USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 31
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The partnership of Messrs. Purdy and Bachman was dissolved several years later; after its dissolution Mr. Purdy continued the paper individually until January 1, 1867, when the establishment was leased by J. E. Eichholtz and John J. Auten. The latter retired several months later, and on the 1st of July, 1868, the paper was purchased by J. E. Eichholtz and Alvin E. Day. In June, 1871, Mr. Eichholtz bought Mr. Day's interest, and thus acquired indi- vidual ownership. D. L. Sollenberger secured a proprietary interest, July 1, 1877, when the style of the firm became Eichholtz & Company. Mr. Eichholtz again conducted the paper individually in 1879; on the 1st of January, 1880, W. L. Dewart and George C. Frysinger acquired proprietary interests, and since that date the style of the firm has been Eichholtz & Com- pany. Mr. Frysinger retired on the 1st of January, 1881, and from that time to the present Messrs. Eichholtz and Dewart have constituted the firm.
The Sunbury Daity was first issued on the 7th of December, 1872, by J. E. Eichholtz. The original size was a four-column folio ten by fourteen inches in dimensions. From the autumn of 1875 until the latter part of March, 1876, the paper was published by Walsmith & Silvius. It was afterward discontinued for some time; the publication was resumed in 1879, and since that date the paper has been under the same ownership and man- agement as the Democrat.
The Sunbury Independent was established by John J. Auten, February 27, 1868. In the following December it was purchased by Cornelius A.
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Reimensnyder, who changed the name to Democratic Guard. After experi- encing various vicissitudes the paper was finally discontinued some two years later. A German edition was also published for a time.
The Sunbury Enterprise was first issued on the 25th of May, 1870, by J. K. Keefer, and probably published until the following year.
The Weekly Independent, J. A. Cake and Thomas J. Silvius, proprie- tors, Thomas J. Silvius, editor, made its debut, April 26, 1875, and was pub- lished about four months. It was a six-column folio. Mr. Cake also pub- lished the Morning Express.
The Sunbury Weekly News was established on the 17th of June, 1881, by A. N. Brice, at the west side of Third street between Market and Chest- nut. It was originally a five-column folio, and has been successively enlarged to a five-column quarto, a nine-column folio twenty-nine by forty-two inches, and a nine-column folio thirty-one by forty-four inches, the present size. The Sunbury Gazette was absorbed in 1883. The present office of publica- tion, a three-story brick building on Chestnut street, was first occupied in 1888. The News is a stanch Republican paper, one of the largest in size and circulation in the county.
The Evening News was started on the 1st of April, 1890, and is published by A. N. Brice & Son, with Max Kauffman as reporter. Prior to the removal of the establishment to its present quarters the Daily News was published on Third street about six months.
The Northumberland County Legal News, "a weekly publication devoted to legal doings in county and State," was first issued on the 25th of August, 1888, by A. N. Brice & Sons. The late John F. Wolfinger's "Recollections of the Bar of the Counties of Northumberland, Lycoming, Union, and Columbia," reports of cases, and opinions and decisions of the court in North- umberland and the surrounding counties constitute the principal features of this publication.
THE PRESS OF MILTON.
The Miltonian has been continuously published longer than any other newspaper of Northumberland county. It was the first newspaper at Milton, and its founder, Henry Frick, was one of the first natives of the county to engage in the printing business within its limits. His honorable connection with the press, and the high positions in public life to which he subsequently attained, entitle Mr. Frick to a more than passing notice.
Henry Frick was born at Northumberland, Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1795, son of John Frick, a prominent figure in the political his- tory of the county at that period. As evidenced by the original indenture, now in the possession of his son, R. M. Frick, cashier of the Milton National Bank, he was apprenticed to John Binns on the 27th of January, 1806, for the term of ten years, one month, and - days. The following were among the stipulations of this indenture :-
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He [Henry Frick] shall not play at cards, dice, or any other unlawful game where- by his said master may have damage; with his own goods or the goods of others with- out license from his said master he shall neither huy nor sell; he shall not absent him- self day nor night from his said master's service without leave; he shall regularly at- tend every Sunday at some place of divine worship; he shall not haunt ale houses or taverns, but in all things behave himself as a faithful and diligent apprentice ought to do during the said term.
