THE FIRST TYLER NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Susie Lemin - susl@ccms.net 15 May 2001 ***************************************************************** THE FIRST TYLER NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter XX - Pages 109-114 The first newspaper published in Tyler was the Tyler Telegraph, by David A. Clopton. The plant was established in 1850. Whether Clopton was a printer or not I do not know. a vague impression leads to the belief that Clopton was a lawyer, and may have been a practical newspaper man. Clopton published the Telegraph until 1852, when he sold the plant to Wm. Henry Parsons, Jaces C. Hill, David Hill, Everett E. Lott, and B. T. Selman, who formed a stock company. Wm. H. Parsons was its editor. The Telegraph was ably edited,; Parsons was an able writer and gave tone and force to the paper. He was a New Yorker by birth, well educated and possessed rare gifts as a writer of ability with the courage of conviction. Parsons soon found himself in a personal controversary with Col. Grinstead, a prominent journalist of Jefferson, Texas. The controversary grew so bitter that Grinstead sent a challenge to Parsons, who accepted the challenge, selecting rifles as the weapon to settle the difference on the field of honor. The time was set, Parsons showed up, but Grinstead failed to meet him. The reasons for Grinstead not showing up I do not know. Parsons had previously married an accomplished lady of Jefferson, and he attended the funeral of his father-in-law, who had died at Jefferson, and on the following day of the burial, while on the streets, was shot and seriously wounded in the legs by some one from under cover. Parsons claimed he never knew who shot him. In 1854, Parsons removed to Waco, and edited a paper in that city. When the civil war came on he sided with the south and made a brilliant record as commander of Parsons Texas' brigade. After the war he went to the city of New York, and I think he died there a number of years ago. He was a dashing fellow along the pathway of life as editor, lawyer, and at the head of his brigade. It might be well enough to mention that albert Parsons, the anarchist executed in Chicago several years ago, was a younger brother of Wm. Henry Parsons. Many old settlers remember Albert. He went barefooted, played in the town branch like other boys. I remember Albert as a splendid little fellow and a pleasant boy- associate. He was a sprightly lad, and his unfortunate fate was hid in the future of coming years. It is Providential Wisdom that makes it so. The first printers working in the Telegraph office were: William Spencer, William a. Wortham, Col. Hunter, Joe a. Kirgan, wick B. Parsons, William Sparks and Geo. M. Johnson. Amention of the first printers in Tyler may not be out of place here, for you seldom meet one of this craft but who is a well informed, appreciative fellow. As to William Spencer I have little information. He was an all-round printer, a companionable fellow and no trace of his history is at hand since he left Tyler some time in the fifties. William A. Wortham was a man of considerable ability and made a fair reputation as an editor and a member of the Texas legislature. He was a level-headed fellow and had many strong friends. He married Miss sue ashcraft, a charming young lady of Tyler, moving to Sulphur Springs, where he became editor and represented Hopkins county in the legislature. He was the father of William B. Wortham, a former State treasurer of Texas, a gentleman of intelligence and popularity. Col. Hunter was a fine specimen of manhood, a man of wonderful resources of information---educated and cultivated abilities, but his fondness for the "cup" was an unfortunate weakness, for at times he tarried too long sipping the nectar of corn juice. It destroyed his usefulness, sapped the foundation of his gifted abilities and blurred the form of a fine physique. unter was familiar with ancient history and the current literature; a poet of no mean pretentions, often soared above his fellows from the mere force of rare abilities, the ground-work of genius making its impress on his associates. He was generous to a fault, magnetic and pleasing in manner and address until overtaken by a vitiated appetite for strong drink. Hunter was a bright and brilliant fellow that often falls by the wayside under such unfavorable and degrading conditions--a gentlemen by instinct and education--a demon from habit that destroys the best abilities of men and over- clouds the individuality of greatness and gentleness. What became of Hunter I don't know--hope he is reformed. The world needed him; his intellect would have brightened it; a gem here, a thought there, would have been food for thought, a light to guide us. But such is life as we make it. What a moral! What a temperance lecture! Wick B. Parsons was a good printer, steady, intelligent and a pleasant companion. He was a younger brother of Editor Parsons, and popular with the boys and girls. He drifted to California in the fifties, and reports from him were that Wick met with business success in the Golden State. William Sparks was another typo of good morals. He went from here to Quitman and published a paper there for many years. He made a lawyer out of himself and practiced successfully at the Quitman bar. He was a man of force and sledge-hammered himself to the front in whatever he undertook. Geo. M. Johnson served an apprenticeship, making a good printer. He figured largely in other newspaper enterprises to be mentioned in another place. He married the accomplished Miss Mattie R. Seaton, an attractive young woman. Both reside in this city. Mrs. Johnson is known for her good sense, business tact and her many Christian virtues. Here I have my hands full. Joe A. Kirgan, a noted newspaper man, (editor, printer and devil), filling all departments. The man of emergency, equal to the lightning calculator in rapid successive movements. A stem-winder, a natural-born typo. Joe, it is said, has launched more newspaper enterprises in Texas than any man in it. He is well known to the older members of the craft and finds a soft spot in the bosom of newspaper people. He is somewhat deaf of late years, but catches on to passing events, noting them as they occur. He carries a pass on all the railroads in Texas, Louisiana and arkansas. He can ride a Pullman sleeper from Tyler to San Francisco (taking his meals regular), without a cent in pocket. Joe, in his younger days, would go out on a lark with the boys, but swore off the next day. He has reformed; don't do that way now. This way of doing he laid aside for a Christian one with more suited obligations to a generous nature. Joe still runs a paper, enjoys life and bobs up at unexpected places, always welcome as an ancient typo of pleasant memories covered with Age and Time. Kirgan is aman of fair ability, schooled in hard lines and adverse conditions. His good qualities measure up to the size of an ordinary mule. The writer received tips from him in newspaper work when quite a boy. Joe will more than likely see the end of the 20th century. He is "built that way".