The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 66

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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July 13 of the same year, W. H. Brooks, who entered the rebellion afterward and became a confederate officer, purchased Mr. Chandler's interest, and became one of the editors and proprietors. In January, 1858, the Union was transferred to Augustus L. Smith, a nephew of ex-Gov. Horatio Seymour, and now a prominent citizen of Appleton. He managed the business until May 22, 1858, when the whole establishment was sold to Samuel M. Smead, who is still a resident of Fond du Lac. The next week, May 29, the Union was merged with the Journal into the Democratic Press. The old type of both papers was discarded and new materiał throughout purchased. The firm which published the Democratic Press consisted of S. M. and Van B. Smead and T. F. Strong, Jr.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The Journal here mentioned as being merged with the Union into the Democratie Press, was started by Van B. Smead and J. Beeson (the latter a brother to Edward Beeson, who is now the editor of the Wisconsin Farmer), February 21, 1857. It was a handsomely prepared and neat appearing sheet, price $1.50 per year in advance. The first number contained the delinquent tax list of Calumet County. To publish this tax list (Calumet County had no paper then), was one of the main reasons why this paper, taking the name of the Journal, was started. It contained, during two and one-half months, a story entitled " Meadowdale," writ- ten by Van B. Smead, which attracted considerable local attention, and was considered a very pleasant story. May 16, 1857, Mr. Beeson sold his interest, and, July 25, the names of Van B. Smead, A. J. Roekwell and T. F. Strong, Jr., appeared at the head as editors and proprie- tors. In October, Mr. Rockwell sold out to his partners, who continued the Journal until May 22, 1858, and the next week afterward it was merged with the Union into the Democratic Press.

The Democratic Press, by S. M. and V. B. Smead and T. F. Strong, Jr., was printed on new type and made a fine appearance. S. M. Smead was editor. As Mr. Strong was General Passenger Agent of what is now the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago & North-Western Rail- way, on February 23, 1859, he sold his interest to the Smead brothers. The paper secured the official printing of the city and county, and the Government printing for the Wisconsin Land Office.

On the 1st of November, 1859, Van B. Smead was injured at the Belleville disaster, which happened to the first excursion train ever run out of Fond du Lac, and on December 21. died, in the Planter's Hotel, at Watertown, Wis., of those injuries, aged twenty-three years.

