History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 71

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 71

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All the papers represented in the Tribune and Herald were founded and have been in opposition to the Democratic party. They have been successively Federal, anti-Masonic, Whig, Know-Nothing, Amer- ican, and Republican.

THE PENNSYLVANIA ARGUS.

The Pennsylvania Argus, although in a certain aspect more modern than the other papers just mentioned (which are in a certain sense the representatives of the first two newspapers of Westmoreland), yet in another aspect it is the oldest paper in the county. It still retains the name it was first called, and it has now been edited and managed by the same proprietor (with the co-operation latterly of his sons) from a period dating farther back than the actual existence of any other of the papers named.

The Pennsylvania Argus was established in 1831 by Jacob S. Steck and George Rippy. It was Demo- cratic in politics, and represented as the disaffected of their day " the outs." These had thought that the Westmoreland Republican exhibited a disposition to domineer over the opinions, and to monopolize the patronage of the Democratic party, and thus the establishment of the Argus was regarded as a neces- sity.

The Democratic party at that conjuncture was di- vided on the question of State politics. George Wolf, Democrat, had been elected Governor in 1829 by a very large majority over Joseph Ritner, the Whig and anti-Masonic candidate. In 1832, on an increased vote, the same candidates running, Wolf was elected it is true, but by a very small majority. The friends of Wolf determined to prove that he was still popular as ever, and that he could be, as Simon Snyder had been, elected a third time. But the friends of other candidates protesting they were afraid to take so many chances against Wolf as the nominee of their party,

and being in reality opposed to his candidacy, when the nominating convention was held the friends of one of them, Henry A. Muhlenberg, appeared in such numbers and took such a determined stand that a bitter quarrel ensued, the Democracy divided, and both Muhlenberg and Wolf were nominated, one by each wing of the party. The Whigs and anti-Masons again nominated Joseph Ritner, whom Wolf had twice defeated. The divided Democracy carried on the campaign as if there were no other candidates to elect or defeat but those of the two factions. They denounced the candidates of the opposing faction without stint or mercy, and the opposition they waged against Ritner was mild compared with the opposition they waged against each other. The result was as expected. Ritner was elected, not by a majority but by a plurality vote. One of the most memorable in- cidents of Ritner's administration was the Buckshot war.

In this division of the Democratic party in 1885 the Argus became the friend, advocate, and supporter of Henry A. Muhlenberg. For this reason, long after that campaign, and when its asperities were somewhat forgotten, the Argus was considered by a majority of the party in the county rather heterodox.

After the death of Mr. Rippy, the Argus was con. tinued by Mr. Steck. The establishment becoming involved in pecuniary matters owing to a want of ac. tive support, it was sold at sheriff's sale about 1889, and J. M. Burrell, Esq., afterwards president judge of this district, became the purchaser.

About the middle of the year 1841 the Argus came into the hands of Mesers. Joseph Cort and James Johnston as editors and proprietors, and : Samuel S. Torney as printer and publisher. With the number for May 26, 1843, Mr. Johnston retired from the edi- torial management of the Argus, and the editorial du- ties thenceforth devolved on Mr. Cort until July, 1844. Mr. Cort then sold his interest to Mesers. S. S. Torney (or Turney) and William H. Hacke. The former of these gentlemen was lately the postmaster at Greens- burg, and the latter is foreman of the Tribune and Herald office. The paper was carried on by these gentlemen as editors and proprietors.

The old files of the Argus previously to and up to this time evidence that the paper was heartily com- mitted to the cause of the Democratic party. Some of the political articles of the paper which came from the pen of Mr. Burrell while he was in control were widely circulated, and were met in reply by Horace Greeley in the Log Cabin, one of his first news- paper ventures in New York. Under the control of Messrs. Cort and Johnston the Argus strenuously ad- vocated the nomination to the Presidency of Col. Richard M. Johnston,-he of Kentucky who had killed Tecumseh. The selections for the paper were made with taste and singular discretion, and were not re- stricted to matter of an exclusive partisan character, for the oration of Daniel Webster at the unveiling of

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the Bunker Hill monument, and the remarks of Mr. Clay at the close of his career in the Senate, were given a place as conspicuous as was any other subject matter of general information or instruction.

In 1849, John M. Laird, Esq., purchased the Argus, and since that time it has been under his manage- ment.

Regarding the ancestry or descent, etc., prior to his parentage of the venerable John Moore Laird, of Greensburg, the oldest printer, publisher, and editor (in consecutive years in the craft), reference may be had to the biographical sketch elsewhere in this work of his brother, the Hon. Harrison Perry Laird.1

John M. Laird found in his father a private tutor of rare qualifications, and under him and in the com- mon schools when open he passed the early years of his youth, acquiring a knowledge of geometry and surveying, etc., and finally spent some time in a classi- cal school at Pittsburgh, and in his seventeenth year · was taken into the printing-office of his uncle by marriage, John M. Snowden, of that place, and who established the first paper in Westmoreland County, the Register, toward the close of the last century. There he learned the printer's trade, and after journey- working a while was called to Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, where he conducted a newspaper for three years. He then removed to Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, and became part owner of a paper which he soon bought out, and conducted it alone till his own sick- ness under fever and ague and the death of his wife induced him to return to Pennsylvania in 1881. While at Steubenville, Edwin M. Stanton, a " bright, active boy, a profitable adjunct of the office," and who became the most famous of War Ministers as secretary under Lincoln' and Johnson, entered Mr. Laird's office and learned the printer's trade. Mr. Laird preserves memories of Edwin, which ought to be put in permanent form. Soon after returning to Pennsylvania, Mr. Laird took part in the re-establish- ment of the Pennsylvania Argus, with which he has since continued, and of which he has long been the sole owner; a paper from the beginning Democratic in politics, ever maintaining loyalty to the Constitu- tion, so markedly, indeed, in the times of the late war as to provoke the bitter anathemas of its foes, who in their hot zeal at times threatened to demolish

1 John M. Laird is the latter's oldest brother. Their father and mother, Rev. Francis Laird, D.D., and Mary Moore, were married in April, 1800, and became the parents of eight children, who were born in the order of their names following: John Moore Laird (editor of the Pennsylvania Argus, and connected with that paper for fifty-one years), born Sept. 8, 1802; William, born in December, 1803, died in the fall of 1881 from an injury received from a vicious horse; Jane, born in 1806, and who in- termarried with Zachariah Gammell Stewart. M.D., and died in 1879; Eliza Moore, born 1807, became the wife of James R. Johnson, both dying some years ago, leaving two sons, both of whom have since died; Francis, burn 1809, and now residing at Saltsburg, Indiana County; Harrison Perry Laird, born 1811, a leading lawyer of the Greensburg bar, and present State senator; Robert, born 1813, died in Tennessee in 1845; Mary Moore, born in 1815, intermarried with the Rev. Thomas 8. Lessson, of Brookville, Jefferson Co., Pa.

the ofice in which it was published and kill the editor himself. But while papers or presses lees pronounced in their devotion to the Constitution were suppressed, Mr. Laird's paper remained active, fulminating when and what it would; and here the chronicler discovers an instance of that peculiar concatenation of things which are not always visible to first sight. The printer's apprentice at Steubenville was then but the " makings of the man," who in the times of which we were just speaking wielded the military forces of the land, and stretched out the arms of the govern- ment's protection over whom he would, and he had not forgotten his dear old printer-master, the man who did much to encourage Edwin into a practical career in his young days, and who was his and his father's warm friend.

A peculiar characteristic of Mr. Laird's business sense of propriety, his love of independence in politi- cal action, as well as moral discrimination between his duties to creditors and the public, demande notice here, and is evinced in the fact that whenever, espec- ially in early days, he needed to borrow money to carry on his paper, he always sought persons of the oppos- ing political party as leaders, in order that he might the better preserve the independence of the leaders of the party which he favored, and which might come to think, if its members supplied the " munitions" of his arsenal, that it owned its ordnance, his press, and so had a right to dictate the character of his paper.

For forty years of his life Mr. Laird held the office of justice of the peace, and in the exercise of his magisterial functions was noted for his good offices towards the peaceful adjustment of the contentions which he was called upon to consider. He has also held the offices of coroner and of register and recorder.

