Source:Fleming-publishers-1
George T. Fleming. "Pioneer publishers of Pittsburgh: Question, what constitutes a pioneer, considered—John Scull unmistakably first publisher—Joseph Hall and John Boyd, printers—two Pittsburgh editors, Scull and Israel—'The Tree of Liberty': The literary area on Market street—Scull's character portrayed—Hugh H. Brackenridge, author, poet, jurist—his quixotic work, 'Modern Chivalry'—Zadok Cramer, bookbinder and bookseller." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sept. 23, 1923, sec. 5, [p. 2]. Newspapers.com 85493141.
PIONEER is a well worked word; as a verb its meanings are to prepare the way; to take the lead in; as a substantive it is defined in a recent dictionary, as "one who goes before to remove obstacles and prepare the way for others;" also as "one of the first explorers of a country," and hence one who "prepares the way," another meaning is used only in a military sense. Now as today's story is about pioneers it seems proper to examine the term and pass judgment upon its pertinency.
The first printers in Pittsburgh were John Scull and Joseph Hall and their first publication was the first issue of The Pittsburgh Gazette. The date of publication, July 29, 1786, always carried on the first page of The Gazette Times alongside the heading. Right here one runs into the old dispute evoked by the interrogation—How many firsts can there be? Were Scull and Hall the first publishers, or were they the "first two" publishers, or was each "one of the first?"
Logically there can be but one first and one last. There can be no question raised concerning the fact that the firm of John Scull and Joseph Hall was the proprietor of the first printing office in Pittsburgh and that this firm was the first publishing house in the city. As poor Hall died within the year and Scull carried on the printing business for 30 years after, he can be said justly to have been the pioneer publisher.
Now we come again to the pertinency of the word pioneer, and the question arises, is not precursor a better word? No; some one answers, a precursor is a forerunner. Webster in the first edition of his dictionary (1829) defines a precursor as "one who precedes an event and indicates its approach." Verily, Scull and Hall were precursors; they were also forerunners of the publishing business in Pittsburgh, the "first two" here in that business or were they the "two first?" No we are told there can be only one first! the next in numerical order is the second always. Right here we will leave this philological puzzle, and proceed to the historical phase of the subject under consideration, remarking that the word pioneer is a favorite word to describe anything that can be referred to as early, or first, and that its use is often ridiculous and unjustified by facts. Thus, not long ago in an obituary a certain man born in the old borough of Birmingham in 1850 was said to have been a pioneer on the South Side. Granting that this was a fact, it is very evident that as the town of Birmingham was laid out at least 40 years prior to the arrival of this alleged pioneer he was not "one of the first," and that he was a very young pioneer at the time of his arrival.
Nevertheless, after long deliberation the conclusion has been reached to permit today's heading to stand, and tell something of these pioneers, and their output. There were only two prominent publishers, prior to the incorporation of the City of Pittsburgh in 1816 and these were John Scull and Zadok Cramer. Naturally some story of Pittsburgh authors, and publications, the copy for which was prepared here, will be included. The Brackenridges, father and son, were the chief authors of the period, the closing years of the eighteenth and the first decade of the nineteenth century. Cramer's Almanac and his celebrated "Navigator," also an annual, were the principal publications printed here from copy prepared by Cramer.
Joseph Hall, who came here with John Scull in July, 1786, died November 10, 1786, in his twenty-second year. John Boyd purchased Hall's interest and remained Scull's partner until 1789, when he committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree on the side of the hill that has since borne name [sic], supplanting the former name, Ayres' Hill. The Boulevard of the Allies passes over the site of Boyd's "taking off." Boyd was a pioneer, too, in the way of the establishment of a circulating library, a scheme that failed. Little credit is due Boyd as a publisher, save as a partner of Scull, with Scull the dominant spirit. While the name, Boyd's Hill, has fallen into disuse, there is still Boyd street there to remind us of Boyd's melancholy fate.
After Boyd's death Scull continued the printing business, issuing The Gazette regularly until 1816, when he retired. The story of Scull's career has been printed repeatedly, notably in The Gazette anniversary numbers of July 29, 1886, commemorating the first century of its existence, and in the issues of the last week of July, 1911, commemorating the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary. Hence today but little will be said of Scull's newspaper career or political career. He remained the pioneer editor here for 14 years, when, in Shakespearean phrase, a new Richmond came on the field and this was John Israel, with a newspaper rival to The Gazette, which was devoted to the interests of the Federal party. Brackenridge, the elder, and his associates of the new Republican party needed an organ. This was obtained by bringing Israel here from Washington, Pa., where he had been publishing a newspaper called The Herald of Liberty.
Brackenridge's paper was called The Tree of Liberty, and its first number was published August 16, 1800. Brackenridge did not want himself known as the owner of the paper, or concerned in it in any way, and disclaimed any responsibility for its editorial utterances. But he was greatly interested. Brackenridge established The Tree of Liberty especially to fight Scull, and soon the two editors were engaged in the exchange of violent personalities so severe and libelous that Scull sued Israel for libel and obtained a verdict. The Tree had a short and stormy life. Its last issue was sometime after Tarleton Bates' death in a duel January 8, 1806. Editor Israel was the target of violent abuse by Ephraim Pentland, who, with his paper, The Commonwealth, was the third Richmond in the fighting field of Pittsburgh's journalism of those years.
Editor Scull replied to Israel in kind, so much so that Brackenridge, who had gone on the Supreme bench of the state by appointment of Gov. McKean in 1799, called on Scull and remonstrated with him, pointing out matter so libelous and objectionable that Scull was threatened with a libel suit unless he made reparation. Thus urged Scull came to terms.
John Scull was a man of good character with many other good qualities. In an article in the Gazette, August 5, 1803, he wrote this among other things concerning himself and The Gazette:
"If my undertaking was novel and hazardous my conduct has been honest. In my profession as a printer I never forgot my duty as a man. If I was a printer I felt also I was a member of society and a subject of government, and I respect both society and government. I never printed for hire, nor for party, and for protection of worth and the exposure of vileness my press has ever been open, of whatever party the worth or vileness were. I have made my conscience my guide, and used the best means in my power to inform it."
"From this extract the strong moral characteristics of Mr. Scull are revealed. No one ever questioned his integrity and a noticeable fact revealed by this extract is that he had not yet cast off the old idea that the newspaper instead of being a partisan organ, was for the benefit of the whole community irrespective of party considerations, and open to all worthy and moral communications and objects. The rise of the Jeffersonian party had dispelled the dream of Mr. Scull in the sacredness of the newspaper from subserviency to the designs of partisans."
So states a paragraph pertaining to the history of newspapers in Pittsburgh in the "Standard History of Pittsburgh," written and compiled by Dr. W. J. Holland and the late Father A. A. Lamfing [sic], and the work edited by the late Erasmus Wilson.
John Scull was distinctively a pioneer in another line. He was the first postmaster of Pittsburgh and as postmaster first advertised the list of uncalled for letters in the post office, which was also The Gazette office on Water street, near Ferry street.
The lists of uncalled letters were standard advertisements in Pittsburgh for over a century. Scull printed his list in the latter part of 1788. He moved from Water street to the northwest corner of Market and Front streets and in the same block was the news and literary area of Pittsburgh. On Front street, now First avenue, immediately in the rear of the Scull home, Scull erected a one-story building that was used for his print shop, and here The Gazette was printed and job work done. The post office remained here until 1794, when George Adams was appointed postmaster.
Scull has an additional credit for a pioneer publication. In 1793 he printed for Hugh Henry Brackenridge (the elder Brackenridge) the third volume of that author's celebrated work, "Modern Chivalry." Originally this was a small book, later growing into four volumes, only one printed in Pittsburgh; the others in Philadelphia. Scull's edition was the first book printed west of the Allegheny Mountains. This work, afterwards rewritten and enlarged, ran through several editions—six are known. As late as 1859 a paper edition was brought out by the old firm of T. B. Peterson & Co., of Philadelphia. This edition was illustrated by Darley and evidently is a reprint of the original work.
