The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 68

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

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The Northern Farmer .- In January, 1863, E. H. Jones & Brother began in Fond du Lac the publication of an agricultural paper called the Northern Farmer, for the purpose of adver- tising their seed and farming-implement business, which was so well received that only one num- ber was issued gratis. A subscription list was opened and arrangements were made with Edward Beeson to print a larger paper once each month. The paper was a complete farmers' publica- tion, treating a large variety of subjects, and at $1 per annum soon had nearly eight hun- dred subscribers. It was a sixteen-page sheet, with three columns to the page, and had correspondents of reputation in various localities, East and West. Jones Brothers were editors and proprietors during five years. They sold to Fred D. Carson, who took possession in Feb- ruary, 1868. He soon after enlarged the paper to twenty pages, and increased its circulation, but in 1869 removed to Janesville, where he continued to publish the Northern Farmer during several years.

The Ripon Herald .- This paper was commenced in the (then) village of Ripon, December 14, 1853, by Addison P. Mapes and Irving Root, editors and proprietors. It had for its motto "Rip-On !" It was a weekly-published every Wednesday, subscription price, " $1.25 in advance." Root retired from the firm of Mapes & Root the next spring, and the issue of the paper of April 1, 1854, had the name of A. P. Mapes as editor and proprietor, who says :

" The proprietorship of the Herald has changed inasmuch that Mr. Root has withdrawn from the firm, leaving us to . paddle our own canoe.' We do not make this announcement with- out reluctance, for we have, in the short space of time with which we have been associated with him, formed such an attachment and appreciating idea of his worth as an individual, and of his skill in his profession, that we are loth to part company with him ; but family ties call him far away, and we have no inclination to gratify our feelings at the expense of the feelings of others. So mote it be !"

The Herald was finally sold to Alvin E. Bovay, the material of which, after serving for a time under a change of name, became a part of the Commonwealth office, where what was left of it now is.

The Ripon Free Press .- Number 1, Volume I, bears date April 7. 1870. It was started by L. B. Everdell, a graduate of Ripon College, of the Class of 1868. The paper passed into the hands of George C. Duffie, a classmate of the above named, who had furnished the capital to begin its publication. He resigned his position in the college, and until April, 1874, gave his attention to the business of making the paper a success. In 1872, George M. West & Co. bought the Free Press, and ran it awhile, but failing to meet their obligations, turned over the property at the end of the year to Mr. Duffie. During a considerable part of the time Prof. (now President) E. H. Merrell of the college, was associated with Mr. Duffie in the paper, under the style of George C. Duffie & Co. On April 1, 1874, Messrs. T. D. Stone and D. E. Cramer purchased the Free Press newspaper and job office of George C. Duffie for $3,300. At this time, the policy of the paper underwent a through change. The paper commenced the advocacy of legal prohibition and the necessity of the organization of a separate political party devoted to that purpose.

To this end steps were taken to call a mass State convention. The call was couched in terms that none could misunderstand, as follows :

We, the undersigned, citizens of Wisconsin, believing that intemperance is the great evil, sin and crime of this republic ; believing it to be the right and duty of the people to suppress this great evil, by prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks as beverages; believing That this is the nearest and highest political duty which the American

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people are now called upon to discharge ; believing that the "liquor question " is the legitimate and only worthy successor of the " slavery question " in American politics; believing that the mission of the Republican party ended with the overthrow of slavery, and the reconstruction of the old slave States on a free basis ; and believing that no political party now in existence is either able, competent or willing to deal effectively with this gigantie crime, which mocks at the feeble efforts and restraint of "license laws," "local option law," and the like, do hereby unite in call- ing a mass convention of the temperance citizens of the State, to assemble in the city of Ripon on the 13th day of October next, at 10 o'clock, A. M., to form a separate and independent political party, with prohibition as its central idea. If any localities prefer to be represented by chosen and accredited delegates, well and good ; but it is to be dis- tinctly understood that all citizens of the State, coming in good faith, with the purpose above set forth, will be received as members of the convention. And. further, we hereby invite all temperance men who are in favor of pro- hibition, whether ready for independent political action, or not, to be present, and participate in the proceedings of of the convention.

This document was signed by over one thousand eight hundred voters of Wisconsin, repre- senting people in twenty-seven different counties. In Fond du Lac County alone there were about two hundred and fifty signers to this call.

