History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 63

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112

USA > New York > Chemung County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 63
USA > New York > Schuyler County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 63
USA > New York > Tioga County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 63
USA > New York > Tompkins County > History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York > Part 63

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).

The presidents of the society have been as follows : 1836 -37, Lemuel Hudson ; 1837-38, Nathaniel Aspinwall ; 1838-40, Erastus L. Hart, and also 1849-50, 1852-54, 1859-60, 1864-65; 1840-41 and 1848-49, Theseus Brooks ; 1841-42, John Payne; 1842-43, P. E. Conck- lin ; 1843-44, Jotham Purdy ; 1844-45, 1851-52, 1863 -64, 1866-67, Dr. Hollis S. Chubbuek ; 1845-47, Nelson Winton ; 1850-51, 1860-62, 1865-66, Wm. Woodward; 1867-68, Henry Meisel ; 1868-69, T. H. Squirc.

LIST OF MEMBERS, WITHI DATE OF ADMISSION.

1836, May 3 .- Lemuel Hudson,# Asa R. Howell,# N. D. Gardiner,*

John Payne," Erastus L. Hart," Nelson Winton,# Theseus Brooks, Horace Seaman, H. M. Graves,> W. E. Boothe, f* F. Demorest," Uriah Smith,# Z. H. Monroc, E. II. Elridge,# Lewis Miller.+*

1836, Oct. 4 .- IIenry K. Webster,# Peter E. Conklin .**

1837, Jan. 10 .- Tracy Beadle," Nathan Boynton, Alfred Griffin, t E. A. Tompkins, t Guy Hulett,; Hovey Everitt.#

1837, May 2 .- Rulandus Bancroft, Jotham Purdy, Nathaniel As- pinwall.»

1838, Oct. 2 .- Seth B. Nelson.#

1839, May 2 .- Hollis S. Chubbuck.

1839, May 7 .- A. W. Benton.t

1839, Oct. 8 .- Corbett Peebles.

1840 .- Wm Parinton, + Levi Thompson.t

1841 .- Joseph Dixon Ford, + H. H. Smith. t

1842 .- W. R. Hopkins, Sumner Rhoads,# Wm. Woodward.

1843 .- Edward L. Ford.

1844 .- Jno. Jones, + G. D. Bailey, J. F. Dunlap,+ S. L. Disbrow, t Ralph Shepard.+

1845 .- George T. Hinman.+

1848 .- Rowland Wilcox, Samuel C. Rogers,; J. L. Lawrence.t

1849 .- Wm. C. Wey.

1850 .- N. R. Derby, t Geo. W. Holbrook,# T. H. Squire, D. W. C. Tenny.#

1852 .- Ira F. Ilart, Jonathan E. Leavitt.#

1859 .- P. H. Flood, J. K. Stauchfield, E. II. Davis, ; II. II. Purdy. 1863 .- Aaron Rice, t Ebenezer Gere, George Dean, Henry Meisel."

1865 .- Z. F. Chase, J. M. Flood.

1866 .- Charles C. Lee,t E. R. Wheeler, Daniel Holmes,# P. L. St. Croix.

1867 .- Frank B. Abbott," Louis Velder,# W. II. Davis, L. W. Bailey. 1868 .- M. G. Myers, t Albert M. Flood."

1869 .- George M. Beard.

1872 .- E. A. Everett,; C. M. Spaulding.

1873 .- D. J. Chittenden, + J. M. Newman, Geo. II. Woodward.

1874 .- Charles L. Squire, Henry Flood, R. P. Bush, J. F. Smith, C. F. Hawkins.

1875 .- J. Stuart Ilill, A. A. Jackway.

1876 .- C. P. Godfrey, John E. Eldred.

1877 .- Edward T. Gibson,t Thomas A. Davie, Charles W. Brown, E. W. Krackowizer, John S. Christison, Charles Woodward.

1878 .- II. D. Wey, J. Maroney, W. S. Ruch, W. Jennings.

Eleven non-resident physicians have been members of the society since its organization, of whom four are known to be dead at the present time.

The last annual meeting was held June 19, 1878, at the society's rooms in Elmira, at which the following offieers were elected : President, Dr. J. F. Smith ; Vice-President, Dr. J. E. Eldred ; Seeretary, Dr. C. W. Browu ; Treas- urer, Dr. Wm. Woodward; Censors, Drs. W. C. Wey, T. H. Squire, Chase, Chubbuck, and Stanehfield. The re- tiring president, Dr. Chubbuck, read an interesting ad- dress on the carly history of medicine, and several papers were read on medical subjects and cases, which were dis- cussed by those present.

HOMEOPATHY.

The first physician to introduce the practice of medicine into Chemung County after the school of Ilahnemann was Dr. Towner, about the year 1843. He was a graduate of the old school, and changed his practice about that time and located in Elmira, where he followed the practice for some years. He removed to Clinton, Iowa, where he died in 1857. His colleagues and successors up to the organ-

# Dead.

+ Removed from county.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

ization of the Homoeopathic Medical Society in 1861 were Drs. Doane, Maniere, Patrick W. Gray (1852, and who died in 1866), Groom, Reid, Henry Sayles, and Nathaniel R. Seeley. The latter was a student of Drs. Towner and Gray in 1853, was a graduate of Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College, admitted to practice in 1857, and was for a short time in company with Dr. Gray, then went to Corning, and remained there some eight years, and then returned to Elmira, where he is yet in successful and lucrative practice. Dr. Seeley was born in Tioga Co., Pa., and educated at the Elmira Academy.

THE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF CHEMUNG COUNTY

was organized Feb. 5, 1861, under the act of 1857, for the organization of such societies. There were present at the organization Drs. P. W. Gray, N. R. Seeley, and T. B. Seilen, of Elmira; H. S. Benedict, of Corning; W. H. Whippey, of Millport ; and J. L. Corbin, of Athens, Pa. A constitution and a code of by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected subsequently : President, Wm. Gulick; Vice-President, P. W. Gray; Secretary and Treas- urer, H. S. Benedict ; Censors, W. L. Purdy, E. W. Rogers, N. R. Seeley, H. S. Benedict, and T. B. Sellen,

The presidents of the society have been as follows : 1861-64, Wm. Gulick ; 1865-68, H. S. Purdy ; 1869, T. W. Read; 1870-71, O. Groom; 1872-73, N. R. Seeley ; 1874-76, Henry ; 1877, Dr. Parkhurst ; 1878, E. D. Leonard.

The vice-president for the present year is Dr. Jenks, and Charles E. Sayles is secretary and treasurer. The meetings of the society are fairly attended, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease according to the foundation principle of homoeopathy, Similia similibus curantur, are freely dis- cussed thereat.

The list of members of the society and the dates of their admission are as follows :

1861 .- Patrick W. Gray, Nathaniel R. Seeley, T. B. Sellen, H. S. Benediet, W. H. Whippey, J. L. Corbin, Athens, Pa .; W. S. Purdy, Addison ; E. W. Rogers, Dundee; Wm. Guliek, Tyrone; Orlando Groom, Henry Sayles, E. M. French, E. W. Lewis, Watkins.

1863,-G. Z. Noble, Dundee; E. I. Morgan and Alonzo Bishop, Ithaca ; R. N. Mills.

1864 .- Frank Tompkins, Havana.

1866,-T. W. Read, C. B. Knight, Tyrone.

1869 .- H. P. Hollett, Havana ; G. A. Traey, Heetor.

1870 .- E. D. Leonard, C. F. Miller, E. M. White.

1875 .- B. W. Morse, R. B. Jenks, Chas. E. Sayles.

Where the residence is not otherwise specified it is in Chemung County.

THE ECLECTIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE SOUTHERN TIER

was organized July 10, 1874, under the act of the Legis- lature providing therefor, as the Eclectic Medical Society of the Twenty-seventh Senatorial District, and in January following changed the name to that at the head of this article. The jurisdiction of the society at first embraced but three counties, but now it includes six, to wit : Tioga, Tompkins, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, and Yates. The first officers were Drs. M. Skinner, President ; Charles A.

Janes, Vice-President; Miles Stevens, Recording Secretary ; John W. Hedding, Corresponding Secretary ; George M. Post, Treasurer,-all of Schuyler County. The Censors were all of those named except Hedding, Dr. Remington, of Steuben, being on the board.

The presidents have been Dr. Skinner, from 1874 to June, 1876, and Dr. Alfred Force, since to the present time. Dr. Miles Stevens has been the secretary from the organization, and the treasurer for the past three years.

The members are as follows : F. Remington and W. B. Remington, Painted Post ; M. Skinner, Chas. A. Janes, J. W. Hedding, George M. Post, Schuyler County ; C. H. Woodruff, Horseheads ; Alfred Force, Starkey ; John M. Crane, Addison ; L. E. Horton, Campbell ; F. A. Stewart, Avoca ; T. H. Horton, Bath ; O. S. Brown, Odessa ; Brad- ley Blakeslee, Steuben ; J. K. Richardson, Greenwood; I. E. Hill, Trumansburg; Mrs. S. E. Pratt, Miss M. E. Davis, Miles Stevens, O. D. Stiles, Elmira; E. B. Collins, Veteran.

The usual business transacted by the other medical societies is the order at the annual and semi-annual meet- ings of the society.

THE CLERGY.

The earliest resident clergyman of whom any record is preserved was Rev. Jabez Colver, who located on lots 54, 55, and 56 of the old town of Chemung, during or before the year 1788. A deed from one Jacob Stoll to Mr. Col- ver for lot 55 was executed Dec. 20, 1788, which is the earliest dated deed on the records of Tioga County. This lot runs to the river-bank, across Seeley Creek, near the lower end of Big Island, in Southport. Here, in the latter part of March, 1791, Colonel Proctor was entertained by the old clergyman one night while the latter was on his journey to hold a treaty at Buffalo Creek with the Indians. Colonel Proctor describes Mr. Colver as a dissenting minis- ter, meaning some other than the Episcopal Church. He was probably a Baptist. He did not preach much, and in 1791 conveyed all his property, real and personal, to his sons.

Rev. Roswell Goff was here as early as 1789, for during that year he organized the old Chemung (now Wellsburg) Baptist Church, and was its pastor for many years.

Rev. Daniel Thatcher was a missionary of the General Board of Missions, and was in Elmira in 1795, and laid the foundation for the Presbyterian Churches of the city. He died afterwards at Wysox, Bradford Co., Pa.

Dr. Amos Parke added preaching to his practice after Mr. Thatcher left, having a license from a New Jersey ecclesiastical body.

Judge Brinton Paine officiated in the desk occasionally. Rev. Clark Brown, afterwards a Unitarian, and Rev. John Smith preached for a short time, and occasionally in the early days.

Rev. Simeon R. Jones, in 1805, was the earliest pastor in Elmira, and taught school and preached in the school- house. He was one of the Boanerges' of the border, who held up the terrors of the law to persuade men to Christ, rather than delineating the beatitudes. He was a Presby- terian, but organized the first church as a Congregationalist. He preached many years.

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AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

Hezekiah Woodruff was a minister, lawyer, and doctor by turns, and neither long. He was highly educated, pos- sessed fine talents, had a polished style, and was a fluent speaker. He was disappointed, it is said, in a certain affaire de cœur with a worthy lady of the village, and became insane, or at least very eccentric. He was inordinately fond of dancing, and was deposed from his ministry on account of his reputation. He lived a hermit's life in Erin for twenty years, and during the time translated the Greek Testament into the English vernacular. He died a few years ago. He too was a Presbyterian.

Rev. Henry Ford, remarked for his piety and devotion, Rev. Eleazer Lathrop, a talented young divine, and Rev. John Frost, were also of the early Presbyterian preachers.

The Methodist Church had its itinerants early in the field, but not so early as either the Baptists or Presbyterians. Among the earliest ministers of this denomination were Revs. G. Lanning and Loring Grant.

Rev. Jonas Dodge was a power in the church in 1830 and subsequently. Rev. Allen Steele also was a zealous and talented minister.

Rev. R. D. Gillette was a Baptist clergyman of French extraction, and noted for his labors in the Church. He organized five churches in the Chemung Valley and adja- cent regions. He belonged to a family of clergymen and physicians, and died at Horseheads, March 28, 1845.

The Episcopal Church numbers among its early rectors Revs. John G. Carder, Clark, Richard Smith, Gordon Wins- low, Kendrick Metcalf, B. F. Whitcher (who was the hus- band of the author of the " Widow Bedott Papers"), and Washington Van Zandt, all of Elmira.

Probably the most notcd preacher who has ever resided in Chemung County is at present a resident of the city of Elmira, Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, pastor of the Park Church of Elmira, and a brother of Henry Ward Beecher, whose fame is world-wide. A more extended sketch of Mr. Beecher will be found in connection with the history of Park Church.

CHAPTER XLII.

THE PRESS OF CHEMUNG COUNTY .*

The First Newspaper of the County-Elmira Republican-Chemung Democrat-Elmira Advertiser-Horseheads Philosopher-Che- mung County Republican-Other Publications.

GETTING back to the early history of the newspaper press within the bounds of what is now Chemung County seems like approaching the borders of the dark ages. There is a mist, and there are traditions, but almost literally nothing which can be scized upon as substantial history. The oldest inhabitant was but a small boy in his teens, whose recollections of the early newspapers, if he has any, are not altogether reliable. In Solomon Southwick's pan- phlet, entitled " Views of Elmira," he states that " the first newspaper in this county was established here in 1815, by Brindle & Murphy. The Telegraph was its title,-its polit-

ical character neutral. The next was The Vedette, estab- lished by William Murphy in 1818. These both died. Next came The Tioga Register, established by J. A. Smith, in 1822, for the support of Adams and Clay. In 1828 its title was changed to that of The Elmira Gazette. It is now," continucs Mr. Southwick, in the pamphlet from which these extracts are made, and which was published in The Elmira Republican and General Advertiser of April 16, 1836, " in the hands of Mr. B. Paine, as publisher, and Thomas Maxwell, Esq., as editor, and supports the present Federal and State administrations. Four hundred copies at least are printed weekly, and four hands are employed in the printing-office, the work donc in which, exclusive of the newspaper, amounts to about $1500 per annum. This may be considered a flourishing establishment for a country vil- lage,-a village, however, which bids fair soon to become a city. The Elmira Whig," Mr. Southwick proceeds to say, " was next established, in 1828, by James Durham, and published one ycar as an opposition paper, when it expired, for what reason we are not informed. The Elmira Repub- lican was established in 1829, by William Murphy, printer, and edited by Chauncey Morgan. Nine months afterwards it passed into the hands of John Duffey, who continued it about nine months. It was then purchased by Birdsall & Huntley. It is an opposition print, supporting the Whig party. On the 1st of this month [March, 1836] Ransom Birdsall, the editor, bought Mr. Huntley's share, and is now sole proprietor, editor, and publisher. Mr. Birdsall and Mr. Maxwell, his opponent, are both self-educated men, who have relied upon their own skill and industry for their present standing and property. The office of Mr. Birdsall employs two presses, and besides his paper, of which he now publishes about 500 copies weekly, he is engaged in stereotypc-printing,-has issued within the last year 10,000 volumes of Cobb's celebrated school-books, and 200 gross of his first series of toys. He prints and sells blanks, and does job-work to a large amount annually. He has a book- store and bindery connected with his establishment, and the whole concern is in a flourishing state."

Thus we have copied in his own language all that Mr. Southwick has to say of the early newspapers and their publishers. It is probably the most complete statement that is anywhere on record. We are glad, through the medium of this book and the modern printing-press, to res- cue it from the oblivion into which it had practically fallen. Possibly there are other copies extant of Mr. Southwick's " Views of Elmira," from which these extracts are made, but they are necessarily rare and difficult of access. It will be observed that the Elmira Gazette dates back almost to the beginning of newspaper history in this county. It is antedated only seven years, and by two small sheets whose lives were of short duration. It was started as a Clay and Adams paper, and for several years supported that political interest. Tradition, which is probably well founded, alleges that it became a Jackson paper in the twinkling of an eye, between two issues, and that the reasons which induced the change were not such as would stand the kcen criticism of saintly politics. Our fathers were mortal, as thicir sons arc, and were sometimes led into temptation. We are not in pos- session of the exact date of this change in its political chiar-

# By C. G. Fairman.

240

HISTORY OF TIOGA, CHEMUNG, TOMPKINS,

acter, but it was not far from 1830. From that date to this it has been consistently Democratic, without variable- ness or shadow of turning, if we possibly except its course in the campaign of 1848, when the bulk of the Democratie party " went off on old Cass." The Gazette is, therefore, fifty-six years old, and fairly ranks among the oldest papers in the country. Mr. Southwick, in his account from which we have quoted, falls into one error, or rather makes an omission of one fact. The real beginning of the Gazette was in the Investigator, established in 1820, and "printed by Job A. Smith for the proprietor," who was too modest to publish his name. The name of the Investigator was changed in 1824 to Tioga Register, and that again in 1828 to Elmira Gazette. So that the Gazette is really fifty- eight years old, and antedated by any other paper in this county only five years. The files of the Gazette in 1828, when the final change in name was made, and which it has since retained, do not disclose the name of the proprietor, but it was "printed by W. Murphy for the publisher." In 1829, Job A. Smith's name appeared as proprietor, and he continued as such until 1831, when Brinton Paine became the publisher, with Thomas Maxwell, Esq., as editor and proprietor. It was during this misty time when nobody was publicly responsible for its management that the sudden quickening of its political conscience, to which reference has been made, occurred.

About the year 1837, Cyrus Pratt became interested as one of the publishers, the firm being Paine & Pratt. In 1838, Paine sold to Irad Beardsley, and the firm became Pratt & Beardsley. In 1839, Cyrus Pratt alone succeeded Pratt & Beardsley. In the fall of 1840 he made an as- signment to Thomas Maxwell, Whittington Sayre, and Henry Johnson. These gentlemen continued the paper, under the editorial management of Horace E. Purdy, until the fall of 1841, when it was sold to George W. Mason and William C. Rhodes, two young practical printers, who came here from Danville, Pa. The firm of Mason & Rhodes continued until 1853, a period of thirteen years, during which time the paper enjoyed unusual business prosperity. Mr. Rhodes was remarkable for his taste in job printing, and he secured for the office almost a mo- nopoly of that branch of business. The columns of the paper were also filled for continuous years with rich placers of legal advertising in the way of sheriff and mortgage sales, which in those days paid four times as much as any other class of work. The country was overwhelmingly Democratic, and all the patronage of the party officials was given it. It also during this time passed through one of the most stormy and exciting political periods of its ex- istence.

From 1842 to 1849 the Hunker and Barnburner dis- sensions in the Democratic party raged continuously. The Gazette was a Barnburner paper, in earnest and without mercy. Its editorials were not distinguished for beauty of rhetoric, and sometimes the President's English was hor- ribly mangled. But its blows were forcible, and the old Hunkers felt them. In the spring of 1846 there was an open split in the party of the county. The Barnburners went into the north part of the State, and nominated Samuel Young, a distinguished citizen of Saratoga, for

delegate to the Constitutional Convention, then about to assemble. The Barnburners in this county were called upon to make this nomination, because it was supposed to be the safest locality in which Mr. Young could run, and he was wanted by the leaders in the convention. The Hunkers refused to obey the command, and bolted. They placed in nomination William Maxwell, Esq., a lawyer and business man of high character and much personal strength. The Whigs, seeing the opportunity, made no nomination, but joined their forces with the Hunkers, and gave their support to Mr. Maxwell. The contest was exciting. Never anything like it was known in the county before. The Gazette performed prodigies of valor. It was scattered by the thousands free as water over every town and in every hamlet. But the combination was too strong. Tlie Barn- burners were beaten. Mr. Maxwell was elected. "Cruel Chemung kilt Sam Young." The Gazette was disconso- late, and would not be comforted. The Hunkers were jubilant, and in the excess of their joy determined to estab- lish an opposition paper. This was done in the fall of 1846, to which reference will be made elsewhere.

