The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-27
From the Abbemls Medium.
PEN PICTURES OF THE PRESS
EDWARD A. BRONSON.

EQWdTQ AlpuOuZO DiolISuuj CoiVoi e'A.
proprietor of the Barnwell Sentinel, anc
fifth Vice President of the South Caro-
lima State Press Association, is one of the
oldest newspaper men in this State, anc
has a more extensive knowledge of the
ups and downs of journalistic life thar
any of his professional brethren. He il
of New Eng gland descent, and the son o.
Edward Morton Bronson, who was borr
and reared at Hartford, Connecticut, and
at the age eighteen removed to Charlotte
North Carolina, where he settled down
was married to Susan Ann Orr, and
where the subject of this sketch was born
on November %, 1923. Some seven
years after his marriage, the elder Bron.
son with his household goods removed tc
Camden, South Carolina, and there
located for life. His possessions were
small, he was just beginning in the world
and with a growing family upon his
hands it required the closest economy
and the most persistent efforts to get the
start of fortune. The economy and thrift
SO deeply imbedded in his nature by the
wooden nutmeg" atmosphere of his
native State stood by him well in hand
in his efforts to secure a competence Of
this worlds goods in his adopted State
Young Bronson was sent to the common
schools in Camden, and there completed
his education, the limited means at his
fathers command preventing him from
taking college course of study. After
finishing his career at school, young
Bronson entered the office of the Camden
Journal, then owned by Thomas W.
Pegues, as an apprentice, and there
learned the art of printing. He was a
faithful "devil," and soon became a
correct and rapid compositor. After
completing his apprenticeship, at the age
of twenty-one, he was married to Joanna
Ingram, of Camden, who still lives
Eight children have been born to this
marriage, six of whom, one son and five
daughters, now survive.
Mr.. Bronson has been member OF
several military companies, but was
never in battle. When the Mexican war
began he was a member of the DeKalb
Rifle Guards, commanded by Captain
James Polk Dickinson, but having just
been married could not bear the idea Of
relinquishing the sweets of the honey.
moon for the hardships and horrors Of
the camp and field. He remained at
home, and thinking that there was for
tune to be made in the mercantile busi-
ness opened a store at Camden, and there
began his career as q merchant. He had
little idea of the business; credited every
body; thought to make money fast; had
host of friends, and consequently was
unable to meet his obligations when pay
day came and 80 collapsed. After his
failure in merchandising, Mr.. Bronson
returned to the types, repaired to Colum-
bia during the session of the Legislature
in 1913, and there secured a situation
with John G.. Bowman, on the Tempe
rance Advocate, which he retained for
some time, and then went in with j. G.
Morgan, at that time, the most extensive
printing establishment in the State. In
this Office, with the help of another COM
positor, he did the whole work on daily
paper until his health failed, when he
took service with A. S. johnson in his
book and job Office. There he was offered
the foremanship of the Daily Telegraph,
which position he accepted and filed
until the paper was merged into the
Daily Carolnian.
After the great Cooperation Move
ment in 1851, Mr.. Bronson went to Cam
den, purchased the material and good
will of the Southern Republic, which he
published for about two months; but the
venture did not pay. His capital was
small, and he had an old and Aourishing
competitor in the Journal, and was forced
to give up the business or hunt more
promising field. Closing up his Camden
Office and removing to Barnwell county
he located at Blackville, from which
place he issued the first number of the
Barnwell Sentinel on March II, 1852, st.
Patrick's Day, nearly quarter of a cen
tury ago. He did not have the name of
a single subscriber on his books when he
issued the first number of his paper, but
soon gained the confidence and support
of the people, and has ever since his first
venture had a large and respectable
weekly audience. Shortly after estab-
fishing himself at Blackville the demand
for the removal of his paper to Barnwell
village, the county seat, became urgent,
and was pressed upon him by every pos
sible inducement. Yielding to the will
of the people he moved out to Barnwell,
and has ever since his location there pur-
sued the even tenor of his way, publish
ing good paper, and striking straight
out from the shoulder in his efforts to
elevate and prosper his people. The
Sentinel has been published without inter-
ruption from the time of its establish
ment until the present day, with the ex-
ception of nine months suspension
brought on by the war and Sherman's
memorable "March to the Sea-" On
February 5, 1865, the Federal troops set
fire to the Sentinel Office, which, together
with all of its appurtenances except the
type, which had been buried by Bronson
in his buggy house four days before the
advance Of the Yankee army, was totally
destroyed.
Mr.. Bronson did not take an active
part in the late war, although his sympa-
thies were strongly upon the right side,
and through his paper he gave a Wig
orous support to all the measures of the
Confederate Government. He had q
large family dependent upon the Sentinel
alone for their support, and, besides all
this, it was thought that he could do his
country better service with his types thar
with the musket. The greater part Of
the Government printing for his section
was done by him with the help of his
little son, and many times he "stuck" his
type and adjusted his "forms" by the
light of pine splinters, and all for liberty
Mr.. Bronson has been tolerably sue.
cessful in life. He has managed to give
all his children fair education, and has
always met his obligations at maturity
He is contemporary with such men Of
the State Press as Stokes, Greneker
Darr, Murray and Elford, and has at all
times maintained reputation for clear
thinking and honorable action. He is
stoutly opposed to the trayesty on govern.
ment now prevailing in this State, and
J,,o ooy,,ooe oorr,, r,t non onH rnnocyror in