History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 51

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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Mr. Miner started the Record of the Times, and soon sold a half interest to his cousin Joseph W. Miner, a son of Asher Miner, who died a year or two afterward, and William P. Miner became the sole editor and proprietor. The Record of the Times has always been a faithful chronicler of passing events, and has shown itself to be just what its name imports-a newsy and lively paper. In 1866 the Record was published in one of a row of wooden buildings on West Market street, on the south- west side, below Franklin street, and the entire concern was totally destroyed by the big fire that laid waste both sides of the street on April 16, of that year; but with characteristic energy Mr. Miner obtained new material at once, including a steam- power press, the first in Wilkes-Barre, and the publication of the paper was not materially interrupted. The Record had heretofore been a weekly paper, but in 1870 Mr. Miner, feeling that the time had arrived when Wilkes-Barre could sustain a daily, commenced the publication of a morning edition in connection with the weekly. The morning daily was soon changed to an evening paper, on which plan it was continued till the paper was sold to the Record of the Times Publishing com- pany, Dr. W. H. Bradly managing editor, March, 1877, and by him continued as such until in the summer of 1879 the paper was enlarged and issued in the morning.

A daily paper in the interest of the national greenback party was published during a portion of 1879.

News Dealer was first issued in Pittston in June, 1878, a folio, and called the Sunday Plain Dealer. The cost of the outfit was $700, housed in the printing office of L. Gordon. Here was the main office with branches at Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. It was located at Pittston, because this was the most central point between the two cities. The Plain Dealer was the first Sunday paper published in northern Pennsylvania; it soon gained a large circulation and a liberal adver- tising list. J. C. Coon was the editor and principal stockholder. When Lack-

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awanna county was struck from Luzerne in 1879, the paper was moved to Wilkes- Barre soon after the division in 1880. A disagreement arose among the stockholders and Editor Coon retired; and in a short time founded the News Dealer, another Sunday paper, and of this he was sole proprietor and editor, which soon sprang into a wide popular favor, which it is said compelled the Plain Dealer to suspend publication, and Mr. Coon purchased its material. In 1880 he commenced to issue also a weekly, called the Dollar Weekly News Dealer. In 1881 S. B. Coleman pur- chased an interest in the paper.

November, 1884, a daily edition was issued, folio, 21x30; J. C. Coon, chief editor, assisted by C. Ben Johnson; D. N. Daley, city editor, assisted by Owen W. Keenly. October 17, 1881, J. C. Coon sold the controlling interest in the paper to Sam W. Boyd, at that time filling the office of register of wills in the county, John J. Maloney and Ernest S. Hanson; the latter two were members of the Record staff. In 1886 Mr. Coleman sold his interest to Boyd & Maloney, and a year later Mr. Hanson disposed of his interest to the same parties, and the firm was now constituted of these two only. The Daily News Dealer has been enlarged several times since 1887, and is now recognized generally as one of the county's leading, enterprising publications and one of the strong organs of the democratic party in northern Pennsylvania, able, fearless and outspoken. S. N. Boyd, editor- in-chief; John J. Malony, assistant; P. S. Redsdale, city editor.

The paper has branch offices in Pittston, Ashley, Plymouth, Kingston, Nanti- coke and Miner's Mills. Owen R. Keenly is manager of the Pittston office. A special edition of the Sunday News Dealer is issued for that town. M. F. Dougher is in charge of the Plymouth and Kingston offices. A special edition is issued for those towns. M. F. Doyle has charge of the Ashley branch, and R. A. Ward at Miner's Mills.

Robert Baur & Son, printers, publishers, stationers and binders. This has grown from a small country printing office in 1842, to be one of the oldest and leading establishments of the kind in this section of the country. Robert Baur commenced a small bindery here when Wilkes- Barre had less than 3,000 people; and his concern, extending itself into a printing office also, has grown with the growth of the city. He is now one of the oldest publishers in the city.

In 1842 Maj. Jacob Walder started the Democratic Wachter, a four-column folio and always democratic. In 1851 he sold the paper to Robert Baur, who has published it regularly since. Six months after he took possession it was enlarged to a seven-column paper; in 1856 again enlarged to an eight-column paper, and in 1865 was changed to a seven-column quarto. This has always been one of the strong democratic German papers, and has had much to do in shaping the politics of Luzerne county. .

Every paper since Mr. Baur took hold, except a short trip to Europe, a little excursion in helping drive Lee from Gettysburg, and three weeks in a sick bed, has been personally edited, supervised, mailed, and every detail attended to by this gentleman in person. This constitutes of itself certainly quite a record.

Saturday Evening was established by R. Baur in 1886, the same size as the Democratic Wachter, and is edited and published by the same firm-Robert Baur & Son; the son being G. A. Baur.

Council Chat, is published by a joint stock company whose officers are D. H. McCarty, president; I. V. Robbins, secretary; Henry Brown, treasurer. It is pub- lished from the office of R. Baur & Son.

Saenger Zeitung (monthly) was established in July, 1892; is a four-column quarto and is the organ of the Pennsylvania Union Singing society. Robert Baur and Hugo Bauman, editors. It is published in the printing house of Robert Baur & Son.

Wilkes-Barre Record .- From this office is issued three publications: The Daily

John Kosek

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Record, the weekly Record of the Times, and Dr. F. C. Johnson's Historical Record. This is, in a newspaper sense, the leading publication office in the county, though not the oldest. The morning Daily Record ranks one of the foremost among the morning dailies of northeastern Pennsylvania. It is par excellence the republican party organ, advisor and mentor. Is able and cleanly in its editorials, and while partisan to the full extent, is just and conservative in its intentions at least.

William Penn Miner was the founder of this paper. He was a man who inher- ited strong instincts toward that line of life. Born in Wilkes-Barre in 1816, he spent his life here and died in 1892, in his seventy-seventh year; a son of Charles Miner, the first newspaper man in Luzerne county, as well as its ablest historian of the early days of Wyoming Valley. William Penn Miner was trained for the law, admitted to the bar in 1841, and in 1846 elected as a whig, prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Luzerne county. But his inherited tendencies led him to journal- ism, and August 19, 1853, he issued the first copy of the Record, in connection with his brother, Joseph W. Miner. A prosperous weekly from the start, and October 5, 1873, commenced the Daily (morning) Record. His paper in every issue testified to his ability as a journalist. At that time this was the only daily in the county. The daily was commenced at the urgent solicitation of his friends, at an earlier date than his judgment would have dictated and he informed his most intimate friends that he spent much money before it could stand alone.

In 1876 Mr. Miner sold the plant to a stock company; he retained a large part of the stock, but retired from the active management and editorial staff.

The other stockholders were Hon. L. D. Shoemaker, Hon. Charles A. Miner, Daniel Edwards, Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, Edward H. Chase, William L. Conyngham, J. W. Hollenback, Hon. E. C. Wadhams, Douglass Smith and William B. Miner.

This reorganization furnished ample capital, and the paper was now firmly on its feet.

In 1883 Dr. W. H. Bradley, who had in 1879 acquired an interest and became general manager, sold his interest to C. B. Snyder, F. C. Johnson and J. C. Powell, who at first leased the plant and in the course of a short time held the stock.

In 1888 Mr. Snyder disposed of his interest to his partners, who subsequently purchased all outstanding stock, together with the commodious three-story building -the present and permanent home of the Record.

In 1891 the Record printing office added a $9,000 lightning press that prints from a roll, cuts and folds, with a capacity of 12,000 per hour. This may be noted as an era in journalism in the county. All forms for this press are stereotyped in the office.

Legal Publications .- The first legal publication of Luzerne county was the Luzerne Legal Observer, of Wilkes-Barre, E. S. M. Hill, editor and proprietor. The first number was issued October 31, 1860, and the last number in July, 1864; it was discontinued at that date on account of Mr. Hill's failing health. The next legal publication was the Public Code. The first number was issued July 7, 1871. It was published for a few months only. James Albert Clark was the editor and publisher. The Luzerne Law Journal, of which one number only was issued, was the successor of the Public Code. The date was November 17, 1871. Aretus H. Winton was its editor. The Luzerne Legal Register was first issued January 25, 1872, and has continued from that time to the present. It is the only legal publi- cation in the county. George B. Kulp is editor and proprietor.

The Daily Times .- Mr. A. A. Holbrook, under date July 29, 1891, in reply to a request from Dr. F. C. Johnson for the facts regarding the history of his paper for this chapter, wrote:

"The Times, as a weekly, was originated by B. F. Dilley, R. P. Robinson and M. E. Sanders, in December, 1885. Afterward B. F. Dilley and Martin Poaley became the owners. In December, 1888, the business was sold to A. A. Holbrook,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

who continued the weekly till August, 1889, when it was changed to a semi-weekly. The following December 4 the first issue of The Daily Times appeared, and in July, 1890, the Times Printing company assumed control, with A. A. Holbrook and G. M. Wilner editors.

"The concern was then sold to C. B. Snyder and removed to Wilkes-Barre, and is a daily afternoon paper. October 25, 1892, the paper was enlarged to a seven- column folio, and with this change the Times changed from 'independent' to a republican paper .. Simultaneous with this change appeared as editor, E. H. Chase."

Pittston Newspapers .- This town has done its fair share in starting a newspaper graveyard, where, one by one, the venturesome barks have been swallowed up. While there have been many ventures and failures, yet it is a pertinent fact that of them all but one survives, and that is the present Pittston Gazette, the first paper started here-an admirable illustration of the theory of the survival of the fittest in this supreme struggle for existence that goes on forever. It was established in August, 1850, by G. M. Richart and H. S. Phillips, printers; a seven-column folio weekly, and was whig in politics, and, like most of the northern whigs, became republican in 1856, the first national campaign of that party. Mr. Richart bought out his partner in 1853, and alone published it until 1857, when he sold to Dr. John Henry Puleston, who, in time, returned to Wales and became a member of parliament. He was a great political power here in the Fremont campaign, it is said. In 1860 Pul- eston sold to G. M. Richart, Benjamin D. Beyea and Abel C. Thompson, and this firm so continued until 1863, when the second time Mr. Richart became sole propri- etor. In June, 1869, he leased, for one year, the plant to J. W. Freeman, and at the end of the lease again was in control. In 1870 a half interest was purchased by Theo. Hart, Jr., when the firm became Richart & Hart, and thus continued to May 1, 1878, when the firm was dissolved and Mr. Hart, the present editor and proprietor, became the sole proprietor.

The Daily Evening Gazette was launched in 1882 by Mr. Hart, and from that time to this the daily and the weekly have appeared in their regular issues. The daily started a six-column folio, also republican, and it was enlarged to a seven- column sheet and then in 1890 to an eight-column paper. Mr. Hartis the right man in the right place, as is abundantly testified every working day in the week by his bright, breezy and newsy paper. Tallie Evans is the ever ubiquitous reporter of the Gazette. A fair idea of the way Mr. Hart has built up his paper is given in the increased facilities the demands of his patrons have made necessary to the mechanical department. Within the past three years he has added to the old Taylor press, a Babcock, and in April, 1892, a Hoe cylinder, with Dexter folder. In addition to these is a Universal Gordon, and these are all run by steam power. The capacity of his presses is 4,000 papers per hour.

The writer is so accustomed in writing of the newspapers of a town, to com- mence and give the details of the many efforts and failures before reaching the living papers, that it sounds odd to change this form and conclude the account of the only paper now published in Pittston, with the brief obituary notices of the departed.

Pittston Herald, democratic, started in 1855, by Edward S. Neibell. Soon after some miscreant at night broke into. the office and "pied" the type. Not long after this a fire made more trouble, and he sold what was left to Mr. Richart, of the Gazette and departed.

The Pittston Free Press, seven-column weekly, independent, was published a few months in 1859, by Lieut. Arnold C. Lewis.

The Wyoming Valley Journal started in 1871, by J. M. Armstrong, B. F. Hughes and George D. Leisenring. The office was well equipped with material and proprietors. Mr. Armstrong soon after bought out his partners. He employed as editors at different times, Col. D. C. Kitchen, W. J. Bruce, Col. W. W. Share and

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others. For a short time he issued the Daily Journal in connection with his weekly. Both papers independent in politics. About two years after starting it was leased to J. W. Freeman, who consolidated this paper with the Pittston Comet, and the new paper became the Pittston Comet and Wyoming Valley Journal, and even with all that name to carry was a very vigorous and lively journal and gathered subscribers and soon had fame throughout the State. However, it ceased to live in 1877 and the material was purchased by Lewis Gordon.

The Evening Press was first issued in 1877 by W. B. Keller, set up and printed in Lewis Gordon's job office. Mr. Keller was succeeded in a short time by Yost & Sutton, and they by Tinker & Russell, and in the spring of 1880 Lewis Gordon was in charge. It lived about five years then ceased to exist.

The Sunday Plain Dealer commenced life in 1878, by J. C. Coon. Bright and breezy, it attracted so much favorable attention that it was induced to move to Wilkes-Barre and became the Sunday News Dealer. [See Wilkes-Barre Leader.]

The Pittston Express, an evening paper, was commenced in 1878, by J. T. Sutton and W. H. Rutledge. It did not long survive; died aged three months.

The Daily Watchman, evening paper, local in its makeup, began May 26, 1880, by Charles Tinker and S. J. Richards. Its existence was brilliant, but too brief, being only a little more than a month old.

Sunday Herald was started in 1890; lived three months.

Pittston Times started in 1890, and after one year ceased.

