The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-30
The Old ZolIicoGer Press.

The following interesting occurrence
took place at the session of the Press As
ISOLATION June 18th. DIR. Dickinson, of
the Paris Intelligencer arose and thus ad-
dressed the members of the press, present.
ing to them a gavel:
Mr.. RECONSIDERATION me to present to
you, and through you to the Tennessee
Press Association, this small memento,
insignificant in itself, yet associated
with historic "reminiscences of deep in
terest to us all This is a gavel of the
remains of an old press, possessing more
historic interest than any press in the
State. The press referred to was, | am
informed, the very first one upon which
paper was published in Nashville, when
it was but village. From Nashville it
was carried to Columbia, and there used in
publishing the first paper issued in that
town. From Columbia it was brought to
Paris, where it was utilized in publishing
the first paper in West Tennessee.
1t was in this office of the old press
that Amos johnson learned the printers
trade-a man who graced the tripod and
who helped to give tone and influence
to the newspaper press of the earlier
days of our State, and who now is an
honored citizen Of the State of Mississip
p;. In this office was w. w. Gates, the
venerable patriarch of the Tennessee
press, and who now fingers as the last
link of the past generation of printers,
binding the present and the past. May
God bless him with quiet calm evening
and glorious sunset of lite. And here,
too, in the same Office, F. K Iollicoffer be-
came initiated into the honorable profess
sion of printing. This was the press
used by Zolicoffer for many years after be
rose from roller boy to editor, and is
known in West Tennessee as the "Zollicof-
fer press Among the many noble sons
of Tennessee, none deserve kindlier re-
membrance than he. Noble, generous
and brave, he served his people and State
as one of its most horOred conductors of
the press. He served her and her people
faithfully and efficiently in the councils
of the nation, and when, in her darkest
days, her noble sons were rallying to her
call for defence, he poured out the purple
tide of his manly life on her altar, and
his royal soul swept up in blaze Of
glory to rest in the eternal shades of the
trees, among the blest and the noble.
While it may be used by you and your
successors, as an emblem of authority in
this body, may the spirit of Zolicofer
look down upon US approvlngiy, as worthy
to be the successors of the type of man.
hood he represented:
To which Vice-President Boyers. on be-
half of the Association, made the following
address Of acceptance.
On behalf of the Tennessee Press Asso-
citation, accept this gavel wrought from
the first printing press west of the
mountains. The Association is hons
ored by the gift, and l feel hon.
ored that / am the first presiding
officer to make use oft in the direction
of our deliberations. 1t will be treasured
among the most valued and cherished
of the Association. | trust it
will be an inspiration to us, and to those
who may come after US, to emulate the
virtues of the distinguished journalist and
printer who, before the day of the old
Ramage press from which it is taken,
laid the foundation of his fame and use,
fulness in Tennessee.
At the conclusion of the Presi-
dents address, the Association adopted q
resolution ordering the gavel to be sill