The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-04-24
A PIONEER PRINTER.
A Veteran Atlanta Editor.
.4Hnasta Euening Journal.

| <1tt-'btU ASOCHt"S oO"'f'N''
In quiet little home at the corner
of Pine and Luckie streets, surround
ed by all sorts of pets, including
pigeons, chickens, birds and dogs,
lives "Uncle" Zion Bridwell, the
father of the printers of the South and
the Oldest printer in this part Of the
country.
"Uncle" Zion as he is known to
every newspaper man in Atlanta has
seen newspapers spring up with the
prospects bright and fourishing for
success only to be cut down in q short
while like tender blade of grass.
Then again he has seen newspapers
started on very small capital and af-
terward prove a great success from
every standpoint and make large pro-
fits for those having it in charge. He
has himself started several papers,
made plenty of money, squandered
nearly a fortune during his career,
and has to-day nothing to show for
his years of labors but his home on
Pine street where has lived for the
past forty eight years.
Mr.. Bridwell is SO years OF age. He
was born on the fifteenth day of June,
| 1909, on the banks of the Enoree river
at Bridwell's mills, near Ctreenville,
South Carolina. In 1928 he was tax
en- in charge by the commissioners Of
the Door in that State and bound out
for period of years. The commits
sioners claiming that he was only ten
| years old when, in fact, he was about
| eighteen. After serving the time for
which he was bound out, Mr.. Bird
we'll made his way to Anderson, South
Carolina, where he entered the Office
of the "Morning Watch,' newspa-
per then published in the place. His
first work was devil in the printing
Office of that paper, but he stuck to
his work and in the end learned the
printers trade.
After leaving the Morning
Watch" I" Mr.. Bridwell went to Cal
houn, South Carolina. where he ac-
cepted place on the Highland
Sentinel" where he worked for a
while. he then took a vacation for
the period Of year. Then it was
that he established a paper in Pendle-
ton, South Carolina, called the "Pen-
dleton Messenger. he was offered
four hundred and fifty dollars year
to leave the Messenger and assume
control of the "Abbeville Banner"
which was at that time under the per-
sonal conduct of Henry Allen, who
had bought it from ''Uncle" Zion and
his brother. who. was at that time en-
gagged in the printing business. Mr..
Bridwell did not accept the offer,
which was considered a good one in
those days, but went to Lawrenceville.
South Carolina, and other portions Of
the State where he followed the busi-
ness for some time, finally locating in
Columbia, where he began work in
book office and job printing establish
ment owned and operated by [. G.
Morgan.
"Uncle" Zion then took another ro-
wing expedition. He told the foreman
of the shop, man named Brittan, to
get him place in the country as he
was tired of city life. Mr.. Brittan
hooted at the idea of his leaving, but
"Uncle" Zion was firm and determin-
ed to 60 at all costs. He was making
seven dollars day at the business he
was then in and the foreman told him
that any position he might secure for
him would make him not more than
five dollars per week and his board.
"Uncle" Zion cared nothing about
what salary he received, for his only
desire was to get out Of town.
Brittan, finally seeing that his help
er was determined to leave, secured
him position at Sumterville, South
Carolina, on small paper called the
"Banner. At this place "Uncle"
Zion decided to accumulate little
wealth. He saved his money and soon
had s51. He thought he was rich,
threw up his job again, and went to
Camden, South Carolina, where he
continued to work for five dollars a
week and board on a small paper pub
lished there. He accumulated $3.50
with which he bought type, paying
cash for it. He then purchased
printing press on a credit. He made
his way with his small newspaper
plant to Chesterville, where he con-
templated starting paper, something
new to the people Of that section Of
the State.
Upon arriving at Chesterfield, Mr..
Bridwell found that the people there
were inclined to think that any man
being presumptious enough to think of
starting paper in that place surely
must be crazy. He was derided and
all kinds of sport was made of him for
entertaining such an idea. Finally
through trials and tribulations he
broug bit to the surface the "Chester-
Vile Observer" with the type he had
paid for and the machine which he had
purchased on credit. The people at
once Aocked over and gave him per-
feet ovation. Patronage of every
kind was bestowed and subscriptions
poured in from all portions of the
State. In ten months publication Of
the paper he had realized a profit of
$40, ,777.27-a tremendous rise was cut
short by the death of his wife. The
Observer, with all the plant, was
sold at sacrifice, Uncle Zion real
izing but small amount from the
sale.
Then it was that he turned toward
Atlanta, arrived here and entered up
on his career as printer in the State
Of Georgia. He and his brother went
into the newspaper business and be-
gan to fight secession. They won q
victory temporarily in the election of
Howell Cobb over Mcdonald by fifty
thousand majority. 1t looked as if
that was the last of secession, but in
1860 he awoke to find that the whole
country had the secession cockades
on.
All he could say was, eco it, boys,
and have your fun During the war
he went to Louisville, KY, where he
worked on the Democrat, Courier and
Journal, the last two having since
combined under the name Of the Cou-
rier-J Journal. ''Uncle" Zion says that