History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 99

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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548

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1885 described his coming to Lewisberry in 1819 and starting a school there. As a rep- resentative of the Bible and Sunday School Society, he frequently distributed bibles free to persons in the county worthy of such charity. Sad to relate, this enthusiastic worker in the cause of christian charity and great advocate of spreading the truths of the Gospel, died of a fever at an English settlement in Cape Shilling, on the coast of Africa, May 3, 1820, at the age of thirty- eight years. He had been sent there but a few months before by the American Coloni- zation Society as their representative.

and study of them, did effective work. The combined efforts of all · denominations seemed to harmonize as well as was antici- pated.

In the original school at York all the teaching was done in the English language. The precise location of all the schools in the county established in 1818 and 1819 cannot now be definitely stated. The exer- cises in some of them were in German. In the tenth quarterly report made by Mr. Bacon, the following places were mentioned as having schools, and as having been sup- plied with books: Dover, Lower Chance- ford, Stewartstown, Shrewsbury, Hanover, Cross Roads in Hopewell, Wellshoffer's School House in Hellam, Liverpool, Bald Hills, Friends' Meeting House in Warring- ton, Newberrytown, York Haven, New Hol- land and New Market.

The In the spring of 1819, a number of women of the borough of York Society. joined the first school in the Acad- emy. This was a new era in its history and greatly increased its member- ship. This school became a center of in- terest in York, and for a number of years There are still some union schools Church prospering in York County, but most of them are denominational schools. In 1824 the congrega- tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church was the first to leave the general organization in York and start a Sunday School in their It has ever since maintained a prosperous existence. St. John's Episcopal was the only one in the town. It was in January, 1820, that Rev. Bacon left York Schools. for Africa, as he was the representative head of the society, although its president for only one year. Of the first organization William Doll was secretary and William Jones, librarian. In the year 1819 the Bible church. and Sunday School Society elected Rev. George Geistweit, president: Revs. J. G. Church followed in 1826, the English branch Schmucker, Robert Cathcart and Constan- of the Reformed Church in 1828, the First Lutheran in January, 1829, the Moravians in 1836, St. Paul's Lutheran in 1836, and the Presbyterians in the year 1838. The First Lutheran, under Rev. Dr. Lochman, and Zion Lutheran, under Rev. Mr. Lilly, united their fortunes together at the time of the separate organization. tine Miller, vice-presidents : William Barber, treasurer, and Samuel Bacon, secretary. Regular quarterly meetings were held and reports read of the progress of the work. Samuel Bacon made his tenth and last re- port to the society, which met in St. John's Episcopal Church, October, 1819, at which time it was stated that 2,000 pupils in York In 1842 the Evangelical Association in York organized a Sabbath school of their own. In 1843 the United Brethren fol- lowed their example, the Baptist in 1853, the Union Lutheran west of the Codorus in 1860, the Zion Reformed in 1864, the Meth- odist Episcopal Chapel Mission in 1861, the Trinity Chapel Mission in 1861, St. Luke's Mission in 1862, and Trinity Reformed in 1867. None of these belonged to the orig- inal organization, but organized as separate and distinct schools under the auspices and direction of their several churches. The African Methodist Episcopal Church of York established a Sabbath school as far back as the year 1820, under their own im- mediate care and supervision. County belonged to the twenty-six Sunday Schools then formed. In the spring of 1822, an election was held at which the following officers were chosen: Rev. Robert Cath- cart, D. D., of the Presbyterian Church, president ; Rev. Dr. Lewis Mayer and Rev. Geistweit, of the Reformed Church, vice- presidents ; William Barber, treasurer; Jacob Eichelberger, secretary; Rev. Con- stantine Miller, C. Prettyman, Philip J. King, Andrew Cramer, Jonathan Jessop and William Nes, managers. The quarterly meetings were held in the different churches of York. For a number of years this so- ciety, with the double design of circulating the Scriptures and encouraging the reading

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CHAPTER XXXI THE PRINTING PRESS

Franklin's Press-Pennsylvania Herald- The York Republican-Democratic Press -Gazette-Daily-True Democrat-Dis- patch-Hanover Journalism.

The art of printing was introduced into York during the Revolution. October 17, press. 1777, about two weeks after Continental Congress removed here from Philadelphia, that body adopted a resolution, "That the Committee of Intelligence be authorized to take the most speedy and effectual measures for getting a printing press erected in York- town for the purpose of conveying to the public the intelligence that Congress might from time to time receive."

destroyed, consequently the continental cur- rency bills printed at York are the rarest in existence.

After the removal of the Gazette

First office to Philadelphia there was no Local paper published in York until

Papers. 1787, when Matthias Bartgis and T. Roberts established a printing In the month of October they pub- lished the first number of their paper which was entitled the Pennsylvania Chronicle and York Weekly Advertiser. This paper was continued about two years, when the press, types, etc., were removed to Harrisburg.

The next paper published in York was the Pennsylvania Herald and York General Advertiser. The first number was issued by James and John Edie and Henry Wilcocks. Soon after the passage of this on January 7, 1789. The types employed Franklin's resolution, the printing press of Press. Hall and Sellers, of Philadel- phia, which had previously be- in the printing of the Herald were cast in Philadelphia by Mr. Bane, a gentleman who was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland. The longed to Benjamin Franklin, was brought press was made in York under the direction to York. This press had been taken to of Henry Wilcocks, the iron work being Bethlehem when the American army evacu- ated Philadelphia. It was kept there for a few days until its removal to York. The Pennsylvania Gazette, which had been pub- lished in Philadelphia, was also brought here and during the nine months that Con- ship.

executed by Jacob Small. The printing ink of the first issue was manufactured in Ger- mantown. The Herald preserved its title for about eleven years, though from 1789 to 1800 it underwent some changes in owner- Files of this paper excepting two gress held its sessions in York was the or- years are in the possession of the York gan of that body. Files of this paper for County Historical Society.

that period are now in the possession of the State Library at Harrisburg and the original printing press used by Benjamin Franklin and Hall and Sellers is owned by the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania at Philadel- phia. It was upon this press that the Dec- laration of Independence was first printed, Until the year 1796 there had not been two papers published in York at the same time. In the spring of that year, Solomon Meyer commenced the publication of a paper entitled Die York Gazette. This was the first paper printed in York County in the German language. It afterward passsed soon after its adoption in 1776. When the into the hands of Christian Schlichting, un- press was brought to York it was set up in der whom it ended in 1804. In that year a building at the southwest corner of Market the press, types, etc., were purchased by and Beaver Streets, and there the Pennsyl- Daniel Heckert, by whom they were sold vania Gazette was published. This build- to Stark and Lange of Hanover.

April II, 1778, Congress passed a resolu- tion "that five millions of dollars be emit-

ing was then and until 1817 owned by The paper next published in the borough Major John Clark, a hero of the Revolution. of York was Der Volks Verichter, the first

number of which was issued by Andrew Billmeyer on July 25, 1799. This paper con- ted in bills of credit on the faith of the tinued four years. Andrew Billmeyer also United States." This money was printed published a number of books.

on the Hall and Sellers press at York in denominations of four, five, six, seven, eight, twenty, thirty and forty dollars. These Republican.

In the year 1800, John Edie

The took Robert McClellan as partner and changing the name of the Herald they com-

bills it is claimed were afterwards counter- feited and the government ordered them all menced a new paper entitled the Recorder.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

This journal was a continuation of the Her- years. The German Reformed Magazine, ald; its first number was issued January 29, the organ of the theological seminary, was removed to York in 1828, and remained here until the removal of that institution. 1800. The Recorder continued until 1830. The last editor was Samuel Wagner. The establishment passed into the hands of Thomas C. Hambly, by whom a paper was published at first called the York Repub- lican and afterward the Pennsylvania Re- publican. Mr. Hambly transferred it in 1834 to Samuel E. Clement.

In the same year, Thomas E. Cochran, who afterward became one of the leaders of the York County Bar, moved from Colum- bia to York. He became editor of the York Republican and soon afterward his brother, John Cochran, and himself purchased the paper and conducted it as one of the most enterprising and progressive Whig papers in the state of Pennsylvania. The Coch- rans owned the paper, which had reached a wide circulation, for many years, and Thomas E. Cochran continued to be its political editor until 1864. While he held the office of auditor general of Pennsylvania D. F. Williams, of York, was the editor.

Shay. It was conducted by the for- mer alone for a time. In 1858 it was pur- chased by Horace Bonham. In 1860, Sam- uel H. Spangler became one of the owners of the paper. The Recorder, a daily paper, was issued from this office for six months during 1861. The Republican was after- ward published by Lewis Smyser, J. Shelley Boyer, S. I. Adams, A. H. Chase and H. S. McNair. In 1883, when it ceased publica- tion, it had nearly reached its one hundredthi anniversary, and was always a highly prized journal. A destructive fire had destroyed its valuable files in 1879.

In May, 1808, the first number of the Ex- positor was issued, a weekly paper printed and published every Thursday by Daniel Heckert and Daniel Updegraff. The Ex- positor was continued until August, 1814, when both editors suddenly relinquished their employment and enlisted as soldiers in the second war with England. After their return from the battle of North Point, whither they had marched as volunteers, they did not resume the publication of the Expositor. In August, 1810, a monthly lit- erary periodical, the Village Museum, was started by P. Hardt, and continued four

In the year 1815, a new German paper called Der Union's Freund, was commenced in York, the first number of which was is- sued on January 19, 1815, by Charles T. Melsheimer and James Lewis, at that time joint editors of the York Recorder. This paper was continued nearly two years. The last number was issued in October, 1816.

Der Wahre Republicaner was the third German paper printed in York, its first issue being on February 20, 1805. This paper, which was a continuation of the Verichter, or rather a revival of it, was at first pub- lished by Schlichting and Billmeyer, after- ward by Billmeyer alone until his death in 1828. Shortly after Billmeyer's death, the establishment was purchased by Samuel Wagner, at that time editor of the York Recorder, who from then until the year 1830 published an English and German

In 1850, the Republican came into paper, the latter of which bore the title of the possession of S. J. and W. C. Der Republicanishe Herald.

When Samuel Wagner transferred the York Recorder to Thomas C. Hambly, he sold the Republicanische Herald to Gloss- brenner and May, by whom the paper was published for about two months, when Glossbrenner transferred his share of it to Benjamin Flory, and the paper was pub- lished by May and Flory for about one year, when it was bought by Thomas C. Hambly, and united to the establishment of the York Republican.

The People's Advocate, founded in 1844, when Henry Clay was nominated for Presi- dent of the United States, was an ardent Whig paper published at York from 1844 to 1856. Its editor was G. Christopher Stair, a man of fine education and literary culture.

Die Evangelical Zeitung, edited by Rev. John H. Dreyer, began in 1828. It lasted two years. In 1830, the Harbinger, an English paper, which originated in Shrews- bury, this county, was removed to York by its editor, William C. Smythe. It existed for a number of years. The York County Farmer first appeared in December, 1831. It was printed in the English language and was edited by A. J. Glossbrenner. It was

5,5 I

THE PRINTING PRESS

discontinued at the end of the second year. cratic Press. In 1852, he was appointed An agricultural paper was published in Lew- state agent of the Philadelphia and Colum- isberry during the year 1835, and a German bia Railroad and held that position until paper existed for two years in the village of this road became the property of the Penn- Jefferson, beginning in 1834.

The Democratic Press was estab- The lished in June, 1838, by an associa- Press. tion of men for the purpose of oppos- ing the erection of the county Court House upon the site of the present one. The Press was started under the editorial control of Thomas Loyd, who was an able writer, but unfortunately it only remained under his charge six months, in consequence of a misunderstanding among its stock- holders, on account of his strong opposition to Charles A. Barnitz, the Whig candidate for Congress that year. Mr. Loyd not being permitted to take as strong sides for the Democratic candidate as he desired, withdrew from the editorship. The paper remained under the control of the stock- holders, with Dr. T. N. Haller as its chief, until June, 1839, when Samuel Wehrly and Oliver Stuck became its owners and for a year or more thereafter, Albert C. Ramsay was its editor. It was published by Wehrly and Stuck until March, 1845, when Wehrly disposed of his interest to F. E. Bailey, who died a few weeks later. In April following D. F. Williams purchased Bailey's interest. The paper was then published by Williams and Stuck until October, 1855, when Oliver Stuck bought Mr. Williams' interest.

The Democratic Press, under the efficient editorial and business management of Oliver Stuck until his death, was a good local journal and excellent family news- paper with a wide circulation. The files of this paper since its first publication are now in the possession of the York Gazette Com- pany. In 1901 the Press was purchased by the owners of the Gazette, under whose management it was issued as a daily for three years.

