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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown Democrat
Daniel W. Ballou
b. 1824, d. 1876
Daniel W. Ballou
Watertown
Historical Society Collection
1854
The “Watertown Democrat,”
the first number of which was issued on the eighteenth of October, 1854.
1855
07 19 AN
EXPLANATION
To prevent any misunderstanding,
we wish to state that in publishing in our last paper, resolutions purporting
to have been passed by a meeting of over 1000 Germans, which reflected
injuriously on the characters of Mr. H. Mulberger and Mr. Tigler, we did so at the
special and repeated request of a committee who were appointed to wait on
us. Mr. Mulberger and Mr. Tigler claim
that these resolutions do them great wrong and are calculated to create
impressions abroad not warranted by an impartial statement of facts. We did not then, and do not now, wish to have
anything to do with disputes of a purely personal nature, with which newspapers
ought not to meddle. We are entirely
willing that the parties claiming to have been injured in reputation by the
publication, should freely use our columns to repair any wrong done by us. WD
1859
03 31 Anonymous
correspondents who send communications
WD
06 23 Editor
is out of town
WD
09 16 One of the best weeklies in the state. Edited by D. W. Ballou, Jr., it is sufficient
evidence of its ability to say, that since its establishment five years ago,
five other papers—and I don’t know but more—have had their day and passed from
the stage, leaving the Democrat alone in its glory. One of the principal reasons of its success,
I think, is that Mr. Ballou gives more attention and space to local matters
than is usual with country papers. That
department, well conducted, is always appreciated. Milwaukee Sentinel
History of the Press in Watertown — No. 3.
Watertown Democrat, 07 12 1860
1860
This week we conclude the series of letters relating to the history of
printing in this city with one written by the Editor of the Democrat. As a composition, it probably has less
interest and fewer facts than either of the others. All we are disposed to claim for it is the
merit of giving a full and impartial account of the different attempts to
establish newspapers in this city.
Having added two or three sentences to the original communication, so as
to bring it down to the present time, we have taken the liberty of changing the
date. If any one hereafter should ever
have occasion to write on this subject, the substance of all that has taken
place will be found in the three letters we have inserted.
LETTER FROM D. W. BALLOU, Jr.
Watertown, June 20th, 1860.
The year 1847 was the last of my apprenticeship in the office of the “Niagara Democrat”—a weekly journal then and
now published in the village of Lockport, New York, and of which I was
afterwards editor during the period of four years. One forenoon, in the early part of April—I
well remember it was a bright and cheerful day of that month of clouds,
sunshine and showers—while setting type at the case, near an open window, my
attention was arrested by the appearance of a tall, serious-looking gentleman,
who approached me, and in a very deliberate tone of voice inquired, “If the
proprietor was present?” I replied, by
pointing out to him Mr. Orasmus Turner, the editor of the paper, who was
sitting at a table on the opposite side of the room, and engaged in
writing. After exchanging the courtesies
usual at the meeting of persons wholly unacquainted with each other, the
stranger, in a manner at once brief and direct, made known his business by
remarking that “He had seen an advertisement in the ‘Democrat,’ offering two fonts of type for sale, and, if convenient,
he would like to see them.” His request
was immediately complied with, and after a very careful examination, a bargain
was closed, and the two lots of half-worn long
primer and bourgeois were
his.
Taking off his coat, and calling for a composing stick, he went at the work of putting his newly-bought
type in a condition to be safely packed, and sent away; nor did he stop, leave
the office, or allow anything to interrupt him for a moment, until near sunset,
when every letter had been taken care of, the last nail driven, and the boxes
plainly and neatly marked “J. A. HADLEY, Watertown, Wisconsin”—and himself
ready to return to his home, at Rochester, on the evening boat—for it was in
the palmy era of packet lines, on the Erie canal, when one could glide through
the hours of the night and sleep as soundly as under his own roof, and be fit
for something on the morrow.
This was the first time I learned my transient companion’s name and
destination, though from occasional conversations during the day, I ascertained
the nature of the enterprise he had resolved to undertake, in the distant
territory beyond the chain of great lakes, which was then just beginning to
allure to its fertile prairies and primeval forests the largest share of
eastern emigration. Thither the shrewd
and wide-awake Yankee was going to mend his broken fortunes—thither the
restless and disappointed politician was looking to get another start in the
career of public life—thither the industrious and intelligent German was slowly
wending his way to create a new home in the land of promise—thither the eyes of
all classes and conditions were turned with a gleam of hope, that there they
might at length find what they had vainly sought for in the clime of their
nativity—wealth, success and fame. It so
happened that my generous and respected employer, Mr. Turner—who always had a
word of kindness, admonition, or encouragement, for all who came within the
circle of his influence—was the pioneer printer and editor in Niagara county,
and here was another man, who was about to assume the same character in a recently
begun and rising village, a thousand miles distant.
Mr. Hadley had not as yet visited the scene of his future labors, and
knew nothing of its country or people, except from report; but Mr. Turner, in
the spring of 1836, had made a rapid trip to the west, and touched a few of the
best points in Wisconsin. I had often
heard him repeat the incidents of his solitary journey on horseback from
Chicago to Racine, where he found only one log hut and a cow—thence to Milwaukee,
then vigorously commencing that career of prosperity which has made it the fair
and beautiful city we now see it—thence to Janesville, where he could scarcely
obtain shelter from a drenching storm—then up the valley of Rock River, which
he described as the Genesee of the west, so nearly, in his view, did its soil,
climate, productions and capabilities for improvement resemble that one
far-famed portion of central New York; and finally onward, as far north as Lake
Winnebago.
He told Mr. Hadley he had chosen a place that would one day be among
the most prominent of the interior villages of Wisconsin, and thought he knew
exactly where it was situated, as he believed he had been compelled to pass a
night alone in the woods within its limits.
Another coincidence in the lives of the two men was the fact that Mr.
Turner had printed his first paper on a Ramage press and Mr. Hadley was about
to take another with him for the same purpose—probably the first and last of
dimensions sufficient to strike off an ordinary sized newspaper that ever has
been, or ever will be, seen in this state.
That old, discarded and forgotten variety of the mighty engine for the
“diffusion of knowledge among mankind” had then ceased to be manufactured and
this was some surviving relic or specimen of a clumsy style of press, that in
its age had done good service, and can now only be seen in an illustrated
history of the great art, which is not only the preservative of all other arts,
but also of freedom and civilization themselves.
I kept an eye on the exchanges, and about the first of the following
July I found, among the mails on the table, the first number of the “Watertown Chronicle,” and really admired
the fine appearance of the old types I had handled a thousand times, made in
the west; for the new paper was well printed, well edited, and highly
creditable to the talent, taste and skill of its owner.
Little did I then dream that in a few years I should follow that
chance acquaintance to his intended destination, and, like him, be the founder
of a newspaper of my own, and for a while, as I am now, be the publisher of the
only English journal in that same city of Watertown, surrounded by an active
and enterprising population of more than eight thousand inhabitants—but so it
is.
I have thought it might not be appropriate, in complying with a polite
request, to give an account of my connection with the press of Watertown, to
preface my narrative with a statement of this incident.
I made my first visit to Wisconsin during the summer of 1852. My excursion was confined to the northern
part of the state, and, if my memory is correct, very few of the places I then
passed through could boast of a newspaper.
At any rate, neither Appleton, Menasha, or Oconto had any; and at
Sheboygan, only a job office was to be found—though I think a newspaper had
previously been published in that village, so pleasantly located on the lake
shore.
In the autumn of 1853 I became associated in the editorial management
of the “Green Bay Advocate,” and for nearly
a year discharged the labors of that position—its able and popular editor, Mr.
Charles D. Robinson, having been elected Secretary of State—and the duties of
his office demanding most of his time and care at the Capital, and his brother,
Albert C. Robinson—the prince of printers and best of good fellows—having an
inveterate disinclination to wield the pen, though he has since shown that he
can do so with power, readiness and effect.
The return of C. D. Robinson, at the expiration of his official term,
to his “old arm chair” in the editorial room, as a matter of course dispensed
with further occasion for any aid I could render, and hearing that there was a
desirable “opening” for another paper in Watertown, Jefferson County, I
resolved to go and see for myself. The
result was the establishment of the “Watertown
Democrat,” the first number of which was issued on the eighteenth of
October, 1854, and has been regularly published ever since, without the failure
of a week, or any apology for a half sheet. When I started the Democrat, three papers were in existence in this city, viz:--the “Watertown Chronicle,” the “Watertown Register,” and the “Watertown Anzeiger.” The Chronicle
was conducted by Theron Minor, and after passing into, and out of, different hands
in quick succession, finally ceased to be—its latter days being very little
like its first.
Perhaps it should be stated that in the summer of 1855, while Cullaton
& Rose were its proprietors, they undertook to publish the “Daily Chronicle,” and for the space of
about one month the citizens of Watertown enjoyed the luxury of having a daily
paper, when it suddenly ceased to appear.
The Register, owned by E. B.
Quiner, was published only twice after the Democrat
came out. The Anzeiger, a German paper, published by Blumenfeldt & Kopp, had
been going but a few weeks, and has since been stopped. In the village of Jefferson, the “Jeffersonian” had recently been started
by William M. Watt, the first number of which was issued on the 4th of May,
1854, and it still lives.
To complete the list of newspaper enterprises in this county, so far
as embraced within the period of my own observation, it will be necessary to
record the beginning and the end of several efforts to set up new journals that
have not yet been mentioned. The first
attempt was made by William T. Butler, into whose possession the old Register office had fallen. On the 22d of March, 1855, the “Watertown City Times” laid claim to
public patronage. Though the name was
not given, it was understood that George Hyer was the responsible and working
editor of its columns for two or three weeks, when the appointment of Register
of the Lake Superior Land District called him away. On the 28th of the next September, the “Times” announced its own discontinuance. The materials with which it was printed were
taken to the village of Jefferson; and on the 23d of October, in the same year,
Hoyt & Sanborn started the “Jefferson
County Republican,” and maintained its publication for a few months, when
it shared the fate of its immediate predecessor, and was no more—the whole
office having been sold and taken north.
On the 31st of January, 1856, Cullaton & Brinkerhoff published the
prospectus of the “Western Citizen.” It was to be printed on a quarto form of
eight pages and in mechanical appearance equal to any paper in the state. Its story can be told in one sentence—but one
number appeared, and that was both its first and last. The next trial at this rather uncertain
business was made by L. H. Rann, now of Whitewater, who, on the 30th of
January, 1858, started the “Representative,”
carried it on for some months, and then gave it up as a hard job.
The last experiment of this kind was tried by M. Cullaton, formerly
proprietor of the “Dodge County Citizen”
and recently editor of the “Waukesha
Freeman.” On the 5th of January,
1859, he launched the “Watertown
Transcript” on the full tide of successful failure; and on the sixteenth of
March following saw the eleventh and last number of his able and interesting
journal, which truth requires me to say, deserved a better fate, as did also
some of the others named above.
I cannot give the exact date, but in the meantime, Thurlow W. Brown
transferred the “Wisconsin Chief,”
originally the “Cayuga Chief,” from
Auburn, New York, to the village of Fort Atkinson, and there continued its
publication until August, 1859, when circumstances obliged him to surrender his
office to other parties, and his paper, which was a fearless champion of the
Temperance cause, went down, to the regret of all who were accustomed to read
its columns. Mr. Brown brought the only
steam power press ever used in the county for printing. His circulation was so large that he found it
impossible to work off his edition with any other. In a few weeks his paper was again started,
and the spicy and talented little sheet has regularly appeared ever since. Associated with Mr. Brown in the management and
editorship of the “Chief” has been
his sister, Miss Emma Brown, who is both a good printer and an accomplished
writer. On the 1st of September, 1859,
S. A. Shepherd commenced the publication of the “Fort Atkinson Standard”—a neatly printed six-column paper which is
still in existence.
The “Volks Zeitung and People’s
Gazette,” a German paper, was started through the instrumentality of Carl Schurz, most three years since, and is now
published under the editorial management of Herman Lindeman. In the fall of 1857, Emil Rothe commenced the
publication of another German paper called the “Weltburger,” which still remains under the editorial supervision of
its original founder, but is now owned and published by D.
Blumenfeld.
Within the space of five years, I question whether any other editor in
Wisconsin has witnessed the rise and fall of so many weekly journals as I have
enumerated in this hastily written sketch—some of which were of far more than
average merit and ability. As I have
invariably commended all these efforts to the favor and liberality of the
community, for whose improvement and benefit they were designed, so I sincerely
say to the next new comer, who, not disheartened at the bad luck of such as
have preceded him in this rather fatal field of enterprise, may a better
fortune and ample prosperity reward your self-reliance and labors.
Since the above was written, J. W. Lawton, formerly of the “Delevan Northron,” has established the “Watertown Republican,” the first number
of which appeared on the 15th of June, 1860.
D. W. BALLOU, Jr.
1861
09 05 Robert Tompkins, who has been for some months foreman of the Democrat office, leaves town this week to
join some company of Wisconsin which has been accepted for the war. Our friend Tompkins is not only an
accomplished printer, but he is a vigorous and ready writer, and we predict
that he will prove himself a brave soldier and “go where duty calls.” To whatever company he belongs, his pen will
be found as useful as his sword, and that will always be for the defense of his
country, its institutions and Constitution.
WD
DEATH OF DANIEL W.
BALLOU, Sr.
08 02 We have a sad and painful duty to perform this week in
announcing the decease of Mr. Daniel W. Ballou, for nearly 22 years the editor
and publisher of the Watertown Democrat,
his death occurring at his residence in the First ward, last Thursday
afternoon, July 27th, 1876. Although his
death had not been wholly unexpected by his more intimate friends, yet, we are
sure, its announcement will bring surprise and sorrow to many who claim his
friendship and esteem. WR
08 24 We can only admire with pardonable pride the tender solicitude
constantly manifested by the Republican
concerning our welfare. Ever since we
came into possession of the Democrat,
it has conferred upon this paper a gratuitous amount of puffing which we fear
can never be requited, unless, perhaps, it accepts our grateful acknowledgments
which are here cheerfully extended. WD
1880
04 07 THE
PRINTING STEAL
“NO MORE BACK-BONE THAN AN OYSTER”
On Monday evening last a special meeting of the Council was called for
the purpose of taking action in regard to advertising for bids to do the city
printing the coming year.
Ald. Jones, of deadhead ticket notoriety and his son, feebly assisted
by the astute politician, getting wind of the purpose for which the meeting was
called, set themselves at work to thwart the wishes of the people; and we are
sorry to say they succeeded.
By threatening, coaxing and appealing to partisan prejudice they
prevailed upon enough Aldermen to remain away from the council rooms to prevent
a quorum from being present.
Some of our city fathers, having no more back-bone than an oyster,
became the willing tools of this scheming and sordid junta.
To our mind it would have been much better to have attended the
meeting and justified the steal on some ground, than to sneak out of the
responsibility the way in which a few of the Aldermen did.
But is it not high time that the taxpayers of this city took some steps
to prevent a few men from contributing two or three hundred dollars annually
from the city funds to the Jones family [*], in violation of all law, and
against the expressed wishes of a large portion of the taxpayers? If the democratic organ needs bolstering up
it would be more honorable in the council to donate to it a certain sum every
year. Then no law would be violated, and
the party organ would receive the money it evidently needs to keep it alive. The Watertown
Republican, 07 Apr 1880
[*] Thomas Jones, editor and proprietor, Watertown Democrat
newspaper
1881
03 05 SNOW
STORM OF 1881
Cross
reference:
Mrs. Daniel Ballou
Ballou, Daniel W., b. 1824, d. 1876
Ballou, Marion D., b. 1827, d. 1905
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin