San Joaquin

County History

History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923

CHAPTER XVII

NEWSPAPERS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY

        THE Stockton Record with its daily issue of 15,000, 16 page, 8-column copies on the sextuple Hoe press that will turn 12,000, 48-page copies per hour is indeed a mastodon in comparison with the little Stockton Times of seventy years ago. The pioneer press quickly followed the population of California and March 16, 1850, the first number of the Stockton Times was issued by John H. White and Dr. H. H. Radcliffe. The type­setter and editor was J. H. White. Radcliffe was a physician, and doing no newspaper work, established an office for patients two doors from the printing establishment. The paper was printed upon an old wood press and turned out 200 copies per hour. In size the paper covered a space 12x16 inches; it was a four-page sheet with three columns of reading matter on each page. The price of the paper was twelve dollars a year with advertisements at four dollars per six lines. On the 6th of June the paper was enlarged to sixteen pages each 17x23 inches and called the Stockton Times and Tuolumne Intelligencer. As Tuolumne City on the Stanislaus was looming up about that time and the editors were bidding for the patronage of the town. The paper was published about fourteen months and then sold to a company to be published as a Democratic organ.

While White was editor he published an article regarding Judge Reynolds, who was a tough character and a scoundrel. After his term of office expired he defrauded his clients right and left, including John White, robbing him of $1600. He traveled to Sonora but he soon returned to Stockton, and White, writing a burlesque article on his return from Sonora, said that the climate had suddenly become too warm for his constitution. The Judge, who was a large muscular man, felt deeply insulted and meeting White said to him, "Have I ever injured you ?" "You know you have," White declared, thinking of his $1600. "Are you the author of that article?" White replied, "I am." Then learning that White was not armed he struck him in the face. The editor was a much smaller man but he returned the blow and in the scuffle White fell and was badly beaten by the bully. White had his assailant arrested for assault. The case came up before Recorder W. F. Nye. Terry appeared for the ex-judge and he was bound over under $300 bail to appear before the higher court. Reynolds then suddenly left Stockton no more to return.

The Stockton Journal

        The Stockton Journal was published by John Robb as proprietor and editor. As an editor Robb fired shots right and left regarding the tricksters in politics and never failed to express his opinion. His attack by Ex-Mayor Purdy, as already noted, was the result. The newspaper editor's next sensation was along matrimonial lines. There came to California in 1852 a company of concert singers touring the state by the name of the Mandeville Sisters. In the company was a handsome young lady vocalist, Marian G. Goodenow. She was a great favorite with the young bachelors and when, the company appeared in Downieville August 25, her admirers gave her gold specimens to the value of $900. In the meantime Robb was wooing her for his wife. Whether he had known her in the East doesn't appear but succeeding in his courtship, they were secretly married in Sonora, November 27, 1852. The company were billed to sing that evening in the lively mountain camp, and the bachelors took $400 worth of tickets, but when they learned that the queen was married—well.

        Robb was more of a lobbyist than editor and he spent most of his time at the legislature, which at that time assembled every year. While he was absent, the Journal was edited by John Tabor, and pursuing the same policy as Robb, he fired hot shot and shell into the rascals. This brought him into conflict with the young district attorney, C. C. Gaugh. Ben Williams succeeded Judge Reynolds as county judge and on the charge of bribery and corruption he was indicted by the grand jury, but through the connivance of the district attorney, Williams was acquitted. Tabor in a long article severely criticised Gaugh. When he read the article in the Journal the next morning he immediately put on his war paint and began looking for Tabor. Going to the office he found Tabor earnestly engaged in reading, and politely addressing him, inquired, "Who is the author of that article in the Stockton Journal reflecting on the district attorney?" "I am," replied Tabor. "Then, sir, I hold you personally responsible." "That suits me," said the editor, and Gaugh left the office. Tabor had been warned by his friends to look out for Gaugh, and as he said, "As is usual in these ruffianly times, we kept a pair of pistols sometimes loaded, and other times not." Thinking no more about the trouble with Gaugh he was surprised that evening about 4 o'clock to see that gentleman approaching. He evidently knew where Tabor kept his weapons, for stepping into the office between his enemy and the desk, he straightened himself up, says Tabor, threw back his coat, as if to address a jury, and drew a revolver from beneath his coat, at the same time exclaiming, "I intend to inflict personal chastisement, and your only recourse is to stand and take it." Transferring his revolver to his left hand, he drew from his breast a cowhide whip and raised it as if to strike Tabor. Tabor was in a rather delicate position. He must either submit to the insult or run. He was no coward for most of the editors were plucky men, and Tabor was no exception to the rule, but he scarcely knew how to act. However, at this opportune time, the foreman of the office, Byron Gallup, appeared. Hearing the conversation he got busy and quickly stepping into the room he placed two single-shot pistols within reach of Tabor. The editor grasped the weapons and remarked, "This puts us on a level," the article referring to you was gotten on good authority, and if it is true I will not retract it neither will I submit to a thrashing." Gaugh raised his left arm, as if to strike and Tabor grabbed his left arm; the district attorney then fired and the ball went wild. Tabor then fired, striking Gaugh in the left breast. He was uninjured however, as a heavy pocketbook checked the force of the bullet. Gaugh again fired without result and the editor speedily hastened, out of the back door. The district attorney did not follow. The following day he was arrested, put under bonds, and thus the matter ended.

The San Joaquin Republican

        It was the general belief among the politicians of early days that an official organ was an essential factor for political success and, as Democracy had no advocate in San Joaquin County, George Kerr, coming to Stockton soon after, purchased the Stockton Times. Under the name of the San Joaquin Republican, the Times was to have been issued May 4, 1851, as a Democratic journal. There was some delay however, and it did not appear in its new form until May 14, the great fire of May nearly destroying the entire printing company. The new paper was a four-page twenty-column journal issued every Wednesday and Saturday, the price being twelve dollars per year, or twenty-five cents a copy. The proprietor was a young man who had learned the printer's trade in the New Orleans Delta office, and arriving in California in 1850, he purchased an interest in the Transcript and other Democratic papers and he wanted the Times to complete the chain. In 1852 he was elected state printer and until his death the state printing was done in Stockton. Kerr was an easy-going, big­hearted, generous, fellow, spent money freely, and died May 6, 1854, at the age of thirty years. A year previous to his death he was not able to carry on the business and he took in as partners H. C. Patrick, and John Mansfield, the firm being Kerr & Company. Mansfield was a printer, he had learned the business in his native city, Boston, and reaching San Francisco in 1849, he located in Stockton in 1851. After the death of Mansfield, Philip L. Shoaff purchased his interest in the Republican, and sold out in 1855 to James A. Hutchinson, the firm being H. C. Patrick & Company.

        The office at this time and for several years previous was in the second story of a brick building on El Dorado Street, near Main, the lower story being occupied by Rayner and Patterson's livery stable. On the office walls were pasted hand bills in all colors, shapes, and sizes, announcing political meetings, torch­light processions, Fourth of July celebrations, Sunday School and Firemen's picnics, reward for robberies and murders, theatrical bills and other cuts of various orators, horses and bills the world over. The press, an old-fashioned affair worked by hand, stood near the stairway, and it took quite a while to print the limited edition of 1,000 copies, 240 per hour being the limit of the press. Frequently they had trouble with the ink rolls which were made of molasses and grew hot. In 1853 so hot was the day (104 in the shade) the rolls softened and did not work and said the editor, "We are actually obliged to give our rolls ice to cool them, a very expensive luxury," Ice was then five cents a pound. Paper was sometimes very scarce and on one occasion the newspaper was printed on fools-cap pages, the paper failing to show up. Again out of paper in August, 1852, the Republican issued several numbers on dark brown wrapping paper, that issue announcing the death of the great statesman, Henry Clay. In those early days the printers were always on good terms with the saloon men, and on New Year's day or Christmas, the saloonists would send to the office liquors, beer, champagne, cakes, and often cold meats and fowl. The leading citizens on the day of their marriage would remember the printer, and he in turn in a complimentary notice would acknowledge the wine and cake. The ladies holding church or family festivals would never forget the Printers, and would send them ice cream, cake and coffee.

        At the time of Mansfield's purchase of the Republican there was considerable enmity between that paper and the Stockton Journal regarding the city printing. After they had been writing harsh words for several days, Tabor, on the evening of June 22, 1854, published an article severely criticizing Mansfield.  The following morning as Mansfield stood on the corner of Levee and Center Streets talking with J. M. Schofield, the custom house collector, Tabor approached, and as he was about to pass Mansfield stepped in front of the editor with the remark, "Young man, I want to tell you what I think of you," at the same time raising his hand. Immediately Tabor drew a revolver and fired; the bullet passed through Mansfield's left breast and caused a mortal wound from which he died two hours later. Tabor was arrested and tried for the murder, was found guilty and sentenced to be hung, March 16, 1855. The murder caused great excitement throughout the state as both citizens were well known and petitions for pardon were sent to Governor Bigler from prominent citizens, judges and legislature, even the legislature of Texas praying for his pardon. The pressure was very strong and finally the governor granted Tabor a full pardon.

        In 1856 Hutchinson and Kennedy withdrew from the firm leaving Patrick and Conley as partners. Patrick was the pilot of the paper and in 1859 he so guided its course with the flag of disunion flying at the mast head that he finally destroyed it. That was the pivotal year to decide for or against the union. Broderick, the leader of the Democratic party, was leading his followers towards Republicanism, and the Democratic paper never spoke of him, except in harsh and abusive terms and when he was shot and killed, the proprietors secretly rejoiced. In 1861 the Democratic party was split asunder, the Douglas Democrats joining with the Republicans. The Republicans still clinging to the creed of the party proclaimed the doctrine of the State rights and the peaceful secession of the Southern States. As the Civil War progressed secession editorials were continually published and December 13, 1862, the Republican was suppressed by order of General Wright, the commanding officer of the Pacific Coast.

The Stockton Argus

        Tabor in the meantime, had purchased the Stockton Journal and his subsequent killing of Joseph Mansfield closed his newspaper career. The Journal then passed into the possession of B. W. Owens, a grocery merchant and a rampant Whig leader who conducted it only a few months. In 1854 there came to Stockton with his wife and four children a young man named Wm. Biven. Soon after his arrival he began the publication of the Stockton Post in a small building on Center Street near Levee. He continued its publication until Mansfield's death and then he and Henry A. Crabb, the first city attorney, purchased the Journal material and moved it to that office, and June 7, 1854, they issued the Stockton Argus. It was a strong Whig newspaper and Crabb was editor. After his retirement William Biven continued the publication of the Argus and advocated the doctrine of the "Know Nothing" party and became the official organ. In the following year he upheld the Vigilance Committee and scored unmercifully the "law and order" party, David S. Terry coming under the lash for stabbing Hopkins. In 1857 the Argus took up the Broderick fight defending him against his assailants and when he was killed the Argus declared Terry a murderer that should be hung. Biven published a clean, lively paper that stood out boldly for truth, justice, and morality, but unfortunately in 1861 he got the political bee in his head and was desirous of being elected sheriff for San Jacinto [?] County. Defeated for the nomination in the Union convention, he angrily left the hall and the following day published disloyal sentiments until September, 1862, when the Argus also was suppressed by the Government.

The Duelling Editor

        In 1857 Rasey Biven, a brother of William, started the Weekly Democrat, which was published from the Argus office. A supporter of the Douglas wing of the Democratic party, the editor did not heed the advice of the great leader to stand by the Union when the Civil War broke out. The paper assailed the Government and was finally suppressed by the Secretary of War. Biven, although a short, spare-built man, was quick-tempered, erratic and of undaunted bravery. He was one of the Walker filibustering expedition. Returning from Nicaragua in September, 1854, he fought a duel with Dorsey. His leading second was Senator Henry A. Crabb, his brother-in-law, he and Crabb marrying the Ainsa sisters, while Dorsey's second was the brilliant attorney, Edmund Randolph. The two men fought at Oakland with duelling pistols, standing ten paces apart, and they shot for the purpose of severely wounding if not killing each other. At the first round Dorsey's bullet took effect in Biven's wrist, and he was shot in the stomach.

        A. C. Russell, a Stockton editor for many years, fought two duels and yet lived to a serene old age, rearing an estimable family of children. His first duel, with Captain John F. Folsom, was bloodless. Russell, one of California's best editors, was then in charge of the Evening Picayune of San Francisco. He was a bold, outspoken writer, publishing his ideas of men and their public actions, and fearing not the results. Several times he criticised the actions of Folsom, then a quartermaster in Uncle Sam's service. The Captain, offended because of the article, challenged Russell. The editor was obliged to retract his words or fight. Russell never was known to acknowledge himself wrong, and so he accepted the challenge. The duel took place September 10, 1851, out among the bushes in the suburbs of the city, just at sundown. The two opponents fired and both missed. Again they fired with like results, and, as Folsom was now satisfied, they returned and had a good laugh over their poor marksmanship. Russell's second duel, January 16, 1852, was less fortunate for him, as he was shot in the knee and lamed for life. He had aroused the wrath of Governor McDougall by criticizing his acts, and a duel was the result. The parties with their seconds went to the appointed place in the evening, and fought the next morning at sunrise. At the first shot each missed his antagonist, but at the second fire McDougall's bullet hit Russell in the knee, and the Governor's honor was vindicated.

The Daily Evening Herald

        After the suppression of the Argus, Biven shipped the plant to San Francisco and there issued the paper under the same name, sending copies to this city by boat. Unsuccessful in this, he returned to Stockton and issued the Stockton Beacon from the old Republican office on El Dorado Street. This scored another failure, but with the pluck which was characteristic of the man, July 3, 1865, he issued the daily and weekly Evening Herald. In the following year he purchased the material of the defunct Stockton Gazette, moved from El Dorado Street to the third story of the Hook Building, corner of Main and San Joaquin Streets, and, increasing the size of the paper to a twenty-eight-column, four-page paper, printed it on a new cylinder press. Biven was a good newspaper man, but a poor business manager, and the paper ran behind. He then mortgaged it to certain parties and in January, 1875, the Herald appeared under the firm name of the Daily Evening Herald Publishing Company, with the following as directors: Charles Haas, J. R. W. Hitchcock, John S. Davis, J. A. Morrissey, Joseph Cole, P. D. Wigginton, Thomas Ketcham and William Biven, the last-named being the manager. Three months later, in May, while Mr. Biven was taking his usual morning ride on horseback, he was thrown from the animal and killed, his neck being dislocated. After his death, his son, Frederick, who had been ten years in the office, took charge of the Herald, and reducing the size of the paper, he removed the plant to the new brick building, corner of Market and San Joaquin. Fred managed the Herald less than a year and then sold it to an experienced newspaper men, John V. Bell, a printer formerly of Nevada, and B. K. Preston, who had been editing the Truckee Republican.

        Immediately taking possession, January, 1876, they removed the plant to the Parker Building, opposite the Eureka engine house, and raised the price from twelve and one-half cents to twenty-five cents per week. One of the employes on the paper at this time was Charles Lincoln Ruggles, a bright, active young man, who, at the age of twelve years, had come to Stockton from Martinez with his family. Attending the public schools, he began carrying the Herald after school hours, taking Joe Dorsey's place. When the new proprietors took possession they employed Lincoln to take charge of the carriers' route and do the collecting. Faithfully attending to business, three years later, in 1880, he became a local reporter, one of the best on any of the city papers. Mr. Bell withdrew from the Herald in 1883 to take a political office on the San Francisco water front, and Mr. Ruggles bought his half-interest in the Herald. At once the form of the paper was changed from an evening issue to a morning issue. The proprietors, in stating their reason for the change, said, "A morning journal can be made a much more interesting and useful paper than an evening journal. Stockton needs an enterprising morning paper. The field is practically unoccupied. We mean to make it ours and will still advocate the principles of the Democratic party." The change was not conducive to the health of the paper, and January 2, 1885, the Herald was again issued as an evening paper. The local Democratic party was split up into factions, and one of the factions was desirous of purchasing the Herald; Preston, however, persistently refused to buy or sell, and the matter was then passed up to the court. As a result Mr. Bell, who held the mortgage, bought up the entire plant, and April 2, 1885, the Herald suspended publication, and the entire outfit was shipped to Merced.

Minor Newspaper Publications

        During the second decade of local journalism a whole swarm of newspapers came into life and as quickly died, six different papers being issued in 1873. The first of the number, the Stockton Gazette, a Democratic organ, was first issued August 9, 1867, by C. M. Harrison and C. G. Miller. Harrison formerly worked on the Republican and later on the Independent. For many years he was the publisher of the California Odd Fellow, at Sacramento. The Gazette suspended in September, 1869, even the well-known newspaper editor, D. W. Gelwicks, the last owner, being unable to keep it alive.

        In this year the Pacific Observer, the official organ of the Christian denomination, was removed to Stockton by its editor and proprietor and published in the attic of the church, now the Garrick theater site. Financially, the paper was not a success, and in a year it was moved to greener pastures.

        In that year there was much talk regarding a narrow-gauge railroad to Visalia. William Glenn, to be in the swim, in June, 1873, began the publication of the Narrow Gauge. He had formerly been editing the Herald, and, to increase the popularity of his paper, he employed Mrs. Laura De Force Gordon to edit a woman's page. In about six months it gave up the ghost.

        D. H. Berdine, one of the most capable all-round printers ever in Stockton, in May, 1873, issued an eight-page, four-column monthly, the Temperance Champion. It was the official organ of the champions of the Red Cross, its editor being C. V. Anthony. The paper nine months later was removed to San Francisco. Mr. Berdine then began the publication, in August, 1873, of the Morning Courier, which lasted four months. Then he sent out the Sunday Morning News, which saw its finish in 1874, Leroy Atwood at this time being an apprentice in the office. In the meantime, Berdine retiring from the Evening Mail, December 24, 1885, issued an opposition paper, the Evening Democrat. It was a six-column, four-page, issued daily, Sundays excepted, the price being twelve and one-half cents per week. Although they claimed a daily issue of 1500 copies, the Democrat suspended within the year.

The Daily Leader

        Laura De Force Gordon, a bright, handsome young woman, after the discontinuance of the Narrow Gauge, purchased the plant of the San Joaquin Republican and May 1, 1874, issued the first number of the Daily Leader. It advocated the cause of the Democracy and woman suffrage, and it enjoyed the reputation of being the only daily newspaper in the United States owned and edited by a woman. It was a bright, newsy paper and the Stockton Independent said of it, "It is the same size as the Herald with the same number of columns to the page. If the ability Mrs. Gordon invariably displays as a public speaker is infused into it, its success is assured." That year as an independent candidate for senator she campaigned the county, George S. Evans and George W. Trahern being her opponents, and she received 116 votes. Aside from the office of Senator she espoused the cause of the Democracy, and that party carrying the state, she changed the Leader from a weekly to a daily, and in 1874 removed to Sacramento.

        Another political journal of but an hour was the Workingmen, which was issued in April, 1878, by an incorporated company of citizens. William H. Little, the saddler and street preacher, being president; Ben J. Rodger, who declared "the Chinese must go," vice-president; Eli Confer, secretary, and S. V. Treadway, treasurer. Lee Moreing was the business manager and James Beckwith editor. It advocated the election of a United States senator by the people, but it suspended soon after the May election, its party being hopelessly defeated throughout the state. In 1874 Fred Severy and Clement Detten published the San Joaquin Valley News, which appeared for a season of six months, and in 1878 Severy tried to revive the Workingmen. Failing in this, with E. Rawlins and H. W. B. Hewen, September 13, 1888, he issued the Stockton Express, an evening Democratic newspaper, in opposition to the Mail, many hidebound Democrats opposing the Mail's nonpartisanship. The Express was a seven-column, four-page daily, published in the old church attic, and survived only a few months.

        J. E. Ruggles, since employed for many years in the state printing office, and John M. Dormer, on May 8, 1890, issued from 308 Main Street a seven-column, four-page paper which they called the Daily Republican. In their first number they stated that their employes nearly all were natives of Stockton, and the paper was printed on paper made in Stockton. In the policy of the paper they declared: "We will be found solidly Republican, firm upon the side of good government and uncompromisingly devoted to good morals." Ruggles, the editor, was very aggressive and plainly attacked vice in all classes, even in high society. In May, 1891, Dormer retired and J. E. Ruggles & Co., in September, 1891, removed to Parker's Alley, where four years later the Record came to life. The last number of which I have any knowledge is that of February 8, 1893.

The Stockton Independent

        This paper has the distinction of being the oldest paper in San Joaquin County and one of the oldest papers in the state. Away back in 1856 it was born in San Andreas, Calaveras County, a paper established by miners to defend their water rights. It was published by Armor & Kooser, the latter a printer and editor and one of Stevenson's regiment. Several months later Kooser sold his interest to Orlando M. Clayes. In 1861 the Republicans of Stockton were anxious to secure an official organ, and they made arrangements with Armor & Clayes to remove their plant from San Andreas to this city and publish a daily and weekly newspaper. The little two-story brick building on Center Street, 20x40 feet, was rented, and, from this little cheese box August 1, 1861, the Stockton Independent was issued, with Samuel Seabough as the editorial and T. C. Osborne the local writer, the latter having been formerly employed on the Argus.  Seabough was given full political control of the paper, and he advocated the claims of the Douglas Democracy. In less than four months he saw that if the Union was to be saved against a united South, then the Douglas Democrats and the Republicans must. unite. He then came out strongly for Lincoln and the Republican party and since that time the Independent has stood firmly for that party in city, county, state and national politics.

        The Independent during its sixty historic years has seen many changes in ownership, it being published under the name of thirteen firms during the first twenty years, and the Herald spoke no lie when it said in November, 1883, "Buying and selling interests in the Independent is a kind of pastime or recreation. It does not cost much to buy an interest, and when one sells he has sold nothing except the right to work hard and draw a salary." In 1862 George Armor sold out because of ill health and O. M. Clayes, with D. S. Peters as a silent partner, carried on the paper until November, 1866. Clayes was then elected state printer, and as he purchased an interest in the San Francisco Alta, the Independent was sold to N. E. White & Company, the firm comprising Charles E. Clayes, N. E. White and A. C. Bertzhoff, who had formerly managed the Herald. White & Company ran the paper less than a. year, and on July 6, 1867, it went into the hands of the Stockton Publishing Company, composed of a number of leading Republicans, among them L. U. Shippee, H. W. Weaver, Charles Haas, H. T. Dorrance and Charles Belding as directors. They controlled the Independent until April, 1869, when it was purchased by A. E. Milne and A. T. Worley, former employes of the Bulletin office in San Francisco. Unable to make it pay, they passed it back to the bank in January, 1881, and ten months later Nash & McKaig bought it. Nash retired and in August, 1882, C. O. Cummings became Mr. McKaig's partner. He retired and in January, 1883, the firm name was McKaig, Brunton & Phelps. McKaig sold out in May, 1883, leaving Brunton & Phelps. In November Charley Brunton drew out because of sickness; and then the firm name stood, "Phelps & Company," R. Mortimer Wood being the partner. Wood retired in a few months, and in March, 1884, the present firm was established, J. LaRose Phelps and Charles Lincoln Ruggles. J. La Rose Phelps, the senior partner of the firm, learned to set type in early life and then engaged in various employments. In 1881 he was engaged in the county clerk's office as deputy. At that time the Independent was heavily mortgaged to the Stockton Savings and Loan Bank, and L. U. Shippee, the president of the bank, and other friends advised him to buy an interest in the paper. He followed their advice and two years later C. L. Ruggles became his partner. They had undertaken an uphill proposition, but having pluck, determination and hopefulness in their favor, they knew no such word as fail.

        Removing from the Center Street office to the Hodgkins Building, corner of El Dorado and Weber Avenue in the '70s the block was known as the Independent block. Sometime later they removed to the east corner of the same block, in the Hickman Building, and in 1890 they removed from that location to the Hansel Building, Channel and Hunter Streets. Throwing aside the old cylinder press which O. P. Kallenbach had run by hand for eighteen years, they purchased a double-cylinder Hoe, capable of running off some 1800 four-page papers an hour. The press was run by steam power and operated by W. H. Furry who was employed by the Independent for twenty years. About the year 1895, together with the Mail, they set up two linotype machines, thus dispensing with the typesetting of some ten or fifteen compositors. The circulation of the press increased rapidly and to supply the demand they purchased at a cost of $5,500 a double-cylinder Hoe press that would print 5,000 papers an hour. In the fall of 1917, when the Record absorbed the Mail, the Independent bought the Mail press and such equipment as was needed and moved from its inadequate quarters to the Mail Building, where it is now located. The paper has expanded considerably since that time and ranks as one of the best morning newspapers in the interior of the state.

