USA > Vermont > Addison County > History of Addison county Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 22
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The first printing-office was established in Middlebury by Joseph D. Hunt- ington and John Fitch, young men from Windham, Conn., in 1801. They began here the publication of the Mercury, the first newspaper, on the 16th day of December of that year. Their business was commenced in a building situ- ated where the Dyer block now stands at the south end of the bridge; the office was afterward, in February, 1804, removed to the building erected by Jabez Rogers for a dwelling house, which was removed to make way for the railroad track. In 1806 the partnership was dissolved and the business con-
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tinued by Huntington, by whom the Mercury was published until 1810. To this establishment was soon added the business of book-binding, and they also kept for sale at their office a few books such as were needed in the country, particularly school books, blank books and almanacs. In the fall of 1802 Huntington & Fitch published the first Vermont Register and the publication was continued by them and by Huntington until 1810. They also published numerous pamphlets and a few other books, as seen in a subsequent list, among them being the Law Magazine, by John Simmons, esq., in 1804, the first book of forms published in the State; and Discourses on Religious Subjects, by the late Rev. Job Swift, D. D., in 1805.
Since the year 1812 weekly newspapers have been published in Middlebury without interruption, and frequently two and at times three. Other publications have also been issued, but for various causes have ceased to exist after brief periods. The following list gives a correct history of all the newspapers, to- gether with all the numerous changes of proprietorship, down to the present time :
Middlebury Mercury .- Published by Huntington & Fitch; commenced December 16, 1801 ; discontinued June 27, 1810.
Vermont Mirror .- Published by S. Swift and sold to T. C. Strong ; was commenced September 30, 1812 ; discontinued September 11, 1816.
Columbian Patriot .- Published by N. H. Wright; commenced September I, 1813 ; was sold to William Slade, who sold it to Copeland & Allen, who changed the name of the. paper to National Standard ; discontinued March 31, 1831.
Christian Herald .- Published by T. C. Strong; commenced September 25, 1816 ; sold to F. Burnap, and discontinued November 23, 1819, after chang- ing its name to Christian Messenger.
Religious Reporter .- Published by Copeland & Allen; commenced April 8, 1820, and discontinued September 30, 1820.
Vermont American .- Published by Ovid Miner; commenced April 16, 1828; discontinued September 1, 1835, after being published by Ozias Sey- mour under title of American and Gazette to the above date.
Anti-Masonic Republican .- Published and edited by E. D. Barber ; com- menced October 28, 1829, and continued under that name until 1831, when E. R. Jewett changed the name to Middlebury Free Press ; discontinued October 2, 1837.
Northern Argus .- Published by C. C. Waller and afterward by E. H. Washburne, H. & E. W. Drury, Goodale & Cobb, Barber & Russell, J. M. Stearns; was commenced October 2, 1831, and discontinued in 1842.
The People's Press has been published ever since November 15, 1831, by different proprietors, as follows : J. P. Wheeler and E. Maxham and Harvey Bell, who began on the IIth of May, 1841, and continued in his name until April,
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1849, some months before his death. The name was changed in November, 1843, to the Northern Galaxy, and in January, 1848, to Middlebury Galaxy. Justus Cobb and Joseph Barrett had contracted for the purchase of the estab- lishment previous to Mr. Bell's death (April, 1849), and began the publication in their names at the close of the year. They continued the publication until Mr. Barrett withdrew from it in April, 1856. During the time that Barrett & Cobb published the paper the name was changed to the Middlebury Register, which has been continued by various publishers up to the present date, 1885.
In the year 1857 the paper was published by Cobb & Fuller, and after- ward by J. Cobb and Rufus Mead. Mr. Cobb, having been appointed post- master, sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Fuller, and the paper was contin- ued under the firm of Mead & Fuller. In 1865 Lyman E. Knapp bought Mr. Mead's interest in the paper, and it was conducted by them until a company was formed under the name of "The Register Printing Company," Lyman E. Knapp, Justus Cobb, and William J. Fuller, proprietors. The paper was continued until, Messrs. Cobb and Fuller retiring from the firm, Mr. Knapp sold the paper (in 1879) to R. M. Bailey, who continued to publish it until January, 1883. At that time a new company was formed, consisting of Ly- man E. Knapp, John W. Stewart, Joseph Battell and E. H. Thorpe, who pur- chased the Register office, and the office of the Addison County Journal, of Messrs. Cobb & Fuller, and the name was called the Middlebury Register and Addison County Journal. Subsequently Lyman E. Knapp and J. W. Stewart retired, and the business has been, and still is, continued in the hands of Messrs. Thorpe & Battell, who, on the Ist day of January, 1886, added new presses and new type, making it one of the best papers in the State.
Vermont Farmer and Silk Grower, published by E. Maxham, semi-monthly, was commenced October, 1839, and discontinued October, 1840.
The Advisor, published by the General Convention of Vermont, monthly; commenced January, 1809, and discontinued December, 1815.
The Repertory, published by an association, occasionally ; commenced April, 1812, discontinued May, 1817.
Episcopal Register, published by Rev. B. B. Smith, monthly; started in January, 1826, and discontinued December, 1829.
Vermont Stock Journal, published and edited by D. C. Linsley, monthly ; commenced January, 1857, and afterwards moved to New York.
Democratic Ploughman, published by John M. Stearns, 1842.
The Topaz, published by Phillip Battell ; commenced 1842.
Vermont Observer, edited by Rev. B. Brierly in 1842 and 1843, and finally removed to Ludlow.
The Addison County Journal, commenced in 1876 by "The Journal Printing Company" (Justus Cobb, William J. Fuller and F. E. Smith), J. Cobb, editor ; was sold to the Register Company January, 1883.
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The foregoing history of the newspapers published in Middlebury, their time of establishment, and time of discontinuance is given as far as possible. In the following sketches we give brief notes of the lives and characters and the public positions held by some of the editors. The first we will mention in order will be Samuel Swift, who when a young man acted as Governor Chit- tenden's secretary, and edited the Vermont Mirror, which was started in 1812, and was ably conducted by him, and continued until 1816. He was appointed county clerk for Addison county in 1814, and continued to hold that office for thirty-two years. He was highly respected by his fellow men, and died at his long-cherished home in Middlebury.
William Slade established and edited the Columbian Patriot, 1813. He was a prolific and ready writer, and fluent and ready speaker. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1807; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1810. Early in 1814 he gave up the successful profession of law and de- voted his whole time to the editorial business of the paper. The business not proving a success, after two or three years he retired from the establishment. He was still popular with his party, and was elected secretary of State from 1815 to 1822; assistant judge of the County Court from 1816 to 1821 ; clerk of the Supreme Court for the county from 1819 to 1823. The home office not furnishing adequate pecuniary support, he accepted an appointment as clerk in the state department at Washington in 1824. At the close of Mr. Mon- roe's administration Mr. Slade attached himself to the support of John Quincy Adams, in opposition to General Jackson, as most Vermont people did. When General Jackson came into power, in 1829, and Mr. Van Buren had charge of the state department, Mr. Slade was removed, returned to Vermont, and re- sumed the practice of law. In 1830 he was appointed State's attorney, and on the first vacancy, in 1831, he was elected representative to Congress, where he continued until 1843. In the following year he was appointed as reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court, and continued two years. In 1844 he was elected governor of Vermont, and continued in office two years. After that time he was employed as corresponding secretary and general agent of the Board of Popular Education, in which position he continued to the close of life. His death occurred on Sunday night, January 16, 1869, in his seventy- third year.
Edward D. Barber was graduated at Middlebury College in 1829. He in- terested himself in political matters before he left college. After graduating he immediately became editor of the Anti-Masonic Republican, and continued to be its editor until 1832. From 1832 to 1837, in connection with E. R. Jewett, he had charge of the Middlebury Free Press. While in charge of these papers he continued the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1834. In 1831 he was appointed secretary of the Governor and Council ; in 1832 and 1833 he represented the town in the House of Representatives, and was clerk
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of the House in 1834. He was an energetic, public-spirited man, and was al- ways an ardent advocate of every measure of reform which was calculated to remedy the evils of society. He died on the 23d day of August, 1855, at the age of forty-nine years.
