BIO: John WYETH, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 333-334.
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  WYETH, JOHN, son of Ebenezer Wyeth, was born March 31, 1770, at 
Cambridge, Mass., and died January 23, 1858, at Philadelphia, Pa.  He 
was, at an early age, apprenticed to the printing business, and, on 
reaching his majority, was induced to go to San Domingo, to superintend 
a large printing establishment.  While there the insurrection of the 
blacks occurred, and all that he had acquired was lost.  It was with 
great difficulty that he even succeeded in escaping from the island, 
and then only by the connivance of a friend, one of the officers who 
assisted in searching the vessels about leaving the port.  Dressed as a 
common sailor and working among them, he eluded their vigilance, and 
subsequently reached Philadelphia.  Arriving at Philadelphia, he worked 
some time in the different printing establishments there, and, in 1792, 
went to Harrisburg, Pa., where, in connection with John Allen, he 
purchased the paper started the previous year by Maj. Eli Lewis, and 
commenced the publication of the Oracle of Dauphin, a newspaper he 
successfully carried on until November, 1827.  Mr. Wyeth's paper 
supported the Federal views of that great party during the whole course 
of its existence.  Its columns were open, nevertheless, to the 
communications of all.  In those days, before the principles of 
Republican rule were fully digested, many a nervous essay was put forth 
on either side of the question by able men of both parties.  He was 
appointed postmaster of Harrisburg in October, 1793, under the 
administration of President Washington, of which he was a strenuous 
advocate and admirer.  He was removed in July, 1798, by Mr. Adams' 
Postmaster General on account of "the incompatability of the office of 
postmaster and the editor of a newspaper."  In connection with his 
newspaper, Mr. Wyeth established a bookstore and a publishing house, 
from which he issued a large number of books, the most notable of which 
were:  Judge Henry's "Narrative of the Quebec Expedition," Graydon's 
"Memoirs," and a music book compiled by himself.  The circulation of 
the latter, for that early day, was wonderful, its several editions 
aggregating one hundred and twenty thousand copies.  To this he 
supplemented a second part, intended especially for the Methodist 
church, of which there were published about twenty-five thousand.  He 
was one of Harrisburg's most energetic citizens, and was deeply 
interested in its prosperity and welfare.  He caused the construction 
of several valuable improvements, which remain as evidence of his 
enterprising spirit and good judgment.  He was one of the earliest 
friends of the Harrisburg Academy, and served as a trustee, of which 
body he was also president.  Upon his retirement from publisher, he 
removed to Philadelphia, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-
eight years.  His life, thus prolonged, was marked by affability and 
cheerfulness, and his philosophy was of practical character.  He was 
exceedingly industrious, and, whilst in business, could always find 
something for his hands to do, and in later life, when the concerns of 
his printing office were transferred to younger hands, he knew how to 
divide his time between his reading and his social pleasures.  Mr. 
Wyeth was twice married; married, first, June 6, 1793, Louisa Weiss, 
born April 29, 1775; died June 1, 1822, at Harrisburg, Pa.; daughter of 
Lewis and Mary Weiss, of Philadelphia.