Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 101

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 101

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William B. Conway, as secretary of Iowa Territory, became involved in a bitter controversy with Governor Lucas, and it was through his machinations that the Legislature of the Territory memorialized President Van Buren to remove Mr. Lucas. In speaking of the controversy between these two men, the Gazette of February, 1839, said: "The case between Lucas and Conway is a real case of 'dog eat dog,' and we care not if they do as did the Kilkenny cats."

In April, 1839, David Grant, proprietor of the Times, discontinued its pub-

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lication, and transferred his subscription list to the Gazette. At this time the latter paper was under the management of N. B. Craig and M. M. Grant. Early in 1839 the Pittsburger was first issued as a daily from the Democrat office, by Messrs. Jack and Shugert, as an organ of the Democracy. In May of the same year John W. Shugert retired from the Pittsburger, and was succeeded by William McElroy.

In 1839 Pittsburg contained four dailies, eleven weeklies, ten periodicals and had eighteen printing-offices and seven binderies. The Gazette was controlled by Craig & Grant, the Mercury by Morrow & Smith, the Advocate and Statesman by Robert M. Riddle, Harris' Intelligencer by Isaac Harris, the Pittsburger by Messrs. Jack and McElroy, the Western Emporium by G. E. Parkin, Freedom's Friend by Victor Scriba, the Pittsburg Entertainer, also by Vic- tor Scriba, the Saturday Evening Visitor by E. B. Fisher, the Literary Examiner and Western Monthly Reviewe also by E. B. Fisher, the Pres- byterian Advocate and Herald by Rev. William Annan, Sibbet's Western Review by E. Sibbet & Co., Pittsburg Conference Journal by William Hunter, the Sabbath School Assistant also by Mr. Hunter, the Christian Witness, an Anti-Slavery weekly, by William H. Burleigh, the Manufacturer by Mr. Phillips. In January, 1839, Rev. Thomas D. Baird, editor of the Pittsburg Christian Herald, and one of the earliest Abolitionists, died in North Carolina, at the age of sixty-six years.

In 1840 the Pittsburg Daily American was founded by James W. Biddle, and was successful from the start. In December, 1839, appeared the first num- ber of the Constitutionalist, under the editorship of Wilson F. Stewart, former editor of the Allegheny Democrat, who was assisted by several others under the management of a Democratic committee, the real owners of the paper. This paper took an ultra course in opposition to the Whigs and Anti-Masons. It opposed all banks and the issue of every kind of money except gold and silver. It declared the Constitution had been rendered a dead letter by partisans, and maintained that it would sustain the organic law and a return to the Constitu- tional provision that no State had the right to emit bills of credit. It said, among other things: "Stand to your arms and show them the blood of '76. Let other States take care of themselves, but every bank in Pennsylvania must be annihilated. Now is the hour. Their charters are forfeited by their acts of suspension. Cut them off and let us be free. Under them we are in worse than Colonial bondage. Every man must do his duty; citizens, you must do yours. Call on your representatives, your Governor and your President to do theirs. Let us return to the Constitution, to equity and justice, and all will be well. But no banks-no banks-must be the rallying word of every free- man." The Constitutionalist continued its career upon the policy thus outlined. It was at all times violent and erratic, not only in politics, but in religion, education and social ethics. "A Democratic meeting at Pittsburg has denounced the Constitutionalist, a new paper established at that place, as a disorganizer, and as unworthy of the support and confidence of any party. For our own part we have seen but one of two numbers of this paper, but these were sufficient to enable us to make up our minds that it was a pirate sailing under false colors" (c). The violent course of this paper attracted attention, and therefore was the means of enlarging its circulation. Within a few months its subscription list equaled that of any other Democratic journal here. Early in 1840 there were four strong Democratic journals issued here: Pittsburger, Mercury, Constitu- tionalist and Manufacturer. The Constitutionalist was still conducted by an unknown committee of the Democracy.

WNers Www.she's Chicago.

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In 1840 Alexander Ingram, Jr., became owner, printer and publisher of the Gazette. In June of the same year Messrs. Craig and Grant sold out to Mr. Ingram, who took charge July 1, 1840. Mr. Craig was retained as editor. Early in 1841 Mr. Ingram surrendered his interest in the Gazette and was succeeded by D. N. White & Co., though Mr. Craig still continued as editor, assisted by B. F. Norris.

In June, 1840, appeared the first number of a small sheet called the Pitts- burg Daily Whig, issued by Thomas K. Ashley & Co. It was thought by the public that Wilson F. Stewart was the editor of this paper, but this rumor was denied by the publishers. A paper called the Old Granny was issued for a short time in 1840 from the Advocate office. It was stated in 1841 that Greeley Curtis, of the Pittsburg Herald, published the wittiest paper in town. In 1841 the name of Harris' Intelligencer was changed to Pittsburg Intelligencer, and the paper passed to A. A. Anderson and Mr. Errett, the latter being editor. Mr. Harris retired from editorial life, but continued to furnish commercial intelligence for the paper, and devoted much of his time, as he had done pre- viously, to philanthropic and benevolent enterprises.

The Chronicle was first issued in May, 1841 and was called "The Iron City and Pittsburg Weekly Chronicle," with R. G. Burford publisher, and in Sep- tember with J. Herron Foster and William H. Whitney editors. In January, 1842, it became a two-cent daily, but the weekly was still continued. "The Iron City and Pittsburg Weekly Chronicle is a new paper just commenced by the enter- prising conductors of the Chronicle. It is neatly printed on a mammoth sheet, at $2 a ycar, and as it is made up of matter from the daily Chronicle, the contents and typographical appearance of both papers are the samc" (d).

In July, 1840, W. F. Stewart sold the Saturday Evening Visitor to James W. Biddle, and at this time the latter announced that he would shortly issue the first number of the Daily American, and at the same time would continue issuing the Visitor. In 1841 the Literary Messenger made its first appearance. The Daily Sun and the Herald and Weekly Advertiser also appeared during this year.

On July 29, 1841, Neville B. Craig, after having edited the Gazette for twelve years, retired, and was succeeded by D. N. White. Evidently the terms of sale obligated the new management to conduct the paper in the interest of Anti- Masonry. At least, the paper continued to support that party, and its columns seem to have been open to communications from the pen of Mr. Craig, as he was a frequent contributor. Mr. Craig possessed the characteristic of mak- ing the warmest friends, and at the same time the bittercst enemies, of any man connected with the carly newspaper enterprises of Pittsburg. But through- out all the storms of personal abuse and partisan bitterness he ever maintained his self-respect and the confidence of the community, even of his enemies. The following estimate of his character was made by William H. Smith, in August, 1841, who was then editor of the Mercury and Democrat, and who had often felt the lash of Mr. Craig: "Neville B. Craig .- This individual has abandoned the editorship of the Gasette. We congratulate the editor of the Advocate and his correspondents and all others concerned upon bringing the moral war so long waged against Craig to a successful termination. They have gained for decency and correct feeling a triumph over malignance, vindictive- ness and blackguardism worthy of a special notice and commemoration. In taking leave of his readers, the same fierce and vindictive spirit which had characterized his entire editorial career shone out with unabated strength and vigor. He retreats snarling and snapping, more like a half-starved wolf when

(d) Mercury and Democrat, December 1, 1841.

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scared and driven from his prey than a vanquished combatant retiring from an honorable and well-fought field. He takes his arms with him, too, in the hope that he may yet harass his adversaries when they may deem themselves secure from his attacks. In regard to the credit Craig has gained in the editorial profession, it may be said of him that he has more personal enemies and fewer personal friends than any editor who has lived as long within the limits of Pittsburg as he has. He has made more shameless personal attacks and written more defamatory slanders upon private reputations than any man who ever conducted a paper in this city. He has made more mean and miserable retrac- tions of false charges brought by him against his adversaries than any other politician or political writer within the circle of his sphere of action, and he has done more to degrade the morals and habits of the newspaper press than any other editor of equal force and influence in other respects, and in quitting his post he has gone with his strong passions unsubdued, apparently willing that all the bad feeling he had created toward himself should follow him into his retirement." This ultra view of Mr. Craig's editorial conduct was not general. Notices commending his character and conduct in the highest terms appeared in other local newspapers about this time. It must, therefore, be considered that the above article represented the views of his bitterest enemies only.

In February, 1841, the Pittsburger was merged with the Mercury, and thereafter the united sheet became know as the Mercury and Democrat, with William Jack and William McElroy as editors. Late in the same year the Mercury and Democrat passed to the editorship of William H. Smith. In Decem- ber, 1840, Leckey Harper issued the first number of the Daily Morning Herald, a paper which professed to be neutral in politics. In 1841 Messrs. Callan and Parkin were for a short time connected with the Gazette. In December, 1840, the Washington Banner, a temperance organ, was started by \V. H. Burleigh and R. C. Fleeson. The former was Abolition candidate for the State Senate in 1841. The Pittsburg German Emigrant was first issued here in 1840. The Sun, a semi-weekly paper, was started in October, 1841, by D. M. Curry and James McKee, the former being editor and the latter pub- lisher. W. H. Burroughs became connected with them in December, at which time the appearance of the Sun was much improved. In 1842 there were six dailies here and twelve weeklies, beside a large number of religious and mis- cellaneous periodicals.

In 1842 the Gazette opposed the nomination of Henry Clay for President, on the ground that he was an adhering Mason, a slave-holder, a duelist, a pro- fane man and an enemy of the protective system. This course was pursued by the Gazette until February, 1844, when M. M. Grant sold his interest therein, and the paper commenced to advocate the nomination of Henry Clay. Mr. Grant, like Mr. Craig, could not recover from his abhorrence of all secret societies, and therefore, so long as he had a voice in controlling the political policy of that paper, it remained an enemy of secret societies. Mr. White, who succeeded Mr. Grant, in 1844, as the active editor of the Gazette, was unable, through lack of means, to buy the interest of Mr. Grant in the Gazette. The supporters of Henry Clay had no organ in Pittsburg at this time, and, accord- ingly, they appointed a committee, consisting of William Eichbaum, Thomas Bakewell, E. W. Stephens, Frederick Lorenz, J. Painter, Morgan Robertson, G. E. Warner, James Cuddy, W. Blackstock and John Shipton, to guarantee the payment of the sum promised to be paid by Mr. White to Mr. Grant for his share of the paper. Mr. White gave his personal obligation to the above-named gentlemen to pay off the loan at some future date. Each of the

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above gentlemen agreed to become responsible for the sum of $200 to effect the transfer from Grant to White, and the change in the policy of the Gazette from opposition to Henry Clay to a vigorous course in his favor. In 1842 The Preacher, a semi-monthly organ of the Associate Reformed Church, was estab- lished here by John T. Pressly, D. D. In 1845 the editorship passed to David R. Kerr, D. D., and in 1848 the paper became a weekly. The name was changed in 1854 to The United Presbyterian.

The Spirit of Liberty was issued in 1842 under the editorship of Mr. Flee- son, the Spirit of the Age in 1843, and the Mystery in 1844. In the summer of 1843 appeared the first number of the Commercial Journal and Age. A small journal called the Dayspring was published here early in the forties by Rev. W. H. S. Barnes, who enlisted as a private in the Second Regiment for the Mexican War.

The Pittsburg Catholic was established in 1844 by P. F. Boylan, but in 1847 passed to Jacob Porter. In July, 1845, Robert M. Riddle took charge of the Commercial Journal and Age, at which time the latter part of the name was dropped and the paper thence forward was issued as the Commercial Journal, and soon became one of the strongest newspaper forces of this vicinity.

In . 1845 James D. Thornburg began issuing a penny paper called the Sunbeam. Early in the forties the Daily Advocate and Advertiser was merged with the Gazette. Mr. Van Amringe was associated with Mr. Thornburg in the management of the Sunbeam, which was issued from the Journal office.

On the Ioth of September, 1842, the Daily Morning Post supplanted the Mercury and Manufacturer as the leading organ of the Democracy, and was issued by Thomas Phillips and William H. Smith. Soon afterward the paper passed to Bigler, Sargent & Bigler, and in 1844-5 to Leckey Harper, with whom was associated later John Layton, who died of cholera in 1854. Late in 1846 Mr. Harper announced that the Weekly Mercury and Manufacturer, which he also issued, contained "all the important reading matter of the six dailies dur- ing the week." Mr. Harper finally sold to Gilmore & Montgomery and the latter to James P. Barr, under whom the paper became the strongest Democratic organ in Western Pennsylvania.

Much amusement was occasioned in October, 1846, by the suits insti- tuted on the information of J. H. Foster against D. N. White and Rev. B. F. Harris of the Gazette and Advertiser for violating the Sabbath by setting type on that day. Mr. Harris was fined $4 and costs, but Mr. White cleared himself and was acquitted. In November, 1846, a penny paper called the Morning Telegraph was issued by Thomas W. Wright, who had previously been connected with the Chronicle. About this time also the Morning Clipper was issued by Messrs. Bryant and McClellan. It was soon merged with the Telegraph, and about the same time a small sheet, called the Newes, conducted by Mr. Flee- son, was merged with the Dispatch. Mr. Mitchell became publisher of the Dispatch late in 1846, and about this time Mr. Youngson withdrew from that paper. John Bigler was connected with the Post and Mr. Kennedy with the Alleghenian about this time.

"An Editor in Jail .- We regret to be compelled to announce that George Youngson, Esq., of the Pittsburg Daily Dispatch, is now confined in the county. jail. Mr. Youngson was tried for a libel on George Scott, a police officer, to which he plead guilty. He also plead guilty to an assault on L. Y. Clarke. For the first offense he was fined $100 and costs; for the second, $25 and costs. The total of fines and costs amount to $175. As Mr. Youngson is not a rich man and has a family to support, he was unable to pay this sum, and is, therefore, in jail. There will be an effort made immediately to have the fines

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remitted by the Governor. Mr. Youngson is in the front part of the prison and will board with the sheriff's family" (e). "Misery Makes Strange Bed- fellows .- L. Y. Clarke was imprisoned for a libel on George Youngson, and Youngson was imprisoned for assault and battery on Clarke; at least, that was part of his offense. Since their sentences they both occupy one room in the dwelling part of the jail and sleep in the same bed. They appear to agree very well" (f). . "J. Herron Foster, Esq., has issued the first number of a new penny sheet, with the above title (The Daily Dispatch). It is neat and even handsome in point of typography, and his well-known capacity to give interest to a newspaper assures him of the abundant success we wish him. He cannot fail to thrive, and we shall most certainly rejoice in his prosperity" (g).

In 1846 the Olden Time, a monthly historical magazine, made its first appearance, with N. B. Craig as editor and J. W. Cook publisher. In April, 1845, Messrs. Brooks and Haight succeeded Mr. White in charge of the Gazette. At this time all the daily newspapers united their means to pay for telegraphic dispatches. In February, 1847, Erastus Brooks assumed the editorship of the Gasette, and at this time Benjainin F. Harris managed the commercial depart- ment; but in July, 1848, D. N. White again took control of this paper.

