Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Chapter 50, 1880

Chapter 50

History of ihe Newspaper Press of Oshkosh . - Municipal Finance - The Several Issues of City Bonds - Amount Expended in Permanent Public Improvements.

iH E history of the newspaper enterprises of Oshkosh presents a theme of § interest, in a historical point of view, and is a subject of curiosity as exhibiting the vicissitudes and rapid changes, the rise and fall, the struggles, and successes as well as failures, in the more early journalism of the now metropolitan city, with its vigorous and enterprising newspapers, filled with news of the latest events, even to the hour of going to press, from not only all parts of this country but also by cable from the most remote parts of the Old World.

The various issues, local and political, which gave rise to the earlier newspapers of Oshkosh., were too complicated to be of any interest, or even admit, in a brief chapter, of thorough explanation. Suffice it to say, that the editorial fire and the heated controversies of those days were only commensurate with the feeling engendered by the issues involved. It must be said of early journalism in Oshkosh that, although the newspapers were comparatively small and meager, some of them were exceedingly bitter in their editorial tone, and the warmest rivalry existed between opposing publications which too often resulted in personal encounters between the editors and parties affected by the hot-headed articles that often appeared.

In early times, newspapers were started almost in a day, generally in the advocacy of some leadingquestion or issue which absorbed special attention, and seldom outlived the settlement of the questions involved. To the large number of these questions, principally local, which, in fact, appertain to almost any newly settled and rapidly developing country.

is due the multiplicity of newspapers that had their origin in the support of one faction or another engaged in those controversies. One fact is a matter of mention, that the first paper ever started in Oshkosh exists, in its lineal dcscendency to thistime. The Oshkosh Northwestern is the direct lineal outgrowth of the Oshkosh True Democrat, established in 1849. The antiquated material of the latter was burned in the NortIiivester)i office in the great fire of April 28, 1875.

Oshkosh True Democrat

The first number of the Oshkosh True Democrat, which was a free-soil paper, appeared on P'ebruary 9, 1849, bearing the nam-es of Densmore & Cooley, publishers, and James Densmore, editor. It was heralded with great expectations by the people of the village, being the first newspaper ever published here; and the people naturally took some pride in the distinction of possessing a " home paper. " Moreover, the citizens and business men, as an inducement towards starting a paper here, had advanced the money for the printing material, and office outfit, agreeing to be reimbursed in subscriptions and job printing, so that many of the citizens had a direct interest in the success of the undertaking. Densmore was the prime mover and leading spirit in the enterprise, and managed and edited the paper, while Mr. Cooley superintended the mechanical part of the work. About eighteen months after the paper was started, Densmore bought out Mr. Cooley and shortly afterwards sold the paper to George Burnside, and went to Milwaukee. He returned in about three months, however, and again assumed the editorship of the paper, although, it is thought, he had no further proprietary interest in it. The name of the paper was then changed to the Oshkosh Democrat, and the announcement made that henceforth it would be independent in politics. On April I, 1853, Mr. Densmore retired from the paper, and Chauncey J. Allen took his place, having purchased an interest, the style of the firm being George Burnside & Co. On July 8th. of that year Mr. Jonathan Dougherty, of Oshkosh, who was at that time the candidate for lieutenant governor on the free soil ticket, became a partner in the concern and assumed the duties of business manager, the style of the firm remaining the same. On March 10, 1854, Mr. Allen withdrew from the firm. Just a year afterwards Mr. Martin Mitchell became the editor and manager. In August 1856, Mr. Markham andC. W. Felker purchasedthe paper and changed it to Republican in politics, that party havingby this time secured a strongfoothold throughout the country. January 20, 1857, Mr. Markham sold his interest to Charles G. Finney Jr. and the firm was changed to Finne)' & Felker and continued so until April 1858 when Mr. F'elker disposed of his interest to B. F. Davis, and the firm then became Finney & Davis. In the same month that Markham & Felker became proprietors of the paper, they started a daily issue and continued it until December 1857, when it was discontinued simultaneously with the discontinuance of its rival contemporary, the Daily Courier, both dailies ceasing publication on the same day, by a mutual agreement between its editors who had carried on a bitter warfare for some time and had continued their daily issues at a pecuniary loss to both offices. On July 21, i860. George Gary became sole proprietor of the paper, and conducted it until Oct. 3rd. following, when he sold out to Nevitt & Pike, proprietors of a new paper called the Xorthivesterii, started the spring previous, and the two papers were consolidated under the title of the Nortlnvestern.

Oshkosh Courier

The second leading newspaper started in Oshkosh was the Courier, which was founded in June 1853 by J. H. McAvoy, who issued but a few numbers and sold it to Jere Crowley who conducted it until August 17, 1853, when he disposed of it to George H. Read and Charles R. Nevitt, who had just settled here from Buffalo, New York. Mr. Nevitt was a practical printer, direct from one of the leading newspaper offices of that city. Mr. Read, a writer of acknowledged ability assumed the position of editorial manager, and the Courier soon became a substantial and influential paper, noted for its force of character and independence. It became the leading Democratic paper in the vicinity. In August 1857, Mr. Nevitt sold his interest in the business to Marcellus Strong, and the firm became Read & Strong, and so continued until the spring of issued in Oshkosh The Daily Courier was first issued on July 10, 1854, and was published until December 1857, when it was discontinued on the same day that its rival, the Daily Democrat, sank to rest, as previously noted.

into the Nortlnvcstern, then conducted by Nevitt&Co., a new firm was formed, (sec history of the Nortliwestcrii) and the Courier, as a distinct publication, ceased to exist.

The Northwestern

In May i860, two years and a half after Mr. Nevitt withdrew from the Courier, he associated himself with D. C. Felton, F. C. Messenger, and C. H. Messenger, usder the firm name of D. C. Felton & Co., for the publication of the A'(;7'//«t'nVi-r;/. On the iSth. of that month the first number was issued. This firm continued the publication until October 3rd. of that year. Upon the ist. of October, i860, we find three leading and well established English newspapers in Oshkbsh, the Democrat and Nortlnvcsterti Republican papers, and the Courier, a Democratic paper. On the third of that month an arragement was consummated whereby Mr. Gary sold out the Democrat to the Northwestern, thus consolidating the two Republican papers, and at the . same time the firm of D. C. Felton & Co., then conducting the Nortlnvcstern, was disolved, and a new firm formed, consisting of C. R. Nevitt and C. E. Pike, under the style ofC. R. Nevitt & Co. On January 12th. following, a daily issue was started and continued until August 28th. of the same year, when, like its daily predecessors, two years previous, it was discontinued as an unprofitable undertaking. In 1863, R. C. Eden purchased a third interest in the Nortlnvcstern and became the local editor, the firm still retaining its former title of C. R. Nevitt & Co. On August 12, 1864, another important consolidation took place. The Courier, then conducted by Morley & Davis, on that date merged into and was consolidated with the Northwestern, and a new firm was formed. Nevitt & Co. withdrew and Morley & Davis remained, taking in George Gary with them, forming the firm of Gary, Morley & Davis, which continued until November of that year when Mr. Morley withdrew leaving the firm, Gary & Davis. In March 1866, Mr. Gary sold out to C. G. Finney Jr. and the firm became Finney & Davis. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Finney sold out to Mr. Davis who conducted it, with John Hicks as local editor, until October 13, 1870, when Mr. Hicks and Thomas S. Allen, of Madison, whose term as Secretary of State had expired the January previous, bought out the concern and have since conducted it under the firm name of Allen & Hicks. In April, 1873, the Nortlnvcstern absorbed the Oshkosh Journal, then being published by Rounds & Morley.

Thus the Nortlnvcstern is the consolidation and embodiment of four of the leading newspapers started in Oshkosh. On January 6, 1868, the dailywasre-established,and has continued until thistime in a flourishing condition, being enabled, by the liberal patronage given it, to take the regular associated press dispatches, and maintain reporters and correspondents in all the cities and villages in this part of the state.

In the great fire of April 28, 1875, the entire office was swept away, none of the material being saved. This, however, did not deter it from issuing its regular daily edition with a stroke of enterprise which deserves to be related.

Before the office had fully succumbed to the flames, a new location was rented in Moore's block, just outside the fire limits; and even while the fire was burning on Broad Street, and the eyeningtrain southward had to run the gauntlet of flame and smoke on that street, Gen. Allen, the senior partner of the firm, taking the foreman of the office with him, boarded the train for Chicago, to purchase a new outfit. The city editor, Mr. C. W. Bowron, taking with him several compositors went by the same train to Fond du Lac, where a printing office was rented temporarily, and the small force set determinedly to work to get out a paper on the following morning. All night long, after a day of hard work fighting fire, they strove like heroes, and the early morning train to Oshkosh brought back the Daily Northwestern on the streets, with a full and detailed account of the great conflagration, and an accurate diagram of the burnt district, and bearing, in a conspicuous line beneath the heading of the paper, the cheering words: " We still Live. " The paper was issued in this manner for four days, the city editor collecting his news and further details of the great calamity through the day, going to Fond du Lac in the evening, writing out his copy and having it set during the night and returning to Oshkosh with an enormous edition in the morning. Four days after the fire, a new office was in full operation; and the daily never missed an issue, except the one that was burned upon the press the afternoon of the fire.

Mr. Shirley, who was one of the best printers in the northwest, published a very interesting local paper. He was very popular and was building up a good busines, when his office was burned in the fire of May 1866. His insurance had run out, and he lost very heavily. In the following June he started the paper anew and continued its publication until the fall of 1867, when it was bought by George Hyer and D. W. Fernandez, formerly of Madison, who changed the name of the paper to the Os/ikos/i 'fillies, and on October i, 1867, issued the first number. Mr. Hyer, who was widely known as one of the leading journalists of the west and one of the ablest writers, soon brought the paper up to a high standard, and it became one of the most influential journals in the State.

Mr. Hyer died April 20, 1872, and in the summer of that year S. D. Carpenter, of Madison, became associated with Fernandez in the publication, under the firm name of Carpenter & Fernandez. After the close of the campaign of that year, Mr. Carpenter retired, and in the spring following Mr. Gus O'Brien became the editorial writer of the paper, which post he held until the summer of 1874, when he ended his connection with it, and Mr. Fernandez continued the publication alone, until the 28th. of April, when the office was destroyed in the great fire. Shortly afterwards new material was obtained and the republication of the paper commenced by Fernandez and A. T. Glaze - the latter a gentleman long identified with the press of Fond du Lac and Ripon - under the firm name of hY-rnandcz & Glaze, and so continues to the present time.

Winnekaiio Telegraph

The Winnebago Telegraph was a paper started in the fall of 1 849, by Dr. B. S. Henning. He shortly sold out to Morley & Edwards, who, after publishing it a short time, discontinued it, Mr. Edwards taking the material to Appleton, where it was burned the first night of its arrival.

In August 1850, by an eff'ort of the leading whigs of this city, a paper was started here called the Os/tkosh Delegate, under the management of M. P. Shipper. Shipper issued but a few numbers when he abandoned the project and G. W. Washburn and Dudley Blodgett assumed control, and edited the paper until it could be disposed of In the fall of the year the paper was sold to J. .D. Hyman, and its name changed to the Oshkosh Republican. Hiram Morley shortly became

Oshkosh Republican Oshkosh Transcript

OSHKOSH TRANSCRIPT. The Oshkosh Transcript was started in March i860, by Thomas A. Harney, who disposed of it the following June, to John A. Ferrell. Mr. Ferrell continued it but a short time, when he removed the office to Beaver Dam, and it merged into the Argns of that place.

Oshkosh Jou'Rn.Al

OSHKOSH JOU'RN.AL. In July, 1868, the Oshkosh Joitriial, a Republican paper, was started by H. E. Rounds and Hiram Morley, and continued successfully until April 1873, when it was sold to the Northivestern and consolidated with that paper. This was a well conducted paper, and presented a very neat typographical appear- ' ance.

Trade Reporter

A monthlyjournal, called the Trade Reporter, was published and edited by E. C. Atkinson, during the year 1871-72, but was discontinued about the close of 1872.

Real Estate Bulletin

REAL ESTATE BULLETIN. In May 1872, a very readable business monthly, called the Real Estate Bulletin and Trades Journal, was commenced by O. H. Harris, and very acceptably conducted for just one year, when it was discontinued.

THE independi-:nt. In the fall of 1874, a new paper called the Independent, was started by G. S. Kaime and F. F. Livermore. It was continued until the great fire of April 28, 1875, when the office was entirely destroyed, and the paper was never resurrected.

Greenback Standard

In February 1878, the Greenback Standard was started by Levy & Ryckman. It so continued until the fall of that year, when Hiram Morley and his son Edward bought out Ryckman's interest and the name of the paper was changed to the Oshkosh Standard. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Levy retired from the firm and shortly afterwards E. G. Waring bought in. In the course of a few weeks Mr. G. S. Kaime bought out Edward Morley and the firm became Morley, Kaime & Waring, and so continues at this time.

Western Monthly Pictorial

In January 1878, was issued the first number of a monthly illustrated journal, called the Wcsh-rn Monthly Pictorial, with Albert Norton as publisher, and Mary J. Norton as editress. Just six numbers were issued when the publication was discontinued.

The Early Dawn

In iMay, 1876, the Early Dawn, an amateur weekly publication devoted to religious and Sunday School matters, was started by Eddie E, and Minnie T. Carhart, children of J. W. Carhart, the presiding elder of the Methodist churches for this district, and continues at this, time, being edited with a considerable degree of ability.

The German Press

The history of the German newspapers of Oshkosh does not present so wide a range, or so much of variation, as that of the English. Fewer papers printed in the German language have existed, although most of them found the same experiences as their English contemporaries.

Anzeiger Des Nordwesterns

The first German newspaper ever published in Oshkosh was the Anseiger des Nordw«/^;-;«, issued in May, 1852, by Charles and Valentine Kohlmann. It was edited mainly by Charles Roeser, who also conducted the editorial department of a paper in Menasha, and divided his time between the two papers. The paper was discontinued in the fall of 1854, and Messrs. Kohlmann & Brother removed their office to Siou.x City.

The Pluinix was the name of a paper started in the spring of 1855 by Gustav Grahl. He continued the publication of it until the spring of 1857, when he discontinued it and removed the office to Dubuque, Iowa.

Oshkosh Deutche Zeituxo

In December, 1856, Theodore Frentz started the Oshkosh Deutsche Zcitiiiig, and continued it until the summer of 1857, when he sold it to Charles W. Erb, who conducted it but a short time, and disposed of it to Theodore Friedlander. The office was burned in the great fire ofMay9th, 1859, but was immediately re-started, and continued a few months, when it was removed to Fond du Lac.

Wisconsin Telegraph

In April, 1858, Messrs. Kohlmann & Brother returned to this city and started a paper called the Waechter am VViiuiebago, with Henry Cordier as editor. It was discontinued in October, i860, and a monthly magazine, styled the Deutsche Volkblaettcn, started by the same firm with Carl Rose as editor. This publication was continued until October, 1866, when it gave place to the Wisconsin Telegraph, published weekly, by Kohlmann & Brother, with Carl Rose as editor, and so continues, the only German paper published in Oshkosh.

Recapitulation

From theforegoing history of the newspaper press of Oshkosh, it will be seen that at the present time the newspapers of Oshkosh are as follows:

Personal

John Hicks, now business manager of the Nortlrwestern, who first commenced his connection with the press in 1867, as city editor of the Northwestern. In 1870 he became a partner with General Allen in the publication of the Northwestern, which office they purchased at that time, since which he has been the business manager. Mr. Hicks is a man of fine business qualifications, energetic, prompt and enterprising, and manages his department in a very efficient manner.

Charles W. Bowron,city editor of the Northtvestcrn, commenced his connection with that paper in February, 1872. He is a very ready and able writer as the article from his pen descriptive of the great fire of 1875 so well attests. The local columns of the Nort/nuestern also give the fullest evidence of his ability and vigorous style.

Dud Fernandez, of the 'Times, as will be seen, has been associated with the management of that paper from the first. As a good practical printer, and an experienced editor, he is fully competent to the business or editorial management.