Local History: Chapter VI & VII: THE MEDICAL PROFESSION - THE PRESS:
Bell's History of Northumberland Co PA
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Transcribed from Bell's History of Northumberland County Pennsylvania
CHAPTER VI.
Pages 261 - 296
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
LIST OF SUNBURY PHYSICIANS, BY DR. R. H. AWL - AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Of PHYSICIANS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY - MEDICAL SOCIETIES - ROSTER OF THE
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
THE following is a list of Sunbury physicians, furnished by Dr. R.
H. Awl and arranged as nearly as possible in the order in which they
began to practice in this community: William Plunket, Francis Allison,
James Davidson, Solomon Markley, Joseph Thomson, Peter Kraut, William
Westhoven, John Philip Jacob Becker, C. K. Bailey, Isaac Cushman, George
Slough, John Y. Kennedy, Peter Gram, William T. Morris, John B. Price,
William A. Robins, Joseph Robins, Edmund O'Neill, Bonham R. Gearhart,
James Teas, Doctor Robinson, M. A. Rodrigue, John W. Peale, Doctor
Johnson, David T. Trites, Landis Price, Robert K. Awl, Jacob B. Masser,
D. W. Shindel, George B. Weiser, Charles Weise; Doctor Hughes, Doctor
Dodge, Doctor Arthur, Doctor Sechler, Doctor Cameron, Hiram Long, John
G. Markle, Joseph Eyster, John S. Angle, John Updegraff, John F.
Caslow, A. C. Wheat, H. M. Essick, William P. Smith, F. L. Haupt, A. C.
Clark, H. H. Malick, A. K. Savidge, W. W. Moody, Charles M. Martin, G.
W. Furey, F. B. Masser, Albert S. Cummings, P. H. Renn, D. E. Lenker,
F. B. Richtstine, F. E. Drumheller, Elijah Orser, and Doctor Walters.
Much of the information embodied in the following sketches of Sunbury
physicians has also been obtained, directly or indirectly, through
Doctor Awl.
William Plunket, the first resident doctor of Northumberland
county,* was a native of Ireland. In personal appearance he is
described as a man of large stature, great muscular development, and
powerful strength, while an imperious disposition was among his
distinguishing mental traits. This is attested by several occurrences
in his career which yet retain a place in the traditions of this
locality. On one occasion, with several boon companions, he was engaged
in some hilarious proceedings at an Irish inn; the adjoining room was
occupied by an English nobleman, who had a curious and valuable watch,
which he sent to Plunket with a wager that he could not tell the time
by it; that gentleman coolly put it in his pocket, and sent a
________________________________________________________________________
*This statement is, perhaps, susceptible of some modification, as
Doctors John Morgan, John Bond, and Thomas Wiggins were successively
stationed at Fort Augusta as surgeons to the garrison. Plunket was an
officer in the Augusta regiment and probably arrived at Shamokin as
early as Doctor Morgan; although it does not appear that he was
employed in a professional capacity.
END OF PAGE 261
message to the Englishman to the effect that he should call upon him in
person if he wished to know the time. This he never did, evidently out
of respect to Plunket's well known physical prowess, and the latter, it
is said, retained the watch to the end of his life. At a later date he
became involved in an assault upon an English officer, in which the
latter sustained severe bodily injuries; although disguised, Plunket was
recognized by his stature, and, in imminent danger of arrest, was
smuggled on board a vessel in a barrel or hogshead. Thus he came to
America, and located at Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, then
the western limit of civilization. There he resided during the French
and Indian war, in which he served as lieutenant and surgeon, receiving
for his services a grant of several hundred acres on the West Branch of
the Susquehanna, to which he gave the name of "Soldier's Retreat;" it
was situated along the river above Chillisquaque creek; he was residing
thereon as early as 1772, as evidenced by the fact that his improvements
are mentioned in the return of a road in that year. He was commissioned
a justice for Northumberland county on the 24th of March, 1772, and
officiated as presiding justice throughout the colonial period. In
January, 1775, he was a representative from Northumberland county in the
Provincial Convention at Philadelphia, and in December of that year he
led an expedition to Wyoming. During the struggle for American
independence he remained neutral (through fear of forfeiting his title
to Irish estates, it is said), and does not thereafter appear in the
public affairs of the county.
While a resident of Carlisle Doctor Plunket married Esther,
daughter of John Harris, of Harris's Ferry, father of John Harris, the
founder of Harrisburg. They were the parents of four daughters, of whom
Elizabeth, born in 1755, married Samuel Maclay, associate judge of
Northumberland county and United States Senator; Isabella, born in
1760, married William Bell, of Elizabethtown, New Jersey; Margaret, who
became the wife of Isaac Richardson, removed to Wayne county, New York;
and Esther, who married Colonel Robert Baxter, a British officer, died
about a year after marriage. The Doctor resided for some years in the
Maclay house at Sunbury, where, after the death of his wife, Betty Wiley
was his housekeeper. His office, subsequently occupied by E. Greenough
and David Rockefeller, occupied the site of E. W. Greenough's residence
on Front street, Sunbury. He became totally blind in the later years of
his life, when a rope was stretched from his residence to his office so
that he could still go back and forth without aid. As shown by his
will, which is dated, January 3, 1791, and proved, May 25, 1791, he
died in the spring of that year, and is buried in an unmarked grave in
the Sunbury cemetery. Dr. R. H. Awl is in possession of one of his
medical works, "Synopsis Medicinae or a Summary View of the whole
Practice of Physick," by John Allen, M. D., F. R. S., printed at London
in 1749.
Solomon Markley was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he
obtained a limited literary education and read medicine with Doctor
Luther. His
END OF PAGE 262
further professional studies were pursued at Philadelphia, and his
practice was begun at Sunbury, where he resided at the brick house on
Front street now occupied by Miss Kate Black; as early as 1795 he
started a drug store in the hallway of this building. In 1801 he was
appointed county commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Abraham McKinney; he was elected to this office in 1802,
and served three years. He remained at Sunbury until his death, January
1, 1813, in the forty-third year of his age, and is buried in the old
Northumberland cemetery. Doctor Markley married Margaret Hinderliter, of
Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of six
children.
John Philip Jacob Becker was born at Bornich, (Rheinfels), Germany.
By the financial assistance of his oldest brother he was enabled to
obtain a thorough medical education, and after completing his
professional preparation he entered the German army as field surgeon
under General Munchausen, from whom he received an honorable discharge
at the expiration of seven years and six months' continuous service.
Subsequently he sailed for America, landing at Brooklyn, New York, in
1783. He practiced at Allentown, Lehigh county, and Kutztown, Berks
county, Pennsylvania, until May, 1807, when he removed to Upper Augusta
township, Northumberland county, and located on the farm now (1890)
occupied by Alfred Beckley, two miles east of Sunbury. Here he
resumed the practice of his profession, and is remembered as a
successful physician, widely known and well liked. He died on the 30th
of April, 1813, at the age of sixty-four years, and was buried with
Masonic honors in the old Sunbury cemetery. He married Elizabeth
Dimmick of the vicinity of Philadelphia in 1795 and they were the
parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters; two of the
latter still survive: Mrs. Harriet Martin, one of the oldest residents
of Sunbury, and Miss Louisa Becker, of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.
C. H. Bailey was a Virginian by birth, highly educated and
considered a first-class physician. He located at Sunbury early in his
professional career, but the length of his stay is not known. Thence he
removed successively to Troy, Lincoln county, Missouri, and Smithland,
Kentucky, after which he entered the United States Army as surgeon, and
was stationed at Pensacola, Florida, in 1852; nothing is known
regarding his personal history after that date.
John Kennedy was born at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and
practiced at Sunbury until 1823, when he removed to Shelbyville, Shelby
county, Indiana, where he resided the remainder of his life.
William Thomas Morris practiced at Sunbury many years. He had
previously served as surgeon in the United States Navy, and was a
physician of experience and ability. Doctor Morris was born at
Frederick, Maryland, January 8, 1783, and died at that place in
December, 1834. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Deborah Grant,
of Sunbury; she died
END OF PAGE 263
on the 2d of April, 1842, leaving two children: Ann C., who was born at
Sunbury, January 14, 1810, married Albert G. Bradford, of Elmira, New
York, and died at Philadelphia, September 24, 1886; and Dr. Thomas G.,
who was born on the 11th of January, 1818, practiced medicine at
Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania, many years, and died at that
place, March 28, 1887. As Doctor Morris's marriage occurred at Sunbury
on the 27th of November, 1807, it is evident that his practice began at
that place early in the present century.
John Beatty Price was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in
1801, and died in 1843. He was educated at Princeton College, read
medicine with Doctor Johnston at Whitehouse, New Jersey, and began
practice at Pepack, a small village in his native county, having
attended a course of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania and
obtained a diploma from the New Jersey board of medical examiners. In
1824 he removed to Sunbury, where he was in active practice until his
death. Doctor Price married Rebecca, daughter of Reuben Guild, who was
murdered near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and was the father of five
children, one of whom is Nathan Leander Price, M. D., of Port Carbon,
Pennsylvania.
William Robins was born at Sunbury in 1804, eldest son of Aaron and
Rebecca (Richardson) Robins, and received an academic education at
Northumberland under Robert Cooper Grier. At the age of eighteen years
he began the study of medicine with Dr. John Kennedy, and subsequently
attended the University of Pennsylvania. He began practice at Sunbury
shortly after attaining his majority, and continued in successful
practice at that place eighteen years. The remainder of his life was
passed at Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he died
in December, 1863. Doctor Robins was three times married, and was the
father of seven children.
Bonham R. Gearhart was born in Rush township, Northumberland
county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1811, son of George and Achsah (Runyan)
Gearhart. He was educated at an academy at Danville, read medicine with
Dr. Harmon Gearhart, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, graduated from
Jefferson Medical College in 1834, and began practice at Sunbury
immediately thereafter, remaining two years. After this he was
successively located at several points in Montour and Columbia
counties, and was at Turbutville, Northumberland county, from 1839 to
1844, when he removed to Danville; there he was a leading physician
until his death, May 9, 1855. His widow and six sons survive him and
reside at Danville.
