History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 90

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 90

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In the fall of 1865, C. Lohman established a German weekly paper, entitled the Madison Zeitung, which was discontinued shortly after the election of that year. It was Democratic in politics.

October 5, 1865, the Wisconsin Democrat was established in Madison, by George Hyer and D. W. Fernandez. It commenced with a daily and weekly edition, the former a six-column paper, and the latter contained eight columns to the page. The Democrat advocated the prin- ciples of the old Democratic party, and was a spirited paper, possessing a very neat typographical appearance.

In April, 1866, the office of the Wisconsin Capitol, that had been published by Messrs. W. J. Park & Co., was sold to Messrs. George Hyer, E. A. Calkins and D. W. Fernandez, and

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the offices of the Capitol and the Democrat were consolidated, and on the 17th of April, 1866, the first number of a new paper, entitled the Wisconsin Union, was issued, both the old papers being discontinued. The Union took position as a "Johnson " organ. In December, Mr. Calkins withdrew from the business part of the firm, but remained as a joint editor, with Hyer & Fernandez. The Union was published daily and weekly, the former seven columns, and the latter eight. It ended by the selling of the whole stock to G. E. Gordon, who changed the name to the Madison Democrat.

The Home Diary, by V. J. Welch, was started July 21, 1865-a racy paper-and is still issued "semi-occasionally as occasion may require."

During the year 1866, S. W. Martin, of Madison, issued monthly a small paper entitled the Soldiers' Record. It contained much information in reference to the soldiers from this State in the late war that was valuable for preservation. It had a precarious existence of several years, and " went out " without any ado.

The Madison Democrat was established May 21, 1868, by G. E. Gordon, who, in his salu- tatory, says :

"It is with no assumed diffidence and hesitation that the editor, who is also publisher and proprietor, of the Madison Democrat, appears before this community in an editorial capacity. The canse thereof is two-fold."

"First .- Although many of his predecessors in the Madison Democratic chair-editorial have been able writers, and none were below mediocrity, yet the experience of several months past has had a depressing, if not an exasperating, effect upon the Democracy, and rendered the position of the undersigned one of anxiety and embarrassment. In view of the pending Presi- dential contest, one of the most, important, if not the most important, political campaigns ever entered upon in the United States, much will be expected and required of the editor of a Demo- cratic paper at the Wisconsin capital, much more indeed, we fear, than will be realized. Yet, from the fact that two or three months had elapsed since the last Democratic paper in this city went down beneath the waves of unsuccessful experiment, and no one had ventured to fill the vacancy thus created -a vacancy which has been painfully felt far and wide-we determined to commence the publication of a Democratic paper at Madison. This resolve we did not make with precipitation, or unadvisedly. We were willing, and so expressed on repeated occasions, should abler and more desirable parties wish to assume the responsibility of the enterprise, to give way and not interfere with them. But, none such appearing, and there being a manifest and pressing necessity that a Democratic paper should be issued here, we hesitated no longer. Therefore we purchased of the proprietors and mortgagees of the late Union office, all the materials of that establishment, and have added considerably thereto. The Democrat is placed at the ontset on a firm financial foundation ; and if the Democracy of this city and county alone but half do their duty toward a party organ, we hope to give them as good a paper as is published in the State, and yet be able to balance our books at the close of the year without too much of a deficiency on the credit side.

"Second .- Another cause of hesitation on our part to initiate this enterprise was the fact that the organ of the Republicans of Madison was represented to be of great relative merit, and its trio of editors-particularly the one chief of the State Central Committee-of superior intel- lectual and disputatious ability. To combat, single-handed, against triple odds, might seem pre- sumptuous in any one, soever widely and favorably known, and, of course, so much the more presuming in him who makes no pretensions to either political celebrity or anything but the most ordinary literary abilities. Yet the Philistines of radicalism had so long vaunted the resistless might and strength of their champion-their intellectual Goliath of Gath-that when no fitter opponent seemed willing to take the field we, like the stripling of Israel, stepped into the arena. And there we hope to do battle, at least until the ides of November next, with such measure of courtesy as our opponents may determine. To be sure, our antagonists are armed- in brass (and greenbacks)-from head to foot. They own ' the official State paper,' and all the vast patronage which such a designation presupposes ; they control 'the official paper of Dane

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County,' and all its attendant lucre. Is it a wonder, then, that, like the giant of old, they chal- lenge the opposing Democracy to single combat ? To the skeptical looker-on, the result of the contest may appear only too certain. But, clothed in the panoply of truth, and armed with the arguments of the Democracy, we shall sling stone after stone at the brazen head of the heaven- and-earth-defying monster of radicalism; and, despite his vaunts and his corruption and his tyranny, we hope to assist in sinking deep into his forehead the pebble that shall utterly destroy him, and cause a shout of gladness to arise from all the honest people of the land.