His brother, S. M. Smead, then became editor and proprietor, continuing as such until November 20, 1861, when he sold the establishment to T. F. Strong, Jr. Ile continued as editor of the paper until January 4, 1862, when Mr. Strong issued a sheet with complete new dress and new style of make-up and typographieal arrangement. The paper remained the same in size, but had six wide, instead of the seven ordinary columns, not a black or large letter in it, and was set, advertisements and all, after the most stylish manner of the New York Herald. Copies of it have been preserved as specimens of the finest paper in appearance and elegant make-up ever printed in Wisconsin. Under the head and extending nearly across the page, were the words: " Conducted by Tim. Follette Strong." Mr. Strong had, in addition to him- self, a local, political and managing editor, and every article, advertisement and line was prepared with the utmost care and elegance. It was an elephant, financially, and up to May 28, 1862, when Edward Beeson purchased the entire establishment, sunk over $4,000, Mr. Beeson sold a one-half interest immediately after purchasing the Democratic Press from Mr. Strong, to King- man Flint, now deceased, and son of the late Robert Flint, who sold again in August to S. D. Stanchfield, a lawyer. In September, Mr. Beeson sold his interest to A. P. Swineford, now of the Marquette, (Mich.) Mining Journal, the firm becoming, September 17, Swineford & Stanch- field. In January, 1864, Mr. Swineford discontinued the Oshkosh Review, to which he had been giving some attention for a year, and purchased Mr. Stanchfield's interest in the Democratic Press, the material in both offices being consolidated at Fond du Lac. This was during the rebellion, and the Press was considered a pretty " hot " paper, strongly Democratic. February 7, 1865, a Daily Press, a four-column folio, was begun, of which Martin II. Crocker, now a lawyer of Ishpeming, Mich., was associate editor. In June. 1865, Thomas J. Goodwin bought a half-interest in the Press, but sold it again to Mr. Swineford in November. In 1855. Mr. Swineford went to Canada, where he remained, operating in oil and mining until August, 1866, during which time James H. Lambert and A. C. Paliner were left in charge of the Press. In September, 1866, James Swineford, afterward Chief of Police of Fond du Lac, purchased a half-interest in the paper, and soon after, while A. P. Swineford was in Canada, took complete possession of the office on account of a debt, and discontinued the paper. When he purchased the first half-interest a large power press was ordered, which arrived at the depot in Fond du Lae all right, but not being taken out or paid for, was sent back to the manufactory.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The city and county were then without a Democratic paper until Thursday, May 2, 1867. when Edward Beeson started the paper under the old name, that of the Journal. It was begun as a seven-column folio, and enlarged September 30, 1869, to nine columns. December 15, 1870, Michael Bohan came from West Bend, where he had been for twelve years Clerk of the County Board, and purchased a one-half interest in the Journal, taking possession January 5, 1871. In the fall of 1871, Mr. Beeson was elected County Treasurer by the Democrats, and as the duties of the office demanded his attention, he sold his interest in the newspaper to Mr. Bohan, who, on the 26th of August, 1872, began the publication of the Daily Journal, in sup- port of Horace Greeley for President. S. D. (Pump) Carpenter, now publishing a paper in Missouri, was political editor at a salary of $100 per month, and T. F. Strong, Jr., local editor. Mr. Carpenter remained just one month, being too costly for the enterprise, and the daily was discontinued January 2. 1873. On September 11, 1873. Mr. Bohan sold the Journal to Tim. F. Strong, Jr., and James Russell, the firm becoming " Strong & Russell, editors and pro- proprietors." They changed the form of the paper May 7. 1874, to a six-column quarto, and published it in an entirely new dress. In its new form it was a handsome paper and its selec- tions were the choicest to be had. The paper was conducted with marked success under this management for a period of fifteen months. The publishers were also interested in the Star Book and Job Printing Office, which was opened by Homer G. Leonard. the firm being Leonard, Russell & Strong. The latter concern became badly involved about this time, and the Journal owners were forced to consolidate the paper with the job office to save their interest therein, under a joint-stock organization, which obtained a charter and assumed charge of both offices, January. 1875, under the name of the Star Printing Company. with a capital stock of $21,000. Mr. Russell was placed in editorial charge of the Journal under this new arrange- ment, and Mr. Leonard was given the position of manager of the mechanical department. II. H. Dodd undertook the financial management, but shortly became dissatisfied with his duties, resigned, and was succeeded by L. Q. Olcott, Esq. Becoming again involved in consequence of the business stagnation which settled on all business industries shortly afterward, the office was sold in July, 1879, to Mr. L. W. Safford, who immediately leased the property to Messrs. Russell & Olcott, who continued the publication of the Journal until the succeeding January. having in the mean time established a flourishing daily, the Morning Journal, in connection with their weekly. In January, Mr. Olcott retired from the connection, leaving Mr. Russell sole publisher of the Journal, and proprietor of the job office connected with it, under whose management both are now conducted.

The Journal has been the official paper of the county longer than any of its cotemporaries and has always been Democratic in politics.

The Fond du Lac Whig .- On Monday, December 14, 1846, the first number of the Fond du Lac Whiy made its appearance. James Monroe Gillet, editor and publisher. Its place of publication was in the second story of Lyman Bishop's building, situated on the corner of Main and Third streets. This building now stands near by on the north side of Third street. and is used for a dwelling. Hiram Morley, now of the Oshkosh Standard, was foreman of the office.

The Whig was a five-column folio, 20x27 inches in size, printed in brevier type. The first number contained seventeen and one-half columns of reading matter and two and one-half columns of advertisements. The reading matter treated of the Mexican war, then in progress : the Constitutional Convention, then in session at Madison ; contained a pyramid of Whig States, consisting of Ohio, Maine, Florida, Vermont. Georgia. Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Carolina and New York ; an enunciation of " true Whig" principles; description of the new and wonderful Morse telegraphic instruments ; the probable complexion of Congress; news of the horrible sufferings in Ireland from famine; a poem-" The Unknown Way "-by William Cullen Bryant : an account of a preliminary meeting to consider the Fox River improvement. held at the Court House; original poetry by "W; " a stab at Gov. Dodge for refusing to

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

adjourn the Constitutional Convention over Thanksgiving Day ; receipts of the Green Bay Land Office ; a warning against counterfeit bills on Indiana State banks; a very full account of the exchange of prisoners of war with Mexico, and how the soldiers fared ; some miscellaneous matter and the editorial announcement. From this announcement is taken the following extract :

" In assuming the control of a public journal, even though it be humble as our own, we feel it is not without its responsibility. It is at all times not only proper but necessary that parties should have political papers devoted to their support and advancement ; but no party has a right to claim of any journal a blind support of all men and all measures. Happily, the party to which we belong, and which has our whole energies and most hearty wishes, requires of no man, of no press, an unscrupulous support of any man or any measure. It acknowledges no watchword but the publie good ; no law but that of reason. It calls upon all men to read, to think for themselves. It asks no support from men who do not in their hearts believe Whig principles are the sure foundations of our political institutions. It asks all for principle, nothing for men. It has no political opinions for a particular locality, but it aims at the pro- motion of those well-defined principles equally applicable to the North, the South, the East and the West, and which have been the landmarks of the party from its organization till now. Devoted alone to the welfare of the republic, it acknowledges no leaders; yields subjection to no regencies; is not the victim of clans or designing men, but presses straightforward in the old beaten track, forsaken by the aspiring, ambitious, unscrupulous men who would rule or ruin .. Political aspirants and demagogues who would control all, who have personal advance- ment and the spoils for their motto, find no favor in its ranks, and have learned long since to seek an asylum in other folds.

" Confident that the best interests of the country are involved in the success of Whig principles and the Whig party, we shall lend our feeble aid to their advancement, expecting no reward but the consciousness of having done our duty.

"Our paper will be conducted independently of bias or devotion to men. We shall do what shall seem to us right, and, if we err, let it be remembered that that is but human. We do not expect to be without faults, and only ask the same candor in criticism of our course which we would cheerfully extend to others.

" Our flag is already in the breeze. The name of our paper indicates its politics. Our course will be independent."

The advertising patronage was meager indeed, the whole number of paid announcements, cards and advertisements, numbering seventeen, beside Mr. Gillet's eard as a lawyer and an appeal for wood.

Local matter received very little attention, doubtless because there were very few local mat- ters of importance to attend to.

The general make-up of the publication, the ability of its articles and its typographical appearance would compare favorably with the weeklies of to-day.

The paper was liberally taken by the citizens of the village and vicinity, but the other sources of income, such as job work, legal publishing and advertising, did not reach a prodigious size.

On the 25th of March, 1847. Mr. Eli Hooker left the Journal because that paper was Democratic and he was a Whig, and bought a half-interest of Mr. Gillet in the Whig. The paper was then published by Gillet & Hooker, editors and proprietors. The paper continued under their management, with better satisfaction to its patrons than its proprietors, until October 13, 1847, when the firm of Gillet & Hooker dissolved by consent, the paper appearing October 21, with Mr. Gillet as editor and proprietor. He announced that it was his intention to enlarge and improve the Whig if those indebted to the concern would square up. At the same time, however, there appeared over Mr. Gillet's signature the announcement that the type and furni- ture of the Whig would be sold at auction or private sale on the 10th day of the following

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

December. The advertising patronage had begun to increase and consisted of eleven and one- half columns of "live ads "-more than one half of the entire space of the paper. The paper continued on until Monday, November 22, on which day the last number of the Whig appeared.

