HISTORY: Chapter 9, History of Cayuga Co., NY 1879; Cayuga co., NY

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1789 - History of Cayuga County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical
Sketches of some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by Elliot G. Storke,
assisted by Jas. H. Smith. Pub. by D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, N.Y. 1879

CHAPTER IX.

HISTORY OF THE PRESS - NEWSPAPER AND BOOK PUBLISHING - MEN OF THE PRESS.
GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN PRESS - IMPROVEMENTS - AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN, COMPARED
- PERFECTION OF THE MODERN PRESS - PRESS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY-NUMBER OF LOCAL
JOURNALS - THE FIRST NEWSPAPER - THE LEVANNA GAZETTE - THE WESTERN LUMINARY -
THE AURORA GAZETTE - THE CAYUGA TOCSIN - THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AUBURN - THE
VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED - BOOK PUBLISHERS - BOOKS PUBLISHED - MEN OF THE
PRESS.

     The Press of this country has had a marvelous growth. In 1840 there were
in the whole United States but sixteen hundred and thirty-one newspapers, of
all kinds, now we have over seven thousand. The circulation, of all the
newspapers in 1840 was one hundred and ninety-five million copies a year, but
it is now over two thousand millions. More than ten times greater than in
1840, and an average annual increase, for nearly forty years, of about 30 per
cent; but in the gain in the size of the sheets now published, in the amount,
quality and variety of the matter, in the number and character of the
illustrations, in the quality of the paper and the perfection of the
letter-press, the progress has been greater still. In the number of newspapers
published, the United States are far in advance of any of the old nations. We
issue more newspapers than four principal nations of Europe, viz : Great
Britain, France, Germany and Italy. This fact is important as indicating the
comparative reading habits of our people and those of Europe.

     The mechanical facilities for the neat and rapid production of
press-work, have kept even pace with, if they have not led, the other
departments of mechanical progress. The contrast is surprising between the
rude presses of seventy years ago, and the marvelous perfection of the press
of to-day. The former would print a few hundred small sheets daily, by the
severe toil of two strong men ; the latter 20,000 mammoth sheets in a single
hour, and fold and direct them ready for the mails, all by mechanism, aided
only by the slender fingers of delicate girls.

     The Press history of Cayuga County extends through a period of
eighty-one years. Since the issue of the first newspaper, there have been
published in it over sixty different local journals, and hundreds of thousands
of standard and miscellaneous books issued by the two publishing houses which
flourished here from 1848 to 1856. The first settlements made in the County
were at or in the vicinity of Aurora, Levanna and Cayuga. The early courts
were located at one or the other of these places, and in this part of the
county-then part of Onondaga-the first newspapers were published.
The first newspaper, was the Levanna Gazette and Onondaga Advertiser, issued
at Levanna on the 20th of  July, 1793, by John Delano. With the exception of
the Ontario Gazette, issued the year before at Geneva, it was the first paper
printed in the State west of Whitestown.

     The Western Luminary, was started at Watkins' Settlement, now
Scipioville, on March 24th, 1801.

     The Aurora Gazette, edited and owned by the brothers Henry and James
Pace, was issued at Aurora on April 30th, 1806, and continued less than two
years.

     The Cayuga Tocsin was started at Union Springs in 1812 by R. T.
Chamberlain.

     These four were the only newspapers issued in the county, outside of
Auburn, until after the completion of the Erie Canal, in 1825.

     THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AUBURN - The Paces, not having succeeded at
Aurora, and the county seat having been removed to Auburn, came hither and
started The Western Federalist, on June 7th, 1808. It was printed on a blue
tinted sheet, not much larger than cap paper, and very coarsely executed. The
type had seen service in England, whence it had come with the owners, and was
very badly worn. On the questions which led to the war of 1812, these
Englishmen sided with the mother country, offending many of their readers ;
but as theirs was the only local paper, in which all legal advertisements must
be inserted, they continued the publication until compelled to yield by the
decline of federalism and the rivalry of the Cayuga Patriot and the Auburn
Gazette.

