History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 54

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 54
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 54
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1811 the Federalist was enlarged and the name changed to the Gleaner; but it continued the organ of the Federalists as opposed to the Democrats. Charles Miner soon purchased the interest of Mr. Tracy, and in company with Steuben Butler continued its publication until 1818, when the enterprise was abandoned. It was during the latter period of his editorial labors that Mr. Miner contributed a series of articles to the columns of the Gleaner, under the nom de plume of "Robert the Scribe," in imitation of Dr. Franklin's " Poor Richard " sayings. He was a ready and entertaining writer, and these articles were very popular, and often and for a long time afterward quoted by contemporaries. A good un- derstanding appears to have grown up between the Wrights and the Miners by this time, for both Charles and Asher had married daughters of Thomas Wright, and the printing interest of that day, and for a long time after by their descendants, was consolidated in these families.

In the meantime a young man named Samuel Maffet, who had served an apprenticeship in the office of the Aurora in Philadelphia, under John Binns, had estab- lished in 1810, as an organ of the Democracy, another paper called the Susquehanna Democrat, which had among its friends and material supporters the wealth and social influence of General William Ross and Judge Hollenback; and the political contests between the enter- prising journalists of the Federalist and Democrat at times were very warin, bitter and energetic. In 1824 the Democrat was purchased by Sharp D. Lewis and Chester A. Colt. In 1831 Mr. Colt sold his interest to Robert T. Conrad, afterward a distinguished judge and mayor of the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Conrad was endowed with a brilliant literary mind, and in his maturer years pro- duced one of our very best American tragedies-Forrest's great play of " Jack Cade," or Alymere of the Kentish rebellion. Mr. Conrad sold his interest to Luther Kidder. At about this period the Democrat had perhaps the ablest corps of editors and contributors that any paper in Wilkes- Barre ever had before or has been blessed with since.

207

JOURNALISM AT WILKES-BARRE.

There was the chaste and elegant Conrad; the painstaking and truth-revering Lewis; the careful and matter-of-fact Kidder, afterward president judge, who was a perfect gradgrind on facts; the logical, calm, cool George W. Woodward, afterward chief justice of Pennsylvania, and the dashing and fearless Ovid F. Johnson, who afterward became attorney general of Pennsylvania, a man of great intellect and peer to any of these, his then fellow law students, who afterward reflected honor upon the bench or bar of Pennsylvania. But the Democrat's fortune was on the wane. Mr. James Rafferty, who was an excellent practical printer, made an effort to sustain it for a while, till it finally drifted into the custody of Dr. C. J. Christel & Co , and expired.

The Wyoming Herald was established in 1818, by Steuben Butler. In 1831 Asher Miner became associated in its publication. It finally passed into the hands of Robert Miner, a son of Asher, and Eleazer Carey, who continued its publication till 1835, when it was merged with the Wyoming Republican, which had been issued in Kingston by Sharp D. Lewis in 1832. In 1837 the press and material were purchased by Dr. Thomas W. Miner, a son of Asher Miner, and removed to Wilkes- Barre. Dr. Miner and Miner S. Blackman continued its publication until 1839, when it was purchased by Samuel P. Collings and united with the Republican Farmer, which had been started by Henry Pettebone and Henry Heald in 1828 as an advocate of Democratic principles. In 1833 the concern was purchased by Benjamin A. Bidlack, who afterwards became a member of Congress, was ap- pointed American minister to the republic of Colombia, South America, and died at his post at Bogota. Honor- able William Bross, ex-lieutenant governor of Illinois, and president of the Chicago Tribune Company, received his first lessons in the printer's art as a carrier boy under Mr. Bidlack. In 1835 the Farmer again came into the possession of S. P. Collings, who continued its publication until 1852, when by a compromise of the two factions of the Democratic party it was sold to S. S. Benedict, the owner of a rival paper called the Luzerne Democrat. The two were consolidated as the Luzerne Union, which passed through many hands between 1852 and January, 1879, when it was consolidated with a rival for Democratic favor, the Leader, which had enjoyed a two-and-a-half-years' ex- istence, under the editorial management first of E. A. Niven, and lastly of J. K. Bogart, who became the editor of the journal now known as the Union Leader, leaving no rival to dispute its claim of being the organ of the democratic party. In 1854 the Union was edited by S. S. Winchester; in 1855 a Mr. Bosee was proprietor; in 1858 Mr. E. S. Goodrich, who had just served as deputy secretary of the commonwealth, was proprietor; in 1859 Nifflin Hannum, who in 1865 sold to Walter H. Hibbs. In 1871 Mr. Hibbs sold to ex-Senator H. B. Beardslee, formerly of Honesdale, from whom it passed to J. K. Bogart and the Union Leader Company. For several months an evening daily edition has been issued, which has become popular.