        As editors on the Independent which by the way has always boosted the Republican party, none of them have equalled their first writer, Samuel Seabough. He first began his editorial work in October, 1857, on the San Andreas Independent. He came to Stockton with the paper in 1861 and at first advocated the principles of the Douglas Democracy. But when he saw the trend of politics he came out boldly for the Republican party and the election of Abraham Lincoln for president. After the attack by the South on Fort Sumter and the secession of the Southern States he fired hot shot into the ranks of the so-called Breckinridge Democracy. In plain language he called them rebels and secessionists, and in bitter language denounced the Democrats in San Joaquin County as copperheads. When indisposed from his intemperate habits his editorials were written by George W. Tyler. The Independent was credited with being a helpful factor in saving California to the Union. In 1865 Seabough took editorial charge of the Sacramento Union, and a few years later became the editorial writer of the San Francisco Chronicle. He died in the prime of life, about fifty-three years of age.

        Seabough was succeeded on the Independent by John Geddes, who had been the local editor. He remained on the paper until 1879. Of Scotch descent, he was a strong, forceful writer, witty and sarcastic at time, and he chafed under the collar because the owners would not allow him to show up the shams of society. He was a clear, concise writer, especially in local events. The writer of this history did his first work under his direction, and he would say, "Boil your stuff down and when you get through stop." When Dr. W. J. Kraig was a part owner of the paper he wrote his own editorials. He was an ordained Unitarian minister. N. M. Orr, also when owner of the paper, wrote his own editorials. Geddes filled his place when Orr was in the legislature. H. T. Dorrance frequently wrote for the Independent. Geddes was the principal writer until his death in March, 1887. After his death Frank J. Ryan, a writer of thirty years' experience on the Middle West papers, became the editorial writer, until 1900. On his retirement the proprietors presented him with a gold watch and chain for his faithful services. Something very unusual for newspaper men, who as a rule are skeptics, he took up the study of religion and became a strong Christian Scientist, writing several articles in defense of that belief. Ryan was followed at different periods by Hugh W. Taylor, J. M. Eddy, and A. L. Banks, one of the best of editorial writers on the Stockton press.

The Stockton Evening Mail

        The Evening Mail was first issued February 10, 1880, by Colnon, Nunan and Berdine, two newspaper men and a book seller. It was a small, six-column, four-page sheet, issued as you might say in opposition to the Evening Herald. Colnon, whose father was a hotelkeeper, attended the State University for two years and then wandered over to Nevada, in 1872, kept a hotel, taught school, and then became the editor of the Eureka Sentinel. Next he went to Virginia City and worked on the Chronicle, then to the little town of Sutro, where he and John P. Cosgrove printed a little weekly sheet. The town died and so did the paper. He returned to Stockton and was engaged by the proprietors of the Herald to get out a special New Year's edition for 1880. While engaged in that work he saw that there was an opening for a progressive evening newspaper and he interviewed John J. Nunan regarding the project. Nunan at the time was keeping a little book store on Main street in connection with his father-in-law, M. J. Garvin. Nunan thought it a fine proposition but they had no money, nor credit to obtain printing material. At the time D. H. Berdine, one of the best printers in the town, was conducting a small print shop in the rear of the Eldridge Building on Main Street, opposite the court house. They induced him to go in as a third partner and the paper was issued with Colnon as editor, Nunan, business manager, Berdine as foreman of the paper, and John P. Cosgrove, who came down from Virginia City, at the local writer. In the following year, August, 1881, Cosgrove bought out Berdine's interest in the paper and David J. (Dad) Matthews, now city commissioner, who had worked with Colnon in Nevada, was installed as the foreman in the newspaper room. He held that position for nearly thirty-one years. Cosgrove sold his interest in the Mail to his partners in 1883 and took a position on a San Francisco daily, and Colnon and Nunan carried on the business until Colnon's death in 1902. Nunan and Mrs. Colnon then continued the newspaper work until Nunan's death in. 1908, and nine years later, October 24, 1917, it was absorbed by the Daily Evening Record, the paper that was not even recognized by Colnon when it was founded.

        The Mail pushed to the front, was liberally patronized by the merchants and citizens and soon became one of the leading newspapers of that day. It published interviews with citizens and celebrities, its locals were written up in a "newsy, breezy" manner and for the first time in Stockton's history the paper was illustrated with cartoons by the Mail's cartoonist, Richard De Treville. The Mail endeavored to obtain the best writers in the state and it had on its staff at different times such writers as Ambrose Bierce; Arthur McEwen, A. J. Waterhouse, John Craig and Phil Francis, now on one of Hearst's New York papers. On the local staff there was A. L. Cowell, a graduate of the Woodbridge seminary, M. J. Woodward, now assistant district attorney, who came here from Georgia, Ben Armington, a Stockton boy and a University graduate, Will Davis and Mrs. L. Clare Davis, the latter two, no relation, however. Mrs. Davis was the second woman writer on the Stockton press, one of the pioneers in the state. She was possessed of a well-balanced mind and so well versed in newspaper ethics that she is in newspaper parlance a "free lance," writing on such subjects as she desires, a privilege seldom accorded to newspaper writers.

        For a day, April 14, 1895, Mrs. Davis had the entire control of the Evening Mail. It came about this way. At the time the citizens were endeavoring to obtain a large amount of money for the building of the Stockton and Visalia Railroad, now the Santa Fe, the Spreckels road as it was called. Everybody was deeply interested and some of the leading ladies of Stockton took a hand in the raising of money. It was proposed that the ladies publish a special edition of a paper, get advertisements and sell it at ten cents per copy. It was so agreed and Mrs. L. Clare Davis was appointed editor and manager and Mrs. W. D. Buckley assistant editor. Colonel Nunan of the Mail offered to publish the edition free of charge to the ladies, they to get the advertisements and write-ups. It was a twelve-page edition and Mrs. P. A. Buell designed the front page illustration. The committee of ladies appointed as literary writers Hannah Gray, Clara Shepherd, Louise Weber, Nellie White, Bessie Reid, Adra Shaw, Mrs. Herbert Williamson, Mrs. Mamie Huggins Miller, Mrs. Daniel Rothenbush, Mrs. David Winters, Mrs. Wm. C. Daggett and Mrs. Charles Haas were appointed. The paper created quite a twenty-four hour sensation, the ladies clearing $1,500, $800 from advertisements alone.

The Commercial Record

        Charles I. Hamilton and Henry Eschbach were conducting a small job printing office on Eldorado Street in the Odd Fellows' Building, when, in 1875 Eschbach sold his interest to Hamilton and began publishing the Commercial Record, a small sheet which was distributed free every Saturday, the advertisements paying the cost of production. Hamilton, having no knowledge of newspaper work, in 1878 sold a half-interest in the Record to William (Pony) Denig, who was so nick­named because in early days he rode as a messenger express through the mountain camps. Denig was an experienced newspaper man, having learned the business in his native state, Pennsylvania. Coming to California in 1850 he went to Mokelumne Hill and worked on the Chronicle and then on the San Andreas Register. Arriving in Stockton in March, 1869, he worked for a time on the Independent and in 1878 purchased the Commercial Record. Denig had no capital and in 1883 he took in as a partner Thomas W. Hummel. In the meantime Hummel purchased the job office of C. I. Hamilton and in 1886 sold his interest in the paper to C. O. Cummings, a newspaper editor. Denig was no writer and he was obliged to employ an editor or have an editor partner. At different times F. C. Lawrence, J. J. Nunan and I wrote for him. Two years later Cummings sold his half interest to W. L. Howell, the former editor of the Merced Express. Howell, who was a dyed­in-the-wool-Democrat, was now obliged to write Republican editorials as "Pony" had always been a strong Republican, running for office several times and twice elected constable. Denig was short in stature, not over five feet, but he was always on deck and one of the most popular men in the town. In 1888 Irving Martin, then a youth of some eighteen years, purchased Howell's interest in the paper and became the editor. He had been working as a local editor on the Independent, and was well versed in the newspaper business. Here endeth the history of the Commercial Record.

The Stockton Daily Record

        In the first publication of the Stockton Daily Record an old second-hand plant was used and the paper was printed on an old Bagley & Seawell press which had been formerly used by the Stockton Republican. It had lain idle in Parker's Alley for some two years after the paper's demise. The bank owned the plant and L. U. Shippee let Martin & Denig have it for $2,500, the face of the mortgage. Mr. Martin in his history of the Record says, "My idea was to some day turn the weekly Commercial Record into a daily Record and this was done April 8, 1895." In the meantime he had purchased the half interest of Wm. Denig and taken in as a partner E. H. Fontecilla, who had been foreman of the composing room on the Independent. Martin assumed the editorial and business management and Fontecilla handled the mechanical end.

        In its first number the Record said "Shake, Good Afternoon. There has for a long time, been a continuous clamor for a daily newspaper in Stockton that will print all the news. The Evening Record will stop the clamor. Good Evening." The Record's policy was to be impartial "in the giving of news and to cover all matters in which the people were interested to the extent of the value of the news; to treat all classes fairly, in its news columns, and to maintain its freedom of thought and expression. While striving itself to push onward, may it ever feel inclined to lend a helping hand to others, to aid any worthy cause, and to find time to drop a word of cheer and encouragement to others who may have stumbled, or who may have become foot-sore and weary on the journey."

        In its efforts to maintain its policy it was boycotted in May, 1895, by the American Protective Association or Know-Nothing party, and its subscription list dropped from 800 to 300 in less than three days. The members of the party were mostly Republicans, and the A. P. A. tried to induce the Record to advocate their cause. On being refused they not only withdrew their subscription but they endeavored to have the merchants withdraw their advertisements. The Record not only claimed to be Republican in politics but it declared the doctrine of the American Protective Association was un-American in principle. In 1900 came the liquor dealers' boy­cott. The paper had always opposed the liquor traffic, and refused to accept any liquor advertisements. It also refused to publish get-rich-quick, or lottery schemes, manicure parlor, fortune teller, tobacco or patent medicine advertisements. The editor had been offered big money to publish some of these advertisements and his friends declared him foolish, but having adopted the principle of publishing a clean paper he held his ground. Coming back to the liquor boycott, he began waging a war to the finish against the traffic, when the common council, at the request of the Royal Arch repealed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of liquor formerly passed by them. The Royal Arch, an association of liquor men, failing to stop the Record fight against them, threatened to withdraw their business from all merchants that advertised in the Record and many weak-hearted merchants withdrew their ads. The threat aroused the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the members of churches, the temperance societies and others who loved a good fighter and the Record's circulation and subscription list rapidly increased. It was a fight to a finish and today Stockton is a dry town, not a saloon in existence. In this fight the Record stood alone, for the Mail and Independent were for the liquor traffic, first, last and all of the time. A third boycott was that of the industrial fight with the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association over wages and hours a few years ago. In this fight the Record stood, as the saying goes, between the devil and the deep sea. If the paper proclaimed the cause of the merchants, the printers were liable to go on a sympathetic strike with the carpenters, who started the trouble. If the Record took sides with the unions, then the merchants would have withdrawn their advertisements, which of course, spelled ruin. The Record wisely took a neutral position, and that it would print all news of the trouble impartially, and it gave notice that the communications by either party would be published, if properly signed.

        The firm stand of the Record soon increased its circulation and a press that would turn out more papers become an actual necessity, and in 1905 a Cox Duplex press was installed. It threw out 6,000 eight-page papers per hour, printed and folded. Still more wonderful it used rolled paper, for the first time in Stockton. All the other presses were fed by hand. Colonel John J. Nunan of the Mail, seeing the press in operation, said, "I do not see why you put that press in. The Mail would not have any use for it, and the Record never would have." The Record got the same kind of encouragement from the Independent, as the proprietor said, "No, I am not interested. I think you have made a big mistake. You have not any use for it. It must have cost a great deal of money." "Yes," replied Martin, "it did cost quite a little, about $10,000. " In 1910 the duplex press was superseded by a Goss press that turned out 15,000 sixteen-page papers per hour. Then another innovation was made and every day new type was used, made by a stereotyping machine. Today the Record is printed on a Hoe sextuple press that turns out 48,000 copies per hour.

The Mail's Graveyard

        The Evening Mail played their cartoons for all they were worth and at the death of each rival paper had a few "appropriate remarks" and published a picture of a journalistic graveyard with tombstones bearing the names of each of the departed. At the time of the demise of the Republican, there were three tombstones in the Mail's graveyard bearing the names "Herald," "Express," "Democrat," and the fourth stone was added for the Republican. In the nature of a suggestive warning, the Mail had left an open grave in its journalistic graveyard bearing the ominous inscription, "next." This cartoon appeared when the Record was born and the plain suggestion was that the Record was to be "next." The open grave was tantalizingly ready for the Record's reception. At last destiny began the inexorable work of shifting the scenes. Gradually the Record grew stronger until in circulation it equalled the Mail, although not enjoying anywhere near the amount of advertising patronage. Then came the irony of fate. DeTreville became connected with the Record and one day there appeared in its columns a reproduction of the Mail's cartoon, depicting the four occupied mounds of earth, exactly as in the original cartoon and a faithful reproduction of the open grave supplemented with a representation of the Mail groping in its own graveyard with the likelihood of its falling into the grave it had dug.

        There is an old saying that a wise man may change his opinion, a fool never. The Stockton Independent has stood pat for the Republican party through the sixty years of existence, regardless of who was nominated for office. The Mail, although Democratic, in politics sometimes flew the track and advocated the election of Republicans. The Record has ever been independent in politics, advocating only the men and measures that it considered best for the people's interest. It stood by the state convention nomination of Orrin S. Henderson for railroad commissioner but, said Mr. Martin, "I was not proud of the success achieved and later I entered with great earnestness into a movement to overthrow the old organization and to stamp out the system of politics of which I had been part and parcel." He then joined the Lincoln-Roosevelt league and the Record, of course gave the best that was in it in support of Johnson for governor and of the other men endorsed by the Lincoln-Roosevelt League. The paper was a warm advocate of the various progressive measures fathered and put through by the Johnson administration. In the presidential campaign of 1912 the Record stood behind La Follette for President, but when he was defeated in the national convention by Taft, the Record refused to support the Republican nominee and supported Wilson, and the funny part is that although the Independent supported Taft, San Joaquin, a Republican County, gave a plurality of 3,723 for Wilson. In the gubernatorial campaign Hiram Johnson was supported by the Record and he came out 3,119 votes ahead. Woodrow Wilson, again renominated by the Democrats, was seconded by the Record, and again the county went Democratic by 3,576 votes. Yet during all this time the Record did not change the political complexion of the paper but remained Republican. It was one of the first papers in the state to advocate woman suffrage, and named Mrs. Clare Davis, for school trustee and Mrs. Edith Dow Moulton for the state legislature. It advocated the issuing of bonds for good roads, the building of new school buildings, the auditorium and city hall and built itself a splendid home on Market Street, one of the first lot owners along that street to put up fine buildings.

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler