The Jeffersonian, under date of March 2, 1841, contained the following account of a “talking machine,” then being used in England. It tends to the opinion that the telephone was in use long before the present instrument was perfected: --

RAILWAY TALKING MACHINE.

“A late English journal, in referring to the London and Blackwell Railroad, mentions a ‘talking machine,’ constructed with galvanic wires, by means of which conversation could be carried on between London and Blackwell with the greatest ease and precision. By way of illustrating the efficiency of this talking machine Mr. Stephenson said that he went to the station in London one day to enquire for one of the assistants. He was not there, but the attendant said that he could enquire if he was at the other end; he did so; in a few seconds the answer was that he was not there. But about five minutes afterwards the talking machine informed him in London that his assistant had arrived at the Blackwell terminus; upon which he instructed the attendant to say by the same agency, ‘Tell him to come here directly.’ In 10 minutes he arrived, the distance being seven miles. If the distance were 100 miles the conversation could be carried on just as readily, for the conversation traveled at the rate of 20 miles a second.”

December 5, 1851, J. W. Tamblin became the associate of Mr. Hunt. March 15, 1853, J. C. Hatch purchased Mr. Tamblin’s interest, but resold the same in the following September. A daily paper was issued from the Jeffersonian office from May 10, 1851, till November, 1853.

August 29, 1846, the first number of the Democratic Union was issued: Thomas Andrews and James Swindells, publishers; Lysander H. Brown, editor. Swindells was in the paper only one week. April 15, 1847, Stephen Martin became an associate publisher. September 2 John A. Haddock succeeded Martin. In June, 1848, Mr. Brown withdrew from the paper, J. C. Hatch taking his place, when the politics of the paper were changed from the support of Cass to that of Van Buren for the presidency. It subsequently passed into the hands of Charles A. Stevens and John A. Haddock. In the great fire of May 14, 1849, the office was destroyed, but in two weeks the publication of the paper was resumed. September 12 Haddock became the proprietor and publisher, and October 15, 1851, Lysander H. Brown again became connected with the paper, and continued with Haddock till November, when he became sole publisher. January 9, 1853, Messrs. L. H. Brown and E. R. Pollard became the publishers. Mr. Brown continued in the concern till 1854, when Haddock again obtained possession and soon after transferred it to Elon Comstock, who consolidated it with the Jeffersonian, styling the combined papers the Jefferson Union. In December, 1855, Mr. Comstock sold the Jefferson Union office to J. W. Tamblin, who, in May, 1856, sold two-thirds of the concern to J. A. Haddock and Royal Chamberlain, of St. Louis. In the fall of 1856 E. J. Clark purchased this establishment, and changed the name to Jefferson County Union, associating with him Royal Chamberlain. Three years subsequently he purchased Chamberlain’s interest and was sole proprietor until January 1, 1865, when he sold the paper to R. A. Oakes. Previous to this time J. M. Sigourney, for a year or more, had been employed to edit the paper in Mr. Clark’s absence.

January 16, 1861, Hall & Bragdon started the Watertown Daily News, which was merged in the Daily Reformer, January 20, 1862. At this time the Weekly News was purchased and edited by J. W. Tamblin. January 19, 1865, Stephen Canfield purchased the interest of Tamblin in the News, and the paper was merged in the Jefferson County Union: S. Canfield & Company, publishers; R. A. Oakes, editor. July 1, 1865, Mr. Canfield bought the interest of Mr. Oakes, who gave place to H. H. Young as editor. The name of the paper was changed to The Democrat; and in August Henry Munson bought the interest of Mr. Oakes, who gave place to H. H. Young as editor. The name of the paper was changed to The Democrat; and in August Henry S. Munson bought the interest of Mr. Canfield and a daily was started called the Daily Democrat, with Young and Munson, editors. It was issued till February, 1866, when it, with the weekly edition, was suspended. This left the Democracy without an organ. In May following, however, Anson B. Moore purchased the plant, and, with H. H. Young as editor, revived the Democrat. In 1868 A. H. Hall purchased the paper and changed the name to the Re-Union, and continued the paper till 1870, when he sold to George Moss and Walter A. Boon. In 1872 they started the Morning Dispatch (daily), and it was continued by them, C. W. Havens, C. J. Hynes, and others until May 7, 1881, when the plant was sold to D. Kelley and Charles W. Clare, who run the daily one year, when Kelley retired and the daily was discontinued. The Re-Union has since that time been under the management of Mr. Clare, who has made it an entire success.

