NEWSPAPERS are supposed to reflect, to a certain extent, the
intelligence of the community wherein they exist. Yet the stream
which flows from the fount of the press is not a limpid, lazy, purling
brook. Rather is it a rapid stream, yet somewhat turbid withal, whose
mission it is to turn the wheels of the mills of society along its banks,
more than to make precise pictures of the objects whose shadows fall across
its rippling currents. In the United States, newspapers are potent,
if not the very chief, agents in the development of communities; and upon
their establishment and success depends largely the degree of enterprise
and progress that prevails. There was no newspaper in that village
by the Hudson which has become famous through the prolonged slumber of
one of it residents; if there had been, the enterprising editor of the
Tarrytown Herald would not have allowed the disappearance of so prominent
a scapegrace as Mr. Rip Van Winkle to go unchronicled - he would have investigated
the mystery, and so bustled about that neither poor Rip nor any other sleepy
villager would have been able to finish his nap in peace. Reasoning
from such premises, the surprising rapidity and solidity of growth which
Grand Rapids has enjoyed, and the wide-awake spirit which has characterized
her citizens, would seem to show that the newspaper bad exerted its influence
here at an early date; and such is indeed the fact.
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES.
April 18, 1837, less than four years after the permanent settlement
began, the first number of the first newspaper in Grand Rapids, or in this
part of Michigan, was issued. It was a weekly, six-column folio -
four pages 15 1/2 by 21 1/2 inches - comparing well in size with many of
more recent date. The following was the announcement at the top of
the first column of its title page:
GRAND RIVER TIMES,
Printed and published every Saturday Morning at the Rapids of Grand
River, Kent County Michigan.
BY GEORGE W. PATTISON,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TERMS. - Two dollars and fifty cents per annum in advance, three dollars
at the end of six months, or four dollars at the end of the year.
Subscribers paying within thirty days from the time of subscribing will
be considered in advance.
VILLAGE Subscribers, having their papers left at their door, will be
charged fifty cents in addition with the above prices.
ADVERTISING - For twelve lines or less, three insertions, One Dollar
- and twenty-five Cents for every additional insertion. Longer advertisements
charged in proportion. A liberal discount made to those who advertise
by the year.
No paper discontinued until all arrearages are paid, unless at the option
of the publisher.
FANCY, JOB, AND BOOK PRINTING, done with neatness and despatch at this
office.
The story of the establishment of this paper was some years ago related
to a newspaper reporter by Mr. Pattison, of which the salient points are
these: The Kent Company purchased, for about $4,000, the office material
of the Niagara Falls journal, and in the fall of 1836 shipped it from Buffalo
on the steamer Don Quixote. The boat was wrecked off Thunder Bay
Island, and the press and material were transferred to a sailing vessel,
reaching Grand Haven late in the season. When it was landed, Mr.
Pattison purchased the printing outfit for $4,100. During the winter
he had it brought up the river on the ice by dog trains - six dogs to a
sled. The sled which brought the press broke through the ice some
miles below the Rapids, and went to the bottom of the river. The
press was fished out and brought to town. The issue of the first
number of the Times was a grand event, and nearly all the prominent citizens
were at the office to see it come off the Washington hand press.
Mr. Pattison relates that Louis Campau subscribed for 500 copies for a
year, paying $1,000 cash in advance; that the Kent Company took 500 subscriptions
and paid in advance, and a large number of other persons took from ten
to twenty-five copies each, which were widely circulated. The first
copy was printed on silk-satin, and
given to Louis Campau. Others were printed on cloth and distributed
for preservation as souvenirs. The general news part of the paper
was not copious. To get news from Detroit required from four to six
days. It had occasionally a letter from Washington, written by some
Government official. The Times was neatly printed, and in appearance
would not suffer by comparison with most papers of the present time.
Its publication office at first was on Canal street, a little south of
Lyon. It was the official paper of the county, and printed the list
of tax sales. The work was done by Mr. Pattison and apprentices,
among whom were: James and John Barns, and Aaron B. Turner. In the
spring of 1838, the Times was sold to Charles I. Walker, who in January,
1839, sold it to James H. Morse and another. It was then suspended
for a time, and job printing alone carried on, in a small wooden building
near the corner of Kent and Bronson streets. The paper had another
short run about the time of the Harrison campaign in 1840. It was
not partisan politically, but both Whigs and Democrats were given opportunity
to air their views in its columns, which they eagerly, did.
THE GRAND RAPIDS ENQUIRER.
On or about May 18, 1841, James H. Morse & Company began the publication
of the Grand Rapids Enquirer (weekly). Its office of publication
was on "Bronson street, one door east of the Book Store" (now Crescent
avenue, opposite the county building site). Associated with Mr. Morse
was Simeon M. Johnson, in business and as editor, who named the paper,
he being an ardent admirer of the Richmond, Va., Enquirer, a leading Democratic
journal of those days. At first the paper was professedly nonpartisan,
but in editorial sentiment was evidently Democratic. February 22,
1842, Johnson was succeeded by Ezra D. Burr, and from that date until May
31, 1844, the publishers were J. H. Morse & E. D. Burr. Burr
was editor during that time, and until August, 1844. Meantime, in
November, 1842, the office had been removed to Canal street, over Granger
& Ball's store, which was where is now the Grinnell Block. J.
H. Morse & Co. continued the publication until April 19, 1845, when
Mr. Morse died. He was an industrious man and a practical printer,
and although but twenty-eight years of age at the time of his death, had
endeared himself very much to the community, and nearly all the villagers
were in attendance at his funeral. After this event the firm name
for a few months was M. E. Morse & Co. (Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Stevens).
After November 3, 1845, the publishers were D. C. Lawrence & Co. (Dewitt
C. Lawrence and Jacob Barns). June 5, 1846, and after, the firm name
was Jacob Barns & Co. Robert M. Collins was at one time a partner.
The name of Charles H. Taylor appears with that of Jacob Barns in the files
of the paper, June 13, 1849, and disappears May 1, 1850. Subsequently
the firm was composed again of these two men, who continued until after
the establishment of the Daily Enquirer in 1855. Thomas B. Church
was editor from February, 1845, to April, 1847; after him Charles H. Taylor
for a year or two; then Thomas B. Church again until January, 1851; next
Edward E. Sargeant, till February, 1853, when Taylor became editor again
and occupied that position as long as the proprietorship of Jacob Barns
& Co. existed. For a brief interval in the summer of 1851, Solomon
L. Withey was editor. Mr. Sargeant possessed a finely cultured mind,
and his writings, like himself, were highly polished. He died in
1858, aged thirty-seven years, much beloved by the community in which he
had lived. Charles H. Taylor left the newspaper business about 1857,
and was afterward prominent in other walks of life. The printing
office of the old Weekly Enquirer was a movable institution. From
the place last above mentioned it moved in 1843 across Canal street to
the Erie street corner; from there to the south side of Monroe street above
Waterloo; in May, 1848, across the street to a wooden building opposite
the head of Waterloo street; then in April, 1849, to the third story of
Irving Hall. In 1854 it went into a new wooden building erected by
its proprietors, near the southeast corner of Canal and Lyon streets, and
in the following year was moved diagonally across to where the Fourth National
Bank now stands, where it remained till the consolidation of the Enquirer
and Herald. Among its early political contributors were Charles I.
Walker, Sylvester Granger and Alfred D. Rathbone. In politics this
paper was Democratic, of the straightest sect, and in 1843 advocated the
nomination of John C. Calhoun for President. Among the attaches of
the office while it was in Irving Hall were: Solomon 0. Littlefield, James
N. Davis, Charles W. Warrell, and William Benjamin, the latter now of Holland,
Mich.
THE GRAND RAPIDS EAGLE.
The first number of the weekly Eagle was issued December 25, 1844, by
Aaron B. Turner, then a young man of twenty-two. It contained the
returns of the Presidential election of that year. It started as
a Whig paper. Unsuccessful efforts had been made for its publication
during the preceding political campaign, to which fact the Enquirer alluded,
January 3, 1845, in the following notice of its new-born rival:
This bird - the was-to-be great auxiliary of the Whig party in the late
battle - after a protracted incubation has at last broke its calcareous
enclosure and come peeping forth into this breathing world. George
Martin and C. F. Barstow are its "responsible" editors, from whose known
peculiarities of sentiment we doubt not it will faithfully represent the
old school of Whig politics.
