PRESS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
,,THE OLD PORTLAND."
BY H. W. RICHARDSON.
ON the fourth of April, 1783, the first news of peace was
received in the little village then known as Falmouth Neck and
Parson Smith tells us in his journal that "our men had a mad
day of rejoicing, firing cannon incessantly from morning to
night among the houses, and ended in killing. Mr. Roll ins
that unlucky mariner having been wounded by the explosion
of a cannon, and surviving only four days. Nearly eight years
before, in the very beginning of the war, tile town had been
wantonly burned by a British fleet-414 buildings destroyed, and
only 100 dwellings left standing. The population of the Neck in
1774 was 1900, and at the close of the war remained at nearly the
same number. In 1784, the year after the treaty, Thomas B. Wait,
who had been previously concerned in the publication of the Bos-
ton Chronicle, came to Falmouth and opened a stationer's shop.
Finding Benjamin Titcomb, a printer, already established here,
he formed a partnership with him, and on tile first of January,
1785, issued the first number of the Falmouth GAZETTE and
Weekly ADVERTISER. It was the first newspaper ever printed in
the District of Maine; and, under various names, has continued to
the present day. The first newspaper in America, the Boston
34
THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
News Letter,appeared in 1704, and was not so old in 1785 as the
Advertiser is now.
The town of Portland was incorporated in 1786, and the name
of the newspaper was changed to the Cumberland Gazette. Mr.
Wait continued to conduct it for eleven years. Mr. Titcomb had
left Ion- before the conclusion of Mr. Wait's labors, and in 1790
had started a rival street, called the Gazette of Maine.* In 1792
the Cumberland Gazette was enlarged, and, to avoid confusion
with the other Gazette, was called the Eastern Herald. There
* BENJAMIN TITCOMB, fourth son of Dea. Benjamin and Anne Titcomb, was
born in Portland, July 26, 1761. He was educated at Dummer Academy, Newbury,
Mass; and afterward, at Newburyport, served an apprenticeship in the art of printing.
Establishing himself in -the printing business at Portland, on the first day of
January, 1785, he I struck off' with his own hands ( as lie frequently remarked to
persons who are Dow living, 1871 ) the first sheet ever printed in Maine. About
1798, he left printing, and with no other preparation than that wbich the grace of
God gives, began to preach to the small Baptist society then recently gathered in
Portland, the first meetings of which were at Mr. Titcomb's house. In 1841 lie re-
moved to Brunswick, and became pastor of the Baptist church which had been
gathered here by Elders Case and Williams. The meetings of this society, for
several years, were held at Maquoit in the meeting-house which was built by the so-
ciety in the early part of the present century. After the First Congregational meet-
ing-house, situated about a mile south from Pejepscot Falls, had been vacated by the
Congregational society (1808), the Baptists occupied it a part of the time, This house
was unceiled,and the walls bare. The Maquoit house was a little better finished. No
stoves, except foot-stoves, were in use in those early days,; yet people assembled in
greater numbers in proportion to the population, even in winter, than are now gath-
ered into our comfortable, well finished churches. In 1829 the meeting-house on
Federal street ( now occupied by the Catholics, - the Baptists having removed to a
more commodious building on Main street) was built ; and, in this, Elder Titcomb
finished his public labors,- retiring from the pulpit at the age of 83, after a 40
years' ministry in Brunswick. It is somewhat to the credit of Brunswick, as well as;
to the preachers, that the pastor of the Baptist society and the pastor of the Congre-
gational society ( Dr. Adams ) were both retained 40 years.
In 1820 Elder Titcomb was elected a delegate to the convention that formed the
Constitution of' Maine; and, at the request of Gen. King, opened tile convention
with prayer. Not fond of' political preferment, he afterward declined office, which
was several times offered him. He was one of the original Trustees of Waterville
College ( now Colby University ), and took great interest in that institution. He was.
a man of decision, I strong in faith, -a ready speaker - preaching without notes. He
retained his mental faculties in a good degree to the last, dying at his residence off
Federal street, Sept. 30, 1848. - Ed.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 35
was at that day no party in Portland but the Federalist, yet the
elections were as warmly contested as at any subsequent period.
The whole of Maine(, constituted a single congressional district,
which had been represented by Judge Thatcher of Biddeford, a
personal friend of Wait's, and a frequent contributor to his paper.
Thatcher's wit was sometimes of the sharpest and most exasperat-
ing, quality, and be became unpopular in Portland; but Wait,
with his usual courage and vehemence, stood by his friend when
he became a candidate for re-election. The Gazette of Maine rep-
resented the opposition. During the canvass Wait was perssonally
assaulted; Daniel George, the schoolmaster, and Daniel Davis, af-
terward United States Attorney, were threatened with personal
violence; and Samuel C. Jobonot, an accomplished lawyer, was actually driven out of town.
The vote of Portland stood for Na-
thaniel Wells, of Wells, 65; Josiah Thatcher, of Gorham, 23;
George Thatcher, of Biddeford, 21 ; and William Lithgow, of
Georgetown, 1. Judge Thatcher was re-elected on the fourth trial
by: a majority of sixty votes in the whole district.
Mr. Wait is described by Willis as " a man of ardent tempera-
men, strong mind, great firmness and independence of character;
earnest and persevering in whatever lie undertook, and honest in
his purposes." Ile lived on the corner of Congress and Elm
streets where Deering block now stands. His paper was published
" Opposite the bay market," now Market square. The difficulties
under which be labored may be appreciated when we remember
the fact, recorded by Parson Smith, that in the spring of 1785 the
Boston mail was delayed five weeks by bad roads. The first at-
tempt to carry passengers east was made in 1793 by Caleb Graf-
fain, who was employed by Wait to carry the newspaper once a
week in summer,and once a fortnight in winter, to Hallowell and
the intermediate towns.
Wait's valedictory, a manly piece of writing, not without a
touch of pathos, appears in the Eastern Herald and. Gazette of
Maine of Sept. 3, 1796,-John K. Baker, an apprentice of Wait's,
leaving just bought and consolidated the two papers. The estab-
lishment, at that early day, as ever since, seems to have been a
86 THE, NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
nursery for jounalists. John Rand, another apprentice, issued file
Oriental Trumpet the same year; and in 1798, E. A. Jenks, still
another apprentice, after the trumpet had fallen dumb, issued
the first number of the Portland Gazette. The Trumpet appears
to have been a Puritanical organ, with a distinctly nasal twang.
The Gazette was a livelier rival to Baker's enterprise, in which
Daniel George, already mentioned, was soon engaged. George
was a remarkable character. Ile is described as a man of genius,
but so exceedingly deformed that lie had to be moved from place
to place in a small carriage, drawn by a servant. 116 came here in
1784 or'5 from Newburyport, where he had published almanacs,
as he afterwards did here. He was a printer, but kept school in
Portland, and had also a small bookstore in Fish, now Exchange,
street. In 1800 he became the sole owner of the Herald.
The national parties were now beginning to take form. The
first-Republican club was formed here in 1794. In 1803 the
party bad become strong enough to support a newspaper, and the
Eastern Argus was established by Calvin Day, and Nathaniel
Willis, the father of Willis of Idlewild. By a singular fatality it
happened that in the following year the publishers of both the
Federalist papers were taken away. George died, and, soon after,
Jenks was drowned on a Sunday, near I Richmond's Island, on his
passage from Boston. Both establishments, it appears, were then
united under the management of Isaac Adams. Mr. Adams grad-
uated at Dartmouth College in 1796, and came to Portland in-
1797, as Chief Justice Parsons had come before him to keep school.
In 1802 he opened a bookstore in Jones's Row, oil the west side of
Fish street, and in 1805 bought the Gazette. Under his charge it
assumed a character which it had lacked since Wait parted with it.
Mr. Adams is described by Willis as "a man of fine talents, quick
perceptions, calm judgment, and great energy of character." He
was a tall man, with a large frame and a fine presence, and was
for many years a' leading citizen. He sat tell years for Portland
in the Massachusetts Legistature; and for seven years, after the
separation, in the Maine Legislature. He was for thirteen years on
the board of selectmen of the town, and most of the time chairman
of tbe board.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 87
Three years after his purelase, Mr. Adams admitted to part-
nership Arthur Shirley, who had been an apprentice, and who now
took sole charge of the printing office.* Mr. Shirley's connection
with the paper lasted till 1822. After 1811 it was wholly in his
hands, except that a part of the time his brother, J. Shirley, was
associated with him. It was (luring the administration of Adams
and Shirley that the old Gazette was illuminated by the brilliant
essays of a cluster of young men, whose articles, over the signatures
Pilgrim, Prowler, Night Hawk, and Torpedo, kept the town
in good humor. William B. Sewall, coming here to read law,
found his college classmates, Savage, and Payson (then preceptor
of the new academy, afterwards the distinguished preacher) al-
ready engaged upon these weekly essays of wit and merriment.
Two sons of Samuel Freeman - Samuel Deane and William -
were Harvard contemporaries of`Sewa1l, Savage,and Payson, and
were also contributors to the Gazette. A little later came the
Contributions of the Torpedo Club, of which Charles S. Daveis,
Nathaniel Deering, N. Carter, an id N. Wright were the brightest
ornaments.
Portland was then a small village of four or five thousand in-
habitants, all known to each other, and the authorship of these
I ARTHUR SHIRLEY was a native of Fryeburg, and commenced his apprenticeship
in 1798 in the office of E. Russell, the proprietor of the first printing establishment
in that town. "He was a man (says a correspondent) very decided in his views, -
deliberate, square, firm, - shown characteristically in his hand writing, which you
will remember was remarkably open,-plainer than type script. He was blind the
few last years of his life ; yet even during this period he was much at his office, and
would often work at the case ;` setting type by feeling the I nick.' - Ed.
" Mr. Shirley from the age of 16 was connected with the public press;
and, as a printer, publisher, and writer, was successively identified, during his long
life, with many newspapers ; among which were the Portland Gazette (since merged
into the Advertiser), and the Christian Mirror, which, under its original title, still
maintains its place among the principal religious weekly publications of the State.
The first ' Directory of Portland ' issued from his press. The first book of sacred
music printed in the State had the same origin. The Daily Courier, the Family
Reader, the Portland Magazine, and the Maine Washingtonian Journal all have his
imprint, "Ind were to no inconsiderable extent the product of his industry."- Extract
.from the Christian Mirror, Feb. 9, 1864,
38 THE _NEWS PRESS IN MAINE.
quips and jests was canvassed with an interest which it would
now be impossible to excite. In 1813 William Willis came here
and entered upon the study of the profession, of' which he has
.since become the historian in Maine. After completing his stud-
ies in Boston and being admitted to practice at the Suffolk Bar,
he returned to Portland in 1819 to take charge of Judge Mellen's
office; and in the same year was engaged by Shirley to furnish
editorial articles for the Gazette. -It was the first instance in which
the office of editor was separated from the business of the pub-
lisher, and marks an epoch in the local history of journalism.
Mr. Willis's connection with the Gazette remained unbroken,
till, in 1822, Mr. Shirley having undertaken the publication of the
Christian Mirror, edited by Asa Rand, disposed of the Gazette,
which within the next three or four years changed hands several
times; coming back at last upon Shirley, who in 1826 sold the pa-
per to Jacob Hill and John Edwards,-the latter reared, like
Shirley, an apprentice in the office, and like him destined to
become a publisher. During the interval before this sale the pa-
per had been edited for a short time by J. D. Hopkins; but mainly
by the modest and learned William D. Sewall, who found these
labors much more to his mind than the wrangling of the bar.
