Phelps, was commenced in 1843, at Mount Morris. It is now in the hands of James T. Norton. For a few months a Daily was issued from this office, but it is now discontinued.
The "Geneseo Democrat," was commenced at Geneseo, in 1843, by Gilbert F. Shankland, and is still continued by him.
Mr. Ripley, the founder of the first paper in this County, is now in one of the Western States. From the best intelligence I can obtain, he is in Belvidere, Illinois. After throwing up his hand, and relinquishing the Printing business in this part of the State, he was for a while, the keeper of a public house at Lakeville, Dansville and Hammondsport—but the probability is he found this business as thankless and unprofitable as Printing, and resolved to try his fortune in the West. He is a clever, honest and intelligent man, but is too unstable in his purposes to succeed well.
Mr. Percival has been seized with a migratory fit, and leaving the scene of his former labor, he next appears before the public as the Editor of a paper in Butler County, Ohio, and more recently at Lancaster, in the same State. The Press upon which the first paper in this County was printed, was an old Ramage, upon which the "Albany Argus" was once printed. It is now in the office of the "Mount Morris Spectator."
Mr. Kempshall. Of this individual, Mr. Allen in his notes of "Early Times" in this County, says—"Since leaving here he has been a Dorr Patriot in Rhode Island, a 'Jour' in New-York and elsewhere, but several years since we lost trace of him. He was a noble-hearted, generous fellow, unfortunate, and often troubled with what he called 'blue devils,' or melancholy. We should not be surprised to hear of him in Oregon or California. He was a brother of Hon. Thomas Kempshall, of Rochester."
But I must bring this sketch to a close. It must not be expected of me that in these running notices, I can particularize all who have been interested in the Press in Livingston, or any other County. There are various reasons which render it impossible for me to do so. In very many instances the readers of these pages will be able to supply any omissions that may be the result of want of time, or the facilities of information, to make them complete.
WAYNE COUNTY.
The territory embraced in the now County of Wayne, was originally a part of Ontario. The Press found its way into it, however, while it was yet a branch of the original tree. But then, the local causes which are so prolific in giving life to newspaper establishments did not operate with that force, that they did after its separate organization as a County. Then it is, that rival villages, local causes, and many other considerations well known to the hopes and expectations of men who fancy they have written upon their brow the certain index of future greatness, call for the establishment of that great level of public opinion—the Press. These causes are general in their nature, and have operated, no doubt, more or less in this County.
The first paper established in the territory now constituting the County of Wayne, was by Timothy C. Strong, at Palmyra, and was called the "Palmyra Register." This took place on the 26th day of November, 1817. This Press was continued by Mr. Strong, with occasional changes of title—for which he was particularly famous—until October, 1823, when it passed into the hands of Pomeroy Tucker, and its then title, the "Western Farmer and Canal Advocate," superseded by that of "Wayne Sentinel," which name it still retains, and is now conducted by Mr. Tucker.
The "Lyons Republican," was established at the village of Lyons, August 3, 1821, by George Lewis, and was discontinued Feb. 22, 1822.
The "Lyons Advertiser" was commenced at the same place, on the 31st May, 1822, by Hiram T. Day. This paper underwent various changes of name, and was successively published by Ephraim J. Whitney, E. J. & W. W. Whitney, Barker & Chapman, Chapman & Chapman, and William F. Ashley, and is now published, with the title of "Western Argus," by Chas. Poucher.
On the 11th of March, 1828, the "Palmyra Freeman" made its appearance at Palmyra, published by D. D. Stephenson. He was shortly afterwards succeeded by J. A. Hadley, who subsequently removed the establishment to Lyons, where the paper was continued under the title of "The Countryman," with Myron Holley as associate Editor, and was thus continued until Nov. 1831; when its publication was suspended for a season. It was afterwards resumed as the "Lyons American," by Myron Holley; and in 1836, the establishment was removed to Clyde, where it reappeared as the "Clyde Gazette," by Denison Cord. The present "Clyde Eagle," by Stephen Salisbury, Jr., is believed to be a continuation of the same concern, although after a suspension of a number of years.
In 1828, '29 and '30, a monthly paper entitled "The Reflector," devoted to science, ironical castigation, and amusement, by "O. Dogberry, Jr.," was published at Palmyra, the whole term of its existence being about two years.
In November, 1829, "The Newark Republican" was established at the village of Newark, by Jeremiah O. Balch, and was continued by him until July, 1831, when the paper was discontinued.
In June, 1838, David M. Keeler commenced the publication in the same village, of the "Wayne Standard," and it was continued by him until August, 1839, when he disposed of it to an association of gentlemen, by whom it was continued under the name of the "Newark Aegis," Stephen Culver officiating as Editor, and F. G. Norton and G. W. Gould, as Printers, until January, 18-40, at which time Norton and Gould became the ostensible proprietors, and for awhile thus continued by them jointly, and then by Norton