Elam R. Jewett, who was connected with Mr. Barber in the publication of the Free Press, now resides in Buffalo, N. Y., where, after leaving Middlebury, in 1837, he located and entered into the publication of the Buffalo Daily Cou- rier. Mr. Jewett's tact and energy soon brought his paper and business to be one of the most popular and best-paying establishments in the city. Although Mr. Jewett wielded a large influence in the Republican party in his State, he never sought nor accepted any nomination in the gift of his party, although often urged to do so, always preferring the elevation of his friends to his own promotion. For over forty years Mr. Jewett has never failed to attend the annual commencement of the Middlebury College, although he was not a graduate of that institution. He, like Benjamin Franklin and Horace Greeley, glories in being called a printer. Mr. Jewett has traveled extensively in Europe and in the United States, and resides upon his farm, which lies within the city limits, enjoying the luxury of ease in his declining years. Mr. Jewett is a man of extensive reading, excellent judgment, liberal with his means, and his mem- ory will always be pleasurable by all who know him.
E. W. Drury, editor of the Vermont Argus, studied law while editing his paper, was admitted to the bar in 1836. In December following he was ap- pointed postmaster, and continued in office six years. He finally obeyed Hor- ace Greeley's advice and went West, locating in Fond du Lac, Wis., and practiced his profession as a lawyer with success.
John Milton Stearns, who edited and published the Democratic Ploughman, not finding it sufficiently remunerating, discontinued the paper and removed to New York in 1842, and located in Williamsburgh, where he studied law, and after three years was admitted to the bar and immediately entered upon a successful practice in his profession. By his energy and integrity he soon ob- tained among his fellow citizens the valuable name of "Stearns, the honest lawyer." This name, although with some considered of small importance, was valued and maintained by Mr. Stearns, who considered that "a good name is better than great riches." Mr. Stearns, by his untiring industry and perse- verance in his profession, has amassed a large real estate fortune in the city of his home. His pecuniary means have enabled him in his later years to enjoy the pleasure of extensive travel in Europe and the United States, he having visited every State and Territory but two in the Union. He now, in his de- clining years, employs his natural activity in settling many and large estates of his distinguished deceased fellow citizens, and enjoying the ample means of a " well-spent life."
H. H. Houghton, who established and was editor of the Vermont American
8. R. Gewalt.
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in 1831, finally " went West " and located in Galena, Ill., where he established a daily and weekly newspaper, which he conducted successfully for many years. In the first term of General Grant's administration he was appointed consul to one of the South Sea Islands. On returning to Galena he was appointed by General Grant as postmaster, a position he held until his death.
Ephraim Maxham, editor of The People's Press in 1831, finally sold it to Harvey Bell, esq., in 1841. Mr. Maxham, unlike many others, emigrated east to Waterville, Me., and established the Waterville Mail, which he made a profit- able business. Mr. Maxham was a gentleman of ability, an easy and capable writer, and a worthy citizen.
Harvey Bell edited and published the Northern Galaxy; was a graduate of Middlebury College in 1809 and was admitted to the bar in 1812. He was elected one of the members of the State Senate in 1836, after the establishment of that body. He was secretary of Middlebury College corporation from 1836 to 1843. He took a lively interest in educational matters, and was a liberal supporter of the same. He was an industrious and thorough lawyer and a practical writer on political subjects. Those who know him best considered him a true and faithful friend.
Joseph H. Barrett was a graduate of Middlebury College in 1845. Two years after he left college he, in connection with Justus Cobb, purchased the Middlebury Register of Hon. Harvey Bell. He remained its editor until 1856. While pursuing his editorial labors on the Register he was elected town repre- sentative for 1851-52. He was afterward elected secretary of the Senate and served two years. After leaving this State he became the editor of the Cin- cinnati Gazette, which he continued until the election of President Lincoln. Previous to Mr. Lincoln's nomination Mr. Barrett wrote The Life of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most complete and authentic works on that subject ever issued. Mr. Lincoln, on assuming the responsible duties of president of the United States, called Mr. Barrett to Washington, and he was appointed commis- sioner of pensions, at that time an office of unusual importance and labor. He filled the office with great credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his con- stituents until 1869, in Johnson's administration, when he resigned the office and returned to Cincinnati. He soon afterward, in connection with others, started a paper called the Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, he being editor-in- chief, and continued it successfully for a number of years. He finally sold his interest in the concern. Mr. Barrett is an able political and literary writer, and the newspapers that he has controlled have always been appreciated and lib- erally sustained by the people. He now enjoys the competency his labors have produced and the esteem of all who know him.