Jan. 12, 1830, Mr. Laird married Ellen Marton, of Cadiz, Ohio, who died Aug. 19, 1881, leaving a daughter, Ellen M. Laird, still living, and the wife of G. W. Hanney, of Franklin township, Westmore- land Co.

Sept. 8, 1835, he married Rebecca Moore. She died July 5, 1874, leaving three sons and one daughter. His son William died Nov. 29, 1876, aged thirty-one years. His surviving sons, James Moore Laird and Francis Van Buren Laird, have the chief manage- ment of the Argus newspaper and job-office, the politi- cal character of the Argus being under the exclusive control of the proprietor.

FRANK COWAN'S PAPER.

This journal was founded by Dr. Frank Cowan, who issued his first number May 22, 1872, in folio form, size of sheet being twenty-eight by forty-two inches.

It was devoted to the material interests of South- western Pennsylvania,-coal, coke, iron, oil, railroada, manufactories, etc.

With the completion of the first year of the paper's existence the form was changed from a four-page to an eight-page paper, the size of sheet remaining the .

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same. In October, 1873, during the Westmoreland County Fair, Frank Cowan's Daily was published for four days in connection with the weekly. The daily was the same size as the weekly, and netted the pub- lisher, in the brief period of its being, four hundred dollars.

In the spring of 1874 the publication of the paper was transferred to Pittsburgh, the printing-office re- maining in Greensburg. 'At the same time an agency was opened in London, England, at the office of The Monetary and Mining Gazette. The scope of the paper was further increased by the publication by the editor and proprietor of a Christmas story called " Zomara, a Romance of Spain," and a "Map of Southwestern Pennsylvania," size twenty-eight by thirty-three inches, printed in three colors, illustrating the coal, iron, coke, railroads, rivers, and towns of an arc about one hundred and twenty miles in diameter, with Greensburg in the centre.

In the spring of 1875 the form of the paper was changed from an eight- to a sixteen-page, the size of sheet remaining the same, and in August of the same year its publication was concluded on account of the broken health of Mr. Cowan.

The paper was a marvel for the time for neatness of appearance, typographical distinction, and fine selec- tions. Much more original matter appeared in its columns than was customary to be seen in county papers, and the selections were all made with great care, judgment, and labor. Even the advertisements gave evidence of scrutiny and a regard for harmony.

The first number opened with an original article, contributed by the Hon. Edgar Cowan, on "Woman : her rights, her wrongs, and her remedies." It was a learned and an exhaustive exposition of the legal status of married women under the laws, of Pennsyl- vania, as well as a treatise on the social and domestic relations of women in general in the economy of the day.

In size Frank Cowan's Paper was as large as any of the other papers of Greensburg. There was no end to the devices and the ingenuity of the editor. The second form of this paper, which was an eight-page, was so arranged that each of the sides of the press- work showed for an outside page and opened on edi- torial matter.

The title-head of his daily was noted for its singu- larity, being an enlarged fac-simile of his own hand- writing, having the appearance "as if it had been put on with a split brush and tar."

The motto of his paper was "To come home to men's business and bosoms," a quotation from Bacon.

In the fall of 1875 the printing-office was sold by Mr. Cowan to a company styled "The Democratic Times Company," composed of Edward J. Keenan, Frank Vogel, William P. Fisher, and Ulam Rohrer, for three thousand dollars, who began the publication in the office of the Paper of The Democratic Times. This paper was continued for a little more than a

year, when, the company failing to make their second and third payments, the office passed back into the hands of Mr. Cowan, and the Times was discontinued.

In the winter of 1878, the Argus office being de- stroyed by fire, the Argus was printed for several weeks in the office of the Paper, with the material of the same.

In the summer of 1878, Dr. Cowan opened a job- office and published a duodecimo volume of four hundred and twenty-four pages entitled "Southwest- ern Pennsylvania in Song and Story."

In September, 1878, Mr. Cowan sold the office to Messrs. John T. Fulton, John Rugh, George W. Rum- baugh, William Armbrust, and F. L. Armbrust for two thousand dollars, who soon after established The National Issue as the organ of the Greenback party, under the management of F. L. Armbrust, Esq.

Under that arrangement Mr. Armbrust continued the publication of The National Issue under its various sizes until July 1, 1880, when C. A. Light, Eeq., and Mr. L. F. Armbrust published it during the Presi- dential campaign. On the 17th of November it was sold to a co-operative company, and the Rev. Uriel Graves was appointed editor, and C. A. Light, Fsq., local editor. By these gentlemen the Issue was con- ducted until April 1, 1881. It then fell into the hands of John T. Fulton and Rev. Graves, who continued the same employes, and who commenced the publica- tion of The Daily Evening News in connection with The Weekly National Issue. The News was an inde- pendent paper, while the National Issue was the organ of the Greenback party. The Issue was an eight-page paper, and the News a four-page five-column paper.

In May, 1881, the owners of the National Issue sold it with all rights and privileges and a subscription- list of about eight hundred to Messrs. J. H. Ryck- man and J. B. Laux, who at once changed its name and political character. It is now known as The Greensburg Press, a weekly Republican paper, and The Evening Press, a daily independent journal. The first number of The Evening Press was issued May 18th, and the first number of the weekly June 6, 1881.

Under the able editorship of James B. Laux, Esq., the Press soon became known as a brilliant exponent of Republican doctrines as well as a journal of a high standard of excellence in its literary and scientific departments. It took high rank at once, and has grown in favor and influence ever since.

The partnership existing between the publishers, covering a period of a little more than three months, was ended September 1st, when Hilary J. Brunot, Esq., purchased the interest of Mr. Ryckman.

Since that time he has become sole owner, and under the management of Mr. Laux, as editor and manager, the circulation of the paper has wonderfully increased.

The Evening Press he has also made a success, de- monstrating to those who prophesied its failure that his faith was well founded. It is the only daily pub-

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lished in the county, and the only one published in the congressional district composed of Greene, Fay- ette, and Westmoreland Counties.

On Sunday, July 8, 1881, the day following the tragic shooting of President Garfield, a Sunday edi- tion was issued, the first Sunday paper ever issued in Westmoreland County. By this enterprise the people of surrounding towns received full particulars of that sad event without being compelled to wait.for the Monday papers. The papers sold readily at twenty- five cents apiece in some places, in one instance a dollar being offered for a copy.

Both the daily and weekly have had surprising suc- ceas, enjoying the confidence of a large and influential class of citizens by reason of their judicious treatment of public questions.

Mr. Laux is a staunch disciple of Alexander Ham- ilton, believing with his whole soul in the principle of nationality as opposed to State sovereignty. The motto he has given the Press shows the tenor of his political belief, "The Nation! first, foremost, and always."

The following extract from his "greeting" in the first number of the Press will show more strongly his political ideas:

"It will do its utmost to develop the growth of a strong feeling for nationality among the people, be- lieving it to be the only true way of finally uniting all sections of the country as one people. It will ad- vocate uniform laws for the whole nation, making crime as disreputable and punishable in one State as it is in another. It will advocate a code of laws whereby the ends of justice cannot be evaded or de- layed by the technicalities of different State laws."

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS.

At one time there were two newspapers published in the German language in Greensburg. One was published by Frederick A. Cope, along about 1828, in connection with the Gazette. This was subse- quently published by John Armbrust. It was called in German The Star of the West. It was subsequently removed to Adamsburg, whereat its publication was continued for some time. The other one was pub- lished by Jacob 8. Steck, in connection with the Argus, but it existed but for a short time, and during that time its circulation was limited.

In 1862 a paper called the Westmoreland News was started in Greensburg by John B. Crooks. In politics it was Republican, and although it was edited with considerable ability, was handsomely printed, and bore a neat typographical appearance, yet the next year, 1863, its publication was discontinued for want of support. The subscription-list was sold to the Herald, and the materials to James F. Campbell, who removed them to Johnstown, and with them there established the Johnstown Democrat.

So much of the papers of the county town, and now let us go into the "provinces."

THE LIGONIER FREE PRESS,

edited and published by Mr. S. A. Armour, was estab- Lished about the last of June, 1845, at Ligonier. It was neutral in politics, and "devoted to literature, morality, agriculture, news, finances, miscellany," and several other things. The Press, however, had not been long diffusing light and knowledge until it began to show a preference for the Democratic party. In the beginning of the year 1854 it openly forsook its so-called independent course, and henceforward sailed under Democratic colors. The editor in announcing to the public the future course of the paper on politi- cal subjects says that the increased number of his subscribers and their political preferences had mostly urged him to this course. But he gave additional reasons why he should make his paper a party paper. It then supported William Bigler for the governorship. This was the beginning of the ninth year of the Prew. With the number for the 10th of January, 1854, the Free Press on that day took the name of The Valley Democrat, and was issued every two weeks.