And the said John Binns, his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall teach or cause to he instructed the said apprentice in the art, trade, or mystery of a printer, and shall, during the said term, give to the said apprentice two quarters' night schooling (one quarter's day schooling to count and he equal to two quarters' night schooling), and shall find and provide for the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, apparel, washing, and lodging during the said term, and at the expiration thereof shall and will give his said apprentice the sum of fifty dollars, good and lawful money of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania.
The apprenticeship was accordingly begun at Northumberland, but within a few years Binns removed to Philadelphia; his young assistant accompanied him and completed the period of his indenture in that city. The "art, trade, or mystery of a printer" was thoroughly mastered by him, and in after years he sustained in his own office a high reputation for rapid and accurate composition. While yet in his minority he joined a company at Philadel- phia for service in the war of 1812, participating in the movements about Marcus Hook. His apprenticeship expired, March 18, 1816; returning to Northumberland county, he was attracted to the growing town of Milton, and issued the first number of The Miltonian on Saturday, the 21st of Septem- ber, 1816. For more than ten years he conducted the paper individually, and then for thirteen years he continued its publication in partnership with others. In 1828 he was elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, and re-elected in 1829 and 1830. After his retirement from the Miltonian he acted as justice of the peace, and at the time of his death, March 1, 1844, he was a member of Congress from the Thirteenth Pennsylvania district. Eloquent eulogies were delivered, in the Senate by James Buchanan, and in the House by J. R. Ingersoll. In the language of Mr. Buchanan: "It is the history of a man (fortunately so common in this country), who, from a humble beginning, has, by industry, ability, and perseverance, gradually surmounted every intervening obstacle, and at last attained the high distinction of a seat in Congress, under circumstances which clearly evince that he enjoyed uncommon personal popularity among those who knew him best."
Henry Frick published the Miltonian individually from September 21, 1816, to April 21, 1827; it was continued by Henry Frick and Montgomery Sweney from April 21, 1827, to April 16, 1831; by Henry Frick, Robert Bennett, and John W. Correy, from April 16, 1831, to April 20, 1833; by Henry Frick and Robert Bennett, from April 20, 1833, to October 18, 1834; by Henry Frick, individually, from October 18, 1834, to June 3, 1837; by Henry Frick and John H. Brown, from June 3, 1837, to June 3, 1840; by
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John H. Brown, individually, from June 3, 1840, to January 1, 1842; by John Frick and Edward B. Hunter, from January 1, 1842, to May 5, 1843; by John Frick, individually, from May 12, 1843, to July 14, 1843; by John and Robert M. Frick, from July 14, 1843, to December 31, 1852; by Robert M. and Henry Frick, Jr., from January 7, 1853, to August 26, 1853; by Henry Frick, Jr., individually, from September 2, 1853, to January 1, 1854; by John Robins, from January 1, 1854, to January 1, 1857; by L. H. Funk, from 1858 to 1863; by L. H. Funk and Lee M. Morton, from 1863 to 1867; by Lee M. Morton and Frank Bound, from 1867 to 1869; by Lee M. Morton and William M. Mervine, in 1869; by Lee M. Morton, William M. Mervine, and D. C. John, from 1870 to 1875; by P. L. Hackenberg, indi- vidually, in 1875; by Lee M. Morton, individually, from 1875 to 1877; by Lee M. Morton and L. V. Housel, from the spring of 1877 to the autumn of 1878; by L. V. Housel, individually, from the autumn of 1878 to October, 1880; by Thomas Strine and Joe A. Logan, from October, 1880, to August, 1883, and from that time by Joe A. Logan, individually. The paper is a stanch Republican organ, and is justly regarded as one of the leading jour- nals of that party in the county. A daily edition, the first in the borough, was started, October 26, 1877, and has since been published on several occasions for a brief period. The office files of the weekly edition, unfortunately for the interests of local historical research, were entirely destroyed in the fire of May 14, 1880.
The States Advocate, the second newspaper published at Milton, first appeared, February 26, 1826. From that date until August 13, 1829, the proprietors were William Tweed and Elim H. Kincaid, followed by William Tweed, individually, until August 15, 1833; William Tweed and Jonas Kelchner, from August 15, 1833, to November 13, 1834, and Jonas Kelchner, individually, from November 13, 1834, to November, 1838, when he removed the plant to Lewisburg. This paper advocated the principles and policy of the Whig party.
The West Branch Farmer and True Democrat was established, September 3, 1834, by Montgomery Sweney. At that time the Miltonian was also avowedly Democratic, but not sufficiently active in the party interest to meet the approval of Mr. Sweney, hence the emphatic adjective in the caption of his paper, which was meant to distinguish the Democracy it sup- ported from that advocated by its contemporary. The venture was not a success, however, and in 1837 the editor removed to the Spoon river, Illinois, when he engaged in farming and passed the remainder of his life.
The Northumbrian first appeared on the 20th of November, 1837, under the proprietorship of Hamlet A. Kerr, a man of fine intellectual capacity and an exceptionally competent printer. In its typographical. appearance it was superior to any paper theretofore published at Milton, while the character of its contents and the style of its editorials also evinced ability and discrimina-
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tion. It expired within a few years; Mr. Kerr continued to reside at Milton until his death.
The Millon Ledger was established in 1838 by John McGee and Stephen Wilson; it was successively published by McGee & Collins, Henry L. Dief- fenbach, John Porter, Brewer & Armstrong, and L. F. Frank, and finally suspended in 1844 from lack of patronage. It was strongly Democratic in its editorial utterances.
The Advocate and Day-Spring, a temperance paper, first appeared in December, 1844. The publisher and editor was Rev. W. H. T. Barnes, a young clergyman of fine oratorical ability, but not specially adapted to the work of conducting a country newspaper. He also engaged in merchandis- ing, but his enterprises were not successful, and the plant of the Advocate was seized by his creditors. Barnes enlisted for service in the Mexican war, and was killed in the operations against Vera Cruz.
The Milton Democrat made its debut, April 17, 1852, with John R. Eck as editor and publisher. He was a good practical printer, a man of fine social qualities, and possessed more talent as a writer than is ordinarily bestowed upon a country newspaper. In 1859 the paper shared in the wan- ing fortunes of its party in this State, and after disposing of the plant Eck went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He died in that city, July 30, 1880, in the seventieth year of his age.
The Northumberland County Herald, a temperance paper, was started in 1868 by Rev. E. W. Kirby and J. W. Speddy. Their partnership terminated in the following year, when Speddy removed the outfit to Mifflintown, Juniata county, Pennsylvania. The Herald was neutral in politics.
The Milton Record was first published under its present name, March 23, 1889, and is the result of a consolidation of the Argus and Economist. In 1872 W. H. Smith established the Independent Weekly at Benton, Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania; it was removed to Milton in 1876, became the Argus, and was first issued under that name, September 15, 1878. In 1880 the office was entirely destroyed by fire, and with no part of the former out- fit except the subscription list, publication was resumed, May 21, 1880, i. two box-cars at the corner of Broadway and Filbert streets. These quartel .. were occupied four months. The establishment was then removed to Buoy's block on Broadway, the first brick building completed after the fire, where it remained until the spring of 1883, when a frame building at the site of . he present publishing office was occupied. In 1884 the Economist was st. ¿ ed by Schuyler & Keister; its successive proprietors were Schuyler Brothers, A. S. Hottenstein, The Economist Publishing Company, and W. P. Hastings. Like the Argus, it was Democratic in politics. On the 23d of March. 1889, both papers were transferred to The Record Publishing Company, of which J. Woods Brown is president and W. H. Smith, treasurer and general man- ager. Ground was broken for the present three-story brick publishing house
Andrew N. Brice
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on Broadway, September 3, 1889. With the exception of four months in 1881-82, Mr. Smith has been the editor of the Argus and the Record since their first inception; he continues to fill that position, and the present pros- perity of the paper is principally due to his individual efforts. The Record is Democratic in politics, and is a valuable adjunct to the party organization in Northumberland county.
A flourishing daily was published in connection with the weekly Argus at the time of the fire. It has since been twice resuscitated, but without per- manent results on either occasion.
The Standard was started, February 7, 1890, by W. P. Hastings. Two months later it became a tri-weekly, and is so continued. It is a Prohibition organ.
SHAMOKIN NEWSPAPERS.
The first effort to establish a paper at Shamokin was made in 1853. At that period the town received an impetus from railroad improvement, and it was thought by the more enterprising members of the community that a local journal could be supported with profit to the publisher and advantage to the place. The movement was without direct results, however.
