THE PRESS OF SOMERSET COUNTY, Maine. BY SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN. NORRIDGEWOCK. SOMERSET JOURNAL. The first newspaper printed in Somerset county was issued at Norridgewock, May 15,1823, and was called the Somerset Journal. It was published by Edes and Copeland at $2.00 per annum. The senior member of this firm was Geo. Valentine Edes, who was born in Boston, Feb. 14, 1799. Ile served his time principally with his uncle, Peter Edes, at Augusta. Peter Edes, as may be well known, was the son of Benjamin Edes, of the firm of Edes and Gill of Boston, printers to the General Court in the stirring times preceding the Revolution, and the publishers of the old Boston Gazette and County Journal. Peter, who at the time was too young to join the army, but still old enough to feel as much interest in the events of the day as the most active soldier, was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Bunker Hill, and confined upon bread and water one hundred and four days. During this time he kept a minute diary which presents a very interesting picture of the hardships and cruelties to which our prisoners were subjected by the British. The firm of Edes and Copeland was dissolved in September, 1824. Mr. Copeland pur- ,chasing the interest of his partner for the sum of four hundred dollars. After dissolving the partnership, Mr. Edes continued to 180 'THE -NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. print the paper for Mr. Copeland until December, 1836. He then went into trade, continuing in the business two or three years. In 1839 be established the Piscataquis Herald at Dover, and is ,still living at that place publishing the same paper, under the firm of Geo. V. Edes and Son, the name having been changed to the Piscataquis Observer. Mr. Edes set the first type ever set in Pe- nobscot county (on the Bangor Weekly Register) in 1816, and the first in Somerset and Piscataquis counties as above stated. Although now (1872) in his 73d year, he still works at the case every day, and sticks the smallest type without the aid of glasses. Thomas J. Copeland, the junior member of the firm of Edes and Copeland, was a practical printer, and served his apprentice- ship, with E. Goodale of Hallowell, on the old Hallowell Gazette, as early as 1817-1818. During the time lie published the Somerset Journal, lie was also in trade at Norridgewock, and gave but little personal attention to the printing of the paper. Ile continued its proprietor, however, until June 7, 1837, when lie discontinued its publication and advertised the establishment for sale. In this an- nouncement he says - "Feeling as we do the importance of having a Whig paper published in this county at this time more than in any preceding year, we regret exceedingly the necessity of discontinuing the Journal; but as we cannot continue it with- out submitting to great inconvenience for no profit, we have come to the conclusion to suspend operations." He also says - "The paper has now about five hundred good subscribers, and with very little effort the number might easily be increased two or three hundred." Mr. Copeland soon found a purchaser for the estab_ lishment, removed to Calais and engaged in trade. Ile is still re- .siding in that city; has held several responsible' local offices, and been several times a member of the State Legislature. Norridgewock, being the shire town, was naturally the head- ,quarters of the public men and politicians, and in 1823, and for many years after, was the chief place of business in Somerset ,county. Its population at this date was something over 1,000, a1though the returns show but 144 votes polled for Governor. For many years after the establishment of the Journal there were SOMERSET COUNTY. 181 only two northern mails a week at Norridgewock; never more until 1840. The mail for many years was carried on horse- back between Augusta and Norridgewock by Peter Gil man who was the first mail carrier between the two places, and his arrival at the latter place was always duly announced by the blowing of a tin horn. At that time Mark S. Blunt, afterward County Treas- urer, was postmaster. Mr. Blunt died in 1866 at the age of 80. The Somerset Journal was first printed in the third story of Preston's brick store, opposite the Court House. This building is still standing, and is occupied as the Probate office of the county. The size of the paper when first started was 13.75 X 19 inches per page, five columns each. It was printed upon what was then known as a Ramage press, a machine of American manufacture. The press, as well as the material of all kinds, was obtained in Philadelphia. The paper upon which it was printed was manufac- tured at Gardiner, and cost $2.00 per ream, delivered at the office. The Gardiner mill was then carried on by Springer and Moore, and was the only paper mill in the State at that time. Previous to this, George Savage had made paper at Gardiner, commencing about 1812 or 1813, but had been superseded by the firm of Savels and Cox. George Cox, who died at Vassalboro in 1870 at the age of 84 years, was also one of the very first