Source:Fleming-aged-journals
George T. Fleming. "Aged journals show city's life: Newspapers nearly century old give good pictures of Pittsburgh activity: Early officials." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Mar. 26, 1916, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85767139.
THE first week of the second century of the corporate existence of Pittsburgh as a city has ended. The interest in the events of the first years of the city's first century may be assumed to have lasted and some more history of Pittsburgh's early days can be considered pertinent and appropriate at this time.
One method of reverting to the century ago is by examination of the newspapers of the period. They are quaint and curious now. Yellow with age, showing traces of Pittsburgh smoke and a century's dirt and crumpled from frequent foldings. Nevertheless, they are object lessons to this generation.
There is at hand at the moment of writing a copy of the Pittsburgh mercury of August 24, 1816, soon a century old. To be sure, a copy of The Pittsburgh Gazette of that period is procurable, but as the copy of the Mercury is available by reason of ownership of the writer it may be taken as a type of the newspapers of a century ago and examined from the newspaper standpoints of make-up, style, advertisements, editorial, news features, etc.
The copy in view is No. 217 of Vol. V and is proof that the Mercury had been in existence nearly six years. The paper was issued weekly and the subscription $3 per annum "if paid at the end of the year," and $2 "if paid six-monthly in advance."
Early Editorial Notice.
The editor and proprietor was John M. Snowdon [sic]. He gives notice at the head of the second column, first page, that the office of the paper had been removed to "the new brick building in Liberty-street at the head of Wood-street opposite the Octogan [sic] Church, where the subscribers, advertising customers, and other friends of the establishment are respectfully invited to call."
The hyphen between the name and the word "street" are surely odd.
This advertisement was dated August 10, 1816. The picture of the Octagonal Church, better known as the "Round Church," was presented in the story in these columns March 12 last. It was the first edifice of the Trinity Protestant Episcopal congregation and stood on the site of the triangle at Wood street and Sixth and Liberty avenues.
The Mercury, as were most papers of the time, was folio in form; that is to say, folded once, giving thus four pages. The first page is entirely devoted to advertising. The paper is 19½ inches by 12½, printed on good rag paper.
The paper was Democratic in politics, hence antagonistic to the Gazette, owned and edited by John Scull from 1786 to 1818. Mr. Scull was a strong Federalist and supporter of Washington and his faction and successors.
Before moving to Wood street, Snowden's print shop and book store was on Market street, between Third and Fourth. It will be seen that Mr. Snowden had moved away uptown.
After the terms of publication, at the head of the left column, first page, the remainder of the column is taken up with the proclamation of William Woods, sheriff, for the general election to take place on the second Tuesday in October. These October elections continued until the adoption of the present constitution of the state in 1874.
Election Proclamation.
People are generally interested in politics. Such may take interest also in the fact that at that election the electors of the city of Pittsburgh met at the Court House, which was in the Diamond, and two sets of electors met there, for the sheriff stated:
<blockqutoe> The electors of the following described parts of the city of Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny shall be a separate election district, to-wit:
Beginning on the Monongahela at the east side of Wood street, thence by same to the east side of Liberty street, thence, etc., to the east side of Washington street, being the city line, thence by the same on the Allegheny River, thence up said river to the mouth of Two Mile Run, thence up said run to Roups Mill, to Henry Fulton's farmhouse, thence by a straight line to William Knox's farmhouse, on the Four Mile Run including the two last mentioned places, thence down the Four Mile Run to the Monongahela River, thence, etc., to the place of beginning, and the electors of said district shall hold their general elections in the Court House in Pittsburgh.
This was "some" district. Two Mile Run came down what is now known as Junction hollow and emptied into the Allegheny at about Thirty-third street, and Four Mile Run was the other part of the Junction Railroad, or the hollow skirting Schenley Park in the present Greenfield avenue district.
Roups Mill was near the present Roup station, that family and the Baums owning most of the land in that vicinity. Knox's farm was up the Four Mile Run valley and Henry Fulton's probably somewhere in the present Shadyside district.
John M. Snowden was a prominent man in early Pittsburgh, and had much to do with its making. He was a director in the Bank of Pittsburgh at that time, and the third mayor of Pittsburgh, 1825–1828. His descendants yet live here.