The paper varied in size, capability, and evidences of judicious supervision with the varying career and fanciful tastes of its eccentric editor. Complete files of the paper must be rare. We do not know if any exists. At one time the project promised much, but time at last told upon it; and owing to the irregularity of its appearance, and the lack of sufficient support at the hands of a generation whose attention was diverted by. the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of the world, the Valley Democrat for a long time lan- guished, and languishing did die. Mr. Armour was compelled more than once, that the paper of his choice-the child of his invention-should live, to walk to Pittsburgh and carry his paper on his back to Ligonier. He was a great walker, and could walk with ease the distance, which was fifty miles, in one day, and return the next.

Of those numbers of the Press and Valley Democrat which we have seen, the first number of the Democrat will serve as a sample of the rest. This is Vol. IX., No. 1, dated Ligonier, Penna., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1854, S. A. Armour, editor and proprietor. Terms, one dollar per year. The paper has six columns to a page, and each page is about eighteen by fourteen inches. The matter throughout is widely spaced, but the letter-press is legible and the paper not bad. The caption of the first column is "Fearful End of a Rum Drinker." The next column has at its head the wood- cut of a sailing steamship, as formerly the other papers had one of a newsboy riding at a gallop, and under- neath the ship, in heavy broad letters, " Highly Im- portant from Russia & Turkey," which two nations were at that time at war. In this column the glad news was brought to the housed-up inhabitante of the Chestnut Ridge and Laurel Hill that "an insurrec -. tion had broken out in Nickchivan; that Prince Wo- ronzoff, the Russian commander, had been surrounded at Tiflis; that Schanyl, the Circassian leader, and

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Selim Pasha were gradually approaching each other; and that Admiral Machinoff had (literally) 'got the bulge' on Vice-Admiral Osman Bey." A great deal of such stuff was, scattered throughout the whole paper. Probably one-third was taken up with adver- tisements; of local items there were few, of editorial comments scarcely any. Under the column for " Poetry" was that fine ballad, so illustrative of the Western border annals, called "The Arkansas Gen- tleman, Close to the Choctaw Line," which filled a column and a quarter; while in another number ap- peared that other equally fine and pathetic ballad of " Joe Bowers."

From these selections you may get an appropriate idea of the facetiousness and of the humorous charac- teristics of the editor. But the papers were no doubt at one time treasured among the penates of many a household. For if the paper had, as all such papers have, an interest, this interest was for the locality in which it circulated. Although its local news was meagre, it was always of a "startling" character, and worthy to be remembered. It contained the records of the births and deaths as they occurred in the Valley, touching observations on deceased friends, and much other local information, which if collected and ar- ranged might at this day be of a very satisfactory kind. The most valuable of the contributions to Mr. Armour's publications which we can recall are some relating to the early times about Fort Ligonier, and personal recollections and narrations of some of the old inhabitants bearing upon the Indian wars, which in early times reached the Valley. So too might items relative to the industrial and productive interests be gathered which might possibly be useful. In a num- ber printed during the winter of 1854 it is said that the furnaces of the Valley were doing an "immense business that season."

MOUNT PLEASANT PAPERS.

There has always been an interest manifested in Mount Pleasant in newspaper literature. Some of the ventures, it is true, have not been successful. In the early part of 1843, Norval Wilson Truxal was editor and proprietor of the Literary Gasstte. He had been a former publisher of the Freeport Columbian. In April, 1848, The Democratic Courier began its ex- istence, with Mr. Truxal as editor, and D. H. H. Wakefield as assistant editor. The paper advocated Democratic principles, and had for its motto, " Meas- ures, not men." Mr. Truxal got knocked off his feet somehow, but afterwards got up again, and in 1846- 47 established The Ranchero, at Third and Market Streets, Pittsburgh; but the Courier had ceased to gladden the hearts of its former patrons.1

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 71

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: