Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/79

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Lewis & Brown. The former gentleman is the Editor of a paper at Marshall, Michigan, where he has resided for some years. Mr. Brown, I believe, is also printing a paper in Michigan.

C. C. Allen prints the "Sciota Gazette," at Chilicothe, Ohio, and if the appearances of the paper indicate anything, he is doing well.

Daniel D. Waite still presides at the head of the "Republican Advocate," and unlike his predecessors in the Printing Business in Batavia by good management and strict economy, has been able to sustain himself respectably, and lay by something for a rainy day. I certainly rejoice at this, although it is unlike the luck of Printers generally. We hope his case may always be full.

E. A. Cooley, who was at one time concerned in the publication of the "Republican Advocate," and who afterwards published a paper in Attica, Wyoming County, is now publishing a paper at Beloit, Wisconsin Territory.

Daniel P. Adams, for some time one of the publishers of the "People's Press," like too many of the Craft, belongs to that order of men whose pilgrimage through life seems always to be "up hill." Honest and industrious, he makes a good living. After leaving Batavia, he published a paper at Black Rock. He is now a journeyman in Buffalo.

John Thorp, another publisher of the "People's Press," went to New-Orleans, and fell a victim soon after, to the prevailing fever of that region.

David C. McCleary, who was also, at one time, the Editor of the "People's Press," now slumbers with the silent dead. Mr. McCleary was a young man of no ordinary talent. He was an easy and forcible writer, and had he lived, would have become conspicuous among the writers of the age. But his health was always feeble, which finally compelled him to abandon the active duties of life. He repaired to the home of his childhood, in Vermont, but it was only to mingle his ashes with those who had preceded him in the drama of life. His death was universally regretted. He was a brother-in-law of Col. William Seaver, of this Village, and now the senior Editor of the "Times."

Peter Lawrence, originally of the "Farmers & Mechanics' Journal," and afterwards associated with Frederick Follett In the publication of the "Times & Journal," is now Editor of the "Perry Democrat." Mr. Lawrence is a rare genius—full of humor, wit and jovial good feeling—a fast friend and an unflinching enemy. Like too many of the same profession, he is satisfied with doing well, without attempting to do better.

Lucas Seaver. It is far more difficult to speak of the living, than the dead. The subject now under consideration is, in every sense of the word, a living one. He was, in years gone by, an apprentice in the office of the writer of this, and for that reason, if for no other, I feel that I am privileged to speak with freedom. With warm and generous impulses, misfortune never appeals to him in vain, and he too often permits these impulses to displace from its seat the trite, but too frequently neglected adage, "charity begins at home." He is firm in his friendship—jovial, kind-hearted, and generous in his intercourse with his companions; firm, manly, and unflinching in his walk through life thus far. I can only hope in his case, and this hope is extended to all of whom I have spoken, that his case may always be full—that he may never run out of sorts—and that when the last token shall be finished and the form locked up for its final transition, he, with them, may be distributed among the great font of the blest, without a monk or a friar to mar the beauty of their last page.

GENERAL REMARKS.

I have endeavored in the preceding pages to give as faithful a History of the Newspaper Press of Western New-York, as the materials furnished me, and my own recollection on the subject will permit. If, in reference to some of the Counties, that history is not so close and full as could have been desired, the fault is attributed to those who ought to have felt most solicitude on the subject; but who, from negligence, or it may be, the press of other avocations, have omitted to communicate, although repeatedly requested to do so by the Committee of Correspondence previous to the Festival, and subsequently by the Committee of Publication, with either of those Committees or with myself, furnishing such facts as would have contributed to the correction of the same. — Two Counties, Allegany and Tompkins, I have been compelled to leave out entirely, and for reasons wholly beyond my control. Persons in those Counties supposed to be competent have been notified of the intentions of those Committees, and that it was very desirable that the work should be full and complete, so far as the Counties embraced in the scope of the Committee were concerned—but all to no effect.

Among those who may be regarded as belonging to the older class of settlers of this interesting portion of New-York these reminiscences must have the effect of renewing scenes and events long past, and that otherwise might have slumbered in oblivion. Among Printers, they will possess a peculiar interest. The changes and improvements that have been made in the Newspaper Press for the last fifty years, have been truly wonderful—and although this remark is true in relation to the whole country, still it has peculiar force when applied to this part of the State.—From a humble and precarious business, it has risen to one of gigantic magnitude. From the home-made wooden Press, with worn and indif-