Matthew LYON began the publication of a newspaper in 1794, called the Fairhaven Gazette, which was printed by his son, James LYON, and Judah D. SPOONER. There were at the time but three other papers printed in the State; the Gazette at Bennington, the Herald at Rutland, and Journal at Windsor. Matthew LYON was an ardent politician of his day. He issued this as a political sheet for the advancement of his own interests, he at that time being a candidate for Congress, presenting himself as "the representative of commercial, agricultural and manufacturing interests in preference to any of their law characters," from the admission of the State into the Union, in March, 1791, until his election on the fourth trial in 1796. James LYON learned the art of printing in Philadelphia. He was an active business man; was postmaster at Fairhaven in 1798; he engaged in shipbuilding in Eddyville, Kentucky, and died poor in South Carolina in 1824.

      This paper was succeeded by the Farmers' Library, or Fairhaven Telegraph, a Republican paper, printed by J. D. SPOONER and William HENNESSEY, at Fairhaven, Vt. The first number was issued July 25, 1795. Mr. HENNESSEY retired from the paper in March, 1796, and Mr. SPOONER continued its publication. It was a Democratic paper and supported Colonel Matthew LYON for Congress. In those days every newspaper had its motto. The motto of Mr. SPOONER's paper was: "The freedom of the people cannot be supported without knowledge and industry." The name of the paper was changed in 1797 to The Farmers' Library and New York Intelligencer, and continued to about the close of the year 1798. A. N. ADAMS, in his excellent history of Fairhaven, notes several advertisements which sound strange in these days, and with a view of giving an idea of the crude method of public advertising in those days, a few specimens are given. In those days newspapers were not sent through the mails, but by post-riders, as they were called, who went through the country and delivered the papers to each house, giving warning of their approach through the thickly settled neighborhood or village by blowing a tin horn. To illustrate, we give a copy of an advertisement published in 1798, which reads as follows: 

      There was competition in this business even at that date, and Orren KELSEY advertised as follows: 

      The publication of lists of letters in that day in the newspapers was a custom, because but few towns had a post-office. In January, 1798, James LYON, then postmaster at Fairhaven, published a list of letters remaining in that Post-office January 1st, among which are letters for persons in Poultney, Middletown, Granville, Pawlet and New Hartford, which is now Hartford, N. Y.

      Among the items of news in the same paper is "that an extensive band of thieves, who had troubled the neighborhood, had been broken up and the culprits punished -- one of them by whipping."

      As an illustration of the political spirit of the times, and the independence of Matthew LYON, we quote the following: 

      As a matter of history, although foreign to the purpose of this series of articles, an explanation should be made of the allusion made in the sentence, "Citizen Lyon, one of the members of the House of Representatives, etc." In 1798 Colonel Matthew LYON, then a candidate for Congress, was tried for an alleged offense under the famous "sedition law," in the United States Circuit Court at Rutland, in October, 1788, and was subsequently imprisoned in jail at Vergennes, exciting a degree of feeling that has never since been exceeded in any political struggle. He was then representative from the western district of Vermont in Congress; at the election held on the first Tuesday of December, 1798 (no choice having been made at the election in the previous September), he was elected by a decisive majority, although then confined in jail at Vergennes under his sentence. Colonel LYON was the Democratic candidate and judge Samuel WILLIAMS, of Rutland, was the Federal candidate. A procession of some 400 citizens, from this and Addison county, went on horseback to Vergennes on the expiration of Colonel LYON's term of four months imprisonment in 1799, and escorted him from the jail to his residence in Fairhaven. To save another arrest, he immediately proclaimed himself on his way to Philadelphia, as a Member of Congress. On his arrival at Bennington he was formally addressed and a banquet given in his honor. An effort was mode to expel him from Congress but without success.

      In 1854-55 a small monthly paper was issued in this town by De Witt LEONARD; it was called The Banner. In January, 1861, one number only of a small sheet called the Golden Sheaf was published.

      In September, 1863, the first number of an advertising sheet was published with the title of the Fairhaven Advertiser; other occasional numbers succeeded until 1866 when the outfit was purchased by William Q. BROWN, who began the publication as a regular monthly periodical, changing the name to The Rutland County Advertiser; it continued until April, 1868.