OLIVER STUCK, proprietor of the Democratic Press, active and influential with the Democracy of York County for thirty years, was born at York, September 19, 1817. His education was largely ac-

sylvania Railroad Company, in 1857. Meantime, he retained his position as half owner of the Democratic Press, of which he became sole proprietor in 1855. He then devoted his attention until the time of his retirement to building up the interests of his journal, one of the best family news- papers in York County. From 1881 to 1884 he was register of wills for York County. He died at York, February 3, 1890.

His son, Edward Stuck, succeeded in the editorial management of the Press and later founded The Age. He served as state li- brarian during Pattison's administration as governor of Pennsylvania.

The American Protectionist was pub- lished for a few months of the year 1855 by Richard J. Haldeman, afterward a repre- sentative in Congress from the York Dis- trict. It was succeeded by the American Eagle, an organ of the American Party, owned and edited by Henry F. Thomas. He continued the paper as a vigorous journal for a year.

The American Lutheran, a religious paper, was removed to York by Rev. Peter Anstadt, D. D., in 1871, and continued until 1876. Later Dr. Anstadt published the Teachers' Journal, a Sunday School paper which soon reached a large circula- tion. In 1875, he started the Lesson Quar- terly. Both these papers have been suc- cessfully conducted by his sons, Henry and Charles P. Anstadt, after the father's death. They also publish books and magazines.

The Evening Telegram, founded Oc- tober, 1873, by George R. Prowell, was the first paper in York County to be connected with the associated press and receive regu- larly the telegraphic news. The paper was continued as a daily journal until 1875, when it ceased publication, at a time when all the industrial establishments except one in York were not in operation, owing to the depressed financial conditions.

The Evening Record was founded by quired in a printing office, entering the Samuel H. Spangler in 1876. This paper was edited by E. Norman Gunnison, who had served as a soldier on General Hooker's

office of the York Gazette, at the age of twelve. He followed the occupation of a printer in York and Harrisburg until 1839, staff in the Civil War, and had acquired a when he became joint owner of the Demo- wide reputation as a poet. At the end of

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

nine months, the paper was discontinued. Daniel Mallo-between the Court House The Age, a Democratic daily journal, was and the post office. This was the first founded by Edward Stuck, in York, Janu- number printed by the new firm. In the ary, 1883, and was published for several years in the office of the Democratic Press. interval the paper had fallen into the hands of a successor to William Harris, who died, He disposed of the paper to an incorporated and whose name is not given, but supposed company, which afterward sold it to the York Gazette Company. to be WV. M. Baxter. On Tuesday, April 11, 1820, it was announced that "the printing

The York Tribune, an enterprising Re- office of the York Gazette will be removed publican daily newspaper, was published in 1884. The Telephone was an interesting monthly journal published for two years by Isaac Rudisill.

The Fountain, a monthly periodical, was started in 1883, by W. H. Shelley, superin- tendent of the York public schools. It was a literary magazine for the general reader and for use as supplementary reading in the public schools. Its publication was con- tinued about six years.

The York Pennsylvanian was started in 1851, in a building at the corner of Market and Duke Streets, where it continued to be published until 1867, when it was removed to the site of the Security, Title and Trust Company building. The original proprietors were Frey and Hunter. Mr. Hunter retired in 1853, and Samuel Wehrly purchased his interest and remained part of the firm for three years, when D. A. Frey became sole proprietor and continued its publication. In 1881, his son, V. K. Frey, became a partner, and continued its pub- lication after his father's death. David A. Frey was an enterprising newspaper man. Under his management the York Pennsyl- vanian reached a large circulation. He purchased a tract in the southeastern sec- tion of York, and laid it off in lots, which he sold with profit.

The publication of the York Ga-

The zette was commenced May 18,

York 1815, by William C. Harris. It was Gazette. published every Thursday, at $2.00 per annum, payable half yearly in advance. The office was located on Market Street next door to the Zion Reformed Church. Copies of the paper now in the office commence with No. 9, Vol. I, dated Thursday, November 30, 1815, to April, 1816. On April 1, 1816, the office was re- moved to South George Street. An omis- sion here occurs in the file, which com- mences Thursday, May 13, 1819, as No. 17, Volume I, printed by Adam King and

