Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
Keep Newspaper
History Straight

Observation-Disclosures >>~>~>>~~~>~~>~o~S
Editor Courier:
In your issue of Monday night you
have the following telegram from
Cumberland, Maryland:
IT. Buckley Taylor, aged IL, former
editor of the Cumberland Evening
Times and who was foreman of the
Congressional Globe and later of the
National Republican, Washington, D.
G., during the days of Lincoln, died
Friday evening He established pa
Per in Fairfield, Ia. which was de-
stroyed by mob when the civil war
began"
T. Buckley Taylor published the Fair.
field Jeffersonian in connection with
H. N. Moore, now of Red Oak, during
the late f1fties and the writer com
menced the trade under him In 1860.
His office was never destroyed by q
mob. The Office destroyed was the
Constitution and Union, published by
David Steward an uncle of G. l.. Shew-
ard of the Birmingham Enterprise.
MT, Stewards Office was thrown out
In the alley by members of Co. E.
Second Iowa. (of which regiment our
good friend, w E. Conner was an hon
cred member). while home on fur.
Tough during the late civil war.
In August 1861, David Steward re-
turned to Fairfield and commenced the
publication of the Constitution and
Union. 1t was very bitter In its cppo.
sition to the war, and as a. result on
the 18th Of August, 1862, Mr.. Steward
was arrested by the United State mar.
shall. In company with Dennis A. Ma
honey Of Dubuque. a well known Iowa
editor of those days, he was taken
to Washington, d. c., where he was
confined in the old capitol for about
three months. During his absence the
paper continued to appear regularly,
under the management of the editors
wife. After Mr.. Stewards return he
published series of articles entitled
Three Months in the Old Capitol. -
The 18th of August seems to have
been an unlucky DAY for Mr.. Steward
for on the evening Of that day in the
year 1853, number of soldiers sur
rounded his dwelling and demanded
an emblem or cut, which he had for
several months displayed in the col
umns Of bis paper. The cut was sur.
rendered and the party dispersed. The
obnoxious cut was nothing more nor
less than the half of butternut
mounted on wood. The last number
Of the paper was issued on February
4, 1864. On the morning Of the 9Th
of February, number of soldiers OF
the Second Iowa, home on furlough
started on their return to their regi
ment. AS they were about to leave
they visited Mr.. Stewards office, pied
his forms, threw the type and cases
out of the window, destroyed his
books and damaged things generally
The death related above of Mr.. Tay.
lor brings these. things to our mem
DRY and we relate them here, as a part
Of the newspaper history Of those ex.
citing times. They were the result OF
the bitter partisan feeling which pre-
vailed, rather than of Intentional dis
loyalty on the part of those who de
nounced the war. 1t was critical
period in the great national struggle
and the soldier boys who had endured
its hardships and sacrifices and BRAY.
ed its dangers, were not disposed at
that time to regard even harsh and
bitter criticisms as anything less than
a fire in the rear"
Mr. Taylor's newspaper career was
a few years earlier. He was not q
bitter partisan, but gentlemanly foe
worthy ANY mans STEEL" He was an
excellent newspaper man, and had
none Of the elements within him that
|engendered the hate and passion that
was prevalent during the war. He
was an ardent supporter of Douglas
and Johnson, but during his short res.
idence in Fairfield enjoyed the uni.
versal respect and confidence of all
the. people, regardless of politics. He
was my first "boss," and while ]
thought he had passed away years
ago, l feel abundantly competent to
pass judgment on his excellent char.
acter and good citizenship during the
times that tried mems souls"
r. H. Moore.