At the meeting Lester Rounds, of Eureka, was made Chairman, and C. F. Hammond, Sec- retary. The following resolution, which was passed unanimously, shows the sense of the meeting :

Resolved, That we, citizens of Wisconsin, temperance men and prohibitionists in State convention assembled, do declare it to be our firm, matured and unalterable purpose here and now, to inaugurate within the State of Wisconsin a new political party, separate from and independent of all existing parties, having for its central idea the suppres- sion of the dramshops of the land, and the total prohibition of the sale of all intoxicating drinks to be used as & beverage. The party so inaugurated or founded, shall be a branch of and auxiliary to the national party, based on the same fundamental idea in its intents. We propose, before adjournment, to elect a State Committee, and take such otber steps as may be necessary to perfect the organization.

At the conclusion of the two-days session, Maj. A. E. Bovay was elected Chairman of the State Central Committee, and the usual party machinery set in motion. President William E. Merriman, of Ripon College, was the author of the platform of principles, and Prof. E. H. Merrell warmly advocated the measure by a public speech.

The Free Press was the only paper friendly to this movement, and through its earnest advocacy of the principle was the new party fanned into existence.

On account of failing health, Mr. Don E. Cramer sold his interest in the Free Press to D. B. Lyon November 1, 1876. Mr. Lyon employed his son, Hiram M. Lyon, to look after his interest, and the firm name of Stone & Lyon appears in the files until August 15. 1878, when J. R. Bloom took the place of Lyon in making the style of the firm. Shortly after this, Mr. T. D. Stone became sole manager, but retained the old firm name until January 1, since which time the business has been in his hands. In February, 1879, the office was moved to its present commodious quarters in Bovay's Block.

The Wisconsin Good Templar .- This newspaper was first published at Madison, Wis., February 7, 1873, and its first copy shows that it was edited by T. D. Stone and A. F. Booth, with Samuel D. Hastings and T. D. Kanouse associate editors. It was the official organ of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars. It contained eight pages-five columns of reading to the page. In the early part of April, 1873, the proprietors removed the paper to Ripon. The first issue in the last-named place was published April 4, 1873. July 8, 1873, T. D. Stone bought the interest of A. F. Booth, and the editorship of the paper continued under his sole management as long as it was published. The last number was printed in August, 1874. From its first to its last copy, it was an uncompromising and persistent advocate of the legal prohibition of the liquor traffic. Like all temperance periodicals it was a financial failure. It contained the best thoughts of the leading advocates of the cause in the State, and was by all odds the largest and best-conducted sheet that had ever been printed in behalf of the movement in Wisconsin. At one time its circulation reached 900 copies, but a large number of these were three-month's sub- scribers. Its editor says that more than half of his time was taken in traveling from Lodge to Lodge, begging for subscribers, and that the little amount thus received was often eaten up in hotel bills and stage fare. When the paper suspended publication, the proprietor not only found himself short a year and a half of hard work, but also a considerable sum of money. To his credit be it said that all unexpired subscriptions were filled with either the Free Press or any temperance paper that the party designated.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The Ripon Star .- In December, 1858, H. C. and Addison P. Mapes began the publication of a six-column folio newspaper called the Star, which was devoted to the interests of the Demo- cratic party, so far as parties were concerned. It gave considerable attention to Ripon College and to matters pertaining to Ripon City and vicinity. In 1861, Col. Edward Daniels' cavalry were in camp several weeks on College Hill, within a few rods of where the Star was published. The editors of the Star took occasion to mention soldiers in general, and Col. Daniels' cavalry in particular, in such terms as at once enraged them. The cavalry boys, therefore, after an issue which was particularly distasteful to them, went in a body just at dusk and scattered the type on which the Star had been published, in the street. The paper never made its appearance after that.

Our Paper .- The first periodical of Brockway (Ripon) College was entitled Our Paper, the first number of which was issued in August, 1856. It was edited by a committee. The salutatory ran thus : " Kind readers : In filling the station assigned to us by the partiality of our asso- ciates, by whom we were chosen to edit the following humble pages, we have endeavored to give all our contributors a fair representation, rather than select entirely from our best writers. And we would tender this as an apology to those whose articles we have been obliged unwillingly to reject. To the public we would say, that all we hope is that the few truths presented may be allowed a hearing, and that, balancing the good we wished to accomplish against the many imper- fections incident to a first attempt, the latter may be overlooked. Hoping in the future to meet you in a wider field, we remain your obedient servants-The Committee." The paper contained twenty-four pages. but was only an octavo in size ; and was made up (with an occasional refer- ence to the college) of contributions from the students of the institution.

