Manitowoc County, Wisconsin - Chapter 14: The Press, 1904

Few realize the itifluenee of the public press upon the history of a communit}-. It does, not, however, require much consideration to perceive its importance as a factor, acting" in its dual capacity as a director and mirror of public opinion. It is easily seeji, also, how important, particularly in the study of local history, it is to peruse carefully the columns of the newspapers, for throui^h them we have not only the principal but often the sole means of a true understanding" of conditions and development. Manitowoc County has been fortunate in having- in past and present men of influence, of intellectual capacity and hig-h integ-rity connected with its various news publications. The names of such as Fitch, Olmstead, Smith and Nag-le are not soon forg-otten by those who for years have had the opportunity of reading their comment on current events. The newspapers of the county have always been remarkable for the prominence g^iven their editorial departments, the true test of a paper's individuality.

The newspaper history of Manitowoc County beg"ins properly with the year 1850. True it is that from such expressions as "our Manitowoc readers," appearing- in 1S49 in the Green Bay Advocate indications are given that it had a local constituency and Milwaukee and Chicag-o papers were taken by a few of the more opulent. The Madison Express too, did what little county printing- was to be done in the forties. But on November 30 1850 appeared the first number of the Manitowoc County Weekly Herald, established by C. W. Fitch, a pioneer resident of Kenosha. This g-entleman was of New Jersey birth, being- thirty-one years of age at the time he came to Manitowoc and was well educated and possessed of considerable editorial talent. The type and outfit used was shipped to the city on the steamer Champion and had been purchased of Editor Cramer of the Milwaukee Evening- Wisconsin, being sold later by Fitch to a Naperville, 111. firm. The paper started out in modest form and the first issue contained the following salutatory: -

"When we agreed to hazard the undertaking we had never set our foot upon the soil of Manitowoc or seen an inhabitant of the county. We did so from reliable representations of its past history, present population, business advantages and prospective advancement. These, to our ken, were not overrated and are sufficient to warrant the commencement with the promise of a liberal recompense. If we are all right in these conclusions and we know we are unless we have g-reatly overestimated the enterprise and foresight of the people, we shall not have cause for reg-ret." In politics it was announced that the Herald would be liberally Democratic, the principles enunciated being- as follows: "Politically we advance the doctrine of the Democratic party and the time honored custom demands that we should make some exposition of our faith. One of the most prominent articles of the Democratic creed in the western states is the exclusion of slavery from free territory. To this we most cheerfully subscribe. As a matter of principle and policy we are in favor of preserving the free soil of our country from the reproach of human bondage. We are in favor of cheap postage, a low rate of duties and economy in the administration of the government. We are opposed to banks and in favor of an independent treasury. We are in favor of river and harbor improvements, of granting- public lands to actual settlers with proper limitations, at the lowest possible rates and of reasonable exemption laws."

It is thus easil}^ seen that the doctrines of the new publication were extremely healthy and likely to have a beneficent influence on village life. Of the venture the Milwaukee Daily Wisconsin said in its issue of December 2nd: "The Manitowoc County Herald is the title of a newspaper just published at the thriving- village of Manitowoc by Charles W. Fitch, editor and proprietor. It is Democratic in polilics, of the Jelfersonian stamp and is one of the neatest papers issued in the west. It is bound to succeed so long as the editor makes as good a local paper as he does now. Our brief personal acquaintance with Mr. Fitch has been of the most agreeable cast and we welcome him to our state and the profession with our best wishes for his prosperity as a man, a citizen and an editor. We trust the people of Northern Wisconsin will give him a liberal support." In those days personal jibes and shots at fellow editors were much more common than now and the pages were enlivened by many a friendly tift with the Green Bay Advocate and the Sheboygan Lake Shore Journal. The Herald was immediately made the official county paper, remaining so until 1855. For four years the sheet held the field uncontested and in April 1854 it was enlarged and from that time on copies were sent to the State Historical Library at Madison and have since been prese^rved, the only file in existence.

