History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 16

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340

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The editor of the first paper, or of any country paper for that matter, hardly reflects on the very important position he fills, especi- ally with reference to the rising generation-the children in the farm- houses, where the county paper is an institution. As a farmer boy, the writer of these lines has fastened on his mind distinctly the num- bers of the paper that he first read. He had been going to the country log school-house and the Sunday-school; had been supplied with some of the moral fictions about good children, and had surreptitiously read " Alonzo and Melissa," but rather liked better " Daniel and the Lions," or, "Jonah and the Whale ; " and from these would turn with some interest to the weekly arrival of the paper from the county town. The "cuts " and "ads." were first read, and as implicitly believed as " Alonzo and Melissa," and the other stories he had been devouring. He was forcibly struck with the character enigmas attached to the advertisements, as 7-tf. 9-3t, or 10- 3, 9tf, and other puzzles of this kind .. What did they mean ? He made inquiry of all the family, but was none the wiser therefor. After reading the big type " ads.," he would turn to the "Poets' Corner"-first column on the fourth page always. He hardly ever understood what it was saying, but the short lines made it easy reading, comparatively. From here he would scan over the paper for very short articles, leaded articles, with very short paragraphs, but it was a long time before he had the courage to read a long article, set solid, with few paragraph breaks in it. A boy, though possessed of telescopic eyes, like the eagle, will almost jab his nose against anything he is much interested in looking at. Therefore very large display type does not make so good an impression on his mind as the medium-sized letter. But in time the boy will come to read the paper

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carefully all through, and implicitly believe every word. A child's capacity to believe is very large, and is only gradually worn away to a respectable degree of doubting by repeated experiences. In time, the boy, who had finally become so deeply imbued with the excellencies and greatness of the county paper, reached the acme of his ambition, and owned a country paper, and was called upon to do at times about everything in the office. He plunged in with all the faith, hope and wild ambition of earliest manhood, to set the world aright-settle all these questions that the earth's great men had so criminally neglected. He read over and over the proofs of his own articles; re-read them when the damp first impression was struck off, and held his breath to witness the shock that would now come to our little universe. His amazement that people did not stop him on the street, rush up in crowds to his sanctum sanctorum (one corner of the imposing-stone), to talk about his editorials, was mitigated somewhat by a visit from the fellow who wanted to whip the editor. He rapidly ran the rounds of a new country editor's experiences ; would lose faith in mankind, but eventually lost much of his own faith in himself. Whether he was a success in teaching mankind or not, was a question ; but one thing remains a fact-the world taught the young man a great deal. He had been to the log school, the academy and to college, but at last realized that the days of education commenced when he entered the printing office. The country newspaper is the best school in the world, at least for the youth who performs the rounds in it from roller-boy to editor-in-chief, and all the intermediates of compositor, job man, pressman, mailman, general business manager, writing "ads.," and then setting them up ; solicitor, paymaster, purchas- ing agent, fighting editor, his own lawyer in damage suits ; clean the office, keep the files, read the exchanges, and placate a howling mob occasionally at the front door. If I had a boy and there was any promise in him, and I was given the free choice of the rounds in a country printing-office and a course through Oxford for him, I would by far prefer the former. The printing-office turns out no learned ignorance-never. The schools and colleges do-a swollen stream that runs on forever. I have heard many a "tramp printer" (that is the title he gives himself) criticise a " take" of some man's manuscript, perhaps a man noted for his learning, until it would make his cheeks tingle, could he hear this rough and unpretentious man's just remarks in reference to it. The war-times printer, especially, was a character -reckless and dissipated often-making short stays at each place, tramping hundreds of miles in the course of the year, and at all times either "broke" or drunk; his more steady-going brother always giving him a chance to "sub" on his case, and make a "stake," as he called it. But this is now all changed. The printer is beginning to have his home, and as a rule he is looking forward to some day having his own office.

