USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 46
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James M. Patton, Kelly Sta., Col. of P. & S., Bal., Dec., 1885.
W. C. Park, Manor, W. Reserve Un., March 16, 1882.
WV. R. Poole, Donegal, Ecl. Col. of Cinn., Nov. 19, 1879. J. A. Peebles, Youngtown, Cinn. Col. of M. & S., Feb. 26, 1885. James K. Park, Manor, W. Reserve Med. Col., March 1, 1852.
T. P. Painter, Irwin, Jefferson Med. Col., April 5, 1887. N. W. Patton, Smithton, Jefferson Med. Col., March 29, 1884. Frederick H. Patton, W. Newton, Jefferson Med. Col., March 10, 1866. George Parks, Murrysville, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 4, 1879. W. D. Pfontz, Irwin, filed statement, Oct. 22, 1887.
W. L. Plotner, Mt. Pleasant, W. Pa. Med. Col., March 22, 1888.
F. L. Portzer, Greensburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 22, 1888.
C. C. Porter, Greensburg, Jefferson Med. Col., April 4, 1888. S. C. Pigman, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Med. Col., March 12, 1879. M. Patterson, Greensburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., Aug. 5, 1887.
E. E. Patton, New Kensington, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 28, 1889. W. F. Peairs, Suterville, Col. of P. & S., Bal.
W. F. Peairs, Suterville, filed statement, March, 1893. L. J. Petz, Latrobe, Phila, Un. of Med., Feb. 11, 1879.
Wilson J. Rugh, Franklin Twp., Columbus Med. Col., Feb. 27, 1877. Joseph H. Richie, West Newton, W. Reserve Med. Col., Feb. 10, 1867. Alexander J. Rogers, Scottdale, filed statement, 1871.
John Q. Robinson, West Newton, Un. of N. Y. City, 1849. John E. Rigg, Stonerville, Col. of P. & S., Bal., March 4, 1879. Jacob Welty Rugh, New Alexandria, Jefferson Med. Col., March 8, 1851. Joseph Robertson, Rostraver Twp., Columbus Med .Col., March 3, 1881. C. G. Robinson, Jeannette, Cleveland Med. Col., June 24, 1897. L. W. Raison, Foxburg, Ohio Med. Col., March, 1884. L. T. Russell, Ruffsadle, Physio-Med. Inst., O., Feb. 27, 1882.
C. B. Rugh, New Alexandria, Jefferson Med. Col., April 2, 1885.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
J. H. Ringer, Salem, W. Pa. Med. Col., March 22, 1888.
J. Q. Robinson, West Newton, Wash. & Jeff. Col., 1893.
Albert W. Strickler, Scottdale, Jefferson Med. Col., March 9, 1871. Bernard C. Seaton, Bolivar, Jefferson Med. Col., March 12, 1873. Millard Sowash, Irwin, Jefferson Med. Col., March II, 1874.
Lewis T. Smith, Pleasant Unity, Jefferson Med. Col., March 4, 1876. Uriah M. Snyder, New Salem, Bellevue Hos. Col., N. Y., March 1, 1872. Samuel S. Stewart, Stewarts Sta., Jefferson Med. Col., March 9, 1861. N. E. Silsley, Scottdale, U. of Pa., June 16, 1894. Chas. E. Snyder, S. Greensburg, Bellevue Hos. Col., N. Y., 1894. H. J. Stauffer, Jeannette, Jefferson Med. Col., July, 1895. M. A. Sutton, Avonmore, W. Pa. Med. Col., July 18, 1895. L. B. R. Smith, Jeannette, U. of N. Y. City, July 18, 1895 C. C. Sandels, Jeannette, W. Pa. Med. Col., July 20, 1896. Chas. M. Sloan, Madison, W. Pa. Med. Col., July 28, 1897 E. W. Steens, Jacobs Creek, Bal. Col. of P. & S., Dec 13, 1899. J. E. Stute, Stewarts Sta., W. Pa. Med. Col., July 28, 1897. Thomas St. Clair, Latrobe, W. Pa. Med. Col., July 31, 1901 F. R. Shoemaker, Jeannette, Med. Chi. Col., Jan. 18, 1895. Nannie M. Sloan, Latrobe, Ecl. Med. Ins., June 24, 1899. H. J. Stockberger, Greensburg, W. U. of Pa., Sept. 12, 1904. J. P. Strickler, Scottdale, Jefferson Med. Col., May 15, 1901. G. W. Sherbins, Scottdale, Pul .- Med. Col., O., June 4, 1878. J. G. Stewart, Markle, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 1, 1882 G. S. Sutton, Mendon, Jefferson Med. Col., April 2, 1883. L. V. Sutton, Webster, Un. of N. Y. City, March 13, 1883. J. H. Scroggs, Cook Twp., filed statement, Feb. 10, 1884. O. T. Stauffer, Mt. Pleasant, Western Reserve Un., Feb. 28, 1883. Wm. F. Sheridan, Stewarts Sta., Jefferson Med. Col., March 13, 1871.
A. S. Sherrick, Ruffsdale, W. Reserve Col., Feb. 25, 1885.
L. C. Shecengort, Rural, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 15, 1886. J. W. Shelor, Stonerville, Long Island Col., June 2, 1886. J. W. Shelr, Stonerville, Long Island Col., June 2, 1886. L. Seaton, Stauffer, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 15, 1886. P. J. Stauffer, Mt. Pleasant, Ecl. Med. Inst., Jan. 19, 1876. F. M. Stone, Ruffsdale, Jeff. Med. Col., March 11, 1875. J. S. Silvis, Hempfield Twp., Western Pa. Med. Col., March 27, 1890.
J. L. Shields, Derry, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 27, 1890. E. K. Strawn, Madison, Ft. Wayne Med. Col., March, 1880. H. W. Sweigert, Whitney, Un. of N. Y. City, March 27, 1890. Chas. H. Schock, Med. Chi. Col. of Pa., April, 1887. John D. Shull, Derry, Col. of P. & S., Feb. 28, 1887. W. N. Smith, Youngstown, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 24, 1892. E. C. Stuart, New Kensington, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 15, 1887. A. H. Stewart, Greensburg, Jefferson Med. Col., April 27, 1892.
H. C. Shipley, Greensburg, Winchester Med. Col., May 29, 1849.
D. E. Sloan, Greensburg, filed statement, March 27, 1893. C. A. Shirely, Manor, U. of Pa., May 10, 1893. W. Stengel, Jeannette, Mia. Med. Col., 1884.
Lewis Sutton, Mendon, Jefferson Med. Col., March 29, 1848. Theo. Schenider, New Kensington, Med. Col., Berlin, Gmy., 1867.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Jacob Sell, Greensburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 28, 1889.
James Taylor, West Fairfield, Jefferson Med. Col., March 8, 1851.
Jacob S. Taylor, West Fairfield, Elec. In. of Cinn., June 7, 1881.
Amos O. Taylor, New Salem, Ecl. Med. Col., Dec. 29, 1879.
Enoch W. Townsend, Greensburg, Hom. Med. Col., Cle., Feb. 19, 1853. Darwin D. Taylor, Irwin, filed statement.
John C. Taylor, Irwin, filed statement.
H. W. Tittle, New Florence, Western U. of P., July 18, 1895.
J. R. Tillbrook, Claridge, Western U. of P., Dec., 1901.
D. O. Todd, Stewarts Station, July 20, 1896.
J. R. Thompson, Monnessen, U. of Pa., 1894.
William H. Tassell, Scottdale, Bal. Col. of P. & S., 1880. Chas. E. Taylor, Irwin, Un. of N. Y. City, March 1, 1882. William H. Taylor, Irwin, Un. of N. Y. City, March II, 1884.