The Democratic press in this county has received its inspiration from Jarius Rich, Alvin Hunt, Lysander H. Brown, E. J. Clark, Royal Chamberlain, and R. A. Oakes. The latter gentleman possesses fine literary talents, and never writes anything that is not written in the best manner. Mr. Chamberlain was a very fair write; Mr. Clark is both a ready writer and speaker. He has never done much out of the line of purely party politics; but he has labored early and late in the service of the Democratic organization, and I judge without much profit to himself. Mr. Hunt was decidedly a strong write, and made himself felt for nearly a quarter of a century; Lysander H. Brown, in his prime, was ready with his pen, and made an excellent speech without preparation; while Mr. Rich, we judge, was one of the “rough and ready” sort of men. Only one of these men, E. J. Clark, was a practical printer, and it is a noteworthy fact that not one of them ever accumulated any great amount of money out of the business, which is an evidence either of unselfishness or want of financial tact. Mr. Clare is the first and only individual connected with the Democratic press of this county who has made anything out of his calling. I have given precedence to the Democratic press because it is the oldest. The party has never been without an organ, except for a brief time noted above. To-day that organ rests on a more secure basis than at any previous period.

When the Abbeys came into possession of the American Advocate there was very little party feeling. Mr. Monroe had been chosen president the previous year, receiving 230 out of the 231 electoral votes cast. There was little opposition to the Democratic, then styled Republican, party. That little was chiefly local. It was therefore up-hill work for a purely party paper, as were those which had been published in Watertown. So their paper stopped at the end of two years. Another, however, was soon after started by one of the firm, Seth A. Abbey, which was called the Independent Republican, probably because there were men of adverse political views. This paper, I judge, was the first one in Watertown which ventured to avow sentiments antagonistic to the Republican organization, though there was one at Sackets Harbor, established in 1817, which was undisguised in its opposition to so-called Republicanism.

Independent Republican and Anti-Masonic Recorder, which lasted until the Censor was removed to Watertown from Adams, January, 1830, and was called the

Watertown Censor, and was published by Abner Morton, was anti-Democratic in politics. It was succeeded by the

Anti-Masonic Sun, which was published by Enoch Ely Camp. It was soon changed and published 39 weeks, commencing December 19, 1830, by Dr. R. Goodale, as

The Constellation. Subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the

Jefferson Reporter, and published it from September 11, 1832, till January 21, 1834, when he removed to Monroe, Michigan, taking his press with him.

September 19, 1831, Mr. Cory dropped the words General Advertiser from the title of his paper, and it appeared as the Watertown Register till March 25, 1835, when it was changed to the North American, with John Haxton, editor. Under this cognomen the paper continued until September, 1839, when H. S. Noble became the publisher, and restored the name of Watertown Register. Noble kept in the Register until March 12, 1842, when he sold to William Hough. On the 9th of April Hough sold to William Welch, who conducted the paper until May 20, 1843, when he discontinued it and started the Black River Journal. Subsequently Joel Greene purchased a half interest in the concern, and the paper was continued two years (until 1845), when Welch sold out and went West.

In the spring of 1846 Greene commenced the publication of the Daily Journal, ran it a short time, then changed it to the Watertown Tri-Weekly Journal, and as such it was continued till August 20, 1846, when A. W. Clark became the purchaser, and established the Northern State Journal. Two years later George W. Smith and H. S. Noble became the publishers, the firm being styled Smith & Noble. John Fayel subsequently bought into the concern, and was joined by A. W. Clark, Smith & Noble retiring. In 1850 Clark & Fayel sold the paper to the “American party,” but after a few months it came back into their hands.

