The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-31
Saturday. March 81. ls77.
NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER
MEN IN ROCK ISLAND
COUNTY.
BY J. B. DANFoRTH, JR.
NO. 10
THE REGIsTER-1S59.
BY ]. B. DANFoRTH, JR,

n.
The tri-weekly ceased some time in the
summer of 1861, and the weekly main
tanned a precarious existence to sometime
in the summer of l862-the last COPY on
my file is dated August q, 1862, but
makes no mention that it would be the
last, though it probably was the last.
Mr.. Pickett never gave any very serious
attention to the paper, either in the sane,
tum or in a business way. Office work and
Pickett never agreed very we'll Like
other editors, he had railroad and steam
boat passes, paying for them, as was the
custom. in advertising; and he seemed to
be Under the impression that he must ride
n order to get the value of them. At any
rate, he was absent good deal and his
business, in other hands, did not prosper.
His first issue announced Campbell w.
Waite as associate editor, who remained
only about five months, his Parting Word
being published July q, 1859. and assign
ing as a reason that he was about ito make
trip to the seat of war in Europe"
From that time to June g. 1860, no other
name but Pickett's appears as connected
with the paper, on which date G. w. Kirk
land is announced as partner-"Pickett&
Kirkland editors and proprietors." Mr..
Kirkland is introduced by Mr.. Pickett. in
an editorial Mr.. X also. over his own
name, speaks his piece-the usual custom.
On the 9th of January 1861 (Mr. Pickett
having been elected state senator) there is
an announcement by pickett 4 Kirkland
that NJ. s. Barnes had been engaged as
editor, and Mr., Barnes. over his own name,
addresses the readers of the paper in re-
lation to his position.
June, 10, 1861, Kirkland's name dis
appers without sign, and at the editorial
head is the following Edited by T. j.
Pickett, NJ. S. Barnes"
August 81, 1861, there appears column
and quarter article, signed by NJ. s.
Barnes, and addressed ITO the Readers of
the Register" announcing his withdrawal.
From that time to the last issue august
1862 there was only a weekly, and that
was run by what printers were left in the
office. During the last few months of its
existence the foreman, Alexander Lamar
tine, with pair of scissors, edited the pa
per, and one day it expired without a sign,
nobody taking any interest in it or an
nouncing ITS demise. Kirkland had en-
listed in John B. Hawley's company
Barnes had also volunteered and was off,
and Pickett was looking around for some
soft place in some regiment where there
was living and not much to do, And
that was the cad of the Register and o.
any Republican paper in Rock Island
again leaving THE ARGUS the only "a
per here. The Register never welded
much influence Not enough labor was
expended on it to cause it to command at
tention, even as picker up and dissimina
tor of local affairs
Thomas j. Pickett was born on the It'll
day of March, 82l, in Louisville, KY, t.
which city his father emigrated from Vir
ginia. When quite lad young Picket
removed to Peoria with A. s. Buxton,
former partner of George d. Prentice i
the publication OF the Louisville Journal
and engaged as printer boy. In lS4C
when only 10 years Of age, he estabIishe
the Iazewel Register at Pekin, 10 mile
south Of Peoria. on the Illinois river, an
advocated the election of Harrison to til
presidency. From thence he returned I
Peoria and became associated in the publ
cation Of the Peoria Republican. In 1855
he was chosen grand master of the gran
lodge of masons, of Illinois. In June
1862, he was chosen lieutenant colonel {
the Goth Illinois infantry, organized fC
three months, and was mustered OIL
in September of the same year, with tn
regiment, by reason of expiration of SCI
vice. Their only duty was in camp at Oh
cage, or as guard of the rebel prison there
Towards the close of the war, he remoy
ed to Kentucky, where he still resides, bt
ing editor Of the Paducah Sentinel, in whic
place COL Pickett has successfully held tn
positions of postmaster and clerk of til
l. 5. Court. he is man of kindly nj
ture, lazy, and thoroughly honest
pleasant social companion aud agreeabl
gentleman.
Campbell W. W aite is brother of Hor
G. b. Waite, formerly of this city, an
who has ben spoken of in conuectic
with the Liberty Banner, started by hi
in this place in 1916. G. w. was born
Throopsville, Cayuga Co., N. Y, July l.
1882, aud removed with his father I
Chicago 10 1910, He received only
common school education. At the age
ten years he commenced setting type in II
Office of the Patriot, Democratic new
paper published by his father at S
Charles, Kane county, Ills. At twent
years of age he was associated with T.
Pickett in the editcrship of the Poor
Republican. He continued connecte
with that paper until 1857, when he startt
the True Republican, of Sycamore, D
Kalb Co.. Ills. In the winter of 1855
he was again engaged with Mr.. Picket
in the management of the Rock Islar
Register. In the winter of l859-6O h
went to Washington as corresponds
of the Chicago Tribune. In 1860,
resumed his position as editor of ii
Sycamore True Republican. In IL