USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 12
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The paper was started in the confusion and uncer- tainties of the panic of 1873, yet it made its way and paid all expenses, growing stronger every year. Having out- grown its quarters where first placed, it was moved in the autumn of 1878 to the old Shuster building, where the Beaver County Trust Co. building now stands. Here the "New Brighton Times" was published, a factory prospered at one time, and in the third story had been a hall in which meetings and societies were held. It was one of the landmarks of the town. It was remodeled to suit the business of the "News," occupying the spacious cellar and ground floor, the press and engine being in the cellar, and the composing and job room and editorial office on the ground floor.
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The paper remained here until 1888, when in the spring of that year it was moved to the Opera Block, where it yet remains, the editor buying the corner half of that structure. It was changed to suit the business and most commodious quarters were thus secured.
-LAVE .. VELLEY NEWS
CILT MENS
OPERA BLOCK.
In the fierce political battles of 1877 to 1880, the "News" took a prominent part. At the primaries fraud had been charged and a contest resulted, the "News" advocating the utmost exposure of the fraud, if any, and then took the position for a primary law, for the govern- ment of Republican primary elections in the county. In 1880 while the editor was Secretary of the Republican County Committee, a position he held for several years, he prepared a bill for such a law. While the move was made the butt of many jokes and taunts, with derisive laughter from the Democrats, the committee endorsed the movement, and the bill was passed by the Legislature and became a law in 1881.
Not satisfied with presenting the local news to the people once a week, Mr. Reader determined to launch a daily edition if the people were ready for it. In
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December 1882, he published a daily as a holiday edition, which was filled with local news, and it made quite a hit, many kind things being said of it.
Believing the time ripe for a daily paper, he began its publication in regular form, dating from February 5, 1883, the first daily paper ever published in the county. It was a five column eight page paper, with four pages ready print, published every evening except Sunday, for cight cents a week. Soon after it was changed to four pages and the price increased to ten cents.
In the first issue, the editor delivered himself as follows: "The 'Daily News' is before you. Is it welcome? It has come to stay if you want it; if you do not it will bow itself gracefully from your presence, and promise never to do so again. We are in for it now, and propose to do plenty of hard, earnest work to make it such a paper as you want, and we hope for success. We haven't time just now to brag what a good paper it is going to be; we will have to wait a while, and perhaps by that time its readers will have a decided opinion of their own on that point. We do not start the paper to fill any want, air any opinions, or anything of that kind, but it is simply and singly a business enterprise. Please do not regard it as anything else, and then you won't be disappointed. The editor is a Republican, but he is not going to run a political machine; he is going to make every effort to get all the local news of the Beaver valley, and to advocate with all his ability everything and any- thing that will benefit our towns, and make them more prosperous, and the inhabitants thereof prouder of the fair heritage they are permitted to enjoy."
On the 28th of September 1892, Willard S. Reader became a partner in the paper, being his 21st birthday, and became city editor of the paper, and soon most of the work of selecting matter for the paper, and passing
O. H. MATTHEWS
E. T. CORBUS MAJOR DAVID CRITCHLOW
C. F. WHISLER
A. W. WHISLER
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on its merits, fell upon him, the New Brighton news of which he gathered and wrote. He was born at New Brighton, Pa., September 28, 1871, attended the public school and Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pa., entered the office of the "News" as apprentice in 1886, and be- came reporter in 1888, and wrote forsome of the Pittsburg papers; was Secretary of the Board of Health for some time; one of the directors of the American Porcelain Co. two years; but retired from all outside work to give his undivided attention to the management of the news columns of the paper. He was united in marriage with Lily D. Robinson March 1, 1897, and they have two children, Willard Donald and Robert Wallace, and are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
On the morning of February t4 1899, the large block in which the "News" had its home, was almost wholly destroyed by fire, and the printing plant was wrecked. The same day a paper was issued, and arrangements were made with the "Beaver Falls Review" for a home, until
NEWS BUILDING DECORATED IN HONOR OF THE RETURN OF THE 10TH PA. REGIMENT FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
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a new one could be built. A contract was made for rc- building, and the corner was covered by a two story structure, into which the "News" moved April 21, 1899, two months after being burned out, the offices being erected specially for the business. An entire new plant was purchased, and the daily routine went on unchanged, not an issue of the paper being omitted. In January 1901, a Mergenthaler Linotype was installed, the first one in the county.