Brackenridge and Scull were firm friends from their first acquaintance to the break in consequence of the partisanship arising from the election of Thomas McKean to be governor of Pennsylvania and the formation of the Jeffersonian, or Republican party. Brackenridge contributed to the Gazette for many years. In the very first number of the paper there appeared the first chapter of the "Description of the Town of Pittsburgh" from Brackenridge's pen. Poems and "pieces" followed at various times and news from the state capital when Breckenridge [sic] was a representative from Westmoreland county. Brackenridge's poems and "pieces" were published in pamphlet form in Carlisle, Pa., after Brackenridge's removal to that town and an occasional copy is still found in libraries. It's [sic] title is "Gazette Publications."
Brackenridge has been called a dilettante, a French word meaning a dabbler in art matters, and also describing a superficial amateur. Some of his poems may lead one to consider him amateurish. He was certainly a dabbler in literature for he was a lawyer and a judge. He was an orator of magnificent power and eloquence. His chief title to literary fame is that resulting from his keen satire entitled "Modern Chivalry" which created a sensation in its day. Before coming to Pittsburgh in 1781 he had jointly with Philip Freneau, written a volume of poetry entitled "The Rising Glory of America" and by himself a play called "The Battle of Bunker Hill."
In the "Literary Examiner and Western Monthly Review" there appeared this notice in June, 1839:
"Modern Chivalry; by the late Judge Brackenridge, Second Edition. Revised and Corrected by Hon. H. M. Brackenridge.
"Twenty years ago this work, soon to appear from the press of John I. Kay & Co., was the humorous textbook of all classes of society, here away. It was to the West what Don Quixote was to Europe—a satirical lash to whip the follies of the times and excoriate mendacious ignorance. Its peculiarly broad and trenchant allusions fell witheringly upon the acts of demagogism then riding rough shod over the credulity of the people, and tended in a great measure to remove the juggler's screen from before men who abused the gifts of popularity and erected an altar to false democracy. To play the part of Juvenal in such a crisis, no man was better qualified, both by learning and original humor than Judge Brackenridge. His wit, keen as a Damascus scimetar [sic], cut irresisibly [sic] through all opposition; while good nature sat upon his pages, relieving the fall of his victims, though never allowing them to escape unwhipped of justice. We are glad to know that a second edition of 'Modern Chivalry' is in press. The first issue is almost out of print, and we have long desired to procure a copy, but have found it impossible to obtain one, the owners of the old work valuing it too highly to think of parting with it. The improved edition will find profitable and speedy sale."
The Hon. H. M. Brackenridge was the son of the author and a distinguished author and jurist himself. He was a steady contributor to "The Literary Examiner, etc.," during its short life. Among other articles was his celebrated story, "Pittsburgh in the Olden Time," recently published in The Gazette Times.
Early in the spring of 1800, Zadok Cramer, a bookbinder, aged 26, came to Pittsburgh, lured here by the promise of fortune and perhaps fame. He attained the latter; his fortune was limited. His career was brief—his whole span of years slightly short of 40. He was a man of sterling worth and great energy. In the few years that he lived in Pittsburgh and flourished, in the opinion of our Pittsburgh historian, C. W. Dahlinger, Cramer did more to advance the literary culture of the town than all the other educational agencies combined which came before or after his time. This is strong praise. Cramer was a native of New Jersey, born in 1773. When he came here there were two book stores located in the literary area between two printing offices. This was on Market street. William Semple's store was founded in 1793. John C. Gilkison came later and lived until 1800, when his executor, H. H. Brackenridge, sold the shop to Cramer, and here for 13 years Cramer worked until ill health compelled him to seek the salubrious climate of Florida, but in vain. His malady was consumption, as they were wont to say. The story of his publishing business is a long one—enough can be found concerning it to make several articles of today's length of story.