Originally, the name of the paper was Grand River Eagle; afterward the
word "Rapids" was substituted for "River." As faithfully as the difficulties
of maintaining an existence upon a small subscription list in a sparsely
settled country would allow, the Eagle fulfilled its rival's prediction,
as a supporter of the Whig party, during the following nine years.
With small means at command, the proprietor sometimes found it difficult
even to procure the paper for its publication, and occasional suspensions
of a few weeks were necessitated. In 1848 it supported vigorously
the Taylor Presidential ticket, and in 1852 that of Winfield Scott, though
in the latter campaign it could not indorse the platform of the Whig party
in reference to the agitation of the slavery question. After the
election of 1852, and the signal defeat of the Whig party thereat, the
Eagle astonished the community, and many of its patrons, by appearing with
the legend at its head: "An Independent Democratic journal," and declaring
that the time had come for a new alignment; that Anti-Slavery Whigs must
seek other affiliations, and the Democratic party be opposed by a new organization.
It promptly came to the support of the Free Democratic State ticket nominated
at Jackson, February 22, 1854, and in July following as heartily espoused
the cause of the then organized Republican party, in which the Free Democratic
party was merged. Since that time it has been steadily a Republican
journal. In the publication of the weekly edition, its proprietor,
Aaron B. Turner, had associated with him as business partners: in 1848,
James Scribner; in 1849, A. H. Proctor; in 1851-52, his father, Isaac Turner.
Among contributors to its editorial columns were: C. F. Barstow, George
Martin and Ralph W. Cole.
THE DAILY HERALD.
Alphonso E. Gordon came to Grand Rapids from Brunswick, N. J., and on
March 19, 1855, began the publication of the Grand Rapids Daily Herald,
the first daily newspaper in the city. Ostensibly it was a neutral
paper as far as politics was concerned, but later came out squarely in
support of the Democratic party. It quickly obtained a fair patronage
in a community which until then had been supplied with only weekly papers
for its local news. It was published until May 1, 1857, when it was
consolidated with the Daily Enquirer.
THE DAILY ENQUIRER.
Jacob Barns & Co., of the old weekly Enquirer, began the publication
of a daily issue November 19, 1855, with Charles H. Taylor as editor.
William B. Howe was engaged as city editor, and this marked the era of
a new departure in local journalism. Jonathan P. Thompson became
its editor in August, 1856. The Daily Enquirer was published under
these auspices until May 1, 1857, when A. E. Gordon of the Herald purchased
it, and consolidated the two papers. For a brief time a semi-weekly
was published in connection with the daily Enquirer.
DAILY ENQUIRER AND HERALD.
Associated with Mr. Gordon in this enterprise was Jonathan P. Thompson,
a political and news writer, and the firm name was Gordon & Thompson.
The partnership did not last long, on account of disagreement. The
office property was seized upon a chattel mortgage, and, being carried
away by unskilled hands, was converted into more pi than has at any other
time been known in the annals of Grand Rapids newspapers. Gordon
immediately procured a new outfit and the publication of the Enquirer and
Herald was continued in spite of the "forty thieves," as he designated
those who had made the seizure. But its troubles were not then ended.
In April, 1860, the plant, good will and subscription list were again taken,
under a mortgage, and soon after Fordham & Co. (N. D. Titus) obtained
possession, and continued the publication somewhat irregularly. E.
D. Burr succeeded Fordham, and Burr & Titus published the paper, sometimes
weekly and sometimes semiweekly, until 1865, when Titus became the possessor
and transferred it to Merrills H. Clark. The paper had announced
the decease of its daily issue about November 2 1, 1864. Clark assumed
control in August, 1865, and, to avoid an injunction threatened by Burr,
who still laid claim to the property, changed the name to the Grand Rapids
Democrat; and thus ended the troubled history of the Enquirer and Herald.
THE DAILY MORNING DEMOCRAT.
Merrills H. Clark, in whose proprietorship, in August, 1865, the Democrat
was started under its present title, sold an interest in the paper to Richard
Burt, of Omaha, Neb. In a short time Burt resold to Clark, whose
next partner was Clark C. Sexton. After Sexton, he had associated
with him successively, Robert Wilson, H. P. Churchill, John L. E. Kelley,
James N. Davis, Charles B. Smith, and Ambrose A. Stevens. July 29,
1877, Clark sold his interest to Messmore & Stevens (I. E. Messmore
and A. A. Stevens), who conducted the paper until May, 1881, when Messmore
became the sole owner, and August 1, 1882, transferred it to Frank W. Ball,
who has since been its proprietor. The Democrat, both daily and weekly,
has attained a handsome patronage, and is in the front rank of Democratic
journals of the State, outside of Detroit. Charles A. French was
for a time associated with Mr. Ball in the business management, and afterward
upon the advertising force. Among others employed in an editorial
capacity, or as reporters, have been: Win. M. Hathaway, John A. Creswell,
Harry L. Creswell, Win. S. Hull, Win. R. Maze, Fred. N. Peck, George W.
Locke, Alfred B. Tozer and Henry G. Wanty. Present staff (1888):
Frank W. Ball, Editor and Proprietor; Thomas G. Fletcher, Managing and
Telegraph Editor; Win. J. Sproat, City Editor. Reporters: Joseph
J. Emery, Clarence Colton and Burridge D. Butler. Mordecai L. Hopkins
and Charles D. Almy, the latter as a special writer, have contributed to
its columns. True to its name, the Democrat in politics has been
an unswerving, straight-laced supporter of the Democratic party, and considered
its organ in this part of Michigan.
The publication office of the Daily Enquirer when it started was at
the corner of Lyon and Canal streets; that of the Daily Herald was in Irving
Hall block; that of the Enquirer and Herald, after the consolidation, was
on the west side of Canal south of Lyon, and thence after 1860 it went
to Monroe street, above Waterloo. After the change of proprietors
and change of name, the Democrat establishment was removed to 22 Canal
street; in 1873 it was at 8-10 Lyon street. In 1880 it had removed
to 75 Lyon street, and in 1884 it had settled in its present quarters at
93 Pearl street in the Houseman building. It has uniformly ranked
as the leading Democratic journal of this section.
F. W. Ball was born at the Ball homestead on East Fulton street in this
city, August 18, 1851. During boyhood his summers were mostly devoted
to farm work, and later he learned the carpenter's trade. He was
graduated from the Grand Rapids High School in 1869, and from the Literary
Department of Michigan University in 1875, having meanwhile spent two years
studying in Europe. After taking two courses of medical lectures,
he began newspaper work as reporter on the Philadelphia Times, in March,
1876, and during the succeeding six years held responsible positions on
the Pittsburg Telegraph, Baltimore American and New York World. August
1, 1882, he purchased the Grand Rapids Daily and Weekly Democrat, of which
newspaper he has since been editor and publisher.
THE DAILY EAGLE.
May 26, 1856, Aaron B. Turner, the proprietor and founder of the Grand
Rapids Eagle, started the Daily Eagle as a morning paper. At that
time the city had no railroad communication, no telegraph, no gaslight
- not even kerosene light, nor any of many other things now considered
almost indispensable for the publication of a daily paper. Night
after night the compositors labored with straining eyeballs, to decipher
by the flickering light of "burning fluid" lamps the blind telegraphic
dispatches received by stage from Kalamazoo. The Daily Eagle was
changed to an evening paper September 2, 1856, and with the exception of
two or three weeks in December, 1859, has continued an evening journal
ever since. Supplementary to it, however, the publication of a weekly
Sunday Morning Eagle was begun November 20, 1887. In May, 1859, the
first power press in this city was set up in the Eagle office. It
was a Guernsey press, with oscillating cylinder, and reciprocating bed.
At first it was worked by hand with a crank, but on November 3 of the same
year, steam power was applied, with a small engine manufactured by Chester
B. Turner; the fire-box, boiler, and engine occupying a space of only about
three by five feet; the entire apparatus, including press, being in the
same room with the business part. Thus the Eagle was the first to
adopt steam in place of muscle for printing in this city. January
8, 1864, the Eagle printing office was burned, and February 22 of the same
year the publication was resumed with the first Hoe press ever used in
the city. From that time to the present the publication of the Daily
Eagle has been continuous. In one respect the Eagle has a record
probably not paralleled in the State: that of a publication of forty-five
consecutive years without essential change in proprietorship, editorial
control, or political faith. From the first issue of its weekly edition
(though from time to time have been associated with him several partners),
it has been under the control of its founder, Aaron B. Turner, as principal
proprietor and editor-in-chief. Besides the parties heretofore named
in connection with the Weekly Eagle prior to 1855, there have been associated
with him in the business: For about ten years from 1865, Eli F. Harrington;
then for a year Fred H. Smith; then Harrington again until 1885.
