Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-05-16
History OF the Woodstock PAPER,
UNDER THE SEVERAL TITLES OF

.Rgz UNDER THE SEVERAL TITLES OF
"WOODSTOCK HERALD" "SHFN ANDOAI
HERALD" 'sSENTINEL OF THE VAL
LEY" AND ''TENTH LEGION"
Partly for the qualification of a long cherish
ed desire to be possessed Of the facts, and
partly for the instruction and edifcation OF
the present generation, the Senior Editor OF
THIS paper has been for sons time making an
earnest effort to procure such authentic infor
nation as would enable him to give correct
$ narrative relative o the establishment and sub
'eq~~nt history of the paper published in thi s
'o"h' uhder he several titles above given
MS 'he ntes OF the paper. previous to he wri
ters nrsf connection with the office as an ap-
prentice, or, in proressT6nal parlance, as derI,
in 1888, were sold at public sale and purchas-
ed by private individuals, unknown to u.s. we
have not been able to ascertain, in every in
stance, the precise dates of the changes OF
proprieiorship that have taken place since the
establishment of the paper nearly fifty years
ago; yet enough has been gathered, from vari
Gus Sources TO enable him to accomplish his
purpose with good degree of accuracy and
satisfaction to himself, if not of interest to the
reader.
s'The Woodstock Herald'' was established by
SAMUEL S. WILLIAMS and BENJAMIN L. Began,
in the latter part Of the year 1917. as we
gather from the 18th lmber of the first vol
ume, dated March 8, 1918, now in our pos
session. At the end of six me n hs, we learn,
the first named gentleman Withdrew from the
paper, and Mr.. Began became sole prophet or
until June, 1928. OF Mr. W and his antece-
dents we know nothing and have no means of
knowing anything. We have succeeded how
ever, in obtaining brief sketch of Mr. BuGAN's
history, which will doubtless prove interesting
TO his numerous friends and acquantances in
this county. MIR. B. was born in Spottsylya-
MIA county, Va, in the year 795, and is there
fore in his I'D year. In 1919, he was married
to SARAH, daughter Of the late MICHAEL OFT.
then citizen of this place. They had nu
merous family, consisting of eight sons IN /;
four daughters; six sons and Two daughters
living all of whom are married except two
sons; they hive twenty two grand children IL
wing anu ten dead; one GRAND child is married
Mr.. B is practical printer. and still proudly
cherishes he recollection Of his past abors
and associations with The craft. h ugh he has
moi worked al the case for many years In
his political faith he adhered to. ana still
holds dear, the doctrines and principles of b
Democratic Republican party; and during the
1rh If n ,,;.l "a,
he warmly ard zealously advocated and sup
ported tn Sc principles, as expounded by h If
great author, Thomas JEFFERSON and engraf
ted upon our system Of government through
the influence OF JAMES MADISON and his com
peers. Taking view Of the present sad con
dtlon OF the country, it is no doubt a source
CT pungent sorrow ana regret to Mr. to
know that he has lived to see our glorious gov
ernment-enphaiically as it came from the
hands If its illustrous trainers, The best gov
eminent the world ever saw''-destroyed by
the success Of the puritanlcal radical party ::
and it is not surprising that he sometimes
takes The privilege Of ''cursng at the Internal,
Infamous abolition scoundres Who have caus-
people Of our ruined country;''-tor surely, ii
any set Of men deserve the bitter curses ..deep
and loud" of the old Jeffersonian Democrats.
the radicals of the present Gay are h. men,
Shortly after retiring from tbs proprie trship
of the ''HerGLd,' Mr.. B. obtained a clerkship,
III one OF the departments in Washington City,
where, with the exception of brief interval.
he has been living ever since. At present, he
is living with his son, c. j. Began. on his farm
in Fairfax county, administering TO the COM
fort of his afflicted companion. May his sun
SET in peace!
Ia June, 1928, Mr.. 3 either sold or rented
the Office o Messrs. JAMES IL SMooT and JON
ATHAS FOSTER, by whom the paper was pub
Hshed for year, or perhaps eighteen months,
under the title Of ''.Shesa sdoah Herald" Mr.
SMooT conducted The paper with considerable
ability, as editor. MIR. f. Was a worthy and
intelligent printer, originally, we believe,
from Winchester. These gentlemen surrend er-
ed the office again to Mr.. BoGAs, probably in
1925, who continued to issue the paper ano~
Their year, when lie finally dissolved his con-
nection with the establishment.
Mr. b. was succeeded by his brother in law
Mr.. JOHN ID. OFT, VINO printer. We be-
lieve he was assisted in he editorial depart
ment by Mr.. SAMUEL OFT, now living in Vince
ling. Mr.. orr subsequently became a part
ner with Mr.. Weber in the 'Xagerstoacn Nal, y
and continued his connection with that esab-
lishment for several years, when he moved to
Washington City.
Mr. JOHN A. STEWART, CT Alexandria, then
became the proprietor, and employed Ne. WIN
HEATING, q talented printer from that place,
to edit the paper. lie was a spicy, vigorous
writer, end achieved considerable reputation
by the publication CT . series of controversial
articles over the signature Of "a LOCKER on in
Venice"
In 1880 or 81, Mr.. STEWART sold the egtab-
lishment TO Mr.. SAMUEL HI. DAVIS. who, we be-
lave, was the founder, and for several years
Ele able editor, OF the ..Wmchester Republican,
and he soll out to Mr.. JAMES II. DARLINGTON