On the 25th of April of the same year, however, competition appeared in the shape of the Manitowoc Weekly Tribune, of which S. W. Smith officiated as editor. Mr. Smith had for some years been a resident of the village ard resigned as manager of the National Hotel to assume his editorial duties. Smith and Roeser was the name of the proprietors but the latter retired from the firm in October. The paper started out with the statement that the publication was "a step not taken without consideration," adopted as its motto "Ever Onward" and notified subscribers that subscriptions were payable in wood and other merchandise. It was at first independent in politics, - Smith having been a Democrat with strong Abolition tendencies, - then became Free Democrat in policy and by 1857 was definitely ranked as a Republican newspaper. Editor Smith was an interesting- writer and the series of articles appearing- in 1854 on "Sights and Shadows of a Soldier's Life," detailing- incidents in his career as a veteran in the Mexican war, was ably written. Some years later when he took trips to Chicagfo, Cincinnati and Washing-ton his descriptions of the journeys were indicative of g-reat skill as a writer. In July 1854 Carl Roeser, Sr., who had been associated with Smith in the establishment of the Tribune started the first German paper published in the county, known as the Wiskonsin Demokrat, Smith and Roeser appearing- as the first proprietors and later Roeser & Co. By this time that nationality was much in evidence in the newly opened reg-ions and the paper filled a need that had long- been felt. It was strong-ly Free Soil in its proclivities and Roeser beingconsiderable of a politician and a candidate for the position of state treasurer of the new Republican party in 1855, the paper was g-iven over larg-ely to controversy on public questions. It preached the doctrine of violation of the laws of the land in regard to the escape of fug-itive slaves while the Herald counselled moderation. This radical position of the Demokrat opened the way for the establishment of a paper in the German lang-uag-e, taking- opposite views on these burning questions and according-ly the Weekly Nordwesten was started in September 1855 by Carl H. Schmidt. The principles advocated by it were stated by the Herald as Democrgitic principles, coupled with "denunciation of Know Nothing-ism and Abolition fanaticism." Another German paper was also started by Carl Pflaume in the same year as the Nordwesten, being- entitled Der Buschhauer but after twent3'-four months existence it was discontinued, the editor returning- to Germany. With all these publications in the field a strug-gle for county printing- was the natural result, the Herald beingsuperseded by the Tribune in 1855, the latter enjoying- the patronage until it again reverted to the Herald in 1860. The Tribune suffered by fire in December 1856 but the damag-e was soon repaired and J. N. Stone acquired an interest which he retained for two years, later removing- to Neenah where he still edits the Neenah Times, being one of the veteran fig-- ures of the Wisconsin press.

The years 1857 and 1858 saw many chang-es in the newspaper field. Editor Roeser sold an interest in the Demokrat in April of the first named year to A. Wallich and himself removed from the city some years later, dying- in Washington, D. C. in November 1897. Roeser was present at the initial meeting of the Wisconsin Press Association in 1857 and was chosen second vice president. In October Editor Schmidt of the Nordwesten tried an experiment in making his paper a tri-weekly, continuing it as such until April 1859, a Dr. Vette beings associated in the editorship in 1858. Another innovation took place in 1858 in the establishment on May 31st vi the Manitowoc Daily Tribune, published by Smith & Stone. In the words of the salutator}': "The issue of a daily paper is an event in the history of a village or city," and it mig-ht have been added as was done by the Madison Democrat in commenting on the venture: "A daily paper in a town the size of Manitowoc is a somewhat hazardous experiment." The sheet was a small one with little space devoted to local news and the price was fixed at twelve cents a week or five dollars a year. One of the first items it contained was that of the marriage at Two Rivers of Conrad Bates and Miss Dorothea A. Phillips, by Rev. M. L. Stanley, commentingupon "the liberal fee enclosed for the raarriag-e notice." The Weekly Tribune in the meanwhile continued publication and another competitor was introduced the following year when, on July 11 1859, the first issue of the Manitowoc Weekly Pilot appeared. Jere Crowley, a veteran Irish newspaper man was the proprietor, coming from Neenah, where he had edited the Advocate. A vigorous writer, who had been reared, as it were, in a newspaper office, having occupied all positions from that of "devil" upwards, he formed a valuable addition to the journalistic coterie. The Pilot was from the beginning strongly Democratic and maintained its political stand through its entire existence.