Thomas Phillips was connected with the Post at an early date, but later went West, and in 1847 was editor of the Peoria Press, in Illinois. In 1847 Mr. Biddle, of the American, was sued for libel by Mr. Gihon, Miss Loomis and others, who were then entertaining the Pittsburg public with exhibitions of alleged clairvoyance. Mr. Biddle publicly questioned the genuineness of the handkerchief performance, whereupon he was called to answer in court for his want of faith. Many of the citizens, as well as several of the newspapers, at that time believed in the miraculous character of the handkerchief trick. In November, 1847, an afternoon daily, called the Daybook, was issued under the editorship of William A. Kinsloe.

"On Thursday the senior editor of the Dispatch assaulted the senior editor of the Telegraph with whip in hand, but did not strike for reasons best known to themselves. On Saturday another affray occurred, in which the senior of the Dispatch and the junior of the Telegraph were the combatants. . . It appears that Mr. Foster drew a cowhide upon Mr. Clarke, whereupon the latter drew a pistol, which he snapped" (h).

Colonel John Bigler severed his connection with the Post in 1847 and went west to Illinois. In December, 1847, Mrs. Jane G. Swisshelm took charge of the Saturday Evening Visitor, a newspaper devoted principally to home interests and to the advocacy of special reforms, of which Abolitionism was one. Previ- ous to this three attempts had been made to establish permanently anti-slavery · newspapers here, but all had failed. The Christian Witness, the Mystery and the Albatross, devoted to that cause, had failed in succession, as it was said "without will." The Saturday Evening Visitor was supported by a prominent anti-slavery citizen, believed to be Charles Avery, who offered to assume all risks, providing Mrs. Swisshelm would consent to let the paper appear under her name. Her fresh and erratic style of writing attracted wide attention from the issue of the first number of the Visitor. This paper was the successor of the Albatross, and was issued from the office of the Commercial Journal.

About the Ist of February, 1848, Mr. Youngson issued the first number of a paper called the Sunday Mercury, believed to be the first newspaper ever issued on the Lord's day in Pittsburg. Mrs. Swisshelm combated the desecra-

(e) Commercial Journal, November 16, 1846.

(f) Commercial Journal, November 18, 1846.

(g) Commercial Journal, February 10, 1846.

(h) Post, November 8, 1847.

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tion of the Sabbath by the issuance of this paper. Its continuance was opposed by all the churches of this vicinity. So great became the hostility that Mr. Youngson found it politic to announce that nearly all the work was done on # Saturday evening, and that the mere issuance of the paper alone took place on Sunday. However, it was denounced from the churches in the most unspar- ing terms, and particularly in the editorials written by Mrs. Swisshelm for the Visitor. The Commercial Journal said: "As to the propriety of selecting Sunday as his publication day, that is his business, not ours." Mrs. Swisshelm, in February, 1848, said: "We have taken a good look at it-romantic stories, poetry, love songs, theatrical intelligence and commercial news, its two columns of jokes with the old joker at the head, its compliments to Mrs. Swisshelm, Thorn's bear, Talkrand's death and St. Paul's piety, and various other things, all fixed up for Sunday reading. Take a look at it, all of you who can, and see if it does not present almost as much variety as American Christianity itself. Fact is, it is about as good a portrait of our Sabbath-talking-about, Sabbath- breaking, church-going, rum-selling, loud-praying, man-stealing, heathen-con- verting, heathen-making, purity-preaching, concubine-keeping, psalm-singing, orphan-grinding, church-building, soul-selling, revival-manufacturing, God-defy- ing piety as we have ever met with in our life." This extract shows the character of Mrs. Swisshelm's editorials. Her trenchant criticisms were a revela- tion to the citizens of this community. The following extract will also serve to show her style: "Once in our younger days we had almost the entire manage- ment of a store. We have taught school and acted as executor and guardian of a troublesome estate, which involved us in all the perplexities of court trials and law, and now we have tried editing a paper. All these hold a high rank amid the vexatious employments which fall to man's lot, and all of them put together would not equal the toil and anxiety of nursing one cross baby, and we have tried that, too." For many years Mrs. Swisshelm continued to unmask the sophistries of local politics and societies. At first her violence of style was admired and appreciated, but later her thrusts were too keen to be enjoyed and her paper fell into disrepute, particularly so after she had begun fighting in the political arena. Through her influence largely, but mainly through the opposition offered by the churches, the issuance of the Sunday Mercury was discontinued, or rather the paper was changed to the Saturday Mercury about the 20th of August, 1848, and thereafter made its appearance as an afternoon paper.

The night before Christmas, 1847, was celebrated by the printers of Pitts- burg with a magnificent banquet. The committee of arrangements were John Roth, L. A. Clark, and Messrs. Sheridan, Havens, Sweeney, Kelly, Stevick, O'Hara, Connelly, McCarty, Meyers, Wilson, Lewis, Glass, McNaughton, Rus- sell and Work. Neville B. Craig was president of the evening. The vice- presidents were John B. Butler, B. C. Sawyer, Thomas Hamilton, William H. Sutton, Samuel Snowden, John G. Jennings, Alexander Jaynes and Dr. Back- ofen. The secretaries were S. Elliot, W. B. McCarthy, John B. Butler, Jr., John T. Shryock and A. Gamble. Letters of regret for non-attendance were received from James Buchanan, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Joseph Gales, William W. Seaton, Thomas Ritchie, Joseph R. Chandler and Erastus Brooks. There were present on this occasion, in addition to those mentioned above, John W. Riddle, J. T. Shryock, R. R. Dumiars, William Cappe, B. H. Hersey, A. McIl- waine, L. Elliot, W. C. Charlton, James Irwin, D. P. Work, W. H. Kinsloe, W. S. Caldwell, N. W. Truxall, W. W. Smith, A. B. Russell, W. G. Brophy, H. Hersey, Robert Ellis, N. M. Poindexter, A. M. Swancy, Andrew Gamble and William Robinson, Jr. The following toast was offered by

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Mr. Caldwell, which was designed to embrace the names of all the leading news- papers of Pittsburg: "The printers of the Olden Timc who help to unfurl the proud Banner of the Stars and Stripes: May their successors Advocate their principles and Chronicle in their Gazette to the American people that the Spirit of the Age requires them to Post their Daybooks and Journals and receive a Dispatch by Telegraph to prove a welcome Visitor to the Manufacturers of the Iron City" (i). Mr. Craig offered the following toast: "The memory of John Scull and Joseph Hall, the enterprising young men who, in July, 1786, issued the Pittsburg Gazette, the first newspaper published west of the Alleghany Mountains."

In 1848 the Pittsburg Catholic, Christian Advocate and Protestant Unionist and Preacher's Presbyterian Advocate were issued in this city. The Commercial Journal said: "The religious press of Pittsburg is conducted by as much talent as can be found in the same vocation in any other city." In 1848 Shiras and Kinsloe issued a new paper called the Western Weekly. In August, 1848, the Chronicle came out as a Free Soil paper, and supported the nomination of Van Buren and Adams. Colonel Whitney had sole charge of the paper at this time. In 1848 the Pittsburg Catholic opposed the revolutionary movement in Ireland, on the ground that the struggle was hopeless. In September, 1848, Errett & Stevenson issued a Free Soil paper. In June, 1848, Harper Mitchell purchased the Alleghenian and transformed it from a weekly into a daily. He was assisted by James W. Kennedy. In January, 1848, Dr. Delaney, who had edited the Mystery, the organ of the Abolitionists, retired from its management, owing to lack of support. The colored people endeavored to assist the paper and held a levee for that purpose, but sufficient means could not be raised by that method to warrant its continuance. The Christian Herald, edited by Rev. A. R. Green, was issued here in 1848 as an organ of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1848 the Evening Mail was issued by George Youngson. During this year also P. C. Purviance & Sons issued the Allegheny News, which became defunct the following year.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 101

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192