The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 66

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 66

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CARTHAGE.

On December 19, 1839, the first paper ap- pcared in Carthage, the most of the funds being furnished by H. McCollom, then the leading business man of the place. It was named the Carthaginian, and David Johnson was the editor. It was a weekly Wbig paper, but principally devoted to the Black River Canal. June 18, 1840, Wm. H. Hough became the editor. It was a six-column folio. C. A. MacArthur of the Troy Budget, and John A. Haddock finished their apprentice- ship in this office.

In April, 1843, the paper appeared under the name of the Black River Times, reduced in size, with the same editor. It was only continued a short time.

January 1, 1847, Myron F. Wilson began the publication of the People's Press, a semi- monthly neutral paper. In the third number W. H. Coulston became associate editor, and, in September, L. Jones took charge of it. It was soon discontinued.

In January, 1858, W. R. Merrill and E. R. Cole, who were publishing a paper in Con- stableville, were prevailed upon to bring their press and material to Carthage, and A. W. Allen started the Carthage Standard. W. R. Merrill became proprietor soon after the paper was started, and in a few months it was pub- lished by Merrill & Cole, with Charles T. Hammond as associate editor.

The Standard was succeeded in December, 1858, by the Black River Budget, which was published by Almont Barnes and Alva Wilson. This paper was continued for a little over a year. Mr. Barnes became sole proprietor after it had run eight months.

In the spring of 1860, Marcus Bickford commenced the publication of the Republican, with O. T. Atwood, associate editor. In Sep- tember, 1865, James H. Wilbur became pro- prietor, and Mr. Bickford was retained as editor. In September, 1866, M. M. Williams became a partner, and in 1872 the sole pro- prietor, Mr. Bickford retiring on account of severe and prolonged illness. It was during his administration that the paper was enlarged to its present size, the old hand press dis- carded, and the power press introduced. Mr. Bickford was an able editor, succumbing at last to a very painful disease. In January, 1873, S. R. Pratt became proprietor. Mr. Pratt started, in connection with the Re- publican, the Farmers' Journal, as an organ of the State Grange, and sold it to John O'Donnell, of Lowville, in 1876.

In August, 1876, Lloyd G. Chase became proprietor of the Republican, with Jere. Coughlin as associate editor. Mr. Chase is now proprietor of the Watertown Post.

In April, 1875, Durham & Gillett started the Northern New Yorker, and in the fall Wesley Barr became proprietor. In the April following, Jere Coughlin became editor, and continued so until the paper was con- solidated with the Republican.

In 1879 E. D. Bates moved his press and material from Copenhagen, and started the Carthage Democrat. It lasted three months.

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

In March, 1876, B. G. & C. E. Seamans started the Carthage Leader. In June, of the same year, it was purchased by Jere. Cough- lin, who combined its list with three other papers in starting the Watertown Herald.

In October, 1887, the Carthage Tribune was started by a stock company, with Wm. B. Kesler as editor and business manager. The paper continues, and is prosperous.

THERESA.

The Theresa Chronicle was started in The- resa, January 14, 1848, and continued 28 weeks, published by Elisha Church Burt, brother of Benjamin Burt, of Ox Bow. The press was subsequently removed to Madrid, St. Lawrence county, whence it was taken to Canton. The Chronicle was to a large extent edited by William Fayel, who went from Theresa to Lockport, and was engaged in the conduct of the Lockport Journal something like two years. He then removed to St. Louis and took a position upon the Republican, which he still holds.

When Major Durham started his paper in Carthage, in 1875, he proposed to print an edition for Theresa, to be called the Theresa Journal, and to contain the local doings of that thrifty village. The enterprise, how- ever, was short-lived, and Theresa again found itaelf without a newspaper of any kind.

In 1881, or thereabouts, W. S. Saunderson, a practical printer, went to Theresa and started a paper, which was called the Theresa Advertiser, and which was continued about two years. The materiala were finally brought to Watertown, and were employed in the newspaper commenced by Gen. Bradley Winslow, called the Northern New York Re- publican, and Mr. Saunderson officiated as foreman in the office.

The next effort to give the Theresa people a newspaper was made by Mr. Van Slyke, of the Antwerp Gazette, who dated some copies of his paper at Theresa, calling it the Senti- nel. That arrangement is continued by Mr. Van Slyke's successors.

