Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-01-26

growth OF the weekly Inquirer, formerly
owned and run by the late Stuart A..
Wylie, son-in-law Of George Brubaker,
esq. To Mr.. Wylie's energy, to Mr.. Bru
bakers skillful management of his estate
and organization of the company after his
decease. and to the direction of the Messrs.
Wickersham, lately in control, is due the
upbuilding Of a business which had OBJ
tanned a reputation throughout the entire
country and which had given employment
to over hundred, and at times to rs many
as two hundred men and women, boys and
girls of this city.
The Inquirer was started on Jan. l, 1859,
by Stuart A. Wylie, Jacob D. Gumpf, and
j. w. Gaintner, who on Sept. /, purchased
and consolidated with it the American
Press and Republican, and enlarged thei:
publication. In 1860 Mr.. Wylie acquired
Feb. 13. 1854 he published a daily edi-
ton. On May 1st, 1868, ex County
Treasurer Ellwood Griest took an interest
in the business, the paper was enlarged
and the concern greatly developed in the
job printing, book binding and stereOtyp-
ing departments. 1t was in that year
that the fine building just destroyed was
erected, and it was opened for business in
February, 1869.
Tho Former Firc.
During Mr.. Wylie's ownership of the es.
tablishment it had memorable expert
ence of fire. 1t was then located on
Christian street in the rear Of the
Mayer property, now occupied by Messrs.
Rosenstein and Ringwalt, and between 2
and 8 a. m. on Saturday, January 90, 1867,
bitter cold night, it was discovered to be
on fire. The water froze in the hose and
all the firemen could do was to save the
adjoining property. Mr.. WIS loss was
S14, 900 and insurance $1,000. The Office
was rebuilt but the business was soon
afterwards removed to the new building.
rhe New Company.
Mr. Wylie died juno 10, 1872 and his
surviving partner. Major Griest, and Geo.
Brubaker organized the printing and pub
fishing company, the stock of which at
first was held by large number of persons
and has been gradually settling in a few
hands. After some vicissitudes under diff
ferent management, J. Hannum Jones, now
of Godey's Lady Book, gave it more efficient
organization and superintendency than it
had ever had and under the direction of
his successor, J. Harold Wickersham, its
affairs were coming into better shape ard
promising good returns. Some years ago
the company sold the weekly Inquirer to
its editor and owner, Major Ellwood
Griest. whose stock was exchanged for
it, AMI Mr.. j. P. McCask"y is understo cd
to have lately exchanged his stock for DR..
Wickersham' interest in the School Jour-
nal. At present there are 985 shares of stock
in the company, of which the Messrs.
Wickcrsham have 500, decided majority;
the estate of Stuart A. Wylie has 90 his
widow, now Mrs. Eugene H. Munday, of
Philadelphia, has 81; and Prof. Edw.
Brooks, of Millersville, with 40 shares, is
the next largest holder.
To BE Continued
The sale Of the property has been con-.
tirmed by the orphans court and the COM
pany was of course obligated to take it at
the price agreed upon. With the $4,000
insurance upon the building another can
likely be built upon the lot which will
answer the purposes of tie concern, though
probably not on the same plan, as the
structure which has been destroyed. The
loss on personal property, stock and fix
lures is certainly far in excess Of the
insurance and the company has re.
ceived blow which may be
fatal to it as ali organization. DR..
WicEersham says very positively, how
ever, that the business will be continued
in some shape or other. AS an earnest of
this his son started to Philadelphia this
morning to buy type, and temporary
Locher's building. The other printing
offices in the city have offered to do all the
press work of which their facilities will
admit, to enable the Inquirer company to
continue its publications without interrur-.
ton. The weekly Inquirer will print
half sheet edition on its usual day of pub
lication this week.
AS the Mcssrs. Wickersham own a ma
jority of the stock, the future of the estab.
lishment is entirely within their control,
and it will no doubt DO reorganized with
comparatively few partners.