      On the 5th of September, 1868, the first number of  The People's Journal was published by JONES & GROSE, with Rev. P. Franklin JONES as editor, This paper was continued until July, 1869, when it was purchased by De Witt LEONARD and E. H. PHELPS and the name changed to The Fairhaven Journal, with E. H. PHELPS as editor. It was finally discontinued in 1877.

      On the 1st of January, 1879, the publication of  The Vermont Era was commenced by the INMAN Brothers, who after three weeks' experience sold out to Joseph E. COLTON, who changed the name of the paper to The Fairhaven Era and continued the publication until September 15, 1879. At this time the establishment was purchased by Frank W. REDFIELD, who still continues the publication of a very able country paper.
 
 

      In November, 1822, Sanford SMITH and John R. SHUTE began the publication of the Poultney Gazette. This journal was continued under that name until January, 1825, when it was changed to The Northern Spectator, and published by "Dr. David DEWEY and Amos BLISS, as agents for the proprietors," who continued to publish it several months, when it passed into the possession of E. G. STONE. It afterwards had other managers, among whom was Hon. Harvey D. SMITH, afterwards of New York. Its publication was continued until June, 1830. The Spectator was a leading and influential paper. The character of its selections was of a somewhat higher tone than was the case of other papers of that period. Its leading editorials and communications were written by Hon. Rollin C. MALLARY, Rev. Ethan SMITH, Harvey D. SMITH, and toward its close by Horace GREELEY, then a young man, and contributions from Jared SPARKS, afterwards the distinguished historian, also then a young man tarrying with an uncle in that vicinity. The first contributions ever made by Horace GREELEY or Jared SPARKS to the public press appeared in the columns of the Spectator. The Spectator was a four page sheet, fifteen inches by twenty-one inches in size, and larger than the Rutland Herald at that time. The main character of the paper was religious and literary, rather than political, though when party spirit ran high it took a hand in by the way of contributions from the leaders of both parties. In the Poultney Gazette was a page devoted to missions and entitled the Missionary Herald, edited by Rev. Ethan SMITH, and he was said to have afterward been one of the founders of the magazine published at the present time as the organ of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, called the Missionary Herald. The experience of the publishers was similar to that of many of the present day, as will be seen by the following extract from their valedictory, published December 28, 1825:

      Sanford Smith was a son of Rev. Ethan Smith. He first learned the printer's art; he afterward studied theology, and entered the ministry, and was for many years a successful pastor in Massachusetts. John R. Shute went to Boston, Mass., and died in that city. The Gazette was mainly under the editorial control of Ethan Smith, at that time pastor of the Congregational Church, and a theological writer of some eminence, who ardently entered into the religious discussions of that period. He was born at Belchertown, Mass., December 19, 1762; died August 10, 1849. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1790. He was a soldier at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason; in his later years he was city missionary of Boston. He was the author of the celebrated work entitled View of the Hebrews, or the Tribes of Israel in America, published in 1825.

      The political and local policy of the paper was shaped by Rollin C. MALLARY, then a Member of Congress, who was an almost constant contributor. He was born in Cheshire, Conn., May 27, 1784, and died on his way home from Washington at Baltimore, Md., April 15, 1831. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1803. He practiced law at Castleton from 1807 to 1818, and in Poultney from 1818 to his death. A monument was erected at his grave by the members of the Rutland county-bar. He was a Member of Congress from 1816 to 1831. He was an intimate friend and associate of Henry CLAY and a zealous advocate of protection. He was chairman of the committee on manufactures, and author of the celebrated tariff of 1828. Hon. Harvey D. SMITH, who was also associated with the Spectator, was a vigorous writer and a man of mark. He was born in Pawlet, November 9, 1789. He removed in 1825 to Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he died September 28, 1864, aged 75 years. He was a member of the Assembly of New York, surrogate and county judge for many years. His mind was remarkable for quickness and clearness of perception. One able to judge of him has said, "that without being admitted to the bar he was the best lawyer of his day, and as a court administered law equal to judges of the highest reputation." The Northern Spectator did not have a wide circulation or special prominence as a newspaper, yet its name has attained a world-wide fame in connection with the fact that Horace Greeley learned the art of type-setting in its printing-office. It may be a matter of public and historical interest in this connection to give a sketch of Mr. GREELEY as an apprentice, as some items of his early career have never attained great circulation. He was born at Amherst, New Hampshire, February 3, 1811 and when about ten years old his father removed to Westhaven, in this county. He became anxious to become a printer. In answer to an advertisement in the Northern Spectator for an apprentice, in the spring of 1826, he went on foot and alone to Poultney. The paper was then under the management of Amos BLISS. He found Mr. BLISS at work in his garden. 

