Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/65

Rh H. C., the original founder of the "Fredonia Censor," seems to have fought his way through great, and what would have appeared to some minds, insurmountable difficulties and obstacles, in establishing himself in business. "With a hired establishment—the materials of which would now be looked upon as a perfect burlesque, the Press having been manufactured by a blacksmith and carpenter in one of the new towns in Ohio, and the types, which were few in quantity, mostly worn down to- the 'third nick'—with some forty subscribers, and for the first three weeks not a single paying advertisement—he commenced the flattering career of editor and proprietor of a newspaper." His principal assistant in type setting the first year was a lad some nine years of age, and on publication days he called in his neighbor, a painter in a chair shop, [H. H. Seaver, of Rochester,} who assisted him at the Press, in the capacity of ball-man. To lessen his expenses, which from the meagre patronage he was receiving, became an absolute duty, he lodged himself before the office fire. Could success be doubtful with such a man ? By no means. By great industry, and the practice of the most rigid economy, he forced the "fickle goddess" to smile upon him. Such men deserve success, and under the peculiar and favorable institutions of our country, scarcely ever fail to command it. Such is the early career of Mr. . It is worthy the imitation of members of the craft at the present day.

B., who was for many years at the head of the "Mayville Sentinel," is another notable instance of what may be effected by industry and economy. These necessary prerequisites to success in almost any undertaking in life, were the capital upon which he commenced business. He has made good use of the investment. He is now the Editor and proprietor of the "Oswego Palladium," and I am happy to learn is on the high road to success.

Of the other gentlemen who have been associated with the Press in this County, I know but little—not enough to warrant me in speaking of their personal history. This County, like most others in Western New-York, has been prolific in the number of its newspaper establishments, and has consisted of the usual assortment—good, bad, and indifferent.

ORLEANS COUNTY.

The history of the Press in this county is embraced in a comparatively small compass.—Whether the inducements held out for the establishment of the Newspaper Press in this County have been less than others—or whether the craft have been forewarned from the results that have followed the attempt in other counties, I am unable to determine—the fact, however, is undeniable, that fewer attempts have been made in Orleans to establish the Press, regardless of the ability of a place to support such an establishment, than in almost any other county in Western New-York.

In 1822, while the present County of Orleans was a part of Genesee County, Seymour Tracy made an attempt to establish the first newspaper ever printed within its limits. The paper was published at Gaines, and was called "The Gazette." It was continued about four years.

In 1823, Franklin Cowdery commenced the publication, at Newport, (now Albion,) of the "Newport Patriot." He continued it for nearly two years. In Feby. 1825, the establishment passed into the hands of Timothy C. Strong, who soon after changed its name to that of "The Orleans Advocate." In Feb. 1828, Mr. Strong again changed the name of his paper, calling it "The Orleans Advocate and Anti-Masonic Telegraph." In Feb. 1829, another annual change took place by dropping the word "Advocate," leaving the title to read the "Orleans Anti-Masonic Telegraph." In the June following, " Antimasonic" was discarded, and it stood forth simply as the "Orleans Telegraph." But the spirit of change did not stop here—it soon after assumed the title of "American Standard." In March 1830, J. Kempshall became proprietor of the establishment, and continued its publication until Sept. 1832, when it again came into the possesession of Mr. Strong, and took the name of "The Orleans American." In April, 1844, Mr. Strong disposed of the establishment to J. & J. H. Denio, by whom it has since been published.

Daniel P. Adams published a paper at Medina in 1833 or '34—but what was the name of it, or how long it was published, I have not been able to learn.

In August, 1837, J. & J. H. Denio established a paper at Medina, which they continued until May, 1842, called the "Medina Sentinel."

In October, 1829, C. S. McConnell commenced, at Albion, the publication of the "Orleans Republican," which he continued until Feby. 1841, when he disposed of the establishment to H. W. Depuy, who continued it for a few months, and it then passed into the hands of an association of gentlemen, and was thus continued until 1845, when H. E. Purdy assumed the charge of it, and in July, 1846, C. S. McConnell again became the Editor and proprietor of the "Orleans Republican."

Many of the citizens of Genesee County, at least, will remember —a "one legged ," as he was usually called. Previous to starting the paper at Gaines he resided at Batavia, but his grossly intemperate habits unfitted him for business—and for certain reasons was held in low estimation where he was best known. No wonder, then, that his attempt at Games was an unsuccestful one.

Of Mr. I have before spoken. In the "Genesee Olio," of 30th Jany. 1847, a semi-monthly; which he now publishes in Rochester, Mr. says—" We were also first, and did the very first printing ever done in Orleans County." This statement is at variance with that furnished by Mr. Denio, in relation to Printing in this County, which is, that Mr. Tracy established himself in business at Gaines, in 1822,