CAPE VINCENT.

The Cape Vincent Gazette was started by Paul T. Leach, and the first number was dated May 8, 1858. It was succeeded by the Frontier Patriot, May 10, 1865, with P. H. Keenan as editor and proprietor. The Cape Vincent Eagle appeared on the 10th of April, 1872, established by Ames & Hunt. Hunt soon after sold out to his partner, who con- tinued as publisher till the spring of 1877, when Mr. Ames disposed of his paper to Charles B. Wood, who subsequently changed the name to the Democratic Eagle, and has since conducted it with success. It now bears the name of the Cape Vincent Eagle.

CLAYTON.

The first paper published in the town of Clayton was started in May, 1873, by two young men, William D. Clark and George Beden, styled the Clayton Independent. Mr. Beden retired from the partnership after the

first issue, and Mr. Clark continued the busi- ness for two years and then sold to W. H. Rees, a young lawyer, and a native of that place. Mr. Rees ran the paper for about a year, when he sold the plant to Warren W. Ames, of De Ruyter. He soon sold out to George A. Lansing, who did not make a financial success of the business. Mr. Ames again having control of the paper, sold a half interest to Frank D. Rogers, then of Chau- mont. In about a year Frank D. Braun pur- chased the interest of W. W. Ames, and for two years the paper was published by Rogers & Braun. E. C. Rogers, a younger brother of Frank D., purchased the interest of Mr. Braun, and a power press was added. For three years the business was carried on, and a large circulation was secured. In the winter of 1882-83, owing to disagreement in the management, the publication was stopped.

June 26, 1883, the first number of the Clay- ton Standard was issued, with C. E. & F. G. Hocknel as editors and proprietors. In Nov., 1883, C. E. Hocknel purchased the interest of his brother, and two months later changed the name of the paper to On the St. Law- rence. A year later, Ratchford, Phillips & Slate purchased the paper.

On the St. Lawrence, after several muta- tions in ownership, having been originally known as the Clayton Standard, is now edited and managed by F. J. Walsh, under the ownership of the Thousand Islands Publish- ing Company, limited. A weekly paper is issued during the year, and a daily during the season of summer. The daily is a six column folio, and the weekly is a six-column quarto. The advertising rates in the weekly are nearly as high as those of the New York and Philadelphia dailies.

In the spring of 1884 the Clayton Indepen- dent was again started by Frank D. Rogers, but after six months was discontinued.

In the spring of 1885, E. D. & W. M. Vincent began the publication of a seven- column folio, called the Free Press, but it soon suspended publication.

ANTWERP.

The Antwerp Gazette was commenced by James M. Beaman, Jeptember 1, 1873. He sold to James W. Van Slyke, December 24, 1874, who conducted it till December 12, 1888. He then sold to H. M. Bent. Mr. Van Slyke started the Philadelphia Monitor, May 1, 1883, and the Theresa Sentinel, November 1, 1886. Both papers are still published, and issued from the office of the Gazette, which is now published by Duane W Fuller.

BLACK RIVER.

The Black River Herald, weekly, formerly the Croghan News, was established in Black River in May, 1889; proprietor and editor, P. B. Mereness; independent in politics. It is now named the Press.

So far as we know, after much inquiry. the above may be regarded as all and singular the newspapers of Jefferson County.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

THE STANDARD STAFF.

ORLO B. RHODES, son of Schuyler and Amanda M. (Sherman) Rhodes, was born in Scriba, Oswego county, January 14, 1849. He was reared upon a farm, prepared for college in the Oswego High School, and graduated from Brown University in the class of 1870. The same year he became vice-principal of Hungerford Collegiate Insti- tute, with Prof. A. B. Watkins, principal. He continued in this capacity until 1876, when he became joint principal which posi- tion he held until 1878. He then engaged in teaching in Morgan Park, Ill., and in the fall of 1882 returned to Adams and became prin- cipal of Adams Collegiate Institute. He married Alice G., daughter of Simeon and Mary O. (Rice) Osborne, in 1873, and she died June 5, 1884. He has a daughter, Alice Bertha, born in 1884. Mr. Rhodes is now the chief editorial writer upon the Standard, and is proving himself a success, though, as a general thing, men who have been "school masters " do not make good editorial writers. That class of men worried the lamented Horace Greeley exceedingly by their importunities to be taken upon the editorial staff of the Tribune. Horace had more faith in men like himself, who began first in the practical department of a news- paper, and thence germinated into full-blown writers, and thereby "justified the honors they had gained."

John P. Douglas was born in the town of Brownville, N. Y. He received his early education at district and select schools, and began teaching at the age of 17. When 24 he was elected town superintendent of schools, which office he held three years. In the meantime he engaged in mercantile pur- suita in Limerick, N. Y., but shortly sold out to accept a position with a large wholesale commission house in New York city. About this time he married Miss Henrietta Hughson, daughter of L. P. Hughson, Esq., of Pulaski, N. Y., and for five years resided in Water- town, N. Y.

During this time he made his first purchase of land in the town of Theresa, N. Y. He then removed with his family to Brooklyn, N. Y., and soon became prominent in busi- ness circles, and took an active part in poli- tics, in 1871 becoming alderman of the 11th ward of Brooklyn. He was also made a director of the Atlantic Avenue Railroad, the East River Savinga Bank, and in two or more insurance companies. His health failing, he was compelled to sell out his city interests, re- turning to Jefferson county, where, in the meantime, he had added to his early pur- chases.

Mr. Douglas is a very popular and influ- ential man, often named in connection with the office of representative in Congress. He retains the friends he makes, and their name is legion. He is by far the largest land- owner in Jefferson county, his possessions numbering 3,000 acres of good farming land.

Mr. Douglas and wife have an interesting family, a son and daughter, who share the popularity of the parents.

Daniel Chamberlain Douglas, son of the president of the Standard Company, was born in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. When lie was five years of age his parents moved to New York city, where his studies were pursued until his 14th year, when he went with his family to Stuttgart, Germany, and entered a German institute, remaining about two years. On his return to America he entered Stevens High School, New Jersey, where he studied two years. He then spent three years in Col- gate Academy and Colgate University, at Hamilton, N. Y.

On account of ill-health he was obliged to give up his studies, and from that time till he entered the Watertown Standard office as treasurer, in the spring of 1894, he acted as private secretary to his father, John P. Douglas. He is a young man of much ability, an extensive traveller in this country and in Europe, and has taken advantage of his many opportunities in storing his mind with history and memories of personal ex- periences. His amiability and good looks are his sure passport to public favor.

Charles S. Adams was born April 27, 1863, being the son of George Adams, a merchant of Watertown, and an Englishman by birth, who had attained a merited reputation as a poet of no inconsiderable ability. His mother was Isabella M. (Skinner) Adams, daughter of the late Austin R. Skinner, who conducted a brass foundry at Factory Square, Watertown, for many years, Mr. Adams received his education at Lamon street and in the High School, in this city. Entering the employ of the Daily Times at the age of 14 years, he was a faithful worker in various departments for many years, unbroken except by employ- ment of two years on Rochester papers. He is a practical printer, having a thorough knowledge of the business in all departments. He was agricultural editor of the Times for two years, and later occupied a reportorial position on that paper, having charge of the city department in the absence of the city editor. Twice he has been nominated for chamberlain on the Democratic ticket, in 1888 and in 1893, and in 1893 was appointed deputy postmaster of the city of his birth. He chose to resign the position, however, from political reasons. Upon leaving the post office, he engaged with A. W. Munk and others in the arduous task of organizing a stock company to publish the Daily Standard, and getting the same into operation. It re- quired ability and persistence, and was ac- complished only after months of the severest toil. Meanwhile Mr. Adams was local editor of the Watertown Weekly Post. Upon the Standard being started, March 21, 1894. after he had been one of the leading spirits in securing an Associated Press franchise and selecting the material for that paper, he

THE STANDARD STAFF.

ORLO B. RHODES, Editor,

CHAS. S. ADAMS, City Editor.

JOHN P. DOUGLAS, President Standard Publishing Co.

ANDREW W. DUNK, Com, and Agricultural Editor

DANIEL C. DOUGLAS, Business Manager,

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

entered upon the duties of city editor, which position he now holds.