Among the improvements advocated by the "News," were free bridges connecting the towns of the valley; consolidation of the towns into a city; improvement of the waterways; street railway lines; ship canal; improve- ment of streets and everything that tended to the comfort and convenience of the people, and aid them in securing a livelihood.
It was always for purity in politics, hence advocated the popular vote system, placing of primary elections under the general election laws, and the abolition of the use of money improperly, or any other means that caused corruption. It has always been on the side of tem -. perance, and advocated a prohibition amendment to the State Constitution in the campaign of 1889. It refuses the use of its columns to advertisements of liquor, or anything of that nature, and takes a stand for all that will keep pure the reading of the people and help in bettering their condition.
The paper always advocated a square deal to every one, and never wilfully did any person a wrong. If at any time injustice was done to any one in its columns, it was prompt to correct it and set the matter right, and needed no law for such a purpose. In the long career of the paper it never had a libel suit. In a few cases, less than half a dozen, it was threatened with prosecution, but no attempt was made to carry the threats into execution. Its fairness was generally recognized; and
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aggrieved and indignant persons, usually sought the editor or reporters, and settled all questions as gentle- men should, by being fair and honest, and by the paper having the courage and honor to retract any unjust things appearing in its columns.
The first foreman in the composing room of the Weekly "News" was the veteran printer, Samuel K. Alexander, who was assisted by his son William, with D. F. Daniels apprentice. Before the latter completed his trade, Mr. Alexander retired, and Mr. Daniels had charge of the office until John Tallon of Beaver, was appointed foreman.
The latter learned his trade in the "Argus" office in Beaver, in the history of which a notice is given of him leaving his case to respond to the call of the President for volunteers in 1862. He was the son of Robert and Eliza Tallon of Beaver, the former a native of Ireland, whose parents came to this country in 1824, and the latter was a daughter of Stacy Daniels, one of the early settlers of the county. In addition to his duties as fors- man, Mr. Tallon sometimes went through the country on business for the paper. He died in a few years after becoming foreman, when D. F. Daniels was appointed foreman. Previous to this Edward Critchlow, son of Major Critchlow the manager of the paper, became an apprentice, and for a short time attended to the job work. William Alexander soon left the paper, and the Dorseys. father and son, held cases for a while.
D. F. Daniels was born in 1854 in North Sewickley township, Beaver county, Pa .; was married to Miss Clara Mellon October 16, 1879, and has one son Charles M. Daniels. He united with the First Baptist Church New Brighton, when 16 years of age, and was a worker in the church ever after and is a member of Social Lodge, Knights of Pythias, New Brighton. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Y. M. C. A. for a number
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of years and its secretary, and was president and secretary of council, and signed $25,000 worth of bonds to pay for the paving of Broadway, now Third avenue. He had charge of the circulation of the "Daily News" in New Brighton from January 1, 1887, and was business manager of the paper in 1881 and 1882, while the editor was absent from the office during the day. In 1900 Mr. Daniels resigned as foreman to go to California, on account of his health, and is now foreman of the "Upland News," Upland, California. He was foreman for some time of both the newspaper and job office of the "News," and no more capable foreman has been in charge of any office in the county. He was a master printer indeed, and knew all the ins and outs of the business, and his removal was regretted by all connected with the office.
In the fall of 1877 Frank W. Tallon of Beaver, was employed as a printer in the office and remained until April 1882, when he was appointed a clerk in the Custom House at Pittsburg, and returned to the Daily "News" office in 1888. On the retirement of Mr. Daniels, he became foreman July 1900, a most competent successor, fully qualified for the position. He is the son of Robert and Eliza Tallon and was born in Beaver in 1856. After leaving the public schools, he attended Beaver College for three years. January 1, 1870, he entered upon his apprenticeship in the "Radical" office Beaver. He served his time there, and then worked on the "Star" and the "Times" Beaver, and the "Chronicle" Washington, D. C., after which he came to the "News" office. He is a member of the M. E. Church, uniting with it at the age of ten years. He was married to Miss Lily Biddell of New Brighton, June 7, 1897.
Mr. Tallon is assisted by Harry E. Disbrow, in setting up advertisements and making up forms. He is the son of Edmond Disbrow, a veteran of the Civil War, who married a sister of Mr. Tallon.