The field was thus occupied when the campaign of 1860 came on, unparalleled as to its bitterness. The various newspapers represented the various shades of opinion in that campaign most characteristically. At one extreme was the Man- itowoc Herald, flaunting- the names of Breckenridg-e and Lane, the candidates of the Southern Democracy, upon its editorial pag-es throug-hout the campaig-n. The Pilot on the other hand supported Douglas, bolting- certain nominees of the Democratic part}- in the county because of their Breckenridg-e sympathies. In a position mediate between the two was the third Democratic weekly, the Nordwesten. The Tribune and Demokrat, of course supported the Republican candidates. The conflict took on a personal aspect in many respects and General Smith was particularly attacked, being- nicknamed "Tin Horn Smith" on account of certain experiences he had underg-one in the northern wilds of Wisconsin. It seems that he was sent by the state to the fastnesses of Shawano County in January 1860 to protect certain timber lands from depredations. In preparing- for the expedition he made elaborate plans, taking- with him four men besides two teams, loaded with stores and impedimenta, furnished by the state. The bill for tin ware alone was $51.04, the schedule includingthree tin lanterns, one red sig-nal lantern and a tin horn five feet long. Some one sig-ning- himself Enquirer sent a communication to the leg-islature asking- for an investig-ation and remarking": -'If this expedition is an invading- army sent out to conquer Shawano County and annex it to Manitowoc I solemnly protest ag-ainst any chang-e in our county boundaries," The incident was the occasion of much discussion in that body, Smith being- attacked by Gabriel Bouck and Col. Elmore and being- as ably defended by Col. Cobb. Smith, himself, alwaj-s denied the charg-es and in fact it later transpired that he had only misconstrued orders but the nickname clungto him despite all. Editor Crowley, too, considered himself ag-g-rieved in the campaig-n. His race and record had been used ag-ainst him and eft'orts had been made by a member of his own party to oust him from the position of Deput}^ United States Marshal, which he then held. The decisii)n of the political strug-g-le did much to quiet the controversies and the Civil War brought many changes.

g-athered he surrendered the pen for the sword, consolidatinghis publication with that of Editor Roeser under the appel^- tion "Union Democrat." In the absence of the latter in Washing-ton on business during- 1861 F. Kuemler occupied the editorial chair but after three years of varied existence the paper suspended in Aug-ust 1864. The Herald had, early in 1861, come out for Lincoln, turning- in a direction exactly opposite from its former course and even the Pilot seemed to consider that the president should be supported in his efforts to sustain the union during- the early part of the war. It had become the official county paper by this time, a position it long occupied thereafter. This loss as well as the reducedcirculation due to the war was a hard blow to the Herald and it grew less and less influential, although it supported the Republican candidates in 1862, until finally it was oblig-ed to suspend on March 26 1863, the last issue, printed at Sheboygan, containing- the following \aledictory: "The truth has long- been apparent that we have in Manitowoc a superabundance of newspapers. We have only some thirty-five hundred voters in the county and three fourths of the patronizers of local papers require those printed in their own lang-uag-es. The support of the remainder is divided between three Eng-- lish papers, the entire amount of which is only sufficient for one. We confess that we have no ambition to pursue a business that does not pay a reasonable profit upon labor and capital and this will suffice for a full explanation of the course we have taken. Our suspension will be brief. We expect to resume it very soon in a less crowded field, where we shall call upon our editorial brethren of the state for a renewal of those liberal courtesies so characteristic of the Wisconsin press. With our readers we part reluctantly and, in closing-, the memory of long- years of pleasant intercourse, of kindnesses innumerable, of cheering- words and gracious deeds, - makes the task harder than we would wish, harder than they will ever know. May the shades of- adversity's nig-ht never fall upon their hearts or homes. From all we bespeak forg-etfulness of past g-rievances and here, at this restingpoint, we bury the hatchet of old dissensions." The outfit was sold to the Tribune anil Etlitor Fitch at first moved to Racine, where he started the Journal in November. Later, in 1867, he took up his residence in Washing-ton becoming- a prominent correspondent, being employed by the Pittsburg- Chronicle and Boston Post; still later he acted as confidential clerk of Senator Sawyer. He died in Washing-ton October 2 1899. Mr. Fitch was one of the ablest writers that have ever been in the journalistic world in Wisconsin and was honored by being- chosen vice president of the State Editorial Association in 1861 and president in 1863.

The war had a depressing- effect on all of the papers in -the county. Subscriptions fell off and the offices were constantly being- depleted by enlistments in the army. The Daily Tribune, which had battled for success so nobly, succumbed in November 1861, becoming at first tri-weekly, then semi-weekly and at last in August 1863 being merg-ed in the weekly edition. The daily edition was again started in 1865 but continued only a few months and another attempt made by the same publication during- the Franco-Prussian War met a similar fate. During- the sixties the Tribune underwent many changes of manag-ement. In 1864 Editor Smith accepted the position of quartermaster in the Thirty-Ninth Wisconsin and his chair was occupied by Rev. L. N. Wheeler, then pastor of the Methodist Church, and H. Sibree. The former retired in September as did the latter soon after when the editor turned the duties over to Julius Enert and Thomas Sullivan in April 1865. In October General Smith, after selling- out to O. B. Smith & Co., the principal member of the firm being- his brother, left for Warsaw, Missouri, where he resided until his death in October 1890. In partnership with John M. Read, formerly of Manitowoc also, he established the Warsaw Times which he continued to edit for many years. As an editor, politician and soldier he ranked high and Manitowoc sustained a loss in his departure. O. B. Smith and J. Enert continued to control the Tribune until June 1869 when they sold it to Fred Borcherdt, the next prominent figure in in county journalism. Both the old owners moved south establishing- the Knoxville, Tenn. Tribune and in 1889 O. B,

During- the troublous times of the war the Nordv^^esten had been suspended, no paper being- issued from 1861 until February 1865 when Editor Schmidt, who had been at the front, ag-ain took up the pen. In 1867 he commenced the publication of a Sunday story edition which has been continued as a feature up to the present day, proving- remarkably successful. The Pilot, in the meanwhile, had perhaps held the leading- position. An opponent of Republican principles and of Lincoln and his policies it had incurred the enmity of many radicals, who considered opposition as disloyalty. On the nig-ht of May 12 1863 the office was broken into and much of the type thrown into the lake, affording- the |boys royal sport diving- for lead for some days. This warning-, however, did not cause Editor Crowley to abate his opposition and in the next issue he offered fifty dollars reward for information regarding- the perpetrators of the outrage and remarked editorially: "If the scoundrels who have committed the dastardly act have not already repented we hope that Hell will one day find them in one of its hottest provinces." Soon after the war closed Mr. Crowley began to grow feeble and he was assisted in 1866 and 1867 by W. R. Kelley and in 1868 by J. M. Read, later of Kewaunee. In 1869 be retired definitely, selling the publication of which he had been ten years the editor to E. B. Treat. G. C. Skeen, a former Milwaukee Sentinel editor, was employed by Mr. Treat as editor for some time but in August he assumed charge himself. In April 1870 Jere Crowley passed away, mourned by all as a sincere and honest man. It is due to him that the Pilot was given such a prominent position at the outset, so that its later success might be easy. Soon after the war A. Wallich and C. Troemmel had taken up the broken threads again and reestablished the Demokrat, this time under the name of the Zeitung, the first issue appearing in June 1868, Republican in politics, as before.

having- disappeared with the exception of C. H. Schmidt. Nor did the changes stop there. In Aug-ust 1870 Mr. Treat relinquished the Pilot to J. C. Bollme3-er, who then acted as editor until his office was destroyed by fire on March 2 1871. Soon after Ten K3'ck G. Olmstead purchased the plant and continued to manage it alone until he associated with him John Nagle in the spring of 1876. Mr. Bollmeyer moved to Ohio where he edited the Wausion Expositer for some years and died in December 1898. The Tribune in the meantime was managed by F. Borcherdt but upon his appointment as consul to Leghorn, Italy in 1874 his son Kdward assumed the editorship. For six months in that year it changed to a semiweekly but resumed its old form in September, after which time John B. Miller was for some months associated in the management. The elder Borcherdt died abroad in 1877 and in April of the next year the Tribune discontinued publication, thus leaving the Republicans without an organ. Its valedictory was terse, stating in reference to reasons for the paper's suspension: "It is unnecessary to enumerate them, but the fact is that it does not pay to continue its publication." Edward Borcherdt became associated with John Nagle and tog"ether they purchased the Olmstead interests in the Pilot, the first issue under the new management appearing April 25 1878. Changes had also taken place among the German papers. Kditor Troemmel of the Zeitung died in February 1873 and the sheet was accordingly sold to Henry Baetz and Col. Wedelstad, the latter acting as editor until July 1875, when he removed to Milwaukee, later taking a position in the state treasurer's office. Fred Heinemann purchased the paper, changing- the name to Manitowoc Journal, but did not long continue its publication and in the latter seventies the German Republicans lost their organ. On March 8 1871 the legislature granted a charter to the Nordwesten Printing Company, John Franz, C. G. Schmidt, C. H. Schmidt, Henry Schweitzer, A. Piening. H. Menge and M. Kettenhoffen being the incorporators. Four years later Menge & Schweitzer took up the management of the paper, Mr. Schmidt still retaining the editorial chair and soon also re- suming- entire control. In 1878 the Nordwesten and Pilot were the only newspapers in the city. Two Rivers, however, had by this time secured a publication, the Manitowoc County Chronicle, established in 1872, in the championship of the socalled People's Party, then active in politics. Judge H. S. Pierpont was the first editor but did not remain long- at the head, being- succeeded temporarily in 1874 by Georg-e N. Woodin and selling- his interest in April of the followingyear to William F. Nash, the present proprietor. Mr. Nash has made a reputation state wide as an editor and has served the people of the county ably in the state senate. The paper is Democratic in politics. The city maintained a second paper, the Weekly Tribune edited by Robert Boehm and Republican in politics, for some time in 1900, but it soon discontinued.

On April 24 1879 appeared the first number of the new Manitowoc Tribune, revived by Henry Sandfordof Racine and published by W. Christie of that city. It was Republican in politics and immediately took up the strug-gle ag-ainst the Pilot. The latter had, however, a tremendous advantag-e due to a long- and continuous existence, careful manag-ement and a circulation of over two thousand. The Tribune, first published at Racine, was soon located in Manitowoc but Christie severed his connection with it, starting the Manitowoc Journal on June 15 1880, a three quarto Republican weekly appearing- Saturdays, that existed a little over a year. Editor Christie was a former Chicago Tribune employee. In June 1881 a new German paper, the Post, was founded- by A. Wittmann, independent in politics and in October of the same year the Lake Shore Times made its appearance, the outfit of the Journal having been purchased b}' Haukohl & Baensch. This, too, was Republican and continued under the same management until 1884, when J. S. Anderson purchased it. Under the latter's able editorship, and assisted no less ably by his wife, the paper took on a dignified and literary tone which made it very popular. In 1887 it was sold to H. G. Kress, who for two years was its editor, discontinuing its publication in order to engage in business in Spokane, Washing- ton. Other cbang-es also took place in the eig^hties; Edward . Borcherdt retired in 1888 from the I^ilot manag^ement and in January of the same year Editor Schmidt, the veteran of Manitowoc journalism, passed awa}'. Under his manag"ement the publication had taken a prominent place among- the German weeklies in the state and it was larg-ely due to his efforts that the German Editorial Association held its convention in Manitowoc in 1883. The paper was continued by a stock company from 1888 until 1893, H. Falg-e and later C. G. Schmidt, a brother of the deceased, acting- as editors. In the latter year it was sold under administration proceeding's to Mrs. C. H. Schmidt and for some months H. E. Kummer was the editor, after which C. G. Schmidt ag-ain resumed his duties, later associating with him his son Adelben Schmidt. In the Post management William F. Brandt was for some years associated, retiring- in 1892 to eng-ag-e in business independ= ently. Editor Sandford in the meantime continued to conduct the Tribune until in 1895 he secured a position at Madison. For some time he edited it from that city but in March 1897 sold the plant to G. G. Sedg-wick, Rev. Emmet W. Rankin and E. R. Barrett of Kansas City. Missouri. The paper was soon incorporated with the St. Nazianz Weekly, a six column folio that had been in existence since June 1895, the editor of the latter, H. C. Olson forming- one of the new corporation then org-anized under the name of the Citizen Publishing- Company. The name of the Tribune was also chang-ed to the Citizen. C. W. Roberts of Racine later purchased Olson's interest and became the editor of the Citizen, Editor Barrett removing- soon after to Missouri.

A new publication appeared on December 14 1893, issued from the office of the Brandt Printing- & Binding- Co., entitled the Manitowoc Times-Press, of which H. G. Kress was the editor, it being- in reality a continuation of the old Lake Shore Times. It, too, was Republican and has since continued to be such and Mr. Kress has continued to direct its editorial policy. The paper was published for some time independently by Mr. Kress and a daily edition of short duration was put forth in the fall of 1898. The years 1894 and 1896 wit- nessed the addition of two German weeklies in the county, which have since maintained themselves with credit, vi2., the Wahrheit, edited and owned b}' C. Otto Schmidt, appearing- first in the last named year, being- Democratic in politics and the Kiel National Zcitung-, started in 1894, owned at first by Halhnek & Landen, being- edited by the latter and later being- transferred to H. A. Kuenne. It is independent in politics. Editor Wittmann of the Post was honored by beingchosen president of the German Press Association in 1890. In May 1896 he sold his interests to Emil Baensch and William Gennrich and a year later be passed away after a life of usefulness. The paper after his death became Republican in politics. On March 21 1900 one of the saddest chapters in the history of Manitowoc journalism was recorded. John Nagle, editor of the Pilot, after a short illness, succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever and passed from mortal scenes. Beloved by all, staunch to friends and convictions he presented a notable fig-ure. He had at one time been honored with the presidency ot the State Editorial Association and his opinions, as they appeared week by week, were widely copied. His attitude in the Bennett Law controversy, where he took a stand opposite to that of his party, also marked him as a man of convictions and gave him a wide reputation. Soon after his death a company was fo; med, which purchased the Pilot and placed Sydney T. Pratt, formerly of the Milwaukee Sentinel, in the editorial chair. He remained in this position and was a part owner of the enterprise until May 1903, when the Nordwesten and Pilot were combined, E. W. Mackey becoming editor and Adelbert Schmidt business manag-er.

It was the occasion of much remark that for so many years a town of the size of Manitowoc should have no daily paper. The project was often considered in the early nineties but it was not until October 19 1898 that the Brandt Printing- & Binding- Co. issued the first number of the Manitowoc Daily Herald. AJ. C. Getting-s of Monroe was the first editor and was succeeded after a few months by E. R. Barrett and then by E. W. Mackey, also of Monroe, who has ably conducted its columns. After a hard strug-gle it g-ained a distinctive place in the popular favor and has a circulation of over a thousand. In October 1899 the Herald- Press Publishing- Co. was formed with. H. G. Kress as president, Horal Nelson as vice president and W. F. Brandt as secretary and treasurer, the company publishing- both the Daily Herald and Weekly Times-Press. The former is independent in politics. On May 12 1900 another daily, The News, appeared for the first time. Republican in politics with C. W. Roberts as editor, he having- acquired the interests of the Citizen Publishing- Company. For a time F. Ellis Reed was connected with the manag-ement and finally John Mc- Farlane of Racine purchased the paper and has since conducted it and the Weekly Citizen in a most satisfactory manner.

There have been more or less of what might be called ephemereal publications in the county. A relig-ious weekly, Concordia by name, was published in Manitowoc during- 1875 and 1876 but was later removed to Green Bay. Rev. Roehl of the German M. E. Church edited a monthly desig-nated Der Hausbesucher in 1888 devoted to pastoral affairs. Rev. Rog-- ers and Rev, Gray of St. James during- the nineties also edited The Diocese, another church periodical. A Polish weekly, Wezyotko Jezusa published by local priests was established in 1887 and attained a wide circulation but the hard times of 1894 caused it to suspend. Another Polish publication, the Biblioteczka Rodzinna, met the same fate after a five months' existence in 1903. During- 1896 Walter Wittmann edited a Populistic weekly entitled the New Broom, published at the office of the Manitowoc Post. Amateur talent has also found means of expression in the publication of The Picket by the pupils of the North Side High School in 1883 and 1884, the New Era and So-To-Speak by the pupils of the same school and the various other small miscellany. On the whole the prog-ress of the press in the county has been one of the brightest phases in its history.