In May, 1882, Ernest B. Fisher became a partner; in 1885, Freeman S. Milmine;
and in 1888, Willard S. Turner. July 15, 1888, a stock company was
formed under the title of the A. B. Turner Company - President, A. B. Turner;
Vice-President, E. B. Fisher; Secretary, W. S. Turner; Treasurer, F. S.
Milmine - the present proprietors. Albert Baxter entered the office
of the Eagle in August, 1855, and assisted in the editorial department
and as business manager until July, 1860 From September 4, 1858, until
October 28, 1859, over the editorial column appeared, "A. B. Turner, Editor
- A. Baxter, Assistant;" and from the latter date until July 14, 1860,
"A. B. Turner and A. Baxter, Editors." That was the end of the custom
of placing the names of the editors at the head of the newspaper columns.
Lewis J. Bates was the political writer from 1860 to 1865, when Mr. Baxter
returned as Political writer and Managing Editor, and remained until July,
1887, when he retired from journalism, and was succeeded by Theodore M.
Carpenter, as principal political writer. Connected with the editorial
staff of the Eagle, and there receiving a portion of their journalistic
schooling since 1857, are remembered: Clark C. Sexton, Robert Wilson, George
Wickwire Smith, W. F. Conant, J. D. Dillenback, Frank Godfrey, Frank H.
Hosford, Wm. S. Hull, E. A. Stowe, and E. B. Fisher, who is still there.
Jonathan P. Thompson was News Editor and miscellaneous writer two or three
years prior to 1872, and Alpha Child from 1872 to 1881. The editorial
and business staff of 1889, comprises: A. B. Turner, Editor-in-Chief and
principal proprietor; T. M. Carpenter, Political Editor; E. B. Fisher,
City Editor; W. S. Turner, News Editor; Reporters, George A. McIntyre and
Lewis D. Cutcheon; Proof-Reader, Mrs. Frances C. Wood; Business Manager,
F. S. Milmine; Bookkeeper, Charles E. Davis; Assistant Bookkeeper, Miss
Frances C. Wood; City Circulators, L. D. Steward, G. B. Clark; Traveling
Agent, Frank W. Leonard; Solicitor of Advertising, C. A. Brakeman; Foreman
of Composing Room, John B. Greenway; Superintendent of Press Room, Paul
J. Schindler. The Eagle occupies an influential position among the
Republican journals of the State. Its moral tone, like its typography,
is clear and clean cut, and as a conservative family newspaper it ranks
among the best.
During the first twenty years and more of its existence, the Eagle printing
office had a migratory career. The weekly issue was started in the
second story of a wood building on Waterloo street, opposite the Eagle
Hotel, December 25, 1845. Shortly afterward it was moved to another
wood building on the north side of Monroe street, opposite the head of
Waterloo. Thence it went to the Rathbone Buildings - a stone block,
north corner of Ottawa and Monroe; in 1847 to Franklin Block, Canal street
at the northeast corner of the canal basin; in 1848 to Faneuil Hall, corner
of Monroe and Waterloo; in 1849 to a low wood building at the southeast
corner of Canal and Lyon; about 1850 to the Sons of Temperance or Public
Hall building, east side of Canal between Lyon and Bronson streets; in
1852 to Faneuil Hall again; in the spring of 1856 to the "Tanner Taylor"
building where is now Campau Place; in February, 1857, to the brick block
at the southwest corner of Lyon and Canal streets; in 1861 to a frame building
which stood on its present location; was there burned out, January 8, 1864,
and then went into Squier's Opera House, where its press was run by water
power; next, February 10, 1868, was established in its permanent and present
home, the Eagle Building, 49 Lyon street; erected by its chief proprietor.
AARON B. TURNER was born at Plattsburg, Clinton county, N. Y.,
Aug. 27, 1822. His father, Isaac Turner, was a millwright and iron
manufacturer of that town. His education was that of the district
school of those days; where early in youth he showed special aptitude in
the study of grammar and mathematics. In the spring of 1836 the family
came from Plattsburg to Grand Rapids, when the little hamlet was less than
three years old. At fifteen years of age be began learning the printer's
trade, in the office of the first newspaper here - the Grand River Times
- and worked there and in the printing office of its successor, the Grand
Rapids Enquirer, much of the time for about six years. He then procured
a hand press and other printing material, and started the Grand River Eagle,
a Whig newspaper, the first number of which was issued Dec. 25, 1844.
This was a weekly journal, the name of which was subsequently changed to
Grand Rapids Eagle. While conducting this weekly newspaper only,
he had a habit of going to the case and putting editorial articles in type
without written copy, unless they were long and somewhat elaborate.
The further history of his newspaper work is elsewhere given. Politically
Mr. Turner was a Whig until the decadence of that party, then and ever
since a stanch Republican. He was a delegate and Secretary at the
convention held in Jackson, July 6, 1854, by which that party was organized.
Previous to the organization of the Republican party, being politically
with the minority, in the days when patronage was slight and profits were
meager, he struggled against many discouragements to keep his newspaper
alive. Financially, it was not a tempting business; but in it were
bound his attachments and his pride, and to it were given his persistent
efforts with unflagging courage until success came, making it a fairly
remunerative property. In January, 1864, his printing office was
burned, involving the destruction of all its contents, but this misfortune
only caused a suspension of his newspaper for about six weeks; since which,
to the present time, its publication has been uninterrupted. In public
life Mr. Turner has filled various official positions. In 1843-44
he was the Clerk of the township of Walker. In 1850 he was elected
the first Clerk of the city of Grand Rapids. He was journal Clerk
of the House of Representatives at Lansing at the session of 1855; official
reporter for the Senate in 1857, and Secretary of the Senate in 1859 and
1861. In 1862 he was appointed, by President Lincoln, Collector of
Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of Michigan; and organized the
Internal Revenue Service in the northwestern portion of this Peninsula.
In 1866 he was removed from that service by President Johnson because he
could not approve the reconstruction policy of the latter. In 1869
he was appointed Postmaster of Grand Rapids by President Grant, and reappointed
in 1873, holding the office for two full terms. In 1880 he was chosen
and served as Presidential Elector. He was one of the Commissioners
appointed by Governor Luce to represent Michigan at the Centennial Celebration
of President Washington's Inauguration, held at New York, April 30, 1889.
In person Mr. Turner is of medium height; has blue eyes, a pleasing expression
of countenance and silvery white hair. Socially, he is genial and
companionable, with an aptitude for gaining lasting friendships.
He is extremely fond of field sports, especially of hunting and fishing,
and of the charms of an outdoor life which they afford. In thought
and opinions he is independent and tenacious. Religiously, he is
not wedded to any creed, but inclined to liberality in belief. In
relation to the mechanics and the arts, he has critical perception and
taste. In politics and public affairs, he exhibits as much interest
as in his younger days. Mr. Turner is the veteran editor of the State,
having published and retained control of the newspaper which he founded
during forty-five consecutive years. In 1867-68 he erected the brick
block known as the Eagle Building, at 49 Lyon street, in which is the Eagle
printing office. April 3, 1843, he married Sally C. Sibley, and they
have a seemingly fair prospect of celebrating together their golden wedding.
They have an interesting family of grown-up children, and are enjoying
the evening of life in a neat and comfortable residence at 113 Sheldon
street.
ALBERT BAXTER is of early New England lineage, through each of
the four families of his grandparents. Their progenitors were among
the colonists who came across the Atlantic in the period from 1620 to 1650.
A large number in each line of descent have served this country in the
War of the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the late War for the Union.
His father, Eber Hubbard Baxter, and his mother, Irene (Child) Baxter,
died in Cascade, Michigan; the former, in 1879, aged 80 years; the latter
in 1871 aged 69 years. Albert Baxter is the oldest of seven sons
and six daughters who reached adult life, and of whom five brothers and
five sisters are living at the time of this writing. He was born
August 3, 1823, in a log cabin by the bank of Mad River in Moretown, Washington
county, Vermont. His parents were poor, his father a farmer, and
during the following eight years moved seven times and lived in five log
houses. In their poverty they were not envied, for they came honestly
to that estate. In boyhood he attended the district schools, and
then for two terms a village academy; afterward taught school in Vermont,
and in Wisconsin, whither be went in 1845. On a farm, in youth, he
plowed, planted, sowed and harvested; cleared heavily timbered land, split
rails and made fences, laid stone wall, dug ditches and chopped wood -
in short performed almost every kind of labor known to farm work with the
primitive implements used in those days (wages about half the present rates,
but they helped the family) - and later turned his attention to mechanical
trades. Soon after he was twenty years of age he purchased of his
father the remaining time of his minority, giving his note therefor.
All the money he had previously owned or handled for his own use would
not amount to five dollars. After paying his father for his time,
with interest, he started west and reached Milwaukee with about $2.50 in
his pocket. His savings of the following four months he loaned to
a friend and lost. In 1846 he came to Grand Rapids; loaned here to
a needy friend the little more that he had earned, and lost that.
During the next five months he was prostrated with chills and fever.
Then he read law for a time, meanwhile working eight hours a day in a carriage
shop, found his bodily health unequal to the task, gave up law, and during
the succeeding seven years followed carriage-making and painting.
February 22, 1849, he married Elvira E., daughter of Joel Guild.
A daughter born of this union died young. Mrs. Baxter died June 5,
1855, in Fayston, Vermont, and her remains were laid to rest in Fulton
Street Cemetery, Grand Rapids. February 22, 1854, he was a delegate
at the Free Democratic State Convention, in Jackson, which first nominated
K. S. Bingham for Governor of Michigan. Otherwise he has never participated
in active politics, and never sought nor held official position; except
that of Notary Public for near a quarter of a century - an office practically
without emolument. In the summer of 1854 he abandoned his shop; and
spent the next three quarters of a year at the East, in a fruitless effort
to win back health to his invalid wife. In August, 1855, he entered
the office of the Grand Rapids Eagle, as business and editorial assistant;
staid until July, 1860; went to Detroit and worked awhile on the Tribune;
lost his health; was nearly two years an invalid; then was engaged as a
clerk and part of the time in the lumber woods until the fall of 1865,
when he again entered the Eagle office and occupied the editorial chair
for about twenty-two consecutive years, laboring zealously as best he might
for the public good. As to how well or poorly he succeeded, the files
of that journal contain the only continuous testimony; and, as only two
copies of it now exist, the proof is substantially buried in oblivion.
Politically, Mr. Baxter is a Republican; religiously or morally he makes
no profession other than to strive to be honest and kind. Financially
he has been unsuccessful; with misfortune he is familiar, and likewise
has personal knowledge of the distresses of many other people. Coming
crippled into life, he has never enjoyed robust health. The result
of his latest work - the most exacting, onerous and vexing labor of his
life (unremunerative whithal) - is comprised within the lids of this book.
These few waymarks along the path of his experience are sketched by himself,
to make sure of their correctness, and - he waits.
Eli F. Harrington is a native of East Bradfield, Massachusetts, where
he was born in 1839. He learned the printer's trade, came west in
1858, and from 1865 to 1885 was most of the time connected with the publication
of the Eagle, as a business partner. Since the latter date he has
been engaged in patent rights, and other dealings, with fair success.
Ernest B. Fisher was born at Binghamton, N. Y., December 5, 1847.
He came to Grand Rapids in 1868. In 1871 he entered the office of
the Eagle as local reporter, and has ever since been at the head of its
local staff, and proprietor in part since 1882. He is a member of
the Board of Trade, and is interested in other home enterprises, including
the Michigan Artisan.
THE DAILY TIMES.
The first number of the Grand Rapids Daily Times was issued April 17,
1870, by Clark C. Sexton. In 1871 Nathan Church purchased a half
interest, and was its editor two or three years. Don Henderson and
George W. Gage then held an interest in it for a short time, and afterward
in the proprietorship were Myron W. Tarbox, Harry H. Pierce, and John M.
Harris. In 1876 Nathan Church resumed control, which he retained
as long as the paper was issued. Professedly the Times was an independent
journal, politically and otherwise; in fact it was a sort of free-lance
paper, with points turned every way. In its later days Gouverneur
B. Rathbone was interested in it financially. Upon its staff at times;
among others, were Theodore M. Carpenter, F. J. Hobbes, A. B. Tozer, Charles
H. Hamblin, and J. G. Hann. It was purchased by Frank W. Ball and
merged in the Democrat, July 21, 1886, on which day its last number was
issued.
THE EVENING LEADER.
This daily journal was started by the Leader Publishing Company, February
14, 1879, ostensibly as an independent exponent of what were called "Greenback"
or "National" politics. The principal stockholders of the company
were: Henry S. Smith, C. C. Comstock, Wm. H. Powers, John C. Blanchard,
L. V. Moulton, Wm. P. Innes, John L. Curtiss, P. S. Hulbert, and Wm. A.
Berkey. Members of its staff were: S. B. McCracken, Managing Editor;
James H. Maze, News Editor; Wm. B. Weston, City Editor, and A. W. Johnston,
Business Manager. Among those since connected with it as editors
or reporters have been: George W. Gage, F. H. Hosford, J. W. Mills, W.
R. Maze, and Herbert Parrish. Of its staff in 1888 are: W. B. Weston,
Managing Editor; David R. Waters, Political Editor; Lewis G. Stuart, City
Editor, and Henry M. Rose, Reporter. Its tone, usually, has been
that of a supporter of Democratic party politics.
THE MORNING TELEGRAM.
This was first issued September 30, 1884, by Harford & McDowell
(W. M. Harford and Hugh McDowell), as a Republican journal. January
21, 1885, The Telegram Publishing Company was organized. Among its
principal stockholders were: A. B. Watson, D. A. Blodgett, Henry Spring,
N. L. Avery, Hon. M. S. Crosby, and C. G. Swensberg. Harford &
McDowell, however, held the controlling interest until April 17, 1886,
when it was sold to Lloyd Brezee and Fred G. Berger.
THE TELEGRAM-HERALD.
May 20, 1885, Lloyd Brezee started Brezee's Herald, a weekly society
paper which was published about eleven months. April 17, 1887, Lloyd
Brezee and Fred G. Berger, having acquired control of the Morning Telegram,
bought Brezee's Herald and consolidated the two under the title of The
Telegram-Herald, adding a Sunday morning edition devoted chiefly to society
matters, to take the place of Brezee's weekly. Brezee's name appeared
as editor and proprietor, and the paper was declared independent in politics.
August 3, 1888, E. D. Conger, with the financial backing of C. G. Swensberg,
purchased the interest of Brezee and Berger, thus securing control of the
paper, and turned the majority of stock thus purchased over to Swensberg.
Under the new management the paper was made Republican in politics, and
secured a fair degree of patronage, C. G. Swensberg is President of the
company, E. D. C Conger, Secretary and Manager. On its staff (1888)
are: Hugh McDowell, Managing Editor; F. W. Boughton, Telegraph Editor;
Ed. E. Smith, City Editor; Mrs. Etta S. Wilson, Society Editor. Among
others who were previously attached to the editorial staff, were: W. A.
Innes, H. M. Rose, J. D. McIntyre, W. J. Sproat, Charles Hamblin, W. C.
Graves, Herbert Parrish, Melnott Grummond, Chas. Young, Charles Emerson
and James Ferguson.
The staff in 1889 comprises: Lewis M. Miller, Managing Editor; Thomas
K. Hunt, City Editor; John D. McIntyre, Dramatic Editor; Bert Hall, Horace
Cambron, A. S. Hopkins, the Rev. S. H. Woodford, George B. Catlin, S. H.
Sweet, Charles P. Woodward, Mrs. Etta S. Wilson, reporters. The latter
was the first lady employed in newspaper reporting in Grand Rapids.
THE PRESS CLUB.
Grand Rapids is one of the few cities that has a press-club. It
was organized October 18, 1885: President, Henry M. Rose; Secretary; Andrew
Fyfe; Treasurer, George W. Locke. It objects [sic], as stated in
its constitution, are: "To promote social intercourse and friendly feeling
among its members; to extend aid to them when necessary, and to advance
the interests of the profession of journalism." It has been successfully
conducted, is free from debt, and has a snug little sum in its treasury.
