History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I, Part 59

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1134

USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 59
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 59
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

STATEMENT.

"With this issue the 'Localizer' becomes the property of Mr. F. D. Schnebly, who has purchased the plant and good will of the paper and will en- deavor to conduct it along lines that will merit for it the support and good will of all."

VALEDICTORY

"The 'Localizer' was first issued July 13, 1883, and from its beginning had never missed an issue. Since 1845, when on leaving Marshall College, Penn-

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sylvania, I bought the Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, 'Journal,' I have been almost continually in editorial work. After four years of successful work on the 'Journal,' I was affected by the first stages of the western fever, and selling the paper moved to Peoria, Illinois, which was then considered quite far west. Taking hold of the 'Peoria Transcript' and the 'Daily Champion' until 1850, I went still further west to the then Oregon Territory. Here I became con- nected with the 'Oregon Spectator,' which was the first paper in Oregon and the only one then in the Northwest. Later on, selling and moving in 1861, to Walla Walla, I was, until coming to Ellensburg, engaged more or less in journalistic work.

"Looking back through the years that are past, I can but note the many changes of the last half century. Forests have been leveled, cities grown up, political parties risen and fallen, and wars changed the geography of the world. All these events have been noted in their turn and now on account of failing eyesight and declining years I take leave of the 'Localizer.' I have labored to benefit Ellensburg and our county, and I hope have been successful. Having attained four score years and two months, I now lay down my pen and leave the work to younger hands.

"Bespeaking your continued kind treatment and patronage for my suc- cessor, I bid you, my readers, an affectionate farewell.

"D. J. SCHNEBLY."

DEATH OF D. J. SCHNEBLY

"David J. Schnebly, so well known throughout the valley as 'Grandfather Schnebly', passed away peacefully on Saturday last (January 5, 1901). He was the editor of this paper up to 1898, completing a term of fifty years in active journalism.

"Mr. Schnebly was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 6, 1818. Was a graduate of Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. After leav- ing college, he bought the 'Mercersburg Journal,' which he edited for about four years. He moved to Peoria, Illinois, where he was engaged in editorial work on various papers of that city. In the Spring of 1850 he crossed the plains to Oregon and located at Oregon City, where on August 12, 1850, he took charge of the 'Spectator,' then owned by Maj. Robert Moore, purchasing it the following year and publishing it until 1855. In 1850 Mr. Schnebly was publishing the only newspaper in the state of Oregon. This pioneer paper had been founded by the missionaries when Oregon was almost a wilderness, and the red man formed the major part of her population.

"Mr. Schnebly was married at Linn City, Oregon, November 20, 1851, to Margaretta A. Painter, daughter of the late Hon. Philip Painter, of St. Gene- vieve, Missouri. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. George Atkinson, at the residence of Miss Painter's grandfather, Maj. Robert Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Schnebly moved to Walla Walla in 1861. During his residence in that city he was connected at different times with the 'Union,' 'Statesman,' and other papers.

"In 1871 he came to Kittitas Valley where he purchased the 'Localizer.' In 1898 he sold the paper to F. D. Schnebly, the present editor. Notwithstanding

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his age, which was fast approaching eighty-three, Mr. Schnebly always took an active interest in journalism and was a vigorous writer to the last.

"His wife and three children survive him, Philip Henry, Charles P., and Jean C. Davidson, of Ellensburg. The late Mrs. Mary V. Adams, of San Diego, California, was also a daughter. The deceased leaves twenty-two grand- children to revere his memory."

PIONEER JOURNALISM "'Ellensburg Localizer,' February 6th, 1892.

"Today the editor and proprietor of this paper begins his seventy-fifth year. It is forty-seven years since he entered the field of journalism in Mer- cersburg, Pennsylvania, and he has been in the business the major part of the time since. Having immigrated to Oregon in 1850 he took charge of the 'Ore- gon Spectator,' the only paper in Oregon at that time, and indeed the only one in the Northwest. The paper was established at Oregon City in 1845, by the missionaries, Rev. Jason Lee being the prime mover in its establishment. It was run for five years with different editors-Col. William T'Vault, Judge Aaron E. Wait, Gen. George L. Curry and Rev. Wilson Blain. The latter handed the editorial shears over to us. The plant became the property of Hon. Robert Moore, who employed us to manage it for him one year. At the end of the year we purchased it. In 1854 the plant was sold to Dr. William L. Adams, who changed its name to that of 'The Argus.' The old press, a Wash- ington, is still in Oregon. The 'Spectator' had a fine time clipping the news from exchanges which came around the Horn and arrived here twice a year. There was no editorial piracy charged against the editor of the 'Spectator.' The papers came by sailing vessels. The 'New York Tribune' and 'Herald' were among our exchanges. After we got through with them they were loaned to anxious parties who wanted to get the news. It is now nearly nine years that we have run the 'Localizer,' it having issued its first number July 12, 1883. Ellensburgh was but a small village then with a store and post office. The original store stood on Third Street nearly in front of Hanson & Company's saloon, and in its first days was known as the Robbers' Roost, a name familiar to all the old settlers in Kittitas Valley."

SKETCH OF "SPECTATOR" FROM BANCROFT'S HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST (Page 575, footnote 5.)

"There had been a small press in California since 1834. but no newspaper was published until after the American conquest, six months later than the publication of the Oregon newspaper. The 'Spectator' was a semi-monthly journal of four pages, 15 by 11 inches in size, containing four columns each, printed in clear type and a tasteful style, by John Fleming, a practical printer and an immigrant of 1844. The paper was first edited by the president of the Oregon Printing Association, W. G. T'Vault, after whom several other editors were employed and removed in quick succession for holding opinions adverse

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to the controlling power in the association. The general aim of the 'Spectator' was, while advocating good morals, temperance and education, to pursue the Hudson's Bay Company with unremitting, if often covert, hostility; and in this respect it might be considered the organ of the American merchant class against the British merchants. T'Vault was dismissed at the end of ten weeks for being too lenient. H. A. G. Lee then issued nine numbers, and was dismissed for publishing some articles reflecting with good reason on the course of the American merchants toward the colonists; and several numbers appeared with- out any ostensible editor, when in October, 1846, George L. Curry, an immi- grant of that year, took the chair. He pursued the plan of allowing both sides a fair hearing, and after successfully conducting the paper a longer time than any of his predecessors, was dismissed for publishing some resolutions of the House of Representatives of 1849, reflecting on the Methodist candidate for the important office of Oregon delegate to Congress. He was succeeded by A. E. Wait, and subsequently by Wilson Blain.

"In 1850 the paper and press were sold to Robert Moore, who employed Blain for a time to edit it, but displaced him by D. J. Schnebly, who soon be- came proprietor, and associated with himself C. P. Culver as editor. In March, 1854, the paper was sold to C. L. Goodrich, and by him discontinued in March, 1855. It was published semi-monthly until September, 1850, when it changed to a weekly; and was printed on one of Hoe's Washington presses. Its first printer, John Fleming, went from Ohio to Oregon in 1844, and continued to reside in Oregon City till the time of his death, December 2, 1872, at the age of seventy-eight years. He left a family in Ohio, to whom he never returned. He was esteemed in his adopted home as an honorable and exemplary man. He was appointed postmaster in 1856. Associated with Fleming for a time was T. F. McElroy, who after Fleming's retirement from business formed with C. W. Smith a partnership as printers and publishers. These were succeeded in the publishing department by T. D. Watson and G. D. R. Boyd, and they were succeeded by Boyd alone. Having outlived colonial times and seen Oregon City dwindle from the first town in Oregon to the rank of second or third, the press and material of the 'Spectator' were sold in 1855 to publish a paper under another name, and for political purposes. That paper became finally merged in another at Salem, and the old 'Spectator' press was taken to Roseburg to start a paper at that place, and finally to Eugene City, where it remains.

"The type and material were carried to Portland to be used in the publi- cation of the 'Daily Union,' for a short time, after which it was taken to As- toria, where it was used to print the 'Marine Gazette,' in which Gray's History of Oregon first appeared. On the termination of that journal, what was left of the material of the 'Spectator' was taken back to Oregon City. The authorities through which I have followed the course of Oregon's first press are 'Portland Oregonian,' March 25, 1854; 'Olympia Columbian,' September 10, 1853 : 'Olympia Pioneer and Democrat,' March 18, 1854; Parrish's Oregon Anecdotes, MIS .. 5, 6; Lane's Nar., MS., 5, 6; Oregon Pioneer Association, Trans., 1875, page 72: 'Portland Weekly Oregonian,' December 26, 1868; 'Olympia Tran- script,' December 26, 1868; Evans' History of Oregon, MS., 333; Applegate's Views of History, MS., 5; Brown's Willamette Valley, MS., 34; Pickett's Paris

