The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-06-10
HenrxJ. RaYnond.


Joe Howard furnishes sketch OF the
founder OF the New York Times that
is worth more than passing glance.
Henry J. Raymond died in 1869. He
was comparatively young man, con-
sidering the position he held and the
influence he welded. He died sud-
denly, being found in the hall Of his
home very early in the morning by his
family, and after a day or two he was
carried to the Presbyterian Church
where his wife and children were in
the habit of worshipping, and left over
night at the base of the pulpit. The
following day an immense crowd gath
cred in the neighborhood Of the church,
where the multitude remained in spite
Of one Of the most drenching rains l
ever saw, for hours. The services were
conducted by the venerable DIR. Tying
and Henry Ward Beecher, Among
the pall-bearers Horace Greeley APP
peared in his peculiarly eccentric way,
looking mildly benevolent. The tall
form of George William Curtis. with
his light English whiskers and brilliant
eyes, was prominent. The senior
James Gordon Bennett, tall, gaunt
Scotchman, affored marked contrast
to the graceful ease Of Oakley Hall. A.
T. Stewart walked and stood as
straight as ramrod. Gen. John A.
Dix, with bent figure and whitened
locks, followed, Charles A. Dana, ag-
gressive even in his calm mood, walked
with Manton Marble. Erastus Brooks
loitered in with customary sang froid.
Ex-Gov. Fenton and Ex-Gov. Morgan,
always rivals, appeared in amicable
concord. The services were short and
interesting.
The singing of tho opening psalm
was, unfortunately, nliscrably done,
but DR.. Tyngs prayer was grand in its
quiet solemnity. Mr.. Beecher's fun
eral address occupied fifteen minutes
in delivery. 1t was characterized by
his notably bright, hopeful spirit, and
inspired his whole auditory with an
elevation of spirituality which New
Workers do not often experience.
Raymond was not alone bright, but
good. A good man does not necessa-
rily run his life along the perfunctory
commandments of this, that or the
other creed. He makes mistakes,
errors and unfortunate endeavors,
slipping in times Of temptation from
the rock bed Of absolute rcctitude, but
steering. nevertheless, from one end Of
his LIES voyage to the other for the
bright beacon of goodwill towards
man. with malice for none and charity
for ALL"
What flood of recollection mere
mention of that name brings about the
members of his profession and the
statesmen of the past twenty five years
as well. Without dollar in his peck
ct. but with golden coins in his head,
working with his left hand that his
right might be endowed with the cum
ming of culture, he came to the metrop-
oils in search of work, and for So a
week, sometimes paid and sometimes
not, he earned his support upon the
field of journalism side by side With
Horace Greeley. Then, backed by
friends with money, he started the
New York Times. Fortune upon for
tune was lost in that venture, man aft
er man dropped out, but the courage of
the worker, the ambition of the profess
sional. the quick sense for news, the
bright photographic pen of the critic
and happy turn Of the tide of finance
brought the enterprise to the platform
of solidity on which was subsequently
erected an unexpected structure Of
prosperity. And all this time, down to
within two or three years of his death,
Ravmond's poem and thought and am
bition and circle and workshop and in
telligence and industry and experience
found their common centre in the
Times newspaper Office.