Steps have been taken for its incorporation under the laws of the State.
Officers for 1889: President, Wm. B. Weston; Secretary and Treasurer, Joseph
J. Emery; Librarian and Sergeant at Arms, Clarence Cotton. The club
has thirty active members, and includes the majority of those upon the
staffs of the daily papers; with many workers on weekly papers and several
special writers.
WEEKLIES AND OTHER PERIODICALS.
Each of the daily papers of the city has published in connection a weekly
edition. Besides, some thirty weekly and periodical publications
still alive have been born in Grand Rapids. A brief outline history
of each is here given, arranged chronologically in the order of their establishment.
DE VREIJHEIDS BANIER. - A weekly paper in the Holland language, established
in 1868, by Verburg and Van Leeuwen. This is the oldest weekly entirely
separate from a daily issue in the city. In November, 1871, it was
purchased by James Van der Sluis, its present editor and proprietor, and
made Republican, politically; which it has since been. Among its
former editors have been John W. Van der Haar, J. Van Leeuwen, H. M. Buhrmann
and J. Scheffer.
DE STANDAARD. - A Hollandish paper started January 28, 1875, by J. Van
Strien and Dennis Schram. Published as a semiweekly in 1877, with
Isaac Verwey as Editor. Subsequently Gerrit Visschers, and G. Schoenmaker
were Editors. Since 1881, Dennis Schram has been Proprietor and Gerrit
Vischers, Editor. It is Democratic in politics.
THE AGRICULTURAL WORLD. - A semimonthly, whose name indicates its character,
established in 1875 by Frank M. Carroll; merged in the Weekly World in
1886; the latter is published by F. M. Carroll & Co., and in politics
Republican.
THE MEDICAL COUNSELLOR. - An eight page medical semi-monthly established
in 1877, by Dr. Hugo R. Arndt. Now printed in Ann Arbor and edited
by Dr. Arndt.
DAWN OF THE MORNING. - An organ of the Children of Zion (Adventist).
A sixteen page monthly, established in 1878 by D. D. Paterson.
THE LEVER. - A weekly Prohibition paper, founded in this city in 1878
by J. A. Van Fleet. Now published in Chicago.
THE REVIEW. - A literary weekly established in 1879 by A. B. Tozer and
Robert Baird. Sold in 1880 to L. B. Stanton and Joseph P. Ball.
MICHIGAN TRADE JOURNAL. - The Review, changed by L. B. Stanton to a
paper in the interest of the trade in liquors in 1883, and given this new
title.
MICHIGAN JOURNAL. - Same as the Michigan Trade journal, published every
Saturday by L. B. Stanton & Co., in the same interest.
MICHIGAN ARTISAN. - An eighty page monthly, mechanical trades journal,
established by Arthur S. White in 1880; a flourishing paper still edited
by its founder. It has lately passed into the hands of a stock company,
of which E. B. Fisher is President.
THE MODERATOR. - The Michigan School Moderator, an educational monthly,
first issued in this city in 1880, is now published at Lansing, and occupies
a high position among journals of its class.
THE GERMANIA. - A Republican, German weekly, established in 1882.
Martin & Wurzburg, Proprietors; Louis Martin, Editor. A successful
paper.
YANKEE DUTCH. - A weekly, printed in Dutch and English, and dedicated
to American citizens born in Holland. Established in 1882, by John
W. Van Leeuwen.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN. - An eight page commercial weekly, established in
1883 by Ernest A. Stowe, who is its editor. Issued Wednesdays.
It has attained a high standing. E. A. Stowe & Brother, Publishers.
THE WORKMAN. - A four page Knights of Labor weekly. Established
in 1884 by I. S. Dygert, with E. D. Fuller, Editor. Wm. M. Hathaway
was afterward editor for a time. Now published by E. P. Mills and
A. M. Wolihan.
THE WOLVERINE CYCLONE. - A political and humorous weekly, started
in 1884 by J. Mason Reynolds; and in 1889 still issued occasionally.
HEARTH AND HALL. - A sixteen page literary monthly. Founded in
1884 by Theodore M. Carpenter and Edgar J. Adams. An excellent household
journal. Office in the Eagle Building.
MICHIGAN DAIRYMAN. - A sixteen page monthly, whose interests are chiefly
indicated by its title. Established in 1886 by E. A. Stowe &
Brother, and issued from the Tradesman office.
THE WEST SIDE NEWS. - An eight page weekly newspaper started in 1886.
Devoted especially to the interests of the West Side of the River.
John G. Lee, Editor and Publisher.
DER SONNTAGSBOTE. - A German literary weekly, established in 1887.
Martin & Wurzburg, Publishers. Issued from the Germania office.
BANNER OF LIFE. - An eight page weekly, devoted to Spiritualism.
Issued by The Banner of Life Publishing Company. W. E. Reid, Publisher.
Now published under the name of the Olive Branch.
THE HOLINESS RECORD. - A monthly journal devoted to purity, of life
and living. Published by Solomon B. Shaw, as the organ of the Michigan
State Holiness Association.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER. - An independent evangelical weekly, started
in 1888 by E. B. Gifford, Editor.
REFORMED CHURCH RECORD. - A monthly, published by, and in the interests
of the First Reformed Church.
THE PASTOR'S AID. - A monthly publication in the interests of St. Mark's
parish, and edited by the Rector, the Rev. Campbell Fair. This and
the Sunday School Guide are noticed in another part of this work - "St.
Mark's Church."
STEMMEN UIT DE VRYE HOLLANDSCHE GENSENTE. - Literally interpreted, the
name means: "The Voice of the Free Church." A monthly, issued by
the Liberal Publishing Company, in support of the doctrines of the Liberal
Holland congregation.
THE CHRISTIAN HELPER. - A four page monthly, started in December, 1888,
in the interest of the Second Baptist Church, by the Rev. Edward H. Brooks.
SKRIFTENS-TOLK. - A Swedish monthly, devoted to "true religion and politics."
First issued January 5, 1889, from 92 Broadway, by the Swedish Publishing
Company, C. A. Wickstrom, President.
GAGE'S SATURDAY GAZETTE. - A literary weekly, started September 8, 1888,
by the Gage Brothers. George W. Gage, Editor; Hiram R. Gage, Publisher.
Merged in Hobbies.
HOBBIES. - A literary weekly, started January 10, 1889, by C. S. Hartman;
F. D. Hopkins, Associate Editor. [Since passed into the hands of
M. A. True and F. D. Hopkins, and name changed to Town News.]
THE STAR. -An eight page weekly journal, "of society, dramatic, sporting,
club and general news." Started, February 9, 1889. W. A. Emerson,
Publisher; C. S. Emerson, Editor.
THE TYLER. - Devoted to Freemasonry, and official organ of the Craft
in Michigan. Twenty pages, weekly. Started in Detroit in 1887
by Brownell Bros. Now published in Grand Rapids. John H. Brownell,
Editor and Proprietor.
THE MISCELLANY. - A fitting apex to this pyramid of Grand Rapids journals,
is The Miscellany, a bright, amateur, microscopic monthly, with very small
pages, first published in November, 1888, by Ralph C. Apted, an editor
fourteen years of age.
NEWSPAPER EPITAPHS,
- The wise, the good,
Fair forms and hoary seers of ages past
All in one mighty sepulcher
- All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom.
-BRYANT.
Thus wrote the young poet concerning the dead - and thus might be written
of the dead newspapers of earth, and especially those of Grand Rapids.
The graves of more than seventy of the departed ones are here identified
and marked; and to them, probably, might be added a few more before this
book comes from the press:
YOUNG HICKORY. - A Democratic campaign sheet, issued from the Enquirer
office in 1844.
WELLS' ADVERTISER. - A monthly real estate paper, started in the summer
of 1856 by Revilo Wells, associated with whom was Bennett N. Sexton.
VALLEY CITY ADVERTISER. - A social and literary monthly, successor to
Wells' Advertiser, published by B. N. Sexton for several years.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS. - A semiweekly newspaper established by Jonathan
P. Thompson and Charles B. Benedict in 1857, after the dissolution of the
firm of Gordon & Thompson, publishers of the Enquirer and Herald.
THE GREAT WESTERN JOURNAL. - A weekly newspaper, first called the Grand
Rapids Journal, established by Thomas D. Worrall, in October, 1858.
