Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 13: - Typography in Johnson County, 1881

General Observations - Names of Editors - The Warrensburg Standard - Biographical Sketch of Roderick Baldwin, Editor - The Journal-Democrat - A Sketch of its Editors - The Holden Enterprise - The Knob Noster Gem - The Knob Noster Review.

The meagre materials attainable, render the compilation of a concise history of journalism in Johnson county, impracticable. In all that per¬ tains to newspaper enterprises, what is known, does not differ essentially from that of other localities. It amounts to the same old story - tedious toil, incessant vexation, enormous expenditures, poorly recompensed.. Here, as elsewhere, a $ay spent in a printing office would dispel the imaginary charm that many persons fancy surrounds printing presses.

It has been but little more than a quarter of a century since the first press was introduced, and the first newspaper was published at the county capital. A history of journalistic enterprises, with biographical sketches of journalists for that brief period, without even a personal mention of meritorious typos, would of itself be a large book. Astounding as this statement may appear to the reader, he will doubtless give it credence after examining the following numeration of those who have heretofore been editors, and those who are now editing.

Names of those editing July, 1881: Roderick Baldwin, editor of the Standard ; W. H. Davis, editor of Journal- Democrat,]. B. Naylor, editor of Journal- Democrat', R. A. Cruce, editor of Journal- Democrat', John W. Mittong editor of Holden Enterprise', Will D. Carr, editor of Knob Noster Gem\ B. R. Tompkins, editor of Knob Noster Review.

Outside of metropolitan cities typography has never been a lucrative occupation. Hitherto none of the above named editors have amassed fortunes in the newspaper business. Happily, however, historians seldom measure men by a money standard - never use a metallic rule to find the altitude of a level-headed editor. A wooden dunce may do for a figure head for a ship, and may not sink her, but there is no place for such inanimate wooden headed men about a newspaper office, as a brainless fool would inevitably swamp any such concern. It requires brains and plenty of them to successfully conduct a popular journal. All those knights of the quill, whose names have been enumerated, possessed a respectable share of intellect, all of them prepared acceptable literary feasts for their patrons, all of them were eager for editorial glory. It is to be regretted that the compiler of this volume cannot allot to each of them their share of glory. As before stated, it is found to be imprac¬ ticable. Without designing invidious distinctions, without proposing partiality to any particular party, without exhibiting personal favoritism to any man; the historian here furnishes the names of all the journals now (July 1881) published in Johnson county, with a brief biographical sketch of the editors of each of them.

The Warrensburg Standard. - Republican in politics. Established June IT, A. D. 1865. At present Col. R. Baldwin, editor - Baldwin & Richards publishers.

The enterprising publishers of Warrensburg Standard have been progressive, and have utilized all the improvements in the art of printing. They now occupy a grand stone structure on Pine street, which is sup¬ plied with all the modern mechanism and ingenious appliances pretaining to a first class printing establishment. Their weekly paper which has hitherto been delivered to patrons with remarkable regularity, is the folio sheet of more than orninary size, oftentimes supplemented, presents from top to bottom a captivating appearance to newspaper readers. It has a larger number of subscribers than any other paper published in the county, perhaps larger than any other in the sixth congressional district.

The able, sagacious editors of partisan journals, that wield a wonderful political influence, are usually both loved and hated. It may here be asserted without fear of contradiction, that no cotemporary has more devoted friends, more ardent admirers, and none a larger number of embittered enemies - vituperative maligners, than Col. R. Baldwin. If there be insufficient praise in this sketch to satisfy the first class, they may, when reading, supply omissions with extempore laudation, and if there is not enough derogatory abuse to suit the other, they may likewise add defamation, or be oblivious.

Col. Baldwin was born in Delaware county, New York, A. D. 1833. He received a liberal education, and graduated at Hamilton college, which has the reputation of being one of the best institutions for impart¬ ing thorough scholarship in the Empire State. One piece of parchment was not enough to satisfy his ambition. He spent years in the law depart¬ ment of his Alma Mater, and was awarded for literary merit and legal proficiency, a first-class diploma. Learned in the law as he was, he fearlessly appeared before the judges of the supreme court in regular session at Buffalo, and was without equivocation, admitted to the bar. His creditable career in his chosen profession - in which rank is deter¬ mined by profound research into the musty volumes of law libraries, and genius displayed in explaining and expounding their complex contents, was unexpectedly interrupted. The fife and drum sounded the alarm when our nation was in peril. The bugler's horn, which echoed from hill to hill, gave notice to the patriotic that our glorious union was threat¬ ened with dismemberment. The young attorney, whose heart swelled with patriotism, flung aside law books, asked for a continuance of cases in court, and enlisted as an artillery soldier in the army. He was mus¬ tered into service 1861, as second Lieutenant of volunteers, but his grade of qualifications soon secured for him promotion to higher rank. On reaching the army corps to which his command had been assigned, in Virginia, he was detailed for a time to discharge the responsible duties of Judge Advocate. Few, indeed, were more competent for the respon¬ sible position, and none could have given greater satisfaction to superiors as well as subordinates.

Col. Baldwin was with his regiment in all the engagements in the wil¬ derness, and around Petersburg, Va. He fought with heroic bravery, at Antietam and Gettysburg. He was severely wounded, and to this day carries, uncomfortable though it be to the flesh, an ounce or two of confederate lead.

He was decidedly a success as a military man, and might have had a commission in the regular service as a reward for distinguished gallantry, but in times of profound peace, for him a jeweled sword, golden shoulder straps, pompous parades, had no charms. Accordingly, he laid aside the uniform of the soldier, and insignia of rank, preferring the modest garb of an ordinary citizen. Instead of again appearing at the bar, where he might have gained wealth and distinction, he preferred engaging in other pursuits. After surveying the inviting wild meadows of the far west, he was so pleased with Johnson county, that he selected it as a per¬ manent home, and adopted editing as an occupation.

As an editor his style is vigorous, luminous, and elegant. Whatever subject presents itself, be it politics, temperance, jurisprudence, belles lettres , or other current topic, he readily writes a newspapar article almost equal to the best ever penned by Horace Greeley, Amos Kendall, Charles Dana, or Dr. Holland. Without indorsing all he writes, for he is fallible, some¬ times right, at other times wrong, undoubtedly he is entitled to credit for plausibility and zeal, and is never tedious, prosaic, nor dull. He delights in hurling editorial thunder-bolts at delinquent statesmen, and their dynasties hereabouts that he dislikes. The writer refrains from further allusion to

Without the aid of history, the friends of education will remember the bril¬ liant Standard editorials, that did so much toward securing the location of the normal college at Warrensburg, an acquisition the value of which is price¬ less. Col. Baldwin was not content with writing exhaustive articles upon the subject, but spent much time and money, in visiting the state capital, whilst the legislative assembly was in session, and used his powerful influ¬ ence with representatives, to control their votes, and thereby secure the coveted prize. Not only so, he likewise, at his own expense, traveled, by rail, hither and thither, presenting to the normal regents every conceivable argument calculated to convince them that the Quarry City was exactly the right place for the institution. Although the philanthropic editor neither expected nor received a nickel for the articles published, nor reim¬ bursement of sums actually expended, graceless scamps have had the impudence to insinuate that normal slush paid for the erection of the beau¬ tiful suburban residence in Baldwin's grove, where the colonel and his family now dispense a generous hospitality to a host of friends. The truth of history demands the declaration that borrowed money bought that land and paid for that house; moreover, it is sad to add that it took ten years of editorial toil to lift the mortgage placed upon it to secure the loan, if, indeed, it is yet satisfied and cancelled on the recorder's books.

The state expended the munificent sum - -two hundred thousand dollars - donated by the county of Johnson and the city of Warrensburg, in the .erection of that substantial college edifice in the school parks within the city limits. Be it known, the printer's ink at the Standard office will con¬ tinue to flow with unabated current, until this grand old commonwealth performs her part towards the completion of the building and beautifying the grounds. The state has been importuned to add to the east end of the structure a towering belfry, with hands on the outer walls, to indicate school hours; with a massive bell on the inner side, to proclaim them to the rural districts. The state has also been petitioned to afford ornamental relief to the west end, by a lofty observatory equipped with a telescope for the use of astronomical students. It is believed Col. B. will never rest composedly until these ends shall have been completed. The normal stu¬ dents of this age may sing peans in his praise, but schoolmasters of a future generation alone will do him justice.

The battle scarred veterans who fought so valiantly for the establish¬ ment of a southern confederacy, and who after the close of the deplorable internecine war were denied the right of suffrage in Missouri will, without the aid of history, remember the memorable editorials in the Standard \ proposing, advocating and insisting on the re-enfranchisement of the so-called confederates. They were able, liberal and magnanimous. The persons for whose benefit the editorials were written, belonged to an adverse party, consequently it was an unsolicited as well as unlooked for exhibi¬ tion of generosity. Although it was a gratuitous favor, it ought to be suit¬ ably recompensed. A money recompense is not meant, for the offer of gold or its equivalent in this instance would be regarded as an insult. Gratitude alone liquidates such debts, and surely the chivalrous confed¬ erates will never repudiate them. After the close of the late internecine war which done much to demoralize young men, King Alchohol, with his red faced retinue had complete control of the state of Missouri. The editor of the Standard was inveigled into the kings service, frequented the green latticed hall of royalty where Burgundy brandy, Medeira wine and Bourbon whisky, flavored with the lemon, the nutmeg, and the spices of the tropics were dispensed in courtly style. It was then deemed a grave offence for the press to interfere with a well established custom, indeed the knights of the quill were expected to stand in line at the bar keepers counter, and imbibe their share of intoxicating beverages. Maligners made good use of their opportunity for ruining a reputation then in jeopardy and so assailable. Happily the editor became disgusted with bacchanalian revelries, withdrew his allegiance to an odious monarch who enslaves genius and boldly took a position in the front ranks of the army that fights for temperance and prohibition. Whilst temperance folks read rejoicingly the glowing articles weekly published in defence of their cause, incensed inebriates indulge in coarse invectives. Alas! try as an editor may and does to please every body the preversity of a large portion of mankind render it an impossibility.

One of the favorite themes of the editor of the Standard , is a change in the map of Missouri. The formation of a new state, to be called " West¬ ern Missouri," is a proposal that first appeared in his paper. It is a pop¬ ular project, and if Col. Baldwin, the originator of the scheme, lives to see the new state established, and Warrensburg its capital, he will doubtless enjoy the richly deserved honor of being the first occupant of the gover¬ nor's mansion. The inaugural address that he will deliver at the installa¬ tion, will adorn the pages of some future history. Reader, this sketch is written by a political opponent of Col. B., and therefore may not do him justice.

The Journal-Democrat, established 1865. - This paper is the recog¬ nized oracle and organ of the Johnson county democracy. In all that con¬ stitutes a journal of the first class, it is not excelled. In appearance it is neat; the assignment of its articles is good, and its typography is excellent. It is liberally patronized by the rank and file of the unterrified, and merits their patronage. The publishers understand the newspaper business to perfection, and be it said to their credit, they have not, in years, failed at the end of each and every week, to pay their employees their wages, as well as liquidate other current expenses. Could this be truthfully said of any other printing establishment in the rural district of Missouri?

J. B. Naylor, formally of the Brunswicker , the present (July, 1881,) political editor of the 'Journal- Democrat, was born in Illinois; was politi¬ cally nurtured by Stephen a Douglass, and imbibed much of that dis¬ tinguished statesman's vim. Acquiring boundless resources from this illustrious preceptor, he has with the aid of his own massive brain, indom¬ itable energy, and powerful pen, forced himself to the front ranks of jour¬ nalism, and is said to be without a peer in his chosen avocation, in this his adopted state. He understands party drill; excels a field officer as an organizer, and never tolerates insubordination. Prognosticating is not the province of historians, but if the hitherto irreproachable Capt. Naylor succeeds in harmonizing the discord, and pacifying the disaffection of democrats of Johnson county, as sure as fate he will be promoted to a major-generalship.

Capt. Naylor is an aggressive partisan editor, and has for twenty years last past, waged a relentless war against republicanism, in the vallies of the turbulent river, and now comes hither to measure lances with the knights of the quill in and around the quarry city. He comes, it is said, not to tell of past achievements, but to make future history for himself for his party, and for his country.

A biographical sketch of Allen Cruce, local editor of the Journal- Democrat . The lineage, appearance, place of birth and of education of men who are blessed with extraordinary genius, affords blessings and profitable entertainment to readers of history.

Lafayette Cruce, the father of the young editor, is a sensible, upright, urbane, practical Johnson county farmer, highly esteemed by a multitude of friends, and marvelous as it may seem in this envious age,- in truth, has not an enemy on earth. %

The mother of young Cruce is an estimable, educated, refined lady, the admiration of a cultivated community in which she has hitherto been a conspicuous personage. In the seclusion of a sequestered home she enjoys in reading the literary productions of her charming niece, Agnes Cruce, and gifted son Allen, far more real delight than other women do in their own personal prowess in the fields of literature or fighting for fame.

Allen Cruce is a Mississippian by both birth and education. When a mere youth, yet in his teens, whilst other boys of the same age were riding hobby-horses and velocipede, he was actively blazing the highway to lite¬ rary distinction; was profitably employed in editing a newspaper. It is no exaggeration to declare that he acquired more reputation and celebrity as a journalist in the decade last past than most others will obtain in half a century. His style is terse and he possesses the happy faculty of adapta¬ tion and varies it as occasion may require, be it gay or grave, a wedding march or funeral elegy, and writes appropriately and well upon almost any subject. He has at command an inexhaustive supply of wit, and as a comic delineator, he is a perfect artist. He can pen ludicrous things that others can hardly picture with paints or carve with a sculptor's chisel. He can collect more local news and tells it better than most men. He sometimes puts more in a single paragraph than others can find room for in a column.

Should the publishers of this history decide to illustrate it, no pages in it will be more engaging than those upon which the engraved likenesses of editors appear. The believers in Lavater's method of determining character by phisiogomy, and the believers in Combe, Spiritualism and Fowler's system for doing the same by Phrenology, desire and demand the engravings. If the demand for illustrations is acceded to, be assured there will be no handsomer picture in the book than that on Cruce's leaf, that of the gifted Mrs. Sankey alone excepted.

Mr. Cruce has edited newspapers in Missouri and Texas, and wherever employed, has uniformly created a demand for the journals on which he was engaged. He is now, July 1881, 25 years of age. Although he has attained manhood, he has.not yet reached his prime, for there is a notice¬ able increase in the volume and ability of his editorials. He is now serv¬ ing on the editorial staff of the J 'our nal- Democrat, and patrons of that paper who are fond of fun, who appreciate genuine wit and who enjoy humor, no longer send to Detroit for the Free Press or to Iowa for the Hawk Eye or to London for Punch.

Mr. Cruce recently formed a matrimonial alliance with a lovely John¬ son county lady, (Miss Calvin), and the happy twain will, in all human probability, beneficently nurture bright democratic editors for the next generation and thereby become historic benefactors.

The Holden Enterprise edited and published by John W. Mittong. It might be supposed that there was room enough for two cities of the fourth class in Johnson, the largest county in one of the largest states on the American continent. Nevertheless as a matter of fact there is not, and as a sequence the attrition of the rival cities, Warrensburg and Hol¬ den, creates heat enough to run the Enter-prise , which is in all respects emphatically a Holden paper. The citizens of Madison township deem it the largest and the best newspaper published in the county. It is well maintained, for whatever it lacks in subscribers is made up by the liberality of its advertising patrons.

energy and talent in supplying his patrons with current news. He philo¬ sophically performs the difficult duties of both editor and publisher and pushes his pen and lifts the lever of his press without a murmur. There are those who unkindly say that were he unfaithful to the interests of Holden the citizens would punish him as a malefactor, but such threats do not terrify Mittong, who knows full well the liberality of his patrons in awarding the laudation his services in their behalf so richly merit. The mental labor and clerical work of the governor of the state are less and are more easily performed than those imposed upon the editor of the Enterprise and satisfactorily executed by him.

His style in writing editorials, indicates no labored effort at rhetorical flourish, but is nevertheless clear and pleasing, and his views on political topics are defined so explicitly that they cannot be misinterpreted or mis¬ understood. He is a Holden man with Holden ideas, and tolerates noth¬ ing in derogation of Holden men or Holden enterprises.

The Knob Noster Gem, edited and published by Will D. Carr. The Gem , a pretty and appropriate name for the paper published at the Knobs. Although it is a small sheet, the talented editor finds enough room each week for a cluster of his dazzling productions. Whilst other journals may boast about their forty columns of reading matter, this little paper unostentatiously makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity, and the superb literary feasts it furnishes its patrons are composed of dainties. Mr. Carr is the pet of the literary people of the proudest town in the county. Fashionable folks in cities are fond of a dish of gossip and to secure popularity the editor must be a good caterer. The belles and beaux at the Knobs make love in subdued tones, for fear the announce¬ ment of their wedding day will appear in the Ge?n before the pound cake is baked. They likewise talk about contemplated cotillion-parties and picnic excursions in whispers, to avoid a like publicity and concomitant crush and crowd. The day on which the Gem is published the people in and around the city of the Knobs rejoice and Will Carr is happy. The paper does not circulate outside of Washington township, and there is not enough known about the editor, by the writer, to enable him to furnish a more extended sketch.

The Knob Noster Review, B. R. Tompkins, editor ; Tompkins & Little¬ field, publishers. This is a new publication. Size of sheet, respectable; typography well executed. Every nook and corner of the paper is full of readable original and selected articles, and flaming advertisements. The intelligence and liberality of the citizens of Washington township are pro¬ verbial, and insures, to a paper published in their midst, patronage.

B. R. Tompkins, Esq., the editor of the Review , was educated at Kem¬ per College, Booneville; studied law with Jetmore & Elliot, a notable legal firm, now at Topeka Kansas. He was admitted to the bar of Warrensburg, and has hitherto been esteemed as one of the brighest young attorneys practicing in the court of the judicial circuit. He is a magis¬ trate, notary, real estate agent, and mayor of the city of Knob Noster. Now that there is a lull in litigation and legal transfers, he finds time to edit a newspaper, which, it is inferred, that he does more for recreation than for profit.

Mr. Tompkins has not as yet written enough for the press to enable the historian to correctly assign his classification in the editorial fraternity. He possesses fair abilities and great firmness. Although reputed as a Democrat, he declares, " The Review shall be independent in politics." If he can manage to divest himself of partisan bias, he will have accom¬ plished what has hitherto been regarded as impossible. The readers of the Review , however, will soon find out - if, perchance, they have not al¬ ready done so - that when Tompkins takes sides on any question, political, civil or religious, he adheres to it with wonderful tenacity. It is to be hoped that he will always take the right side upon every subject that he undertakes to elucidate; for, should he go wrong, he is at the outset be¬ yond the reach of redemption. It would be easier to move the rock of Gibralter from the mouth of the Mediterranean sea than it would be to move Tompkins from a position once taken, be it right or wrong.