Early Recollections Of The Argus

I íirst saw the Argus in 1S43. Itwas the Michigan Argus, tlien, a sinall í'olio sheet not half the size of the Argus of today. The type appeared to be oíd and the face battered, but its managers appeared to have the knack of seudiog out, weekly, good, strong, Jeffersonian doctrine in spite of the poor type. Th ere were no insides patented nor articles patented then, the vvliole paper was made up at home. Earl P. Gard n er, I think, was its editor. Soon aller, as I remember, tlie paper was issued by Cole & Gardnér, vho eoutinued its publication until purcbased about 18-54, by E. B. Pond. In 1846 01 1847, Mr. Cole, who was acquaiuted with myfather in Palmyra, X. V., canie on a visit to om house in Sharon and manifesting a desire to extend the circulation of the Argus. I offered my services and together we canvassed the cown of Sh,aron and part of Sylvan and Manchester. As money was out of the questiou wetookfarm truck in exchange i'or the paper, two bushels of wheat for a year's subscription and other truck in proportion. Jnst liow man y new subscribers we obtained I cannot teil, but I have a distinct recollection of brlnging to Aun Arbor tliree fiill two-horse wagon loads of farm produce (inostly wheat) as the result of our efforts to increase the, circulation of the Argus. Of course in those days there was no "money in politics1' and do money in running a political newspaper, and I would as soon thoughtof chargingoor minister i fee for doing an errand as askingpay j of our democratie editor Eor assisting in spreading the gospel of true democracy. Mr. ('ole gave inte, however, six ' books as a token of bis appreciation of ' my services, which Berved asa nuclens for a fair country library. They were Paü ui Offict Report. Washtenaw county had Btrong representativo men in the democratie ranka in tliosi' days. Manchester bad the brothers ('as;1. Barnabasand AJausoii, and a little later J. 1). Cotey. Sharon bad Judge Kellogg, Micah Portel and Oliver High; Sylvan had the Congdon brothers, Elislia and . lames M. water had Col. Hixson, David M. Palnior mul M. McDougall. Freedom had Dr. Magoon, Jacob Preston and Wrm. F. Osius. Lodi had Col. Ilowe Sweetland and the Harpers. Scio and Dexter had C. S. GregorJ and the Warners, 1'. Pleining and the Arnolds. Webster had Alorgan O'Brien. Aun Albor had Mowerson and Mowrey. Pittsfleld had the Welch brothers, Ówen and Ilorace. Northfield had George Sutton, Pray and Wall. Salem had 1'. C. Murray and Vanatta. Superior had Col. Brewer, .). W. Nanry and Geo. W. Gale. Lima had Phil Starring and, later, Sampson Parker. Augusta had Aaron Chilcls and Douglass. Ypsilanti had John Gilbert and John Starkweather and David M. l'lil. York had Caleb Moore, the Kelseya and Le Baron. Lyndon had Thomas Clark and Thomas Young. Saline had the llisdons. Forty and I'orty-five ycars ago no democratie county conventiou was held that did not have a niajority of tliose names among the list of delegatea The Arjrus has always beenanewapaperof influence In its party, notably while under the editorial management of K. 1!. Poud. [lis statistica were always right añd wo be to the unlucky adversary why disputed anj of Pond's facts or ilgures. Under the present management the Argus lias increased its circulation, which is a sare test of lts wortlviness. May il live lonsr and prosper.