Uri J. Baxter, E. G. D. Holden and Justus C. Rogers were connected with
this paper for a time as editors.
THE YOUNG WOLVERINE. - A four-page monthly "young folks' journal," published
one year, from July, 1857, to July, 1858, by Charles W. Eaton and Wm. S.
Leffingwell. A well edited paper, which has not been surpassed in
neatness of typography by any of its successors.
DE STOOMPOST. - The first Hollandish paper published in the city.
Issued in 1859 by Jacob Quintus; sold by Quintus to Henry D. C. VanAsmus,
and suspended after an existence of some seven years.
THE INDUSTRIAL JOURNAL. - A labor weekly, issued in February, 1867,
as the successor of the Valley City Advertiser and Laboring Man's Advocate,
by J. B. Haney, agent of the Labor Union Publishing Company; afterward
published for a short time by John G. Lee.
GRAND RAPIDS DAILY UNION. - A short lived evening labor paper, issued
by the Labor Union Publishing Company, July 30, 1867, with Ezra D. Burr
as editor.
THE LABOR UNION. - A tri-weekly labor paper published by John G. Lee
in 1868-69.
THE GRAND RAPIDS CITY ADVERTISER. - A trade paper of twenty- eight pages,
quarto, issued quarterly throughout 1869, by J. D. Dillenback.
THE SUN. - A Greenback daily, published about 1869-70, by Marvin &
Co. - short lived.
DER PIONEER. - An independent German weekly paper; the pioneer German
paper of the city, published in 1871-72, by Carl Nienhardt. Suspended
after a life of nearly two years.
THE SATURDAY EVENING POST.-An eight page literary newspaper, founded
by D. N. Foster, October 4, 1873, with Wm. M. Hathaway as assistant editor.
In 1877 C. H. Dubois acquired control of the property, and in February,
1879, sold it to Creswell & Felker (John A. Creswell and P. H. Felker).
In 1880 Charles A. French purchased Mr. Felker's interest. John A.
Creswell, who now became editor, was a newspaper man whose sharp, incisive
pencil, had made his pseudonym of "Cres" well known all over Michigan.
The famous "T. T." (Town Talk) column will long be remembered. The
paper was not a financial success, and in December, 1882, was sold to E.
0. Rose, of Big Rapids. Mr. Rose, after some three years experience,
sold it to J. W. Hallack, who made it a Prohibition paper, and the journal
breathed its last in the spring of 1886.
THE VALLEY CITY ENTERPRISE. - A weekly started in 1873 by I. Ransom
Sanford, devoted to the interests of the West Side. Subsequently
published by W. N. Fuller and J. H. Maze. Sold in the fall of 1874
to Carpenter & Garner.
JOURNAL OF FASHION. - A monthly fashion journal, published in 1873 by
J. E. and W. S. Earle.
MICHIGAN STAATS SEITUNG. - A weekly German newspaper, established in
December, 1874, by Wm. Eichelsdoerfer. The paper was well supported
for a time, but suspended after an existence of some ten years.
THE INDEPENDENT PRESS. - Successor to the West Side Enterprise.
Published by Carpenter & Garner as a Spiritualist paper for a few months
in 1874-75.
THE DAILY EVENING NEWS. - Printed Dec 3, 1874, by Arthur S. White and
W. F. Conant. Died after a life of five months.
DE WACHTER. - A semi-monthly Hollandish religious newspaper, established
in Holland city in 1868. Removed to this city in 1875, and published
by the Rev. G. E. Boer.
MICHIGAN AMATEUR. - An amateur monthly published in 1876.
THE EVENING NEWS ITEM. - A daily, published by J. D. Dillenback and
others in 1876-77
THE ARGUS. - A Greenback, afternoon daily, published in 1876 by Myron
W. Tarbox.
THE EVENING MAIL. - A co-operative daily, started in June, 1876, by
a company of printers. The cooperation failed to co-operate, and
after two months it died.
GRAND RAPIDS GREENBACK. - A weekly, started by Slocum & Holt in
March, 1877. The paper was run as a weekly some six months, when
Holt retired and Slocum made it a daily. It was short lived.
GRAND RAPIDS SONNTAGS BLAAT. - A German literary weekly, established
by Wm. Eichelsdoerfer in 1877. It lived about nine years.
THE EVENING NATIONAL. - Published by R. M. Slocum as a Greenback daily
in April, 1878. Successor to the Grand Rapids Greenback.
DE NIEUWSBODE. - A tri-weekly, independent, Hollandish paper, published
three months in 1878, by Timothy Haan & Co.
THE STANDARD. - A Greenback weekly, published in the winter of 1878
by Louis Gale, and afterward by W. A. Innes and W. B. Weston. Merged
in the Leader.
THE EVENING ENQUIRER. - The Daily Evening Enquirer, a revival of the
weekly Enquirer, suspended in 1865, was issued in August, 1878, by M. H.
Clark. The paper was started as a Democratic organ, but soon changed
to Greenbackism. It ran but a few months.
THE NEWS AND PRICE CURRENT. - A weekly published in 1878.
THE DIAMOND. - An unsavory weekly published in 1879 by Louis Gale.
SOCIETY NEWS. - A short-lived weekly published in 1881 by George B.
Catlin.
THE TRUTH. - A weekly, published by Benson Bidwell in 1882, in the interests
of a Quixotic enterprise conducted under the name of the Union Trust Company.
SATURDAY EVENING HERALD. - A weekly published in March, 1883, by H.
A. Brooks.
THE CLIPPER. - A weekly, published in 1882, at 46 Canal street, by Charles
S. Gates.
THE DAILY SUN. - An independent afternoon paper, published for eight
months of 1883, by W. F. Cornell and E. A. Hoag.
THE BOYCOTTER. - A small weekly, printed in 1883 by Hufford & Randall,
backed by the Typographical Union. Its existence was ephemeral.
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. - A monthly, published in 1883 by J. G. Beecher.
GERMAN AMERICAN. - A small weekly sheet started in 1884 by Hermann Hammerschlag.
Devoted to the interests of Hebrew German-Americans.
PROGRESSIVE AGE. - Successor to the German American. A radical
and aggressive free-thought paper, published weekly. Hermann Hammerschlag,
Proprietor and Editor.
THE LABOR UNION. - A weekly labor paper, run for four months of 1884,
by Asa Barrows, David Hufford and Paul Randall, as a successor to the Boycotter.
LABOR HERALD. - The Labor Union was published for a short time under
this title, by T. J. Mosher.
THE BOY IN BLUE. - An organ of the Sons of Veterans, published in 1886
by T. J. Mosher.
THE MICHIGAN SOLDIER. - A Grand Army and Sons of Veterans organ, successor
to The Boy in Blue, published by T. J. Mosher, and afterward sold to Eugene
Carpenter, in whose hands it died in 1888.
THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER. - An educational weekly, published in 1883-84
by the School Newspaper Company.
NIEUWE COURANT. -A weekly Holland paper, published in 1884 by Jacob
Quintus.
YORK'S MUSICAL JOURNAL. - An eight page monthly musical journal, established
in 1884 by J. W. York & Son.
THE GLOBE. - A literary weekly, published in 1882-84 by Godwin &
Adzit and F. Homer Hosford. Merged in the Daily Times.
THE RADICAL. - A weekly, devoted to radical Democracy, started Feb.
16, 1884, by W. J. Sproat. Sold to F. W. Ball, and merged in the
Democrat in September, 1883.
THE CRITIQUE. - A weekly journal issued in 1885, by the Dawn Publishing
Company.
THE MESSAGE. - A small sheet published in 1885-86 by the South Congregational
Church, and devoted to the church's interest.
THE MICHIGAN MANUFACTURER. - A small sixteen page monthly, published
in 1885 by E. A. Stowe & Brother. It lived one year.
THE LAND JOURNAL. - A monthly real estate paper, which A. A. Root &
Co. published in 1886.
TOZER'S SATURDAY MAIL. - A literary weekly, two issues of which were
published by A. B. Tozer in December, 1886.
MICHIGAN BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE JOURNAL. - A monthly, published by
Harford & Altschwager, 48 Lyon street. W. M. Harford, editor, 1886.
THE EVENING NEWS. - A short-lived daily, issued in 1886 by the Evening
News Publishing Company. (Paul Randall and others.)
