USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 43
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The first meeting of the directors was held August 16, 1858, and on the 1st day of September following, the bank commenced business in the room subsequently owned and occupied by Zadoc B. Springer as a hardware store, and since owned by the Gil- more estate. Here the business was conducted for about one year, when it was removed to the opposite side of the street in the room now occupied by the bar-room of the Central hotel.
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At a meeting of the directors held October 19, 1859, a com- mittee was authorized to purchase the old building erected by the Union Bank of Pennsylvania, which required but little fitting up for a banking room. In the spring of 1860, the bank moved into its new quarters, where it continued to transact its business for eighteen years.
In December, 1864, the bank was organized under the United States banking law and became the National Bank of Fayette County, with an authorized capital of $150,000. Mr. Patterson, the first president of the institution, resigned Jan- uary 4, 1865, and moved to Pittsburgh, where he became the president of the National Bank of Commerce and John Ken- nedy Ewing, Esq., succeeded to the presidency, which honor- able and responsible position he filled with marked ability until at a meeting of the directors January 10, 1900, when he offered his resignation on account of age and infirmities, after a con- tinued service of thirty-five years. Nathaniel Ewing succeeded his father, John K. Ewing, as president, and on August 20, 1868, William Wilson, on account of age and infirmities, re- signed his position as cashier, after a continuous and satis- factory service of ten years, and Adam C. Nutt became his successor.
Upon the extension if the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad through the town, the directors were authorized, on the 29th of December, 1877, to sell the building to the railroad company, and it was converted into a station.
The bank then purchased a lot on the south side of East Main street from Henry Farwell and tore away the old frame building thereon and erected a fine brick building with banking rooms on the east side and store room on the west, with hall- way in the center leading to flats and other rooms above. Dur- ing the construction of this building the business of the bank was conducted in a room owned by Dr. Smith Fuller on the east side of Broadway. The bank moved into its new building about April 1, 1878, where it has continued to do an ever- increasing banking business.
Morgan H. Bowman was elected cashier April 12, 1882, and Benjamin B. Howell entered as teller in December, 1888, and became assistant cashier January 9, 1901.
CHAPTER XX.
THE PRESS OF UNIONTOWN.
The commercial enterprise of a community can always be correctly estimated by the enterprise manifested in her news- papers. As well might a community expect to measure up to the demands of the times without the railroad and other modern improvements as without the regular visits of the modern news- paper. Indeed the newspaper has always and everywhere been the vanguard of civilization and improvement. Neither can the morals of a community attain to a high ideal without the whole- some co-operation and support of the newspaper, and in truth the church herself has learned to look to the periodical visits of the newspaper as her most potent and trusted ally in the con- flict against the demoralizing influences of ignorance.
Uniontown can boast that within less than two years after she became incorporated as a borough a newspaper was estab- lished within her limits, and of such stalwart and robust pro- portions was that infant enterprise, that today, after the lapse of nearly a century and a quarter, is still vigorous and pros- perous. New enterprises have been launched on the sea of journalism, and although some have proven evanescent in their existence, today her newspapers stand in the front rank and are justly recognized throughout the land as being fully abreast of the times in the dissemination of knowledge, virtue and morality.
The following is a list of the newspapers that have been issued in Uniontown from time to time since the organization of the town.
The Fayette Gazette and Union Advertiser was the first newspaper published in Uniontown, and in the county, the early copies of which definitely fix the date of the first issue to have been Friday, January 12, 1798. The proprietors were Jacob Stewart, an uncle to Honorable Andrew Stewart, and Mr. C. Mowry. The size of the paper was 101/2 by 161/2 inches, four pages and four columns to a page, and the price was $2.00 per annum. The management of this paper seems to have changed early in the year 1805, as on the 22nd day of February of that year Allen and Springer were the proprietors, and in conformity
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to the patriotic spirit of the times, they prefixed the name of Genius of Liberty and the name became The Genius of Liberty and Fayette Advertiser, and bore the date of Friday, February 22, 1805.
James Allen, one of the proprietors, served as sheriff of this county from October 28, 1802 for a period of three years. Zadoc Springer, the other proprietor, was the father of the late Jonathan D. Springer, Esq., and was a man of considerable intelligence.
How long Allen and Springer continued as proprietors of the paper is uncertain, but the issue of Saturday, January 28, 1809, shows that Jesse Beeson had become proprietor, having as the motto of the paper, "Here shall the press the people's rights proclaim, With truth its guide, the public good its aim." Jesse Beeson was the oldest child of Henry Beeson, the founder of the town, and was brought here, a babe, when his parents settled west of the mountains. He conducted the paper until about 1816, when the issue of Wednesday, November 27, of that year shows that Samuel Littell had become the proprietor. Samuel Littell was the son of Job Littell who was of French Huguenot parentage and settled in what is now South Union township in 1783, and erected and operated a mill a short dis- tance south of the Hutchinson reservoir of the Uniontown Water company. Samuel Littell was the author of the verses on the tragic death of Polly Williams, who was killed by her deceiver at the White Rocks, August 14, 1810. These verses attained a wide reputation, and were repeatedly published in the news- papers. It appears that the paper reverted back to Jesse Beeson as his name again appeared at the mast head. John Bouvier and John M. Austin succeeded Jesse Beeson as proprietors of the paper, and changed its name to that of The Genius of Liberty and American Telegraph. The first issue under this new proprietorship was dated Saturday, April 11, 1818, Vol. I, No. 1. John Bouvier was a native of France and came with his parents to America when quite young and learned the printing trade with Benjamin Johnson, and later settled at Brownsville where be published the American Telegraph from 1814, until he con- solidated that paper with the Genius of Liberty. A fuller ac- count of Mr. Bouvier will be found in the chapter on the Bench and Bar. John M. Austin became a leading attorney at the bar, in the notice of which he will receive a more extended notice.
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Thomas Patton succeeded Bouvier and Austin in the ownership of the paper, and his first issue was Tuesday, July 25, 1820, Vol. I, No. 1. Mr. Patton was a practical printer and threw all his energies into the work, made many innovations for the improvement of the paper; but in the issue of April 22, 1823, Mr. Patton announced the discouraging fact that " during the present editor's incumbency he had not received so much cash on subscription as would pay for the paper on which the Genius was printed; and that wheat, rye, oats, corn, wool, flax, iron, feathers and wood ashes would be taken in pay at market prices." Mr. Patton, however, persisted in his endeavor to im- prove his paper; but again, in the issue of December of the same year he was obliged to announce the discouraging fact that " nearly six months have elapsed since we enlarged our sheet, but have received only two dollars for our expenses and trouble. Can we, we would ask any honorable man, carry on at this rate, by receiving only two dollars for six months' labor?" He again offers to take country produce in payment of subscription. Mr. Patton stood high in the esteem of the community, and was captain of the company of Lafayette Artil- lery, in 1827. He removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until quite an old man.
William H. Whitton and Colonel William Redick succeeded Thomas Patton in the ownership of the paper. The first issue under this ownership was Wednesday morning, December 3, 1828, under the name of Genius of Liberty and Fayette and Greene Advertiser. Mr. Whitton was the proprietor of the Greene County Advertiser, at Waynesburg when that paper and the Genius were consolidated, hence the name of the con- solidated papers. To illustrate the little attention given to local news by papers of that date, the following is quoted from the issue of June 28, 1830: "General Jackson, president of the United States arrived in this place Wednesday evening, June . 21, 1830, and took lodging at the stage office." This was an in- novation which, doubtless, the editor thought the importance of the occasion would justify, and the head of this great nation could feel complimented that his visit was the occasion of a two- line local in the Genius of Liberty. It was the custom to issue no paper the week on which the 4th of July fell, and in 1830 that date fell on Sunday and Saturday was observed as a day of jollification, and as there were several demonstrations held on
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that day, the accounts were not published until the issue of the 12th. One address which had been delivered on the occasion of the 4th was published in full, but not until fifteen months after the date of its delivery. Times have changed.
Whitton and Redick issued the paper from a frame carpen- ter shop which stood on the corner of Bank alley and South street, then the property of Col. Redick. On December 15, 1830, Col. Redick sold out his interest in the paper, having been connected therewith exactly two years, and Mr. Whitton be- came sole owner. Mr. Whitton's wife was a daughter of David Ewing, a well known druggist of the town, and after his dis- connection with the Genius of Liberty he became associated with Alfred Patterson, Esq., in the publication of The American Banner and Literary and Temperance Journal.
