USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 26
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In July, 1858, What's the News, a monthly paper, was commenced by William A. Bacon, and was published only a few months.
July 21, 1866, The Rutland County Independent was established by James K. McLean and Thomas C. Robbins. An initial number was issued July 4, 1866. The first regular number appeared July 21. The second volume the name given was Rutland Independent. After two or three years Mr. Robbins
.
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withdrew from the paper, and in April, 1873, it was sold to the Globe Paper Company and consolidated with the Rutland Globe, in which the proprietor became financially interested and superintendent. Among the editorial writers of the Independent were Dr. Charles Woodhouse, Dr. Middleton Goldsmith, George H. Beaman. James K. McLean was a practical printer of large ex- perience and oftentimes wrote for his paper. He was for several years fore- man of the Daily Herald and other papers. He died in 1875 of consumption. Thomas C. Robbins is a native of Maine and came to Rutland from Massa- chusetts, and engaged in the printing business. Since his retirement he has occupied several positions of trust - deputy county clerk, register of probate, assessor of internal revenue, and is now the judge of probate for the district of Rutland.
James H. Lansley published, during a few months of 1870, a weekly called The Marble City Mirror. In January, 1870, an amateur paper called The Rutland Times, was issued by McLean & Aiken, the editor being Frank Mc- Lean, now a Rutland job printer. It was discontinued in November, 1871. The Vermont Mason, a monthly, was published by Henry Clark from May, 1871, to May, 1873, when it was discontinued. The Biblical Messenger, a monthly, was started by Rev. A. A. Hoyt, of the Advent Church, in 1872, and discontinued after a few issues.
At the session of the General Assembly in 1872 a charter was granted for the organization of a corporation for the purpose of publishing a newspaper and doing a general printing business. This charter not meeting the views of all parties interested, a company was organized in February, 1873, by the general laws of the State, under the name of the " Globe Paper Company," for similar purposes. A general printing-office was established, and the Rut- land Independent and Rutland Courier, two weekly papers, were purchased. A daily and weekly paper was established called The Rutland Globe. The first number was issued May 1, 1873. It was an independent journal, sur- rounded by Republican influences. It was conducted in this spirit during its existence. The first editor was Orion Clemens, who had previously been ed- itor of the Hartford, Conn., Post, with Henry Clark as associate editor. Af- ter a few months Mr. Clemens resigned. The late Chauncey K. Williams then became the chief editorial writer. The paper attained a large list of sub- scribers and the editorials were notable for fairness and independence. As a newspaper it was a marked success, but a financial failure, and was sold to the Herald Association, as before stated, its last issue appearing September I, 1877. Chauncey K. Williams, the able editorial writer for a major part of its publication, was a son of ex-Governor Charles K. Williams. He was a grad- uate of Williams College, and entered the profession of law, practicing at Rut- land and Flint, Michigan. He had written for, and been associated with, the press from early life, and was a writer of clear and comprehensive thought.
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He was a historical writer of great research and made many valuable contributions to historical and other magazines. Mr. Williams died sud- denly in January, 1880. Among those who were connected with the editorial department of the Globe were Henry Clark, Seneca M. Dorr, George H. Owen, Solon E. Carpenter, and E. Hamilton Ormsbee.
A paper called the Rutland Leader was commenced January 1, 1877, by Henry Clark, who continued its publication until September 1, 1879, when it was sold to James L. MacArthur, and was changed by him to the Rutland Daily and Weekly Times, which see below.
On the Ist of January, 1878, Vincent C. Meyerhoffer began the publica- tion of a distinctive Democratic paper called the Rutland Inquirer, as the organ of that party in Western Vermont. Horace W. Love, in October, 1879, pur- chased the paper and consolidated it with the Rutland Review.
On the 2d of April, 1878, Horace W. Love established the Sunday Re- view. Under this name it was continued about a year, and then changed to the Saturday Evening Review, and when the Inquirer was consolidated with it the name given was the Review-Inquirer. After August 5, 1880, the two papers were separated on account of business complications, and from that date the Review and Inquirer were published as separate papers ; the former by . H. W. Love, and the latter by L. W. Redington. The Review is now issued with a weekly and Sunday edition, by the "Review Company," of which Charles Sheldon is president, and B. W. Marshall, treasurer and manager. The paper is ably edited, and enjoys a large circulation.
