The "Morgan Investigator" was the title of a small paper published at the office of the "Republican Advocate" soon after the excitement of 1826 broke out. It was continued about a year and then expired. Its title is a sufficient indication of the purposes of its origin.
The "Masonic Intelligencer" was also started about the same period, and for purposes directly the reverse of the former. It was published at the office of the "People's Press." It attained about the same age.
The "Farmer's and Mechanic's Journal," published at Alexander by Peter Lawrence, was commenced on the 4th day of Nov, 1837. It was continued there until its purchase and removal to Batavia in June, 1840.
On leaving the office of the "Spirit of the Times," June 11th, 1840, the writer of this in connection with Peter Lawrence, who until that time had published the "Farmer's and Mechanic's Journal," at Alexander, commenced, in the village of Batavia, the publication of the "Batavia Times and Farmers and Mechanics Journal," the first number of which paper was issued on the 18th day of June, 1840. Lawrence continued in the establishment for two or three months, when the writer took the establishment into his own hands, and continued its publication until the 20th of Sept., 1843, when the "good will" of the establishment was disposed of to Lucas Seaver, who was then the proprietor of the "Spirit of the Times."
The "Temperance Herald" was the title of a small paper printed by Lucas Seaver, and issued from the office of the "Spirit of the Times." The first number was issued in March, 1842, and was continued for one year. It was devoted, as is implied by its title, to the cause of Temperance.
The "Genesee Courier," by E. Bliss, was established at Leroy in the Spring of 1844. It was continued about one year, and was then discontinued. Mr. Bliss is now publishing a paper at Racine, Wisconsin.
Having gone through with an enumeration of the different Newspapers established in this County for the last forty years, my task may be considered as ended. But what has become of the founders of those establishments? This inquiry is an interesting one, and it may not be wholly unprofitable to give the answer.
Elias Williams, the pioneer of the Newspaper Press in this county, as has before been stated, left the field of his early labors in a most abrupt and unceremonious manner — and, as stated, has never since been seen or heard of in this county. Whether he was spirited away, by some of the evil geniuses, who in early times were associated with the Craft in the minds of the vulgar or uninformed—or whether he was actuated by a more noble and magnanimous principle, and "left his country for his country's good," is really more than I can say. It however has been suggested to us by his old partner, that the reason why Williams thus made himself scarce in these parts, was this:—Previous to the review in question both proprietors of the "Intelligencer"—(Printers are celebrated for their military propensities[1])—were elected Corporals of a Company in Batavia, and on repairing to Alexander to be reviewed, Williams thought, especially as it was the bounden duty of military men to fight, that he would get up a little bit of a row—and as it generally happens in such cases that somebody must get licked, the lot fell, most unfortunately, upon Williams. Having got most essentially thrashed out—both eyes put in mourning, for the sins of the inner man, I suppose, he decamped. One thing, however, is certain—Williams has left an interregnum in his history which it is impossible for me to supply, and I am therefore compelled thus to leave his name wrapped In mystery and doubt.
Benjamin Blodgett, the next in order as the pioneer of Printing in this County is still living. After catering for many years, for the appetite of the reading public, he abandoned the Printing business, and commenced catering for the traveling public. Who that has travelled on the great thoroughfare to Buffalo, before the introduction and completion of the iron roads, does not remember the "Richville Cottage?" It was a frequent remark of travellers, that at no place between Albany and Buffalo, did they fare so well or so bountifully, as at the "Cottage"—and this was kept by our old friend Benjamin Blodgett, who still resides at Pembroke, and I hope he may long continue in the enjoyment of the blessings of this life. Speaking of the "Richville Cottage," brings to our mind a very happy notice of cur old friend which originally appeared in the "Knickerbocker," written by the lamented Willis Gaylord Clark, in 1836, and is as follows:—
"Traveler!—as thou wendest towards the West, if thou art within some fifteen miles of Batavia, and thinkest of pausing for the night, rescind the mental resolution, and post on to that town. There shalt thou experience a good bed, and delicious rest, with the murmur of the Tonnawanta breathing upon the night air thy quiet lullaby. Do this; to the end that, rising in the morning, thou go to Richville, and there to breakfast, which is an hospitable town, and hath an hotel whose superior is not to be found, whether
- ↑ Friend Follett is correct in his opinion relative to the martial spirit of the Craft. Who ever doubted the heroism and bravery of Printers? They are naturally a generous, whole-souled set of fellows, and always first to espouse the cause of their country, liberty, and humanity, and to stand up manfully in defence thereof. The following incident which occurred at the seat of war in Mexico, will show the large number of the members of the profession In our army: "General Scott, on a recent occasion, wanted to have some general orders printed at a given time. He sent directions to the office of the "Tampico Sentinel" to have them done. He was told that in consequence of the scarcity of compositors, the work could not be accomplished. He then, on the morning parade, ordered all printers to step forward three paces from the ranks, when several hundred men—all Printers—obeyed the order!!" In the war between Texas and Mexico, the Craft were equally chivalric, and the ludicrous feat of capturing Santa Anna by treeing him, it is well known, was performed by a Printer. In Paris, too, in July, 1830, when Charles X., King of the French, attempted to stifle the Liberty of the Press, did not the Printers turn out en masse? Such was the terrific character of the revolution which ensued, that it has since been appropriately styled "the great three days in Paris." The liberties of the people were preserved, although at the expense of the lives of thousands, whose blood was made to flow in torrents in the streets of that city!—Eds. American.
