The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 60

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

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The partnership between Veeder & St. John was continued for three years, which were years of profit, the paper fully realizing to its projectors and the public all that had been prom- ised in its prophetic infancy. Early in 1871, Mr. St. John decided to join the innumerable throng of young men en route to the West, and, dissolving his partnership with Mr. Veeder, proceeded thitherward, finally establishing himself at Kearney Junction, Neb., where he has remained ever since, discharging the duties of land agent, insurance solicitor, farmer and editor, as circumstances demanded.

Mr. Veeder carried on the paper after the withdrawal of Mr. St. John, unaided for upward of a year, furnishing a readable, sought-after journal, and deserving a patronage that was not slow to respond.

The fourth volume was commenced under the most favorable auspices, and, during its con- tinuance, the Recorder was enlarged to a folio 28x42, with nine columns to the page, printed in brevier and nonpareil. The same success which had attended the early beginnings of the paper under partnership influences, continued with and stood by Mr. Veeder when alone. Yet the duties were too exacting, and could be more easily disposed of with assistance, hence the sale of a half-interest in the office, which was effected, to W. H. Leonard, formerly editor of the Charles City (Iowa) Intelligencer, on the 1st of July, 1873, since which date he has remained in possession of what he considers a most valuable property.

leo, Mr Chittenden THIN, JANESVILLE.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

On Monday morning, March 11, 1878, the Recorder was introduced to the public as a "daily." No apology was vouchsafed for the appearance of the infant, as in the households of well regulated families none was expected. The issue was small, of course, and had little to say. But it resembled its parents, and expected to grow with Veeder & Leonard to care for its wants, G. F. Selleck as " nurse, and Matt. Morris as maid of all work," supplemented by pub- lic encouragement. At first, its "dress" consisted of the "garments " fashioned for its parent in years past ; but they were soon after substituted by the latest fashion, from the hands of typographical artists, and presented an appearance decidedly attractive.

The field for a morning. daily was clear, its necessity apparent and pressing, and the Daily Recorder, equaling in all its features reasonable expectations, sprang at once into universal favor with readers as also with the profession, its sisters and its cousins and its aunts.

The editorial columns were "made up" of brief, pungent paragraphs; those devoted to local affairs were complete and "snappy," the telegrams general and special, and a considerable space appropriated to the occupation of remunerative "ads "-in short, the sixteen columns were filled with refreshing, appetizing " short-stops," calculated to excite the mirthful and intellectual.

Politically, the daily essayed a new departure from the weekly. The support of the paper was not dependent upon the patronage of Republicans or Democrats exclusively ; that support came from all sides, and the paper had " no bones to pick " with, or severe remarks to apply to any candidate. As a consequence, it decided to pursue a policy of independence, using the elections and the claims of party representatives as items of news.

In a remarkably brief space of time, the child waxed strong-subscriptions were numerous, and the circulation in two months increased from " nominal," to express it commercially, to 700 and upward. In seventy days from its first appearance, the Daily Recorder put away its childish things and " dressed up ; " put on a " new hat, offered houses to rent," and " money to loan," and began to assume the dignity that comes with age and experience. In other words, the size of the paper was increased by the addition of four columns, the quality and quantity of its news appreciated, and those who had in its infancy regarded the fortune of the paper as doubtful, welcomed the " lad," and rejoiced that their prophetic utterances had failed of results.

This progress and gratifying success is the reward which should in every instance attend deserving merit, but does not. The case in hand is an exception.

The daily is now as pronounced a feature of every-day life in Janesville as the most ambi- tious, enterprising and widely read metropolitan journal. Already has it been found that the twenty columns comprising its comprehensive make-up are not sufficient to supply the demand of subscribers, and, on the 8th of September, 1879, the Daily Recorder was, for the second time in its existence of one and a half years, again enlarged by the addition of four column's and the lengthening of the others.

The Janesville Recorder has now been in existence ten years ; from small beginnings it has come to be a power, and exerts an influence as pronounced as it is widespread. The prom- ises made by its projectors have been faithfully observed, and to-day it prospers, while those who, a decade past, .predicted its transient existence, have long since fallen by the wayside.

On the 30th of November, 1878, the offices in Lappin's Block were exchanged for cozy quarters at No. 2 West Milwaukee street, where the management, in addition to other improve- ments, utilize the water power of Rock River to run their machinery, as a safe and economical substitute for steam.

The editorial force consists of the proprietors, with G. F. Selleck in charge of the local, requiring the services of eight compositors to get the paper to press and issue the daily edition. The circulation of the Recorder is-daily, 1,100; weekly, 1,700; and the amount of capi- tal invested is estimated at about $10,000.

The Janesville Times, daily and weekly, was also brought forth, nursed and established in the Lappin building. It was first issued as a six-column weekly, by A. O. Wilson, in

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

August, 1869, as an experiment only, the Janesville Democrat having retired from the f and changed its base of operations to Dodge County, about two months previous. Locally, as the disseminator of general news, the Times was in no respect inferior to either of its C petitors ; politically, it was Democratic of the most pronounced and unmistakable character. 1 success of what was, in the first instance, issued as a campaign paper, must have been conced for in September, 1869, or within two months from the date of its first publication, it was fo_u necessary to increase its size and effect other improvements, to compete advantageously with r iva during the exciting campaign of that year. when, as will be remembered, the Times represe == nte the interests and claims of Charles D. Robinson, of Green Bay, the Democratic candidat fo. Governor, in opposition to Lucius Fairchild, the Republican nominee for re-election.

At the close of the campaign, business had increased, and, as the editor announced, Draany having paid a year's subscription in advance. it was decided to continue the publication of the paper indefinitely.

The first number of the paper was issued from the office of the Janesville Recorder ; the subsequent numbers from the office of the Northern Farmer, on West Milwaukee street, where their publication was continued until November 16, 1870, when the office of the Farmer was seized, suppressed and sold out by the Sheriff, necessitating the temporary suspension of the Times, or, until office material could be purchased, and the paper again started under auspices that would protect its interests from further embarrassments.

Arrangements were concluded without unnecessary delay, and, on March 30, 1871, this index of Democracy in Rock County, having returned to Lappin's building, was once more launched into existence from its own office, the press-work being done at the Recorder office, st that time adjoining the Times, in Lappin's Block.

On May 17, 1877, Wilbur H. Tousley bought a half-interest in the paper, and in June of the same year, it was again enlarged, this time to an eight-column sheet. The paper has since been carried on under the firm name of Wilson & Tousley, who have added a complete job-office outfit, to which the office was a stranger hitherto, and made other improvements and additions of the most valuable character, including the purchase of an improved Campbell power press.

Less than a year ago, the Times put forth the third daily published in Janesville and the only daily, Democratic in politics, which has been published in that immediate vicinity for years. The undertaking, though encountering difficulties in the outset, has attained & most popular success, the result alone of intrinsic merit. It is a folio, comprehending but four columns to the page, yet containing all the news in a concise and readable style ; abounds with witty brevities, caustic paragraphs that take hold and " bite," and editorials sharp and to the point, all teeming with Democratic sentiments sufficiently plain to indicate to readers that their authors are neither journalistic trimmers nor believers in the doctrine that the principles of Repub- licanism are just and true, and right, nor patrons of the "Independent" school of journalism. which has given birth to pretentious sheets devoid of claims predicated upon merit.

The office of the Times, unlike its predecessors, notwithstanding success, continues an occupant of its commodious quarters in the Lappin building, a prophet honored in its own land, and esteemed by its cotemporaries, with a life of usefulness and profit before it, of great promise.

The circulation of the weekly is estimated at one thousand copies; that of the daily (which, by the way, is sold for 1 cent each), about half that number, and. while in a locality so largely Republican, no Democratic paper can hope to monopolize all the business, yet the Times pub- lishers are satisfied with their very liberal share. "Man never is, but always to be blest." hence in the vicissitudes of past years of struggle and political tempest, there lingers still the reflection of a journalistic goal, to which the aims and aspirations of the Times publishers bend as readily as the willow to the storm, only to arise again when calms return.