this week to the house of James Loyd, be- tween Judge Barnitz's and Presbyterian Church (Zion Reformed), and opposite John Eichelberger's tavern, in Main Street, west of the Court House." The number for April 18, 1820, is volume 3, published by King and Abbott. Abbott succeeded Mallo in the proprietorship. The file leaves off at May 21, and recommences May 6, 1823. May 4, 1824, the partnership of King and Abbott was dissolved, Adam King and Henry Welsh assumed the proprietorship. On September 18, 1827, the office was re- moved to the southwest corner of Market and Beaver Streets. King and Welsh dis- solved partnership April 7, 1829, when Henry Welsh was succeeded by George A. Barnitz, Tuesday, August 7. In April, 1833, the office was removed to the north side of Market Street, a few doors below the York Bank. King and Barnitz dis- solved partnership April 1, 1835. Barnitz was succeeded by Adam J. Glossbrenner. Adam King died May 6, 1835, and was suc- ceeded by David Small, in April, 1836. In September, 1835, the office was removed to the west side of North Beaver Street, op- posite Duncan's hotel. In April, 1836, it was removed to the east side of North Beaver Street, a few doors north of the National Hotel. Another removal took place during the week between the roth and 16th of November, 1847, to East Market Street, in the building of Charles Weiser (now Lehmayer's). April 1, 1858, the sole proprietorship passed into the hands of David Small, who disposed of a half interest to William H. Welsh, son of Henry Welsh, one of the former proprietors. William H. Welsh was succeeded by his brother, John B. Welsh, early in the year 1862, and with David Small constituted the firm of Small and Welsh. The office was removed to the Jordan building, northwest angle of Centre Square, July 25, 1865.

David P. Shultz was an employee in the

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THE PRINTING PRESS

office of the Gazette for a period of nearly hence for lack of patronage Die York Ga- forty years. In 1885, David Small died and zette was discontinued in 1890.

in October, 1886, John B. Welsh, the sur- viving partner, sold the paper and printing office to Adam F. Geesey, who organized the Gazette Printing and Publishing Com- pany, limited, with Stephen G. Boyd and Guy H. Boyd as partners. Under this own- ership, the Gazette continued to be a popu- lar and influential newspaper, of which Stephen G. Boyd was editor. November 9, 1887, the first issue of the daily Gazette was published. 'In 1888, the printing house was removed to the southwest corner of George Street and Mason Alley, to a building formerly the private residence of David Small, and since 1888, the property of Adam F. Geesey. It was upon this site that James

HENRY WELSH, banker and publisher, was born in Hanover, January 13, 1800, son of George Welsh and grandson of Henry Welsh, a captain in the Revolution and a leading citizen of Hanover for half a cen- tury. Early in life Mr. Welsh came to York and acquired a knowledge of mercan- tile affairs in a building in Centre Square.

About the year 1824 he became associ- ated with Adam King in the publication of the York Gazette under the firm name of King and Welsh. He afterwards went to Harrisburg, where he became proprietor of The Reporter and was appointed state printer. In 1834 he returned to York and in connection with Daniel Shriver engaged

Smith, the signer of the Declaration of In- in mercantile business in the building at dependence, had his law office during the the northwest angle of Centre Square. In Revolution. The office was occupied as a 1838 he moved to Philadelphia and in com- place of meeting for the Board of War, pany with William, brother of Simon Cam- when Continental Congress met in York. eron, Daniel Schriver and William E. Ev-

In 1890, Mr. Geesey purchased the entire ans established the large dry goods jobbing interests of the paper, and in 1893, dis- house of Welsh, Cameron and Company. In 1842 he returned to York, which was his place of residence until his death. In 1845 he was appointed naval officer of the port of Philadelphia by President Polk, an office he filled with satisfaction to the public for a term of four years. While in Phila- delphia he took an active part in the organ- ization of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was a director in the York and Wrights- ville Railroad Company and also in the posed of it to A. B. Farquhar, who con- tinued to be publisher and proprietor until 1897, when it was sold to Lemon Love and T. B. G. Hiestand, who organized the busi- ness into a stock company. Mr. Hiestand sold his interest in the newspaper and print- ing office to. Lemon Love in 1903. who con- ducted it as sole proprietor, publishing the weekly Gazette, the daily Gazette, and for a term of three years, the daily edition of the Democratic Press. Meantime, under Northern Central Railroad Company, which the ownership of Love and Hiestand, a position he filled for many years and always

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 99

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372