The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 80

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 80

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There is other reading in this first issue of the River Times, among which is the full text of a treaty between the United States, by Commissioner William Medill, and the chiefs of the Menomonee Indians, made at Lake Powaw-hay-kon-nay, October 18, 1848, James K. Polk being President, and James Buchanan, Secretary of State.

Volume III, No. 21 (June 6, 1853), mourns with turned column rules the death of James Delaney, Jr., one of the proprietors of the River Times. The unfortunate journalist was drowned in the Wisconsin River May 31. At the time of his death, he was City Clerk of Port- age, and but twenty-seven years of age. The August following, John A. Brown became asso- ciated with Joseph Delaney, brother of John and James, in the publication of the paper. About the same time John Delaney's name appears as associate editor. The office was removed to the second story of Moore & Gorman's Building, opposite the Pettibone Block, where the paper

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continued to be published under the new management until its suspension, as the River Times, September 17, 1853. This event was announced in an able editorial signed by John, Joseph and Arthur W. Delaney, closing as follows : " We have labored to maintain the Democratic party in its integrity, and to employ the best intellect of that party in the offices of the State and nation. In the result, so far. onr highest hopes are realized, and we feel that we can with propriety leave the editorial field with others, having done our part in days of trial and depres- sion. Gen. John A. Brown is now sole proprietor and editor of the River Times. In his capa- city and integrity we have the fullest confidence. We ask the Democracy to sustain him as a man every way worthy." An idea of the growth of Portage and the prosperity of the Times is had in a comparison of the first number of the paper with the last. During its three years' exist- ence the advertising patronage grew from half a column to ten columns, while the circulation was all that could be asked, and augured well for the intelligence of the people.

John Delaney, while living in Portage, was regarded as a man of unusual brilliancy. He served his apprenticeship in the office of the Green Bay Intelligencer, the first newspaper pnb- lished in Wisconsin, setting his first type in 1834. He was the Nestor of the press in Columbia Connty.

The Badger State .- The termination of the existence of the River Times was not all that is implied by the use of the word suspension ; it was simply a change of name and owners. On the 1st of October, 1853, Mr. Brown commenced the publication of the Badger State, with the following modest announcement: "Under the new arrangement, we have taken a new name for the paper ; not because we had any objection to that of the River Times, but we have a a decided partiality for our old name of Badger State .* It was endeared to us in earlier times -during the old constitution fight, when we joined to raise the chorus,

" We are a band of brothers In the new Badger State."

" The name is distinctive and apprapriate for a newspaper published at the geographical center, a point by natural laws destined to be the business center of the State, at no remote period. As the Badger State now shines as a bright particular star in the galaxy of the Union, it shall be our pride and ambition to make our paper worthy of that name in the journalistic firmament, associated as it is with liberality, intelligence, enterprise and the progressive spirit of the age."

There was no change in political principles or public patronage ; the Badger State opposed Whigs and Whiggery with the same earnestness and ability that had characterized the course of its predecessor, while its patronage showed no lack of confidence on the part of the citizens, as to the ability of the new management. Mr. Brown seemed to be not of the opinion that "the world is governed too much," but he had lived long enough to discover that "power is always stealing from the many to the few ;" at least such was the motto chosen for the Badger State, and, with the somewhat democratic idea that such a condition of things was diametrically opposed to the principles of the old Democratic party, the editor, with a trenchant pen, strove to pre- vent the concentration of political power-outside the Democratic party. Fortune seems to have smiled npon his efforts to make a good local paper, however, and at the close of the first volume the Badger State was enlarged to twenty-eight columns, though the circulation, it appears, was not all Mr. Brown had reason to expect, as will be inferred from the following characteristically modest item: "Those who from personal friendship, for love of the prin- ciples we advocate, or for their own general interest, may use their exertions to extend our circulation, will confer upon us a favor."

On the 14th of April, 1855, Chauncey C. Britt took an equal partnership with Mr. Brown in the Badger State, the event being announced in an article reiterating the political convictions of the senior proprietor, which, of course, were in accord with the ideas of the new proprietary acquisition. Both gentlemen were practical printers of some twenty years' experience. “We

* Mr. Brown formerly published a paper by this name at Janesville.

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are," continues the article, " the exclusive owners of all the materials of the office, as well as the consciences of the editors, and believe in and shall practice upon the principle that the amenities which obtain in social life should govern the editorial profession, and that a man should be held as strictly to account for what he publishes in his paper as for what he utters with his tongue. There is no more excuse for palliating official and public wrongs than for pandering to private vice and individual crimes. We love the old Democratic party, and will fight for it to the last extremity-provided the party bears itself as becomes a great national party. But the party must purge itself of the piratical crew led by the Pierces, the Douglases and some lesser lights nearer home, to make it worthy the hearts and hands of true men."

June 6, 1856, saw the enlargement of the Badger State to thirty-two columns, and other marked typographical changes, among them a new heading of patriotic design, the letters being dotted and streaked with stars and stripes. Power seems to have ceased to steal "from the many to the few," and the editors had arrived at the conclusion that " the world is governed too much "-the latter sentiment, in big letters, being substituted for the former motto. " The position of the Democratic party " was the caption of what may be termed a " heavy editorial " in this enlarged number of the Badger. " It is very evident," the article begins, " that a union of the elements opposed to the Democratic party will take the field in the present campaign, without making any issue of general principles, but depending for success upon exciting a polit- ical phrenzy similar to the 'hard-cider' excitement of 1840." The "elements " referred to were the Know-Nothing and Republican parties. The national political issues at that time were concentrated in the destiny of that monstrosity, slavery ; the Missouri Compromise and Kansas Repeal were comcomitant parts.

On the 15th of August, 1856, the Badger State office was removed to the new Badger Block, and the editors invited their friends to " call and make themselves comfortable in the prettiest printing office in the State." On the 27th of February, 1857, Chauncey C. Britt's name appears in the Badger State indicating that gentleman as the sole publisher. Mr. Britt conducted the paper until December 11, of the same year, when William K. McHugh & Co. became the proprietors, and Joseph M. Doty, who had been editorially connected with the paper for a year previous, was announced as the responsible editor, with all the glory and emoluments of the position. Brother Britt's valedictory re-assures us that the Badger's Democracy had been preserved in all its original purity, and, in his usual graceful style, confidently hoped that it would remain untainted. Mr. Doty's name disappears from the editorial mast-head Septem- ber 18, 1858, but his contributions did not cease. On the 4th of December, John A. Brown again became the proprietor, and the paper was reduced in size to twenty-eight columns. But, as had been evident for some time, "misfortune was upon them." The frequent changes in the management of the paper, the reduction in size, and various other unhealthy signs, gave evidence of the early and inevitable dissolution that must soon follow. And when on the 10th of Feb- ruary, 1859, death stilled the throbbing heart of the proprietor of the Badger State, there was but little left to cling to. The paper survived the demise of its original publisher about ten months, the widow assuming the management. J. M. Doty was in editorial charge until the date of its suspension, December 10, 1859.

The Independent .- This paper was established in Portage in 1855, by John A. and Julius C. Chandler, the first number being issued the 3d day of February, of that year. It was the outgrowth of a political necessity, and is numbered among the thousand other newspapers that espoused the cause of the Republican party early in its remarkable history. The Independent took uncompromising ground against slavery, and advocated the enactment by the Legislature of a prohibitory liquor law, as the best means of educating the people to a moral sense of their social and political welfare. John A. Chandler's name appears at the head of the editorial column, indicating that gentleman as the responsible scribe, and across the title page appears the following inscription : " A weekly newspaper, devoted to literature, temperance, morality, news, general intelligence, and the dissemination of Republican principles." The first number con- tained, among other choice and readable things, a caustic criticism of the proceedings of the

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United States officials against Sherman M. Booth. One particularly pointed paragraph in the article reads : "There is not a slave trader in the land, or a slave pirate on the high seas, who would have any reason to find fault with the proceedings in Miller's court against Mr. Booth." There is also an article from the D'ermont Freeman, giving the number of slaveholders in the United States at that date. It may be interesting to know that there were then 347,525 persons in the Union who subsisted, as individual owners, upon the bondage of the now emancipated blacks. The advertising patronage of the Independent, for the first few weeks, was conspicuous for its absence, but the necessary support from this direction was soon forthcoming, and the Independent is believed to have become a paying institution.

On the 22d of March, John A. Chandler's name disappears from the customary position indicating editorial responsibility, though, until February 7, 1856, he retained a proprietary interest in the paper, and continued to furnish political pabulum for its columns. Julius C. Chandler then became sole proprietor, and it is noticeable that about this time the Independent's previous hostility to the extension of slavery grew into the most outspoken opposition to the existence of the "peculiar institution " in any part of the Union. The editor's arguments in this regard were clear, concise and convincing.

The Independent indorsed the nominations of the Philadelphia Convention in the following language: "We place this week* at the head of our columns the names of John C. Fre- mont, of California, and William L. Dayton, of New Jersey, and invite every freeman-all who love free institutions and equal rights-to unite in elevating these men, respectively, to the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. Never, since the first organization of the Government, has there been a Presidential election involving principles of such magni- tude. * On one side go forth Douglas, Pierce, Atchison, Stringfellow, Brooks and their followers, with Buchanan for a standard-bearer, champions for the extension of slavery ; on the other stands arrayed the hosts of freedom, with such leaders as Seward, Chase and the glorious, gallant John C. Fremont at the head, fighting manfully, earnestly, for the extension of liberty. Can freemen hesitate and doubt with which party to unite ? Is not the path of duty, of interest, of patriotism perfectly plain ? "

On the 14th of April, 1857, the Independent ceased to exist in name, but not in form, and Mr. Chandler bade adieu to his friends and patrons in a few well-chosen words, assuring them that his journalistic relations with them had been a source of pleasure as well as of profit to him. In his valedictory appears the following concerning the Republican party : "Only two years ago, the now great, mighty and glorious Republican party was in its infancy, scarcely organized, in sooth, in Columbia County. What advance has the party made? The 1,709 majority for Fremont and liberty answers the question. Proud, indeed, are we that have been an advocate of a righteous party whose principles of truth have so triumphed. Columbia has assumed the proudest political position of any county of the commonwealth."

Julius C. Chandler, more familiarly known as "Shanghai " Chandler, was a man of recog- nized ability. A vein of eccentric humor pervaded his writings, revealing his possession of a rare genius, in comparison with which the reputations of our greatest American humorists would not suffer. Soon after disposing of the Independent, Mr. Chandler purchased the material that had been used in the office of the Columbia County Reporter, a Democratic paper published by Carr Huntington, and, removing it to Adams County, established a paper at Friendship. He died a few years ago in Baraboo.

Portage City Record .- Upon the fortunes of the Independent was founded the Portage City Record, a newspaper more within the meaning of the term ; for the Independent was noted less for its local news than for its National and State political articles. The Record, however, was the recognized party organ, the official paper of the county, Republicanism being the accepted faith of its manager and proprietor, Robert B. Wentworth. The first number was issued April 29, 1857. The names of M. M. Davis and A. J. Turner appear as editors. Mr. Davis' editorial contributions had been attracting some attention from the readers of the Independent,

* June 26, 1856.

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and his acknowledged ability was a material aid in sustaining the enterprise. Mr. Turner was younger then than now by nearly a quarter of a century. He has grown some in stature, and become more generally known, having passed through the various grades of journalism and been honored, as all journalists should be, with office. "Perhaps it is hardly necessary," says Mr. Davis in his salutatory, " for us to say that while this paper is under our control, editorially, it will be untiring in its opposition to the nationalization of slavery. The General Government, being one of delegated powers only, we hold that all exercise of assumed powers, either by its executive, legislative or judicial departments, is a dangerous usurpation, and should not be peaceably acquiesced in by the States or the people, in whom all sovereignty lies. Since the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and more recently the decision of the Dred Scott case, the whole question of the legitimacy of the slave power in this nation is fairly open for full and free discussion, and, for one. we intend to write about it and talk about it at our will."