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When Mr. Daniels was foreman of the job office, he was assisted by Al. Krepps, an excellent printer, who left the office some time after. The work of both offices entailing too much attention, Mr. Daniels recommended William J. Keyser for foreman of the job office. Mr. Keyser was born February 1, 1863, at Allegheny City, Pa .; son of William M. and Elizabeth Y. Keyser. When quite young moved to Richmond, Ind., with his parents, where they remained for several years, and again re- turned to Allegheny; came to New Brighton, Pa., in 1870, attended the public schools here until 1878, when he entered job printing establishment of John Sargeant Hoopes and learned the printing trade. In 1881 went to the gold regions of the Real Del Castillo and Villa Graua Mining Co., near San Rafael, Lower California, where his father was engaged as a mining engineer. After remaining there a few months he returned to New Brighton and took his old position with the Hoopes establishment, remaining there until the firm quit busi- ness in 1884, when he entered the employ of the "News;" remained with the "News" until 1895, when on account of ill health he resigned his position and removed with his family to Cleveland, O., and engaged in the con- fectionery business. This business not being a success, he again returned to his trade, accepting a position with the firm of S. P. Mount & Co., job printers, being fore- man of the job printing department. He remained there until 1899, when he resigned his position, and moved to Pittsburg, Pa., where he was connected with the printing firm of Wm. G. Johnston & Co., printers and stationers. He continued with this firm until July 1, 1900, when he was appointed to, and entered the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, which position he holds at the present time. Mr. Keyser was a charter member of New Brighton Circle, No. 42, Protected Home Circle, charter member of Beaver Valley Typographical Union 250, and
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is a Past Chancellor of Social Lodge, No. 351, Knights of Pythias, of New Brighton. Besides this he has been a member of Pittsburg Typographical Union No. 7, Cleve- land Typographical Union No. 53, Woodland Circle No. 85, P. H. C., of Cleveland; Homewood Circle No. 119, P. H. C., of Pittsburg; and is a member of the National Letter Carriers' Association of the United States of America. On February 3, 1884, he was married at New Brighton to Miss Matilda V. Linder. This union was blessed with two children, Miss Hazel Dell Keyser, born July 3, 1886, at New Brighton, Pa., who is now employed in the offices of Drs. C. F. and W. S. Bingaman, Smith Block, Pittsburg, and Willa Colette Keyser, born Decem- ber 10, 1897, at Cleveland, O., who died in infancy. Mr. Keyser is a nephew of United States Senator John Hipple Mitchell of Portland, Oregon, and is a full consin of the Duchess de la Rochefecauld, (nee Miss Mattie Mitchell), of Paris France.
He was succeeded by George E. Evans, who in turn was followed by W. J. Bishop.
In April 1899, when the new office was fitted up after the fire, Orvis F. Johndrew was appointed foreman, and held the position until December 31, 1904, when he resigned to accept the position of foreman of the com- posing room of the "Beaver Falls Tribune," and was succeeded by Clarence C. Close, the present efficient head of that department.
Clarence C. Close was born July 10, 1866, in Chariton, Iowa; started to learn the printing business when 15 years of age with the "Beaver Times," and has continued at the trade in various capacities since that time.
Among the other well known printers who have worked on the paper, are John Lemmon; W. V. Winans low in business at Brownsville, Pa .; D. R. Johnson who went to the Government printing office and later to
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Florida and engaged in business; L. S. Amberson now in business at Covington, Ky .; Hugh Sutherland job printer, Rochester, Pa .; Harry Patton, Jack Fry, Frank Anderson printers, Beaver; John White for years prom- inent as a printer, reporter and for some time a partner in the "Beaver Star," now deceased; James L. Dederick printer and pressman; Harry Palmer printer, reporter and manager of advertising, now of California; L. K. Prince and I. N. Jones printers, Youngstown, O .; Fred Shook Linotype operator; Charles Evans, Charles Mc- Knight, Fred McClure and Adam Huth printers; W. S. Fulkman printer and reporter, now in Columbus, Ohio. To these should be added a number of the Knights of the road, who dropped in for a day or longer, whose names were seldom ever known.
Hugh A. Sutherland was born in Brighton township, Beaver county, Pa., September 24, 1852. In the year 1869 he entered the office of the "Beaver Argus" as an apprentice, under John B. Butler foreman. At the end of his term, he went to Mercer, Pa., where he filled his first position as a journeyman, and from there he went to Pittsburg, thence to Olean, N. Y. From the latter place he went to Meadville and worked on the "Crawford Journal" for one year, and then returned to Beaver county and worked on nearly all the papers. He
accepted a position in the "Beaver Valley News" office New Brighton, in 1883, and solicited advertisements in the lower valley towns for the starting of the "Daily News," and reported and worked on the "Daily News" for about one year. In the fall of 1886 he bought the job printing office of M. D. Barnes Rochester, and has conducted it ever since in a successful and satisfactory manner.
The apprentices on the paper were D. F. Daniels; Ed. Critchlow who engaged in other business; Joseph Speer later a prominent Presbyterian minister of Wheeling,
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HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY PAPERS.
W. Va., and a man of rare good qualities and ability; Elmer King, George E. Evans, Theo. C. Deitrick re- porter, Charles Binzley wholesale grocer, Joseph Bliss reporter New Brighton, Lester McClain printer, Charles McKnight printer, W. B. Ramsey reporter, Frank Evans deceased, Charles Evans printer, Fred Shook Linotype operator, Robert Beacom druggist Allegheny, Pa., Lawrence Degraw, Harry E. Disbrow, Joseph Maroney now in a job office in Pittsburg, Elmer Rosenbauer, Gus Wells and Ralph Correll.
Among the writers on the paper, have been a number of able men and bright wits. In the early life of the paper, Hon. John Allison Register of the Treasury under President Grant, contributed a number of financial articles from Washington, and some editorials along the same line, which were read with interest, and were of a high order of ability.
Prof. A. R. Whitehill of Beaver Falls, now a professor in the University of West Virginia, wrote a series of articles descriptive of a trip to Europe. Other men prominent in local affairs were frequent contributors. John M. Critchlow, son of the Major, now a prominent ยท minister in the Free Methodist Church, was with the paper for some months as gatherer of news and col- lector, and assisted in the office.
O. H. Mathews of Beaver Falls, who came on the paper as reporter and printer, was the first reporter on the paper. He wrote Beaver Falls locals in the morning and set them in type during the day. He was born December 2, 1842, near Harmony, Butler county, Pa., of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He attended the public schools until he was 14 years old, when he went on the "Butler American" to learn the trade of printing, where he re- mained until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he en- listed in Col. Rowley's 13th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was mustered in April 25, 1861, served until August 6,
-
D. F. DANIELS W. J. KEYSER G. H. CORRELL
F. W. TALLON C. C. CLOSE H. E. DISBROW
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1861, re-enlisted August 20,1861, participating in all the battles of the Peninsula, of Maryland 1862, recrossed to Virginia November 3, 1863, served faithfully and with great gallantry, returning to Butler at the close of the war. He left there in 1866, going to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he worked on the "Herald" for a few months, and then joined a party and crossed the plains to Colorado, thence to Plattsmouth, Neb., where he was foreman on the "Herald," which he held for a year and then returned to Oskaloosa and again worked on the "Herald" until winter, when he went to Decatur, Ala., and founded the "Alabama Republican," which he sold in a short time and returned to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was married on the 14th of April 1868, to Miss Sarah C. Ferree. This union resulted in four children, Mrs. J. R. Meskimon of Sacaton, Ariz., Frank E. Mathews architect Rochester, Pa., Orin O. Mathews, who served in the Spanish-American War, later a clerk in the freight de- partment of the P. & L. E. R. R., and Charles H. Mathews, in architectural department of the same road. After his marriage he returned to the Plattsmouth. "Herald" until 1870, thence went to Ashland, Neb., and founded the "Ashland Times" where he remained until his health failed in 1871, when he disposed of the paper and returned to Oskaloosa and in March 1872 removed to Des Moines, Ia., and became foreman of the Des Moines Auxiliary Printing Co., where he remained four years, then accepted a position in the A. N. Kellogg Printing office, Cleveland, O. Private business bringing him to Western Pennsylvania he located in Beaver Falls and began reporting for the "Beaver Falls Courier." About six months later, he accepted a position on the "News," which he filled until 1885, when he was appointed Deputy Register and Recorder by W. H. Bricker which he held for two terms and in 1890 was elected to the office, which he filled for two terms. He is now president of the Rochester Planing Mill Co., Rochester, Pa.
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Thomp Burton was engaged on the "Weekly News" for general work, for a short time.
W. F. Hanrahan who published the "Beaver Falls Independent" in 1882, was the first reporter on the "Daily News" in New Brighton, and was one of the brightest writers in the county. He was succeeded by W. S. Fulkman who had solicited subscribers for the Daily, and worked on the case, and was reporter for a short time. Harry Palmer followed him, who later gave all his time to reporting the lower towns and soliciting ad- vertising. His successor was Mrs. Marion Williams news dealer, who reported a year or more, and was then compelled to relinquish it on account of her business re- quiring all her time. All of these reporters were quite satisfactory and the news columns were kept bright and covered the field. On the retirement of Mrs. Williams in 1888, Willard S. Reader was appointed reporter of New Brighton, which he has held ever since.
