Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1884 — WILBUR F. STOREY. [ARTICLE]

WILBUR F. STOREY.

Biographical Sketch of the Deceased Proprietor of the Tiroes* A Life of Great Ambitions, Arduous Labors, and Brilliant Successes. Wilbur F. Storey, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Times, died at his residence on Prairie avenue, in that city, on the 27th of October. His death was not unexpected, as it hid become generally known that his physical system was seriously impaired and his mind shattered. For some time before his death his mind was entirely powerless and inactive, and the only evidence of life remaining was shown in respiration and by his pulse, both of which were faint. His passing away was painless.,. Wilbur F. Storey was one pf the best and most widely known residents of Chicago. His reputation as a journalist rankftl among the foremost. When in his vigor he was radical and aggressive, and at the same time comprehensive and well poised. These qualities were reflected in the great newspaper which he edited so ably and successfully for so many years. He had qualities which drew to him many strong and faithful friends, and attlie'same time made him bitter enemies. His influence, and that of the Times, when he was actively at its head and shaped and enforoed its policy, were very great. But few, if any, journalists in this country have wielded a wider or more potent influence. From the Chicago Daily News we glean the following biographical sketch of the deceased journalist: Mr. Storey was born Dec. 19,1819, in Salisbury, Vt. His family was of the same stock as that of the celebrated jurist. He.passed the first ten years of his lire on his father’s farm, attending a country school in the winter only. When he was 12 years old, his father having moved to Middlebury, he entered the olfice of the Middlebury Fress Press, to learn the printing business. He remained there until he was 17, with the exception of one winter, during which he attended school. At 17 he had saved sl7, and with this small amount, added to $lO which his mother gave him, he went to New York to begin life for himself. As a youth he was said to be quiet, retiring, and industrious, and rather averse to society. In New York he worked as a compositor on the Journal of Commerce for a year and a half and then came ' West to LaPorte, Ind., where he established a Democratic paper, he undertaking the mechanical part of its management and the celebrated Ned Hannegan afterward United States Senator, being editor. This enterprise did not succeed, and Mr. Story purchased a drug store. Failing in this, also, he established a Democratic paper in Mishawaka called the Tocsin. After editing it a year and a half he went to Jackson, Mich., and studied law for two years. At the end of that time he started the Jackson Patriot, and conducted it with such ability that he pushed to the wall the Democratic paper already in existence there. After editing the Patriot a year and a half, he was appointed Postmaster by President Polk and held the office until deposed by President Taylor. Having sold his paper when he became Postmaster, he was again without an occupation. Soon he went again into the drug business, and dealt also in groceries, books, and stationery. While in Jackson he took an active part in politics, and in 1850 was elected a member of the constitutional convention of Michigan by a large majority over Austin Blair. Having an opporUmity to acquire an interest in the Detroit Free Press he availed himself of it, and in 1853 removed to Detroit. Before long he became half owner and subsequently sole owner of the paper. When he went to Detroit the Free Press was a feeble organ with almost no circulation or influence. In eight years Mr.Storey paid for the entire concern, saved about $30,000 and made the paper the most able, prosperous, and influential Democratic organ in the West. For the first six years Mr. Storey did all the editorial work on the paper and during the next two years had but a single assistant. He was always the first to reach the office in the morning and the last to leave it at night. His remarkable success was duo not alone to his ability as a journalist, intellectually speaking, but to untiring industry. It was not unusual for Mr. Storey to remain at his office until the paper went to press, at 4 o’clock in the morning, and then to return at 8 o’clock to resume his labor. In 1861 Mr. Storey realized that he had built up the Free Press to tlie limit of prosperity which its field permitted, and his ambition urged him to something of larger scope and dimensions. After hesitation between Chicago and several other cities, he decided to come to this growing commercial center of the West. At—that time, , the Chisag o Times had deteriorated from being the influential organ of Stephen A. Douglas to a paper of almost no influence or standing, and with a circulation less than 1,200. Mr. Storey bought the paper and at once began the work of making it the influential journal it subsequently became. He practiced the same industry and wonderful application, and exerted the same remarkable journalistic ability by the exercise of which he had gained success in Detroit. The rebellion bad just begun and the time was one of great political excitement. Mr. Storey sent out numerous special < orresgondents with the different armies, used the telegraph most liberally, and the Times had always the freshest-war news, often outstripping its contemporaries in the completeness and accuracy of its accounts of battles and operations at the front. The attitude which the paper took editorially during the exciting times of the rebellion was such as to givo tho paper an enormous circulation. Mr. Storey was accounted a rank copperhead and ardent rebel sympathizer, and shaped the policy of his paper accordingly. Numerous threats against his life were made by exasperated Unionists, and once the Times was suppressed for a few days by military order. Whatever else may be said of the course of the Trines at that time, it certainly was such as was best calculated to increase its reputation and circulation. The paper grew verv rapidly into one of the greatest journals erf ’tho West, and Mr. Storey was obliged again and again to increase its publishing facilities. The financial success of the paper was great, and Mr. Storey, as was often said, had more money than he knew what to do with. In 1567 the Times building on Dearborn street was built by Mr. Storey. This was burned in the great fire of 1871, after which Mr. Storey built the existing 27m es building at the corner of Fifth avenue and Washington street. For the past six or seven years Mr. Storey has done but comparatively little in the matter of editing the 'l imes. The strain of hard ’’work and close application began to tell upon his system, and he was obliged to relax his labor.. In the spring of 1881 he took a European trip in hopes of regaining his health. AVhile abroad he suffered a paralytic stroke, and was almost immediately brought home. He grew better, and undertook to do editorial work again. It was apparent, however, that the vigor of his mind was gone. Subsequently he spent periods of greater or less length at Green Lake, Wis., Hot Springs, and other health resorts. During last winter lie was in Philadelphia undergoing medical treatment. From there he returned last spring in a partially demented and physically weak condition. It has been more than two years since he did any editorial work on the Times, and since his return from Philadelphia he has not been at the office. One of the strange ambitions of Mr. Storey's declining years was to erect for himself a magnificent residence, of proportions and elegance so great as to entitle it to be called a palace. As is well known, he entered upon this undertaking some years ago, and the mammoth white marble edifice, still unfinished, though having ;aten up hundreds of thousands of dollars in s construction, remains down on A’incennes - iv nue to testify to his strange desire. In personal appearance Mr. Storey was tall and always neatly attired. His hair was abundant and snowy white. His forehead was high and his hazel eyes clear and bright. As a journalist Mr. Storev had a clear, concise, and very forcible style. He was more of a poragraphist than essayist. In his editorials he often repeated the prominent idea again and again, each time with verbiage so foroible yet different that the effect was like that of the repeated blows ot a battering ram, as many who have felt the force of them can testify. Even his enemies, and they were many, attest to his remarkable ability as a journalist.

It is said that gold and silver mines changed hands over the result of the Owens-Murphv prize-fight at Butte City. They do things in a large way out in Montana. Washington McLean has given up his comfortable residence in Cincinnati to his son and his bride. The old gentleman will make Washington his future home. It has been proposed to furnish the railroads with grain cars built entirely of steel. It is said that more groin can be carried with less wear and tear. One of the daughters of Henry WadsworthXongfellow is engaged to be married to Mr. .Thorpe, brother of Mrs. Ole Bull. The Metropolitan Railroad in London runs 1,21 i trains a dav.