Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 91

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

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The founding of the Buffalo Gazette by the Salisbury brothers in 1811 has been noticed in an earlier chapter. The early date of the first publication of that paper, in a village of insignificant size, on the western frontier of the State, is worthy of notice. The number of newspapers then published in the State, outside of New York and Albany, was very small. Utica had one; another was published at Manlius, Onondaga county; James D. Bemis printed the Ontario Re- pository at Canandaigua; and there was one issued at Batavia; this nearly or quite comprises the list. Smith H. and Hezekiah A. Salis- bury learned the printing trade with Mr. Bemis, and when they em- barked in their new enterprise they added to their modest printing outfit a small stock of books and stationery, as was the custom in those days. A nearly complete file of this pioneer newspaper is preserved in the Buffalo Library. In anticipation of an attack by the British, the Salisburys moved their business to Harris Hill in December, 1813, whence it was returned to Buffalo after the close of the war. Smith H. Salisbury continued to act as editor of the Gazette until January, 1818, when he sold his interest to William A. Carpenter. The latter, on April 18, 1818, sold to Hezekiah A. Salisbury, who thus became

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sole owner of the establishment; he changed the name of the paper to Niagara Patriot, which name was again changed to Buffalo Patriot at the time of the erection of Erie county in 1821. In 1826 Mr. Carpen- ter again purchased an interest in the Patriot and acted as assistant editor until 1834. The Patriot supported the Anti-Masonic movement with great vigor during Mr. Carpenter's editorial connection with it. In the winter of 1827-28 Charles Sentell and Billings Hayward started the Western Advertiser, which was also an Anti-Mason organ during its brief existence. It was merged with the Patriot at the end of about three months. On January 7, 1834, the Patriot came out with the title, Buffalo Patriot and Commercial Advertiser. On January 1, 1835, the first number of the Daily Commercial Advertiser was issued, with H. A. Salisbury, publisher; Guy H. Salisbury, editor, and Bradford & Manchester, printers. The office was then located at 341-43 Main street, with an entrance on Ellicott Square. At the expiration of six months the daily issue was enlarged, and again at the close of the first year, at which time Mr. Manchester purchased an interest in the es- tablishment, and the firm name became Salisbury, Manchester ' & Co. During the succeeding six months the paper was edited by Dr. Thomas M. Foote, excepting during a short period when Theodore C. Peters occupied the position. On the last of July, 1835, Hezekiah A. Salis- bury retired from the business; his connection with the press of the city was in every way creditable and successful; he died March 14, 1856. Dr. Foote and Guy H. Salisbury then became associated with Mr. Man- chester and continued the publication until August, 1836, at which time Almon M. Clapp, who had established and published the Standard in Aurora up to that time, consolidated his paper with the Weekly Patriot and became one of the editors of the combined journals. A little later Mr. Manchester retired from the business and the remaining members of the firm under the style of Salisbury, Foote & Co., continued to May, 1839. At this time Mr. Salisbury and Mr. Clapp sold out to Dr. Foote and Elam R. Jewett. The latter was then publishing the Daily Journal (noticed further on), which he merged with the Commercial.

The history of the Daily Journal, just mentioned, is as follows: The paper was originally established as the Niagara Journal, in July, 1815. by David M. Day; it was the second newspaper started in Erie county.

1 Mr. Manchester, in 1836, introduced the first power printing press in Buffalo; it was one of the old Adams bed and platen style. Later he used the first cylider press in the city in the office of the Pilot. Mr. Manchester died May 3, 1862.

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R. W. HASKINS.

