Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 26

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 26

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In February, 1788, the Federal Herald was removed to Albany from Lansingburgh by Claxton & Babcock, but remained but a short time. In the same year the Albany Register was started by John and Robert Barber and continued until 1808, when Solomon Southwick took it and continued until 1817. It was revived in 1818 by Israel W. Clark.

In November, 1796, the Chronicle was started by John McDonald ; discontinued in 1799. The Albany Centinel was started in 1797 by Loring C. Andrews, and suspended November 10, 1806. It was at once revived with the title, the Centinel Revived in The Republican Crisis, by Backus & Whiting, and later was published by Isaac Mitchell, Harry Croswell & Co., in 1808, and Croswell & Frary in 1809, when the name was changed to the Balance and New York State Journal. In 1811 it was removed to Hudson.

In 1807 the Guardian was started by Van Benthuysen & Wood; it lived about two years. It was a literary publication and was issued from what was the beginning of the oldest printing establishment now in existance in Albany. O. R. Van Benthuysen left the part- nership with Wood in 1808 and opened a separate office in rear of

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the present 376 Broadway. In 1814 Robert Packard became associated with him. In 1839 the firm of Charles Van Benthuysen & Co. was formed, composed of father and son Charles. In 1848 Charles Van Benthuysen became the sole proprietor, continuing such until 1866, when his sons, Charles H. and Frank, were admitted to the partnership. The business is still in existence under proprietorship of Charles Van Benthuysen.

On April 11, 1812, Samuel R. Brown started the Albany Republican, and was soon succeeded by B. F. Romaine; the paper was finally taken to Saratoga. In 1813-14 the Stranger, 8vo., was published by John Cook. In June, 1815, Horatio Gates Spofford began publishing the American Magazine, which lived less than a year. The Christian Vis- itant, by Mr. Southwick, started this year, has been mentioned. The Friend was another ephemeral publication of this year, by D. & S. A. Abbey; it lived a year. The Statesman was published and edited by Nathaniel H. Carter in 1815, and was removed to New York in 1818.

Solomon Southwick's1 Ploughboy was started in 1819 and in 1820 Charles Galpin started the Albany Microscope, which lived but a few years. August 3, 1822, Bezaleel Howe issued the first number of the Oriental Star, a religious weekly. In 1823 William McDougal began publishing the National Democrat in Albany and New York; it was discontinued in April of the next year, but was at once revived by Solomon Southwick, but proved to be short-lived. In May, 1824, Chauncey Webster started the Religious Monitor, which was removed to Philadelphia. In 1825, August 8, George Galpin issued the first number of the Albany Patriot and Daily Commercial Intelligencer. This was doubtless short-lived, for on July 25, 1826, Mr. Galpin started the National Observer, with Mr. Southwick editor, which continued four years.

The year 1826 saw the birth of a long list of newspapers, few of

1 Solomon Southwick was distinguished not alone as a publisher, but as a politician and man of affairs. He was a native of Newport, R. I., where he published and edited the Newport Mer- cury during a part of the Revolutionary period. Later he located in Albany where he was asso- ciated with his brother-in-law, John Barber, in the Register office. He was soon made a partner and upon Mr. Barber's death in 1808, he succeeded to the establishment. The Register was a Democratic organ and Mr. Southwick made it a power in the State, being himself a leader in the party. The Register continued for a number of years, and after its suspension he published the Ploughboy. He also edited the Christian Visitant, and later the National Democrat. During the anti-Masonic excitement he established and for several years conducted the National Ob- server, as organ of that misguided movement. He received the nomination for governor against Martin Van Buren and Smith Thompson. Failing of election, he withdrew from the turmoil of political life. He died in November, 1839.

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which survived more than a brief period. On April 22 the Albany Daily Chronicle was started by Charles Galpin and M. M. Cole. In the same month John Denio and Seth Richards started the Albany Morning Chronicle, which was discontinued within a year. E. B. Child started the Escritoire, or Masonic and Miscellaneous Album, which in February was changed to the American Masonic Record and Albany Saturday Magazine. January 30, 1830, the name was again changed to American Masonic Record and Albany Literary Journal, which title probably killed it. In May, 1826, L. G. Hoffman started the Albany Christian Register, with J. R. Boyd, editor. This paper was subsequently united with a religious journal in Utica and pub- lished as the Journal and Telegraph by Hosford & Wait in 1831. Mr. Hoffman at about this time started and published about five years the American Masonic Register.

In May, 1827, Solomon Southwick started the Antidote, which was continued only a short time. Matthew Cole started the Standard, which was short-lived. On August 4, the Comet was started with Daniel McGlashan editor. October 13 the Albany Signs of the Times and Literary Writer was born, with Daniel McGlashan publisher, and J. B. Van Schaick and S. D. W. Bloodgood editors.

The Daily Morning Chronicle was issued in 1828 by Beach, Denio & Richards. The Age, by Galpin & Sturtevant ; and the Albany Times and Literary Writer, with slight change in name, passed to James McGlash- an, publisher. The Albany Minerva was started this year by Joel Munsell,1 whose name and fame is indissolubly connected with print- ing and publishing in Albany. The Minerva was continued several years.

Arthur N. Sherman started the Albanian January 30, 1830, and on April 3 the Farmers', Mechanics', and Workingmen's Advocate was issued by McPherson & McKercher. In the same month the Albany Bee was started by J. Duffy, W. S. McCulloch and C. Angus.

1Joel Munsell was born in Northfield, Mass., April 14, 1808. He early learned the printing trade in Greenfield, Mass., and soon came to Albany. Here he worked at his trade as a journey- man until 1830, when he started his first paper. In 1834 he was associated with Henry D. Stone in successfully publishing the Microscope. In 1836 he set up a job printing office at 58 State street. He was a skillful workman himself and soon gained a high reputation in the art. He engaged largely in book printing and publishing, among his most useful publications being the Annals of Albany, in ten volumes, which were begun in 1849 and completed in 1859. He also published four volumes of Collections on the History of Albany. About a dozen newspapers and periodicals were issued from his printing office, on some of which he was editorially employed. No man has done more for the perpetuation of local history and in the local publication of worthy books than Mr. Munsell. His death took place January 15, 1880, his sons Charles and Frank succeeding to his business.

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On September 7, 1831, the Albany Literary Gazette appeared with John P. Jermain, editor, and James D. Nicholson, publisher. On No- vember 21, Hosford & Wait took up the publication of the Journal and Telegraph before mentioned. The Temperance Recorder had a brief existence beginning this year. In 1832 the Daily Craftsman began a short existence, and the Albany Quarterly was first issued by the Al- bany Historical Society. In February, 1833, the American Quarterly Hemp Magazine was started and continued two years. In 1834 the Daily News, by Hunter & Hoffman, and the Albany Whig, by J. B. Van Schaick, were started. In January the American Temperance Intelligencer began a brief existence.

On October 12, 1835, the Albany Transcript was started as a penny paper by C. F. Powell & Co. In May of this year the Silk Worm was established and continued two years as a monthly, when it was changed to the Silk Worm and Sugar Manual; discontinued in 1858. The Al- bany Bouquet and Literary Spectator was started this year by George Trumbull; it was a short-lived monthly. In 1836 was commenced the publication of a monthly called the Zodiac, by De Coudrey Holstein, and another paper, the Common School Assistant, by J. Orville Tay- lor. Neither lived long.

In 1838 Solomon Southwick published a short time the Family News- paper; and on July 4 was started the Daily Patriot, an anti-slavery paper, by J. G. Wallace. In 1840 Horace Greeley started the Jeffer- sonian. The Albany Patriot was published by J. C. Jackson and con- tinued four years. Other ephemeral publications of the year, chiefly for campaign purposes, were the Unionist, the Tomahawk and Scalp- ing Knife, and the Rough Hewer. In 1842 H. O'Kane published the Irishman seven weeks. Other unimportant papers of the year were the Sunday Tickler, the Albany Switch, and the Youth's Temperance Enterprise; the latter lived three years.

Besides the Knickerbocker, elsewhere noted, the Subterranean was started in 1843 by James Duffy. On April 9, 1845, Thomas A. Devyr started the Albany Freeholder, an anti-rent organ. Joel Munsell started the Gavel; Woodward & Packard began the Scourge, and Abbott & Crosby the Vesper Bell.

On December 8, 1846, the Albany Herald was started by A. B. Van O'Linda. December 17 the Albany Morning Telegraph was first issued. In 1847 the District School Journal was published by Francis Dwight; the Castigator, by M. J. Smith, and the year saw the beginning of the

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Express, now controlled by the Journal Company. Jasper Hazen be- gan the issue of the Christian Palladium in 1848, which was removed to New Haven in 1855, with the name changed in 1849 to the Christian Herald. E. Andrews began the publication of the Busy Bee and con- tinued it two years. On May 15, 1849, the Albany Daily Messenger was started by B. F. Romaine. On June 30 the Sunday Dutchman was started. Besides the first issue of the Albany Daily Times, elsewhere described, B. F. Romaine started the Half-Dollar Monthly in 1850. The Albany Atlas was also begun in this year.

On the 1st of September, 1851, John Sharts started the Albany Daily Eagle, which survived four months. On January 4, the American Mechanic was started by J. M. Patterson. The Carson League, a rad- ical temperance organ, was started by T. L. Carson and J. T. Hazen, and soon removed to Syracuse. The Albany Mirror and Literary Cab- inet was published by J. H. Carroll and W. M. Colburn, and the Cith- ren, by Warner & Hooker. The Northern Light was also issued in this year and continued about three years, with able editors.

The papers of 1852 which were soon wrecked, were the Temperance Recorder; the Family Intelligencer, by Rev. Jasper Hazen; and the New York Teacher, the organ of the New York State Teachers' Asso- ciation.

On February 1, 1853, Cuyler & Henly started a penny paper called the Evening Transcript. The Prohibitionist was started this year as the organ of the State Temperance Society; in 1857 it united with the Journal of the American Temperance Union. In 1854 D. C. Estes started the Family Journal. July 21, 1855, the State Police Tribune was started by S. H. Parsons and R. M. Griffin; it was removed to New York. March 26, 1856, the Albany Daily Statesman was started; September 8, was begun the Albany Evening Union, a penny paper, by James McFarlane, which became consolidated with the Times. George Herb began the publication of the Albany Volksblatt this year. In 1857 was started the Albany Evening Herald, the name of which was changed in June, 1857, to Albany Evening Union. On May 4, Charles Galpin started the Microscope.

The papers of 1858 were the American Citizen; the Evening Courier, started in August; the Hour and the Man, daily and weekly, by George W. Clarke and John J. Thomas; the Mercantile Horn, started in Oc- tober; the Voice of the People, a campaign paper; the Evening Stan- dard, by R. M. Griffin & Co., started in December; the Independent

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Press, which lived only a few months; Astronomical Notes, by Pro- fessor Brunow; the American Magazine, monthly, by J. S. & B. Wood; the Gavel, by John Tanner; and the State Military Gazette, by C. G. Stone, afterward removed to New York.

The first issue of the Evening Post appeared in October, 1860, pub- lished by R. M. & E. Griffin; R. M. Griffin, editor. This journal was successfully conducted until July, 1895, when it was merged with The State, a new Republican daily, which was established with a heavy in- vestment and apparently bright prospects. The enterprise was, how- ever, a very injudicious one and the paper lived less than a year.

On Januray 17, 1863, appeared the first number of the Standard and Statesman, which did not long survive. The Voice was started as a monthly by Edgar S. Werner, in January, 1879. The Albany Law Journal was first issued January 9, 1870, with Isaac Grant Thompson, editor and still continues, under the editorship of Amasa J. Parker, jr., to be one of the leading legal journals of the country. The first num- ber of the Catholic Telegraph appeared in January, 1880. The Poultry Monthly was started by the Ferris Publishing Company in November, 1879. Forest, Forge and Farm was started by H. S. Quackenbush in 1882. Outing was started in 1883 by the Outing Publishing and Print- ing Company, and was removed to Boston. The Inquirer and Criterion was first issued by Charles S. Carpenter; taken in February, 1882, by Burdick & Taylor; discontinued January 5, 1884, and revived as The Inquirer April 30, 1884. The Daily News was incorporated March 27, 1895, but the publication ceased after a few months.

The following, supplied by a well-known and versatile writer, is thought to be of sufficient interest to warrant its insertion in this chapter :

SOME ALBANY PERIODICALS.

JOSEPH A. LAWSON.

The progress of a city in its literary development is attested in various ways. One of the most satisfactory evidences to be adduced is the encouragement it has given to, or withheld from, publications of a periodical nature. The following brief summary of such ventures, incomplete though it be, will go very far toward assigning Albany to its proper place as a literary center.

One of the earliest magazines to make its appearance was "The

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Stranger," a literary paper, published by John Cook at his reading room. This was in 1814. The title page bore the following line from Hamlet, "Therefore as a Stranger bid it welcome."

The editor, in his valedictory, explaining its suspension at the close of the first year of its existence, would have it understood that patron- age was not wanting, but that which was far worse, the utter lack of contributors. And so the Stranger silently stole away into the shades of oblivion.

The year 1815 was more prolific in periodical literature. Two mag- azines had the temerity to come into existence; and their aims and objects are amply set forth in their titles. The first, the American Magazine, a monthly miscellany, devoted to literature, science, history, biography and fine arts, etc., etc. This was edited by Horatio Gates Spofford. Editor Spofford had a good bit of confidence in the early Albanian, or else he thought the odd half dollar more of an induce- ment than it is at this date, for he offered his publication at $2.50 if paid in advance, or $3.00 if paid at the end of the year. As it resulted, the half dollar was no inducement, and the confidence misplaced, for, at the end of one year, Editor Spofford was forced to make an assign- ment to one " Absolom Townsend, Jun. Esq." after sinking two thou- sand dollars in the venture. To our eyes, accustomed to the "infinite variety" of the magazines of the present day, this periodical has an ex- ceedingly dry-as-dust flavor. This editor thinks he has fathomed the reason of its non-success for, in his closing editorial he says: "Should this publication be again revived, it will be in the hands of people hav- ing ample pecuniary resources, and who will punctually distribute the numbers on the first of each month. This, I think, is all that is now wanted to ensure a respectable patronage, and that permanency for which it was designed." Delightful ingenuousness!

The second, contemporaneous with the foregoing, was "The Friend, a periodical work, devoted to religion, literature and useful miscel- lany." The following quotation ornamented its title page, and was evidently fondly hoped to be the entering wedge to popular favor:

" The greatest blessing is a pleasant friend."

The publishers to undertake this enterprise were D. & S. A. Abbey. The editor's announcement in the first number ran as follows, and proved him anything but a "pleasant friend" to his confrère in the field of literature :

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TO THE PUBLIC.

As we feel an unaccountable aversion to puffing, we shall not imitate the conduct of some of our brethren of the quill in making a multitude of fine promises which can never be performed. We arrogate to ourselves no extraordinary genius or un- common literary acquirements; nor shall we attempt to make amends for lack of abilities by adding to our name a long list of titles. . We shall endeavor . to " satisfy our readers;" but we shall never attempt to attain that object by serving up " a small select dish" of vulgar and profane jests and tales. Those who prefer such fare will, therefore, seek it in another quarter.

This charming bit of editorial courtesy was "starred" to refer to the bottom of the page, where the following explanation was found:

For the information of persons of this description, we subjoin the following elegant extract from the prospectus of a periodical work, published in this city, entitled " The American Magazine," conducted by Horatio Gates Spofford, A. M., author of a Geography of the United States, a Gazetteer of the State of New York, etc., a member of the New York Historical Society, and one of the Counsellors of the Society for the Promotion of the Useful Arts-a member of the American An- tiquarian Society, and of the Berkshire Agricultural Society, Massachusetts.

Extract from the prospectus of the American Magazine:

The editor is no friend to those medleys of bon mots, and vulgar and profane jests and tales; but if he cannot satisfy his readers without, he will occasionally serve up a small, select dish.

Even at that early date these little amenities were current among the " brethren of the quill." But "The Friend" fared no better than its contemporary, and at the expiration of its first publication year, " joined the silent majority." Certain it is, it contained no "medleys of bon mots," so far as we are able to discover in a hasty perusal, and we ourselves think we would hardly have been able long to tolerate a " friend" that bore so striking a resemblance to the Knight of the Sor- rowful Countenance.

From 1827 to 1831 appeared the American Masonic Record, and Al- bany Saturday Magazine. This was a weekly periodical devoted to . Masonry, science and the arts, popular tales, miscellany, current news, etc., etc. Published by E. B. Childs, corner of North Market and Steuben streets.

Appealing, as it did, to so large a class of the community as the Ma- sonic fraternity, and having the celebrated Morgan episode to dwell upon, placed it upon a foundation that insured it a much longer lease of life than its predecessors had enjoyed. And, too, it was cleverly

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edited, and contained much matter that appealed to the popular taste. A clear case of the "survival of the fittest."

The Albany Quarterly, edited by James R. Wilson and Samuel Wil- son, made its appearance in 1832, published under the patronage of the Albany Historical Society.

This was scarcely a literary effort; partaking more of the nature of a denominational publication. The opening paper in the first number was a history of the Reformed Presbyterian church.