College Days .- In the spring of 1868, the senior class of Ripon College began the publi- cation of a handsome thirty-six page monthly called College Days. The editors were George C. Duffie and Miss M. S. Cook, and Horace Tracy was the publisher. It was devoted to the interests of Ripon College, and to chronicling the movements and achievements of its graduates and stu- dents. In 1872. the magazine form was changed to the quarto newspaper form. After the first year, committees were chosen annually to edit the College Days until 1876, when, on account of hard times, the publication of a college paper was dropped. It was a newsy, lively and enter- taining publication-equal to similar papers issued by much older and richer institutions.

Ripon College News-Letter .- At the beginning of the college year of 1879, George D. Heron began the publication of the Ripon College News-Letter, a quarto of fine appearance at $1 per year, and printed on tinted book paper. It already has a large circulation, and is well patronized by the business men of Ripon. It is considered a fixture of the college, being backed by parties who are able to support it. The mechanical work of publishing the News- Letter is done at the office of the Ripon Free Press.

Ripon Weekly Times .- In October, 1857, George W. Parker began the publication at Ripon of a seven-column folio, called the Western Times, at $1.50 per year, in advance. This paper was continued about two years, when it fell into the hands of Chauncey J. Allen, who learned his trade in the Fond du Lac Journal office, with Edward Beeson. Ile soon had George Burnside for a partner and changed the name of the paper to the Ripon Weekly Times. Mr. Allen, the editor, was liberal in his views, and an able, entertaining writer. It was a suc- cessful paper during his life, but was discontinued after his death, which occurred during the war of the rebellion.

The Ripon Spur .- During several years previous to the rebellion, E. L. Runals owned, edited and published a paper called the Spur. It was noted for ability and dignity, and while in existence was an influential publication. The first number appeared in June, 1855. In September, 1856, the name was changed to Ripon Home, Runals & Fuller, publishers. In 1857, Mr. Runals sold to Fuller & Fitch, by whom the paper was continned for a time.

The Prairie City Record .- On the 14th of May, 1863, Nelson Bowerman and N. C. Strong, under the firm name of Bowerman & Strong, began the publication of the Prairie City Record. Mr. Strong withdrew from the establishment in the following October. and the paper

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was continued by Mr. Bowerman. It was not a financial success, and the last issue of the paper was on December 24, 1863.

The Ripon Commonwealth .- The first paper issued under this title was on the 22d of January, 1864. J. A. Smith, of Fond du Lac, was the proprietor, and A. T. Glaze local edi- tor and manager of local business. One side of the paper was usually printed at Fond du Lac and sent to Ripon to be completed. The salutatory contained these paragraphs: "The good people of Ripon and vicinity are herewith greeted with a newspaper-the Ripon Commonwealth -successor, so far as most of the printing materials, subscription lists and advertising patron- age are concerned, of the late Prairie City Record. To stand by the Govern- ment and the administration now, saving it from overthrow by the most gigantic rebellion ever confronted by a nation ; to support that administration while it is as worthy of it as now, to the utter extinction of every armed rebel, if need be; to the advocacy of keeping all promises made by the President to the slaves now our grateful allies; and to supporting all the measures necessary to wipe out rebellion and its heaven-defying cause-is just what we intend to do, so long as such effort is needed and we are spared to strike the blows." The paper continued under the same management until December 2, of the same year, when Smith & Benton became the editors and publishers, Glaze continuing as local editor; but on the 16th of June, 1865, J. A. Smith was again the only proprietor. On the 13th of April, 1866, he called in, as an asso- ciate in the proprietorship of the paper. Thomas Bryant. The paper was then published under the firm name of Smith & Bryant, but this arrangement continued only to August 3, following, when Mr. Smith again became sole owner. On the 22d of February, 1867, A. T. Glaze, who had since the beginning of the paper been its local editor and manager, purchased of Mr. Smith his entire interest in the Commonwealth. Mr. Glaze, in announcing himself as editor and pro- prietor, said: "I have bought the Ripon Commonwealth office and book bindery, believing the people will at least give me the support which they have the past year, and leaving it to our generous patrons to say whether we shall sink or swim." Mr. Glaze continued as proprietor until April 1, 1874, when he sold to W. H. Bailhache and Mason Brayman, who entered upon editorial duties under the firm of W. H. Bailhache & Co., saying: "The general course of the paper will not be materially changed. * It will be identified with those principles and policies which lie at the foundation of the Republican party." This manage- ment continued until May 21, 1875, when Mr. Brayman sold his half-interest to E. L. Scofield. The paper was published under the firm name of Bailhache & Scofield until October 1, 1875, when Mr. Bailhache sold to C. N. Hodges, and under the name of Scofield & Hodges the paper was edited and published until October 1, 1877, at which time E. L. Scofield became sole editor and proprietor. January 1, 1878, a half-interest was leased to B. J. Price for one year. When that lease terminated, Mr. Schofield became sole editor and proprietor, and has since continued as such. The paper has always been Republican in politics and thoroughly devoted to the advancement of the city of Ripon.

