USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 59
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The society's second visit to Warwick was in 1892 and 1893. The presence of Governor Flower, with the 5th and roth Separate Companies of Newburgh as his military escort, was a noteworthy event.
The fairs of 1894, 1895 and 1896, held at Newburgh, are said to have been the greatest the Society has ever held. The number of entries in certain classes will give some idea of its magnitude. Cattle., 272 entries : horses. 116; poultry. 1.502: bench shows, 208; mechanical. 238; grain and vegetables, 849; fruit, 1,144; flowers, 204; culinary, 310; domestic 090; miscellaneous, 223. Total in all classes, 6.084. The exhibition of school work not entered for competition was a revelation to thousands of visitors of the work now being done by the pupils of public. private and parochial schools.
After the fair of 1806, the managers of the society being unable to obtain a satisfactory lease of the grounds for a term of years, purchased the Campbell Track Grounds at Middletown. April 16. 1807. These grounds are well adapted to fair purposes. and when contemplated im-
646
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
provements are made they will compare favorably, in convenience and beauty, with any fair grounds in the State.
The last eleven fairs have been held on these grounds. They are events of such recent occurrence that historic interest does not yet attach to them. It may, however, be well to say that these eleven exhibitions have been in magnitude and excellence highly creditable to the society.
The society occupies a prominent place in the front rank of the agri- cultural societies of the State. Organized to promote agriculture, horti- culture, the mechanic and household arts, it has not lost sight of these objects. During the sixty-eight years of its existence, in times of pros- perity and seasons of adversity, in peace and in war, it has never failed to hold its annual fair. It is a society whose reputation is unblemished, whose honor is bright, whose record is clean ; a society that has not sacri- ficed right for expediency nor won temporary success at the expense of principle ; a society that has never repudiated its debts but has honorably discharged all its obligations ; a society that has always paid its premiums in full and never paid them pro rata : a society whose fair grounds have not been noisy with the voices of fakirs, defiled with the devices of gamb- lers nor desecrated by immoral shows, but have been consecrated to legiti- mate exhibitions ; a society whose management during the years that are gone has been such that no rival society (town or district) has ever been organized within the limits of the county, to sap the sources of its pros- perity, limit the sphere of its operations, or lessen the extent of its influ- ence-a fact without a parallel in the State.
PRESIDENTS, SECRETARIES AND TREASURERS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY FROM 1841 TO 1908.
Presidents.
John Caldwell, Blooming Grove. 1841 Hamilton Morrison, Mont-
Frederic J. Betts, Newburgh . . 1842-1846 gomery
.1858 Alden Goldsmith, Blooming
William Murray, Jr., Goshen. 1847 Henry Robinson, Newburgh. . 1848 Robert Denniston, Bloooming
Grove
. 1859 William H. Houston, War- Grove . 1849 wick 1860 Allen M. Sherman, Newburgh.1850 James S. Hopkins, Hampton- burgh 1861 Edward. L. Welling, Warwick. 1851 Israel H. Wickham, Wallkill. . 1852 Alfred B. Post, Goshen. 1862 John J. Heard, Goshen. 1853 Thomas Edsall, Goshen. 863 Alanson Gillespie, Goshen. 186.4 Charles M. Shons, Blooming Grove 1865 Seely C. Roe, Chester 1854 John H. Morris, Goshen. 855 Henry Robinson, Newburgh 1856 Seely C. Roe, Chester 1857
ORANGE COUNTY AGRICULTURE.
647
l'ice-Presidents.
One from each town .. 1841-1861 Hamilton Morrison, Mont-
gomery
1862-1865
Corresponding Secretaries.
Samuel Wait, Jr., Montgom-
cry 1841
Joseph W. Gott, Goshen .. 1841-1847 gomery
Daniel D. Boice, Newburgh. . 1848
Benjamin F. Dunning, Goshen. 1849
William F. Sharpe, Goshen. . . 1850 Hamilton Morrison, Mont-
1851-1857 David A. Morrison, Mont-
gomery
1858-1865
Treasurers.
