Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/58

Rh German paper commenced in November, 1845, by H. B. Miller, and edited by Adolphus Hilman.

The "Springville Express" is published by Edwin Hough, in the village indicated by its title, in Erie County. It was established there about two years since.

The above, the "chronicles of Erie" assert, is a history of the living Press of that County. But where are the "mighty dead"? Let us look around among the tombs that have swallowed them up, and see if their past history cannot be dragged forth and deciphered from the fragments that remain.

The second paper that made its appearance in the village of Buffalo, was in July, 1815, by David M. Day, called the "Niagara Journal." On the erection of Erie County, the title was changed to "Buffalo Journal." It was edited by the leading politicians of the day, until about 1822, when R. W. Haskins became its principal Editor. In 1826, Oran Follett became a partner, and the Editor. In 1827, R. W. Haskins was admitted to a copartnership, and as joint Editor. In 1830, Follet and Haskins retired, leaving the paper in the hands of Mr. Day. In 1834, he sold out to Elijah J. Roberts, who in the summer of that year issued a daily under the name of "Daily Advertiser," which lived only about six weeks. Col. Morgan was assistant Editor with Mr. Roberts, and the late Comfort M. Butler, one of the publishers. In the early part of 1835, the paper was suspended. In the meantime, however, Mr. Day had established another paper, the "Buffalo Whig," of which R. W. Haskins was Editor. The personal popularity of Mr. Day was too much for the "Journal," and it went down. Soon after, Mr. D. purchased the title and subscription list of the defunct, and added that of "Journal" to his paper. On the first of January, 1836, Mitchenor Cadwallader and Dr. Henry R. Stagg, became interested with Mr. Day, and in the February following, commenced the "Daily Buffalo Journal," the editorial care of which was committed to Messrs. Cadwallader and Stagg. In 1837, Mr. Day retired, and the paper was continued by Stagg & Cadwallader until the fall of 1838, when the establishment passed into the hands of Elam R. Jewett, and Dr. Daniel Lee and J. B. Clarke were installed as Editors. In May, 1839, the "Journal" was" merged in the "Commercial Advertiser."

In 1824, in September, John A. Lazelle and Simeon Francis issued the first number of the "Buffalo Emporium." From December, 1826, it was issued semi-weekly, and was discontinued in the latter part of 1829. It was the first paper issued in Buffalo oftener than once a week.

In the winter of 1827 or '28, Charles Sentell and Mr. Haywood, started a paper called the "Western Advertiser." The late Oliver Forward and James Sheldon were contributors to it. Its existence was prolonged only for about three months, when it was united to the "Buffalo Patriot."

In the spring of 1830, Horace Steel commenced the "Buffalo Bulletin." About Feb., 1834, it was bought by James Faxon, and Mason Brayman became its Editor. It was afterwards, as before stated, merged in the "Republican."

In August, 1835, the "Transcript," daily and weekly, was started by Henry Faxon, and edited by E. J. Roberts. In December, Edward H. Tompson, became the Editor. It went down after an existence of six months.

About this period several small daily sheets were issued, which had but a brief existence of two or three weeks, and then descended to the "tomb of the Capulets." The "Daily Whig," and the "Daily Enquirer," are the only ones of this class that can be called to mind.

In the winter of 1835, a little weekly sheet was started called the "Locofoco." It lived but a few weeks, when its light was extinguished.

During the winter of the "Patriot War," a little weekly sheet, called the "Buffalonian," made its appearance, under the auspices of an association of journeyman Printers. It was soon after issued daily by F. B. Ward & Co. At first it was edited by Mr. "Anon." The thing taking pretty well, this Mr. Anon, soon after turned into Mr. Geo. Arlington. Its wit, humor and biting personalities soon procured for it a large circulation, and this Mr. Anon, alias, Geo. Arlington, was again changed into Thomas L. Nichols. In the fall, Mr. N. left the establishment and started another of similar character, called the "Mercury." The "Buffalonian" was continued under the editorial charge of J. D. Dwinelle, but being divested somewhat of its obnoxious character, its popularity began to wane, and after some two months it was bought out by Mr. Nichols, and united with the "Mercury." In 1839 it went into the hands of N. R. Stimpson, who published it until the succeeding spring, when it ceased to exist.

In 1838-9. Abraham Dinsmore published the "Sun," daily and weekly. In the May following it passed into the hands of E. H. Eastabrooks, and was discontinued in October.

Thomas Newell, in the spring of 1839-40, started a daily and weekly paper, called the "Buffalo Centinel." It was edited for a brief period by Thomas L. Nichols, and for about three months by Henry Reed, Jr. It was discontinued in the fall.

In the summer of 1840, the "Morning Tattler," daily, was issued by Langdon, Fouchette & Schaeffer, and edited at first by George