REAL ESTATE WORLD. - A monthly real estate journal, published by C.
S. Edwards in 1886.
THE GERM. - A prohibition weekly, published in 1886 by the Rev. George
Candee. Afterward merged in the Center, at Lansing, Mich.
THE HIGH SCHOOL JOURNAL. - A monthly school paper, published by the
High School Lyceum throughout the school year, 1886-87.
THE SUNDAY NEWS. - A weekly, published in November, 1886, by W. J. Mather,
of Toronto, Canada. Its life was but a span - two issues in length.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE. - Three numbers of a weekly with this title were issued
in 1886, by one Roberts.
COMMON SENSE. - A radical free-thought weekly, published in 1887, by
A. C. Everett.
THE BAPTIST RECORD. - A four page religious monthly, published in 1887-88,
by the Young People's League of the First Baptist Church.
THE DELTAN. - A school magazine, organ of the Gramma [sic] Delta Psi
fraternity, published in the High School in 1887-88.
THE RECTOR'S ASSISTANT. - An ably edited monthly; devoted to the interests
of St. Paul's parish, published by the Rector, Rev. J. Rice Taylor, in
1887-88.
MONTHLY BULLETIN. - A small sheet published in 1886-87 by the Y. M.
C. A., in the interests of the Association.
YOUR PAPER. - A monthly, published in 1887 by Carpenter & Adams,
proprietors of Hearth and Hall.
SVENSKA VECKOBLADET. - A Swedish weekly published in 1887 by C. A. Wickstrom.
THE AGITATOR. - A weekly, published in 1887 by Alfred Rindge.
BUSINESS REPORTER. - A daily, published for two months in 1887 by W.
A. Innes and E. A. Antisdel.
DE BANIER DES VOLKS. - A Republican, Hollandish weekly, published for
three months in the fall of 1888 by Van Houtum & De Haan.
DIRECTORIES.
The following list of directories may be found interesting, as illustrating,
by the yearly increase of names, the rapid growth of the city. With
the exception of the earlier years, all the directories have been published
by firms outside Grand Rapids, although R. L. Polk & Co. have maintained
a branch publication office in the city for several years:
PUBLISHERS. | DATE. | PAGES. | NO. OF NAMES. |
Wm. A. Robinson | 1856 | ... | ... |
P. J. G. Hodenpy | 1859 | 122 | 2,688 |
J. A. French and M. T. Ryan | 1865 | 154 | 1,760 |
Western Pub. Co., Chicago | 1867 | 274 | 4,274 |
J. D. Dillenback & Co., Gd. Rps. | 1870 | 198 | 4,613 |
J. D. Dillenback & Co , Gd. Rps. | 1872 | 268 | 4,960 |
Burch, Polk & Co., Detroit | 1873 | 380 | 9,950 |
Polk, Murphy & Co., Detroit | 1874 | 366 | 9,684 |
Murphy & Co., Grand Rapids | 1875 | 376 | 10,677 |
Murphy & Co., Grand Rapids | 1876 | 396 | 11,200 |
Murphy Co., Grand Rapids | 1877 | 375 | 11,800 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1871 | 382 | 12,200 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1871 | 404 | 12,550 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1880 | 428 | 13,300 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1881 | 474 | 14,500 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1882 | 699 | 16,600 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1883 | 636 | 19,400 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1884 | 812 | 21,800 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1885 | 688 | 21,600 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1886 | 944 | 22,000 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1887 | 904 | 24,763 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1888 | 1,212 | 28,717 |
R. L. Polk & Co. | 1889 | 1,124 | 31,434 |
JOB PRINTING AND BOOK WORK.
During the early days, and up to about 1870, comparatively little printing
was done outside of the newspaper offices. Newspaper publishers advertised
to do job printing "with neatness and dispatch and or reasonable terms."
Each paper had its job department, and as many hands as were needed for
its custom, especially skilled in handbill and advertising work, were given
employment therein. In 1857, John Bole had started a small office
in the Lovett Block, and advertised to do job printing and book, work,
and within a few years thereafter, several establishments were started
for such work exclusively. From small beginnings this business has
grown to quite large proportions, using machinery, in some cases, as heavy
and intricate and costly as that of the largest newspaper establishments.
There are, in 1889, at least two dozen job printing offices in the city.
Among the larger ones are: The Dean Printing and Publishing Co., The Eaton,
Lyon & Allen Printing Company, the Democrat job rooms, W. W. Hart,
Loomis & Onderdonk, I. S. Dygert, L. B. Stanton & Co., West Michigan
Printing Company, and The Fuller & Stowe Company. Also in the
business are Dickinson Brothers, Hensen & Deynders, Martin & Wurzburg,
P. T. Hugenholtz, John Rookus, G. C. Shepard, J. H. Taylor, H. A. Toren,
and Anthony Van Dort, all centrally located on the east side of the river.
On West Bridge street are Gust. Holm, Carl Nienhardt and Paterson &
Clarke.
The Dean Printing and Publishing Company was organized and incorporated
in April, 1889. It occupies the entire fifth floor of the Louis street
side of the Blodgett block, at the corner of Ottawa and Louis streets,
and is equipped with the best of material for all sorts of fine printing
and binding, taking position among the foremost establishments of its kind.
This volume is a specimen of its work, and bears its imprint on the title
page. Officers of the company: President, William Dunham; VicePresident,
Samuel E. Watson; Secretary, A. S. Hicks; Treasurer, Jacob Barth; Manager
and General Superintendent, Harry K. Dean. Capital Stock, $25,000.
It starts briskly, with a heavy business, and an average of twenty-five
employes. [sic]
The printing business gives support to a large number of people, and
is a source of fair profit to some. In the Typographical Union are
108 active members, who, with honorary members and non-Union workmen, make
up a total of about 150 practical printers in the city.
BINDERIES.
In March, 1855, the Enquirer advertised the establishment of a book-bindery,
"next, door to the Post Office," where "blank books, day-books, journals
and all kinds of county records will be bound in the best style at Detroit
prices." Jacob Barns & Co. were the proprietors. Andrew
J. Dygert was the workman, and the first book-binder to ply his trade in
this city. The business at that time was small. In November,
1860, John C. Wenham purchased the plant, and it was removed to Nevius
Block (now Gunn Block) on Monroe street. In 1863 it was sold to Henry
M. Hinsdill, who combined book-binding with bookselling.
In 1860 Adrian Yates had a bindery on the east side of Canal street,
between Lyon and Pearl, and in 1865, Arthur W. Currier was in the business
at 21 Barclay street. Mr. Currier had previously worked with Mr.
Wenham.
In 1877, the Barlow Brothers (John B. and Heman G.) established a bindery
in the Randall Block near the foot of Lyon street. Their business
has grown until it amounts to from $30,000 to $40,000 yearly. Other
book binders in the city are: J. Chilver & Co., Blodgett block, corner
Ottawa and Louis streets; Richard Gough & Co., No. 2 Pearl; Ritze Hermann,
291 Ottawa.
BOOK SELLERS AND STATIONERS.
In 1836, John W. Peirce started a small book and stationery store at
the northeast corner of Kent and Bronson streets. Judging from his
advertisements, his assortment of books was somewhat mixed. In the
spring of 1841 he had for sale "at the book store," "a large assortment
of saw mill saws," and wanted at the same place, "two hundred bushels of
oats." In 1844, he moved from there to the west side of Canal street,
on the south corner of Erie. Gradually he worked out of the book
trade, into that of general merchandise.
In 1848 James D. Lyon opened a similar store at the east corner of Canal
and Pearl streets. After him, Wm. B. Howe, till 1856, and then George
P. Barnard continued the business at the same place until about 1866, when
George K. Nelson and Charles W. Eaton, in partnership, bought the stock.
Subsequently, this firm became Nelson Brothers & Co. (George C., George
K. and James F. Nelson) still in business at 68 Monroe street, and now
trading exclusively in wall paper, shade goods and statuary.
George P. Sexton opened a news stand in November, 1857, in the postoffice,
where he sold periodicals for a year or two.
Among other early book-sellers were John Terhune, Jr., about 1854, in
the Rathbone block, and afterward in Luce Block; and C. Morse, a little
later, on Canal, near Erie street.
About 1860 J. S. Nevins & Son had a book store in the Nevius Block.
In 1859 Henry M. Hinsdill established a book house at 14 Canal street.
