Chicago Republican
Life Span: 1864-1871
Location: 93 Washington, between Dearborn and Clark streets
Architect: Unknown
- Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
Chicago Post. published daily, tri-weekly and weekly. Jas. Sheahan and Andre Matteson, editors; office, 93 Washington street
Dickenson James A., real estate agt., 93 Washington. r. 412 W. Monroe.
Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
Republican Chicago, 93 Washington. (See adv’t. next p.)
Thompson J. S. Republican office 98 Washington
Thompson Jeremiah S., manager Republican job rooms
Claflin, Isaac, real estate agt room 4, 93 Washington, h Babcock Grove.
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Chicago Republican Co., (daily, bi-weekly and weekly), 93 Washington
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1871
Chicago Republican Co., (daily and weekly), 93 Washington
Chicago Tribune, February 28, 1865
An Act to incorporate the Chicago Republican Company.
- Chicago Republican, 1867
View is looking west from Dearborn Street.
Chicago Evening Post, December 17, 1866
The Chicago Republican appears this morning with lengthened columns, new and larger type, and greatly improved typographical appearance. But we regret to observe that the head of the concern is reduced in size. It has long been the complaint of the public that its head was too large for the body. To contract the head still more, and inflate the body still more, is therefore a fatal mistake.
- LEFT: Masthead from Chicago Republican, December 6, 1865. Note the Editor-In-Chief was Charles A. Dana, left the Republican in 1866 and became editor and part owner of the New York Sun, who famously fought with the Chicago Tribune during the battle of the hosts for the 1893 World’s Fair.
RIGHT: Advertisement from John C. W. Bailey’s City Directory of 1867
Chicago Evening Mail, March 4, 1872
Mack On Scammon.—Mack, who left the editorial chair of the Republican when chairs became unpleasantly warm last October, and joined the editorial staff of the Missouri Democrat, thus jokes at his late bantling:
The ill-wind, which greatly helped and hastened the Chicago fire, blew good to the cause of Zion, in one respect at least. It gave to that wicked eity the priceless boon of a religious daily newspaper. The consuming flame burned the worldly-mindedness out of the Chicago Republican, by involving the proprietors of that journal in a stress of impecuniosity from which they had to take refuge in a sale, on easy terms, to the Hon. John Y. Scammon. This enabled Mr. Scammon to devote some of his energies and much of his fortune to the achievement of a purpose for which his heart had long yearned——daily newspaper in which plenty should be carefully sandwiched with politics, and the news of the day served up with an orthodox tone and a moral seasoning. None but church members were to be retained on the editorial or reportorial staff, and even those among the printers who had not sought the forgiveness of their sins were to be east into idleness. We are glad to notice that Mr.
Scammon still perseveres in his good work, and as he has the means, so we trust he will have the courage, to continue. He may not receive his reward in this world-indeed we fear he will not-but unless mansions in the skies are held at exhorbitant prices, he will soon have spent enough on the Republican to give him a title clear to a very eligible dwelling up yonder.
History of Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1885
The Chicago Republican.—Senator Alonzo W. Mack, of Kankakee, on the 16th of January, 1865, introduced in the Illinois Senate, at Springfield, a bill to incorporate a company for the publication of a newspaper in Chicago, to be called the Chicago Republican, and on the 13th of February following the bill duly became a law. It enacted that Ira Y. Munn, John V. Farwell, Joseph K. C. Forrest, J. Young Scammon, of Chicago; Jesse K. Dubois and Jacob Bunn, of Springfield; John Wood, of Quincy; J. Wilson Shaffer, of Freeport; Amos C. Babcock, of Canton; Alonzo W. Mack, of Kankakee; Francis A. Hoffman and Henry C. Childs, of DuPage County, and their associates, successors, and assigns, should be a body corporate and politic, under the name of “The Chicago Republican Company,” with a capital of $500,000. Under this act the Company was duly organized and the stock subscribed, Jacob Bunn, a Springfield banker, and Jesse K. Dubois becoming the principal stockholders. Senator Mack was appointed publisher, and Charles A. Dana editor-in-chief.
- Charles Anderson Dana was born at Hinsdale, N. H., August 8, 1S19. He received a moderate education, passing two years at Harvard College, but did not graduate. In 1842, he became a member of the famous Brook Farm community at Roxbury, Mass. The enterprise did not fulfill the expectations of its founders, and Dana withdrew in 1844. He commenced his journalistic career in writing for the Harbinger, of Boston, a weekly journal devoted to social reform and general literature. In 1847, he became connected with the New York Tribune. George Ripley, one of his associates at Brook Farm, joined the Tribune at the same time, and, together, they edited the New American Cyclopedia published by the Appletons, a work of great value, and edited with ability. For the four or five years preceding 1S61, Mr. Dana was the managing editor of the New York Tribune, but resigned in 1862, when he became assistant Secretary of War, under Edwin M Stanton. This position he occupied with distinguished ability until 1865; then he resigned, to accept the editorship of the Republican.
Alonzo W. Mack was a well-known politician from Kankakee County. He had been a member of the Legislature for many years. His life has been one of extraordinary activity, and he has gained prominence in the various careers of physician, lawyer, soldier, legislator and journalist. He was born at Moretown, Vt., in 1822. He received a common-school education, and, at the age of sixteen, came West, and settled in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, where he commenced the study of medicine. When twenty-two years of age he graduated at LaPorte, Ind., where he remained and where he married. He soon returned to Kalamazoo, and entered upon medical practice. After some years he removed to Kankakee, Ill., and was one of the early settlers of that place. In Kankakee he commenced to practice law, and entered upon his political career, becoming first a member of the lower house of the Legislature, and afterward a senator, representing Kankakee, Will and Grundy counties. In the summer of 1862, he organized the 76th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and was appointed colonel. He accompanied the regiment, and served with it until January, 1863, when he resigned to resume his seat in the Senate. After he left the Republican he commenced the practice of law in Chicago, which he continued until his death, on the 4th of January, 1871.
The first move of the new company was to purchase the Morning Post, and, on the 29th of May, 1865, the initial number of the Chicago Republican saw the light. It was a handsome sheet, in quarto form, and in its make up very similar to the New York Times. It was a bright and attractive paper; and never did journalistic craft spread its sails before the winds of popular favor under more favorable auspices. It was backed by a large capital, had experienced journalists in charge, was on the popular side in politics, spared no expense in securing the news, and yet it did not succeed. It expounded protectionism most ably, but the high-tariff Republicans clung to the low-tariff Tribune. It uttered the most advanced sentiments of the most advanced wing of its party, but the radicals took in the Tribune. In the summer of 1866, Mr. Dana sold out, and returned to New York, and Jacob Bunn became the principal owner of the paper. Van Buren Denslow, Henry M. Smith, James F. Ballantyne and George D. Williston were then employed on the Tribune They were all trained Western journalists and newspaper men. Bunn offered them stock in the newspaper. They left the Tribune. On the 6th of August, 1866, the Republican was issued under the new regime. I. Newton Higgins became general manager, representing the interest of Mr. Bunn, and Dr. Mack’s connection with the paper was severed. James W. Sheahan, who up to this time had been an editorial writer on the Republican, now left it, and joined the forces of the Tribune. Mr. Denslow continued on the paper very nearly a year as editor-in chief, when he retired, and his position was taken by James F. Ballantyne.
- James F. Ballantyne was one of the ablest journalists of this period. He was born at Glasgow, Scotland, in 1829, and at the age of nine years was apprenticed to the printing business. His education was such as the Scotch youth of his time received in the night schools and Mechanics’ Institutes then flourishing. By the time he had reached the age of twenty he had mastered his business and had acquired an excellent practical education But in his application to his trade and devotion to business he had implanted the seeds of that disease which was to cut him off in the very prime of his manhood and forbid his reaping the fruits of years of arduous labor. In 1849, he emigrated to the United States, and worked at his trade for one year in New York. There he met and married Miss Joan Erie, also a native of Glasgow. He came to Chicago in the latter part of 1850. Here, for the next seven years, he was engaged in the publishing business, for a time in connection with Daniel O’Hara; but the panic of 1857 found him unprepared for a financial storm, and the publishing business stopped. He now commenced his career oi journalism, on the Democratic Press as commercial editor, and so continued after that paper was consolidated with the Tribune. He was the first commercial editor in Chicago, and was the first to prepare the annual reviews of trade and commerce which have always been among the special features of the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Ballantyne remained on the Tribune until August, 1866, when he became commercial editor of the Republican, and the next year editor-in-chief. In this position he remained until May, 1869, when failing health compelled him to give up all work, and seek, in a trip to Europe, renewed health and strength. He returned in a few months without substantial benefit. Consumption had fatally seized him, and the few months of life remaining to him presented an unavailing struggle with the disease. In March, 1870, he went to San Diego, California, and died there July 12, 1870. He was buried in Chicago. The only public position he ever held was member of the Board of Education, from 1865 until the time of his death.
Henry M. Smith became the editor-in-chief of the Republican for a short period, and, in the fall of 1870, the Springfield capitalists becoming discouraged, the concern was sold to a new company, composed of Joseph B. McCullagh, John R. Walsh, Homer N. Hibbard and William H. Schuyler, and Messrs. Bunn and Dubois retired from journalism.
The paper was now reduced in size and sold for three cents. It was considered to be flourishing, and was undoubtedly under excellent management when the great fire swallowed it up. A worthless insurance policy and a Western Associated Press franchise were its principal assets.
Such is a brief history of the most remarkable venture in journalism ever attempted in Chicago. It had almost unlimited means, its editors and managers were men of great ability as journalists; it was in accord with a great party; it gave the news as fully as its rivals; its pages were attractive; it flourished at a period when the most insignificant newspapers made money; and yet it failed.
Story of Chicago In Connection With The Printing Busines, Regan Printing House, 1912
REPUBLICAN, 1865-1872: Established by numerous stockholders residing in Chicago and throughout the state, among whom were John V. Farwell, Joseph K. C. Forrest and J. Young Scammon, of Chicago; J. K. Dubois and Jacob Bunn, of Springfield; John Wood, of Quincy, and A. W. Mack, of Kankakee. The company bought the plant and franchise of the Morning Post, and engaged the services of Chas. A. Dana as editor. In a brief time Dana withdrew and other changes supervened. In 1870 Jacob Bunn became sole owner, later disposing of his interest to a company consisting of Joseph B. McCullaugh, John R. Walsh and others. The fire of 1871 seriously crippled the paper, and in March, 1872, J. Young Scammon took the property and renamed the paper, calling it the Inter Ocean, a sketch of which is given elsewhere.
- Chicago Republican Building
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
- After several mergers, the Republican became Chicago’s American
Leave a Reply