Yuba County
History
Chapter XXIV - Journalism
There are three things requisite to a complete newspaper; it should be ably edited, judiciously managed, and have a good field for circulation. Without combining these three requirements, a journal is almost as certain to fail as the sun to set. There have been, to be sure, cases where the want of editorial ability has been overcome by able management and absence of competition, but they are rare indeed. On the other hand, no matter how able and talented the editor may be, the lack of good management is a defect that is sure to prove fatal in the end.
Marysville has had at various times a number of journals advocating a variety of principles, most of which were unsuccessful, because of the lack of some or all of the cardinal requisites referred to. To the enthusiast about to enter upon the turbulent sea of journalism, the future looks bright and promising, but a few months later when he finds himself buried in bills for labor, material, and supplies, he begins to have a bare suspicion that he has mistaken his avocation, and gives up in despair; or, if he still retains confidence in his ability to conduct a newspaper, he embarks in another enterprise of the same nature, only to encounter the same disappointment and disaster again. Below is given a sketch of the various journals that have been published in Marysville, as complete as it was possible to make it. It will be observed that of the many newspapers initiated in the city, but one remains in successful publication at the present time.
MARYSVILLE HERALD
The same enterprise was displayed in the establishment of a newspaper in Marysville, that characterized the initiation of the various branches of trade and industry in the early days. Marysville was laid out in December, 1849, and Time had called but five months his own, before Colonel R.H. Taylor, a San Francisco merchant of 1849, was so favorably impressed with the future before the new city, that he decided to establish a paper here. As soon as he could negotiate for a press and type, he put his ideas into form, and August 6, 1850, issued the first number of the Marysville Herald, the pioneer journal of the city. At first the paper appeared semi-weekly, but so successful was it, that in October the editor announced that he would in the future issue tri-weekly, only he should need "more advertisements to help fill up." It would seem that he received them, for the files of the paper in 1851, exhibit a plentiful supply of this newspaper "fillin." January 18, 1851, Stephen C. Massett, a talented young man from Sacramento, became interested with Colonel Taylor, and the paper was edited and published by Taylor & Massett. July 15, 1851, L.W. Ransom purchased a one-third interest, and the style of the firm was changed to Taylor, Massett & Co. The first copy of the Herald obtainable now is No. 120, dated July 22, 1851. On that date it was enlarged to a four-page, six-column sheet, and presented an extremely neat appearance. The advertising department was large, and its news columns contained interesting locals and information from all parts of the country. Its editorials were spicy, and showed considerable ability. At its inception, the Herald was independent in politics, but soon fell into the Whig ranks, where it did good work for some time. The impossibility of procuring a sufficient quantity of white paper, compelled the publishers to frequently print their issue upon brown paper, or, as the editor remarked, "do it up brown." A feature of the paper was a column of news and opinions printed in the French language. In addition to its regular issue, the Herald published a "steamer edition" a few days prior to the sailing of each steamer for the East. This contained the leading items of news and articles of interest that had appeared in the regular issue subsequent to the sailing of the last vessel. Great numbers of these were mailed by the citizens to friends at home. In October, 1851, Mr. Ransom sold his interest to D.J. Marrinner, and November 29, 1851, Mr. Massett sold to Colonel Taylor. Mr. Massett then entered the dramatic and lecture field. May 18, 1852, Colonel Taylor purchased Mr. Marrinner's interest, and thus became again the sole editor and proprietor. Mr. Marrinner returned to New York. Saturday, June 9, 1852, the Herald commenced the issue of a weekly edition, in connection with the regular issue. In the fall of 1852, W.W. Smith became part owner of the paper, under the firm name of Taylor & Co., but sold December 25, 1852, to James Allen, and the firm name was changed to Taylor & Allen. January 29, 1853, Mr. Allen purchased Colonel Taylor's interest; Mr. Taylor, however, remained as associate editor until March 29, when General Allen became sole editor and proprietor. Colonel Taylor went upon the stage, and soon afterwards entered the legal profession, of which he is still a member at Virginia City, Nevada. May 4, 1853, Judge O.P Stidger, now of North San Juan, Nevada county, and Clarkson P. Hale became associated with General Allen, under the name of James Allen & Co., Mr. Allen occupying the editorial chair. August 8, 1853, the Herald was changed to an evening paper, issued daily, and called the Daily Evening Herald. Again, January 9, 1854, it was changed to a morning daily, and bore the name of the Marysville Daily Herald. L.W. Ransom purchased the Herald from James Allen & Co., February 16, 1854, retaining Mr. Allen as editor. In May of that year, the Herald and California Express began to issue on alternate days, as tri-weeklies, the Herald coming out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It was called the Tri-Weekly Herald. From the year 1855 to January 1, 1858, at which latter date the paper was discontinued, the files were unobtainable. During that period, L.R. Lull obtained possession of the paper, and was the editor at the time of its demise. The politics of the paper underwent a change in name chiefly, and not in principles. It gravitated from Independent to Whig, then Know Nothing, Republican, and Stars and Stripes. During the troubles in San Francisco in 1856, the Herald supported the action of the Vigilance Committee.
CALIFORNIA EXPRESS
For more than a year but one paper was issued in the city, and that of an independent cast, when a full-fledged Democratic paper - The California Express - appeared upon the scene. The first number was issued November 3, 1851, by George Giles & Co., and edited by Colonel Richard Rust. January 12, 1852, W.T. Giles & Co. became proprietors of the paper, Colonel Rust continuing in the editorial chair. July 26, 1852, J. McElroy and Andrew Brady purchased the paper, under the name of J. McElroy & Co., retaining Colonel Rust in his editorial capacity. June 22, 1854, Luther Laird, George W. Bloor and M.D. Carr, became proprietors of the Express, with the firm name of L. Laird & Co. Colonel Rust still continued to wield the editorial shears and pen, assisted by George W. Bloor. Upon the death of Luther Laird in 1856, Lloyd Magruder became one of the proprietors of the paper. The same year M.D. Carr went East, and Stephen Addington, now of the Colusa Sun, purchased his interest in the Express, and became the assistant editor. July 26, 1857, Colonel Rust resigned the editorial chair to John R. Ridge. November 6, 1857, W.F. Hicks & Co. became proprietors of the paper, and John R. Ridge retained the editorial control. August 4, 1858, Mr. Ridge resigned his charge, and A.C. Russell succeeded him, acting in that capacity until March 26, 1859, when the editorial duties were assumed by J.F. Linthicum. In 1861, the paper was issued by the Express Printing Company. The California Express was from the first, a warm exponent of pure, unadulterated States Rights Democracy, and during the long civil war, was an earnest advocate of the "Lost Cause" and the right of the Southern States to secede from the Union. So distasteful did its course become to the loyal citizens of Marysville, that it was several times threatened with destruction at their hands. The Express was ably edited, and had for the contributors some of the most talented men on the coast. It was very successful and influential until it adopted its unfortunate policy of defense of the South. From this time it began to decline, and in 1866, was compelled to succumb. Like the Herald in the early days, the Express issued a "steamer" edition for the circulation in the East. It also published a weekly in connection with its daily issue.
DAILY INQUIRER
Althouh <sic> there was already one well established Democratic paper in the field, yet J. DeMott & Co., commenced the issue of another, the Daily Inquirer, November 1, 1855. George C. Gorham wielded the editorial pen. The paper fell into the hands of Oscar O. Ball the next year, who published it until it ceased to exist, in December, 1857. Mr. Gorham was succeeded as editor by W.N. Walton, W.H. Mautz, Mr. Buckelew and Mr. Coulp. During its existence of two years, the Inquirer was, politically, Democratic, Neutral, Know Nothing, and finally, Democratic again.
WEEKLY SPIRITUALIST
The first number of the Weekly Spiritualist was issued in February, 1857, by L.W. Ransom, editor and publisher. It was an exponent of the school of Andrew Jackson Davis' Harmonial Philosophy, and met with such faint encouragement that its publication was discontinued the following May.
STAR OF THE PACIFIC
In March, 1851, A.C. Edmonds commenced the publication of a weekly paper, called the Star of the Pacific, and organ of the Universalist denomination. The paper was removed to another field of labor, July 1, 1857.
MARYSVILLE DAILY NEWS
The first issue of the Marysville Daily News, and <sic> independent paper, made its appearance January 9, 1858. The publishers were A.S. Randall & Co., consisting of A.S. Randall, S.B. Christian, James Allen, J. F. Whitaker, Walker Boulware, and John O. Heatley. They purchased the Herald from L.R. Lull & Co., and the Daily Inquirer from Oscar O. Ball. The paper was placed under the editorial charge of James Allen. August 12, 1858, Mr. Allen sold his interest to John R. Ridge, and the paper was changed to the Daily National Democrat.
DAILY NATIONAL DEMOCRAT
John R. Ridge, having retired from the California Express, purchased an interest in the Daily News, and assumed the position of editor. The News had been an independent paper, but now it was changed to an advocate of Douglass Democracy, and was issued August 12, 1858, as the Daily National Democrat. April 23, 1861, Mr. Ridge retired and George C. Gorham took editorial charge. Although Democratic, the paper was thoroughly Union in its sentiment, and as there was another Union paper published in the city, the Appeal, it was thought best to combine, and consequently, in October, the Democrat was merged in the Appeal, which appeared as a Republican organ.
MARYSVILLE DAILY AND WEEKLY APPEAL
The first number of the Daily Appeal appeared January 23, 1860, with H.B. Mighels as editor. It was issued by G.W. Bloor & Co., and was independent in politics. B.P. Avery & Co. purchased the Appeal, June 5, 1860, and began issuing a thorough Republican paper, Mr. Avery managing the editorial department. It began at that time to issue a weekly, which practice it still maintains. October 29, 1861, the Daily National Democrat was combined with the Appeal, and the paper was enlarged to its present size. It was published by the Appeal Association, B.P. Avery, editor, and A.S. Randall, business manager. In 1862, C.D. Dawson, one of the present proprietors, purchased an interest in the paper. Mr. Avery relinquished the editorial duties in 1862, to A.S. Smith. In 1863, W.L. Cowan succeeded Mr. Randall as business manager. January 1, 1866, E.W. Whitney became manager, and was succeeded the following May by L.B. Ayer. April 26, 1870, A.S. Smith resigned the editorial chair to Frank W. Gross, and in September of the same year P.H. Warner became the manager. November 28, 1871, H.S. Hoblitzell assumed the management of the paper, which he resigned August 13, 1873, to H. W. Haskell. October 31, 1873, the Appeal came into the hands of the present proprietors, E.J. Lockwood and C. D. Dawson. Mr. Haskell remained manager until January 28, 1874, when Mr. Lockwood assumed that position, which he has since continued successfully to occupy. The mechanical department is under the careful supervision of Mr. Dawson. When Messrs. Lockwood and Dawson obtained the paper, A.S. Smith was again introduced to the editorial sanctum, where he has since remained, ably discharging the duties of that onerous position. For several years the Appeal has been without a competitor in the journalistic field of Marysville, and has been so successfully conducted, that it is the leading journal of Northern California. It appears daily, except Monday, with an issue of fifteen hundred. The weekly is published on Friday, and has a circulation of two thousand. The Appeal has always been a staunch Republican paper, only flying the track once, when it supported General Bidwell, Independent candidate for Governor, in 1875.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Late in the year 1867, after the demise of the Express, William Cowan commenced the issue of a daily by the name of the Evening Telegraph. December 14, 1867, G. M. Hanson, editor of the Sutter County Sentinel, brought his paper to this city and combined it with the Telegraph, issuing and editing both papers. February 15, 1868, the publication of both was discontinued.
THE NORTH CALIFORNIAN
A short time after the Telegraph gave up the ghost, a daily paper called the Northern Californian made its appearance, edited by James G. Eastman and Thomas Waters. After a brief career of two or three weeks, this little fledgling peeped its last, and was seen no more.
MARYSVILLE DAILY STANDARD
When A.S. Smith retired from the editorial rooms of the Appeal, he commenced the issue of an independent daily, called the Marysville Daily Standard. The first few numbers, commencing May 16, 1870, were printed at the office of the Weekly Sutter Banner, while Mr. Smith was awaiting the arrival of his printing material. June 6, 1870, the Standard was enlarged from a six to a seven column paper. The Standard was edited with vigor and ability for three years, when the material was sold to the Appeal Association.