The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-12
Frank Leslie.

Mr.. Frank Leslie's real name was
Henry Carter, but at the outset of his
careeFas wood-carver, for which he had
a passionate taste, he adopted the. name
of Frank Leslie. He was born at Ips-
wich, England, in 1921, and at the age
of seventeen was sent to London. where
he took charge of the glove department
in his uncle's store. He remained there
until he was twenty years old, when his
uncle discharged him for marrying a
lady he did not approve of. .iImmediately
on being launched into art life, chea be.i
came connected with then Illustrated
London Neaos, where, he was placed in
charge of the engraving department; !;
and it was during his relations with this
journal that he obtained his knowledge
of every detail appertaining to the pub
licatfon of an illustrated paper. He
came to America in 1848. and after some
little time had his name changed, by act
of Legislature, to Frank Leslie Mr..
upon Gleason's Pictorial. Later on,
when Mr.. Barnum started an illustrated
paper, Mr.. Leslie was treated with to
superintend the engraving department,
and so high, Mr.. Batnum's opinion of
the youthful engraver's ability that he
offered to add $40, 900 to the $40, 900 al
ready invested in the paper if the sole
charge was given into Frank Leslie's
hand. The offer was not accepted, and
the failure of the paper is a matter of
journalistic history. After the collapse
of Barnum and Beach's illustrated pa
per, Frank Leslie, in 1854, commenced
publishing on his own account, and the
first periodical he issued was the Gozetfs
of Fashion now known as Frank Leslie'
Lddy's Magazine. Shortly afterward he
published the Melo York Joatr,aql, which
he purchased when its circulation was
at its lowest ebb, and speedily raised its
| circulation to the point of profit. On
December IA, 1866, Frank Lsslie's Illus
trdted Newspaper, now in its twenty-hfth
year, made its first appearance. a 7Tr
He gre'tly advanced illustrated jour
| nalism by making study of all new
suggestions for Improvements, and
finally became the lead of very large
establishment on the corner of Elm and
Pearl streets. He failed in 1877 while
| publishing thirteen illustrated journals,
and made an assignment of all his prop
| erty TO Mr.. Isaac w. England, to be
managed until the close of 1880, for the
benefit of his creditors, who were .prin.
/ cipally paper dealers, and literally dis.
/ posed toward him. His debts were
4 S410,000 and his assets, real and pros
pective,. $4,000, 600. Notwithstanding
Mr.. England's assigneeship, Mr. Leslie
remained practical manager of the busi
ness, which was removed, after the fail
ure, to % Park place. The establish
ment now periodically issues Frdnl
Leslie's Illustrated Ne,ospaDer,a Nlustrirt
| Zeitung. Chimney Corner, Boys and Girls
Weekly, Illustrated Times, Sunday Magd
zine, Popular Monthly, Laay's Mdgasiae
Pleasant Hours, Chatterbor and Budget
| ! all headed with the prefix of Franl
Leslie's" -. 80 80 80
q In 1869, he was divorced from hi
| first wife, and six years ago married Mrs
a Squire, whose maiden name was Mis-
Miriam Follen. She was many year
younger than he and survives him, to
gether with his sons Henry and Alfre,
Leslie. At the time of his death he wa
engaged in law suit against his oldes
son, Henry, for using his name Franz
Leslie, Jr.p as publication title. 81