CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY.
The struggles and vicissitudes through which those have passed in this County, who have engaged in the establishment of the Newspaper Press, have been many and varied. The first attempts were made when the county was new, and before its capacity and its resources were fully developed—success under such a state of things must always be looked upon as doubtful—indeed, the cases are very rare where the original founders of a newspaper, in a new county, have been successful in the undertaking. If ill success, therefore, has attended the craft in Chautauque County, In more cases than one, it is by no means a rarity confined to that county alone—they have only followed in the footsteps of those who have preceded them, in Western New-York, generally.
The first paper established in this County was the "Chautauque Gazette," at Fredonia, in 1817, by James Percival.[1]
The "Chautauque Eagle," by Robert J. Curtis, was commenced at Mayville, in May, 1819, and was continued about a year.
The "Fredonia Censor," by Henry C. Frisbee, was commenced at Fredonia, in 1821. Mr. F. continued at its head for 17 years, when it passed into the hands of E. Winchester, by whom it was published three years. It then came into the possession of R. Cunnington, who published it one year. W. McKinstry then became the proprietor, by whom, and by W. McKinstry & Co. it has been published for the last five years.
The "Peoples' Gazette" was commenced in 1824, at Forrestville, by William S. Snow. It was continued for a short time, and then united with the "Chautauque Gazette," at Fredonia.
In June, 1826, Adolphus Fletcher commenced at Jamestown, the publication of the "Jamestown Journal." It is now published by Warren Fletcher, a son of the original proprietor.
The "Western Star," was commenced In June, 1829, at Westfield, by Henry Newcomb. It was continued for about two years.
In 1828 Morgan Bates commenced the publication of the "Chautauque Republican," at the village of Jamestown. It was continued for about five years, during which time it had some seven or eight different proprietors.
The "Genius of Liberty," a religious publication was commenced at Jamestown, in 1829, by Lewis C. Todd. It had an existence of about two years.
In 1834, the "Chautauque Whig," was started at Dunkirk, by Thompson & Carpenter, who continued it, jointly, or individually, until 1845. At a later period, it has been known by the name of the "Dunkirk Beacon."
The "Mayville Sentinel" was established in 1834, and printed by Timothy Kibby. In March, 1835, it passed into the hands of Beman Brockway, who published it for the proprietors until Dec. 1836, when he purchased the establishment. In 1837, H. E. Purdy became interested in the paper, and continued it for a year and a half, and then retired, leaving it in the hands of Mr. Brockway. It is still published at Mayville, by John F. Phelps.
The "Westfield Messenger" was commenced at the village indicated by its title, in August, 1844, by C. J. J. Ingersoll, by whom it is still published.
The "Frontier Express," was established in June, 1846, at Fredonia, by Perham & Cutler, and is still published by them.
The "Panama Herald" was commenced in the village of Panama, town of Harmony, in August, 1846, by Dean & Hulburt, and edited by Thomas Graham. It is now in the hands of Steward & Pray.
The above comprises only a part of the papers that have had an existence in this County. Some of them, however, have lived so short a time, that it can scarcely be said that they had an existence at all. I have not been furnished with the facts by which to enable me to say where, or when, they were published. The following, it is thought, embraces a full and perfect list of all the papers that are, or have been, published in this County, indicating the place where published. Of this number, only six remain to tell the fate of their associates:—
Mayville—Chautauque Eagle, Republican Banner, Mayville Sentinel, and the Tocsin, a temperance paper.
Fredonia—Chautauque Gazette, Fredonia Censor, Fredonia Gazette, Western Democrat and Literary Enquirer, The Pantheon, Frontier Express, and Botanic Medical Journal.
Westfield—Western Star, Chautauque Phoenix, American Eagle, Westfield Courier, Western Farmer, Westfield Lyceum, Westfield Advocate, Westfield Messenger.
Jamestown—Jamestown Journal, Genius of Liberty, Chautauque Republican.
Forrestville—Peoples' Gazette, Western Intelligencer.
Van Buren—Van Buren Times.
Dunkirk—Chautauque Whig, Dunkirk Beacon.
Panama—Panama Herald.
The papers at present published in the County seem to be tolerabiy well supported, the "Fredonia Censor" issuing weekly about 1000 papers—the "Jamestown Journal" 700—the "Mayville Sentinel" 1000—the "Westfield Messenger" 600, and the "Panama Herald" 500. If they are paying subscribers, this is very well—if, as is too often the case, they are mere men of straw, taking the paper without ever intending to pay, the number is altogether too large.
- ↑ There seems to be a contrariety of opinion in relation to this. Mr. Frisbee, formerly of the "Censor," and the oldest Printer in the County, says—"This paper was conducted about five years, by James Hull, when it was discontinued for a year or two, and then again resumed by him; but after two or three years' faithful existence, it ceased to be." Mr. McKinstry, the present proprietor of the "Censor," says—"It was commenced by James Percival. *****This paper continued to be published successively by Percival, Carpenter & Hull, and James Hull, till sometime in 1822 when its publication was suspended." I am inclined to think Mr. McKinstry's version of the matter is correct. Mr. Frisbee does not allege that the paper was commenced by Mr. Hull.
