Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-05-10

THE SUpoury Daily ls engaged in publishing
sketches Of prominent men Of Northumberland
county. The first OF these sketches appeared
last week Of the Hon. John B. Packer. On
Wednesday morning last eketch Of the founder
and senior editor of the American appeared
which we copy below TO show what difficulties
an editor contends with In publishing o news
paper successfully.
Harry II. Nsasser.
We give our second sketch to-day OF the pro-
mincnt men Of this county. and The man who
furnishes the subject is he who has long been
connected with the business interests of our
town, and who has seen its growth and epread,
the vcissltudes and never falling changes of for
tune, and who has attained the comforts he now
enjoys by his own never firing industry, and by
his strict attention to the teachings Of his boy
hood.
He was born In Sunbury, Is now about sixty
years of age. The earlier part of his life, from
boyhood up, was spent in mercantile pursuits,
He was in II measure selfeducated, having left
school to take charge of his fathers store at the
age of II, bat taking Latin lessons occasionally
from the late Judge Donnel, whose pupil he had
previously been at school. Having studied law
the required tine, under the Hon. a. Jordan, he
was admitted to che Bar in 1888. Ex-Governor
Pollock and the late Judge Higgins were admit.
ted at the same time, NIL having been examined
the previous evening by committee OF nine
lawyers. appointed by the late Judge Lewis, IL
being his first appearance on the Bench Of the
district. In 1870, G. w. Hegins, Esq, was
candidate for the Assembly. There was u split
In the Democratic party In this county. A por-
Iion of the delegates In Convention nominated
Jesse G. Horton for Assembly. The friends Of
G. W. Hegins, believing that he was entitled to
the nomination, withdrew and nominated him
for that position-but he was defeated by small
majority. IL was ut this time that the ,Sunh@ry
A,nsrtcGs was started. and supported the claims
OF Mr. Hegfra. the first number appearing about
ten days after his nomination. Nr. Masser, who
was then practicing law and conducting store,
and who had been the early friend and compan-
ion Of Mr.. Higgins, became the editor and pro-
prietor OF that paper, nnd published 1t In conucc-
ton with Mr. Joseph Esely until April, l643,
when the latter retired. The dmoricon soon bo-
came an established Institution. II was con-
ducted In spirit of ibcrallty unusual In politi-
cal Journals, and with more than ordinary energy
and ability. He asked for no Office, and was un-
der no obligations to any one for aid or patron
age, while more aspiring men received not only
the offices and enoluments, but plso the credit of
sustaining the paper which had helped them to
position, and towards which they contributed
only their good Will and price of subscription.
This for some yeats drew heavily u1,on biz rri-
vate resources. This was particularly the case
WITH the A',is,ikansr, German paper established
by him in 1913, and continued until the re-nomi-
nation of Mr.. Lincoln, In 1854, when, in the abb
scnce of MIR. MassGr, his jOurncyman refused to
continue Work on tac paper when headed Dy
Lincoln. He was discharged by the foreman.
Mr.. Wilycrt, which closed the career Of the Anle-
Yikdnsr.
! In 1889 he was appointed District Attorney un-
der Governor Porter's administration, without
his knowledge or solicitation. How faithfully
nFd correctly he performed the duties of that
office may be judged from the fact, shown by
the records, that lie never had bill qusshed dur
ing the six years he held the office.
During the Presidential campaign preceding
| the rebellion, Mr.. MGsrer warmly advocated the
alection of Judge Douglas. When he was de-
feated by designing men, headed by Brecltinridge
and others, he saw no alternative left to save the
| Union but in the election of Lincoln.
! Mr.. Masser's connection with the press was
prompted more from his fondness of the pro-
! fessiou Of journalism than from any pecuniary
profits Of the business. He seldom presented his
bills, and il Ia enl con now boast of the largest
unpaid, uucOiccrcd pud uucolleCtabe subscrip.
/ tion list in this section of the country.
| In 1854, Mr.. Masser toGk into partnership in
the American otlic", Nj. Emanuel Wilvert, who
/ had served his time aud aiterward worked In
that Office, ana in 1858, Mr.. n. S. Engle, unit
/ 1869, when Mr.. Wilvtrt became the proprietor
I Mr.. Masscr was an early and earnest advocate
of our railroads and other improvements that
have built up Sunbury, attending all the conven
tions and meetings for that purpose
1t may not be amiss to say that Mr.. Massel
! has mechanical cast of mind and was the pa
tertee of several valuable inventions, one o.
which proved quite successful, pecpniarily anc
I nj hpr,g gisa