September 1, 1879, the Rutland Times, a daily and weekly, was com- menced by James L. MacArthur. It was issued as an evening paper for about three weeks when, on account of business embarrassments of the publisher, it was discontinued.
The Inquirer, above mentioned, was purchased by George E. Richardson, who suspended its publication in 1881, and on September I of that year he started the Rutland Standard as an independent weekly. This paper was con- tinued by him until August 15, 1885, when the establishment was leased to James Carruthers. Mr. Carruthers is a practical printer with twelve years ex- perience ; was city editor of the Lynn Transcript three years, and subse- quently associated with D. B. Howland in publishing the Hampshire daily and weekly Herald from February 1884, to July, 1885. He has inaugurated rad- ical changes in the editorial conduct of the Standard and is making a good paper.
The Vermont Baptist was founded in March, 1879, by Rev. Justin K. Rich- ardson, and is still published. It is a monthly publication, devoted to the in- terests of the Baptist denomination in Vermont.
The history of newspapers printed in Rutland completed, we shall now sketch those in the other towns of the county, viz., Brandon, Castleton, Fair- haven, Danby, Poultney and Wallingford. 15
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
Fairhaven .- Matthew Lyon began the publication of a newspaper in 1794, called the Fairhaven Gazette, which was printed by his son, James Lyon, and Judah D. Spooner. There were at the time but three other papers printed in the State ; the Gascttc at Bennington, the Herald at Rutland, and Fournal at Windsor. Matthew Lyon was an ardent politician of his day. He issued this as a political sheet for the advancement of his own interests, he at that time being a candidate for Congress, presenting himself as "the representative of commercial, agricultural and manufacturing interests in preference to any of their law characters," from the admission of the State into the Union, in March, 1791, until his election on the fourth trial in 1796. James Lyon learned the art of printing in Philadelphia. He was an active business man ; was post- master at Fairhaven in 1798 ; he engaged in shipbuilding in Eddyville, Ken- tucky, and died poor in South Carolina in 1824.
This paper was succeeded by the Farmers' Library, or Fairhaven Telegraph, a Republican paper, printed by J. D. Spooner and William Hennessey, at Fair- haven, Vt. The first number was issued July 25, 1795. Mr. Hennessey re- tired from the paper in March, 1796, and Mr. Spooner continued its publica- tion. It was a Democratic paper and supported Colonel Matthew Lyon for Congress. In those days every newspaper had its motto. The motto of Mr. Spooner's paper was: "The freedom of the people cannot be supported with- out knowledge and industry." The name of the paper was changed in 1797 to The Farmers' Library and New York Intelligencer, and continued to about the close of the year 1798. A. N. Adams, in his excellent history of Fairhaven, notes several advertisements which sound strange in these days, and with a view of giving an idea of the crude method of public advertising in those days, a few specimens are given. In those days newspapers were not sent through the mails, but by post-riders, as they were called, who went through the coun- try and delivered the papers to each house, giving warning of their approach through the thickly settled neighborhood or village by blowing a tin horn. To illustrate, we give a copy of an advertisement published in 1798, which reads as follows : -
" Mr. Jeremy Dwyer proposes to ride from the printing-office in Fairhaven, to carry newspapers through Castleton, by the old fort, thence through Hub- bardton, Sudbury, Whiting and Cornwall to Middlebury Falls; thence to re- turn through the westerly part of Cornwall, Whiting and Sudbury, and the east part of Shoreham, Orwell, Benson and Westhaven, every other week to re- verse the route. Any person on his route wishing for papers from Benning- ton, Rutland, Albany or Lansingburgh, or the Rural Repository, printed at Rutland, shall have them delivered on reasonable terms."
There was competition in this business even at that date, and Orren Kel- sey advertised as follows : "To carry newspapers from the printing- office in Fairhaven through Westhaven, Benson, Orwell, Shoreham, Bridport, Addison, Panton and Ferrisburgh."
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The publication of lists of letters in that day in the newspapers was a cus- tom, because but few towns had a post-office. In January, 1798, James Lyon, then postmaster at Fairhaven, published a list of letters remaining in that post- office January Ist, among which are letters for persons in Poultney, Middle- town, Granville, Pawlet and New Hartford, which is now Hartford, N. Y.
Among the items of news in the same paper is " that an extensive band of thieves, who had troubled the neighborhood, had been broken up and the cul- prits punished - one of them by whipping."
As an illustration of the political spirit of the times, and the independence of Matthew Lyon, we quote the following : " Much has been said about the French council of the ancients ordering a Quaker to be turned out of their house for obstinately persisting in keeping on his hat contrary to the rules of the house. The high-flying federalists in this country reprobate their conduct and call it persecution, and yet would oblige Citizen Lyon, one of the members of the House of Representatives, to be dragged in procession before the presi- dent, although he has repeatedly declared that it was against his conscience and opinion to join in that ceremonial."
As a matter of history, although foreign to the purpose of this series of articles, an explanation should be made of the allusion made in the sentence, " Citizen Lyon, one of the members of the House of Representatives, etc." In 1798 Colonel Matthew Lyon, then a candidate for Congress, was tried for an alleged offense under the famous " sedition law," in the United States Circuit Court at Rutland, in October, 1788, and was subsequently imprisoned in jail at Vergennes, exciting a degree of feeling that has never since been exceeded in any political struggle. He was then representative from the western district of Vermont in Congress; at the election held on the first Tuesday of December, 1798 (no choice having been made at the election in the previous September), he was elected by a decisive majority, although then confined in jail at Ver- gennes under his sentence. Colonel Lyon was the Democratic candidate and Judge Samuel Williams, of Rutland, was the Federal candidate. A procession of some 400 citizens, from this and Addison county, went on horseback to Ver- gennes on the expiration of Colonel Lyon's term of four months imprisonment in 1799, and escorted him from the jail to his residence in Fairhaven. To save another arrest, he immediately proclaimed himself on his way to Philadelphia, as a Member of Congress. On his arrival at Bennington he was formally ad- dressed and a banquet given in his honor. An effort was made to expel him from Congress but without success.
October 1, 1798, The Scourge of Aristocracy and Repository of Important Political Truths was commenced by James Lyon and was continued one year. It was a duodecimo magazine published semi-monthly. Matthew Lyon was then running for Congress, and the Rutland Herald, under Dr. Samuel Will- iams, refused to publish communications in his favor. This magazine con-
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tained several communications from Colonel Lyon. The subscription price was $3.00. The second number contained Matthew Lyon's celebrated letter to Colonel Stevens T. Mason, Senator from Virginia, written by him October 14, 1798, while a prisoner in jail at Vergennes. This publication is in great de- mand by antiquarians and fabulous prices are offered for it. But few copies are in existence in Vermont. One is in the library of the Vermont Historical So- ciety at Montpelier, one in the Fletcher library at Burlington, one owned by A. N. Adams, of Fairhaven, one in the library of William Clogston, at Spring- field, Mass., and one in the possession of Henry Clark, of Rutland.
In 1854-55 a small monthly paper was issued in this town by De Witt Leonard ; it was called The Banner. In January, 1861, one number only of a small sheet called the Golden Sheaf was published.
In September, 1863, the first number of an advertising sheet was published with the title of the Fairhaven Advertiser ; other occasional numbers succeeded until 1866 when the outfit was purchased by William Q. Brown, who began the publication as a regular monthly periodical, changing the name to The Rutland County Advertiser ; it continued until April, 1868.
On the 5th of September, 1868, the first number of The People's Journal was published by Jones & Grose, with Rev. P. Franklin Jones as editor, This paper was continued until July, 1869, when it was purchased by De Witt Leon- ard and E. H. Phelps and the name changed to The Fairhaven Fournal, with E. H. Phelps as editor. It was finally discontinued in 1877.
On the Ist of January, 1879, the publication of The Vermont Era was com- menced by the Inman Brothers, who after three weeks' experience sold out to Joseph E. Colton, who changed the name of the paper to The Fairhaven Era and continued the publication until September 15, 1879. At this time the establishment was purchased by Frank W. Redfield, who still continues the pub- lication of a very able country paper.
