Friday, January 9, 2009

Leonard married Lucy Marcy on 31 Mar 1833 in Holland, Hampden, Massachusetts.33 (Lucy Marcy was born on 1 May 1814 in Holland, Hampden, Massachusetts 33 and died on 2 May 1842 in Wales, Hampden, Massachusetts 33.)
Leonard also married Mercy Wood Bigelow, daughter of Daniel Bigelow and Mercy Wood, on 29 Nov 1842.33 (Mercy Wood Bigelow was born on 21 Nov 1812 in Chester, Hampden, Massachusetts 33.)

Mercy Wood 6 BIGELOW
14265.9 Mercy Wood 6 BIGELOW, daughter of Daniel 5 ( Joseph 4 , Daniel 3, Daniel 2, John1) and Mercy ( WOOD) BIGELOW , was born 21 November 1812 at Chester, Hampden co, MA. She married 29 November 1842 Leonard B. Wight, who was born 30 August 1811 at Wales, MA. He died 04 April 1884, place not stated. They had lived at Wales MA until his death. She then lived in Washington, DC, with their only son and was living in 1887.
Only child of Leonard B. and Mercy W. (Bigelow) Wight:
14265.91 Eugene Barton Wight, b 06 Dec 1843; d _____ ; m 29 Dec 1875 Mary D. Clapp; he was a lawyer in DC
Sources: Bigelow Family Genealogy Volume. I page 99; Howe, Bigelow Family of America; vital records Spencer & Chester, MA.
[http://bigelowsociety.com/rod/mer62659.htm]







For a short time in 1868 Mark Twain served as a correspondent for the Chicago Republican newspaper.
E. B. Wight was correspondent for the Chicago Republican around this time and into the ‘70’s.
The Republican was incorporated May 30, 1865, and majority owned by Jacob Bunn, a sugar baron, and one of Lincoln’s major promotors and then reorganized as the Inter-Ocean, March 1872 after having its plant burned in the Great Chicago Fire (Where E. B. Wight faced huge losses.) It was formed because of dissatisfaction with the Tribune.


[Jacob Bunn: Legacy Of An Illinois Industrial Pioneer
By Andrew Taylor Call
This is a remarkable account of the rise of the Bunn business empire in Illinois long before the Robber Barons of the Gilded Age, that provides a balanced and intriguing account of business ethics and integrity. Bunns patronage of Abraham Lincoln establishes an unknown connection between politics and business money in Lincoln's career, but represents a moderate, even compassionate, political model that 30 years later during the career of Mark Hanna seemed quaint by comparison. This book offers a new look at the connections between business and political power that, in these troubled days of Enron-like scandals, ought to be widely read, and more widely practiced. Dr. Kurt A. Hohenstein, Esq., Professor, Hampden-Sydney College Andrew T. Call presents a thorough, scholarly and engaging biographical business study of the career of Jacob Bunn, a remarkable man endowed with enormous entrepreneurial and organizational talents, high integrity, compassion for his community and commitment to excellence. The amount of solid research collected, evaluated and discussed in this book is very impressive. This treatise is more than a tale of a businessman and his business ventures; it is a description of the American ideal. Fredric J. Friedberg, Esq., Author of The Illinois Watch: The Life and Times of a Great American Watch Company, Schiffer Publishing, 2004, and Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.
P. about 127 to 130+
[http://books.google.com/books?id=Fy4SffeXmu0C&dq=%22the+chicago+republican%22&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0]

HISTORY OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM BY JAMES MELVIN LEE Director of the Department of Journalism New York University WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY «be ttiterrfiOe prcsd Cambribot 1917 COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY JAMES MELVIN LEE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:
[Can be downloaded from Google books]
DEATH OF DANA Charles Anderson Dana, so long editor of The New York Sun, died on October 17, 1897. The paper which he had guided for nearly thirty years told of the occurrence in these two lines: — Charles Anderson Dana, editor of The Sun, died yesterday afternoon. There were no inverted column rules, there was no long article in praise of the deceased editor. The announcement in fact was typical of the editor whose death it recorded. For a short time after his death, The Sun was edited by his son, Paul Dana. Later, E. P. — initials which in The Sun office stand for Editorial Page — Mitchell became its editor. Mention has already been made how, in the handling of news, Dana wielded a tremendous influence, for he made The Sun a sort of school of journalism in which he trained bright young college men who had the itch, or, to use a more academic word, the urge to write. Dana saw no reason why the news column should not be as well written as any piece of literature, for to him reporting was an art. He also insisted that the headlines of the newspaper should have some sort of literary form, so that The Sun in time shone not only with a literary finish in its news columns, but also in its still larger rays in the headlines. Dana liked to quote Dickens as being a great police-court reporter; and pointed to the Bible as a place where stories were boiled down, the story of the Crucifixion, for example, being told in six hundred words. The making of a newspaper in all its phases required, so he asserted, the skill of an artist in every department, and when he came to put into a book his ideals about the editing and publishing of a paper, he called it "The Art of Newspaper Making." CHANGES IN CHICAGO The Herald has been unusually popular as a name for a newspaper. On March 11, 1881, The Herald appeared in Chicago. It had obtained the Associated Press franchise of The Telegraph, an old organ of the Greenback-Labor Party, and had no connection with two other papers of the same name which had been established in Chicago. Under James W. Scott, one of the chief owners of the United Press, the paper was Democratic, but when The Herald passed into the control of H. H. Kohlsaat one year before the historic campaign of 1896, it became a Republican paper. The Record later united with The Herald which was started almost at the same time. It first appeared on March 31, 1881, as the morning edition of The Chicago Daily News and was known as The Morning News until January 11, 1892, when it became The Record. In March, 1901, Frank B. Noyes, who had been associated with his father on The Washington Star, became the publisher on the 28th of that month of the united papers known as The RecordrHerald, the name under which it was published until May, 1914, when James Keeley, in consolidating The Record-Herald and The Interocean, called the new enterprise simply The Herald. The Interocean, started in 1872 as the political organ of the "Stalwart" Ring of the Republican Party of the West, was built upon the ruins of The Chicago Republican once edited by Charles Anderson Dana. The Chicago Daily News, a one- cent evening paper which first appeared on December 20, 1875, was started by Melville E. Stone with a capital stock of something like five hundred dollars and with its entire plant purchased on time. Within eighteen months it purchased The Chicago Post and Mail and in this way secured an Associated Press franchise. From the beginning The Daily News aimed to make the first page worth the price of the paper. It was one of the first papers to believe that women readers were more valuable than men. It published mystery stories and offered cash prizes to women readers for the best solution of the mystery. The City Press Association of Chicago was founded about 1885. At that time the Chicago newspapers paid a great deal of attention to suburban news, printing a page or two of personals or small society happenings in the Chicago suburbs. Minor weddings and club functions in Chicago were also given much space. J. T. Sutor conceived the idea of covering these events in a syndicate way for the Chicago papers. Sutor started with two men to help him. The work was acceptable to the papers and the organization, as time passed, gradually took over more and more territory for the newspapers. Various reorganizations and changes in management have occurred since then and the news-gathering organization, now known as the City News Bureau of Chicago, employs over fifty men, serves all the English papers, and covers all avenues of news in Cook County with the exception of finance, labor, and politics.

