USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
492
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
The Review Press not only unique and interesting locally, but widely known outside of the county and the state. For several years pre- previous to 1897 James Gibson, Jr., grandson of Judge Gibson, had charge of the local department of The Review Press, and also acted as its business manager.
On the death of Judge Gibson his daughter, Mary Gibson Wright, came into possession of the paper by inheritance, and she is now (1901) the proprietor and publisher, with William L. Campbell. busi- ness manager.
THE SALEM AXIOM.
The Salem Axiom was founded December 11, 1885, by Robert Cruikshank, who continued as editor and proprietor until January 1, 1895, when, owing to ill health, he was forced to retire from the busi- ness, and sold the paper to his son. Robert A. Cruikshank, the present proprietor.
The Axiom was first published as an eight column folio. The out- side pages were printed in New York and the inside pages on a Washington hand press. A year after the establishment of the paper the business had increased to such an extent that a cylinder press was purchased, and three years later the "ready prints " were discarded and the entire paper was printed in the office. January 1, 1896, owing to the increased demand for advertising space, the paper was enlarged to the more modern form, the six column quarto. For many years the office was located in the Central House block. In the fall of 1896 a site was purchased on Main street, south of the First National Bank, and the following spring a handsome two story build- ing, with iron front, was erected thereon. Into this building the Axiom moved June 1, 1897. The building is equipped with steam heat, electric lights and steam power, and is occupied solely by the Axiom. The equipment of the office is strictly up to date in every particular, and the office enjoys a large and increasing patronage. The Axiom has always been Republican in politics and has been an earnest advocate of the principles of the party. The Axiom has been unusually pros- perous since its inception, and its ever increasing list of subscribers attests its popularity in the territory which it covers. The present proprietor was born and raised in the village of Salem, and was edu- cated at Washington Academy. In July, 1900, he was appointed by President Mckinley as Postmaster of the Salem postoffice.
493
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
THE SUN, SALEM.
William W. Bingham began the publication of The Sun at Salem in 1889, and has published that paper continuously ever since that date, and is at present the senior editor of the town.
William W. Bingham was born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 27, 1864, and educated at the Washington Academy, at Salem, N. Y. He is of Scotch-Irish parentage, being the son of Joseph and Sarah Bing- ham, who emigrated to this country from Belfast, County Down, Ireland, about 1860. The subject of this sketch is a direct descendant of the Binghams, of Closkelt, Castlewellan, County Down, Ireland.
He began his apprenticeship in the office of the Salem Press, at the age of thirteen, and has uniformly followed the vocation of a printer.
Mr. Bingham has filled a political position in the Capitol at Albany for several winters past, his prominence as a Republican worker being thus recognized.
THE WASHINGTON COUNTY POST.
The following history is from the pen of its present able editor, Rev. John G. Smart: The late Hon. James Gibson, in his carefully prepared history of "The Press of Washington County," has pre- served the record, as he also had copies of the earliest editions, and of its latter years a complete file. Two attempts had been made to establish a county paper at an earlier date. June 18, 1794, The Times, or National Courier, appeared. It survived but seven months, to January, 1795. May 26, 1796, The Washington Patrol appeared, but did not survive through the year. These efforts, no doubt, prepared the way for the more successful effort of January 1, 1798, made by Henry Dodd. The new paper was named the Northern Sentinel. In May, 1803, the name was changed to Northern Post, Mr. Dodd having associated with himself David Rumsey, and June 6, 1814. James Stevenson, Jr., was taken into the firm. December 21, of the same year, Mr. Rumsey retired from the firm and Dodd & Stevenson continued the publication, changing the name to the Washington County Post. Upon the death of Henry Dodd, Novem- ber 6, 1834, Edward Dodd continued to publish the paper. Mr. Dodd being elected to a county office, disposed of his interest to William A. Welles, of the North Star, a paper established in 1830, and published
494
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
at Whitehall. Mr. Welles moved to Salem and consolidated the North Star with the Post, and January 7, 1835, it was issued as the County Post and North Star. May 17, 1837, under its new owner, Thomas G. Wait, the old title of Washington County Post was resumed, and retained without interruption down to the present date. Early in 1841 it was sold to William B. Harkness and published by him until the end of 1845. F. B. Graham purchased it, and the first week in January, 1846, it appeared under his direction as editor and publisher. Two years later his creditors took possession, and sold the press and type to Robert G. Young. Up to this time it had been published in Salem. Mr. Young removed the plant to North White Creek, now part of Cambridge village, and continued the publication. In 1851 ill health compelled Mr. Young to relinquish his charge of the Post, and it was purchased by Edward Gardiner April 7, 1854. R. King Crocker was associated with him, and in July of the same year Mr. Crocker became sole owner, and it was published by him for eleven years. November 17, 1865, by purchase, it came into the possession of James S. Smart, who was sole publisher and editor until March 1, 1869, when Henry Noble bought an interest, and became joint pub- lisher with Mr. Smart. Under this management the Post enjoyed its greatest prosperity, its regular circulation passing above 4,000. The greatly increased income of the office was expended upon the plant, and in providing it a substantial and permanent home, which it has continued to occupy to the present. This partnership continued until the death of Henry Noble from Bright's disease. Early in 1883 he went south in a vain quest for restored health, and returning, reached the home of his sister in New York, where he died May 21, 1883. The sole proprietorship returned to Mr. Smart.
August 8, 1884, R. R. Law, who had served in the office for eleven years, became a partner, and the firm was known as James S. Smart & Company from that date until July 1, 1889, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Law's engagements demanding his release. January 6, 1891, the announcement was made of the incorporation of the Washington County Post Company, with Hon. James S. Smart as president, and Mitchel McFarland as business manager.
September 3, 1892, the writer became a stockholder, and was made treasurer and business manager. Owing to the long continued ill health of the editor, Hon. James S. Smart, which for several years
495
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
had prevented his rendering any service, in July, 1896, by vote of the directors of the Post company the editorship was transferred to the writer, who had practically filled the place of editor for the four pre- ceding years. During all these years the Post has been emphatically the representative of the people of the county, independent in its utterances, loyal to the principles of the political party which it repre- sented, outspoken against abuses of power and betrayal of trust, whether within the party, or by the opposition. The same spirit which Henry Dodd infused into its first issues has remained through all these years. The interest of the people first, of the party next, and of self last. Often has this rule been followed at much sacrifice. Yet to this is due the great prosperity and the long continued life and influence of this the oldest and, we believe, the best journal of Northern New York, and of our own county.
THE SANDY HILL HERALD.
The Sandy Hill Herald has existed for over three-quarters of a century, and during all that time has had but three proprietors, while hundreds of graduates have gone out from its offices. The following history of this fine sheet, as well as that of the other papers which have existed in Sandy Hill, is reproduced largely from the columns of the Herald's great anniversary edition of March 9, 1899.
The name of the original sheet was the Times, and it was founded in 1818. James Wright's name appears as the publisher of the Times in 1822, but later the names of Emons & Wright were printed on the first page as publishers. Emons' name was dropped subsequently, and Wright's remained. After a brief career the Times was suc- ceeded by the Political Herald, with James Wright, publisher. Before a year the word "Political " was dropped, and it has remained the Herald up to the present.
In 1841 James Wright disposed of his interest to a young journey- man printer who worked in the office, Elisha D. Baker. The Herald, under his guidance, was a strongly Democratic sheet. It had a large circulation, and few country papers were more frequently quoted. He conducted the Herald twenty-five years, and in the fall of 1865, his health failing, he disposed of his interest to Messrs. Brown & Dwyer, two practical printers, residents of Albany.
John Brown published a paper at Cobleskill, some years before
496
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
coming to Sandy Hill. He was a native of Scotland. His partner, John Dwyer, still conducts the Herald, having bought out Mr. Brown's interest after they had been together three years. Under the management of Brown & Dwyer the politics of the Herald was changed to Republican, and it has remained such up to the pres- ent time.
Brown & Dwyer took possession of the Herald in the fall of 1865, the first number making its appearance January 4, 1866. It was at that time a four page paper, but the sheet was only 22×32, six columns to the page. The old size was continued until January 6, 1871, when the sheet was enlarged to 28x44. A power press and other modern improvements were added from time to time, and these additions gradually brought an extended parish of readers.
In 1876, while the Herald was located in a building where the Toole Block now stands, the office was destroyed by fire, and every- thing in it, except books and papers. The publication of the paper was not discontinued for a week, however. New material was soon purchased, and a finer office than the old one took its place. For about a year the office was located in Philip Riley's block, but was subsequently removed to Flood's Exchange. In the fall of 1887 the proprietor purchased the property on the corner of Main and Forest streets, and there located the Herald permanently. This was the first time that the Herald had been in its own home, after sixty-five years of moving from one place in the village to another.
In the fall of 1895 many changes were made in the mechanical department of the office, in preparation for the production of a larger paper, and the bright, up-to-date typographical appearance of the paper today speaks for itself. The assistant editor of the paper is Miss Agnes C. Dwyer, daughter of the proprietor, who looks after the local department, and is also bookkeeper.
To the credit of the Herald it can be said that it has always been clean and honorable. Its editors have studiously guarded the paper from anything indecent, or pandering to depraved taste. With large experience, friends without stint, and a lovely growing village, there is no reason why the Sandy Hill Herald should not keep step to the onward progress of the place, and be a credit to its progressive and liberal citizens, who are equal to any and surpassed by none.
Major John Dwyer, editor and publisher of the Sandy Hill Herald,
497
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
was born in Ireland, but came to America from Dublin when a youth, and learned the printing trade in Albany, N. Y.
Early in 1861 he enlisted, as a private, in Captain Michael O'Sulli- van's Company, in Albany, N. Y., which company was subsequently consolidated with John Brannigan's and mustered into service for three years, or during the war. This company became Company K, of the 63d Regiment. Private Dwyer soon rose from the ranks, earn- ing the following promotions:
Sergeant Company K, at "Camp California," Alexandria, Va., December 1, 1861; First Sergeant, Company G, at Yorktown, Va., May 10, 1862; First Lieutenant, Company K, and Adjutant, October 25, 1862; Captain Company K, December 16, 1862, and Major (Brevet) "for gallant and meritorious services," May 1. 1866. The last rank being conferred by Governor Reuben E. Fenton, of New York.
Major Dwyer's regiment formed a part of Gen. Thomas F. Meagher's Irish Brigade, First Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, and saw some of the hardest fighting of the war, and with it he par- ticipated in the following battles and operations: The Siege of York- town, the Battle of Fair Oaks, Battle of Gaines' Mill, Battle of Savage Station, Battle of White Oak Swamp, Battle of Malvern Hill, rein- forced the army of General Pope, Second Bull Run, and covered the retreat of the Union Army to the defences of Washington, September 13, 1862; Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of Chancellorsville. The losses of the 63d were heavy, for they were always in the fighting, and in the summer of 1863 the regiment did not have 150 men left fit for duty. The 88th and 69th regiments were in about the same condition, and the war department ordered that these three regiments of the brigade be con- solidated into a batallion, and that the supernumerary officers be honorably discharged.
Major Dwyer received his honorable discharge at this time. At the battle of Antietam he received a dangerous wound in the head from a rifle bullet.
In 1866 Major Dwyer became connected with the Sandy Hill Herald as a partner, and in 1869 became sole proprietor. For the past thirty- two years he has conducted this paper and made it what it is.
On April 1, 1898, he was appointed Postmaster at Sandy Hill, N. Y., by President Mckinley. On July 1, 1900, the office was advanced
[ 62 ]
498
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
from third to second grade, and this year, 1901, the department decided to introduce Free Delivery in Sandy Hill, the gross business having reached $10,000, and over, the preceding fiscal year.
The first paper published in Sandy Hill was the Times, started in 1818. E. Gilmore Stover was the publisher, and Adonijah Emons the editor. It was printed in old small pica type, and used iron column rules, manufactured at the blacksmith shop of Nicholas Northup. It was a four page paper, with five narrow columns to the page, size of sheet, 19x23 inches. It was worked on an old wooden screw press. It was established under the auspices of the Bucktail Tammany party, to counteract the influence of the Northern Post, which espoused the cause of De Witt Clinton.
In 1826 Adonijah Emons commenced the publication of the Sun, a four column paper, which was continued several years.
In the spring of 1829 W. & S. P. Hines commenced the publication in Sandy Hill of a paper under the title of Independent Politician. It was, as its name indicated, independent in the full sense of the word. It strongly advocated the nomination of Henry Clay for presi- dent. Its editorials were carefully and ably written by Stephen Hines, the junior publisher, and attracted considerable attention, far more so than most country sheets of the time; but the paper ceased to exist in about six months, for want of patronage, which its merits should have secured for it.
In February, 1831, William and Stephen Hines issued the first number of the Temperance Advocate, the first paper in the world to advocate total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, wine, beer and cider included.
Just how long the Advocate was published in Sandy Hill cannot be stated, as but few copies are known to be in existence, probably about two years, when it was sold to parties in New York.
Previous to leaving Sandy Hill Adonijah Emons, in 1832, started and published for a time, less than a year, a paper called the Free Press, devoted to Anti-Masonry. It was a pauper concern from the begin- ning, and was kept alive during its brief existence by contributions from leading Anti-Masons.
499
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
The Washington County Advertiser was a handsome sheet, 20x28, five columns to a page, established November 26, 1879, by George A. Nash, of Sandy Hill. It was well printed and newsy. It was trans- ferred to Fort Edward, N. Y., the first number appearing there on October 27, 1881. James H. Durkee became associated with Mr. Nash, at this time, when the size of the paper was enlarged to seven columns to the page (24×33). The size was further increased to nine columns April 26. 1882.
In 1899 the paper passed into the possession of Irving C. Forte, Jr., and under his able management maintains its reputation as a newsy, up-to-date paper. It is also well edited and is regarded as one of the leading papers of the county.
The paper is now of a very convenient size, comprising eight pages of six columns to the page. It has, as it deserves, a good and con- stantly increasing circulation.
THE WHITEHALL CHRONICLE.
The Chronicle, one of the leading journals of Washington County, was founded by the late H. T. Blanchard in the year 1840, and, with the exception of a few weeks, it has been published continuously since then. It was the second paper published in Whitehall, the first (the Emporium) having been established in the year 1823. The publica- tion of the Emporium was discontinued after a few years, leaving the village without any paper until the first issue of the Chronicle.
I11 1866 the late William H. Tefft became the publisher of the Chronicle, which, under his able editorship, rapidly gained popularity and influence in the county. After four years of marked success the plant was destroyed by fire. The publisher labored under great dis- advantages in trying to re-establish the paper. He was prostrated by a severe illness, months being required for his recovery. But he per- severed, under discouragement. The plant was gradually enlarged and supplied with modern machinery. The paper commanded the attention of prominent citizens in all parts of the county, and its edi- torials were frequently quoted by leading journals in the state. Under Mr. Tefft's editorship the Chronicle was more favorably regarded, because of its editorials and literary features, than as a newspaper, in the literal sense of the word.
500
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Following Mr. Tefft's death in 1898, his son, Lawrence D. Tefft, continued the publication of the paper for a few months, then enter- ing into partnership with William B. Inglee, who held a supervisory position in the office for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Inglee has a thorough knowledge of the printing and newspaper business, having been formerly connected with the largest publishing establish- ments in Boston and other New England cities. He is one of the leading typographical artists in Washington County. The younger Mr. Tefft studied journalism with his father, and has been a regular contributor to the columns of the Chronicle for many years. Messrs. Inglee & Tefft are the editors, publishers and proprietors of the Chronicle, and are recognized as an enterprising and reliable firm. The Chronicle is Republican in politics.
THE WHITEHALL TIMES.
This paper was the immediate successor of the American Sentinel, which was established by J. E. Watkins in June, 1855. But the issues of the Democratic paper in Whitehall date back as far as 1823, the paper having appeared under several titles, and the Times is the natural outgrowth of those early publications. In the spring of 1860 H. T. Blanchard purchased the paper and named it the Whitehall Times, but within the year sold it to Captain A. D. Vaughn and W. H. Bodwell. In 1861 Hon. E. E. Davis became the proprietor. but in 1865 disposed of it to Walter J. Donnelly, who was succeeded by W. A. Wilkins May 1, 1873. Mr. Wilkins died August 2, 1887, and Franklin Fisher assumed control of the paper September 19, 1888. He conducted it until 1896, when it was purchased by the present proprietor and editor, M. C. Reynolds. The Whitehall Times is Dem- ocratic in politics and is ably edited, besides being a bright, newsy paper, well managed in every department.
Milo C. Reynolds, the editor and sole owner of this paper, was born at Eagle Bridge, N. Y., July 16, 1871, and is a son of Eben C. and Helen E. (Vrooman) Reynolds. He received his early education in the district schools and later in the public schools of Troy, N. Y., and at the Troy High School where he had a two years' course. He then entered the Troy Business College, covered the entire course in four months and graduated high. His father's and mother's families were the very highest in their respective localities and his youthful
501
NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY.
prospects were bright with an able father behind him, but when he was in the High School his father died, April 15, 1890, and he had to leave school and hew out a career for himself. He engaged in busi- ness with M. Curtis, general produce merchant, at Eagle Bridge, and remained with him one year. The firm conducted the business for- merly owned by Mr. Reynolds' father. He then conducted a job printing office in Eagle Bridge for about a year; the trade of printing he managed to acquire by his own efforts, without serving any apprenticeship in a printing office.
On July 16, 1892, his twenty-first birthday, Mr. Reynolds began his career as a newspaper man by issuing "The Politician " at Eagle Bridge. It was a small paper of six pages, each page six by nine inches, but successive issues grew in size until July 16, 1893, when it was made a six column four page paper. The " Politician" was a strong Democratic paper and wielded considerable influence in political mat- ters in the northern part of Rensselaer County. This sheet was continued until November, 1894, when Mr. Reynolds moved to Cam- bridge, Washington County, N. Y., taking his newspaper plant with him, and launching "The Cambridge Local," which he issued for six months, when he came to Whitehall and entered into partnership with Franklin Fisher in publishing the "Times." The plant of the "Cambridge Local " was moved to Whitehall and the papers were con- solidated. In September, 1896, Mr. Reynolds purchased Mr. Fisher's interest in the business, and has since been sole proprietor and pub- lisher of the Times.
In politics Mr. Reynolds has always been a sturdy Democrat, inheriting these principles from his father, who was a leading Demo- crat in Rensselaer County, where he held the offices of County Clerk, School Commissioner, Sheriff and Supervisor for the towns of Hoosick and Petersburgh; the last named for several years. Although never a nominee for any office, M. C. Reynolds has always taken a keen interest in political conventions, to the end that the very best men in the party might be nominated.
As a newspaper man Mr. Reynolds has achieved note by being independent to a degree, and with a trenchant pen he has maintained a high reputation for the "Times," which is considered one of the lead- ing newspapers in Northern New York. He is a practical printer, as well as an able editor, and is capable of working in any department of newspaper work.
502
WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
In fraternal circles he is a member of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F., and Tancred Lodge No. 303, Knights of Pythias. He is a Past Grand of the former, and a Past Deputy Grand Chancellor of the 29th District of the Grand Domain of New York, Knights of Pythias.
On June 29, 1898, Mr. Reynolds married Miss Grace E. Howe, of East Poultney, Vt.
THE GRANVILLE SENTINEL.
James L. McArthur, editor of the Granville Sentinel, is a well known figure in journalism and politics throughout the state. He was born in the town of Putnam, Washington County, N. Y., in 1855, and received his early education in the public schools of that vicinity. He is the son of William and Elsie (Lillie) McArthur, whose parents were natives of Scotland.
William McArthur was a farmer and wagon maker, and the son, James L., became familiar and proficient in both occupations of his father, who was also a lawyer, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of his town for many years. While on the farm Mr. McArthur became correspondent for several newspapers and a regular contributor on different subjects. On reaching his majority he went to Granville and started the Granville Sentinel, the first issue of which was on September 25, 1875. In 1880 he sold out to George A. Weller, of Waterford, N. Y., after which he started the Morning Telegram at Plattsburgh, N. Y., the first daily paper in that county. After six months he sold the Telegram to a stock company and accepted a posi- tion as night editor of the Glens Falls Times, with Addison B Colvin. In 1883 he returned to Granville and resumed the management of the Sentinel, which he has conducted ever since.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.