A short extract from one of the articles appearing in it serves to show how much we have to be grateful for, more than half a century later, that the Legislature of the State of New York has become, in truth, a " reform " Legislature, and no longer closes its ears to the "means of grace " daily offered it. The extract reads :

Immediately after the assembling of the legislature in 1832, a resolution was offered to dispense with prayer. Ministers, except Methodists, refused to pray in either senate or assembly.

We should be eternally grateful to these long suffering Methodists whose patience accomplished such beneficent results. A slight perusal convinced us that The Albany Quarterly might, with propriety, be de- scribed as a " blue-light " antique.

The Albany Bouquet and Literary Spectator was next to venture into the troubled waters of periodical publication, in 1835. George Trumbull was the hardy mariner who stood at the helm. The pro . spectus ran as follows :

The undersigned will issue, as soon as sufficient encouragement shall have been obtained to warrant the undertaking, a semi-monthly work, under the above title, to be devoted exclusively to polite literature, viz, popular tales, essays, biography, natural history, traveling sketches, anecdotes, etc. It is believed that Albany, with a population of nearly thirty thousand, and embracing as much intelligence and lit- erary taste as any city of equal size in the union, is competent to sustain a publication of this kind; and although similar experiments have been unsuccessful, that result, it is thought, is to be attributed to other causes than the lack of liberality on the part of the citizens. [Here was another editor who thought he knew to what lethargy of the Albany public was attributable.] The papers at present published in this city are so exclusively occupied with the political controversies of the day as to exclude all matter of a literary character ; and it is believed that a publication devoted entirely to miscellaneous reading, which shall " strew the rugged path of politics with the flowers of literature " will meet with ample encouragement.

The bulk of this magazine was made up of translations and clippings. The original story contained in the first number, to which attention

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was called editorially, was entitled "The Storm," and its hero and heroine, Egbert and Lucinda. Vision of bell-crowned hats and crin- oline!

Editor Trumbull also thought to lure the wily Albanians by his terms, which were $1.00 per annum in advance, $1.50 after six months and $2.00 at the end of the year. But to no purpose, for The Al- bany Bouquet was doomed to become as "the flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la," and at the end of six months expired gracefully in the arms of the Zodiac (a copy of which we have been unable to find, although we have seen signs of it), without editorial comment. It would seem as though a magazine holding out such inducements as the following editorial contain, merited a kinder fate:

No critical Cerberus guards our columns to crush the germs of genius with the withering blasts of malicious criticism; and, we trust, therefore, that our young men, and particularly the members of the Young Men's Association, will favor us with some original flowers for our bouquet.

From 1842 to 1844 the New York State Mechanic, a weekly paper devoted to the interests of mechanics and artisans, and placed within their reach by being published at $1.00 a year, was put out by Joel Munsell of this city, and enjoyed a well deserved circulation and pop- ularity. A few more such efforts at this period would go far to lessen the recurring conflicts between labor and capital.

In 1844 Alfred B. Street, assisted by S. S. Randall, esq., Prof. James Hall and others, began the publication of the Northern Light, devoted to music, literature, general information, education, science, and the arts. The publication price was one dollar a year, or six and a quarter cents each. Its objects were outlined as follows:

We hope the appearance of the present number will please our patrons and readers. It is a specimen of what we pledge ourselves the future numbers will be. Indeed, so far from deteriorating, we intend making greater and greater improvements.

But alack, and alack! So far as we have been able to ascertain, but five numbers of this clever periodical ever appeared. The literary firmament was again darkened as the Northern Light went out.

It was now left for the fair sex to take up the pen fallen from the nerveless fingers of those "lords of creation" who had essayed lite- rary efforts theretofore. In 1845, The Monthly Rose bloomed, "con- ducted by the present and former members of the Albany Female Academy." The initial number contained the following plea for recog- nition :

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Our Monthly Rose! Silently, have we watched its unfolding. Silently, yet with deep feeling and earnest thought. Carefully have we nurtured it, yet with trem- bling hope; calmly have we turned it to the scanty sunshine, while the chilling fear frost has fallen upon our hearts.

This magazine contained many bright contributions, although some of the verses were strikingly characteristic of a young ladies' magazine. One in particular, entitled The Phantom Bride, attracted our attention. The valedictory, appearing at the close of the first year of its existence, shows a decided revulsion of feeling in the mind of the fair editor :

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 26

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374