The following advertisement will present an example of some things necessary to the good of the community at that time. The advertiser probably felt better when he saw his statements in print even if he could not read them:
A Reward of $50.
Whereas some malicious persons have written and posted up sundry scandalous bills in my name, stating that I forewarn James Reed and Matthew McIntyre from coming on my premises; and that they stole butter and fowls, and rye and bags, out of my barn and milk-house; I therefore do declare that I have not the least suspicion of the above men; that I did not write or cause to be written, and put up the said bills; but I do think it very probable that the person or persons who wrote and put up the said bills, stole all the above articles from me.
THOMAS his
[T. T.]
mark THORNBURGH.Robinson Township, Allegheny County, August 17, 1816. 4times.
The advertisements on the first page run a wide range—legal notices, stray cows, land at auction, merino sheep, for sale by Charles von Bonnhorst, Mifflin township; stoneware, wool carding, dry goods, a mayor's court session in the court house, a gig horse for sale, Lazarus Stewart offering himself a candidate for sheriff, John Hazelton's English school in Liberty street are a few that show the people of those days appreciated and knew the value of proper advertising.
The last page, or outside, has five columns of advertising, or the entire page. It has one cut—a still and worm—with notice of copper work by "Andrew Humbert & Co., Wood street, between Second and Third."
William Wilkins advertises the real estate of Steele Semple for sale. The story of the Semple land and the Croft Patent in Oakland to which this sale was incidental, was given in The Gazette Times of January 16, 1916.
Many Things Wanted.
The advertisement on this page of the old Mercury cover a wide range. We learn on perusal that flax is wanted, apprentices are wanted in several lines, two skiffs were lost for which a reward of $5 was offered, or $2.50 for one; plenty of land was for sale and also Market street lots.
James Patterson had laid off part of his property in the town of Birmingham suitable for building purposes, on easy terms, "clear of ground rent," etc., and there were many more interesting advertisements of the business of those years.
The first inside, or second page, has its first column in advertising—to-wit: "best rifle locks by the dozen" (for flints); dancing, drawing and painting by M. Doudet, lately from Paris; a female academy and a school for young ladies.
The treasurer of the First Presbyterian congregation, Hugh McClelland, gives public notice to delinquents of church dues, six months in arrears, to pay up; with intent in case of default to collect by due process. Some stray cows and two lost pocket books, with rewards in each case, complete the column, one of the cow losers having been Ephraim Pentland, Prothonotary, who lived on Liberty street, opposite Fifth street (now avenue).
There are then three columns of political matter, a long letter from a "Democratic Republican" endorsing Henry Baldwin for Congress; Butler county politics and then some news in the fifth column headlined:
"Some particulars of the last hours and execution of Lieut. Richard Smith," who had been hanged in Philadelphia on Saturday morning, August 10, 1816, two weeks previously; this story rather melancholy and pathetic, and we read that there were "tens of thousands of spectators there, of all ages, sexes and conditions, to behold this awful warning—all behaved with the utmost decorum, the most respectful attention; all were solemnly impressed; all commiserated the unhappy young man."
Great Day Described.
To give the people a fair view "the remains of the unfortunate victim of the offended laws of his country remained suspended for half an hour."
It was undoubtedly a great day in Philadelphia and the news of it two weeks later must have been read by several hundreds of Pittsburghers with more or less avidity and awe.
The third page contains two columns of ordinacnes [sic] of councils—J. P. Skelton, president of Common, and James Ross of Select; Silas Engles and James M. Riddle the respective clerks.
Two columns dating back to April 21, 1816, reprinted from the London Globe of June 25, tell of Napoleon's exile on St. Helena, the news written in a letter from a British officer in the garrison on that island.
This and poor Smith's taking off by legal process are all the news furnished; not a line of local, state or national happenings. The inference is plain: "There were no news to print." And why local news in print a week after, when everyone knew it a few hours after the happening?
Two small advertisements on this page are worthy of notice. One is by Ebenezer Denny, the mayor of the city and administrator of the estate of Gen. John Wilkins, containing the usual notice to creditors and debtors of the estate, and the other an advertisement of the Washington Monument Lottery, tickets $10 each, to be had of Frederick Dent, a merchant on Market street, this drawing to commence in Baltimore on the first Monday in March, 1817; three prizes of $20,000; four of $10,000, etc., no two blanks to a prize."
