The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-04-09
e. @ 4 TIN u E n
from page one
Adolph S. Ochs Is
Stricken by Death
In Southern City

OCHS was only ~ years OlQ when
he took his first fling at publishing.
In 1873 he put out a Chattanooga city
directory which proved a financial
success. With the capital thus &C
quired and backed only by his ire
mendous energy and confidence in his
own ability, he entered the field as a
newspaper publisher by purchasing
a half interest in the Chattanooga
Times. The price was 81 $50, on which
he paid $3.50 in cash.
Two years later he bought the 9TH
or half interest, but was obliged to
pay $500 for it, SO rapidly had the
journal developed In circulation, In
fluence and business.
Took Over Picturesque Ruin
When Ochs went to the New York
Times in 1896, that journal was des-
cribed by one observer as 1.-THE most
picturesque old ruin among the news
pcpers Of America" Made great and
powerful through the ability of Henry
]. Raymond and George Jones, the
Times had passed into other hands
and was on its way to slow extinc-
ton.
Once again the Ochs genius, ability
anG confidence were manifested in q
problem that other experienced pub
fishers declined to tackle. An idea of
the financial weakness of the concern
at the time may be gained from a
statement by Mr.. Ochs some years
later when he said: The value plac-
ed on the shares shortly after I as
Suned management was indicated by
the sale of some OF them for ten
cents on the dollar"
In three years after its organization
the company was placed on paying
basis. Since then, with Ochs as the
dominating figure, the New York
Times has risen from the bottom to
the top in the volume of business
among New York daily newspapers.
In the newspaper field. outside of
his own personal enterprises, Ochs
took greater interest In the affairs
of The Associated Press than any
other activity. In 1890 he organized
The Southern Associated Press and
was one of the incorporators of The
Associated Press when 1t was char
tered under the laws of the State of
New York after its removal from Iln-
nots in 1900.
Was First A. r. Treasurer
He served as the first treasurer UNI
der that incorporation. A member of
the Board of Directors, he retired in
favor OF the late Whitelaw Reid and
in turn succeeded Mr.. Reid when the
latter In 1905 went to the Court of st.
James as Ambassador from the United
States. Since then Mr.. Ochs had
continued as a member of the board
and Of the executive committee, TAX
ing an active part in the business of
the association and giving his coun-
sci and advice for the benefit and
welfare Of the member newspaper.
Adolph Simon Ochs was born at
Cincinnati, Ohio, March IL, 1858, the
son Of Julius and Bertha Levy Ochs.
His father came to the United States
IN 1874. He enlisted for the Mexican
War and was q federal officer in the
Civil War, being honorably discharg-
cd as captain in the SIND Ohio Vol
A'sVNSA AAAAOAAVAye "AvAA AAAO A0u14Ay AAO
moved in 1865 to Knoxville, Tenn,
where he entered business.
There the son. Adolph. received q
common school education and obtain
ed his first newspaper Job as carrier
boy when the Knoxville Daily Chron-
icle was started. In 1875 he became
q printers devil" In the Chronicle
office at 81 q week.
After learning his trade as print
er. Mir. Ochs went to the Job printing
department Of the Louisville Courier
Journal, but In less than q year trans
ferred to the composing room OF the
Knoxville Daily Tribune. In 1877 he
Was connected with q new Journal
istic venture In Chattanooga, the
Daily Dispatch, for which he was gen.
eral utility man during its brief
career, filling every position from
printers "devil'' to editor In chief
The next year he got his real start
toward success with the publication
of the Chattanooga city directory.