     The Cayuga Patriot was first published at Auburn by J. G. Hathaway, in
1814. He was succeeded by Samuel R. Brown. The Patriot was politically opposed
to the Federalist, defending the supporters of the war, and sustaining Daniel
D. Tompkins, in opposition to DeWitt Clinton. It was the organ of the party of
which Enos T. Throop was a leading representative. It was a small quarto,
coarsely printed ; but conducted with fair ability and well sustained. Its
office was over a wagon-maker's shop on the west side of the river, near what
is now Mechanic Street, and here that veteran journalist, Thurlow Weed, was a
type-setter in 1814. James Beardsley published the Patriot in 1817 and David
Rumsey - father of the present Justice of the Supreme Court of that name-in
1819. At the later date, U. F. Doubleday bought the establishment. Isaac S.
Allen became a partner eight years later, and on April 1st, 1827, bought out
Mr. Doubleday, who had been elected a member of Congress. Willett Lounsbury
be-came a partner December 30th, 1833, and so continued until his death, May
18th, 1843. Mr. Allen then became the sole owner. On June

     12th, 1845, Mr. Doubleday bought the paper, and on November 17th,
transferred it to Henry A. Hawes and Henry M. Stone who published it under the
firm name of Hawes & Stone, until June, 1847, when it was consolidated with
the Tocsin, under the title of the Cayuga New Era. The Patriot was published
here over thirty years.

     The Auburn Gazette was first issued in June, 1816, by Skinner & Crosby,
Thomas M. Skinner and William Crosby. It was published as a neutral paper,
pending the reorganization of parties, after the decline of federalism. After
two years it was changed to the Cayuga Republican, Mr. Skinner being really
the sole owner and publisher ; yet, for political reasons, appearing only as
printer of the paper. It soon became a leading and thorough party organ,
advocating the principles of the " Clintonians." Mr. Skinner conducted the
Republican for fifteen years, when in May, 1863, it was united with the Free
Press.

     The peculiarity of the Republican was that its editors were seldom
announced, and local departments not regularly maintained. The latter feature
was a general characteristic of the country press of that day. There were also
few original articles except when important elections were pending, the
journals being made up mostly of extracts from eastern city papers.
The Evangelical Recorder, a weekly religious magazine, was started in January,
1818, by Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, and continued for one year.
The Advocate of the People was issued in 1818, and discontinued at the end of
a year.

     The Free Press was the next paper issued in Auburn, in 1824, by Richard
Oliphant. His brother Henry bought the paper five years later, and published
it till its union with the Republican, as stated above, the combined papers
taking the name of the Auburn Journal and Advertiser.

     The Free Press was an influential, a well managed and successful
journal. It was the largest newspaper in the State west of Albany, and a
strong rival of the Cayuga Patriot, to which it was politically opposed.
The Gospel Messenger was started in Auburn in 1826, by Rev. John C. Rudd, D.
D., rector of St. Peter's Church, and principal of the Auburn Academy. It was
a weekly paper, devoted to the advocacy of the doctrines of the Episcopal
Church, but was liberal to all sects. It was ably edited, Dr. Rudd having
been one of the clearest and most forcible of writers. From Auburn the paper
was removed to Geneva, and from there to Utica.

     The Gospel Advocate was started in Auburn by Doubleday & Allen, January
1st, 1828, Rev. L. S. Everett, Universalist, editor. It was 8vo. in form,
published semi-monthly, and continued for three years. Rev. O. A. Brownson was
one of the contributors, then of the Universalist denomination ; he
subsequently joined the Catholic Church, and became a distinguished writer and
editor of a review. He was a man of vigorous talents, but of changeable views,
having been first a Presbyterian, then a Universalist, and finally a Catholic.

     The Diamond was commenced in 1830, and continued for a short time only..
The Cayuga Democrat was started by Frederick Prince in 1833, but was succeeded
in 1835 by The Auburn Miscellany, by the same publisher. In 1839, he
discontinued the Miscellany, and became foreman in the office of
The Western Banner, started in that year with Francis S. Wiggins as editor.
Its name was changed in 1841, to The Auburn Banner, and sold to the Methodist
Book Concern in New York.

     The Primitive Christian, by Rev. Silas E. Shepard, Disciple, was started
in 1835, and continued for six years. It advocated the religious views of that
sect. For nearly a year a discussion was maintained through this journal of
the tenets of the Disciples and Universalists, by its editor and the Rev. G.
W. Montgomery. The discussion was able, courteous and quite interesting. Mr.
Shepard was the author of The Prison Chronicles, which were published here
anonymously at this time, and in which the alleged cruelties practiced in the
Auburn Prison were scathingly rebuked, and their authors most severely
reprobated ; but who wrote or published these articles could not be
discovered, although the most vigorous and searching efforts were made by the
victims to discover the author. Suits were instituted against the supposed
publishers without discovering the true originator of them, and the matter
remained a mystery for over forty years. In the biographical notice of Mr.
Shepard, who died at Troy, Pennsylvania, in October, 1879, the fact of his
authorship of the chronicles was confessed. The chronicles were ably and
vigorously written, in the Biblical style, and were very personal and
scathing. (1)

     The Conference Record was commenced in Au-burn by Rev. J. S. Chamberlain
in 1837.

