The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-06

Biographical Sketch Of the De.
ceased Proprietor OF the
Times.
A Life OF Great Ambitions, Ardu.
Gus Lab0rs, and Brilliant
Successes.

Wilbur II. storey, e0lUOr ana proprietor OF the
Chicago Times. died mt his residence on Prairie
avenue, In that city, on the 27th OF october His
death was not unexpected, as II had become
generally known that his physical system was
seriously impaired and his mind shattered. For
some time before his death his mind was en-
tirely powerless and inactive, and the only evil
dence OF life remaining was shown In respira-
ton and by his pulse, both OF which were faint
His passing away was painless.
Wilbur +. Storey was one OF the best and
most widely known residents OF Chicago. His
reputation as a journalist ranked among the
foremost When in his vgor he was radical and
aggressive, and at the same time comprehensive
and well poised. These qualities were reflected
in the great newspaper which he edited so ably
and successfully for so many years. lie had
qualities which drew TO him many strong and
faithful friends, and at the same time made him
bitter enemies. His influence, and that OF the
Times when he wa actively at its head and
shaped and enforced its policy, Were very great.
welded a wider or more potent infuen nee From
the Chicago DAILY Ne,rs we CLEAN the following
biographical sketch OF the deceased journalist:
Mr. Storey was born Dec. 10, 1919, in Sails
bury, VT. His family was of the same stock az
that of the celebrated jurist. he passed the
first ten years or his Lie on his fathers farm,
attending a country school in the winter only
| When he was IL years old. his father having
moved to Middlebury. he entered the office Of
the Middlebury Fress I'Tess, 10 learn the
printing business. He remained there until he
was IT, with the exception OF one winter, dur
ing which he attended school, AT IL he had
saved sl7, and with this small amount, added
to $40 which his mother gave him, he went to
New York 70 begin life for himself As youth
he was said to be quiet, retiring. and indus
trious, and rather averse to society. In New
York he worked as compositor on the
JOUU1t OF Commerce for year and
half and then came West 10 La
Porte. Ind. where he established Democratic
paper. he undertaking the mechanical part of its
management and the celebrated Ned Hannegan
afterward tnited States Senator, being editor.
This enterprise did not succeed. and Mr.. Story
purchased drug store. Failing In this, also,
he established Democratic paper In Misha-
I EaIfff .afrs
and half he went TO Jackson, Mich. and stud
led law for two years. At the end OF that time
he started the Jackson Patriot, and conducted it
with such ability that he pushed 10 the wall the
Democratic paper already in existence there.
After editing the Patriot year and half,
he was appointed Postn aster 10y President
Polk and held the Office until deposed by
President TAYLOR. Having sold his paper
when he becsme Postmaster, he was again
without an occupation. Soon he went again
into the drug business, and dealt also in grocer
les, books, and stationery. While In jackson he
took an active part in politics. and In 1880 was
elected a member OF the constitutional conven-
ton OF Michigan by large majority over Aus
tin Blair. Having an opportunity TO acquire an
interest in the Detroit FIRE. Press he availed
himself OF il, and in 1853 removed TO Detroit
Before long he became,half owner and subse-
quently sole owner of the paper. When he went
to Detroit the Free Press was q feeble organ
with almost no circulation or influence. In
eight years Mr. Storey paid for the entire concern,
saved about $50, 600 and made the paper the most
able, prosperous, and influential Democratic or
I L.
Storey did all the editorial work on the paper
and during the next two years had but single
assistant. He was always the first to reach the
Office in the morning and the last to leave 1t at
night. His remarkable success was due not
alone 10 his ability "a Journalist, intellectually
speaking, but to untiring industry. IL was not
unusual for Mr.. Storey TO remain at his office
until the paper went to press, at o'clock in the
morning, and then TO return at o'clock TO re-
sumo his labor.
In 1861 Mr.. Storey realized that he had built
up the Free Press 70 the limit of prosperity
which its field permitted, and his ambition
urged him TO something of larger scope and
dimensions. After hesitation between Chicago
and several other cities, he decided to come TO
this growing commercial center OF the West.
At that time the Chicago Times had de-
Perforated from being the influential or
gan Of stephen A. Douglas to PAPER OF
almost no influence or standing, and with
circulation less than 200. Mr.. Storey bought
the paper and at once began the work OF making
4 the influential journal it subsequently became.
He racticed the same industry and wonderful
application, and exerted the same remarkable
journalistic ability by the exercise of which he
had gained success in Detroit. The rebellion
had Just begun and the time was one of great
political excitement. Mr. Storey sent out uu-
merous special orresr ondents with the different
armies, used the telegraph most literally, and
the Times had always the freshest war news,
often outstripping it's contemporaries in the.
completeness and accuracy OF its accounts of
battles and operations at the front. The atti-
tude which the paper took editorally during the
exciting times Of the rebellion was such as
culat1on. Mr.. Storey was accounted q
patsizer, and shaped the policy of his paper
accordingly. Numerous threats against his life
were made by exasperated Unionists. and once
the Tunes was suppressed for few days by
military order. Whatever else may be said OF
the course OF the Times at that time, it GER
tainly was such as was best calculated to in
crease its reputation and circulation The r.
per grew very rapidly into one Of the greatest
journals OF the West. and Mr.. Storey was
Obliged again aud again to increase its publish
The financial nj he nor
was great, and Mr. Storey, was often said,
had more money than he knew what to do with.
In 1867 the Times building on Dearborn street
was built by Mr.. Storey. This was burned in
the great FIRE of 1871, after which Mr.. Storey
built the existing Times building at the corner
or Fifth avenue and Washington street.
; For the past six or seven years Mr.. Storey has
done but comparatively little in the matter of
editing the Times. The strain of hard work
and close apphsatfon began to tell upon his sys-
tenn, and he was obliged to relax his labor. In
the spring of 1881 he took European trip in
hopes OF reeaining his health. While abroad he
suffered paralytic stroke, and was almost i'm
mediately brought home. He grew better, and
undertook TO do editorial work again. 1t was
apparent, however, that the yigor of his mind
was gone Subsequently he spent per DDS of
greater or less length at Green Lake Wis, Hot
Springs, and other health resorts During last
winter he was in Philadelphia undergoing medf-
cal treatment. From there he returned hast
spring in partially demented and physically
weak condition 1t has been more than two
years since he did any editorial work on the
Times, and since his return from Philadelphia
he has not been at the Office
One or the strange ambitions OF Mr.. Storey's
declining years was TO erect for himself a mag
nihcent residence, of proportions and elegance
so great as to entitle it to be called palace AS
is wei known, he entered upon this undertake
Ing some years ago, and the mammoth white
marble edifice, still unfinished, though having
eaten mp hundreds OF thousands of dollars IN
It's construction, remains down on Vincennes
avenue to testify to his strange desire.
In personal appearance Mr.. Storey was tall
ana always neatly attired. His hair was sbund-
xrrlRt II IT., g.
and his hazel eyes clear and bright. As a Jour
na1st Mr.: Storey had clear. concise and very
iorcibie style. He was more of paraeraphist
than essayist. In his editorials he often re-
peated the prominent idea again and again. each
time with verbiage so forcible vet different that
tne erect was Ike that OF the repeated blows Of
battering ram, as many who have felt the
force OF them can testify. Even bis enemies
and they were many, attest to his Remarkable
ability as journalist.
1T is said that cold ao5 ~;,--.- -