USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > Popular history of Erie county, Pennsylvania > Part 16
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Jos. M. Sterrett and Oliver Spafford, about 1830, purchased the copyright for Cobb's spelling-book, for one half of this State, and for a number of years it was issued from the Gazette office in Erie. Mr. Spafford was also at one time publisher of the "English Reader."
FAVORITISM in political matters, appears to have been the order of the day, 50 years ago as well as today. Hiram A. Bebe, publisher of the Observer, for County blanks and advertising at one general letting, charged $1,600, where upon the Gazette offered to do the same work for $120. The Gazette farther said, that for 22 years past in which that paper had been doing the County work, the aver- age price had been but $60 per year. Jun. 2, 1842, Jos. M. Sterrett transferred the Gazette to Jno P. Cochran and Geo. W. Riblet, but three years later he was again the publisher and continued his connection with the paper until near the time of his death. I. B. Gara became a partner in the Gazette, Sept. 17, 1846 and the versatility of his pen aided much in the popularity of that journal for 20 years, in which he was connected with the paper.
The Gazette was run as an independent paper until the Masonic agitation of 1827, when it espoused the anti-Masonic cause, and later it became a Whig organ joining the Republican party when it was organized. Mr.Sterrett was at the head of the paper, until its purchase by S. A. Davenport in 1865. During those years his partners were John Shaner, John P. Cochran and I, B. Garra. Judge Ster- rett died in 1888.
Under the ownership of Mr. Davenport, in 1875, the Sunday Gazette was es- tablished, it being the pioneer in that line here. It continued with increasing success, until its sudden suspension in February 1894, on account of the religious scruples of its principal proprietor F. B. Brewer,
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While Mr. Davenport was owner, F. A. Crandall now of the Buffalo Courier, served as editor for several years, subsequent to which a number of different per- sons were for short periods connected with the office.
In 1890 the office and good will was purchased by the Dispatch Publishing Co. since which the Gazette has been issued from the Dispatch press.
The Dispatch was started as a weekly at Waterford, in this County, in 1851, by Joseph S. M. Young and, five years later removed to Erie. In 1861 the daily edition was started, and from that time until the establishment of the Herald, the Dispatch was the only daily paper in Erie with the exception of two or three short-lived ventures in the newspaper line.
Many newspaper men of brilliant reputation, both local and national, have been connected with the Dispatch at various times since its establishment. The one who first made it an important paper was the late B. F. H. Lynn, but his en- terprise outran his resources, and the Dispatch was succesively managed by S. Todd Perley, Azro Goff, now an advertising agent in New York, and Wm. P. At- kinson, now of the Herald. In 1869, James R. Willard Esq., associated with Geo. Redway and A. B. Cook, bought the paper and Mr. Willard retained his connec- tion with it for fifteen years, during which time it was constantly improving and growing in influence and financial success. Eben Brewer, first became connected with the paper in September, 1871, and purchased a half interest in 1873, which he sold after five years. In 1885 Mr. Brewer returned to Erie and with his father purchased the Dispatch, assuming the editorial and business manage- ment Jan. 1, 1886. D. P. Robbins became associated with the paper as business manager Jan. 1889 and April 8, in 1890, the Dispatch Publishing Company Limi- ted was organized; soon afterwards A. F. Moses becoming editor. Mr. Robbins in 1891, on account of declining health, retired from the management, and was suc- ceeded by Wm. J, Robinson, former County Treasurer, who still continues to run the Dispatch. A new fast press was put in, in 1893, and the office is well equipped and enterprising in all departments. Frank C. Bray succeeded Mr. Moses as ed- itor of the Dispatch, in 1892. Hon. F. B. Brewer of Westfield, N. Y. the presi- dent and principal stockholder of the company, died July 29, 1892, at the age of 70 ycars. The controlling stock of the Dispatch is still held by the Brewer heirs.
The Evening News, commenced in 1892 by editor Hathaway, from the Cleveland World, rapidly secured a large city circulation and was soon enlarged in size. It was purchased by the Dispatch Publishing Co. the following year, en- larged to a six-column folio, and is one of the renumerative publications comning from the Dispatch press.
Observer, Graphic, Times-During the anti-Masonic agitation of 1830 the Gazette the only journal in the county, took such strong ground against the Masonic order and the administration of General Jackson, that the friends of both united to start a new paper. A company was formed, embracing P. S. V. Hamot, Edwin J. Kelso, Joshua Beers, Robert Cochran, Daniel Dobbins, Smith Jackson, and sev- eral other wealthy and active citizens in their time, who purchased a printing outfit and placed it in charge of T.B. Barnum. An office was opened at the north- west corner of French and Fifth streets, from which the first copy of the Observer was issued on the 29th of May, 1830. Mr. Barnum was succeeded October 22d, 1831, by H. L. Harvey, who continued as editor untl the spring of 1837.
ANTI-MASONRY-The Gazette was Anti-Masonic in politics and H.L. Harvey, of the Observer Jan. 12, 1833, produced the following editorial: "The twin sisters
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-Anti-Masonry and nullification-begotten by disappointment and ambition. The first strikes a death blow at the great first principles of our government- equality of rights-the latter would destroy the Constitution, by curtailing the power it has chartered to the nation. The career of both will soon have term :- nated in mutual disgrace, The Gazette and Observer were acrid in their editor- ial denunciations of each other and the former becoming severely personal, Ran- dall the owner of the Observer, in 1842, sued Sterrett of the Gazette for libel.
H. L. Harvey tried printing a daily during the speculative era of 1836 -being the first of its kind in Northwestern Pennsylvania-but the field was too limited to permit of success, and the paper suspended after a few issues. Fol- lowing Mr. Harvey the Observer was edited by Thos. Laird, until the early part of 1839; by H. A. Bebe for about a year, and then for three years by J. M. Kuester and Willard Mckinstry, as partners. The latter broke down financially, and the office, for a short time, was in the hands of E. D. Gunnison, as trustee, who turned it over in May, 1843, to two promising young printers, A. P. Durlin and B. F. Sloan, by whom it was conducted under the firm title of Durlin & Sloan. They remained in business together until Jan. Ist, 1856, when Mr. Durlin withdrew to take Horace Greeley's advice and go west, and soon after M. M. Moore became associated with Mr. Sloan in the business. This arrangement continued until the 1st of Jan. 1859, from which date Mr. Sloan conducted the paper alone, with the aid of Geo. P. Griffith and others as assistant editors. Jan. 1st, 1861. after a pros- perous career, he sold the office to Andrew Hopkins. On Mr. Hopkin's removal to Erie, he induced Benj. Whitman to join him as associate editor. The latter pur- chased the office in 1862, in company with J. I. Brecht, who continued an interest until 1865, when Mr. Whitman became sole proprietor and managed the business with marked success until he sold to R. B. Brown, Dec. 1, 1878. Mr. Brown, start- ed a daily Oct. 1881, continuing it for three years at a loss. Hon. J. C. Brady was proprietor for some years, with F. E. Woods as manager and other parties have been connected for short periods.
Original Subscribers-An original subscription list for the Erie Observer is preserved in the office of that paper. It is dated May 1, 1830, and announces that about the 20th instant T. B. Barnum will commence the Erie Observer. The Prospectus says: "It will be a defender of such principles as triumphed in the election of Thomas Jefferson for president and have since been maintained, with few exceptions. It will support the present administration and will necessarily be drawn into collision with the new party, or rather the old Federal party under the new style-Anti-Masonick-which is more dangerous to the people than any which has ever had a prior existenee in this country."
Other matters were referred to and then comes the signatures, as follows: John Devore, Peter Brown, Giles Tiffany, John Scott, Miron Hutchinson, A. Ryan Ira Woodbury, Sam. Loper, O. B. Lloyd, Wm. Doty, Asahel Kimball, Cyrenus Chapin, Nathan Salsbury, J. S. Saunders, Lewis Drury, O. Cross, Henry Teller, John Tinker, Wm. Nichols, Philip Bristol, Abner Currier, John Albert, John Patterson, Ira Allen, Jas. M. Kendrie, Zach. Thomas, John Salsbury all of Spring- field; James Miller, H. Hubbard, Willard Badger, Silas Stern, John Kelley, S. M. Wheeler. Otis Wills, Elk Creek; Elijah Drury, Zeph Keith, Jer. Badger, D. D. Lum, A. H. Seeley, D. C. Clark, Fairview; A. C. Tiffany, Benj. Sawdey, Franeis Randall, Lexington: also J. A. Smila, Jas. Johnson of Salem, O. As these names were all from the west end of the County, there was doubtless other papers in cir- culation in each section of the County.
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SUNDAY GRAPHIC was started in 1879, and for some years continued a precar- ious existence. In 1886 F. E. Woods sold the Graphic to J. C. Brady and became manager of the consolidated office. Hon. F. A. Mizener purchased the Observer- Graphic plant, in 1893, and it was conducted by F. S. Phelps and others, until its consolidation. The Graphic has made a marked success in the Sunday newspaper field. The Observer-Graphic was consolidated Feb. 1, 1894 with the Daily Times.
The Daily Times was started Apr. 12, 1888 as an evening daily on the co- operative plan. In 1889 it was made a limited partnership association J. H. Kelley D. S. Crawford. John Miller Jr., J. J. Mead and J. F. Liebel having been the pro- prietors until the consolidation of the plant with the Observer and Graphic in February 1894. Mr. Kelley has been editor, most of the time since 1889 and the paper has secured a wide influence as an independent journal.
Evening Herald-In 1878, Profs. Jas. R. Burns and H. C. Missimer of the High School, decided to amuse themselves during vacation by publishing a dem- ocratic daily. A compact was made with Thos. F. Obrien, and the evening Her- ald was first issued from the old VISITOR office, on French street, July 20, 1878. The late W. L. Scott was greatly pleased with the advent of the new daily, and purchased the interest of Messrs. Burns and Missimer, continuing Mr. O'Brien as business manager. Mr. Hart of Philadelphia, for a time editor-in-chief was suc- ceeded in '82, by John Bocock, and he Feb. '83, by Nelson Baldwin. The latter had for some years officiated as editor of the Dispatch, for a time as editor of the Evening Observer and was not only well aquainted with the local field; but thor- oughly posted on political economy and the live issue of the times. Since his re- cent appointment as collector of this port S. E. Holly a newspaper writer of sever- al years experience, has charge of the Herald editorial work.
Early in its history, the Herald absorbed the Lake City Daily, Wm. P. Atkin- son's economy job office, and the Mehl & Wallace bindery. Mr. Atkinson became business manager with Wm. Wallace in charge of the bindery. The office has been increased from year to year until it is now one of the most complete printing concerns in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
THE SUNDAY MESSENGER commenced issue from the Herald office February 4, 1894, in seven-column quarto form and at once took a front place among the standard journals of the city. S. E. Holly is editor in the Sunday department as well, and the Messenger with its metropolitan make up is a high class Sunday journal.
Tageblatt-Zuschauer-In 1852, Erie had fairly started as a muanufactur- ing city and as there was a rapid increase in the German population, Mr. Scheuff- lin started the Zuschauer to disseminate information, among the people of his na- tionality. The paper changed hands a number of times prior to 1877, when F. G. Gorenflo who had learned the printer's trade in the Zuschauer office became its editor and proprietor. March 1890, Mr. Gorenflo changed the issue to a daily. The Tageblatt commenced Oct. 1, 1884 by O. Luedicke, was transferred to a com- pany two years later and Aug 1887, Hugo Held became the manager. The Sonn- tagsgast which was started by Frank Weiss in 1881, and which had secured a large general circulation was purchased from the Herald office Oct. 1889, by Tage- blatt Company and Oct. 5, 1891 the Zuschauer was consolidated with the Tage- blact making the present strong combination of Held, Gorenflo & Co. Mr. Goren- flo officiates as editor and Hugo Held as business manager, making a prosperous daily and a widely read weekly German paper.
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The Sunday Globe, started in 1889, by R. R. Cornell, met with good suc- cess for a couple of years and in 1891 a weekly edition known as the Globe- Rec- cord was started. Mr. Cornell became financially involved and the paper was sus- pended for a time in 1893. It was revived in half size, six-column folio and in 1834, continued to appear quite regularly.
Arbeiter Zeitung was started as a branch office from the Buffalo journal in charge of Samuel Weiss as manager and editor, Aug. 1891. A year later Chas. Backofen came in charge and in the spring of 1893 T. M. Jahn became manager which position he still holds. The paper is an independent German weekly with office at Tenth and French streets.
The People was started by a co-operative company, Capt. A. J. Louch, Pres .; Walter Miller, Sec. and Treas: Samuel Weiss editor. This journal is a strict ex- ponent of the People's Party and has received an encouraging support. It is pub- lished at No. 7 East Seventh street, its editor officiating as an all round newspaper man and student of the political situation.
Erie Advertiser-J. M. Glazier a thorough newspaper man, started the Ad- vertiser, April, 1876, as a gratuitous weekly paper of small size. It was enlarged Dec. 1, 1877, and a nominal price placed upon it. It has since been enlarged sev- eral times being at present an eight page 48-column weekly. Mr. Glazier, con- tinued with the office until Nov. 10, 1891 when the plant was purchased by D. P. Robbins, and for a year, or two was operated by other parties under lease. April 18, 1893, the concern was organized as the Advertiser Printing Co. Limited, sev- eral thousand dollars was expended for machinery and new materials and the plant equipped for book and job printing.
The Highland Light was started in 1892, by Rev. Owen O. Wiard, in the interests of the Y. P. S. C. E. and the United Brethern church. Later it became the mouth piece of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and late in 1893, espoused the cause of all the patriotic orders. Its growth and influence was phenomenal, and the old Advertiser list was consolidated with the Highland Light, Feb. 27, 1894, the journal since, having been styled THE ADVERTISER- HIGHLAND LIGHT; and being under the management of the Advertiser Printing Co. Limited.
Other Papers-The Erie Chronicle was commenced in 1840 by S. Perley. Its editor removed to Girard in 1855 and became connected with the Girard Ro- publican. The True American was issued in 1853 by Compton & Moore and this in 1855 was combined with the Erie Chronicle, James Perley and Henry Catlin, publishers. The Express started in 1859 by E. C. Goodrich was soon merged into the True American. The Girard Free Press was first issued in 1845 by S. D. Car- penter. The Girard Express started about the middle of the century, was pur- chased in 1854, by T. C. Wheeler and Wm. S. Finch and name changed to the Girard Republican.
J. P. Cochran, commenced the publication of the Erie Commercial Adverti- ser in 1846. A. H. Caughey was its publisher 1852-3, when the Herald a monthly temperance paper was issued from this office. The Commercial Advertiser passed into the hands of J. B. Johnson, who changed the name to the Constitution. In the railroad excitement of 1854-5, the press was destroyed by a mob. R. Lyle white subsequently took charge of the office and from it, issued the Daily Bulle- tin which suspended in 1858. Other County journals will have notice in connec- tion with the local history of their respective towns.
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PROTESTANT CHURCHES-The Catholic Priests, who came with the French army to this port in 1753, were among the first spiritual advisers of this section, and in addition to holding services at Forts Presque Isle and LeBœuf, erected a log chapel near the mouth of Millcreek where divine worship was held for a half dozen years. Succeeding these were English chaplains until 1785.
The early pioneers of Erie County were largely from New England and ad- herents to the Presbyterian faith. Revs. McCurdy and Stockton, sent out as Missionaries from the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, preached in Erie, Water- ford and North East as early as 1799. The sacramental ordinance was first admin- istered in this County at the house of Win. Dadas in North East, September 27, 1801. A "meeting house" was built on the present site of the North East ceme- tery in 1804. A log church erected at Middlebrook in 1801, stood for over 60 years asa memorial of early piety, and Judah Colt records, that several Presbyterian ministers visited this County about that time, but prior to the war of 1812 there was very little religious fervor in Erie.
Rev. Robt. Patterson, a Presbyterian minister, preached occasional sermons in "Erietown" in 1803, at the same time supplying two localities in Greenfield tp. upon a very limited salary,
John Colby a traveling missionary who visited Erie, May 20, 1810, wrote con- cerning his call, "I had heard much of the town as being a noted place for wicked- ness. By way of comparison, it was called Sodom. Christian friends had told me that the people would not hear me, and I was credibly informed that they had previously fallen into a frenzy, burnt the Bible and sprinkled the ashes with whiskey. I walked through the main street, nearly half a mile long, with hat off, singing the 'Judgment Hymn,' hoping thereby to excite attention, tho' only three men, three women and four children made up my audience."
Johnston Eaton was licensed in 1805, and July of the next year he began preaching at this place, Springfield and Elkcreek, receiving for his services $90 per quarter. Rev. Eaton was stationed at Erie as chaplain during the war of 1812 and in 1815 he organized the
First Presbyterian Church, for three years giving one-third of his time and subsequently until 1823, dividing his time between this place and Fairview. From that time until his death, in 1847, he continued as pastor at Fairview.
Rev. David MeKinney was installed pastor of the Erie church in 1825, and was succeeded four years later by Rev. Geo. A. Lyon, who continued as its spir- itual shepherd until his death, March 24, 1871. Rev. A. H. Carrier, the associate. was installed a few months later and served as pastor for eight years.
The cornerstone of the present elaborate church was laid in 1859 and the building completed three years later. In 1891 a handsome and commodious chapel was erected costing with lot about $20,000. The church property now covers two full city lots fronting 165 ft. on Peach street above Fifth. An excellent organ was put in the church Aug. 1894 at a cost of $8,000. Rev. Wm. S. Fulton was called to the pastorate in 1880, continuing in charge three years, when Rev. Jos. H. Selden came to the ministry here and did efficient work until his call to Cleveland in 1889.
Rev. Herbert C. Ross, the present pastor and successor to Rev. Selden, is a son of D. A. Ross. Esq , of the Canadian Department of Finance and was born in Quebec. He received his education at Ottowa and Toronto, and was ordained to the Presbyterian Ministry in 1885. He has had but two previous charges, at An- caster for a few months, and at Knox church, Ingersoll, Ont., where he labored successfully until called to this city. Mr. Ross is a young man full of zeal and force, and has fairly established himself in the hearts of his congregation.
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First Baptist-From the earliest settlement of the County there have been some adherents of the Baptist faith in the community, but not until the spring of 1831 was any organization attempted by them. In April of that year a large reviv- al took place in the First Presbyterian Church, and quite a number of converts were made of Baptist proclivity, who with former adherents, in all fifteen, banded themselves together and held cottage meetings. The membership doubled within a years' time, and on July 31st, 1832, at a meeting in the Court House. The First Baptist Church was organized. In August, 1832, the present site on Peach and Fifth Streets was purchased, and steps immediately taken for the erection of a church. The building was completed in a little over two years at a cost, includ- ing the lot, of $5,958 and was dedicated Feb. 11th, 1835. Of the charter members, not one remains. In 1865 the church was remodeled at an expense of over $11,000 and a new addition which connects the main and conference rooms together, was completed in 1889, at a cost of $4,000, nearly doubling the seating capac- ity. We must necessarily, pass briefly over its record of pastors. Rev. Zebina Smith, an honored citizen of Erie, was pastor of this church over 45 years ago, and his efforts were successful in adding large numbers to the church.
Rev. Wm. Bainbridge, was called and ordained pastor, Dec. 15, 1865, and with- in six months over 200 members had been added to the church, of whom but few remain at present. During Rev. Bonsall's ministry, 1875-8, there was a division which threatened its dissolution, but under the charge of Revs. Gilkes and Fox, the church differences were all healed and a long standing debt lifted. Rev. J. Cyrus Thoms was pastor for 4 years, Rev. H. C. Hall taking charge July 3d, 1892. In addition to its old established North Star mission, and the Hope mission, started a month or two prior to Rev. Thoms' advent, missions have been planted and houses of worship built on West Eighteenth Street, and at the corner of Twenty-third and Reed streets. Motwithstanding the withdrawal of members, to form Wesleyville and Second church, the First Baptist church has above 550.
Horace C. Hall was born in Cortland Co. N. Y. Mar. 24, 1853, and succeeding the public schools, was educated at Reid Institute, Clarion, Co. Pa., thence going to Bucknell University at Lewisburg, in 1878, from whence he graduated in 1882, and was ordained as pastor of the Sharon Baptist church Aug. 3, of that year. In 1886 he founded the Protected Home Circle a popular fraternal insurance society, of which he has since been Supreme President. March 21, 1888 Hall Instiute was incorporated as a Christian and undenominational academic school under Baptist control. After nearly nine years in pastoral charge at Sharon, Dr. Hall was called to Fittsburg from whence he came to the First Baptist church of Erie where his efficient work speaks for itself.
The United Presbyterian was formed in 1811 by members of the Associate Reform Presbyterian faith living in and near Erie, This place was then in the Monongahela Presbytery, which appointed Rev. George Buchanan to preach al- ternate Sabbaths in Erie and Waterford. He continued in this double charge for a time when he resigned Waterford and gaye all his time to Erie.
Rev. Robt. Reid was installed October 21, 1815. Mr. Reid was a man of un- usual powers. Although frequently the recipient of flattering offers elsewhere, he remained with this congregation until his death in 1844.
At the first communion held October 29th, 1813, forty-nine members were present. In 1816 a church building was erected on Eight street, later known as the old yellow meeting house. It was a frame structure 33x45 feet and was re- placed by the present substantial edifice in 1837.
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Rev. Joseph H. Pressly succeeded Rev. Reid and was followed upon his death in 1876 by the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Wilson. Mr. Wilson is a son of Samuel Wilson D. D., President of Xenia Theological Seminary, and was born near Xenia in 1840. He graduated from Jefferson College at Canonsburg, Pa., in 1860, and upon the opening of the war entered the army as a volunteer, remaining until the close in 1865. He then entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Xenia, and early in 1869 was ordained to the ministry. His first work was in Beaver, Pa .; the second in Philadelphia, and the third, his present charge in Erie. Mr. Wilson's pastorate, like those of his predecessors, has been a pleasant and profitable one. There are 260 members at present and the church is in better condition than ever before.
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