Clark & Fayel continued in the paper until July, 1863, when the partnership was dissolved. Indeed Mr. Clark paid little attention to the paper after taking his seat in Congress in 1861.& (Just when Clark & Fayel left the Journal has not been ascertained. They were in the paper (at least their names were) December 2, 1862.) When Mr. Fayel retired from the paper he took an office in the Postoffice Department at Washington, but failing health compelled him to relinquish the same, and he died at Saratoga, where he had gone in the hope of obtaining relief, July 12, 1864, at the age of 39, and after a service of 12 years as associate editor of the Journal. The paper then passed into the hands of J. Budlong and Orson L. Haddock. After a few months, however, Haddock sold his interest to Budlong, and Budlong sold the same to H. H. Smith, September 16, 1865, and under their management the Journal was continued most of the time as a semi-weekly until April 1, 1867, when it was sold to Solon M. Hazen, and continued by him until it was finally disposed of to the proprietors of the Reformer, May 15, 1868, and the paper discontinued. In August 28, 1850, L. Ingalls, A. H. Burdick, and L. M. Stowell started the New York Reformer, independent in politics. Mr. Burdick retired from the paper October 16, 1851, and Mr. Stowell left it March 11, 1858. From this date to August 26, 1858, Mr. Ingalls had no partner. At that time John A. Haddock was taken into the concern. March 22, 1860, this notice appeared in the Reformer: --

“Hon. Beman Brockway, late of Oswego County, will hereafter be associated with the undersigned in the conduct of this paper INGALLS & HADDOCK.”

September 27, in the same year, Mr. Haddock retired from the paper, and Isaac M. Beebee became interested in the same. He remained in the paper until October 10, 1861, when he resigned to go to the war, and Ingalls and Brockway became the publishers. December 17, 1863, Lafayette J. Bigelow became connected with the paper and continued his interest therein until his death, which occurred January 13, 1870. On the 1st of June following Charles R. Skinner came into the establishment as a partner, the firm name being Ingalls, Brockway & Skinner. December 12, 1873, Mr. Brockway purchased the interest of Mr. Ingalls at public sale, and at private sale the interest of Mr. Skinner the 1st of August, 1874, since which time he has been the editor of the paper, and he and his sons, J. W. and H. A. Brockway, the proprietors of the establishment.

It will be seen that the array of names concerned in bringing into existence the Republican press in Watertown, and bringing up what is now the Daily Times and Weekly Reformer, is large and respectable, to say the least. Benjamin Cory was a solid man, both physically and intellectually. H. S. Noble did good work. William Welch, who was the founder of the old Black River Journal, is a good deal of a man, and had he remained in the paper would without doubt have made his mark here as he has elsewhere. A. W. Clark, though never a strong writer, was a good newspaper man, possessing a level head and a good heart. George W. Smith, who is still living at his home in Herkimer, in his day excelled both as a speaker and writer. John Fayel was one of the cleverest writers and best hearted men ever connected with the press in this county. Lotus Ingalls’s varied talents are too well known to require special mention. Mr. Stowell wrote pointedly and well. Mr. Haddock wields a ready pen, and, had he stuck to journalism, could hardly have failed to achieve credit. Lafayette J. Bigelow was the readiest speaker Watertown has ever had, and he wrote well. Charles R. Skinner is a rapid and excellent writer, and ought to have continued in journalism and let offices along. But he got into politics, somewhat accidentally, and does not find it an easy thing to get out . The life-work of the writer will be left to speak for itself.

Besides the foregoing there have been numerous newspaper ventures in Watertown. Among them may be mentioned the Herald of Salvation, a Universalist semi-monthly magazine, by Rev. Pitt Morse, commenced November 30, 1822; first year printed by S. A. Abbey; second, by W. Woodward. It was then united with a magazine in Philadelphia.

The Genius of Philanthropy, temperance, started by H. L. Harvey, who bought Thursday’s Post, January 17, 1828, and issued a new paper, called the Watertown Register, and united the Genius of Philanthropy with it. Just when the last named publication was started is not stated.

The Monitor, quarterly, started January 1, 1830, and designed as a record of the benevolent societies of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

The Student, by the students of the Black River Institute, and printed by B. Cory, commenced August 1, 1837. It lasted one year.

The Pioneer Phalanx and Independent Magazine, edited by A. C. S. Bailey, and begun in November, 1843, monthly--only one number issued. It was to be the organ of the Fourier Association in Watertown.

Watertown Spectator, for temperance and no license, by Joel Greene, commenced December 22, 1846, lived two years.

The Sinai and Calvary Reporter, quarterly, by Rev. Joseph A. Livingston, begun October, 1852. Only one number issued in Watertown.

The Phare des Lacs (Beacon of the Lakes), commenced in May, 1858, by C. Petit, editor and proprietor, was published several years in Watertown, then removed to Buffalo, and from there to Toledo, where it was discontinued.

At a later date several papers have come into being, to wit: The Watertown Post, which was started July 16, 1870, by George C. Bragdon & Co., G. C. Bragdon, editor. November 2, 1871, Mr. Bragdon retired and the firm name was changed to Hanford, Wood & Plumb, W. C. Plumb, editor. In 1872 Mr. Plumb retired from the paper and was succeeded as editor by J. H. Tredwell. In June, 1874, R. A. Oakes succeeded Mr. Treadwell, and the following September the paper was purchased by L. Ingalls, who has since edited it.

In 1883 the Republican was started by Gen. Bradley Winslow, who edited and published it until 1884, when it was merged in the Watertown Post.

The Sunday Miscellany, started in 1878, by Frank M. Redfield as a Sunday paper, at the end of six months was sold to G. Preston Sikes, who changed it to a Saturday publication. It lived a year and three weeks.

The Watertown Advocate, Prohibition, was started in 1884 by George E. Satchwell, and is still in existence.

The Watertown Herald, Independent, was started July 3, 1886, by Jere. Coughlin, assisted by F. D. Rogers, and is still published.

The Silent Worker, an evangelical newspaper, published semi-monthly, and edited by Rev. W. D. Stokes, commenced in Watertown, January l, 1888.

Northern Harvester, one number issued in the latter part of 1882, then changed to the Good Farmer, a quarterly, published by Greaves & Dewey, edited by D. S. Marvin, published one year at 25 cents.

The Poultry Chronicle, only a few numbers issued.

The Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Catholic monthly) was started in June, 1887, and still lives.

The Liar, a monthly devoted to “wit, humor, sports, and satire,” made its first appearance in September, 1889. It was discontinued after a few numbers, its editor and proprietor, Frank D. Rogers, having been appointed to a government position in Washington.

There has been a great demand for a daily paper in Watertown, as is evident from the repeated efforts made to bring one into existence. The first was started by Joel Greene, in the spring of 1846--a short lived venture.

The Daily Jeffersonian, issued from the office of the Weekly Jeffersonian, initial number dated May 10, 1851, was published two and a half years.

A campaign paper, called the Daily Republican, was issued from the office of the Reformer, by Ingalls & Stowell, from the first of May, 1856, to the close of election in that year. It was devoted to the interests of Col. Fremont and the Republican organization.

The Daily Telegraph was started in 1858, after the successful laying of the Atlantic cable, by J. D. Huntington, who then had charge of the telegraph office in Watertown. The enterprise was aided by John H. Rice, William Farwell, and other stock speculators. It was succeeded by the

Daily News, started by L. M. Stowell, March 13, 1859, published one year. It was from this office that A. H. Hall issued his

Daily News, which was commenced in January, 1861. Most of the original matter was prepared by L. J. Bigelow, until March 16, when G. C. Bragdon assumed charge of the editorial department, and continued with the paper until January 20, 1862, when the plant was sold to the proprietors of the

Daily Reformer, the publication of which was commenced April 22, 1861, and while Ingalls, Brockway & Beebee were the publishers of the Weekly Reformer. The name of the daily paper was changed to the

Watertown Times, January 4, 1870. It was then a small sheet with less than 1,000 subscribers, but now ranks among the best dailies of the country, and has a circulation aggregating 4,000. The present publishers and proprietors are Beman Brockway, J. W. Brockway, and H. A. Brockway. It is edited by B. Brockway, assisted by W. D. McKinistry, Alpha Child, L. L. Pratt, Charles E. Cole, Charles S. Adams, Fred Britton, and A. W. Munk.

