Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Dirfctory and HistoryTranscript, a Democratic paper, entered the ring, but, like most papers of that partywhich had the temerity to appeal to the people for popular favor in this Republicanstronghold, it lecl a precarious existence and less than three years saw it consolidatedwith the Telegraph, which first, last and all the time has been true to orthodox Republicanism.It has never been suspected of the slightest wavering from the faith. Underthis consolidation T. W. Beckwith of the Transcript and Mr. Shaw of the Telegraphwere joint editors. December 22, 18 59, the paper passed into the hands of I. S. Bordman,with whom and his sons it remained until December 2, 1869, when it was consolidatedwith the Herald, a Republican paper which had been established by A. C. Bardwell.The resulting publication took the name of the Telegraph and Herald, Mr. Bardwellremaining as editor and Mr. W. J.Boardman as business manager. Mr. Boardman's connectionwith the enterprise was brief, and January, 1870, Mr. Shaw once more took upnewspaper work, this time as associate editor. A year later Mr. Bardwell stepped out,leaving the paper in the sole control of Mr. Shaw. The surplus name was soon droppedand it was thereafter known as the Dixon Telegraph. Henceforth, Mr. Shaw was practicallythe sole owner and master mind of the publication. From April, 1860, to January6, 1870, Mr. Shaw owned an interest in a newspaper published in Amboy underseveral successive names."It was a bold stroke when on the last Friday of November, 1883, without a wordof anticipation, he launched the Evening Telegraph as a daily on a wholly untried sea.He did not even solicit advertising in advance, as is customary, to secure or in somedegree guarantee the success of the venture. For a time the little sheet had a dubiousexistence, but finally it gathered strength and at last realized his highest hopes, when itreached the ground where it has long stood as one of the most widely read and mostinfluential country dailies in this part of the state. The weekly was issued as formerlyuntil November 21, 1899, when it was supplanted by the semi-weekly issue whichstill continues."The paper and its attendant job business was twice incorporated, the presentcorporation, the B. F. Shaw Printing Company, receiving its charter July 2, 1891.Thereupon B. F. Shaw and Son were announced as editors and a second son, EustaceShaw, as managing editor and publisher. This was the only son ever associated withhim in business, and it may well be questioned whether human experience anywhererevealed a more striking instance of paternal love and confidence requitted to the limitof filial attachment and devotion than existed between these two. The son afforded thefather a strong staff on which to lean in his advancing years, but it was snapped bysudden death September 5, 1902. Mr. Shaw's heart never ceased to bleed over the cruelloss thus inflicted upon him. Eustace left his widow, Mable S. Shaw, and Sons George C,Benjamin T. and Robert E., surviving him, and the widow brought to Mr. Shaw all theconfidence, kindness and sympathy of an own daughter."Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Ann E. Eustace, sister of Judge John V.Eustace, deceased, and daughter of Rev. Thomas Eustace, a Presbyterian clergyman andnative of Dublin, Ireland, and Fannie (Olmstcad) Eustace. Mrs. Shaw died February 6,1905. Their surviving children are Fred L. Shaw, attorney at Cripple Creek, Colorado,and Lloyd L. Shaw, a traveling publisher's agent."He was an esteemed member of the Dixon Club and Elks Lodge."Mr. Shaw during his long and active career, filled many public offices. In 18 59he was elected clerk of the circuit court and was re-elected for a second term, expiringin 1868. In 1869 he held a position connected with the internal revenue service in thisdistrict and was appointed by the governor one of the commissioners to locate an insaneasylum in the northern section of the state which resulted in the location of the insti-182