After the retirement of Mr. Rhodes in 1853, Mr. Mason continued the publication alone. In the Presidential cam- paign of 1852 the Gazette had supported Franklin Pierce with great earnestness, but in the divisions which subse- quently grew out of the Kansas-Nebraska excitement, Mr. Mason entered warmly into a defense of free institutions for the State. In 1855 his health had broken down, and in the latter part of that year he went West in hopes of regaining it. But it was too late, and in the spring of 1856 he died. The Gazette was thus, at the opening of an important Presidential campaign, offered for sale. A lively contest for possession of the property ensued between the different political interests. Lucius Robinson, Ariel S. Thurston, Alexander S. Diven, and other Barnburner Dem- ocrats who had given in their adhesion to Fremont, were desirous of getting its control to make it a Republican paper. But they failed, and it was bought by Stephen McDonald, Daniel Stephens, and William R. Judson, in the interest of Buchanan and the Democracy. These gentlemen sold it to William C. Rhodes, who resumed control of its editorial management on the 1st of July, 1856, and the paper continued to do battle for the Demo- cratic party. In August of the same year Mr. Rhodes began the publication of a daily edition, which was dis- continued at the end of a year. In the fall of 1857, Mr. Rhodes having been elected inspector of State prisons, the paper passed into the hands of Samuel C. Taber and Philo B. Dailey. In 1858, Mr. Taber was succeeded by Colonel Frederick A. Devoe. On the 30th of April, 1860, the daily edition was resumed, and since that time the paper has been regularly issued daily and weekly. In 1864, Archibald N. Devoe was associated with his father in the business department, and in July of the same year Charles Hazard purchased an interest, and became the editor. In this arrangement was included the purchase of the daily Press, which was soon afterwards merged with the Gazette. In July, 1866, Colonel Devoe sold his interest, and the paper became the property of Louis A. and Charles Hazard, under the firm-name of L. A. & C. Hazard, who continued

241

AND SCHUYLER COUNTIES, NEW YORK.

its publication as editors and proprietors until September, 1870, when it was sold to a stock company, by which it has since been and is now published ; the officers and or- ganization being as follows: David B. Hill, President ; R. R. Soper, Business Manager and Treasurer; H. S. Brooks, Secretary ; Louis A. and Charles Hazard, Editors. The Hazard Boys, as they are familiarly called, are both practical printers, having begun as apprentices and learned their trades in the office of the paper to which they early succeeded as editors and proprietors. It is no wrong to say, even in staid history, that they are worthy of the suc- cess which has attended their efforts.

Next in order in any historical account of the newspaper press of Chemung County stands the old Elmira Repub- lican. In the brief notice of this paper made by Mr. South- wick in his " Views of Elmira," it will be seen that he dates its commencement in 1829, and gives as its first pub- lisher the name of William Murphy, and its first editor Chauncey Morgan. Its second publisher was John Duffey. About two years after its establishment, or some time in 1831, it was purchased by Ransom Birdsall and Elias S. Huntley, and published by them for a long time under the firm-name of Birdsall & Huntley. It was a Whig paper, in opposition to the administrations of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. In March, 1836, Mr. Huntley sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Birdsall, and retired. The publication was continned by Ransom Birdsall until after the election of President Harrison in 1840, when, having been appointed postmaster, he transferred the paper to Pol- leys & Carter, the firm being William Polleys and Alvah S. Carter, two young men who had served their time as apprentices in the office, and then in the employ of Mr. Birdsall. Polleys & Carter continued the publication until the fall of 1842, when Mr. Carter retired, and D. M. Cook took his place and became editor of the paper. Some time in the fall of 1843, Mr. Cook died, and his interest in the paper was sold to E. S. Huntley, and under the firm-name of William Polleys & Co. the paper was continued until Nov. 15, 1845. In those early days the cditorials of most all country newspapers were furnished by some village poli- tician, generally an ambitious and managing lawyer. In this way the Hon. James Dunn, then a young man and the unquestioned leader of the Whig party in this county, was a liberal contributor to the columns of the Republican. Stephen T. Covell, Esq., a brilliant young lawyer, who died early in life, was also an editor. During the time that Polleys & Carter were publishing the paper, articles fre- quently appeared manifestly from a new hand, and which attracted much attention. They were clearly and vigorously written, of mueh logical force, and effective in argument. It was eventually ascertained that they came from the pen of a journeyman tailor, then working at his trade in one of the shops of the village. His name was Randall W. Wells. The Whigs were so well pleased with his work that they took him off the bench and place him on the editorial tripod, and with his name at the masthead as editor, the paper was published through the Presidential campaign of 1844. On the 15th of November, 1845, the paper was purchased by S. B. & C. G. Fairman. This was just in time to fall upon the fight between the Barnburners 31

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History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and Schuyler counties, New York, Part 63

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 1112

Author: Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) cn; Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 1112