USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 99
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In March, 1872, a disastrous fire destroyed what was known as "Callis Corner," and at one time threatened to sweep the street. The fire was discovered about 10 P. M., in the roof of a building used partly as a barber-shop by Max Nobis, and was supposed to have started from a defective flue. The loss footed up some $6,000 on stock, besides the buildings. The dis- aster was but temporary ; new and handsomer buildings took the place of those destroyed, and the corner once more resumed its old-time business popularity. A serious drawback to Lancas- ter's advancement with the same rapidity that characterized other sections, was a lack of rail- road facilities. Many were the schemes proposed to obviate and remove this stumbling-block, and finally, in 1879, the advent of the narrow-guage road placed the city in easy communication with the outside world, and allowed Lancaster merchants to compete with the business men of other towns with some show of success, and without having to pay extensive transportation fees. As the terminus of the road, the city to day enjoys exceptional privileges, more than equal to the drawback under which it labored in earlier times. Lancaster of to-day contains six stores, doing an extensive merchandising business, three hardware stores, two drug stores, two jewelry stores, two furniture stores, three general stores, one tailor shop, four hotels, one news room, two millinery establishments, three confectionery and notion stores, one bakery, two barber- shops, four blacksmith-shops, two wagon manufactories one woolen-mill and two livery stables. It is steadily growing, the growth being not of the mushroom order, "which to-day is, and to- morrow is cast into the fire," but one that has a solid basis of need, and which will undoubtedly increase in the same steady ratio as the years roll on. The population of the city, according to the last census, was 1,044, but the actual population already has gone much beyond this limit. As the center of a rich and productive country, Lancaster's future is extremely promising.
TOWN AND VILLAGE GOVERNMENT.
Lancaster was first organized into a town at the special session of the County Board in 1848, the first election being held at the court house in the spring of 1849. This commence- ment of township government is thus quaintly narrated in the old record :
Be it remembered that at a general town election, for the election of county officers, had at the court house in the township of Lancaster, in the county of Grant, in, the State of Wiscon- sin (being the first election for such township or town officers in said town), there being no Supervisor of said township to preside as moderator at said town meeting; and the hour for opening of the polls having arrived, the moderator stated to the said town meeting the business to be transacted, and the order in which business would be entertained as follows :
First-the election of three Supervisors, one of whom to be designated as Chairman ; sec- ond-one Town Clerk ; third-one Treasurer ; fourth-one Assessor ; fifth-one Superintend- ent of Common Schools; sixth-four Justices of the Peace; seventh-to elect from one to three Constables, as the meeting may determine ; also to elect one Overscer of Roads for each road district in the town.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
To adopt rules and regulations for ascertaining the sufficiency of all fence in such town, and for determining the time and manner in which cattle, horses, sheep or swine shall be per- mitted to run on highways; and for impounding cattle.
To determine the amount of money to be raised for the support of schools, for the con- tingent expenses of such town, for the support of roads and bridges in said town, and also for the support of the poor in said town for the ensuing year.
To take measure and give directions for the exercise of the corporate powers of said town. Then, on motion,
It was unanimously voted that all officers of said town, required by law to be chosen by ballot, be named in one ballot; and the offices to which such persons are intended to be chosen designated upon one ballot. On motion,
It was also unanimously voted by said town meeting that there shall be elected for said town three Constables. After which the said town meeting agreed to go into an election for town officers as the law requires.
The first meeting of the Town Board was held May 1, 1849.
The township organization answered all purposes until 1836, when a majority of the citi - zens demanding the incorporation of Lancaster as a village, Hon. J. Allen Barber, then member of the Assembly, drew up a charter, which passed both Houses of the Legislature, and Lancaster took upon itself village honors. The incorporated village embraced one and a half miles square of territory. This charter continued in existence until 1869, when it was repealed, and one more ample in its powers granted by the Legislature of that year in its place. Under this charter the village remained until, by an act of the Legislature of 1878, Lancaster was incorporated as a city.
The charter under which the incorporation was effected, provides for one Mayor, four Alderman, who together constitute the Common Council ; one Police Justice "and such other elective officers, except President and Trustees, as it is now lawfully provided such village shall elect." Elections were to be held the first Monday of May in each year.
The powers and duties of Aldermen and Mayor were to be the same as those before per- formed by the President and Trustees of the village, except that the Police Justice, in addition to his jurisdiction in cases arising under the charter, should have the same jurisdiction as other Justices. The relations between the city and the township of Lancaster were the same as those heretofore existing between the village and the township, namely, that the city should belong to the township as part and parcel thereof, except for municipal purposes. The first election under the new charter was held May 6, 1878. Below is given a roster of the town, village and city officers from the formation of the township up to the present time.
OFFICIAL ROSTER.
1849-Supervisors, J. Allen Barber, Chairman, N. M. Bonham, Abner Dyer ; Town Clerk, Joseph C. Cover ; Treasurer, Arthur W. Worth ; Assessor, Charles Blanford ; Superintendent of Schools, H. H. Lewis; Constables, Dexter Ward, James Haire and William Walker ; Jus- tices of the Peace, Philo J. Adams, Francis H. Bonham, H. S. Liscum, W. T. Decker. Philo J. Adamsand F. H. Bonham were drawn for the long term.
1850-Supervisers, J. Allen Barber, Chairman, Abner Dyer, Thomas Shanley ; Clerk, Stephen Mahood; Treasurer, Charles Blanford ; Assessor, Jesse Miles, Sr. ; Superintendent of Schools, John D. Wood ; Justices of the Peace, John S. Fletcher, Andrew Barnett ; Consta- bles, Dexter Ward, S. A. Quincy, William Walker.
1851-Supervisors, William N. Reed, Chairman, Thomas Shanley, Thomas Weir ; Clerk, John D. Wood; Treasurer, Philo J. Adams; Assessor, Stephen Mahood ; Superintendent of Schools, J. C. Cover; Justices of the Peace, Andrew Barnett, H. S. Liscum; Constables. Dexter Ward, James N. Borah, G. B. McCord.
1852-Supervisors, James Barnett, Chairman, Joseph Bonham, John B. Gillespie ; Clerk, F. P. Liscum ; Treasurer, Frederick B. Phelps ; Assessor, Stephen Mahood ; Superintendent
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
of Schools, Robert Children ; Justices of the Peace, F. H. Bonham, Hugh R. Colter, Stephen Mahood-to fill vacancy ; Constables, Patrick Dancey, Dexter Ward, Lewis Laughlin.
1854-Supervisors, Nelson Dewey, Chairman, Joseph Bonham, Abner Dyer; Clerk, Stephen Mahood ; Treasuror, John B. Callis; Assessor, H. S. Liscom ; Superintendent of Schools, J. C. Cover; Justices of the Peace, Stephen Mahood, Dexter Ward; Constables, W. H. Foster-only one Constable elected this year.
1855-Supervisors, J. Allen Barber, Chairman, Philip Kelts, Edmund Harelson ; Clerk, Stephen Mahood ; Treasurer, John B. Callis; Superintendent of Schools, William A. Holmes ; Assessor, Andrew Barnett ; Justices of the Peace, Joseph Bonham, George. W. Luse ; Consta- bles, Jared Barnett, Elliot H. Liscum. Two Constables were elected this year.
1856-Supervisors, J. Allen Barber, Chairman, Edmund Harelson, Philip Kelts ; Clerk, Stephen Mahood; Treasurer, John B. Callis; Assessor, William N. Reed ; Superintendent of Schools, J. C. Cover ; Justices of the Peace, Wood R. Beach, Stephen Mahood, Francis H. Bonham-elected to fill vacancy ; Constables, Elliot H. Liscum, John Pepper. Stephen Ma- hood being afterward unable to serve as Town Clerk, by reason of sickness, William E. Carter was appointed by the Board in his place.
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
1856-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, John G. Clark, M. M. Ziegler and D. T. Parker ; Treasurer, M. M. Wood ; Marshal, Dexter Ward; Assessor, George Howe; Clerk, appointed by the Board of Trustees, William E. Carter.
1857-President, J. H. Hyde ; Trustees, D. H. Budd, Charles Langridge and James Bar- nett ; Treasurer, George W. Ryland; Assessor, Stephen Mahood ; Marshal, W. H. S. Palmer ; Clerk, William E. Carter.
1858-President, L. O. Shrader ; Trustees, John B. Callis, Charles Langridge, O. B. Phelps ; Treasurer, George W. Ryland ; Assessor, Stephen Mahood ; Marshal, John Pepper. O. B. Phelps refused to qualify as Trustee, and E. G. Beckwith was elected in his place. Clerk, William E. Carter. He was removed for non-attendance in September, and L. J. Woolley appointed in his place.
1859-President, J. C. Holloway ; Trustees, Charles Langridge, William Alcorn and George W. Ryland ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd ; Assessor, Stephen Mahood; Marshal, John B. Callis ; Clerk, L. J. Woolley.
1860-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, George H. Cox, Anthony Crosby and L. A. Hyde ; Treasurer, M. M. Ziegler ; Assessor, Hiram Baxter ; Marshal, John B. Callis ; Clerk, L. O. Shrader.
1861-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, George H. Cox, F. P. Liscum, Joseph Bar- nett ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd ; Marshal, John B. Callis ; Assessor, William McGonigal ; Clerk, L. O. Shrader.
1862-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, Harrison Redding, George H. Cox and George W, Ryland ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd ; Assessor, W. N. Reed ; Marshal, Thomas Gow ; Clerk, J. W. Blanding.
There is a break in the records from the above date to 1867, during which there is no trace of the officers elected.
1867-President, J. C. Cover; Trustees, J. H. Hyde, J. W. Blanding and A. J. Fox ; Clerk, Joseph Bock.
1868-President, J. W. Blanding; Trustees, H. J. Fox, Fred B. Phelps, J. W. Angell ; Treasurer, John P. Lewis ; Assessor, William H. Foster; Marshal, David Cutshaw ; Clerk, Joseph Bock.
1869-President, P. H. Parsons ; Trustees, Lewis Holloway, William Alcorn, V. F. Kin- ney, H. Reading. [From this date, and under the new charter, the Treasurer, Marshal and Clerk were appointed by the board, and the President also performed the duties of Police Jus- tice .- ED. ] Treasurer, Addison Burr; Marshal, William H. Clise; Clerk, A. P. Thompson ; Street Commissioner, H. B. Fisher.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
1870-President, George W. Ryland ; Trustees, Henry Fox, John B. Turley, Lewis Hol- loway, Henry Muesse ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd; Marshal, Dexter Ward ; Clerk, A. P. Thomp- son ; Street Commissioner, George Harton.
1871-President, George W. Ryland; Trustees, Henry Fox, Henry Muesse, Lewis Hol- loway, W. M. Powers ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd; Marshal, Dexter Ward; Clerk, David Schreiner ; Street Commissioner, Joseph Joey.
1872-President, Henry Muesse ; Trustees, R. E. Murphy, M. M. Zeigler, W. W. Robe, R. S. Hoskins ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd ; Marshal, Philip Kelts ; Clerk, P. H. Parsons ; Street Commissioner, H. B. Fisher.
1873-President, William McGonigal ; Trustecs, Lewis Holloway, C. H. Baxter, W. W. Robe, H. B. Fisher ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd; Clerk, A. R. McCartney ; Street Commissioner, William Richardson ; Marshal, Charles Bennetts.
1874-President, A. Burr; Trustees, P. H. Parsons, C. H. Baxter, V. F. Kinney, H. B. Fisher ; Treasurer, D. H. Budd ; Marshal, Thomas R. Chesebro ; Clerk, R. E. McCoy ; Street Commissioner, Franklin Halbert.
1875-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, Franklin Halbert, Lewis Holloway, John Schreiner, Henry Muesse; Supervisor, George Clementson ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Clerk, A. Michaels ; Street Commissioner and Marshal, S. Mitchell.
1876-President, J. Allen Barber; Trustees, John Schreiner, John Woolsenholme, Henry Muesse, Frank Halbert ; Supervisor, George Clementson ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Clerk, A. Michaelis ; Marshal, S. Mitchell ; Street Commissioner, Franklin Halbert.
1877-President, J. Allen Barber ; Trustees, David Schreiner, W. H. Haines, John Os- wald, William Richardson ; Supervisor, George Clementson ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer; Clerk, A. Michaelis ; Street Commissioner, John Oswald ; Marshal, S. Mitchell.
CITY OFFICERS.
1878-Mayor, A. R. Bushnell ; Aldermen, James Woodhouse, George D. Utt, James Kil- bourn, Joseph Nathan ; Justice of the Peace, James A. Jones ; Supervisor, George Clementson. (Clerk, Treasurer and Marshal appointed). Clerk, Aug. Michaelis ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Marshal, S. Mitchell.
1879-Mayor, George Clementson ; Aldermen, F. B. Phelps, A. H. Barber, Henry Muesse, Alexander Ivey ; Police Justice, A. L. Burke ; Supervisor, George Clementson ; Clerk, Charles Orton ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Marshal, H. P. Green.
1880-Mayor, John B. Clark ; Aldermen, Lewis Holloway, W. T. Orton, William P. Stone, Herman Buchner ; Clerk, Aug. Michaelis ; Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Marshal, George Griffin.
1881-Mayor, John B. Clark ; Aldermen, William P. Stone, Herman Buchner; W. F. Orton, Lewis Holloway. The two last named declined to qualify ; John P. Lewis and John Street were appointed by the remaining members of the Council, in accordance with a pro- vision of the city charter. Treasurer, Richard Meyer ; Clerk, Aug. Michaelis ; Marshal, S. Mitchell.
LANCASTER PRESS.
Grant County Herald .- This paper was started early in the spring of 1843, the first number being issued March 18, of that year. The causes which led to its inception and subse- quent birth were those usual to enterprises of this nature in newly settled regions, namely, a desire to keep the world informed of the existence of such a place as Grant County, and a grow- ing demand for a ready means for giving notice to the different parties interested in the numer- ous cases of litigation continually arising. Therefore, early in the year above named Messrs. J. Allen Barber, Nelson Dewey and Daniel Banfill joined together and purchased a press and type in Dubuque, brought it to Lancaster, and as given above, the first number of the Grant County Herald was issued, the first issue being printed in an "annex " to the old Boice cabin. This
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
building had witnessed before this, many changes in Lancaster history and its rough-hewn walls had in turn resounded to the ring of the pioneer's genial laugh, the soft whispers of womanly voices, and, later on, to the merry rattle of knives and forks as under the regimes of Richards and Capt. Reed, the founders of Lancaster had proved themselves valiant "trencher men." Now its cobwebbed ceilings were to resound to the click of the mysterious types and the soft rumble of the hand press, as the bed traveled back and forth to transfer to the white paper the condensed intelligence that had been gathered in the forms beneath the powerful platen. The first to furnish shelter, the old cabin was now to be the entrepot for the little sheet that was, in another decade or two, to wield an influence equal to that of any journal in the State. The first issue contained the brains of Lenhart O. Schrader and the muscular power of C. Mallet and Thomas Keeling, the former being the editor and the latter compositors. Mallet and Keeling were both of French descent and much inclined to interviews with the flow- ing bowl, but by their acquaintance with the " types " were thus unconsciously immortalized as the issuers of the first copy of the Herald.
A stock company had been formed, in fact the three gentlemen above named as the pur- chasers of the press and material, were merely acting as agents for their associates, Messrs. Price, McCartney & Rountree, all together making the Herald Company. The paper was shortly after its birth transferred to C. Mallet & Co., who were allowed to gradually buy up all the stock paying for the same in advertising. The editorship of the paper passed into the hands of H. A. Wiltse, one of the brightest lights of the galaxy, who through their labors in this po- sition, have enthroned the Herald as one of the household gods of this and adjoining sections. Under his management the paper began to assume something of importance, and its columns became a valuable repository oflore-mineral, agricultural and statistical-which makes the early files of this paper particularly valuable to him who would cultivate an intimate acquaintance with the resources and developments of this early period. October 21, 1843, Mallet retired from the paper, having disposed of his interest to J. D. Spaulding, Mr. Wiltse remaining in the editorial chair. The paper remained as it had been from the commencement, a five-column folio. In April, 1844, Mr. Wiltse severed his connection with the Herald and took up his former duties as surveyor, removing in time, to the State of Iowa, where he entered the Sur- veyor General's office at Dubuque. He was afterward made Surveyor General, but resigned the position to commence the practice of law, in which profession he rose to a high rank before his death, which occurred a few years ago. During the year and a half following Mr. Wiltse's retirement the rapier-like wit and subtle reasoning of J. T. Mills is mingled with the scathing sarcasm and flashing arguments of James M. Goodhue. Mr. Spaulding, more ambitious than his predecessors, aimed to make the Herald a State paper, and changed the name from the Grant County Herald to the Wisconsin Herald, and at the commencement of 1845 he added one column to its size, making it a six instead of a five column folio. In August of this year, James M. Goodhue, whose genius had shone forth so conspicuously during the past months, was associated with Spaulding in the publication of the paper, and took his seat in the editorial chair. In expressing his purposes on taking the helm, Goodhue said : "To be useful the press must be unshackled. The press is the great fountain through which mind is ever pouring forth freshness, vitality and power. It is with such views of this subject that the edi- tors of the Herald call upon their patrons to sustain them in a full, fair, untrammelled expres- sion of thoughts and opinions. Our opinions will not always coincide with those of all our readers. Men do not all think by the rule of three. * * The editor who pens every paragraph in constant fear of 'stop my paper ' is a mere ' toad under a harrow.' We have no fears of this kind for we well know the intelligence of our readers, and that if we write honestly, fearlessly and vigorously, they will pardon us if we do not always write wisely." In a later issue, notice is given that at the commencement of a new volume a change will be made in " plan, purpose and character of the paper," looking toward an active partisanship, the Herald having heretofore remained neutral on the principal absorbing questions of the day. The shadows thus cast before, were followed by four years of flashing editorials, each line of which was pregnant
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with life and thought. Ever given to the Donnybrook Fair maxim of "When you see a head hit it," Goodhue allowed no chance to escape, whereby he could apply his peculiar gifts. No wrong to go unscathed, or chicanary to pursue its course unmasked; brilliant but erratic, his course was not such as was likely to advance the financial side of the balance, however high might go the admiration for the brilliant talents displayed weekly through the columns of the young journal. At the end of August, Goodhue had become sole proprietor of the Herald and so continued until the spring of 1849. He then sold out to J. L. Marsh and took the old press, which had been replaced by one of a more improved pattern, and removed to St. Paul, where he founded the St. Paul Pioneer. To this old press quite a history is attached. It was origi- nally purchased for the Dubuque Visitor, the first paper published in Iowa; then brought to Lancaster, it served, as has been seen, to "work off" the Herald; then served to give the first impressions to the first paper in the Territory of Minnesota, and was again sold, in 1858, to start afresh upon its wanderings, after twenty-two years of service. It went to Dakota and was used to print the Dakota Democrat, the first paper printed in that Territory, where it re- mained in active service until the Sioux outbreak of 1862, when the outfit, including the old Smith press, was captured by the United States troops from the Indians in a running fight, but the old press had done its last work. It was so broken up as to be no further use.
Goodhue's St. Paul venture was first christened the Epistle of St. Paul, but the name being objected to by some of the proprietor's friends, it was changed to the St. Paul Pioneer, and thus remained until consolidated with the Press a few years ago, forming the Pioneer-Press of to-day.
Mr. Goodhue, afterward christened Colonel, continued as publisher of the Pioneer until August, 1852, when he passed on before to the other world. The Grant County Herald, then published by J. C. Cover, at this time gave the following estimate of this remarkable man : " Col. Goodhue was a lawyer by profession, but soon after his arrival in Wisconsin, he pur- chased an interest in the Herald, after which he gave up the practice of law. Here in Lancas- ter, he commenced his editorial career, and here, during a three-years' experience, he perfected his extraordinary talents, and laid the plans which ultimately secured for him unbounded noteri- ety. In a pecuniary sense, he was remarkably successful ; having commenced without a dollar, he amassed a fair fortune within the few years of his editorial career. He united, in person, all the elements necessary to success in life. His intellectual countenance, when roused, be- trayed that bitter sarcasm which distinguished him as a writer ; but when composed, as strongly exhibited the wit that beamed through his humorous articles. The world was the seminary of his learning from which he gleaned the myriads of thoughts and expressions never before enter- tained or uttered by living mortal. Col. Goodhue will be a loss to the editorial fraternity, for he dared to lead in what the majority have not nerve to do-in exposing the errors of the many, the recklessness of the great. and the crimes of the high. All evil-doers were chastised alike, for he had no mercy to spare for any."
Goodhue was succeeded in the proprietorship of the Herald by J. L. Marsh, who, being of a conservative, quiet temperament, trimmed his sails more carefully to the different winds, and so managed to keep his craft afloat and with provisions enough to carry the crew so long as they remained aboard. He remained at the helm until June 19, 1851, when he was succeeded by the firm of Cover & Shrader. The retiring editor afterward founded the Independent Ameri- can, at Platteville, and, after numerous newspaper adventures, settled in Sheboygan, Wis., hav- ing first purchased the Sheboygan Herald, which he continued to edit many years. Mr. Marsh is at present Postmaster in Sheboygan. When the new firm came into power, the subscription list numbered 261 names, but, owing to "certain unpopular sentiments held by the editor," the list fell to forty names in a short time; but others rallied to the support of the paper, and, two years later, the Herald had 600 subscribers. The firm of Cover & Shrader continued as pub- lishers of the Grant County Herald until January 1, 1853. At that date, Mr. Shrader retired from the partnership, his place being filled by Mr. Goldsmith. The Herald now began to make rapid strides toward the golden shores of prosperity. The editors were fully alive to the needs
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of the county, and, by ably written and timely articles, aimed to attract a goodly share of the western tide of immigration into this southwestern corner of the State. Speaking of their aims and purposes in this and other lines of thought, the Herald of July 3, 1854, says : "Our pur- poses from the first have been just three ; no more, no less. To tell our readers what they ought to be told ; to tell them what they want to be told; and, thirdly, to make money. We care little for party measures or professions, since the thing professed ever fails of success however warm and numerous its advocates. We are tired of professions-men we have confi- dence in ; therefore, we shall be the advocate of men, since good men rarely ever profess much, but act out what they believe right, regardless of party or party favors. 'Men, not measures' is our political rule of faith, and if men generally adhered to it, we'll be bound their will . be oftener respected in the legislative halls and councils." As the firm became later on inter- ested in other ventures, the editorship devolved more and more upon Mr. J. C. Cover, and hardly could the mantle of responsibility have fallen on better shoulders. Under his hand, the Herald became the exponent of the most advanced ideas of political thought. In fact, J. C. Cover, J. Allen Barber and Judge Mills are charged with " having made Grant Gounty radical in politics." Certainly the first-named of the triumvirate did his share, and history shows that the other triumvirs were not behind in the good work. In 1859, Mr. Goldsmith withdrew from the partnership, leaving Mr. Cover as sole proprietor. The Herald had already increased in strength until it was " a power in the land and" a welcome visitor to the numerous homes in Grant County, many of which had been established through the means of articles setting forth the beauties and wealth of this southwestern portion of the State. At the beginning of the new volume in the above year, the editor gave forth another article of editorial faith, by giving notice that, " we shall not intentionally, nor for bad motives, advocate a wrong, even though such wrong be popular and sanctioned by party, church or friends." In the stormy days just preceding and during the opening of the war, the position of the Herald could not be mistaken. Its clear, ringing editorials, gave signs of the true metal underneath, as its editor worked night and day, by pen, tongue and example, to uphold the Nation, in those dark days of uncertainty. It was the Herald that chronicled the names of Grant's representatives as they came pouring forth to do battle for the Union.
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