sideration, was not only a Printer, and an Editor, but also a Poet!—and as he contemplated the source from which Olean was to derive its greatness, would break forth in the following strain:
"As I stood on the banks of the deep Allegany,
- I saw the smoothe tide flow majestic along;
I saw the high Mountain, the Valley and Daisey,
- And heard the last note of the Emigrant's song."
Richard Hill was one of those rare, odd, and eccentric geniuses, so common with those who hail from the "Emerald Isle." It seems he published a paper at Ellicottville about three years, but whether it was dignified with a title or not, has not transpired. Its publication depended entirely upon the fancy or caprice of Richard. It may be said to have been published semi-occasionally. If any thing worthy the Editor's note happened to travel over the hills of Cattaraugus, and reach the peaceful and pleasant village of Ellicottville, out came Richard's paper, duly chronicling the events of the day—on the contrary, if there was a want of news in the market, the issue was postponed. Mr. Sill, who furnished the facts in relation to the Press in this County, tells the following story of Richard:—"Some of our citizens will remember the burning of the Court House and Jail, in 1829, and the tour of Sheriff Saxton to Albany, with a view to get a law authorizing a new building. The trip was performed so expeditiously, that it is said the embers of the house were yet smoking, when Saxton arrived with the Act authorizing a new one! So great an event was celebrated by a general jubilee.—Dick, it is said, on this occasion, got so full of glee, that on returning home at night, he mistook Dr. Ward's house for his own, and cried out to Mrs. Ward, supposing her to be his wife, 'Kape quiet—I say, kape quiet, Kate; Saxton has got home with the Court House in his pocket, and we shall have some news for the papers.' " It is related of him that he was one day discovered in the very literary pursuit of endeavoring to yoke a pig—the modus operandi was truly original. He bored a hole in a board, and then set to work driving it on over the nose, endeavoring thereby to stretch the hole to the capacity of the pig's neck! Richard's ideas in this matter did not coincide with those of the pig, and he abandoned the attempt in despair. His aspirations for Editorial fame succeeded no better than his attempt to yoke the pig, and he abandoned the enterprise.
R. H. Shanklin, aside from his avocations as Publisher, and Editor of the "Cattaraugus Republican," has also found time to serve the people of that County in the capacity of Surrogate—a distinction not often accorded to the Editorial fraternity.
Rufus W. Griswold, who was at one time located at the head of navigation of the Allegany River, has abandoned the case, and also the pursuit of Newspaper editing, and has entered the field for literary fame. He is now a resident of Philadelphia, and his name will be readily recognized as the author of a number of works, especially the "Poetry of Flowers and Flowers of Poetry." He also compiled and edited the "Poets and Poetry of America." In 1835, he was engaged at the Printing business at Syracuse, but subsequently, however, he became a Baptist minister. It is no doubt fortunate for Mr. Griswold that Olean failed to yield him a competent support.
[From Graham's Magazine for June, 1845, we extract the following—Mr. G. was one of the regular contributors to that periodical. "He studied theology, was seduced from preaching into editing, forsook the newspapers to travel, and storing his mind richly by observation and study, settled down as a man of letters. He was always the ardent and sincere friend of the unfortunate. In 1840, in New-York, with the aid of a few others, he founded a library in The Tombs, and two Southern merchants, who then were in confinement there, subsequently presented him a piece of plate with the following inscription:
Post Nubila Phoebus.
TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD,
WHO BROUGHT PLEASURE TO OUR PRISON, AND
MADE US FORGET OUR HOMES WHEN
WE WERE WITH STRANGERS.
Ingratus unus miseris omnibus nocet.
His sermons are his finest compositions, and he delivers them from the pulpit with taste and eloquence."
Mr. G. is a man of uncommon ability, excellent taste, and very remarkable devotion to literature. His "Poets and Poetry of America," a work of great merit and popularity, has won him reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. No author among us has done so much in behalf of the nationality of American literature as he. His industry is indefatigable, and his energy unconquerable. Mr. G. affords an excellent example of what a Printer may become, and of the honor reflected upon the Craft by the learning and talent of its members. He is still a young man, and his friends indulge high expectations which few are better able to fulfil.—Eds. American.]
J. J. Strang, who published the "Randolph Herald," is now a prophet among the Mormons at Voree. Whether he finds his new calling more congenial to his feelings than his old, I am unable to say.
There are other names connected with the Press of Cattaraugus, with the personal history of whom I am wholly unacquainted. Mr. Sill has committed one error in relation to the Press of this County, and had well nigh led me into it, also. Franklin Cowdery, June 10, 1819, commenced the publication of the "Hamilton Recorder," at Olean, which he printed one year, in company with a son of Benjamin F. Smead,
Mr. Cowdery would have it understood that he printed the first paper in Cattaraugus County, which he says was in 1819. Mr. Sill says B. F. Smead commenced a paper at Olean in 1818.—Here seems to be a direct contradiction, and I must leave it to others to reconcile it with the truth.
It has been the fortune of Mr. Cowdery to be engaged in the establishment of many newspapers—he has been the pioneer in many counties, but has always left the nest, when comfortably warmed, for others to occupy.
