Maury County TN Archives History - Books .....The Press 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 23, 2005, 12:40 am Book Title: Century Review The Press is to the adult population practically what the school is to the young, as it is educational. The earliest publication issued in Columbia was the Western Chronicle, in 1811, by Jas. Walker, then but nineteen years of age. He had learned the printer's trade in Nashville. In 1813 he married Jane M. Polk, eldest sister of the President-to-be. Mr. Walker erected the first brick residence in Columbia, and for fifty years was an honored citizen here. Andrew Hays bought the Chronicle. McCord & Williamson became partners, the firm later selling to S. D. Frierson and A. O. P. Nicholson, who about 1833 changed the name to the Western Mercury. Felix K. Zollicoffer started the Columbia Observer in 1834, later accepting Mr. Field, of "scrapbook" fame, as a partner. The Southern Cultivator was started by David Clayton in 1837, and C. P. Bynum purchased an interest. The Guardian was started in 1841 by Rev. F. G. Smith. (See "Athenaeum.") The Tennessee Democrat was started in 1850. The Maury Press, started in 1860 by J. O. York, with W. M. Arnell as editor, was discontinued in 1862. Other editors or publishers have been: Stanley Matthews, C. J. Dickerson, J. J. McDaniel, S. W. Mitchell, Jas. O. Griffith, W. S. Fleming, J. E. Johnson (publisher of the Mirror), and N. L. Arnell. At different times there have been published a Gazette, the Columbian, Collegiate Magazine, Kaleidoscope, Sentinel, Intelligencer; about 1870, the Dixie Farmer, by Hunter Nicholson; Pen and Pulpit, by T. M. P. Otts: Chronicle, by Hilliard & Bliss. Columbia Herald was started in Jan., 1855, by J. J. McDaniel and J. O. Griffith. Pope Nicholson and others were interested prior to its discontinuance in 1862. In 1870 it was reestablished .by A. S. Horsley, who in Jan., 1872, associated with H. P. Figuers. They purchased the Mail, which had been started by J. B. Murphy and J. E. Hatcher a year prior, and merged it with the Herald. In 1882 the Columbia Herald Co. was formed by thirty business men. A. B. Upshaw, then publishing the Journal, and F. B. Hemphill, of the Maury Sentinel, were induced to merge their interests and take stock. Hon. Henry Cooper, ex-United States Senator, became editor in 1885, and E. E. Erwin business manager. F. D. Lander succeeded Mr. Cooper in 1887. A. C. Floyd followed for a short time; but in 1889 Mr. Lander purchased a controlling interest, and has since been principal owner and editor. E. R. Farrell, a popular young Columbian, is city editor; Walter Hastings, advertising and business manager. Daily Herald.-A Daily Herald was started in Columbia in 1844, but lived only a few months. The present venture was established in Oct., 1899, and, for a city of this size, has met with good success. It has a large patronage in Columbia city and a good list outside. A branch office is maintained at Mt. Pleasant, in charge of M. B. Young. Mr. Lander was born in Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1855: came to Columbia at twenty years of age; was admitted to practice law in 1878; and became owner of the Herald as stated above. He is an aggressive publisher, and is securing a merited success. The Herald maintains a well-equipped job department, in charge of H. E. Armstrong. The office and printing rooms are on the second floor of the Masonic Building. Maury Democrat.-This enterprise had its incipiency as an organ of the "Sky Blue Party" when W. B. Bate was a candidate for Governor, the first issue appearing in July, 1882. A stock company was formed by J. T. Williamson, J. L. Bullock, and others. It had various managers before its purchase by Lynch Perry in Jan., 1888. Prior to that it had a patent side, the other half having been printed on a Washington hand press, as the circulation was small. Mr. Perry accepted his brother. E. C., as a partner; put in extensive improvements: and absorbed several smaller concerns, chief among which was the Journal, purchased in Dec., 1902. The plant is now run by power in all departments, requiring from twelve to fifteen employees. The Democrat from week to week published "Reminiscences of an Octogenarian," which had been compiled from the diary of Mrs. A. O. P. Nicholson, wife of the late Chief Justice. This and other good correspondents added widely to the Democrat's circulation. For several years Perry Bros, gave an annual free excursion to their correspondents-a unique feature, which widely advertised the merits of this model weekly, among the largest and best to be found in Middle Tennessee, twelve pages, all home print, exceptionally fine press work. The Perry brothers are natives of Columbia, and have made a good business record here. The office occupies two floors at No. 4 North Main St. Job Printing.-in addition to the foregoing newspapers, W. C. Aydelotte, who commenced the printer's trade .with the old Columbia Herald in 1858, in 1903 opened a jobbing outfit at 6 1-2 Public Square, where he takes care of all kinds of commercial printing. He is a native of Maury Co. and served four years with the Second Tennessee, Confederate Infantry. Mr. Aydelotte has an issue of the Columbia Observer of June, 1840, which gives the political views of Gen. W. H. Harrison, then candidate for President. Additional Comments: From: CENTURY REVIEW 1805 - 1905 MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE A Condensation of the Most Important Events of the Past One Hundred Years, and Descriptive Sketches of the Cities and Villages File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/maury/history/1906/centuryr/press17gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb