USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 38
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tained fourteen thousand names. The printing house was called the South-western Publishing House, and from it there were issued several other publications of a denominational character.
The Southern Baptist Review was established in January, 1856, by Rev. J. R. Graves, Mr. Marks, and J. B. Rutland. It was edited by Dr. Graves and Rev. J. M. Pendleton. In the early part of 1856 N. M. Crawford became associate editor, and at the close of 1856 Mr. Rut- land retired. A. C. Dayton became associate editor in 1856, and the Review was continued under the same management until the war brought it to a close.
The Baptist Standard was established about the middle of the year of 1858. The first number appeared November 10 of that year, L. B. Woodfolk being the editor. It was a seven-column weekly, and was is- sued from the Banner office. The last number of this paper was issued April 7, 1860, being No. 20 of Volume 2.
The Baptist Family Visitor was established in July, 1857, by T. M. Hughes. It is believed that only one volume of this paper was issued.
The American Presbyterian was established January 8, 1835, by "an association of gentlemen," and was edited by Rev. Dr. J. T. Edgar. It was published by Joseph Norvell, and the subscription price was $2.50 per year. Mr. Edgar was in reality the editor from the beginning, though his name was not so published until October 22 following, when it ap- peared with the following: "Aided by contributions of the ministry, laity, and friends of the Presbyterian Church in the South-west." This head- ing disappeared March 17, 1836, and the last number of the paper was issued December 29, 1836.
The Cumberland Magazine was established in August, 1836, by Rev. James Smith. It was a quarterly publication, with forty-eight octavo pages.
The South-western Law Journal and Reporter was established in Jan- uary, 1844, published by William Cameron and John T. S. Fall, and edited by Milton A. Haynes, of the Nashville bar. It was a monthly publica- tion, each number containing twenty-four pages, two columns to the page, and the subscription price was $2.50 per annum. The last of this valua- ble periodical was issued for December, 1844.
The South-western Literary Fournal and Monthly Review was started in November, 1844. It was published by A. Billings & Co. and edited by E. Z. C. Judson and H. A. Kidd. It was a sixty-four page octavo periodical, and the subscription price was $3 per annum. It continued at least as late as April, 1845; how much if any longer is not known.
The Christian Magazine was established in 1848, with John T. S. 23
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Fall, publisher, and Rev. Jesse B. Ferguson and J. K. Howard, editors. It was discontinued probably in 1852. This was the organ of the Chris- tian Church.
The Gospel Advocate, also the organ of the Christian Church, was es- tablished in 1854, published by John T. S. Fall, and edited by Tolbert Fanning and W. Lipscomb. It was discontinued in 1858.
The Christian Unionist was issued in 1858 by Rev. John P. Campbell, as a weekly religious newspaper. After a short existence it was merged in the Southern Magazine.
The South-western Monthly, a sixty-four page quarto, with two col- umns to the page, at $3 per annum, was established January 1, 1852, by Wales & Roberts. It was a valuable periodical, containing excellent steel plate engravings imported from England, and also numerous histor- ical sketches of Nashville and Tennessee. The last number issued was that for December, 1852.
The Tennessee Organ was established in 1847 by Rev. John P. Camp- bell as editor and publisher. In 1848 Mr. Campbell sold an interest in the Organ to Anson Nelson, who subsequently became the sole proprie- tor and editor. About the beginning of the year 1852 Mr. Nelson sold the paper to Dr. William S. Langdon, who afterward sold it to Dr. R. Thompson and William G. Brien, in whose hands it ceased to exist in 1854.
The Fountain was published in Nashville during the years 1854 and 1855 by Alexander R. Wiggs, but it ceased to exist at the close of its first volume.
The Temperance Monthly, commenced at McMinnville in January, 1858, by George E. Purvis, was removed to Nashville in April, 1859. It was edited by Mrs. Emelie C. S. Chilton, assisted by R. M. Weber. E. L. Winham was proprietor and publisher. Mrs. Chilton had an extend- ed reputation for her attainments in literature, and was one of the fore- most poets of the State. The Monthly was discontinued at the beginning of the war.
The Southern Magazine of Temperance was commenced in May, 1858, as a thirty-two page octavo magazine, at $I per year. It was in ex- istence only a short time, and was edited by W. H. F. Ligon.
The Nashville Monthly Record of Medical and Physical Sciences was formed by the union of the Memphis Medical Recorder and the South- ern Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences. The latter was pub- lished bi-monthly by John F. Morgan, commencing in January, 1835. It contained four hundred and sixty pages to the volume, and the subscrip- tion price was $2 per year. The editorial management was in the hands
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of Drs. John W. King, William P. Jones, Richard O. Currey, and B. Wood. Frank A. Ramsey, of Knoxville, Tenn., was associate editor. T. A. Atchison, of Kentucky, and R. L. Scruggs, of Louisiana, were corresponding editors. Mr. Scruggs retired upon the completion of the first volume. The second volume was printed by W. F. Bang & Co. Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Atchison retired at the close of the year 1854. The volume for 1855 was printed at Knoxville, Tenn. In 1856 it was published monthly by Kinsloe & Rice, of Knoxville, as the organ of the East Tennessee Medical Society, and its publication ceased with Decem- ber, 1857, when the union was formed as above indicated. The new paper was edited by Drs. D. F. Wright and R. O. Currey. In July, 1859, Dr. Currey retired and was succeeded by Drs. John H. Callender and Thomas L. Maddin. The title was changed in No. 2 of Volume 2, so as to read the Nashville Monthly Record, and the subscription price was advanced to $2.50 per annum. The periodical ceased to exist with the August number of 1860.
The Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery was established in February, 1851, and was edited by two of the professors of the Medical Department of the University of Nashville-W. K. Bowling, M.D., and Paul F. Eve, M.D. During the first year it was issued bi-monthly, John T. S. Fall, publisher, and the subscription price was $3 per annum. It was afterward issued monthly.
The Opposition was started May 3, 1859, and discontinued July 29 fol- lowing. It was a weekly campaign paper, and was published in the in- terest of Colonel John Netherland in his struggle for the governorship against Isham G. Harris, but failed to secure the election of its candidate. It was issued in octavo form, with sixteen two-column pages to each num- ber. It was published jointly by Bang, Walker & Co., of the Republican Banner, and Smith, Camp & Co., of the Patriot. It was edited by an Executive Committee composed of Hon. Felix K. Zollicoffer, Allen A. Hall, S. N. Hollingsworth, P. W. Maxey, and John Lellyett. Mr. Hall, however, performed most of the editorial work.
The Legislative Union and American was issued from the Union and American office during the sessions of the Legislature for 1857-58 and 1859-60. The first volume contained twenty-four numbers, and in the aggregate one hundred and eighty-four pages. The second volume con- tained five hundred and sixty pages. The debates contained in this pa- per were reported by W. H. Draper, of South Bend, Ind., who was an accomplished phonographer.
The National Pathfinder was begun in 1860 by T. M. Hughes, and published weekly at $1 per year. It was afterward published by B.
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Gregory, at No. 21 College Street, until compelled to suspend by the ap- proach of the army of the United States in 1862.
Young's Spirit of the South and Central American was established April 17, 1858, by William H. Young and Madame F. Llewellen Young. Twelve numbers were issued, when it was removed to Louisville, and thence to Cincinnati, where its existence ceased. It was devoted to the turf, field sports, literature, and the stage. The paper had been pub- lished in New Orleans, and also in Memphis, before being removed to Nashville.
The Tennessee State Agriculturalist was established in 1840, with Tol- bert Fanning as editor. Dr. Girard Troost and Dr. John Shelby contrib- uted liberally to its columns. It was published until 1846 by Cameron & Fall, when it was merged into the Southern Agriculturalist.
The Tennessee Farmer and Horticulturalist was established Septem- ber 1, 1848, by Charles Foster, and printed by B. R. McKinnie. It was a monthly journal, devoted to agriculture, horticulture, the mechanic arts, and the promotion of domestic industry. Each number contained twen- ty-four octavo pages, and the subscription price was $1 per annum. Not more than one volume was published.
The Naturalist, and Journal of Agriculture, Horticulture, Educa- tion, and Literature was commenced in January, 1846. It was conduct- ed by Isaac Newton Loomis, John Eichbaum, J. Smith Fowler, and Tol- bert Fanning. Each number contained forty-eight pages, and the subscription price was $2 per annum. At the sixth number the name was changed to the Naturalist and Journal of Natural History, Agricult- ure, Education, and Literature, and its publication was discontinued in December, 1846.
The Naturalist was started in January, 1850, by Mr. Fanning, he being assisted by Charles Foster. It was a monthly, each number containing twenty-four pages at $1 per year. It was printed by J. T. S. Fall, and at the completion of the first volume was merged into the Southern Agri- culturist, which was commenced January 7, 1851, and which was a con- tinuation in numbering from the Naturalist. It was edited by Dr. Rich- ard O. Currey, each number containing twenty-four pages octavo, two columns to the page, at $I per year. How long it was continued is not known.
The Farmers' Banner was commenced in 1855. It was published by Bang, Walker & Co., monthly, and contained a synopsis of the agricult- ural articles published in the Daily Banner. It was discontinued on the approach of the Union army.
The Tennessee Farmer and Mechanic was established in January, 1856.
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It was a monthly of forty-eight octavo pages, two columns to the page, at $2 per annum. It was published and edited by Boswell & Williams. Among its contributors were some of the best writers in the country. The first number of Volume 2 bore the sub-title: "Devoted to the In- terests of the Farm and Shop; a Monthly Record of General Agricult- ure, Mechanics, Stock-raising, Fruit-growing, and Home Interests." Smith, Morgan & Co. were at this time the publishers. Mr. Boswell soon after retired, leaving Mr. Williams sole editor, with Dr. R. H. Dods- den and Colonel H. J. Cannon associate editors. This paper was suc- ceeded, January 7, 1858, by the Southern Homestead, a weekly period- ical of eight four-column pages, at $2 per annum. Mr. Williams secured the services of Mrs. L. Virginia French, a very talented lady, as editress of the literary department. Thomas H. Glenn became partner and co- editor in 1858. In January, 1859, the size of the paper was increased to a nine-column page. In July Mrs. French retired from the paper, and in January, 1860, the size of the paper was increased. The Homestead was profusely illustrated with excellent wood-cuts, and its typograph- ical appearance was unsurpassed. Its publication ceased with the war.
The Portfolio, or Journal of Freemasonry and General Literature, was commenced in July, 1847. It was a monthly periodical, published by J. T. S. Fall, and edited by Wilkins Tannehill, one of the most active Masons in the South. The last number was for June, 1850. The paper was illustrated with elegant steel engravings, and the editorials were full of information and were models of good English.
The following printing-offices were in existence at the outbreak of the war: Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South, the Southern Home- stead, the Baptist South-western Publishing House, the Republican Ban- ner, the Union and American, the Daily Patriot, the Daily Gazette, and the Daily News; and the Ben Franklin, and Bettersworth, Thomas & Co.'s book and job offices.
Following is a list of the newspapers being published at that time:
Nashville Patriot, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; politics, Opposition to the Democracy.
Nashville Gazette, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; Independent.
Republican Banner, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; Opposition.
Nashville News, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; Opposition.
Nashville Union and American, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly; Dem- - ocratic.
Southern Homestead, a weekly agricultural and family paper.
Nashville Christian Advocate, a weekly denominational paper.
Sunday-school Visitor, a weekly juvenile paper.
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Banner of Peace, a weekly organ of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Baptist Standard, a weekly publication by the Missionary Baptists.
Tennessee Baptist, a weekly paper from the South-western Publishing House.
National Pathfinder, a weekly newspaper.
Temperance and Literary Fournal (monthly), from the office of the Southern Homestead.
Home Circle, a monthly Methodist publication.
The Children's Monthly Book, a Baptist publication, from the South- western Publishing House.
Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery, monthly.
Nashville Monthly Record of Natural and Physical Science, monthly ..
Quarterly Review, a Methodist publication.
Southern Baptist Review, quarterly.
Upon the fall of Fort Donelson, February 16, 1862, the publication of all newspapers in Nashville ceased. No man thought of much else be- side his own safety, and how that should best be secured. The members of the press were particularly anxious in this respect, for their lives had been such that if vengeance were to be taken upon any class of citizens it would naturally fall as severely on them as on any others. They there- fore abandoned their offices with forms in all stages of preparation-pa- per wet for the press, and manuscript half set upon the cases. The in- coming armies had numerous curiosity seekers, who were not slow in reducing the partial forms to pi and in carrying away specimen letters, in many ways doing great injury to material left in the various offices.
The first paper published after the city fell into the hands of the Union forces was the Nashville Times, a small sheet published by former em- ployees of the Union and American, the first number of which paper ap- peared February 28, 1862. Thirteen numbers only of the Times were issued, the managers possessing neither the material nor the financial ability to make the enterprise a success.
The next venture was the Evening Bulletin, by "An Association of Printers," but this periodical was even shorter lived than the Times, only six numbers being issued. The first number of this paper appeared March 26, 1862.
The Nashville Daily Union was established by "An Association of Printers " April 10, 1862, S. C. Mercer being the editor. On November 23, 1865, the publishing firm was announced as William Cameron & Co. On December 22, 1863, Mr. Mercer withdrew from the Union, and aft- erward it was edited mainly by J. B. Woodruff and W. Hy. Smith.
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The Nashville Daily Dispatch was published by the Dispatch Printing Company, from the Tennessee Baptist office, April 14, 1862, and was re- moved to the Republican Banner office November 25 of the same year. It was published in 1865 and 1866 by John Wallace & Co., the "Co." being John Miller McKee. In November, 1866, it was merged with the Union and American, and became the Union and Dispatch.
The Constitution was started as a daily July 5, 1862, by the Cumber- land Printing Association, and was edited by George Baber. Only eleven numbers of the Constitution were issued.
The Nashville Daily Press was commenced May 4, 1863, by Truman, Barry & Co. Benjamin C. Truman was the editor until July 1, 1863, when the firm was changed to Barry, Windham & Co. On the 10th of this month Edwin Paschal and L. C. Houk were announced as editors. Mr. Houk retired August 15, 1863, and Mr. Paschal on November 15, 1864. On May 10, 1865, the name of the paper was changed to the Nashville Daily Press and Times, and was published by Barry, Wind- ham & Co.
The Nashville Times and True Union was started February 20, 1864, with S. C. Mercer as editor. On May 10, 1865, it became merged in the Press, under the name of the Nashville Daily Press and Times.
The Nashville Daily Fournal was issued from the Gazette office, the first number appearing in September, 1863, by J. F. Moore & Co. L. C. Houk was the editor. The firm became William R. Tracy & Co. in October following, and soon afterward John Blankenship & Co. The paper was suspended in the succeeding November.
Soon after the occupation of the city by the Union forces the Method- ist Publishing House was taken possession of by the United States quar- termaster's department, and converted into a Government printing-office for the publication of official bulletins, orders, and army blanks. Mr. McKee was the first superintendent, and was succeeded by Julius Frankie, of Pittsburg, Pa. Major A. W. Wills was quartermaster in charge. In October, 1865, the establishment was turned over to the Agent, Rev. Dr. J. B. McFerrin, and the United States railroad printing-office moved to Nashville. This office was located near the Jewish Synagogue, and is said to have been one of the most compact and complete printing-offices in the country. It was closed the next year, and the material sold at pub- lic auction.
The Tennessee Staats Zeitung was first issued by John Ruhm, Esq., in March, 1866. Mr. Ruhm was then a lieutenant in the United States army, and his paper was the only one published in the South in German outside of New Orleans. There were two editions of the Zeitung-one
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daily, the other weekly. The daily was a seven-column quarto, and the subscription price was $12 per year. The weekly was an eight-column paper, and was published at $3 per annum. The paper was Republican in politics. Mr. Ruhm abandoned the enterprise in September, 1868, to engage in the profession of the law, to which he had been educat- ed in his native country, and is still a member of the Nashville bar.
At the close of the war the publication of the Ladies' Pearl, which was established in 1852, was revived, with Rev. J. L. Halsell as editor and proprietor. It was purchased by John S. Ward, Esq., who began a new series in 1867. Rev. J. C. Bovine became editor and publisher, and re- tained that position until 1873, when Messrs. Brown & Perrin purchased it and removed it to Alton, Ill. In January, 1880, it was enlarged to a large octavo of eighty pages and its reading-matter doubled, the subscrip- tion price still remaining at $2.10 per annum.
The Gospel Advocate was resumed on January 1, 1866, as a sixteen- page weekly, by Elder Tolbert and David Lipscomb. In 1867 the size was increased to thirty-two pages, and the subscription price a few years later was reduced to $2 per year. In January, 1877, it was changed to a sixteen-page folio, its present size and form. In 1868 Elder Fan- ning retired from his connection with the paper, and Mr. Lipscomb be- came sole proprietor. In 1870 E. G. Sewell became associate editor, and in 1875 managing editor. The Advocate has always been a vigorous expounder of the doctrines of the Christian Church. In I880 Rev. J. C. McQuiddy became managing editor of the Advocate, and still remains in that position.
The other periodicals published by the Gospel Advocate Publishing Company are the following :
The Teachers' Quarterly was established April 1, 1888. It is a sixty- four page octavo magazine, edited by Granville Lipscomb, and its sub- scription price is 50 cents per year. Its circulation is 8,000.
The Lesson Leaf Quarterly was started April 1, 1887. This is a thir- ty-two page octavo, edited by Granville Lipscomb, and its subscription price is 25 cents per year. Its circulation is 15,000.
The Youths' Advocate was started in April, 1890. It is a large four- page paper, well illustrated, edited by D. Lipscomb and F. D. Crygly, and its subscription price is 75 cents per year. Its circulation is 2,000.
Little fewels is an illustrated four-page paper, edited by Granville Lipscomb. It was started in January, 1887. Its subscription price is 30 cents per year, and its circulation 8,000.
The company also publishes a large number of books upon religious subjects and general literature. "Christian Hymns" is an undenomina-
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tional hymn-book published by this company, the sales of which already exceed 30,000.
As stated above, upon the fall of Fort Donelson the Union and Amer- ican was suspended, and so remained until the close of the war. In Oc- tober, 1865, F. C. Dunnington and Ira P. Jones purchased the paper, furnished an office, and resumed its publication December 5, 1865. Its publication was then regularly continued in all of the editions-daily, tri- weekly, and weekly-until November, 1866, when it was consolidated with the Dispatch, and became for a time the Union and Dispatch. As such it was regularly published in all of the regular editions-daily, tri- weekly, and weekly-until some time in August, 1868, when it was united with the Daily Gazette, and the old name of the Union and American resumed. The Union and American was then continued in the regular editions of daily, semi-weekly, and weekly, until September, 1875, when it was consolidated with the Republican Banner, and assumed its present name (the American), under which it has been published daily, including Sunday, and weekly up to the present time.
In March, 1870, the proprietors of the Union and American were incor- porated by the Legislature, and in August following they organized under their charter as the " Union and American Publishing Company." They continued to work under this charter until the consolidation, as above narrated, with the Republican Banner, the resulting owners of the Amer- ican retaining the charter and continuing to work under it until the pres- ent time.
The Union and American Publishing Company erected the building at present occupied by the Banner in 1874, and took possession September I, 1874. Previous to this time, from 1865, it occupied the Union and American building, at the north-east corner of Church and Cherry Streets. It moved into its present quarters on the south-east corner of Church and Cherry Streets in April, 1883.
Colonel John C. Burch was President of the company from the time of its incorporation until his death in July, 1881. He was succeeded by Al- bert Roberts, who remained President until February 23, 1882. Colonel A. S. Colyar was then President until March 14, 1885 ; John J. Vertrees, until January 11, 1886; D. B. Cooper, until May 13, 1887 ; G. M. Fogg, until October 15, 1888; D. B. Cooper, until December IS, ISSS; and John W. Childress, until the present time.
General Ira P. Jones was Treasurer and business manager from 1875 to 1882, when he resigned. R. C. Roberts was then business manager until 1883; then, in succession, A. J. Grigsby, A. W. Stockell, T. W. Wrenne, and John W. Childress, until the present time.
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R. C. Roberts was Secretary and Treasurer from the time of General Jones's resignation in 1882 until his death in July, 1883, since when Eu- gene H. Roberts has been Secretary and Treasurer.
The present editorial manager is William J. Ewing; the editor in chief is E. W. Carmack; and the city editor is M. B. Morton. The Ameri- can has always been a Democratic paper, but during the presidencies of Colonel A. S. Colyar and G. M. Fogg it advocated the protective policy, whereas at other times it has steadfastly opposed that policy.
The charter of the Union and American Publishing Company, men- tioned above, expired March 3, 1890, and the American Publishing Com- pany, composed of E. H. Roberts, W. J. Allen, E. W. Carmack, S. C. Carmack, and W. L. Granberry, chartered shortly afterward, continued to publish the American. May 20, 1890, Colonel Colyar brought suit against this company, declaring it insolvent, praying for the appointment of a receiver and the enjoining of the company from using the property in any way, claiming to be a holder of a large amount of the bonds of the former company. At this writing the suit has not been decided.
Before the civil war the Nashville press depended but to a limited ex- tent on the telegraph for its news. Occasionally a paragraph of general news was injected into the market reports which the telegraph company furnished to the newspapers printed here, charging therefor a reasonable sum. The first time the people of Nashville were enabled to in any way appreciate the wonderful performances of this method of communication with distant communities was on May 16, 1848. This was in connection with the arrival of the steamer " Cambria " in New York the day before. This steamer left Liverpool April 29, thus making the passage from Liv- erpool to New York in sixteen days, a remarkably short trip for those times. Before 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day on which the steamer arrived in New York the Union received a very full synopsis of the "Cambria's" intelligence. The Union said in its columns of the 17th: "Thus for the first time in the history of the world do we in the interior of Tennessee, and nearly in the center of this mighty continent, receive intelligence from England and the continent in sixteen days !"
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