"Thus much we have said in regard to our hopes and fears, our heretofore hesitation and doubts. Henceforward, having enlisted for the war, we shall look not back along the political course. 'Onward and upward,' onward with truth, and upward with Democracy-shall be our motto.

"It is our desire and intention, so far as in us lies, and the patronage which may be afforded us may warrant, to render the Democrat as good a newspaper as any reasonable man can expect. In the matter of local and telegraphic news, we shall not be a laggard in the race, while in other respects every effort will be made to render the Democrat deserving of wide-spread patronage."

On the 7th of April, 1871, J. B. Parkinson, A. C. Parkinson, George Raymer and R. M. Bashford bought of Mr. Gordon the Democrat. The Parkinsons and Bashford sold out to George Raymer and L. M. Fay, on the 7th of April, 1876, the latter parties disposing of a third interest to H. W. Hoyt, June 7, 1877. On the 7th of July, 1879, A. C. Parkinson pur- chased a quarter and equal interest in the paper, so that now the partners are George Raymer, L. M. Fay, H. W. Hoyt and A. C. Parkinson. The Democrat is published as a morning daily and as a weekly, and is a wide-awake and ably edited newspaper, with a large and increasing circulation.

The Billed Magazin, a Norwegian periodical, was started October 3, 1868, in Madison, and, after a lingering illness, died for the want of proper support.

The Wisconsin Botschafter .- The first number of the Madison Botschafter appeared on the 4th of May, 1869, as a journal, purposely in the interest of the Saenger Festival of the Nordwest- lichen Saengerbund, which came off in Madison, in the month of June following. The size of the paper was 11}x15, and it was issued and printed for nine weeks at the office of the Pioneer, in Sauk. Price, 50 cents. Circulation, 300. As there were so many experiments made before in publishing German papers in Madison, for which the German population had paid heavily, and as nons of the papers lived longer than a few years, on account of bad management and for other reasons. the idea of enlarging this little paper and publishing it permanently occurred to the publishers, Messrs. C. and R. Porsch. They undertook the hard job, and by the 31st of July, 1869, the first number of the Wisconsin Botschafter, R. Porsch and A. Sitzmann, proprietors, and C. Porsch, editor, appeared as a seven-column sheet. The owners had to exert themselves to the utmost to keep the paper alive. But it lived and prospered in spite of the tidal wave they had to face. In 1872, this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Porsch took possession of the business. Then the Botschafter was enlarged, in 1872, to an eight-column sheet, its subscribers having reached nearly 800, and the advertising patronage being a good and paying one, too. In the campaign of 1872, the paper, until then neutral in politics, sup- ported the Republican ticket.

In 1873, the Botschafter supported the Reform party, and has done so ever since. In January, 1879, the paper was enlarged again, and this time to a six-column quarto.

The University Press was started in June, 1870, by G. W. Raymer and James W. Bash- ford, as a monthly periodical, devoted to the cause of education generally, and to the Univer- sity of Wisconsin in particular. It still lives as a semi-monthly, and is a well-conducted sheet.

Den Norske Immigrant issued its first number in January, 1871, Edward i Larssen, editor. It was Republican in politics, and had a short existence.

In 1874, M. Wesenberg published in Madison, Den Liberal Demokrat, a Norwegian paper, Democratic in politics. It survived about a year, when it was merged into the Nord- vesten, also a Norwegian periodical; but the existence of this paper was brief.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

On the 3d of July, 1875, E. B. Bolens started the Wisconsin Statesman, which came to its end October 28, 1876.

The Wisconsin Banner, another Norwegian newspaper, in Madison, started up in 1876, but its days were few.

The Wisconsin Farm Journal saw the light for the first time on the 12th day of Sep- tember, 1876, and passed silently away July 12, 1877. :

The Owl fluttered into life February 3, 1877; looked wise, but fell from its perch and expired on the 21st of April thereafter.

The Daily Star, by E. B. Bolens, was born March 19, 1877; died in November of the same year. The weekly, which came into existence in June, 1877, lived longer-its decease was August 3, 1878.

The Madison Independent, a Greenback paper, was ushered into existence in Madison, in August, 1878, but only survived a brief season.

Wisconsin Staats Zeitung, a German weekly, edited and published by H. Kleinpell and C. G. Schmidt, began its honorable career December 4, 1878. It is independent in politics, and an ably conducted periodical. Its salutatory was as follows: "TO THE READERS-By this, the first issue of the Wisconsin Staats Zeitung, we introduce to Wisconsin's capital-the beau- tiful 'City of the Lakes'-a new German weekly. To many, considering the present busi- ness affairs of the country, this, our enterprise, may appear somewhat risky, and we do not deny the difficulties of such an enterprise, but, having been for some time encouraged to it by so large a number of citizens of Madison, we at last gained full confidence in the overcoming of the obstacle, and to-day submit to the reading people, the Wisconsin Staats Zeitung, with Ulrich von Hutten's motto: 'I have dared.' The liberal manner in which the citizens and business men of Madison are encouraging and assisting us is amply shown by the appearing of the numerous advertisements in the very first issue of our paper. The tendency of the Staats Zeitung will be an independent one. That is, it will always combat corruption, blunders and evils in political and social life. Such an independence in the press of the country, has, of late, gained ground, and is not only being received with favor by the people, but is also finding a correspondingly liberal support. This independence of the press is to be considered as a highly beneficial reform, and the further it is extended the better it will be for the people. Assisting in the promotion of such reform as much as it is in our power, and as far as our influence goes, shall be the mission of the Wisconsin Staats Zeitung."

The Stoughton Independent .- The first newspaper enterprise in the village of Stoughton was a six-column folio of the above name, published by Henry J. Walker. In his leader, the editor remarked : " As our name imports, we intend to maintain an independent position on all subjects. Bound by no party ties or prejudices, nor to any particular dogma, we shall fearlessly and truthfully utter our opinions, regardless of censure, trusting that the cause of truth and justice, and the development of intelligence, for whose advancement we shall contend, will be a sufficient warrant of our intentions." In another article, headed " Our Intentions," he still further remarks : " We believe that the voice of the press has been prostituted to the basest ends in serving political wire-pullers, and it is a rarity to see or read a thoroughly independent paper. This, of necessity, has benumbed its power, circumscribed its influence, and paralyzed its moral tendencies. The disease suggests its own remedy. Let the press take up a high and lofty position, let it no more serve partisan ends, let it rise above the position of a tool, let it cease to pander to the avarice of office-seekers, and candidly, truthfully and fearlessly express its honest convictions, unbiased by terror, bribes or ambition. This is a vital necessity, for in this country, where the newspaper is the only page scanned by thousands who take in their intellectual food from these repositories, it behooves every one to be careful their minds are not poisoned, instead of fed, by the vulgarity and indecency so commonly published by partisan sheets nowadays." But the independence of the paper was not appreciated. Its first number was issued September 22, 1857; its last, December 29, of the same year.

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The Wisconsin Signal .- On the death of the Independent, a new paper was printed, bearing the above name, its first issue appearing January 14, 1858, but numbered 16, it beginning where the Independent left off. W. A. Giles was the editor and proprietor of this last candi- date for public favor. Says the editor; in his first issue : " The Independent is dead and buried, and the Signal comes forth, notwithstanding the hard fate of its worthy predecessor, flushed with hope, confident that, as the friend of enterprise, the advocate of freedom, virtue and truth, the nurse of learning and literature, it will find many friends to defend its course and welcome it to your family circle." The paper, like its predecessor, was a six-column folio, and started out with a reasonable amount of advertising and with a pledged subscription list of 1,000 copies ; but the pledges made by interested parties were never fulfilled. Therefore death followed, the last number appearing June 10, 1858. .

