The history of Orange County, New York, Part 60

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342

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In 1829 the Index passed into the ownership of Charles M. Cushman, who changed its name to the Orange Telegraph, and later to the New- burgh Telegraph. In 1839 Mr. Cushman sold it to Henry H. Van Dyck, who, in 1840, sold it to Elias Pitts, who, in 1850, disposed of it to Edward M. Rattenber. The latter sold it in 1857 to Joseph Lawson, repurchased it in 1859, resold it in 1861 to E. W. Gray, who sold it, in 1864, to George M. Warren, he to Isaac V. Montanye in the same year; he to E. M. Ruttenber in 1865; he to A. A. Bensel in 1867; he to J. J. McNally in 1869, who, in 1874, sold it to Dr. Cooper, of Warwick. In 1876 E. M. Ruttenber again became its owner, and changed its name to the Newe- burgh Register. February 24, 1908, the publication of the Register was suspended.

Here, then, appears the second paper to come down to us from that early period, thoughi only after many ups and down and with kaleidoscopic changes of titles and owners. Mr. Ruttenber assures us that "The Tele- graph, although Democratic at all times, opposed the Albany Regency- a fact which led to its purchase by H. H. Van Dyck, or rather the pur- chase for him. Mr. Pitts, who had been sent to take Mr. Van Dyck's place, very soon fell into the line of thought of his local supporters, and not only approved the Regency, but upheld the 'Free Soil' banner of 1848 with marked ability. In the subsequent changes and revolutions," adds Mr. Ruttenber, "in politics it has maintained the Democratic faith."

An ambitious effort appeared at Goshen in 1808 when Gabriel Denton launched the Orange County Patriot and Spirit of Seventy-si.r. In this publication we recognize the third journalistic venture with sufficient tenacity of life to come down to our own day, though it, too, had to

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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.

change its title and character somewhat ere it became the present well- known Goshen Democrat.

From 1808 to 1820 there seems to be a hiatus. There does not appear a single new journalistic venture in that time, although it was in this period, in 1812-13, that the Orange County Republican became the Inde- pendent Republican, and in 1822 was removed from Montgomery to Goshen. The war of 1812. impending, progressing and ending, with war's all-demoralizing effects, may account for this cooling of the jour- nalistic ardor for twelve long years.

At any rate, the next new publication to appear in the field-figuratively if not literally-was the Orange Farmer, in 1820, at Goshen. Its founders. Williams and Farrand, were graduates, Mr. Ruttenber says, of the Albany Plow-Boy publication. How long the Orange Farmer ploughed through the journalistic heather of Orange County is not now known, but we never hear of it again. Mr. Ruttenber records that "Samuel Williams. the associate of Mr. Farrand, died at Rondout. June 16, 1878. in his ninetieth year-the oldest printer in the State, and for forty years a mem- ber of the Baptist denomination."

In June, 1822, John D. Spaulding began, at Newburgh, the publication of the Newburgh Gasette. This passed through many owners' hands, appearing in 1856, under the management of Eugene W. Gray as the Daily News. Later it passed a somewhat checkered career in alliances with the Gasette, the Telegraph. the Daily Telegraph ( 1864). Daily Union, same year. the Press ( 1866), and the Register in 1876.

The Rev. J. R. Wilson began at Newburgh, in 1824. the publication of a religious monthly of forty-eight pages, under the title of the Evangelica! IFitness. It was devoted to the exposition of the doctrines of the Re- formed Presbyterian church, and was continued four years, to be suc- ceeded ( 1828) by the Christian Statesman, which gave up the ghost after one year's struggle in this cruel, cold world.

An anti-Jackson paper appeared in Newburgh during the campaign of 1828. It was called The Beacon. Its editor was Judge William B. Wright.

In 1829 the Orange Telegraph appeared at Newburgh. It was merely our old friend, the Political Inder. in a new guise, under the tutelage of Charles M. Cushman, who subsequently named it the Newburgh Tele- graph.

A monthly quarterly appeared next in Newburgh in May. 1832. as

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

Tablets of Rural Economy. John W. Knevels was the editor. The people then, as too often now, had no use for rural or other economy, and the quarterly died after a few issues.