Afterward Chester B. Hinsdill and Charles D. Lyon became associated with
him under the name of Hinsdill Brothers & Co., at 22 Canal street.
In 1870 the Hinsdills were bought out by Charles W. Eaton and C. D. Lyon,
and the firm name of Eaton & Lyon made its appearance in the book trade.
In the same year that owl whose spectacled countenance is so familiar to
newspaper readers in Western Michigan, was adopted as a trade-mark.
The original owl was a stuffed bird bought at auction and set in the display
window of the store, from a portrait of which by Lawrence Earle, Fred.
S. Church designed their trade-mark. In 1881 the firm removed to
20 and 22 Monroe street, its present location. Its members are: C.
W. Eaton, C. D. Lyon, H. W. Beecher and J. L. Kymer. The business
of the establishment has grown until with the allied plant of the Eaton,
Lyon & Allen Printing Company, it foots up some $225,000 annually.
In 1874 George A. Hall opened a news stand, with a small stock of books,
in the Arcade. With several successive partners, the management of
the business has remained in his hands, and it has grown to be a large
trade. In 1887 the store was removed to 56 Monroe street.
Other firms of later establishment in the line of stationery and news
are: Buchanan & Co., No. 5 South Division street; Spraker & Hogadone
in the Arcade, and F. H. Seymour, New Kendall Block. The latter firm
deals in second hand books and art goods. F. M. Hulswit, 157 Monroe,
and D. J. Doornink, 81 Monroe, supply reading matter to a goodly number
of Holland citizens, and also deal in stationery.
ENGRAVERS AND ELECTROTYPERS.
In 1874 W. N. Fuller established a printing office at 75 Canal street.
He had worked at engraving, and in 1875 was able to combine that with his
printing business. He also secured the services of W. A. Reed, an
engraver, and afterward the two formed a partnership under the name of
Fuller & Reed. The making of illustrated catalogues for the furniture
factories proved profitable, and other engraving firms came into existence.
In 1882, W. A. Reed organized the Grand Rapids Engraving Company, with
F. K. Cargill as partner. About the beginning of 1888 Reed sold out
to Cargill, and, with others, organized The Valley City Engraving Company,
whose establishment was recently moved to the corner of Pearl and Campau
streets. The Grand Rapids Engraving Company, F. K. Cargill, managing
proprietor, is located in the Eagle Block, 49 Lyon street. W. N.
Fuller, in 1886, went into the Fuller & Stowe Printing and Engraving
Company, of late situated on Louis street. An important specialty
of the engravers of this city is furniture work. In this they receive
orders for cuts from all parts of the country. Their business amounts
to $30,000 or more yearly. In July, 1887, C. Jurgen & Brother,
of Chicago, established the Grand Rapids Electrotype foundry, on Mill street,
opposite Erie. In January, 1888, this was purchased by Olaf F. Nelson
and Charles E. Ennes, and the works have been removed to Erie street.
Their business is chiefly for the furniture trade and the newspapers.
PRINTING MACHINES.
In few departments of art is the progress of inventive genius and mechanical
skill better shown than in the construction of printing presses.
From the old Ramage and Washington hand presses to the complicated and
almost automatic machines of the present day, is a great stride.
For the various classes of printing, there is much variety in these machines,
moved by hand, steam, water, gas or electric power. Some idea of
the improvements may be gained from the illustrations here given.
The Goss newspaper perfecting press shown, built expressly for the Telegram-Herald
Company in 1889, is named Melita, in honor of the daughter of C. G. Swensberg,
President of that company.
AUTHORS AND PUBLICATIONS.
Mrs. Rose Hartwick Thorp, author of the poem, "Curfew Shall Not Ring
To-Night," known wherever the English language is spoken, now a resident
of California, is a native of Michigan, and spent some years in Grand Rapids.
Mrs. S. K. Torrey, besides being an artist of ability, is a pleasant
writer, and a recent holiday brochure from her pencil and pen, entitled
"Mission Sketches," and describing the old Catholic missions at Santa Barbara,
California, was favorably received.
Among writers of some local note is Joseph J. Baker, who wrote a book
of poems and several dramatic pieces, and set them up and printed them
with his own hand. His plays have never been put upon the stage.
Charles D. Almy has done some clever work as a special writer for the
papers. His style is modeled somewhat after that of "Bill Nye."
In this connection the poems, and the rich, though sometimes coarse,
humor of J. Mason Reynolds ("Farmer Reynolds"), should not be ignored.
In 1882 he published a collection of his poems - a pamphlet of 99 pages.
William A. Berkey, in 1876, issued a book of 384 pages, entitled "The
Money Question," a work indicating much labor and research. Three
editions of it have been published.
In 1880 Luther V. Moulton published a volume of 271 pages, entitled
"The Science of Money, and American Finances," wherein he revels in mathematics,
tables of figures and abstruse speculations.
In historical and scientific lines, Grand Rapids has produced some creditable
works. Among these are Jackson D. Dillenback's "History and Directory
of Kent County," issued in 1870, and Prof. Franklin Everett's "Memorials
of the Grand River Valley," a larger and more comprehensive volume, of
about 600 pages, printed in 1878. A "History of Kent County," a book
ponderous in size but not remarkable for its general accuracy, was published
in 1881, by M. A. Leeson as historian, and C. C. Chapman & Co. as publishers,
neither of whom ever lived in Grand Rapids.
The Kent Scientific Institute, among its other means for the spread
of knowledge, has issued scientific pamphlets from time to time.
In 1873, N. Coleman, a member, compiled under its auspices, a list of the
flowering plants of the Southern Peninsula of Michigan, including some
725 species. This list has been used extensively in later compilations
of Michigan flora. A. 0. Currier prepared some valuable lists of
Michigan shells, and Dr. Wm. H. DeCamp published a "Monogram on the Mollusks
of Michigan."
Among theological works, the Coming Age Publishing Company, in 1887,
issued a pamphlet on the "Higher Teachings of Spiritualism." In 1886
the Rev. S. H. Cobb prepared a paper on "The Philosophy and Theology of
the Mind Cure," which was published in pamphlet form. The Rev. Kerr
B. Tupper edited a volume entitled "Robertson's Living Thoughts," consisting
of selections from the sermons of Frederick W. Robertson, a famous Divine
of Brighton, England. The First Congregational Church Society issued
in 1884 a beautiful memorial volume in relation to the life, services and
death of its pastor, the Rev. J. Morgan Smith. In 1881 Bishop D.
D. Paterson, of the Children of Zion Church, published a small work entitled
"A Casket of Poetical Treasures," original and selected.
The Rev. P. Moerdyke, D. D., in 1880 published a historical discourse,
giving an account of the origin and progress of the First Reformed Church
until it became self-supporting in 1879 (35 pages), and a sermon to the
young Prof. Vos, Ph. D., issued a volume of some merit on "The Pentateuch,"
designed as a defense against recent criticisms. The Rev. Samuel
Graves published the sermon preached at the dedication of the Fountain
Street Baptist Church, and one commemorating his fifteen-years pastorate
of that church. The Rev. A. R. Merriman in 1888 published "A Study
of the Divorce Problem."
Georgie Young, who became intensely earnest in efforts for the relief
and reclamation of fallen women, in 1889 published a volume of 116 pages,
entitled: "A Magdalen's Life," which awakened great interest in the cause
for which it was written.
Beginning in 1870, Isaac H. Parrish wrote a series of some seventy articles,
entitled: "History of Parties," which were published in the Grand Rapids
Eagle during the following two years. Again in 1886-87 be contributed
to the West Michigan Farmers' Club a series of papers on "Law for the Farmers."
About 1870, Herbert E. Dewey contributed to the press a series of fifteen
long articles on "Southern Prisons," with which he was made somewhat acquainted
during the war.
Among medical works produced by Grand Rapids Physicians, is a small
treatise on "Homeopathic Treatment of Diphtheria," published in 1880 by
Dr. DeForest Hunt. A work on "Phthisis Pulmonaris" was published
a year or two later by Dr. G. N. Brigham, of the Homeopathic School, who
was also the author of one or two other treatises regarded as standard
medical works. Dr. Charles J. Hempel was an author and translator
of national repute in the line of Homeopathic medical literature.
Among the makers and publishers of plain maps in the earlier days of
the town were John Almy, W. L. Coffinberry, Robert S. Innes and John F.
Tinkham.