The tickets we read contain "likenesses of Gen. Washington, engraved from the most celebrated paintings."
It would be interesting to know the result of this lottery and how well Pittsburgh patronized it.
War Changes Styles.
If one examines the papers for many years after this date, 1816, little difference is presented in any feature. It was not until our Civil War days that the advertisements were taken in part off the front pages of newspapers, and not for some years after the war entirely removed.
However, religious newspapers did not have advertisements on the first page. The Pittsburgh Recorder of March 29, 1825, is also at hand, and shows a solid front page of reading matter.
This paper removed to Pittsburgh from Chillicothe, O., in 1822. It was founded by the Rev. John Andrews and is still in existence here as the Presbyterian Banner.
The issue of 1825 at hand is faded, torn and yellow. As a newspaper it has it "all over" Mr. Snowden's issue of the Mercury as noted.
Mr. Andrews was still in charge of the Recorder in 1825. He has news of all kinds—domestic and foreign—as they used to distinguish.
Local items were that an election had been held for "schoolmen" March 18 and Dr. George Stevenson, the Rev. C. B. Maguire and John Snyder had been elected for the West Ward and Benjamin Bakewell, Thomas Cooper and John Hannen for the East Ward.
John Dauthitt and Charles Craig were elected overseers of the poor.
A nearby news item was that Gen. Andrew Jackson had arrived at Wheeling, Va., on the twenty-second instant and departed on his way home on the steamboat General Neville on the twenty-fifth.
The Recorder is the same size as the Mercury and also folio in form.
James M. Riddle's directory of 1815, gives:
John Johnston, postmaster and silversmith, north side of Front street between Market and Ferry streets.
He was then in the heart of the business district of that day.
John Johnston served as postmaster from 1804 to 1822. Front street was the first name of First avenue. Mr. Johnston was postmaster when the city was incorporated.
City's First Postmaster.
He had as his assistant his daughter, Rebecca, subsequently the wife of William Eichbaum, who succeeded his father-in-law as postmaster, and she continued to serve as assistant.
John Johnston was born near Castle Derg, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1765, and came with his parents to America when 4 years old. The family settled near Shippensburg, Pa., and when the Revolution came the father, Robert Johnston, who was a doctor, enlisted and served three years as a surgeon before he died of fever.
John Johnston was apprenticed and learned the trade of watch and clock maker in Chambersburg, and after his removal to Pittsburgh continued in the business. He came here in 1787, one year after John Scull. He was the grandfather of the late William G. Johnston and his descendants are yet living in Pittsburgh.
John Johnston's wife was Mary Reed, a native of Franklin county, and of an old colonial line.
The first home and place of business of the Johnstons was on Water street, then the fashionable street of the town, in Gen. Tannehill's house, halfway between Market and Wood streets. A few years later Mr. Johnston purchased the property on Front street and erected a three-story dwelling, and here he resided until his death, May 4, 1827, in his sixty-second year.
This Johnston home was the third brick house erected in Pittsburgh. The first was Gen. John Gibson's at Second and Chancery lane.
Mr. Johnston was buried in the old churchyard of the First Presbyterian congregation, but his remains were since removed to the Allegheny Cemetery.
Mr. Johnston was not only a watchmaker and silversmith, but he spun wire of brass and iron, for which there was a steady demand in the early days of the city. He took an active part in all matters of a public character and was an important factor in the infant municipality.
Trustee In Church.
He was early (1801) a trustee in the First Presbyterian Church and his fellow-citizens and contemporaries serving with him were Maj. Isaac Craig, Gen. John Wilkins, Ebenezer Denny, James B. Clow, Judge Alexander Addison, George Stevenson, Andrew McIntyre and John Reed.
We thus get in touch with the men and history of the city and are able to associate men and events.
Three John Reeds are given in Riddle's directory, an innkeeper, a carpenter and a shoemaker. McIntyre's name does not occur. George Stevenson may have been Dr. Stephenson (the spelling varies), as he is the only "George" in the directory. James B. Clow was "a plaisterer, corner of Cherry alley and Seventh street" (now avenue).
The other trustees have been frequently mentioned and figure largely in all the history that has been written of our city. these are some of the men who toiled and bent for the good of the community and who laid the foundations of Pittsburgh's greatness. They were indeed "good men and true."
William Eichbaum was also of this type. He was born at Mt. Cenis, Burgundy, France, in 1787, and came to Pittsburgh a child 10 years later. He was a member of the early printing firm of Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum and also had a wire works on the Monongahela above Kensington. This was as early as 1815 and the works were some distance above the Panhandle Bridge.
Mr. Eichbaum served as postmaster until 1833. He served in both branches of City Councils for 27 consecutive years. In 1858 he was elected city treasurer and served until his death in December, 1866. He then resided at 139 Wylie avenue, which was a door above Washington street on the left going up.
Pioneers In Business.
With Neville B. Craig Mr. Eichbaum came down to the generations of the Civil War period as one who lived here prior to the incorporation of Pittsburgh as a borough and passed a long life here. He too was one ever deeply interested in the business prosperity of Pittsburgh. He invested his means in many enterprises and was one of the promoters of the Monongahela Navigation Company, securing and maintaining slackwater navigation on that river.
Mr. Eichbaum was the type of pioneer concerning whom it is a pleasure to write. While postmaster his generous and accommodating disposition won for him that enduring esteem that he continued to enjoy through life and which those who remember him can well attest, as well as bear witness to his goodness of heart.
When Mr. Eichbaum came here Fort Pitt had been but recently abandoned as a frontier post. The town contained only about 100 houses, according to Neville B. Craig.
These two men saw the small town of their boyhood expand into a great and populous mart; saw its commerce and manufactures attain world fame, and each could rejoice that he was counted among the foremost of his generation who had helped by their intelligence and enterprise to make the city such and to create some wealth to employ and feed some of their fellow-citiens [sic].
Mr. Eichbaum became a partner in the printing firm in 1810. In 1815 he married Rebecca Johnston. She died in Pittsburgh in 1882, aged 90.
While postmaster Mr. Eichbaum had the office in a double brick house in Second street (now avenue) just above Market street, on the west side.
These buildings spoken of as early postoffices were burned in the fire of April 10, 1845.
William Eichbaum was the father of the late Joseph Eichbaum, well-known in his lifetime in business and Masonic circles. The Eichbaum family has yet representatives in Pittsburgh.
Big Celebration.
A wonderful celebration was held on July 4 that year at Mt. Independence, a beautiful spot near the sign of the Black Horse in Pitt township (on a guess out Penn avenue). William B. Foster was president of the day, Charles Wilkins vice president and Jacob Negley had cannon brought up and a thunderous salute was fired.
A type of steamboat is shown today with two stern wheels. However, these were not ancient. They were built in the fifties, according to John Habermehl. They had four engines for the purpose of easy turning: going ahead on one and back on the other. They are interesting as exhibits of experiments in boats when boats were our main carriers.
Sherman Day in his "Historical Collections of Pennsylvania," notices an improvement in Alleghenytown that dated from 1826, although the ground was donated by Alleghenytown in 1818. Day says:
The Western Penitentiary is an immense castle built in the ancient Norman style, situated in the plan behind Seminary Hill and on the western border of Allegheny City. It was completed in 1827, at a cost of $183,092 including its equipments. Notwithstanding some glaring defects in its original construction, it has now become an efficient institution. It is conducted on the Pennsylvania system of solitary confinement and labor. Weaving, shoemaking and oakum picking are the employments of the prisoners. About 800 prisoners had been received, in 1842, since the commencement of the institution.
The picture today is valuable as revealing how little of the North Side was built over as late as 1842. There are other pictures of this building and vicinity—one showing cows pasturing on the common. The buggy in the picture is headed toward "town" and is about Sherman avenue.
The same buildings are shown of 1880. The Thomas A. Armstrong monument stands about the center of the front yard of the old penitentiary.
The picture of Pittsburgh of 1830 is a wood cut from Miss Rebecca Eaton's "Geography of Pennsylvania," studied from and owned by the Rev. Dr. William D. Howard in his youth, attested by his signature and the date, "Germantown, 1837."
The home of Col. Samuel Hawkins, father of the late Judge William G. Hawkins, was built in 1815 of stone and stood for nearly half a century on the Hawkins estate at Hawkins Station. It shows a type of solid dwelling peculiar to the times, the material to build with at hand.