Charles Monell, Goshen ... .. . 1841
Charles Downing, Newburgh. . 1842-1846
John J. Heard, Goshen. . . . . . . 1847
Charles Downing, Newburgh .. 1848
Benjamin F. Duryea, Goshen. 1849
Charles Downing, Newburgh .. 1850
David F. Gedney, Goshen. .. .1851
William M. Graham, Goshen .. 1852
William M. Beakes, Goshen. . 1853 George W. Roe, Chester. .1854
William M. Sayer, Goshen . . . . 1855-1859
Archibald L. Beyea, Goshen. . 1860
William M. Sayer, Goshen. . . . 1861-1865
REORGANIZATION-1866.
Presidents.
Ellis A. Post, Goshen. 1866-1872 Alden Goldsmith, Blooming Alden Goldsmith, Blooming Grove
Hamilton Morrison, Mont-
gomery
1875-1877 Grove 1873 Rev. L. L. Comfort, Mont- gomery 1878 1874 Hon. A. Dennison, Blooming Grove 1879-1908
Vice-Presidents.
Hamilton Morrison, Mont- Grinnell Burt, Warwick. ... .. 1880-1882 gomery 1866-1873 Henry E. Alvord, Cornwall ... 1884 Alfred B. Post, Goshen 1870-1874 Hamilton Morrison, Mont- Moses D. Stivers, Wallkill. . .. 1881-1888 Lawson Valentine, Cornwall. . 1887-1888 gomery 1875-1881 Virgil Thompson, Wallkill. .1875-1881 Aug. Denniston, Blooming Grove Benjamin C. Sears, Blooming Grove . 1889-1901 1877-1878 William D. Barns, Newburgh . 1889-1898 Edward A. Brown, Middle- town Henry C. Weir, Chester 1879-1884 W. Egbert Arnout, Wawa- 1899-1908 yanda 1880
Secretaries.
David A. Morrison, Mont- gomery .. .1866 Roswell C. Goleman, Goshen. 1867
George W. Millspaugh, Goshen. 1868
David A. Morrison,
Mont-
gomery
1869-1908
648
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
Treasurers.
George W. Greene, Goshen. . . . 1866-1867
William B. Royce, Wallkill. . . 1882-1892
Jason W. Corwin, Goshen. . . . 1868-1876
Samuel S. Van Saun, War- wick
1893-1894
gomery
1877-1880
Harry M. Waring, Newburgh . 1895-1897 Henry M. Howell, Middle-
wick
1881-1882
town 1898-1908
Directors.
Alden Goldsmith 1866-1873
Theodore Moore. 1891-1896
James S. Hopkins
1866-1867
Edward B. Sanford. 1891-1895
Charles B. Seely
I866-1872
William H. Nearpass. 1893-1895
Virgil Thompson.
I866-1868
Joseph S. Dunning 1893-1895
Nathaniel Van Sickle
I866-1878
Edwin T. Skidmore 1894-1896
William H. Ward
1866-1870
Sidney H. Sanford.
1896-1905
Alfred B. Post ... 1868
Edwin L. Requa .. 1896-1897 896
Charles M. Thompson
1869-1874
C. Emmet Crawford.
1896-1898
Alfred Wells.
1873-1875
Daniel M. Wade.
1874-1876
Alfred B. Post.
1874-1878
Augustus Denniston.
1875-1877
Charles Mapes ..
1899-1908
Ebenezer Van Alst.
1875-1892
Samuel D. Roberson.
1899-1901
Rev. L. L. Comfort
1876-1877
V. Edgar Hill. 1899-1908
John C. Shafer.
1877-1879
Benjamin C. Sears
1878-1888
Joel W. Houston. 1900-1908
William H. Hallock 1878-1908
Charles L. Elwood.
1900-1902
Daniel Smith.
1879-1883
John I. Bradley
1901-1908
Pierson E. Sanford
1880-1890
William B. Royce.
1901-1908
J. Edward Wells ..
1880-1905
Leander Clark, Jr. 1902-1906
W. Egbert Arnout
1882-1889
W. G. Davis. 1903-1905
Leander Clark, Jr
1883-1897
William H. Nearpass 1903-1908
Horace McBride. 1883-1889
William C. Hart. 1904-1908
Henry M. Howell
1883-1899
W. Q. Minturn. . 1904-1908
Daniel S. Waring 1885-1890
Rev. Andrew Schriver
1906-1908
John M. Burt
1886-1893
Dr. M. A. Stivers.