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Exposition, 10; 'Oregon City Weekly Enterprise,' December 19, 1868; 'Solano (California) Herald,' January 9, 1869; 'Olympia (Washington) Standard,' January 2, 1869; Niles' Reg., 1xx. 340-1; S. F. Alta, March 15, 1855; 'Sac. Union,' April 10, 1855; 'Portland West Shore,' November, 1878. The general news chronicle in the 'Spectator' was usually at least six months old, and was obtained from papers brought out by the annual immigrations, from the Sand- wich Island papers brought over in chance sailing vessels, or through the cor- respondence and mail of the fur company, which arrived once or twice a year overland from Canada, or by the annual vessel from England. But the intelli- gence conveyed was read as eagerly as if the events had but just transpired, and by the extracts published, it is easy to gather what kind of news was considered most important."

THE OREGON "SPECTATOR" AND ITS EDITORS

"The first copy of the first paper in the Northwest, the Oregon 'Specta- tor,' was published at Oregon City, Oregon Territory, Thursday, February 5, 1846. Its motto: 'Westward the Star of Empire Takes Its Way.' The first page of the paper is largely taken up with printing the Organic Laws of Oregon, with amendments. This paper was established largely through the efforts of Rev. Jason Lee and other missionaries, and the first copy contains an eulogy on Reverend Lee, who passed away at his old home in the east in 1845, aged forty-two years, while on a mission to solicit funds for the Oregon Institute. a mission founded in behalf of the degraded and suffering Indians of Oregon. The paper was owned by a joint stock company, and its first editor was W. T'Vault. Its politics was non-partisan, and its news was brought around the Horn twice a year, the 'New York Tribune' and 'Herald' being among the ex- changes. Numerous changes were made in its editorial staff between 1846 and 1850. During that period we find, as its editors, the names of W. T'Vault, Judge Aaron E. Wait, Gen. George L. Curry and Rev. Wilson Blain. In 1850 Maj. Robert Moore, of Linn City, purchased the paper. We are indebted to David J. Schnebly, an old editor from Peoria, Illinois, who became its editor in 1850, and who preserved copies of the paper, for the information contained in this article.

"The old press on which the 'Spectator' was printed, was a Washington press and is still in Oregon. Mr. Schnebly became sole proprietor of the 'Spec- tator' in 1851, and continued to edit and publish it until 1854, when the plant was sold to Dr. William L. Adams, who changed its name to that of 'The Argus.'"

LATER NEWSPAPERS AND SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS OF YAKIMA AND ELLENSBURG

The above journals and journalists may be regarded as constituting the charter membership of the permanent weekly and daily papers and managers of the two principal cities of the valley. There have, however, been many others, some that have filled special fields, some of early date which have been discontinued, and others of later date yet in existence.

Of the first named, special publications, the earliest was "Freeman's Farmer." Both by reason of this publication in itself and the personality of the manager-editor, the "Farmer" is worthy of special record. It was a monthly magazine and the manager was Legh Richmond Freeman. Mr. Freeman was

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born at Culpepper Court House December 4, 1842. He was a man of marked individuality and of thorough education. His wife, Mary Whitaker Freeman, was equally accomplished and as associate editor of the "Farmer" played an equally worthy part with her husband in conducting the magazine, and in helping create a high literary standard in the field.

The "Farmer" had a curious history. Its lineal ancestor, the "Northwest Farm and Home," was founded at Fort Kearney, Nebraska, in 1847, by James E. Johnson. Mr. Freeman acquired the publication while still only a boy, in 1859. He changed the name to "Freeman's Farmer." He then started west with it. It was no doubt printed in more places than any other publication in the United States. The names of twenty-five cities and towns, all the way from Fort Kearney to Yakima, appear on the headings of the "Farmer."

Mr. Freeman followed the railroads westward, though he was several times in Washington Territory before becoming permanently located. He was a regular correspondent for eastern papers from the rapidly developing regions of the west, and was well known upon the lecture platform for his descriptions of the new lands.

The "Farmer" became located at the "Old Town," February 14, 1884, and was moved to North Yakima in 1886. Both Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and their magazine were strong factors in organizing the farming communities in methods of profitable and intelligent cooperation and production.

