USA > New York > Onondaga County > Onondaga's centennial. Gleanings of a century, Vol. II > Part 44
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In 1841 Mr. Smith went to Columbus, Ohio, and spent three years as editor of the Ohio State Journal, a Whig publication, and returning to Syracuse was elected in the fall of 1846 clerk of Onondaga county for a term of three years. February 14, 1855, he was appointed by Governor Clark superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs, an office he filled with great credit and ability until 1865, when he was suc- ceeded by George Geddes. On January 24, 1873, he was appointed by Gov. Jolin A. Dix one of the three canal appraisers of the State, and held that position until Jan - uary, 1880. This was the last public office he filled. He died in Syracuse Febru- ary 7, 1881.
Mr. Smith dissolved his connection with the Democratic party in 1837, and identi- fied himself with the Whigs, whose political principles he advocated in the columns of his paper for several years. But he early became imbued with the principles of Republicanism and for about a quarter of a century wielded a controlling influence in local politics, stood foremost among the party leaders, and ardently advocated a platform of purity, economy, and reform, and exercised a large influence in Onon- daga county appointments by the State authorities. He always manifested a deep
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interest in the prosperity of the village and city, and materially aided in promoting various measures of local importance and public benefit.
Mr. Smith was married, first, in February, 1832, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Hon. Jonas Earll, of Onondaga Hill. She died in April, 1835, leaving an only son, Hon. Carroll E. Smith, and in June, 1839, he married for his second wife Miss Theodora, daughter of Davenport Morey, of Syracuse. They had three children: Fillmore M. Seward V., and Florence A.
CARROLL E. SMITH.
HON. CARROLL, E. SMITH, editor of the Syracuse Journal, the only son of Vivus W. and Caroline (Earll) Smith, was born in Syracuse, where he has always resided, De- cember 25, 1832. He spent his youth in the local schools and in the old Sy- racuse Academy, and in 1852 was graduated from Seward Institute at Flori- da, N. Y. He early learn- ed the various branches of the printer's trade in the office of the Syracuse Jour- nal, and when nineteen entered upon his life-long journalistic career in a sub- ordinate capacity, becom- ing local reporter for the Daily Journal before he had reached his maiority. Later he was associate editor of the Daily Chron- icle, and in 1860 assumed editorial charge of the Journal, of which he has ever since been the guid- = ing spirit.
In 1862 his partners were John G. K. Truair and Marcus M. Miles, the firm name being Truair, Smith CARROLL E. SMITH. & Miles. The firm of Truair, Smith & Co., con- ducted the paper from 1868 to April 21, 1876, when it became Truair, Smith & Bruce, which continued until August, 1885, when a stock company was formed with Mr. Smith, president ; J. G. K. Truair, vice-president and treasurer; and Eugene M. Grover, sec-
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retary and superintendent. Mr. Truair died October 23, 1889, and soon afterward the company was reorganized with Carroll E. Smith, president and treasurer, and Charles C. Smith, secretary, who have since held their respective offices. On March 14, 1891, the entire Journal establishment, including a new IJoe web perfecting press and all extensive job printing and bindery plant, situated in East Washington street, was destroyed by fire, but through the energy and indomitable perseverance of Mr. Smith not a single issue of the paper was missed. On the 23d of the following month (April) the Journal was moved into its present handsome and commodious quarters in James street, where its veteran editor is assisted by a staff of able news- paper writers.
Mr. Smith is the oldest journalist in point of active service in Onondaga county. For thirty-five yearshe hasexerted a strong influence in local newspaperdom, promot- ing the highest interests of the community by fearlessly upholding the causes of religion, morality, and temperance, and advocating the best phases of political and public policy. Careful in his editorial statements, but outspoken in all matters affecting the general welfare, he goes to the foundation of the subject under comment and clearly and concisely presents it in a way peculiarly his own. Original, simple, and thorough, his writings are models of the keenest logic and invariably impress both friend and opponent. Though tenacious of his own rights he carefully respects those of others, and in the printed page or on the platform commands the closest attention and universal respect by the vigor of his presentation and logical reason- ing. He is naturally kind and sympathetic, firm in his friendships, energetic, per- severing, and progressive, strightforward, and honest. He possesses a strong indi- viduality and a rare insight into human motives and character, and ranks among the ablest editors in the State, enjoying as such the esteem and confidence of the fraternity as well as the public. He has made the Journal a synonym for truthful- ness and morality, and has thoroughly imbued it with his own high ideal of the newspaper as a public educator-the perfect abnegation of self in its conductors, with the highest development of news enterprise and the most perfect devotion to the interests of State and people.
Mr. Smith has always been an unswerving Republican, and has faithfully served his party in various important capacities. He lias probably drafted more political platforms than any other man in the State, and has frequently been a delegate to county, district and State conventions. He was city clerk from 1854 to 1857, and took an active part in framing the charter of the city that has ever since been the basis of its municipal law. In 1865 he was elected county clerk for a term of three years, and in 1876 and 1877 represented his district in the State Legislature, where he served on various important committees including the Committee on the Affairs of Cities and the Committee on Apportionment. He was also chairman of the Com - mittee on Public Education, and in that capacity rendered valuable services in the interest of popular education. He has been a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York since 1888. For six years he was president of the Associated Press and for twenty-two years served as one of its board of man- agers. October 17, 1889, he was appointed by President Harrison postmaster at Syracuse and custodian of the government building, and held those positions for nearly four years. He has also been prominently connected with various local as- sociations and enterprises, both of a business and public character. He has always
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taken a deep interest in the preservation of local history, has been for several years an active member of the Onondaga Historical Association, and in January, 1896, was elected its president. He was especially prominent in bringing about and making successful the memorable Centennial Celebration of March and June, 1894. In June, 1895, Syracuse University conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D.
Mr. Smith was married in 1854 to Miss Harriet E. Horton, and their children are Charles C. (managing editor of the Journal), Vivus G., Mrs. A. V. Meeker, and Mrs. J. C. Auchampaugh, all of Syracuse.
MILTON H. NORTHRUP.
MILTON HARLOW NORTHRUP, postmaster of Syracuse and editor of the Syracuse Evening News, is a son of Rensselaer and Clarissa (Judd) Northrup and was born on a farm in Smithfield, Madison county, N. Y., April 3, 1841. He is the fifth of nine children, the eldest being Hon. A. Judd Northrup, ex-judge of Onondaga county. He was ed- ucated at Peterboro Academy and Hamilton College, gradu- ating with high honor from the latter institution in 1860. He went South to teach, and at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion was principal of the preparatory department of Oglethorpe University at Mil- ledgeville, Ga. Coming to Sy- racuse at the outbreak of hos- tilities, he conducted a private classical school for a couple of years, meanwhile studying law, and, in 1863, at the age of twen- ty-two, was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1863 he was chosen clerk of the Onondaga Board of Supervisors. In the summer of 1864 he was appointed aid-de- MILTON H. NORTHRUP. camp, with rank of captain to Brig .- Gen. John A. Green, jr., in charge of the defense of the northern frontier of the State. In 1865 he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, where he speculated in oil and practiced law. It was while there that he first began his newspaper work, his correspondence to the New York World and other papers attracting wide attention. In 1867 he was the Albany legislative correspondent of the New York Express, and in the fall
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of that year was transferred to Washington as its correspondent at the national capital. In 1868 he spent several months in Europe, and in the winter follow- ing accepted the Albany agency of the New York Associated Press, succeeding Hon. Daniel Manning. At the close of the legislative session he became night agent for the State Associated Press in New York city. In the Legislature of 1870 he was the clerk of the Committee of Ways and Means, and also furnished corres- pondence to various journals. He had become meanwhile part proprietor of the Syracuse Courier, and at the close of the session went to Syracuse to assume edi- torial control. In 1879 he also became business manager. The winters of 1875-76 and 1876-77 he spent in Washington as clerk of the Committee on Banking and Currency by invitation of "Sunset " Cox, then its chairman. He also served as clerk of the joint committee, on the part of the House, that framed the famous bill creating the Electoral Commission in the memorable Tilden-Hayes controversy. He was the Democratic candidate for State senator against Dennis McCarthy in 1883, and in the spring of 1888 was appointed by President Cleveland postmaster of Syra- cuse. From 1873 to 1876 he was an excise commissioner of Syracuse by appoint- ment of Mayor Wallace. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conven- tion at Baltimore in 1872, and has frequently been delegate to State Conventions of his party, among them the State convention of 1882, which put Grover Cleveland in nomination for governor and David B. Hill for lientenant-governor, and the con- vention of 1891 which nominated Roswell P. Flower for governor. He was president of the New York State Associated Press in 1892-93. In May, 1893, he was again appointed by President Cleveland postmaster at Syracuse, and still holds that posi- tion. In the winter of 1894 Mr. Northrup severed his connection with the Courier, and a few months later became and is still editor-in-chief of the Syracuse Evening News.
On October 25, 1871, Mr. Northrup was married to Miss Elizabeth McCammon, of Albany, and they have five children: Lillian, Alice Elizabeth, Jessie, Milton Harlow, jr., and Frederick Bruce.
ARTHUR JENKINS.
ARTHUR JENKINS, principal owner and manager of the Syracuse Evening and Sunday Herald, was born of English parentage in Buffalo, N. Y., on the 23d of July, 1851. In 1855 he went with the family to Milwaukee, Wis., where he received a common school education, which he completed in his fifteenth year. He then be- gan to work for his living in the once famous commission offices of Van Kirk & Mc- Geogh, and afterward obtained employment in various other capacities, including a brief experience in a bank and later in a drug store. But the fire of ambition, and those native characteristics which even then gave promise of a bright and suc- cessful future, prompted him to settle upon something permanent, and accordingly, in 1868, he entered one of the Milwaukee printing offices to learn the printer's trade. He soon went to Chicago and subsequently worked as a journeyman in many of the Western States, visiting the principal cities along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. On March 28, 1871, he came to Syracuse and entered the Journal office, where he not only held a case, but did "sub-editing" for that paper.
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Mr. Jenkins was industrious, energetic, and self-reliant, and rapidly acquired a leading place among the best compositors in this city. But his ambition and alert- ness soon led him to conceive the idea of branching out in business for himself. In 1876 he saw the possibility of starting a cheap, live, and enterprising newspaper open before him, and with true journalistic instinct convinced himself that its suc- cess was merely a question of conduct and proper management. On January 15, 1877, having severed his connection with the Journal, he founded and issued the first number of the Evening Herald from the job printing office of Arthur White in West Fayette street. It was a four- page, six-column sheet, but it immediately filled a conspicu- ous sphere in the field of local journalism. In starting the enterprise he had a little less than $300 borrowed capital, and during the first year the struggle to keep on foot was both hard and continuous. But the paper gradually se- cured a firm hold upon the public, its prospects brighten- ed, and on June 3, 1878, The Herald Company was incor- porated with Mr. Jenkins as president, a position he has ever since retained. May 16, 1880, The Sunday Herald was started and is now the lead- ing Sunday newspaper in ARTHUR JENKINS. Central New York. On May 1, 1883, the establishment took up its permanent quarters in the Crouse block in Warren street and on May 30, 1892, was moved one door north to its present location in the Herald building, where it occupies conspicuously fine and well equipped offices. On Sunday, June 12, of that year, The Herald appeared as the first 24-page paper ever printed in Syracuse.
Mr. Jenkins was one of the organizers and for a time manager and member of the board of directors of the United Press. Later The Herald became connected with the Associated Press and Mr. Jenkins is now a member of the Eastern Advisory Board. He was also largely instrumental in organizing the Business Men's Asso- ciation of Syracuse and is a member of its board of managers. He is a member of the Century and Citizens Clubs, the Syracuse Athletic Association, the Elks, the Republican Club of New York city, the Onondaga Sportsmen's Club, the Anglers' Association of Onondaga county, and the Adirondack League Club.
He has always exerted a wholesome influence in advancing the standard of local newspaper work; and The Herald, moulded after his idea of what a family journal
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should be, has ably mirrored public sentiment and championed the best interests of the city.
Mr. Jenkins was married on the 11th of June, 1874, to Miss Emma Hogan, of Geddes. They have one daughter, Mary Emma.
HOWARD G. WHITE.
HON. HOWARD GANSON WHITE, proprietor and publisher of the Syracuse Standard, is a son of the late Hamilton White and was born in Syracuse on the 5th of May, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, in St. John's School at Manlius, and at Cornell Uni- versity, then under the presi- dency of his cousin, Hon. An- drew D. White. It was soon found, however, that long-con- tinued study in college would break down his naturally deli- cate health, and after a year or two at the latter institution he was obliged to relinquish the idea of a full collegiate training and turn his attention to other and more robust pursuits. He then spent two years in travel abroad in company with Prof. Horatio S. White, and at the end of that period returned to the growing city of Syracuse, which has always engrossed his thoughts, and which became the field for the exercise of his varied talents. He first directed his attention to manufacturing, taking up the old established HOWARD G. WHITE. business of Burr Burton and F. R. Porter, which consisted originally of making castings for the salt works and afterward embraced mill machinery of various kinds, steam pumps, cotton presses, and steam engines and boilers. This was conducted under the Porter Man- ufacturing Company, which was organized by Mr. White and others in 1877 with his brother, Barrett R. White, president; Robert Townsend, vice-president; George A. Porter, treasurer; and D. H. Gowing, secretary. In 1880 Howard G. White was elected to the presidency, and it was under his efficient management that the com- pany laid the foundation for the world-wide celebrity of its portable engines and boilers which it subsequently achieved. During this period he also carried on a stock farm (now the Palmer tract) of sixty-five acres, upon which he had some of
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the finest strains of Norman Percheron horses in this country, many of them being imported and celebrated for their size and strength for heavy work. There he also had a fine stock of Holstein cattle, in which he took great pride and pleasure. In 1885 he sold his stock to New York and Rochester parties and the farm to the Onon- daga County Agricultural Society.
In 1883 Mr. White's attention was called to the Syracuse Standard property as an investment which promised a specially congenial field for his talents. He had at this time begun to take an active part in city and county politics, and believed that a better newspaper than the Republican party then had would prove satisfactory and serve a good purpose. With John H. Durston and others he purchased the plant, and soon afterward acquired all other interests except that of Mr. Durston's. On April 2, 1887, he became sole owner of the establishment, and thenceforth gave it his undivided attention. Under his sagacious management the Standard was thor- oughly improved, its circulation extended throughout Central, Southern, and North- ern New York, and one of the finest and best equipped newspaper offices in the State fitted up in East Genesee street for its occupancy.
Mr. White has for many years taken an active interest in the councils of the Re- publican party, not only in Syracuse and Onondaga county, but in the State. In 1889 and again in 1890 he was elected to the Assembly from the First Onondaga dis- trict, and before entering upon the duties of that position resigned as president of the Porter Manufacturing Company. During both sessions of the Legislature he was a member of the committee on cities, to which in 1890 the Syracuse water bill was re- ferred; and he was largely instrumental in securing its passage against the strenu- ous opposition of the canal counties. Mr. White is a man of deliberative judgment, refined tastes, and progressive ideas, of high culture, enterprising, and public spir- ited. He has always taken a keen interest in the welfare of the city, and his talents and ability eminently fit him for journalistic as well as political spheres.
September 25, 1879, Mr. White was married to Miss Emma Sawyer, daughter of Hon. Philetus Sawyer, ex-United States senator, of Oshkosh, Wis., and their wed- ding tour consisted of a trip around the world, including a visit to almost every country.
WILLIAM A. JONES.
WILLIAM A. JONES, editor of the Syracuse Post, was born in Camden, Oneida county, N. Y. He is a son of the late Rev. William Jones, who was for many years a well-known member of the Central New York Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Jones was educated at Cazenovia Seminary and Wesleyan Uni- versity, graduating from the latter institution in 1881, having his home in Syracuse at that time. After graduation Mr. Jones went West, where he taught Latin and Greek for two years, and afterwards practiced law and engaged in the newspaper business. He returned to Syracuse in April, 1893, and resumed the practice of law. At the time the Syracuse Post was established he became its managing editor, and later its editor-in-chief. He first became a resident of Onondaga county in 1861, when his father became the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Baldwins- ville, and he has been identified more or less with the interests of this county ever since.
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JOHN F. NASH.
JOHN FRANCIS NASH, president of the Syracuse Courier Company, and editor of The Courier, began his journalistic career on the Albany Argus, first as correspondent from Plattsburg, N. Y., his home. After completing a course in the Albany Law School he was placed in charge of the legal department of the Argus, which was an important feature of that paper under its old management. Ile was made associate editor in 1891, and upon the retirement in 1893 of the Hon. Eugene T. Chamberlain, the editor, to accept the position of United States commis- sioner of navigation, Mr. Nash was placed in charge. In 1894 he began negotia- tions for the purchase of the Syracuse Courier, which was purchased early in 1894. A stock company was formed and the occupancy of the Courier plant assumed on February 5, 1894, with the following executive staff : John F. Nash, editor-in- chief ; Herbert F. Prescott, managing editor; Austin N. Liecty, business manager ; Frederick H. Johnson, man- ager of the job department. The officers of the company are: John F. Nash, presi- dent; Herbert F. Prescott, JOHN F. NASH. vice-president ; A. N. Liecty. secretary and treasurer. Mr. Nash, although comparatively a new factor in Onon- daga journalism, has already won a prominent place among the leading journalists of the city.
MOSES B. ROBBINS.
MOSES B. ROBBINS, general manager of the Times Publishing Company, publishers of the Syracuse Sunday Times, was born July 10, 1841, in Union, Broome county, N. Y., where his father, Gen. Ephraim Robbins, jr., was a general merchant. Gen- eral Robbins was for many years a brigadier-general in the old State militia, several years postmaster at Union, and died there in 1859, at the age of fifty-eight.
Moses B. Robbins was educated in the common schools of his native town and at
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the Susquehanna Seminary in Binghamton, graduating from the latter institution in 1859. In 1860 he was graduated from the Binghamton Commercial College. Meanwhile he had acquired a practical knowledge of the printing business, a trade he finished in the office of the Binghamton Republican under William Stewart, and after completing his education commenced active work at the case. But the war spirit, which drew forward many of his associates, proved too strong to resist, and with ardent patriotism and an overwhelming desire to share the honors of battle he enlisted in August, 1862, as first lieutenant of Co. E. 109th N. Y. Vols., which he assisted in raising in Binghamton. He accompanied the regiment to the front, par- ticipated in its engagements, and in 1863 was promoted captain. He was severely wounded at Cold Harbor, June 4, 1864, and was discharged from the service for dis- ability in October of the same year, after participating in the battles of the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor and others during Grant's campaign of the Potomac.
Returning from the army with his health shattered and constitution impaired Mr. Robbins spent some time in recuperating, and during that period made a tour of the West. In May, 1868, he purchased the Union News in his native village and suc- cessfully continued as its publisher until April, 1875, after which he was connected with the Binghamton Daily Times for a few months. In October following he pur- chased the Canastota (N. Y.)Herald, which he published till April, 1889. On the 27th of July of that year he came to Syracuse, bought the Sunday Times and organized the Times Publishing Company, of which he has since been the general manager.
Mr. Robbins is one of the ablest newspaper publishers in the county, and has been uniformly successful throughout a long and active career. He has placed the Times upon a sound financial basis, and has added materially to its equipment, notably a fine engraving department. Endowed with business qualifications of a high order he is systematic, thorough, and practical, and as a citizen is alive to the welfare of the community. Public spirited, enterprising, and progressive he takes a keen in- terest in all movements promising general benefit, and personally aids and promotes every worthy project. He has been a Mason since 1863 and a Royal Arch Mason since 1873. He is a member of Central City Lodge, No. 305, F. & A. M., a member of the Knights of Honor, a charter member of Canastota Lodge, No. 90, A. O. U. W., and its representative in the Grand Lodge for seven successive years, a member of Root Post, No. 151, G. A. R. and of the Citizens Club, and president of the Boule- vard Land and Improvement Company since its organization in 1893.
Mr. Robbins was married on May 4, 1863, at Deposit, N. Y., to Miss Nettie V., daughter of Peter P. Youmans, of that place.
JOHN C. STEPHENSON.
JOHN CHARLES STEPHENSON, founder and editor of the Skaneateles Free Press, is a son of John and Mary (Mason) Stephenson, and was born in Elbridge, Onondaga county, November 3, 1853. His father was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1819, and was married in Dedham, Mass., in 1851, to Mary Mason, a native of County Kerry, Ireland. Both came to America in 1849. In 1852 they located in Elbridge, whence
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