Under his management a semiweekly edition was begun, with
which was revived the old title, Portland Advertiser, while the
weekly edition was still called the Gazette of Maine.
Mr. Hill, who was a lawyer, edited the paper himself so long
as he retained an interest in it. On the first of January, 1829, lie
sold to John and William E. Edwards, the latter having obtained
a partial interest a year before. The new firm, casting about for
an editor, first hit upon Grenville Mellen, the poet; but after a
brief trial found him unsuited to the place. On the recommenda-
tion of John Neal, who had returned from Europe two years be-
fore, and was now a frequent contributor, they next engaged
James Brooks, a young man who had graduated at Waterville a
year before, and was then employed here as a teacher. The ex-
periment proved very successful. Before the new hand at the
bellows was known, the shower of sparks attracted general notice
and comment. Mr. Brooks was not satisfied to follow the old ruts.
He persuaded the publishers to pay his expenses in Washington
during the session of Congress, and originated the conception of the
Washington correspondent, latterly I perhaps a little too well known.
His insouciant descriptions of the sayings and doings of Congress-
men had then the charm of novelty, and the Advertiser profited by
it. In 1831, the consecutive publication of the Daily Advertiser
began; though, during the sessions of the Legislature then held
at Portland, daily bulletin,, had previously been published, as
they have been, since 1832, in Augusta. The Daily Courier
bad also been started in 1829, in Portland, and the Daily Argus
followed suit in 1835. At that three even Liverpool could boast
only of a thrice weekly journal; and in the British Empire there
was not a daily newspaper outside of London.
After a few years Mr. Brooks conceived the idea of going to
Europe as the special correspondent of the Advertiser, and in
1835 made the grand tour in that capacity. Greatly to the dissat-
isfaction of his indulgent employers, lie never returned to Portland.
Landing in New York, lie issued the prospectus of the Express;
writing down to Portland, however, that lie still intended to main-
tain his connection with the Advertiser, and, as soon as lie could
get the new enterprise under way, should leave its Management to,
his brother Erastus. Perhaps that was ]'is purpose. From 1836
till 1841, he maintained a dubious status here, until he had tested
his chances for an election to Congress from this district, and failed..
Then, and not before, the last link was broken ; and in November,
1841, Phinehas Barnes was installed as editor. Mr. Barnes gradu-
ated at Bowdoin College in 1829; had been professor of Greek and
Latin at Waterville for five years after completing his legal stud-
ier, and brought to his new task a breadth and thoroughness of
culture which lent new dignity to the paper. He continued to,
edit it until 1847, when lie was succeeded by Henry Carter.
We are now approaching the latest epoch, and must pick our
way over the cineres dolosi of heart burnings, which are still fresh.
The decline of the paper be-an in 1853, when John M. Wood first
secured an interest in it. It was the first there in its history, that
40 THE NEWS PRESS 0F MAINE.
an owner had been engrossed in other matters to which he was
willing to make the newspaper secondary. No newspaper can be
conducted on such principles. It is a jealous public upon whose
favor these enterprises depend, and the bare suspicion that a daily
journal is managed for private ends is fatal to its prosperity. It
must be understood that the journalist looks to the public alone
for approbation; but it is also necessary that lie should seek to
win that approbation by honorable dealing. There had been sev-
eral changes of proprietorship before Mr. Wood purchased an in-
terest in the paper. John Edwards had sold half the paper, in
1837, to Joseph Al. Gerrisb, who had sold in turn to Reuben Ord-
way, who had sold to Carter and A. F. Gerrish in 1850. On the
first of August, 1853, William E. Edwards, after thirty-six years in
the Advertiser office, sold out to Mr. Wood. The Atlantic and
St. Lawrence railroad had just been completed. Commercial
street was built the year before. In these great enterprises Mr.
Wood had been conspicuous. Ile was planning a magnificent
residence and a miraculous hotel, and in an unlucky hour he
wanted a newspaper. His management proved extravagantly ex-
pensive; and, although the circulation of the paper increased, it
was published at a loss. Mr. Wood's partners, one after the
other, sold their shares, and in 1856 lie became the sole owner.
Mr. Carter remained a year longer as editor. Ile was followed
by Mr. Blaine in 1858. In 1859 the paper once more changed
hands, passing under the control of Messrs. Waldron, Little and
Co., who retained it until Jan. 1, 1861, when it was sold to Mr. F.
0. J. Smith. The editors, while the paper was published by Wal-
dron, Little and Co., were Mr. Blaine and C. C. Woodman. After
the transfer, Eliphalet Case was the principal editor until his death
in the winter of 1862-3.
0
In Mr. Smith's hands the Advertiser sacrificed its position as a
Republican paper; thereby leaving a field which was prompt-
ly occupied by the 'Press': though the Advertiser did not
succeed in supplanting the Argus as a democratic organ. There
was no room for three morning papers in Portland; and so, in 1866,
after the great fire, the daily issue was suspended. The weekly
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 49
publication, however, was continued in an unbroken series, and in
1868 the subscription list, printing material, and sole right to re-
vive the daily edition, were purchased by the publishers of the
Evening Star, a new name for the Courier; and the Daily Ad-
vertiser reappeared as an evening paper. In its new field it ex-
presses Republican opinions, but not as a party organ -aiming
primarily at a faithful publication of the news, without reference
to its political bearing, and discussing the events of the day with
reference to principles rather than to immediate results.
Among the graduates of the Advertiser office are some of the
best journalists in the country. James and Erastus Brooks have
already been named. Others are Charles G. Came, the leading
writer on the Boston Journal; Edwin F. Waters, one of the pub-
lishers of the Boston Advertiser; Edward Haskell, managing editor
of the Boston Herald; S. It. Niles, the well known advertising
agent; Charles G. Gammon, commercial editor of the New York
Journal of Commerce; Zenas T. Raines, of the New Orleans press;
and Royal W. Lincoln, of the Portland Press.
.........................................
NOTE. Mr. Richardson is a practical printer,-serving an apprenticeship in the
Waterville Mail office before entering college. He graduated at Waterville College
in 1853 ; became tutor in 1855 ; was afterward assistant, and then chief editor
of the` Portland Press". Since 1868 he has been publisher and editor of the
Advertiser- Ed.
50 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
[First Press, 1785.]
PORTLAND PRESS-CONTINUED,
BY HON. CHARLES HOLDEN.
Written in 1869.
[ We have given the preference to Mr. Richardson's history of the first newspaper
in Falmouth ( now Portland ) for the reason that his interest led him to very care-
full research. Mr. Titcomb, it is evident, established the first press; Wait and Titcomb
published the first newspaper. Mr. Wait was probably the first mover in the news-
paper establishment. -Mr. Holden's interesting narrative, prepared for a public
address, contains, as originally printed, some remarks on men and things which gave
zest on the occasion of their delivery : but which, for our use and room, need
abridging. This he has permitted us to do. -Editor.]
FIRST SEMI-WEEKLY.
The man who succeeded Wait and Titcomb, and was bold
enough to publish a semi-weekly paper in 1796, was John K.
Baker, a former apprentice of Mr. Wait's. It deserved success, but
did not win it. The paper, as a semi-weekly, went under; but lie,
continued it, as a weekly, till' 1800. He was succeeded by Dan-
iel George, who continued it till 1804, when it ceased to exist.
Failing in his enterprise, Mr. Baker shook the dust from his feet
and left the town. He wandered away to the State of New York,
and there sojourned for a time; then to Vermont, where he kept
a tavern. " Anything but publishing a newspaper for a living in
the State of Maine," was his invocation.
Thirty years from the date of his departure, he returned in his.
old age to the scene of his early struggles and disappointments -
a tired,worn-outman. He was an efficient man in his profession,
but he was not met half'-way by the people. He attributed one
great cause of his failure, and rightly, we think, to be, the lack of
ready communication with the interior. The semi-weekly took
well in town; but people in the interior did not find it to possess
advantages to counterbalance the difficulty in getting it regularly.
At that date, it must be understood, the mail, even from this city
to Portsmouth, was carried on horseback.
EASTERN ARGUS.
In September, 1803, the Eastern Argus commenc ed its event-
ful life. It was established to subserve the interests of the
Democratic party, then called, derisively, the Jacobin party, after
the liberalists of France. Calvin Day and Nathaniel Willis were
its fathers. Day soon disappeared, and Mr. Willis became -sole
proprietor. The patriarch still lives.* He was the father of
N. P. Willis, the poet, and of Mrs. Parton (Fanny Fern).
The Argus was born in violent times. The editor soon went
to jail because of the freedom with which he uttered his sentiments.
This was a great card for him. Week after week he played his
right bower with terrible effect upon his persecutors. The Argus
would appear each week with its flaming leader, headed, " fifth,
sixth or seventh week (as it might be) of the imprisonment of
the editor for daring to avow sentiments of political freedom."
Persecution for the free avowal of opinions, in those days, as now,
enlisted the people ardently in favor of the persecuted, and Willis
lost nothing, pecuniarily, by making his bed in that hell of olden
time, a county jail. These were also days of danger to workmen,
as well as editors, on the Argus and Advertiser. These men, if
required to work late at night, carried weapons of defense, such
as `cross-bar' or `sheeps-foot,' to repel assailants of the opposite
political faith, who were supposed to be lying in wait for them.
In 1824 the Argus was issued semi-weekly, and in 1832
triweekly. In 1835 the daily was started by Ira Berry and
Charles Holden, and has been continued to this day.
FREEMAN'S FRIEND.
In 1806 a paper called the Freeman's Friend was established
by J. McKown. It was neutral in politics. But in those heated,
* Mr. Nathaniel Willis died on the 27th of May, 1870, being 90 years old.-Ed.
52 .
THE, NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
partisan times, neutrality stood but a poor chance for success.
With Mr. Jefferson at the head of the nation, the embargo im-
pending,-the merchants of Portland, that had stood like a rock
in their firmness and integrity, going down like rows of bricks,-
in those gloomy days, 'who is for Paul, and who for Apollos?'
was a cry which had to be answered. The Friend, after a few
years' struggle, ceased to live.
INDEPENDENT STATESMAN.
In 1821 the Independent Statesman made its bow to the
public. As it enacted, for a time, an important part in the politics
of the State and County, I allude to it more at length than I have
to many that preceded it. It was established to advocate the
election of Gen. Joshua Wingate, jr., for Governor of the State, in
opposition to Albion K. Parris, the Democratic nominee, who
received the support of the Argus and a portion of the Democra-
cy, led by Ashur Ware, then Secretary of State and a writer for
the Argus. Several of the leading Democrats, who opposed the
election of Mr. Parris, were Isaac Ilsley, James Jewett, Asa Clapp
and his son Charles, Judge Widgery, and others of this city, and
Judge Ames of Bath, etc., all of whom contributed material aid
in getting up and supporting the Statesman. The political con-
test that year was the most virulent and personal ever witnessed
in this State. Mr. Parris was triumphantly elected Governor, and
the combination suffered a signal defeat.
The first publisher of the Statesman was Joseph Griffin, who
subsequently took as partner Amos C. Tappan. Mr. Griffin re-
mained but a short time, when he returned to Brunswick and the
quiet of a book and job office.
The firm of Griffin and Tappan* was succeeded by that of
Thayer and Tappan, and, soon after, Thayer, Tappan and Stickney
(Henry R. Stickney) ; and finally the whole control passed into
the hands of Abijah W. Thayer as editor and publisher. Pre-
, Amos C. Tappan was a native of Newburyport, Ms. He served his apprentice-
ship at Andover, 1816 to '20. After he left the office of the Statesman, he published
a paper at Wiscasset, where he died in 1832.-Ed.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 53
vious to this, however, it was edited, at different times, by Na-
thaniel Deerin , N. G. Jewett, and James P. Vance. Mr. Thayer
carried it on about a year, and then removed to Haverhill, and
thence to Northampton, Mass., where he died not long since. (t)
On his leaving, Dr. Nathaniel Low was ushered in. The real
proprietors of the paper induced him to remove from South Ber-
wick to this town, and take charge of the sheet. He came, saw,
and concluded to change the name of the paper to that of the
American Patriot. His name appeared as editor and publisher,
and Wm. E. Edwards as printer. He carried on the paper for
about a year. In the meantime be bad been appointed Postmas-
ter in place of Robert I1sley. But his reward was a brief one.
lie lost the place in a few months, when he returned to South
Berwick, a wiser man.
Soon after the Doctor departed for his native beath, the last
note given in aid of the paper at its commencement became due,
;and was paid by one of the initiatory members. The days of the
-American Patriot were then numbered and finished.
Most of that influential wing of the Democracy which seceded
during the Parris and Wingate campaign, never returned to their
,allegiance. They united with the old Federal party, under the
name of National Republican party, and rallied under that flag
for several years, when they assumed the name of Whig party,
having received important accessions from the Democracy about
the time the New York Courier and Enquirer left the Democratic
ranks. In the first year of the publication of the Statesman, the
Wingate party, with the Federalists, obtained a small majority in
the House, and on joint ballot. The Statesman was made the
State paper. The contest of the first year of this split in the par-
ty was carried on in the most savage manner. Caning and
threatened assaults were of daily occurrence. Caricatures of the
most ludicrous cast were printed in the Statesman.
(t) Mr. Thayer obtained most of his knowledge in the printing office, and by private
study. When a journeyman at Andover, in 1816, 1 remember his studious habit of
having his book upon the I bank,' from which he would catch a sentence while distri-
buting ink upon the balls, or while his' comp' was taking out a I pick.'-Ed.
54 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
WREATH.
The Wreath, a family paper, was commenced in 1822, by John
Edwards, and afterwards continued by A. W. Thayer. It lived
about a year.
EXPERIMENT.
The Experiment, a semi-monthly, was commenced about 1825.
It was quite unique in its character. It was edited by James N.
Purinton, afterwards -principal of the High School in Portland.
The articles were all written by the members of a society of
young men, of which Mr. P. was at the head. They united for
mutual improvement. Debate was a part of their plan. They
also wrote essays, and read them in public meeting. The manu-
scripts were then corrected by the editor, and afterward published
in the Experiment; so that the writer could avail himself of the
amendments, as also could his associates and the public at large.
The paper was successful and quite useful. It lived for a year or
two, till its progenitors outgrew the society. Among the asso-
ciates we-re John B. Brown, Daniel Winslow, Winslow H. Purin-
ton, Capt. Coffin, the writer, and many others of our citizens who
,continue to this day.
COURIER.
The Courier, issued in 1829, was the first Daily in this State.
Seba Smith, the original Jack Downing, has the honor of starting
it. Mr. Smith-a man of fine literary tastes-had been pre-
viously editor of the Argus. He was the husband of Mrs. Eliza-
beth Oakes Smith, whose superior abilities as a writer are known
throughout the land. Mr. Smith (lied but recently, in Brooklyn,
N. Y. He was a man of much simplicity of character, and
modesty of bearing, almost amounting to shyness, which made
him beloved by all. He was classically educated-graduating
at Bowdoin College in 1818-but never adopted either of the
learned professions; preferring to cultivate his fine literary tastes.
He published no book, I think, but his "Jack Downing Letters,"*
which gave him a national fame. He was a poet of the finest
* Yes, one or two others, which will appear under the head Bibliography.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 55
type, and some of his fugitive pieces will be read as long as the
English language exists.* Mr. Smith was also a man of the.
purest character-ever attuning his lyre to illustrate the most
ennobling sentiments.
The Courier died many years ago. Its last proprietor was
Elbridge G. Waterhouse, who afterward enjoyed a nook in the
Philadelphia Custom House, and may be there now.
TEMPERANCE JOURNAL.
The Temperance Journal Was published for several years, by
A. Shirley and Son, and subsequently by Elder Peck, Brown
Thurston, and others. Contemporary with this was the Peace
Washingtonian, published by the Messrs. Nichols. Between this
paper and the Temperance Journal there was constant war as long
as the Washingtonian survived.
UMPIRE.
The Umpire was a weekly, established by John Edwards for
the support of Whiggery. It also risked the publication of a Daily
during a portion of its brief existence. It warmly advocated Gen,
Taylor's election while in charge of F. 0. J. Smith, and expired
soon after Taylor's election.
ORION.
The Orion, a weekly publication of a literary character, and
edited by our venerable fellow-citizen, James Furbish, was started
and published for a brief period by Mr. Edwards of the Umpire.
These two last named papers, it is true, had but a brief existence;
but they helped to make up the bistory of the newspaper press in
this county, and were creditable to the enterprise of their pro-
jectors.
YANKEE.
On the first of January, 1828, James Adams, jr., issued a
weekly paper, called the Yankee, edited by John Neal. It ran
I See " Bowdoin Poets " for a sample of his charming verses. - Ed.
56 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
well for eighteen months; when it was united with the Bachelors:
Monthly, including Mrs. Hale's Monthly and the Boston Literary
Gazette, and published at Boston under the conduct of Mr. Neal,
and James W. Miller, the poet. But having been emasculated
from a weekly folio to a monthly magazine, the insatiate grave
of periodicals received its remains in six months afterward.
The Yankee illustrated, in its life in this city, the peculiarities
of its editor in an eminent degree. At that time, 1828, Mr. Neal
was thirty-five years old. He was in full vigor, and confident of
his ability to perform the duty assumed; and the public held to
the same opinion. Articles, which for their boldness and auda-
city could find place in no other columns, were as acceptable to
our unflinching editor, as the mother's milk that gave him his in-
cipient vigor. If they were erroneous, he retracted like a true
man, in the next issue. Were they true, as soon prevent the soul
of John Brown from marching on, as move him to a retraction.
WORLD IN A NUTSHELL.
Somewhat after the manner of the Yankee, but more carefully
got up, was the World in a Nutshell, which broke its shell about
1830, and was published occasionally. After several numbers
appeared, the excitement was so intense, that no printer could be
found in the city to put it in type. Its authors were mysterious
and hydra-headed. No two persons guessed the same individuals
as its writers. It equalled "us in the mystery of its authorship.
Its forte was universal censure. Wo be to the man who wrote a
book, or delivered a lecture, or made any literary effort, if he did
not belong to this dreaded Council of Ten. Censure first, last,
and always, was the motto; and no motto was ever more faith-
fully lived up to. Its mystery helped the excitement. Nobody
could tell whence it came. Printing offices were watched.
Printers' hands did the work; but no printer ever told the tale of
its type or press-work. It was a finished specimen of typography.
In size it was but a. letter sheet. Its beauty of execution, for
those days, was a marvel. The printer was as faithful as the
printer of Junius' letters. His secret died with him.
JEFFERSONIAN.
In May, 1833, Horatio King, since acting Postmaster General,
transferred the Jeffersonian from Paris, Oxford county, to Port-
land. He had published it for three years previously in Paris;
six months of which he was in partnership with Hannibal Hamlin,
in its management. It was singular, indeed, that these two
young men, connected in business in a small interior town in
Maine, should meet years afterward in the capital of the nation,
-one having filled the place of Vice-President of the United
States, and the other that of Post-master General.
Mr. King's paper was a weekly, and took the Democratic side.
It was published for several years with a good degree of success,
when Mr. King, finding more congenial pursuits, removed to
Washington, and the paper ceased to be issued; but from its
ashes sprung the Standard, weekly, by John F. Tlartley,-since
Assistant Secretary of the United States. This paper was also
weekly and Democratic. It was continued but a year or so,when
Mr. Hartley removed to Washington, and the paper expired.
PORTLAND TRIBUNE.
In 1841 D. C. Coleswortby commenced the Portland Tribune,
a literary weekly, in quarto form, which he continued to edit and
publish for over four years. Among his contributors were John
Neal, who wrote largely for its columns, William Cutter, Na-
thaniel Deering, Mrs. E. Oakes Smith, S. B. Beckett, Charles
Holden, J. W. Mighels, G. W. Light, G. A. Bailey, and several
others. The Tribune prospered, was highly complimented by
the press, and many of its original articles were extensively copi-
ed. Several were reprinted in English publications. In 1845 the
Tribune was sold to John Edwards, and united with the Portland
Umpire.]*
WORKINGMAN'S ADVOCATE.
About 1835 the Workingman's Advocate took the field. It
was edited by Dr. C. H. P. McLellan, and published by Day and
Sumner. A party had arisen, composed of workingman, and
* All matter inclosed with brackets
history given by Mr. Holden.
58 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
advocating their interests. This paper was its or-an. It was
political in its character, and supported Judge McLean for the
Presidency. It was a great annoyance to the two political par-
ties -as it sought to build up a third party from the laboring men
of each, and thus obtain political power and a share of the offices.,
It had its nominees for Representatives and other offices, and for
a time it looked as though something would come of it. But, like
injury a scheme to form a third party, it passed away a year after
its birth, and its subscribers were transferred to the Daily Courier.
TRANSCRIPT.
In April, 1837, a newspaper came into life in this city that
was to exercise a wide influence throughout the State, and to
reach a high point of success. I allude to the Portland Tran-
script. Charles P. I1sley has the honor of ushering this sheet
into existence. It was edited and published by Mr. I1sley for a
while in quarto form.* It was in the hands of Newell A. Foster
for a time, - had previously been published by Short and Pennell,
and also by 11. W. Deering. In February, 1845, Wm. H. Jerris
bought it of Mr. Foster,-also the remains of the American. He
continued it till October, 1846, when he sold out to S. H. Coles-
worthy, who put it in folio form, and subsequently sold it to
I Mr. I1sley says he started this paper without a subscriber. He had charge of it
some ten years. The Eclectic, published by Edwin Plummer for four years, a very
neatly printed paper, was also edited by Mr. Ilsley.
The Portland Daily Times was issued in 1836 by Mr. Ilsley. It was the first daily
morning paper published in Portland. The Argus and Advertiser were then evening
papers ; but soon after the Times appeared they came out in the morning. After the-
commencement of the Transcript, the Times changed its namne to' the Portlander,
the latter receiving a portion of' its matter from the Transcript. The Times and
Portlander were what are called I penny' papers, having no subscribers.
In 1859 Samuel S. Starbird issued a daily penny paper called the Evening
Courier, of which Mr. I1sley was editor. After passing through various hands and
vicissitudes, its name was changed to the Evening Star, and finally was re-baptized
the Portland Advertiser.
There was in 184_ a weekly paper published in Portland called the American
Standard, edited also by Mr. Ilsley. It was devoted to Native Americanism, and
flourished bravely for a time ; but owing to untoward circumstances the party went
under, and only one volume of the paper was published. - Ed.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. I'D
Erastus E. Gould (a graduate of the Argus office) in 1848. Mr.
Gould returned the paper to its original shape of quarto, carried
it on about six months, when Edward H. Elwell made his bow to
the public as one of its editors and proprietor& Elwell and Ed-
win Plummer had been publishing the Northern Pioneer, a weekly
literary paper, started by them in July, 1848. Sixteen numbers
were issued, when Plummer sold to Elwell, who united the
Pioneer with the Transcript. The paper was then published by
them under the firm of Elwell and Co. Mr. Gould remained with
the paper till his death, ten or twelve years since. Subsequently
the Eclectic was united with the Transcript, which brought in
Messrs. Pickard and Weston. It was then published by Elwell,
Pickard and Co. Mr. Weston in 1860 sold to Charles Pickard.
The firm remained the same -embracing Messrs. Elwell and the
brothers S. T. and C. W. Pickard.
The Transcript has reached a well-deserved rank among the
literary papers of the country, by the patient assiduity and well-
trained ability of its proprietors. Faithful to good principles and
the best interests of the State, it is received and appreciated by
thousands of families, to whom it is a most valuable auxiliary in
the education of the rising generation; giving tone and vigor to
the essential elements which are the bulwarks of the country. Its
subscription list has reached a point surpassing any other in the
State by thousands. Its circulation is now, '71, about 17,000.
YANKEE FARMER.
The Yankee Farmer, by S. W. Cole, was brought from Cor-
nish to Portland about 1836, and after publishing it here for sev-
eral years, be removed it to Boston, and united it with the New
England Farmer.
PLEASURE BOAT.
Some years ago a cynical paper appeared in the city, styled
the Pleasure Boat. Jere. Hacker, a Friend, was its owner and
manager. It was continued through several volumes. It dealt
with great severity with what it claimed to be abuses in the re-
60 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
ligious, political, and moral customs of society. Hacker had
no civil words to spare for any man or cause that did not put
their oars through the rowlocks of his Boat. It sailed on a
turbulent sea. Many were the cursings this Broadbrim received
from those he had offended. [He listened with great patience
through his ear trumpet (he was very deaf) to all complainants
who approached him; but continued straight on his course. Al-
though a man of powerful muscular frame, he was, in person,
strictly noncombatant, being mild and affable in his demeanor.
The paper bad a large circulation until the commencement of the
war of the Rebellion. His plain speech at this time, in condem-
nation of all military movements, gave such offense as to check
the progress of his boat in these waters, and lie removed it to New
Jersey, where he rowed it for a time; but at last it foundered.
He published a paper for a time under the title I Chariot of
Love! In this Chariot be doubtless rode more at ease, and in the
way of greater usefulness. Before he became deaf, he was a success-
ful schoolteacher. He is now engaged in tilling the earth, which
we trust he finds an equally genial employment, Mr. Hacker is
a native of Brunswick.--Ed.]
POLITICAL NOSTRUM.
I ought not to forget that nondescript of party papers, the
Political Nostrum, that shoved its ugly phiz above the muddy
waters which inclosed it, somewhere between 1835 and '40. The
Nostrum was a child of many fathers, not one of whom dared to
affix his name to it. It emanated from the faction of the Demo-
cratic party, known then as the I Mormons,' and afterwards as the
I Wild Cats.' Its disorder was an incessant craving for office, a
common complaint from that day to the present. It was personal
to the extreme, and nobody in the majority, of any prominence,
was spared,
A trick succesfuly played upon the Nostrum was very repre-
hensible. After the form was made up and the workmen were
at dinner, some typo stole in and made sad changes in the read.
ing of some of the articles. The authors were made to abuse
themselves. The edition was struck off and circulated before it
was discovered.
JOURNAL OF REFORM.
[In 1836 and '37 D. C. Colesworthy published the Journal of
Reform, a paper devoted chiefly to Temperance and Anti-slavery.
It was the first paper published in the State devoted wholly to
those interests. Among the contributors to this paper was John
A. Andrew, the recent efficient and popular Governor of Massa,
chusetts, who at this time was a member of Bowdoin College. It
was through his connection with this paper, undoubtedly, that
Mr. Andrew caught that flame of intense hatred to slavery, which
characterized his future life.]
YOUTH'S MONITOR.
[The Youth's Monitor, a children's paper, was commenced by
D. C. Colesworthy in 1839 or '40, and continued about two years.]
ARGUS REVIVED.
In 1839 appeared a paper called the Argus Revived. It was
got up by some disaffected politicians, and was started unques-
tionably to displace the old Argus in the affections of the people.
But the startled Democracy of the State saw through its sham
disguise. They indignantly aroused with the stern interrogations,
,Is the king dead? Is the throne vacant?' And this 'Argus re-
vived,' this pretender to the throne, after struggling for life for
two years, went to the block and perished.*
EASTERN FARMER.
The Eastern Farmer, an agricultural paper, issued in 1841, was
published for some time. Ira Berry printed it, and F. 0. J. Smith
was its editor.
*Ira Berry, who was the publisher of this paper, received his printer's diploma at
the office of John Mann, of Dover, N. H., in 1822. In 1831 he was a partner with
F. 0. J. Smith, in the publication of the Age at Augusta. In 1834 to '37, he was con.
nected with the Eastern Argue.
Mr. Berry was also concerned in the publication of the Amulet, Eastern Farmer,
Gospel Banner, and Norway Advertiser. In 1853 be opened a book and job office in
Portland, which (latterly in the name of his son, Stephen Berry) has been continued
to the present day. - Ed.
62 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
GENIUS.
The city has not been entirely devoid of humorous publica-
tions. Who (Toes not recollect the Genius, by Josiah Lord Thomas
- which, in several shapes and divers moods, amused the town
for many years. The editor himself, with true democratic sim-
plicity, distributed the paper to his patrons, and received in return
whatever they pleased to give him. Editor and paper are num-
bored with the things that were; but its harmless -vagaries, and
accidental flashes of wit and humor, are still remembered by the
older inhabitants of the city.
[THE PORTLAND DAILY EXPRESS,
Issued by D. C. Colesworthy in 1844, was continued less than
a year. The population of Portland at that time was not sufficient
to support three daily papers. The dailies from the Advertiser
and Argus offices had been previously established. The Express
advocated the claims of Henry Clay for the presidency. John
Neal contributed many able articles to its columns.]
AMERICAN.
The American made its appearance about 1850. This was a
Daily, and Democratic. Democracy was in the ascendancy in the
;:State then; and all these luminaries, as they broke their shells
and struggled into the light, worshipped at this altar. The Amer-
ican backed in the sun of Democracy and the bankrupt law. The
advertising was the tall clover in which it fattened. When that
was cut off, a chilling frost nipped the concern in its childhood,
audit followed the long funeral procession of the departed news-
papers in Cumberland county.
STATE OF MAINE.
The State of Maine (daily, triweekly and weekly) was con-
menced in July, 1853, by May and Marble, who removed the
Northern Light from Hallowell on the invitation of John M.
Wood -he agreeing to furnish the money; the editorial control
to be assumed by John A. Poor. Mr. Wood having bought a,
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 63
controlling interest in the Advertiser, he abandoned the State of
Maine. Mr. Poor then took control of the paper, and conducted
it till May, 1859; when he purchased the Advertiser of Mr. Wood,
and with Waldron and Little as partners, united the two in one.
I
The State of Maine was Whig in politics, but was largely devoted
to developing the resources of our State.
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
The Portland Daily Press was established in June, 1862, by J.
T. Gilman, Joseph B. Hall and Newell A. Foster. It at once took
the front rank among the Republican papers of the State, and has
manitained that position with great ability ever since. Comments,
however, are not necessary upon this paper, as its large circula-
tion, both daily and weekly, shows in what estimation it is held by
the people of the State.
0BSERVER.
In 1864 another mystery appeared, in the Observer, printed
and pitblished in Portland by Stephen Berry. Price 10 cents.
No editor was avowed, but the Latin quotations were numerous
and apt. Its style was respectable, and its form resembled the
Nation. It was satirical and dyspeptic.
RIVERSIDE ECHO.
The Riverside Echo was established, in 1866, for the defence
and promulgation of Temperance, and is the organ, particularly,
of the prohibitionists. It is an able defender of the cause,. Rev.
J. E. C. Sawyer is the editor. It is published by an association.
There are a few newspapers yet unnamed, whose history has,
come to my knowledge. There was an effort made in the Legis--
lature about 1835, to legalize a State Bank. It was introduced by
a member from. the eastern part of the State; but it failed. But
the gentlemen interested in it were not willing to give it up.
They raised funds and established a paper in this city, whose lead-
ing text was, the, establishment of a State Bank. It was printed
about a year. There was no list of subscribers, but the paper was
64 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
scattered broadcast to indoctrinate the people with this theory.
The measure was not successful.
.........................................
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.
I have thought it best to group all the religious papers to-
gether. Notwithstanding the numerous political and other news-
papers that have been issued, struggled on for a time, and died, or
still live, the religious press has been well cared for in this city
within the last half century. It early received the careful atten-
tion of its leading men in the various denominations, and has
almost universally been well supported.
CHRISTIAN MIRROR.
[The Christian Mirror was established in Portland, August,
1822. It was one of the pioneers of the Religious press. With
the exception of three omissions, in consequence of fires, the
Christian Mirror has been uninterruptedly issued weekly for
nearly half a century! Not many papers in the land -none in
the State, of like age -have had fewer editorial or proprietorial
changes.
Until the late civil war, the Mirror was sent to every State in
the Union, to the countries of Europe, and to the isles of the sea
wherever missionaries have gone. Orders have been received
from Turkey for articles which came to the knowledge of parties
there from advertisements in the Mirror.
This paper traces its origin to a little band of praying Chris-
tians, members of Dr. Payson's church. Rev. Asa Rand, of
Gorham, was the first editor. He is still (1871) enjoying a ripe old
age at Ashburnham, Mass.* Ile occupied the editorial charge most
acceptably for several years. Ile was a discriminating reasoner;
and during the transition state from Unitarian tendencies to strict
Evangelical views, he managed the religious discussions with great
moderation and to Christian edification. Rev. John L. Parkhurst,
of Ringe, N. H., succeeded Air. Rand in the editorial chair, but
* Mr. Rand died the latter part of 1871, at the age of 88.
L
CUMBFRLAND COUNTY. 65
occupied it a year only. In 1826 Rev. Asa Cummings, pastor of
the church at North Yarmouth, assumed the conduct of the pa-
per, and remained its proprietor and editor till 1855 - 29 years I *
Mr. C., after his graduation at Harvard, became tutor there; was
afterward tutor at Bowdoin College. Mr. Charles Austin Lord
succeeded to the editorial chair in August, 1855, after having been
for several years associated with Dr. Cummings in the conduct of
the Mirror. Mr. L., a native of this State, was formerly of the
publishing house of Leavitt, Lord and Co., of New York; after-
ward he was for several years connected with the daily press of
St. Louis.
The Mirror, during its long history, has taken part in impor-
tant discussions. One of the earliest was that in regard to the
North Eastern Boundary. Public feeling was greatly excited;
war seemed to be immuninent. Dr. Cummings espoused the view
of the Government against the popular opinion, and Daniel Web-
ster, then Secretary of State, acknowledged the good service ren-
dered by the Mirror in the peaceable solution of the dispute.
Before this, there was a more limited controversy, but one of no
small importance to the cause of Evangelical religion in Maine,
in regard to Bowdoin College. The State, on the ground of some
grant, assumed some influence in the management of the College.
The Mirror took a prominent part in defense of the College's inde.
pendence, and the final verdict was on its side. The questions of
Abolition and Temperance have afforded prominent topics of dis-
* Dr. Cummings died at sea two days out from Aspinwall, June 5 or 6,1856, aged 65,
and was buried in the deep. He was the sixth of sixteen children, born in Andover,
Mass.; but his father, Asa, died in Albany, Me., in 1845, aged 85. His great-grand-
father was 102 years old. Dr. Cummings graduated at Harvard in 1817. He was a
wise, learned, excellent man ; hard-working for thirty years as an editor. He pub-
lished memoirs of Dr. Payson. - Bost. Daily Adv.
In addition to the foregoing testimonials of character, Mr. Cummings is remem-
bered, wherever known, as a peacemaker. The graduates of Bowdoin, class of 1820,
will remember one of those exciting scenes among the students in the college yard,
to quell which the influence of several college officers proved unavailing; but
as soon as Tutor Cummings arrived, and his voice was heard above the tem-
pest - " Boys, boys! you have had fun enough; now to your rooms!" - a calm and
a dispersion immediately followed. -Ed.
9
66 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
cussion. The difference between parties to these reforms was one
of measures, not principles. The Mirror has held steadily to the
principles for which it was established- the cause of Evangelical
religion, without sectarian prejudices or denominational zeal.]
CHRISTIAN INTELLIGENCER.
But a few months prior to the birth of the Mirror, came the
Christian Intelligencer. This was the first organ of the Univer-
salists in the State. They aroused themselves about that time
with much zeal, and built the church on the corner of Pearl and
Congress streets, which was burned by the fire of 1866. The In-
telligencer began very modestly, but soon grew bold and defiant,
as it increased in size and frequency of appearance. It was com-
menced in September, 1821, as a quarterly of thirty-two large
octavo pages, by Rev. Russell Streeter, editor and proprietor, at
fifty cents per annum; printed at the Agrus office by Todd and
Smith. It began with two hundred subscribers; but at the close
of the first volume it numbered one thousand. At the commence-
ment of the second volume, it took the additional title of Gospel
Advocate. Its third, fourth, and fifth volumes were enlarged to a
royal quarto size, and issued once a fortnight, at $1 per year.
During its sixth year the form was changed to royal octavo; and
towards the close of the volume, Rev. William A. Drew became
assistant editor. In January, 1827, the paper was removed to
Gardiner; Parker Sheldon, publisher, and Mr. Drew, editor, when
it was issued weekly in folio, at $2 per year.
SABBATH SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR.
The Sabbath School Instructor, ajuvenile, weekly, was start-
ed in May, 1830, by Daniel C. Colesworthy, Philip Greely, and
William W. Woodbury. Mr. Cutter edited it for the first two
years, when Mr. Colesworthy took control of the paper and con-
tinned it for several years. Ile finally sold out to C. P. I1sley,
who united it with the Portland Transcript.]
CHRISTIAN PILOT.
The Christian Pilot, a balf-sheet quarto, Universalist, was
published by Rev. Menzies Rayner, at $1 per year, from July,
1832, to July, 1835, when it was sold to J. C. Hill, removed too
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 67
North Yarmouth, and edited by Rev. Zenas Thompson. In July,
1836, it was merged in the Gospel Banner, published by Rev.
Wm. A. Drew, in Augusta. For a time the Banner and Pilot
was published simultaneously in Augusta and Portland.
UNIVERSALIST PALLADIUM.
In October, 1839, Samuel 11. Colesworthy commenced the
Universalist Palladium. It was edited by Rev. C. C. Burr, issued
semi-monthly, and continued two years. Then Ira Berry took
charge, and continued it two years. It was then merged in the
Gospel Banner.
EASTERN ROSEBUD.
Mr. Colesworthy then issued the Eastern Rosebud, semi-
monthly. This was a juvenile paper, and was continued for two
years. He then brought from Norway the Religious Instructor,
published it every other week for about two years, and then trans-
ferred the list to the Banner. It usually takes several efforts in
the newspaper line to satisfy those who like to try their hand at it.
The establishment of a Universalist paper in Portland at
this time, and the increase of that religious sect, under the lead of
so resolute a general as Russell Streeter, stirred up the elements
of religious strife by word and deed, as has not been witnessed
since, and gave presage of the war that soon ensued. No politi-
cal excitement in its intensity, in this place, ever surpassed it.
MAINE WESLEYAN JOURNAL.
The Methodists cultivated the press for the promotion of their
religious tenets at an early day, The Maine Wesleyan Journal,
a weekly folio, was begun not far from 1830, with Rev. Gershom
F. Cox as editor. It was printed for the first year or two by
Todd and Holden, and afterwards by Horatio King at the Jeffer-
sonian office; finallty, deeming Boston a better center for its use-
fulness, it was transferred to that metropolis and United with the
Zion's Herald.
ZION'S ADVOCATE.
The Baptists wrought out this instrumentality to promote
their cause forty-five years ago. The Zion's Advocate was be-
gun at that time by Rev. Adam Wilson, and printed by Day and
Sumner. Mr. Wilson sold out, after ably conducting it several
68 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
years, to Kalloch and Smith. J. B. Foster afterwards became its
editor and proprietor. For the last thirteen years it has been
owned by Dr. Shailer. He and J. W. Colcord have conducted it
with great success, making it a safe family paper, as well as an
able supporter of the cause it is intended to sustain.
FAMILY INSTRUCTOR.
The Freewill Baptists have not been entirely forgetful of the
press as an aid to their cause. In 1841 Rev. L. D. Fleming, pas-
tor of the Casco Street Church, commenced the Family Instructor,
and continued it for some time.
[An interesting fact has recently been given in a New York
paper over the signature of R. S. Willis, by which it appears that
Nathaniel Willis, father of R. S., while editor and proprietor of
the Eastern Argus, in 1808, having become interested in religion
under the preaching of Dr. Payson, proppsed to change the East-
ern Argus into a religious paper. But not receiving encourage-
ment from Dr. Payson and other clergymen and laymen to whom
he made the proposition, he soon after sold out and went to Bos-
ton, where he commenced, in 1816, the first religious paper ever
published in the United States.-Ed.]
The newspapers and magazines of Cumberland county, as they
exist to-day, it is well in this connection to record. They form a
grand contrast with January 1st, 1785, when came forth upon the
wondering gaze of the few thousand inhabitants of the town of
Falmouth, the first paper ever published in the State -the " Fal-
mouth Gazette." This novelty, with its few hundreds of subscri-
bers, received with doubts and fears, and cold contempt by many,
has been built upon in the eighty-five years since elapsing, till at
this day there are not less, I judge, than fifty thousand papers is-
sued every week to actual subscribers, by publishers in this
county. The newspapers of the county at this time, 1872, are, -
(I arrange them according to age,)
Portland Advertiser, daily and weekly.
Eastern Argus, daily, triweekly and weekly.
Christian Mirror, weekly.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 69
Zion's Advocate, weekly.
Portland Transcript, weekly.
Brunswick Telegraph, weekly.
Portland Press, daily and weekly.
Riverside Echo, weekly.
The Star, Sunday issue.
Maine Journal of Education, monthly.
The Masonic Token, quarterly.
The following additional notices are inserted here, out of
order, having been sent in too late to be put in the proper place.
THE FAMILY REA DER, a weekly paper, published and edited
by Seba Smith, was commenced in Nov., 1829, and continued
several years.
THE ATHENAEUM, a semi-monthly, published by S. Colman,
had a short existence.
THE WREATH, devoted to maternal associations, families, and.
Sunday schools, edited by Mr. C. L. Adams, published by Brown
Thurston, weekly, at one dollar per year, commenced its existence
March 3, 1842. In May it was doubled in size, and issued once
in two weeks. In this form it was continued till Oct., 1843.
THE PORTLAND INQUIRER, edited by John Q. Day, and pub-
lished by Brown Thurston, was started in 1848. The paper was
subsequently edited by Austin Willey, and continued its weekly
visits for some eight years.
THE JOURNAL OF EDUCATION is a monthly of 40 8vo. pp.,
edited by A. P. Stone, and twelve prominent teachers in the State.
Published by Brown Thurston. This journal was started by G.
M. Gage, at Farmington, in Dec., 1866, under the title of the
Maine Normal. It was moved to Portland in June, 1868, and as-
sumed its present name.
THE RIVERSIDE ECHO. See p. 63. We here insert some
additional facts that have been communicated in relation to this
paper. It originated in Lincoln Lodge of Good Templars in
Bucksport. The first trial number was published in December,
1865. With the commencement of the volume in January, 1866,
70 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
it passed into the hands of Mr. Thomas B. Emory, who increased
its size, and published it as a temperance monthly through that
year. Prof. Willabe Haskell of the East Maine Conference Sem-
inary was its editor. Though published in Bucksport, the paper
was printed in Portland, at the office of B. Thurston and Co.,
where it has ever since been printed. With the commencement
of the second volume in 1867, it was changed to a weekly, and
Portland made its place of publication. In December, 1870, Mr.
Emery sold the paper to the Riverside Echo Publishing Associa-
tion, which body received a charter from the Legislature in 1871,
and now publishes the paper. Messrs. Hoyt, Fogg and Breed,
are the publishing agents, and S. A. Strout, managing editor, with
Prof. Willabe Haskell and D. P. Bailey, Jr., as contributing, edi-
tors. Messrs. F. N. Dow, C. A. Stackpole, and Rev. J. E. C.
Sawyer have also at different times been connected with the edito-
rial department of the paper. The Echo during a part of its
existence has been the organ of the Good Templars, and now
specially advocates the cause of Temperance, while its publishers
seek to extend its circulation and influence by giving it the char-
acter of a literary and family journal.
Good SEED, a monthly, commenced by F. G. Rich in Feb.,
1871, and sold to H. A. McKenney in Dec., '71.
During the last sixty years, over fifty periodicals have been commenced in
Portland! Eleven only are now published. Very nearly the same experience will
be found in other cities.-Ed.
See appendix for additional periodicals from the Portland press.
................................
Mr. Holden, the writer of the foregoing history of the press in Portland (with
exceptions as designated), entered the Argus office in 1819, at the age of 14 1-2 years.
He served 6 1-2 years as an apprentice, and 8 years as a journeyman, when he be-
came one of the proprietors and editors of the establishment. In this capacity he
continued until 1356, being in close application to his business, boy and man, for thirty
,seven years, with the exception of the years 1839, '47, and '48, when he was a mem-
her of the Senate of Maine. Even then he kept a constant supervision of his paper;
acting as correspondent, and non-resident editor.
Having been a comp. of one of the earliest printers in Maine, John K. Baker, and
receiving from his lips an account of his personal experience and observation a
sketch of whose biography he has given -as well as from his long connection with
the craft, Mr. Holden becomes a patriarchal link in the history of the press from its
commencement in Maine.-Ed.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 71
BRUNSWICK.
In giving an account of the press in Brunswick, it may not be
amiss if we descend somewhat more to personal experience, than
has been done in regard to the Portland press. A printer's life
- especially that of the newspaper department, - is generally a
life of hard toil and severe discipline, with small compensation;
and yet, such are its attractions, there has never been a lack of
victims in the ranks of the craft, and comparatively few, when in,
ever leave until worn out.
The first press in Brunswick was set up early in December,
1819, by Joseph Griffin, who graduated at the office of Messrs.
Flao, and Gould, in Andover, Mass.* Mr. G. entered that office
at the date of its establishment, Aug., 1813, and finished his ap-
prenticeship Nov. 8, 1819-the time of his majority. A few
weeks previous to this time, a letter had been received from Tutor
(subsequently Professor) Newman, at Bowdoin College, who was
anxious for the establishment of a press in Brunswick. In this
letter he says - " I have mentioned the subject to Pres. Appleton,
and his reply was-, Tell the young man we shall be glad to have
* We must be permitted to turn from our track a moment to notice this popular
firm. Messrs. John Flagg and A. J. Gould graduated at the University press in Cam-
bridge, Mass. They were well educated men; and from their office was issued some
of the best specimens of printing at that time executed in New England. Through
their enterprise -aided by the liberality of Prof. Moses Stuart, whose usual prefix to,
his frequent jobs of printing was, " Do this in your best manner, and make your own'
price `-this establishment increased, until it surpassed all others in Massachusetts
in book-work, especially in facilities for printing the oriental and dead languages. --
Mr. Flagg died in 1833, aged 41 ; Mr. Gould in 1868, aged 75. Of the many journey-
men who were employed by Flagg and Gould during the years'1813 to 1819, only one
is living-Caleb Hersey, Esq. of Haverbill, Mass., of whom honorable mention is made by
J. T. Buckingham in his "Personal Memoirs," as a graduate of his office. No ap-
prentice of the above date who served his time out, save the writer, is now living.