To John Robins belongs the honor of starting the first paper at Shamo- kin. He gave to the new venture the name of Shamokin Journal and Farmers' and Miners' Advocate, the first number of which appeared on Sat- urday, May 1, 1858. It was a six-column folio, with a variety of miscella- neous matter, several columns of local news, and an elaborate prospectus, in which the projector expressed his intention to publish a paper independent in politics, moral in sentiment, and devoted to the interests of its constituency. The office of publication was "the red house," a landmark of the town, the site of which is now occupied by the Reading railroad. But the venture was premature; the business of the place was in the midst of a period of finan- cial stringency, and the Journal expired from lack of pecuniary support be- fore the completion of its first volume.
The materials of the Journal office were purchased by Samuel John, but for more than a year the town was without a local paper. On the 8th of March, 1860, the Shamokin Register made its debut under Mr. John's pro- prietorship and editorial management. He announced that the paper would be independent in politics, but favorable to a protective tariff, and promised an agricultural department " of vast interest to every one who cultivates the soil, from a garden patch to a five-hundred-acre farm, as the editor has been for thirty years a practical and scientific farmer." Beginning as a six-col- umn page, the Register was enlarged with the nineteenth number, July 19, 1860, and in the following campaign entered vigorously into the support of the Republican party. On the 28th of March, 1861, Mr. John published a valedictory, having had "glory enough for one campaign," but two weeks later, not having been successful in finding a competent person to whom he
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might intrust the paper, he resumed the publication, which was again dis- continued after the appearance of a single number. The paper next ap- peared on the 6th of June, 1861, with Daniel Bower as editor. Mr. Bower had previously been connected with the Williamsport Times; he brought to the enterprise considerable experience and ability, but for some reason the paper did not prosper, and on the 29th of April, 1862, it was finally discon- tinued. The plant reverted to Mr. John; it was subsequently removed to Sunbury and used in the publication of the Democratic Guard at that place.
After severing his connection with the Register, Mr. Bower proceeded to enlist the efforts and means of various citizens in the establishment of a new paper, which made its first appearance, June 10, 1862, under the name of the Shamokin Herald, edited by Daniel Bower and Dr. J. J. John. Twelve numbers were issued under this regime, when Mr. Bower entered the military service as recruiting officer at Camp Curtin. Subsequently he became lieu- tenant in a company of volunteers, and died from wounds received at Chan- cellorsville.
The first number of a new series of the Herald was issued on Thursday, December 25, 1862, by J. Stewart McEwen, who continued the paper until July 2d of the following year. The foreman of the office, Samuel B. Sisty, then took charge, and published one number, when his administration was peremptorily suspended by the stockholders. During McEwen's incumbency, while professedly independent in politics, the editorial utterances of the paper had been uniformly favorable to the Republican national and State authorities; the one number issued by Mr. Sisty was Democratic in a corres- ponding degree, which at once aroused the opposition of the stockholders, and hence his untimely withdrawal.
Hitherto the efforts made to establish a paper at Shamokin had not been crowned with the most gratifying success. While this was largely attribut- able to lack of encouragement, it was also doubtless due to the absence of those qualities of patience, persistence, and energy so necessary in the pro- jectors of journalistic ventures. But with the next change of proprietorship the Herald passed into the hands of Owen M. Fowler, and he took charge of it with the determination and the ability to make it a success. Born at Brier Creek, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1842, he obtained his educa- tion at the common schools, and, having indicated a preference for the priut- ing business at an early age, was apprenticed to his uncle, Levi L. Tate, editor of a Bloomsburg paper. After completing his trade he went to Phila- delphia in 1861 and secured employment upon the Ladies' Monthly Magazine. There he enlisted in a three months' regiment, and after a brief military experience came to Shamokin with the object of starting a paper. Failing to make satisfactory arrangements he again enlisted, in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, holding the rank of sergeant. For valorous conduct at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville he
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was promoted to the second lieutenancy of his company. Returning to Shamokin at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he took charge of the Herald on the 23d of July, 1863. With this journal he was connected with- out intermission until his death, excepting a few months (March to July, 1865,) when he was again in the service as second lieutenant of a company in the One Hundred and Third regiment. Others had failed, but he assumed control of the Herald with the firm purpose and undaunted resolution that overcome all difficulties, and in the course of a few years it had become one of the leading papers of the county, an established institution at Shamokin, and a potent influence in promoting the growth of that borough. A depart- ment of the paper was devoted especially to intelligence relating to the coal trade; this was under the able management of Dr. J. J. John, and consti- tuted an interesting and valuable feature. The paper was Republican in politics, but confined its attention more particularly to local affairs. Mr. Fowler's journalistic career, honorable to himself and valuable to the com- munity, was terminated by his death, May 9, 1874.
From the latter date until July 1, 1874, the Herald was conducted by Dr. J. J. John; it was then purchased by Heffelfinger & Coder. Both of the constituent members of this firm had previously been in Mr. Fowler's employ, and they were therefore well qualified by an acquaintance with the com- munity to continue the paper in its former usefulness. Its appearance was improved, its circulation extended, and from the fullness and reliability of its coal reports it became the recognized organ of the coal trade in Northum- berland county. After a time Mr. Coder retired, and Mr. Heffelfinger con- tinued the publication individually until February 9, 1889, when the paper was transferred to the present proprietors, John J. W. Schwartz and R. F. Howard.
The Daily Herald was started by Elmer Heffelfinger, October 22, 1888, and passed to Schwartz & Howard at the same time as the weekly. It was originally a six-column page, but was enlarged in November, 1889, when the name was changed to its present style by the substitution of "Daily " for " Evening " in the caption.
The Shamokin Times had its inception in the Advertiser, a folio of diminutive proportions published in January, 1872, by J. A. Gilger, and dis- tributed gratuitously. It was gradually enlarged, and on the 13th of July, 1872, became a regular newspaper under the name of the Times with J. L. Gilger & Son, proprietors, and J. A. Gilger, local editor. J. L. Gilger with- drew in 1874, and for several months in that year the paper was published by Gilger & Fagely. Upon the retirement of Mr. Fagely the Shamokin Times Company was formed, and from the 1st of January, 1875, the paper was edited by D. D. Domer. In November, 1879, D. L. Sollenberger & Company succeeded the Shamokin Times Company, and have since been the proprietors of the Times. D. D. Domer was associated in the publication
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until April, 1881; R. F. Howard and W. S. Guiterman became members of the company in 1886, and the latter continues to retain a proprietary interest.
The Daily Times, the first daily paper in the Northumberland county coal regions, was first issued, October 17, 1883. It was at first printed on a hand press, but this having been found too tedious and laborious, the publi- cation was suspended for several weeks until better facilities could be pro- vided. The active existence of the paper was then resumed, but it was finally discontinued on the 14th of October, 1884.
The Daily Dispatch was first issued, November 21, 1886, and from a comparatively modest beginning it has become one of the leading journals in this part of the anthracite coal region. This is under the same proprietor- ship and editorial management as the Times.
The National Greenback was started in May, 1877, by John J. Auten, who was succeeded in the following October by Samuel Martin. The publi- cation was finally discontinued in 1878.
The Shamokin Sentinel made its first appearance on the 6th of May, 1882, under the proprietorship of C. L. Gilger & Company. It was pub- lished for advertising purposes and distributed gratuitously for a time, but eventually developed into a regular weekly newspaper with C. L. Gilger and W. S. Guiterman as editors and publishers. Mr. Gilger was succeeded by A. D. B. Mckenzie and Mr. Guiterman retired; the paper was finally absorbed by the Herald.
Talk of the Day, H. M. Kurtz & Brother, publishers, J. C. J. Kurtz, editor, was established in 1878 and published several years. Local news and advertising were the principal features.
NEWSPAPERS OF MT. CARMEL.
The Mt. Carmel Progress, the pioneer newspaper of that borough, was established in December, 1877, by Owen Fowler. It was printed on a Co- lumbia lever press, and was in form a folio an eighth-sheet in size, making its appearance semi-monthly. In March, 1878, the name became Home News, and the paper was published weekly. In 1879 M. K. Watkins became pro- prietor; he changed the name to Mt. Carmel News, and enlarged the dimen- sions of the sheet. E. E. White became editor in 1881, when the size was further increased. In the following year the entire outfit of the Gloucester City Tribune was removed from Gloucester, New Jersey, by Mr. Watkins, thus increasing the facilities of the office to an appreciable extent. Mr. White acquired a proprietary interest in 1883, and during the following four years the paper was published by the firm of Watkins & White. In April, 1887, Mr. Watkins retired in favor of R. J. Wilson, and the paper was published by White & Wilson until February 1, 1891, when Professor White disposed of his interest to Mr. Wilson, who has since continued the publication indi-
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