New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-09

blameless life. ts high sense OF the value Of his
long and faithful service. and its best wishes for
his continued health and happiness.
Resolved That on April S the mi name ne, Of Of
active Tribune employees. where It was placed on
April 1871. but that one-half OF his present salary
Thomas Newberry Rocker was born in the city
of Hudson, Columbia County this State. De
cember l. 1915 Some nine years later his father
removed. with his family to the village OF Lyons,
Wayne County. y. Y. which was the home Of
Myron Holley. of the first commissioners Of
the Erie Canal. Mr.. Hoey induced the senior M.
Rocker to take up his residence In Lyons. and there
erected for him large building. which Mr. Rocker
used for bakery, grocery and dwelling
The boy attended school at Lyons, but not for
many years. His intense love for horses Induced
him 10 neglect his school whenever he could get a
horse 10 ride. Other punishment having been tried
in vain. the boy finally placed a driver on
the Erie Canal. He worked all summer. neither he
nor his father receiving any pay That ended his
school days.
The village printing office at Lyons always exer-
ciscd a great fascination the boy and he Wis.,
tied it frequently. After three or four years In
Lyons. the elder Mr. Rocker became afflicted with
a disease known at that time as Egyptian sore
eyes. and lost his sight. Then. with his family. he
removed TO Albany. There uncle Of Thomas
Rocker was employed as pressman in the Office Of
THE Daily Advertiser" and the youth became a
TOller-boy. In his spare moments he learned TO set
type and ere long he promoted TO be devil"
This meant that he errands made fires swept
the office carried papers and set type. He was a
great favori;e with the foreman and the men. and
was often employed by the foreman 10 aid him In
his duties When about nineteen years old he was
asked by his employers TO accept the forenanship.
a vacancy having been caused by resignation.
Thinking his youth bar Mr.. Rocker at first de-
cned the offer. but later accepted II on the unan-
NOUS request of his fellow employees
This place Mr.. Rocker held until the sale OF the
paper led to a reorganiza ton OF the force. About
ihis time he was married. Then he went to Troy,
where he was employed The Evening Mall
In a few months he became foreman. After
eighteen months I'm Troy he came to this city and
worked as "A compositor in various offices. Early
I'm 1874 hearing that Horace Greeley Intended TO
issue The Tribune he applied for a position on II.
on April O. ISL. hs one Of these who began to
Law and set the type for the first number OF the
paper which was dated April 10. Three years
later Mr. Greeley made him foreman. and he re-
tanned this place until the summer of 1871. when, at
his own request. he relieved of his active du-
ties and virtually placed on the retired list About
this time he appointed supervisor OF the com
posing room in the interest OF the stockholders.
and he has continued TO serve In that capacity
since.
After a month OF ideness Mr.. Rocker applied for
active work in some department The cashier 8
office needing help Mr.. Rocker was assigned there.
He has been secretary OF The Tribune Association
continuously since 1868 and has always been a
trustee. He one share OF the original stock
issued in 1919, and is now the only man connected
with The Tribune who worked on It's 1rst issue