The Republican Farmer, under S. P. Collings's man-

agement, was conducted with marked ability in its edito- rial columns. Mr. Collings as a political controversialist had no superiors in his day. He was a master in the art of dealing out sarcasm, and his caustic and pointed shafts seldom flew wide of the mark in dealing with the enemies of his party. Having become enfeebled in health, in 1853 he was appointed U. S. consul to Tangier, in Africa, in hope that the change might prove beneficial in build- ing up his wasted franie. But he did not long survive having removed there with his family, and his remains are mouldering in the land of old Carthage. The Farmer was the favorite channel through which Hon. Andrew Beaumont was wont to give to the public his sound and convincing views on all political questions of the day.

The first attempt at issuing a daily paper in Wilkes -. Barre was made in 1852, by E. B. Collings and Halsey Brower. A small paper called the Daily Telegraph was started, but survived only a short time, and died for want of patronage. In 1869 Messrs. Hibbs & Linn issued a daily edition of the Luzerne Union, called the Daily Union, but the enterprise did not prove remunerative, and after a few months it was discontinued.

The Anti- Masonic Advocate was established by Elijah Worthington in 1832. In 1838 it was purchased by Amos Sisty, who dropped the anti-masonic title, and it appeared as the Wilkes-Barre Advocate, the organ of the old Whig party. Mr. Sisty was a pleasant writer, and its columns were enriched by some choice gems of poetry from his pen. After his death, in 1843, the Advocate passed into the hands of Sharp D. Lewis, and he in 1853 sold it to William P. Miner, a son of Charles Miner. Mr. Miner changed the name to the Record of the Times, which title it yet bears, and soon sold a half interest to his cousin Joseph W. Miner, a son of Asher Miner, who died a year or two afterwards, 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 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 build- ings on West Market street, on the southwest side, below Franklin street, and the entire concern was totally de- stroyed by the big fire that laid waste both sides of the street on the 16th of April 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 materi- ally 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 Company, Dr. W. H. Bradley managing editor, in March, 1877, and by him continued as such until in the summer of 1879 the paper was enlarged and issued in the morning; and there is no better or more en- ergetic journal to be found outside of the large cities.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

A daily paper in the interest of the National Greenback party was published during a portion of 1879.

The Democratic Wacchter, a German weekly paper, was established in Wilkes-Barre in 1841, by Jacob Waelder, now a prominent lawyer and politician in San Antonio, Texas. In 1851 Mr. Waelder sold out to Robert Baur, who is still editor and proprietor. Another German pa- per, called the Volksfreund, Republican in politics, has been published for some years. The first Sunday paper published in Wilkes-Barre was the Sunday Morning News, started in May, 1877, by Frank P. Woodward and M. F. Doran. The editors, energetic young men, desirous of creating a sensation with their paper, which was fresh and newsy, became involved in legal difficulties, and the paper ceased its publication in the fall of the same year. In 1878 Mr. J. C. Coon established a Sunday paper called The Plain Dealer. It was owned by a stock com- pany, and under his management became a flourishing paper. In 1878 Mr. Coon retired from the company and started a similar paper called the Sunday News Dealer. The Plain Dealer was continued for a short time by Colonel J. D. Laciar, when its publication ceased, and its office was subsequently consolidated with that of the News Dealer, which goes on prosperously, and large editions are published each Sunday morning, both in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Frank P. Woodward, above mentioned, being in charge of the Scranton issue.