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When this county was formed in 1821, the name of the paper was changed to Buffalo Journal. For a number of years Mr. Day was as- sisted in his editorial labor by leading politicians of his party. From about 1822 to 1826 Roswell W. Haskins was the principal editor of the paper, and greatly advanced its interests by his able and judicious course. In 1826 Oran Follett purchased an interest in the establish- ment and took the editorial chair. In 1827 Mr. Haskins purchased a share, the firm name becoming Follett & Haskins. Both of these men retired from the business in 1830, from which date to 1834 the paper was conducted by Mr. Day, when it was sold to Elijah J. Roberts, who, in the same summer, began the publication of a large daily newspaper under the title, Daily Advertiser; this survived only about six weeks. Comfort F. Butler was for a short time connected with this publication. In the early part of 1835 the Journal suspended its issue, although its career for about twenty years was successful; its life was shortened through the founding in the previous winter of the Buffalo Whig, by David M. Day, with Roswell W. Haskins,' editor, whose able writing and great personal popularity drew to the new journal a large patron- age to the embarrassment of the Journal. When the latter suspended, Mr. Day purchased its subscription list and added its title to the name of his own paper. On January 1, 1836, Mitchenor Cadwallader and Dr. Henry R. Stagg became partners with Mr. Day, and in February following the firm began the publication of the Daily Journal, Mr. Cad- wallader and Mr. Stagg sharing in the editorial labor. In 1837 Mr. Day retired, the business was continued about another year by the re- maining partners, and in the fall of 1838 the whole establishment was purchased by Elam R. Jewett and Dr. Daniel Lee. J. B. Clarke was employed as editor of the paper. In May, 1839, the Journal was merged with the Commercial Advertiser, as before stated.

1 Roswell Willson Haskins settled in Buffalo in 1822 and established the Buffalo bookstore at 204 Main street. In 1827 the partnership of Day, Follett & Haskins was formed and in the same year the store was burned, causing temporary suspension of the publication of the Buffalo Jour- nal. This paper was soon afterward consolidated with the Buffalo Patriot, and was the germ of the Buffalo Commercial. Mr. Haskins was an energetic member of the board of health during the cholera scourge of 1832; was chairman of the committee which organized the Young Men's Association, now the Buffalo Library; aided materially in forming the Society of Natural Sciences, and was appointed Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Haskins published many pamphlets on scientific subjects, among them being an "Essay on Comets," "Art and Artists" "The Open North Polar Sea," and others. He prophesied the lighting of cities by electricity, and heating and lighting by natural gas. He wrote a circular proposing a railroad from Buffalo to Albany which was sent to all towns along the line, but it was treated with contempt. and ten years from that time a continuous line of railroad was in operation from Buffalo to Portland, Me. Mr. Has- kins served his country in a militia company in the war of 1812. His life was a useful one in many ways that cannot be mentioned here. He died in Buffalo January 15, 1870, aged ?4 years.

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The firm now in control of the Commercial Advertiser was styled E. R. Jewett & Co., the company being Dr. Thomas M. Foote, who was the principal editor and was assisted by Dr. Lee. This arrange- ment continued fifteen years, when in 1854 the whole establishment was sold to Calvin F. S. Thomas, Solon H. Lathrop and Jedediah H. Lathrop. Theodore N. Parmalee was employed as editor. On the 4th of April, 1857, the plant and business passed again to Mr. Jewett' and Doctor Foote,' the latter acting as editor. He was succeeded in that capacity by E. Peshine Smith, and he by Prof. Ivory Chamber- lain; the latter was a very able writer and was subsequently employed on the New York Herald, and died in that city. Dr. Sanford B. Hunt was editor of the Advertiser after Mr. Chamberlain's incumbency. Dr. Hunt subsequently became editor of the Newark (N. J.) Advertiser. On April 9, 1861, the Commercial Advertiser establishment was pur- chased by Rufus Wheeler, Joseph Candee and James D. Warren, the firm name being Rufus Wheeler & Co .; Anson G. Chester was employed as editor for a short period. On December 8, 1862, this firm dissolved, Mr. Candee retiring, and his interest passing to Mr. Warren; at the same time James N. Matthews acquired an interest and the firm name was changed to Wheeler, Matthews & Warren. On April 29, 1865, Mr. Wheeler retired and died on the 14th of May following. Mr. Matthews now began his long and honorable career as chief editor of the paper, and the Commercial Advertiser under his administration, assisted by William E. Foster, became a power in Western New York. The firm of Matthews & Warren was dissolved October 29, 1877, from which time until his death Mr. Warren 3 was sole proprietor of the establish- ment.

1 Elam R. Jewett, long and successfully associated with the press of Buffalo, was born in New Haven, Vt., December 10, 1810. He learned the printing trade at Middlebury, Vt., and after- wards was one of the publishers of the Vermont State Journal, and other eastern papers. In 1838 he made a western journey as far as Cleveland, and while there learned of the offer to sell the Daily Journal in Buffalo. He immediately proceeded to that place and purchased the estab- lishment. His subsequent connection with Erie county journalism is related in the text.