. 1906-1908
E. G. Fowler
1890-1892
A. F. Storey
1907-1908
Samuel B. Hill
1890-1898
E. G. Fowler ..
George A. Swayze. 1897-1900
Virgil Thompson 1872-1874
Horace D. Thompson
1897-1905
Emmet E. Wood.
1898
Oscar W. Mapes.
1898
William H. Clark. 1898-1903
William H. Houston.
1869-1871
John S. Edsall. 1871-1873
W. A. Lawrence. 1899-1908
Joseph Van Cleft. 1885-1898
John W. Sanford. . 1906-1908
Charles E. Johnson
1889-1897
Howard D. Seely 1906-1908
WALLKILL VALLEY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION .-- The following brief sketch was furnished by Mr. William C. Hart, Secretary of the Associa- tion. In 1889, the late Chauncey A. Reed suggested to the writer the ad- visability of the farmers of the Wallkill valley uniting in an effort to secure the appointment of a Farmers' Institute, to be held under the auspices of the New York State Department of Farmers' Institutes. An hour later, in consultation with Nicholas J. Fowler, it was decided to in-
Benjamin B. Johnston, Mont-
Samuel S. Van War-
649
ORANGE COUNTY AGRICULTURE.
vite representative agriculturists to meet at his office on the evening of November II, at which time a local society would be formed. The result of this meeting was highly satisfactory. William C. Weller was appointed chairman, William C. Hart, secretary, and Nicholas J. Fowler, treasurer, with committees on finance, music, addresses, etc. On November 25, at an adjourned meeting, the executive committee reported an enrollment of one hundred and sixty-eight members, with liberal responses in con- tributions to defray expenses.
The Institute held at Scofield Hall, December 19, 20 and 21, proved suc- cessful beyond the anticipation of its promoters and immediately suggested the desirability of forming a permanent organization. The idea was greatly strengthened on February 10 at Coldenham, N. Y., when Mr. George T. Powell, of Ghent, N. Y., gave a stirring address on the impor- tance of carrying forward the movement, which appealed strongly to all. Thus started the movement which has resulted in the present organization -an association that has done more to unfold the beauty and charm of the Wallkill Valley and spread its fair name to remote localities than all efforts put forth by similar attempts in this direction.
OBJECTS OF ORGANIZATION.
The realization of the inestimable majesty ; the unspeakable goodness of God as revealed in this marvelous valley, thus indirectly leading the thought of humanity into the valleys and rivers of life eternal.
The attainment of knowledge which comes of well ordered discussion. Increased skill in the methods of labor.
The mutual improvement of its members by disseminating reliable and valuable information tending to promote the best interests of the Wallkill valley.
Such advantages as may be derived through associated effort to pro- mote a higher degree of excellence in farm, garden and agricultural affairs generally. The introduction and testing of flowers, shrubs, forest and ornamental trees.
It is the primary object of the Society to awaken interest in and promote the progress of that noblest of all human callings, agriculture, and it is the policy of the board of managers to interest all in its annual outing- not only as an exhibition of the prosperity and progress of the farm-
650
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
ing section, of the growths of field and orchard and garden, of intelligent competition in stock-breeding and dairy interests, but as a demonstration of the public spirit, intelligence and prosperity of the entire productive and business community.
THE OUTING DAYS AND OLD HOME WEEK.
As the society grew and prospered it was decided to establish a social side to the many interests represented. Arrangements were made with much enthusiasm on the part of its membership to hold beneath the open sky an outing that would have a tendency to attract the farming com- munity with their guests and friends that might prove advantageous to all.
MEMORIAL DAYS-DATES AND LOCATIONS OF THE OUTINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
1893-August 23, at Woodlawn Farm
1894-August 15, at Borden's Home Farm.
1895-August 21, at Woodlawn Farm.
1896-August 13, at Woodlawn Farm.
1897-August 26, at Woodlawn Farm, Walden.
1898-August 10, at Scofield's Grove, Walden.
1899-August 9, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1900-August 8, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1901-August 14, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1902-August 13, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1903-August 12 and 13, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park. 1904-August 17 and 18, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1905-August 16 and 17, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park. 1906-August 15, 16 and 17, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park. 1907-August 14 and 15, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
Highly artistic booklets have been issued since 1894, under the super- vision of William C. Hart. The fifteen volumes are classified as follows :
1894-Borden's Home Farm.
1895-Historical.
1896-Tributary Streams of the Wallkill.
1897-Indian Localities and Hostilities.
1898-Battle of Minisink.
1899-Churches of the Wallkill Valley. 1900-Beautiful Landscape Views.
1902-Through the Valley of the Wall- kill, profusely illustrated. 1903-Companion Volume of 1902.
1904-Gems from the Hudson. Famous Horses of Orange County. 1905-The Hudson and Wallkill Rivers. City of Middletown. In Art and Story. 1906-Lake Mohonk, profusely illus- trated. Orange Blossoms and guests at Gettysburgh. Walden in Profile. The Catskills and Queenly Hudson.
1901-The Wallkill Valley at Gettys- burgh, Orange County Agricul- tural Society, Mountain Drives of Mohonk. 1937-Wallkill Valley Farmers' Asso- ciation. Lake Mohonk Snow- bound. 1908-The Hudson River.
ORANGE COUNTY AGRICULTURE.
OFFICERS, 188Q-1907.
President. L'ice-President. Secretary.
1889-W. C. Weller, Chairman.
W. C. Hart.
1900-W. C. Weller. 1891-
J. K. Brown. .. ..
46 46 16
W. H. Gillespie.
..
..
1893-
1894-J. B. Hadden.
R. B. Crowell. G. W. Folsom. J. D. Mould.
..
.6
1895- ..
1896 ---
J. P. Covert.
.6
..
C. R. Fowler.
..
1897-
H. N. Smith. 66
A. J. Fowler. 6.
16
1899-
1900-I. W. Decker. 1901- ..
..
..
1902-E. B. Walker.
W. H. Dunn.
1903-L. M. Borden.
J. W. Decker.
..
-
1904-I. W. Decker.
A. Wiley.
1905-
J. K. Brown.
1906-
..
..
A. Wiley.
1907-
..
THE GRANGE IN ORANGE COUNTY.
This modern organization in the rural districts of New York State is strongly represented in this county. There are twenty-two subordinate Granges with a total membership of 2.470 in the county, as reported by delegate John Y. Gerow at the last annual session of the State Grange, and all are in a most prosperous condition. A Pomona Grange, which is the link between the subordinate granges and the State organization, was formed at Washingtonville, April 18, 1903, with 118 members. This has now about 600 members. Mr. Gerow was the chairman for three years and was presented with a gold badge at his resignation. Albert Manning is now the master. Five of the subordinate granges in the county own their halls, three own buildings and conduct cooperative stores successfully.
The first Grange organized in the county was at Unionville, June 27. 1901, with thirty-four charter members. It is known as the Minisink No. 907. W. . A. Lain was the first master. The membership has increased to 168. Alva Case is the present master. The Monroe Grange was the sec- ond in order of date, beginning December 12. 1901. It is No. 911 : there were only eighteen charter members, which was increased to 147. George S. Bull was the first master and James Seaman is now at the head. Grange No. 912 started at Washingtonville. with John W. Gerow as master. This Grange now operates a general store. Little Britain,
Treasurer. Superintendent. N. J. Fowler. I. W. Decker.
..
16
1892-
..
W. C. Hart.
..
A. S. Embler.
1898-
. 4
..
66
S. H. Knapp. ..
66
652
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
Grange No. 913 was next started with twenty members, Charles E. Knapp being the first master. This has now 115 members and William D. Moores is the present master. The Brookside Grange No. 936, began November 18, 1902, with a membership of twenty-two, which has been increased to 173. Clarence O. Warford is the present master. The Mountainville Grange, No. 946, was started December 12, 1902, with twenty-two members. C. E. Hand is now the master. The Warwick Grange, No. 948, was organized January 6, 1903 with twenty-nine mem- bers, which has since been increased to ninety-six. C. M. Houston is the master, and a general feed, coal and farmers' supply store is operated. The Hamptonburgh Grange, No. 950, began January 7, 1903, with thirty- nine members, which has been increased to 115, with S. P. Watkins as master. The Stony Ford Grange, No. 951, was organized with twenty- one members, January 8, 1903, Ebenezer Bull having been the master from the first, the present membership being forty-five. The Goshen Grange, No. 975, began March 25, 1903, with nineteen members, which has been increased to 137. William Hughes is the master, and a general store is operated with an extensive trade. The Cronomer Valley Grange, No. 982, built a large meeting hall in 1907; Nat C. Barnes is the master. This Grange was organized, June 20, 1903, with twenty charter members. Mr. Dewitt C. Osborn was the first master. There are now 151 members. Grange No. 916 was organized at Montgomery, February 11, 1902, with thirteen charter members. George Van Alst was the first master. The present membership is 148, and Harry Tweddle is master. The following additional Granges in the county were organized in the order indicated by the number of each :
983-Present Master, G. L. Sayer, Middletown.
984 ---
"
A. C. Bull, Chester. 1001-
J. R. Feagles, Pine Island.
1002 --
W. E. Weller, Bloomingburg.
1003-
Frank Remey, Slate Hill.
1005- = H. T. Baker, Thompson's.
1014-
W. H. Burger, Pine Bush.
" J. W. Eaton, Westtown.
1018- 1020- J. G. Fuller, Otisville.
1053-
J. O. Goble, Florida.
The Patrons' Fire Insurance Company of Orange and Ulster counties, has issued policies to the amount of $3,600,000, and it is said to have saved the policyholders $250,000 in the past four years.
1
W. Y. Doly
#
653
JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER XXXVII. JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY
BY W. T. DOTY.
FIRST APPEARANCE.
F ROM the accessible records it seems that the "art preservative" entered Orange County by way of Goshen in 1788. It appeared next in Newburgh in 1895, at New Windsor in 1799, at Mont- gomery in 1806. New Vernon in 1833, Slate Hill in 1834, Middletown, in 1840, Port Jervis in 1850, Warwick in 1845, Pine Bush in 1868, Wal- den in 1869, Cornwall 1871, Monroe 1882, Cornwall-on-Hudson in 1888. Chester 1888, Highland Falls 1891, Washingtonville 1899.
At first thought it appears more probable that Newburgh was the first port of entry, from the fact that the latter early felt the contact of the civilization advancing up the Hudson-practically the only highway into the great unknown interior prior to, during, and immediately following the American Revolution; and also as, during the Revolution. Samuel Louden followed the retreating footsteps of the American forces from New York City to Fishkill, printing or issuing, at convenient times, the New York Packet This was issued. it appears, at Fishkill. Why not in Newburgh, where so many great events in connection with the Revolu- tionary period occurred ?
However. Goshen seems to have been a hamlet or village as early as 1714. while Newburgh's first settlement was about 1719. and the records accord to the old county seat the honor of housing the first printing office in Orange County.
In 1788 David Mandeville and David M. Wescott issued the Goshen Repository. That they were men of some literary ability is surmised from the fact that they were connected with the Goshen Academy-that ancient and honorable seat of learning-an institution of which. also, Goshen should feel a thrill of pride.
The office of the Repository was, in 1793. near the court house. The Repository was sold to John G. and William Heurtin, in 1800, at which
654
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
time its name was changed to the Orange County Patriot. In 1801 Gabriel Denton secured the interest of William Heurtin, and in 1803 Denton sold his interest to William A. Carpenter, and the name of the paper was changed to that of The Friend of Truth. The year following it again changed owners and names, when Ward M. Gazlay became its publisher and it became the Orange Eagle. The next year (1805) the office was burned and Mr. Gazlay removed the remains to Newburgh, where the paper, in union with The Recorder of the Times, which Mr. Gazlay purchased, became the Political Inder, and this lived until 1829.
According to the record the second journalistic venture in the county was in 1795, when the Newburgh Packet appeared, printed at Newburgh by Lucius Carey, and in 1797 it became The Mirror under David Dennis- ton. Denniston had purchased the paper of Carey ( 1797), in which year it was announced that the paper was printed by Philip Van Horne. In 1798 Joseph W. Barber was the printer, and he advertised, "also, Print- ing and Book Binding carried on by David Denniston." The Mirror was absorbed ( 1804) by the Rights of Man, and the latter by The Recorder of the Times in 1805.
In 1799 we hear of the New Windsor Gazette, through the removal of a paper of that name from New Windsor to Newburgh, by Jacob Schultz. How long it had existed at New Windsor is now purely conjectural, but as most of the newspapers of that early period were sort of birds of passage, it is assumed that the year 1799 witnessed the Gasette's hatching at New Windsor and its fledgling flight to Newburgh, where it became the Orange County Gasette. It became The Citizen when later purchased by David Denniston.
The year 1799 also brought forth at Newburgh another publication. The Rights of Man, with Dr. Elias Winfield as its sponsor, for whom it was "printed by Benoni H. Howell." David Denniston purchased this paper and merged in it the Orange County Gasette. We learn that the Mirror of 1797 was absorbed by The Rights of Man in 1804, and then the Packet, the Mirror, and the Gasette disappear. The Mirror and the Citi- sen espoused the patriotic political works and probably the religious doc- trines of Thomas Paine, who wrote "The Crisis," "Common Sense," and "The Rights of Man," while the Gasette advocated opposite theories. The paper. The Rights of Man, which absorbed the Mirror and the Citizen, represented the Jeffersonian branch of the Republican party, while the
653
JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY
Recorder of the Times, claiming to be Republican in politics, represented the Federalists and Burr, then a Federalist.
In 1803 appeared at Newburgh the Recorder of the Times, by Dennis Coles. Then at Goshen the same year, The Friend of Truth, under the management of Ward M. Gazlay, and in 1804 at Goshen the Orange County Gasette, conducted by Gabriel Denton. It will be seen there were, within five years, two Orange County Gasettes in the county-one at New- burgh, one at Goshen. As the former metamorphosed itself into the Public Index, the Orange Telegraph, the Newburgh Telegraph and the Newburgh Register, with short pauses between, it may be that it had thrown off the first epidermis and was emerging in new form when its Goshen namesake burst into the sunlight.
Montgomery was looming up from its settlement in 1721, or soon there- after. and in 1810 it was large enough, or felt important enough, to be- come incorporated as a village. But as early as 1806 the printer or pub- lisher -aw an "aching void" in the growing hamlet, to pervade which the Orange County Republican was called into existence that year. It was "published for the Proprietors by Cyrus Beach and Luther Pratt." Who the "Proprietors" were is not in evidence.
It is worthy of record right here that this Montgomery journalistic venture is the only one, np to that date, that lives to-day. Through migra- tion and other changes this Orange County Republican ultimately became the Independent Republican, with a permanent abiding place in Goshen.
That venerable editor and historian. Edward M. Ruttenber, says the Orange County Republican was first published "at Ward's Bridge." the title of the first post-office in Montgomery, so called from the fact that it was located and kept at James Ward's gristmill, where he had thrown a bridge across the Wallkill, constituting it one of the most convenient loca- tions for the delivery of mail matter.
The money to start the paper was advanced in equal shares by twenty- four "Patriotic citizens of this county, consisting chiefly of respectable farmers and mostly inhabitants of the town of Montgomery." This ex- cerpt is from a statement in the paper itself of the issue of June 9. 1806. The paper "admitted there was some honesty among Federalists," but wa- bitterly opposed to Dewitt Clinton. January 18, 1812. Luther Pratt. the publisher then, changed its name to the Independent Republican as more clearly indicating its political policy and views. It was not until
656
THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
1822 that it was removed to Goshen, four years after James A. Cheevey became its proprietor. He was a Frenchman and a practical printer.
In 1806 appeared another publication, the Political Inder, at Newburgh. by Ward M. Gazlay. The latter's Orange Eagle plant at Goshen was burned in 1805, and he had removed the remnants to Newburgh, the Phoenix emerging from these ashes being the Political Index. The In- dex is credited with having, some years later, "apparently consolidated the interests of the Republican party." It gave a "hearty support to the ad- ministration of Jefferson and Madison, and to the war of 1812." It is further stated that "its political articles were mainly from the pen of Jonathan Fisk, one of the most able men of the period."
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