to engage in the manufacture of paper in Maine. The Somerset Journal was established as a neutral paper, but it very soon espoused the cause of the Whigs and became the or- gan of the Whig party in that section of the State. Mr. Copeland always performed the part of editor until lie sold it in 1837; al- * As a curiosity, and as showing the limited amount of mail matter carried at the time, I give the following advertisement from the Kennebec Intelligencer of October 20,1798:- " STOLEN from the horse of the Subscriber, on the evening of the Ilth inst., at the Post office Door in Augusta, a Pair of SADDLE BAGS, containing a red Morroco Pocket Book, in which were two Letters, one directed to Gage and Vose, the other to George Crosby, and a number of Notes and accounts, and an execution in favor of the Subscriber. Whoever will apprehend the Thief and give Information, so that the Property may be recovered, shall receive a generous reward. Peter Gilman, October 14,1798. Post Rider." October 14,1798. 182 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE, though many of the selections were made by Mr. Edes, as well as by the compositors. Among the writers of its political articles were William Allen, Esq., author of the histories of Norridgewock and Industry, now living in the former town in his 92d year; Hon. David Kidder, a native of Dresden, representative to Con- gress from 1823 to 1827; Hon. John S. Tenney, a native of Byfield, Mass., late Chief Justice of the S. J. Court of Maine, deceased; Dr. James Bates, Representative to Congress from 1831 to 1833, now residing in Yarmouth; and other prominent politicians of the time. It is probable that these gentlemen assisted, pecuniarily, in the publication of their political organ; at any rate Mr. Allen did, as he has informed me that he subscribed for several copies for friends, assisted in procuring subscribers, and advanced money for the publisher to procure paper, without interest. After one month's suspension the Somerset Journal reappeared July 5, 1837, published by Henry Paul Pratt,* who issued it as vol. xv. number 6. In his Introductory lie says: - "As hereto- fore, the Journal will be an independent publication, purely Re- publican in its principles, the unwavering friend of the people. We shall endeavor to rise above mere party considerations - ap- prove the right wherever found, and rebuke the wrong.." Mr. Pratt had served his time with Mr. Copeland, and was therefore practically fitted for its publisher. He published it until Dec. 31, 1839, when the name of B. F. Dimock, a brother-in-law to Mr. Pratt, appeared as its publisher. How long Mr. Dimock acted as publisher I am unable to state. In 1843 the name of the paper was changed to the Workingman, and after a few months it was called the WORKINGMAN AND PEOPLE'S PRESS. About this time Mr. Pratt having again assumed its publica- tion in his own name, he associated with himself in its editorial management William D. Gould, a native of Norridgewock, admit- ted to the Somerset bar in 1846. Mr. Gould went to Australia in 1849, where, if living, he is still residing. He was a man of genuine native ability, and a writer of much force. * Henry P. Pratt had previously published a paper in Calais called the Boundary Gazette and Calais Advertiser, as see page 149. SOMERSET COUNTY. 183 I have in my possession files of this paper for the years 1 835-40. It was a well printed and well made up sheet, with ex- cellent selections in prose and verse, but containing few editorials and but very little local news. In the issue for April 2,1839, this motto appears at its head - "In those things which are essential let there be unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things charity." Augustin. In that for April l6, the following is placed as a motto upon its inside, in addition to the above-,, Indig- nantly frowning down every attempt to alienate one portion of our confederacy from the other." - George Washington. The head letter was a shaded German text with the seal of the State in the center. In the issue for May 21, 1840, the seal was substi- tuted for a log cabin, to conform to the sentiment of the party concerning Harrison as candidate for the Presidency, which the Journal warmly advocated. Skowhegan gaining the ascendancy over Norridgewock as a place of business, it afforded a wider field for a printer, especially in the department of job-work, and in 1845 Mr. Pratt removed his establishment to the former place, occupying Dyer's building, upon the second floor, and near the Skowhegan Falls bridge. Mr. Pratt was a zealous Whig, and an earnest worker for the party. I judge he had hard work to keep the paper running, and probably received contributions from friends of the party to aid in I printing it. It was always engaged in a war of words with its neighbor, the Democratic Clarion, and many were the personal squibs that appeared in the columns of each. Mr. Pratt was an honest, hard working man, of decided ability. He worked at the ease himself, and always set his editorials without writing them. Ile gained from his party the office of County Treasurer for 1851-1852, the only political office I believe that he ever held. In 1852 Mr. Pratt sold the establishment to Messrs. Brainard and Downs and removed to St. Paul, Minnesota. There he en- gaged in printing a daily paper, and after a short time died of cholera. A son of his, H. Frank Pratt, is still engaged in the prrinting business in that State. George F. Downs, of the firm of Brainard and Down,,,, was a native of Mercer, a practical printer, 184 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. having served in the Clarion office at Skowhegan. This firm pub- lished the People's Press but a few months. They then sold to Wm. E. Hilton, who after publishing it one year removed it to Bangor, changed its name, and from thence its history ceases to be connected with Somerset county. DEMOCRATIC SOMERSET REPUBLICAN. The second newspaper established in Somerset county was the Democratic Somerset Republican, the first number of which was, issued at Norridgewock, June lO, 1828. It was owned by a joint stock company of twenty-four, all prominent Democrats of the county; and it is probable they were led to its establishment from the fear of losing power as a party, since the Whig party had a press in its own interest which was welding its silent but forcible influence in every part of the county. Among the owners of the paper were Dr. James Bates', Ron. Drummond Farnsworth, Samuel Sylvester, Joshua Gould, Mr. Collins and Mr. McFadden. Dr. Bates acted as editor, and 1 have been informed its main object was to secure his election to Congress. It also supported Gen. Jackson for the Presidency. Dr. Bates was elected a Representa, tive from 1S31 to 1833, and without doubt this paper had much to do in securing his election. The paper was first printed and published for the proprietors by Samuel Homer Noyes, then by Increase Adams, and afterward by Geo. V. Edes. Its circulation in 1831 was about four hundred copies. It was then purchased by Asa Wyman and Son and removed to Milburn -now Skow- hegan-the first number issued in that place bearing date Dec. 12,1831. Asa Wyman was afterward one of the County Com- missioners for Somerset county, and a highly esteemed citizen. Ile died in 1852. Asa N., son of Asa Wyman, edited the paper while it was published by them. In 1849 he went overland to California, and never returned. SKOWHEGAN SENTINEL. When the paper was removed to Milburn the name of Skow- began Sentinel was added to it, and it appeared as the Skowhegan Sentinel and Somerset Democratic Republican. Subsequently the latter part of this name was abaudoned. Its motto at this time SOMERSET COUNTY. 185 was - "Principles rather than men." The paper was published by Asa Wyman and son until Oct. 8,1838, when it was purchased by Moses Littlefield and Jabez D. Hill. Its circulation at this time was nearly 700 copies. Mr. Littlefield never served any regular apprenticeship at printing, but was originally a hatter, having served his time at this trade in Norridgewock. After regular hours' work at his trade, he would go into the printing office at that place, take up a stick and go to work. In this way he acquired whatever knowledge of printing lie ever possessed. Jabez D. Hill was a native of York county, and came to Milburn in 1831. The firm of Littlefield and Hill was dissolved in 1840, and, to use the words of Mr. Littlefield, "one thousand dollars had been sunk during the two years they bad published the paper." Mr. Hill then assumed the responsibility of publishing it alone, which he did for six months, after which Mr. Littlefield again purchased the entire establishment. From April, 1841, to July of the same year its publication ceased; and when it again appeared, at the latter date, it assumed the name of DEMOCRATIC CLARION. In 1856 F. P. Littlefield, son of the publisher, was admit- ted to a joint proprietorship in this paper. Having from its commencement been an advocate of the Democratic party, and having for some years previously abandoned that and become the organ of the Republican party in Somerset county, the name of the paper was changed, June 18, 1857, to REPUBLICAN CLARION. In June, 1865, the publication of the paper was suspended two weeks," in order," said the publishers, "to give all hands a vacation." For twenty four years previous to this time, the publishers also stated, an accident never occurred in the office to forms, material, or operatives, - from no cause was the regular weekly issue de- layed a single hour. Its circulation at this date had reached eleven hundred. In August, 1867, C. A. F. Emery purchased the interest in the paper owned by F. P. Littlefield, and continued his connection with Moses Littlefield until February 1, 1868, when the latter, ad- monished by failing health that he must relinquish the business in 24 186 THE NEWS Press OF MAINE, which be had acquired competency and a good reputation as a journalist, sold his interest in the newspaper to Z. A. Smitlh, who had published, during the greater part of 1866, the Hancock Jour- nal at Ellsworth. Mr. Littlefield, however, retained his interest in the job-printing department of his office, which he continued to carry on until his death, August 19, 1868. He was a man of in- tegrity, of shrewd business character, and more than ordinary ability. The name of the paper was changed in April, 1868, to SOMERRSET REPORTER; and was enlarged in size July 20, 1869. In June 1870, Mr. Emery sold his part to Mr. Smith, and the latter, during the same month, disposed of a half interest in the establish- ment to A. L. Brown. Mr. Smith, having accepted a position on the editorial staff of the Portland Daily Press, sold his in- terest April 19, 1871, to W. K. Moody, who had been one of the publishers of the Androscoggin Herald at Mechanic Falls. C.A. F. Emery again purchased Mr. Brown's interest, June 16, 1871. August 25, 1871, the paper appeared in quarto form, eight pages, size of printed page 18 X 12, inches, five columns to the page, with the motto, "Progress and Literature; Truth and Jus- tice ; for the Public Good." Published by Moody and Emery W. K. Moody, editor. INVESTIGATOR. During the political campaign of 1844, a small sheet called the Investigator, supporting the measures of the Democratic party,. was published at Skowhegan by Wm. D. Gould. It was printed by Moses Littlefield, and its publication ceased after a few weeks, MANN'S AMERICAN MISCELLANY AND FAMILY PHYSICIAN. In December, 1847, Dr. Amos Angier Mann commenced the publication of a paper, at the then little village of South Nor- ridgewock, bearing the somewhat pretentious title of Mann's American Miscellany and Family Physician. It was a good sized sheet, well made up, neatly printed and published at $1.50 a year. In the center of the head was a large spread eagle, and in a scroll, underneath, the motto, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."' At the time of the commencement of this paper its publisher wag enjoying a somewhat extensive, and in many sections favorable SOMERSET COUNTY. 187 reputation as a physician; and while his avowed object in estab- lishing this paper was to "disseminate liberal principles," it soon became evident that it was mainly to keep himself before the public as a physician. His first venture in the newspaper business was discontinued at the close of its first volume. In May, 1849, the same person commenced the publication at Skowhegan, of Mann's Physician and Down East Screamer. I have been unable to obtain a copy of this paper, or to ascertain anything definite in regard to its size terms or length of time published. I have been informed, how- ever, that it was not issued regularly. It occasioned much com- ment by its position on the murder of Edward Matthews at Wa- terville in the autumn of 1848, for which Dr. V. P. Coolidge was tried and convicted, the incidents of which are still fresh in the minds of most readers. It will be remembered that the public excitement concerning events -subsequent to the conviction and imprisonment of Dr. Coolidge, was for a long time intense, and entered to some extent into the political campaign of 1849. SOMERSET SPECTATOR. The first number of the Somerset Spectator -the first paper published in North Anson -was issued July 23, 1852. The ma- teriel used in furnishing the office was the old material of the two papers last named. I have before me a copy of No. 29, Vol. 1, of this paper: Somerset Spectator: Devoted to the True Interests of the Country: Published every Friday at $1.50 per annum. At the editorial head is the following: Will our exchanges who have heretofore directed to American Miscellany, Skowhegan, change direction to Somerset Spectator, North Anson, Maine." From this it would appear that the Spectator was regarded as a sort of continuation of Dr. Mann's paper formerly published at Skowhegan, although I cannot ascertain when or how long it was known as the "American Miscellany." The Spectator was pub- lished by Rodney Collins, Esq., although his name does not appear in the imprint. It was a seven column paper, size of printed page 21 X 15 inches. It was discontinued with No. 50 Vol. 4. 188 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. FARMER AND MECHANIC, In the winter of 1852 - 3 a small, eight page monthly paper, was published at Skowhegan by 1. C. Downing and Co., called the Farmer and Mechanic. It was issued two or three months and discontinued. UNION ADVOCATE. The first number of the Union Advocate was issued July 23, 1856, at North Anson, by Albert Moore. Its circulation at the commencement was about 400 copies, and it was started mainly as a campaigh paper in the interest of the Democratic party. Mr. Moore writes me: "When I commenced the paper, I had no thought of running it any time myself, but expected, when fairly started, to turn it over to some one acquainted with the business. I had never written a line for a paper and knew nothing of the details of the business; but I could find no one to take it, and was forced to continue it myself, or let it die.' He says he lost sight of $4,000 before the paper began to -pay. This will give some idea of the cost of publishing, even a small country paper, and at the same time it evinces a persistent courage by no means common with publishers of local newspapers. Mr. Moore con- tinued sole manager and publisher of the paper fourteen years, when his son, Ben. Moore, was admitted a partner, and the paper is now published by A. Moore and Son, at $1.50 per year. It is a six column paper, size of printed page 18.5 X 13.5 inches. Its regular list is about .900 copies, although at times -probably du- ring political campaigns -it has reached 1,100. Always in the interest of the Democratic party it has also been a firm advocate for the true local interests of that section of the country where it is located. SOMERSET TELEGRAPH. The publication of the Somerset Telegraph was commenced in April, 1857. It was published every Friday by J. L. Patten, Ar- cade Building, Madison St., Skowhegan, under the editorial super- vision of M. R. Hopkins. Terms, $1.50. H. H. Nickerson, printer. Its head letter was a neat German text, in the center of which was a cut representing a hand press, a case, and a medallion SOMERSET COUNTY. 189 ,of "Gutenberg, Fust, Schoeffer." It was "Devoted to Literature, Agriculture, General News, etc." It was a neatly printed and well made up paper, size of printed page 22.5 X 16 inches. Mr. Patten, the publisher, was not a practical printer. M. R. Hopkins, the editor,* was a brother-in-law of Mr. Patten. SOMERSET FARMER. The name of Somerset Telegraph was changed to Somerset Farmer, April 10, 1861. Slight changes in the mechanical ap- pearance of the paper also took place at the same time. The greater part of the first page was made up of agricultural selections. I am unable to state the exact date of the discontinuance of the Somerset Farmer, but it occurred sometime during the autumn of 1865. FAIRFIELD CHRONICLE. The publication of the Fairfield Weekly Chronicle was com- menced May 1, 1872, at the village of Kendall's Mills in Fairfield. The paper is what is known as a "patent outside " - the first and fourth pages being printed in New York or Boston; the second and third, devoted to local matters, general news and home adver- tisements, being printed at the office of publication. It is an eight column paper, with the motto - "With Malice toward none, with Charity for all, with firmness in the Right as God gives us to see -the Right, let us strive to finish the work we are in." Published by the Fairfield Chronicle Association, at $2.50 per year. George H. Colby, editor. 'Mr. Hopkins was born in Brunswick, September 19, 1813. His parents we'.. Friends, and he was strictly trained in the peculiarities of their faith. Becoming converted at the age of eighteen he united with the Methodist Church; was educated at the Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, and joined the Maine Conference in 1840. At different times he was located, as a preacher of that denomination, at Berwick, Richmond, Orrington, Hampden, Oldtown, and Searsport. Prostrated with hemor- orhage of the lungs at the latter place in 1851, the attacks continued at intervals for some years, compelling him to relinquish preaching. He removed to Bloomfield, now Skowhegan, in 1854, and in 1858 was elected Register of Deeds for Somerset County. This office he held until his death, June 3, 1859. He held several local offices of trust, was an able preacher, and possessed many qualities of the successful editor. He was a finished, earnest, candid writer, his articles possessing mare than -average merit. 190 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE. I believe I have now given some account of every newspaper that has been published, or is now published in Somerset county; a total of ten separate publications, which have appeared under nineteen different names, and of which but three exist at the present time. It would have been gratifying could I have given more extended personal sketches of publishers, editors and con- tributors, but it would have carried this paper to a greater length than seemed desirable. As it is, I cannot lay down my pen, without making mention of one gentleman, who although not connected with any of the papers which I have enumerated, yet for nearly forty years was a constant contributor to their columns. I refer to Dr. John S. Lynde, a native of Guilford, Vt., where he was born September 4, 1788, and a graduate of the Woodstock Medical College. He came to Norridgewock in 1827, and at once identified himself with the history of the place, and acquired and retained a large and successful practice. He possessed an original and well cultivated mind, was a deep thinker, a constant student, and his literary and scientific attainments were of a high order. He was a poet of no low order, while as a public lecturer upon agriculture and scientific topics he was well known through- out the State. His contributions to the press were upon histori- cal, scientific and political subjects, and quite often poetical pieces from his pen graced the columns of local and state papers. Ile died in October, 1866, at the age of sevelity-eight. *********************************************** 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. 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