larger dimensions and pretensions, and was not."
This, so far as the records show, presents a history of the rise, progress, and in many instances, the decline and fall, of the Press in Erie County. The picture, although it may be a faithful shadowing forth of the original—although the artist may have done his duty with great faithfulness and impartiality, still it cannot by any means be said to be a flattering one. But there is a corner of the canvass unoccupied, which it will now be my endeavor to fill up. It will not be my purpose to speak of all the actors in the dramas enacted in the establishment of the Newspaper Press in this County, and for the very obvious reason, that in regard to many of them, their personal history, to me, is an entire blank. Necessity, therefore, and not design, will compel me to leave the picture still in an unfinished state.
Smith H. and Hezekiah A. Salisbury were the first to break ground in the attempt to establish the Press in Erie County. This was in 1811, when this section of the State was just emerging from a wilderness state. From the notice of the Press of this County as contained in the "Buffalo Courier," the public are led to infer—indeed it is so stated—that the brothers Salisbury made the attempt together, and at the same time. This is slightly at variance with the recollection of Mr. Bemis, who states that the old Press and Types originally used in the establishment of the "Ontario Repository," "were taken to Buffalo in 1810, and the first paper set up in that place was the 'Buffalo Gazette,' by Smith H. Salisbury, who, after the war, was joined by his surviving brother Hezekiah." I cannot take it upon myself to say which of these accounts is true—the probability, however, is that Mr. Bemis is mistaken, as he no doubt states the fact from simple recollection of the matter—whereas, the author of the statement as furnished through the "Courier," no doubt has the authority of the surviving partner for the truth of the statement therein contained. The apparent disparity in relation to time, in fact amounts to nothing. Mr. Bemis does not say that the paper was issued in 1810—simply that the materials were taken to Buffalo in that year. After struggling against the adverse fortunes that usually attend the early establishment of the Newspaper Press in an untried field, one of the brothers, Smith H., has silently sunk to his final rest. The other, Hezekiah A., still lives to witness the complete triumph of the art in the very place, where 36 years ago, the effort must have been looked upon as little short of the dreaming of a disordered mind! Mr. Salisbury is very justly regarded as one of the fathers of the craft in Western New-York. I have not the means at hand for determining the precise population of Buffalo, (at an early day called New-Amsterdam,) at the time the Mesars. Salisbury commenced the publication of the "Buffalo Gazette," but the probability is, that it did not exceed 5 or 600!—perhaps not so many. But civilization, and the means of disseminating knowledge, go hand in hand in this country. The surviving brother, although associated with the earliest recollections of the Press in Erie County, never served a regular apprenticeship at the business of Printing. For something like a year he was under the tuition of Mr. Bemis, but at the end of that time, like many boys of the present day, he repented, no doubt, "having learned the trade," and again betook himself to the cultivation of the soil. However, when his brother made known to him his intention to launch his bark at the foot of Lake Erie, he resolved to take passage with him, and has thus become a Printer, without serving an apprenticeship. Although advanced in years, he still occupies his post at the case.
David M. Day. This gentleman's name is early associated with the attempt to establish the Press in Buffalo. Mr. Day learned his trade with Mr. Stevens, in the office of the "Ontario Messenger," and started in business at Buffalo, in 1815. He was a rare and eccentric genius—full of wit, humor and fun, and wonderfully gifted with the rare and valuable faculty of making friends, and obtaining work. But he has run his race, and although unfortunate in some particulars, still he has left behind him the remembrance of many virtues. It may justly be said of him—the only enemy he had, was himself.
William A. Carpenter. Here is another name long identified with the business of Printing in Western New-York. In 1818, his name is found associated with that of H. A. Salisbury in the publication of the "Buffalo Gazette." But long before this, he was engaged by Benjamin Blodgett—say in 1812 or '13—to publish the "Genesee Intelligencer," then the only paper printed at Batavia, in Genesee County. Mr. Carpenter has done much to build up and sustain the Newspaper Press, in this section of the State. In doing this, he has necessarily had to encounter many hardships and trials, but he rode out of the storm gallantly, and yet lives to witness the blessings that have been showered upon his country in the establishment of a Free Press. He is still a resident of the city of Buffalo.
Thomas M. Foote. Although the Doctor is not himself a practical Printer, he is, nevertheless, a practical Editor, and devotes himself with great assiduity to his profession. He has done much to raise the standard of the Press in Buffalo.
Almon M. Clapp. This gentleman is now one of the Editors of the "Morning Express."
