The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 67

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

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THE JOURNALISTS OF WATERTOWN.

H. A. BROCKWAY.

C. E. COLE.

W. D, MCKINSTRY ..

C. W. CLARE.

L. G. CHASE.

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

friends for the paper as well as for its editor. He is one of the most genial, agreeable and accommodating men in the city. He is care- ful, methodical and successful in the news- paper business, and displays the qualities in his official position. Mr. Cleveland never made an appointment in this or any other county that so nearly meets with the unanimous approval of the people.

Mr. Clare has a wife and two interesting children at his pleasant home on Orchard street, whose society is more attractive to him than official honors.

Lloyd G. Chase, editor and publisher of the Watertown Post, was born in Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., December 13, 1850. On the 22nd day of July, 1862, he entered the office of the Herkimer County Journal, which was then published by Mr. Jean R. Stebbins, now president of the Agricultural Insurance

Company. He remained in the employ of Mr. Stebbins until August 8, 1876, when he purchased the Carthage Republican, and published it continuously until January 18, 1892. September 1st, 1892, he purchased the Watertown Post of Hon Lotus Ingalls, Mr. Chase was chairman of the Republican County Committee of Jefferson county in the years 1888 and 1889. He was appointed postmaster of the village of Carthage by President Arthur to succeed Jesse E Willis, February 15, 1882, and served until May 15, 1886, when he was succeeded by a Democrat. Mr. Chase served three years as Worshipful Master of Carthage Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., and the same length of time as High Priest of Carthage Chapter, No. 259, R. A. M. He is at present captain general of Watertown Commandery No. 11, K. T., Oriental Guide of Media Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Watertown.

JERE. COUGHLIN.

THERE are some newspaper men who strike you, on being introduced, as much out of place, resembling merchants or business men more than editors. But once in a great while you strike one who is a newspaper man pure and simple,-in every action, in habits of thought, in general make-up, betraying the "something" that is within. Such a one is Jere. Coughlin, born in Farmersville, On- tario, in 1854. He was fortunate at the begin- ning of his apprenticeship to the "art preserv- ative" in the office of the Carthage Republican, to have attracted the notice of the Hon. Marcus Bickford. From that office, dating back to the forties, came the Coulston boys (Henry and Edmund), the Hon. Charles L. Mac- Arthur, now and for many years editor and proprietor of the Troy Budget, and Major J. A. Haddock, author of this history. From such surroundings have emanated more bright and successful newspaper men than from any other printing office in Jefferson county. Brought up, as he was, under the eye of the able and kind Mr. Bickford, and mixing in readily with the local politicians of progres- sive and wide-awake Carthage, Jere. soon blossomed into an expert printer and news- paper contributor, for his natural genius was of the best, his industry indomitable, his will ever leading him onward and upward.

Yet the road he was forced to travel was not an easy one. He invaded Carthage in 1865, taking a 12-year course in the Union school in four years of actual attendance, coming in during the last few weeks of the term and easily passing the examinations. He worked at anything he could get to do; with Manley Loomis at wagonmaking, then at carpentering and even carried the hod for his brother, who was a mason. He taught school in a country district; worked in the Otter Lake tannery a year at grinding bark; but all this time he was keeping up his studies, pre- paring for a college course, meanwhile

materially assisting to care for his widowed mother, who had a large family. He also took a four-year course in Latin, aided in his recitation by the Catholic priest in charge of the church at Carthage. This last course was taken after he had begun his apprenticeship, which was in March, 1874.

Jere. began writing for the Republican when his apprenticeship was scarcely six months old, and before the second year elapsed he was the local editor. He was afterwards editor of the Northern New Yorker at Carthage, and continued until its consolidation with the Republican, when he became associate editor of the Republican, and so continued until he came to Watertown as political editor of the Daily Times. He thought he saw the necessity for a strong weekly paper, published at the latter part of the week, but he desired a large circulation to start with, and accomplished this by purchas- ing four weekly newspapers and consolidating them. He bought the Carthage Leader, Copenhagen News, Clayton Free Press, and the Jefferson County (Theresa) Herald. Thus the Watertown Herald was launched on the eve of Independence Day in the year of Our Lord, 1886. It has been a financial success from the start, and its editor has come to the front in the journalistic field of Jefferson 'county. Mr. Coughlin married Marian Mont- gomery, in Carthage, July 18, 1878; they have five children, one girl and four boys. His home is at No. 80 Washington street, Watertown.

Viewed in almost any light Mr. Coughlin is an unique character. His early life was of the humblest, his early struggles surprisingly harsh and forbidding, but he has worked him- self up to a position where his character and abilities are appreciated. His pen is a little caustic at times, but his efforts have always been to uphold the dignity of labor and the rights of man. His paper is actually an inde- pendent sheet, owing fealty to no earthly

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

- ---

EDITOR COUGHLIN AT HIS DESK.

power, and howing down neither to organized labor nor to the monopolists. His course is a straight one, but he is usually correct, and always in earnest. It should be remembered that he rose by the force of his own merits, not by political "pulls" nor by aid from rich relatives. Through it all he is the same lovable Jere., the idol of his family, and the admiration of his friends.

Mr. Coughlin has introduced many new features into local journalism, his latest being a photo-engraving plant, to illustrate promi- nent men and local events; in fact, to make a feature which few journals out of the great

cities can introduce, because of the expense. He sent his brother to New York to perfect himself in the art, and into his hands he has entrusted this branch of the business.

This, however, is only one of Editor Cough- lin's achievements in the line of progress. His mind is eminently speculative, yet never leading to hap-hazard methods. He examines, reflects, decides, acts-sometimes doing all four in one day-but his successes greatly exceed his failures. One thing is certain, the competitor who is in business with Jere. has everything to fear, for he has a rival most capable and energetic. J. A. H.

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

GEORGE W. DICKINSON.

GEO. W. DICKINSON, editor of the Carthage Republican, was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, N. Y., November 14. 1847, the son of Nathan and Catherine Dickinson. He was educated in the common schools and at the Penn Yan Academy. He was apprenticed to the "art preservative" in 1863, in the office of the Yates County Chronicle. He gradu- ated from that office into that of the Angelica Reporter, one of the oldest papers in the State, which had been purchased by his brother. Here he remained 12 years, having become a partner with his brother, who pur- chased the Olean Times, and George W. then became sole proprietor of the Reporter, which he removed to Belmont, the county seat. On the death of his brother, Charles F., Mr. Dickinson purchased the Olean Times from

his widow, and ran it in conjunction with the Reporter for several years. In 1877 he re- moved the Reporter to Wellsville, and united it with the Wellsville Times, thus conducting both papers simultaneously. At the expira- tion of one year he sold the Reporter to Enos W. Barnes, thenceforth devoting himself solely to the interests of the Olean Times. This paper he published until 1882. In 1879 he had started the Daily Times, and continued it until 1882, when he sold his newspaper to a stock company, and retired temporarily from journalism.

The several papers he had edited and pub- lished were Republican, and they were im- portant factors in their localities, possessing the entire confidence of that organization. He removed to Lowville, N. Y., about 1883,

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

where he had previously married Miss Mary A. Bickford, niece of the founder of the Carthage Republican, and through her it may be said that the control of the Republican still re- mains a matter of pride and interest to that same family. He remained in Lewis county the succeeding four years, spending one of his winters in Florida, where he had some news- paper experience at St. Augustine.

January 1, 1889, he bought a controlling interest in the Carthage Tribune, then owned by a stock company. He remained connect- ed with that paper for two years, at last parting with his interest to Mr. Kesler, the present proprietor. In January, 1892, he purchased the Republican from Mr. Chase, and has since then heen its editor and publisher.

Under Mr. Dickinson's able management he has made the Republican one of the leading newspapers of the county. It is unhesitating-

ly devoted to Carthage, as it has ever been. Mr. Dickinson has an ahle contemporary in his estimable wife, who has taken charge of the local department, now justly regarded as the most important feature of a country jour- nal, and together they make a newspaper that covers the whole field of usefulness. It is a pleasant thing to say that their efforts are ap- preciated at Carthage, where the people are very intelligent, and have a right to be critical.

Mr. Dickinson is a large man, nearly or quite six feet in height, erect and vigorous, with a fine form, most approachable and sympathetic, inviting confidence hy his frank- ness and amiability. He is progressive and very obliging in his business. He has two children, and their home is a typical one, fully rounded ont in pictures and hooks, and everything that can make a country editor happy.

