Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 92

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

USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 92

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In 1866 the office of the Express was located in Swan street, No. 14. In the year 1869 Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) purchased the in- terest of Thomas Kennett in the Express. His connection with the paper continued only a short time, his peculiar ability not lying in the direction of routine newspaper work. In the spring of 1869 A. M. Clapp and H. H. Clapp sold their interests to the remaining partners, the senior Mr. Clapp having been appointed public printer. In the same year the

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Express was made the official paper of the city and about the same time the tri-weekly edition was suspended and an evening edition called, for a time, the Bee and Evening Express, was issued. This was continued about five years.

Early in 1872 the firm of Matthews & Warren, proprietors of the Commercial Advertiser, purchased something more than two-thirds of the shares of the Express Printing Company and James N. Matthews was chosen president of the company: J. D. Warren, vice-president; and George H. Selkirk, treasurer. Matthews & Warren sold their shares and retired from the establishment in the fall of 1873, and the majority interest passed to control of a number of leading Republican politicians. In April, 1877, the establishment passed into possession of George H. Selkirk and a few associates. Nine months later, on the 7th of January, 1878, the paper was first issued under the ownership and control of James N. Matthews, who continued such until his death. The establishment was at the same time removed from Swan street to the Washington block on Washington street, then owned by Mr. Matthews, and still occupied by the business. Mr. Matthews was a native of England and came to America in 1846, when he was seven- teen years of age; he soon afterwards became a resident of Buffalo. He was a practical printer, a master of his business in every detail. and became one of the foremost journalists of the State. By his un- flagging industry, his thorough business ability, and above all, by his editorial talents, he created and conducted many years the great and successful Express printing and publishing establishment. Mr. Mat- thews was a Republican in politics, but aimed to make the Express in- dependent, leaving him untrammeled in his editorial utterances. As a citizen of Buffalo Mr. Matthews was universally respected. Upon his death in December, 1888, the control of the Express passed to his son, George E. Matthews. The Sunday Express was first issued November 20, 1883, and the illustrated edition on January 3, 1886.

After the failure of several attempts to establish a Sunday newsapaper in Buffalo, the Sunday Morning News was founded in 1873 by Edward H. Butler. It was successful from the beginning, meeting with especial favor from the middle class of readers, in whose interests it was ever ready to speak. The paper was twice enlarged before 1876, at which time it had attained a circulation exceeding that of all other Buffalo papers. In its editorial conduct it acquired considerable power in politics and soon gained the respect even of its enemies. In

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JAMES N. MATTHEWS.

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1880, on the 11th of October, Mr. Butler carried out his cherished plan of starting a one cent daily in Buffalo, with the title, Evening News. Two editions were issued at first, which number was subsequently in- creased to four. The paper was made independent in politics, but has always leaned toward Republicanism, and it has been prominently in- strumental in the election of many candidates for high office from both parties. Mr. Butler ' has remained alone in the ownership and control of his establishment from the first and has the satisfaction of having created two of the leading journals of Western New York. From the profits of his business he has been able to erect one of the finest pub- lishing houses in the State on Main street, which was occupied early in 1897.

The Evening Telegraph was founded October 30, 1880, as an inde- pendent daily paper, by the Telegraph Publishing Company. M. J. Dee was the first managing editor, and was succeeded by Henry Little and he by Henry A. Griffin. On May 1, 1883, John A. Creswell took the position. The Telegraph was absorbed by the Evening News in August, 1885.

The Buffalo Sunday Times was founded September 7, 1879, by Nor- man E. Mack,' who has been its owner and publisher ever since. The Buffalo Daily Times was issued by Mr. Mack on September 13, 1883, as a morning paper, and was changed to an afternoon penny paper November 2, 1887. Since October, 1884, the Times has been Demo- cratic in politics, and under Mr. Mack's skillful editorial guidance and his exceptional business ability, has taken its place among the foremost newspapers of the State.

The Buffalo Enquirer was established on April 7, 1891. Its first chief editor was Leslie Thom, now deceased. About a year later Charles F. Kingsley was given the editorial chair. Mr. Held owned and pub- lished the paper until the spring of 1895, when he sold it to Charles F.

1 Edward Hubert Butler was born in Le Roy, N. Y., September 5, 1850. After acquiring a good education he learned the printing trade and before reaching his majority he went to Scran- ton, where he served as city editor of the Daily Times. In 1873 he settled in Buffalo and estab- lished the Sunday News. In 1879 he founded the Bradford Sunday News, which he sold in 1883. As a business man and journalist Mr. Butler has made a most successful record.

' Norman E. Mack was born in West Williams, Ont., in 1856. Going west he started the Sat- urday Advertiser in Detroit while still a youth. Selling out that paper about a year later, he settled in Buffalo, where he has since resided. In 1878 he started the Jamestown Gazette, which he successfully conducted two years and sold it out. It again came into his possession in 1883 for a short period. Since he founded the Times Mr. Mack has has become conspicuous in the Dem- ocratic political field. in which he is a leader in Western New York and prominent throughout the State.

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Kingsley, George Rhebaum, and. Mrs. Caroline Held .. On the 26th of December, 1895, William J. Conners1 purchased the entire establish- ment and installed Joseph O'Connor as editor-in-chief, with an able corps of assistants. In September, 1896, new and commodious offices were occupied on Main street, where a complete modern plant is in- stalled. On January 1, 1897, Samuel G. Blythe was made editor-in- chief. Under the vigorous business direction of Mr. Conners the En- quirer has made rapid advancement. On the 16th of December, 1896, a morning edition of the paper was started with the title, Morning En- quirer. Being then the only one cent morning newspaper in Buffalo, it became very popular. In March, 1897, the name of this edition was changed to the Buffalo Record. On May 6, 1897, Mr. Conners purchased the Buffalo Courier and consolidated it with the Record, with the title, Buffalo Courier-Record, changed to Buffalo Courier, January 1, 1898. Charles E. Smith is managing editor. These papers are Democratic in politics.

The Buffalo Christian Advocate was established as a Methodist weekly paper January 1, 1850, by John E. Robie. It subsequently had various editors and managers, chief among whom was C. A. Brosart. In 1885 it passed into the possession of Samuel McGerald, who, in Oc-

1 William James Conners, proprietor of the Buffalo Courier and the Buffalo Enquirer, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 3, 1857, attended the public schools and at the age of thirteen be- gan active life on the lakes, sailing between Buffalo and Duluth. In the spring of 1885 he made a contract with Washington Bullard, of Buffalo, for handling all the freight in Buffalo of the Union Steamboat Company. Other lake carriers soon made similar contracts with him and before long he had a virtual monopoly of the business in Buffalo and other ports, and by making himself the sole responsible head rapidly gained the confidence of both his workmen and the carriers. Sys- tematizing the business by organizing its various branches he conducted it with machine-like smoothness, and now has contracts for loading and unloading at Buffalo, Chicago, Milwaukee and Gladstone, Mich., all vessels belonging to the Union Steamboat, Western Transit, Lacka- wanna, Lehigh Valley, Northern Steamship. Union Transit, and "Soo" Lines. Employing about 3,000 men, he is the largest contractor in the world in this business, and has never had to face a strike on the part of his laborers. Mr. Conners became president of the Buffalo Vulcanite Asphalt Paving Company and successfully conducted its business for several years. In 1800 he was the principal owner of the Roos (now Iroquois) brewery, which he carried on about one year. He became president of ths Magnus Beck Brewing Company in 1805, is interested in the Union Transit line of steamers plying between Buffalo and Duluth, and is a large owner of real estate, having successfully developed property in South Buffalo. On December 33, 1895, he pur- chased a controlling interest in the Buffalo Enquirer and has since been president of the com- pany; in 1896 he made this one of the best newspaper plants in the State, and has since added to it until it now has few superiors in the country. In 1896 he also launched the yacht Enquirer. one of the fastest fresh water boats in the world. A little later he established the Buffalo Rec- ord, a morning newspaper, and on May 10, 1897, purchased the Buffalo Courier and consolidated it with the Record under the name of the Courier-Record. On January 1, 1898, this name was changed to the Buffalo Courier. Mr. Conners is a man of unusual energy and enterprise, and is widely respected for his courage, executive ability and progressive qualities. In November, 1851, he married Catherine Mahany, of Buffalo. He was married, second, August 2, 1898, to Mary A. Jordan, of West Seneca, Erie county.

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tober, 1896, organized the McGerald Publishing Company. In March, 1895, the name was changed to the Christian Uplook.

The Buffalo Catholic Publication Company was organized March 15, 1872, with Rt. Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, president, and on the 25th of April issued the first number of the Catholic Union, the editor being J. Edmund Burke; on April 1, 1873, he was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Cronin, LL. D., who has ever since had editorial charge of the paper. On August 15, 1872, the company was legally incorporated, and since June 1, 1875, has occupied quarters in St. Stephen's Hall, at the junc- tion of Swan and Franklin streets. On October 27, 1881, the Catholic Times of Rochester was consolidated with the Catholic Union of Buf- falo, and the paper has since been published under the title of the Catholic Union and Times. This religious journal has been ably con- ducted, and wields a powerful influence among the Roman Catholic population of Western New York. A store dealing in books and church goods has long been carried on in connection with the paper.

The International Gazette is a successful journal, published at Black Rock, which was started in 1885.

Besides the foregoing well known journals, there are published in Buffalo twelve German papers of all kinds, which are sufficiently no- ticed in Chapter XXVIII. There are also two Polish papers which serve the interests of that nationality. Thirteen strictly trade jour- nals are published in the city, some of which have had long and pros- perous careers. There are also a number of minor church journals and papers devoted to various secret and benevolent societies.

It is probably impossible, as well as of little profit, to attempt to compile a list of all newspapers and magazines that have been started in Buffalo, only to pass out of existence within longer or shorter periods. The following list embraces most of these journalistic ven- tures, with such data as can be found regarding them :

The Daily Transcript, started in 1877 by the McKillop Commercial Agency; it was devoted almost wholly to business interests and legal affairs. Sunday Truth, established in August, 1882. Daily Queen City, started in 1850 by George J. Bryan, changed to the Evening Post in 1853, and again changed to the Queen City in 1878. The Bulletin, started in December, 1882, by the Naturalists' Field Club. Buffalo Emporium, started in September, 1824, by John A. Lazell and Simeon Francis. The Transcript, first issued in August, 1835, by Henry Faxon; died in six months. In the same year the Daily Whig and the 104

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Daily Enquirer were launched, but lived only a few weeks. The Loco-foco, published a few weeks in 1835-36. The Buffalonian, pub- lished as a weekly and as a daily in 1835-37. In the fall of the follow- ing year Thomas L. Nichols started an opposition sheet called the Mercury; the two were soon afterward consolidated and published until the spring of 1840. The Sun, a small daily and weekly, was published from 1839 to 1860. The Buffalo Sentinel, started in the spring of 1840 by C. F. S. Thomas and Thomas Newell; lived six months. The Morning Tattler, started in 1840 by Langdon, Fouchette & Shaefer, as a daily; John S. Walker published it during the last few months of its existence, calling it the Morning Times. The Phalanx, issued first in 1840, daily and weekly; devoted to Fourierism and lived six weeks. The Buffalo American, started early in 1842, in the inter- est of the working classes; lived about a year. The Wool Grower and Monthly Review, published first in 1847 by Jewett, Thomas & Co. The Youth's Casket, monthly, started in 1853 by Beadle & Brother; expired about 1860. The Literary Enquirer, started January 1, 1833, by William Verrinder; removed to Fredonia two years later. The Bethel Flag, published by the Bethel Society from 1836 to about 1845, when it was removed to New York. The Literary Messenger, started in July, 1841, by John S. Chadbourne; suspended in 1857. The Gos- pel Advocate, started in 1822, by Rev. Thomas Cross, in support of Universalism; removed to Auburn in 1828. The Gospel Banner, pub- lished in 1832-33, by Benjamin Clark. The Buffalo Herald, Presby- terian, two numbers only issued. The Buffalo Spectator, another Presbyterian organ, published by T. & M. Butler about two years from 1836. The Western Evangelist, weekly, started in 1846 and issued for a short time; when it suspended L. S. Everett and Stephen Hall, the publishers, issued the Ambassador, which continued to 1849. In 1841 Rev. John C. Lord issued the Western Presbyterian, which suspended at the end of a year. The Earnest Christian and Golden Rule was started in 1863, with B. T. Roberts, publisher; it lived one year. The Sunday School Standard, started in 1866 by J. E. Gilbert; lived two years. The Western New York Catholic Weekly was started in 1864, by D. M. Enright, and lived three years. The Live Stock Journal was established in 1871 by H. C. Springer & Co., and con- tinued until 1876. The Buffalo Sentinel was started in 1855 by Michael Hagan; it suspended in 1865. The City News and Weekly Price Cur- rent was issued about one year in 1867-68, by the Express Printing

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Company. The Herald of Truth, Excelsior, the Journal and Railway Gazette, Horner's Railway and Business Guide, and the Ladies' Friend were ephemeral publications by W. T. Horner between 1862 and 1875. The School Journal was started in 1877 by Alexander Gordon and de- voted to school interests; suspended in 1879.

The Magazine of Poetry was started by Charles Wells Moulton in 1889, and was sold to eastern parties about six years later.

The first temperance organ in the city was the Young Men's Tem- perance Herald, published in 1835 and lived about a year. In 1845 the Western Cataract was issued by Lyman P. Judson, devoted to temper- ance. The Temperance Standard was published about a year in 1842, by H. A. Salisbury and A. M. Clapp.

Of Sunday newspapers quite a number have been started only to pass out of existence in a short time. The first Sunday paper in the city was the Sunday Bulletin, issued by W. F. Rogers for about a year in 1850-51. The Sunday Transcript was started in 1874 by the George Brothers & Co .; it lived about a year. J. B. Adams began the pub- lication of the Sunday Independent Leader in 1876, which was sus- pended in less than two years. In 1877 the same publisher issued the Sunday Morning Herald for about a year. The Sunday Morning Call was started May 8, 1879, by William R. Lester, but it followed its pred- ecessors in less than a year.

Besides the foregoing long list of newspaper ventures which were short lived, there are a number to add, none of which survived more than two years, and most of which suspended in a year or less; they are as follows: The Friend of Youth, 1839; the Buffalo Garland, 1840; Bannister's Life in Buffalo, 1841; the Impetus, 1845; the Philanthro- pist, 1837-8; the School Reader, 1842; the Daily Ledger, 1852; Rough Notes, 1852; the United States Mail Monthly, 1852; the Pathfinder, 1852; the American Celt and Catholic Citizen, 1853; the Library and Garden, 1853; the Democracy, 1854, merged with the Express; the Buffalo Gazette, 1867; the Fenian Volunteer, 1867; United Irishmen, 1869; Our Liesure Moments, 1870; the Anti-Monopolist, 1874; the Daily Dispatch, 1875; the Scientific Commercial, the Globe Magazine, and the Agitator, all in 1876; Farm, Garden and Fireside, about the same time; the Buffalo School Journal, 1879; the Saturday Sun, 1882; the American Tanner, 1883. There have been a few other ephemeral. journals of such insignificant pretensions that they need not be noticed.

There are a number of publications in Buffalo still in existence which

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may be briefly noticed here. Charles A. Wenborne started the Milling World in 1878, the Lumber World in 1881, and the Iron Industry Ga- zette in 1885 ; these are all monthlies. In 1887 they passed into the possession of Thomas McFaul, the present publisher, who in 1888 pur- chased the American Wood-Worker, which was established in Scran- ton, Pa., by James Nolan, in 1886. In 1891 Mr. McFaul started Me- Faul's Factory and Dealers Supply World. Henry A. Van Fredenberg has been editor since 1887. Charles H. Webster started the Farmer's Journal and Live Stock Review, weekly in 1878 ; the Daily Mercantile Review in 1883 and the Tri-weekly in 1884 ; and the Produce Journal, weekly, in 1889. Other periodicals, with the dates of their establish- ment, are as follows : The Roller Mill, 1882 ; the National Coopers Journal, 1885 ; the Bulletin, 1887, by the Y. M. C. A. ; Baldwin's Offi- cial Railway Guide, 1878 ; the Horse World and the National Odd Fellow, 1888; the A. O. U. W. Review and the Educator, 1889; the Royal Templar, 1890; the American Bookbinder, Current History (quarterly), the New York Maccabee, and the Horse Gazette and Live Stock and Weekly Review, 1891; the People's Advocate and the In- tending Builder, 1892; the Buffalonian, 1893; the Lumber Trade Ga- zette (semi-monthly), and Municipality and County, 1894; the Three Links and the Spectator (negro, weekly), 1895; Greater Buffalo, Select Knights Journal, the Chautauqua Tourist (summer), Our Church Work, the Northern Druggist, the Buffalo Lutheran. American In- vestments and Financial Opinions, a monthly journal devoted exclu- sively to the interests of American investors, was started January 1. 1890, by the Niagara Publishing Company ; A. B. Kellogg, editor, M. J. True, business manager.

The first medical paper in Buffalo was the Buffalo Medical Journal and Monthly Review of Medical and Surgical Science, which was es- tablished June 1, 1845, by C. F. S. Thomas, with Dr. Austin Flint as editor and Dr. F. H. Hamilton as assistant. From an octavo of twenty-four pages it was enlarged at the end of the year to sixty-four pages. Dr. Sanford B. Hunt became editor in 1855 and Dr. Austin Flint, jr., assumed charged in 1858; soon afterward the paper was re- moved to New York. In 1862 the Buffalo Medical and Surgical Jour- nal was established; and under such eminent physicians as Drs. Her- man Mynter, Lothrop, Davidson, Howe, Van Peyma and William Warren Potter (the present editor) it has achieved a commanding influ- ence throughout the country. The Physician's and Surgeon's Investi-

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gator was started in January, 1880, the editors being Drs. S. W. Wetmore and S. N. Brayton; after a few years it passed out of exist- ence.

The first Buffalo publication representative of the dental profession was the Buffalo Dental Advertiser, which was started in 1869. In 1883 the Independent Practitioner (which was started in Baltimore in 1880 and removed to New York January 1; 1881) was brought to Buffalo, the editor being Dr. W. C. Barrett. These two papers were finally con- solidated and are published quarterly under the title, Dental Prac- titioner and Advertiser.

The oldest center of journalism in Erie county outside of Buffalo is the village of East Aurora, where Almon M. Clapp established the Aurora Standard, a weekly, in 1835. It was discontinued after three years on account of insufficient support. Shortly afterward Deloss A. Sill published another paper-the name of which cannot be ascertained -for a brief period. In August, 1872, C. C. Bowsfield founded the Erie County Advertiser, which subsequently took the name of Aurora Ad- vertiser. It was owned by Charles Brown, Brown & Smith, and Brown & Speers and in January, 1878, passed to Walter C. Wood,' the pres- ent editor and publisher; in March, 1897, the name was changed to East Aurora Advertiser. In the spring of 1879 C. C. Hamilton started the Aurora Weekly Times, which lived about three years. The Aurora Enterprise was established in July, 1886, by the Dietrich Brothers; it was discontinued about 1894 and the office was sold to White & Wag- goner, who started the East Aurora Citizen; after about two and one- half years this paper was absorbed by the Advertiser.

The first newspaper in Springville was the Express, started in 1844, the editor being E. H. Hough; it flourished for four years. In 1850 Hough & Webster established the Springville Herald, which passed to Erastus D. Webster, subsequently editor of the Omaha Republican and a prominent politician in Brooklyn and elsewhere. The Herald espoused Republicanism on the organization of that party; in 1856 it was sold to J. B. Saxe, and was discontinued in 1863. The American Citizen, a " Know Nothing " organ, was started in 1856 by L. D. Saunders, who published it about a year. In August, 1859, the Penny Paper was launched and lived six months. A. W. Ferrin leased the Herald office

1 Walter C. Wood was born in Pulaski, Oswego county, January 26, 1855, received his educa- tion in the Pulaski Academy, and when sixteen began learning the trade of printer on the Pu- laski Democrat. After two or three years he went to the Jefferson County Journal at Adams, and from there came to East Aurora.

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in January, 1884, and established the Springville Chronicle, which he continued until April, 1865, when he became city editor of the Buffalo Express. The Tribune was issued from March, 1865, to January. 1867, the editor being N. H. Thurber. W. W. Blakeley started the Springville Journal on March 16, 1867; J. H. Melvin was a partner from 1869 to 1873, after which time it was owned and edited by Mr. Blakeley up to 1887, when it was sold to William C. Lowe. In 1896 it again passed to Mr. Blakeley. The name has been changed to the Journal and Herald.

The Students Repository was started in 1867 by W. R. De Puy and John H. Melvin, but was soon discontinued. In 1879 Mr. Melvin, as editor, and J. F. Meyers, as publisher, established the Springville Local News. Among other proprietors of this paper have been George N. Kingman, Alfred L. Holman, H. L. Hawley and Van Hoesen & Haw- ley. In October, 1896, it passed to N. H. Thurber & Son, and is issued by them with the name, Springville News.

The first journalistic enterprise in Tonawanda, as near as can be learned, was the Tonawanda Commercial, a weekly, which was started May 2, 1850, by S. Hoyt; it lived a little more than a year. In Sep- tember, 1853, the Niagara River Pilot was launched with S. S. Packard as editor. Both of these papers were projected in aid of the Cleveland Commercial Company, which had platted considerable land and in- augurated large shipping enterprises there. In 1855 the Pilot passed to S. O. Hayward, who in November, 1857, started the Niagara Front- ier. These papers were successively discontinued. In 1871 Mr. Hay- ward established the Tonawanda Enterprise, which was published until about 1890. The Tonawanda Herald, published in North Tonawanda, Niagara county, was founded July 19, 1875, by Jay Densmore. This paper has since been the leading weekly in the two places. In 1875 J. A. L. Fisher commenced the publication of the Index; about 1880 George S. Hobbie began the Daily News, and later purchased both papers. He discontinued the Index, and in 1884, with George W. Tong as a partner, changed the publication to a weekly, calling it the Ton- awanda Standard. In 1886 it was leased by J. W. Works, who in 188; revived the Daily News, discontinuing the weekly edition. His brother, Arthur Works, became a partner in 1887 and the plant was purchased by Works Brothers. It is now owned by Brush Brothers and published in North Tonawanda. In 1888 the Tonawandan was begun by A. E. Bishop, who was soon joined by C. H. Drew, when the name was

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 92

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

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