The Ripon Representative .- In 1867, George W. Peck began the publication of an inde- pendent weekly newspaper in Ripon, under the name and style of the Representative. He devoted the paper to humor more than is usual with country newspapers, and was also one of the pioneers in advertising the beauties of Green Lake. In 1868, during the Presidential campaign, the paper was arrayed on the side of Democracy, where it thereafter continued while Mr. Peck was at the helin. In 1869, Mr. Peek went to New York with M. M. Pomeroy ("Brick "), and leased the Representative to H. B. Baker, who changed its name to the Prairie City Local, and continued the paper through the following winter. He then went to California, and the material was soon afterward used to publish the Free Press.

The Waupun Times .- This is the oldest paper in Waupun. It is now in its twenty-third year, and is an eight-column folio. The first number was issued September 14, 1857, by J. H. Brinkerhoff (the present Postmaster of the city) editor and proprietor. It was a seven-column folio, and a neat-looking, spicy sheet. The merchants of the place gave him a liberal advertis- ing patronage, and the Times started with a good list of subscribers, many of whom have stuck

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by it during the nearly twenty-three years it has been published. In his first editorial, Mr. Brinkerhoff says: "We have been induced to commence the publication of the Times, not because we thought it would pay-make us "rich "-but from the conviction that the interests of Waupun demand a paper; that there is sufficient enterprise among the inhabitants to sustain one, and that we might be our own master; only hoping that such encouragement, in the way of patronage, might be extended us as shall enable the Times and us to live. Coming among you as we do-relying solely upon our own efforts, and under obligations to no party or man- we shall follow our own inclination in all matters, claim the right to do pretty much as we please, and that which we consider most beneficial to the community at large, and shall be inde- pendent in everything and of everybody.

" We do not claim neutrality in politics or anything else, but we do not intend to enter the political arena further than to acquaint our readers with the prospects and doings of the respect- ive parties. We here assert, however, that, with the exception of an absolute hostility to those principles which would deprive the foreign-born of the right of suffrage, we are unbiassed in our political views-have a greater regard for principle and right than party. The interests of Waupun and ' circumjacent vicinage ' shall receive our especial attention, and it shall be our endeavor to foster and build up every interest identified with its growth and prosperity. Par- ticular regard will be paid to home matters, and, after we get the 'hang of the barn,' we intend that in local news the Times shall excel."

The promises of its founder the Times has fulfilled and is fulfilling. It is no longer inde- pendent in politics. When the flag of our country was threatened by traitors in 1861, the independent 'flag was pulled down and the star-spangled banner placed in its stead at the top of the columns ; and ever since, the Times has been firm in its allegiance to the principles of the Republican party.

In the first number of the Times appear the business cards of many who are still in Wau- pun. E. Hooker advertises that he will attend to all kinds of legal business: D. W. Moore prescribed medicines then as now ; H. L. Butterfield not only administered physic, but sold drugs ; R. W. Wells dealt in drugs, books, paints and oils ; Thomas Stoddart was in the same line of business and was Postmaster as well ; Rank & Manz and John Howard were merchant tailors ; John Taylor and S. Rebbles were among those who kept groceries and dry goods : B. B. Baldwin had a sash, door, blind and turning establishment; M. J. Althouse made pumps and drilled wells ; John McFarland shod the horses ; the Exchange was the hotel of the village ; William Morgan did all the barbering ; E. Hillyer was Secretary of the Dodge County Mutual Insurance Company ; L. B. Balcom was in the forwarding and commission business; T. Car- penter made and sold harnesses; Phelps Moore kept the Empire Livery Stable; there were advertised two banks-the Waupun Bank and the Corn Exchange Bank.

Among the contributors to the first number of the Times was George E. Jennings, who still occasionally furnishes articles that are as graceful in thought and diction as then ; W. H. Taylor indulged then as he now sometimes does in a paper on " Waupun ; Its Past, Present and Future." For nearly cight years, Mr. Brinkerhoff furnished mental pabulum for the readers of the Times, when he sold the office and business to Rev. D. A. Wagner. The latter became involved in a church quarrel and made the Times his personal organ. In 1866, a year after he bought the office, he sold it again to Messrs, Eli & Jesse Hooker; in about three months, Eli Hooker bought out his partner, and for a year conducted the Times very successfully ; he made it pay, but having an extensive law business requiring his attention, he sold out in about a year, J. R. Decker, his foreman, being the purchaser. He took possession October 1, 1867, and did not allow the business to suffer under his labors.