Alonzo L. Littell succeeded William H. Whitton in the ownership of the Genius of Liberty, January 11, 1832. He found the material and conveniences of the establishment the most primitive and crude : the types were worn out, and the press work was done on an old Ramage press. The forms were inked by sheep-skin pads and a good pressman could throw off but three sheets in two minutes. Mr. Littell put new life into the paper; adding new material and introducing improved ma- chinery. He dropped the latter part of the name of the paper and restored it to simply The Genius of Liberty. The issue of April 11th, of the above year, shows that Mr. Littell had as- sociated with him in the editorship, Mr. Thomas Patton, a former editor of the paper. This partnership, however, lasted but a few months and Mr. Littell assumed full ownership, busi- ness manager and editor at the early age of twenty-two years. He was the son of Samuel Littell to whom reference has already been made as being proprietor of the paper for a short time, and a grandson of Job Littell before mentioned. He was a man of small stature, but quick in motion, and possessed a retentive memory. He was very popular as a gentleman and able as an editor.
In 1836, the Democratic Shield, which had been started by James Piper, was absorbed by the Genius of Liberty, and the two names were united, and Justin Morris, who was a brother-in-law to Mr. Littell, became interested in the combined paper. Mr. Littell in writing from Cleveland, Ohio, September 10, 1883, to the editor of the Genius of Liberty, say's : "At the
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early age of 22 years I became editor of the Genius of Liberty, which position I occupied until 1840; was a merchant from 1840 to 1851, a farmer from 1851 till 1874, in the fire insurance business from 1874 till 1883. Always, and in all things, successful and contented, and now at 75 years of age I send my photograph and salutations to the editorial chair of the old Genius of Liberty, which I filled 52 years ago." Mr. Littell died at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, February 5, 1884, in the 76th year of his age.
John Irons succeeded Alonzo L. Littell in the ownership of the Genius of Liberty, and began a new series Monday, April 13, 1840. He continued its publication until in April, 1846, when he transferred it to John W. Shugart who issued his first number Thursday, April 9th, but his interest in the paper terminated March 1, 1847, and Mr. Irons again resumed ownership. Mr. Shugart was appointed assistant commissary of the 2nd Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers, with the rank of captain, and went with his regiment to the Mexican war. Mr. Irons associ- ated with him in the publication of the paper his son-in-law, John W. Skiles. John Irons came to Uniontown from Waynes-, burg where he had been the proprietor of the Waynesburg Mes- senger, and immediately purchased the Genius of Liberty, and refurnished the office. When the cholera visited this town Mr. Irons fell a victim to that terrible plague and died July 30, 1850, in the 46th year of his age. He was the first Master of Fayette lodge, No. 228, F. and A. M., which lodge erected a monument to mark his grave in token of the esteem in which he was held by that lodge.
John W. Skiles, in conjunction with Mrs. Irons, conducted the paper a short time after the death of Mr. Irons, when they sold it to Robert T. Galloway, Esq., who held it for about two months, when it was sold to Thomas B. Searight and Arm- strong Hadden. This firm started a new series, the first issue bearing date of Thursday, October 31, 1850. During this pro- prietorship Charles E. Boyle, who subsequently became a dis- tinguished attorney and jurist, was an apprentice in the of- fice and made his home with Mr. Hadden, where he became as one of the family. Mr. Hadden retired in January, 1852, and Mr. Searight conducted the paper alone until April 15th, when G. W. K. Minor obtained a half interest.
On January 1, 1853, Mr. Searight retired and Mr. Minor became sole owner. He too hailed from Waynesburg and was
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a practical printer. Mr. Minor, like many others, had his ups and downs in journalism. In his issue of October 13, 1853, is the statement that " the cash expenses of the office are $30 per week. Few persons have any idea of the expenses of running a news- paper, hence our necessity of dunning our delinquent subscrib- ers." There was no issue of the paper for the week of August 24, 1854, as the editor states "on account of too much job work." There were no issues for the weeks of November 30 and December 7 ,1854, " on account of having no paper. The melting of the late snows has raised the streams and started the mills, and we now have a promise of enough to keep us going."