Mr. Freeman took a leading part in the formation of agricultural societies, the State Fair, and the beginnings of Federal irrigating. He was of anti-mo- nopoly politics and in 1897 and 1910 was a candidate for senator on that plat- form. In 1911, Mr. Freeman started a weekly, the "Free Press."

Upon his death, Mrs. Freeman took charge of the "Farmer" and continued it till 1917. The last monthly issue was for March, 1917. The property was then acquired by C. A. Smith, who now publishes it as a weekly under the name of' "Yakima Valley Farmer."

Doubtless the next journalistic enterprise in Yakima that would occur to those familiar with the history of the place would be the "Weekly Epigram." This paper well deserved its name, for its editorial pages usually had about as pungent, sometimes stinging forms of expression as ink and type could well accomplish. The "Epigram" came into existence September 25, 1893. The publishers and proprietors were I. T. and Agnes C. Harsell.

In the first number we find the following announcement : "The 'Epigram' shall be given free to all who are too poor or who do not care to pay the sub- scription price. If you can't afford it and want the paper come in and we will give you a clear receipt for a year."

In 1898, J. D. Medill, now postmaster of Yakima, became owner and man- ager. Mr. Medill was a native of Illinois, and came to the state of Washington in the year of statehood, locating at Tacoma. In 1892 he removed to North Yakima. In 1895 Mr. Medill undertook the venture of a daily paper, the "Yakima Daily Times." This "Times" was, however, a little ahead of the times, and the result was its discontinuance after two years of endeavor. Hav- ing acquired the "Epigram" in 1897, Mr. Medill consolidated it with the "Times" and for a year maintained Mr. Harsell in charge as manager. With

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the issue of May 14, 1898, Mr. Medill became sole manager. With the opening of the next year the name became the "Yakima Democrat." In 1904, it ab- sorbed the "Yakima Washingtonian" and considerably increased its constituency thereby. The "Democrat" was true to its name and being the only paper of that political faith in the Yakima Valley it had a distinctive field. In 1911 Mr. Medill disposed of his interests to F. C. Whitney and Son. The new proprie- tors changed the name to the "Yakima Independent." Under the new manage- ment, the paper became the special advocate of woman suffrage and prohibi- tion. Its proprietor is at the present time the pastor of a Baptist church. Un- like some managers he demonstrates the possibility of uniting secular enter- prise with religious-and succeeding with both. Mr. Whitney and others who labored in the carrying out of the two great reforms named above have cer- tainly had the satisfaction of seeing a tremendous victory for the causes which they advocated. Yakima County has been the foremost in advocating and vot- ing for both woman suffrage and prohibition. The former was thoroughly established several years ago by constitutional amendment, and by the over- whelming support of the "Bone-dry law" in the referendum in the election of November 5, 1918, the last hope of "John Barleycorn" in the state is gone along with the Kaiser and Sultan and other Troglodytes.

Besides the publications named, there have been two weeklies of special fields and later dates. The earlier of these was the "Northwest Forum," a paper of socialistic politics, founded in 1905 by S. H. Harrison, published on Friday of each week. The other was the "Free Press," founded in 1911 by Legh Freeman and published each Saturday.

Turning again from Yakima to Ellensburg we discover the next paper in order of time after the "Standard" and the "Localizer" to be the "Ellensburg Capital."

This paper, still one of the prominent journals of the Valley, was founded October 11, 1887, by A. N. Hamilton. The name of the paper was a pointer in the direction of the expectations of the proprietor and his fellow citizens as to the future official status of the metropolis of the Kittitas. But alas, like many of the hopes of "mice and men," which the Scottish bard assures us, and with more truth than in some of his sayings, "gang aft agley," this hope was dissipated and all the "capital" Ellensburgers have to fill the cavity with is the name of a newspaper, a city block, and an addition. In June, 1889, A. H. Stul- fauth, formerly a San Francisco journalist, landed in Ellensburgh. Becoming convinced of the promising future of the city and the valley, he bought a half interest in the "Capital." In 1899 he acquired the remaining interest and has continued to conduct the paper as a first-class weekly, independent in politics, and yet republican in policies and sympathies.

Next in time of the journals of Ellensburg came the "Ellensburg Register." The first issue came out on May 21, 1889. A. A. Batterson was publisher and editor. We have found files of this paper in the city library which are of high value in securing facts belonging to the period of the "Register's" existence.

On September 20, 1890, yet another journalistic venture was launched. This was the "Washington Sentinel." Mr. Batterson was also the founder of this paper. Within a short time, however, he admitted to partnership a man

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widely known for has intellectual ability and brilliant wit: Frank Reeves, later a leader in public life in Wenatchee.