On October 1, 1868, the present editor and proprictor, Philip M. Pryor, then a young man not out of his teens, took possession, Mr. Decker going to Columbus, Wis. With no capital but energy and a determination to succeed, Mr. Pryor has, for more than eleven years, been continually making improvements in the office, and doing all in his power to increase the influence and standing of his paper. He makes it a rule never, under any circumstances, to

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allow his paper to become the medium for any one to vent personal spite, believing it to be unjournalistic ; nor to permit any ungentlemanly language or personal attacks to appear in its columns, or to allow anything of a local interest to pass unnoticed. The present flourishing condition of the Times is the result.

The Prison City Item .- Sometime in 1859, William Euen began the publication of a paper called the Item. Ilis office was in the South Ward or Dodge County side of the village, and the paper, which was a five-column folio, appeared monthly. Mr. Euen was a politician, a manufacturer of Euen's Strengthening Plasters, and a humorous fellow, and his paper was given somewhat to fun. He continued it about one year as a monthly, and then turned it into a weekly, which was continued with varying fortunes until the beginning of 1861, when it was suspended and never revived.

De Ware Burger .- In 1859, Dr. A. C. Van Altena brought De Ware Burger from Sheboygan County to Waupun, where it was published in the Holland language until the latter part of 1860, by S. H. Salverda, Dr. Van Altena's son-in-law. It was discontinued for want of patronage, there being but few Hollanders in the county to subscribe for it, and only one or two merchants or business men in the vicinity to furnish advertising patronage.

The Little Badger .- During the latter part of 1860, a small newspaper called the Little Badger was started in Waupun by S. H. Salverda, which was printed in both the English and Holland languages. It lived a precarious life of a few months and died for want of patronage, its editor and proprietor afterward moving to Milwaukee.

The Waupun Leader .- On Tuesday, August 28, 1866, Joseph W. Oliver and Martin C. Short, under the firm name. of Oliver & Short, began the publication of the Prison City Leader, an eight-column folio, Republican in politics. The material on which the paper was printed was moved from Dartford, Green Lake County, where the same firm published the Green Lake Spectator. The first few issues of the Leader were with " patent inside," after which the entire paper was printed at home. The first number contained nearly eleven col- umns of home advertisements and about three columns of " foreign ads." The paper started out with a good list of subscribers, and grew at once into popular favor on account of its devo- tion to local matters and decent tone in treating of all things. An old " Washington " hand press and a very limited amount of other material constituted the Leader office at the begin- ning. In 1868, the paper was changed to a five-column quarto, but the experiment proving unsatisfactory, the folio form was again resumed, and the name changed from the Prison City Leader to the Waupun Leader, which title it has since borne. On the 6th of October, 1871. Martin C. Short, who is now editor and publisher of the Brandon Times, sold his half-interest to R. H. Oliver, and the paper has since been edited and published by Oliver Brothers. J. W. Oliver learned his trade in the old Markesan Journal office before the rebellion, in which he took an active part as a member of the Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteers, and R. II. Oliver passed his apprenticeship in the Leader office with Oliver & Short. The Leader proprietors were the second in bringing steam presses into Fond du Lac County, and they now have one of the neatest and best-equipped country offices to be found anywhere, with an extensive amount of material and three large presses. In February, 1879, the paper was changed to a six- column quarto, and is a handsome, thrifty sheet in make-up and general appearance, and of the utmost cleanliness and respectability in matter. It was begun on the Dodge County side of Waupun, in Amadon's (now Seely's) Block, being moved to the Fond du Lac County side, into Rank's Block, in 1869, and in August, 1877, to its present quarters in the old female prison building on Prison street near Main. Connected with the office is a lathe for repairing, iron- turning and general work ; a stereotyping machine for jobs, advertisements and other work, the first successfully used in Wisconsin, and made entirely by J. W. Oliver ; a force-pump with 100 feet of hose for fire purposes, and a telephone, made by J. W. Oliver, which extends from the office to his house, several blocks away. There is no other printing office in the vicinity, if, indeed, in the State, with all these appliances, and all in such perfect and effective working order. It is a model country printing and publishing office.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 68

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