USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania > Part 7
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injure the cause of the Federal Union, and by creating opposition to the war in the North, afford 'aid and comfort' to the enemy. We do not say that all who have discontinued the 'Star' have done so through hostility to the government. By no means. Some honorable and loyal Democrats have been compelled to stop the paper on account of the hard times and many have been deceived by false reports, but we do mean to say, and we affirm it boldly, that the men who have been most busy in denouncing the 'Star' have done so out of hatred of the government and the national cause. It is not out of any personal difficulty, for whoever supports the government and denounces secession is made the object of their spleen. It is for this reason that we have alluded to these things. But the 'Star' is by no means broken down, notwithstanding all reports to the con- trary; our subscription list is higher and better in every respect than when we received it from our predecessors and it is still rapidly increasing. We rely upon the loyal people of Beaver county for support, and we have not been, nor will ever be, disappointed."
James H. Odell, a practical printer, who had just re- turned home from service in the Union Army, took charge of the plant in 1865, and changed the name to the "Local." Mr. Odell was an aggressive writer, very severe on political friend and foe alike, when not in accord with his views, and in consequence he was con- tinually in trouble, and kept his party in turmoil, when his political enemies were not at fever heat over his utterances. His foreman was a printer named O. P. Wharton, who conducted a paper for a short time dated in New Brighton. He was a well read man, and after leaving Beaver went to Ohio, and at one time was editor of a Sandusky paper.
In 1867 Odell was prosecuted for libel by Elijah Barnes, former Treasurer of the county. The Grand
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Jury found a true bill against him, and on November 14, 1867, the case was called in court, Judge Acheson on the bench. A jury composed of Silas Moore, J. W. Smith, John Scott, Valentine Sohn, William Murphy, William Shallenberger, Michael Killinger, Samuel Blair, William Springer, James H. Springer, Nathan McPlier- son, and William Laughlin tried the case. Mr. Odell plead not guilty and was defended by Samuel B. Wilson Esq. The case went to the jury at 12 o'clock noon, and 2:15 o'clock the same day, returned a verdict of guilty. The sentence of the court was: "Pay a fine of $200 to the Commonwealth, costs of prosecution, and undergo an imprisonment in the jail of the county for 60 days, and stand committed until this sentence is complied with." Mr. Odell edited and conducted the paper from his cell until the expiration of his sentence, and made it warm for his enemies. On the day of his release, the Demo- crats of the county turned out in crowds and had a grand jubilee, carrying the editor on their shoulders from the jail to his home.
While Odell was in jail, he was prosecuted for libel by John Caughey, then Prothonotary of the county, and the papers were served on him through the bars of the main door of the corridor. Some merriment was created at the time by Odell asking the officer if he would have to give bail or go to jail. The officer thought neither course would be necessary. This case was settled out of court. December 1868 the paper came out in a hand- some new dress, and was enlarged.
In December 1868, Thomp Burton sold the material of the "Champion" of New Castle, a paper which he started in December 1867, to J. H. Odell in part payment for the Beaver "Local," and Mr. Burton took possession in the spring of 1869. With the "Champion" outfit, Mr. Odell went to Youngstown, O., and in June 1869, started the "Vindicator." Mr. Odell married a daughter of Hugh
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B. Anderson, of Beaver, and they had two boys. The establishing of the "Vindicator" opened a fine field for him, but he was unable to bear the burden and he lost the property, after which he moved to Columbus, O., where he followed his trade of printer, in which he was superior. His wife died soon after they moved there, and later both their boys died, leaving him alone in the world. He then drifted from place to place as a tramp printer. In the latter part of the seventies he fell out of a window in Minneapolis and spent a winter. in the hospital with a broken leg, and in the summer death terminated his wanderings and suffering.
Among the apprentices in Odell's office, was Isaac N. Jones, who became one of the best known printers in the county. He was born in Pittsburg in 1849, his parents dying in 1854, and he was reared on a farm in Butler county; educated in the public schools; moved to Roches- ter Pa., in 1867 and was apprenticed to Mr. Odell, where he remained until 1869 when he went to Youngstown, O., and completed his trade. He returned to Beaver county in 1872 and worked on the "Beaver County Press" New Brighton, thence went to Pittsburg and worked on several of the dailies there, thence to Philadelphia where he was on the "Public Ledger" for about 11 years. The advent of type setting machines drove him back to Pitts- burg, and later to Beaver county, where he spent about two years on the "Beaver Valley News," setting the type for the "News" editor's history of New Brighton in 1899. In 1901 he went to Youngstown, O., where he has since been employed in the job department of the "Telegram."