David Tranor Trites was born in Ridley township, Delaware county,
Pennsylvania, March 8, 1812. In his early manhood he taught school at
Sunbury, where he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. W. Peale in
1839, graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1842. He returned to
Sunbury and began the practice of his profession, but remained only a
few years. Subsequently he was located at Georgetown, Northumberland
county,
END OF PAGE 264
Pennsylvania, Chesapeake City, Cecil county, Maryland, Surrey county,
Virginia, Philadelphia, and Manayunk, Pennsylvania, dying at the latter
place in 1887. Two children survived him, one of whom was the late W.
B. Trites, M. D., of Manayunk.
Robert Harris Awl was born in Augusta township, Northumberland
county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1819, son of Samuel and Mary
(Maclay) Awl. He was educated at the common schools, read medicine with
Dr. J. W. Peale, graduated from Pennsylvania Medical College in 1842,
and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession. He was
located at Gratztown and Halifax, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, until
1845, when he removed to Columbus, Ohio; there he was soon afterward
appointed assistant physician to the State lunatic asylum and retained
that position three years, resigning on account of ill health. He
located at Sunbury in 1849, and continued in the steady enjoyment of a
lucrative practice until his retirement from the active duties of the
profession. Between 1855 and 1888 inclusive he was for fourteen years
the regular physician to the Northumberland county prison.
Jacob B. Masser was born at Sunbury, July 17, 1820, son of Henry
Masser. He obtained his literary education under private tuition,
graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1841, and at once began
practice at Sunbury, where he was one of its most prominent and worthy
physicians until his death, September 10, 1870.
George B. Weiser was born at Sunbury in 1820, a son of Judge George
Weiser and a descendant of Conrad Weiser, the famous Indian agent and
interpreter. He read medicine with Dr. William H. Magill, of Danville,
and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1842 with high honors.
He practiced at Spring Mills, Georgetown, Selinsgrove, Sunbury, and
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, successively, and died at Millersburg on the
7th of October, 1887.
Several doctors are mentioned in Fithian's journal of 1775. At
Warrior run was "Doctor Sprigg, a gentleman in the practice who is
settling in this neighborhood," and at Northumberland he met Doctors
Kearsley and Francis Allison. The latter was subsequently surgeon to
the Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment.
Benjamin F. Young was one of the first physicians at Northumberland
after the Revolution. He resided there as early as 1794, and died on
the 23d of March, 1808, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. "In life
universally beloved - in death universally lamented. The suavity of his
temper, the urbanity of his manners, the perfection of his professional
skill, and the liberality of his professional assistance have insured
to him (what few can aspire to) the lasting regret of all who knew
him." - Kennedy's Gazette.
Dr. William Kent Lathey probably succeeded Young, or may have been
contemporaneous with him. He died on the 28th of July, 1809, and is bur-
END OF PAGE 265
ied in the old Presbyterian cemetery; the inscription on his tombstone
states that he was born at Exeter, England, January 29, 1772.
Samuel Jackson and M. Aristide Rodrigue were among the leading
physicians at a later date. Doctor Jackson built the brick house at the
north-west corner of Market square now owned by Henry L. Cake; he
afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he became prominent in the
profession. Doctor Rodrigue resided in a brick house on North Way
between Queen and Market; on the 4th of February, 1835, he married Ann
Caroline, daughter of Hugh Bellas, and afterward located for a time at
Sunbury.
Joseph Priestley was born in Point township, Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania, September 22, 1819; he was a great-grandson of the Rev.
Joseph Priestley, the eminent philosopher and theologian. After
receiving suitable preparatory education under the Rev. David
Kirkpatrick at Milton, he read medicine with Dr. James Dougal of that
place and entered the medical department of the University of
Pennsylvania, graduating from that institution in March, 1844. He
immediately located at Northumberland, where he continued in active
practice until his death, March 10, 1883. He served as president of the
county medical society, and was a member of the State and national
medical associations. In politics he was an ardent Republican from the
organization of that party until his death. In the community where his
professional work of nearly forty years was done he was universally
respected and beloved.
James Teas was a son of Samuel Teas, a prominent resident of
Milton. He married Jane, daughter of Ellis Walton, the second
prothonotary of Lycoming county; she was a niece of Justice Charles
Huston, of the Supreme court of Pennsylvania. Doctor Teas was in active
practice at Northumberland at the time of his death.
William S. Bright was born at Sunbury in 1812, son of Jacob Bright,
and read medicine with Doctor Rush, of Philadelphia, graduating from
Jefferson Medical College in 1842. He began the practice of medicine at
Northumberland, where he remained until 1849; he was then successively
located at Philadelphia, at Jackson, Mississippi, at New Orleans, and
at Galveston, Texas, where he died, August 2, 1890.
James Faulkner, the first resident physician at Milton, was from
New Jersey. He began his practice at Milton in 1794, and, it is said,
afterward removed to Erie, Pennsylvania.
James Dougal, the first physician who located permanently at
Milton, was born at Londonderry, Ireland, June 4, 1769. He first came
to America to look after the landed interests of his father in
Pennsylvania, but his ship was wrecked on the coast of New Jersey, and
after spending some time as tutor in a private family, he returned to
Ireland. His literary and professional education was obtained at the
University of Edinburgh, Scotland; he began the practice of medicine at
Coxtown, Ireland, but became prominent in the patriotic
END OF PAGE 266
uprising of 1798 under Robert Emmet, the leader of the United Irishmen,
and again came to America, locating at Milton, where he built the
substantial stone residence at the corner of Front and Mahoning streets
in 1803. His practice extended over a large part of the territory now
embraced in Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming, Union, and
Clinton counties. He died on the 18th of July, 1818, from injuries
sustained by a fall from his horse.
James S. Dougal was born at Coxtown, Ireland, October 7, 1794, son
of James Dougal. He was educated at the schools of Milton and under the
private tuition of the Rev. Thomas Hood, read medicine with his father,
and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1817. He at once
located at Milton, where he succeeded to the extensive practice of his
father, and continued in the active discharge of professional duties
until his death, May 23, 1878. Two sons, James S. and Charles H., also
became doctors; the former died at Milton, February 20, 1847, and the
latter is now a leading physician of that borough.
William McCleery was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, July 31,
1803. He was educated at Washington College, Washington, Pennsylvania,
and at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating from the
latter in 1827. His preceptor was Dr. James S. Dougal, of Milton, with
whom he was associated several years after graduation. He continued in
active and successful practice until his retirement in 1857, and died
on the 4th of December, 1867. His son, Dr. J. P. McCleery, is one of
the leading physicians of Milton.
John Meekly was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 16,
1807. He received the degree of M. D. from the University of
Pennsylvania, and about the year 1835 located at Milton, where he was
in continuous practice until his death, April 3, 1871.
David Waldron was born in Turbut township, Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in 1820. He ranked high in his profession and enjoyed a
large practice, although somewhat erratic. He was a Democrat in
politics, and served as sheriff from 1860 to 1863. He resided at Milton
from the commencement of his practice until within a few years of his
death, and died in Turbut township, April 22, 1885.
U. Q. Davis was born at Limestoneville, Montour county,
Pennsylvania, July 16, 1821, read medicine with Doctor Ludwig of that
place, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1848. His
practice was begun at Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, whence, in
1856, he removed to Milton, where he resided until his death, October
5, 1887. During the civil war he served as surgeon to the One Hundred
and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. His son, Sidney Davis, has
succeeded to the practice of his father.
Tobias Piper was born near Philadelphia and located in Lewis
township in 1820. He resided at Turbutville and upon a farm in the
vicinity until
END OF PAGE 267
1856, when he located at McEwensville, and continued the practice of
his profession until his retirement in 1867. His death occurred on the
20th of February, 1873.
Joseph C. Robins, the first physician to locate permanently at
Elysburg, was born at Sunbury, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1806. He attended
the common schools of his native town and the academy at
Northumberland, then in charge of Robert C. Grier, read medicine with
his brother, Dr. William Robins, of Sunbury, and completed his
professional studies at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1828 he
began the practice of medicine at Sunbury, whence he removed to Elysburg
in the following year, and was actively engaged in professional work at
that place forty-two years. His practice extended over the entire
eastern part of Northumberland county and into the adjoining portions
of Montour, Columbia, and Schuylkill. Three of his sons became
physicians: Galen S., who practiced at Elysburg one year and at
Shamokin four years, dying in 1856 at the age of twenty-six; Edwin S.,
who read medicine with his father, graduated from Jefferson Medical
College in 1854, and has been in continuous practice at Shamokin longer
than any other of its present physicians; and Lorenzo D., who began
practice with his father at Elysburg, served as surgeon during the civil
war, returned to Elysburg at its close, and resided there until his
death in 1875. The senior Doctor Robins is still living at an advanced
age, and is the last survivor of the profession in Northumberland
county at the time his practice began.
Robert Phillips was the first doctor at Shamokin. He resided "at
the Gap" about the time the town was laid out, but was employed in a
business rather than a professional capacity. Nothing has been learned
regarding his personal history.
John K. Robins, the first resident physician at Shamokin after that
place had assumed the proportions of a village, was born at Sunbury,
Pennsylvania, April 14, 1820. At the age of twenty years he began the
study of medicine, graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1842,
and in April of the same year began his professional career at
Shamokin; there he remained nearly four years, removing to Catawissa,
Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1846. There he has since
resided, and is one of the oldest physicians of his adopted county.
Galen S. Robins was born on the 4th of October, 1830, son of Dr.
Joseph C. Robins. He read medicine with his father, attended the
Pennsylvania College of Medicine and graduated from that institution,
practiced at Elysburg one year, and located at Shamokin in 1852. Here
he was in active and successful practice until his death, October 9,
1856. Dr. J. J. John was associated with him in practice for a time,
and afterward Dr. E. S. Robins, his brother, who is now the senior
member of the profession at Shamokin.
END OF PAGE 268
MEDICAL SOCIETIES
Pursuant to a call, a number of the physicians of Northumberland
county met in Sunbury, July 10, 1869, for the purpose of forming a
medical association. A temporary organization was effected by the
election of Dr. Joseph Priestley, of Northumberland, president, and Dr.
John S. Angle, of Sunbury, secretary. After the object of the meeting
had been fully stated and discussed, Dr. D. W. Shindel, of Sunbury,
moved the appointment of a committee for the purpose of drafting a
constitution and by-laws, which resolution was unanimously adopted. The
committee was constituted as follows: Dr. D. W. Shindel, chairman; Dr.