The Bradford Gazette, of October 4, 1813, opens the first page with a five-line editorial, which is placed at the head of a long article by John Dickinson, an address to "the free electors and all candid citizens of Pennsylvania." A new advertisement is in this paper : a

Diman Bostwick

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notice by John Ballard, "not to trust my wife, Polly," because she " has left my bed and board." The inference is that John and Polly found marriage a failure. In the next column is a notice in the divorce case of Mary Pitcher versus Jonathan Pitcher. It seems that Mary and Jonathan were not as Jonathan and David. Phineas C. Morgan and John McClelland, of Columbia, as administrators of the estate of Nathaniel C. Morgan, give notice of settlement. October 26, David Ridgway gives notice that " his indentured boy named Henry Shoemaker," has run away. The lad was sixteen years old. John Robinson, Stephen C. King and Harry Spalding, of Towanda, publish notice of dissolution of partnership. John Northrup gives notice of mill-stones to sell. John M'Kean, administrator of the estate of Widow Jane M'Kean, gives notice of settlement. The paper dated No- vember 16, 1813, appears with a new head. So momentous is this fact that Editor Simpson ventures upon the only real long editorial he had yet printed. The opening sentence says : "The unexpectedly liberal support bestowed on this paper, so early in its establishment, has in- duced the editor to present to his subscribers the new head which ornaments his fourteenth number. * While our

readers are admiring the taste and skill of the artist, let them not fail to remember that the emblems with which he has surrounded the AMERICAN EAGLE are not now as they have been for twenty years past-vain. gasconading and ridiculous fancies-The AMERICAN EAGLE is no longer 'a web-footed fowl plucked by every passer by '-but, as the artist indicates, his wing is indeed above the clouds, the lightning that he grasps bis enemies have felt, and the radiance of his crest will at length be real." As editorial eagle-soaring, that is very fair indeed.

The editor gives notice that be wants a quantity of "square tim- ber," and also that he has " blanks" at his office. In the next issue, 23d, Harry Spalding, treasurer, gives notice that he is required by the commissioners to make immediate collections on "all obligations and subscriptions." Walter Wheeler says a stray steer broke into his inclo- sure in Wysox ; John Smith, of New Sheshequin, states that a three- year-old black and white bull had strayed to his place; Eli Par- sons, of Smithfield, gives notice, as administrator of William Johnson's estate ; H. Spalding wants to buy rags. The issue of December 7th, is filled with war news from France and Austria, and new "ads." as fol- lows : William Means issues a short notice for customers to "pay up or give notes at once." Thomas Beebe gives notice that he has a supply of saddles, harness, portmanteaus, bridles, lines, shoes, etc .; George Scott wants a journeyman blacksmith ; J. W. Alder, of Lewis- burg Glass Works, wants wood-offers 67 cents for chopping; Ezra Rutty, of Towanda, gives notice as executor of Ezra Rutty, deceased ; Samuel C. Hall, of Cecil, gives notice, "Timber Wanted." In the issue of December 21st, appears an elaborate advertisement by Benja- min Coolbaugh, of a valuable farm in Towanda township, for sale, six miles from Towanda. on the bank of the Susquehanna, adjoining the lands of William Coolbaugh on the north, Solomon Coal on the west, and Aaron Morris on the south-one hundred and twenty acres. A good hewed-log house, with four rooms " on a floor," and thirty-five

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acres under fence and about fifty acres planted, inquire of Mr. Cool- baugh, "on Towanda creek, and near Mr. John Mints, innkeeper." Samuel E. Grier, collector of 21st District, gives notice to retailers of liquors. William Knapp has on hand, for sale, " good sole and upper leather shoes, boot-legs and harness leather." George Scott wants a journeyman blacksmith for a term of six months ; Walter Whellar, of Wysox, says a stray steer came to his place. The paper of December 28th, gives President Madison's message in full. It had been delivered December 7th. These, too, were stirring times of war-sometimes called our second war for Independence from Great Britain. The new "ads." in this paper: Dawner Woodworth, of Tioga, warns the pub- lic against a note given by him to Ebenezer Bacon. He says : "I am determined not to pay it, unless compelled by law." Henry Wells, of Athens, offers for sale a quantity of clover seed; Lieut. Col. Samuel Satterlee gives notice to the Fifty-seventh Regiment to meet at the house of Capt. Ebenezer Kendall, in Burlington.

On January 4th-he forgot to mark up the new year, and so it is "January 4, 1813,"-is given Gov. Simon Snyder's message in full. The opening sentence is replete with history : "Since the last session of the Legislature, events the most interesting have followed one another in rapid succession. Our sister States on the lakes and on the Atlantic have been invaded, and the Capitol of the Union menaced by hostile fleets and armies. I am happy and grateful to say that under Divine Providence the savage invaders have been repelled. A terri- tory has been restored to the Union; our western fellow-citizens now sleep in safety and pursue without fear their lawful occupations. The hands dyed in innocent blood, which were uplifted to slay and scalp our fellow-citizens, are now raised to supplicate for mercy."

A second letter list is published, and this time the postmaster is Thomas Simpson, A. P. M. The following letters are advertised : Scovel Bailey, Sally Kent, Eliphalet Mason, 2 Hugh Johnson, Dr. Stephen Ballard, Nathaniel Allen, Esq., Octavius A. Holden, David Pratt, Hous Bentley, Jacob Strickland, Silas Barton, Esq., Ebenezer Bixby, Stephen Flower, Charles Thompson, Jeremiah Smith. Peter Bright, Elijah Sturdevant, Samuel Rockwell, Elias Vaughan. A post- script is added, as follows: "Persons wishing to forward letters by mail, must send them to the postoffice every Tuesday before 12 o'clock." Then comes a " $10 Reward," by William Allen, constable, of Wysox, for John Strope, who had made his escape; a sheriff's sale, by Abner C. Rockwell; a notice, by S. T. Barstow, librarian of the Wysox and Orwell Library, of the purchase of books, etc. This issue has two editorials. The first is set in display job type, and informs the patrons of the paper that they must pay up. "The editor flatters himself that there will be no necessity of his resorting to coercive measures to obtain just dues," etc. Then follows an account of a fracas near Terrytown. * * "We have only learnt the names Crocker and Turner; the quarrel ended thus unfortunately for them both-Crocker had or procured a loaded gun, which he discharged at the latter, who survived but a few days-not being acquainted with the facts, think it proper not to make any further statements." Suppose

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a modern reporter should bring in that style of a report of a homicide to the managing editor! A notice is given "to purchasers of land of Charles Pleasants, through the agency of Thomas Overton," notifying them that their bonds and mortgages are now in the hands of John Morris, of Wellsburg.

The issue of January 18, 1814, is filled with war news, clipped from exchanges ; long communications on the conduct of the war, and com- plaints of the failures of the commanders of the army. An article from the Albany Argus is headed, "Disastrous and Shocking." It goes on to say that " We stop the press to say that an express has just arrived, who left Baltimore on Tuesday, A. M., with the horrid intelli- gence that, on Sunday morning last, about three thousand British regu- lars, militia and Indians, crossed the Niagara river, carried the fort by storm, and murdered the whole garrison, except three who made their escape over the pickers ; that they had also burnt the villages of Lew- istown and Manchester, and every building between the latter place and Niagara; * * * it was expected that they were now proceeding to Buf- falo." This is followed by a notice to all the world by Isaac Hole- stead, that "my wife, Jemima, hath eloped from my bed and board." Next is a notice by Peter Latimer, concerning the estate of Stephen Latimer. A notice is inserted by Josiah Crocker, that he wants " pay for cording."

The issue of February 1, 1814, is also filled with war news. Among other papers is a message from President Madison, informing Congress that he has received from Great Britain overtures for negotiation of terms of peace. On page 3, is a report from Commissioners Justus Gaylord, William Myer and Burr Ridgway, giving receipts and expen- ditures of the county. Total receipts of the county, $2,646.27; total expenditures, $2,743.96. The most interesting items in the expendi. tures are the following: To county commissioners, $319.94; clerk hire, $120.75; panther certificates, $40; wolf certificates, $231; fox certificates, $1.87 ; temporary jail, $26.90 ; commissioners' and pro- thonotary's office, $342; treasurers' commissions, $76.09. The report is attested by Joseph Kingsbury, clerk. Then follows the notice of a public vendue, of the personal property of the late Isaac Cash. In the paper of the next week is an estray notice, " taken up on the Susque- hanna river, a large ferry boat," by James Anderson, of Wyalusing ; Jacob Bell, of Wysox, gives notice to "pay up;" William Means, of Towanda, wanted a quantity of " Bair and Deer skins." The only editorial in the Gazette of February 15, is a notice in brackets that, " being under the necessity of moving the office, there will be no paper next week." William Means offers to lease for a term of three years his store and tavern in Towanda. The premises consist of "a large and commodious dwelling-house, with a store annexed, a well and pump likewise, and aqueduct water from an unfailing spring, an ice- house, smoke-house, carriage-house and stables, barn with cellar stables, distillery with overhead water, a ferry, and about 100 acres of best mowing pasturage, an excellent garden, and good bearing orchard, all conveniently situated and in order." He explains that the place is widely known, " as the Courts of Common Pleas, etc., are now held

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in an apartment of the house, and the public buildings are to be erected near it." This advertisement is quite a graphic pen-picture of Towanda at that time. The buildings were near what is now the corner of Main and Franklin streets, and the " 100 acres of best mowing and pasture land " is now the heart of the business part of the borough, and where are now splendid stores, gas and electric lights, with their decorated plate-glass windows. These were once the grazing grounds of William Means' cows and calves. In this issue is a proclamation hy A. C. Rock- well, sheriff, for the approaching session of the court. The document is so pompous, and full of the lordly ways of doing these things by our fathers, that some of it is here given : " Whereas, the Hon. John B. Gibson, President Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas, and Courts of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and President Judge of the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, for the trial of Capital and other offenders for the Eleventh Judicial District, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania * * * George Scott and John McKean, Esqrs., Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and associate Justices of the Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery," etc., etc. The court was to convene on the 18th day of April. The whole concludes with the usual "God save the Commonwealth." Then follow two new sheriff sales ; a notice of the death of Moses Coolbaugh, aged sixty- three years, leaving "a wife and eight children." Then follows : " By Yesterday's Mails," rumors of peace negotiations with England. It says that "Hon. J. Q. Adams had written * * * that peace would speedily take place between England and America." We can hardly imagine what a thrill of joy this brief and modest announce- ment must have carried to our people. Jeduthen Withey forewarns all persons from taking an assignment of a note "given to the widow Tamson Ballord," for 3,000 shingles, " said note being fraudulently obtained." "Bevare of the vidders," unsophisticated Jeduthen. That name ought to have been your complete protection-it wasn't, it seems.

The Gazette of March 8th, notwithstanding the preceding rumors of peace, has this advertisement by the Government. Quoting the line : "A soldier is the noblest name," it proceeds to offer a bounty of "$124 and 160 acres of land to all patriotic, able-bodied young men who are desirous of shouldering a musket to defend the rights of our injured country against a tyrannical and barbarous enemy." This is signed by John Baldy, captain 16th Reg. U. S. Infantry. The next is a notice by Samuel Coolbaugh and Burr Ridgway, Exrs. of Moses Cool- baugh, deceased. John D. Saunders, of Towanda, offers "a valuable farm for sale, containing 440 acres, 37 acres cleared and under fence ; also, the possession of 400 acres of improved land, on which is a first-rate saw-mill." The next week is a " caution to the public," by George Gerould, not to take a note given by him to John Wilson, for $10. Charles F. Welles, register, gives notice that John D. Saunders, administrator of John Cranmer, has presented full accounts, etc., etc. Then follows a column "ad." from H. Buckingham, drugs, medicines and paints, at Kingsbury. In his items are gentian, ginseng, juniper,

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sassafras, ivory, and pewter syringes, tooth instruments, thumb lancets, durable ink, dragons' blood, etc., etc. In the paper dated March 22, the editor again gives notice to "pay up," and he authorized Charles Keyes to collect bills and receipt therefor. March 29, appears only a half-sheet. The editor indulges in another editorial, in which he explains that his assistant, a young man, is sick. He further explains such action, under such circumstances, "is customary," and says, in conclusion, " the foregoing statement will be satisfactory to every person of candoure." Ghost of Thomas Simpson, we metaphorically pat you on the back and say, " Yes-sir-ee!" After all, there is a good deal of history in this half-sheet. It tells how the President, in a curt note of four lines, dismissed Gideon Granger, postmaster-general, from office. Then follows a short paragraph, giving an account of Cumber- land county that day sending from Carlisle its quota of troops, 500 volunteers. The particulars of the death of Tecumseh, shot and killed by Col. Dick Johnson. March 19, Gov. Simon Snyder vetoed the bill creating forty-one new banks. At the same time the Democrats in the Legislature held a meeting, and again nominated Gov. Snyder to be his own successor.

The issue of April 12 appears with all advertisements out. It is supposed the old ones had run out, and no new ones came in. It has another marked feature : there are as many as four short editorials. The first announces that Mr. Simpson is away, "procuring the means to improve the Gazette, and, during the interim, it is conducted by a man long detached from the society of the press ; this announcement will make the critic himself forgive the errour it may contain." [Too bad he withheld his name.] Then comes an editorial eulogistic of Gov. Snyder; the writer evidently was in favor of his re-election. There is a ten-line editorial on general glorification of the American character, and predicting many prosperous days for our Republic. This is followed by a savage attack, editorially, on Caleb Strong, of Massa- chusetts. We can not fully learn just what Caleb had been doing to incite the writer's wrath.

A paragraph marked with a f informs us that "no mail had arrived when this paper went to press. The uncommon swell of the river, etc., cut off the regular communication. Great news is expected from Europe." Two or three numbers of the paper appear with no advertisements, except those of the editor. Then John D. Saunders again offers for sale his farm. The absence of advertisements is some- what made up by an editorial on the Merino sheep. The article explains that Bradford county is a favored place for raising these animals ; recommends every farmer to raise this very superior breed ; appeals to their patriotism, and hopes to see every true American dressed in the superior goods from this wool, and concludes with the information th it Mr. Austin Leonard has " Dom Pedro, a ram full of the blood." William Means and Andrew Irwin give notice that they have "taken up a raft of small logs on the Susquehanna river." The important news in this issue is stated : "Since Friday noon there have been various rumors in this city respecting the probabilities of an Armistice."

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One feature of the paper that would appear curious now to our nation of newspaper readers, is that the files of which we are now giving some account of were published in the days of bloody and cruel war; stirring times, indeed, when every wind came laden with victories and defeats, dreadful marches, storming forts and bloody massacres, with many and many a deceptive rumor of peace, or at least an armistice; and yet the people bided their time in patience for the news from fathers, husbands, brothers and sons in the army, as it was doled out to them often a month old, and at best so meager as to be, it would seem, little better than simply prolonged torture. As a sample, the following is culled from the Gazette, of April 26, 1814. It is a reprint from the Middleburg Columbia Patriot, of April 6-twenty days old. The account proceeds to say, substantially, that, "at a late hour last evening, we were politely favored with the perusal of a letter from a gentleman in Plattsburg to his friend in this town, dated Friday morning, April 1," etc. It then proceeds to give important accounts of the movement of our army, containing an account of a fight at La- Cole Mill, Canada. Our loss was twenty killed and wounded. Among the killed was Ensign Parker. Others rumored killed and wounded. It will be noticed the date of the action is not given. How could our people survive, after their modern habits, such slow and uncertain news from the front? A letter received then did not mean simply so many hours from starting point to destination, as it does now. They had no mails except the pony riders, who would pass a given point, like Towanda, once a week. Thus the most important news might be de- layed two weeks before it could start by letter. Now, people in San Francisco, measuring time by the sun, read all about what has trans- pired in New York three hours or more before the people of the latter city themselves can hear of it. Remember, Fulton's steamboat was five years old-steam navigation was a demonstrated fact; and did our forefathers, just as we now are doing, look back toward their ancestors and marvel how they endured life deprived of all the advantages with which they were blessed ? In this paper is a notice so unique that we give it verbatim :

" Oh, god of love, be true to my enamor'd breast, Be kind to the flame, if dead to all the rest."

MARRIED .- At Burlington, by the Rev. Mr. Ripley, Mr. Jehiel Farres, aged 75, to Miss Elizabeth Prouty, aged 19. After a courtship of fifteen minutes.

Cephas and William Campbell, administrators of James Campbell, deceased, give notice. Jacob I. A. Johnson, of Athens, furnishes the paper with the first cut that seems to have been printed in the county -a horse standing on two legs; the other two he holds up as though he had inflamed corns. He describes him as the beautiful horse, " Young Yorkshire"-eight years old "next grass." Augustus Pierce gives notice that he will sell "factory cloth shirting forty cents a yard, gingham fifty cents a yard, silk, twist, and hair combs of all descriptions"-all at Wysox.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 16

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340