Lyman E. Knapp is a graduate of Middlebury College (1862), and enlisted into the army and was made captain of Company I, Sixteenth Vermont Volun- teers ; at the expiration of the term of that regiment, in 1863, he re-enlisted
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and was captain of Company F, Seventeenth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, and afterward colonel of the same organization; this office he held until the close of the war. Soon after his discharge Colonel Knapp purchased an in- terest in the Middlebury Register and continued his connection with the paper, as editor and publisher, for nearly fourteen years. He is a fluent and practical writer and gave satisfaction to his readers. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of Addison County Court in 1876; was assistant secretary of the House of Representatives in 1872 and 1873 ; was elected clerk of the town of Middlebury in 1879, and the same year was appointed judge of probate for the district of Addison, and has held both of these offices, by successive elections, since that time.
There are other gentlemen who have acted as editors on Addison county papers for short periods, who need not have further mention here.
The first newspaper published in Addison county was issued at Vergennes in August, 1798, by Samuel Chipman, a short sketch of whom is given in the chapter devoted to the bar of the county ; it was called the Vergennes Gazette. This paper was published a few years, but was finally discontinued, and no other paper was printed in Vergennes until 1825. During that year Gamaliel Small began publishing the Vermont Aurora and continued it weekly until 1831, when the name was changed to the Vergennes Gazette, and later to the Vergennes Citizen; another change gave it the title of the Vergennes Palladium, which papers were published respectively by Mr. Hawkins, E. W. Blaisdell and Mr. Cory. The latter sold out to Rufus Wilmot Griswold on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1838, when the name was changed to the Vergennes Vermonter; Mr. Griswold continued the publication until April 29, 1839, when it was purchased by J. E. & H. Roberts, who were succeeded by E. W. Blaisdell, sr., October 6, 1841. During the next year the paper was taken in hand by Grandey & Lawrence, and continued by them about two years, when it again came into possession of Mr. Blaisdell. From this time until 1881 it was published suc- cessively by E. W. Blaisdell, Henry G. Judd, H. C. Johnson, William G. Cam- bridge, again by Mr. Johnson and G. M. Wilmarth, the name being changed in 1855 to the Vergennes Citizen and later to the Vergennes Independent. On the 29th of April, 1881, the establishment was purchased by the present pub- lisher, James Crane, a veteran editor and printer, under whose efficient man- agement it ranks among the best country papers of New England, and the paper was given its old title of Vergennes Vermonter.
In the spring of 1877 the Bristol Herald was started in Bristol by the Wil- son brothers (M. W., P. K., and J. S. Wilson), who have successfully conducted it to the present time. They have greatly improved their outfit and now issue an entertaining and able country paper of eight columns to the page.
Other Publications .- Previous to the year 1810 a limited assortment of books had been kept by printers, by different merchants, and by Olcott White,
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a book-binder. In that year Judge Swift, believing the community ready for access to useful books for general reading, established a book-store with a more general assortment, and about the year 1813 Hon. William Slade established another. Several religious and other books were published by each of these establishments. Jonathan Hagar succeeded and for many years continued an extensive establishment. Not long before his death, in 1855, he relinquished the business and Lucius W. Clark, who previously opened a book-store, con- tinued until his death, in 1852. It was afterwards continued by his son Lucius Clark, and was later kept by Solomon Parker, in what is called Allen's block. In the mean time A. H. Copeland had within a few years opened an establish- ment for the sale of periodical literature of the day, newspapers and magazines, with a general assortment of new publications and stationery, which increased to an extensive establishment, and was removed to Brewster's block. This establishment was afterwards purchased by Simmons & Tracy, who conducted it until it was purchased by the "Register Printing Company." William S. Alden afterwards purchased the book-store, which is now successfully being carried on by him in Cobb's block, north end of the bridge.
The following list comprises all, or nearly all, of the books that have been published in this county ; most of which are now on file in Sheldon's Museum in Middlebury :
The first book known to have been issued from the press in Addison county was published in Middlebury in 1803, its title being "The Federal Compen- dium, being a plain, concise and easy introduction to arithmetic, designed for the use of common schools, by Chester Wright, preceptor of an English school in Middlebury."
1804. - "The Gentlemen's Law Magazine of Practical Forms of Writing"; by John Simmons ; printed by Huntington & Fitch.
1805. - " Discourses on Religious Subjects," by the late Rev. Job Swift, D.D., Middle- bury ; same printers.
1809. -- The " Middlebury Selection of Hymns" ; J. D. Huntington, printer.
1810. - " The School Instructor, being a selection of pieces designed for the use of schools, by James McAllister."
