Washington County, Illinois - Chapter 9: The Press, 1879

Chapter 9: The Press

ROGRESS, in all ages, demanded an exponent. The press, since the time of the invention of printing, has been the medium through which it has made known its discoveries and couquests. For centuries prior to the discovery of the " art preservative," the stylus and parchment were the favored instruments. Its engrossed records were stored away in the vault-like cells of monasteries, silent to all but the favored few. Mankind cannot be educated by a few teachers; nor can it be supplied with books by a few copyists. Progress demands something more.

In the sixteenth century, Guttenberg, and Faust, and Schoeffer opened a way to meet the growing demand for more teachers, and a more accessible avenue to the literary treasures contained in high-priced folios.

In a great measure, the newspaper has supplanted the orator, while the copyist's place has been cheerfully surrendered to the caseman. Inventive genius has added improvements and machinery to the crude beginnings of the Mentz printers, until our small interior towns are daily supplied with the news of a world.

Three hundred and thirty years ago, impressions were first taken from rough-cut wooden type; to-day thousands of hand and steam-printing presses are working off innumerable copies of daily and weekly newspapers, besides their monthly magazines, books, pamphlets and advertisements, issuing from thousands of offices. Printing, truly, is one of the great industries, giving employment to thousands, and instruction and amusement to millions.

But the press is only a means to an end. If the growth of the means has been so marvellous, what has been the effect upon the end? No other human invention has so changed the moral and social condition of society. It lifted the shadow of the dark ages, and made that ignorance disgraceful which before had been a mark of nobility. It has ever been the defender of right, truth, justice and liberty.

The products of the printing-office have become so interwoven with our daily lives, that they are almost a necessary element of our existence. News¬ papers, books and magazines, are luxuries no longer but necessaries. Take them from us, and we should at once begin to descend from the exalted intelligence and civilization to which we have attained. So iutimate is the relation between a community and the press, that one can estimate quite accurately the intelligence and enterprise of the latter by the circulation and intellectual character of the former.

For dates and facts relating to the early history of the press of Washington county, we are indebted to Hon. Amos Watts, of Nashville, who, more than any other resident of the county, deserves credit for the labors and privations undergone in establishing the first press in the county. Its trials were many. The enterprise frequently, in the first ten years of its life, tottered upon the precipice of financial disaster, but was always saved by the sagacity and financial aid of its first projector. Several years ago, Mr. Watts abandoned the newspaper business, and devoted his time and talents to an extensive legal practice, and continued so engaged until elected to the honorable position of Judge of the. third Judicial District.

Prior to 18*31, no newspaper was published within the limits of Washing¬ ton county. Residents were dependent upon the Missouri Republican and Shadrack Penn's Democrat, both of which were printed and issued from St.

Louis. The news from the outside world came to them principally through these mediums. There was, prior to the time above mentioned, a paper called the Advocate and Banner printed at BellvilJe, in St. Clair county. It had, however, but a comparatively small circulation in this region. In 1851, a few r enterprising citizens, headed by Amos Watts, formed a joint stock company, with a capital stock of four hundred and fifty dollars, and pur¬ chased an office. The paper was called the New Era. First issue, April 1st, 1851.