There was a rival Democratic paper published in the town during Mr. Minor's ownership of the Genius of Liberty, and some controversy arose between the editors of the two papers which resulted in a fisticuff encounter in which a brother of the rival editor also took a part, but Mr. Minor put both of his assailants to route. The issue of December 28, 1854 contained Mr. Minor's valedictory ; the paper having been conducted by him for two years and nine months.
John Bierer succeeded Mr. Minor in the ownership of the paper, January 1, 1855, and conducted it until in February, 1856, when he disposed of it to Armstrong Hadden and C. E. Boyle, and Mr. Hadden immediately disposed of his interest to Thomas B. Searight. The paper was thus conducted until the fall of 1860, when Mr. Searight retired and Mr. Boyle assumed full ownership.
Colonel Edward G. Roddy purchased the paper from Mr. Boyle, February 1, 1861, and hoisted as the motto of the paper, "The Union and Equality of the States." Mr. Roddy's editor- ship was during the most trying times in the history of the paper. The war of the rebellion came on and the whole country was thrown into turmoil. Every one became radical in his political opinions, but Mr. Roddy being of a quiet, peaceable disposition, maintained conservative views in his paper, for which he was severely censured. He was the recipient of many anonymous letters in which the destruction of his office was threatened, but an armed guard at the office prevented these threats from being executed.
The issue of February 19, 1863, contains Mr. Roddy's vale- dictory in which he states that he has been the proprietor of
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the paper for two years, and he now sells out to R. B. Brown, late editor and proprietor of the Brownsville Times, and Mr. Brown consolidates the Times with the Genius of Liberty. Mr. Brown issued two numbers of the paper only and it reverted back to Mr. Roddy.
Mr. Roddy was born in Addison, Somerset county, Pa., June 12, 1824, and was engaged in the mercantile business for many years. He was of a quiet, dignified and unassuming disposition and a perfect gentleman in every respect. He died at his home on East Main street, on his birthday, June 12, 1867, aged 43 years.
Mr. C. E. Boyle, as administrator of the estate of Mr. Roddy, sold the Genius of Liberty to James F. Campbell and Frederick S. Rock on August 1, 1867, Mr. Boyle in the meantime having conducted the paper himself.
Mr. Campbell spent nearly all his life in newspaper work. He, subsequent to his connection with the Genius of Liberty, became editor of the Johnstown Democrat, and about 1881, he secured a position in the Treasury Department at Washington, D. C., where he was employed until stricken down with paraly- sis, from the effects of which he died July 25, 1899.
Albert M. Gibson succeeded Campbell and Rock as pro- prietor of the paper, and Vol. I, No. 1, under his ownership was dated January 16, 1868. Under his ownership steam power was first used for the press work. He threw new life into the paper, and was the first editor in the county to introduce the gathering of local news from over the county. Mr. Gibson met with such unbounded success as a newspaper man that he de- termined to enter a wider field and started a daily paper in Pittsburgh. With the assistance of friends he started a daily publication known as " The Paper," and Vol. I, No. 1 was dated Thursday, December 1, 1870, with the office of publication at No. 19, Fifth avenue. There was a promise that a weekly edi- tion of "The Paper " would be issued on or about January 1, 1871, but the expense of the daily soon consumed the funds of the firm, the weekly never appeared and the daily lasted only a few weeks. This failure also involved Mr. Gibson's interest in the Genius of Liberty, and the paper was subjected to sheriff's sale in April of 1871, and was bought by Messrs. Daniel Kaine, C. E. Boyle, William H. Playford and George W. Litman.
After his disconnection from the Genius of Liberty Mr.
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Gibson became the Washington City correspondent for the New York Sun, which position he filled with marked ability for twelve years. He subsequently went to London, England, and became engaged on the Pall Mall Gazette, and was also correspondent for the New York Sun from that city. He died in London March 22, 1899.
In the summer of 1871, Captain William A. McDowell pur- chased a one-third interest in the paper, the other partners being George W. Litman one-third and Messrs. Kaine, Boyle and Playford the remaining one-third. In 1875, Kaine, Boyle and Playford sold their one-third interest to Albert Marshall; the firm becoming Litman, McDowell & Co. Captain McDowell re- tired from the firm November 10, 1881, and the firm became Litman and Marshall, and after eleven years' connection with the paper, Mr. Litman retired in 1882.
A history of the Genius of Liberty without a personal sketch of Charles E. Boyle, as a printer, would be as defective as " the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out."
Charles E. Boyle was born in Uniontown, February 4, 1836, and at the early age of nine years began the setting of type for amusement in the office of Robert Jones who was at that time publishing the Cumberland Presbyterian in Campbell's row on Pittsburgh street, in the room subsequently occupied by the Genius of Liberty. At this early age he was obliged to stand on an empty candle box to enable hin to reach the cases. At the age of fourteen he went to the trade, and at sixteen he became foreman of the Steubenville Herald, where Thomas Pat- ton, a former editor of the Genius of Liberty, and now quite an old man, was working at the case in the same office. He became an able journalist as well as a profound jurist.
Ash. F. Hill, who will be remembered as the author of several creditable works of fiction, was employed as local editor on the Genius of Liberty in 1875-6, and his spicy articles soon became an attractive feature of the paper.
On June 8, 1882, the plant was put up at public sale, and Mr. Marshall became the purchaser, and associated with him Mr. Frank Higgins of Pittsburgh, who became half owner of the paper and its chief editor; he having been city editor of the Pittsburgh Post for several years past. During this ownership S. L. Mestrezat, Esq., now a member of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, was financially interested in the paper.
On March 15, 1883, the office was again sold at public out-
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cry and Frank M. Higgins became the purchaser for $7,600, and within a week, transferred it to Messrs. William H. Cook, A. H. Wycoff and Albert Marshall for the same as he paid for it, and returned to Pittsburgh to the managing editorship of the Commercial Gazette in which he became a partial owner, and on November 15, 1884, Wycoff sold his interest to Thomas Hazen; the firm becoming Cook, Hazen and Marshall. The first of March, 1889, Hazen withdrew and the firm became Cook, Marshall and Company; Thomas S. Gorley, a practical printer and former employé in the office, being the company.
On May 1, 1896, the proprietorship of the paper passed into the hands of the Genius of Liberty Publishing company, con- sisting of Messrs. Frank P. Cottom, Albert Marshall and T. . Robb Deyarmon, and on April 1, 1898, the subscription price of the paper was reduced from $2 to $1 per annum.
Thomas Hazen hailed from Franklin township, was a sur- veyor by profession and served one term as county commissioner with credit to himself and satisfaction to the county. He died in Philadelphia May 21, 1896, in the 61st year of his age.
A daily paper was issued from the office of the Genius of Liberty during the judicial campaign of 1897, and was known as the Democratic Daily, the first issue bearing date of Thursday morning, October 14th, and was published in the interest of D. M. Hertzog, Esq., who was the Democratic candidate for the judgeship. This was a spicy paper while it lasted and was ably edited by Wooda N. Carr, Esq., assisted by Charles D. Clark, Esq., and others. The last issue was dated Wednesday, No- vember 3rd, being the 18th number.
On March 15, 1900, the paper passed into the ownership of the Fayette Publishing company, a corporation capitalized at $20,000, which consisted of its recent owners, Messrs. F. P. Cot- tom, Hon. T. Robb Deyarmon and Albert Marshall, together with A. Plumer Austin, John S. Ritenour and others; Mr. Rit- enour becoming chief editor.
On May 14, 1900, a daily paper was started from this of- fice, known as the Evening Genius, delivered by the carrier at six cents per week.
Mr. Albert Marshall severed his connection with the Genius of Liberty February 18, 1905. Mr. Marshall in relating his ex- perience as a printer, states: "I went to the printing trade under John F. Beazell in June, 1862, when he had the office of publication of the American Standard in the second floor of the
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Bryan building, on the north side of Main street. I had been employed occasionally as a boy in the office to 'fly' the papers on press day, but on the above date I entered the office perma- nently to learn the trade. I assumed the position of foreman in the third year from the commencement of my apprentice- ship, having been under the efficient instructions of a Mr. Greene. Many of the boys of the office having enlisted in the army hands were scarce and the work was principally done by inexperienced hands.
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