The office of Flagg and Gould has since passed under several other firms, doing a
large business, with several power presses. But these presses have all been removed
to the Riverside, Cambridge, and the noise of the press is beard no more in the quiet
shades of Seminary Hill.
THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
72
him come: "-Encouragement from such a source being deemed
sufficient, Mr. Griffin immediately purchased of his employers
a favorite Ramage press, the best at that time in use; went to
Charles Ewer's type-foundry, then recently established, and
bought an assortment of type - some of the first cast in Boston.
Taking his apparatus on board a Kennebec coaster, he landed at
Bath. Early in December be commenced printing at Brunswick,
in the building on the east side of Main, facing Pleasant street.*
From this place his office was removed in 1821 to the building
opposite the north end of the Mall, where it has remained to this
day.
By the middle of December, 1819, he was at work upon the
Baccalaureate Addresses of Pres. Appleton.(t) It was required that
the work should be printed in the best manner, without regard to
expense. It was under the supervision of Mr. N. Cleaveland, agent
of the Committee on publication. The work was executed, both
in quarto and octavo form, on medium, hand-made paper, manu-
factured at Andover, Ms.; that for the quarto edition costing eleven
*At this time there was but one house on Pleasant street, Capt. John A. Dun-
ning's; only two others west of Main street, between Mill and McKeen streets -
Capt. John O'Brien's, and Capt. John Dunlap's; nine only on Federal street. There
were three public houses -one kept by Wm. Hodgkins, in the old Washington Hall
building; one where the Tontine now stands, kept by R. Stoddard ; the other at west
corner of the College grounds, kept by Dowe. All had open bars. There were ten
stores, in all but one of which the usual variety of ardent spirits was kept for sale, to
be drank in the stores or carried away. Even respectable women, who came to mar-
ket, claimed their right to take a social glass around the hogshead, turned up for a
table in the retailer's store. Capt. John Dunlap, we believe, opened the first store in
this village, in an L attached to his house; the same house is now the residence of
Dr. J. D. Lincoln.-The consequences of this free sale of intoxicating liquors can
be easily imagined. None axe now sold, openly, except at the Town Agency.
Population of Brunswick in 1820, 2,931 ; in 1870, 4.727. The increase has been
mainly in the village.
(f) Pres. Appleton had passed to the higher, life the preceding October. - When I
was a child of eight years, sitting in the Old South church at Andover, there passed
into the pulpit a man of such a lofty bead and strikingly impressive countenance, as
to leave the image indelibly fixed upon my brain. The name of the individual I did
not know. Some twelve years afterward, when I saw the portrait of Pres. Appleton,
prepared to accompany his Addresses, I said to myself- That is the man!
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 73
dollars per ream.* It was done up in a manner satisfactory to
all concerned. After it was ready for delivery, and the printer
needed his pay, it was said to him - " No one seems to be respon-
sible for the bill, and you had better publish the book on your
own account." There were seventy subscribers to the work.
This, with the high reputation of the author, gave a promising
field, and he accepted the situation. But the slow returns did not
answer the printer's immediate necessities. Being in debt for a
part of his apparatus, with the additional burden of this work,
about $500, then due, it was necessary to sacrifice the edition, and
the publisher was consequently left in pecuniary embarrassment
for ten years.
FIRST NEWSPAPER IN BRUNSWICK.
In Sept., 1820, J. G. commenced the publication of a weekly
paper, - a demy quarto of 8 pp. - called the Maine Intelligencer.
It was edited by John M. O'Brien, Esq., who graduated at Bow-
doin College in the class of 1806. A college club of young
gentlemen (of whom Jacob Abbott, now so celebrated as a writer,
was chairman) filled, occasionally, a column. The paper not being
remunerative, it was given up at the end of six months to make
room for printing the first two volumes of the Statute Laws of
Maine. For this work he was indebted to the influence, gen-
erously proffered, of the late Hon. Nathaniel Greene of Topsham,
who was at that time a member of the Senate of Maine, sitting at
Portland. This work, when completed, gave satisfaction to the
public, and was accepted by the Superintending Committee.
But an unfortunate circumstance prevented that remuneration to
the printer which he expected from the sale of copies published
on his own account. Ebenezer Everett, Esq., an able and cau-
tious lawyer, volunteered his services as proof-reader. There was
no room left for complaint as to typographical correctness ; but,
unfortunately, as it proved, Mr. Everett saw fit to correct some
errors in the orthography of the copy; and, to prevent the liability
of erroneous interpretations, improved, in many cases, the punctu-
* A paper, for lack of the finishing process of later years, very much inferior to the
paper on which this book is printed, costing (same size) but $8.14,-manufactured by
A. C. Denison and Co., Mechanic Falls, Me.
10
74 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
ation. Judge Preble, chairman of the Superintending, Committee,
was unwilling to give the necessary certificate, that the printing
was a "true copy of the original manuscripts," without specifying
all the changes that had been made. I-lad these changes been
separated, and placed under their proper heads, viz. corrections and
errors, it would have been only justice to the printer. But in-
stead of this, a long, black list of errata, was placed before the
public. The house of Glazier and Co., Hallowell, immediately is-
sued a prospectus for the speedy publication of a "corrected edi-
tion, in one volume." The sale of the first edition was thus sud-
denly checked, causing the necessity of forced sales at ruinous
rates. These damaging circumstances were afterward presented
in a petition to the Legislature, and a sum of two hundred dollars
was granted as a partial reparation.
After the completion of this work in 1821, through the solici-
tation of Judge Ames. of Bath, a part of his apparatus was
removed to Portland for the purpose of establishing a new paper
to be called the Independent Statesman, as see notice under the
head Portland. This project, not suiting his taste, was soon
given up to Amos C. Tappan, a young man whom he had re-
ceived as a partner, and Mr. Griffin continued at his old stand.
His next publication was the Maine Town Officer, prepared
by John M. O'Brien, Esq. This was a successful work. The
second and following editions were published by Glazier, Masters,
and Co., to whom the copyright had been sold. For his other
book-publications, see Bibliography of Maine.
MAINE BAPTIST HERALD.
In 1824, July 17, the first number of the Maine Baptist Herald
was issued. This was the first paper, coinciding fully with the
faith and practices of the primitive Baptists, ever published in
the United States.*
The size of this paper was demy, folio. It was edited for
* At this time no mail from Brunswick could reach the towns on the Androscoggin
river cxcept by way of Portland and Hallowell ; and not all of said towns were
reached in that way ; consequently the publisher of the B. Herald found it necessary to
establish, at his own expense, a weekly mail route as far as Jay, about 45 miles: passing
up the west side of the river and down the east. The (T. S. Government, two
later, assumed the route and continued it until other facilities of transportation
it unnecessary.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 75
about six months by Benj. Titcomb, Jr., a graduate of Bowdoin
College, 1806,-son of the first printer in Maine. After the time
named, it was under the sole management of the publisher. At
the commencement of the second volume it was enlarged to a.
royal folio size, and continued weekly for six years, During the
two last years of its existence it was called the Eastern Galaxy
and Herald ; the name having been changed in consequence of a
larger part of its columns being subsequently devoted to secular
interests. In the latter years of this publication the subscribers
numbered over eleven hundred ; a larger circulation than can be
claimed for any other of the many papers subsequently com-
menced in Brunswick.
.................. -- - I
SYNOPSIS OF EARLY VIEWS AND PRACTICES. a
When this State was yet but a part of Massachusetts, and occupied only by scat-
tered settlements, here and there, at the most advantageous points, it was penetrated
by the Baptist preachers of the bordering States ; who, gathering strength as they ad-
vanced, soon traversed its length and breadth, and preached the gospel at all the
principal places. Like all pioneers, these preachers were a race of hardy and enter.
prising men. Laboring among pioneers in the settlement of the country, they brought
themselves into sympathy with their hearers, by the exhibition of the same bold, de-
cided spirit. They attacked the consciences of men very much as the woodsman
attacked the trees. They laid the. axe to the root with a vigorous hand, and as blow
after blow was dealt home, the forest re-echoed with the sound.
" At this distance of time, and after so great improvements in the condition of the
country and of society, it is hardly possible to conceive the difficulties which they
encountered, and the suffering which they endured. Without public conveyances, or
even well-defined roads, they had to track their way as best they could, through long
distances, from settlement to settlement, or penetrate tbe unbroken forest to some
remote logging camp, now, perhaps, the site of some flourishing village. In all these
places they sowed the seed of the Word with a liberal hand ; committing it to the
waters, confident that it would appear again after many days. And so it did. The
early Baptist fathers performed in Maine what Whitefield, Tennant, and Edwards did
in many of the other States. They broke the formalism of the old Puritan churches,
and revived the fast vanishing doctrine of the new birth."-So writes Prof. Champlin
in his preface to a work referred to below.
Dr. Edward Payson, says a correspondent, was the first Congregational minister to
break in upon the formal, lifeless Armenianism of the Congregational churches.
Some of the pioneer preachers were patrons and correspondents of the Herald;
among them was Eld. Henry Kendall, whose autobiography, published in 1853, gives
an interesting account of what he and others of the pioneer preachers suffered.
We here give a synopsis of the faith and practice of the early Baptists of Maine
as held forth in the Herald- In their church building they looked for a " Thus
76 THE -NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
Among, the writers for the Herald were Eld. Duncan Dunbar,
over the signature of Onessimus, whose praise is still in the
churches, as see Memoir; Eld. David Nutter, over the signature
of Mephibosheth ; Mrs. Catherine H. Putnam, late of N. Y., au-
thor of an able work, entitled the Gospel by Moses.* Among the
occasional writers were Eld. Beebee of N. Y.; Miss Narcissa
Stone, and others of Brunswick.
Soon after the establishment of the Free Press, in this village,
by Moore and Wells in 1827, the creditors of Mr. Griffin, thinking
their chances to be lessening, seized his apparatus. It was ap-
praised by the printer of Bath, Jos. G. Torrey, at $800 ; more
than enough to pay all the debts of the attaches. The attach-
.................
saith the Lord." Their faith was founded upon the predetermined purpose of God in
Christ as the only hope of man - "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you
- "Chosen in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love." Their faith was in the finished work of Christ,--
a faith which grounds the soul in the love that purifies the heart and brings forth the
" fruits of the Spirit " ;-becoming the source and only source ofthings pleasing to
God. They cleaved to the New Covenant, which was sure in Christ, -separating it
clearly from the old, which was faulty and "ready to vanish away." - As to the
ordinance of baptism, it seems hardly necessary to say, that they believed it to be a
profession of faith in Christ and the door of admission to church privileges, without
further ceremony, without further covenanting. "If thou believest with all thy
heart thou mayest" be baptized. They had no prescribed rules of faith and prac-
tice, except the New Testament; deeming that, in its embodied form, a sufficiently
plain guide to every truly enlightened Christian, in all matters of duty and discipline.
-In regard to the ministration of the Word, they received as preachers such only,
literate or illiterate, as had an experimental knowledge of Christ. The attainment of
a thorough literary education by the preacher, if sanctified by Divine grace, was as
desirable to them as to other denominations. -They took action for the repeal of
the law which laid a tax on all, believers or unbelievers, for the support of preaching
by the "Standing Order." Nevertheless, they believed the laborer for Christ to be
worthy of support, and were ever ready to divide with him their goods.-They believed
it to be a duty to dedicate their children daily to God at the family altar. -The
first day of the week they kept after the example of the apostles, as the resurrection
day of our Saviour ; not as a continuation of the Jewish Sabbath, which was a type of
the sanctified rest in Christ. Societies for moral reform, outside of Christ's church,
they left to those who could not labor with the church. Their language to the tempt-
ed was "Come with us (into the kingdom of His grace) and we will do you good."
Only the Balm in Gilead and the Physician there can heal the wounds that sin hath
made, or brace the soul against temptation. -Ed.
* This work, 480 pp. 8vo., is published by Geo. P. Putnam and Co., N.Y.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 77
ment being considered illegal, a compromise was effected. The
apparatus was sold at a sacrifice under the hammer, but the debts
,of the printer were discharged. New fonts of type were fur-
nished by the friends of the Herald ;* a new lever press (tt) was pre-
sented to him, and he commenced anew, not quite even with the
world in a pecuniary sense, but rich in experience.
The Herald was continued about two years longer, though at
the expense of the health of the publisher. Those persons will
not be surprised at this who have had experience of the close con-
finement, day and night, hard labor and perplexities of the pub-
lisher of a paper in a country village. In order to gain a decent
living, he must do much of the mechanical work with his own
hands, besides being book-keeper, collector, and, excepting such
assistance as is gratuitously offered, editor.
In 1830 he sold his subscription list and right to publish a pa-
per (during the occupation of the field by his successor) to Wm.
Noyes, of Brunswick, who had recently graduated from his office.
The Free Press had been already suspended. Mr. Noyes imme-
diately commenced the publication of the Brunswick Journal, as
see notice in place.
JUVENILE KEY.
The Juvenile Key, commenced in 1831, was a child's paper,
nine by seven, in neatly printed newspaper form, published
weekly for two years. A considerable portion of the type-work
of this paper was done by two children of the editor; who, at the
commencement, were only nine and seven years of age, respec-
tively. Their names appeared as publishers: (t) the first, a daughter,
Among the leaders of these generous friends were Eld. H. Kendall, and Dea. J. B.
Swanton ; who were subsequently reimbursed by the transfer of bills due on news
paper account.
(tt) The press on which he has since printed all his books, including this History.
(f) The Key bad so good a reputationamong its patrons that no less than seventy copies at no less than seventy
were sent to our bindery to be bound. To this day we hear it frequently spok-
en of by its then young readers, now at mid-life as having by its precepts and the
example of' its young publishers made a strong and favorable impression upon their
minds. One case we will name. A boy in a neighboring town, who obtained his copy
by services as our agent, often reminds us, that he owed much to the Key for his ear-
ly habits of industry and economy. He is now, worthy his tens of thousands.
In a complimentary notice of the Key and its publishers by B. B. Thatcher, Esq.
the editor of the Mercantile Journal of Boston, he said " such children get a living upon a sand-bank!"
78 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
is now the wife of a clergyman in the good old Granite State,
where, we trust, she has found that her early experience and
discipline have been helps in the walks of' usefulness. The
second, a son, Joseph Warren Griffin, left the printim, 'business at
the age of 22, to try the sea for the benefit of his health. At the
expiration of about two years of sea life, he found himself first
officer on board the brig Kershaw in a voyage from one of the
West India Islands to Savannah, Ga. During the passage-
which was tbrough almost a continual hurricane the vessel was
several times knocked down on her beam ends, stripped of her
canvass and spars, and became water-logged. The captain gave
up in hopeless despair, exclaiming "All is lost! " Mr. Griffin took
command, and, it was said, by superior seamanship succeeded in
righting the vessel, getting on her a little patched canvass, and
bringing her into port. * But the hardships of this voyage cured
2
him of the love of the sea. - In Feb., 1849, at the age of 25 years,
he took passage in the North Bend, at Boston, bound to Califor-
nia, and was lost on the way in the Straits of' Magellan.
FAMILY PIONEER AND JUVENILE KEY.
After the suspension of the Brunswick Journal, the Key was
enlarged to a 12 by 9 size, 4pp., to make it more completely a
family paper and give room for advertising. In this form it was
published with good success for four years. The many bound
volumes scattered about the State will speak for themselves.
The Baptist Herald was one of the earliest papers in New Eng-
land to take a stand against the inroads of intemperance, by ex-
posing the causes leading thereto. In 1826 appears in the Herald
the first complaint and argument against indiscriminate licenses ,
for the sale of alcoholic liquors. It was the endeavor of the edi-
tor of the Family Pioneer and Juvenile Key to operate upon the
*May we not say it here to the credit of this young man and for the encourage-
, ment of all young seamen, that be, who was so self-possessed and efficient in time of
personal danger, had the moral firmess to resist those strong temptations of sea-life,
-use of tobacco, intoxicating liquors, and their accompanying spirit profanity ; -
looked upon by those who indulge in them, as little sins, yea, manly traits; but which
nevertheless are mighty in pulling down the strongholds of "mansoul," and in
making ,cowards.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 79
public mind, especially that of the young, by the publication of
interesting narratives, setting forth in a clear light, not only the
evils of an intemperate use of intoxicating drinks, but the dangers
of temperate drinking.* The abolition -of negro, slavery, and of
the death penalty for crime, were strongly advocated in the col-
umns of the Pioneer and Key.
After-the new printing apparatus had been obtained in 1828,
Pres. Allen, and Profs. Upham, (t) Smyth, and Longfellow, began
their series of books, (see list under head Bibliography) the printing
of which, with the usual other work, kept Mr. Griffin's press in
constant use for about twenty-five years, and was the means of
placing him in very comfortable pecuniary circumstances.
For twenty-nine years he printed annually one edition of the
Catalogue of the officers and students of Bowdoin College ; and,
for the last twenty-two years, two editions each year (with two ex-
ceptions). Also, sixteen editions (1600 copies each) of the Triennial
Catalogue. The first semi-annual Catalogue, after the "new de-
parture " under Pres. Chamberlain, was wanted in too much haste
to be done on his slow press, and he was obliged to yield to the
superior facilities of his friend Dingley's establishment at Lewis-
ton.
* In notes on pp. 72 and 82, the universal custom in regard to the selling and use of
ardent spirits, up to 1827, may be seen. Our object in introducing this subject in this,
book is, to claim for the united press a large share of the influence that has brought
about the present change.
(t) The kindly spirit of Prof. Upham is manifested in letters (Apr. 13 and June 8, 1871
to the publisher. - I had written him for assistance in making up a list of his works,
which had gone out from my press. His answer in a closing remarkis- "I have for-
gotten the birth of some of my own books, - - I have not forgotten to certify, and
will say it here, if my writings have been of benefit to the public, they owe no small
part of it to the facilities and encouragement furnished by the printing establishment
of my friend Griffin. The list of works, which you have first introduced to the notice
of the public, is highly creditable to you ; not merely on account of their number, but
on account of the typographical accuracy that always characterized every thing which
passed under your hand." -Ed.
THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
OPERATIVES.
The larger portion of my work has been done either by my own bands, or by ap-
prentices, largely of the feminine gender. At the present day, such is the advance
in printing machinery, that, in our city offices, labor is now more divided than former-
ly. Excepting in small offices there will henceforth be no occasion for thorough ap-
prenticeship by the same individual in all parts of the printing business ; hence a di-
ploma to signify complete education in the art, is becoming a rare thing. This leads
me, in passing, to express my gratitude to some of the more efficient, faithful appren-
tices, who served at least six years in my office. Among them was George Griffin
of Andover, Mass., who was subsequently printer of the (Boston) Anti-Masonic Free
Press, during the Morgan excitement,- afterwards a trader in Boston. He died
of consumption, Dec. 1859, aged 55 years ; leaving in memory a good report of his
character as a brother, father, and christian.-Another, William Noyes of Brunswick,
at the present time one of the editors and publishers of the Saco Independent.
His works speak well for him. -A third, Justin Jones of Brunswick, for a long
time editor and publisher of some humorous papers in Boston, - chosen several times
within a few years one of the Representatives to the Massachusetts Legislature from
old Cambridge. -A fourth apprentice, whose feat in type-setting at the age of six
years is recorded in the Pioneer in 1834., is deserving of a notice here : -George H.
Griffin served a thorough apprenticeship in my printing office and store from his
childhood up to twenty years of age. He then went into the book, stationery and
room-paper business for two years at Waterville, Me. At the commencement of the
war of the rebellion, he left a good business in New York City, entered the company
of "Duryea Zouaves" as a private ; was with this company in the first battle ofthe
war, at Big Bethel, and was one of the few who advanced over the first breastwork of
the enemy. Soon after the battle be was promoted to the office of Adjutant of First
Battalion, Fifth New York Cavalry. At the time of Banks' retreat through the Shen-
andoah valley, he was so severely wounded by a fall from his, horse - shot under
him -that the enemy, who picked him up, left him at a private house, where he was
re-captured, a week later, by our forces. After a partial recovery, he accepted a quar-
termaster's position, and served in North Carolina to the end of the war. He is now
a commission merchant in St. Louis. -Eight girls have been well disciplined at my
office in type-setting 5 many of them very rapid and correct compositors ; each
became the head of a family, walking in the ranks of "true womanhood." My
first journeyman, George V. Edes, for many years past, editor and proprietor of the
Picataquis Observer-with me in 1820 and 21-was one of God's honest, patient men;
excellent help in passing over hard places. -One more journeyman I must not fail to
mention, Wm. Penn Stetson, who was my foreman for eighteen years; whose move-
ments were regular and steady as the clock, 'and swift as that of Father Time, to
whose forelocks he always clung. - Ed.
Simultaneously with the establishment of the press in Bruns-
wick was the opening of the first regular bookstore by Mr. Grif-
fin. A few books were previously kept on commission, deposited
by Boston and Hallowell booksellers with Capt. Daniel Stone, and
Brown and Humphreys. - From the entry of the first class into
Bowdoin College in 1802 to 1830, the students either purchased
their text-books abroad, or bad them supplied by the professors
and charged in their term-bills. Prof Cleaveland furnished his
classes in this manner to the last year of his life, with the view, as
he often said to the writer, of saving expense to the students, sup-
plying them at cost.* A few text-books, however, the printer and
*There was one exception to this practice; -with Smellie's Philosophy of -Nat-
tiral History, the price of which had been long fixed, he desired me to furnish his
classes, which was done for some twenty years. "His intense conservatism " (a re-
mark of his biographer) in respect to printing and books, was extremely favorable to
those whom he employed. From the time my press was established to the close of
his life, no job of printing which came under his care (and that was nearly every
thing of college concern) was sent to any other office. As soon as the third edition
of his Mineralogy was called for, he requested his publishers, Hilliard and Gray, to
have the work printed by me. I have on file a written agreement with said house,
dated Sept., 1823, to print the third edition, expecting to commence the work during
the ensuing winter vacation. That time came, but no copy was ready. He thought
to be ready by the succeeding autumn; after which time he gave no more encourage-
ment in regard to the printing ; remarking only, when questioned, that he was "pro-
gressing as rapidly with the work as his college duties would let him." His publish-
ers offered him one thousand dollars for liberty to reprint a thousand copies of the
second edition without change, but he declined.