Thomp Burton was born at Sharon Springs, N. Y., April 13 ,1844, his parents moving to Moravia, Lawrence county, Pa., in 1858, was at work on the New York Central R. R. one year, returning home in August 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 100th Regt. Pa. Volunteers. He was with the famous old Roundheads in
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every march, skirmish and battle it was engaged in, until taken down with pneumonia in Kentucky in May 1863, being discharged at Camp Denison, O., two months later. At the battle of South Mountain where the color bearer was shot, he took the regimental colors, carrying them during the remainder of his service. After leaving the army he took turns at railroading until the winter of 1865-6 when he was appointed special agent of the Post- office Department, doing some lively work in the South.
Mr. Burton has had a more varied experience in news- paper work, than any writer ever in Beaver county, and we give it in full, though necessarily brief. The frequent changes he made, were caused by ill health usually, as he was in bad condition most of his life after leaving the army. On his return from the South he wrote his first correspondence to the "New Castle (Pa.) Gazette," and resigned his postoffice position to go on the staff of the "Constitutional Union" of Washington. In the summer of 1866 he began his experience as an editor and pub- lisher, he and W. S. Black purchasing the "New Castle Gazette." Mr. Burton withdrew in November 1867, and started the "Champion" December 5th, which lived a year, when he sold the material to J. H. Odell in part payment for the Beaver "Local," which he sold in the fall of 1869 to W. H. Schwartz. While in Beaver the first child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Burton, at the home of her parents in Moravia. He must have been born to the profession, for before he was 25 years old he was managing editor of the "Brooklyn Eagle" and at 31-be- came managing editor of the "New York World," which position he now holds. Mr. Burton next went to Pitts- burg as city editor and business manager of the "Daily Republic," in a few months resigned to go with the "Re- publican," later merged into the "Inter Ocean," of Chicago.
The next summer he went to Nebraska and took up a
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soldier's claim to government land near Grand Island. Returning in 1875, he bought the "New Era" of New Castle, changing the name to the "Paragraph," which he sold to Geo. W. Penn and E. E. Stone; later he was city editor of the "New Castle Courant," from which he re- signed to start the "National Greenback," and later started the "National Greenback" at Erie.
In 1877 he was city editor of the "Guardian" New Castle, and was next invited to become the city editor and advertising manager of the "Beaver Valley News," and later became city editor and business manager of the "Indianapolis Sun;" after which he accepted a position on the Youngstown "Daily and Weekly News;" after 18 months he started the first Sunday paper between Pitts- burg and Cleveland, the "Youngstown Sunday Morn- ing," which came out in April 1882. He sold it to H. L. Preston, and the next winter was city editor of the "Youngstown Vindicator," which he resigned to start the "Youngstown Saturday Night," and this he sold in 1886 and later purchased an interest in "Brick Pomeroy's Democrat," of New York City, from which he withdrew in 1887, and returned to Youngstown, O., where he accepted a position on the daily paper published by the "Saturday Night" plant; he took charge of the "South- West," a trade paper in Cincinnati, in 1888, and made a great success of it.
During the next four years he spent fully half his time in hospitals, but in 1896, though broken in health, he again entered newspaper work and started the "Buckeye Record" in Youngstown, O., which he conducted until after the election, and then retired from newspaper and all other work, making his home at Youngstown. In April 1904, Governor Herrick honored him with the appointment of a member of the Ohio Penitentiary Board of Managers for five years, which requires but three days each month at the capital.
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But little is known of Schwartz, who conducted the paper for a short time, when it was discontinued and sold at Constable's sale.