The real cause of its suspension was a difference between Mr. Gillet and Mr. Hooker on financial as well as other matters, in the final adjustment of which Mr. Gillet retained the name, franchise, good will and subscription of the office, and Mr. Hooker took the material, which he moved to Waupun, and used in starting a job office. Among the lawyers who advertised them - selves in the Whig at the time of its demise, were Timothy O. Howe, then of Oshkosh, now of Green Bay ; Drury & Eastman (Erastus W. Drury and John A. Eastman), Gillet & Tompkins (J. M. Gillet and C. M. Tompkins), S. S. N. Fuller and A. L. Williams, of Fond du Lac: C. W. Washburn (Howe & Washburn), and C. E. P. IIobart, Oshkosh ; S. W. Beall, Taycheedah, and J. J. Brown, Waupun.

Benjamin F. Moore, now proprietor of the extensive La Belle Wagon Works, advertised pine lumber : J. C. Lowell, now proprietor of the bus line, was " fashionable tailor ;" Dr. Elliot Brown and Isaac Orvis (Oakfield) were distressed over strayed cows; A. G. Ruggles, now Pres- ident of the First National Bank, and F. F. Davis had dissolved partnership; D. R. Curran had pills, patent medicines and plasters, and pure wines and liquors for medicinal purposes ; Peter V. Sang spoke of his land office at Seven Mile Creek ; J. L. Ault could shoe horses, and shoes them still on Third street ; L. J. Farwell & Co. had hardware; Capt. A. J. Langworthy, now of the Milwaukee State Journal, had a machine-shop at Milwaukee ; Lyman Bishop adver- tised harnesses, and Gibson & Wright a drug store.

The market report, prices being governed almost wholly by Milwaukee, showed wheat to be worth 52 cents ; oats, 20 cents ; flour, $3.25 per cwt .; pork. $2.50 per cwt .; potatoes, 31 cents and scarce; eggs, 20 to 22 cents ; " good butter," 13 cents ; venison, 6 cents and abundant ; chickens, 25 cents per pair ; partridges, 10 cents each ; beef, 3 cents per pound, alive ; lard, 5 cents ; corn, 31 cents ; apples, green, $1 per bushel, and barley, 20 cents.

Among the marriage notices were those of John J. Driggs. merchant, to Elvira Olmsted, of Middlebury, Vt., at Fond du Lac, January 1, 1847 ; at the same time and place, Tracy P. Bingham, druggist, to Martha S., eldest daughter of J. J. Driggs; at Waupun. in January. Rev. W. G. Miller, of Fond du Lac, to Mary E. Brown, of Waupun ; at Fond du Lac, January 9. Robert Wilson to Rachael M. Bevier; March 10, Lyman Bishop, of Fond du Lac, to Maria S. Probart, of Le Roy. Wis .; at De Pere, March 11. Charles D. Robinson, of the Green Bay Advocate, to Sarah A. Wilcox ; at Green Bay, June 1, Sam Ryan, Jr., of the Republican, to Laura F. Knappen, of Plattsburg, N. Y .; on September 24, at Sheboygan, William Farnsworth, of Sheboygan. to Mrs. Martha Farnsworth, of Racine ; at Fond du Lac, September 20, James B. Clock to Eliza Simmons; at Ithaca, N. Y., October 5, D. R. Curran, of Fond du Lac. to Eveline Stoddard, of Ithaca : at Janesville, July 7, Edward V. Whiton (afterward Chief Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin), to Miss Amorett Dimock ; at Madison, July 5, John Y. Smith, editor of the Wisconsin Argus, to Miss Harriet Wright.

The Whig was James Monroe Gillet's first and only newspaper venture. But, from the ability, dignity and clear-headedness displayed in this volume, it is fair to suppose, had he con- tinued in the editorial business, he would have become as eminent in that profession as he after- ward did in the law.

The Fond du Lac Republican .- On the 6th day of January, 1848, Mr. Sam Ryan, now editor of the Appleton Cresent, began the publication, in the village of Fond du Lac of the Fond du Lac Republican, in the interest of the Whig party. He had been publishing the Green Bay Republican, but at the suspension of the Whig by Gillet & Hooker, was sent for by Moses Gib- son, John Bannister, Edgar Conklin, and others, who desired another paper to take its place. Mr. Ryan promptly responded, as Fond du Lac was considered one of the most promising villages in the Territory, moving his whole establishment from Green Bay. The sturdy old Washington hand press on which the Republican was printed was first used by H. O. Sholes, now of Lawrence.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Kan., in the publication of the Green Bay Republican in 1841. It was destroyed by fire at Oconto, Wis., in the year 1856. The paper was given about the same patronage as had been given the Whig before it, and received more as it grew older. In July, 1850-two and one-half years after its establishment-the name of the paper was changed from Republican to Fountain City, Fond du Lac then being known as the " Fountain City," although it was but a village with a village charter. Although the paper had every appearance of thrift, its publication was not a paying business, and in order to keep it running several of the prominent property holders-three of whom are mentioned above-made up purses for Mr. Ryan at different times. But this was satisfactory to neither Mr. Ryan nor the donors, and the Republican, or Fountain City, was discon- tinued in December, 1850, and Mr. Ryan returned to Green Bay to manage the Spectator. It was not a paying publication from its first to its last issue, although a creditable paper to the place and the profession. Mr. Ryan was a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State at the election held November 4, 1879, but was defeated. He was Postmaster of Fond du Lac from April, 1849 to October, 1850, having been appointed by the Whig President, Zachary Taylor. While he was Postmaster, William McGee was the ostensible editor of the paper.

The Fond du Lac Patriot .- On the 30th of April, 1851, John D. Hyman began the publication, in the village of Fond du Lac, of the Fond du Lac Patriot, a seven-column folio, which advocated the principles of " genuine Democracy." He had moved from Northern Alabama and settled in Oshkosh, starting a Democratic paper in that city, which received little patronage. He therefore brought his establishment to Fond du Lac, but the publication of his paper was not attended with the necessary success. He continued it. however, until January 31, 1852-nine months-when the whole concern was purchased by Amos Reed (afterward appointed Secretary of Utah Territory). Mr. Reed changed the name of his paper to the National Democrat on the 4th of February, 1853. He continued its publication until June, 1853, when he sold it to M. J. Thomas. Mr. Thomas bought an undivided half-interest in the Journal of Edward Beeson ; Mr. Beeson bought a like interest in the National Democrat of Mr. Thomas, and the two papers were merged immediately into the Union, Beeson & Thomas pro- prietors.

The Fountain City Herald .- On Tuesday, November 9, 1852, Mr. Royal Buck, now a resident of Nebraska, began the publication of the Fountain City Herald by the use of the well-worn material on which the Wisconsin Palladium had been published at Madison. It was an eight-column folio, 26x38 inches in size. In his editorial bow Mr. Buck announced his intention to do good and praise the Whig party rather than make money. He said :

"It has been truly said that the press is the power which moves the world. This being true, how necessary that its powers, its energies and its abilities be so concentrated and wisely managed as to render it truly the tyrant's foe, the people's friend. When its energies and its powers are brought to bear against tyranny, against vice, licentiousness, crime and the thousand evils which are everywhere springing up to turn the erring feet of mortal man from the paths of honor, virtue and religion, then, indeed, it is a harbinger of good. a true friend of the people, however many the curses which may be heaped upon the heads of its conductors by the scape- gallows, whose deformities are laid bare by the scalpel of truth. But let a venal, time-serving spirit assume control of the press; let factitious demagogues subvert its power and turn it into an organ attuned to sing pæans to the moneyed influence of friends or an engine of personal abuse of enemies whose pecuniary interests or ambitious aspirations happen to come in conflict with some idol, and its high, its noble calling is prostrated and its putrid breath is ever on the breeze ready to enter into and poison every vein of the body politic, and with an unsparing hand scatter broadcast the seeds of faction, strife, vice and immorality over the entire land. Here then, on the broad platform of right we propose to take our stand, and, with reason for our pilot and truth for our helmsman, we launch our bark."

The paper started out with seven columns of advertisements, some of them " dead " and put in " to fill up," and twenty-five columns of reading matter. This was a large paper and a liberal amount of reading matter for the times and the number of patrons. The reading matter

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

of the first issue was devoted largely to the death of Daniel Webster, which occurred October 24, 1852; the result of the election of the week before for county officers, Senators, Assembly- men and Congressmen; an account of the Franklin expedition and a large amount of mis- cellaneous selections. The advertisements consisted mostly of those for patent medicines, rail- roads and steamboats. less than a half a dozen being local. A column was devoted to the different hotels, business houses and mills of the city, which were as follows: Hotels-Lewis House, James Ewen ; Exchange, Badger Hotel, City Hotel, by Waldron & Scott; U. S. Cot- tage, by H. P. Olds; American Hotel, by Sam Hale; Commercial Hotel, by A. S. Tripp; Ohio House. by C. Gromme; Main Street Hotel, by Peter Rupp. Attorneys-Ed S. Bragg, Robert Flint, John A. Eastman, D. E. Wood, W. H. Ebbetts, E. E. Ferris, I. S. Tallmadge, Jared Chapell, Gillet, Truesdell & Tyler, Eldredge & Waite, Stanchfield & Hodges, R. M. Hanks, Drury & Dodge, C. M. Tompkins, A. B. Davis, A. W. Paine. Physicians and Surgeons- William Wiley, W. T. Galloway, J. Pantillon, R. P. Root, W. II. Walker, A. J. Towey, J. M. Adams, T. S. Wright, L. Kellogg. General Stores-Sewell & Brother, D. Everett Hoskins, John Bonnell, George Keyes. E. R. Ferris, A. P. Lyman, Carswell & Dee, W. A. Dewey, Brownson & Laughlin, A. S. Gregory, T. Drummond, Hoyt & Rider, Case & Lowell, John Marshall, Baker & Brother, James Smith, William Hughes, M. K. Stow, William Chandler, S. Kirk, W. A. Foster, J. W. Carpenter, Henry Blithe and George Crawthe. Clothing Houses-J. B. Wilbor, K. Freeman, Simon Madowach and T. Crowther. Drugs and Medicines-Wright & Hiner, D. R. Curran, J. R. & J. W. Partridge. Wines and Liquors-A. Gillies, A. Meisseur, Meyers and Henry Rahte. Boots and Shoes-P. Servatius, J. Higgs, L. D. Tyler, Mann Brothers and A. Lovett. Stoves and Tinware-T. Wallace, E. Perkins, K. Gillet & Co. Hats and Caps-H. & D. Sickles, George IIenning. Leather and Harness-A. Batchelder, J. H. Spencer, A. Bishop, G. W. Swift. Warehouses-C. M. Tompkins, J. H. Clum, E. H. Galloway. Hardware-William Farnsworth. Watchmakers and Jewelers-D. Smith, Wright & Hiner. Printing Offices-National Democrat. by Amos Reed & Brother; Journal, by Edward Beeson ; Fountain City Herald, by Royal Buek. Lumber-Yards-J. C. Lewis, Gen. John Potter. T. S. Henry & Co., B. Olcott. Saloons -Myron Orvis, Charles Johnson, Conklin & Lowry. Cabinet Shops-J. Barrett, Heil & Nepach. Charles Blankenburg. Livery Stables-Burnham & Demy, Morris & McCarty. Blacksmith-Shops-C. L. & A. Pierce, J. Ault, T. Williamson, J. Leeman. Bakeries-Henry Blithe, Smith and Gibson. Paint-Shops-James Gupp. R. Spink, Gibson & Wilkins. Gun- Shops-J. Fish, S. B. J. Amory. Foundry-H. B. Budlong & Co. Sash and Blind Factory -Sherman Brothers. Meat Markets-Edwards & Penny, Tompkins & McChain, - Cooper. Exchange Bank-Darling, Wright & Co. Post Office-C. M. Tompkins.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 66

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082