It was a pleasure to work for the professor, on account of the plainness of his copy,
'which was equal to print; and when prepared, unless it was to add a new name in a
catalogue, he never altered a word. -It was his sensitiveness on points of order
and correctness, doubtless, that led him to take charge of the printing and distribu-
tion of the Triennial and Medical School Catalogues during his life , and of the annual
college Catalogue (even to sale and payment) until the accession of Dr. Allen to the
presidency. - Until within the few last years of his life, the students' term-bills were
all made out, and recorded by his hand. Although he gave the writer credit for "a
large bump of order," in the arrangement of accounts, it was almost an impossibility
to cast up the large and somewhat complicated term-bills without some small error
that his eye was sure to detect.
It is a question whether the professor's duty to the world should not have con-
strained him to forego some of his onerous duties to the college which other hands
could have done, though perhaps not as well, that he might have finished THE WORK
which seemed to have been designed for him. - Ed.
11
82
bookseller finds upon record, delivered to members of college in
1820 and 1821, (evidence that he sold books at that early day,)
whose names and persons it is pleasant for him to recall, as well
from early, as from later associations: - Jacob Abbott, *Jedediah
Cobb, *Joshua W. Hathaway, *Josiah H. Hobbs, Thomas T.
Stone, Rufus K. Cushing,' James Larry, * Joseph Libby, George
Packard, Joseph H. Abbott, John Appleton, * Luther V. Bell,
Jonas Burnham, * Egbert B. Coffin, * Wm. Pitt Fessenden, * John
McDonald, Lory Odell, Calvin E. Stowe, George P. Giddings, and
a few others; all of whom have made a good mark upon the age;
several of them prominent. About half the number, as indicated
by the star, have gone up to their higher reward.
In 1822, Charles Weld (who proposed to add needed capital
to the store) was received into partnership, and the stock was en-
larged. This partnership was soon dissolved. Mr. Weld contin-
ued the bookstore about one year; finding it not remunerative, he
sold out by auction. The printer removed his apparatus in 1822
to the upper Story of the building he now occupies, Commencing
again to keep a few books in his counting-room - obtaining them
from Portland and Boston houses in exchange for work. And
this was the neucleus of what has become, since 1833, the College
Bookstore, from which most of the college text-books have been
furnished.
............... . ............
PERIODICALS OF BRUNSWICK - Continued.
THE ESCRITOIR, a monthly, was published in 1826-27, by a
club of students in Bowdoin College, of which John Hodgdon
was chairman. It was a pamphlet of 32 pp. 8 vo., printed for six
months by J. Griffin.
THE NORTHERN IRIS, a monthly of 32 pp., went forth also,
from the Bowdoin press for six months, in 1829. The editor and
publisher was Sumner Lincoln Fairfield, a gentleman from the
South. It was edited with ability; but, depending on unsolicited
patronage, it was not remunerative. Mr. Fairfield had consider-
able reputation as a poet. He died while young.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 83
BOWDOIN SCIENTIFIC REVIEW, commenced in 1871, issued
fortnightly, 16 pp. 12m., from Dingley's press, Lewiston. It is
devoted to contemporary science. Professors C. F. Brackett,
M. D., and G. L. Goodale, M. D., of Bowdoin College, editors.
THE ORIENT, published every alternate week during the col-
legiate year, by members of the Senior Class of Bowdoin College.
The first year of this handsomely printed and well conducted
periodical of 16 pp., 9 by 6, has just ended. It was founded by
J. G. Abbott, of the class of '72, who became the managing and
principal editor. The following are editors for the second year-
A. P. Wiswell, W. A. Blake, J. F. Elliot, A. F. Moulton, and G.
S. Mower. (see additions below page 283)
Other weekly papers, which have been published in Bruns-
wick, are as follows:
In 1827 appeared the ANDROSCOGGIN FREE PRESS, a royal
folio, (26 by 20), Whig, - edited and published by Moore and
Wells, assisted by William A. Packard, B. A. It was continued
about two years.
In 1830 the BRUNSWICK JOURNAL made its appearance. This
was a royal folio sheet, published by William Noyes. Associated
with him a part of the time was Henry W. Fairfield, now printer
of the New England Farmer, Boston. The Journal was a Whig
paper, supporting J. G. Hunton for Governor of Maine, and Henry
Clay for President of the United States. Charles Packard, Esq,
then Attorney at Law, edited it for a short time; after which
Francis D. and John S. Cushing were the principal writers. It
was a well conducted paper, but was published but one year and
three months.
1836 -The EASTERN BAPTIST, published by the Baptist As-
sociation for one year. It was edited by Elder David Nutter, and
printed by T. S. McLellan.
1837 - The REGULATOR, royal folio, Democratic - published
84 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAlNE,
weekly for two years by Theodore S. McLellan; 1. A. Beard,
editor.
1842 - The BRUNSWICKER, neutral, printed and published for
one year by T. S. McLellan; John Dunlap, B. A., editor.
1845 -The FORESTER, printed and published by E. Noyes
and Stanwood; H. A. Stanwood, editor.
1854- The JUVENILE, TEMPERANCE WATCHMAN, edited and
published by Howard Owen, who is now one of the enterprising
editors and publishers of the Augusta Journal. At twelve years
of age, Mr. Owen manifested his early industrious habits by pub-
lishing a little weekly called the Sun, written in Roman letters.
1855 -The MUSICAL JOURNAL, monthly; Geo. W. Chase, edi-
tor and proprietor.
BRUNSWICK TELEGRAPH.
This paper was commenced in 1853 by Waldron and Moore,
as publishers, and Wm. G. Barrows, Esq., as editor. The pub-
lishers in 1856 transferred their interest to Geo. W. Chase, who
* Our attention being again called to the temperance movement, we wish to add, as
well as correct, a statement in the note on p. 72. The store excepted, we have since
learned, kept liquors, a little secluded, in a basement. The statement, that respectable
women, who came from the out-posts of the village to market and to purchase goods,
did occasionally call for a glass to drink in the store, notwithstanding the doubts of our
correspondent,isconfirmedbyeyewitnesses,stillliving. And why should this prac-
tice appear strange, when the most respectable and influential men in our village kept
these stores, and when it was the custom of every family in good standing to keep in-
toxicating liquors to use as a beverage, ranking them among the necessaries of life;
and when it was considered mean not to offer them to guests! -the minister of the
Gospel in his parochial calls, and the family physician were specially treated. The
customs prevailing here, were practiced through our whole country up to about 1824.
Within a very few years from that time the respectable traders of Brunswick, with
but one exception, quit the business. Capt. Daniel Stone was the first who refused
to sell by the glass. Jesse Pierce, from Monmouth, opened the first temperance
store.
The traders of Brunswick in 1820 were the monied men. Outside of this class
there was much poverty; consequently the many young men, traders and mechanics,
who came from abroad to establish themselves here between the years 1820 and 1830,
miscalculated as to the available means of the place, trusted out their goods, and
failed. - Ed.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 85
published it as editor and proprietor about one year, when Howard
Owen, now of the Kennebec Journal, was admitted as a partner,
and took charge of the agricultural department. After being con-
nected with the establishment about five months, Mr. Owen be-
came dissatisfied with his unremunerated labors, and sold his
interest to Mr. Chase. Early in 1857, Mr. Chase abandoned the
Telegraph, - went to Bath, where lie published the Masonic Jour-
nal and taught music. Mr.A.G.Tenney,a graduate of Bowdoin
College, class of 1835, purchased the Telegraph establishment
in 1857, re-issued the paper, and has since continued to edit and
publish it weekly. The character of this paper has been of
the independent type:-it would not be possible to confine
its editor strictly to the rules of any party in politics or religion.
Mr. Tenney does not lack the talent to make as good and hand-
some a paper as the people of Brunswick will support.
. Several apprentices, educated at the Telegraph office, have be-
come publishers of papers and good journalists; among whom are
Howard Owen, above named and F. Asbury Macomber, now one
of the publishers of that well conducted weekly, the Suffolk Coun-
ty Journal, at Boston Highlands, Mass.
BRIDGTON.
BRIDGTON REPORTER.
The Bridgton Reporter was first started in Bridgton in 1868
by Samuel Noyes, of Nashua, N. H., and edited by Charles Sam-
son, a native of Bridgton. Mr. Samson, in a year or two, was suc-
ceeded by Enoch Knight, Esq., of Lovell, Me., now of the
Portland Star, who, in the fall of 1861 went to the war as cap-
tain in the 12th Maine, and was succeeded in the editorial chair
by Geo. Warren, of Gorham, Me. In May, 1862, the Reporter
was purchased by Capt. Horace C. Little, of Auburn, and was
,edited again by Mr. Samson, and afterward by Miss Lizzie Flye,
86 THE NEWS PRESS OF MAINE.
of Denmark, Me. In the fall of 1863, Augustus Phelps, of Bridg-
ton, bought out Capt. Little, and changing the name to the
BRIDGTON SENTINEL,
Made it a political paper, in the interests of the republican party,
with David Hale, Esq., of Bridgton, editor. In March, 1864, the
office with all its contents was destroyed, and Bridgton was with-
out a local paper till the advent of the
BRIDGTON NEWS.
The BRIDGTON WEEKLY NEWS, an independent local and
family newspaper, published at Bridgton Center, was estab-
lished in September, 1870, by H. A. Shorey, editor and proprietor.
Mr. S. is a practical printer, serving his time with Geo. E. New-
man, Eastern Times office, Bath; following the fortunes of that
,establishment when united with the Northern Tribune; completing
his apprenticeship with Clark and Roberts - afterward Gilman
and Roberts -in 1861 ; at which time he enlisted for the war as
second lieutenant (afterward captain) in the Fifteenth Maine
Volunteers. In March, 1865, he was breveted Major, "for gal-
lant and meritorious services during the war." Upon his return
home he, with E. Upton, purchased and published the Bath Sen-
tinel and Times, (daily and weekly), which they continued until
,,Sept. 1, 1869, when the paper was sold to W. E. S. Whitman. In
Jan., 1870, was commenced the publication at Bath of the Maine
Temperance Advocate, of which Mr. Shorey was also editor; this
paper was published in the interests of" Enforced Prohibition."
It was discontinued in August, 1870, and in September of the
same year he established himself at Bridgton. The constantly
increasing patronage to the News gives evidence, says a corres-
pondent; of its permanent success. Mr. S. is a native of Water-
ville.
CORRECTIONS **********************page 283
MR. EDITOR,
Dear Sir,
-Having had the privilege of seeing the advance sheets of your
valuable work, we beg leave to call your attention to an error in relation to the Bow-
doin College Orient. It was founded by the Class of 1872 - the result of a deep-
seated conviction among many of its members that Bowdoin should have a representa-
tive among college journals, and that our class should have the credit of its founding.
As members of a committee, appointed for the purpose by our classmates, we pre-
pared and matured all the plans for the management of the Orient. The first board
of editors suffered many changes, several finding it impossible to spare the necessary
time ; but the following were the editors longest in office ; and to each of them is
due the credit of conducting the Orient during the difficulties and uncertainties of its
first year: - M. Coggan, Gen. M. Whitaker, J. G. Abbott, 0. W.Rogers, H. M. Heath.
HAROLD WILDER, Chairman.
S. P. Mends, G. M. Seiders, Geo. M. Whitaker -Members of a committee
elected by the class of 1872 to mature a plan for conducting the Orient.
J. G. Abbott's presence in College during the absence of the other editors led
to the impression that caused the notice on p. 83- Ed.
Source for the above:
"The Press of Maine"
by Joseph Griffin
1872
Brunswick, Maine
Courtesy of the New England Old Newspaper Index Project of Maine (R)
<http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1460>
and the
Androscoggin Historical Society
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~meandrhs>]
<itigapa@aol.com>
PO Box 152
Danville, Maine 04223
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