Newspaper Publisher. He was the owner and publisher of Seattle's "Daily Intelligencer." Born in New York state, he learned his early skills as a printer before deciding on a career in law. He was admitted to the New York Bar Association in 1850 at the age of 23. Shortly thereafter he traveled to San Joaquin County, California where he obtained work as an editorial writer, before moving to Sacramento where he opened a law office. In 1869 he traveled to the frontier settlement of Seattle with the intent of opening a legal practice, but joined the editorial management staff of the "Weekly Intelligencer" and "Tri-Weekly Intelligencer" newspapers. Both newspapers had originally began circulation under the banner of the "Seattle Gazette" newspaper, which had begun publication starting in 1863. In 1874 he purchased the newspaper holdings from his brother-in-law Samuel L. Maxwell for three thousand dollars. Under his ownership, he made substantial improvements to the paper, installing a new printing press, increasing revenues from advertising dollars, while hiring additional staff to meet the region's growing readership. In June 1876 he began operation of Seattle's first daily newspaper, the "Daily Intelligecer," becoming the largest selling newspaper in the Washington Territory. He sold the "Daily Intelligencer" after four years of operation for eight thousand dollars in 1878. In 1881 his former newspaper merged with the rival "Seattle Post" newspaper, eventually becoming the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer." In March 2009, the "Seattle Post-Intelligecer" ceased operation after 146 years in print, becoming a digital web only Internet newspaper.
Newspaper Publisher. He was the owner and publisher of Seattle's "Daily Intelligencer." Born in New York state, he learned his early skills as a printer before deciding on a career in law. He was admitted to the New York Bar Association in 1850 at the age of 23. Shortly thereafter he traveled to San Joaquin County, California where he obtained work as an editorial writer, before moving to Sacramento where he opened a law office. In 1869 he traveled to the frontier settlement of Seattle with the intent of opening a legal practice, but joined the editorial management staff of the "Weekly Intelligencer" and "Tri-Weekly Intelligencer" newspapers. Both newspapers had originally began circulation under the banner of the "Seattle Gazette" newspaper, which had begun publication starting in 1863. In 1874 he purchased the newspaper holdings from his brother-in-law Samuel L. Maxwell for three thousand dollars. Under his ownership, he made substantial improvements to the paper, installing a new printing press, increasing revenues from advertising dollars, while hiring additional staff to meet the region's growing readership. In June 1876 he began operation of Seattle's first daily newspaper, the "Daily Intelligecer," becoming the largest selling newspaper in the Washington Territory. He sold the "Daily Intelligencer" after four years of operation for eight thousand dollars in 1878. In 1881 his former newspaper merged with the rival "Seattle Post" newspaper, eventually becoming the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer." In March 2009, the "Seattle Post-Intelligecer" ceased operation after 146 years in print, becoming a digital web only Internet newspaper.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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