Bios transcribed by Kay R. & History by Jan Cortez
The Press
Oshkosh True Democrat - The first paper published in the city and the county was the Oshkosh True Democrat, issued by Messrs. Densmore & Cooley, February 2, 1849. It was a Free-Soil paper.
Oshkosh Courier - In June, 1852, J.H. McAvoy founded the Courier, a daily paper, the first printed in Oshkosh, was issued July 10, 1854. Three years thereafter, in August, the Democrat issued a daily, and they both were discontinued in December, 1857. The Courier was for a long time the leading Democratic journal of this section.
Oshkosh Northwestern - In August, 1857, Charles R. Nevitt withdrew from the Courier, which, in connection with George H. Read, he had been publishing for four years. In 1860, he associated himself with D.C. Felton and others in the publication of the Northwestern. The first number was issued May 18, the publishing firm being D.C. Felton & Co. In the meantime, under the management of Markham & Felker, in Ausgust, 1856, the politics of the Democrat had been changed from Free-Soil to Republican. On October 3, 1860, George Gary, having become its sole proprietor, sold his paper to the proprietors of the Northwestern, and a new firm was formed in its publication, consisting of C.R. Nevitt and C.F. Pike, known under the name of C.R. Nevitt & Co. In January a daily was issued and continued for seven months. This firm continued to manage the Northwestern until its consolidation with the Couried in August, 1864. The latter paper was then being conducted by Hiram Morley and B.F. Davis. Upon the consolidation of the two papers, the latter with George Gary, assumed the management, forming the firm of Gary, Morley & Davis. During the next four years several changes occured, resulting in the retirement, by 1870, of all the members of the firm. The daily edition was re-established in 1868. In October, 1870, Gen. Thomas S. Allen, of Madison, and John HIcks, who had been the local editor, formed the present partnership. In April 1873, the Oshkosh Journal, established by Rounds & Morley in 1868, was consolidated with the Northwestern, which made the third paper it has absorbed. Its office was burned in the great conflagration of April 28, 1875, but the daily Northwestern never "missed fire," being printed in Fond du Lac during the four days time that was required to obtain a new outfit. This journal is consistently Republican in politics, and wields a general influence throughout the State.
Oshkosh Times - In the fall of 1862, the Review (Democratic) was established by A.P. Swineford. Robert V. Shirley revived the paper under the name Oshkosh Democrat. His office was burned in May, 1866. Although he lost heavily the journal was started again in June and continued until the fall of 1867, when it was purchased by George Hyer and D.W. Fernandez, a vigorous and enterprising journalist, of Madison. On October 1, 1867, the first number of the Oshkosh Times was issued. On April 20, 1872, Mr. Hyer died, and in the summer S.D. Carpenter, of Madison, became associated with him. He served but a short time, Gus O'Brien being an editorial writer until the summer of 1874. After that date, Mr. Fernandez continued the publication of the Times alone until April 28, 1875, when the office was destroyed in the great fire. But with characteristic energy Mr. Fernandez soon had the office in working order again, associating with himself A.T. Glaze, who had been connected with the press of Ripon and Fond du Lac for nearly a quarter of a century. The latter continued in this connection until October, 1879, when Mr. Bright bought his interest. The Times is now published by Messrs. Fernandez & Bright, and is one of the leading weeklies of the State. It is Democratic in politics and sustains the cause with ability.
Wisconsin Telegraph (German) is a weekly Democratic journal, which has been conduted by Charles and Valentine Kohlmann since October, 1866. Its predecessors, conducted by the same firm, Kohlmann & Brother, were the Waechter am Winnebago, established in April, 1858, and a monthly magazine published from October, 1860, when the Waechter was discontinued, until the founding of the Telegraph in 1866. This is the only German paper in Oshkosh.
Oshkosh Standard - This journal was established in February, 1878, as the Greenback Standard, by Messrs. Levy & Ryckman. In October of that tear, upon a change of proprietors the name was changed to the Oshkosh Standard. Various parties associated themselves in its publication, the last firm being Morley, Karnie & Waring. After being conducted for some time by the Standard Publishing Company, the paper was removed to Milwaukee in September, 1881.