In addition to the papers above cited, which have survived all reverses, there were a num- ber of beginnings, which succumbed to circumstances or lack of patronage, and are now remembered in connection with their failure. Among them was the Democratic Standard, established by Gen. G. W. Cabb in 1846, and managed by that gentleman until 1848, when it

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

s transferred to Charles S. Jordan, who issued two or three numbers prior to its suspension, ich occurred in the fall of that year. March 1, 1849, the paper was revived by John A. own and A. T. Gray, who published it under the title of Rock County Badger. October 20, 50, Mr. Gray retired and was succeeded by Gen. Crabb, when the name of the sheet was sin changed to Badger State, and published by Crabb & Brown, May 17, 1851. In October lowing, a new paper, called the Democratic Standard, was started by Dr. Mitchell, into which : Badger State was merged, Gen. Crabb acting as editor until April 1, 1852, when he gave y to Dr. Mitchell, who, in turn, yielded precedence to D. C. Brown and A. T. Gray. Mr. ay was succeeded by J. C. Bunner, who resigned February 21, 1855, and Mr. Brown con- ued the paper, aided by James Armstrong until 1856, when the paper was discontinued. le Standard was Democratic.

The Free Press was issued January 6, 1853. by an association of Free Democrats, com- sed in part of J. M. Burgess, J. Baker, R. B. Treat, O. Guernsey. E. A. Howland and ners, Mr. Baker acting as editor. On the 10th of October, 1853, W. M. Doty purchased an cerest in the Press, which was published under the firm name of Baker & Doty until June 7, 55, when Mr. Baker became sole owner, and so remained until October following, when G. B. irnett and Andrew J. Hall bought him out. Subsequently, they sold to E. C. Sackett, who Id to the Gazette, into which the Press was finally merged as above stated.

The Battering-Ram, a Free Soil campaign paper, the Wisconsin Farmer, Wisconsin ome, Educational Journal, Family Messenger, Emigranten (Norwegian), Monitor and orthern Farmer all ran the gauntlet of a varied experience, finally dissolving from view, sving no trace behind to guide the historian in search of records.

BELOIT.

A new England community to which churches and schools were a necessity, naturally found impossible to get along without newspapers, and, accordingly, soon after Beloit had arrived at e dignity of an incorporated village, it had its first publication of this kind in the Beloit essenger, published by Cooley & Civer, issued on the 4th of September, 1846. The paper s neutral in politics, and, for this, or some other potential reason, was only short-lived. hatever may have been the cause, the interest felt in this paper by the community must have en slight, as the most laborious and patient search was unable to discover a file or to obtain y positive information as to the date of its final suspension.

Nor was this lack of interest or appreciation confined to the Messenger. The fact of the istence of many other papers in later years was clearly established, but only faint traces of eir existence is discoverable beyond the knowledge of some of the citizens that such or such a per had at one time been published in the city. They had budded, blossomed and died, leav- 3 nothing behind to tell the story of the causes or circumstances which led to their decease. les were undiscoverable, and the only means or proof of their existence were the memories of eir old-time patrons.

The next paper was the Beloit Journal, the first number of which was issued by Stokes & iggs, on the 29th of June, 1848. This paper was a weekly, published in the interest of the hig party, with J. R. Briggs as editor, and, with various changes of name and proprietors, s been continuously published down to the present time, and still lives and flourishes vigor- sly as the Beloit Free Press. In the fall of 1848, it passed under the sole control of J. R. 'iggs, Jr., who carried it on alone until September, 1849, when he formed a partnership with G. Foster, of Troy, N. Y. In May, 1854, Foster purchased the interest of his partner, iggs, who had been elected to the Legislature, and continued the publication of a Republican per until August, 1855, when he sold out to A. Paine, J. J. Bushnell and Lucius G. Fisher, 10, under the firm name of A. Paine & Co., published it for a few weeks only, when they sold t to H. L. Devereux. In January, 1856, Devereux formed a partnership with B. E. Hale, 10 assumed charge of the editorial department. On the 22d. of May, 1856, the paper peared under the name of B. E. Hale alone, but the columns of the paper gave no explanation

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

of the change. February 19, 1857, B. E. Hale & Co. are announced as the publishers and proprietors, but no information is vouchsafed as to the names of the individuals constituting the "Co."

During this year, 1857, De Lorma Brooks started a weekly Democratic paper, called the Herald, and shortly after that N. O. Perkins published the first number of another Republican paper, the Beloit Times, and the two publishers effected an arrangement whereby the Demo- cratic Herald was printed on one side of the sheet and the Republican Times on the other, the respective editors being entirely independent of each other. It was claimed that this innova- tion would supply the reader with both sides of the political discussion of the day at the expense of a single paper. Some wit of the day gave this double-barreled publication the name "The Satinet paper." D. P. Hinckling was associated for a short time with Mr. Brooks in the conduct of the Herald. Mr. Perkins ultimately bought out Mr. Brooks, and, becoming the sole proprietor of the Herald, changed the name of the paper to the Beloit Courier about January 1, 1860, associating with himself Barrett H. Smith, the firm being Per- kins & Smith, with A. P. Waterman and Wright & Newcomb as silent partners.

The Journal was continued under the management of B. E. Hale & Co., until April 21, 1859, when it was transferred to William E. Hale and Horatio Pratt, with H. Pratt as editor. The next change of proprietors occurred in 1860, when Hale retired, and the paper passed under the control of H. Pratt & Co., the firm consisting of Horatio Pratt and James A. White.

The field, however, was hardly large enough for two Republican papers, and, after some little negotiation, an arrangement was reached, under which they were consolidated under the name of the Journal and Courier, the managers being Perkins & Smith, the firm consisting of N. O. Perkins and B. H. Smith, the name of N. O. Perkins appearing as editor. A paragraph at the head of the editorial columns of the first issue of the Journal and Courier, April 5, 1860, announces the consolidation, without explanation or comment. In their issue of October 31. 1861, Messrs. Perkins & Co. inform their readers that, owing to the " falling off in their foreign advertisements," the paper was reduced in size from eight to seven columns. Just one week later, viz., on November 7, 1861, the valedictory of N. O. Perkins appears, announcing the transfer of the Journal and Courier to Barrett H. and Lathrop E. Smith, and from this time the name of the editor disappears from the head of the editorial columns. On the 22d of January, 1863, Lathrop E. Smith retired, and the paper was carried on by Barrett H. Smith alone. April 21, 1864, a " card to the public " informs the readers of the Journal and Courier that B. H. Smith has terminated his connection with the paper, and designates Mr. A. Paine as his successor. The salutatory of the new management announces that the paper ' will be tied to no political party, but patriotically earnest for the suppression of the rebellion and the extermination of that 'sum of all villainies' which has been its cause." The issue of May 5 following contains an editorial exulting in the fact that " the inside and outside " of the paper are both printed in its own office. June 9, the compound name is dropped, and the paper re-appears as the Beloit Journal, an editorial explaining that " the double name was appropriste while the fusion of the two newspaper offices was a recent fact; but so much time has now elapsed since the union that the historical significance of the compound title has ceased to be important."

In February, 1866, Chalmers Ingersoll started the Beloit Free Press, which not long after absorbed the Journal by purchase. In the summer of 1869, Ingersoll sold out to M. Frank & Co., by whom the old name of the paper, the Journal, was revived. In the succeeding winter. the paper changed proprietors again, the purchasers being T. O. Thompson and J. B. Dow, and in the fall of 1870, the latter gentleman tranferred his interest to E. D. Coe.

In the spring of 1870, Mr. Ehrman, in conjunction with a young man named Leland as editor, started the publication of the Semi- Weekly Register, which struggled on for a few months only, and was numbered among the journalistic enterprises that have failed.

September 21, 1870, Chalmers Ingersoll and N. O. Perkins resurrected the Free Press. the firm being Ingersoll & Perkins for about three months. when another change occurred.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

whereby Chalmers Ingersoll became sole proprietor and N. O. Perkins and Chalmers Ingersoll editors. During the spring of 1871, the Free Press again absorbed the Journal, Mr. Thomp- son retiring wholly from the business and Mr. Coe acquiring a half-interest in the Free Press. The new partners, Ingersoll & Coe, published the Free Press until the following fall, when Ingersoll bought out Coe. Perkins continued as editor until the winter of 1872-73, when he accepted a position on the staff of the Milwaukee Sentinel, leaving Mr. Ingersoll sole editor and proprietor.

