Evening journal., 1901-07-30
STATES OLDEST
EDITOR is DEAD
George ". Vernon SucCumDS
to Stomach Trouble
TO HOLD FUNERAL THURSDAY
Veteran Editor Spent More Than 5j
Years in Newspaper Business in
Wilmington

After active service at the editorial
desk for ffty-nye years. which long cal
reer established him as the nestor OH
Delaware journalism. George W Yer
non. died in his residence. No COS
West Fifth street. at l0.lS o'clock last
evening of chronic inflammation OF the
bladder Although seriously IN but two
weeks Mr. Vernon had suffered for Ave
years with the disease. which termi |
mated his long and eventful life. rhel
end was peaceful. Funeral service willl
be held at $3.50 O'Clock on
Thursday afternoon. and in
terment of the body made
in the family lot in the Wilmington
and Brandywine Cemetery
Mr. Vernon was among the States
hest-known men. In this city he wasl
known by everybody and when physi-
cal weakness compelled him three
weeks ago to relinQuish his editorial
duties, he was missed by the unusually
large circle OF acquaintances. all of
whom manifested an interest in his
condition. however. by inquiring daily
about him. and when the news came
from his residence on Sunday that his
advanced age greatly lessened his
chances of recovery. his most intimate
! friends were shocked. lie never raj
! lied from that time. Although physical
wreck, he died la possession OF his
mental faculties. which ia remarkable
considering that his life was such an
active one.
Mr.. Vernsn was born ia Chester
county in November 1920. When a
boy he learned the printing trade in
line office of the West Chester Village
lRecard. and had as his associates at the
lcase Bayard Taylor, who acquired
flame In American literature. and Judge
William Butler, widely known as a
jnrist The Daily Republican, which
mr. Vernon subsequently founded. was
first printed as a weekly here In ls4l.
II was the Delaware Republican.
Henry Cannon began the publication
lof the Republican in Georgetown In
llS39. Tn 1S4l he came to this city and,
with John Il. Barr as partner, merged
1.-THE two journals named into the Della
lware Republican. A. few months later
lWiham r. Jeandel and William $.
mills. both printers, purchased the in
lterest of John H. Barr and the paper
was continued under the name OF Can
lnon & Co. In less than year the part
nership was dissolved by Henry Can
non disDQsing of his share in the busi-
ness to John A. Alderdice, who In
llS53 was mayor Of Wilmington, having
lbeen elected by the Whig party. Dis
lputcs arose among the three partners
land the paper passed under the con-
ltrol of persons appointed by the Court
lcf Chancery. In 1874 Henry S. Evans,
lof West Chester. with whom Mr. Yer
lncn had learned his trade purchased
1.-The Republican and placed it under the
loditorial management of his brother,
columbus p. Evans shortly after
: wards in February, 1S45, Mr.. Vernon
loame here from West Chester and
Joined Mr. Evans in publication Of the
lpapcr. and the firm became Evans q
Vernon. which continued until the
death of Mr. Evans. in lS45, when Mr.
Vernon became sole proprietor.
In 1850 the Republican favored the
leloction Of Bell and Everett as candi-
B. dates for president and vice-president
p lof the United States, but during the
/ lcivil war 10 was an ardent
] lsupporter Of the administration Of
] Abraham Lincoln. and since then it
has always advocated the principles
OF the Republican party in local and
national affairs. The office Of the paper
until 1S4S was at the southwest corner
lof Third and Market streets. In the
same year It was removed 10 the
h southeast corner Of the same streets,
/ where It was published until 1866,
b when Mr. Vernon bought Of the heirs
p OF Daniel Hully the site at
h the southeast corner of Third and
King streets, upon which he erected
, the present offices.
In 1874 he established the Daily Re-
!. publican.
A few years ago Mr.. Vernon took
into partnership his sons-W.' Scott,
George F., Howard E.. Albert B.. II.
h Walter. J. Wesley, Frank and Clarence
NJ Vernon. At the session OF 1877 the
General Assembly incorporated the
Republican Printing and Publishing
Company, which has since conducted
! the paper
/ Mr. Vernon. as one Of Delaware's
= lpioncer newspaper men. graduated
many young men who have become
Z successful journalists One Of then
Z to-day occupies an editorial chair IN
+, the New York Herald office another is
/ a special writer on the Philadelphia
Ledger. ancther is the owner Of q
paper in Denver, Colorado. and nOi
fewer than a half dozen writer's on the
local papers owe their early training
= in the profession to him. BY all his
+ former employees Mr.. Vernon was es-
teemed highly.
J. Although not member of the VIII
mington Press Club, the organization