' Dr. Foote was a scholarly and powerful writer, and during his editorial connection with the Commercial Advertiser, the paper acquired an extended reputation as an influential journal. Dr. Foote was sent to Bogota as charge d'affaires in 1849, and in the next year filled the same station at the Court of Vienna. He died February 20, 1858.

3 James D. Warren was born in Bennington, Vt., and was a son of Orsamus B. Warren, who settled in the town of Clarence, Erie county, in early years and became a successful merchant. Before James D. Warren reached his majority he made a tour of the South and finished his edu- cation with about a year and a half of study in the city of Natchez. After his return to Clarence his public life began with his election as supervisor of that town, which office he held several terms. In 184, when he was only thirty one years of age, he was elected treasurer of Erie

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JAMES D. WARREN.

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In February, 1868, the plant of the Commercial Advertiser was re- moved from Main street to the Adams block in Washington street and on Monday evening, September 28, of the same year, a mysterious fire started in the building and it was almost totally destroyed. Through the courtesy of the proprietors of the Express the paper was regularly · issued, but as only a half sheet, until October 7. The block was at once rebuilt and the establishment continued to occupy it until April 10, 1882, when it was removed to its own new building, corner of Washington and North Division streets, where now is installed a large and modern newspaper and job printing plant of the first order.

The first issue of the Buffalo Republican appeared in April, 1828, as a weekly Democratic newspaper and was the first journal in the county of that political complexion. William P. M. Wood was the publisher until September of that year when the establishment was purchased by S. H. Salisbury and William S. Snow. In April, 1829, Mr. Snow sold his interest to his partner. In the spring of 1830 Henry L. Ball bought the business and conducted it until early in 1831, when he sold out to Charles Faxon and James Stryker; the latter had acted as editor under Mr. Ball's administration and continued in that position until October, 1834, when Mr. Faxon purchased Mr. Stryker's interest and made Ho- ratio Gates editor. Between 1831 and 1834 Israel T. Hatch and Henry K. Smith served as political editors of the paper through different periods. In the spring of 1835 Charles Faxon purchased the Bulletin and the Star and consolidated them with the Republican, making the latter the weekly issue and the Star the daily. The Buffalo Bulletin (just mentioned) was started in the spring of 1830 by Horace Steele; the paper was devoted to the interests of a workingmen's party, which was one of the new factors in the political field at that period and was running Isaac S. Smith for governor. That party was short lived and the Bulletin then espoused Democracy. In the early part of 1831 it was purchased by James Faxon, who employed Mason Brayman as

county, and held that office three years. He also served as clerk of the Board of Supervisors several terms. In April, 1861, he joined with Rufus Wheeler and Joseph Candee in the purchase of the publishing establishment of which he was long the head. Mr. Warren wasa steadfast and earnest Republican, and wielded a large influence in directing the politics of Western New York; he frequently served as a member of the Republican county committee and the State cen- tral committee, and also as delegate to State and national nominating conventions. He was possessed of abounding public spirit, and his personal efforts as well as the influence of his paper were freely drawn upon for the good of Buffalo and Erie county in all public affairs. Mr. War- ren's death took place December 17, 1886. At his death on December 17, 1886, the ownership and control of the paper and plant passed to his sons. Orsamus G. and James D., under the firm name of James D. Warren's Sons.

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editor. In July of that year Mr. Faxon issued the first number of the first daily newspaper in Erie county and named it the Daily Star. He announced it as neutral in politics, but previous to the November elec- tion began the support of the Democratic candidates. The establish- ment and the two papers were sold to Charles Faxon in 1835, as before stated.

In August, 1838, Horatio Gates was succeeded by William L. Cran- dall as editor of the Republican and the Star. In December of that year the establishment was burned and the publications were suspended until February, 1839, when they were revived by Quartus Graves, Mr. Gates resuming his editorial position, assisted for a time by J. W. Dwi- nell. Mr. Gates was succeeded in April, 1840, by Stephen Albro, whose assistant for a few months was J. C. Bunner. Just a year later Samuel Caldwell succeeded Mr. Albro, but occupied the position only a few weeks, when Mr. Bunner took editorial charge and contin- ued to January, 1842. At that time Mr. Graves sold the establishment to Theodotus Burwell, who changed the name of the paper to the Mer- cantile Courier and Democratic Economist, and gave the editorial chair to Henry White. On October 1, 1842, Joseph Stringham purchased the establishment and shortened the title of the paper to Mercantile Courier, editing the journal in person. On July 1, 1846, the Daily Na- tional Pilot, a newspaper which was the legitimate successor of the Daily Gazette (started in August, 1842, by Charles Faxon, 2d), was consolidated with the Courier. A few weeks later the Old School Jeffer- sonian, a weekly paper started to support President Tyler's adminis- tration, was issued from the same establishment. In February, 1843, these two papers were discontinued and the publication of the Gazette was begun in the same office by H. A. Salisbury, B. A. Manchester and James O. Brayman. The Gazette was continued two years, when Mr. Manchester and Mr. Brayman started the National Pilot, daily and weekly; R. W. Haskins was associated with Mr. Brayman in the edit- orial work. The purpose of the Pilot was to foster the national spirit among Americans and render them " freer from English influence in their literature, their science, their political economy, and their views of the political and social condition of the world at large." In April, 1846, Mr. Haskins retired as editor of the Pilot and it was at the same time merged with the Courier, as before stated, Messrs. Manchester and Brayman acquiring their interest in the establishment simulta- neously with the other changes. This arrangement continued to No-

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vember, 1846, when Joseph Stringham sold out to his partners and Guy H. Salisbury was associated with Mr. Brayman in the editorial conduct of the paper; at the same time weekly and tri-weekly editions were published. In 1849 W. A. Seaver purchased the establishment and became both publisher and editor. At that time the office was in Spaulding's Exchange. In 1852 it was removed to West Seneca street, and in 1857 James H. Sanford acquired an interest in the business and assumed a part of the editorial labor; at about that period the office was removed to No. 192 Washington street. In 1858 Joseph Warren' began his career in journalism in Buffalo in connection with the Courier, which continued for more than eighteen years and gave him a conspicuous position among the newspaper workers of the coun- try. In the early part of his connection with the paper he assisted the editor, but soon assumed the chief editorial control and maintained that position until his death in 1876.

In 1860 the firm became Sanford, Warren & Harroun, through the purchase of Mr. Seaver's interest by Gilbert K. Harroun. Soon after- ward the firm of Joseph Warren & Co. was formed, the members of which were Joseph Warren, Milo Stevens, William C. Horan and David Gray. On the 1st of January, 1869, the firms of Joseph Warren & Co. and Howard & Johnson were consolidated and the proprietors formed a joint stock company with the title of the Courier Company. The di- rectors for the first year were Joseph Warren, Ethan H. Howard, James M. Johnson, William C. Horan and Milo Stevens ; Joseph War- ren, president ; James M. Johnson, vice-president ; Ethan H. Howard, treasurer ; Milo Stevens, secretary. At that time the company was publishing the Daily Courier, the Evening Courier and Republic, and the Weekly Courier. The business of the establishment was conducted under the firm name of Warren, Johnson & Co., until March, 1875, when it was transferred to the Courier Company. About the same

1 Joseph Warren was born in Waterbury, Vt., July 24, 1829. He graduated from the Vermont University as Bachelor of Arts in 1851, and three years later received from his alma mater the degree of M. A. He was employed for a time on the Country Gentleman and Cultivator in Albany, where his natural qualifications for editorial work were soon demonstrated. He arrived in Buffalo in October, 1854, to accept the position of local editor on the Courier, and at once made his department attractive, reliable and popular. In 185; he was elected superintendent of schools. In 1838 he associated himself with Gilbert K. Harroun in the purchase of the Courier. After the death of Dean Richmond in August, 1866, the leadership of the Erie county Democracy devolved by general consent upon Mr. Warren, and he was made member-at-large of the Demo- cratic State Central Committee, and for ten years previous to his death he was the recognized leader of that party in Western New York. For six successive years he was chosen president of the State Associated Press and held other positions of responsibility. His death took place Sep- tember 80, 1876.

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time William G. Fargo was made vice-president, and Charles W. Mc- Cune, treasurer, Mr. Warren remaining president. On the 4th of Oc- tober, 1876, Mr. Fargo was elected president of the company to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Warren. On March 3, 1880, Mr. McCune' was elected president, which position he held until he died, George B. Bleistein acting as secretary. Upon the death of Mr. Mc- Cune Mr. Bleistein was chosen president, and continued in that office until May 6, 1897, when the Courier was absorbed by the Buffalo En- quirer and consolidated with the Record, which was the morning edi- tion of that Journal under the title, Buffalo Courier-Record. The Re- public before mentioned, was started in 1842, with Quartus Graves, publisher. In 1848 Benjamin C. Welch became its editor and the es- tablishment passed to possession of E. A. Maynard & Co. Mr. May- nard became sole publisher in 1851, Mr. Bristol acquiring a proprietary interest and taking Mr. Welch's position as editor. About 1856 Henry W. Faxon, a writer of ability, accepted the city editorship and re- mained until 1860. The late Thomas Kean began contributing to the Republic in 1859 and soon afterward took a position as editorial writer and critic. The Republic finally passed to control of the Courier Com- pany, as before stated, and was continued as a cheap evening paper.