Andrew W. Munk was born in the city of Oswego, March 28, 1850, of German and American pedigree. His parents were Adam and Susan Munk, who came to Oswego from Watertown, He was educated in the public schools of Watertown. At the early age of 16 years he entered the army as a musician, and was educated for such at Governor's Island, New York harbor, belonging to the drum corps at that station. He was finally assigned to the 17th U. S. regular infantry, headquarters at San Antonio, Texas. A battalion of the 17th regiment had a fight at Benham, Texas, and burned half the town. He was discharged at Fort Conscho, Texas, after finishing a three years' campaign.

Returning to Watertown in 1869 he entered the Times and Reformer office, where he re- mained nearly 25 years, completing his trade as a practical printer, mastering every part of the business, both practical and editorial. In 1894 he was one of the two who raised the capital for starting the Daily Standard, a paper that has proved successful from the start. It has filled a place long desired by the people of Watertown. The construction of its mechanism in the news department en- ables it to have a fresh and complete impres- sion for each issue. It marks, by its neat appearance and judicious make-up, a distinct departure in journalism in Watertown. The Standard has come to stay and is worthy the liberal support it is receiving.

ELIJAH J. CLARK.

PERHAPS no man has been longer connected with the press of Jefferson county, and has continuously maintained a residence in that county, than Mr. E. J. Clark. John A. Had- dock is the oldest man now living who has been hoth a practical printer and an editor in the county-his apprenticeship beginning in 1833; but he has for 30 years been a resi- dent of a distant city. Though not now con- nected with any newspaper, Mr. Clark, from his honorable career, is entitled to mention in connection with the newspaper men of Jeffer- son county. Mr. Ingalls, also a retired veteran editor, has a separate biography on p. 54 of this History.

Mr. Clark was born in Denmark, Lewis county, September 30, 1823. He was the son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Parsons) Clark, who early in the present century settled upon a farm in Denmark, where they resided through life. Twelve children were born to them. Elijah was the eleventh child. Two of the brothers died in infancy, one at the age of 20, the other brothers and sisters lived to marry and have families, but they are all now dead; three, Samuel, Milton and Stephen being resi- dents of Watertown, where they died.

Mr. Clark received his education at the common schools, and at the Institute in Watertown, teaching district schools four winters. In 1844 he went to Adams with J. C. Hatch when he started the publication of the Jefferson County Democrat, and in 1847 bought that establishment and published the paper eight years alone, when he sold it and moved to Watertown in the spring of 1855, and engaged in the milling business with his brother Samuel. The business not proving profitable, he sold his interest to his brother, and in December, 1856, in company with Royal Chamberlain, purchased the Demo- cratic Union printing establishment, which then had a circulation of about 1,200. With- in a year, mostly by Mr. Clark's exertions, the circulation was increased to 3,500. After three years, Mr. Clark bought his partner's interest and continued the publication five

years, when he parted with his newspaper. Jefferson county gave Fremont over 4,400 majority in 1856. During the eight years Mr. Clark had control of the only Democratic paper in the county, the majority was reduced one half, and he flatters himself that this re- sult was aided by his labors. During the war, the publication of weekly newspapers was an unprofitable business. Business men curtailed their advertising, subscribers to weekly papers changed to daily, and the price of printing paper rose from 6 cents a pound to 25 cents. On returning from Vir- ginia, where his business had called him, the business outlook for newspapers was not very promising. and as the oil fever was then raging, Mr. Clark eventually sold his print- ing office at a sacrifice, and went to the oil regions, where he spent a year and a half, but did not "strike oil." In the spring of 1866 he moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he spent four years in the insurance business, and was also a partner in the publication of the Democratic paper of that village.

In the spring of 1870 Mr. Clark returned to Watertown, where he has since resided, and engaged in the insurance business, besides having editorial charge of the Daily Despatch and Weekly Re-Union, as during part of the time three papers were published by the Water- town Printing Company. He served three years as assessor of the city of Watertown, to which office he was unexpectedly elected in 1890. Mr. Clark is still engaged in the In- dustrial Building and Loan Association busi- ness.

In June, 1847, Mr. Clark married Jane A .. daughter of David and Anna (Williams) Wright, in Adams. They have two sons, Jay M., civil engineer, residing in Hamilton, Madison county, and George F., assistant cashier of the National Union Bank of Watertown.

