Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/374

364, for the publication of a newspaper. About July 4th they met Thomas J. Dryer, at that time city editor of the California Courier, and disclosed their plans to him. He, having a desire to engage in journalism on his own account, listened favorably to their proposals. Accordingly, a plan of operations was agreed upon, and a secondhand plant belonging to the Alta, the press being a Ramage No. 913, was secured and shipped on the bark Keoka on October 8th, and arrived in the Columbia River in the latter part of November following. Before leaving San Francisco an order was sent to New York for a new plant throughout, to be shipped direct to Portland. The name—The Weekly Oregonian—was suggested by Colonel Chapman. The paper was issued on Wednesday, December 4, 1850, and Stephen Coffin, Col. W. W. Chapman, A. P. Dennison, and W. W. Baker took the first paper by the four corners and lifted it from the press. The first number was distributed through the town by Arthur and Thomas, sons of Col. Chapman, and Henry C. Hill, a stepson of Stephen Coffin. Colonel Chapman had a man to go on horseback and deliver the first number at various points along the trail as far south as Corvallis, then Marysville, and to cross the river and return on the east side. Thus was The Oregonian given to the world. A. M. Berry was the first printer, and Henry Hill the first "printer's devil."

Mr. Dryer was born in Canandaigua County, New York, January 10, 1808, and was the second son of Aaron and Lucinda Dryer. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, and his father served in the war of 1812. His mother was a daughter of Isaac Lewis, who served