18II. - " Zion's Pilgrim," by Robert Hawker, D.D., published by Swift & Chapman ; J. D. Huntington, printer.
18II. - " Dialogues, Letters and Essays on Various Subjects," by Andrew Fuller ; pub- lished by Samuel Swift ; printed by T. C. Strong.
1812. - " The Backslider, or an Inquiry into the Nature, Symptoms and Effects of Re- ligious Delusion," by Andrew Fuller ; S. Swift, publisher.
1813. - " A Short Confession of Faith, with Scripture Proofs and Covenant," etc., by T. C. Strong.
1812. - " English Grammar Adapted to the Different Classes of Learners, with an Appen- dix," by Lindley Murray ; published by Samuel Swift.
1812. - " Washington's Farewell Address and the Constitution of the United States " ; T. C. Strong, printer.
1812. - " A Brief View of the Figures and Explication of the Metaphors contained in Scripture," by John Brown ; Swift, publisher.
13
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1813. - "The Communicant's Spiritual Companion, or an Evangelical Preparation for the Lord's Supper," etc., by the Rev. Thomas Haweis, D.D., Northamptonshire, Eng. ; Swift, publisher.
1814. -- " The Middlebury Selection of Hymns"; T. C. Strong, printer.
1814. - " Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercise of the Cavalry, and the Review Exercise," by Robert Hughes ; T. C. Strong, printer.
1814. - " Baxter's Saint's Rest" ; Samuel Swift, printer and publisher.
1814. -- " Monody on the Death of Brigadier-General Z. M. Pike, and other poems," by N. Hill Wright ; printed by Slade & Ferguson.
1814. -- " Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs," by Isaac Watts ; printed by Slade & Ferguson.
1815. - " Letters from an Elder to a Younger Brother, on the Conduct to be Pursued in Life ;" William Slade, jr., printer and publisher.
1815. - " The Emerald Isle," a poem by Charles Phillips ; published by William Slade.
1815. -- " The American Preceptor," for the use of schools ; T. C. Strong, printer.
1815. - "The Twin Sisters, or the Advantages of Religion," by Miss Sandham ; William Slade, printer and publisher.
1815. - " The Seasons," by James Thompson ; William Slade, jr., printer and publisher.
1816. - " The Olive Branch, or Faults on Both Sides, Federal and Democratic "; pub- lished by William Slade, jr.
1816. -- " The Columbian Orator, by Caleb Bingham "; printed by William Slade, jr.
1817. - " The Fall of Palmyra, and other Poems," by N. H. Wright ; printed by William Slade, jr.
1817. - " The History of Little Henry and his Bearer " ; published by Francis Burnap.
1818. - "Weeks' Catechism of Scripture Doctrine," by William R. Weeks ; printed by Francis Burnap.
1818. - " A Discourse Delivered at Hinesburgh, Vt., September 30, 1818, at the Ordina- tion of Otto S. Hoyt," by Josiah Hopkins, A. M., printed by Francis Burnap.
1819. - " An Act Regulating and Governing the Militia of Vermont "; published by or- der of the Legislature ; J. W. Copeland, printer.
1819. - " The Deserted Village, Traveler and Miscellaneous Poems," by Oliver Goldsmith ; published by H. Richardson, jr., and printed by Francis Burnap.
1821. - "Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont, in 1815 to 1819 inclusive," by William Brayton ; published by Copeland & Allen.
1822. - " The Youth's Etherial Director, or a Concise and Familiar Explanation of As- tronomy," etc., by Uzziah C. Burnap, A. B. ; printed by J. W. Copeland.
1822. - " An Essay on the Law of Contracts," by Daniel Chipman ; printed by J. W. Copeland.
1827. - "Young against Chipman; Narrative of the Case," etc. ; printed by Gamaliel Small, of Vergennes.
1827. - "The Christian's Instructor Instructed," by Noah Levings ; printed by J. W. Copeland.
1830. -- " Memoirs of the Rev. Ami Rogers " ; printed by J. W. Copeland.
1831. - " The Torrent or an Account of the Deluge Occasioned by an Unparalleled Rise of the New Haven River, in which Nineteen Persons were Swept away, Five of whom only Escaped," by Lemuel B. Eldredge ; printed by E. D. Barber.
1833. - " Journal and Letters from France and Great Britain," by Emma Willard ; printed in Troy, N. Y.
1834. - " Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont," vol. V .; Knapp & Jewett, printers.
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