In May, 1873, Henry F. Hobart, who had been publishing a quarterly called the Beloit Crescent for a year or two previous, became associate editor of the Free Press. In March of the following year, Mr. Hobart bought a half-interest in the business, and the paper was con- ducted by Ingersoll & Hobart. as editors and proprietors, until March, 1877, when Mr. Ho- bart became sole proprietor by purchase, and the proprietorship has been unchanged to the present time.

Ingersoll & Hobart enlarged the Free Press to a nine column folio February 4, 1875, which size it still retains.

Mr. Julius A. Truesdell became associated with Mr. Hobart in the editorial work of the paper in the summer of 1879.

The Daily Free Press was started by Henry F. Hobart, February 1, 1879, as a four- column folio, with Albert F. Ayer as local reporter, and the publication is still continued without alteration in size or " make-up." This paper was the continuation of the Daily Phonograph, which was first issued from the Free Press office, August 7, 1878, and merged into the Free Press six months later. The Phonograph was edited and published by J. W. Cary, George E. Farrar and W. H. Ingalls, in connection with the proprietor of the Free Press, until the 10th of September, when the latter became its sole proprietor, with Mr. Farrar as editor, which position he retained until the December following.

The Graphic is an eight-page, five-column weekly, the first number of which appeared on the 13th of January, 1877, with F. E. Fillmore and W. D. Mathews as editors and proprietors. The salutatory expresses the customary belief that another local paper is needed, announces that it will be Democratic, politically, but when the party is in the wrong it shall use its best efforte for its purification and correction, and concludes with the assertion that the grand aim of the paper will be to chronicle all the events of interest and importance which occur in Beloit and the vicinity.

Early in 1878, Mr. Mathews withdrew from the paper and went to Monroe where he took charge of the Reformer. Mr Fillmore continued the paper alone until his death in December, 1878, when the business was purchased by Messrs. O. H. Brand and C. B. Case, who conducted it as a "straight-out " Democratic paper. August 13, 1879, Mr. Case sold his interest to Mr. Brand.

In November, 1853, when college journalism was in its infancy, was established the Beloit College Monthly, edited by J. A. Brewster, Alexander Kerr and H. L. Marsh, with a publish- ing committee consisting of Edward F. Hobart, Sterne Rogers, Fayette S. Hatch, George Hicks and J. A. Johnson. The salutatory of the editors was brief and to the point : " OURSELVES .- We enter upon our editorial duties and relations panoplied with modesty and self-reliance. We shall endeavor not to allow the one to merge into abject humility, or the other into odious egotism. Having, as we think, a proper appreciation of our position, we shall strive to fulfill its require- ments to the best of our ability. Need we say more ?" In the first issue, on a topic, then of all- absorbing interest, appeared the following: "Married, on the 14th inst., by the G. & C. U. Railroad, Beloit, Wis., and The Rest of the World. It is anticipated that the union will be a happy and advantageous one to both parties." The Monthly was published by a Publication Society until the winter of 1872, when that Society was merged in the Archaan Union. The numerous periodicals received by the Monthly in exchange, were put in a reading-room, to the benefits of which all the members of the Society in good standing were entitled. This reading- room has been a flourishing institution for many years, and is now supported from the same

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

sources and in the same manner. It has on its file many valuable and leading newspaper and magazine periodicals of the country, and upward of seventy-five college exchanges. On the 18th of September, 1875, the Monthly appeared, merged with the Round Table, a journal founded by W. H. Carr, Booth M. Malone and J. A. Truesdell, all members of the Class of '77. The Round Table and College Monthly (as the publication was from that time called, in order to preserve the name and prestige of the older journal) was published semi-monthly, under the new management, and was successful from the start. The next year, the Class of '77 arranged with the Archaan Society to assume the publication of the Round Table, and, the year next following, the management of the paper reverted to the Society, and was edited by a board of editors elected by it. The Monthly is one of the oldest college periodicals in the country, having l een continuously published from the date of its establishment to the present time, and yielding to the Yale Literary Magazine alone in point of age. The literary position of the Round Table has not been uncertain in the ranks of college journalism, the leading college papers in the East according to it the distinction of being the model college journal in the West. The Harvard Advocate, in 1876, said of the Round Table that it bore the same relation to the college press of the West that the New York Nation bears to the general press.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 60

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899