USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 16
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The Syracuse Journal is the oldest daily newspaper in Onondaga county. It- weekly edition is also one of the oldest in Central New York This paper has gained a large circulation, and exercises a wide influence in pub- lic affairs. Three times in its history has its printing establishment been destroyed by fire, and at the writing of this account the Journal is replac- ing its plant after a visitation of fire that destroyed its entire material property.
The pioneer was the Western State Journal, started March 20, 1837, by V. W. and S. F. Smith. In 1844 it became the Weekly Journal, and July 4th of that year S. F. Smith began publishing the Daily Journal. These papers have had various owners: In 1847, Barnes, Smith & Cooper; in
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
1849, Vivus W. Smith ; in 1853, S. Haight & D. Merricle; in 1854, Thomas S. Truir; in 1855, J. G. K. Truair; in 1860, Truair, Smith & Miles ; in 1372, Truair, Smith & Co .; in 1874, Truair, Smith & Bruce; in 1884, Smith & Bruce; in 1885, the Syracuse Journa! Company, the present owners.
The Journal has had various editors in its long career. Its most distin- gnished conductor was Vivus W. Smith, who was justly esteemed one of the very ablest political writers this State has ever produced. His son. Carroll E. Smith, has been its editor since 1862, and continues in charge of the paper. Anson G. Chester, Andrew Sherman, Silas F. Smith, Dwight H. Bruce, Edward Cooper, George Terwilliger, Thomas S. Truair, and George G. Truair have at various times held editorial relations with the paper. It has grown into a great establishment, standing among the prominent and influential newspapers in the State of New York.
The Weekly Express was established in 1887 by Stephen Stedman. It is largely devoted to the rural population of Central New York, among whom it has a large circulation.
The Sunday Morning Times was established in November, 1876, by Fralick. Hitchcock & Weed. Mr. Fralick withdrew at the end of about a year, and the paper was continued by Hitchcock & Weed until the death of the former, soon afterward, when A. M Knickerbocker acquired an in- terest. The establishment was bought, in iSSS, by Messrs. A. M. Knick- . erbocker and M. B. Robbins. The Times was edited during the first seven years of its existence by H. P. Smith This paper is now enjoying a pros- perous career, and is ably edited and managed. M. B. Robbins, a publisher of experience and ability, is the manager, and Mr. Knickerbocker is the edi- tor. They are enterprising journalists and present a popular paper of large circulation.
The Commercial Traveler (monthly) was established in September, 1875, as the organ of the Commercial Travelers' Association. It is still in existence.
EDUCATIONAL. JOURNALS.
The School Bulletin is an educational journal published monthly. It was started September 1, 1874, and in April, 1875, was consolidated with the New York State Educational Journal, and was published by Davis, Bardeen & Co. until iSfo, when it passed under the sole ownership of C. W. Bardeen, who has since owned and edited it. Mr. Bardeen is a publisher of school books, and has made his journal an acknowledged authority on all matters pertaining to education.
The Young Ladies' Miscellany was issued November 7, 1845, by a com- mittee of young ladies belonging to the Syracuse Female Seminary. It lived only twelve weeks. _
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THE PRESS OF SYRACUSE.
The Teachers' Advocate was commenced in 1846, by L. W. Hall, pub- lisher, and Edward Cooper, editor. In 1847 it passed into the hands of Barnes, Smith & Cooper, and was continued about a year, when it was sold to Joseph McKean, and removed to New York.
The District School Journal, organ of the State School Department, was removed from Albany to Syracuse in 1847 and published two years by L. W. Hall and one year by Barnes, Smith & Cooper, when it was taken back to Albany.
The Free School Clarion was published a few months in the fall of 1849, by Wm L. Crandall.
The Seraph's Advocate (monthly) was started in the fall of 1852 by Miss Keziah E. Prescott, and continued about a year.
THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
The Northern Christian Advocate (organ of the M. E. church) is a weekly journal which was established in Auburn by the Rev. Mr. Robie, in 1840. In 1844 he sold the paper to the General Conference and from that time until 1862 it was published under the supervision of a Pub- lishing Committee, the Conference appointing the editors. In the last named year the Conference placed the paper in the hands of the Meth- odist Book Concern, of New York city. In 1872 they transferred it to Syracuse and its publication has since been continued here by Nelson & Phillips, as agents of the book concern. The Rev. O. H. Warren, D. D., is the present editor, succeeding the Rev. Dr. D. D. Lore.
The American Wesleyan (organ of the Wesleyan Methodist church) was removed from New York to Syracuse January 1, 1848, by L. C. Mat- lock. In October, 1868, Cyrus Prindle became the editor, and he was suc- Cceded by Adam Crooks. He was succeeded by Rev. D. S. Kinney, who continued in the position until his death in 1889. The present editor is Nathan Wardner. In ISS7, a handsome block was erected on Onondaga street, where is located a large printing establishment, book store, etc.
The Juvenile Instructor (semi-monthly) was first issued from the Wes- leyan office, and is under the same management.
The Religious Recorder (Presbyterian) was started in May, 1844, by Terry & Platt. In 1847, it passed into the hands of Avery & Hulin, who continued it until 1853.
The Christian Work is a monthly journal begun in April, 1876, by the Young Men's Christian Association.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
The Evangelical Pulpit was started in January, 1854, by the Rev. Luther Lee, and continued about two years.
NEWSPAPERS OF THE PAST.
The mortuary list of newspapers in Syracuse is a long one, as it is in all similar cities. No profession, no field of human labor, attracts to itself such enthusiastic workers, many of whom are, alas, either without experience or lacking in the necessary qualifications for newspaper success and hence their struggles are fruitless and their literary offsprings are doomed to early death.
The third newspaper published within the limits of Onondaga county (two having been previously issued in Manlius) was The Lynx, which made its appearance at Onondaga Valley (or Hollow) in 1811, with Thomas C. Fay as proprietor. How long this journal survived we are unable to learn, but probably not very long. The beginning of the apprenticeship of Thur- low Weed is credited to this early printing office.
In 1814, Lewis H. Redfield issued the first number of the Onondaga Register, at the Valley village. Mr. Redfield, had learned his trade as a printer with James D. Bemis, at Canandaigua, whose unlimited confidence in his employee was demonstrated by his aiding him in purchasing his out- fit for the newspaper. Mr. Redfield displayed excellent qualities as an editor, printer, and business man. He continued his paper at the Valley until 1829, when he removed it to Syracuse and consolidated it with the Gazette, the first paper published in the village. The consolidated papers took the name of the Syracuse Gazette and Onondaga Register. In 1832 the establishment was transferred to Sherman & Clark, who changed its name to the Syracuse Argus, and suspended the publication of it about two years later.
In October, 1826, the village of Salina was favored with its first news- paper, which was called the Salina Sentinel and was published by Reuben St. John. In the next year it was changed to the Salina Herald and was published a short time under the management of Fred Prince, when the name was changed to the Salina Courier and Enquirer. It was suspended after the issue of a few numbers. We have been unable to find files or single num- bers of these early publications.
The Onondaga Republican was started in Syracuse in 1830, by W. S. Cambell. In 1834 it passed into the hands of J. B. Clark & Co., and its name was changed to the Constitutionalist. In 1835, L. A. Miller became its proprietor and changed the name to the Onondaga Chief. He sold it in 1837, to J. M. Patterson, who issued it as the Syracuse Whig. In 1838 it passed into the hands of J. K. Barlow, who continued it about one year.
The Syracuse American was started in 1835, by John Adams and lived about a year.
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NEWPAPERS OF THE PAST.
Under the pretentious title of the Empire State Democrat and United States Review, a paper was issued in 1840 by Hiram Cummings and contin- ued about three years.
The Onondaga Messenger was started in 1841 by Joseph Barber. In 1842 the name was changed to the Statesman, and the paper continued one year.
The first daily newspaper in Syracuse was the Evening Mail, which was published during three months in 1833, by Vivus W. Smith.
The Morning Sentinel (daily) was started in January, 1843, by N. M. D. Lathrop, and continued about a year, when the name was changed to . the Onondaga Sentinel, and the paper was issued weekly, excepting at brief intervals, until 1850.
In 1844, J. N. T. Tucker, as editor, and James Kinney, as publisher, started the Democratic Freeman. It continued thus a short time, when the name was changed to the Syracuse Star. In 1846 Kinney, Marsh & Barnes were the publishers; in 1847-8, Kinney & Marsh; in 1849-51, Kinney & Masters. It soon afterward passed into the hands of George F. Com- stock, as publisher, and Winslow N. Watson, as editor. In 1852, S. Corn- ing Judd became editor and proprietor. In October 1853, it passed into the hands of Edward Hoagland, who changed its name to the Syracuse Republican and continued it about one year. From the same office was issued, in 1846, the Syracuse Daily Star, which continued thus until the Weekly Star was changed to the Republican, when it took the name of the Syracuse Daily Republican and was discontinued simultaneously with the weekly.
The Bugle Blast and Young Hickory were campaign papers, published about three months in 1844, the former by S. F. Smith, and the latter by Smith & Farmer.
The Liberty Intelligencer was started in 1845 by Silas Hawley, and continued one year.
The Free Soil Campaigner and the Clay Banner, campaign papers, were published about three months in 1848, the former by Agan & Summers ; he latter was issued from the Journal office.
In 1848, Samuel R. Ward, a colored man of exceptional ability, started the Impartial Citizen, a semi-monthly, and continued it about one year.
A temperance paper called the Crystal Fountain, was published about three months, in 1848, by B. F. Ormsby.
The Adventist was published three months in 1849, by L. DeLos Mansfield.
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556
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
The Literary Union was begun April 7, 1849, by W. W. Newman, J. M. Winchell, and James Johonnot. It lived about a year and a half.
The Liberty Party Paper was started July 4, 1849, by John Thomas, and continued two years.
The Central City (daily) was published a short time in 1849, by Henry Barnes.
The Syracusan (monthly) was established in 1850, by William H. Mosely. In 1851 the name was changed to the Syracusan and the United States Review. It continued thus until 1856, and the name was again changed to the Syracusan and Onondaga County Review.
The Syracuse Independent was published about three months in 1850, and the Evening Transcript (daily) was started in the same year, by Wash- ington VanZandt.
The Archimedian was started in 1850, with B. F. Sleeper as publisher, and Jolin Abbott as editor. It was discontinued in the following year.
The Central New Yorker was published a short time in 1850, by L. P. Rising; and the Family Companion (monthly) was also issued during a part of the same year.
The Temperance Protector (semi-monthly) was started in 1850, by Wil- liam H. Burleigh, and continued about two years.
The Carson League, another temperance paper, was begun in 1851, by Thomas L. Carson, publisher, and John Thomas, editor. At the end of about two years it was removed to Albany. After about 1852 this journal was again published in this city a few years. - till 1862 or '63.
The American Medical and Surgical Journal (monthly) was started January 1, by Potter & Russell, and continued about five years.
The Journal of Health was published about six months in 1851, by S. H. Potter.
A monthly publication called the Unionist and another called the Union Herald, were issued a short time from the Reformer office.
A French paper named La Ruche was started in 1852 by A. L. Walliath. It lived only a few months.
The Home Circle was published about a year (1855) by L. W. Hall.
The American Organ (daily) was begun in 1855, by Way & Miner. It soon afterward passed into the hands of H. P. Winsor, who continued it about one year.
The Onondaga Hardshell was started October 26, 1855, but was discon- tinued after the second number.
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MUSIC IN SYRACUSE.
In 1856, C. B. Gould started the Syracuse Daily News which lived only a short time.
In 1968 Dr. Cadeaux, a French citizen, began the publication of the American Citoyen, a paper devoted to the interests of the French popula- tion. It lived less than a year.
The Sunday News, (weekly) the first Sunday paper in the city, was es- tablished by an association of practical printers in August, 1872. It sus- pended publication in 1877 after several changes in proprietorship. 6
The Sunday Herald was established in 1877, by J. W. Galt. It lived several years. Charles E. Fitch was for a time the editor of this paper.
The Union Gem was a literary monthly established in May, 1877, by DePuy & Scoville.
The Temperance Union, organ of various temperance associations, was started as a monthly in June, 1877. It was afterwards changed to a weekly. Samuel Gaylord, editor and proprietor.
The Constitutionalist and State Free Trader was discontinued in Dec. 1863, after a life of about one year. It was conducted in the interest of the Liquor Dealers' Association, to defeat the prohibitory law and claimed to have aided materially in the election of Gov. Seymour."
CHAPTER XXXII.
MUSIC IN SYRACUSE.
T HE development of the art of music in Syracuse constitutes a subject which is not fruitful of important facts. But there has been a constant growth of interest and the record of advancement which Syracuse can show may be decidedly to its credit when compared with that of many other cities. But it was especially during the last decade that there has been a notable development of musical culture, for during these years there has been a constantly increasing interest in the art in proportion to the steadily increasing advantages offered for acquiring musical education. In these days the public exacts from all the professions a higher order of ability, and as the public taste for music becomes more and more cultivated as the years go by, it is required of teachers and conductors that they become ed- ucators as well as directors. That there is an abundance of musical talent
* For history of the German press, see chapter on the Germans of Syracuse.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
of various grades of excellence in the city is unquestioned ; but it has never been compactly and so permanently massed as to establish a nucleus for thorough organization. Numerous attempts have been made to organize societies, but such efforts have, until recently, always failed, except such as were undertaken by German citizens, as appears in the chapters devoted to German history. Efforts to permanently establish choral societies and or- chestras have repeatedly failed and such experiences must continue until the time shall come when musicians shall generally join their efforts in a common cause. Many highly meritorious societies have had their rise and fall. The late Dr. W. H. Schultze made the last effort to establish an or- chestra which should win renown ; but his tireless devotion went for naught. There are to-day several societies, small in number but capable in work and under excellent direction, which give some promise of permanence and fu- ture prosperity. Not a little responsibility for their success devolves upon the public, without whose encouragment no society can prosper.
The most prominence which has come in a musical way, was earned by Pauline L'Allamand. There are many others of both sexes, who have won deserved favor, upon some of whom the shades of death have passed, but whose names live in memory. They have from time to time graced the local lyric stage to the delight of large audiences, sometimes bringing out local compositions of merit. So-called jubilees and musical festivals under the management of earnest, devoted men have done much to arouse inter- est in music and educate the masses. And there has been a steady growth in the excellence of church choirs, some of which quartettes are of superior capacity and in some instances are strong attractions for calling large audi- ences under the voice of the preacher. The musical department of the College of Fine Arts of Syracuse University has conferred important bene- fits and in a degree takes the place of a conservatory of music. It may be said in conclusion that the city was never so well equipped with capable, competent educators in music as it is to-day. The system of teaching is the one most generally approved, and the development which is being made gives the very best of promises for the future, and in this connection it will not be invidious to mention the name of the veteran Professor Ernst Held, whose life has thus far been spent in art-culture in Syracuse. He is the dean of the musical faculty of the city, and every musician delights to honor him.
To make a sketch of the various societies and orchestras which have risen only to fall, would entail considerable labor no more agreeable than that of writing other histories of misfortune. Let us rather look to the present and future for the fulfillment of bright hopes, and turn to the past only for teachings to help in the attainment of a degree of musical culture which shall give Syracuse a reputation throughout the land.
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THE POST-OFFICE OF SYRACUSE.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE POST-OFFICES OF SYRACUSE.
The First Post-office and the First Postmaster-Its Insignificance-First Quarterly Receipts --- A Stately Removal-First Free Delivery-The New Government Building-List of Postmasters.
IN February, 1820, the Onordaga Register made the following interest- 1 ing announcement : "A new post-office has been established at Syra- cuse (formerly Corinth), in the town of Salina, and John Wilkinson, Esq., appointed postmaster. The name of the village was necessarily changed, there being a post-office of the name of Corinth previously established in the State." The naming of the village Syracuse, by John Wilkinson, has already been described in these pages.
John Wilkinson, who was appointed postmaster February 24, 1820, dis- tributed his limited mail in the store of General Granger, on the site of the Syracuse Savings Bank Building, fronting on Salina street. Wishing for a change of office, in 1824, he proposed to John Durnford, then in the Coffin block, where the Onondaga County Savings Bank now stands, that the post-office be given room in Mr. Durnford's store, to which Mr. Durnford objected, giving as his reason his lack of room. To this Mr. Wilkinson de- murred, and as an all-sufficient proof that room was not lacking, went to his quarters and packing up the whole paraphernalia of the post-office, in- cluding mail matter, letter bags and boxes, lifted up Uncle Sam's property on his shoulders and marched into Durnford's store and was accorded pos- session.
John Wilkinson was re-appointed July 9, 1836, and served until 1840, when he was succeeded by Jonas Earll, Jr., Mr. Wilkinson resigning to be- come President of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad Company.
As to how long the store of Mr. Durnford was thus occupied there is a question, but from there the office was moved to the east wing of the Syra- cuse House, where Willard & Hawley afterward opened a jewelry store, and during the interval from 1842 to 1853, was in charge at different times of Henry Raynor, William W. Teall, William Jackson, and in 1853, of Henry J. Sedgwick, who moved into the old Granger block, locating in the west end of the building.
In 1834, the late Dudley P. Phelps, who was at that time in the office of Mr. Wilkinson, assisted in the making up and distributing the mails ;
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
there being but one mail a day the duties were not onerous. Among the postal clerks assisting during the latter service of Mr. Wilkinson were John L. V. Yates, who afterward settled in Wisconsin; John R. Lambert, Rob- ert D. Phillips, who went to Texas ; and James A. Partridge.
When Mr. Phelps left the office in 1838, he was succeeded by J. L. Bagg, then a student in the law office of Wilkinson & Outwater, who con- tinued his service as assistant during the remainder of the service of Mr. Wilkinson. Then the office was located in the store now occupied by P. L. Ryan, on East Genesee street.
In the final settlement between Mr. Wilkinson and the Post-office De- partment, a review of his books for the entire term took place, and showed that during the earlier part of his term the quarterly receipts were less than Sio, while during the last quarter they were about $2,000.
During the term of Henry J. Sedgwick, beginning on May 4, 1853, an entire change of postage stamps was made, and Mr. Sedgwick published the following notice under date of August 19, 1861 :
" The subscriber is prepared to exchange envelopes of the new style for an equivalent amount of the old issue, during a period of six days from the date of this notice, and that the latter will not be received in payment of postage on letters sent from this office, nor exchanged."
Mr. Sedgwick also published a similar notice in regard to stamps. At that time a question was raised as to the stability of the finances of the office and the bondsmen of Mr. Sedgwick, who were J. M. Jaycox, John A. Green, J. W. Barker, Thomas G. Alvord, and Dennis McCarthy, who appointed J. S. Plumb as receiver for the office. Some months before the termination of the appointment, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Alvord secured a release from the bail bond, and at the final settlement the Syracuse office was declared indebted to the Department in the sum of at least $3,000 and the bail was sued for that amount. The matter was finally settled in 1879, the Government suffering the loss from inability to prove the payment of certain drafts. Mr. Plumb remained in the office several weeks, assisting the successor to Mr. Sedg- wick, P. H. Agan, in settling up the business. When done, Mr. Plumb found himself in possession of some $4,000 worth of old stamps, which he held for some months before the agent came to attend to the matter. The stamps were counted by the agent and consigned to a stove. The property went up in smoke and Mr. Plumb was released from his obligation.
At that time a "penny postman" delivered all foreign letters and col- lected the postage on them with the additional one penny for carriage. The first postman was W. B. Hubbard, and the second, Thomas Connelly, who was retained in the corps when the free delivery was established. He is still living.
On August 27, 1861, Patrick H. Agan was appointed postmaster, and upon assuming the duties of his office appointed George J. Gardner as his
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THE POST-OFFICES OF SYRACUSE.
ant. Mr. Agan's official postal life began at the beginning of the civil war and covered an eventful period.
In 1863, consent was obtained from the department to change the post- office from the old Granger block to the Bastable block, providing Mr. Bastable would assume the rent for the old location during the life of the contract. Mr. Sedgwick, as part-owner of the Granger block, was persistent and emphatic in his opposition to the change. By one of the unexpected circumstances constantly arising in the lives of men and public depart- ments, Mr. Sedgwick was summoned from the city on a Saturday, expecting to return home as the shades of evening settled over the busy city, and un- conscious of the steps quietly taken by the officials of the post-office to move from one side of the street to the other. By reason of a delayed train he failed to arrive, and a telegram was received in the city giving the · cause of his detention. Then Mr. Agan, Mr. Gardner and the employees of the office put their scheme of moving into execution.
Once moved, of course the location of the post-office could not be af- fected by Mr. Sedgwick's opposition ; but the contest between Mr. Basta- ble and the owners of the Granger block became rather acrimonious and resulted in a law suit which continued until the Granger block was burned.
In 1864, the Post-office Department issued an order establishing free delivery in Syracuse. The city was divided into nine districts, and one carrier was appointed for each district. At the time Thomas Connelly and Henry Stroh were delivering the foreign mail and were retained, the new appointments being Herrman Mueller, Martin Mara, Henry P. Shove, Thomas Clary, William Olmstead, John S. Larrabee and James H. Luther. These men carried the mail twice each day in the outer districts, and five times in the business district. Collections were made at stores where people left their letters for carriers, or at the residences as the postmen stopped to deliver their mail. Incredible as it may seem to the present younger por- tion of the city's inhabitants, most bitter opposition was made to the new state of affairs. The opposition was started by Finlay M. King, a local politician, and so aggressive and pertinacious was he that he swayed a por- tion of the citizens by his plausible reasonings, and by constant effort suc- ceeded in getting the city in a state of uncertainty not pleasant to peace- able and right-minded citizens. It was generally supposed that the disturb- ance arose more from a desire to oppose the administration, than for any other reason ; be that as it may, the malcontents went about and procured signatures to a petition calling a meeting at the City Hall for January 14, 1865, at 7 p. m., for the purpose of consulting together in regard to the sys_ tem of collecting and distributing the mails. This was signed by most of the leading citizens and firms, among them being E. W. Leavenworth William C. Ruger, D. McCarthy, L. H. Hiscock, Ira II, Cobb, C. T. Long-
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