J. B. Newbaker, of Trevorton; Dr. J. P. McCleery, of Milton; Doctor
McCay, of Northumberland; Doctors Robins and Weaver, of Shamokin;
Doctor Hunter, of Watsontown; Dr. W. W. Robins, of Hickory Corners;
Doctors Haupt and Angle, of Sunbury; and on motion Doctor Priestley was
added to this number. The committee was requested to meet at Sunbury on
the first Monday in August, and to appoint a time for the next meeting
of the association. After an interchange of professional views and
experiences, formal and informal, the meeting adjourned. How long this
association existed has not been ascertained.
The Northumberland County Medical Society was organized at
Northumberland, April 18, 1876, with Joseph Priestley, president; U. Q.
Davis and Jacob Rhoads, vice-presidents; J. J. Leiser, recording
secretary; E. H. Horner, corresponding secretary; F. L. Haupt,
treasurer, and a board of censors composed of Doctors Robins, Newbaker,
Priestley, Miles, and Life. The society sustained an intermittent
existence of about five years. It was reorganized at Milton, July
12,1886, with A. S. Cummings, president; J. Hunter Miles, secretary;
Hiram Long and E. H. Horner, vice-presidents; F. L. Haupt, J. W.
Sheets, and G. W. Furey, censors, but again disbanded after some two
years of active existence.
The Sunbury Medical Association was organized, October 18, 1888,
with Hiram Long, president, P. H. Renn, secretary, and A. C. Clark,
treasurer. Doctors at Sunbury and Northumberland are included in its
membership.
The Northumberland County Medical Society was organized at the
court house in Sunbury on the 2d of December, 1890, with the following
officers: President, C. W. Weaver, of Shamokin; vice-president, Charles
M. Martin, of Sunbury; recording secretary, G. W. Furey, of Sunbury;
corresponding secretary, J. M. Maurer, of Shamokin; treasurer, E. H.
Horner, of Turbutville; censors: Hiram Long, of Sunbury, F. L. Haupt,
of Sunbury, and R. A. Kennedy, of Shamokin, elected for one, two, and
three years, respectively.
ROSTER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The following is a list of physicians who registered in the office
of the prothonotary of Northumberland county in compliance with the law
from
END OF PAGE 269
June, 1881, to February, 1891 (the names are given in the order of
registration: George W. Furey, William P. Smith, Joseph Eyster, John H.
Harley, Alfred C. Clark, Elijah F. Orser, Jacob Ritter, Frederick L.
Haupt, John F. McClure, Henry Life, Joseph Priestley, Edwin S. Robins,
Charles W. Weaver, Robert A. Kennedy, Hiram Long, Frank B. Masser,
Frank A. Clark, Oscar M. Robins, William W. Moody, Samuel G. Mengle,
Henry M. Emerick, Charles M. Martin, Philip H. Renn, Rufus Thayer,
Jacob S. Hollenback, Albert S. Cummings, Frank B. Richtstine, Albert D.
Thomas, William B. Stoner, Walter Van Fleet, Richard L. Wright, Marcus
H. Harpel, George W. Winterstein, Shepherd L. Van Valzah, Robert H.
Awl, Ralph W. Montelius, Edmund W. Samuel, William J. Haas, Daniel W.
Shindel, John F. Bigler, Howard M. Essick, John W. Bealor, David S.
Hollenback, John B. Newbaker, Joseph Hunter, Benjamin L. Kerchner,
Nathaniel C. Purdy, Abraham T. Dewitt, Charles Schneider, Reuben H.
Muth, Henry M. Raker, John H. Heinsling, Uriah Q. Davis, Joseph Haas,
George Treon, Nathaniel C. Giddings, John A. Elliott, Charles H.
Dougal, James P. McCleery, James A. Osborn, John Walsh, Sanderson
Lazarus, Thomas J. Ritter, J. Hunter Miles, Hiram H. Malick, Horace W.
Burg, Thomas R. Hull, David F. Engle, William T. Williams, Richard R.
Breisch, Andrew Tenbrook, Edward H. Horner, Edwin M. Emerick, Samuel F.
Gilbert, William G. Marsh, Jacob Rhoads, James A. Hoffman, John S.
Follmer, Horatio T. Seasholtz, David G. Schive, Isaac Huff, Henry B.
Woodside, James F. Adams, Rufus Thayer, Frederick D. Raker, Jeremiah K.
Bowers, John W. Fritz, Daniel H. Dornsife, Joel Whary, Irvin Seitz,
Henry P. Lorman, William H. Follmer, Nelson M. Smith, David J. Reese,
Daniel McDonnell, John R. Duffield, Joseph E. Robins, Frank W. Johnson,
Albert Russell, Annis H. Crawford, Lewis Wolverton, B. P. Backus, Samuel
L. Schreiber, Henry J. Smith, William M. Robins, James L. Lowrie,
Michael B. Garman, John W. Sheets, Monroe D. Lehr, Evan J. Longshore,
Joel G. Ressler, Charles H. Lane, Wiadyslauw Dangielawicz, Fuller S.
Derr, Kimber C. McWilliams, Sherman E. Ayars, Jacob S. Krebs, Jacob K.
Bricker, James M. Peebles, Robert G. Van Valzah, Peter N. K. Schwenk,
Simon Hubler, Joseph L. Bauer, William J. McDowell, Peter S. Wykoff,
David T. Krebs, Philip R. Palm, Frederick M. Strouse, William Darman,
Edwin Heiser, Oscar L. Muffly, Francis E. Drumheller, Joseph B. Morris,
Tobias Campbell, E. H. S. Hutchinson, Hugh G. Turley, George W. Dreher,
Lewis W. Hensyl, Robert H. Blakslee, Mary A. McCay, Benjamin F. Bartho,
Henry R. Hummel, James M. Maurer, Samuel A. Gibson, Robert A. Simpson,
Abraham K. Ackerman, William H. Purman, George W. McNamara, Joseph G.
Church, Charles M. Blakeslee, Augustus A. Bancroft, Marks P. Hine,
William S. Ruch, George W. Harpel, John S. Mengel, Charles D. Shumway,
Calvin L. Johnstonbaugh, Sidney Davis, Tolbert W. Blakeslee, Martin L.
Emrick, Wilson S. Groninger, Alfred G. Shissler, David D. Davis, Will-
END OF PAGE 270
Page 271 contains a portrait of R. H. Awl
Page 272 is blank.
iam H. Lewis, Henry S. George, David H. Coover, John N. Lenker, John J.
Keller, Emanuel A. Alleman, William D. Karterman, J. C. Reifsnyder.
In this chapter biographical mention has been appropriately made of
those physicians only whom death, retirement, or other circumstance has
removed from the active duties of the profession. Sketches of many of
the present doctors of the county appear in the biographical department
of this work.
CHAPTER VII.
THE PRESS.
JOURNALISM AT NORTHUMBERLAND - SUNBURY PAPERS - THE PRESS OF MILTON -
SHAMOKIN NEWSPAPERS - JOURNALS OF MT. CARMEL, McEWENSVILLE AND LOCUST
GAP PAPERS.
THE newspapers of Philadelphia were the first to circulate in
central Pennsylvania; and, although a score of years elapsed after the
organization of Northumberland county before a paper was published
within its limits, this first journalistic effort was one of the
earliest in the interior of the State. Nearly a century has since passed
away, and during this period the public press has been an important
agency in the social, political, and material development of the county.
JOURNALISM AT NORTHUMBERLAND.
The Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette, the pioneer newspaper of
Northumberland county, was established in 1792 by Andrew Kennedy. The
earliest issue examined by the writer is that of Wednesday, October 9,
1793, (Volume II, No. 71). This number is a three-column folio,
eighteen inches long and eleven inches wide; the contents consist
principally of foreign news, including advices from London, Brussels,
Turin, Florence, and Metz, and intelligence from New England and the
South. Editorials and local matter are confined to a column, the only
item of special interest being an account of a "fiery ball" which
appeared in the heavens to the west of Northumberland on the night of
September 22, 1792. The publisher of the Gazette in 1801 was John
Schusler; at that date it was a four-column paper, several inches longer
and wider than in 1793, and was printed "at the moderate price of two
dollars per annum." Andrew Kennedy resumed control of the establishment
on the 20th of June, 1801, and about that time the title became
"Kennedy's Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette." The publishers in 1805
were Andrew and James Kennedy; James was the nephew of Andrew,
END OF PAGE 273
but the length of time they continued in partnership is not known. In
1813 the paper, of which the full title was "The Sunbury and
Northumberland Gazette and Republican Advertise," was published by
Andrew Kennedy and G. Sweney, as evidenced by the issue of Tuesday,
February 9,1813 (Volume XXI, No. 30), a folio seventeen and one half
inches long and eleven inches wide. The office of publication in 1793
is described as "opposite Messrs. Hepburn & Cowden's store,
Northumberland-Town;" in the issue of June 26, 1802, it is given for the
first time as "Franklin's Head, Queen street," but whether this implies
a change in the location can not be definitely ascertained. Local
tradition asserts that Kennedy resided at a frame house still standing
on Duke street near its intersection with Front in the borough of
Northumberland, and that the Gazette was conducted at the corner of
Front and Queen in the building now occupied by Wenck's pharmacy. A
notice in the issue of April 30, 1794, requesting delinquent subscribers
to make payment, states that the second year of the Gazette would close
on the 28th of May, 1794, from which it is evident that the paper was
established, May 28, 1792. The date of its final discontinuance can not
be so satisfactorily determined. Kennedy was an ardent Federalist, and
was obliged to suspend temporarily during the war of 1812; but he was
engaged in the printing business at Northumberland as late as 1816, when
Simon Cameron was indentured to him as an apprentice. The original
article is in the possession of John B. Packer, of Sunbury, and reads as
follows:-
This indenture witnesseth that Simon Cameron, the son of Charles
Cameron, deceased, of Pennsylvania, (by and with the advice and consent
of his guardian, John Cameron, testified by his signing as a witness
hereto,) hath bound and put himself, and by these presents doth bind and
put himself, apprentice to Andrew Kennedy, printer, of the town of
Northumberland, after the manner of an apprentice, to dwell with and
serve the Bald Andrew Kennedy, his executors, administrators, and
assigns, from the day of the date hereof, for and during and until the
full end and term of three years and ten months thence next ensuing, and
fully to be complete and ended; during all which term the said
apprentice his said master faithfully shall serve, and that honestly and
obediently in all things, as a dutiful apprentice ought to do: and the
said Andrew Kennedy, his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall
teach, or cause to be taught and instructed, the said apprentice in the
art, trade, and mystery of a printer; and shall find and provide for the
said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodging during the
said term; and at the expiration of every year shall and will give his
said apprentice twenty dollars to provide said apprentice with clothing.
SIMON CAMERON, Seal.
COLIN CAMERON, Seal.
ANDREW KENNEDY, Seal.
Bound before me, one of the Justices for the county of Northumberland.
May 14, 1816. JNO. LEIGHOU.
END OF PAGE 274
Republican Argus was the title of the second paper at
Northumberland. It was founded by John Binns, who was born at Dublin,
Ireland, December 22, 1772, and, after experiencing confinement in the
Tower of London, came to America to escape further undesirable
consequences of his connection with political disturbances. In his
autobiography (pp. 176-177) he gives the following interesting account
of the inception of the Argus:-
On the 4th of July, 1802, a number of the inhabitants of
Northumberland agreed to dine together in the large room over the market
house. At the request of a committee of that company I agreed to
deliver, and did deliver, an oration. That was the first time I
addressed a public meeting in the United States. The room was crowded,
and I had the gratification to hear the discourse favorably spoken of by
many whose good opinion was valued and valuable. The only newspaper at
that time published in the county of Northumberland was called the
Northumberland Gazette; of that paper Mr. Andrew Kennedy was the
proprietor and publisher. At his request I wrote occasional articles for
it. Political parties were then and long after known as Republicans and
Federalists. The politics of the Gazette were those of the Federal
party, of which party there were many bitter partisans in the towns of
Sunbury and Northumberland and throughout the county. He (Mr. Kennedy)
called on me, and said that if I would occasionally write for his paper
my contributions should be published without any alteration. I did as he
requested; and on this same 4th of July, 1802, a long and what I thought
an appropriate address for the birthday of Independence was written by
me and published in the Gazette. In the next week's Gazette were
published some angry animadversions on my article, to which, in the next
Gazette, I made answer. This controversy continued for some weeks, when
the editor of the Gazette told me that what I had written had given
offense to his political friends, and that he could not publish any more
of my writings on politics. I thought this unfair and unjust, and soon
after issued proposals to print in Northumberland a weekly paper under
the title of the Republican Argus with the motto, "Equal and exact
justice to all men of whatever sect or persuasion, religious or
political." The proposals were circulated and the establishment of the
paper advocated by the most influential Republicans in the county. The
subscription and general patronage extended to the Argus were beyond my
expectation. I soon got types and printing material, and issued the
first number of the paper early in 1803.* In a short time I acquired the
confidence of the Republican party, not only of Northumberland, but of
the neighboring counties.
Binns also states in his autobiography that the paper upon which
the Argus was printed was obtained at Beaver Dam, Pennsylvania, and in
ordering his supplies he was obliged to make a journey of sixty miles.
In 1807 he removed to Philadelphia, and on the 27th of March in that
year established The Democratic Press, for many years the leading organ
of its party in the city and State. The word "Democratic" as applied to
a political party first appeared in the title of this paper, and it has
been claimed with some plausibility that one of the great political
organizations of the nation received its name in this manner. In 1822
Binns was appointed an alderman of Philadelphia by Governor Hiester, and
was the incumbent of this position some years. He wrote a book
popularly known as "Binn's Justice," widely used
________________________________________________________________________
*This date is not strictly accurate, as the first issue of the
Argus appeared on the 15th of December, 1802. This part of Binns's
autobiography was evidently based entirety upon his recollection, which
was doubtless correct as to the general current of events.
END OF PAGE 275
by justices of the peace throughout the State at one time, and was
perhaps as well known as the author of this work as from his connection
with journalism. He died in Philadelphia at an advanced age.
Matthew Huston became proprietor of the Argus in 1807 and published
it until his death, August 10, 1809. The paper was continued after that
date by his son, Andrew C. Huston, and when it was finally discontinued
is not known; but, as Republican Advertiser appears as part of the
caption of the Gazette, it is highly probable that the Republican Argus
was ultimately merged into Kennedy's paper, although such a conclusion
is only matter of inference. The issue of Wednesday, April 24, 1811,
the latest copy examined by the writer, is a four-column folio,
seventeen inches long and eleven inches wide, and bears intrinsic
evidence of having been "printed and published by Andrew C. Huston at
the book and stationery store in Queen street opposite Mr. Taggart's
inn." Andrew C. Huston was born in Woolwich township, Gloucester county,
New Jersey, March 27, 1787, and died at Northumberland on the 10th of
January, 1876, one of the oldest printers in Pennsylvania at the time of
his death.
The Columbia Gazette was published by George Sweney, a former
partner of Andrew Kennedy, and supported the national administration in
the war of 1812. The first number was issued on the 2d of November,
1813, but the length of time it continued is not known.
The Religious Museum, edited by Rev. Robert F. N. Smith, of
Northumberland, and devoted to general missionary and religious
intelligence, was published in 1818. The writer has examined the issue
of August 5,1818 (Volume I, No. 4), a three-column folio ten by thirteen
inches in dimensions; the only contents of local interest is a notice of
the Susquehanna Bible Society.
The Northumberland Union was published by Alexander Hughes about
five years, beginning, it is supposed, in 1832. It was a Democratic
organ. The proprietor married Miss M. E. Burkenbine, daughter of
Frederick Burkenbine, of Northumberland, October 22, 1833.
Public Press, a seven-column folio, was established in 1872 by C.
W. Gutelius and W. E. Taylor; the latter subsequently retired, and Mr.
Gutelius has since conducted the paper individually.
SUNBURY PAPERS.
Der Freiheitsvogel was the first newspaper published at Sunbury.
From a comparison of the best evidence it is believed that it was
established in 1800 and continued several years. Jacob D. Breyvogel was
proprietor, editor, and publisher; nothing is known regarding his
personal history beyond the fact that he married Miss Susanna, daughter
of Colonel Christopher Baldy, of Buffalo valley (Union county),
Pennsylvania, on Sunday, September 27, 1801. The ceremony was performed
by William Irwin, justice of the peace. In the
END OF PAGE 276
notice of this occurrence in Kennedy's Gazette, Breyvogel is referred to
as the "printer at Sunbury." As indicated by the title, Der
Freiheitsvogel was a German paper.
The Times was established in 1812 by William F. Buyers, and was the
second paper at Sunbury. Mr. Buyers was born at that town, January 12,
1782, son of John Buyers, a prominent merchant and early resident of the
county seat. He learned the printing business with Breyvogel; in
Kennedy's Gazette of October 26, 1801, the statement is made that
"William Buyers has now established a printing office at Williamsport,"
from which it is evident that he entered upon his career as a newspaper
publisher immediately after completing his apprenticeship. This was the
Williamsport Gazette, the pioneer journal of Lycoming county,
Pennsylvania; he published it, under many difficulties and often
irregularly, until 1808. Returning to Sunbury, which had been without a
local paper since the suspension of Der Freiheitsvogel, he began the
publication of the Times in the summer of 1812. The statement has been
made that he retired at the expiration of three years. but this seems
improbable, as the paper was certainly published by him in 1816 and
1817. He commanded a company in the Seventy-seventh regiment of
Pennsylvania militia in the war of 1812; on the 13th of December, 1815,
he married Miss Martha, daughter of Alexander Hunter, of Sunbury; in
1815-18 he served as commissioner of Northumberland county; and on the
27th of June, 1821, he died at the age of thirty-nine. In 1816 he was a
Federal Republican candidate for Congress, but was defeated. The issue
of the Times for September 26, 1816 (Volume V, No. 13), is a four-column
folio, eighteen inches long and eleven inches wide; the congressional
election occurred in the following month, and this number is
correspondingly replete with political articles. It is probable that
Captain Buyers published the Times throughout its continuance under that
name. His printing office was in the second story of the "state house,"
which occupied the site of the present court house, and at a small frame
building on the west side of Second street at the corner of Barberry
alley, where the Neff House stable now stands.
Publick Inquirer was the caption of a paper started in January,
1820, by Samuel J. Packer. He acquired his knowledge of the "art
preservative" at Bellefonte, whence he came to Sunbury and purchased the
plant of the Times, of which the Inquirer was virtually a continuation.
It was established with the immediate object of advocating the re-
election of Governor Findlay, and the issue of October 5, 1820 (Volume
I, No. 39), a four-column folio perhaps twenty inches in length and the
only one that has been examined by the writer, is devoted almost
entirely to reports from various parts of the State regarding the
progress and prospects of the campaign. Among the apprentices in the
office was William F. Packer, a kinsman of the proprietor, then in his
thirteenth year and subsequently member of the board of canal
END OF PAGE 277
commissioners and of both branches of the legislature, auditor general,
and Governor of Pennsylvania, 1858-6l. During Mr. Packer's ownership the
Inquirer was published at a two-story frame building which formerly
stood at the southeast corner of Chestnut street and Center alley. It is
supposed that it was subsequently published by Jacob W. Seitzinger, a
Mr. Vanderslice, and Francis P. Schwartz, all of whom are known to have
been connected with newspapers at Sunbury. Seitzinger was a man of much
native ability but little education; he subsequently removed to
Schuylkill county and became wealthy through fortunate investments in
coal lands. Vanderslice was a member of the family of that name which
was prominent at Sunbury at the beginning of this century. Schwartz had
been employed in one of the departments at Washington when a young man;
in the war of 1812 he served as ensign in Captain Jacob Hummel's company
from Northumberland county; he taught school at Sunbury and in the
vicinity, and served as town clerk at an early date in the history of
the borough. He was the father of John J. W. Schwartz. of the Shamokin
Herald, ex-treasurer of Northumberland county. Of Samuel J. Packer, the
founder of the Inquirer, extended mention is made in this work in the
chapter on the Bench and Bar.
The Gazetteer was the third and last paper in the line of direct
succession from the Times. The earliest number examined by the writer is
the issue of March 24, 1825 (Volume I, No. 21), a five-column folio. It
contains a notice from Peter Martz, dated February 24, 1825, stating
that he had "sold the establishment of the Gazetteer to James B.
Shannon;" it is quits evident, therefore, that the paper was established
by Martz. He was a mill-wright by occupation, but attained some
prominence in local political affairs as member of Assembly and
associate judge. It is thought that William Shannon also published the
Gazetteer; he kept a hotel in the old jail building at the southeast
corner of Market street and Center alley, and the Gazetteer was printed
in a large room on the second floor in the rear end of this building.
