History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 129

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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In August, 1874, Charles M. Montgomery and George W. Vrooman established a Book and Job Printing Office, at 84-86 (up stairs) St. Clair Street. The next year they removed to 85-87, same Street, and in 1884 to 94 St. Clair and 20-22 Swan Street, where they now are.

In 1875, Kibbe & Brother began a little business as amateur Printers, which was con- tinned until 1881, when Frank W. Kibbe and Will. G. Lenhart engaged in general Job Print- ing. In 1886, Frank Hever became connected with the office, when the firm was named the Kibbe Printing Company. It is located at 140 St. Clair Street (in United States Express building).

Bellman Brothers (Wm. M. and Charles N.), in 1878, with a few types and a $10 printing press, in an amateur way issued a School paper called the Monthly Record. In 1880, a second press was obtained, with additional types, when general Job Printing was commenced. In 1884, their office was removed nearer the business center of the City, and in 1887 the first floor of building Southeast corner of St. Clair and Oak Streets, was taken, where their business has been enlarged.

John J. Timmers, No. 5 King Block, South- east corner Madison and Water Streets.

Oblinger & Blakely, St. Clair Street, between Orange and Cherry.

St. John Printing House, Southeast corner Water and Jefferson Streets.

G. A. Tanner & Co., 150 Summit Street.

J. R. Van Wormer, 293 St. Clair Street.

Law & Preston, Northeast corner Cherry and Summit Streets.

F. W. Canghling, 9 King Block, Southeast corner Madison and Water Streets.

Railroader Job Printing Otlice, W. O. Brown. Jr., Manager, 341 St. Clair Street.

Book and Job Printing continue to be done in connection with the offices of the Commercial, the Bee, and the Express (German).

PRESS ASSOCIATIONS.

WESTERN ASSOCIATED PRESS .- The work of gathering the news for transmission by tele-

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graph to the press of the country, from the beginning of that mode of transmission until November, 1862, had been left chiefly to the operators and other employes of the Telegraph Companies. At that time the New York Asso- viated Press existed, including papers of New York City and Philadelphia. This combination proved so successful. that the Western press was induced to attempt a similar arrangement, as the only means of relief from the severe em- barrassments under which they were laboring.

The first definite step in that direction con- sisted of a meeting of representatives of the daily papers in the leading Western Cities, which was held at Indianapolis, Indiana, No- vember 25. 1862, when the following gentlemen were present, to wit :

M. D. Potter, of the Cincinnati Commercial.

S. B. McLean, Cincinnati Enquirer.

Richard Smith, Cincinnati Gazette.

1. D. Osborn, Louisville Journal.

John J. Wilson and J. G. Devin, Chicago Journal. Joseph Medill and Alfred Cowles, Chicago Tribune. A. Worden, Chicago Times.

L. Brentano, Chicago Staats-Zeitung.

George Knapp, St. Louis Republicun.

G. W. Fishback, St. Louis Democrat.

1). M. Grissen, St. Louis Evening News.

William Cuddy, St. Louis Union.

Il. N. Walker. Detroit Free Press.

Henry Barnes, Detroit Tribune.

B. R. Sulgrave and J. M. Tilford, Indianapolis Journal.

G. W. Manypenny. Columbus (O.) Statesman. F. W. Hurtt, Columbus Journal.

J. B. Norman, New Albany Ledger.

John R. Elder and J. J. Bingham, Indianapolis Sentinel. A. W. Fairbanks and George A. Benedict, Cleve- land Herald.

Clark Waggoner, Toledo Blade.

James A. Boyd, Toledo Commercial. W. S. Lingle, Lafayette Courier. Edwin Cowles, Cleveland Leader.

T. A. Stow, Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

After a free comparison of views, the Con- vention formed itself into an association to be known as the " Western Associated Press," for which eight Directors were chosen, to wit: Geo. Knapp, Joseph Medill, Henry N. Walker, J. D. Osborn, Richard Smith, R. Riddle (Pitts- burgh Gazette), John R. Elder and Clark Waggoner. Of this Board of Directors, Richard Smith was elected President, and Joseph Medill Secretary and Treasurer.

Messrs. Smith, Medill and Sulgrave were appointed as a committee to investigate the subject of substitutes for rags and material for paper. Since that date, straw, wood-fibre and other substitutes for rags have entered largely; and sometimes almost wholly, into the manu- facture of " print paper."

From that beginning the Western Associated Press has gone forward with increasing strength and efficiency.

