The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-26
Friday. June 90. 1914

rier. At the outbreak of the Civil
war. Hensley went south and the
paper soon passed into the hands
of c. III. Slocum,, who ut the age
of sexenty-eght years Is still in
the land of the living. residing at
Omro. Wisconsin, and his present
plans are to attend the next session
of the Minnesota Editorial associa-
tion. He has the distinction OF he.
ing the last survivor of the pioneer
publishers of this state. Mr.. Slocum
was succeeded by w. B. Griswold,
supporter of Horace Greeley. Then
came Major Cleveland, George w.
Neff. who passed away only a few
months ago and General ]. II. Baker,
who answered the last roll call
year ago. Next we find Woodland
a. Foss at. the helm and Mr.. Foss
Is still in the harness as one OF
the publishers of the Press News
at winnebago City. George Chamber
lin was next, coming down from
jackson county where he had been
the pioneer publisher. and still later
L. p. Hunt appeared on the scene.
Being a practical business man as
we'll as an untiring publisher Ir.
Hunt made a success of the bust
ness and launched the Daily Free
Press.
Late John c. Wise.
I'm 1859 John G. Wise established
the Record which he disposed of
in 1868 to oryille Brown and ].
T. Williams. Mr.. Brown was an
able writer and his manuscript, as
we can well testify, was OF the
Horace Greedy type, mighty hard
to discipher. In 1880 the Union
and record were consolidated by
General J. II. Baker under the name
Of The Free Press. In 1869 we
again find Mr.. Wise in the news
paper business as the publisher of
the Mankato Review which publica-
ton Is being continued by his family.
~. NJ. Broome established the
pioneer German paper, the Beobach-
ter, and John ID. Duane entered the
business in 1879. Many instances
and "reminiscences come to mind in
connection with these early print
shops, but time will not permit their
enumeration on this occasion. A
tribute, however, is due these printer
pioneers as their life was a strenu-
Gus one. They were true philoso.
pliers and put up with privations
and discouragements undreamed Of
in this day of typesetting machines,
ready print and plate service. Under
the dim light of tallow candle
the late John c. Wise placed into
type himself, the story OF the assas-
sination of President Lincoln and
personally delivered well printed
extra at the doors of the citizens
of Mankato village at an early hour
the next morning. Our old employer
was man OF personal magnetism,
one who drew all men unto him.
While standing above the masses as
a leader and teacher he was ever
approachable and his warm hand
clasp and friendly interest made the
humblest laborer feel at home in
his presence. He was a man among
men. one who felt no class ditinction
and who with unfaltering words and
answering principle stood for that
which he believed to be right. no
matter what the clamor of the popu-
lace.
they Had HardshIps.
=. "As the pioneer and the early
settlers had their hardships and
their trials. so the men OF today
have still more perplexing problems
to engage their attention. With the
growth and development of our coun-
try has come the call for men with
brain and power; men OF vision;
men who will stand without hitch.
ing: men who can see beyond self:
men who believe In the brotherhood
of man: men who have some thought
for others; men who would rather
build up than tear down. Or as
an Oklahoma publisher puts t.: The
great need Of this age is men: men
who are not for sale; who will not
truckle to wealth nor power. but
stand up for right every time. men
who are honest-sound from center
to circumference-true to the hearts
core-whom wealth cannot lure nor
poverty dive from the path OF duty;
men who cannot be bought nor sold.
coaxed nor fattered, cajoled nor driv-
en- from acting and maintaining what
is right and just; men who will
condemn wrong In high or low places
lin friend or foe-in himself as
well as others-men who are fear
less In the cause OF Truth. who
will stand firm though the heavens
fall and face death like the Roman
sentinel at the gates of Pompeii:
men who will stand up for principle
at all times and under all circum-
stances-men who can tell the truth
and look the world and the devil
square in the eye-who neither run
nor finch In the conflict for truth
men who can have courage with
out shouting It, who know their
message and their mission and dare
tell II whether popular or unpopu'