More Writings from Wallace Peckham – Untitled

         We will never weary in learning about our ancestors, those brave men and women who have traveled the paths of the pioneers, for we are proud of the fact that in this area of our country, in the not too long ago, our fathers and mothers had an equal share in the taming and the development of our west.  To me, there could be no greater tribute paid to any pioneer, than the tribute that was paid to our grandmother and grandfather, in Grandmother Peckham’s obituary by Uncle Pete Drummond, in his own newspaper, The Enid Eagle, and I quote: “Mrs. Peckham’s life was in a large part that of a pioneer.  Her husband, ever restless and energetic, the true type of American frontiersman. - - Through the vicissitudes of such a life Mrs. Peckham remained as steadfast as her intrepid husband, and both had the satisfaction of seeing the vast west changed from the wild Indian hunting ground to a land of civilization, peace, and plenty.  She was ever a true and self-sacrificing wife and mother.”

            Uncle Pete Drummond came into the family by having married Miss Mary Ellen (Mayme) Peckham, our Aunt Mayme, in 1897.  In 1898 he came to Enid looking for a location, and went into the newspaper business, buying the Enid Weekly Sun, and The Farmers News, and I think it might be interesting to note some of the history of Enid newspapers, as far as it pertains to our own relative.  The following is quoted from his “Salutory”, which was printed in the March 31, 1898 edition of the Enid Weekly Sun: “Having purchased the Enid Sun, and the Farmers News, I have proceeded to consolidate the two papers . . .   The Enid Weekly Sun . . .  Six weeks ago the writer came here looking for a location . . .  We concluded that Enid has as good, or a little better outlook . . .  But Enid is already overcrowded with newspapers, so instead of starting a new one we bought two and will reduce the number in the town by one.”

            Pete Drummond, as an editor, was unsurpassed in his covering of the news of the city.  He was a good editorial writer, and his politics showed convictions, but he was not radical.  He had a good sense of humor as can be shown better by these two items that appeared in the Enid Weekly Sun:  “Ike Drummond of the Enid Sun knows how to make a good newspaper, and he is doing it. - - Kansas City Star. There it goes again!  Ike Drummond is not running the Enid Sun though he could improve it if he were.  Ike is responsible for the editor of the Sun, however, being one of his ancestors, the closest one.  Please don’t call us Ike any more.  Our initials are W. I., but we have always gone by the euphonius nickname of Pete.”

            “The Daily News suggests that benches be placed in the Court yard in another year or two, so that the occupants can recline in the shade.  Good idea!!  There are about enough loafers on the streets to occupy all the benches.  We offer, as an amendment, however, that the benches be placed out in the jacks and all the loafers and the bums be given free transportation to them.”

            In September of 1899, Uncle Pete Drummond acquired the Enid Eagle with which he combined the two papers and under date of September 9, 1899 published the Enid Sun-Eagle, and it was still a weekly newspaper, implying that the Enid Eagle at the time, was a weekly.  From this name, it was eventually changed to the Enid Eagle and became a daily and under this name, sometime during the years of 1900, and 1908.

            Uncle Pete Drummond appears to have sold this newspaper numerous times over the years, and buying it back when the new owners became deep in debt and discouraged.

            The Enid Daily Wave in its 1901issue stated that it was the successor to:

      The Enid Daily Enterprise, est September 16, 1893.

      The West Side Democrat, est. September 21, 1893.

      The Oklahoma Tribune, est October 15, 1893.

      The Tribune – Democrat, est. January 12, 1894.

      The Enid Democrat, est. October 19, 1893.

            In 1901, The Enid Daily Wave advertised that the Santa Fe was the only direct route to California, offering chair car, and pullman service.

            Excerpts from The Enid Daily Wave, of interest

“Wondah ef a good ole fashion coon revival an baptism would smooth the troubled watahs od dawktown.  Dere is a done gone bad niggah in de wood pile, some whar – shuah.”

            Advertisements in The Enid Daily Wave   

      Let the gold dust twins do your work – Gold Dust

      Poultry remedies – Don’t worry!  Conkey will cure you.

      Bon Ami – Hasn’t scratched yet

SALUTORY

Having purchased the Enid Sun and the Farmers News, I have proceeded to consolidate the two papers and will hereafter issue only one newspaper – The Enid Weekly Sun.

            It has long been customary for an editor in the first issue of his paper, to out-line the course the paper would pursue.  We do not deem it necessary to give our readers a long “song and dance”, explaining what sort of paper we propose to run.  Promises do not make a newspaper and the readers will judge for themselves as to its merits and demerits.  Our main object will be to publish a newspaper which will be a credit to Enid and Garfield County.  The politics of the Sun will be straight Republican, but this does not necessarily mean that the whole editorial page will be devoted to roasting men of opposite political belief, and abusing them un-necessarily.  There is no political ring around the Sun, and no combine back of it.  It is the exclusive property of the writer and we expect to make a living out of it by hoeing our own corn and treating everybody fairly.

            The Sun has no political favorites to push forward;  is under no obligations to any man, or factors of the Republican party.  All its moves in this line will be free and unhampered.

            Six weeks ago the writer came here looking for a location.  After seeing many of the best towns in the territory, we concluded that Enid had as good or a little better outlook than any of them and therefor decided to locate here.  But Enid was already overcrowded with newspapers, so instead of starting a new one we bought out two and will reduce the number in the town by one.  We were looking for a town which presented the best business facilities and possessed the best social advantages and believe that we have found it. 

            Hoping that all those who patronized the Sun under Mr. Weed, will continue to do business with the paper and that all business relations will be most pleasant, I am,

Respectfully,

W. I. Drummond

            Mr. W. I. Drummond, Uncle Pete to us, came to Enid in 1898, and purchased two pioneer papers, the Enid Sun, and The Farmers News, combining them, under issue date of March 31, 1898, as THE ENID WEEKLY SUN.

            In September of 1899, he (Uncle Pete) also purchased The Enid Eagle, and under date of September 9, 1899, he published his first issue of THE ENID SUN-EAGLE. 

            I have been unable to ascertain when and by whom the Eagle was founded, nor the date of the first publication, but in 1896, at a newspaper convention in Enid, the Eagle was represented by John A. Buckles.

            Sometime during the period of years between 1900 and 1908, Uncle Pete’s paper, THE ENID EAGLE, was changed from a weekly newspaper to a daily.  No definite date has been found, but in 1907 there appeared an article in THE ENID DAILY WAVE, published by a Mr. J. L. Isenberg, concerning possibilities by rumors that seemed to have been in his mind.  This article is quoted: “There has been much speculation and uncertainty in the newspaper field for the last two months, simply because an opening for a morning paper certainly appears here.  The Wave having occupied the evening field for thirteen years, and under the common law of newspaperdom, it is entitled to the evening field.”

            An item in the March (1898) issue of the ENID WEEKLY SUN states that there is a stream on Colorado with alum tastes so strong as to be of untold medicinal value, and states that many states are shipping the water in by the barrel, but it’s not for Enid.

            In the next weeks issue of the Sun, there appeared the following article: - “The Enid Sun ironically suggests alum water for the ladies of that city to bathe their feet in.  Be careful Drummond!  You are stepping on our sore corns.”  - Medford Patriot.  “What’s the matter with you?  Can’t you read straight?  We said that Enid did not need anything of this kind.” Came back the answer from the Enid Sun.

            An article in the Enid Weekly Sun states that: - “Last Saturday night during the night Zack Johnson, being bothered with a cough, reached for a bottle of cough medicine and took a drink.  He happened to get a hold of the wrong bottle, however, and swallowed some tooth-ache ointment .  The doc coated Zack’s raw insides with lard, tallow, etc., and he experienced no ill effects.

THE ENID WEEKLY SUN

March 2, 1898

S. M. Weed, Editor and Proprietor

THE ENID WEEKLY SUN

March 31, 1898

W. I. Drummond, Editor and Proprietor

            In the November issue of the Enid Sun: - “Shower of aerolites on November 14 and 15, 1898.  One theory is that fragments of comets that have been wrecked, in the earths atmosphere.”.

            Enids population in December of 1899, given at 21,988.

            Mr. J. L. Isenberg sold the Enid Daily Wave to Dr. M. A. Kelso, who also bought the Democrat from Mr. Moore.  The newspaper was published under the name of the Wave – Democrat.

            H. P. Crouse sold the Morning News to the Campbells, of Ohio, and the Campbells sold it later to Mr. Charles I. Stuart, of Lexington, Kentucky, and later it was purchased by Mr. Bill Taylor.

            W. I. Drummond sold the eagle several times, and bought back when the new owners became so deep in debt or discouraged. 

            Mr. W. I. Drummond purchased the Enid Weekly Sun, and The Farmers News in March of 1898, and took over the publications, with the issue of March 31, 1898.

            In September of 1899, he also acquired the Enid Eagle, and published his first edition September 9, 1899, of the Enid Sun – Eagle.  From this bit of information it is my personal opinion that The Eagle was a weekly from its origination.

            This article appeared in the summer of 1899, and is, Rev. A. L. Drummond of Smith Center, and Miss Mary Drummond of Ashland, Kansas, brother and sister of the Sun man are visiting in Enid.”

            First mention of the Eagle, found, in 1896 when it was represented by John A. Buckles.

            North Enid was represented by a newspaper, “North Enid Weekly Tribune”.  Both towns claimed the name Enid.  The railroad recognized North Enid, and had their stopping place there.  The other was spoken of as South Town, although the citizens of the south town insisted there was no such place.

            South Town won the County Seat, but the North Enid Weekly Tribune stated that they got it unlawfully.

            The heading of the Enid Daily Wave, published and edited by Mr. J. L. Isenberg proudly defined it as, “It Waves, Surges, roars, and resounds, only to come back again with greater force for Enid, O County, Oklahoma Territory, and Democracy.”

            The Enid Daily Wave delivered to any part of the city for 15¢ per week.  It was an evening paper.

            How would it do to plant the square in horse-radish, there is horse – everything else on every square inch of the ground.

            The Medford Patriot insists on sending their paper to us addressed to South Enid.  There is no such post office.

            Tramp printers – good workers – but heavy drinkers – could hang your hat on their breath.  You never knew when they would ask for their time – or get fired – there were more walked off the job than got fired.  The owner of the paper seldom worked in the back room setting type, unless short handed, and in order to get the paper out on time.

            In the early days, Pond Creek and Enid were the only two towns along the Rock Island that did not rate a depot, and the trains whizzed through the two towns without even slowing down, and both gave the railroad plenty of trouble, but that is all it seemed to amount to.  On one occasion when a freight train was wrecked at Pond Creek, several of the suspected leaders were rounded up and taken to Federal Court at Kingfisher.  As the train sped through Enid, a Mr. Mahr, editor of the Pond Creek Voice tied a note to a stone and threw it out the window, addressed to Mr. Isenberg, who published The Wave: -“Isenberg, your turn next.  This is my first railroad pass.  Justice be-gosh!  The United States Constitution is gone”.  Two days later the prisoners were returned home.

            H. P Crouse, the editor of the Morning News was an extremely affable man, and so fat he couldn’t see his shoes.

            Mr. Isenberg of the Enid Daily Wave was quick witted and hot tempered character and usually put in his paper what he was thinking, and for this shortcoming, he is reported to have been run out of town several times as he trampled on others toes, as it were.  But he would always be back in a few days with an air as though nothing had happened being very polite and friendly.

            The Eagle was an evening paper, with a Sunday morning edition and covered the news of Enid more than any other paper.  Mr. W. I. Drummond was the publisher, and he would trim an AP report from Washington in order to bring a local news story of H. H. Champlins Refinery, or Dr. Hellums picnic grounds.

            It was September 1894 that the trains finally began to stop in Enid, and the war between Enid and the railroad was over.

            In 1896 it was stated by the Enid Daily Wave that “there is one horse for every five inhabitants.  Use of bicycles, tandems, and tricycles increases by 500,000 yearly.  The horse must go.

            “O” County, in 1893, was Garfield County in 1896.  Dewy County was still “D” County in 1896.

            Enid Eagle in 1896 was represented by John A. Buckles.

            From the Enid Daily Wave:-  January 12, 1907.  “There has been much speculation and uncertainty in the newspaper field for the last two months simply because an opening for a morning paper certainly appears here.  The Wave having occupied the evening field for thirteen years, and under the common law of newspaperdom, it is entitled to the evening field.  As the Eagle has already announced that it will occupy the morning field, the Wave is willing to continue the burden of furnishing the evening news as near as we have been able to get the sense of the people in these premises, they are very willing to stand by the two oldest papers in the city, the Wave, and the Eagle, provided that both papers keep pace with the growth of the city.  However, under any circumstances, the Wave will continue its course regardless of comers and goers.”

            “They were building the street railways in 1907, using the old track and materials from the Chicago Worlds Fair.”

            “The depth of mire on 12^th Street is not known.  The bottom has not been touched.”

            “No, Henry, that ground-hog is neither snow-blind nor snow-bound.  His disinclination to come forth is probably due to his fear of assassination at the hands of jealous weather proghosticators.”

            In the summer of 1908 there was a map of the Enid trade territory showing two new proposed railroads to the west from Enid which were the A. V. & W. Railroad, running north of the towns of Meno, Cleo, through Helena and west through the Oklahoma panhandle, and also the Enid, San Diego, and Pacific, which ran through the town of Concord, a few miles northwest of Drummond, to Isabella, Barnes, and McNeal, and on through the Texas panhandle.  Another railroad, the Oklahoma, Roswell, and White Mountain was on paper and in the planning stage, and which never materialized.

            “As the Enid Daily Eagle has already announced that it will occupy the morning field, the Wave is willing to continue the burden of furnishing the evening news . . .  the people . . .  are willing to stand by the two oldest papers of the city, the Wave and the Eagle, provided that both papers keep pace with the growth of the city.  However, under any circumstances, the Wave will continue its course regardless of comers and goers.”

            But from all indications the evidence points to the fact that Uncle Pete’s paper did not go in that direction.  The Eagle was an evening newspaper, and never was a morning paper, though eventually he did add a Sunday morning paper.  It was only a few months later that Mr. Isenberg sold the Enid Daily Wave.

            W. I. (Uncle Pete) Drummond was a newspaper man of rare ability.  He covered Enid thoroughly with interesting news and comment and often attracted further comment, and stabbing from other newspapers.

            An article on the editorial page of the Enid Weekly Sun, stated that: “There is a stream in Colorado with alum taste so strong that it is said to be of untold medicinal value, and that many states are shipping the water in by the barrel.  But this is not for Enid.”

            In the next week’s issue of the Sun, there appeared the following article: “The Enid Sun ironically suggests alum water for the ladies of that city to bathe their feet in.  Be careful Drummond!  You are stepping on our sore corns!!”  Medford Patriot.

            “What’s the matter with you?  Can’t you read straight?  We said that Enid did not need anything of this kind.”  He always had a ready answer, and some additional comment of his own when outside newspapers borrowed his articles.

            In the summer of 1899, in the Enid Weekly Sun, there appeared this article: “Ike Drummond of the Enid Sun, knows how to make a good newspaper and is doing it.” Kansas City Star.

            “There it goes again!  Ike Drummond is not running the Enid Sun, though he could improve it if he were.  Ike is responsible for the editor of the Sun, however, being one of his ancestors – the closest one.  Please don’t call us Ike any more.  Our initials are W. I., but we have always gone by the euphonius name of Pete.”

            Uncle Pete had a sense of humor that was lively and catching.  An article commented: “The Daily News suggests that benches be placed in the Court yard in another year or two, so that the occupants can recline in the shade.  Good idea!!  There are about enough loafers on the streets to fill all the benches.  We offer, as an amendment, however, that the benches be placed out in the jacks, and the loafers and the bums be given free transportation to them.”

            In the spring of 1899, there appeared a newsy article in the Enid Weekly Sun: “Last Saturday night during the night, Zack Johnson being bothered with a cough, reached for a bottle of cough medicine, and took a drink.  He happened to get a hold of the wrong bottle, however, and swallowed some tooth-ache ointment.  The doc coated Zack’s raw insides with lard, tallow, etc., and he experienced no ill effects.”

            As an editorial writer, W. I. (Pete) Drummond was unexcelled.  He was a straight thinker.  In their obituaries, Uncle Pete paid our grandfather and our grandmother, the greatest tribute that could be given to pioneer citizens, part of which is quoted: - “Mrs. Peckham’s life was in a large part that of a pioneer.  Her husband ever restless and energetic was a true type of American frontiersman . . .  and more than one bloody chapter was added to frontier history by Indians after the family located on the claim near Ness City, Kansas, at which place he was one of the first to homestead.  The house built by Mr. Peckham was a massive stone structure and on several occasions was used as a fortress by the people of the neighborhood.  Through the vicissitudes of such a pioneer life, Mrs. Peckham remained as steadfast as her intrepid husband, and both had the satisfaction of seeing the vast west changed from a wild Indian hunting ground to a land of civilization, of peace and plenty.  She was ever a true and self-sacrificing mother.”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The following was submitted by Genevieve (Peckham) Phillips, daughter of Harrison Peckham II.

COPY OF A PAPER – WRITTEN BY MY FATHER

HARRISON PECKHAM II

RICHLAND SPRINGS – NEW YORK

December 31, 1922

                This is an attempt to trace my blood relatives so far as I am able to do so, with such assistance as I am able to procure.  This being my 52^nd birthday, perhaps no time in my life have I been better qualified to do this, than now.

                I have been informed by good authority that in the year 1638, there came from Peckham Rye, England, two brothers, to America.  Landing in a village in New England located very close to the state line between the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island.  I think the name is Waverly, Connecticut.  The one brother was never married.  To the other is credited all the Peckhams in America, for it never has been recorded that there were others.  To Sir John Peckham , after having been in this country for seven years, was his son, John 2^nd, born in 1645.  Sir John 1^st died in 1681.  John 2^nd died in 1712, leaving a son, Thomas, born in 1671, and who died in 1755, he leaving a son, Donald, born 1688, died 1780.  It is reported by good authority that the 3^rd and 4^th, respectively, are Thomas and Donald, and not John’s.  John, or Donald, the 4^th, left a son, Abel, the 5^th, born 1731, and died in 1825, leaving a son, Joshua, born 1770 in the state of Connecticut, who died at Grafton, New York in1851.

                Joshua 6^th, was married in Connecticut, and while there had two sons, Abel, born 1798, died 1864, and Stephen, born ?, died ?, that after these two sons were born, their mother died, and Joshua 6^th married his 2^nd wife, moving to Grafton, New York, then a wilderness, renting a plot of land, or farm from the Von Rennssaleurs as was the custom in those days.  He built a log hut for his family and it was there in this home that my grandfather, Harrison Peckham 1^st, was born on July 8, 1818, died North Pownal, Vermont, January 1910.  Harrison Peckham 1^st was the 7^th generation of the American Peckham’s.  On or about the year 1836 he married Tamsen Verien at North Pownal, Vermont where he lived the rest of his life being known throughout this locality by scores of neighbors as “Uncle Harrison”.  His wife Tamsen, was born 1820, and died 1882, leaving him six sons and one daughter, namely: Joseph, Joshua, Jedediah, who died in his teens, Susan Ambrose, George, Frank, and Fred.

                I am of Joshua, 8^th generation, who married Mary Lewis, Paris, Monroe County, Missouri.  Joshua 8^th was born May 7, 1840 and died August 30, 1911.  Mary, my mother, was born in Shropshire, England on November 14, 1846 and died at North Pownal, Vermont January 26, 1912.

                I, of the 9^th generation, was born December 31, 1870.

                s/      Harrison Peckham II