Mr. L.P. Carpenter was the editor and proprietor of The Oneonta Herald in 1862. Upon reading through the weekly editions of that year, one could sense that his job wasn't the easiest or most popular of the time. The Civil War was pressing onward, subscribers weren't paying their bills and the costs of producing the newspaper were on the rise.
In the "Local Matters" portion of the Wednesday, March 26, edition, a headline over an article was titled, "Concerning the Editor."
The article stated, "If an editor omits anything he is lazy. If he speaks of things as they are, people are mad. If he glosses over -- smooths down the rough points -- he is bribed. If he calls things by their proper names he is unfit for the position of editor. If he does not furnish his readers with jokes he is a mullette. If he does he is a rattle-head, lacking stability. If he condemns the wrong, he is a good fellow but lacks discretion. If he lets wrongs and injuries go unmentioned he is a coward. If he upholds a public man, he does it for a 'consideration.' If he crticises (sic) him, he does it to gratify spite -- is a tool of a clique, or belongs to the 'outs.' If he indulges in personalities he is a blackguard -- if he does not his paper is dull and insipid."
Appearing in a local news section, this might infer that no matter what is printed, there's always a critic.
On Nov. 5, 1862, an article with the headline "S.S. Burnside," showed Carpenter had clearly been a target of criticism from Burnside, a major general who had formed the Militia Company B, 41st Regiment, in Oneonta in recent years and was a local figure during the Civil War.
"In a political speech this gentleman (?) made at West Davenport, a few nights since, he made a charge against the editor of this paper which he knew to be false, and if it is as we were told -- it is libelous. And if after inquiring into the matter, we find it as reported, he will have an opportunity to prove it before a jury of twelve of his countrymen. In peddling his low bred cunning around the country he had better learn not to be quite so personal. He has not of late, made a political speech without bringing in some of his neighbors, if they happen to differ with him on the subject he is talking about. He may find that he has for once gone a little too far -- he may have got his foot in."
What Burnside said and what came from this article were not published, but it was clear there was bad blood between Burnside and Carpenter.
If the editorial side wasn't tough at times in 1862, the business end of publishing the newspaper was.
Carpenter, under "Local Matters" signed an article, headlined "You Must Pay up," on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
"We shall make up the account of each person who is indebted to us, to the first of September, and we must have our pay. In all probability we should be called upon to shoulder our musket about the first of next month, and go forth in defence (sic) of our country, and it is necessary that we have a settlement of our business before we go; therefore we call upon all to walk up and settle."
From the Wednesday, Nov. 12, edition came this article.
"Will be taken at this office, on subscription, and the market price allowed, wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat, oats and wood. Those having the above articles and wishing to dispose of them, (we was never known to refuse to take money) will confer a favor upon the publisher of the Herald, by leaving them at his office."
It was common at that time for the mainly agricultural population of the area, not having much money to purchase items, to pay in trade or goods.
The Herald offices needed to be warm in the winter months, so firewood was commonly traded for a subscription.
Mr. Carpenter always made it clear that prices for printing materials were going up through the year.
Paper was still being made of rag materials at the time, and Carpenter encouraged "prudent housekeepers" in December to save every rag and old newspaper "for the day when the peddler comes around to give her cash for them."
Carpenter also gave notice to subscribers that no papers would be mailed after Jan. 1 unless paid for in advance.
"And we hope our friends will not feel hard towards us for adopting this course, unless we do it we shall be obliged to 'shut-up-shop.'" This never came to be.
On Monday: Two new supermarkets opened in Oneonta in 1952.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
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