and Mr. Cowdery, at Albion, in 1823. The fact is not, perhaps, material in itself, although if Mr. Cowdery was the pioneer of Printing in this County, he should have the credit for it.[1]
Timothy C. Strong was originally, I believe, from Vermont, and previous to his establishment in Orleans County was the conductor of a paper at Palmyra, in Wayne County. He was a man possessed of many good qualities, and contributed his proportion in the establishment of the Newspaper Press in Western New-York. But he has worked his last token, and been called to another world.
Of the Messrs. Denio, I have no personal knowledge. The senior in the firm is of opinion that Printing during the time when Mr. Tracy flourished at Gaines, commanded a better return for labor than at the present day. He cites as an instance going to prove this fact, that Tracy charged the County eighty dollars for printing two reams of county orders, and that the Supervisors actually allowed the account of sixty-eight dollars! But the days for such prices have gone by. Steam and competition have made sad work upon high prices.
C. S. McConnell, before his location in Orleans County, conducted a paper in Onondaga. Soon after relinquishing his interest in the "Orleans Republican," he became a proprietor in the "Rochester Daily Advertiser," where he prosecuted the business successfully for a few years, and finally, in 1846, returned to Albion, and is again at the head of his old paper. Mr. McConnell is a true disciple of Franklin, and an honest man.
Of the others who have been identified with the Press in this County, I can say nothing—with some of them I was a stranger, and do not therefore feel at liberty to meddle with matters entirely personal in their character.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
This County cannot claim an exemption from the common lot which is too often the result of newspaper printing. What has been the fate of the craft in other counties, may be said to be more or less true of those in Livingston County. They have been attended by the usual mutations, changes, and final extinction, which follow in the wake of all human affairs. The first paper printed within the territory that now marks the bounds of this County, was commenced
In 1817, by Hezekiah Ripley, and was called the "Moscow Advertiser and Genesee Farmer." It was located in the village of Moscow. He continued it for some time after the erection of the County, in 1821, when it passed into the hands of James Percival, and was by him removed to Geneseo, and its name changed to that of "Livingston Register." In 1829, it passed into the hands of Anson M. Weed and Allen Warner. Mr. Weed died in the winter of 1831, and it was continued for a short time by the surviving partner, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Percival, who, in 1832, sold it to Elias Clark, who continued it until he was elected County Clerk, in 1834, when he disposed of it to William H. Kelsey and Richard M. Miel, and the latter, in 1835, became sole proprietor. Ha was succeeded by D. S. Curtis, and its publication was suspended in 1837. It soon after, however, recovered its position, and for a short time was published by Hugh Harding, who was succeeded, in 1837, by John Kempshall, and continued by him until the fall of 1840, when it ceased to exist.
In 1822, Chauncy Morse established the "Livingston Journal," at Geneseo, and afterwards took into copartnership Asahel Harvey. In 1829, Levi Hovey became the proprietor of the establishment, and continued it until the spring of 1831. He became embarrassed, and abandoned the paper, and was succeeded by Benjamin Denison—then H. F. Evans, Evans & Woodruff, and William J. Ticknor. The paper was discontinued in 1834 or '35. In the fall of the latter year the establishment was purchased by David Mitchell and W. H. Kelsey, who established the "Livingston Democrat." This paper was suspended in the year 1837. In the fall of that year a new Press and types were added to the establishment, and S. P. Allen commenced the publication of the "Livingston Republican," and in September, 1846, retired, leaving it in the hands of John M. Campbell, by whom it is now published.
In 1830, David Mitchell and Benjamin Denison established the "Dansville Chronicle," at the village indicated by its title. It was started as a neutral paper, but afterwards came out Anti-Masonic, when Mr. Denison left it. Its title was changed to that of "Village Record." It had but a short existence.
The Western New-Yorker," at Dansville, was published by A. Stevens & Son. The "Dansville Whig," by George W. Stevens succeeded it, and was continued by Charles W. Dibble, for one year, when it was again transferred to Mr. Stevens, by whom it is now published.
The "Dansville Republican," was established by David Fairchild, in 1842, and has been continued alternately by himself and his sons. It is now published by Geo. H. Bidwell.
The "Mount Morris Spectator" as established in 1835, by Hugh Harding. It is still published by him.
The "Genesee Valley Recorder" was established by Ira G. Wisner, and was published for a short time in 1842-3, at Mount Morris. Mr. W. died not long since at the West.
The "Livingston County Whig," by Geo. B.
- ↑ Since writing the above I have conversed with John B. Wood, who is one of the "old Jours" of Western New-York, and he asserts, from his own knowledge, that the credit of doing the first printing in Orleans County, is justly due Mr. Cowdery. My own impression is, that the first paper published at Gaines was called "The Newspaper." This was by Mr. Tracy. The establishment afterwards fell into the hands of John Fink, who has been entirely omitted by Mr. Denio, and the paper was called "The Gazette." Mr. Fisk is now, and has been for a number of years past, in the employ of the Tonawanda Rail Road Company.