David Gray entered the employ of the Courier as a reporter in 1860. was promoted to the city editorship soon afterward, and in the fall of 1861 was advanced to the associate editorship. Upon the death of Mr. Warren in 1876, Mr. Gray, who had been managing editor for some years, assumed the position of editor-in-chief, which responsible position he filled with marked ability until failing health forced him to resign in the fall of 1882. He was succeeded by Joseph O'Connor, who had been connected with the Courier since 1880.

On the morning of January 15, 1845, A. M. Clapp & Co. began the publication of the Buffalo Morning Express. The firm was composed

' Charles W. McCune was born in Brattleboro, Vt., September 1, 1892, and received an aca- demic education. After a few years of employment in country stores, he was engaged in the great establishment of A. T. Stewart & Co. in New York city, where he remained thirteen years and acquired a thorough business training. In September, 1800, he engaged with the importing firm of Morton, Grinnell & Co., and four months later was admitted to the partnership. January 1, 1864, the firm of MeCune, Scott & Cooper succeeded the business of L. P. Morton & Co. Mr. McCune retired from the business in 1867, and during a European visit was induced to settle in Buffalo. On the 1st of December, 1874, he entered the Courier office as manager, and a month later was elected secretary and treasurer of the company. He was first elected president in March, 1880. His exceptional business talent and remarkable energy gave the Courier estab- lishment a marked impetus and laid the foundations for the great printing and publishing house of later years.

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of Almon M. Clapp and Rufus Wheeler; James McKay was associated with Mr. Clapp in the editorial labor. Daily, weekly and tri-weekly editions were issued from the first. Down to the year 1866 the paper, although ably conducted and well received by the public, had not proved a very successful financial venture. In that year the Express Printing Company was formed, composed of A. M. Clapp, H. H. Clapp, J. N. Larned, G. H. Selkirk, and Thomas Kennett; these men were equal shareholders in the establishment. In announcing this change the previous history of the business was thus described in an editorial:

The first number of the Express was issued on the 15th of January. 1846-its his- tory passing through a period of more than 20 years. The original proprietors of the Express establishment were A. M. Clapp and Rufus Wheeler-the writer of this article having penned its prospectus and provided the first manuscript for its col- umns, though James McKay, esq., furnished its editorials. Subsequently William E. Robinson, esq., was connected with the conduct of the editorial department, Mr. Clapp and Mr. Wheeler devoting themselves to the general management of their business. In 1848 John M. Campbell purchased an interest in the Express, but was forced by failing health to retire after a few months. T. N. Parmalee, esq., suc- ceeded Mr. Robinson as editor-in-chief, which position he occupied with marked ability until 1851, when Hon. Seth C. Hawley became interested in the establishment and took the editorial management of the paper for about a year, when he retired and Mr. Clapp became editor-in-chief, which he has filled until the present hour. In the meantime Major Anson G. Chester, George W. Haskins, David Wentworth, J. N. Larned, Charles Stow and J. Flay have been in charge of the local and miscel- laneous departments of the paper, and during 1853 R. W. Haskins, esq., was editor- in-chief, while Mr. Clapp represented his district in the State legislature. In 1860 Mr. Larned assumed the duties of associate political editor, a position which he has filled with proverbial fidelity and ability down to the present moment; and we are constrained by a simple sense of justice to remark here that the later character and success of the Express in its editorial conduct, are in a great degree attributable to the sterling ability and untiring industry of this gentleman. In 1860 Dr. S. B. Hunt became connected with the editorial management of the Express, a position which he filled until he took the field in the service of the United States against re- bellion. On the retirement of Mr. Wheeler in 1860, H. H. Clapp, who has been en- gaged in the establishment since 1848, in various capacities, became one of the proprietors and has since been identified with its business management.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 91

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017