Poultney. - In November, 1822, Sanford Smith and John R. Shute began the publication of the Poultney Gasette. This journal was continued under that name until January, 1825, when it was changed to The Northern Spectator, and published by " Dr. David Dewey and Amos Bliss, as agents for the pro- prietors," who continued to publish it several months, when it passed into the possession of E. G. Stone. It afterwards had other managers, among whom was Hon. Harvey D. Smith, afterwards of New York. Its publication was continued until June, 1830. The Spectator was a leading and influential paper. The character of its selections was of a somewhat higher tone than was the case of other papers of that period. Its leading editorials and communications were written by Hon. Rollin C. Mallary, Rev. Ethan Smith, Harvey D. Smith, and toward its close by Horace Greeley, then a young man, and contributions from Jared Sparks, afterwards the distinguished historian, also then a young man tarrying with an uncle in that vicinity. The first contributions ever made by
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Horace Greeley or Jared Sparks to the public press appeared in the columns of the Spectator. The Spectator was a four page sheet, fifteen inches by twenty- one inches in size, and larger than the Rutland Herald at that time. The main character of the paper was religious and literary, rather than political, though when party spirit ran high it took a hand in by the way of contributions from the leaders of both parties. In the Poultney Gazette was a page devoted to missions and entitled the Missionary Herald, edited by Rev. Ethan Smith, and he was said to have afterward been one of the founders of the magazine pub- lished at the present time as the organ of the American | Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions, called the Missionary Herald. The experience of the publishers was similar to that of many of the present day, as will be seen by the following extract from their valedictory, published December 28, 1825 :
" It is now something more than three years since we first introduced our- selves to the public as the editor and publishers of a weekly journal. We com- menced with high hopes of success ; with prospects bright and flattering. These hopes have been partially realized ; they would have been fully realized had our subscribers, generally, been as willing to reward us for our toil, as we were anxious to render ourselves worthy of such reward."
Sanford Smith was a son of Rev. Ethan Smith. He first learned the print- er's art ; he afterward studied theology, and entered the ministry, and was for many years a successful pastor in Massachusetts. John R. Shute went to Bos- ton, Mass., and died in that city. The Gazette was mainly under the editorial control of Ethan Smith, at that time pastor of the Congregational Church, and a theological writer of some eminence, who ardently entered into the religious discussions of that period. He was born at Belchertown, Mass., December 19, 1762 ; died August 10, 1849. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1790. He was a soldier at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason ; in his later years he was city missionary of Boston. He was the author of the celebrated work entitled View of the Hebrews, or the Tribes of Israel in America, published in 1825.
The political and local policy of the paper was shaped by Rollin C. Mal- lary, then a Member of Congress, who was an almost constant contributor. He was born in Cheshire, Conn., May 27, 1784, and died on his way home from Washington at Baltimore, Md., April 15, 1831. He graduated at Mid- dlebury College in 1803. He practiced law at Castleton from 1807 to 1818, and in Poultney from 1818 to his death. A monument was erected at his grave by the members of the Rutland county bar. He was a Member of Con- gress from 1816 to 1831. He was an intimate friend and associate of Henry Clay and a zealous advocate of protection. He was chairman of the commit- tee on manufactures, and author of the celebrated tariff of 1828. Hon. Har- vey D. Smith, who was also associated with the Spectator, was a vigorous writer and a man of mark. He was born in Pawlet, November 9, 1789. He re-
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moved in 1824 to Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he died Sep- tember 28, 1864, aged 75 years. He was a member of the Assembly of New York, surrogate and county judge for many years. His mind was remarkable for quickness and clearness of perception. One able to judge of him has said, " that without being admitted to the bar he was the best lawyer of his day, and as a court administered law equal to judges of the highest reputation." The Northern Spectator did not have a wide circulation or special prominence as a newspaper, yet its name has attained a world-wide fame in connection with the fact that Horace Greeley learned the art of type-setting in its printing-office. It may be a matter of public and historical interest in this connection to give a sketch of Mr. Greeley as an apprentice, as some items of his early career have never attained great circulation. He was born at Amherst, New Hampshire, February 3, 1811, and when about ten years old his father removed to West- haven, in this county. He became anxious to become a printer. In answer to an advertisement in the Northern Spectator for an apprentice, in the spring of 1826, he went on foot and alone to Poultney. The paper was then under the management of Amos Bliss. He found Mr. Bliss at work in his garden. Mr. Bliss used to report the interview as follows : -
Horace said, " Are you the man that carries on the printing-office ?"
Mr. Bliss said as he looked up at the boy he could hardly refrain from laughing at his appearance and replied, "Yes, I am the man."
"Don't you want a boy to learn the trade ?"
"Well," said Mr. Bliss, " we have been thinking of it."
" I have had some notion of learning it," said Horace.
Mr. Bliss entered into conversation with him and it required but little time to discover that he possessed a mind of no common order, and an acquired in- telligence beyond his years. There was a simple-mindedness, a truthfulness and common sense in what he said that commanded his regard. After con- sultation with his foreman, Mr. Bliss took him in and then and there Horace Greeley began his career, which culminated in his becoming one of the great editors of the age. The last issue of the Northern Spectator was gotten off at II o'clock one June morning in 1830; and in the afternoon at 1 o'clock Horace Greeley, with a stick and a small bundle resting on his shoulder and an over- coat resting on his arm, started on foot for his father's, who then lived in Pennsylvania, five hundred miles away.
Another item of interest may be added. Mr. Bliss was in New York in 1853 and invited a friend to accompany him to the Tribune Building. They wended their way up to his sanctum. Mr. Bliss opened the door without rap- ping and there sat the editor busily engaged in writing. He did not notice their entrance. Mr. Bliss waited a moment ; but no recognition from Mr. Greeley. He soon spoke very deliberately " Horace." The pen was instantly laid aside ; Mr. Greeley knew the voice; he needed not to look in the face to
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know that an old friend was present. He arose from his chair and with out- stretched arms approached Mr. Bliss and said in his quiet way : "My dear friend ! My benefactor ! how glad I am to see you." They narrated early reminiscences and discussed the battle of life.
John Jones was a manufacturer of woolen cloth at Poultney, and during Mr. Greeley's apprenticeship had attracted Mr. Jones's attention. He gave Horace cloth for a suit of clothes, which, Mr. Greeley told the writer, was the best suit he ever had, and that Mrs. Harris Hosford, who died a few years ago at Center Rutland, made the suit for him. This kind act Mr. Greeley never forgot and made frequent visits to her when in this section. She had in her possession, a few years before her decease, bound volumes of the Northern Spectator, from 1826 to 1830. George Jones, the son of Mr. Greeley's bene- factor, established and is now the proprietor of the New York Daily Times.
A paper called the Poultney Owl was published in Poultney for about six months, beginning in 1867, by James H. Lansley.
On the 12th of March, 1868, the initial number of the Poultney Bulletin was issued in Poultney by J. A. Morris, with John Newton editor, and George C. Newman, assistant. In October, 1869, the Hon. Barnes Frisbie became editor, continuing until June, 1870. In September of that year H. L. Stillson and William Haswell became the publishers, and in August, 1871, Stillson sold his interest to his partner who continued the publication to November, 1873. In December following, R. J. Humphrey purchased the Bulletin outfit and on the 8th of that month issued the first number of the Poultney Journal. This paper is continued at the present time ; it was continued four years by Mr. Humphrey, who was succeeded for two and a half years by Frisbie & Neagles, and then by Frisbie & Ross until about April 1, 1881, when Mr. Charles W. Potter purchased Mr. Frisbie's.interest, and the firm continues Potter & Ross. The Journal is a representative county weekly, ably edited and well patronized.
Three students' papers have been published in Poultney; the T. C. A. Casket at the Troy Conference Academy ; the Ripley Female College Quarterly, made up chiefly of contributions from the students of that institution ; and the Golden Sheaf, issued in 1876-77 by the students of the Troy Conference Academy.
Castleton. - In 1824 the Vermont Statesman was commenced at Castleton by Rev. Ovid Miner. It was started in advocacy of the principles of the Whig party. After a few years Mr. Miner left the paper and entered the ministry. The publication was continued by Messrs. Houghton for some time. The printing of the paper was suspended in 1845. It was in the office of the States- man that the well-known publisher, George A. Tuttle, began his apprenticeship. This paper in last years was the organ of the Democratic party. Ovid Miner, founder, was a native of Middletown, a graduate of Middlebury College. He afterward became a successful clergyman, and preached in this and several
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