      Mr. BLISS used to report the interview as follows: 

      Mr. BLISS entered into conversation with him and it required but little time to discover that he possessed a mind of no common order, and an acquired intelligence beyond his years. There was a simple-mindedness, a truthfulness and common sense in what he said that commanded his regard. After consultation with his foreman, Mr. BLISS took him in and then and there Horace GREELEY began his career, which culminated in his becoming one of the great editors of the age. The last issue of the Northern Spectator was gotten off at 11 o'clock one June morning in 1830; and in the afternoon at 1 o'clock Horace GREELEY, with a stick and a small bundle resting on his shoulder and an overcoat resting on his arm, started on foot for his father's, who then lived in Pennsylvania, five hundred miles away.

      Another item of interest may be added. Mr. BLISS was in New York in 1853 and invited a friend to accompany him to the Tribune Building. They wended their way up to his sanctum. Mr. BLISS opened the door without rapping and there sat the editor busily engaged in writing. He did not notice their entrance. Mr. BLISS waited a moment; but no recognition from Mr. GREELEY. He soon spoke very deliberately "Horace." The pen was instantly laid aside; Mr. GREELEY knew the voice; he needed not to look in the face to know that an old friend was present. He arose from his chair and with outstretched arms approached Mr. BLISS and said in his quiet way: "My dear friend! My benefactor! How glad I am to see you." They narrated early reminiscences and discussed the battle of life.

      John JONES was a manufacturer of woolen cloth at Poultney, and during Mr. GREELEY's apprenticeship had attracted Mr. JONES's attention. He gave Horace cloth for a suit of clothes, which, Mr. GREELEY told the writer, was the best suit he ever had, and that Mrs. Harris HOSFORD, who died a few years ago at Center Rutland, made the suit for him. This kind act Mr. GREELEY never forgot and made frequent visits to her when in this section. She had in her possession, a few years before her decease, bound volumes of the Northern Spectator, from 1826 to I830. George JONES, the son of Mr. GREELEY's benefactor, established and is now the proprietor of the New York Daily Times.

      A paper called the Poultney Owl was published in Poultney for about six months, beginning in 1867, by James H. LANSLEY.

      On the 12th of March, 1868, the initial number of the Poultney Bulletin was issued in Poultney by J. A. MORRIS, with John NEWTON editor, and George C. NEWMAN, assistant. In October, 1869, the Hon. Barnes FRISBIE became editor, continuing until June, 1870. In September of that year H. L. STILLSON and William HASWELL became the publishers, and in August, 1871, STILLSON sold his interest to his partner who continued the publication to November, 1873. In December following, R. J. HUMPHREY purchased the Bulletin outfit and on the 8th of that month issued the first number of the Poultney Journal. This paper is continued at the present time; it was continued four years by Mr. HUMPHREY, who was succeeded for two and a half years BY FRISBIE & NEAGLES, and then by FRISBIE & ROSS until about April 1, 1881, when Mr. Charles W. POTTER purchased Mr. FRISBIE's interest, and the firm continues POTTER & ROSS. The Journal is a representative county weekly, ably edited and well patronized.

      Three students' papers have been published in Poultney; the T. C. A. Casket at the Troy Conference Academy; the Ripley Female College Quarterly, made up chiefly of contributions from the students of that institution; and the Golden Sheaf, issued in 1876-77 by the students of the Troy Conference Academy.
 
 

      In 1824 the Vermont Statesman was commenced at Castleton by Rev. Ovid MINER. It was started in advocacy of the principles of the Whig party. After a few years Mr. MINER left the paper and entered the ministry. The publication was continued by Messrs. HOUGHTON for some time. The printing of the paper was suspended in 1845. It was in the office of the Statesman that the well-known publisher, George A. TUTTLE, began his apprenticeship. This paper in last years was the organ of the Democratic party. Ovid MINER, founder, was a native of Middletown, a graduate of Middlebury College. He afterward became a successful clergyman, and preached in this and several other States. Mr. HOUGHTON removed to Michigan and was a successful editor for many years -- at Marquette and at Houghton, which was named for him. He was for several years a consul to some foreign country. He died several years ago. Of the later publishers we have been unable to glean but few particulars further than that the late Colonel Roby G. STONE, of Plattsburg, was at one time its publisher and editor. This journal was well sustained in the earlier years of its publication and was the rival of the Rutland Herald in the western part of the county.
 
 

      The Vermont Telegraph, a religious paper, in the interests of the Baptist denomination, was established at Brandon in 1828 by Ephraim MAXHAM and edited by Rev. John M. ALLEN. The paper was started by a company, of which Mr. MAXHAM was manager. It was the first joint stock company organized in Vermont for the publication of a newspaper. The first issue was dated September 30, 1828. This paper passed through the hands of various managers and editors until 1834, when it ceased to exist as a distinctive religious paper. Among its managers were John CONANT, John A. CONANT, James LONG, Willard KIMBALL, and its editors Rev. Nathan BROWN, Wareham WALKER and Orson S. MURRAY. John CONANT was a well-known business man of an early day. His son, the respected and venerable John A. CONANT, still lives in a vigorous old age. He has been sheriff of the county, senator, president of the Brandon National Bank, and held many other positions of trust and responsibility. Ephraim MAXHAM is still living and is now connected with the Waterville, Maine, Mail. Rev. Nathan BROWN went as a missionary to India and translated the new testament into several languages. He was also founder of the American Baptist. Orson S. MURRAY purchased the Telegraph in 1834 and changed its tone from a religious to the advocacy of anti-slavery, and was the first journal in the State to make a distinctive political stand on that subject. Another change was the advancement of infidel sentiments. Mr. MURRAY was an eccentric man, but withal was a writer of great vigor and perspicuity. He was a vegetarian and wore his hair at full length, never allowing it to be cut, and was erratic in other particulars. He moved his paper to Ohio, where he assumed considerable prominence as an anti-slavery editor and lecturer. He died a few years since at an advanced age.

      In 1832, in the height of the popular excitement in Vermont on the subject of Masonry, Hon. Zimri HOWE established an anti-Masonic journal entitled The Green Mountain Eagle. It terminated its existence in 1834, when the anti-Masonic excitement began to wane. Mr. HOWE took an independent political stand against Masonry, although his father and family were members of the order. The paper was conducted with ability and had great influence in politics. Hon. Zimri HOWE was born in Poultney in 1786, graduated at Middlebury College in 1810, and studied law at Middlebury with Hon. Horatio Seymour, then United States Senator. He was admitted to the Rutland county bar in 1813, and settled in Castleton, where he practiced law until his death. He was father of John HOWE, the recent State's Attorney. The temperance cause owned him as a pioneer and a persistent advocate at all times. He was one of the founders of the Rutland County Temperance Society, and was its president for a series of years. He was a member of the Governor's Council, State senator in 1836 and 1837, and one of the assistant judges of the Rutland County Court from 1839 to 1844. He died at Castleton in 1862, aged seventy-seven years.

      In September, 1834, H. E. W. DRURY, of Middlebury, established a Democratic paper entitled The Vermont Argus, which was merged in a paper called The Free Press, at Middlebury, in September, 1836.