.The People's Friend is a late weekly candidate for pub- lic favor. A temperance paper, the Evening Star, was issued for a time, of which Thomas C. Parker was editor in 1868 and 1869. The legal fraternity have their own peculiar periodical in the Legal Register, edited by George B. Kulp, Esq. While it has been the aim to mention every journalistic venture in Wilkes-Barre borough and city of the past and present, so numerous have been such enterprises, and so brief the existence of some of them, that it is possible all have not been recalled; nor is it necessary, perhaps, to a knowledge of the rise and pro- gress of local journalism that some few papers that may have died in infancy should be remembered, all of those which have attained any circulation and influence having been referred to and some mention having been made of prominent editors and publishers in every period of Wilkes-Barre's newspaper career.

AMUSEMENTS.

A sketch of the amusement history of Wilkes-Barre may prove not uninteresting. The first animal show in Luzerne county was exhibited in 1806 or 1807. It con- sisted of a single elephant, said to have been the first ever brought to this country, in George Chahoon's barn, in the rear of the present Wyoming Valley House, on the site now occupied by Purcell's livery stable. People came from all directions to "see the elephant," and Mr. Pierce states that " one farmer carried a half bushel of wheat on his back, with which he paid the price of ad- mission." The first drama was presented in the ball-room of the old red tavern, at the corner of Main street and the public square, in 1809. The piece was "The Babes in

the Woods," and the characters were represented by pup- pets, into the mouths of which the words were put, appar- ently, by Mr. and Mrs. Sickles, both of whom were ven- triloquists. As an afterpiece a panoramic and ventrilo- quial representation of the battle between John Paul Jones's ship the "Bon Homme " and the "Serapis," the Duke of Marlborough commanding, was given. Sickles was a showman, of whose exhibitions in the early part of the century old people in Pennsylvania and western New York often tell.

At various times peripatetic showmen have pitched their tents in different parts of the borough, or exhibited their wonders in halls or large rooms; but it was not until within the past few years that any regularly appointed places of amusement were established under local managers. In 1868 and 1869 Mr. S. Frauenthal erected a building on South Main street in which he opened a place known as Liberty Hall. In 1873 it was remodeled and renamed Frauenthal's Opera House. Here appeared many stars and combinations during the remainder of that year. The building was burned January ist, 1874. November 22nd, 1871, Fred Meyer's Opera Hlouse, a variety theatre, on Fell, just off North Main street, was opened. Under the management of Jacob S. Berry Chahoon Hall, on Market street, was opened as a variety theatre from 1873 to 1874. The City Garden Hall, on Northampton street, has for some time been known as a variety house, frequent performances of that kind having been presented there. The manager is John S. Hinds. Music Hall Block, at the corner of Market and River streets, was erected in 1870 by W. G. Sterling and S. L. Thurlow. In 1878 the interest of Mr. Thurlow was sold to Andrew Hunlock. The seating capacity of Music Hall is 1,200, and its size, inclusive of the stage, is 60 by 105 feet. The stage is 32 by 62 feet in size, and is well supplied with scenery and modern appliances for the production of such pieces as are usually presented by traveling companies. Music Hall was opened February 2nd, 1871, by Clara Louise Kellogg and company, under the management of Mr. W. G. Sterling. It has since been successfully managed by Messrs. W. S. Parsons, W. D. White, and M. H. Burgunder.

HOME FOR FRIENDLESS CHILDREN.

The Home for Friendless Children was founded March 22nd, 1862. A society was organized by a few ladies at a meeting in a private parlor. They were instructed and encouraged by Miss Mary Bowman, sister of the late Bishop Bowman of Lancaster, who had founded a similar home in that city. A small frame house on South street was offered the society rent free, by the late Mr. William C. Gildersleeve. A small amount of money was raised and a call made upon the public for contributions of anything that could be turned to account, which met with a liberal response. Gifts of money sufficient to cover the salary of the matron for a year were received, and applications for admission were so numerous that at the end of three months the building was insufficient to accommodate any more inmates, and it was enlarged, the

Yours Jack

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WILKES-BARRE CHILDREN'S HOME AND CITY HOSPITAL.

expense being met by private contributions. In the mean time the Legislature had passed an act legalizing the proceedings of the society, and making it a cor- porate institution, under the name of "The Home for Friendless Children for the Borough of Wilkes-Barre and the County of Luzerne." The management of its affairs was vested in a board of trustees consisting of sixteen gentlemen and a board of twenty-four lady man- agers, both organized with the usual officers.

During the war an arrangement was made with the State government by which soldiers' orphans were placed temporarily in the Home. The remuneration for their care enabled the managers to enlarge their corps of help- ers and lay by a small sum annually, to form a nucleus to an endowment fund. In 1864 the Home became so crowded with soldiers' orphans that a larger building be- came an absolute necessity. A subscription book was opened and application made to the Legislature for an appropriation. The State promised $2,500 provided double that sum could be raised by subscription. At once four of the trustees, Messrs. G. M. Hollenback, W. S. Ross, William C. Gildersleeve and V. L. Maxwell, subscribed $1,000 each, others gave $500 each and many added smaller sums, thus securing the State appropriation and making it safe to commence building. The lot was offered at a very low price by Mr. Charles Parrish and Dr. E. R. Mayer, and the latter added as a gift an ad- joining back lot for a garden. The building, a large brick edifice with ample grounds, on Franklin street, was completed and occupied in the autumn of 1866. In 1867 active steps were taken to secure the endowment fund. A book for subscriptions was opened. Judge Ross and William C. Gildersleeve each subscribed $5,000, and smaller subscriptions were added until the sum exceeded $16,000. But the fund has, from vari- ous causes, been singularly unfortunate. The amount subscribed by Judge Ross, having been invested in stocks, was entirely lost, through the failure of the company is- suing them. Other sums were loaned on mortgage, bul owing to the recent depression in values have become worthless. Upon other loans partial interest is paid, and hopes are entertained of ultimately collecting the princi- pal. A second $5,000 bequeathed by the late Mr. Gilder- sleeve is being paid by his executors. In consequence of these misfortunes the Home is still supported almost entirely by charity from citizens of Wilkes-Barre and its immediate neighborhood. Soldiers' orphans have long since ceased to occupy the Home, and that source of aid is closed. Economy has become necessary. The corps of teachers has been greatly reduced, and smaller salaries are paid. The number of children now (September, 1879,) at the Home is between 50 and 60. Scarcely a month passes that good homes are not found for one or more. The Home is governed by a matron of superior character and abilities; the school is managed in an ex- cellent manner by one lady teacher. The children, be- sides their regular school instruction, are taught sewing and various household duties. They are taken regularly to church, and are under the best of influences.

THE WILKES- BARRE CITY HOSPITAL.

The need of such a charity as the Wilkes-Barre City"" Hospital had long been felt. In 1870 an appeal, signed by nine of the most prominent physicians of the city, was published, urging the necessity of a place in which men injured in and around the mines could have the proper care and treatment to secure recovery. The first meet- ing of citizens to consider the matter was held September roth, 1872, at the office of Hon. H. M. Hoyt. The following is an extract from the minutes of this meeting:

" A. T. McClintock was called to the chair, and W. W. Lathrope appointed secretary. The object of the meet- ing was stated by Dr. E. R. Mayer, who also read the draft of a proposed charter. On motion of Judge Dana it was ' resolved that we proceed to establish a hospital in the city of Wilkes-Barre.' It was moved by E. P. Dar- ling, and carried, that a committee of seven be appointed to take into consideration the proper method to procure a charter. The chair appointed E. P. Darling, Hon. L. D. Shoemaker, Hon. E. L. Dana, Hon. H. M. Hoyt, G. R. Bedford, Dr. W. F. Denn's and Washington Lee. It was moved by Mr. Lee ' that an executive committee of three be appointed with full power to lease a building and to establish and conduct a hospital, such committee to act until a permanent organization be effected.' The motion was carried and Washington Lee, Charles A. Miner and George R. Bedford were appointed. On motion of Dr. Mayer, W. W. Lathrope was elected secre- tary and treasurer pro tem. Hon. L. D. Shoemaker, W. W. Neuer and H. H. Derr were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions."

