Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-26
The Oldest Editors md Printers of Whining.

| To The Editor of he Commercial:
You were correct in your first statement of
Moses Bradford, Henry Fl, j. Nan aud Francis
Vincent being the oldest editors and printers
reckoning from the time of their engaging in
the business in this city, and your correspondent
"Compostor" is mistaken, in his statement to
| the contrary.
do not know whether Moses Bradford was
| ever a practical printer. but before any one in
| this city now living, had engaged in the busi-
ness, ne published the Deldlodre Gazette in a
| building that stood where tho lower half of Mr..
Pickels' stove store now stands, on East 4th st.
| The same building was afterward for while the
office of the Blue Hens Chicken
Mr.. Naff served his apprenticeship with Rob-
ert Porter, who published the Deld1dre JOnrndL.
Mr.. Porter ran six presses. He owned the ster-
eOtype plates Of the Testament, and Webster's
| Spelling Books, and when he got slack of work
he put his presses TO work on them MIR. Naf
afterwards engaged in the publication of the
DetdDdre Journal with Mr.. Jno. b. Porter, son
of Robert Porter. He was also its editor, until
he was appointed Post Master, when he sold
out to MI. Henry Eckel. He Yo ked at print
ing ssome years, as journeyman, before en-
gaging in business.
Ia the winter of 1899, (after Christmas Ex-
Alderman Vincent, then hoy, engaged himself
with John Newton Harker, the editor of the
DelIDdrs Gazette. There were then but two
papers published in Wilmington. viz: the Della
dtodre Gdztue and Deldiodre journal, and but
one other paper published in the State, the
Georgetown Republican at Georgetown. The
first papers was edited by John Newton Harker
The foreman was William NJ. Naudan a member
of the Naudsin family who were then prominent
in the State. James NJ. Roche "a son of an old
Delaware Revolutionary oficer) and Thomas
Craft (who was then just of age) were the
journeymen. The apprentices were Robert v al
lace, William t. Miles, who was afterwards one
of the editors of the Republican and John Nash
The roller boy was named Howard. These were
all who were employed in the Gdzeite Office, when
EX-Alderman Vincent entered it.
In the Journal office, Henry II. J. Naff was the
editor. John b. Porter, the other proprietor.
acted as foreman, and - Cowen as pressman
whilst Ezekiel Kelley Joseph Little, and Alphon-
20 =. Gordon (wh0 afterwards edited several
papers,) were the apprentices. The name of the
roller boy forget. Alexander Porter, brother
OF Robert Porter. (who kept livery stable. and
was afterwards Mayor of the city and Peter
Porter, (who kept the bookstore nov kept by
Porter " Co.. were printers; but they had
abandoned the business at this time.
In the Spring of 1840 Mr.. Naudain left the
Gazette and started the De dlodre Sentinel in an
old building at the corner of Second aud Market
streets, situated where McInalls drug store now
stands. 1t was on this paper that Mr.. VIM. b
Hyand, whom your correspondent "Oompositor"
entities as the oldest printer first commenced
the business. But it was not until many years
after Mr.. N4f worked at trade and four or five
Gdzette office.
Mr.. Naudain failed, and Henry Cannon, who
published the Georgetown R'pubLtcdn. moved
his paper to Wilmington, united it with the Sem
tinel and called it the Republican, the name it at
present bears He brought with him Elias s. II.
Butler. Mr. Butler went to the business in No
vember 1885, little moro than month before
ex- Alderman Vincent But Mr.. Vincent was en-
gagged in it before him in the city of Wilmington.
The paragraph to which your correspondent
HComDOAitOr' refers related only to those who
first engaged in the business in Wilmington.
There are other editors and printers who are
older at the business but they first engaged in
the trade in other States. Mr.. Vernon, who
learned his trade upon the Record in West Ches-
ter, (and who was fellow apprentice with Bayard
TaylOr.) Mr.. Caleb johnson, who learned his
trade in the Office of the Cecil Democrat at Elk
ton, Mr.. Henry Eckel, VINO learned his trade
in Philadelphia, and Mr.. John Speer are all
older men, and older at the business than the
Ex-Alderman. But they were not engaged in it
as soon in this city. Mr.. Speer has been at the
business in the neighbour ood of fifty years
There are still older priuters. natives of the
State, who live out of the city. Amongst them
are Mr. Pleasanton Hamm, who lives near Dover,
and Mr.. Zachariah Roberts, who farms near
Backbrd. There ID also Mr.. Edward Pierce.
now engaged in the New York Times, who sery-
ed his time on the Gazette when it was published
by Don Alonzo Andrew Jackson Upham, after
warus Mayor of Milwaukee and Governor, be-
lieve OF Wisconsin. (I know he was the DEM
ocratic nominee, but wnether elected or not
cannot say)
MIR. John Guthrie did not commence the bus
iness until Mr.. Cannon moved the Republican
to Wilmington, Mr. Ellis A. Cloud and q. R.
Woodward went at the business still later. Be-
fore Mr.. Woodward engaged 10 it., Mr.. Joseph
Miller (beef butcher) and Mr. James Hart (pork
butcher, and provision dealer,) both were en-
gagged with Ex-Alderman Vincent Again, Mr.,
Washington Mason, the builder, and Henry S.