HON. MARCUS BICKFORD.

IT is a pleasant duty for the local historian to rescue from forgetfulness, by his printed page, the names of men who would otherwise share the common fate which in every century swallows up so many who possessed noble traits and performed, upon perhaps a narrow theatre, actions which were essentially great,

MARCUS BICKFORD.

and who filled a niche in the world's progress that would otherwise have been vacant. Every observing person can recall the names of a few, such as we describe, who have deserved the immortality they missed, for their acts were noble, their lives were pure, their teachings as elevated as truth itself.

Such an one was Marcus Bickford, the village editor, the honest and ahle lawyer, the tender- hearted, magnaminous friend, who honored Carthage by making it his early home, and to whose welfare and highest elevation in morals, in patriotism, and in every public benefi- cience he gave his long life. Dying as other editors die, before he could witness the full fruition of his teachings, he left a name that is rich with many sacred memories-for, as he was always near to the common people and in ardent sympathy with their ambitions and their welfare, they give his memory a place in their hearts, the highest tribute posterity can afford. Trne it is that it was not his to join that great army whose resistless pur- pose heat down secession. nor his to feel the glorious experiences of those heroes who yet thrill with joy when they hear a bugle call or the beat of a drum-nor was it his to share the imminent peril and yet supreme exalta- tion of actual conflict. But it was his to fill even a higher position, to advise and arouse his countrymen to a proper conception of their duty, and to urge the thoughtless to that reflection which properly preceded action. In this way he performed a higher service than if he had raised a regiment and led it through the four and a half years of actual strife.

Marcus Bickford was the son of Reuben and Mary Spafford Bickford, of Northfield, N. H., who came into the Black River country among the early settlers, taking up a farm upon what is known as the West Road, in Lewis county, and there Marcus was born, July 13, 1815. He was his father's helper on the farm, receiving the education obtainable from the common schools of that period, com- pleting his scholastic education at Clinton, N. Y. He early began the study of law with Hon. Charles Dayan, at Lowville, N. Y., and he was moderately successful at the har. The religious character of his mind was, how- ever, an impediment in his chosen profession,

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THE PRESS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

where "sharpness" is regarded as more valuable than erudition or unbending integ- rity. He had begun a promising professional career when the California gold fever swept over the country, and he became a veritable '49er, having crossed the plains with that grand cavalcade of eastern men who went,

"With hearts elate, To found another Empire, To rear another State."

His success in California was moderate, and on his return, in 1851, he married Miss Jane Van Horn Hammond, to whom he had been engaged before his departure for the land of gold. Two daughters were born to them, Cora Helena, who died in her 12th year, November 1, 1873. and Florence Ida, who is now the only surviving member of the family. He was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1867, and declined many invita- tions to fill public offices. But it was as the editor of a staunch Republican newspaper that he earned his unfading laurels and estab- lished a reputation that has happily survived him. It should be born in mind that in the patriotic North there were not a few who op- posed enlistments and deprecated what they called "coercion." Mr. Greeley himself, as grand a character as he was. and much as he had done to popularize that Republicanism which was founded upon a hatred of slavery, had said in the Tribune that he could find no constitutional right for coercion, and advised that the Southern States should be permitted to "go in peace." And the Democrats had accepted the imbecile plea of President Buch- anan that constitutional coercion was an im- possibility. These opposing, yet concurrent political ideas seemed inevitably to point to the same end-a dissolution of the Union, and the establishment of two confederacies. To oppose this insane purpose, now meeting with no approval in any sound mind in America, became the solemn duty of every patriotic editor and citizen, and into this work Mr. Bickford threw himself with all his powers of logic and persuasion. As the purpose of the Southern leaders became more apparent and more desperate, and as their copperhead adherents in the North became more abusive in their opposition to enlistments, Mr. Bick- ford's Republican grew more and more severe in its denunciation of secession, and more arduous in the support of President Lincoln and his contemporaries in their patriotic efforts to preserve the government,

It must be remembered that the times were eminently exciting. Men's minds were wrought up to that point where their "true inwardness" developed itself under great ex- citement, and it is too true that with many of them party spirit rose above patriotism. To denounce these " copper-heads" and uphold the patriotic efforts of his contemporaries was Mr. Bickford's duty, as an editor, and he dis- charged that duty without fear or favor.

As an illustration of the bitterness of the "copper head " feeling, this incident is re- lated: Manley Loomis, an estimable citizen of Carthage had consented to the enlistment

of his two sons. On the day they left for the front, a woman shouted across the street to him: "Your two boys have gone to the war. I hope they will never live to get home again." That woman, in her excitement, gave expression to her own honest sentiments and the earnest wish of every " copper-head " in Wilna. But their bitterness did not avail. That town always more than filled its quota by volunteers, not by draft, for Mr. Bick- ford's Republican kept up its patriotic work until every hamlet was aroused, and no fire- side was unvisited by the earnest appeals of that newspaper, and that, too, at a time when the Reformer and Journal, at Water- town, supported recruiting officers with bated breath, as if fearful of bringing before the public the real requirements of a great crisis, which demanded men and not talk.

Suffice it to say that his work at last found glorious fruition in the suppression of the re- bellion, which came much nearer success than the masses of the people ever knew.

He edited the Republican for 16 years and its files bear undying testimony to the honest purposes of the man, to his inde- pendence as an editor, and to his ability as a writer.

Ill-health at last deprived the community of one of its best-remembered citizens. But before he succumbed to the disease which finally ended his life, he gave evidence of a patience in battling with its insidious ap- proach, that was really heroic. For many years chronic rheumatismn wasted away his once stalwart frame. The devotion of his wife and daughter could only alleviate his sufferings, and at last he passed away in great peace, September 19, 1876, in the 61st year of his age.

In summing up the life of Mr. Bickford, we are impressed by his earnestness in whatever he undertook. If he thought a cause was right, he served it, unquestioning, to its logi- cal sequence. Though resident in a com- munity far removed from the great business centres, his ability was not unknown abroad, and had his health permitted, he could have had high positions under Grant's administra- tion. So his earnestness was appreciated even beyond his home.

His adherence to truth and its teachings, made him a devoted Christian, and he was often constrained to declare the faith that had sustained him through his early_experiences and through his long sickness. Enjoying the religion of his ancestry, and happy in its pos- session personally, he wanted to communi- cate it to others. This evinced the depth of his philanthropy-a feeling ingrained, and not superficial.

Possessing, then, the logical mind, the calm judgment which enabled him to recog- nize truth when he saw it, he followed its teachings without fear-and that made him a patriot, and armed him for the fight he took upon himself for his country's sake. Regard- ed as a Christian, as the able and fearless newspaper editor, or as the kind neighbor and

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

the high-toned citizen, it is not to be wonder- ed at that he left a name unsullied by any petty scandal or acrimonious controversy, and " being dead he yet speaketh."

It may possibly interest the older members of the present editorial fraternity in Jefferson

County to know that Mr. Bickford was an honored Elder in the Church of the Disciples, at Carthage, and that he honored the pro- fessions he had made by preaching often the blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour. His example we scarcely expect to see followed.

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

FOUNDING OF ODD FELLOWSHIP IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

MONDAY, the 24th day of September, 1894, was the occasion for a notable gathering in the city of Watertown, the event being the celebration of the semi-centennial anniversary of the founding of the first lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows in Jefferson county. About two weeks previously the fact of the occurrence of the anniversary was brought to the attention of Jefferson Union Lodge by brother Past Grand Joseph Nutting and brother Past Grand John Nill, (both Odd Fellows of many years' standing, whose influence has always been exerted in every movement that had for its object the advancement of the interests and the diffusion of the principles of Odd Fellowship.) were deputed to confer with Watertown City and Corona Lodges in order to arrange for a fit- ting commemoration of an event of such importance and significance in the annals of the order. Committees were at once ap- pointed from each of the Watertown lodges, authorized to take charge of the matter, and the joint committee so constituted met and measures were promptly instituted. A tele- gram was sent to brother A A. Guthrie, of Albany, Deputy Grand Master of the State of New York, inviting him to be present and deliver an address, which he promptly con- sented to do. All the county lodges of Odd Fellows and of the Daughters of Rebekah were notified, and cordially invited to be present and participate in the celebration. In order that the principles of Odd Fellow- ship, as well as its objects, its growth and development and the record of its deeds of charity and benevolence might become better known to the public in general, it was decided that a public meeting should be held in the City Opera House, and that the families and friends of Odd Fellows should be invited to attend. The mayor of the city, the common council, the board of education and board of public works and the clergy were invited to occupy seats on the stage. The boxes were placed at the disposal of those venerable mem- bers of the order whose days of active mem- bership, now long gone by, had yet been productive of lasting results, and whose labors for the advancement of the great principles of friendship, love and truth, had made it possible that Odd Fellowship should have reached its present splendid proportions in this county. A short torch-light parade

was arranged to take place before the exercises in the evening.

A reception committee was provided, and with a band of music this committee marched to the depot previous to the arrival of the afternoon trains, and extended a cordial wel- come to incoming brothers and to Brother Guthrie, who was conducted to a carriage and escorted to the Woodruff House, where he held a short reception; after which, accom- panied by a brother from each of the city lodges, a drive was taken through the prin- cipal streets of the city, which was highly enjoyed by Brother Gutlirie, who was very favorably impressed by the appearance of Watertown and the character of its citizens. and said that the city presented as good a field for the progress of Odd Fellowship as any with which he was acquainted. Promptly at 7 p m. the lodges assembled at their respec- tive lodge rooms and marched up Washington street to Academy, taking their places in the line of march in the following order: First came Snell's band; then Canton Ridgely P M., in full uniform, followed by Jefferson Union, Watertown City, visiting and Corona Lodges. At 7:30 p. m. the command "forward" went down the line, and marching to the inspiring strains of martial music and amid the glare of a thousand torches, one of the most imposing parades ever seen in Watertown moved down Washington street, around Public Square and up Arsenal street to the Opera House, which was soon filled to its utmost capacity by an intelligent and enthusiastic audience. After a pleasing overture of music, all heads were reverently bowed as Rev. D. L. R. Libby, chaplain of Corona Lodge, offered an earnest and appropriate prayer, after which the Odd Fellows' hymn was sung, led by Grace church choir, and then the chairman of the evening, V. K. Kellogg, Noble Grand of Corona Lodge and district attorney of Jefferson county, arose and after briefly setting forth the occa- sion of the demonstration and the principles of Odd Fellowship, gave an interesting account of the founding of the first Odd Fellows lodge in Jefferson county, 50 years ago, when the abduction of a supposed apostate from Free Masonry had aroused in the public mind a prejudice and an almost fanatical hatred against secret societies, so bitter and intense as to threaten the business and social standing, the property and even the lives of those who

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had the temerity to identify themselves with such societies. The orator then paid an eloquent tribute to those devoted men, who, by incessant labor, at great personal sacrifice, and amid many dangers, laid the corner stone of what has since been built by the labor of many hands, into one of the greatest and grandest of Jefferson county's organizations. In striking contrast to the secret labors of that puny band, strong only in the greatness of their undertaking and the firmness of their resolves, are the facts that Jefferson county has now 11 lodges of Odd Fellows with a membership of about twelve hundred, and that Odd Fellows could now assemble in open meeting and proclaim their principles to the public and to the world.

The chairman then introduced Brother Guthrie, who delivered the address of the evening on the subject of Odd Fellowship, holding the attention of his audience for nearly three-quarters of an hour, and deliver- ing what was characterized by one of the reverend gentlemen who followed him as "one of the finest orations he had ever heard from a religious, society or political plat- form." He told how Odd Fellowship had been instituted in the United States in 1819 by five men in the city of Baltimore (see page 188 of this history) and now has a membership of over 913,000 and a record of over $64,000,000 distributed in charity and benevolence among the afflicted brothers of the order, their widows and orphaned children. Brother Guthrie call- ed the attention of the Watertown brothers par- ticularly to the fact that now, in the strength and prosperity of the order, is the time to provide itself a home, a temple, a monu- ment worthy of the grand principles its mem- bers love; and made the pleasing prediction that, as Grand Master of the State of New York, he would soon preside at a session of the Grand Lodge, held in Watertown.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 67

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