, 1879-02-23
EARLY CHICAGO JOURNALISM

Eclniniscence OF Chicago Newspapers Pre-
viou. to 185o-Sone Interesting Persona
ske:ci,es-Join Calhoun, oi the Old ;. Dem
oerat.' John Wentworth. r. G. Ryan, thu
Wilson's, aud Otlaers-Tho Old " Tribune, ;
"Amcr;can,'' Journal" "Gen of ttt
prairics," .'Citizen," Etc.-The First Power
Press III Chicago.
Nrlt:ca far the Springfield Journal.
! WExGELASDs, near Quincy, ILL.,, Feb. 49,
FRIEND SELDY: In your valuable and in
every way interesting address before the s'llli
nois Press Association OF the 9th inst, YOU
give some "reminiscences Of the newspapers and
editors OF Chicago from about 1850. Permit me
to give some Of my rcco1lections Of IN earlicr
pefiod 81 "Chicago jburnalism.''
My father came to Chicago III the spring OF
1881 and purchased real estate. In 1884 the firm
OF Jones s. King began business in hardware,
iron. and stoves in q three-story frame building
on South Water street, between Dearborn and
Clark. In the third story was located the Chi
caso Democrat, John Calhoun {Iong since de-
ceased) editor and publisher. In June, 1885,
our family came to Chicago and resided on the
corner OF Randolph and Dearborn streets, then
fashionable residence locality.
was then boy Of 10, and that printing office
had great attractions for me. T used to hing
about. there all the "rulcs allowed" and more
too. John Calhoun was a quiet, unassuming
man, O practical printer, well known, and lis
memory Is still cherished by all old residents Of
Chicago.
In 1886 Mr.. Calhoun sold ont, and without
consulting me, so that one day, when rushed
into the office without any ceremony, US usual, a
tall, lank chap stood before me that would
have made oath YVES fifteen feet high, for was
frightened and ceased my investigations into
the "art preseryative." It was John Went
worth, aud he immediately began to make the
Chicago Democrat red-hot political power. In
April, 1910, on my fifteenth birthday, applied
for and was put at work in the office OF Hol-
comb 4 Co., printers and publishers Of the then
Chicago Tribune published where is now the
Inter-Occdt. office. E. g. Ryan was the t.Co."
and editor, aud an ADLER writer aud lawyer mas
not then and is not now in the Northwest
E. G. Ryan is now Chief Justice OF the SUI
preme Court Of WISCONSIN, and there is not an
ab1er or more iucorruptible Judge anywhere.
When Gov. Taylor, OF Wisconsin,, did himself
preme Bench Of that State, 1 almost cou!d aud
did forgive him for defeating my own party.
In those old days, and it Is probably 50 still,
there was always among the ''jour" printers Of
au office, some one who was 3 critic, and to
whom all looked to make sense and rood gam
mar out OF obscure manuscript, and fer proper
punctuation. In tour Officer Butterfelu was
that man. He was superior composltor, Of
great good sense, and our oracle.
During Tho Harrison campaign OF 1S4o, some
political articles (tlle paper was Democratic)
were written and published that Butterdcld said
at Lie time and years after we're masterpieces
and unanswerable. Our office "-and printers
are good judgcs-looked upon tour j" editor as
All intellectual wonder; and SO be was and is
and an honest mhn.
was the rollcr-bor and carrier, and after sup
per, two or three days beforc>New Ycnr's,
asked DutterGcld to write lne New Years
Address>'' ae said, if Mr.. Ryan will write it
for you, 1t will be something to be proud Of.
I made the request, aud in less than two
hours he Brought the manuscript to Butterfic1d,
for whose opinion he. had great; respect, nnd
said, "How WILL that do. for kilc's New Years