlain Executive Committee of the Clinton County Liberal Party, edited by O. B. Ashman, in October, 1843. It was discontinued in 1844.
The Independent Democrat, a Free-Soil and Liberty paper-a campaign sheet-was started Oct. 20, 1850, at Champlain village, with O. B. Ashman, cditor. Only three numbers were issued.
The Champlain Citizen was started at Rouse's Point, June 20, 1861, published by Myron F. Wilson. It was short-lived.
The Champlain Herald was started by Adams & De-
mond. It subsequently passed into the hands of Mr. Adams, and the name was changed to the Clinton County Herald. It was published by Mr. Adams until the winter of 1879, when it was discontinued. Independent.
The Mountain Echo and Adirondack Guide is the latest addition to the press of Clinton County. It was established at Ausable Forks, in 1879, by D. L. Hayes & Son, and is a neatly-printed weekly journal.
CHAPTER XXXI.
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Organization in 1807-First Officers-By-Laws-Early Members- Sketch of Pioneer Members-Interesting History-Decline of So- ciety-Reorganization-First Officers-Officers from 1865 to 1880- List of members, with Dates of Admission-Present Officers.
IN conformity to an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, passed April 4, A.D. 1806, entitled " An Act to Incorporate Medical Societies for the Purpose of Regulating the Practice of Physic and Surgery in the State," the physicians and surgeons of the county of Clinton met at the house of Israel Green, innholder, in Plattsburgh, on the 6th day of October, A.D. 1807. Present, Drs. Albon Man, John Miller, Silas Goodrich, Nicholas Handley, Oliver Davidson, Henry S. Waterhouse, Rapel Vaughn, and Ben- jamin Moore.
The constitution presented by Drs. Davidson and Water- house was unanimously adopted.
The constitution and by-laws were very similar to those now in use. The by-laws provided for a library, which was maintained for some years.
A part of Article V. of the by-laws was as follows :
"This society may try any of its members for malpractice, intoxi- cation, or speaking disrespectfully of any of their medical brethren with an intent to injure the same."
The first officers chosen were John Miller, President ; Albon Man, Vice-President ; H. S. Waterhouse, Secretary ; Silas Goodrich, Treasurer. The first member to join after the adoption of the constitution was Paul Thorndike, of Malone ; Dr. Waterhouse was also from Malone, and Dr. Man from the present town of Westville. At this same first meeting Drs. Man, Davidson, and Waterhouse were appointed a committee of the censors to examine Jonathan Berry, which was done two days after (December 8th), and he was licensed to practice physic. It was customary at that time to license separately for physic or surgery, either or both as the candidate might be qualified or desire. The examination for physic was only in the branches of natural philosophy, chemistry, thorough knowledge of the most ap- proved systems of materia medica, pharmacy, anatomy, phys- iology, and theory and practice of medicine; and for surgery " he must possess a complete knowledge of anatomy, phys- iology, and the theory and practice of surgery."
A copy of the minutes of the first meeting and of the constitution and by-laws was duly filed in the county clerk's office of Clinton County, Oct. 25, 1807, agreeably to statute.
At a meeting in 1808, Drs. Horatio Powell, of Malone, and Elijah Herrick were admitted. Dr. Powell was ap- pointed delegate to the State Medical Society, and by a
133
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
vote of the society at this time the expenses of the delegate were paid by the society, which practice was continued for some years. At this meeting Drs. Man, Waterhouse, and Powell were appointed a committee " to receive moneys in the hands of the treasurer and lay then out for medical publications, and at the next meeting said committee are to report such rules and regulations for the government of said library as they shall think necessary."
The following by-law was also adopted :
" That every member when speaking in society shall rise and ad- dress the President, observe order and decorum, pay proper respeet to the President and other officers as well as his fellow-members. No member shall at any meeting of the society on any account withdraw from the meeting without first obtaining leave from the President. If any member violates this resolution he shall for the first offense for- feit and pay to the treasurer the sum of twenty-five eents, for the second offense, fifty cents, and so on, doubling the last sum for every succeeding offense."
The following questions were proposed for discussion at the next meeting, viz. :
" What is the best method to be used for the cure of the dysenteria, from a consideration of its remote and proxi- mate causes ?" By Dr. Powell.
" What is the essential difference between the continued quotidian of the ancients called the epidemic, catarrhal fever, and the typhus or mixed fever prevalent in our coun- try some four or five years last past, and what is the best method of cure for each ?" By Dr. Man.
" What is the safest and most infallible method of treat- ment for curing the bilious intermitting fever of this coun- try ?" By Dr. Waterhouse.
March 8, 1808, Samuel Newcomb was examined and ap- proved by the censors of the Clinton Medical Society, and licensed to practice physic and surgery. March 28th, John Horton was also licensed.
Dec. 26, 1808, John Morley was examined, approved, and licensed to practice physic and surgery.
Jan. 19, 1809, society met at the house of Israel Green, innholder, in Plattsburgh. Dr. Waterhouse read a surgical dissertation " On the Theory and Treatment of Wounds pene- trating the Capsular Ligaments of Joints." Dr. Reuben Jones was admitted a member. Dr. Powell received a vote of thanks and $18.80 expense attending State society in February last. Medical books were received from Dr. Powell to the amount of $11.20.
At this date Drs. Man, Waterhouse, Taylor, and Thorn- dike were permitted to withdraw from the society, which was probably for the purpose of forming a society in Franklin County. Franklin was set off from Clinton in 1808, and a medical society was formed in 1809. At this same meeting four physicians were fined $1 each for non-attendance, and the treasurer was directed to sue for and collect the same.
May 10, 1809, Henry Rogers was examined, approved, and licensed to practice physic and surgery.
In January, 1810, Dr. Benjamin Moore was elected presi- dent, and Dr. Oliver Davidson was appointed delegate to the State society.
Drs. Miller, Jones, and Herrick were appointed a com- mittee " to draft a petition to the Legislature for aid in improving the botanic garden at the city of New York."
The delegate to the State Medical Society was author-
ized " to use his influence with others to co-operate with the Medical Society to request a repeal of the act subject- ing physicians and surgeons to military duty."
Jan. 15, 1811, society met at the house of Edward Hunter, innholder, Plattsburgh. It was decided not to send a delegate to State society ; five members were fined $1 cach for non-attendance ; Dr. J -- B -- appeared and gave his note for fine.
Jan. 21, 1812, socicty met at the house of Edward Hunter, innholder, at Plattsburgh. Dr. John Horton was dismissed from the society on his request. It was resolved to pay Dr. Davidson $8.75 expense as delegate to State society in 1810. The censors examined and approved Benjamin J. Moocrs ; he was accordingly licensed to prac- tice physic and surgery. He signed the constitution and by-laws, and became a member of the society. S. Berry was examined and licensed at the same time.
Jan. 19, 1813, annual meeting. Dr. Benjamin Moore, President ; S. Goodrich, Vice-President ; Dr. B. J. Mooers, Secretary. Reuben Joncs was licensed to practice physic and surgery ; he read a dissertation on typhus fever. It was resolved to adjourn to the first day of the sitting of the court in July, and that the secretary publish a notice in the Republican for three weeks preceding the meeting. The annual meeting of 1814 was of no importance, as nothing was done but to elect officers.
Jan. 17, 1815, socicty met " at the house now occupied by Mr. Goldsmith, innholder, in Plattsburgh." After opening, dissertations were called for, and, none being pre- pared, all were fined twenty-five cents. The secretary was directed to draw money from the treasurer with which to purchase vaccine virus from the United States agent.
Jan. 15, 1816, met at Goldsmith's, innholder, in Platts- burgh. Drs. Nathan Carver and Francis Parker were ad- mitted members. Nathan Carver was elected President; Benjamin Moore, Vice-President ; and B. J. Mooers, Secretary.