White Haven could boast of its first newspaper in 1877. The Standard was started at that time by Levi Miner. It was a small weekly, and after a precarious existence of about one year, ceased to be, and was " distributed " by a cruel-hearted officer of the law. The material brought here by Mr. Miner was sold and the most of it purchased by William A. Feist, and was the nucleus of the present flourishing weekly, The White Haven Journal, that Mr. Feist, proprietor, issued the first num- ber of December 6, 1872. A seven-column folio, weekly, and independent in politics, is bright, newsy and full of enterprise in the way of pushing its own business and never forgetting a good word for White Haven. It is very prosperous under Mr. Feist, and in some of its lines of specialties in the jobbing line, is a wonderful success. Its patronage has been built up until it required seven power-presses to turn out the work that comes to it. Mr. Feist is a born newspaper man and has built up a job office in connection with his paper that is the pride and boast of all good White Haveners.

Freeland Newspapers. - The thrift and enterprise of this borough is well exem- plified in the character and ability of its two newspapers and their two editors and proprietors. It is a fact that the early growth of towns in this country is always heralded by their local publications, and it is also true that in hundreds of instances, when the historian comes to record the fact of the growth and glory of one place and the slow decay and desertion of a rival place-where all else was so nearly equal, yet one prospered while the other perished-he can only conclude that the secret lay in the fact that chance sent to one and not the other a corps of newspaper men, who blew the mighty blasts that were heard and heeded of all men, and the waste place grew and blossomed in a night. An old printer can glance at the columns of a local paper and tell exactly the outlook of the place-know its promises to new settlers thoroughly.

The Freeland Tribune was started June 28, 1888, by Thomas A. Buckley, assisted by his son, D. S. Buckley, a practical printer and expert reporter, who had filled the latter place on the Philadelphia Record staff and was on several other metropolitan newspapers. Mr. Buckley had for some time conducted a job office in the place, and it did not require much to start a seven-column folio weekly. It commenced and continues democratic. It so prospered as a weekly that, in June, 1892, it became a semi-weekly, with a steam-power press, job presses and all the latest wants of a complete country office.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Mr. Buckley owns his own office building on Main street, has worked his way from the first round of the ladder, and richly deserves the unusual success that has crowned his struggles in life.

Semi-Weekly Progress, Owen Fowler publisher and editor. The paper com- menced its career simply as the Freeland Progress, a weekly, five-column folio, independent in politics. The first issue was in 1885, and in July it was enlarged to a six-column folio. From May 1 to September, 1887, a daily was also issued in connection with the weekly. This was probably a little in advance of the demands of the public, but might have survived to a green old age, barring the "strike" of that year that disarranged many well-laid schemes. April 1, 1888, started the first of the Semi-Weekly Progress, as it is now conducted. As stated, the paper com- menced life as an "independent," but in 1886 it flung out the republican flag and has battled bravely for the principles of that party since. Mr. Fowler is a young man, but is bright and enthusiastic, and he runs his paper and the Freeland post- office, where he is also postmaster, to the entire satisfaction of his many friends and patrons.

The Hazleton Sentinel. - The history of the Hazleton Sentinel is virtually the history of Hazleton. It was the first newspaper issued in the city.

It was founded by John C. Stokes, January 18, 1866. Its first appearance was as a seven-column folio. Mr. Stokes was a soldier-a brave one, too-and when the Civil war ended he came back to Hazleton and founded the Sentinel, which has since stood guard over the material interests of the place. Its career has been that of the average newspaper. As the successful man in public life is invariably one who has been born of poor but honest parents, and fitted for life with only a common-school education, so it is with the successful newspaper. You find that it started in life with a handpress and a meager outfit. It was the case with the Sentinel. Mr. Stokes was editor and everything else. For two years he carried on the business and then it passed into the hands of Pardee, Markle & Grier, bankers. Then Henry Wilson became editor.

He followed the soul-wearing business a brief period and went the way of all editors. The paper was then sold to Moore & Sanders. Mr. J. S. Sanders became first editor and then bought the interest of Mr. Moore. He consolidated with it the Daily News, a paper printed by John C. Fincher. This was in 1875. The paper became a daily in 1870 and was known as the Anthracite Hazleton Sentinel. When the consolidation with the Daily Neu's was effected it became the Hazleton Sentinel, which name it now bears. It passed from the hands of Mr. Sanders into those of C. B. Snyder, who published it several years, when it was purchased by a local syndicate known as the Sentinel Publishing company. John P. Dowling became the editor. Upon his death it passed into the control of Messrs. Maue, Wallace & McCloskey, who carried on the publication for a short time, when George Maue became the proprietor. In June, 1892, the Sentinel Printing company was organized and John McCarthy was made editor, C. F. Paul business manager and George Maue superintendent of printing. Mr. McCarthy had been connected with the paper for three years previous to this change, and Mr. Maue had been identified with it for years.

The concern now occupies a building on north Wyoming street, but plans are being made for the erection of a magnificent building on Broad street. The pres- ent management has, more than any other, sent the paper to the front. It is the most widely-quoted paper in eastern Pennsylvania, and receives the full Associated Press reports. Its politics have been and are unflinchingly republican.

The Middle Coal Field Advertiser (weekly) (Hazleton) issued its first number Sep- tember 19, 1874, by George Mancy. It kept the even tenor of its way until 1878, when it was changed to the Daily Bulletin, with Mr. Mancy as business manager, under the name of the Bulletin Publishing company; is no longer published.

The Mountain Beacon was established by John C. Stokes, October 25, 1877;

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six-column folio; enlarged May 30, 1878, to an eight-column folio; non-partisan. In 1879 Alfred F. Stokes became publisher and editor, and in a short time it ceased to exist.

The Daily Standard was started as a semi-weekly, five-column paper, March 25, 1885; by the Standard company, and was independent in its politics. The proprie- tors were H. A. Buchenau and L. G. Lubrecht. In this style it continued three months and Mr. Buchenau retired on his suddenly acquired fame and fortune. His interest passed to W. C. Lubrecht and these brothers have continued in the control and possession. At No. 2 of the second volume the paper was enlarged a column to each page. The Standard gave unmistakable signs of success from the first. It was continued as a semi-weekly seven years and March 23, 1892, it shed its twice-a-week suit and bloomed daily and more than that, it became not only a daily but a stanch democratic organ. The Lubrecht brothers are safe and successful newspaper publishers and make their six-column daily a bright and breezy sheet that meets an extensive and richly deserved patronage from the general public.

The Plain Speaker was founded February 6, 1882, with Dershuck & Lewis as editors and proprietors, and Dominic F. Sweeney as business manager. It made its first appearance as an afternoon paper and continued as such until the "American Press association " was formed and the plate service was formally introduced. The Plain Speaker was the first daily paper to make use of the service which very mate- rially assisted the paper in finding a foothold and great favor among the people of this region. In July, 1882, Mr. Lewis severed his connection with the paper and John Dershuck became sole proprietor. In the following January Mr. Sweeny resigned and was succeeded by Claude G. Whetstone. Many well known journal- ists were identified with The Plain Speaker during a period of five years following. Mr. John Dershuck continued to hold the exclusive management of the paper until 1886, when he associated with him his brother William C. Dershuck, and the firm name was changed to Dershuck Bros., which lasted until September 1, 1887, when D. F. Sweeney purchased William C. Dershuck's interest, changing the firm name to Dershuck & Sweeney. This co-partnership existed until March 9, 1889, when Mr. Dershuck, owing to continued ill health, was obliged to retire. His interest was acquired by James L. Morris, and a new firm was created under the title of Dominic F. Sweeney, editor and proprietor, although Mr. Morris was half-owner of the prop- erty. April 20, 1889, the founder of the paper, John Dershuck, died, aged thirty- three years. He had labored long and hard to establish The Plain Speaker, and in spite of many difficulties he succeeded, but his effort cost him his life. He was of a quick, nervous and emphatic disposition with an intense feeling of kindness for his friends, and no mercy for his enemies. With him, once an enemy, always an enemy. It is to be regretted that his many acts of kindness were not fully appreciated until after he had gone to the great Unknown; then was it that those whose interests had been subserved by the powerful influence of The Plain Speaker at some previous time missed the aid and assistance of an ally who was ever ready to do battle for his friends regardless of consequences. Few men ever experienced a more turbu- lent and trying existence for a period of eighteen years, from tender youth until his death than John Dershuck. To him solely belongs the credit of establishing the paper of the people. Through many days of trial and adversity of warfare and of peace, did he direct the course of the paper from its inception until almost the day of his death, and when he relinquished his hold the companion of his youth, Mr. Dominic F. Sweeney, imbued with the same spirit, continued to direct the fortunes of the paper in the same fearless, aggressive and belligerent manner characteristic of the paper from the time it was first issued up to the present time, with the exception of a short period during the absence of Mr. Sweeney, when Mr. Morris displayed the same capability of directing the course of the paper. Thus it was that but three persons have been directing the paper, and each succeeding day brings it closer to the hearts

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 51

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532