Page:History of Warren County.djvu/296

 During the following ten years it prospered so well that it was encouraged to celebrate the 4th of July, 1873, by still another enlargement of an additional column on each page. On the 2d of July, 1875, it celebrated the advent of the grand water system of this village by first running its presses by hydraulic power. On the 1st day of February, 1882, Mr. Cole associated with himself F. A. Bullard, the firm name being Norman Cole & Co.—a relation and style which still exists. On the 7th of July, 1882, the Messenger was again enlarged to thirty- six columns. In an editorial of that issue, after a succinct retrospect, the purpose of the paper is set forth in the following language:—

" We shall aim to make the Messenger the most reliable and the best newspaper in the county, by constantly guarding its columns and keeping out false reports and sensational and degrading matter that floods upon the press from every direction, and by sifting out and printing that which is good and true. We shall endeavor to so condense the news as to give a faithful weekly summary of the important events of the world, paying especial attention to home matters and all that interests or affects our town, county, state or nation." It is only fair to say that the purpose of the publication as above expressed has been faithfully adhered to, and is the leading characteristic of the paper today.

Norman Cole, at present at the head of the firm publishing the Messenger, was born in the town of Queensbury near Glens Falls, June 1st, 1835. His father, Levi Cole, and his grandfather Isaac, were both blacksmiths and remembered as noted for good honest work. When Norman was eight years old his father died, leaving a widow with fourjchildren of whom Norman was the oldest. The limited means left was soon absorbed, except the homestead of ten or twelve acres of land, on which he had to labor to his utmost for the support of the family. Three months of schooling in the winter of each of several years constituted the public educational advantages of the boy; but he studied, read and thought a good deal outside of his school days, which, with the careful and intelligent training of his mother, gave him a solid foundation of character as well as the basis of a fair education. It was contemplated finally that Norman should learn a trade, but his mother could not entertain the thought of his leaving home; neither did he incline towards any of the various occupations mentioned, until printing was mentioned, which, as he now expresses it, came to him like an inspiration, and he resolved to learn that profession. He did not begin the attractive handiwork until the December following his twentieth birthday, but he was armed with a wonderful determination to master it, and of course success awaited him. He has risen to an honorable position in the great field of journalism and can look back upon his Hfe, as far as it has passed, as one well spent.

On the 17th of January, 1878, the Warrensburgh News was started by G.