The executive committee at once rented a building on Fell street, and after fitting it up properly opened it for the reception of patients October toth, 1872. The number of beds was at first 20, which was increased to 26 during the following year. The first medical staff was as follows: Consulting physicians, Drs. E. R. Mayer, W. F. Dennis, J. E. Bulkeley; attending physicians, Drs. J. T. Rothrock, J. V. Crawford, R. Davis, I. E. Ross, J. A. Murphy, O. F. Harvey and G. W. Guthrie. The staff remains the same with the exception of a vacancy in the consulting staff, caused by the death of Dr. W. F. Dennis, and one in the ranks of the attendant physicians made by the removal of Dr. J. T. Rothrock. A resident physi- cian has also been added. January 3d, 1874, a perma- nent organization was effected under a charter granted by the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne county, dated November 24th, 1873. The following gentlemen were chosen a board of directors: T. A. C. Lanning, A. T. McClintock, Charles Parrish, John Wells Hollenback, Charles A. Miner, Calvin Wadhams, Stanley Woodward, H. H. Derr, Ira M. Kirkendall, M. B. Houpt, George R. Bedford and George S. Bennett. The present (1879) board of directors is constituted as follows : A. T. Mc- Clintock, Charles A. Miner, E. C. Wadhams, H. H. Derr, Joseph Stickney, E. P. Darling, George S. Bennett, E. H. Chase, John Welles Hollenback, Richard Sharp, R. J. Flick, and Fred. Mercur ; president, Charles A. Miner;

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

vice-president, Richard Sharp; secretary, E. H. Chase; treasurer, H. H. Derr; executive committee, Messrs. Miner, Sharp, Mercur and Derr.

There is also a board of visiting lady managers. Prior to the winter of 1874 the support of the hospital was de- rived entirely from voluntary contributions, made by the people of the city. Since that time appropriations have been made by the State as follows: In 1874, $5,000; in 1876. $25,000; in 1877, $10,000; in 1878, $10,000. In

1875 a lot containing about four acres, on River street, near Mill creek, affording an elegant site for a hospital building, was presented by John Welles Hollenback. During the winter of 1875-6 the new hospital building was erected on this lot, and was occupied April ist, 1876. It is a wooden structure two stories high, eighty-six feet square, exclusive of the verandas, and consists of four buildings surrounding a quadrangle. It is capable of accommodating from seventy-five to one hundred beds, and is now supplied with forty-two. The furniture, appliances and instruments are of the most modern and approved kind, and there is a well equipped drug store in which the medicines used by patients are prepared. The average number of patients in attendance is about thirty, a large proportion of whom belong to the surgical wards.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND FIRES OF WILKES-BARRE.

Among the many interesting objects on exhibition at the Wilkes-Barre centennial, July, 1878, was a small hand fire-engine to which was appended the legend, " In ser- vice ninety-eight years, and good yet." This was the first fire engine ever brought to the place, where it had been in use sixty years after having seen thirty-eight years' service, probably in Philadelphia, where it was purchased in 1818 by the borough council and brought to Wilkes-Barre by teams sent for the purpose. It was a "bucket " machine and was called the "Neptune." There was no organized fire company, but all were ex- pected to assist in extinguishing fires, and the late Hon. J. N. Conyngham was the recognized leader. Ladies were frequently seen in the line of bucket-passers. The first Mrs. G. M. Hollenback was always present and worked with a will. One or more leather fire buckets hung conveniently at nearly every house, and at an alarm of fire the occupants would seize them and hurry to the scene of disaster.

In 1831 a larger bucket engine and 100 feet of hose were purchased in Philadelphia for $500. A company was organized which met occasionally in the old market- house on the square, but disbanded within six months. The late Hon. G. W. Woodward, Isaac S. Osterhout and W. Bowman were among its members. There was no or- ganization from that time until 1849. When there were fires the course described previously was pursued, with varying success. During the year mentioned an engine known as the "Triton," a suction machine, accom- panied by a hose carriage and about 1,000 feet of leather hose, was purchased. The indebtedness in- curred by the purchase of the engine and part of

that by the purchase of the hose and carriage was paid by private subscription. The balance, about $200, was paid by the proceeds of a ball given by the company which had been organized. Major Frank Bowman and Charles Bennett were among its early officers. For a time considerable interest in the movement was mani- fested, but the company had no engine house and no regular place for holding their meetings; and after a pre- carious existence of two years, during which the engine was kept in a barn and in the old market house-whose doors could not be fastened-and was uncared for gener- ally, it disbanded. During this period a company of several boys was formed and operated the "Neptune." On one occasion a fire occurred near the canal, and to save themselves the trouble of filling the reservoir of the engine with buckets, the boys ran it into the canal, im- mersing the box, and standing up to their waists in the water worked the brakes until the fire was extin- guished.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 54

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900