Mr. Wentworth, the proprietor of the Record, was an experienced journalist, in so far as the general management of a newspaper was concerned. He had formerly been associated with Charles Billinghurst, of the Dodge County Gazette, at Juneau. The first thirteen numbers of the Record were the same size (twenty-eight columns) of its predecessor, the Independent, but on the 29th of July it was enlarged, another column being added to each of its four pages. There were other marked and favorable changes. The Record, moreover, adopted a motto at this date : " Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God."

On the 11th of November, Mr. Davis severed his connection with the Record as editorial writer, leaving that duty to devolve upon bis associate, Mr. Turner, who remained but a short time in that capacity, going to Friendship, Adams County, with " Shanghai " Chandler, with whom he was engaged in the publication of a paper. Returning to Portage in March, 1859, he resumed his former relations with the Record, and was thereafter during the existence of the paper known as the " heavy man" of the institution. At the head of the editorial column of the first number of Volume III ( April 27, 1859) appear the names of Messrs. Wentworth and Turner as editors, the former continuing as sole proprietor. The Record, at that date, was, per- haps, the most prosperous paper in Central Wisconsin. It was and had for some time been in the enjoyment of the Republican patronage of the county, with liberal profits to its publisher. This, of course, was in accordance with the "eternal fitness of things," for the county was largely Republican, and, there being no competing organ, the Record, as the successor of the first Republican paper in the county, was clearly entitled to consideration as the party organ. But many changes are wrought in the furnace of time. When the Record had attained its fourth year of prosperity, a difference of opinion arose among the Republican managers as to the propriety of sustaining it further. There was no fault to be found with its Republicanism ; that was sufficiently sound ; but the personal interest of a few of the party leaders seemed to demand a division of patronage, and on the 17th of April, 1861, the publisher announced the sale of the Record to A. J. Turner, one of the conditions being that the purchaser was to supply the paper to all subscribers who had paid to that date. In the same issue were announced the commencement of hostilities at Charleston, and the subsequent surrender of Fort Sumter. In retiring from journalism Mr. Wentworth bade an affectionate adieu to his readers, thanking them for their liberal patronage. As illustrating his characteristic candor, the following paragraph from his valedictory is given : "We have attended to the affairs of the office very closely, so much so that our health is impaired ; and have succeeded pecuniarily, as well or better, perhaps, than the majority of publishers of country papers, and in that particular retire from the estab- lishment perfectly satisfied with the result of our four years' labor.

The Wisconsin State Register .- Of the numerous journals founded in Portage at an early day, the Wisconsin State Register is now the only one in existence. It was established by Samuel S. Brannan on the 16th of March, 1861, nearly twenty years ago, upon the ruins of the Badger State ; the latter, as has already been shown, having supplanted the River Times, the first paper published in Columbia County. The material used in its publication was that from which

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the Badger State was formerly printed, and typographically, the Register closely resembled the defunct Democratic organ. The editor, in saluting his friends, said : " Having long been con- vinced of the necessity for a representative organ in this city, one which will fully and fairly reflect the views of the Republican party, and having received such assurances as will justify the enterprise, we have concluded to commence the publication of the Wisconsin State Regis-

ter. * * * To enable us more fully to complete our arrangements for the publication of the paper, no sheet will be issued for the next week or two from this office. We shall, early in April, enlarge and otherwise improve our paper."

Following this was an article announcing John T. Clark as the Republican nominee for County Judge. Mr. Clark's name also appeared in the "candidate's corner," almost in the identical place it is now to be seen as editor of the Register . In the same column was an arti- cle on the prospective evacuation of Fort Sumter. In it were reflected the war sentiments of the Register as follows: "The Government may see fit to occupy or evacuate any one of the fortresses of the country as a measure of strategy merely, and the people will be willing to sub- mit to the judgment of the military commanders who direct the steps ; but they will not consent to the abandonment of the public property to traitors as a stroke of policy to placate them."

President Lincoln's inaugural address appears in full on the first page, and is reviewed at length editorially, receiving high indorsement and full approval. On the local page, among other interesting items, we find a notice of the Portage City Light Guards, giving an account of their organization, description of the uniforms, etc., and concluding as follows : "When civil war shall have been declared (we are getting chilly) and re-enforcements are wanted, and the Portage Light Guards are drafted and on their way to South Carolina (Bohag, * hand us *

that bottle). * For Sale-A very cheap, but somewhat flashy, suit of clothes, with brass buttons, designed for military service. The ownert is seriously indisposed, and his phy- sician recommends his immediate withdrawal from the army. This suit will probably last the purchaser as long as he lives. Apply at this office."

On the 27th of April, soon after the suspension of the Record, the Register appeared enlarged from a seven to an eight column folio; Brannan, Turner & Co., proprietors ; Israel Holmes and A. J. Turner, editors, and S. S Brannan, local editor. The change is announced in the following brief card, signed by Mr. Turner : " In the last Portage City Record, announcement was made of the fact that the office had been sold to the undersigned. This week,'I have the further announcement to make that I have united my interest in the office with those of S. S. Brannan, of the State Register, and that henceforth both papers will be pub- lished unitedly, under the name of the Wisconsin State Register, by Brannan, Turner & Co., and will be conducted by I. Holmes and A. J. Turner as principal editors, and S. S. Brannan as local editor. No further number of the Record will be issued, except a small edition to close up some legal advertisements. Advertisers in the Record, residing out of the city, will have their contracts completed in the State Register. All accounts with the Record will be adjusted by R. B. Wentworth. All subscribers who overpaid for the Record will be furnished with the State Register to the close of their subscriptions.'

Mr. Holmes, the leading editorial writer for the Register, was a lawyer by profession, and a very able man. His articles were thoroughly in accord with all the measures of the Repub- lican party, save, perhaps, those which many other stanch Union men then regarded as extremely radical, but which have since been acknowledged to have been paramount in crushing the rebellion. In April, 1864, Mr. Holmes disposed of his interest in the Register to Messrs. Brannan & Turner, and retired from journalism. Mr. Turner then became the responsible writer, being ably assisted in his labors by his partner, Mr. Brannan. Both were practical men, having passed through the various grades of the newspaper business, and. this being true, it is not strange that the paper grew in influence and circulation.

*Bohag was the satanic imp of the printing office.

+Mr. Brannan was a member of the Light Guards.

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In July, 1864, the price of the Register was increased from $1.50 to $2 per year. The pro- prietors placed a large part of their profits from the business in improvements about the office, calculated to increase the value of their paper. Among other mechanical accessories was a large power press, of the Taylor make, purchased in 1869. It is still in use, and is one of the largest and best of the kind in the Northwest. Messrs. Brannan & Turner continued the publication of the Register until the 23d day of February, 1878, when the establishment was sold to John T. Clark and B. F. Goodell, the present owners. In bidding farewell to their friends, the veteran publishers gave some very interesting reminiscences of their newspaporial careers in Portage. Extracts from the joint valedictory are herewith given : "In severing our connection with the paper, it seems fitting that we should indulge in a brief retrospect of our connection with the press of this city. On the 4th day of July, 1850, the River Times, the first paper ever published in this city, made its appearance. It was printed at the little hamlet over near the fort, and it was before the Portage of to-day had any existence. Engaged in the mechanical department as roller-boy, or ' devil' in printing office nomenclature, was Mr. Brannan ; so his connection with the press of this city dates from its very incipiency, nearly twenty-eight years ago.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 80

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104