" Resolved, That Drs. John Miller, Oliver Davidson, and Benjamin J. Mooers be and are hereby appointed a committee to draft an ad- dress to the State Medical Society, stating the reasons why a delegate of this society has not annually and punctually been sent to meet them at Albany. First, ' on account of our peculiar situation on the frontier in time of war. Second, the impossibility of physicians so remote from the place of sitting of the State Medical Society having it in their power at all times to leave their respective places of business.' "
The secretary was directed to have a copy of the consti- tution prepared and send it around among the members till all have had an opportunity to read it. Jabez Fitch and Miles Stevenson were examined, approved, and duly licensed to practice physic and surgery.
Jan. 16, 1817, society met at Holt's, innkeeper, in the town of Plattsburgh. Dr. James Wood joined the society. Dr. James Wood was elected President ; B. J. Mooers, Vice-President ; Oliver Davidson, Secretary. The first action in relation to irregular practice was had at this meeting. It was resolved that every member of the med- ical society of the county of Clinton shall be and is hereby required to prosecute every itinerant or other practitioner of medicine who has not obtained permission to practice the same from legal authority.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" Resolved, That the physicians in each town in this county shall be a committee to proseeute all persons who are, in their opinion, practicing medieine without legal authority.
" Resolved, That the above resolutions be inserted in the Republi- can, printed in Plattsburgh.
"Resolved, That Dr. - (one of the village physicians who had failed to attend a number of meetings) shall be eited to attend our next annual meeting."
The semi-annual meeting was held on the second day of court for general sessions of the peace in October, at the house of Edward Hunter, innholder, in Plattsburgh.
June 20, 1818, society mnet pursuant to adjournment. After the election of officers it was resolved that Drs. Parker, Mooers, and Davidson be a committee to draw the moneys in the hands of the treasurer, and purchase medical books for the library to the amount of the same. Question proposed by Dr. Parker: " What is the chemical change that takes place in the mixture of muriate of quicksilver and carbonate of potash ?"
Jan. 19, 1819, society met at the house of Edward Hunter, innholder, and adjourned to the house of Simon Newcomb. Society organized with Dr. B. J. Mooers, vice- president, in the chair, after which a circular from the State Medical Society relating to the establishment of an Amer- ican pharmacopoeia was read. The attention of the society was also called " to the vacancy of our seat in the State society." Drs. William Beaumont and R. P. Allen pre- sented their credentials, and were admitted members of the society. The treasurer was directed to pay out of any money in his hands the necessary expenses of the delegate to the State society. Dr. Benjamin Moore was chosen delegate. Drs. Mooers, Parker, and Davidson, who were chosen a committee to purchase books on surgery and med- icine, report that they have, agreeable to appointment, made a purchase of books to the amount of money appropriated for that purpose. The report was accepted and committee discharged.
" Resolved, That the books presented by Dr. Parker be accepted as well selected, well bound, good paper, and in good type."
March 1, 1819, Samuel Beaumont was examined and licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
Jan. 19, 1820, society met at the house formerly occu- pied by Simon Newcomb, innholder, in the town of Platts- burgh. After organizing, Drs. Samuel Beaumont, Baruch Beckwith, and Harmon Howe presented their credentials and became members of the society. Dr. B. J. Mooers was elected delegate to the State society. The treasurer was directed to pay the delegate his necessary expenses in attending the society. It was then resolved " that a pre- mium be given to any one member of this society who shall deliver to this society the best dissertation on medical, sur- gical, or botanical subjects, at the next annual meeting, of a book of the value of two dollars, to be presented to him by the officers of this society."
June 29, 1820, " Nathaniel K. Olmstead was duly ex- amincd and required to sign a declaration corresponding to one required by the State Medical Society, to which he complicd and received his diploma."
Copy of declaration :
"I, N. K. Olmstead, of the county of Clinton and State of New York, do solemnly declare that I will honestly, virtuously, and chastely con-
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