     The Cayuga Tocsin, second, was started April 5th, 1839. It became the
organ of the Free Soil, or Barn-burner division of the Democratic party.

     The Patriot, sustained the Conservative or Old Hunker division. These
distinctions were kept up until 1847, when a partial truce was made; and the
two papers were united under the name of the Cayuga New Era, which will be
de-scribed in its proper place.

     The Tocsin was first published by Miller & Hine, into which the Genoa
Spy was merged, Gelam Hine having published the latter paper at Genoa. Miller
& Stowe, and Merill & Hollett were successively its publishers and Thomas Y.
How, editor.

     The Northern Advocate, Methodist Episcopal, was first started by Rev.
John E. Robie, in April, 1841, with Revs. F. G. Hibbard and William Hosmer,
editors, and continued as a private enterprise until May, 1844, when it was
purchased by the Methodist General Conference, and continued here as
The Northern Christian Advocate for twenty-eight years, under the following
editors : Rev. Nelson Rounds, from 1844 to 1848-four years; Rev. William
Hosmer, from 1848 to 1856-eight years ; Rev. F. G. Hibbard, from 1856 to
1860-four years ; Rev. Isaac S. Bingham, from 186o to 1864 four years ; and
from 1864 to 1875, by Rev. D. D. Lore, D. D.,-eleven years, and until his
death. The paper was, however, removed to Syracuse two years before his death.
William J. Moses was the agent and business manager of the paper here for
twenty-eight years.

     The Star of Temperance was started here by L. H. Dewey, in 1845, and
removed to Rochester in 1848.

     The Auburn Journal and Advertiser, Weekly, was first issued here in May,
1833. In March, 1846, Mr. Oliphant issued the weekly under the title of the
Auburn Journal, and the daily under that of the Daily Advertiser, the second
daily paper issued in Auburn.

     The telegraph wires were first brought into Auburn in May, 1846, and
made a great change in the transmission and publishing of news. Hitherto
several days had been required to bring news from the seaboard, which now
required only as many minutes, and if the news was sent, it must be
distributed promptly, creating the necessity for a daily paper at all
important business centers, and the Daily Advertiser was quickly followed by
the Daily Tocsin. The telegraph gave a great impulse to interior newspaper
progress.

     On September 14th, 1846, Mr. Oliphant sold his papers, the Weekly
Journal and Advertiser, to Henry Montgomery, who, in about twenty months,
assigned to Charles T. Ferris. Mr. Ferris afterwards bought the papers and
published them until August 22nd, 1849, when he sold them to George W. Peck,
Oscar F. Knapp taking a one-half interest therein, Mr. Montgomery and Mr.
Peck, editors, and Mr. Knapp business manager, the firm being Knapp & Peck.
Afterwards Mr. Peck became the editor-in-chief. That arrangement continued,
the former gentle-man being aided, in later years, by his son Horace J., and
the latter by his two sons, Henry D. and George R. The firm so continued until
the death of George W. Peck, in July, 1878, when his sons succeeded to their
father's interest in the two papers, under the same firm name.

     These papers have been published the longest of any in the County under
one ownership, and have been signally prosperous. They hold a prominent place
amongst the larger and more important journals in the interior cities of the
State.

     The Cayuga New Era, formed in 1847 by the union of the Patriot and
Tocsin, the two Democratic rivals, was designed to heal the old di-visions in
that party on the subject of slavery extension ; but time only widened the
breach and increased the bitterness of the contest, which finally culminated
in the terrible and disastrous events of a four years' war. This journal was
published for nearly ten years, first by Merrill, Stone & Co., and afterwards,
successively, by Stone, Hawes & Co. Finn & Hollett, and William L. Finn, and
discontinued in 1857.

     The Auburn Daily Bulletin, the first of that name, was issued as a
campaign journal, in 1848, by Stone, Hawes & Co.

     Auburn's Favorite was first issued by N. P. Caulkins, in 1849, and the
Masonic Union by Finly M. King, in 1850. A few monthly numbers only of the
latter were issued. The Spiritual and Moral Instructor in 1851, the Farmer and
Mechanic in 1856, changed in 1857 to the Teacher's Education Journal, both by
P. B. Becker, and the Spiritual Clarion, in 1856, were unsuccessful
experiments and of little public importance.

     The Cayuga Chief was commenced January 4th, 1849, by Thurlow W. Brown.
It was an original, vigorous and outspoken temperance journal, continued here
for eight years, when it was re-moved to Wisconsin, and there continued under
the same ownership. Emma, sister of Thurlow W., was early associated with her
brother in the literary and business management of the paper, for which she
evinced peculiar qualifications.

     The Christian Ambassador was first established in New York City as the
successor of the Christian Messenger, on the 4th of December, 1850, and Rev.
J. M. Austin, of Auburn, appointed editor. Early in January following, it was
removed to Auburn and conducted here for about twelve years under the
supervision of Mr. Austin. It was published in the interest of the New York
Convention of Universalists, by a stock company, and was very successful.

     The Auburn American, Daily and Weekly, was issued by William J. Moses in
February, 1855, and continued until June 10th, 1859, when the name was changed
to The Auburn Daily and Weekly Union, Moses & Vail, publishers. The American
was the organ of the political party of that name, while the latter existed,
and vigorously and ably advocated its principles. The Union was continued
until March 6th, 1861, when it was sold to Knapp & Peck, and consolidated with
the Advertiser and Journal.

     The Northern Independent was established in August, 1856, by Rev.
William Hosmer, aided by a publication committee. It had its origin in the
anti-slavery zeal of its projectors, by whom the regular church journals were
considered as too conservative, and not sufficiently out-spoken on the slavery
question. When slavery died the paper was discontinued.

     The Orphan's Friend was started in 1857, edited by J. W. Wilkie and
printed by Knapp & Peck, and is still continued.

     The Auburn Democrat, weekly, was started by Stone, Hawes & Co., in
August, 1857, and continued about five years, until Mr. Stone entered the
army. William S. Hawley succeeded and issued The Spirit of the Times for about
one year and a half; when it was discontinued.

     The People's Union and Advocate of Political Reform, was published
during the local canvass of  1862, the contributors to which were Michael S.
Myers, Warren T. Worden, C. L. Adams and others.

     The McClellan Banner was published during the Presidential campaign of
1864, by P. W. Rhodes and C. L. Adams.

     The Semi- Weekly Herald, Democratic, was be-gun in 1865 by N. T.
Hackstaff and G. E. Bost-wick, and continued for about six months.

     The Cayuga County Democrat, issued in September, 1866, by Charles F.
Durston & Co., was transferred the next year to J. N. Bailey, who published it
for four years, when the paper was sold to William J. Moses.

     The Auburn Morning News, daily and weekly, Republican, was issued in
July, 1868, by Dennis Brothers & Thorne. William H. Barnes, editorin-chief ;
Theodore H. Schenck, literary editor; and Charles A. Warden, city editor. It
was discontinued in January, 1871.

     The Auburn Daily Bulletin was started February 16th, 1870. K. Vail &
Co., editors, publishers and proprietors. It is independent in all things, and
liberally supported. Its local department is conducted by Charles A. Caulkins,
whose contributions are often quaint and humorous.

     The Auburn Daily News was started by the Auburn Printing Company,
William J. Moses, President, and H. Laurens Storke, Secretary and Treasurer,
on July 16th, 1872, and The Weekly News and Democrat, on August 12th, of that
year. The Daily News is a morning paper, and is a well conducted journal.
These are the only Democratic papers in the county.

     The Cayuga County Independent, was first issued February 8th, 1874, J.
N. Bailey & Co., publishers ; A. B. Hamblin, printer. It is published weekly,
is well conducted, and, as its name implies, is independent in its treatment
of men and things.

     The Auburn Daily Item was started in June, 1877, by Urban S. Benton &
Co., G. H. Wheeler, editor, November 8th, 1877, the Item was merged in
The Evening Auburnian, which was then enlarged and published by a stock
company, of which Homer N. Lockwood is President ; U. S. Benton, Secretary ;
M. C. Cuykendall, Treasurer ; A. W. Lawton, Chairman of the Executive
Committee. Its title is the "Auburnian Printing Company," and the enterprise
has been successful.

     THE LATER COUNTRY PRESS.-Since 1827 the following papers have been
published outside of Auburn, namely:
The Port Byron Chronicle, in 1844, by Frederick Prince.
The Port Byron Gazette, in 1849, by Charles T. White, sold in 1860 to B. W.
Thompson, also sold to William Hosford in 1861, and in 1862, to Charles Marsh
who changed the name to The North Cayuga Times.

The Port Byron Chronicle was started in October, 1861. In July it was sold to
Edward Clarke, and in November, 1873, to Ransom & Johnson. Charles E. Johnson
is now the sole owner.

     The Cayuga County Courier, was first issued at Moravia in October, 1863,
by A. O. Hicks, who was succeeded in 1865, by W. M. Nichols ; and in March,
1867, by A. J. Hicks and A. H. Living-stone. In December following A. H.
Livingstone became the sole editor and owner, and so continued until December
31st, 1870, having changed its name to The Moravia Courier. At the latter date
M. E. Kenyon, became the sole owner and editor, and changed its title to The
Moravia Valley Register, improving both its literary and mechanical
departments.

     The Weekly News, by Uri Mulford, was started at Moravia in January,
1872, and removed to Auburn in 1875, and, for a few months, published here in
the interest of the Prohibition party.

     The Moravia Citizen, a religious, temperance and political sheet, begun
by Rev. Charles Ray in June, 1876, is still continued.

     There have been two newspapers printed at Meridian, viz: The Meridian
Sun, in June, 1854, and The Meridian Advertiser, one year after, each
continued about one year.

     The Weedsport Advertiser, started in 1827, by Frederick Prince, was
changed three years later to The Northern Phoenix, by the same publisher.
The Weedsport Sentinel was started in February, 1867, by John Gibbs & Son ;
sold to S. D. Lee & Bro., four years later, and on October 12th, 1872, it was
bought by George R. Nash. J. B. Rogers then purchased a half interest therein,
and it has since been published by them, under the firm name of George R. Nash
& Co.

     The Cayuga Chief, second, started on June 16th, 1877, by Dr. I. D. Brown
& Co., editors and publishers. It is independent and "Pledged to no party's
arbitrary sway; We follow Truth where 'er she leads the way." 

     The Cayuga Tocsin, first, was started at Cayuga in 1812, and has already
been noticed.

     The Cayuga Telegraph, was started by William Clark, in 1850.

     The Union Springs Advertiser, begun in April, 1865, by James B. Hoff,
editor and publisher, is still continued.

     The Central New Yorker, started in April, 1865, by F. F. De Wolf, was
continued about one year only.

     The Central New Yorker, second, started at Auburn in 1878, and published
in the interest of the " National" party, is still continued.

     THE BOOK PRESS. - The firm of DERBY, MILLER & CO., was organized in
March, 1848, and was the first regular book publishing firm in the County. It
consisted of James C. Derby, Norman C. Miller, general partners, and James B.
Thomson, special partner. The firm was reorganized in May, 186o, Mr. Thompson
retiring, and Elliot G. Storke, Edward Munson and Chas. F. Coffin, becoming
members, Mr. Storke as general partner. They soon established their wholesale
house in Buffalo, retaining their manufactory in Auburn. William Orton was at
this time a partner, and was the head of their New York .house when the latter
was established, and so continued while the firm was in business.

     Alden & Markham and Alden, Beardsley & Co., were also extensive book
publishers here between 1852 and 1858, and their business was large and
flourishing. Derby & Miller were, at one time, the largest miscellaneous book
publishers of any in the State, out of the city of New York, and Alden,
Beardsley & Co., held the second place among such houses. In 1857, both firms
went into liquidation.

The contrast between the sale of books in the nine years between 1848 and
1857, and similar sales now, is very striking. Notice the following sales of
books made at the former period by Derby, Miller & Co.:
History of the Mexican War, 35,000 copies. 
Life of General Taylor,  40,000 
Life of John Quincy Adams, 40,000
Life of the Empress Josephine, 50,000
Lives of the Three Misses Judson, 50,000
Fern Leaves, by Fanny Fern, 70,000

     Cayuga County has been distinguished above any other of the interior
Counties of the State, not only for the production of the greatest number of
books, but also for the number of local authors, of whom the following are a
part only : Rev. Josiah Hopkins, D. D., Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., Rev.
Henry Mills, D. D., Rev. Edwin Hall, D. D., Rev. D. K. Lee, Rev. D. Holmes,
Rev. William Hosmer, Rev. J. M. Austin, Hon. William H. Seward, Hon. Samuel
Blatchford, Clarence A. Seward, Esq., P. Hamilton Myers, Esq., David Wright,
Esq., Hon. B. F. Hall, John S. Jenkins, Esq., Henry Montgomery, Esq., Thurlow
W. Brown, Esq., Mrs. Helen F. Parker, and Miss Margaret Conklin.

     The first book written and published in the County was in 1815, by
Samuel R. Brown, en-titled a " History of the Late War," in two 12mo. vols.,
published by J. G. Hathaway, Auburn, and printed at Manlius, by Kellogg &
Beardslee. 

     Elliot G. Storke, in 1858, edited and published at Auburn the Family,
Farm, Garden and Domestic Animals, in one large octavo volume, and in 1864
wrote and published a complete history of the Great American Rebellion, in two
octavo volumes. In 1869, Henry Hall prepared a "History of Auburn." in one
12mo. volume, and Henry and James Hall, in 1873, prepared "Cayuga in the
Field."

     We will close the Chapter on the History of the Press, with brief,
characteristic sketches of a few of the " men of the press," who, by Iong and
conspicuous connection with it, have won a place in its annals.

     The Cayuga Patriot was the first paper published in the County that
became thoroughly es-tablished and continued for a long series of years, under
the management, for the most part, of the same persons. The first publisher of
that paper of whom recollections are preserved, was 

     SAMUEL R. BROWN, with whom in 1814, that veteran journalist, Thurlow
Weed worked, and of whom he writes: 

     "Nor shall we ever forget the upper story of a wagon-maker's shop, where
the Cayuga Patriot was printed ; for there we worked, and laughed, and played
away the winter of 1814. Samuel R. Brown, who published the Patriot, was an
honest, amiable, easy, slipshod sort of a man, whose patient, good-natured
wife, was cut from the same piece.' Mr. Brown the year before had been
established at Albany with a paper called the Republican, under the auspices
of Governor Tompkins, Chief Justice Spencer, and other distinguished
Republicans, with whom Mr. Southwick of the Register, and then State Printer,
had quarreled. This enterprise, like every thing in our old friend Brown's
hands, failed, and he next found himself at Auburn, then a small village
without a sidewalk or a pavement, and, save Sackett's Harbor, the muddiest
place we ever saw. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were originals. Neither of them, so far
as we remember, ever lost temper, or even fretted. The work in the office was
always behind hand, and the house al-ways in confusion. The paper was never
out in season, and neither breakfast nor dinner was ever ready. But it was all
the same. Subscribers waited for the paper until it was printed, and we for
our meals till they were cooked. The office was always full of loungers,
communicating, or receiving news."

     ULYSSES F. DOUBLEDAY, long connected with the Patriot as editor and
proprietor, was distinguished for the strength, originality and accuracy of
his mind ; for purity of purpose, and integrity of character. His readers,
therefore, were greatly influenced by his writings, regarding him as right in
the positions he assumed, because of the soundness of his judgment ; and
honest in the expression of his opinions, because of the acknowledged purity
of his character. He was one of the most prominent journalists of the County.

     WILLETT LOUNSBURY, also of the Patriot, was too diffident and retiring
to succeed at the bar, for which he had been educated ; but he won success as
a journalist, and, for nearly ten years, was the responsible editor of the
Patriot, holding that position at the time of his death.

     ISAAC S. ALLEN, also of the Patriot, was business manager of that paper
while connected with it, and its success was largely due to his careful
prudence, of which his whole business life has furnished a conspicuous
example. He lives in his green and happy old age to enjoy the fruits of
careful industry, temperance and frugality, and is with a single exception,
the only living representative of our earlier press.


     THOMAS M. SKINNER, the oldest survivor of the men of our early press, at
the age of nearly ninety, resides at his home on North street. Though
physically feeble he has yet clear mental perceptions. His first connection
with our press was sixty-three years ago. He opened the first book-store in
Auburn, and was a newspaper publisher here for twenty-six years.