On the tenth of May 1871, E. B. Williams secured the material of the office, and changing the name began the publication of the "Conservative," which he conducted alone until January 1873, when John Bigger of Hanover township, bought the one half interest, and in August 1873, bought the entire interest, Mr. Williams retiring. The latter was one of the most unique characters ever in the newspaper business in Beaver county. It is related of him that he would go to sleep in his "den," and while in that condition some practical jokers would slip sen- sational articles in his pocket. When the printers needed "copy" they would go to the pocket of the editor, and get the "copy" there deposited and print it. Then Rome would howl, and the town be convulsed with exeite- ment, but the editor's equanimity was not disturbed in the least.
Mr. Bigger was a well known resident of the county, of one of its best known families. He published the paper until January 1874, when it was discontinued. A few years later he went west where he died.
The material of the paper passed into the hands of Robert L. Treiber a Beaver printer. He associated with him M. J. White, and the name of the paper was changed to the "Democrat." After a few months Mr. White re- tired and Mr. Treiber continued publication until October 1876, when the plant was sold at Sheriff's sale and was bought in by John J. Wickham. Shortly after the sale John S. Hoopes of New Brighton, secured the material and began publishing the "Beaver County Post." Mr. Hoopes was the son of the well known banker, R. E. Hoopes of New Brighton, and for years conducted a job printing office in that place, doing a good
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business in fine work. In a short time it passed into the control of James M. Phillis and M. J. White, both Beaver printers, and was soon discontinued.
On October 5, 1877, Dr. R. S. Kennedy took up the work laid down by the publishers of the "Beaver County Post," and began the publication of the "Commoner."
Mr. Kennedy was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pa., April 7, 1841. On the paternal side his grandfather was of Irish descent, and his grand- mother whose maiden name was Inman, was Scotch; on the maternal side his grandfather Shannon was of Irish descent and his grandmother Thomson was Scotch, all of whom and some earlier ancestors, being born in America. The Doctor is the son of William A. and Rosa Kennedy, was educated in the common schools and Beaver Academy, later attended the University of Michigan and was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia March 1866. He was married April 1874 to Mary A. Patton, a daughter of David Patton, Esq., who at that time resided at New Sheffield in Beaver county. He practiced medicine for about ten years in Inde- pendence and Hopewell townships, in 1874 was one of the Democratic nominees for Assembly, Joseph Graff of Beaver Falls, being the other. He afterwards resided for two or three years in New Brighton, but has lived since 1879 in Beaver, where he is now practicing his profession. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have two children, Dr. Oliver M. Kennedy a practicing dentist of Beaver, and Mrs. George I. Park of Beaver.
The name "Commoner" was never entirely satis- factory to Mr. Kennedy, and at the end of two years he dropped it and went back to the name associated with the traditions of his childhood, calling it the "Star." The office was enlarged, and new type and presscs added. It was then published in a frame building near the corner
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of Third and Beaver streets, with the press room near the end of the same lot. In 1881 he erected a brick building on Turnpike street, on the rear of the lot now occupied by Martsolf's drug store, and the Democratic organ for the first time had a home of its own.
The expenses of the paper were heavy, which with the inexperience of the new editor, made the venture a doubtful one, but the zealous support of the Democrats, and the encouragement given by a number of liberal Re- publicans, enabled him to weather the storm. He soon learned that his field was restricted to the county, that it was already pretty well occupied, and to succeed he must make some improvements and adopt the best methods. Acting on the suggestion of a friend of experience, he ventured on the trial of miscellany and news in the form of stereotype plates, in the use of which the "Star" was the pioneer in the county. The movement called forth various comments from local contemporaries, one of them denominating it "boiler plate," while other sarcastic remarks were made, but the innovation was a success, and was soon in use in nearly all the offices.
In regard to the editorial policy of the paper during his control, Mr. Kennedy's own version is here given :
"The zeal which prompted me to action was for Democratic principles and, for the Democratic party as long as it most nearly represented those principles. I recognized the necessity for a form of government se- curing the greatest degree of individual freedom, con- sistent with the equal enjoyment of freedom by others. I believed that there should be freedom of opinion, speech and press and above all that each and every individual should be free to sell where he could get the most for the product of his labor and buy where he could get the most for his earnings, regardless of the selfish interests of others, hence I was a free trader and the policy of the 'Star' was directed accordingly. On the question of
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finance I had always regarded the legal tender act as one of injustice to the creditor class. That act necessitated the resumption act, one of equal injustice to the debtor class. Changes in certain industrial conditions at home, and in the standard of value abroad, had caused an in- creasing disparity in value between gold and silver, and people were beginning to divide into the friends of gold and those of silver; the latter proposing to repeal the error of the Legal Tender Act in a different form. Parties were not then divided upon the question as they were afterward, but during my connection with the 'Star,' whether right or wrong, it never advocated the coinage of silver except for fractional currency."
The foreman of the mechanical department by whom the first edition of the "Commoner" was issued, was William Warner of Rochester, Pa., a skilfull and in- telligent young man, who was assisted by M. J. White, J. Lemmon, Joseph Hemphill and John W. Fry, and upon the retirement of Mr. Lemmon, Joseph Loar of Greens- burg, took his place. After Mr. Warner, the foreman- ship was filled by Samuel K. Alexander, who had filled this position previously on the paper. Others who served in the mechanical department from time to time were David McConnel, Joseph Diven, Harry Patton, Jesse Ramsey, Samuel McClurg, Alex. Tallon, Miss Mary MeGregor, Miss Ramsey.
Soon after the first number of the paper appeared, an old gentleman named Beatty of Washington, Pa., moved by love of Democratic principles, an unwillingness to be idle, and also by the hope of restoring his worldly fortunes, applied for the position of solicitor of sub- scriptions and advertisements, and although nearly eighty years old, so industrious, courteous and trust- worthy was he, that he did more in that line than any of the younger men who at different times ventured on the same work.
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R. Gregor McGregor, the brilliant paragrapher and editorial writer, was engaged for some time on the paper, and held his own well in the editorial combats that followed, and was especially valuable in the campaign of 1880.
Some time later Lewis W. Reed, a young man from the South Side, an enthusiastic champion of Democracy, who had been active as local reporter, became local editor, and filled that position in a very creditable manner, doing effective work not only through the "Star," but to secure the success of the party, whose cause the paper steadfastly advocated. Mr. Reed was born in Raccoon township March 25, 1857, attended dis- trict school and New Sheffield and Woodlawn academies; was principal of Vanport schools September 1882 to March 1883, and resigned on account of ill health; went to work on the "Star," read law with John M. Buchanan Esq., and was admitted to the bar February 4, 1889, practicing for two years alone, and February 1, 1891, went into partnership with Mr. Buchanan, which con- tinued for six years, when he again went to himself. He was married March 27, 1882, to Lizzie Hall a daughter of a neighboring farmer, and they have three children, one son and two daughters. Mr. Reed has been interested all his life in newspaper work, and is now a stockholder and secretary of the Star Publishing Company.
In the fall of 1884, Charles F. Whisler, a man of literary inclinations, and strong Democratic proclivities, conceived the notion that the party should be more energetically supported, and proposed starting an oppo- sition paper. Mr. Kennedy learning of it, secured an interview with Mr. Whisler and succeeded in convincing him that the safe and economical plan was to take his place. Having agreed upon terms they entered into partnership October 1884, for a period of six months, at the end of which time Mr. Whisler was to assume full
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ownership, and he took full charge of the editorial and local work at once. When the end of the six months came, the failure to realize pecuniary anticipations, pre- vented the deal from being consummated. Then Lewis W. Reed joined with Mr. Whisler in the publication of the paper. The time was an unpropitious one, in a very dull season, and the business went along with but little, if any, increase, and soon Mr. Whisler and Mr. Reed sold their interest back to Mr. Kennedy, and retired from the paper, the business being again taken up by the latter in October 1885. A more extended notice of Mr. Whis- ler appears in the sketch of the "Beaver Valley News" New Brighton, where he did his best work.
The power of the Democratic party in the county was on the wane, while the Republicans who had been divided by factional quarrels, gradually came together, leaving the Democrats in a hopeless minority. Beaver Falls had grown rapidly and of great importance, and a Democratic paper of considerable influence had been started by John Mellon, under the name of the "Globe," which promised to be a formidable rival to the "Star," and Mr. Kennedy feeling that there was not room for two Democratic papers in the county, sold the "Star" to Mr. Mellon in September 1887, and retired after almost ten years of faithful service to his party, in a well con- ducted and able paper.
Mr. Mellon consolidated the two papers under the name of the "Globe-Star." September 10, 1891, he sold one half interest to William H. Porter, M. D., and Richard W. Stiffey Esq., and September 28, 1891, they changed the name to the "Star," and began the publi- cation of the "Daily Star" at their office in Beaver.
Richard W. Stiffey Esq., was editor of the paper. Mr. Stiffey is a member of the Beaver bar, but devotes a great deal of his time to the lumber business in which he
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is extensively engaged. As an editor Mr. Stiffey had a lively and caustic style, that was apt to stir up the oppo- sition and create interest.
Dr. Porter was the advertising manager, a gentleman of excellent qualities and well liked by the people. He is now a practicing physician in Beaver. Mr. Mellon was business manager, but was forced on account of ill health to sell his interest in the paper and removed to Florida, where he again took up the work amid the balmy breezes of his new home. He improved in health but it was of short duration, death overtaking him one morning as he was on the way from his residence to the newspaper office.
Samuel K. Alexander was foreman of the office, and his son James Alexander was a printer, who is now fore- man of the "Star" composing rooms, and has been with the paper since the daily was started. Samuel K. Alexander after more than half a century in the work, has retired to private life and is now a resident of Beaver.
One of the men who contributed much to the starting of the daily edition, was Theodore Lampert, the first news editor, a sketch of whom we give with the "Star." He was born at Crestline, O., April 11, 1860, received his education in the public schools of that place from which he was graduated in June 1878. The same year he was selected a teacher and taught in the schools from which he was graduated, for two years. In the fall of 1880 he went to work for the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad as freight brakeman, but was soon appointed to a clerkship in the freight office of the same railroad at Mansfield, O. While serving in this capacity he con- tributed to the local newspapers railroad happenings, which work led him gradually into the newspaper field. In the spring of 1884 he became local editor of the "Mansfield Shield and Banner," a weekly, and six months
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later, when the "Mansfield Daily Herald" was started, he became a member of its local staff. In the fall of 1885 he was offered a position as local editor of the "Beaver Falls Tribune" which he accepted and held until 1888 when he went on the staff of the "News-Democrat" at Canton, O. He here remained until the fall of 1891 when he returned to Beaver county and assisted in launching the "Daily Star." In December 1894, he went to Pittsburg where he became connected with the "Pitts- burg Post," taking charge of the industrial route. With the exception of about six months, when he was on the "Pittsburg Times," he conducted the industrial column of the "Post" for seven years. He then became con- nected with the "Pittsburg Dispatch," where he is now doing general assignment work.
In January 1894 the plant was sold to a stock company, with Mr. Porter as managing editor. In February 1895, the "Star Publishing Company" was chartered, and a board of directors was elected, with John Conway, a banker of Rochester, as president, William B. Dunlap editor and manager, and W. H. Porter solicitor and collector.
John Conway was born in this county March 27, 1830, the son of Michael and Mary O'Brien Conway, who came from Ireland in 1825, and settled in Economy township. He was educated in the public schools and a college at Vincennes, Ind. He followed steamboating for a while, then embarked in the dry goods business at New Castle, Pa., later in the same business in Rochester until 1871, when the bank of which he was president was started. In 1857 he married Thalia, daughter of Philip Bentel, to whom two children were born, Lilian wife of N. F. Hurst Rochester, and Charles B. Conway. Mr. Conway has been one of the most prominent business men in the county.
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Hon. William B. Dunlap was born at Darlington, Pa., son of Samuel R. and Nancy Hemphill Dunlap, the former a grandson of Walter Clarke, a member of the First Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania in 1776. His mother was the daughter of Judge Joseph Hemphill, one of the three commissioners named in the Act of Assembly for the erection of Beaver county. Mr. Dunlap was educated in the common schools and the Darlington and Beaver academies and Jefferson College. He in- tended to study law, but on account of ill health was forced to abandon it. Later he was principal for two years of the Scott Street public schools of Covington, Ky. His health still remaining poor, he entered upon work on the river, and was for a number of years engaged in the transportation business on the rivers. In 1890, with two Republican candidates in the field for State Senate, he was elected as a Democrat to that office in this district. Soon after the expiration of his term, he be- came connected with the "Star."
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