His son, James R. Shannon, was the publisher in 1832, and the issue of
Saturday, February 25th of that year (Volume II, No. 28, New Series), is
the latest that has been examined by the writer. This number is a five-
column folio, twenty-one inches long and fourteen inches wide, printed
on quite heavy paper. The only matter of local interest it contains is
an account of a celebration at Sunbury on the 22d of February, 1832, in
honor of the centennial anniversary of the birth of Washington. The day
was ushered in with the firing of guns and ringing of bells, and, after
a parade, the Sunbury Grays and many leading citizens sat down to a
sumptuous repast at one of the leading hotels. Peter Lazarus was chosen
chairman and H. B. Masser, secretary; thirteen regular and many
volunteer toasts were responded to. The town was illuminated in the
evening and a large concourse of people moved in procession through the
streets, preceded by a splendid transparency of Washington. As a whole
it was not, the paper
END OF PAGE 278
states, surpassed by any similar demonstration since the celebration of
the peace in 1815. It is not probable that the publication of the
Gazetteer was continued more than a year after this date. William
Shannon was sheriff of Northumberland county, 1818-21, and James B.
Shannon, 1821-24.
Der Northumberland Republikaner was issued for the first time on
the 12th of August, 1812, and was the third paper at Sunbury. It was
founded by John G. Youngman, and, as indicated by the name, was a German
paper. Mr. Youngman was born near Hummelstown, Dauphin county,
Pennsylvania, January 6, 1788, and was descended from a Moravian family
that emigrated from Lusatia, Prussia, to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in
1740. His father, Jacob Youngman, was a blacksmith and farmer, and his
grandfather, Rev. John George Youngman, who died at Bethlehem in 1808 at
the age of eighty-eight, was a Moravian missionary to the Indians. At
the age of eight years he was adopted by his uncle, Gottlieb Youngman, a
soldier of the Revolution, who established the first German paper in
Berks county, Pennsylvania, "The impartial Reading Newspaper," on the
18th of February, 1789, continued its publication until 1816, and died
at Louisville, Kentucky, June 10, 1833, at the age of seventy-six. Under
his tuition he acquired a thorough knowledge of the printing business.
In 1802 he left his uncle on account of some misunderstanding, walked to
Somerset county, and was employed at his trade by a Mr. Ogle. Four years
later he secured employment on the Hornet at Frederick, Maryland; in
1807 he was connected with the Times, one of the first daily papers of
Baltimore, and from that city be went to Hagerstown, Maryland, where he
secured a situation under John Gruber, the well known almanac publisher.
In 1812 he returned to Reading, procured the necessary materials from
his uncle, and forthwith established the Amerikaner at Sunbury. The
files of this paper are still extant for 1815-18, beginning with the
issue of August 11th of the former year and ending with January of the
latter. It is a three-column folio, fourteen inches long and nine inches
wide, and creditable in typography and composition. In 1818 the name was
changed to Nordwestliche Post, which espoused the cause of Findlay in
the gubernatorial contest of 1820, thereby alienating the large body of
the German population among whom it circulated, who were almost a unit
in support of Hiester. In consequence of this disaffection among his
subscribers Mr. Youngman suspended the publication of the paper
(subsequent to July, 1827, however), and for several years devoted his
attention to the printing of books and pamphlets.
Shamokin Canalboot was the caption of Mr. Youngman's next venture.
A great popular agitation in favor of internal improvements was in
progress throughout the State, and it was with the idea of promoting
local enterprises of this nature that the paper was established and
supported. The only copy examined by the writer is the issue of
Saturday, March 5, 1831 (No. 162); this is a folio fifteen and one half
inches long and eleven inches wide, embel-
END OF PAGE 279
lished with the representation of a canal boat on the head-line of the
first page. The paper was published under this name until 1833.
The workingmen's Advocate, a four-column folio eleven by sixteen
inches in dimensions, was first issued by John G. Youngman on Monday,
April 29, 1833; it was the first English paper published by him, and was
the immediate chronological successor of the Canalboot. In his
salutatory the editor stated that his paper would be Democratic in
politics, reserving to himself, however, the right of differing from
party conventions as to what platforms or candidates were really
Democratic should occasion require. The Advocate was continued with
success and profit until 1838, and the popularity of the editor is shown
by the fact that several rival papers at Sunbury and Northumberland
suspended during that period.
The Sunbury Gazette was established in 1838. The earliest issue
examined by the writer is that of Saturday, January 7, 1843 (Volume V -
No. 240), which is a five-column folio twenty-one and one half by
thirteen inches; the full title at that time was "The Sunbury Gazette
and Miners' Register." The publishers were John G. Youngman & Son. The
senior member of this firm was actively connected with the press of
Sunbury almost continuously from the time he established the Amerikaner
in 1812 until his retirement from the Gazette in 1867, a period of
fifty-five years. He was also prominent in the public affairs of the
county, and was the incumbent of several important public offices. In
1814 he served as county treasurer, and in 1818-21 as county
commissioner; on the 5th of February, 1839, he was commissioned as
register and recorder, and in the autumn of that year he was elected to
those offices, to which he was thus the last person appointed and the
first person elected in this county. He took great delight in type-
setting, and worked at this in the composing room of the Gazette until
within a few months of his death, which occurred on the 13th of
September, 1871.
The Gazette was published by John G. Youngman & Son from its
inception in 1838 until 1867. George B. Youngman was the junior member
of this firm from 1838 until 1855. He learned the printing trade with
his father, and it was principally through his influence that the
Gazette was started. In 1850-51 he served as treasurer of
Northumberland county. After his retirement from the paper he engaged in
fruit and grape culture on a farm several miles east of Sunbury, and
continued this business successfully until his death, April 9, 1880, at
the age of sixty-six years. He was succeeded as junior member of the
firm in 1855 by his brother, Andrew A. Youngman, upon whom much of the
responsibility in connection with the paper devolved until the
retirement of his father in 1868. The style of the firm then became A.
A. & John Youngman, by whom the paper was continued until the 11th of
April, 1879, when it was consolidated with the American under the name
of the Gazette-American. A year later the publication of the Gazette
individually was resumed by A. A. & John Youngman and
END OF PAGE 280
continued until March 16, 1883, when it was issued for the last time
after forty-five years continuous publication. The last number gives a
review of the political policy of the paper, in which it is stated that
the Gazette was one of the four Democratic organs in Pennsylvania "that
came out boldly in favor of the national administration as against the
rebel cause" in 1861, and although it was constrained "to protest
against certain tendencies and methods in the management of the
Republican party" on several occasions, it could not be said "that the
Gazette ever went back on the principles of that great political
organization." Andrew A. Youngman still resides at Sunbury, at the
former residence of his father on the southwest corner of Third and Arch
streets. John Youngman, who was editor of the Gazette from 1855 until
its final suspension, now fills a similar position upon the staff of the
Bellefonte (Pennsylvania) Watchman.
The Amerikaner was originally established at a small frame building
on the north side of Market street at the present site of Rippel's
photograph gallery. When the elder Youngman purchased the property at
Third and Arch he removed the printing office to a frame structure
adjoining his residence and fronting Arch street. The next location was
a wooden building at the site of the Dewart block, corner of Market and
Third, occupied in 1847-50, when the office was removed to the north
side of Market street nearly opposite the City Hotel; the Gazette was
published there at the time of its suspension in 1883, but had occupied
several different places in the meantime. the principal of which was the
second story of the Geyer block, northeast corner of Market square, to
which it was removed in 1868.
Susquehanna Emporium was the caption of a paper established at
Sunbury by Ezra Grossman, a native of New Berlin, Pennsylvania, who
married Eleanor M., daughter of Samuel Awl and sister to Dr. R. H. Awl,
of Sunbury. He published the paper about a year and a half and then
disposed of it to Hamlet A. Kerr; the only copy examined by the writer
is the issue of Monday, August 10, 1829 (New Series, Volume I, No. 10 -
Whole No. 88), a five column folio about as large as its contemporary,
the Gazetteer. If published without interruption, it is evident that the
paper first appeared in December, 1827. It was first published at a
small frame building which occupied the site of P. P. Smith's store on
the south side of Market street between Front and Second; after his
marriage Grossman resided at a house that stood upon the present site of
Dr. R. H. Awl's, and printed his paper in an adjoining building at the
quarters subsequently occupied by the Youngmans. He was afterward
engaged in the publishing business at New York on an extensive scale.
Mr. Kerr continued the Emporium a few years, and afterward established a
paper at Milton.
Der General Staats Zeitung was originally established at
Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. The discontinuance of the Canalboot in 1833
left Sunbury without a German newspaper, and the favorable opening thus
presented was
END OF PAGE 281
embraced by the proprietors of the Zeitung; the materials of their
establishment arrived at Sunbury on the 17th of February, 1835, and the
office was opened on Market street next door to the Jackson Inn. On the
13th of April following Bartholomew Hauck retired from the Zeitung,
which thus became the property of his former partner, Henry Zuppinger.
The paper supported Van Buren for President and Muhlenberg for Governor,
but it is not known how long it was continued.
The Sunbury American was established by Henry B. Masser in 1840,
and has now been continuously published longer than any other paper at
Sunbury. Its inception was, however, the outgrowth of unexpected
political developments rather than the result of deliberate purpose. At
that time Northumberland county was overwhelmingly Democratic, and a
nomination by the dominant party was virtually equivalent to an
election; it was in the nominating convention, therefore, that the
principal battles of the local campaign were fought. In 1838 and 1839
Charles W. Hegins was elected to the legislature from this county, but
when he appeared for re-nomination in 1840 the candidate from the
northern part of the county, Jesse C. Horton, defeated him; the methods
employed by Horton's supporters were regarded as irregular, by the
friends of Hegins, who thereupon withdrew in a body and organized
another convention, which placed Hegins in nomination. The Democratic
papers in the county at that time were the Sunbury Gazette and Milton
Ledger; the latter naturally supported Horton, but when the Gazette also
recognized him as the regular Democratic candidate it was a great
surprise to the friends of Hegins, whose cause was thus left without an
organ. In this emergency Henry B. Masser, Charles G. Donnel, and others
resolved upon the establishment of a new paper; the execution of the
project was intrusted to Mr. Masser, and within ten days after the
convention the first number of the American was printed at Sunbury,
September 12, 1840. Its publication was begun without a subscription
list, but large editions were distributed gratuitously, notwithstanding
which Horton was elected by a small popular majority. Although the
immediate purpose of its inception was thus defeated, the American early
became one of the most influential journals in central Pennsylvania. In
politics it was Democratic, although its support was not infrequently
given to the opposition candidates, and under Mr. Masser's editorship it
was particularly active in its advocacy of a protective tariff and the
internal development of the State. Early in Buchanan's administration it
became identified with the "free soil" movement in the Democratic party;
its support was transferred to President Lincoln shortly after his
election in 1860, and from that time it has been a stanch Republican
paper.
The American was published by Masser & Eisely from September, 1840,
until April, 1848, when Joseph Eisely, who had had charge of the
mechanical department but no proprietary interest, retired. Henry B.
Masser then con-
END OF PAGE 282
ducted the paper individually until September 19, 1864, when Emanuel
Wilvert secured an interest. N. S. Engle became a member of the firm on
the 1st of April, 1866, but his interest was acquired on the 1st of
January, 1869, by Mr. Wilvert, who became sole proprietor on the 28th of
April in the same year by the retirement of Mr. Masser. Wilvert
continued the publication individually until April 11, 1879, when the
Gazette and American were merged into the Gazette-American, in which the
former proprietors of both were jointly interested. One year later this
connection was dissolved, and the American reappeared on the 9th of
April, 1880, with Emanuel Wilvert & Son as publishers. Austin Wilvert,
the junior member, retired several months later, after which Emanuel
Wilvert was individual proprietor until August 15, 1887. Hudson
Withington and Thomas J. Silvius next published the paper under the firm
name of Withington & Silvius; the former withdrew on the 5th of
December, 1889, and the present (1890) editor and publisher is Thomas J.
Silvius. The American was originally a six-column folio twenty-two
inches long and sixteen inches wide; it is now an eight-column folio.
Der Deutsche Amerikaner was published from 1843 to 1864, and was
identical in ownership and management with the Sunbury American, of
which it was virtually the German edition. It was a five-column folio,
fourteen by twenty-one inches, and circulated extensively in the
southern part of the county.
The Daily American was established by Emanuel Wilvert on the 30th
of November, 1877, and continued thirteen months. It was a five-column
folio, seventeen inches long and eleven inches wide, and appeared as an
evening paper.
Der Deutsche Demokrat was first issued on the 1st of January, 1856,
by Cyrus O. Bachman. In 1861 it became an adjunct of the Northumberland
County Democrat, and was discontinued several years later.
The Northumberland County Democrat was established in 1861. The
first movement in this direction was made in 1859, when a coterie of
local party leaders, prominent among whom were Dr. R. H. Awl, William H.
Kase, Dr. David Waldron (then sheriff of the county), Colonel Wright,
and others, jointly raised a fund for the purpose of enlarging the plant
of the Milton Democrat and removing it to Sunbury; although the idea was
never consummated under these auspices, Doctor Awl subsequently
purchased the materials of the Democrat at sheriff's sale, removed them
to Sunbury, and permitted Cyrus O. Bachman to use the press, type, etc.
in the publication of his German paper gratis, thereby materially
strengthening that journal. Theretofore both the Gazette and American
had been Democratic, but both adopted the principles of the Republican
party after the election of Lincoln in 1860, thus leaving the Deutsche
Demokrat the only organ of its party in this county. It soon became
apparent that an English paper was necessary
END OF PAGE 283
for the support of party interests, and, upon the representations of
prominent Democratic leaders, Truman H. Purdy, formerly editor of the
Argus at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, agreed to take charge of the journal
it was proposed to establish, if preliminary support to the extent of
eight-hundred subscribers should be obtained. Measures were accordingly
inaugurated to meet this requirement, principally through the efforts of
Dr. R. H. Awl and Jesse Simpson, who made a thorough canvass of the
county, and with the assurance of sufficient support Mr. Purdy was
induced to begin; in addition to the materials that then constituted the
Demokrat office he purchased new type, press, etc., and on the 8th of
March, 1861, the first number of "The Northumberland County Democrat"
was issued by Truman H. Purdy and Cyrus O. Bachman. For some time the
publication of the paper was attended with many difficulties, owing to
the violent partisan feeling which pervaded political discussion at that
period. An extreme instance of the hostility with which it was regarded
occurred on the night of January 18, 1864, when the office (which then
occupied the third story of a brick building on the south side of Market
street between Third and Center alley) was mobbed by the Ninth New York
Volunteers while passing through Sunbury en route to their homes. An
outrage such as this strengthened the paper with its party in this
county, however, and within a few years the Democrat became an
influential and lucrative journal.
The partnership of Messrs. Purdy and Bachman was dissolved several
years later; after its dissolution Mr. Purdy continued the paper
individually until January 1, 1867, when the establishment was leased by
J. E. Eichholtz and John J. Auten. The latter retired several months
later, and on the 1st of July, 1868. the paper was purchased by J. E.
Eichholtz and Alvin E. Day. In June, 1871, Mr. Eichholtz bought Mr.
Day's interest, and thus acquired individual ownership. D. L.
Sollenberger secured a proprietary interest, July 1, 1877, when the
style of the firm became Eichholtz & Company. Mr. Eichholtz again
conducted the paper individually in 1879; on the 1st of January, 1880,
W. L. Dewart and George C. Frysinger acquired proprietary interests, and
since that date the style of the firm has been Eichholtz & Company. Mr.
Frysinger retired on the 1st of January, 1881, and from that time to the
present Messrs. Eichholtz and Dewart have constituted the firm.
The Sunbury Daily was first issued on the 7th of December, 1872, by
J. E. Eichholtz. The original size was a four-column folio ten by
fourteen inches in dimensions. From the autumn of 1875 until the latter
part of March, 1876, the paper was published by Walsmith & Silvius. It
was afterward discontinued for some time; the publication was resumed in
1879, and since that date the paper has been under the same ownership
and management as the Democrat.
The Sunbury Independent was established by John J. Auten, February
27, 1868. In the following December it was purchased by Cornelius A.
END OF PAGE 284
Reimensnyder, who changed the name to Democratic Guard. After
experiencing various vicissitudes the paper was finally discontinued
some two years later. A German edition was also published for a time.
The Sunbury Enterprise was first issued on the 25th of May, 1870,
by J. K. Keefer, and probably published until the following year.
The Weekly Independent, J. A. Cake and Thomas J. Silvius,
proprietors, Thomas J. Silvius, editor, made its debut, April 26, 1875,
and was published about four months. It was a six-column folio. Mr. Cake
also published the Morning Express.
The Sunbury Weekly News was established on the 17th of June, 1881,
by A. N. Brice, at the west side of Third street between Market and
Chestnut. It was originally a five-column folio, and has been
successively enlarged to a five-column quarto, a nine-column folio
twenty-nine by forty-two inches, and a nine-column folio thirty-one by
forty-four inches, the present size. The Sunbury Gazette was absorbed in
1888. The present office of publication, a three-story brick building on
Chestnut street, was first occupied in 1888. The News is a stanch
Republican paper, one of the largest in size and circulation in the
county.
The Evening News was stated on the 1st of April, 1890, and is
published by A. N. Brice & Son, with Max Kauffman as reporter. Prior to
the removal of the establishment to its present quarters the Daily News
was published on Third street about six months.
The Northumberland County Legal News, "a weekly publication devoted
to legal news in county and State," was first issued on the 25th of
August, 1888, by A. N. Brice & Sons. The late John F. Wolfinger's
"Recollections of the Bar of the Counties of Northumberland, Lycoming,
Union, and Columbia," reports of cases, and opinions and decisions of
the court in Northumberland and the surrounding counties constitute the
principal features of this publication.
THE PRESS OF MILTON.
The Miltonian has been continuously published longer than any other
newspaper of Northumberland county. It was the first newspaper at
Milton, and its founder, Henry Frick, was one of the first natives of
the county to engage in the printing business within its limits. His
honorable connection with the press, and the high positions in public
life to which he subsequently attained, entitle Mr. Frick to a more than
passing notice.
Henry Frick was born at Northumberland, Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania, in 1795, son of John Frick, a prominent figure in the
political history of the county at that period. As evidenced by the
original indenture, now in the possession of his son, R. M. Frick,
cashier of the Milton National Bank, he was apprenticed to John Binns on
the 27th of January, 1806, for the term of ten years, one month, and -
days. The following were among the stipulations of this indenture:-
END OF PAGE 285
He [Henry Frick] shall not play at cards, dice, or any other
unlawful game whereby his said master may have damage; with his own
goods or the goods of others without license from his said master he
shall neither buy nor sell; he shall not absent himself day nor night
from his said master's service without leave; he shall regularly attend
every Sunday at some place of divine worship; he shall not haunt ale
houses or taverns, but in all things behave himself as a faithful and
diligent apprentice ought to do during the said term.
And the said John Binns, his heirs, executors, or administrators,
shall teach or cause to be instructed the said apprentice in the art,
trade, or mystery of a printer, and shall, during the said term, give to
the said apprentice two quarters' night schooling (one quarter's day
schooling to count and be equal to two quarters' night schooling), and
shall find and provide for the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink,
apparel, washing, and lodging during the said term, and at the
expiration thereof shall and will give his said apprentice the sum of
fifty dollars, good and lawful money of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
The apprenticeship was accordingly begun at Northumberland, but
within a few years Binns removed to Philadelphia; his young assistant
accompanied him and completed the period of his indenture in that city.
The "art, trade, or mystery of a printer" was thoroughly mastered by
him, and in after years he sustained in his own office a high reputation
for rapid and accurate composition. While yet in his minority he joined
a company at Philadelphia for service in the war of 1812, participating
in the movements about Marcus Hook. His apprenticeship expired, March
18, 1816; returning to Northumberland county, he was attracted to the
growing town of Milton, and issued the first number of The Miltonian on
Saturday, the 21st of September, 1816. For more than ten years he
conducted the paper individually, and then for thirteen years he
continued its publication in partnership with others. In 1828 he was
elected to the Pennsylvania legislature, and re-elected in 1829 and
1830. After his retirement from the Miltonian he acted as justice of the
peace, and at the time of his death, March 1, 1844, he was a member of
Congress from the Thirteenth Pennsylvania district. Eloquent eulogies
were delivered, in the Senate by James Buchanan, and in the House by J.
R. Ingersoll. In the language of Mr. Buchanan: "It is the history of a
man (fortunately so common in this country), who, from a humble
beginning, has, by industry, ability, and perseverance, gradually
surmounted every intervening obstacle, and at last attained the high
distinction of a seat in Congress, under circumstances which clearly
evince that he enjoyed uncommon personal popularity among those who knew
him best."
Henry Frick published the Miltonian individually from September 21,
1816, to April 21, 1827; it was continued by Henry Frick and Montgomery
Sweney from April 21, 1827, to April 16, 1831; by Henry Frick, Robert
Bennett, and John W. Correy, from April 16, 1831, to April 20, 1833; by
Henry Frick and Robert Bennett, from, April 20, 1833, to October 18,
1834; by Henry Frick, individually, from October 18,1834, to June 3,
1837; by Henry Frick and John H. Brown, from June 3, 1837, to June 3,
1840; by
END OF PAGE 286
John H. Brown, individually, from June 3, 1840, to January 1, 1842; by
John Frick and Edward B. Hunter, from January 1, 1842, to May 5,1843; by
John Frick, individually, from May 12, 1843, to July 14, 1843; by John
and Robert M. Frick, from July 14, 1843, to December 31, 1852; by Robert
M. and Henry Frick, Jr., from January 7, 1853, to August 26, 1853; by
Henry Frick, Jr., individually, from September 2, 1853, to January 1,
1854; by John Robins, from January 1, 1854, to January 1, 1857; by L. H.
Funk, from 1858 to 1863; by L. H. Funk and Lee M. Morton, from 1863 to
1867; by Lee M. Morton and Frank Bound, from 1867 to 1869; by Lee M.
Morton and William M. Mervine, in 1869; by Lee M. Morton, William M.
Mervine, and D. C. John, from 1870 to 1875; by P. L. Hackenberg,
individually, in 1875; by Lee M. Morton, individually, from 1875 to
1877; by Lee M. Morton and L. V. Housel, from the spring of 1877 to the
autumn of 1878; by L. V. Housel, individually, from the autumn of 1878
to October, 1880; by Thomas Strine and Joe A. Logan, from October, 1880,
to August, 1883, and from that time by Joe A. Logan, individually. The
paper is a stanch Republican organ, and is justly regarded as one of the
leading journals of that party in the county. A daily edition, the
first in the borough, was started, October 26, 1877, and has since been
published on several occasions for a brief period. The office files of
the weekly edition, unfortunately for the interests of local historical
research, were entirely destroyed in the fire of May 14, 1880.
The States Advocate, the second newspaper published at Milton,
first appeared, February 26, 1826. From that date until August 13,
1829, the proprietors were William Tweed and Elim H. Kincaid, followed
by William Tweed, individually, until August 15, 1833; William Tweed and
Jonas Kelchner, from August 15, 1833, to November 13,1834, and Jonas
Kelchner, individually, from November 13, 1834, to November, 1838, when
he removed the plant to Lewisburg. This paper advocated the principles
and policy of the Whig party.
The West Branch Farmer and True Democrat was established, September
3, 1834, by Montgomery Sweney. At that time the Miltonian was also
avowedly Democratic, but not sufficiently active in the party interest
to meet the approval of Mr. Sweney, hence the emphatic adjective in the
caption of his paper, which was meant to distinguish the Democracy it
supported from that advocated by its contemporary. The venture was not
a success, however, and in 1837 the editor removed to the Spoon river,
Illinois, when he engaged in farming and passed the remainder of his
life.
The Northumberland first appeared on the 20th of November, 1837,
under the proprietorship of Hamlet A. Kerr, a man of fine intellectual
capacity and an exceptionally competent printer. In its typographical
appearance it was superior to any paper theretofore published at Milton,
while the character of its contents and the style of its editorials also
evinced ability and discrimina-
END OF PAGE 287
tion. It expired within a few years; Mr. Kerr continued to reside at
Milton until his death.
The Milton Ledger was established in 1888 by John McGee and Stephen
Wilson; it was successively published by McGee & Collins, Henry L.
Dieffenbach, John Porter, Brewer & Armstrong, and L. F. Frank, and
finally suspended in 1844 from lack of patronage. It was strongly
Democratic in its editorial utterances.
The Advocate and Day-Spring, a temperance paper, first appeared in
December, 1844. The publisher and editor was Rev. W. H. T. Barnes, a
young clergyman of fine oratorical ability, but not specially adapted to
the work of conducting a country newspaper. He also engaged in
merchandising, but his enterprises were not successful, and the plant of
the Advocate was seized by his creditors. Barnes enlisted for service in
the Mexican war, and was killed in the operations against Vera Cruz.
The Milton Democrat made its debut, April 17, 1852, with John R.
Eck as editor and publisher. He was a good practical printer, a man of
fine social qualities, and possessed more talent as a writer than is
ordinarily bestowed upon a country newspaper. In 1859 the paper shared
in the waning fortunes of its party in this State, and after disposing
of the plant Eck went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile
pursuits. He died in that city, July 30, 1880, in the seventieth year of
his age.
The Northumberland County Herald, a temperance paper, was started
in 1868 by Rev. E. W. Kirby and J. W. Speddy. Their partnership
terminated in the following year, when Speddy removed the outfit to
Mifflintown, Juniata county, Pennsylvania. The Herald was neutral in
politics.
The Milton Record was first published under its present name, March
23, 1889, and is the result of a consolidation of the Argus and
Economist. In 1872 W. H Smith established the Independent Weekly at
Benton, Columbia county, Pennsylvania; it was removed to Milton in 1876,
became the Argus, and was first issued under that name, September 15,
1878. In 1880 the office was entirely destroyed by fire, and with no
part of the former outfit except the subscription list, publication was
resumed, May 21, 1880, in two boxcars at the corner of Broadway and
Filbert streets. These quarters were occupied four months. The
establishment was then removed to Buoy's block on Broadway, the first
brick building completed after the fire, where it remained until the
spring of 1883, when a frame building at the site of the present
publishing office was occupied. In 1884 the Economist was started by
Schuyler & Keister; its successive proprietors were Schuyler Brothers,
A. S. Hottenstein, The Economist Publishing Company, and W. P. Hastings.
Like the Argus, it was Democratic in polities. On the 23d of March,
1889, both papers were transferred to The Record Publishing Company, of
which J. Woods Brown is president and W. H Smith, treasurer and general
manager. Ground was broken for the present three-story brick publishing
house
END OF PAGE 288
Page 289 contains a portrait of Andrew N. Brice
Page 290 is blank
on Broadway, September 3, 1889. With the exception of four months in
1881-82, Mr. Smith has been the editor of the Argus and the Record since
their first inception; he continues to fill that position, and the
present prosperity of the paper is principally due to his individual
efforts. The Record is Democratic in politics, and is a valuable adjunct
to the party organization in Northumberland county.
A flourishing daily was published in connection with the weekly
Argus at the time of the fire. It has since been twice resuscitated, but
without permanent results on either occasion.
The Standard was started, February 7, 1890, by W. P. Hastings. Two
months later it became a tri-weekly, and is so continued. It is a
Prohibition organ.
SHAMOKIN NEWSPAPERS.
The first effort to establish a paper at Shamokin was made in 1853.
At that period the town received an impetus from railroad improvement,
and it was thought by the more enterprising members of the community
that a local journal could be supported with profit to the publisher and
advantage to the place. The movement was without direct results,
however.
To John Robins belongs the honor of starting the first paper at
Shamokin. He gave to the new venture the name of Shamokin Journal and
Farmers' and Miners' Advocate, the first number of which appeared on
Saturday, May 1, 1858. It was a six-column folio, with a variety of
miscellaneous matter, several columns of local news, and an elaborate
prospectus, in which the projector expressed his intention to publish a
paper independent in politics, moral in sentiment, and devoted to the
interests of its constituency. The office of publication was "the red
house," a landmark of the town, the site of which is now occupied by the
Reading railroad. But the venture was premature; the business of the
place was in the midst of a period of financial stringency, and the
Journal expired from lack of pecuniary support before the completion of
its first volume.
The materials of the Journal office were purchased by Samuel John,
but for more than a year the town was without a local paper. On the 8th
of March, 1860, the Shamokin Register made its debut under Mr. John's
proprietorship and editorial management. He announced that the paper
would be independent in politics, but favorable to a protective tariff,
and promised an agricultural department "of vast interest to every one
who cultivates the soil, from a garden patch to a five-hundred-acre
farm, as the editor has been for thirty years a practical and scientific
farmer." Beginning as a six-column page, the Register was enlarged with
the nineteenth number, July 19, 1860, and in the following campaign
entered vigorously into the support of the Republican party. On the 28th
of March, 1861, Mr. John published a valedictory, having had "glory
enough for one campaign," but two weeks later, not having been
successful in finding a competent person to whom he
END OF PAGE 291
might intrust the paper, he resumed the publication, which was again
discontinued after the appearance of a single number. The paper next
appeared on the 6th of June, 1861, with Daniel Bower as editor. Mr.
Bower had previously been connected with the Williamsport Times; he
brought to the enterprise considerable experience and ability, but for
some reason the paper did not prosper, and on the 6th of April, 1862, it
was finally discontinued. The plant reverted to Mr. John; it was
subsequently removed to Sunbury and used in the publication of the
Democratic Guard at that place.
After severing his connection with the Register, Mr. Bower
proceeded to enlist the efforts and means of various citizens in the
establishment of a new paper, which made its first appearance, June 10,
1862, under the name of the Shamokin Herald, edited by Daniel Bower and
Dr. J. J. John. Twelve numbers were issued under this regime, when Mr.
Bower entered the military as recruiting officer at Camp Curtin.
Subsequently he became lieutenant in a company of volunteers, and died
from wounds received at Chancellorsville.
The first number of a new series of the Herald was issued on
Thursday, December 25, 1862, by J. Stewart McEwen, who continued the
paper until July 2d of the following year. The foreman of the office,
Samuel B. Sisty, then took charge, and published one number, when his
administration was peremptorily suspended by the stockholders. During
McEwen's incumbency, while professedly independent in polities, the
editorial utterances of the paper had been uniformly favorable to the
Republican national and State authorities; the one number issued by Mr.
Sisty was Democratic in a corresponding degree, which at once aroused
the opposition of the stockholders, and hence his untimely withdrawal.