Probably no man connected with news- papers in Watertown, with perhaps a single exception, has had a more varied experience than Mr. Clark. He has always been an

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

enterprising and hard-working Democrat, coming to the front in every close contest, as the ablest worker his party has ever known in the county. His labors, as is usual among politicians, has been poorly rewarded. This was the case with Alvin Hunt, the pioneer Democratic editor of the county, as well as with Mr. Ingalls, a life long Republican leader and worker, rewarded officially by one term in the Legislature. Joseph Fayel, of

Theresa, is another illustration of the manner in which partisan leaders are rewarded. But Mr. Clark appears unsoured by the ingrati- tude of his party, upon whose darkening future he is able to see the rainbow of promise well defined. That rainbow is not just now apparent to the average beholder, though it may shine bright enough on the other side of the cloud. J. A. H.

THE TIMES STAFF.

W. D. MCKINSTRY, editorial writer of the Watertown Daily Times and Semi- Weekly Times and Reformer, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua county, Oct. 1, 1850. His father, W. Mckinstry, is proprietor of the Fredonia Censor, now in its 75th volume, and with which he has been connected over 50 years. The subject of this sketch has therefore been connected with newspapers since his earliest recollection. In 1872 he purchased the Jour- nal, of Dunkirk. N. Y., a Republican weekly paper, which he conducted for 11 years. Selling that property he came to Watertown as news editor on the Times, in 1886, and soon after was assistant editor under Beman Brockway. On the death of Mr Brockway in December, 1892, Mckinstry became editor, and at this writing occupies that position.

Charles E. Cole is the city editor of the Watertown Daily Times and secretary of the Brockway Sons' Co., publishers. He was born in the province of Ontario in 1861. He was bereft of his father in infancy, and his mother died at her parents' home in Albion, this State, when he was but 6 years old. After a long period of separation from the other four children of the orphaned family, during which he received some school- ing and paid for it in work of various kinds, he was started by his brother, the late William H. Cole, at the printer's trade, progressing from the case to the position of counting room assistant and latterly to editorial work. He has served on the Utica Observer as re- porter and on the Auburn Bulletin as telegraph editor. Since 1887 he has held his present position on the Times.

Mr. H. A. Brockway, treasurer of the Brockway Sons Company, is the sole remain- ing newspaper representative of the family of that name, which has, for over three decades, been closely and most prominently related to the management and control of the Watertown Daily Times and Semi-Weekly Reformer.

Mr. Brockway was born in Brooklyn in 1854, was educated in the schools of Water- town, held a position as clerk in the post- office and, twenty years ago, began his newspaper career in the Times counting room, where he has continued ever since, and most of the time as the chief business man of the concern He came into this important position within a short time after entering the office, while yet a very young man, and at a time when, although the volume of

business was much less and the methods necessary to transact were much simpler than now, there were many serious financial prob- lems to be solved, and much wise, patient and persistent work to be done to carry the business through the trying crises of those early years. Mr. Brockway proved himself fully equal to that task, as he has to the increasing responsibilities of later times, and, while still in the prime of manhood, has a record for business sagacity which is a pillar of strength to the Times establishment and the large interests which have become con- nected with that journal.

Charles W. Clare was born in Utica, Sep- tember 4, 1854. He was educated in the city schools and in the old Utica Academy. His father was John H Clare, an Englishman, who came to Utica from Southampton, and who for 33 years was bookkeeper for the for- warding firm of Thorn & Pomeroy. Water- town's postmaster began his newspaper experiences as a carrier of the Utica Daily Observer. When 15 years old he did repor- torial work on the Utica Daily Bee, a newspaper venture launched by Thomas F. Baker, who saw it die on his hands.

Mr. Clare's father died when he was 17 years of age, compelling him to leave school. He took his father's place as bookkeeper for Thorn & Pomeroy and held that position for several years until something better was offered in the office of the Utica Sunday Tribune. Afterward he had something to do with the business end of the Utica Daily Republican. Thirteen years ago he came to Watertown, and in company with D. T. Kelly bought the Watertown Morning Dis- patch and Weekly Re-Union. The concern had been losing money for a long time, and after running the paper for a year it became evident to the new proprietors that the field for a morning paper in Watertown was too limited, and the daily was dropped. Kelly sold his interest in the office to Clare, who has since conducted the paper alone. Under his management it has grown and prospered and earned a building of its own instead of being a losing investment, as it had always been to former proprietors.

The Re-Union has always supported the regular Democratic nominees and upheld the declarations of State and national platforms. This conservative course has made a host of

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 66

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098