They secured the services of P. W. Skinner, of Bellville, who was a prac¬ tical printer, to take charge of the office, and attend to the mechanical part, while the editorial department was looked after by members of the joint stock company. The first issue of the New Em was in April, 1851. It was neutral in politics. Yet it reflected the opinions and views of each member of the company as his turn came to mount the editorial tripod; and if it was all shades of politics, it was owing entirely to the different views held by the parties engaged in editing it. The management was very harmonious for a period of six months, but success financially did not crown the first efforts of establishing the press in Washington county. At the end of the time above mentioned, P. W. Skinner was retired from the mechanical department, and James T. Logan, another practical printer, substituted in his stead. The management was turned over to Amos Watts, George T. Hoke, and James T. Logan. The two first-named gentlemen were the creditors and responsi¬ ble parties in the enterprise. It was understood that they would, to the best of their ability, manage it, and also give it financial aid, should the occasion require it; and if any stray profits came through the sanctum or any other avenues of the printing-office, they were at perfect liberty to pocket them. As the new board of management differed in their political views, Watts being a Democrat, Hoke a Whig, and Logan having no politics at all, it was arranged to continue the New Era upon neutral grounds. This understand, ing was only partially adhered to, for when Watts furnished the editorials there was a slight Democratic coloring given to the articles that was appa¬ rent to even the casual observer, and when Hoke furnished the leaders, which was not so frequent as Watts, the microscopic eye of the Jacksonian Demo¬ crat detected Whiggery at the bottom of it. The management of the paper, however, was in the main successful. Both editors were industrious, and both were thoroughly imbued with that kind of enterprise and activity that was necessary in that day to establish and keep afloat a newspaper. The business was not as remunerative as it should have been. The county was then sparsely settled, and the people had not yet been educated up to the proper support of the press. Merchants and others depending for their trade and support upon the public, had not yet learned the importance of adver¬ tising. The income from the paper depended almost entirely upon the subscrip¬ tion lists which from various causes were necessarily small and the payments frequently long deferred.

The partnership continued for nearly two years, at which time the sub¬ scription lists and good will, but not the material, were sold to Robert K. Flemming. He changed the name from the New Era to the Nashville Monitor.

Mr. Flemming did not retain the management long, and the owners of the stock not wanting to see the publication stopped, gave the office in charge of M. L. McCord. The transfer to McCord was at first not understood to be complete - the precise understanding being that as soon as McCord got the run of things, the acquaintance of patrons, (fee., he was to have complete control and publish an "independent newspaper." But early in the spring of 1856, the political pot began to boil, and some of the stock-holders being strong partisans, came to McCord and told him that he must make the paper democratic. He being a whig, refused to comply with the request, and recited the agreement, but all to no effect. McCord left the concern, and Henry Johnson was called to take charge of the Monitor. He conducted it into the presidential campaign of 1856, and advocated the claims of Buehanan for the presidency, and from all we know, did good service as a party organ. Mr. Johnson held control until in 1858, when he retired, and Elijah M. Vance became manager. His career was brief and not particularly brilliant. He changed the name to the Nashville Democrat. Soon after Vance sold out his entire interests to O. P. Hoddy, and in the summer of 1860, he in turn sold out to P. C. Graves, Sr. Mr. Graves changed the name to the Washington County Herald. In looking over the files of the Herald we find that Graves' name is placed at the head as publisher, and C. E. Hammond as editor. The latter named gentleman had had considerable experience previous to Ids ven¬ ture here, in the newspaper business. He was one of the original founders of the Freeport Bulletin of Freeport, Illinois, which is now recognized as one of the leading daily newspapers in the northern part of the State. In the winter of 1862, Mr. Hammond sold out the Herald to M. M. Goodner. Soon after the change of proprietors was made Mr. Goodner changed the name to the Jacksonian . The distinguishing feature of the paper about this time was its entirely partisan tone. It was the democratic organ of the county, and under the able management of its editor and proprietor it did valuable service in pointing out the way, and piloting the party to the haven of political suc¬ cess. In 1863, Mr. Goodner sold the press and materials to Francis M. Vernor. He changed the name to the Constitution. Amos Watts assumed control of the editorial department. The paper continued uuder the charge of the above-named gentleman until 1864, when the subscription lists were sold to Messrs. Madden and Ogden - the press, material, and fixtures still remaining the proj>erty of Vernor. The last named gentlemen were unsuc¬ cessful in the management of the Constitution , and soon after their purchase of the subscription lists the publication ceased entirely. About one year later, Mr. Vernor shipped the press and material to St. Louis anti sold it to the type foundry, and thus after fifteen years of an extremely hazardous and precarious existence, the material that brought into life the New Era, Democrat, Monitor , Herald, Jacksonian, and Constitution was resolved back into its original crude state to reappear again in a brighter and improved form, and go forth and pro¬ claim to the world the wonderful progress of the press in the latter days of the nineteenth century. Through all these years and different managements, the paper had for its firm friend, Hon. Amos Watts. He ever stood ready to act as its friend, to encourage it, and give it substantial aid, and but for his generous support and timely assistance the enterprise would have long before stranded on the lee shore of financial disaster. Mr. Watts as a political writer is far above the average, and had he entered the journalistic field, and made it the business of his life, he would have achieved success equally as well as he has in the profession of law.

Journal

In 1862 the Republican party gained, to a certain extent, control of the local offices of Washington county. Up to the present time, and through the political campaign in the following fall, they were without an organ. It was thought necessary by the local party leaders to have a paper that would sus¬ tain their organization and reflect their political views, and at the same time meet and refute tlve arguments of the Jacksonian, the democratic organ. Ac¬ cordingly in December, 1862, James Garvin, an enterprising citizen who was at that time sheriff of the county, in connection with C. F. Hartman, a practi¬ cal printer, organized a stock company, and purchased a press and the ma¬ terial, and on the 23d of January, 1863, the first issue of the Journal made its appearance. Mr. Hartman was made both editor and proprietor. Under his management the paper thrived, and the success of the party in the county was increased. He continued as editor and proprietor until 1870, when he sold out to G. F. Kimball and F. M. Taylor. James B. Matlack was made manager and also local editor. Kimball and Taylor sold their interests to Matlack and J. B. Anderson. The latter firm continued until 1874, when C. F. Hartman, the original proprietor, purchased Anderson's interest. The firm of Matlack and Hartman continued until May, 1875, when Hartman sold his interest to Matlack. A few weeks later Matlack sold a half interest to C. D. Wasscll. The firm of Matlack and Wassell continued until Decem¬ ber, 1876, when Matlack sold his entire interest to Wassell. One month later, J. B. Wassell purchased a half iuterest, and the firm of Wassell Bros, was formed, which continues down to the present time. At the time that the Wassell Bros, assumed proprietorship, Dr. W. M. Pierce was appointed editor, and he still retains the position. The Journal under the present ex¬ cellent management, is a lively, wide-awake newspaper. Its columns have always been used in the support of the Republican party, and as a political organ it exercises a power and influence that is potential in the county and district. The circulation of the Journal is nearly 1,000. Its columns are well filled with home advertisements, and altogether it is a reflex of the bus¬ iness prosperity of Nashville and surrounding country.

In the summer of 1866, the leading Democrats of Washington county formed a joint stock company for the purpose of purchasing materials and a press to publish a Democratic newspaper, the party being without an organ since the demise of the Constitution. A sufficient amount of stock was sub¬ scribed and the money paid in, and with it the press and materials were pur¬ chased in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and brought to Nashville, and soon after the publication of the People's Press was commenced. Amos Watts was the responsible man in the concern, and acted as manager and proprietor.

Col. W. H. Redding, a lawyer by profession, was editor, and 0. P. Hoddy, a practical printer, was placed in charge of the office as foreman. This arrange¬ ment continued about one year, when Col. Redding resigned his position as editor to accept a clerkship in one of the departments at Washington. While he had charge of the editorial columns he gave the paper a reputation as one of the leading country journals of Southern Illinois. He was not what might be termed a brilliant writer, but his editorials were plain, pointed, and well written, and gave evidence of his thorough knowledge of the political issues of the day. After his retirement the duty of editing the paper fell to Amos Watts. About this time, O. P. Hoddy resigned the foremanship. J. D. Moudy succeeded him, and continued with the Press for about one year and a half, when Joseph B Anderson became publisher and proprietor. He changed the name of the paper to Nashi'ille Democrat. One year's trial satisfied the latter gentleman that there was no "royal road to wealth" with newspaper business in Washington county. He passed the management and proprietorship over to Peter W. Baker, who took charge as both editor and proprietor. Eight months afterward he became dissatisfied, and sold out to D. A. Burton and O. P. Hoddy. These gentlemen continued the publication for one year, when J. B. Anderson and S. C. Page purchased all the right, title, and interests of the stockholders, and then for the first time the paper became an individual enterprise. One year in the newspaper business fully satisfied these gentlemeu, and on the 30th day of November, 1872, sold out the entire office to W. S., and C. M. Forman. The Forman Bros, were both young men, C. M. also a practical printer, and both full of enterprise and industry. They put their shoulders to the newspaper wheel, and for the first time in the history of the Democratic press of Washington county, brought it up to a paying basis. They gave the Democrat a character and standing which it maintains to the present time. They continued the publication for four years, or until the 15th of November, 1876, when they sold it to J. J. Anderson, the present editor and proprietor. The Democrat is a seven column folio; it is a neat newspaper, and is edited with ability. It is the recognized organ of the party in Washington county. Its circulation is about one thousand. The Democrat like its neighbor the Journal enjoys the confidence of its constituents, and shares with it equally the patronage of the county. Its columns are well filled with home and foreign advertisements, and it bears every appearance of a healthy financial condition.

In March, 1874, the Forman Bros, associated themselves with Dr. H. D. Schmidt, and started the Washington County Zcitung, which was conducted by them under the firm name of H. D. Schmidt <fc Co., Dr. Schmidt editing the paper. In March, 1876, the Forman Bros, sold their interests to a stock company which was organized, and Dr. H. D. Schmidt and Bro. assumed the management of it. In the following July the Schmidts retired from the paper, it passing into the hands of a new stock company, the Forman Bros, managing! and Herman Rieken editing it. It continued under this manage- * ment until February 1st, 1879, when the Zcitung was sold to J. J. Anderson, >vho is now sole proprietor and publisher of the Zeitung and Democrat.

After the dissolution of the firm of H. D. Schmidt & Co., in August, 1876, H. D. Schmidt in connection with Emil Schmidt purchased the printing ma¬ terial and presses, and in August, 1876, issued the first number of the Volksblat. The publication has continued up to the present time. Both of the German papers are well edited, and typographically are both fine specimens of country journalism. Dr. H. D. Schmidt, formerly editor of the Zcitung , and now of the Volksblat, is a writer of more than usual ability, and has given the latter journal a reputation equal to any German paper in Southern Illinois. The same may be said of Herman Reigan of the Zeitung.

Ashley Enquirer

In the spring of 1856, Mr. M. L. McCord left the Nashville Monitor as stated in another column, and accepted the offer of the business men of Ashley to take charge of a neutral paper at that place. The first number of the Enquirer appeared early in June, 1856. Its publication commenced in the midst of the great political excitement occasioned by the presidential contest of that vear. The excitement proved too much for a neutral paper, and its publication had to be abandoned in the latter part of September of the same year.

Several other attempts were made by different parties at different times to establish a newspaper in the village of Ashley, and all were failures after a was established by A. W. O'Bryant. The first copy was issued on April 5th, 1876, and its publication has continued regularly ever since. Mr. O'Bryant is a practical printer and is both editor and proprietor. The Gazette is inde¬ pendent in politics. It Is a seven column folio, and has a weekly circulation numbering five hundred subscriptions. It is devoted to the interests of Ashley and surounding country.

Rich View Phoenix

In 1856, Mr. M. L. McCord issued the first number of the above-named paper. Its publication was continued until in March, 1858, when the press and material were moved to Gentralia, Illinois.

In 1871, J. D. Moudy commenced the publication of a paper in Richview having the above-named title. It was intensely democratic in its tone, and was edited with considerable ability. The publication was continued until in 1872, when Moudy died, since which time there has been no paper published in the above-named place.

Conclusion

The history of the Washington county press has been briefly traced. It has been full of trials and obstacles, has witnessed a few failures, but is fairly representative of the business history of the county. The influence and char¬ acter of the county papers have grown with the material and intellectual growth of-those they have represented. No calling or enterprise can show a better record nor number more enthusiastic or persevering workers.

At the present time Washington county supports five local papers. They are fairly up to the average of country newspapers in this great newspaper State of the Union. The gentlemen in charge of them as editors and pro¬ prietors are men of character and standing in the community, and to them are we indebted for many favors shown in the compilation of this history of the county, and for information furnished for the chapter [on the "Press" of the county.