The Daily Republican, also a morning paper, was started in July, 1888, by Ingalls, Shepard & Dewey, L. Ingalls, C. R. Skinner, and H. E. Knickerbock, editors. It lived six months.

Campaign papers were issued in the summer and fall of 1828, supporting Dewitt Clinton for governor, printed by Harvey & Hewitt, and called the Voice of Jefferson; in 1832, anti-Masonic, called the Veto.

In 1834, anti-Republican, printed by B. Cory, called the Spirit of ‘76.

In 1838, Democratic, supported Ezekiel Lewis for Congress, and C. Parsons, W. C. George, and S. Robbins for Assembly, printed by Randall D. Rice, called the Patriot and Democrat.

In 1840 a Democratic paper from the office of the Jeffersonian.

The first printing office in Sackets Harbor was established by George Camp, who, as “proprietor, publisher, and editor,” issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Gazette, March 18, 1817. The following year the title of Advertiser was added, and by that title continued to the close of its third volume, 1820. Subsequently Matthew Cole, Elisha Camp, and others became owners and changed its name, February 9, 1821, to Jefferson Republican. The Gazette and Advertiser was a 20-column folio sheet, and for the times was on a par with the better class of newspapers of the state.

The first printing office in Sackets Harbor was established by George Camp, who, as “proprietor, publisher, and editor,” issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Gazette, March 18, 1817. The following year the title of Advertiser was added, and by that title continued to the close of its third volume, 1820. Subsequently Matthew Cole, Elisha Camp, and others became owners and changed its name, February 9, 1821, to Jefferson Republican. The Gazette and Advertiser was a 20-column folio sheet, and for the times was on a par with the better class of newspapers of the state.

The firm of Camp, Merrell & Camp, of Utica, had been publishers of books of a high order of merit previous to their dissolution in 1816. The junior member came to Sackets Harbor in December, 1816. His first issue contained 18 columns of solid matter and two of advertisements, and was gotten out with the help of one assistant. Before the year expired there were eight columns of advertisements and many judicial notices. The steamer Ontario appears, with cut, in the first number, announced to sail upon the opening of navigation, which was to test the question: “Can boats be propelled against waves by steam?” All the current news, foreign and domestic, was carefully collated, bringing the most important events with illustrious names in history to the front. The Republican was continued for a year or more, when its publication was suspended. In the spring of 1824 Truman Haskall started the Freeman’s Advocate, which continued to the close of 1828. All these papers advocated Federal principles. The last was strongly anti-Masonic.

Between this date and 1837 the Sackets Harbor Courier was conducted with considerable credit by James How.

Edward H. Purdy began the publication of the Jefferson County Whig in September, 1837. This continued only one year, though it is pleasantly remembered by the old inhabitants. In October, 1838, Edmund M. Luff published the Sackets Harbor Journal, edited by D. N. Burnham for a season, after which W. Luff conducted the paper, with C. Woodward as printer, to the spring of 1841.

About this latter date, when (General) Grant was stationed here, Lieutenant Lee gave us that disturbing reflection on Watertown, in his contribution to the Journal: --

“South, Adams wears her deacon’s face,

North, Brownville stands with modest pace,

And Watertown’s a little place,

Just back of Sackets Harbor.”

On Mr. Luff retiring from the Journal Joel Greene became proprietor. The Journal was enlarged under his management. The spirit that had pervaded the previous papers passed away with the new element, and, however active, it did not presage success. After his second year as publisher his interest passed to Calvin Green, who, in the same year, 1843, discontinued the paper. Joel Greene now undertook to ride two “mules,” by publishing the Black River Journal at Sackets Harbor and Watertown, removing the press to Watertown. In 1846 it passed into the hands of A. W. Clark.

No paper was published in Sackets Harbor thence till O. H. Harris issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Observer, March 20, 1848, and under that head continued with its Whig proclivities until 1852, when Mr. Harris and Mr. Huntington then associated in the Jefferson Farmer, which was published as a neutral sheet. Mr. Harris again restored the former title of Sackets Harbor Observer, and with his removal from the village ended the newspaper enterprise in this village.

To the credit of these varied sheets none ever stooped to low partisan or vulgar methods, but maintained a high standard as instructors of the people. In fact they reflected the sentiment of the citizens and the character of the inhabitants, who early gave prominence and a marked individuality to the now historic town.

ADAMS.

The first paper at Adams was started July 1, 1828, by Theron Parsons, who had previously lived in Watertown, and as the paper he published, which was called the Censor, was removed to Watertown after 26 numbers had been issued perhaps he did not change his residence. The Censor was anti-Masonic, and probably anti-Republican. Abner Morton was the editor. A reasonably perfect file of the Censor, from the time it was commenced at Adams, July 1, 1828, to the time it was sold to Abner Morton, in Watertown, January 5, 1830, has been presented to the Jefferson Historical Society, by Justus Eddy, of Syracuse, and handsomely bound for its use. The first issue of the paper under Mr. Morton’s management is “number 70, of volume 2,” indicating an unusual way of numbering, as in the regular way the highest number for a weekly issue would be 52, after which the volume would change, and the numbers of the issues would begin at one again. When the Censor was removed to Watertown the Anti-Masonic Recorder was discontinued, the Censor taking its place as the organ of the Anti-Masonic party. When Abner Morton announced his connection with the Censor in Watertown, January 5, 1830, there were two papers in the village--the Freeman, Republican, and the Register, anti-Republican.

The Censor was published about five months (till June 8, 1830), when Enoch Ely Camp was announced as the editor. He is said to have been concerned in the paper from the beginning. He changed its name to the Anti-Masonic Sun. It was afterwards published 39 weeks by Dr. R. Goodale, commencing December 13, 1830, as the Constellation, and subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the Jefferson Reporter, and published it from September 11, 1832, till January 21, 1834, when he removed to Michigan, taking his press with him.

There was no other paper at Adams until 1844, when Josephus C. Hatch, a practical printer, and brother-in-law of the late Alvin Hunt, started the Jefferson County Democrat, which he continued until 1847, when the paper passed into the hands of E. J. Clark. He was with Mr. Hatch about three years, or until the first of July, 1847, when he purchased the interest of Hatch, and continued the publication of the paper eight years, when he removed to Watertown and went into the milling business with his brother, Samuel Clark. The business not being remunerative he quit it, and in the fall of 1857 purchased the Jefferson County Union, associating with him Royal Chamberlain. Three years afterward he purchased Mr. Chamberlain’s interest, and remained sole proprietor until the fall of 1864, when he sold out to R. A. Oakes. Since that date, though a writer for various papers, he has had no pecuniary interest in any except for a brief term, while a resident of Michigan.

After the removal of Mr. Clark to Watertown the Democrat came into the hands of Justus Eddy. Mr. Eddy changed the name of the paper to the Jefferson County News, and made it independent in politics. It had hitherto been Democratic, belonging to the free-soil or barn-burner wing of the party. This was in 1855. Mr. Eddy was the publisher of the paper about eight years.

In 1863 D. A. Dwight, an Adams bookseller, was associated with Mr. Eddy, and the paper was continued by them until April, 1865, when it was sold to George C. Bragdon, who changed the name to the Adams Visitor, and was burnt out a day or two before his first number was to have been printed. He immediately purchased new type and presses, issued the following week, thus skipping only one number, and continued to publish the paper something over three years, when he sold to Babcock & Delong, who conducted it until 1868.

The next year S. R. Pratt purchased Mr. Babock’s interest, and on the 15th of April, 1869, the form of the paper was changed to eight pages and the name to Northern Temperance Journal, becoming the organ of the Good Templars. It was continued as such until October 20, 1870, when Pratt & Delong changed the name to the Jefferson County Journal, and made it an independent sheet.

In 1871 William J. Allen purchased Pratt’s interest, and four months later S. W. Hatch, Delong’s interest, the new firm being Hatch & Allen. The paper was continued by these gentlemen until the health of Mr. Hatch gave out, when he sold his interest to Mr. Allen, who has since been its efficient conductor.

The Adams Herald was founded in March, 1876, by H. W. Gunther & Co., with C. W. Jennings, as editor, and continued one year, when the materials were purchased by the Journal.