Stoughton Reporter .- The third newspaper enterprise in this village was the publication of the Stoughton Reporter, by Powell & Hoxie. Volume I, No. 1, made its appearance February 23, 1863. It was a seven-column folio, patent inside, and edited by L. W. Powell. No regular " salutatory " appeared, but in its prospectus was outlined the course its publishers would adopt and the principles that should be advocated. Say the publishers : "We commence the publi- cation of a weekly paper in this village, and will advocate the principles of free government- sustain the administration of the same in all just and equitable measures ; not the organ of any clique or faction, but earnestly and zealously defending the rights of the people-denouncing all unjust usurpation of power, guarding jealously principles and institutions established by our fathers, consecrated by their blood, and bequeathed as a heritage to us. Its columns will be free to the discussion of every public question involving the morals and interests of community and country or the progress of civilization and liberty. We shall endeavor to expose the character, pernicious tendency and evil effect of undue party spirit and prejudice, and seek to unite the people on all questions of public interest, and unite their efforts in all just and constitutional measures adopted by the National Administration in the suppression of this most wicked, un- justifiable and infernal rebellion of slaveholding aristocracy against the immutable and eternal principles of pure democracy and free government.". On the 7th day of October, 1863, Powell & Hoxie were succeeded by Allen & Powell. The latter sold to C. D. Wells. The paper was continued by Allen & Wells for about one year, when Wells disposed of his interest to Frank Allen, who continued the publication until 1872, when he sold to A. C. Croft, who published the same until 1875, when the paper was discontinued.

The Stoughton Signal .- This paper was established in the fall of 1873 by Frank Allen. It was a six-column quarto, in politics Democratic, and was a good local and family newspaper. It was continued until January, 1876, when the material of the office was sold to Kling & Cur- rier, who established the Stoughton Courier.

The Stoughton Courier .- This paper was established in 1876, its first issue appearing Feb- ruary 2, with Kling & Currier, publishers ; George W. Currier, editor. In the editor's " greet- ing " he says : " We commence with this number the first volume of a new paper, to which we have given the name of The Stoughton Courier. Our columns will be filled with a good selection of general reading, State news, and especially of local items of interest from this village and the surrounding country. We intend to devote our paper to the welfare of this town, and shall endeavor to do our part toward building up what is now one of the liveliest and most thriving towns in the Northwest. While our sheet will be devoted to the interests of the Republican party, we shall not allow anything in its columns that ought to offend members of any party. Official unfaithfulness in all parties will be exposed whenever found." This partnership was continued until May 1, 1877, when C. E. Parish purchased Mr. Kling's interest and the publi- cation of the Courier was continued under the firm name of Currier & Parish, editors and pub- lishers. No change was made in the political tone of the paper, it continuing to advocate the principles of the Republican party. On the 1st day of May, 1878, Mr. Currier disposed of his interest to C. E. Parish, who has since continued its publication. M.r. Parish is a ready and pleasing writer, and publishes an interesting political and local paper.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Black Earth Advertiser .- " Poets are born, not made," has passed into a proverb. The same can be said of the true newspaper man. The junior member of the firm of Burnett & Son had no opportunity of acquiring instruction in the printer's art, but early in the year 1868, pur- chased a small amateur press, with a few amateur fonts of type, at a total expense of $45, and at once commenced to acquire a practical knowledge of the art without the aid of a teacher. His first attempt was on a small card for the firm of Burnett & Son, booksellers and stationers. On the 1st of March, 1868, was issued the first number of the Monthly Budget, a two-column folio, 9x102 inches. This was designed specially as an advertising sheet for the firm, and con- tained no labored salutatory or advertisement of any other house. In April, the paper was enlarged to a three-column folio, 12x18 inches, appearing as the Monthly Advertiser and Produce Reporter, Burnett & Son, publishers ; C. Burnett, editor. In his salutatory, the editor says : "We have concluded to change the name of the paper to the Advertiser, as it is more appropriate to the style of paper we intend to publish. We propose publishing a small monthly paper devoted to the interests of Black Earth. We do not intend it as a literary paper, but chiefly market reports and advertisements (if we can get them)." A liberal advertising patron- age was extended this little sheet, which made its regular appearance each month. In September of the same year a farther enlargement was made to a four-column folio, 14x20. No farther change was made until March, 1870, when it was enlarged to a six-column folio, 22x30, and appeared as a semi-monthly under the name of the Black Earth Advertiser. The business management of the paper was still controlled by Burnett & Son, but H. R. Farnum was asso- ciated as co-editor. In announcing the change made, its editors remarked that they should aim to make their interests and those of the community in which it was printed a common one. "We nail your colors to our flagstaff," it said, "and march hopefully forward." On the 16th of June, 1870, the paper was again enlarged to a seven-column folio, 24x36, which explained, better than words, that the paper was successful. On the 4th day of August, 1870, the last issue of the semi-monthly appeared, but being followed the succeeding week by the first number of the weekly, and again enlarged to an eight-column folio, 26x40, making it one of the largest and handsomest papers in the county. Its enlargement and appearance as a weekly seemed to be taken as a matter of course, no high-flown announcement appearing in its first issue. On the 29th of December, 1870, H. R. Farnum bid adieu to the readers of the Advertiser, and Clar- ence Burnett again had individual control of its editorial columns, and yet remains in that position ..

The growth of the office is as remarkable as that of the paper. Beginning with an 8x10 amateur press, the next move was for a 13x19-inch amateur ; then a half-medium universal job- ber. A Washington hand press, 28x42, was added when the semi-monthly appeared, which served until the increase of work was such that a power press was absolutely demanded, which improvement was made. A Baxter engine was added in 1873, which serves to drive the power and universal press.

In February, 1874, the first number of the Sickle, of Mazomanie appeared, the work being done at this office. This paper was continued for eighteen months, when its publishers obtained a press of their own, doing their work in their own town. The Dane County Republican, & campaign Republican paper, was printed here during the campaign of 1872. The next enter- prise was the publication of the True Hope, a monthly literary and temperance magazine. This was continued for one year. The Arena Star appeared June 26, 1876, the work being done at this office. Next came the Prairie du Sac News, October 20, 1876 ; then the Spring Green Dollar Times, November 27, 1877, followed by the Temperance Watchman, in 1878. All these were printed by Burnett & Son, in addition to which a large run of job work has always been enjoyed by the firm. From a small amateur concern has grown up an office that would be an honor to any place twenty times as large as Black Earth.

In 1860, Henry Walker began the publication, in Mazomanie, of a weekly paper, under the name of Walker's Weekly. It was not very well received by the community, and lived but six weeks. In 1866, Brainard & Boardman commenced the publication of a five-column folio, called the Mazomanian, neutral in politics. It lived but six months.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The Sickle was established in Mazomanie in February, 1874. The paper was a unique affair, being a small, three-column folio, and well deserves to be filed away for future genera- tions to read. It was published by the Sickle Company, and floated the names of three young men at the head of its columns as responsible editors-S. E. Bronson, M. F. Saterlee and H. W. Bessac. The Sickle still lives, published by D. W. Bronson & Son, is Republican in poli- tics and is issued weekly.

The Sun Prairie Ledger was started in the village of Sun Prairie, in December, 1868, and was published by H. S. Ehrman. It had a brief existence.

The Countryman issued its first number in Sun Prairie, December 6, 1877, edited by C. G. and C. S. Crosse. It is still thriving-a weekly, and is Independent in politics. It is ably edited.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.

RAILROADS-THE GREAT REBELLION-THE TORNADO OF MAY 23, 1878.

RAILROADS.

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul .- The present Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company has grown up out of the former La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company, now the La Crosse Division of the present line of road. But the first railroad built-the pioneer Wis- consin railroad-was the Milwaukee & Mississippi line, now the Prairie du Chien Division of the general line.

The Milwaukee & Waukesha Railroad Company was incorporated by an act of the Terri- torial Legislature, approved by Gov. Henry Dodge, February 11, 1847. The capital stock of the company was fixed at $100,000, in shares of $100 each; the provisions then usual in such acts of incorporation were included in the charter, and the company was authorized to build a railroad from Milwaukee to the village of Prairieville (now Waukesha) in Waukesha County. A meeting of the Commissioners named in the charter was held in Milwaukee November 23, 1847, at which time it was agreed to open books for subscription to the capital stock of the company at Waukesha and at Milwaukee.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 90

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304