Hitherto the efforts made to establish a paper at Shamokin had not
been crowned with the most gratifying success. While this was largely
attributable to lack of encouragement, it was also doubtless due to the
absence of those qualities of patience, persistence, and energy so
necessary in the projectors of journalistic ventures. But with the next
change of proprietorship the Herald passed into the hands of Owen M.
Fowler, and he took charge of it with the determination and the ability
to make it a success. Born at Brier Creek, Columbia county,
Pennsylvania, July 18, 1842, he obtained his education at the common
schools, and, having indicated a preference for the printing business at
an early age, was apprenticed to his uncle, Levi L. Tate, editor of a
Bloomsburg paper. After completing his trade he went to Philadelphia in
1861 and secured employment upon the Ladies' Monthly Magazine. There he
enlisted in a three months' regiment, and after a brief military
experience came to Shamokin with the object of starting a paper. Failing
to make satisfactory arrangements he again enlisted, in Company C, One
Hundred and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, holding the rank of
sergeant. For valorous conduct at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville he
END OF PAGE 292
was promoted to the second lieutenancy of his company. Returning to
Shamokin at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he took charge of
the Herald on the 23d of July, 1863. With this journal he was connected
without intermission until his death, excepting a few months (March to
July, 1865,) when he was again in the service as second lieutenant of a
company in the One Hundred and Third regiment. Others had failed, but he
assumed control of the Herald with the firm purpose and undaunted
resolution that overcome all difficulties, and in the course of a few
years it had become one of the leading papers of the county, an
established institution at Shamokin, and a potent influence in promoting
the growth of that borough. A department of the paper was devoted
especially to intelligence relating to the coal trade; this was under
the able management of Dr. J. J. John, and constituted an interesting
and valuable feature. The paper was Republican in politics, but confined
its attention more particularly to local affairs. Mr. Fowler's
journalistic career, honorable to himself and valuable to the community,
was terminated by his death, May 9, 1874.
From the latter date until July 1, 1874, the Herald was conducted
by Dr. J. J. John; it was then purchased by Heffelfinger & Coder. Both
of the constituent members of this firm had previously been in Mr.
Fowler's employ, and they were therefore well qualified by an
acquaintance with the community to continue the paper in its former
usefulness. Its appearance was improved, its circulation extended, and
from the fullness and reliability of its coal reports it became the
recognized organ of the coal trade in Northumberland county. After a
time Mr. Coder retired, and Mr. Heffelfinger continued the publication
individually until February 9, 1889, when the paper was transferred to
the present proprietors, John J. W. Schwartz and B. F. Howard.
The Daily Herald was started by Elmer Heffelfinger, October 22,
1888, and passed to Schwartz & Howard at the same time as the weekly. It
was originally a six-column page, but was enlarged in November, 1889,
when the name was changed to its present style by the substitution of
"Daily" for "Evening" in the caption.
The Shamokin Times had its inception in the Advertiser, a folio of
diminutive proportions published in January, 1872, by J. A. Gilger, and
distributed gratuitously. It was gradually enlarged, and on the 13th of
July, 1872, became a regular newspaper under the name of the Times with
J. L. Gilger & Son, proprietors, and J. A. Gilger, local editor. J. L.
Gilger withdrew in 1874, and for several months in that year the paper
was published by Gilger & Fagely. Upon the retirement of Mr. Fagely the
Shamokin Times Company was formed, and from the 1st of January, 1875,
the paper was edited by D. D. Domer. In November, 1879, D. L.
Sollenberger & Company succeeded the Shamokin Times Company, and have
since been the proprietors of the Times. D. D. Domer was associated in
the publication
END OF PAGE 293
until April, 1881; R. F. Howard and W. S. Guiterman became members of
the company in 1886, and the latter continues to retain a proprietary
interest.
The Daily Times, the first daily paper in the Northumberland county
coal regions, was first issued, October 17, 1883. It was at first
printed on a hand press, but this having been found too tedious and
laborious, the publication was suspended for several weeks until better
facilities could be provided. The active existence of the paper was then
resumed, but it was finally discontinued on the 14th of October, 1884.
The Daily Dispatch was first issued, November 21, 1886, and from a
comparatively modest beginning it has become one of the leading journals
in this part of the anthracite coal region. This is under the same
proprietorship and editorial management as the Times.
The National Greenback was started in May, 1877, by John J. Auten,
who was succeeded in the following October by Samuel Martin. The
publication was finally discontinued in 1878.
The Shamokin Sentinel made its first appearance on the 6th of May,
1882, under the proprietorship of C. L. Gilger & Company. It was
published for advertising purposes and distributed gratuitously for a
time, but eventually developed into a regular weekly newspaper with C.
L. Gilger and W. S. Guiterman as editors and publishers. Mr. Gilger was
succeeded by A. D. B. McKenzie and Mr. Guiterman retired; the paper was
finally absorbed by the Herald.
Talk of the Day, H. M. Kurtz & Brother, publishers, J. C. J. Kurtz,
editor, was established in 1878 and published several years. Local news
and advertising were the principal features.
NEWSPAPERS OF MT. CARMEL.
The Mt. Carmel Progress, the pioneer newspaper of that borough, was
established in December, 1877, by Owen Fowler. It was printed on a
Columbia lever press, and was in form a folio an eighth-sheet in size,
making its appearance semi-monthly. In March, 1878, the name became Home
News, and the paper was published weekly. In 1879 M. K. Watkins became
proprietor; he changed the name to Mt. Carmel News, and enlarged the
dimensions of the sheet. E. E. White became editor in 1881, when the
size was further increased. In the following year the entire outfit of
the Gloucester City Tribune was removed from Gloucester, New Jersey, by
Mr. Watkins, thus increasing the facilities of the office to an
appreciable extent. Mr. White acquired a proprietary interest in 1883,
and during the following four years the paper was published by the firm
of Watkins & White. In April, 1887, Mr. Watkins retired in favor of R.
J. Wilson, and the paper was published by White & Wilson until February
1, 1891, when Professor White disposed of his interest to Mr. Wilson,
who has since continued the publication indi-
END OF PAGE 294
vidually. The News is now an eight-column folio, and has been published
semi-weekly since August, 1889. It is Republican in politics.
The Weekly Item, an advertising medium for gratuitous distribution,
was first issued on the 7th of January, 1888, by L. W. Gheen, who was
succeeded on the 7th of December, 1889, by Will B. Wilson, the present
proprietor. It is a five-column folio, and is published weekly.
The Mt. Carmel American made its first appearance on the 30th of
August, 1890, as a five-column folio for gratuitous distribution. On the
1st of January, 1891, "Mt. Carmel" was substituted for "Weekly" in the
caption, the paper was enlarged to its present size (a seven-column
folio), and brought to a subscription basis. Burke & Sterner established
the paper, but Sterner withdrew after the issue of the second number;
Thomas N. Burke then continued the paper individually until January 1,
1891, when William J. Thomas became associated with him, and the present
publishers are Burke & Thomas. The American is independent in politics
with Democratic proclivities.
The Tri-Weekly American, first issued on the 2d of January, 1891,
by Curtis Sterner, suspended three weeks later.
PAPERS OF WATSONTOWN.
The Watsontown Record was founded in 1870 by a local company known
as the Watsontown Printing Association, of which A. J. Guffy, Joseph
Hollopeter, and Oscar Foust were the leading members. The par value of
the shares was ten dollars and a sufficient amount was realized from
their sale and by subscriptions from public spirited citizens to secure
a printing outfit. P. H Coup, now a clergyman, was the first editor and
manager. In this position he evinced considerable ability, but, like
many other enterprises in the incipient stage, the paper was not a
financial success. The plant was sold at judicial foreclosure and
purchased by John J. Auten, under whose administration a fair degree of
prosperity was attained. April 1, 1877, he was succeeded by D. L.
Sollenberger, now of the Shamokin Dispatch. On the 1st of February,
1878, he disposed of the plant to the Record publishing Company, of
which G. W. Hess was president, with Oscar Foust and S. M. Miller as
constituent members. The editorial and business management was
intrusted to L. C. Fosnot, who had been an attaché of the office since
Mr. Sollenberger took charge. In 1881 J. A. Everitt succeeded the
Record Publishing Company; during the following three years the
publication was successively conducted by no less than thirteen
different individuals or firms, each change resulting in a less degree
of prosperity, and the paper was finally consolidated with the Star, in
January, 1884.
The West Branch Star made its debut, April 1, 1882, as a five-
column quarto, under the proprietorship of L. C. Fosnot and W. W.
Fisher. The latter retired in October, 1883, in favor of Theodore Burr,
whose interest was acquired by Mr. Fosnot in March, 1890. In January,
1884, a consolidation
END OF PAGE 295
was effected under the name of the Record and Star, when the page was
enlarged to six columns. The present form, that of a seven-column
quarto, was adopted in April, 1888. The Star was originally Democratic
in politics, but the paper is now independent. Mr. Fosnot is the editor
and publisher.
The Agricultural Epitomist was established as a semi-monthly in
1882 by J. A. Everitt, an extensive seedsman, and the paper was a useful
advertising adjunct to his business, although considerable attention was
also devoted to general agricultural topics. John A. Woodward was
editor until 1884, when the paper became a monthly, and since that date
it has been edited by J. A. Everitt, who was succeeded in 1889 by the
Epitomist Publishing Company. The size of the sheet is twenty-four by
thirty-four inches, folded to sixteen pages. The highest circulation of
any single number was two hundred thousand copies; the present average
circulation is seventy-five thousand copies. In 1886 the Epitomist was
removed to Indianapolis, Indiana. It has a larger circulation than any
other paper published in that State, and, according to Powell's
Directory, is one of twenty-four papers in the United States that
regularly issue over fifty thousand copies. The Blade was established by
J. Ward Diehl, May 13, 1889, and is one of the most recent as well as
one of the most sprightly journals started in the county. It is a six-
column quarto, and is independent in politics.
MCEWENSVILLE AND LOCUST GAP PAPERS.
"About 1849 or 1850 a paper called the West Branch Intelligencer
was started in McEwensville by a gentleman named Case. It lived about
eighteen months, and then expired." - History of the west Branch Valley.
The Locust Gap Local, the initial journalistic venture at that
point, is a five-column folio, independent in politics, and was
established on the 6th of December, 1890, by Frederick W. Magrady, the
present editor and proprietor.
END OF PAGE 296 and chapter VII.