to say a few words. Andrew W. Young is mentioned in the "Recollections of the Press," of another County. In addition to what is there stated, I will simply remark, that he is now engaged in the State of Ohio, in publishing a work similar to the one put forth in this State, on the "Science of Government"—and with every prospect of complete success.
David Scott has left the Editorial Chair entirely, and is now devoting himself to the active business duties of life—a Merchant, Miller, &c. At one time he was a Member of the Legislature from this County. His political course has been rather erratic, and it is a favorite remark of his, "that upon a Presidential Election, he is never in the minority." Whether this implies change, on the part of David, or the parties of the day, is left for others to decide. I mention the fact, simply to show the peculiar character of the man. He possesses considerable force of mind, and withal, many good qualities.
[J. A. Hadley. This gentleman, as will be seen in the preceding pages, has had much to do with the Newspaper Press in Western New-York. He has taken an active part in two Festivals held in Rochester, and, it will be observed is a member of the Committee for the publication of these proceedings. It is with regret, however, that we learn he is about to leave the city, and the superintendence of the Democrat office—a situation which he has occupied for the last eight years, doubtless, to the entire satisfaction of the employers and employed of that establishment—and contemplates soon to remove to Watertown, Jefferson County, Wiskonsan. He designs publishing a paper in that town on his arrival there, to be entitled the "Watertown Chronicle." Mr. H. is one of the tallest specimens of the Craft, being six feet four inches in stature, which is only two inches less than that of his fellow-craftsman. Long John Wentworth, of Illinois. He is a clever soul, and every inch a gentleman, and we most cordially wish him in his projected enterprise, that success and prosperity to which he is so justly entitled.—Eds. American.]
Samuel S. Blanchard is still at the head of the "Western New-Yorker," and it is but justice to say, that in his hands, the paper has been well and creditably sustained.
Abraham Dinsmore was formerly an apprentice in the office of the writer of these pages—and without meaning or intending any disparagement to others who may have occupied a similar position, I trust I may be permitted to bear testimony to the great fidelity with which he discharged his obligations while thus situated. Since that time his course has not been so familiar to me. In a business point of view, I wish him the most unbounded success.
Of some of those engaged in the Press in this County, I know nothing of their personal history—while others have been noticed elsewhere.
GENESEE COUNTY.
The Newspaper Press in this County, in its struggling infancy, has had the same difficulties to contend with, that have beset the attempt in other Western Counties. The following history of its rise, progress, and present condition, is supposed to be correct, or nearly so, in almost every particular, athough to gather these facts together has been the result of considerable labor.
The first paper printed in the County of Genesee was established at Batavia, then, as now, the County Seat, in the spring of 1807. At the date, or near it, indicated below, I addressed a letter to Benjamin Blodgett, Esq., asking information in relation to the early history of the Press in this County. I received the following letter from him, and I cannot do better justice to the subject than by copying the letter entire. It is as follows:—
Pembroke, Nov. 25, 1846.
"Friend Follett:—I this morning received your note asking information of the 'rise and progress of the Art of Printing' in this County. I regret that I am not able to give you a more minute account. Not having preserved a file of my old papers, I have to depend merely upon memory. The first paper established in this County was in the spring of 1807. Elias Williams purchased in Manlius, an old Ramage Printing Press that had been laid aside as useless, and a Box of Old Type in pi, intended to sell for Type metal, and brought them, in the winter of that year, to Batavia. After a laborious winter's work of assorting his old Type, and patching up the old Press, he published the first number of a paper called the 'Genesee Intelligencer.' This paper was printed upon a half sheet of Medium size, with a subscription list of 100, and two or three columns of advertisements from the Holland Land Company, one Elopement, and one Runaway Apprentice Boy, for whose apprehension a Bag of Bran was offered as a reward. [1] This was all the advertising patronage, if my recollection serves me right, that the paper commenced with. The paper was a sorry looking thing—the mechanical execution being so bad that it would have puzzled a Philadelphia Lawyer to find out what it was. I ought to have preserved a copy—it would be looked upon by the craft at this day, not only as a literary but a mechanical curiosity. Williams becoming disheartened at the shabby appearance of his paper, and about to fail for the want of funds, induced me to go into partnership with him. Anxious to see my name at the head of a newspaper, as Printer, Publisher, and Editor, too, of the 'Genesee Intelligencer,' I embarked my all of this world's effects in the enterprise, which amounted to the vast sum of forty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents, the hard earnings of the summer before, as Pack Horseman and Cook to a company of Surveyors on the Holland Purchase—a pursuit better fitted
- ↑ The advertisement no doubt was written by the printer, as they are usually called upon to perform such little duties, and the reward was no doubt suggested to his mind for the reason that the paper was published in a portion of the Mill, a room being set apart for that purpose.
