Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and HistoryMr. Brooks, heretofore mentioned. The Democratic Repository at Canton was mergedwith the Register, now one of the ablest county papers in the state. The Public Ledgeroffice was moved to Canton in 1849, I believe, by Griffiths and a young man whose nameI do not now recall. The Ledger passed into the control of Mr. S. Y. Thornton, a genialand very capable gentleman, about 18 56 or 18 57. He is still (1884) in charge of thatexcellent journal."At Havana in 18 54-57 W. W. Stout printed the Herald. It was succeeded by theSquatter Sovereign in 1859 to 1861 with your orator at the fore; contemporary withthat effort was the scholarly McDonald, of the Pekin Register, the slashing G. W. Raney,of the Peoria Democrat, that man of discoursive talent and polished manners, ColonelJ. M. Bush, of the Pittsfield Democrat, and Davison & Nicolet, jolly gentlemen, of theCanton Register."La Master suspended his Fulton Republican about 1849, as he said to save a remnantof his fortune for his old age."This period is replete with personal experiences in the crude and most uncomfortablemethods of printing and conducting country newspapers. My companion in themechanical department of the Democratic Repository, at Canton in 1848, was a Mr.David Collins, a veteran of the Mexican war. After many a night of toil at cases dimlylighted by tallow candles, and in a temperature scarcely above the freezing point, havewe thrown ourselves upon a pile of old papers beside the little coal stove for an hourof sleep before the summons to returning toil. And yet this sort of thing was hardlythought to be a hardship. It was an accepted incident in the customary life of theprinter of that period. In cold weather, in such quarters, wetted paper would freezedespite all precautions. The inevitable two days of press-work in each week were fraughtwith difficulties that modern printers know little about. But it was a period that madesome grand men, who today are an honor to the profession. I recall one who, as a youthof straightened means and very limited education, commenced his career in 1847, insuch a printing office as I have described. The boy had literally no inheritance save thefew rags that covered his body, and an abundance of good common sense and sturdypluck. He studied every moment when not at work or asleep; he asked questionsamazing ones some of them were. He probably never had one month of common schooleducation in his life. So, working faithfully—such a character never slights his workstudying hard, hoarding his money, cultivating and strengthening his manhood, hisintelligence, and a wise insight into the character of men and of the course of publicevents,he achieved a state senatorship, the position of lieutenant governor, a memberof a pretty decent legislature, a fortune, and a handsome wife worth twenty-fivethousand dollars before he was thirty years old!"One other instance of a similar character I will recall briefly. A diminutive ladwas brought by his father to a printing office of this description in 18 59. The mansaid: 'This boy is too little to work on a farm and has no fancy for tending store.I want you to make a printer of him.' That young man very soon developed characteristicsof the sturdy stuff that he was made of. He was industrious, quick to learnalbeit his education was not of the best—always in a good humor, and above all he washonest and truthful. He worked his way gradually without skips through his apprenticeshipin the space of less than ten years to a position of acknowledged prominence amongIllinois editors. He now holds an official position in this state; he is a member of yourAssociation, known to you all, and loved by you for his ability, his manhood and hisgenial qualities."Had I the time here I could name a number of similar instances—not all soremarkable as these, perhaps—but notable instances of young men within my knowledge,