Shreveport daily news., 1861-04-26
Death of a Veteran Journalist.

The telegraph Friday brought us
the painful announcement that Joseph
Tinker buckingham, the Oldest
American Journalist of his day, died,
the day before, at his residence, in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Few
men have led buster and more ac-
tive life than this veteran Of the
press. His name has been eonnec-
ted with many literary and Journal
istic enterprises, one of which last,
founded by him in 1924, and conduc-
ted by him until 1S4S-we mean
the Boston Courier-remains credi-
table monument to his enterprise and
his usefulness.
The family name of the subject of
our sketch was Tinker. His father,
Nehemiah Tinker, of Windham, Ct.,
(says the New American Encylop-
;edia,) exhausted his whole property
to the support of the American army,
during the Revolutionary war, and
died i'll 1888, leaving family with
out means of support. Joseph was
apprenticed to a farmer, with whom
he remained for several years.
While in this family, he showed some
desire for knowledge, and made him
self acquainted with the rudiments Of
an English education. At the age Of
sixteen, he entered a printing office
in Walpole, n. H., in which was
printed the Farmers Museum" :"
Here he became acquainted with the
elements OF the profession in which,
in after years, he gained distinction.
After remaining at Walpole a few
months, he entered the Office OF the
Greenfield (MaSs.) Gazette, where
he staid until 1900, and then removed
to Boston. In 1903, we find him
officiating as prompter in company
of comedians, who played during the
summer months, in Providence, r. E.,
and Salem, Mass. In 1906, having
changed his fathers name for his
mothers Buckingham commenced
life for himself, by the publication of
the Poi,vanthus, a magazine, which,
after Il years existence, was discon-
tlnued. and was not resumed until
1912. In 1909, Mr.. Buckingham
published. torsiX months, the Ordeal.
:; week y magazine. He always had
a great partiality for the drama, and
in these two periodicals there was
much good theatrical criticism, as
there was in other Journals publish
ed by him.
In the year 1917 Mr.. Bucking-
ham. assisted by Samuel l.. Knapp,
an eminent lawyer and fncile writer OF
that day, commenced the publication
of a paper in Boston. which VIII be
remembered by many as one Of the
most witty, sparkling and clever
weekly newspapers ever Published IL
this country. This was the New
England Galaxy" which confined in
his possession until 1928, when he
sold it. 1t did not long survive his
separation from its conduct. In
1881, in connection with his son. he
commenced the publication of the
New England Magazine which
was continual, under his care, until
1884. Among the contrib butors to
this month"; V were writers who have
since attained greatliterary emince.en
In 1924, Mr.. Buckingham, as We
have already stated, founded the
Boston Courier, which is yet in q
lourishin@ and influential condition.
1t was the last publication with
which Mr.. B. was ever connected,
though since his retirement from
active life he has been tre-
quent contributor TO the public
press III the way of personal
and local "reminiscences OF Boston and
It's history. He has given to the
world two very readiblc autohiogra-
phical works, one called ''Specinle,s
ofnewspaper literature, with person
.ll,