The History of the Pilot News
per stated its political policy which read: “The political character of The Journal will be strictly neutral. A page will be devoted to each of the three political parties for the discussion of their principles, notices of meetings, proceedings of their parties, & etc. & etc., but will also contain a share of miscellaneous and instructive matter, and a general run of the busy world. The science of Agriculture, by far the most important to mankind, will receive a proper share of attention.
OK folks here is a short history lesson related to The Plymouth Journal’s news story about the election. Now the election of the next president was on the minds of most of the people back then and there were three major candidates for that office. John Tyler was the 10th president of the United States and belonged to the Whig party. He was the first Vice President to be elevated to the office of President by the death of his predecessor William Henry Harrison. Harrison died of pneumonia. Tyler didn’t make it through the primary as the major candidates for president and vice president in 1844 were: Democrat Party: - - James K Polk, (TN), for President and George M. Dallas (PA) vice-president. Whig Party - - Henry Clay (KY) for President and Theodore Frelinghuysen, vice-president. Liberty Party - - James G. Birney (KY) for president and Thomas Morris (OH) for vice-president.
James K. Polk and George M. Dallas won the presidential election that year. Polk’s margin in the Electoral College (170 votes) was substantial, but the popular vote (1,339,494) in the presidential election of November, 1844, was extremely close. Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen electoral votes were 105 and the popular vote was 1,300,004. The anti-slavery campaign of James G. Birney of the Liberty Party, with zero electoral votes and 62,103 popular votes drew away sufficient votes to deny Clay the presidency.
According to The Plymouth Journal
Marshall County’s votes for president were: Clay 0 and Polk 57.
ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advertising back then wasn’t as dramatic as today as they were like classified type advertising except they weren’t classified. For example a doctor advertised: Dr. T. A. Hill, Physician and Surgeon. Respectfully tendere his professional services to the citizens of Marshall and adjacent counties. Office in the Post Office. Plymouth Nov. 13, 1844.
I found this interesting as there was an ad by M.L. Sutphen that he “respectfully announce to the citizens of Plymouth and adjoining county that he will keep constantly on hand a supply of: Cabinet ware, bureaus, bedsteads, tables, stands, sideboards, cupboards, bookcases, writing desks, settees, chests etc.”
Here is another ad that I thought was funny: Run Here Every Body - - Slabs for sale at Fullers Mill.
Another ad for an attorney read: William G. Pomeroy, Attorney and counselor at law and solicitor in Chancery.
A notice that I found very interesting that was in the paper was one from the Plymouth Post Office. The Notice read: Letters remaining in the Post Office at Plymouth, Ind. which, if not taken out within three months, will be sent to the Post Office Department as dead letters. If you didn’t pick up your mail in 1844 here is a list of people who also didn’t: John W. Allen, Hiram Billings, Enoch S. Brewer, Henry J. Brown, Mr. - Baily, W.W. Chipman, George Dickson, Earl Taber, John or Wm. Green, Ann Grigs, J.K. Hupp, Wm.
A. Haven, Peter Hogoboom, Jacob B. Klinger, Wm. Overton, Edward M. Page, George Platts, David Ray, Samuel Shirley, Nathan Stevens, Philo H. Simons, Simon H. Sober, Melcher Stuck, Bezlaer, C. Thayer, David Vanvactor. William G. Pomeroy was a Plymouth attorney as well as the post master in 1844.
All in all, I think this first newspaper was very interesting to read as it showed the style of writing and goings on in the county and state. If you want to read for yourself the interesting articles in this first edition, I suggest you go to the Marshall County Museum and ask the ladies there about The Plymouth Journal in 1844.