DAVENPORT PAST AND PRESENT

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CHAPTER XXXIII

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THE PRESS

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It is a telling indication of the enterprise and good sense fothe pioneers of the County, that one of their earliest movements was to securethe benefits of that omnipresent Americanism-a NEWSPAPER.  They werefortunate in securing the very man they did to undertake the entriprise - onewho possessed the peculiarity of having a deal of practical good sense, and onewho was neither scholar enough to play the role of a pedantic essayist, orphilosophical enought to treat his readers to a hebdominal dish of metaphysics,as is not unfrequently the case of those handling the Quill Editorial at thepresent day.  Such was ANDREW LOGAN, who in August, 1838, issued the firstnumber of the "Iowa Sun, and Davenport and Rock Island News," -a title as lengthy as significant.  Right well did the Sun battlefor the interests of the City, County, and State; and we do its editor no morethan justice, when it is asserted that his share towards building up Davenport,and inducing hither many a rich freight of immigration, was none of the leastfelt or important.  The Sun was a weekly, democratic, underwent oneenlargement, and was continued until 1841, when it was succeeded by the

DAVENPORT WEEKLY GAZETTE.

The Gazette was started as a Weekly, imperial size (22 by32,) six columns, by ALFRED SANDERS.  In 1848 it was enlarged to a sevencolumn paper.  August 1st, 1853, the Tri-Weekly Gazette wascommenced, and was succeeded by the Daily Gazette in October, 1854. The Weekly and Daily are still published, and are of the largest size. It was edited by Alfred Sanders up to 1857, and published by him until1843, when he associated with him Mr. Davis.  The latter gentlemancontinued until January 1st, 1857, a member of the firm, and was then succeededby Add. H. Sanders, brother of the principal proprietor, and former editor ofthe Evansville (Ind.) Journal.  The firm now - editorial andpublishing - is SANDERS & BRO.

The Gazette has now been an institution of the countryfor some seventeen years, - a length of existence that sufficiently guaranteesits permanency.  The Senior, Alfred Sanders, is of scholarly attainments,particularly in Natural History, and has thus far been thoroughly identified,both with the West and Journalism.  He has never missed issuing a number ofthe Gazette since its beginning, and has often achieved this, undercircumstances which would have daunted men of less energy, or of less pride intheir profession.  As a writer he is less brilliant than solid, rather shyof ornament, and prefers generally to present facts in puris naturalibus. He writes earnestly, and will in many cases carry conviction simply fromthe deep air of conviction - of faith - which his articles present.  Didspace permit, we might allude more at length both to his character as a writer,and his efforts, enterprise, preseverance, and sagacity, in developing theinterests both of his party and Davenport.  We need not dwell upon thesepoints, however well deserving they are of eulogy, as his is well enough knownto render either panegyric or particular notice superfluous.

His brother, Add. H. Sanders, has acquired no unenviablereputation as a ready, sparkling, and piquant writer.  He is largelyimaginative has a keen appreciation of the humourous, notices instinctively theludicrous both in men and things, and possesses the rare faculty of easy andgraceful expression.  Many of the best waifs of anecdotal literatue,which periodically appear and disappear upon the waves of Journalism, owe to himtheir existence.  We cannot but regret that he has not entirely turned hisattention to description and other departments having origin in the possessionof a ready pen, active fancy, and much imagination.

We are happy to be able to add that the long and arduous laborsof the proprietors of the Gazette have not been unrewarded.  Theirpresent establishment consists of two editors, three carriers, and some eighteencompositors, pressmen, &c.  They use a Steam Engine of six horse power,Taylors' Steam Press, Hoe's Card, Ruggles'Card, American Steam, two Hand DiamondJob, and Wells' Power Job Presses.

THE WEEKLY BANNER.

This sheet was started by Alexander Montgomery in 1848, as aDemocratic sheet.  In the winter of 1848 and 1849 it fell under the chargeand ownership of R. Smithem, and in the Spring of 1849 it was transferred to T.D. Eagal, who held it until 1851.  J. W. Wheeler then took charge of it,but soon after sold out to Austin Corbin, who in 1852 was bought out by R. S.Millar.  He sold to T. D. Eagal in 1853, who continued its publicationuntil 1855, when it was bout by Messrs. Hildreth, Richardson, & West, andwas changed to the Iowa State Democrat, under which name it is stillpublished.  Of the influence and character of the Banner we cannotspeak from observation, - it, however, done much undoubtedly towards preservingan efficient organization of the party whose interest is advocated.

THE TEMPERANCE ORGAN.

This sheet was established November 1855, by H. Price andothers.  It was published by A. P. Luse & Co.

The Organ did good services for its party for about one year,and was then discontinued.

THE WEEKLY UNION.

This sheet was published for a few months in the Fall of 1856,with a view to aid the election of Millard Fillmore to the Presidency.  Itwas edited by the well known Col. Wm. Brown.

IOWA STATE DEMOCRAT.

Notice has been taken before of the origin of this paper in1855.  The Daily was commenced in October 1856, enlarged from seven toeight columns in April, 1857, to nine in October 1857.  The Democratwas started with a Hand Press, and a debt of some $1500.  It now is printedby Steam, and has amply remunerated its enterprising proprietors.  Theestablishment has one Washington Hand press, a Steam Cylinder Press, Hoe'sMedium Large Cylinder Press, Ruggles' Rotary Circular and Card Press, and sometwelve hands, besides an ample stock of other material.  A Weekly is alsopublished.

The Democrat is now conducted by Messrs. Richardson &West, than whom the editorial and publishing fraternities, posses no moreenterprising, gentlemanly, or reliable members.  They have achieved asuccess on their paper, which at once indicates their energy and the characterof the West.

Mr. Hildreth died in September of 1857.  The followingobituary is taken from the State Democrat:

"Mr. Hildreth was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y.,September 12th, A. D. 1809, which would make him just 48 years old to-day. Mr. Hildreth was a son of Matthias B. Hildreth, Esq., formerly AttorneyGeneral of the State of New York.  His life has been an eventful one,filled with the lights and shades of prosperity and adversity.  He was leftan orphan at the age of fifteen, and inherited a large fortune.  He was agraduate of Union College of that State, after which he engaged in the wholdsaledry goods and jobbing trade in Albany, N. Y.  After a few years he becameembarrassed in business and failed, and lost his entire fortune in the failure. He then removed to Johnstown, N. Y., and was there elected a magistrateand Master in Chancery.

Previous to his engaging in business in Albany, he received theappointment by commission, of Major in the Staff of Gov. Troup.

He was married in Johnstown, in 1839, to Mrs. A. E. J. West, whosurvives to mourn his loss.

From Johnstown he removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1843, wherehe was universally beloved and esteemed, and was there elected to many officesof honor and trust, which he filled to the entire satisfaction of all parties. He moved to Peoria, State of Illinois, in 1853, and became associated inthe publication of a journal called the Daily Morning News.  FromPeoria he moved to Davenport in October, 1855, and in company with Messrs.Richardson and West, purchased the old Banner  newspaper of T. D.Eagal, Esq., and with them commenced the publication of the Daily Iowa StateDemocrat, of which he was the Senior Editor until his lamented decease.

Mr. Hildreth was a man of most generous impulses, and had afaculty of making and retaining friends.  He was a fast and reliablefriend, a kind husband, and an Old School Jeffersonian Democrat.  He wasuncompromising in his political views, but he never allowed politics to intrudeinto his social or business relations.  All who knew him, esteemed him forhis generous heart.  In his death his family has lost a valuable friend,the public a generous hearted citizen, and the Democratic party one of itsstrong pillars."

EVENING NEWS.

This sheet, Daily and Weekly, was started by Harrington &Wilkie, September 1856.  It continued in their possession over a year, andwas then purchased by John Johns, Jr., & Co.  The News isAdministration Democratic, and takes a leading position in Journalism.  Itis edited by John Johns, Jr., Edward L Kerr, and Chas. C. Harris.  All aregood writers, - the first two in political discussions and essays, and the lastas a perpetrator of "good things," ludicrous, witty, and otherwise.

The News has a good Job Office, containing a Guernsey'sPower Press, Hand Presses, and ample other material appertaining to such adepartment.

DER DEMOKRAT, (German.)

Republican - Daily, Tri-Weekly, and Weekly.  Started 1851,by T. Guelich, and now published by H. Lischer & Co.  Edited by Theo.Olshausen.

REAL ESTATE REGISTER.