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Watertown Republican
Watertown Leader
1860
02 xx Justus
Moak was editor of the Watertown Republican for three or four years
after its establishment in 1860 and had been a frequent contributor to it
columns in later years. Mr. Moak was a great friend of the newspaper men and in his
official capacity as postmaster always strived to give the newspapers any and
all information which would be of value to the public. He was a frequent contributor to the local
newspapers on other subjects as well, and was known as a vigorous writer and
one who kept well within the facts in the matter under discussion. He was at home in a newspaper office and was
always welcome. Being of a genial nature
and radiating cheerfulness, he was a man who possessed friends among all
classes. WD, 02 1913
06 21 Watertown Republican
This is the name of a new paper just established in this city by J. W.
Lawton, late of the Delevan Northron. The first
number was issued on Friday of last week and makes a very creditable
appearance. As it names indicates, it is
Republican in politics. It is edited with ability, and Mr. Lawton has
the capacity and experience requisite for making it a valuable auxiliary in the
Republican cause. If his party friends
do not give him a hearty, living support, they are undeserving of any organ for
all time to come and ought forever to be without one. Watertown should, with what aid is obtained
from other portions of the county, be not only able but willing to support two
English papers and support them well.
Our only wonder is that the Republicans have allowed themselves to be
without a press in their interest as long as they have. Watertown Democrat
People, as a general thing, make
a great mistake in withholding their support from newspapers, or at least from
those published in their own neighborhoods.
We have never yet heard of an instance where too many newspapers killed
a town, though it often happens that a town kills too many newspapers. There is nothing that does so much to build
up a place—nothing that reflects greater credit upon it—and nothing that does
more to promote its prosperity than a well conducted local sheet. It is always alive to the interests of the
town—chronicles every event of any general moment thereabouts—keeps the name of
the locality whence it is issued and its inhabitants before the public—and in
innumerable ways, week after week and year after year, through its columns,
builds up a name and reputation for the town that it otherwise would never have
acquired. And yet there are hundreds of
property holders and others in this city, as in every other of its size, who
think their home paper unworthy of their support and who never patronize it to
the extent of a single dime. They will
spend their five cents regularly every week for a copy of the New York Ledger, or some other flash paper whose
columns are full of blood and thunder tales, and which one may read eternally
and never be any the wiser or better for it.
But they cannot or will not afford the paltry sum of a dollar and a half
per annum towards the support of their home organ. It is to be hoped that sensible men will look
at this thing in a different light.
Support your local papers first, and then if you have any inclination to
do so, subscribe for any and as many other publications as you choose. WD
08 09 Letter from Portland WD
1861
02 15 Correspondents Wanted. With a view to making this an interesting
local paper and adding to its usefulness as such, we [Watertown Republican] desire to obtain in each town in the county,
one or more correspondents, who will communicate facts of interest to the
people of their town, or of the county, or indeed to the public in
general. Write us of marriages, births,
deaths, improvements, progress of settlement, in short, anything of
interest. Make your communication short
and to the point. No matter if you are
unaccustomed to “writing for the papers,” you can give us the facts, and if the
communication is not in shape for publication, we can remodel it and put it in
form. Many items of interest are
undoubtedly transpiring every day in various parts of the county that are never
heard of out of the little circle in which they occur. It is these that we desire to obtain, and we
ask as a particular favor that some friend in each town will hereafter keep us
posted in all such matters. WR
02 28 J. T. Moak, candidate
for Postmaster. The Republican millennium draws
near [Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln] —the paradise of office seekers is in
sight. The 4th of March is the Rubicon
all the lamp carriers wish to get over.
Then comes the scramble for the places in the
gift of the President. They are many,
but numerous as they are, there will be ten applicants for every office. Thousands of anxious pilgrims are already on
their way to Washington. To the
disappointed, Republicanism, with the disruption of the Union and the defeat of
fond hopes, will not seem so fine a thing as it did before election. But the victory has been won and something
must be done with it, and if it is not good to give offices to the conquerors,
what is it worth? Quite an active
canvass is going on here for Postmaster.
The most prominent candidates for the appointment are J. T. Moak, one
of the editors of the Republican,
E. W. Cole, one of the first settlers of the city, and Jacob Jussen, who represents the German element. Either of these gentlemen would make an
efficient and accommodating Postmaster.
WD
09 14 The paper on
which the present number of the Republican is printed was manufactured at the
Whitewater Paper Mill, by T. B. Grantly &
Co. It is a first rate article of
paper—white, fine, has a good surface, and the sheets appear to be even as
regards thickness. Grantly
& Co. also manufacture the best articles of book and wrapping paper. WR
1867 Justus Moak was
appointed postmaster in 1867 by President Andrew Johnson and held the office
during the succeeding administrations of Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield and
Arthur. He was relieved by President
Cleveland and reappointed by President Harrison, retiring about one year after
the commencement of President Cleveland’s second term, making his service as
postmaster cover a period of 23 years.
While postmaster Mr. Moak made the postal service a careful, practical study,
bringing it up to the dignity of a profession in Watertown,
making that office a model for neatness and accuracy. He was an excellent authority upon all
subjects pertaining to postal laws, rules and regulations. Quite a number of young men have graduated
under his tutorship and are now holding important and responsible positions in
various branches of the service, and he had a host of friends throughout the
state and nation who sincerely regret his death.
When J. T. Moak
received the appointment of postmaster, William
Voss became his deputy.
1876
08 24 We can only admire with pardonable
pride the tender solicitude constantly manifested by the Republican concerning our welfare.
Ever since we came into possession of the Democrat, it has conferred upon this paper a gratuitous amount of
puffing which we fear can never be requited, unless, perhaps, it accepts our
grateful acknowledgments which are here cheerfully extended. WD
1906 Watertown
Leader formed from Watertown
Republican
04 06 With the
current issue of this paper, which heretofore has been known as The Watertown Republican, the name is
changed to that of the Watertown Leader,
under which heading it will be published in the future. For nearly forty-six
years it was known by the name discarded and it is with considerable regret on
the part of the publishers that the change was made. It is simply and solely a
business proposition to meet conditions that made the change necessary for the
financial success of the paper. Its policy and political sentiments will
continue in the future to be the same as they have been in the past, an earnest
advocate for good government and high moral ideals in civic and social life.
The paper has been greatly improved under the present management and nothing
will be left undone to make it a mirror of the best thought in the city and
surrounding country.
Yours Respectfully,
Watertown Pub. Co. WR
1908 Daily
Leader Suspends Publication
07 17 The
Watertown Daily Leader, established
two years ago last April, suspended
publication last Friday. WG Subscriptions taken over by The Times
The
publication of The Weekly Leader
continued
11
20 Willis
Keyes, death of former employee WG
1910
09 02 51 Years Old
On Friday last The Watertown Leader entered upon the
52nd year of its existence. The Leader is a bright newsy paper, is
well edited, and deserves to be well patronized. The
Gazette wishes its neighbor continued success. WG
1915
07 30 The
Watertown Weekly Leader has ordered and will soon install a Model K
Linotype machine, which handled in the ordinary was will do the work of five
compositors, in the matter of type-setting.
1916 The Watertown Daily Leader
Another Daily for Watertown
02 25 In its weekly issue of Feb. 22, the Watertown Leader announces that the
proprietors will issue a daily paper, the first number to appear on Monday,
March 6th. The paper will be called “The Watertown Daily Leader.”
Cross references:
Emil Kehl returned to Watertown [date uncertain], first job
was with the Republican, edited by
the late Granton Norris.
Col. P H Swift, former editor, Watertown Leader, obit of
