Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/72

Rh the office, including its Proprietors, would have induced the belief that they came out of the Ark, if there had been authority for supposing that Father Noah took a Printing Office on board.

"After resting a few hours at Auburn, we footed it on to "Spring Mills," in the "Old Town of Scipio," where we renewed our acquaintance with the space-box and shooting-stick, in the "Tocsin" office, a paper that rejoiced in one "Royal T. Chamberlain," as its "Editor and Proprietor." Scipio was then the largest and richest town in Western New-York. They have since cut it up into four or five towns.

"The Printing Office was situated upon the Lake, but we boarded some three miles back, with the Proprietor's Father. The walk from the farm to the office, in the grey of the morning, and the return at twilight, was always delightful. The country was just passing from the primeval to the pastoral state, so beautifully illustrated in Cole's magnificent picture of the Course of Time. We were quite enchanted, and looked forward to much enjoyment there. But our hopes were soon dashed. Our 'Editor and Proprietor' fell in love! Miss S, who won his heart, rejected his hand! Instead of consoling himself with the philosophy which assures us that there are as good fish in the sea as those that refuse to be caught, he would sit whole days upon a particular log looking at the house in which the idol of his affections resided. Business was of course neglected, and in a few weeks the 'Tocsin' ceased to sound its alarms.

"Nor shall we ever forget the 'upper story of a wagon-maker's shop' where the 'Cayuga Patriot' was first printed, for there we worked and played and laughed away most of the winter of 1814. Samuel R. Brown, who published the 'Patriot,' was an honest, amiable, easy, slip-shod sort of a man, whose patient, good-natured wife was 'cut from the same piece.' Mr. Brown, the year before, had been established at Albany with a paper called the "Republican,' under the auspices of Gov. Tompkins, Chief Justice Spencer, and other distinguished Republicans, with whom Mr. Southwick, of the 'Register,' ond then State Printer, had quarrelled. But the enterprise, like every other in our old friend Brown's hands, failed, and he next found himself at Auburn, then a small village without a sidewalk or pavement, and save Sacket's Harbor, the muddiest place we ever saw. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were originals. Neither of them, so far as we remember, ever lost temper or even fretted. The work in the office, was always behind hand, and the house always in confusion. The paper was never out in season, and neither breakfast nor dinner were ever ready. But it was all the same. Subscribers waited for the paper until it was printed, and we waited for our meals until they were cooked. The office was always full of loungers communicating or receiving news. And but for an amateur type-setter, (Richard Oliphant, late editor of the 'Oswego County Whig,' and brother of the Editor of the 'Auburn Journal,') to whom we became much attached, and who, though a mere boy, used to do a full share of the work, the business would have fallen still farther behind hand. It is not perhaps unworthy of remark here, that three excellent and much esteemed Printers, became such, without dreaming of their destiny, in consequence of attachments we formed for them in their childhood. We allude to Richard Oliphant, of Oswego, the late John Visscher, of this city, and the late E. P. Pellett, of the 'Chenango Telegraph.' John Visscher, when a mere boy, the son, as we then supposed, of affluence, living next door to the 'Albany Register Office," passed all his leisure time with us, and became, without any expectation of pursuing the business, a good Printer. This proved most fortunate, for when adversity came upon his Home, he was master of a profession which rendered him independent. Mr. Pellett when a boy worked upon his father's farm, a mile from the village of Norwich, but the moment the labor of the day was over, he started for our office, where for months, he was assiduously and diligently employed. Some years afterwards, when he had moved to Rochester, and a paper was wanted at Norwich, the Farmer's Son left his plough and became its Printer, Publisher and Editor, in all of which positions he not only sustained himself, but rose to eminence.

"But we forgot that these reminiscences possess no interest for general readers. The 'Auburn Journal' article warmed up our memory, and it has been running away with us."

In addition to the facts in the articles above quoted. It is proper to state that in Sept. 1816, the "Advocate of the People," was commenced by Henry C. Southwick, advocating what was then known as the "Low Salary Party." In 1827, the "Gospel Messenger," an Episcopal publication, was commenced by the Rev. Doct. Rudd—after a few years it was removed to Utica, where it is still published.

In 1833, the "Cayuga Democrat," was commenced by Frederick Prince.

In 1829, Henry Oliphant became the proprietor of the "Auburn Free Press," previously published by Richard Oliphant, which by uniting with the "Cayuga Republican," in 1833, till that time published by Thomas M. Skinner, gave rise to the "Auburn Journal and Advertiser," which continued in the hands of Henry Oliphant until Sept. 1846. The "Auburn Daily Advertiser" was commenced by Henry Oliphant in March, 1846, which, with the Journal, was disposed of at the time before stated, to Henry Montgomery, formerly of Lancaster, Pa.

The "Northern Christian Advocate," a Methodist paper was commenced in 1841. It is under the Editorial charge of Rev. Nelson Rounds, and has a weekly circulation of near 6,000.

The "Star of Temperance," by L. H. Dewey, was commenced in 1845, and, I believe, is still published by him.

In 1846, Professor Maffitt established a monthly publication, the object and design, or even the name of which, I have not learned. The number for December closed its existence.

All the facts in relation to the Press in this County have not been furnished, which it would have been desirable should have been placed upon record. Among others, a prominent omission occurs in not mentioning the name of Ulysses F. Doubleday, who was long and honorably connected with the "Cayuga Patriot." Mr. D. was also