History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 61

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 61

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The Nashville Gazette-third paper of that name-was established by James Thompson and E. R. Glascock, in 1844. Mr. Thompson withdrew from the concern Jan. 1, 1845, and was succeeded by William Hy. Smith, who be- came editor of the paper. Feb. 24, 1849, Anson Nelson, formerly publisher of the Christian Record, purchased the establishment of E. R. Glascock & Co. Mr. Smith con- tinued to edit the paper until Feb. 2, 1850. In July of that year, Mr. Nelson sold out to John L. Marling and James L. Haynes, and Mr. Marling became editor. M. C. C. Church bought Mr. Haynes' interest in August, 1851, and the firm became M. C. C. Church & Co.

William Cameron, Anson Nelson, and James L. Haynes bought the office Nov. 26, 1851, and employed John A. McEwen as editor. Feb. 1, 1853, Anson Nelson & Co. sold to John H. Baptist, James D. Maney, James T. Bell, and J. A. Laird. Mr. Maney assumed the editorial chair. Jan. 1, 1854, he sold his interest to his brother, Henry Maney, who took his position as editor, and James T. Bell assumed the charge of the local department. Mr. Baptist sold his interest in April, and in the month of April follow- ing Mr. Bell sold his interest. April 22, 1855, T. H. Glenn became city and commercial editor, though his name did not appear in the columns of the paper as such until June 17th.

Col. W. N. Bilbo, a lawyer and man of superior attain- ments as an orator, became editorially connected with the Gazette, Feb. 5, 1856, and soon after the paper was en- larged. May 18th he bought the establishment of James A. Laird & Co., and Mr. Glenn dissolved his connection with the paper and took the same position upon the staff of the Patriot. James R. Bruce succeeded him as city and commercial editor. Mr. Maney continued with Col. Bilbo as associate editor until Sept. 14, 1856. November 11th, Col. Bilbo sold to M. V. B. Haile, James T. Bell, and Jo. V. Smith. James R. Bruce then became principal and James T. Bell* local editor. Mr. Smith withdrew Feb. 27, 1857, and the two remaining members of the firm continued its publication, without change, until it was suspended by the evacuation in 1862.

The Nashville Union was established March 30, 1835, by Medicus A. Long as a weekly, with Samuel H. Laugh- lin editor. The office was on Market Street. Joel M. Smith succeeded them as proprietor of the paper, and it was published on Union between College and Cherry Streets. Mr. Long afterwards went to Florida, where he was living, a prominent citizen, at the outbreak of the war. Mr. Bradford, and afterwards Mr. Cunningham from Kentucky, succeeded as editors. In February, 1839, the paper was

enlarged and arrayed in new type and published three times a week, and Col. J. George Harris, t then a young man who had acquired celebrity as a political writer in New Eng- land, was installed as editor. Col. Harris had been an edi- torial pupil of George D. Prentice in New England some years before he came to Nashville, and was favorably en- dorsed by Prentice in all respects except his politics. Prentice was then editor of the Louisville Journal, the home organ of Mr. Clay, while Col. Harris came to con- duct the home organ of Gen. Jackson. In politics they were wide asunder, though always personal friends.

The Republican Banner was at this time conducted by the veteran editor Hall, and the Whig by Norvell.

Mr. Smith sold his interest to Col. Harris Oct. 21, 1839, and retired from the Union. The motto adopted by the paper in the beginning, "Our Federal Union-It must be Preserved," was the key-note of its politics. In 1843, Thomas Hogan and John P. Heiss bought out Col. Harris, who had been appointed United States commercial agent for Europe, and who went abroad for a year in that capacity. Mr. Hogan died, and Mr. Heiss sold the paper in Novem- ber to James G. Shepard, who engaged as editor Hon. A. O. P. Nicholson. Mr. Heiss entered the civil service of the United States, and died in public life. E. G. Eastman became editor in 1847, retired July 22, 1850, and was succeeded by Hon. Harvey M. Watterson. In 1838, Mr. Eastman had commenced a successful career of journalism by establishing the Knoxville Argus, a Democratic paper, which he edited with marked ability. He continued promi- nent from that time until his death, Nov. 23, 1859. IIis ability as an editor is highly commended by Col. Moses White in his historical " Address to the Tennessee Press Association," published in 1878. Sept. 17, 1849, Mr. Watterson purchased the Union. He employed Charles Eams, Esq., as editor from March 6th until after the August election in 1851. September 16th, in the editorial column, the firm-style of William B. Watterson & Co. appeared over the announcement by Harvey M. Watterson : " I have sold the Nashville Union establishment, stock, lock, and barrel, to my brother-in-law." He continued to edit the paper until Nov. 26, 1851, when it became the property of W. Weatherford, M. C. C. Church, and John L. Marling, the last-named gentleman becoming editor by the change. The motto at this time disappeared from the head-line of the Union. Mr. Weatherford sold his interest to his part- ners, Sept. 8, 1852, and retired. M. C. C. Church & Co., afterwards Church & Marling, continued to publish the paper, with Mr. Marling editor, until May 15, 1853, when the paper was united with the American under the title of . Nashville Union and American.

The Daily Centre-State American and Nashville Weekly American was established in 1848. The first num- ber of the daily was issued April 26th from the office on Union Street, rear of Union Bank, by James II. Thompson, Jr., publisher. It was a six-column, four-page paper, at ten cents a week, or five dollars a year subscription ; weekly, two dollars, in advance. The prospectus stated that the paper would " be devoted to the progress of the Democratic

. See special biography of James T. Bell.

t See special biography.

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party in the South by the dissemination of old-fashioned Democratic-Republican doctrines, and defend the policy of the present chief magistrate. It advocates a union of Whigs and Democrats of the South for the constitutional privilege of erecting new slave States; defends the war with Mexico; advocates Gen. Lewis Cass for the Presi- dency, and proposes to speak frankly and fearlessly at all times."

Dr. W. P. Rowles, a former editor, and a vigorous Dem- ocratic writer, became its editor July 27, 1848. Ile gave way to J. H. Thompson in January, 1849, and died a few years after. Oct. 2, 1849, Mr. Thompson announced the transfer of his interests to William M. Hutton, now sole proprietor, bade his adieux to the editorial corps, and announced the engagement, by the new proprietor, of Col. Thomas Boyers, well and favorably known as the talented editor of the Gallatin Tenth Legion, as the succeeding edi- tor. Mr. Hutton commenced the publication of a tri- weekly Oct. 23, 1849.

The name was changed to The Nashville American. Maj. E. G. Eastman, formerly connected with the Union, acquired an interest in July, 1850. In 1851 the firm-style was Eastman, Boyers & Co.,-E. G. Eastman and Thomas Boyers editors. Jan. 1, 1852, the office was removed from Cherry and Union Streets to Deaderick Street, next the Banner office, and the paper enlarged from six to seven columns. Nov. 11, 1852, Col. G. C. Torbett, who was well known as a legislator and a man of talent throughout the State, purchased half the office and became one of its editors. The paper was united with the Union May 15, 1853.

William M. Hutton, one of its proprietors, was after- ward very prominent as the editor of the Memphis Appeal, and at the beginning of the civil war was editor of the Memphis Avalanche.

The Nashville Union and American-daily, weekly, and semi-weekly-was established May 15, 1853, by the union of the two Democratic papers of Nashville under their for- mer proprietors, John L. Marling, E. G. Eastman, G. C. Torbett, and M. C. C. Church.

In the spring of 1854, Mr. Marling was appointed min- ister to Guatemala by President Pierce, and disposed of his interest to his remaining partners. He returned two years after in ill health, and soon died of consumption. His loss was deeply mourned by his fellow-citizens. Mr. Church sold his interest soon after to F. C. Dunnington, Esq., of Maury County. In May, 1858, G. C. Torbett sold his in- terest to J. O. Griffith, of Columbia, and G. G. Poindexter purchased one-half of Mr. Dunnington's interest. Mr. Poindexter became the principal editor, and the firm took . the style of E. G. Eastman & Co., which it retained until Jan. 1, 1860. John M. McKee became connected with the paper as city and commercial editor, June 15, 1858. G. G. Poindexter died Nov. 18, 1859, and was followed by Maj. E. G. Eustman on the 23d, the Union and American thus losing two of its leading editors by death within a single week. On the 1st of January, 1860, John C. Burch, Esq., became associated in the proprietorship and editorial conduct of the Union and American, and the firm took the style of J. O. Griffith & Co. Subsequently, Leon Trousdale

and Thomas S. Marr purchased the interest of Mrs. E. G. Eastman in the Union and American, and Mr. Trousdale became one of the editors. The paper was suspended on the evacuation of Nashville by the Confederates. .

Capt. James Williams, founder of the Post, a weekly Whig paper, of Knoxville, in 1841, and afterwards of the Athens l'ost, was a contributor to this paper, and author of the " Old-Line Whig" letters which appeared in its col- umns during the Presidential campaign of 1856, and exer- cised a wide influence in favor of the Democratic candi- date.

The paper was reduced in size on account of the scarcity of paper, July 2, 1861, and stated in that issue that it was " impossible for the mills of the city to keep up with the demand." Oct. 26, 1861, the daily was reduced from seven to six columns. The last number of that year an- nounces the Confederate States Presidential ticket, headed with the name of Jefferson Davis.

G. C. Torbitt became president of the Bank of Tennessee, and filled that position when it was suspended by the war.

John C. Burch was afterwards comptroller of the State and secretary of the Senate .*

Leon Trousdale has for several years filled the important position of State superintendent of public schools,-a posi- tion for which he is especially qualified.

PUBLICATIONS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR.

At the outbreak of the civil war, Nashville was the great publishing and newspaper centre of the South, and her periodicals were probably more numerous than those of any other city not exceeding her in population. The following list, gathered from the newspaper files of 1860-61, is com. posed of bona-fide publications, all of which attained to a respectable circulation, and does not include any amateur ventures.

The printing-offices were : Southern Methodist Publish- ing House, with a complement of eight Adams and two large Hoe drum-cylinder presses, besides hydraulic presses ; The Southern Homestead, the Baptist Southwestern Pub- lishing House, Republican Bunner, Union and American, Daily Patriot, Daily Gazette, and Daily News,-all job, book, and news offices,-and the Ben Franklin and Bet- tersworth Thomas & Co.'s book and job offices.

Newspapers.

Nashville Patriot, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly ; politics, Opposition. Office, No. 16 Deaderick Street.

Nashville Gazette, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; inde- pendent. Corner of Deaderick and Cherry Streets.

Republican Banner, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly ; Op- position. No. 13 Deaderick Street.

Nashville News, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly ; Opposi- tion. No. 40 Cherry Street.

Nashville Union and American, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly ; Democratic. Corner of Cherry and Church Streets. Southern Homestead, a weekly agricultural and family newspaper. No 34 Church Street.

* See special biography.

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

Nashville Christian Advocate, a weekly denominational paper, from the Methodist Publishing House.

Sunday- School Visitor, a weekly juvenile paper, from the same house.

Banner of Peace, a weekly organ of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, published on Cherry Street.

Baptist Standard, weekly, published by the missionary Baptists at the Republican Banner office on Deaderick Street.

Tennessee Baptist, weekly. Southwestern Publishing House.

National Pathfinder, devoted to news. Office on Col- lege Street.

Temperance and Literary Journal, monthly, published at the Southern Homestead office.

Home Circle, monthly, a Methodist publication.

The Children's Monthly Book, Baptist, South western Publishing House.

Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery, issued monthly, from the Ben Franklin office.

Nashville Monthly Record of Natural and Physical Science, monthly ; from the Methodist Publishing House. Quarterly Review, a Methodist publication.

Southern Baptist Review, quarterly ; from the South- western Publishing House.

WAR PUBLICATIONS.

With the general stampede from the city on the memo- rable Sunday after the fall of Fort Donelson, Feb. 17, 1862, all publication was suspended. Every man looked to his own safety, and more especially the members of the press, whose peculiar position rendered their future more uncer- tain than that of persons who had engaged in less public occupations. Offices were abandoned with forms half made up, paper wet for the press, type on the galleys, and half-set manuscript upon the cases and copy-hooks. Curiosity- seekers from the incoming armies pied the forms and car- ried away as specimen " relics" letters from the choicest fonts, or by ignorant handling did great injury to that which they left.

Unemployed printers soon found themselves deprived of the means of support in the midst of an immense demand for the news of the day. Thousands of papers from Louis- ville, Cincinnati, and the more distant cities were poured in upon them, and sold at fabulous prices. The mounted newsboy made his circuit of the camps on an abandoned train-mule or broken-down horse, often clearing from ten to fifteen dollars in a single day.

A number of the former employees of the Union and American joined in the issue of a small sheet, which made its appearance on the 28th of February, 1862, under the name of The Nashville Times. From the scarcity of ma- terial and lack of financial ability, it suspended after the issue of thirteen numbers.

. The Evening Bulletin, a second effort, was started by an

" Association of Printers" in an abandoned office, March

26, 1862, but was only issued six numbers.

The Nashville Daily Union was established on the 10th of April, 1862, by " An Association of Printers," with S. C. Mercer as editor. These papers were issued from the 31

Patriot printing office. On the 23d of November, 1863, the publishing firm was announced as William Cameron & Co. On the 22d of December, 1863, Mr. Mercer's con- nection with the Union terminated, and it was edited mainly by J. B. Woodruff and W. Hy. Smith.

The Nashville Dispatch (daily) was issued by the " Dis- patch Printing Company," from the Tennessee Baptist office, April 14, 1862, and removed to the Republican Banner office, November 25th of that year.

The Constitution appeared as a daily July 5, 1862, pub- lished by the " Cumberland Printing Association," and edited by George Baber. But eleven numbers were issued.

The Nashville Daily Press was commenced May 4, 1863, by Truman, Barry & Co., with Benjamin C. Truman editor. On the withdrawal of Mr. Truman, July 1, 1863, the firm- style was changed to Barry, Windham & Co. July 10th, Edwin Paschal and L. C. Houk were announced as edi- tors. August 15, 1863, Mr. Houk withdrew. Mr. Pas- chal's connection with the paper ceased Nov. 15, 1864. May 10, 1865, it united with the Times and Union, under its old style of Barry, Windham & Co.

The Nashville Times and True Union was started at No. 49 College Street, Feb. 20, 1864, by S. C. Mercer, editor. May 10, 1865, it became merged in the Press, under the new title of the Nashville Daily Press and Times.

The Nashville Daily Journal was issued from the Gazette printing-office, Sept. 3, 1863, by J. F. Moore & Co. pub- lishers, and L. C. Houk editor. In October the firm be- came William R. Tracy & Co., and afterwards John Blank- enship & Co. It was suspended in November of that year.

The Methodist Publishing House was taken possession of by the United States quartermaster's department soon after the occupation, and converted into a government print- ing-office, for the publication of official bulletins, orders, and army blanks. A large number of compositors were em- ployed, together with pressmen and binders, some of whom were residents of the city, and others were soldiers detailed from the ranks.

Mr. McKee, the first superintendent, was succeeded by Julius Frankie, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Maj. A. W. Willis was quartermaster in charge. The establishment was turned over to the agent, Rev. Dr. J. B. McFerrin, by Governor Johnson in October, 1865, and the United States railroad printing-office moved to Nashville and located in a govern- ment building near the Jewish synagogue. This is said by practical printers to have been the most complete and com- pact job office in the United States. It was closed the next year, and the material sold at auction.

THE PRESS AFTER THE WAR.

The American .- Upon the fall of Fort Donelson and the occupation of Nashville by the Federal troops, the publication of the Union and American was suspended, and so continued until the close of the civil war. In October, 1865, F. C. Dunnington and Ira P. Jones pur- chased the paper, and after furnishing an office resumed the publication of the paper on the 5th day of December following.

The publication of the Union and American was regu-

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

larly continued, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly, until the latter part of November, 1866, when it was consolidated with the Dispatch, and became for a time the Union and Dispatch.

The Union and Dispatch was then regularly published, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly, until the latter part of August, 1868. It was then combined with the Daily Gazette, and the old name of the Union and American was resumed.

The Union and American was now continued, as a daily, semi-weekly, and weekly newspaper, until the first day of September, 1875. At this time it was consolidated with the Republican Banner, and the only two daily newspapers then in the city became one, assuming the present name, The American.

The American has since then been published daily, semi- weekly, and weekly, to the present date.

In March, 1870, the then owners of the Union and American were incorporated by the Legislature as a joint- stock company. In August of that year they organized under the provisions of their charter as the " Union and American Publishing Company," and continued to work under the charter until the consolidation with the Republi- can Banner. When that occurred, the resulting owners of The American retained the charter, and have continued to work under the act of the Legislature incorporating the Union and American Publishing Company.

Prior to the civil war the press of Nashville had no ar- rangement whatever to obtain news by telegraph. The telegraph company furnished the newspapers then printed here with such market reports as its agents or operators would gather in the afternoon from such points as they chose, charging a reasonable price for the same. On rare occasions a paragraph of general news would be injected into these meagre market reports. The inaugural address of President Taylor was furnished the Nashville press by telegraph, but no such expense was incurred afterwards. The telegraph-office was uniformly closed at eight o'clock P.M. The inception of the war forced the press into ob- taining fuller news, but each relied upon its own enterprise to secure it by " specials."

The seven or eight newspapers in New York City which formed a news association, primarily to save the great ex- pense of each spending what would serve all, soon came to consider their news as a valuable property, and sold it to . the press of the East, North, West, and South. The press of Nashville, after the Federal occupation, but not before, purchased a limited amount of news from the New York Association. The " revived" press did likewise after the war closed.

In 1869 the press of the larger cities of the West, from and including Pittsburgh, resolved to cease buying news from the New York Association, and formed, under a charter from Michigan, "The Western Press Association." From that time the Nashville press bought its telegraphic news from the latter organization until 1872, when it was admitted to membership in the " Western Association," which the American retains and alone enjoys.

This mode of obtaining news by telegraph promptly, as events occur, from all parts of the world as well as our own country, has revolutionized the system of making news- papers here as elsewhere; and the files of the American,

in matter and make-up, show but a faint resemblance to its predecessors of twenty years ago.

The Tennessee Staats Zeitung, the only German daily paper ever published in the South outside of New Orleans, was first issued in March, 1866, by John Ruhm, Esq., then a lieutenant in the United States regular army, who had just returned to civil life. The Daily Staats Zeitung had four seven-column pages, and was published at twelve dol -. lars per annum subscription. The weekly, an eight-column paper, was three dollars per annum. The paper was Rc- publican in politics. Mr. Ruhm abandoned the enterprise in September, 1868, to engage in his profession of the law, to which he had been educated in his native land, and is now a prominent member of the Nashville bar.

THE PUBLISHING HOUSE AND PUBLICATIONS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH .- In October, 1865, the Methodist Publishing House was formally sur- rendered to Rev. Dr. J. B. McFerrin, the managing agent, by Andrew Johnson, the Military Governor of Tennessee. Work was at once resumed, and the Christian Advocate again issued. This is a sixteen-page, four-column weekly, at two dollars a year, edited by O. P. Fitzgerald, D.D., and devoted mainly to religious intelligence, but containing besides a news summary and the markets. It is now in its fortieth volume.

The Sunday-School Visitor, W. E. G. Cunnyngham, D.D., editor, is one of the finest juvenile publications issued. It is issued weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly, at fifty, twenty-seven, and fourteen cents per annum, respectively, in clubs of ten. Each number has four pages, ten by four- teen inches, with three columns to the page, and is printed on fine tinted paper, and embellished with several fine wood- cuts. Its publication was commenced with the year 1867.

Our Little People, a four-page weekly, edited by Mr. Cunnyngham, for Sunday-school circulation, contains the lesson review, two five-and-a-half- by eight-inch pages of reading matter in large type, and an illustration. Pub- lication commenced with 1871; ten copies, eleven cents.

The "Sunday-School Magazine," W. E. G. Cunnyngham editor, is a forty-eight-page monthly octavo magazine, de- signed for the instruction of Sunday-school officers and teachers. It contains a six-page lesson supplement, map of Palestine, and frontispiece illustration in each number. Its publication commenced with the year 1871. Terms, seventy-five cents per annum.

The Infant Class, a two-page illustrated weekly leaf at six cents per annum, was started by Mr. Cunnyngham in January, 1879.

The Sunday-School Quarterly, a thirty-two-page maga- zine, edited by Mr. Cunnyngham, is devoted entirely to the Sunday-school lessons of the quarter, and contains sev- eral pages of music in each number.

The Quarterly Review of the Methodist Episcopal Church South .- In carrying out the purpose of the Gen- eral Conference, the first volume of the Review was issued . in 1879, under the editorial management of Rev. J. W. Hinton, D.D., one of the committee, and pastor of a church in Columbus, Ga. In October, 1879, R. A. Young was elected publisher by the Conference committee, and Rev. Thomas O. Summers, D.D., LL.D., book editor at the pub-

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 61

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013