Page:History of the newspapers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.djvu/72

 54 HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY PAPERS. agitate the public mind. * * * The 'Argus' will be conducted on fair and honorable principles, entirely free from' low scurrility and abuse. We never did believe it to be an evidence of a desire to promote the welfare and happiness of our country, or even 'brilliancy' for an editor to open the floodgates of low billingsgate against those who might differ with him in opinion. It shall be open for free discussion on all subjects. Being young and inexperienced in a great measure, we will hope and expect an indulgent public to throw the mantle of charity around us for any errors we may commit." WiUiam Henry was born June 28, 1808. At the age of 16 he entered the office as an apprentice, and was its editor at 23, which position he held until 1851. He was an earnest advocate of public improvements in the county, among which may be named the Erie Canal from the Ohio to Lake Erie; the Beaver & Conneaut railroad, of which a survey was made in 1836, but the panic of 1837 stopped all proceedings, the line being now covered by the P. & L. E. K. K. ; the Ohio and Pennsylvania rail- road, now the Ft. Wayne R. R ; and took an active part in the discussion of the great questions of the day — ^nulli- fication movement, tariff, U. S. bank, Mexican War, etc. Mr. Henry was one of the ablest editors in Western Pennsylvania. His style was terse and vigorous, and aggressive to the utmost in political discussions. Mr. Henry was married to Eliza S. Hamilton April 18, 1833. He was an honest, able man, serving the people faith- fully as editor and public official. He was Treasurer of the county in 1857-8, a member of the Legislature in 1861-2-3, and after his term as Treasurer, was Secret Agent of the county to buy up the bonds issued by the county to construct the Cleveland & Pittsburg E. E., the $100,000 subscription being taken up by the payment of $71,000. During the 20 years when Mr. Henry owned the