J. M. Taylor, West Fairfield, Bal. Col. of P. & S., April 2, 1885.
L. C. Thomas, Bradenville, Med. Col. of P. & S., March, 1887.
W. K. Trittle, Jefferson Med. Col., June, 1872.
D. R. Torrence, Scottdale, Jefferson Med. Col., March 22, 1879.
M. F. Toner, Derry, Jefferson Med. Col., March 2, 1893.
H. C. Updegraff, Bolivar, U. of Pa., July 22, 1899.
Bennett H. Van Kirk, West Newton, Jefferson Med. Col., March 12, 1869. G. M. Van Dyke, West Newton, Jefferson Med. Col., April 4, 1888. William Vogel, New Kensington, filed statement, 1893.
David Emmett Welsh, Latrobe, Jefferson Med. Col., March 12, 1878. Frank J. Wethington, Livermore, Long Island Col. Hos., June 6, 1876. S. G. Wertz, Greensburg, Un. of Michigan, July 18, 1895.
V. J. McC. White, New Kensington, Jefferson Med. Col. July 20, 1896. S. S. Willson, Kecksburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., July 20, 1896. A. Waide, Scottdale, Med. Col. of Ind., June 24, 1899.
W. J. Walker, Greensburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., July 30, 1900.
S. J. Wireback, Monessen, U. of Pa., March 14, 1866.
J. C. Wakefield, Grapeville, Western Reserve Col., 1818. R. S. Whitworth, Donegal, Jefferson Med. Col., 1877.
E. P. Weddell, Hawkins Sta., Western Reserve Col., 1894. W. R. Wilson, Mt. Pleasant, Ecl. Med. Col., June, 1884.
J. S. Watt, La Colle, Jefferson Med. Col., March 7, 1881.
F. McFerren Walker, Manor, U. of Pa., March 12, 1874.
B. F. Walker, Ligonier, Jefferson Med. Col., April 2, 1885.
A. J. Wilson, Glenhope, U. of Pa., March 22, 1876.
E. E. Wible, Greensburg, Western Pa. Med. Col., March 26, 1891.
A. G. Young, Delmont, Jefferson Med. Col., 1892.
WV. K. Young, Greensburg, Bal. Col. of P. & S., March 1, 1881.
CHAPTER XXV
Westmoreland Press.
For more than a quarter of a century after the formation of the county there was no newspaper published within our present limits. On July 26, 1786, the Pittsburgh Gazette was first issued by John Scull and Joseph Hall. Pittsburgh was then in Westmoreland county, and all of our county printing was done there. Prior to that there had been no printing press in western Pennsylvania. All county matter, sale bills, writs, etc., were written with a pen. Even after the establishment of the Gazette our public printing was probably very limited. The Gazette had undoubtedly a very meager circulation in our county.
The Farmers' Register was the first paper published in Greensburg. It was issued and edited by John M. Snowden and William McCorkle, and its first issue was May 24, 1799. The editor, Snowden, was a native of Philadel- phia, and did not prosper here, though he remained in the business ten years. In 1808 he sold his paper to W. S. Graham. Snowden remained here for some years afterwards, and filled various offices in the county. He then removed to Pittsburgh and took upon himself the management of the Sunday Mercury, which was the legitimate ancestor of the Pittsburgh Post. Snowden was a professional printer and editor. He was a relative of the Laird family, which has since given several generations to the newspaper work in Westmoreland county.
The Farmers' Register, under the management of Graham, became The Greensburg and Indiana Register, and still later The Westmoreland and Indi- ana Register. It then served both counties, and until after 1811 was the only means of advertising in either of them. The name of the paper was not very material in those days. The name was set up in large type, and occasionally, when job work was very brisk, they ran out of certain large letters and had to change the name of the paper to suit the letters remaining. This happened on July 9, 1812, and the editor very innocently explains the event by saying in his editorial that, being disappointed in receiving the proper type, he had to change
396
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
the name of the paper from Westmoreland and Indiana Register to Greensburg and Indiana Register. This was perhaps more of an evidence of a thrifty job printing business then than it would be now. The Register, be it Greensburg or Westmoreland, was a very neat sheet for the times. The few old copies preserved are much better in paper, type and general make-up than one would expect in that early day. Though yellowed by nearly a hundred years, they are still bright to the eye, and easily read. They were printed on paper made by the Markles, or by Markle and Doum, after they began the paper business on the Sewickley in about 1811. The Register was 91/2 by 13 inches. There were four of these pages, and four columns on each page. Every inch almost of available space was utilized by printed matter. The price was $2.25 per year. In their columns they had news of Congress, European news, and a good deal of war news during the War of 1812. In one issue was printed an address by Thomas Jefferson ; a report of the trial of Aaron Burr for treason, then going on in Richmond; and the first news of a battle gained in Europe by Napoleon Bonaparte. No newspaper man of today would publish such im- portant matters in the subdued style the editors adopted then.
In almost every issue for years is a standing offer to take rags at the highest market price in payment for the paper. The publisher, in turn, we need hardly say, traded the rags to the paper maker for paper, illustrating the old method of barter, when money was scarce. There were few editorials in those days. Many issues had political articles written by outsiders under assumed names ; perhaps in some instances the outsider was the editor himself. In a week or so the article would likely be answered by another writer under a nom de plume. Prominent men like Findley, who was then in Congress, frequently reached their constituents by letters to the paper. Findley's letters were often written from Washington. Politics or material of that nature filled from six to eight col- umns each week. Findley wrote so much for the Register that many blamed him for having an interest in it. This was intended to injure him, or rather to weaken the paper in its support of him.
Graham was a publisher as well as an editor, and often printed and published small books, such as the "Constitution of the United States," "Watts' Hymns," etc. In some way he had them bound in sheep and bound very neatly for that age of book-making. He also, like most country editors, kept a small assort- ment of books, papers, etc., for sale.
As the years go by, the paper assumes more life, and in 1812 they began to advertise patent medicines. "The Elixir of Perpetual Adolescence," and the "Modern Anti-Bilious Compound" are the leading curatives of that day. The paper also gave a sure cure for the bite of a mad dog, and told in very matter-of- fact way, of the hanging of eight negroes at one time in the south. They were not news-gatherers at all as our papers are now ; they published almost nothing about the local happenings of the town and county. No one can learn anything from their columns as to what manner of a town we had then, nor what was going on here at home. Houses were built, the court house was completed
397
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and occupied, marriages took place and prominent citizens died, and not a word was printed about such incidents. The inference is that the people wanted foreign news, which most of them could get in no other way, while the home happenings they could learn from each other. In those days there were no mails throughout the county. The editor delivered his paper in the town him- self, and he sent it out over the county the best way he could. The editor usually tried to have a number of subscribers in one community, so that he could send a package of papers with some home-going citizen to leave them at a cross-roads store, where each patron could call for his paper. When the first regular mail route was established from Greensburg to Bedford in 1812, the Register announced with great joy that subscribers on the route could have their papers delivered regularly by the mail carrier. The enterprising editor and publisher died in 1815, and his widow carried on the paper for a few years, when she sold it to new proprietors, who, in turn, changed its name. The Register was, as its original name indicated, a farmer's paper. It had a little political leaning, but very little. It has had many names and many editors, but it is still in existence, and is now popularly known as the Westmoreland Democrat.
In 1811 the Federalists started a paper in Greensburg called the Greens- burg Gazette. This was done so that their political organization might have a mouth-piece. The Federalist paper seeming to succeed, in 1818 the Democrats got together and purchased the old Register. Frederick A. Wise was made managing editor, and the paper came out in 1819 as the Westmoreland Repub- lican and Farmers' Chronicle, for they were evidently not afraid of long names. Wise had been born and brought up in Greensburg, but for some years he had been a printer in Baltimore. On coming here he made a contract with the own- ers that when he should pay a certain price, most likely the original cost of the establishment, he was to become sole owner of the organ. He thus gained the ownership of it, and continued to edit it till 1830, when he sold it to Joseph Russell. In 1841 Mr. Russell formed a partnership with David K. Marchant, a printer by trade, who became sole owner in 1844, and continued its publica- tion till 1856, when he sold an interest to Andrew Graham. In 1861 Graham became sole owner and proprietor by purchase, and sold it January 1, 1862, to James F. Campbell & Company. They changed its name to the Westmorciand Republican. In January, 1863, William A. Stokes, a prominent lawyer who had come here from Philadelphia, purchased it entirely, for he was a part owner before, under the firm name of James F. Campbell & Co. Stokes was a very able man whether at the bar, in a public address, or with the pen. He had formerly written a great deal for it, and was on all hands regarded as a most pungent and eloquent writer. He published it till 1864, when he sold it to W. W. Keenan, who by this time owned the Greensburg Democrat. Under Mr. Keenan's administration the two papers were combined, and by their union was formed the Westmoreland Democrat, which is yet published in Greensburg.
398
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
The Greensburg Democrat was first published by Edward J. Keenan and John Klingensmith, Jr., and made its appearance on November 18, 1853. This paper was founded to give expression to those who favored the renomination and election of William Bigler a second time to the governorship of Pennsyl- vania. It heartily and ably endorsed his administration. The other papers, though Democratic organs, were opposed to his re-election. The editors were both prominent Democrats, and closely associated with the politics of the county. They made the Democrat a bright, sparkling paper indeed. Mr. Klingensmith died in 1854, and Keenan became sole owner. In 1857 his brother, W. W. Keenan, became editor and manager, under the name of E. J. Keenan & Bro. In June, 1858, James Keenan & Co. purchased it. James Keenan was at that time United States consul at Hong Kong, China. He was also a member of the Westmoreland bar, and a more extended notice of his character and attainments is given among the special biographies of the county, later on in this work. The paper was still published by the brothers here. James Keenan died in 1862. E. J. Keenan was then in the United States army, and W. W. Keenan managed the paper. E. J. Keenan was one of the ablest newspaper men who ever came to Greensburg. He was very zealous in advocating his cause, be it whatever it may, and was extremely bitter against his opponents. He was assailed on all sides, but his paper grew more promi- nent with each issue. The editorial against William A. Cook, an attorney of much prominence here who left the Democratic party in 1854 and joined the Know-Nothings, has been written of as one of the severest articles ever pub- lished in the state. A libel suit against the editor followed, but the verdict was only six and a fourth cents. The edition of his paper of July 13, 1859, was aimed at Simon Cameron and his political friends. It was illustrated with many ingenious wood cuts, and for that day shows a high order of newspaper art. Mr. Keenan always used good English, and was a natural newspaper man. He was an editor before he was twenty-one years old, and was more or less con- nected with the newspaper business all his life. In private life he was a most genial and companionable man, and had always many friends. Notwithstand- ing his bitter pen, when he chose to wield it, he was always open-hearted, gen- erous and forgiving. On the death of James Keenan, in 1862, Alexander Alli- son purchased his interest, and in 1863 Allison retired, when W. W. Keenan became sole owner.
In 1864 W. W. Keenan, proprietor of the Democrat, purchased the Repub- lican from Mr. Stokes, and thereafter he and E. J. Keenan published the Re- publican and Democrat till 1871, when Kline & Co. purchased it and assumed proprietorship on January 1, 1872. The firm was composed of Dr. W. J. K. Kline and Silas A. Kline. On October 1, 1873, Silas A. Kline sold his interest to A. B. Kline, who as Kline & Brother published the paper, but changed its name by dropping the word "Republican." They continued its publication till November 22, 1882, when it was again sold to B. F. Vogle and T. R. Winsheimer, by whom the paper has since been and is now published.
399
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
The Tribune and Herald of today really dates back to 1811, when, as we said, the Greensburg Gazette was started as the organ of the Federalist party. David McLean was then the editor, and was succeeded by Frederick J. Cope in 1822. McLean moved to Pittsburgh after selling to Mr. Cope. The early Gazette was a four-column sheet, and so remained till 1823. Paper was then scarce and expensive, and the proprietors wasted no space with flaming head- lines. The original Gazette was 18 by II1/2 inches, with not quite a half-inch of margin around the printed columns. On the last page of each issue was a new feature, a story of romantic character under such titles as "The Pirate's Treason," "The Count's Secret," "The Mystery of the Castle," etc. It also gave some local news, but very little. The province of the Gazette politically was to oppose the Republican. It favored the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency, but it will be remembered that the Federalists claimed him for years before his election, and many of them voted for him in 1828. When he. was supported by the Democrat-Republican party, it opposed him bitterly. This paper, or its editor, also published and bound books and kept a miniature book store. Among the publications of the Gazette in 1824 was "Divine Breath- ings, or a Pious Soul Thirsting After Christ in One Hundred Pathetick Medi- tations, etc., to contain 128 pages, 160. . Price 371/2 cents, full bound and gilded."