In 1832 appeared another publication-one that time has dealt with so kindly that we find it to-day brandishing, as of old, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon." The Signs of the Times was started at Goshen in this year by Lebbeus L. Vail as an exponent or expounder of the Old School Baptist theology. The first numbers were printed at the office of the Independent Republican. Mr. Vail, though born a Congregationalist- his father, Isaiah Vail, being one of the founders of the present First Con- gregationalist church of Middletown-became an enthusiastic Old School Baptist through the influence of his wife, Sally, daughter of Wilmot Moore, and her father's family. Like most neophytes, Mr. Vail became very earnest, and gave freely of his purse, his time, and his energies, and the Signs of the Times soon became a recognized factor in Old School Baptist work. This publication was only one of the forms of his con- tributions to the cause, with no hope of material reward. Two years later Mr. Vail became county clerk. Recognizing in a young enthusiast in the Old School Baptist faith an Elijah in the cause and fit to wear the mantle, he was forced by civic duties to lay aside, he turned over to Elder Gilbert Beebe the entire plant and good will of the Signs of the Times. Mr. Beebe removed the office to New Vernon, then a somewhat thriving hamlet with a well-appointed Old School Baptist church, with store, post-office, hotel, blacksmith shop, and the accessories of a live community. The place is on the Shawangunk Kill, on the Orange and Sullivan County line, about four miles northwest of Middletown. Mr. Beebe removed the plant again, this time to Alexandria, Va., whence he returned with it to New Vernon, and in 1847 or 1848 removed it to Middletown, where it still oscillates, as of old, the sword of Gideon. Elder Beebe preached to congregations in Middletown, Brookfield (Slate Hill), Bloomingburg, Van Burenville or Wallkill, and New Vernon. He was an energetic, tireless worker, and built up an immense circulation for the Signs of the Times. It became a power in Old School Baptist faith throughout the United States, and was for years-and is yet-the leading publication in this faith. In the sixties Elder Beebe reprinted sermons and Old School Baptist verses in book form, taken from files of the Signs. Two volumes were printed and they had great sale. The Signs of the Times, first published as a monthly, be-

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came a semi-monthly, which it is now, with thirty pages and covers, It is one of the remarkable and quaint publications in this country to-day. Its contents are a study for the historian, whether of religious or secular subjects. Whatever its other merits, its very quaintness should preserve it from the vandalism of time, the sacrilege of events, and the blasphemy of environment. It stands as a monument to the enterprise, the religious feelings, enthusiasm, aims and forces of a period and a propagandism that seem slowly but surely fading into the twilight of the ages. It is now "Published the first and fifteenth of each month by J. E. Beebe & Co., Middletown, N. Y .. " with Elder F. A. Chick, Hopewell, N. J., and Elder H. C. Ker, Middletown, as editors.

The Newburgh Daily Journal was started in 1833 or 1834 by John D. Spalding, which he continued until 1843, when he changed the name to the Highland Courier. After his death, August 22, 1853. Mrs. Spalding. his widow, published it until 1855, when she sold it to William E. Smiley. Edward Nixon became its proprietor in 1858, and Rufus A. Reed in 1859. who changed its name to the Highland Chieftain.

The name was afterwards changed to the Newburgh Daily Journal, which it retains to the present day. On June 1, 1861. Cyrus B. Martin became the owner and its whole character at once radically changed for the better. Mr. Martin was peculiarly fitted for editorial duties and under his able management the paper soon attained a large circulation and eventually gained that high standing and wide sphere of influence, which under the wise control of his successors it has ever since retaine.l.

Mr. Martin remained the owner of the Journal until 1877. when he sol 1 out to the Messrs. Samuel Ritchie, Lawrence C. Bodine and Frank S. Hull. Before the year was up, Mr. Bodine disposed of his interests to his partners, and those two gentlemen have managed the paper ever since. although their interests are merged in the corporation known as the New- burg Journal Company.

The Journal is housed in a building owned by itself, a handsome, spa- cious structure. located on the corner of Smith and Third streets, where it maintains one of the most complete printing establishments and book bindery plants to be found in the county.

The Republican Banner existed in Montgomery in 1833 or 1834. or in both those years, with Calvin F. S. Thomas as its publisher, but that is all that seems to be known about it.

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

In 1834 a handsomely printed weekly appeared in the thriving locality of Brookfield or Slate Hill, known as the Republican Sentinel, or "the Farmers' Protests Against Political Speculation and Dictation."

The writer has a few copies of the Sentinel, which show it to have been a highly creditable publication, in its make-up, its typographical appear- ance, and in its literary features. The issue for April 12. 1834, was No. 6, of Vol. I, and it was "Printed by Tho's P. Evans for the Publisher." May 17 the issue was No. 10, and announced that "The Republican Sen- tinel is printed every Saturday by D. Yokum for the Proprietor." The issue for June 28 was No. 16, and contained the same announcement as to the printer, but in no issue does it appear who the editor or publisher was. The Sentinel was a five-column folio. improving typographically with each issue, and printed from clean-faced brevier or possibly minion type. When it ceased to exist no one now living seems to know.

In 1834, in Newburgh, Wallace T. Sweet issued the National Adver- tiser, which was merged into the Newburgh Telegraph, though in what year is not stated.

The Reformed Presbyterian appeared in Newburgh March 1, 1836, with Rev. Moses Roney as editor. It was a monthly of thirty-two pages. In 1849 he removed it to Pittsburg, Pa.

In 1840 A. A. Bensel began the publication of Middletown's first re- corded newspaper venture. He called it the Middletown Courier. It was a weekly paper, democratic in politics. In April, 1846, he removed the entire plant to Kingston. N. Y., where he started the Ulster Democrat.

In 1845, in Newburgh, the Rev. Davil L. Proudfit began issuing the Christian Instructor, a monthly of thirty-two pages. Two years later he sold it to the Rev. J. B. Dales, who removed it to Philadelphia.

So far as records can be found the first publication to appear in War- wick was an Old School Baptist journal, the Doctrinal Advocate and Monitor. This was in 1845 or 1846, possibly earlier. It was published and probably edited by Elder Jewett. In 1846 it was merged with Elder Gil- bert Beebe's Signs of the Times.

Middletown was without a paper from April to July, in 1846. At the latter date John S. Brown began there the publication of the Orange County News. It was neutral in politics, and Mr. Ruttenber says it was hardly deserving the name of a newspaper. It died in 1849, the material being purchased by Gilbert J. Beebe for his new paper.

Frederickwwilson.

JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.

In August, 1848, Gilbert J. Beebe started in Middletown the publication of the Banner of Liberty. It was issued monthly as a conservative journal -opposing all the modern ideas of reform in politics, in religion, in laws and in temperance. In 1856 it became a weekly, and espoused the cause of the democratic party. In 1856 Mr. Beebe issued the Campaign Banner -a sort of auxiliary to the Banner of Liberty. Both were more or less pro-slavery in all their utterances; the particular limb of the democracy to which they clung being known as "Hunkerism" prior to the Civil War, as "Copperheadish" during and after the Civil War. In ante-bellum days both papers attained a big circulation for those times-"fully 27,000 copies," Mr. Ruttenber says. The Banner of Liberty was taken every- where in the South and Southwest, and below Mason and Dixon's line it was all-powerful. And even north of that line there were many who swore by the Great Horn Spoon and the Banner of Liberty. The income was great, and had Mr. Beebe been as astute a business man as he was aggressive in polemics, he would have been numbered with the exclusive few of that day known as millionaires. But Gilbert Judson Beebe was a different type of man. Like his venerable father, he had a principle- right or wrong, but right as he saw it-and pelf was powerless against his adamantine purposes.

His father, Elder Gilbert Beebe, was in position to "roll in wealth." He had a great income from his Signs of the Times, and from his writings and books ; he had the machinery of his church to manipulate for his own aggrandizement, if he so willed; he was almost an idol wherever the Old School Baptists had an abiding place in this country : but he disdained all sordid allurements, and, armed with his own peculiar interpretation of the Scriptures, he lived frugally and pounded his theorems and theological dogmas for three and four straight hours every Sunday in one of his pulpits, and during the fortnight in the columns of his Signs.

The writer of this knew him well; set type a long time in his office in Orchard street. Middletown : fed his presses ; helped get out one of his book of songs and sermons, and always held the venerable e:litor-preacher in respect if not in absolute awe. Looking back at those days from the year 1908, the writer understands better the magnetism which gave Elder Beebe his great power among the people.

This peculiar personality was not lost in his children. In Gilbert Judson Beebe-who made the Banner of Liberty the most powerful pro-slavery

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

journal for years in ante-bellum days-individuality, aggressiveness, polemics, even the most violent dogmatism, were constantly in evidence. Not only did he wield a most trenchant, bitter pen, ever dipped in the wormwood of invective and the gall of expletives-he was an orator as well; and could work his hearers up to a pitch of frenzy or tears. The writer, yet in his teens, was employed on the Banner of Liberty as a "compositor" for a considerable time, and had much opportunity for learn- ing the characteristics of the man.

The Banner of Liberty lost much of its power when the Civil War boomed its terrors over the land. Its circulation fell off daily, but the editor every week just as religiously sailed into the "Lincoln hirelings" with a venom that came near landing him in Fort Lafayette. The writer was one of those "hirelings," and, while "sticking type" in his office had many doubtless indiscreet arguments with the aggressive editor on the issues of the day. Mr. Beebe seemed rather pleased, not to say amused, at the temerity of the boy-printer, and gave him opportunity to expound his "abolition heresies."

As the Civil War went on, the paper continually lost prestige, and when the venerable editor-broken-hearted in the lost cause-died in 1872, the Banner of Liberty became homeless. It was bought by the Benedict brothers, Thomas E. and Gilbert H., and was removed to Ellenville. The writer's recollection is that it was later transferred to Brooklyn, L. I., where it ceased to exist. On this point, however, he may err ; however, it did not long survive its talented founder.

Gilbert J. Beebe also, in 1848, started another paper-the Middletown Mercury. This paper was less virulent than his Banner of Liberty, and being devoted to local news, attained a considerable circulation. In 1860 Mr. Beebe sold the Mercury to James H. Norton, who had been conduct- ing the Tri-States Union at Port Jervis. Mr. Norton associated with him in this purchase a young printer and ready writer, Isaac F. Guiwits. The two were thoroughly practical men, and soon made their personality and their good taste vividly apparent in their work. The Mercury was en- larged, new type and machinery were installed, and it was not many months before the paper began to grow in circulation and in power. It got better and neater with each issue: its managers seemed to vie with each other in this work. Within five years the Middletown Mercury be- came famous for being the handsomest newspaper in the United States.

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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.

For those days, it was a model of beauty. What is more, it became a leading newspaper ; its local news was gotten up the best, much attention being paid to this feature-practically an innovation in journalism, strange as this statement may appear to newspaper men and readers 10-day. Mr. Norton was a democrat of the pro-slavery type, and his editorial utter- ances during the war were often vitriolic, notwithstanding which the paper flourished, many paid-up republican subscribers contributing to its suc- cess, admiring its journalistic features while cursing its politics. In 1867 Isaac V. Montanye purchased an interest in the paper, and in 1868 became sole proprietor. In 1869 S. M. Boyd became its owner. In 1873 the Mid- dletown Mail was merged in the Mercury, when Dr. Joseph D. Friend and George H. Thompson became its editors and owners. Dr. Friend re- tired in 1874. In 1878 the Weekly Argus consolidated with the Mercury, which became the Mercury and Argus. In 1876 Cornelius Macardell and George H. Thompson became proprietors, with Mr. Thompson as editor, who continued thus until his death in May, 1904. The Mercury and Argus plant remains in the Macardell family, known as the Argus and Mercury Publishing Company, with Cornelius Macardell, president ; A. B. Macardell, vice-president and secretary; A. E. Nickinson, treasurer and general manager ; A. B. Macardell, editor ; Henry P. Powers and Horace A. MacGowan, city editors.

In 1849 Thomas George began in Newburgh the publication of the Newburgh Excelsior. E. M. Ruttenber purchased this paper in May. 1851, and merged it with his Telegraph.

In January, 1850, appeared the first newspaper in Port Jervis, the Port Jervis Express. This journalistic venture deserves especial notice from the fact that it was started by a colored man, P. H. Miller-the first publication of such distinction in Orange County, and possibly in the State. The Erpress was well printed, and ably edited, but it died in October the same year.

The Middletown Advertiser was started in Middletown in 1850 by G. J. Beebe. It was a monthly advertising sheet, and lived two years.

In November, 1850, Colonel Samuel Fowler-a leading citizen-started the Tri-States Union in Port Jervis. It was a democratic paper, with John I. Mumford as editor. Lucius F. Barnes, a rising young lawyer of Mil- ford, Pa., purchased the paper and edited it until August 10, 1854, when

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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

lie sold it to James H. Norton. The latter sold the paper in 1861, to G. W. Allen, of Honesdale, Pa., and Wallace W. Farnum, a deaf mute, of Port Jervis. The latter was a practical printer, and remained in the office many years. It was under Allen and Farnum that the politics of the paper changed from democratic to republican. In 1862 Allen's interest in the paper was purchased by Daniel Holbrook, a recent graduate of Har- vard College and fresh from the position of principal of the school at the House of Refuge, Randall's Island, N. Y. Mr. Holbrook made it a lively republican paper, ably maintaining the Union cause during the Civil War then waging. September 27, 1869, Mr. Holbrook sold the paper to Foster & Mitchell, of Chambersburg, Pa. In 1871 the paper was purchased by Charles St. John, Jr., William T. Doty, and Alfred E. Spooner. In 1872 Mr. Spooner's interest was purchased by Erwin G. Fowler. All through this year the Union was one of the foremost supporters of the liberal re- publican movement that led to the nomination at Cincinnati of the la- mented Horace Greeley for President. Soon after Greeley's nomination the Union's proprietors issued The Wood-Chopper, a campaign paper which was full of fire and enthusiasm, but died with the ambitions of its martyred presidential candidate. In January. 1873, Mr. Doty retired from the firm to take charge of the Gasette. Mr. Fowler retired from the paper later in the same year. In April, 1877, Fred R. Salmon, Mr. St. John's brother-in-law, young and fresh from a commercial school, entered the office as bookkeeper. He displayed aptitude and business qualities from the start-points Mr. St. John quickly recognized-and in 1884 he was made a member of the firm, which became St. John & Salmon, and thus remained until 1894, when the same members became the Tri States Printing Co. In May, 1895, the firm was incorporated as the Tri-States Publishing Co., which it remains, though on October 1, 1907, Mr. Salmon purchased Mr. St. John's interest and became sole owner.

In 1878 the Tri-States Union was changed from a weekly to semi- weekly issue, but within a year or two was changed back to the weekly issue, which it continues. In 1871 it was changed from a folio to a quarto, which it remains.

In January, 1873, Mr. St. John started the Port Jervis Daily Union. It was issued as a morning paper for a year or two, since which time it has been an afternoon paper. It has been edited successively by Ed. H. Mott, E. A. Brown, Henry A. Van Fredenberg, E. G. Fowler, Fred R.

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JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY.

Salmon, Charles O. Young, James Bennet, Charles AA. Starr, Merritt C. Speidel, and at present by W. T. Doty.

On November 26, 1851, John W. Hasbrouck issued at Middletown the first number of the weekly Whig Press. In March, 1868, Mr. Hasbrouck sold the plant to Moses D. Stivers. In 1870 Albert Kessinger bought a half interest in the paper, and the firm was Stivers & Kessinger until August, 1872, when the junior member died. In October, 1872, Mr. Stivers sold the plant to F. Stanhope Hill, who sold an interest to John W. Slauson, and the firm became Hill & Slauson. Mr. Hill soll his in- terest to Mr. Stivers July 1, 1873, and the firm became Stivers & Slauson. In 1880 Mr. Stivers sold his interest to Mr. Slauson, and Charles J. Boyd entered the firm under the firm name of Slauson & Boyd. This continued until February, 1906, when the whole plant was sold to the Middletown Times Publishing Co., and the familiar old Press lost its identity in the Times-Press. It seemed lamentable to see this staunch old paper die. It was the pet of that venerable and conscientious laborer in the literary field, John W. Hasbrouck, and his estimable wife, Dr. Lydia Sayer Has- brouck. Both labored for years, literally side by side, in the editorial room and in the work-shop of the establishment, and they had built up a fine property. Under its successive changes, in the hands of Messrs. Stivers, Slauson and Boyd the Press had become one of the best country news- papers in the State. Its plant was very valuable, with the most improved machinery, and the whole establishment was shrewdly managed. the paper ably edited, and nothing but the menace of a distinguished rival could ever have induced Messrs. Slauson and Boyd to consent to the dis- posal of so valuable a plant.

The temperance agitation evidently struck Port Jervis heavily early in the fifties, for in June, 1852, J. L. Barlow and John Dow began the pub- lication of the Mirror of Temperance. This lived about eighteen months.

In 1853 another temperance paper appeared in Port Jervis, when John Williams issued The Sentinel. It died in 1855. Mr. Williams was a pug- nacious Englishman, and while his Sentinel was still on guard. he issued another temperance paper, in the fall of 1854. which he called The Pre- cursor of Temperance.

With the demise of the latter publication and the Sentinel, in 1855, the starting of temperance papers in Port Jervis ceased entirely. Whether this was due to the complete and perpetual reclamation of the place by the

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army of temperance agitators that swooped down upon it in the fifties, or to the belief that the warfare was utterly hopeless, is not certain. Any way, the vanquished (or conquering?) John Williams shook the dust of the town from his heels and tarried long enough in Middletown to start the Hardwareman's Newspaper, later the Iron Age, in the office of the IVhig Press.

In 1855 the Newburgh American was issued by R. P. L. Shafer. It had a life of only three or four weeks.

In 1855, at the office of the Whig Press in Middletown, John . Williams, who had wrestled with the liquor question in Port Jervis for a few years, started out in a new line. He had Mr. and Mrs. Hasbrouck print for him a trade journal-one of the earliest ventures of this kind in the country. He called it the Hardwareman's Newspaper, and published it monthly. After three years its name was changed to the Iron Age, and it is puh- lished vet in New York by David Williams, son of its founder, and is one of the leading trade journals.

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The history of Orange County, New York, Part 60

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms Number of Pages: 1342

Author: Headley, Russel, b. 1852, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Middletown, N.Y., Van Deusen and Elms
Number of Pages: 1342