      In 1840 a political sheet called The Rutland and Addison County Whig, was published by the Brandon Whig Association, of which Hon. De Witt C. CLARKE was the editor. It was the most vigorous and spicy newspaper ever printed in Vermont. General CLARKE was well adapted to his position; a writer on all, especially political subjects, and a man of ready wit, full of anecdote and story, and well adapted to the writing of campaign songs -- he gave its columns rare originality and spice. It was conducted after the manner of the Log Cabin, published during the same campaign by Horace GREELEY, to which General CLARKE was a frequent contributor. General CLARKE afterward became the editor of the Burlington Free Press. He was the son of Asahel and Lydia (FINNEY) Clarke, and was born at Sandy Hill, N. Y. He graduated at Union College, studied law and settled at Brandon, where he practiced until he entered the editorial profession, for which he was so peculiarly adapted. He was secretary of the Vermont Senate for ten years, and was also clerk of several constitutional conventions. At the time of his death in 1868 he was assistant secretary of the United States Senate.

      Jedediah HOLCOMBE established a paper called the Voice of Freedom at Montpelier and after several years removed it to Brandon, where it was issued June 29, 1843, and ceased to exist June 15, 1847. It was devoted to the antislavery and liberty parties.

      The Vermont Union Whig -- an organ of the Whig party -- was established at Brandon by William C. CONANT and Samuel M. CONANT, and edited by the latter. It began in 1847 and was removed to Rutland in 1859, and soon after ceased to exist. Samuel Mills CONANT was born in Brandon, read law and began practice in his native town. He was assistant clerk of the House of Representatives in 1849; assistant secretary of the Senate in 1850, and afterwards secretary for several years. Samuel C. CONANT is now editor of a monthly magazine in New York city.

      The Brandon Post, a Democratic sheet, was printed by Patrick WELCH, from October 4, 1849 to 1850.

      The Vermont Tribune, a Whig paper, was established by William C. ROGERS, January 4, 1850, and published about a year, when it was discontinued and the office sold and taken out of the State.

      The Western Vermont Transcript had a brief existence in this place of less than a year, in 1856. It was Republican in politics and was published by Julius H. MOTT and Rev. A. C. ROSE.

      The N. E. Christian Advocate, a Methodist journal, was published by Revs. A. C. ROSE and William FORD, for one year, beginning at the close of 1857.

      The N. E. Visitor, of the same character as the last named paper was published by Rev. William FORD from January 6, 1859 to March 7, 1861.

      The Brandon Gazette was published one year, beginning May 30, 1861, by Hiram TRUSS; it was a Republican sheet.

      The Brandon Monitor, published by D. L. MILLIKEN, was first issued July 11, 1862, and continued one year; Republican in politics.

      The Vermont Record, Republican, also published by Mr. MILLIKEN, was begun July 17, 1863, and in a short time was removed to Brattleboro.

      The Brandon Union was started on the 30th of November, 1872, as an independent local journal, by Albion N. MERCHANT, with Hiram M. MOTT as editor. The establishment has since that date passed consecutively through the hands of MOTT & TOBIN, Hiram M. MOTT, MOTT Brothers, Norman A. MOTT, Hiram M. MOTT, Stillman B. RYDER, who is the present publisher. The paper is now prosperous and ably conducted.

      On the 20th of October, 1876, David C. HACKETT, who had been engaged in the publication of the Black River Gazette at Ludlow, removed his establishment to Brandon and issued the first number of the Otter Creek News, which he has successfully conducted to the present time.

      The Otter Creek Valley News was first issued in Danby in September, 1878, being printed at Bennington, and published by J. C. WILLIAMS; it was issued every Friday, independent in character. Its publication was discontinued in 1880.
 

      Wallingford  During a part of the time between the years 1855 and 1860 a small sheet was published at Wallingford by P. H. Emerson and Amasa Bishop, called the Local Spy.
In 1877 the Wallingford Standard was established by Addison G. Stone; it was continued to 1880. a part of the time under the control of S. Sabin. The printing was done at Bennington and Brandon.
 
 

"History of Rutland County Vermont with Illustrations & 
Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men & Pioneers"
Edited by H. Y. Smith & W. S. Rann, Syracuse, N. Y.
D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1886
History of Rutland County
Chapter XV.
(pages 226-234)

Transcribed by Karima, 2002