TOLEDO PRESS CLUB .- This organization is constituted of persons connected with the public

Press of the City, and is designed to promote the social relations and common interests of its members. It was organized in 1880. AH per- sons connected with the Press of Toledo as Journalists, are eligible to active membership, and others to the relation of honorary members. The present officers of the Club are as follows: President, Robinson Locke ; Vice President, Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood; Secretary, Ferris W. Dyar; Treasurer, Charles Coughlin.

JESSUP WAKEMAN SCOTT was born Ridgefield, Connecticut, February 25, 1799. Ilis ancestors were of the old New Haven Colony stock. So fully did he improve the advantages supplied by the District Schools, that at the age of 16 years he became a Teacher. Beginning at home, he continued such pursuit in New Jersey, Georgia and South Carolina, meeting with exceptional success. At 18 he devoted some attention to the study of medicine, but soon changed to the profession of law, and was admitted to the Bars of Georgia and South Carolina in 1822. Although devoting several years to the practice, it seems never to have become accepted as a life-work with him. Hle was at one time a Teacher in the State Female College at Columbia, South Carolina. In con- sequence of the sharp issues then rising on the Slavery question, in which Mr. Scott fully sympathized with the North, he concluded it better to return to the North, which be did in 1830. In the Spring of 1831, he came West and located at Florence (then in Huron, now in Erie County), as the agent of Jessup Wake- man, his father-in-law, who owned a large tract of land in that vicinity, and chiefly in Wake- man Township, Huron County. IFere he com - menced the publication of a monthly periodical, entitled the Ohio and Michigan Register and Emigrant's Guide, which was printed at Nor- walk. As indicated by its title, it was devoted to intelligence desirable with those seeking in- formation of the Western country. It was in this paper that Mr. Scott first discussed his original views upon the ultimate results of population and trade in respect to interior Cities ; and especially his belief, as subsequently more fully presented, that the Future Great City of the World would be found, not on the seaboard, but in the interior. As early as 1828, while yet in the South, Mr. Scott's attention was called to theremarkable naturaladvantages of the vicinity of the head of Lake Erie, as for. nishing a future City of great importance ; and in July of that year, he addressed General John E. Hunt, then Postmaster at Maumee, a letter. in which he said : "I wish to obtain all the information in my power respecting your see- tion of country, with the view of making it my future residence." The result of bisinvestiga- tion was such, that alter remaining about one year at Florence, he visited Maumee (1832),

A.m. Scott

Clack Hagener

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and made the purchase of 70 acres of land now in Toledo, and elsewhere referred to in this volume. In 1833 he removed his family to Perrysburg, where he resumed the practice of the law, and was chosen Prosecuting Attorney. Still bent on literary pursuits, in December of that year, in partnership with Henry Darling, a brother-in-law, he started the pioneer paper of the Maumee Valley-the Miami of the Lake, that then being the appellation of the Maumee River. The tide of speculation soon began to rise in this region, as throughout the West, and Mr. Scott dealt freely in lands, and deemed himself' to be a man of wealth. In 1836 he "retired on his fortune" to Bridgeport, Con- necticut, but by the crash of 1837, was called . back to Maumce, where he remained for seven years. But no extent of disappointment could destroy his faith that on the Maumee River was to be the Great City of the Future, which belief was made the basis of many articles prepared by him for the public press. While his views failed to command general acceptance, they gave him prominence among reflecting minds. In 1844 Mr. Seott first made Toledo his residence, and at once became connected with the Blade, which he conducted for several years. In 1857 he removed to Castleton, below Albany, New York, where he remained some years, and returned to Toledo. In 1868, he prepared with much care and published a pamphlet setting forth more fully his theory of the "Future Creat City of the World," which, as he claimed, Toledo was to be. In October, 1872, sensible of the near approach of the end of life, and anxious to give effect to his deep interest in his fellow-citizens and their posterity, Mr. Scott devised and formulated the scheme for the endowment of an institution of learning to be known as " The Toledo University of Arts and 'Trades," the character, details and present condition of which plan are elsewhere set forth in connection with the history of the Toledo Manual Training School. Mr. Scott throughout was recognized as a writer of ability, and for many years was specially conspicuous with the public press. He wasalways a staunch advocate of sound morals and free thought, and had no toleration for vice or lawlessness in any form. As a citizen, ho was a model of propriety, and in practice as well as precept, a leader in public and private virtne. The causes of temperance and popular education found in him an earnest champion. Mr. Scott was married at Southport, Connecticut, in May, 1824, with Miss Susan Wakeman, who, with three sons, accompanied him to Florence in the Spring of 1831. At the time of Mr. Scott's death they were within four months of their Golden Wedding. Mrs. Scott survived her husband until April, 1882, when she, too, yielded to advancing age. They had three children -William II. and Frank J., of Toledo;

and Maurice A. Scott, of Castleton, New York.

From the Biographical Cyclopidia of Ohio.

CLARK WAGGONER, Collector of Internal Reve- nue for the Tenth District, Ohio, was born in Milan Township, Huron (now in Erie) County, Ohio, September 6, 1820. His father, Israel Waggoner, was a native of New Jersey, born in 1789, and came to Ohio in 1811, engaging in farming. For a time, he was mail-carrier between the mouth of Huron River and Mans- field (50 miles), with but one "clearing " on the route. The mother, Lucretia Buck, was born in Massachusetts in 1787, spending her childhood and youth at Bennington, Vermont. In 1807 she went to Buffalo, New York, and there married Peter Lake. In 1815 the family came to Ohio, locating in Huron County, where the husband soon died, and in 1819 the widow and Israel Waggoner were married. The son's School facilities consisted in what were fur- nished by the Village District (only ordinary for those days), and ended at the age of 12 years, except two short terms at Huron Insti- tute, Milan. For whatever of literary educa- tion he afterwards acquired, he was indebted chiefly to what Dr. Franklin so well named and showed to be the "Poor Boy's College"-the printing office-which he entered as an appren- tice, at the age of 13 years, in the office of the Milan Times, completing his trade in the office of the Norwalk Reflector. In 1838, as a "Jour. Printer," he accepted a situation at Fremont (then Lower Sandusky), and in May, 1839, at the age of 18, became the Publisher of the Lower Sandusky Whig, a new paper, which was continued until 1843, when he removed the office to his native Town, and established the Milan Tribune. This was published until 1851, at which time the office was merged with that of tho Clarion, at Sandusky, the new paper being named the Register, in which were asso- ciated with Mr. Waggoner, Earl Bill, now clerk of the United States Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and Henry D. Cooke, late Governor of the District of Columbia, now de- ceased. In 1856 Mr. Waggoner removed to Toledo, and with G. F. Stewart, then and now of Norwalk, Ohio, purchased the Toledo Blade, Mr. Waggoner becoming the manager of the establishment, and ere long the editor of the paper, continuing as such until 1865, when he retired. He thus conducted the paper through- out the War of the Rebellion, and gave to the cause of the Union a strong and effective support.

As the result of a difference in view as to the true policy for the conduct of the War, Mr. Waggoner was brought into conflict with a large portion of his- Republican associates in the Congressional District. He was sustained

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in his views by the more conservative mem - bers of the party, who selected Morrison R. Waite (now Chief Justice of the United States) as their candidate for Congress, who was not dected. The position of this portion of the party was that of President Lincoln, that the War, on the part of the Government, should be conducted primarily to save the Union, leaving Slavery and other special interests to take their chances in the result. To this was opposed the extreme, or " radical," policy, making the abolition of Slavery a condition precedent in any terms for peace. Though Mr. Waite then failed of an election, the canvass gave him an introduction and standing as a sound and able conservative in policy, which opened the way to the exalted position subsequently reached by him, and one more consistent with his taste and professional ambition.

Mr. Waggoner's real introduction as Editor to the people of Northwestern Ohio, was in 1859, through a cowardly personal assault made upon him by a notorious gambler, because the Blade had expressed the opinion that it was against public policy for a man who had, in one year, pleaded " guilty " to two indictments for gam- bling, to be continued as a depositary of public money. Ilis life was at that time openly threatened, as it afterwards was, because of his bold denunciation of gambling and other erimes and vices.

In 1866, in connection with his eldest son, Ralph HI. Waggoner, Mr. Waggoner purchased the Toledo Commercial, which he edited during his connection with the paper, and until Janu- ary, 1876. It was in the conduct of the Com- mercial, that Mr. Waggoner was most frequently influential in controlling political and public results. Notably among the former, is the part he took in the selection of the Republican can- didate for Governor of Ohio, in 1875, which proved to have so much bearing upon more important subsequent events. By concerted action, in April of that year, most of the lead- ing Republican journals of the State simul- taneously brought out HIon. Alphonso Tatt for that office. The ground for such action, was the alleged personal popularity of that gentle- man with certain classes of voters residing chiefly in Cities, which popularity was mainly due to his declared opinions against the use of the Bible in Public Schools. Disagreeing with these views, and apprehending disaster to the party from the nomination of a standard- bearer for the reason that he entertained them, Mr. Waggoner, in the Commercial, opposed the movement in favor of Judge Taft, and urged, instead, the nomination of Rutherford B. Hayes, who had twice been Governor, and was then in private life; and who had refused the use of his name for the position, just before Judge Talt was suggested, and still protested against being considered a candidate. Notwith- standing such positive protest, and the almost

unanimous support of Judge Taft by the Repub- lican daily press, Mr. Waggoner insisted that Ex- Governor Hayes should be nominated, as the only hope of unity, and of the success in Ohio in 1875, on which so largely depended all hope of success in the approaching Presidential contest. The canvass -- an active and earnest one -- closed with a complete endorsement of Mr. Waggoner's action, in the unanimous nomination of Ex-Governor Hayes by the State Convention, to be followed by his election over Governor William Allen, and, as direct conse- quences, his subsequent nomination and elec- tion as President, in 1876.

Among the incidents of Mr. Waggoner's life most satisfactory to himself, is the part he took in removing the bars of prejudice by which the colored children of Toledo were excluded from the educational facilities provided for their white neighbors. This was accomplished in 1871, after a contest of over two years, in which the Commercial led the cause of justice against the prejudices and timidity of the Board of Education. The result was finally reached through a public sentiment aroused and made effective largely by Mr. Waggoner's persistent support of the right. It is proper here to state, that, upon the test of trial being made, there were found to exist none of the obstacles to the policy of justice and humanity so greatly feared, no trouble whatever arising from the association of races in the Schools.

The part taken by Mr. Waggoner in the establishment of the present system of water supply for Toledo may be mentioned. After several years of discussion, the City Council, by nearly unanimous vote, had been led to adopt, and the citizens generally to accept, the Ilofly system of Water Works. Becoming satisfied, from investigation, that this system was not desirable for the City, and that the Stand-pipe plan was better, Mr. Waggoner advocated a change accordingly, which was strongly opposed by the Council, sustained by a portion of the City press. The discussion lasted some three months, and was active and somewhat bitter, but closed with the nearly unanimous adoption by the Council of a reso- lution surrendering the Holly and accepting the Stand-pipe plan, which was soon after introduced, and is believed to be equal in efficiency, economy and durability to that of any other City in the country.

Mr. Waggoner preserved, and now holds as a proud "monument" to his lite-work, 50 bound volumes of newspapers, of which he was Publisher and Editor. They cover an aggre- gate of 35 years of time, and include 12 years of Weekly, and 23 years of Daily journals. Throughout this long period, his record was that of a conscientious, independent and fear- less advocate of truth, justice and honesty in every department of life. Whether in social, moral, business or political affairs, his pen was

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ever ready in defense of the right, regardless of what, in a selfish view, might seem to be immediato disadvantage to himself. He was rarely long without the antagonism of some special interest ; but without an exception worth naming, the outcome justified his course. As far as his action was concerned, it mattered with him little whether he was thus brought in conflict with personal friends or enemies, with political associates or opponents, with men of high or of low standing, with the few or the many. His course showed the same consistent and inflexible adherence to the convictions of his own mind. These once carefully and satis- factorily reached, were ever the guide for his action. So well did this fact come to be recog- Hized, that the influence of his paper was powerful with the public. Always active in the promotion of publie enterprises and local interests, he was no less vigilant in the sup- port of a sound morality and the maintenance of law and order. It is safe to say, that no person has done more to elevate the character of the public Press in Northern Ohio, than has Mr. Waggoner throughout the generation of time covered by his labors as a journalist.

The appointment of Mr. Waggoner as Col- lector ot Internal Revenue, was the unsolicited act of President Hayes, which has been more than justified by the high standing to which the District was soon brought and is maintained.

Mr. Waggoner's political opinions were first formed during President Jackson's last term, when he accepted the views and policy of the Whigs, then under the lead of lienry Clay, Daniel Webster, Thomas Ewing, and other giants in statesmanship of those days. He continned in support of the Whig party until the body of the same was merged into its Re- publican successor, in 1855, with which latter he has since been actively identified.

On the 29th of December, 1841, Mr. Way- goner was married at Fremont, Ohio, with Miss Sylvia B., youngest daughter of the late Chauncey Roberts, for many years a promi- nent hotel-keeper and stage proprietor at that place. They have had five children, all of whom are now living-Ralph HI., an Advertis- ing Broker, in New York ; J. Fred., Periodical and Book Publisher, Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Carrie W. Seward, of New Jersey, and Misses Fanny and Mary Ella, of Toledo.

-The foregoing was prepared in 1881. Mr. Waggoner retired from the office of Collector of Internal Revenue August 1, 1882, after a service of five years, during which period the District, for the first time in its history, at- tained, under the standard fixed by the Treas- ury Department, the grade of " First-Class, according to the Scale of Merit." Many let- ters from the Commissioner of Internal Reve- nne-in dates extending from December, 1878, to May, 1882-bore uniform testimony to the unsurpassed success of Collector Waggoner's

administration, and extended to him the " thanks and congratulations " of his superior officer, General Greene B. Raum. Thus-

December 18, 1878, the Commissioner wrote: " Nothing could be more complete, than the manner in which every detail of the service is conducted in your District. This condition of affairs is certainly very gratifying to this office. It reflects great credit upon yourself and upon your subordinates." May 25, 1882: " Your office was found, upon its recent ex- amination by Revenue Agent Wheeler, in excellent condition. Your grade, as usual, is No. one, or First- Class."

Such result could have been attained by the Collector only with the co-operation of sub- ordinates able and faithful in their service. These were-thief Deputy Clayton R. Heath, and Deputies Leroy E. Clarke, James W. Ross, Lewis E. Brewster and Vincent J. Emmick, at. Toledo; James W. Baker, at Norwalk; and Geo. O. Selkirk and Mrs. Eva G. Center, at Sandusky.

Since the close of his service as Collector, Mr. Waggoner's attention has been chiefly di- rected to obtaining historical material for use in different forms, of which the History of Toledo and Lucas County is one. During this time, he has carefully examined, sheet by sheet, 300 bound volumes of public journals, extend- ing in dates as far back as 1814, and has made over 7,000 notations of facts of more or less permanent interest, with reference to the record of each. Such notations have greatly promoted the preparation of this History, and will be of increasing value for future use.

In early manhood, Mr. Waggoner made the Christian profession, and has since been identi- fied with the Presbyterian Church. With Mrs. Waggoner he was of the original members of Westminster Church, Toledo, and yet holds that connection, as have most of their children.

JOSEPH R. WILLIAMS was born at Taunton, Massachusetts, November 14, 1808, his parents soon removing to New Bedford. He was a lineal descendant, on the father's side, of the Puritan Governor Winslow; and his mother was a birthright member of the Society of Friends. At the age of IS he entered Sandwich Academy, for preparatory studies with refer- ence to a Collegiate course, and was graduated at Harvard in 1831. He at once began the study of law in the office of " Honest John Davis," at Worcester; which completed, he was admitted to practice and became a partner with John W. Clifford, of New Bedford. His health soon failing, requiring a relinquishment of his profession, he came West as the agent of a New England company seeking investments in lands. In such capacity he arrived at Toledo in 1835, where he remained until 1839, when he removed to Constantine, Michigan, making large investments at that point, including the construction and operation of Houring-mills

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lle there became actively identified with polit- ical matters; was a member of the State Con- stitutional Convention of 1850 ; twice the Whig candidate for Congress, and twice the candidate of the same party for United States Senator against General Cass; and was a delegate to the Chicago River and Harbor Convention in 1847. In May, 1853, he purchased the Toledo Blade, resuming his residence in that City. As a conductor of that journal, he took a promi- nent and influential position in public affairs, and especially in political matters, then in an unsettled and formative condition. In 1855-6 he had the contract for binding for Congress, and in the latter year sold the Blade to Clark Waggoner and G. T. Stewart. He then became the President of the Michigan Agricultural College, and after holding the position for three years, was compelled, from ill-health, to relin- quish it. Spending a few months in the Baha- mas, he returned in 1860; was elected to the State Senate of Michigan, of which he was made the presiding officer, which position he held until the time of his death from hemorrhage, June 15, 1861. Mr. Williams was a man of rare intelligence, independence and energy of character, and a writer of much ability and force. He left a wife, Mrs. Sarah R. Langdon Williams, now a resident of Toledo, with whom he was married May 28, 1844, at Buffalo, New York, and who was a daughter of John Lang- don, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and grand-nicce of Governor John Langdon, of that State. Three daughters survived Mr. Williams Charlotte Langdon, the wife of John F. Kumler; Sibyl (now deceased), the wife of J. Kent Hamilton; and Rebecca, the wife of Wm. II. Cooper, of the City of New York.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 129

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408