PRESS OF KENNEBEC COUNTY. HALLOWELL. BY E. ROWELL. EASTERN STAR. Hallowell claims the honor of publishing the first newspaper, on the Kennebec. It was called the Eastern Star, and com- menced its existence on the fourth of August, 1794 -Howard S. Robinson, proprietor. The Star was succeeded by THE TOCSIN. This paper was published by Wait and Baker in 1795.* On the fourteenth of November, of the same year, THE KENNEBEC INTELLIGENCER Was established in the northern part of Hallowell (now Augusta) by Peter Edes. Its size was 11 by 16 inches. The Tocsin and Intelligencer were the only papers published in Maine, east of Portland, at this time. By the most indomitable enterprises and perseverance, these papers were enabled to publish news from London in sixty-one days! and congressional proceedings at Philadelphia, Penn., in sixteen days! The Tocsin lived but a few years. The Intelligencer was changed to the Kennebec Gazette in 1800; and, in 1810, became Thomas B. Wait, of the Falmouth Gazette, and John K. Baker, formerly an ap- prentice in the Falmouth Gazette office. In September, 1796, they sold the paper to Benjamin Poor, of the Hook, who continued its publication about a year.-North's, Hist. Augusta. 88 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. THE HERALD OF LIBERTY, Which name it retained until its discontinuance in 1815, when Edes removed his establishment to Bangor. * 88 AMERICAN ADVOCATE. The American Advocate, a Democratic Republican paper, was, established by Nathaniel Cheever in the year 1810. Mr. Cheever was succeeded by S. K. Gilman, who published the paper for six years, and then sold to C. Spaulding, who subsequently disposed of the establishment to Sylvanus W. Robinson and H. K. Baker. Messrs. Robinson and Baker continued the publication until its union with the Free Press. HALLOWELL GAZETTE. The Hallowell Gazette, Federal in politics, was established by Goodale and Burton, in the year 1814, and was continued for about twenty years. *Peter Edes, the pioneer printer, and newspaper publisher at Augusta, was a son of Benjamin Edes, a well known printer and newspaper publisher at an early day in Boston. He came to the Fort Western settlement, in Hallowell, in 1795, and com- menced the publication of the Kennebec Intelligencer in the fall of that year. Edes was an ardent federalist, and in high party times was threatened with personal violence for the manifestation of his zeal in the cause. The threat he did not fail to properly notice in the Gazette. He was spirited, energetic and industrious, small in stature, with spindle shanks, his legs being quite deficient of calves, and as be dressed, ac- cording to the fashion of the time, in small clothes with long stockings to the knees, this defect was quite noticeable. When he removed to Bangor he took his types and press with him. They were moved by Ephraim Ballard with a team of six oxen. The load is said to have weighed four tons, and on account of the weakness of the Kennebec bridge it was taken across a, part at a time. The journey to Bangor proved difficult, occupying the team three weeks in going and returning. The "ex- pense of removal was only $143," which Edes considered quite moderate. At Ban- gor he commenced the publication of the Bangor Weekly Register, a paper which was considered of doubtful politics, but he probably did not so regard it, as he in- quired of an Augusta correspondent "what do the people say of my Bangor democratic paper?" He seems to have been pleased with his new situation, and thought he could "make out to live, if nothing more," while, he says, at Augusta he had "sunk, property by tarrying so long with so little encouragement." The veteran editor and pioneer publisher in the largest cities of central and eastern Maine, removed to Baltimore, Md., and lived many years with Benjamin Edes, his- son. He afterwards returned to Bangor and lived with a widowed daughter until his- decease, March 29, 1840, at the age of eighty-three years. _ North's Hist. of Augusta KENNEBEC COUNTY. 68 FREE PRESS. The Free Press, Anti-Masonic, was afterward established by Anson G. Herrick, and was subsequently edited by R. D. Rice. It was finally merged with the Advocate, and published under the title of Free Press and Advocate. GENIUS OF TEMPERANCE. The Genius of Temperance, devoted to the temperance re- form, was established in January, 1828; published semi-monthly by Glazier and Co., for P. Crandall, editor and proprietor. It con- tinued about two years, without pecuniary advantage to the proprietor. CULTIVATOR AND GAZETTE. The Maine Cultivator and Weekly Gazette was established by T. W. Newman and It. G. Lincoln, Sept. 28, 1839, under the edi- torial management for two years of Wm. A. Drew. It was devoted prominently to "Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," for the first few years, and received a fair support from the citi- zens of Hallowell and surrounding country. Messrs. Newman and Lincoln continued as publishers until March, 1842; T. W. Newman from that date until Sept., 1843; T. W. and G. E. New- man to Sept., 1845; T. W. Newman and E. Rowell from Sept., 1845, to June, 1852; E. Rowell and H. L. Wing to June, 1854; E. Rowell from June, 1854, to Nov. 1859; E. Rowell and Charles E. Nash to June, 1862; E. Rowell from June, 1862, to June, 1865; Charles E. Nash to Sept., 1869; and by Henry Chase from that time to the present writing, July, 1871. In 1850 the heading of the paper was reversed, taking the name of Hallowell Gazette and Maine Cultivator; and at the commencement of the fifteenth volume, Sept., 1853, the second heading was dropped, retaining only Hallowell Gazette. After Mr. Chase became publisher, the name was again changed to the Saturday Gazette, now dis- continued. Mr. Rowell, who was connected with the Culti- vator and Gazette as employe, or editor and publisher, from Sept., 1839, to June, 1865, has complete files of the paper from its commencement - volumes of rare interest, to those especially who have been participants in the stirring events of the period. 12 90 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. THE LIBFRTY STANDARD. The Liberty Standard, devoted to the cause of negro emanci- pation, was established by Rev. S. C. Lovejoy, editor and propri- etor, about the year 1840. Mr. Lovejoy was a vigorous writer, and the enemies of universal emancipation and the cause of tem- perance were often severely handled. Rev. Austin Willey after- ward conducted the paper with marked ability. It was published for some six or eight years, but, as a business enterprise, was not considered successful. It was printed at the Cultivator and Ga- zette office, by Messrs. Newman and Rowell. KENNEBEC COURIER. A paper called the Kennebec Courier was published in Hal- lowell. for a year or two by T. W. Newman, commencing some time in 1861 or'62. It was afterward removed to Bath, where it lingered for a time, and then vanished away. There was another paper published here for a few months by J. W. May and A. C. Currier, called the Northern Light. That also ended its existence without pecuniary benefit to its publishers. Mr. Goodale, the first proprietor of the old Hallowell Gazette, established the first bookstore in Hallowell- the only one east of' Portland, at that time. In the year 1820, Mr. Goodale formed a connection with Franklin Glazier and Andrew Masters in the book publishing and binding business. This firm published the first Maine Law Reports; and in fact this was the chief book publish- ing house in the State for many years. The firm was subsequently changed to Glazier, Masters and Smith; then to Masters, Smith and Co., and finally, at the present writing, to Masters and Liver- more. Mr. Masters came to Hallowell in the year 1815, and is the oldest printer and book publisher in the State.* He is now active in business, and may be found at the case almost my working day in the year, setting type as rapidly and correctly as ever. Mr. J. E. Smith, formerly of this firm, is now cashier of the Northern National Bank of Hallowell. Mr. Cheever connected a bookstore with his printing establish- ment about the year 1812, and published several books on his own * Mr, Masters was not established in business until 1820: S. Griffin in 1819. 91 account, and for Boston publishers. His health failing a year or two afterward, he sold out his establishment to S. K. Gilman, and went south for the benefit of his health. Ile died in Augusta, Ga., after being there a few weeks. Mr. Gilman transferred the bookstore to Calvin Spaulding in 1820, and the printing establish- ment in the autumn of 1824. Mr. Spaulding carried on the book and newspaper business for several years, and then disposed of the printing business and material to Messrs. Robinson and Baker, as before stated. He has continued the book-selling business until the present time, having occupied the same Store for more than fifty years. Ile came to Hallowell in the year 1812, at the age of fifteen years. He is now an active business man.* Among those now living who have been engaged in the news- paper business in Hallowell, are S. K. Gilman, now Judge of the municipal court of the city; C. Spaulding, now bookseller in Hal- lowell; R. D. Rice, now President of Maine Central Railroad; H. K. Baker, now Judge of Probate for the County of Kennebec; Anson G. Herrick, one of the proprietors of the New York Sun- (lay Morning Atlas; T. W. Newman, now compositor in the New York Tribune office; G. E. Newman, now job printer in Bath; E. Rowell, now postmaster at Hallowell; Chas. E. Nash, now one of the proprietors of the Kennebec Journal; and Henry Chase, pro- prietor of the Gazette until it was discontinued, Dec. 9, 1871. It would be interesting to sketch the history of all those mem- hers of the Hallowell press alluded to in this brief article. Most of them were practical printers, and men of business enterprise and moral worth. Those who have passed away have left their "imprint" for good upon the community, while those now in ac- tive life exert, to say the least, an average beneficent influence in business, political and moral circles. We trust some future his- torian of the press may complete a history thus briefly and bur- riedly inaugurated. HALLOWELL, July, 1871. In 1820 to 1823, 1 went to Hallowell occasionally for books, and to Gardiner for paper. I traded with Mr. buildding fifty years ago, and brought books from the building now occupies to the building still occupied by me. Tbe agreement in our ages, -lean, 5 1-2 ft., wiry frames -time of continuance in similar occupations, etc., are coincidences that create no little degree of brotherly feeling. -Ed. 92 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE AUGUSTA. For the history of the press in Augusta, excepting what is included in brackets or otherwise designated, we are indebted to North's interesting history of Augusta, published, 1870,, in a handsome volume of 990 pp., from the press of Sprague, Owen and Nash. KENNEBEC INTELLIGENCER. [This was the first paper published in Augusta. It was com- menced in 1795 in what was then the northern part of Hallowell, called Fort Weston settlement. Fifteen months later the place was incorporated under the name of Augusta. It was after the incorporation of the new town that the name of the Intelligencer was changed to Kennebec Gazette, and subsequently to the Her- ald of Liberty. For other particulars see page 87.] AUGUSTA PATRIOT. Proposals were issued December 12, 1816, by James Burton, Jr., for publishing the Augusta Patriot, in which he said, "per- sonal invective, political rancor, and sectarian heat, shall be rigidly excluded from its columns." Burton had been an apprentice of Peter Edes, and had started the Hallowell Gazette, a federal pa- per, in company with Ezekiel Goodale, in January, 1814. The first number of the Patriot was issued March 7, 1817. Both the republican and federal nominations appeared conspicuously in it. It probably was not sufficiently partizan for the times, and died a year or two after from want of patronage. KENNEBEC JOURNAL. [In the fall of 1823, Augusta having been for some time with- ,out a newspaper, the citizens through their committee invited Lather Severance and Russell Eaton to establish a newspaper in their town.] The press was set up in the Branch brick store at the southeast corner of Bridge and Water streets, where the first number of the Journal was struck- off, January 8th, by Benjamin Davis, Esq., who was present and "I gave the pull and took the pa- per," which he has preserved as a memento of the event. As the subscription list at this time was small, numbering but four hun- dred and fifty, and slowly increased, it became necessary for the publishers to practice a strict economy. They performed all the labor of composition and press work with the assistance of only one apprentice. Severance, who furnished the editorials, was in the habit of putting a portion of them in type without writing. This was done to save time, "thus uniting " - as has been re- marked by Mr. Blaine - ,with ease and rapidity, a mechanical and mental process, which gave early proof of that well digested and concise mode of thought, which subsequently distinguished him as a political writer of ready force and condensed power." In October, 1833, the Journal was enlarged a column to the page and proportionally lengthened. This became necessary from the growing demand for more space to treat of themes of public interest, in the discussion of which it was taking ........................ ................................................................................................... LUTHER SEVERANCE. A brief from North's History of Augusta. Luther Severance was the son of Elilu Severance, a farmer at Cazenovia, N. Y. He was born in Oct. 1797,. He worked upon the farm and attended the village school until his seventeenth year, when he went to Peterborough to learn the art of printing of Jonathan Bunce. With him he remained five years; when, being of age, he sought work as a journeyman printer. He found employment at Philadelphia with Wm. Duane, publisher of the Aurora, a newspaper which supported the administration of Pres. Munroe. He remained more than a year in Philadelphia, and wrote, among other things for the Aurora, a communication upon the subject of the Missouri Com- promise (a subject then agitating the country), which did him great credit. In the fall of 1820 he went to Washington and obtained work in the Intelligencer Office where he remained, with slight interruptions, until he went to Augusta. In 1829 he was elected by the National Republican party to represent Augusta in the Legislature. In 1835 and 1836 he was elected to the Senate from Kennebec. In 1839 and 1840 he was again in the House of Representatives. In 1843 he was elected to Congress; and again in I M. He was one of the vice-presidents at the national convention which nominated Gen. Taylor to the presidency. Upon the election of Gen. Taylor and the accession of the Whigs to power, Mr. Severance,who had for some years suffered much from ill health, desired the appoint- ment of the United States Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands in the hope that the salubrity of the climate of those islands might restore him. In this he was gratified, after some delay made by southern senators on account of his anti-slavery views. Accompanied by his family, he sailed from Boston for Honolulu on the 22d day of August, 1850, and safely reached his destination on the 12th day of the following January. He remained nearly three years commissioner at the Sandwich Islands, ac- 94 THIE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. a leading part. In June of the same year Mr. Eaton retired from the establishment, leaving Mr. Severance the sole proprietor and manager for several years, until, in the beginning of 1839, he sold half of the paper and establishment to John Dorr, who had been engaged at Belfast in publishing the Waldo Patriot. This con- nection was a fortunate and profitable one to the partners, and continued until Mr. Severance was appointed commissioner to the Sandwich Islands in 1850, when the Journal passed into the hands of William H. Wheeler and William H. Simpson, and was edited by Mr. Wheeler. Wheeler sold his interest to his partner Simp- son, and engaged with John H. Lynde in publishing a paper at Bangor. Simpson in turn -sold the establishment and paper to ...................................................................... ..................................................... quiring great influence with the king and his cabinet, and winning the favorable re- gards and esteem of the foreign consuls and the people of the islands. The climate did not have the favorable effect anticipated, and his rapidly failing health made him anxious to return. He embraced the earliest opportunity to leave, after the arrival of' his successor, and reached his home at Augusta on the 12th of April, 1854, with health prostrated past hope of recovery. In much suffering, which he bore with Christian fortitude, he lived until January 25,1855, when he died, at the age of fifty-seven years. The legislature then in session, upon being informed of the event, passed appropriate resolutions, and as a "testimonial of their regard for his memory as a man of integrity and honor and a faithful public officer," attended his funeral, as did also the Governor ,and Council, the city council of Augusta, and a large number of citizens. Rev. Dr. Tappan, who assisted Rev. L. G. Ware, pastor of the Unitarian church, -at the funeral, said he had known Mr. Severance for many years, "and held him in high esteem. Though not blessed with superior advantages in early life, yet by dili- gent culture in the faithful use of those means of information which are accessible to all, he obtained high rank among men of intelligence. As the editor of a weekly journal as a citizen of Augusta, as a member of our State legislature and our national Congress, as commissioner from the United States in a foreign country, he was uni- formly distinguished for his good sense, his sound judgment, his extensive acquaint- ance with men and things, and his firm adhesion to what fie regarded as correct prin- ciple. A man of exemplary morals himself, be was ever found on the side of good morals in the community, both in his native country and in those interesting islands of the sea where his elevated station gave to his opinions, counsel and example, a corn- minding influence. Peculiarly amiable and kind in his domestic and social relations, he was sure to gain the affections, in no ordinary degree, of kindred and friends." - See J. G. Blaine's Memoir of Severance. KENNEBEC COUNTY. 95 James G. Blaine and Joseph Baker. After a short ownership Mr. Baker parted with his interest to John L. Stevens, and in 1857 Mr. Blaine was succeeded by John S. Sayward, and the paper was published by Stevens and Sayward, editors and proprietors, until 1868, when it was sold to Alden Sprague, who was publishing a paper at Rockland, Capt. Charles E. Nash, of the Hallowell Ga- zette, and Howard Owen, who had long served in the Journal office. These persons formed the firm of Sprague, Owen and Nash. This enterprising firm commenced the publication of the Daily Kennebec Journal on the first day of January, 1870, with encouraging prospects of success. A daily paper had been started in Augusta a number of times before, but failed each time for want of sufficient encouragement. MAINE PATRIOT. On the twenty-eighth of August, 1827, James Dickman issued proposals to publish, at Augusta, the Maine Patriot and State Ga- zette. A number of citizens opposed to Mr. Adams, and ardently in favor of Gen. Jackson for the presidency, were instrumental in starting the Patriot. The leaders were Edmund T. Bridge, John A. Chandler, Edward Williams, and Greenlief White. Wednes- day Oct. 31st, the new paper, of a size somewhat larger than its contemporary, the Kennebec Journal, made its appearance under the editorship of Aurelius V. Chandler. In the presidential canvass of the next year the Patriot was foremost in the contest for Gen. Jackson, and after his election, in May, 1829, it was sold to Harlow Spaulding, by whom it was published, under the continued editorial charge of Mr. Chandler, who, in the fill of the following year, went south to recruit his health, where he died, in Charleston, S. C., December 31, 1830, at the age of twenty-three years. James W. Bradbury succeeded Mr. Chandler in the editorial chair, but relinquished it July 1, 1831, and the paper was discontinued in December following, hav- ing been superseded by the Age. THE AGE. The legislature in removing from Portland made it necessary to provide at Augusta a printing establishment for the State 196 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. printing, and a newspaper which should be the organ of the dom- inant party in the State. With this view a company "with a large capital" established the Age, which was printed in the Pa- triot office. The first number of the new paper was issued Dec. 23d, 1831, with the motto, "You must pardon something to the spirit of Liberty." In politics it was democratic and in harmony with the State and National administrations. In its prospectus, which was issued by Charles Holden and Co., it was announced that the paper would be "avowedly a party paper." When it made its appearance it was published by 1. Berry and Co., under the editorial charge of F. 0. J. Smith, a former editor of the Ar- gus; and in due time was made the State paper and received the patronage of the public printing. Smith, who was part owner, continued its editor until Aug. 10, 1832, when George Robinson, who was then a student at law in Reuel William,,,' office, assumed the editorial charge, which he continued until lie transferred the interest he had acquired to Edmund T. Bridge, March 26, 1833. In December, 1834, Bridge and Berry sold to William J. Condon who had been editor and publisher of the Saco Democrat. He continued sole proprietor until December 16, 1835, when be sold the establishment to William R. Smith and George Robinson. Smith and Robinson continued the publication until the death of the latter in February, 1840, when George Melville Weston, a gentleman who had for some years assisted in editing the Age, became associated with Smith. George Robinson died of consumption at the early age of twenty-seven years. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College in the class of 1S31, was educated for the bar, and displayed very considerable vigor and ability as a political writer. William R. Smith with his associate conducted the paper until August 5, 1844, when it was sold to Richard D. Rice, who controlled it until May, 1848. It was then purchased by William T. Johnson, who, in connection with Daniel T. Pike, conducted it until May, 1856, when they were succeeded by Benjamin A. G. and Melville W. Fuller, who, after a number of years, disposed of the establishment to Daniel T. Pike. He in turn sold to Gilman Smith, in whose hands it died during the great rebellion. KENNEBEC COUNTY. 97 AUGUSTA COURIER. A newspaper, neutral in politics, called the Augusta Courier and Workingmen's Advocate, was started on the 19th of August, 1831, by Washburn and Jewell. [It was edited by Rev. William A. Drew, from its commencement, until Jan. 26, 1832 ; from this time to its close, Nov. 26, 1832, it was edited by Geo. Robinson.] MAINE FARMER. [The first number of the Kennebec Farmer and Journal of the Useful Arts was published at Winthrop, Jan. 21st, 1833, with E. Holmes as editor. It was an eight page paper, the size of the printed page being 9 1-2 by 7 3-4 inches. The name Kennebec Farmer was retained until March 18th of the same year -nine weeks - when it was changed to Maine Farmer, which title it has ever since borne. The motto of the first number, which has since been retained, was - "Our Home, our Country, and our Brother Man." Its original publishers were William Noyes and Co., the terms being $2 per annum, if paid in advance. We have in our possession the first volume, with the exception of the first and a part of the second numbers. The paper was well made up, and neatly printed; the editorials brief and pointed; the selections appropriate and seasonable, and the communicated articles practi- cal and sensible. We have a portion of vol. 3d, the page having been somewhat enlarged, and measuring 11 1-2 by 8 inches, eight pages to each number. We have almost the whole of volume 5, by which it appears that the paper was then published at Hallo- well, by Wm. Noyes. This was in the year 1837. It was published a year or two in Hallowell, when it was purchased by Marcian Seavy, and again removed to Winthrop. In 1844 it was pur- chased by Russell Eaton, and removed to Augusta. Mr. Eaton continued its proprietor until 1859, when it was purchased by Messrs. Homan and Manley. Mr. Manley retiring from the firm in September of that year, in consequence of declining- health, Mr. W. S. Badger purchased his interest, and the publishing firm and proprietorship of the paper have remained unchanged to the pres- ent time. In 1846 the paper was enlarged, one column to each page being added, making seven columns to the page. In Jan., 1871, 13 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. it was increased to eight columns to the page. The paper com- menced with two hundred subscribers, and at no -time (luring the first seven years of its existence did it number more than eight hundred. The changes in the editorship of the paper have been less frequent than its changes of proprietorship. The name of E. Holmes, as editor, occupied a prominent place in each issue from Jan. 21, 1833, to Feb. 16, 1865 -a period of thirty-three years. Dr. N. T. True occupied the position of senior editor from March 9, 1865, to March 6, 1869. At various times, for a brief space each, W. T. Johnson, Esq., Russell P. Eaton, and Geo. E. Brack- ett, have been connected with the paper as associate editors. Mr. Samuel L. Boardman has conducted the agricultural department of the paper since 1861, with the exception of -a few months in the winter of 1863-1864. Its present circulation is nearly 12,000 copies weekly, the largest number, it is believed, with one excep- tion, of an paper published in Maine.] GOSPEL BANNER. A weekly religious newspaper, called the Gospel Banner, de- voted to advocating the doctrine of universal salvation, was is- sued July 25, 1835, under the editorship of Rev. William A. Drew, who was also proprietor. He was assisted by two associate edi- tors, Rev. Calvin Gardiner and Rev. George Bates. Arthur W. Berry became interested in the paper, and printed it in 1839. It soon returned to the proprietorship of Mr. Drew, who, in September, 1843, sold it to Messrs. Homan and Manley, who published the paper at the Granite Bank building until Jan- nary, 1859, when they purchased the Maine Farmer and sold the Banner to Bicknell and Ballou. Mr. Drew retired from the edi- torship in October, 1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Hanson, who become editor and part owner. Mr. Hanson, in 1859, was succeeded by Mr. Ballou, who was its editor until it was sold in 1864 to Rev. George W. Quinby, who now owns and edits it. DREW'S RURAL INTELLIGENCER. [This was a quarto, weekly, edited and published at Augusta, by Rev. W A. Drew, from Jan., 1855, until Sept., 1857. It was KENNEBEC COUNTY, 99 then sold to R. B. Caldwell, and removed to Gardiner, where Mr. Drew continued to conduct it until Feb., 1859. It was enlarged to a folio sheet Jan., 1858. MAINE STANDARD. This is a Democratic paper, weekly, 42 by 26, circulation 4450; terms, $2 a year. Editors, L. B. Brown, of Starks, and H. M. Jordan, of Westbrook. Mr. Brown edited and published the Franklin Patriot at Farmington, in 1864; became connected with the Standard in April, 1868, with Hon. E. F. Pillsbury, who re- mained with him until succeeded by Mr. Jordan, Oct., 1870. PEOPLE'S LITERARY COMPANION. The People's Literary Companion was first published in Oct., 1869. It continued as a monthly until October, 1871, when the first number of the weekly was issued in 8 pp., 20 by 13, at $2.00 a year. The monthly' paper attained a circulation of 1,500,000. When it first started as a weekly, owing to the increased price, the circulation fell off several thousands ; but is now rapidly in- ,creasing. E. C. Allen is managing editor. Mrs. E. S. Gatchell has been the literary editress from the first. OUR YOUNG FOLKS' ILLUSTRATED PAPER, Semi-monthly, was first issued Oct., 1871. It is devoted to the interest of the young, though not confined exclusively to reading adapted to children. Samuel W. Lane has had editorial charge of the paper. Considering the time since the paper was first pub- 7 lished, Our Young Folks' Illustrated Paper has attained a great circulation. Messrs. E. C. Allen and Co., the publishers, have the largest publishing house in Maine, keeping six steam-presses in constant employ, and requiring about seventy persons in their business. All the publications of this firm are electrotyped.] MUSICAL MONITOR. [A sheet by this name, 24 by 18, is published monthly at Au- gusta by R. M. Mansur; principally devoted to advertising; though containing considerable miscellaneous reading. Circulation, 1500 copies; partly gratuitous. Mr. Mansur published his periodical first at Vienna in 1855 to '61, under the name of Glenwood Val- THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE, 100 ley Times. He then moved to Mt. Vernon Village, where he was appointed postmaster, and for two years continued to publish the Times. He then enlarged his paper into a small quarto, publish- ing it one year with the name of Young Folk's Monitor. In 1866 to the present time we find Mr. Mansur in Augusta, publishing the Musical Monitor. His printing has been done at various printing offices.] A more particular account of the first papers printed in Augusta- received too late for insertion in the proper place -will be found in the Appendix to this work. ....................... ........ work. .............................. GARDINER. BY H. K. MORRELL. EASTERN CHRONICLE. The first periodical established in Gardiner, was the Eastern Chronicle. The first number was printed Oct. 24,1824, and is now in the hands of Judge Wm. Palmer who took it from the press and has kept it ever since. Hon; Parker Sheldon was editor and proprietor. Two volumes were printed, when it was merged in the Intelligencer, Jan. 25, 1827, of which Rev. Wm. A. Drew was editor. The Intelligencer had been printed in Portland six years. It was printed in Gardiner seven years, when, in 1834, it ceased to exist. THE American STANDARD was made up from the Intelli- gencer and published by Mr. Sheldon about one year, in 1832. NEW ENGLAND FARMER. The New England Farmer's and Mechanics' Journal, a monthly magazine was published during the year 1828, by Parker Sheldon. Dr. Ezekiel Holmes was editor. GARDINER SPECTATOR. This paper was commenced in Dec., 1839, by Alonzo Bartlett. In July, 1840, G. S. Palmer (now professor in Howard University, Wasbington,) became publisher. November 26, 1841, Wm. Pal- mer became publisher, and continued it until Sept. 24, 1841, when it deceased. THE GARDINER LEDGER arose from its ashes, and continued about thirteen months. KENNEBEC COUNTY. 101 THE YANKEE BLADE Was commenced in Waterville, in 1842, and removed to Gardiner, where it was published a little over four years, and then re- moved to Boston. Wm. Mathews was editor; Mathews and Mo- ses Stevens, publishers. It was a literary paper of high standing. COLD WATER FOUNTAIN, A Temperance paper, was established June 24,1844, by G. Atwood. It had a very respectable circulation among the friends of temperance throughout the State. It passed from Mr. Atwood's hands into those of H. W. Jewell and Co., Weston and Morrell, and Morrell and Heath. The last named publishers bought the list of the Washingtonian Journal and united the two papers, under the title of FOUNTAIN and JOURNAL. It had a list of 4,500, when, in 1853, Morrell and Heath sold it to parties in Portland, and it was removed to that city. Its editors, while in Gardiner, were Rev. J. P. Weston, Rev. J. W. Lawson, S. B. Weston, G. M. Atwood, Rev. F. Yates, E. H. Shirley and A. M. C. Heath. In Portland Rev. A. D. Peck edited it. DAVID'S SLING Was the name of a paper commenced Feb. 1, 1845, and continu- ed just nine months. James A. Clay and Isaac Rowell were edi- tors and proprietors. It was radical in the extreme on theology, as well as most other matters. The STAR OF The EAST, EASTERN LIGHT, and Busy BODY, were the names of papers, a few numbers of which were publish- ed in 1845 and 1846, - the first two by H. W. Jewell, and the lat- ter by T. H. Hoskins. The INCORRIGIBLE Was commenced in July, 1848, and issued four times. It was printed by Jewell and Heath, and edited by W. E. S. Whitman. Mr. Whitman also issued seven numbers of the NETTLE. THE GARDINER ADVERTISER. First number issued Feb. 9, 1850, by It. B. Caldwell. The name was changed on the second number, to the KENNEBEc TRAN- 102 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. SCRIPT, and published six months as a semi-weekly. It was edited during this time by S. L. Plumer, Esq. It remained under the supervision of Mr. Caldwell, until 1856, when he purchased Drew's Rural Intelligencer, and united the two under the title of the MAINE RURAL. It was afterward published by Brock and Chaney, and their by Brock and Hacker. The office was burnt in 1860, and the paper discontinued. The same publishers issued the DAILY RURAL a few months in 1859-the only daily ever pub- lished in this city. The DISPATCH WaS published six times in the fall of 1868, by James Burns, who was also editor. It was a political sheet. The QUARTERLY JOURNAL of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance, published during the last twenty-five years, has been printed most of the time at Gardiner. NORTHERN HOME JOURNAL. On the first of January, 1854, A. M. C. Heath commenced the publication of the Northern Home Journal. In 1868, the name was changed to GARDINER Home Journal. Mr. Heath published and edited it until 1862, when he enlisted in the army, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg.* The paper was carried on by H. K. Morrell, for Mr. Heath, until Nov. 1864, when Mr. Mor- rell became proprietor, and has since continued to edit and publish it. ...................................................... ........................... ! * A. M. C. Beath was a native of Monmouth, and came to Gardiner when a boy. He served his apprenticeship in the office of the Cold Water Fountain. He was for' four years one of the publishers of the Fountain and Journal, and for nine years was connected with the Gardiner Home Journal. When the rebellion broke out he ardently espoused the cause of loyalty. In Aug., 1862, he laid down his pen and shouldered a musket, feeling that his country needed him. He fell at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, being shot through the lungs wbile gallantly fighting in the extreme front. His death cast a deep gloom over the city of his adoption ; for all felt that an able, conscientious, and talented citizen had left them. He was buried in Gardiner under the auspices of the Mechanics' As- sociation, of which he was President at the time of his death. His fellow-citizens contributed some three hundred dollars, as a testimonial of respect to his memory, and to place a stone upon his grave. He sleeps in Oak Grove Cemetery. The KENNEBFC COUNTY. 103 KENNEBEC REPORTER. First number issued by G. 0. Bailey and J F. Brown, in Feb., 1865. Mr. Brown sold out to R. B. Caldwell, son of the former publisher of the Transcript. Mr. Caldwell, in 1871, bought out Mr. Bailey, and is now publisher and editor. WATERVILLE. From a number of the Mail, published June 9th, 1871, we copy the following pleasing reminiscences of the first paper issued in Waterville, commenced about three years after the establish- ment of Waterville College, now Colby University. -Ed. WATERVILLE INTELLIGENCE& M., of Palmyra, sends us a copy of the Waterville Intelli- gencer, the first newspaper established in our village. The number before us is dated June 8, 1826. It being the fourth number of the fourth volume, shows the commencement of the Intelligencer to have been in May, 1823. William Hastings, publisher. How vividly, as we look upon its yellow, time-stained pages, rise up before us the man, his office, and his circulating li- brary-especially the library, of which we were a patron, to the extent of our means, and of which a catalogue yet survives among our relies of the olden time. The office was first opened in the ............................................................................................................................ writer was associated with Mr. Heath nearly all his life, and bears cheerful testimony to his honor, integrity, and many good qualities. He was not called upon to enlist, -had every tie to bind him home; not only business, but a large family of small children. But recruiting was slow ; it was the darkest hour of our country Is peril, and to encourage others, as well as from a sense of duty, he placed himself at his country's service. The Sixteenth Regiment in which lie was a sergeant, was ordered to the front, illy prepared for service ; but he went uncomplainingly. His health, never good, hardly permitted him to endure the fatigue of the service. On the fatal day he had an order (the writer took it from his pocket after his death) to go to the rear, on account of disability; but his love of country pushed him forward until he received his death-wound. No more patriotic, unselfish man fell in that great struggle, than, A. M. C. Heath ; and no one's memory is more cherished by his fellow-citizens. Post No. 6, G. A. R. of Gardiner, bears his name. THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. 104 building now occupied 'by Mr, Baker as a barber shop; and for the benefit of the future historian we will mention that here the first sheet, printed in Waterville, was struck by John Burleigh, (a printer from New Hampshire, then in trade in our village, who afterward himself published a paper here for a few 'years,) and Asa Dalton, who volunteered for the occasion to beat the form with the old-fashioned balls, for Mr. Burleigh to pull. The office was afterward removed to the building north of the lot on on which now stands the Marston Block.-The Intelligencer was a religious paper, [in the interests of the Baptist denomination , is sued under the patronage of the College, whose officers had been instrumental in establishing a. printing-office here. It was dis- continued in 1828. The number before us contains much mission- ary and religious reading, but we fail to find a single item of local news." After the preceding article was in type we were favored with the following additional account of the press in Waterville, by the editors of the Mail, Messrs. MAXHAM AND WING. THE WATCHMAN, "A Political, Literary,and Miscellaneous Journal of the Times," which immediately succeeded the Intelligencer, was also published by Mr. Hastings, who had in connection with his printing office, a bookstore and a circulating library; started partly as an experi- ment, and partly to keep the office employed during the closing up of the old business. The Watchman had but a small list of subscribers, and it lived only fifty-six weeks-the first number being issued Dec. 18, 1828, and the last, Dec.. 30, 1829. Mr. Hastings removed his office to Augusta, where he did job-printing in a small way for several years in connection with a bookstore, accumulating a little property, which he subsequently lost in a newspaper venture in Bangor. He died about twelve years ago. THE TIMES, A whig paper, was the next one in the field -the first number appearing in June, 1831. It was published by Mr. John Bur- leigh - James Stackpole, Jr., being the political editor - and lived about two years and a quarter. KENNEBEC COUNTY. THE WATERVILLE JOURNAL, Also published by Mr. Burleigb, was the next to appear; a quarto of eight pages, and religious, without being sectarian. Its publi- cation was commenced at the instance of the officers and friends of Waterville College, and with promise of assistance in the edi- torial department from some of the older students, and also in securing subscribers; but these promises not being fully met, the paper was discontinued at the close of the first volume. This was the first paper in Waterville on which composition rollers were used, the others having been printed with the old-fashioned balls. A manual labor department having been established at the college, the old Ramage press of Mr. Burleigh, with his other printing material, was purchased and set tip in one of the work- shops on the -rounds. Some friend of the institution in Massa- chusetts contributed an iron hand press, and perhaps some type. Job-printing, in a small way, was done for a while in this office by Mr. Edgar H. Gray, (now Rev. Dr. Gray, of Washington, D. C.) a graduate of the class of 1838, who had entered college a practical printer. An old catalogue of the College Library bears his im- print. This office, with the exception of the old Ramage press, (which originally came from the establishment of Glazier, Mas- ters and Smith, of Hallowell), was soon sold to Mr. Geo. V. Edes, and taken to Dover. THE WATERVILLONIAN. This was a quarto of eight pages, some what literary in charac- ter, and the next in order. It was published by Wing and Mathews - William Mathews (now a professor in Chicago, who is authorized to affix LL.D. to his name) being editor, and Daniel R. Wing (who, in some capacity, has had a hand in every paper published in Waterville except the Union) printer. The name of the paper was borrowed from a boyish venture of the same par- ties in the days of the Times and Waterville Journal. At the close of the first volume, the paper was enlarged, the form changed, and the name altered to THE YANKEE BLADE, William Mathews, editor and proprietor. A great change, too, 14 106 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. was made in the character of the paper, which was no longer a common-place book of elegant extracts from English classics, but a live sheet, adapted to the wants of the people of the times. His brother Edward (afterward murdered by Dr. Coolidge) was immediately admitted to a partnership, and the paper was pub- lished in Waterville one Year by W. and E. Mathews, when the interest of the junior partner was purchased by Moses Stevens, of Hallowell, and the establishment removed to Gardiner. that place the paper was published about three years and a half, with a large and increasing subscription list, at home and abroad, when, with another change of proprietors, but with the original editor, it was removed to Boston, in which city it already had a large sale. In that city it flourished for a few years, losing grad- ually its distinctive character, and after swallowing several of its rivals, it was itself swallowed by the Olive Branch, and disap- peared. After the removal of the Blade, Waterville was without a printing office until the fall of 1844, wben John S. Carter, an old Bangor publisher, came in and occupied the field with a job office until the excitement preliminary to the building of the Andros- coggin and Kennebec Railroad seemed to demand a paper once more. THE WATERVILLE UNION. This paper was commenced in April, 1847, by Chas. F. Hath- away. It was a neatly executed sheet, neutral in politics. After a trial of fourteen weeks, Mr. Hathaway squarely gave up the en- terprise. WATERVILLE MAIL. Tim EASTERN MAIL, or Waterville Mail, as its title now stands, was commenced on the 19th of July, 1847. Eph. Maxham bought the office used by Mr. Hathaway in publishing the Union, and issued the, first number of the Mail at the time above named. At the end of two years, Daniel R. Wing, who had been em- ployed on the paper from its commencement, bought one-half of the concern, and the firm of Maxham and Wing became proprie- tors and editors of the paper. It took no party position until the LINCOLN COUNTY. 107 presidential contest of 1856, when it advocated the election of Gen. Fremont. Though claiming, to be "independent in politics," it objects not to being classed with republican papers. The Mail, during the twenty-flve years it has now numbered, has always had a small subscription list, never coming up to a thousand. Its jobbing and advertising have been fair, and it has always had generous encouragement in the town and village where published. Its composition is mostly done by girls, and the proprietors are both practical printers. Its office is now ha Phoenix Block, on Main street. APPENDIX. ................. NEWSPAPERS ON THE KENNEBEC. See page 87. MR. EDITOR, DEAR SIR, -In considering the origin and history of the early newspapers on the Kennebec, it may be well to note that two of them were probably born of the Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser, (estab- lished by John B. Wait and Benja. Titcomb, Jan. 1, 1785), in the interest of forming a new State of the District of Maine. The first paper on the Kennebec, and the third in Maine, was started by Howard S. Robinson at "Hallowell Hook," Aug. 4, 1794 ; it was called the EASTERN STAR. The Gazette of Maine -was the second paper ; it was started at Falmouth by Benja. Titcomb in Oct., 1790, in opposition to the Cumberland Gazette, published by Wait, which name Wait changed in 1792 to Eastern Herald. Robinson was probably an apprentice of Wait, and the Star which he published was under Wait's patronage, and in the interest of the new State project. It maintained a feeble existence for about a year, when it was succeeded by the Tocsin. The want of success of the Star may have arisen from the character of its conductor, Robinson, rather than from any want of favor to the scheme it was established to advocate. Robinson was a printer of dissipated habits, from which cause he was usually poor, roving around and working as a journeyman printer. In about 1819 he returned to Hallowell and worked a short time in the office of the American Advocate. At that time he repre- sented that he "had been at the top of the wheel " of fortune, but from ha- bits and appearances he was unmistakably at the bottom. We may not infer from the want of success of the Star that Hallowell was a barren field, or that the projects sought were not worth pursuing, as Wait, with John K. Baker, another of Wait's apprentices, established in that place, in 1795, 35 THE PRESS OF MAINE. 274 THE PRESS OF THE TOCSIN.* This paper had more success than the Star, but was short- lived, ending in 1797, in the hands of Benja. Poor, to whom it wag sold by Wait and Baker, Sept. 15, 1796. - The Tocsin was well printed, but on poor paper, 17 X 11 inches, folio, and was furnished to subscribers at 1.50 per annum.(t) It would be interesting to know more definitely the motives which led to the establishment of these papers, thus early, on the Kennebec, in advance of a mail for their distribution, and this interest is increased when we learn that, at the Fort Settlement in Hallowell, two and a half miles from the Hook village, where the Tocsin was being printed, THE KENNEBEC INTEL- LIGENCER was established, by Peter Edes, Nov. 14, 1795. The mail how- ever, had just then commenced a weekly delivery on the new post route to Hallowell. Edes was a son of Benja. Edes of Boston, printer to the Gen. Court of Mass., and publisher of the Chronicle, etc. What motives could have sent him to the Fort Settlement, at this time ? There was general in- formation to be disseminated by his paper and local and legal advertisements to be published ; but one paper could have answered this call in a town of the size of Hallowell. The rivalship of competing villages may have stimu- lated, but could not have produced them, at that time. When we look at public affairs, two motives are suggested, either of which may have furnished sufficient inducement to rival papers, so near to each other, in even a spars- ly peopled region ; one was the project to establish a new State ; the other rival candidates for Congressional honors. At the time of Wait's effort to increase the circulation of his paper, in Dec., 1793, by the employment of Graffam to distribute it, the Portland Convention on Separation was held, to which Daniel Cony was a delegate from Hallowell, and was Chairman of the Convention. The Star was started in August succeeding the second Conven- tion on Separation, which was held in June, 1794; at this Convention, Nathan Dummer, a delegate from Hallowell, was Secretary. The Intelligencer was established probably in interests opposed to Sepa- ration; perhaps at the instigation of the Plymouth Company, which was opposed to the measure, as the unsettled affairs of that company could be *The experience of only fifty or sixty years ago, would convince any one, that a newspaper in any part of Maine, out of Portland, even with the usual industry and tact of the best printers, could only be sustained (giving a bare subsistence) until the type was worn out. The paper was then discontinued or sold to a new hand.-Ed. (t) The character of T. B. Wait (given in this connection by Mr. North) and his pro- ject of sending a distributor of his papers into Wiscasset and Hallowell once a week, may be seen on page 34. - Ed. Appendix. 275 'beat promoted by the government of Massachusetts, with which the -mem. bers of that company bad great influence. The Congressional election in the three districts into which Maine was divided in 1792 took place in November of that year ; the succeeding elec- tion in 1794, at the time the Tocsin and Intelligencer were started, bad passed, and the election of 1796 was just coming on. These elections were warmly contested, and as at that time public opinion was concentrated upon candidates for office, through the medium of the newspapers in which the nominations were made, by anonymous communications under various Sig- natures, it became important for candidates to possess this means of reach- ing the public ear. The result, however, of this course was a multiplicity of candidates, and at times a number of trials before an election was ef- fected. Whatever may have been the motives of Wait and Baker in estab- lishing their paper - the Tocsin - they sold to Poor in Sept., 1796, proba- bly with a view, on the part of Baker, to a larger field of operation, as in the same month be purchased of Wait the Eastern Herald, and of Titcomb the Gazette of Maine, and united them under the name of EASTERN HER- ALD AND GAZETTE OF MAINE. In Poor's hands the Tocsin shortly died. The Intelligencer, under various names, survived for twenty years, printed by Edes, who was a part of the time associated with his son. The first change in the name of the Intelligencer was made in October, 1800, to the Kennebec Gazette ; the second change to Liberty Herald in February, 1810. These changes, however, were without change in its politics; it was always 'intensely federal. In 1796 there were but three papers published in Maine - the Eastern Herald and Gazette of Maine, at Portland; the Kennebec Intelligencer and the Tocsin at Hallowell. In the Intelligencer and in the Tocsin, Bootbbay, Georgetown, Waldoborough, Dresden, Wiscasset, Green, Farmington, and Winslow advertisements appear. I have a file of the Kennebec Gazette commencing with Vol. 1, No. 5, Dec. 12, 1800, and ending with No. 30, June 5, 1801, with the imprint of "Peter Edes at Hallowell." I have never been able to learn otherwise than from this imprint, that the Gazette was at any time published in Hal- lowell, and the place of publication may have been assumed from its being better known than Augusta. Some of the prior issues of the paper were dated "Augusta, on Kennebec River." In this file the proceedings of Congress are printed under the heading, LEGISLATURE OF COLUMBIA." Federal and Democratic nominations of candidates for office are made in it, by communications advocating their THE PRESS OF MAINE. 276 THE election. Nothing of a political nature appears under the editorial bead, and but very little of any other matter; and this is chiefly characteristic of the Intelligencer and the Gazette, but not so much so of the Herald. All important matters were discussed, not editorially, but by communications under various signatures. It appears, at this time, that both branches of Congress answered the President's speech, to which he replied. The Ga- zette dated Dec. 12, 1800, contains the address of the Senate and House of the "Legislature of Columbia " to President Adams' speech, and his sepa- Yours truly,. rate reply to each. JAMES W. NORTH *********************************************** Source for the above: "The Press of Maine" by Joseph Griffin 1872 Brunswick, Maine *********************************************** Courtesy of the New England Old Newspaper Index Project of Maine (R) and the Androscoggin Historical Society ] PO Box 152 Danville, Maine 04223 ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. 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