The Beaver Falls reporters after Mr. Mathews were, J. E. McClure one of the brightest local writers in the county, who remained with the "Daily News" until he went into the business for himself. He was reporter on the "Tribune," and for a number of years has repre- sented the Beaver "Star" in that city. He was succeeded by William M. Benham now an attorney in Pittsburg; then George Stemmeler for a short time; L. L. Carson now a newspaper writer of Pittsburg; T. C. Deitrick and W. B. Ramsey two of the "News" ap- prentices, who served well.
The present reporter is Edward Towsend Corbus, son of John Corbus Beaver Falls, and grandson of the late Samuel Corbus and Dr. Isaac Winans of New Brighton. He was born in New Brighton March 26, 1877, and moved to Beaver Falls in 1881. He was educated in the public schools of Beaver Falls, and was graduated in the class of 1895. He attended Geneva College in the fall of
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1895 and spring of 1896, and then went to work as solicitor for the "Beaver Falls Republican," of which William Kay was editor and Lee McFate manager, where he worked for one week, and then was put on the staff of the paper, where he remained until August 1896. On January 15, 1897, he accepted a position on the "Daily News" as Beaver Falls representative, doing the report- ing and soliciting for the paper. He was married to Miss Clara M. Mulholland October 8, 1903.
The Rochester reporters were John White, the first on the "Daily News" there, Harry Palmer, Charles R. Frank of Monaca, who died in the work; Charles F. Whisler who died in 1893, then John White and T. C. Deitrick, and they in turn by A. W. Whisler the present representative of the paper in the lower towns.
Charles R. Frank was the son of George F. and Rosa Gates Frank, of Monaca, and was born at Wellsburg, W. Va., January 15, 1863. He was educated in the public schools at Monaca then Phillipsburg, and served an apprenticeship in marble cutting with his uncle E. R. Frank. He then became a reporter on the "Daily Argus," and in 1886 accepted the position of reporter on the "Daily News," which he held until his death, January 16, 1889. After his death he was succeeded for a few months by his widow, and after her by Hervey J. Taylor. Mr. Taylor looked after business interests in the district.
He was born in Beaver, Pa., March 17, 1866, the son of Rev. Dr. W. G. Taylor born 1820, and Charlotte T. Taylor born 1821. He was educated at Piersol's academy West Bridgewater, Pa., and was a carpenter by occupation. In 1890 while attending school, he rc- ported for the "News," but relinquished it to study medicine, taking a course at the Western Pennsylvania Medical College at Pittsburg, but did not graduate, dis- continuing his studies in 1894. He was married to Miss
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Hester L. Potter July 19, 1894, and is now in the employ of the Beaver Valley Water Company.
Charles Frank Whisler was born February 25, 1854, the youngest son of John H. Whisler Sr., in his day a prominent boat builder of Bolesville this county. His mother's maiden name was Jackson, she being a near relative of General and President Andrew Jackson. On his father's side he was of German descent and on the mother's side Irish. Mr. Whisler was educated in the public schools of this county, in Beaver College and the Wooster University. On completing his school work, he taught school for some time and was recognized as a successful one. Early in life he developed a taste for newspaper work, his first assignment being on the Beaver "Argus." Later he was a part owner and editor of the Beaver "Star," and afterward was engaged on the "Tribune" and "Journal" Beaver Falls, but for several years prior to his death had worked continuously on the "News." In addition to his local newspaper writing, he was the Beaver county representative of the Pittsburg "Chronicle Telegraph," the Tri-State News Bureau and the "Philadelphia Press." He died November 6, 1893. The following was writtenofhim by a contemporary at the time of his death: "Mr. Whisler was a clear, interesting writer and was always careful to be accurate. It was a rule of his life not to add color to an article at the sacrifice of truth. His ability won for him a position and name among the very front rank of newspaper writers. As a companion and friend, he was a prince of good fellows, of a jovial disposition, a ready conver- sationalist, and well informed, and his companionship was much sought for. He was always right on all moral subjects, and never tried to harmonize right and wrong. He possessed the moral and physical courage to do what he believed to be right, regardless of consequences. In his death the newspaper fraternity loses one of its most honored members."
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