     FREDERICK W. PRINCE had a press experience here and elsewhere, running
through thirty-two years. He established, on his own account, ten different
newspapers, in six different localities, and his experience was the most
varied and eventful of any publisher in the County. He was a good writer, and
an exemplary and highly respected citizen, but an unsuccessful journalist.
THADDEUS B. BARBER has been connected with the press of Auburn for over thirty
years, in the various departments of the business. For skill and artistic
neatness as a printer, he has never been excelled by any one of his local
compeers.

     ANDREW SHUMAN, the present editor of the Chicago Evening Journal, and
Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Illinois, was a printer boy in Auburn in
1846, was interested in the publication of two papers here before he attained
his majority, was remarkable for self-reliance and industry, educated himself
thoroughly in a preparatory school, by his own exertions, and has won his way
to success, in his chosen field of journalism, and is also equally successful
as a politician.

     KENDRICK VAIL, an associate printer's apprentice with Andrew Shuman, has
subsequently and creditably filled every position in the business, including
that of foreman, pressman, editor, and publisher, and is, at present the
publisher of the Auburn Daily Bulletin.

     GEORGE W. PECK was connected with our local press for twenty-eight
years, from 1849 to 1877, as editor and one of the proprietors of a very
flourishing daily and weekly journal, to which he assiduously devoted his time
and talents, and thereby won a liberal competence. He died on the 2nd day of
July, 1877.

     OSCAR F. KNAPP, senior partner of the firm of Knapp & Peck, publishers
and proprietors of the Auburn Daily Advertiser and Weekly Journal, was born in
Groton, N. Y., February 19, 1819. At seven years of age he was left an orphan,
and at the age of fifteen, entered the office of the Jeffersonian and Tompkins
County Times, to learn the art of printing, continuing there about one year.
He then spent four years in the office of the Cortland Republican, completing
his trade, and came to Auburn in the Spring of 1839. Here he engaged as
foreman in the office of the Auburn Journal and Advertiser, then owned and
published by Oliphant & Skinner, and continued four years. His salary was
small, yet by prudence and economy he accumulated sufficient to pay for and
stock a fifty acre farm, bought at the low rates then ruling for farm lands.
Having married, he settled upon, and cultivated it for three years, when,
feeling satisfied with rural life and farm experience, he decided to return to
his case and press, and the spring of 1846 found him established in the job
office of the Journal and Advertiser in Auburn, where he remained until
August, 1849, when, as related, he became joint purchaser, with the late Geo.
W. Peck, of the paper now published by his firm.

     Mr. Knapp has been engaged as practical printer and publisher for over
forty years, and for the past thirty years as publisher of a leading daily and
weekly journal in Auburn. He has made his art the means of the most complete
and gratifying success and secured an ample fortune. It has been no sudden
gain ; but the accretion of years of patient and assiduous toil, in which
untiring industry, prudence and economy have been important factors. The story
of his life but adds force to the maxim : "Wealth arises more from the savings
than from the gains of business."

     JOHN S. JENKINS, was an elegant and forcible writer, the author of
several valuable works which were published here, and as editor of and
contributor to our local press, held a prominent position.

     THURLOW W. BROWN, editor of the Cayuga Chief, author of the Temperance
Tales and Hearthstone Reveries, and a lecturer of distinction upon temperance,
was a bold, vigorous and effective. writer and speaker, entirely devoted to
his favorite cause. He worked here energetically for eight years, when he
removed to Wisconsin, and there continued the same benevolent work.

     REV. WILLIAM HOSMER, editor of the North-ern Christian Advocate and of
the Northern In-dependent, and also the author of several works of merit, was
connected with our local press for about twenty years. He was distinguished
for great independence, earnestness and zeal in the advocacy of his opinions.
Asa reformer he stood in the front ranks, and boldly confronted his opponents.
Like Phillips he scorned the hissing mob, by whom the earlier reformers were
assailed. He is now weakened by disease, and calmly awaits the final summons.
BENJAMIN F. HALL, as editor and author, has rendered valuable services to our
local press. He has prepared many valuable works, chiefly relating to legal
subjects, and is a ready and fluent writer.

     Of the book publishers of the County, JAMES C. DERBY and NORMAN C.
MILLER were the most conspicuous. They were partners in the business. The
former was really the originator of regular book publishing here. By his
peculiar aptitude for trade, he was well fitted to bring business to his firm,
and in that way contributed largely to its success. In the manufacturing and
accounting department, Mr. Miller had superior efficiency, and their united
efforts were, for many years, crowned with complete success.

(1) See article, Auburn Prison.