USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 36
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# Inuitton Child, in his Gazetteer of Ulster County, 1871, says. " The first newspaper published in the county was the New York Journal and Advertiser, published by John Holt. It was removed from New York to l'onghkeepsie in 1776, in consequence of the occu- pation of that city by the British. It was published at Kingston from July to October, 1777."
115
THE PRESS OF ULSTER COUNTY.
THE KINGSTON ARGUS AND ITS PREDECESSORS.
The U'lster Plebeian was succeeded in 1832 by the Ulster Republican, of which A. L. Stewart was the editor and publisher until January, 1838, when Rodney L. Chipp suc- ceeded Mr. Stewart. Mr. Chipp continned the editor and publisher until July, 1850. On the 7th of August, Sol- omon S. Hommell became the editor and proprietor, con- tinuing to September, 1855, when he associated with him Joseph P. Ostrander. The firm of Hommell & Os- trander existed until April 1, 1857, when Mr. Ostrander retired, and April 22, 1857, William Lounsbery succeeded him, and the firm became Hommell & Lounsbery, and con- tinued until April 18, 1860, when Gen. Hommell withdrew, leaving Mr. Lounsbery the sole editor and proprietor. Ou May 16, 1861, Gen. Hommell repurchasel the paper and
publican," and the " Argus" is identified with every prom- inent local and political event of its time, and from time to time in its columns have been found vigorous and able con- tributions editorially, and from many of the leading minds in the county.
HENRY G. CROUCH.
Henry G. Crouch, editor of the Kingston Argus, was born in Churchville, Monroe Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 1830; removed to Cortland County in 1839; was educated in the Cortlandville Academy; learned the printing trade in the office of the Cortland Democrat, and in June. 1850, became the editor and proprietor of that paper. In 1855, Mr. Crouch removed to Galena, Ill., where he became the editor and one of the publishers of the Daily and Weekly Cmtrier. In 1859 he returned to the State of New York,
Photo, by Lewis, Kingston.
Ag Couch
changed the name to the Kingston Argus, and continued iu charge until his death, in November, 1863. He was a vig- orous writer and an able party-leader. After his death the Argus was published by the estate of Gen. Hommell, with James R. Foland as editor, until March, 1864, when Wil- liam Hawley effected its purchase. Mr. Hawley, how- ever, retained possession only until May 4, 1564, when Henry G. Crouch became the editor and proprietor, who is the publisher of the Argus at the present time.
The _Argus remains wow, as it has been for a period of over three-quarters of a century, the principal exponent of its party in U'lster County. Very many of its present sub- scribers are the direct successors in the line of descent of the families of its earliest patrons. The history of the paper under its several titles of the " Plebeian," the " Re-
:
and in June of that year became the publisher of the Herkimer Democrat, the organ of the Democratic party in Herkimer County. Ou the 4th of May, 1864, he became proprietor of the Kingston Argus, and continues as such at the present time.
The Craftsman was issued in Kingston, March 29, 1820. The late John Sudam was its founder, and the in- terests of the " Buektail" party, to which he belonged, were advocated in its columns. It was, however, published in the name of Benjamin Jansen until August, 1822, when Eli- jah J. Roberts became its editor. He subsequently drew a prize in a lottery, realizing ten thousand dollars, went to New York City, was connected with the National Adco- cate ; later he moved West, publishing papers in Illinois
146
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and at Detroit, and was elected adjutant-general of Michi- gan. " The Craftsman was published for about the period of five and a half years. . Its office was on North Front Street. At one time Samuel Curtis (who afterwards pub- lished the Republican) was its editor and publisher. It bore at the head of its columns the announcement that it would be ' condneted by an association of gentlemen ;' and such in fact was the case. Among the editors and contrib- utors to its columns were the Hon. John Sudam, John Champliu, Abraham Myer, and John T. Romeyn, while Roberts himself was a writer of no mean capacity."
Having discontinued the Gazette in 1822, Samuel Freer, a veteran in the printing business, started the Ulster Her- ald, a paper of small dimensions and short existence. In April, 1823, he sold the office to Levi Darbe, who removed it to an adjoining county. His connection with the press for the last time was in 1824, when he issued the People's Advocate to aid Mr. Pell's election as State senator. Peter K. Allen was his partner until 1827, when Mr. Freer was succeeded in the firm by one Burns. Several months later the paper was discontinued. Mr. Allen issued the pros- pectus of a weekly paper to be started about Oct. 16, 1827, and to be called the Ulster True American, but the enter- prise failed,-at least in Ulster.
