Dane County WI Archives History - Books .....Chapter VII Newspaper History 1877
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Book Title: Madison, Dane County And Surrounding Towns...

CHAPTER VIII. [SIC]
NEWSPAPER HISTORY.

  A SCOTCHMAN who had seen the Stuart dynasty sung from a throne, said: "Let me
make a nation's ballads, and who will, may make its laws." Newspapers have
superseded ballads. Journalism, the popular voice in type, is the foe of
usurpation. The growth, of our press has been wonderful. While Captain Carver
diplomatized among the Indians here, the newspaper advanced from an advertising
sheet to a political power. Before King George rewarded Carver with a grant, the
press had defeated the monarch. The stamp act might have been fought in vain,
but for our journals. Henry would have roused a small circle, but there would
have been no national soul. Journalism was the bond of union that saved the
colonies. Charles Carroll, in the Maryland Gazette, indorsed Patrick Henry, and
every liberal sheet responded. The Gazette, in Pennsylvania; the Newport
Mercury, R. I. answered the call, and the Mercury was suppressed in vain.
Charleston papers took up the strain; New York sons of liberty shouted for
freedom. The Boston Gazette echoed the words of Henry, backed by Adams, and a
pamphlet in London disseminated that utterance, in spite of the British
government. Within one year the king was discomfited, the stamp act repealed.
That was the beginning, and the end was near. "I am the State," said Louis XIV.
With greater truth the press could have said, "I am the Revolution." The
newspaper was the weapon, without which there had been no Bunker Hill, no world
renowned Declaration.

  The Enquirer, published by Noonan, was small, but it had power. His share in
the transaction appears elsewhere. George Hyer, who set the first type, has been
mentioned with honor. The partnerships of Sholes, Noonan, Hyer and Judge Knapp,
are stories often told. Reed changed the sheet from Democratic to Whig, and in
1844, the changeling died. Politics, in the early settlement, were for and
against the commissioners. When the capitol ceased to supply pabulum, a
Democratic pioneer says, "we went where we belonged."

  Party lines were observed when the Wisconsin Express appeared, in 1839. Wyman
sold the paper to D. Atwood and Royal Buck, who afterwards consolidated with the
Statesman. Its politics were Whig. Wyman was a hard hitter. When Ream and Clark
were candidates for the office of register, the former winning by two votes,
Wyman made affidavit and published, that the canvassers had suppressed returns.
Ream confirms that statement, saying: "I found myself elected by two votes,
which much surprised me .... until .... a friend explained .... after exacting
secrecy .... that the extra vote was obtained by strategy, to make my election
sure." Wyman is fortified, but the canvasser says: "Save me from my friends."

  Knapp and Delaney brought out the Wisconsin Democrat in 1842, which died
eighteen months later, in the hands of J. P. Sheldon and Geo. Hyer. The same
name was used for a paper in 1846, by Beriah Brown. That organ combined with the
Wisconsin Argus. While two papers were running, both offices wanted the
government printing. The Argus, some months older than the Democrat, rested on
its antiquity. Beriah Brown relied on shell fish, and the wire puller won. A
caucus being called to settle the question, a member unseared by corruption,
said: "We have eat Brown's oysters and drinked his liquor. We can't go back on
Brown." Beriah succeeded in taking the Argus, as well as the patronage.

  The Wisconsin Argus was published by S. Mills & Co., with John Y. Smith,
editor. H. A. Tenney joined, when the firm of Tenney, Smith & Holt was
established. Two of the firm sold to S. D. Carpenter, and Mr. Tenney remained
until 1852, when the consolidation followed. "Old Hunkers" and "Tadpoles," the
divisions of the Democratic party, took their "feast of reason" in one sheet.
Mr. Carpenter retired, and Beriah "played it alone" until July, 1854, when E. A.
Calkins, since of the Milwaukee News, joined the staff. Calkins & Proudfit
became proprietors. Two years later, J. K. Proudfit sold to Mr. Webb. The paper
suffered from tightness of the chest, and Beriah Brown was called in, but after
three months vigorous treatment there were no signs of increasing vitality.
Brown left Webb & Calkins, and the paper breathed its last. There was a
resurrection, but Calkins & Cullaton could not make it go. Calkins sold out,
other editors gave vigorous support to the war policy of Lincoln, but the paper
would not live.

  Wyman brought out the Statesman in 1850. William Welch was one of its editors.
Wyman & Bugh assumed the management in 1851, and at last consolidated with the
Express. The Wisconsin, State Palladium resulted. Atwood, Wyman & Buck did not
harmonize, and the paper was suspended. The State Journal made its appearance,
with David Atwood as editor and proprietor, in September, 1852, the Republican
party accepting the Journal as its organ. Several additions and alterations have
worked no change in the politics of the paper. Mr. Rublee, Mr. Gary, Mr. Reed
and Mr. Culver have supported the venture, making it one of the best
journalistic properties in the state; with one of the most complete printing
offices west of Chicago.

  Earlier phases of newspaper activity are illustrated by a sketch from the
State Journal. Mr. D. K. Tenney is identified with this city, and the phrases of
Col. Bird are true to life:

  "Twenty-six years ago, Dan. K. Tenney put up at the "United States Hotel,"
with, two "bits" in his pocket. Col. A. A. Bird was landlord. Said Dan, "Two
bits sizes my pile; but I'd like to stay here over night and see what I can do
to-morrow." The Colonel (good old soul as ever lived) looked at his new guest,
and replied: "O Gad, yes; stay as long as you like, boy! Have some supper? O,
Gad, yes; come in. Stay as long as you please." Dan had supper and a night's
lodging, and in the morning struck a printing office, and secured a "sit."
Getting a little money, Dan next turned up in the University. He got as much as
they could spare in that institution and returned to the printing office (the
Journal, a wee bit of a paper then), working along, until toil and no fortune
seemed foolishness. One day, all hands were "jeffing" on the stone to see who
should get a pail full of whisky, when Dan. spoke up: "Who the d—Ps got any
money-in this crowd?" Nobody, of course; and the "devil" had to go down and
"stand off" old "Jackknife" Robinson for a couple of quarts. After this amount
had been disposed of, it struck Dan that printers were fools to be pulling hand
press and sticking small pica, so he remarked: "Good bye, boys; you are all
condemned fools if you stay here? I'm going to study law and make something."
Dan started for Portage, where he met his brother H. W. "I've come up to study
law with you, by thunder." H. W. replied sharply, "You have? You are a darned
fool; you'd better stick to printing. You'll cut a hog in two studying law? But
if you are bound to stick to law, you can see what you can do turning those
eighty acres of mine into city lots, and selling them."   This was Dan's first
job. He succeeded, stuck to the law and kept out of a printing office, except
when briefs and other jobs were required. We don't know how Dan counts his
thousands in Chicago, but he has just erected a handsome block, on the spot
where Col. Bird, twenty-six years ago, took him in, with only two "bits," in his
pocket.

  There were wild jokers in the printing offices, men for whom a hen-roost had
no sacredness; fellows as full of deviltry as Falstaff on. Gad's Hill, but more
courage. One of the Tenney's possessed a choice assortment of poultry. One
night, when the devil failed to scare up copy, that power of darkness found
occupation, for idle hands, purloining capons from the foreman to make a feast
for the father of the chapel. There were two Tenneys in the business, but H. A.,
to whom the poultry belonged, warmly approved the banquet. He said the foragers
should revisit the hen roost, and they did so. There may be no truth, but there
is poetical justice in the fowl invention. D. K. Tenney says; " Have not all my
happy days for twenty-six years been spent in Madison?" "Was the happiest day
that night? The boys cleared his brother's hen-roosts like the grasshoppers
scooped Kansas?

  The Wisconsin Patriot has more than one eventful history. Gathered to "the
tomb of the Capulets," it is still a power. The first number appeared twenty-two
years ago. The proprietors and editors were J. T. Marston and H. A. Tenney.
Tenney sold to S. D. Carpenter, who subsequently bought out Marston. The firm of
S. D. and S. H. Carpenter ran for some time, but after many changes, S. H.
Carpenter, our much respected "Professor of Logic and Literature," sold to Mr.
Law, who was associated with S. D. Carpenter about a year. The Patriot saw many
changes which would be tedious to narrate. The management at the present time is
in the hands of H. A. Tenney and S. D. Carpenter, but their business
arrangements are not matters of history. Two men so intimately identified with
the press of this city, deserve a notice embracing more than their Madison
engagements. Major Tenney, from whose sketches we have freely quoted, came in
1845, but went to Galena, and did not buy into the Wisconsin Argus until 1846.
He was government printer in 1847 and the following year. When the
constitutional convention assembled, he was reporter, and again in 1848.
Directly and indirectly he was state printer until 1852, when ill health
compelled his retirement from the Argus. The Major, one of the founders of the
Patriot, sold out to his old partner. Mr. Tenney's services to the University
are matters of history. His position as assistant state geologist, enabled him
to aid the University collections largely. In 1857, he was a member of the
legislature, and introduced the bill for the new capitol. In the following year
he was comptroller of state, and one of the regents of the university. His
services at Camp Randall need not be enumerated, nor his appointments in the U.
S. A. He was special agent of the P. O. department until 1864. In 1869-70, he
was associate editor of the Chicago Republican, moving to similar duties on the
Post, and on the St. Paul Pioneer in 1872. He became clerk of the railroad
commission in 1874, is the oldest Madison editor surviving in Wisconsin, and not
yet tired of the drudgery of the press. When he began there were but nine
exchanges, few of which have survived. Mr. S. D. Carpenter settled in Madison in
1850, and was identified in succession with the Argus, and the Argus and
Democrat, from which having retired he devoted his genius for mechanics, to
invention. The pump, to which he is indebted for a pseudonym, was invented in
1853, and he sold rights to the extent of nearly $35,000. Once more in newspaper
life, Mr. Carpenter became editor and proprietor of the Patriot. Its politics
were eventually war democratic. The well known claim for damages against the
state, dates from 1864. During that year Mr. Carpenter devised a power press, on
the model now largely used, feeding from paper in the roll, and he claims to
have originated that plan. The invention of an automatic grain binder employed
nine years, and about $40,000. It is claimed that every device now operating for
that purpose, took its rise in Mr. Carpenter's ingenuity. His inventions were
sold to McCormick & Co., because a fortune was wanted to establish his rights,
and furnish machines. His veneer cutting and other inventions cannot be glanced
at; suffice it to say that few men have excelled him in variety and originality
of design for labor-saving machinery.

  The Daily Capitol, published by W. J. Park & Co., with Col. Calkins as editor,
appeared on the day on which President Lincoln was shot. It was a racy,
nonpartizan daily, eventually incorporated with the Democrat, which was
established in 1865, by Hyer & Fernandez, and bought by A. E. Gordon. The title
was then changed from Wisconsin to Madison Democrat. Mr. Paymer is now editor
and proprietor, having succeeded the firm of J. B. Parkinson & Co., which
purchased from Gordon.

  The Journal of Education originated in Janesville, but was transferred to this
city. Col. J. G. McMynn, afterwards state superintendent, was its editor,
succeeded by A. J. Craig, also state superintendent. Rev. J. B. Pradt is now one
of the editors. Discontinued in 1865, in consequence of a withdrawal of state
support, it was resumed when partial aid was afforded. Several substitutes
started elsewhere, but they do not come within our limits. When Gen. Fallows
succeeded as state superintendent, upon the death of Mr. Craig, he revived the
Journal, and Superintendent Searing continues the publication.

  The Wisconsin Farmer, commenced under another name in Janesville, was removed
to this city in 1855; the interest of one proprietor being purchased by E. W.
Skinner and D. J. Powers. The paper was conducted with great energy by Dr. J. W.
Hoyt, assisted by the skillful pen of his wife. The paper died after twenty
years of struggle, beaten by extensive capital in such enterprises in eastern
cities. The Norse press has had severe vicissitudes. Many courageous efforts
have failed; none conducted with first class talent, nearly all have been
respectable. The names of some failures are given, but some may have escaped
notice: De Norskes Ven, Friend of the Norseman; Den Norske Amerikaner, American
Norseman; the Nordstjernen, Northern Star; Immigranten; Billed (or illustrated)
Magazine; Imigranten; Den Liberale Demokrat, and Wisconsin Banner, have all
perished. There remains only to-day the Nordvesten, a liberal democratic weekly,
edited and published by L. J. Grinde. The Nordvesten deserves success. Ole
Torgerson's De Norskes Ven was the first paper in a foreign tongue in this
county. It was whig in politics, and appeared in 1850, but a few months ended
its career. Den Norske Amerikaner appeared in December 1854, and died in May,
1857. "The Scandinavian Democratic Press Association" brought out the
Nordstjernen in 1857. Their effort was not successful, although changes of
management were tried. The Bmigranten was brought to this city from Immansville,
Rock county, but after years of partial success, that also was gathered to its
fathers. There have been several fugitive periodicals of a religious character.

  The German population supports the Wisconsin Botschafter, started by Porsch
and Sitzman in 1869. There have been several German papers, but none have
prospered. The Staats Zietung, democratic, edited by August Kruer, continued two
years. The Madison Zietung, republican, hardly lived two years. The Madison
Democrat, published in 1858, perished in 1860.

  The Madison Capitol was started in 1855 by J. Nolan. The True American, edited
by an association, appeared during the same year. The Western Fireside, by S. H.
Carpenter in 1857. The Higher Law, by Herbert Reed, in 1861; and the Soldiers
Record, by S. W. Martin in 1864. Our educational interests were served by the
Northwestexn [sic] Journal of Education, Science and Literature, in 1850, under
the editorship of Prof. O. M. Conover, and by the Free School Journal, edited by
J. L. Enos. Of Dr. Hunt's ephemeral, the "Old Oaken Bucket" a temperance paper,
we can only say, Requiescat in pace. The Student's Miscellany was commenced
during the session of 1857, and its tone reflects credit on the management. The
Home Diary is a sparkling occasional paper edited by V. J. Welch, which deals
vigorously with every topic that is touched. A paragraph, denouncing the
shortcomings of Park & Co., in selling a copy of Burns' poems without "Holy
Willie's Prayer," is a favorable specimen of the style, which we subjoin:

  "Friends! be cautions in buying: Burns' poems. We were saddled with a copy
recently in which "Holy Willie's Prayer" was omitted. Park sold it to us. He is
a Scotchman. He is one of the "pres-byt'ry of Ayr."

    "Lord, hear my earnest cry and pray'r,
     Against the presbyt'ry of Ayr;
     Thy strong right hand, Lord, make it bare."



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Madison Section

MADISON, DANE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS;
BEING A HISTORY AND GUIDE
TO PLACES OF SCENIC BEAUTY AND HISTORICAL NOTE FOUND IN THE TOWNS OF DANE COUNTY
AND SURROUNDINGS, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNS, AND EARLY INTERCOURSE
OF THE SETTLERS WITH THE INDIANS, THEIR CAMPS, TRAILS, MOUNDS, ETC.

WITH A COMPLETE LIST OF
COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND OFFICERS,
AND
LEGISLATIVE MEMBEES, MADISON VILLAGE AND CITY COUNCIL.

ILLUSTRATED,
MADISON, WIS.:
PUBLISHED BY WM. J. PARK & CO.,

BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS AND BINDERS, 11 KING STREET.
1877.

COPYRIGHT.
WM. J. PARK & CO. 1877.

DAVID ATWOOD, STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER, MADISON, WIS.

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