The Gazette of March 25, 1824, has a picture representing a railroad engine and three cars laden with coal. Three columns are devoted to a description of this wonderfully designed motive power then recently introduced in England. The editor thought it wonderful that three cars carrying as much as fifty tons of coal could be transported by one engine twelve or fourteen miles per hour. He sadly informed his readers, however, that it will be impossible ever to in- troduce such a method of transportation here in Westmoreland, because of the hills. "It would require," wrote the editor, "too many engines to pull the cars over the hills. It can never be used near Greensburg because of the hills, for we are situated on one and surrounded by them on all sides." Yet the editor, Frederick J. Cope, lived in Greensburg till he saw railroads all around the town and crossing all the chains of high mountains in the United States. He saw one engine transporting hundreds of tons of coal at a greater speed than four- teen miles per hour. He owned the farm north of Greensburg patented to Captain Joseph Brownlee, who was killed by the Indians, July 13, 1782. He was born in Greensburg in 1801, and died in 1882. In his later years he con- tributed much useful material on educational and agricultural subjects to the press of Western Pennsylvania.
In 1828, February Ist, the Gazette was sold by Mr. Cope to John Black & Son. It then became the Greensburg Gazette. In 1829 the Federalist party was gone, and the paper became Anti-Masonic. Mr. Black, the father, retired in 1832, and his son changed the name of the paper to the Westmoreland In- telligencer. Not long after this Mr. Black, Jr., died, and the Intelligencer was purchased by R. C. Fleeson, who had been one of the proprietors of the Pitts-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
burgh Dispatch. Then it passed to John Ramsey, and in 1839 was purchased by John Armstrong, the father of the late John and Colonel James Armstrong. The elder Armstrong and his son, James, edited it for over ten years. In 1840 a new paper called the Sentinel was started in Greensburg, of which John F. Beaver, a noted member of the bar, was the leading spirit, and a man named Row was editor. That was the year of the greatest political campaign in our history, and the Sentinel was started largely because of it. It was not success- ful, and shortly after the campaign was over it was purchased by the Arm- strongs, who merged it with the Intelligencer. In November, 1850, they sold it to D. W. Shryock, who came here from Salem township and began its publica- tion. In 1854, during the Know-Nothing campaign, its name was changed to the American Herald, and still later to the Greensburg Herald. For many years it remained the chief organ here of the Whig and later of the Republican party. Mr. Shryock is yet most favorably remembered by the people of Westmoreland county. He was an open-hearted man, of good ability, and always published a neat, readable paper. In 1860 he was a member of the National Republican Convention in Chicago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and afterward he was appointed internal revenue collector for this congres- sional district. Later he was unsuccessfully engaged in the banking business, and lost the entire earnings of a lifetime.
In 1870 J. R. McAfee founded the Tribune in opposition to the Herald. Messrs. D. S. Atkinson and T. J. Weddell then purchased the Herald from Mr. Shryock, and shortly afterward united it with the Tribune, forming the Tribune and Herald. Some years later the corps of editors was changed by John M. Peoples taking the place of Mr. Weddell, and still later, William C. Peoples took the place made vacant by the death of his brother, John M. Peo- ples. All the proprietors of this paper since the retirement of Mr. Shryock have been members of the bar. The paper is now incorporated under the name of the Tribune Publishing Company. It publishes both a weekly and daily edition, and has a large circulation.
The Pennsylvania Argus is the oldest of all Westmoreland papers, if con- fined to one paper or to one name. It was founded in 1831 by Jacob Steck and George Rippey. It has always prided itself on pouring forth pure, un- adulterated Democracy.
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