The next publication in order was the Ulster Sentinel, whose first number was issued June 14, 1826. Charles G. De Witt, Esq., was its editor and publisher, and William Sands its printer. Its office was on Wall Street, near the Episcopal church, and afterwards " in a building near Rut- zer's hotel, on Main Street,-that is, opposite the Eagle Tavern." The Sentinel supported Gen. Jackson, and Mr. De Witt was nominated and elected by that party to Con- gress, after which Mr. William Culley was associated in its conduct. At the close of Congress he resumed his cdito- rial duties, but in March, 1831, he retired from the estab- lishment, Mr. Cubey becoming its editor and proprietor.
Mr. De Witt was a prolific writer, and published many popular tales and essays in his own and other publications of his time.
The National Pioneer was started in 1830, at Milton, by Daniel S. Tuthill. It was the pioneer paper in that seetion, but was short-lived, being soon discontinued.
In 1832 there was published at the office of the Ulster Sentinel a literary paper called the Comet, issued monthly, and edited by Robert Gosman, Jr., James B. Gould, and Marias Schoonmaker. It was continued about a year, and was then discontinued.
In January, 1833, the Ulster Star first began to beam upon the people at Saugerties. Calvin Frary* was its pro- prietor.
Some time in the year 1834 er 1835 the publication of a paper entitled the Ulster County Whig was commenced in Rondont. This paper was edited by John G. Wallace. After the Presidential election of 1836 its publication ceased, and Mr. Wallace left the county. The press and material were purchased by Mr. William, H. Romeyn and moved to Kingston in 1837, where, on May 31st of that year, he began the publication of a paper styled the Po-
litical Reformer, which became the organ of the Whig party.
In the political changes that ocenrred between the elec- tions of 1836 and 1840, the Ulster Sentinel, a paper pub- lished by William Culley, had changed its politics, and there were two local papers published in the interest of the Whig party. The public patronage was not so large then as now, and in consequence these two papers were compet- itors, and to some extent in each other's way. .
After the election of 1840, Mr. Romeyn purchased the press and material of the Ulster Sentinel, and the two papers were merged into one in November, 1840, the name of his own paper being changed to Democratic Journal. This title he modified, at a later date, to
THE KINGSTON JOURNAL.
Mr. Romeyn's forty-one years' connection with the press of Ulster embraces a period brimful of political contests, characterized by broad discussion always, and not unfre- quently by marked personal bitterness, the details of which would, in themselves, make an interesting volume of history. It includes the era of Mr. Van Buren's administration, and covers the period of the agitation of the question of Texas annexation and the correlative issues of the designs of the slave power, which were fought vigorously, but un- successfully, under the leadership of Henry Clay in 1844. It also takes in the memorable epoch of events connected with the admission of Kansas, the rule of squatter sover- cignty, and the triumphant election of General Taylor to the Presidency.
After his long and even.ful service as a publie journalist, Mr. Romeyn retired to private life on the first day of Sep- tember, 1878, in a leavetaking from which we extract :
" Adieu, readers, friends, patrons of the Kingston Journal ! More than forty-Que years of continuous editorial service constitutes a valid claim to exemption from active duties. While experience has its uses, age brings its drawbacks ; and, aside from personal considerations, we have but acquiesced in the natural logie of events in reaching the conclusion that the interests of the Republican party would be sub- served by the infusion of younger blood and quickened energies in the management of its time-honored organ.
" And now, the hour and the mian have come! We pass over the Journal, its prestige and its destiny, into the charge and keeping of Mr. Charles Marseilles, without a misgiving as to his loyalty or a doubt as to las capacity to meet, creditably and fully, all the demands of the position which he has assumed. For more than twelve years Mr. Marseilles has conducted the Exeter (N. 11.) News-Letter with a taet and discretion, a vigor and ability, from which we have derived encouragement and drawn inspiration in many a canvass. An accom- plished journalist, familiar with newspaper management in its every detail, he comes amongst us, not as an adventurer simply seeking aggrandizement, but animated by worthy aspirations and inspired with a genuine love for the profession. He comes to take part and lot with us as a permanent resident. He comes to identify himself with the interests, the growth and well-being of the county. He comes to contribute of his efforts, cheerfully, zealously, hopefully, to the restoration of the general prosperity, through the agency of sound policies, wholesome laws, and beneficent government.
" Therefore we bospeak for our successor the same u.casure of good- will and patronage which has been so generously extended to the Journal in the past. . . .
" In severing a connection which has continued so long. and em- bracel a period so full of material incidents and of historie data, a . multitude of reminiscences press to the front. What changes bave been effected, wirit progress made, what resources developed. within forty years ! What mutations of parties have taken place, what shift- ings of leadership occurrel? ' Our fathers, where are they ? and the
* He had previously published the Palladium, established in 1828.
147
THE PRESS OF ULSTER COUNTY.
prophets, ilo They live forever ?' Of those who started out with ns in 1837, bow few remain of the distinguished statermen whom we trusted and honored, of the sturdy rank and file who gathered arount our standard ! We should like to travel over the field which this train of reflection opens up. But not now ! With the surroundings of the moment, we can trust neither our feelings nor our judgment lor the tusk. Under more favorable nuspices, and when leisure serves, we may recur to the subject. . . .
" To our contemporaries of the press we make our profound acknowl- eilgurents in recognition of the courtesy and consideration which have been uniformly extended to us, personally and professionally. Hence- forth we shall be dropped from the charmed cirele : but our kindliest feelings will follow you, and we shall rejoice in all your triumphs. It is the mission of true journalism to do manly battle for truth, for jus- tice, for honesty, for law and order, -the basis of all good government. as well as of every ennobling venture. Policies may fail, leaders may weaken or betray, organizations may disintegrate, but principles are eternal. And remember, that as parties rise and fall and demagogues strike oot for power and place and plunder, in every trial and in every emergency the hearts of the people will instinctively turn to you as their protectors and deliverers. It is as true now as always that an earnest, unshackled, independent press is the great mainstay of popular rights, the only etfeirnt bulwark of free institutions. " Farewell !
" Wy. Il. RoyErs."
W. H. Romeyn was born in Harlem, N. Y., April 30, 1811, being the youngest son of the Rev. Jeremiah Ro- meyn. The " Journal," as previously shown, is one of the oklest existing papers in the county. Mr. Charles Mar- seilles, who assumed its management iu 1878, still continues as its proprietor. Ile is a native of Philadelphia, Pa, was a graduate of the Exeter (N. H.) Academy, and published at that place the News- Letter. The office of the Journal is located at 43 Wall Street, next to the court-house.
The People's Press was established in Kingston in 1853, Daniel Bradbury editor and proprictor. In JS6] its name was changed to the Kingston Press, under which title it Was issued successively by its original founder, and by D. C. Me Millen and A. G. Childs, until 1876, when its publica- tion was suspended. Under the management of Mr. Brad- bury the paper was Republican in politics ; after Mr. Me- Millen assimned control of it, in 1974, he took at first an "independent" position politically, but soon drifted into the advocacy of Democratie principles and the support of the candidates of that party.
Next to W. H. Romeyn, Mr. Bradbury is the oldest living representative of the press in Ulster County. Hle started the Rondout Freemon in 1845. He was born in Marlborough, this county, in 1815, and is the son of Ami- rehuma Bradbury, who was born in Massachusetts in 1762, and was an carly settler in Marlborough, -about 1790. Daniel Bradbury came to Kingston in 1831, and was con- nected with the press about thirty years. He has been a member of the board of education for nine years, was a member of the village board of directors, and has been postmaster of Kingston since 1873.
The Ulster Huguenot first appeared in 1813. Its office was located in Kingston, and John Culley and T. F. Bald- win were its proprietors. It did not live long.
A campaign paper was published for a short time in 1814, called the Hickory Democrat.
In 1828, Paul J. Fish and Calvin Frary commenced the publication of a paper at Saugerties, entitled the Ulster Palladium and Anti- Masonic Journal. In 1829 its office was removed to Kingston and its name changed, the last
half of it being dropped. Its publication was discontinued in 1833.
D. Bradbury, with E. S. Wells, commenced the Rondout Freeman, in 1845, published it one year, then sold to Robert Gosman (Gosman & Wells) ; in 1847 it was sus- pended and the office sold to J. P. Hageman, who changed the name to the Rondont Courier.
The Ulster Democrat gave its initial number to the public in 1846, and A. A. Beusell was its sponsor. It. subsequently passed into the hands of S. R. Harlow, who was succeeded by his brother, Parr Harlow ; Dec. 12, 1870, it was combined with the " Ulster Gazette."
The Ulster Daily Gazette was established in 1869, by John G. Baker and Charles S. Coutant, the latter soon re- tiring. It was published by Baker & Harlow until Feb. 4, 1871, when Mr. Baker retired. The weekly edition, after the union of the " Democrat" and " Gazette" iu 1870, was known as the Ulster Weekly Gazette and Dem- ocrat. It is not now in existence.
The Kingston Daily Chronicle, published in 1859, lived bat a short time. S. K. Harlow was its editor and publisher.
The Ulster Telegraph was issued at Saugerties, in 1846, by Solomon S. Hloummell. Its name was afterwards changed to the Saugerties Telegraph, under which title R. B. Taylor published it for some time. The present publisher is G. W. Elting. This paper represents the interests of the north- eastern portion of Ulster County and adjacent territory.
On July 9, 1855, the 7th Regiment of New York City encamped in open field on the brow of Jacob's Valley, on what is known wow as Green Kill Avenue, Kingston. The encampment was called " Camp Worth." A daily paper, called the Camp Worth Journal, and issued from the Journal office, was published during the continuance of the encampment. This was the first daily issued in the county.
A division encampment known as " Camp Ward," in honor of Gen. Aaron Ward, was held on the premises of Mr. James Kiersted, about two miles from the theu village of Kingston, on the Saugerties road, commencing on Aug. 27, 1855. A daily paper, called the Camp Ward Journal, gave publicity to its orders and chronicled its deings. It issued from the Journal office.
In 1957 were published in John Street, one door west of Wall, the American Thunderbolt and the Monthly Rain- bone, the former by H. Roosa and D. Schoonmaker, and the latter by James R. Foland and William Van Keuren. Both were devoted to " polite literature, wit and humor," cie., although the advocacy of the interests of the American party in oue case, and of the temperance cause in the other, seem to have been paramount. Neither of these publica- tions was long continued.
The Examiner was published by Bradbury & Wells in 1845. Robert Gogman was editor. It suspended after a brief career.
THE RONDOUT COURIER
was started in December, 1847, by John P. Hageman. It was published by him till the year 1868, or a period of twenty years and three months. In that year it was pur- chased by W. H. and J. C. Romeyn, who published it till 1877. In March of that year it was purchased by Horatio Fowks, who continued it as a weekly paper until October,
148
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
1877, when a daily edition was commenced under the title of the Morning Courier.
HORATIO FOWKS.
editor of the Rondout Daily and Weekly Courier, was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co., N. Y., June 26, 1836. His editorial career commenced on the Rhinebeck Gazette, which paper he edited for about a year, Mr. Thomas Edgerley being the publisher. After spending four years in New York, Mr. Fowks bought of Mr. Guildersleeve the Rondont Freeman, in 1865. It was then a weekly newspaper, and was con- tinued as such until 1871, when Mr. Fowks started the i
a daily elition was added. Mr. Fowks continued the pub- lieation till 1876, retiring in November of that year. It was published for some time by the Freeman Printing and Publishing Association, and was then purchased by Samuel D. Coykendall, who continued in possession of the same until 1878, when Charles Marseilles, formerly of Exeter, N. H., purchased the establishment, and has published the paper until the date of this history. During Mr. Marseilles' proprietorship it has been edited by E. H. Clark, formerly of the Troy Times.
An unsuccessful newspaper venture was the starting of a small daily paper in Rondout, in 1877, called the Morn- ing Cull. It was published by an association, and Mr. D.
LITTLE
Photo, by Lewis, Kingston.
Gratis Banks
4.
Daily Freeman. In November of 1876 he sold out his interest in the Freeman and purchased the Weekly Corrier, which paper he converted into a daily, and has published the same until the date of this history.
THE DAILY AND WEEKLY FREEMAN.
The Roundout Weekly Freeman was started by Van Keu- ren & Guildersleeve, in the year 1858, and continued by that fri for some years, when the publication was assumed by JJacob H. Guildersleeve alone. He continued as pub- lisher until March, 1865, when he was stricken by the dis- case which resulted in his death, and he sold the establish- ment to Horatio Fowks. Mr. Guildersleeve died the next month after the sale was perfected. Mr. Fowks continued the publication until 1871, when, in the month of October, :
C. McMillen was the editor. It was issued for a month or two only.
In the fall of 1877 there was issued at Kingston, as a campaign journal in the interest of the Democratic party, a small paper called the Daily Star, Frank W. Beardsley. publisher. It expired with the termination of the canvass.
The Daily News (neutral) was started Juve 1, 1878, by an association, consisting of John HI. Van Keuren, Charles M. Thomas, Robert Cole, and Henry Giere, all printers. It suspended publication in May, 1879.
A German paper, the Volksblatt, was started by August Goeller, about 1859 or 1360. It was published at the office of the Courier, but is not now in existence.
In the fall of 1871 a campaign daily was issued from the office of the Argus, called the Daily Argus. Its object
.
119
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
was for the temporary purpose of the election canvass, and the paper was continued one month.
The Ellenrille Journal was commenced June 20, 1849, by Robert Denton. In 1850. R. B. Taylor became a part- ner, but retired in 1851. Mr. Denton continued as its proprietor until the spring of 1857, when he sold to S. M. Taylor, one of the present proprietors. In 1859, O. A. Campbell became the publisher, and so continued until January, 1861, when the establishment was repurchased by S. M. Taylor, and, with some few subsequent changes in ownership, has continued its publication to the present timc.
The South Ulster Press, at Ellenville, first appeared Sept. 2, 1870. It was established by T. E. Benedict & Brother, the present proprietors. It is now called the Ellenville Press.
The New Pults Independent was started in September, 1868, by the New Paltz Independent Association. Easton Van Wagonen was the first editor, and Ralph Le Fever is the present editor and proprietor, having purchased the paper of the association in 1871. Republican in politics.
The New Palt= Times was established by Charles J. Ackert, the present proprietor. July 6. 1860. lu 1862- 63, while Mr. Ackert was in the army, the paper bore the name of his wife as publisher and his own as editor. It is Democratic in politics.
The Pearl was a monthly publication of a unique char- acter, established by 1. Barritt and Edward Jernegan in 1875. Its literary execution and typography was superior, and it was illustrated by photographs of scenery, buildings of the town. The bound volume is a handsome book.
The Evening Post was started in 1877 by Jernegan & Rosepaugh, but is now managed by the former. Started as a doubtful experiment, it has proven successful.
CHAPTER XXIV.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Tur early sloop navigation on the Hudson was followed by that of schooners and like craft, and these in turn were superseded by the large and magnificent steamers, many of which are owned here, and ply regularly between Troy, Ron- dout, and New York, and intermediate points. A large number of barges and other sailing vessels are also engaged in the transportation of stone, cement, coal, ice, berries, etc.
The construction of the Delaware and Hudson Canal apiened up a new avenue of commerce and gave impetus to the stone and cement trade, of which valuable material the county possessed an inexhaustible supply.
The building of railroads, supplementing the water lines of communication, has opened up a large portion of the county to trade and comuneree, and has been of incalculable benefit.
Stages and sailing craft are almost things of the past, and steam transit, both by land and water, is the new order of things. The Ellenville stage-live, running from Kingston to Ellenville, in the southwestern part of the county, is al -.
--
most the only remaining relie left to Ulster County of the palmy stage times of the past.
I .- WATER NAVIGATION.
Many interesting remindscenees will be found by the reader in various parts of this volume* relating to the early eraft of this county. which, to avoid repetition, will not be reproduced here. As early as the year 1800 there was considerable desultory traffic carried on in sloops by all the settlements on the Hudson. One of the vessels of that period was the " Quaker Packet," built by John Wood, and owned by a company of Friends ; it ran for a time be- tweeu Miltou and New York, and was followed by the " Stranger," which (about 1812) began to make regular trips, and the " Eclipse," which made the then unheard-of feat of a trip a week.
Asa Bigelow built the first sloop that was ever constructed in Saugerties, She was called the " Phanis," and plied between Malden and New York.
The boats of the early days on the canal were very dif- ferent from those of the present time. They were smaller and made more trips, generally averaging from sixteen to eighteen trips from the middle of May to the middle of No- vember.
Prominently connected with early navigation was Cap- tain Nathan Anderson, who ran a sloop from Roudout about 1822 to 1823. Washington Swart and Abram Has- brouck were also early sloup captains.
II .- STEAM NAVIGATION.
From the recollections of Capt. Jacob H. Tremper, f the oldest steamboat captain now on the Hudson, we gather the following :
The first steamboat at Wilbur was the " Congress," in 1828-29. She was run in 1830 by Capt. Jacob Nelson, in 1831 by Capt, Skeel, and ran to Wilbur until 1834, when Capt. Ketchum purchased her, soon after which she ran from Rondout. Previous to 1831 Theron Skeel ran two sloops (the " Michigan" and " Grand Council") regu- larly from Wilbur. They were commanded respectively by Captains Win. Tremper and Joshua Abeel. The steamer " Congres:" was owned in part by Capt. Skeel. Other early boats were the " General Jackson" and " Victory," owned by Mapes ; the " Delaware," engaged in towing the coal-boats of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company ; and the " Hudson."
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