On October 10, 1890, the "Register" and "Sentinel" were consolidated under the name, the 'Washington State Sentinel." While the paper was of short duration it was in its time one of the best weeklies in the county, and its files are of especial value in the preparation of such a work as this.

Following closely upon the "Register" came one of the notable products of journalistic growth, the "Dawn." This publication was first a monthly, be- ginning in November, 1893. On August 4, 1894, it appeared as a weekly. The name first employed was the "Reformers' Dawn." Later it became the "Ellens- burg Dawn." This publication, founded and conducted by Robert A. Turner, now postmaster at Ellensburg, was one of the many voices which expressed the rising movement of political reform of the period nearly coincident with the hard times from 1890 to 1896. When people are hard up they begin to think and to wonder if they are having a fair deal. It is one of the glories of our land that citizens can think without resorting to Bolshevism.

The monthly was issued at Mr. Turner's home on East Capital Avenue from November, 1893, to August, 1894, when the weekly edition was started.

Thenceforward for several months both editions were issued from Mr. Turner's office in the Cadwell Block on Pearl Street. The monthly was a double column publication of from eight to sixteen pages.

On January 17, 1914, Mr. Turner leased the "Dawn" to Arthur L. Slem- mons and J. D. Mathews, and they conducted it along the same lines as it formerly followed. Mr. Slenmons died in 1916. On March 11, 1914, Mr. Turner became postmaster at Ellensburg, his commission being renewed in 1918.

The "Dawn" had a line of successors ; the "Kittitas County Democrat," the "Inter-Mountain Register," the "Kittitas County Independent," and the "Twice- a-Week-News."

The publication has now been suspended, though the printing plant is still maintained.

The progress of our history now brings us to the "Evening Record," the latest and in many respects the most important of all the newspapers of the Kittitas Valley. This is the only daily in the history of the Kittitas Country, except for the short period of the "Evening Localizer." It came into existence as the "Record Press" in 1906. J. C. Kaynor and W. S. Zimmerman, then equal partners, acquired the "Localizer" July 1, 1909. At that date Mr. Kaynor became business manager of the "Record" and in February, 1912, he acquired the interests of Mr. Zimmerman and became editor and manager.

At present date the "Record" is published by the Record Publishing Con- pany, one of the hest equipped publishing enterprises in central Washington. J. C. Kaynor is editor and manager and H. G. Kaynor is secretary-treasurer.

TRANSIENT PAPERS OF YAKIMA AND ELLENSBURG

Several early papers came into being, valuable from the standpoint of their aims and field, and worthy of preservation for the historical record, but too

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ephemeral to play any considerable part in the affairs of their respective con - munities. Of these we may name the "Yakima Sun" of 1885 which took for it> main aim the maintenance of the town at Yakima City instead of moving to the new site, and the "Yakima Argus" of the same period.

At Ellensburg was a little paper, in reality consisting of typewritten sheets, known as the "Kittitas Wan-Wan." This had but two issues, and those were in the Summer of 1879. The writers were H. M. Bryant and A. A. Bell. They were conducting a pioneer store and got the little paper out mainly as an ad- vertisement of their own business. It was distributed gratuitously.

Of somewhat more real journalistic pretensions was the "Gospel Preacher" of Ellensburg, of considerably later date, being undertaken in 1893, by Rev. W. W. Stone, pastor of the Christian Church. The aim of this little paper was to further the work of the church. It is said to have been quite an accessory of the religious work, and to have been maintained for two years, when Mr. Stone left the place.

PAPERS OF THE OTHER TOWNS

We shall endeavor to encompass in this section a brief view of the various newspapers of the other towns in the Valley all the way from Roslyn to Ken- newick. These papers are all weeklies. Like those of the two chief cities of the Valley these have undergone the changes and coalescences which seem to be the common lot of newspapers in this world of vicissitudes.

We may properly begin at the extreme upper end of the valley, for here we find the oldest and largest of all the towns next to Yakima and Ellensburg. This is Roslyn. Here moreover, we find the oldest of all the papers, outside of the two chief cities. The first paper, indeed, of the "Coal City" is no longer in existence. That was the "Roslyn News," started in September, 1890. It was short-lived. The first permanent paper was the "Cascade Miner."

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I, Part 59

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1134

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1134