_________________________________________________________________________
Chicago Evening Mail, 1870–1875 (became Post & Mail)
Chicago Evening Post, 1865–1875 (became Post & Mail)
Chicago Evening Press & Mail, 1884–1897




\The Washington Post, Wednesday, January 29, 1896, pg. 12Will of the Late E. B. Wight.The will of the late Eugene Barton Wight, dated September 3, 1891, was filed yesterday. It bequeaths all the testators property to his wife, Mary Dennie Wight, and she is named as executrix. The paper is witnessed by W. A. Day, Fred Perry Powers, W. P. Montague, and K. R. Hampton.






DC-OBITS-L Archives
Archiver > DC-OBITS > 2004-04 > 1081883132
From: Jamie Perez < href="mailto:jamiemac@flash.net">jamiemac@flash.net
> Subject: The Washington Post, January 10, 1896 - WIGHT OBIT Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 12:05:50 -0700 (PDT)
The Washington Post, January 10, 1896, pg. 3MR. E. B. WIGHTS DEATHOne of the Best Known Newspaper Men of Washington.HIS CAREER AS A CORRESPONDENTFor a Quarter of a Century He Had Represented Leading Newspapers at the Capital, and Was One of the Leaders as Well as Veterans of the Correspondents Corps His Comrades of the Press Gallery and Gridiron Club to Attend the Funeral.The death of E. B. Wight, a veteran in the ranks of Washington newspaper correspondents, which occurred early yesterday morning at his residence, 1803 Nineteenth street, caused sincere grief to his many intimate friends and regret to many others who knew him chiefly as an able writer and public spirited citizen.Mr. Wight had been in poor health for some months. He consulted a physician in Boston last summer, and was informed that his malady was angina pectoris, which might terminate fatally at almost any time. He then determined to allow himself a little more relaxation from his work, and about the time Congress convened he arranged with Mr. O. P. Austin to assist him. Since the opening session Mr. Wight has not visited the Capitol, though he was at his desk in his office every day until last Saturday, when his condition became such that he was obliged to remain at home. He suffered considerably and was unable to lie down. He spent most of his time in an easy chair, and there he died at 6:30 yesterday morning. Mr. Wight leaves a widow and two sons, the elder about seventeen years old.Funeral services will be held at his late residence at noon to-day. The remains will be sent to Boston for interment at 3 oclock, accompanied by Mr. L. U. Paynter, who was an intimate friend of Mr. Wight.Action of His Associates.The press correspondents met in the Senate gallery yesterday afternoon, E. G. Dunnell presiding, and appointed the following committee to draft suitable resolutions to be forwarded to the family: John M. Carson, William E. Curtis, O. O. Stealey, John P. Miller, and William C. McBride.There was also a largely attended meeting last evening of the Gridiron Club, for the purpose of taking suitable action. Mr. E. G. Dunnell introduced the following resolutions, which were adopted unanimously:Mr. President: I ask that the following minute be entered upon the records of the Gridiron Club and that an engrossed copy be sent to Mrs. E. B. Wight:The death of our friend and companion, Eugene Barton Wight. Is a personal bereavement to us all. He was one of the founders and charter members of the Gridiron Club, and from its inception has been among its most useful and honored members. Whether as a patient and earnest worker in its ranks, or as an officer, always reluctant to accept recognition of his worth, he compelled the respect and warm esteem of his associates. As a journalist he early took and steadily maintained a high position in this community. For nearly thirty years he exhibited the characteristics of the high-minded, generous, and courteous gentleman. He brought to the exercise of his profession in Washington a well-trained and well-filled mind, a keen sense of honor, of personal integrity, and a gentleness of manner which intensifies his loss to those whose privilege it was to know him and to respect him. Whether in his relations to his fellow-journalists, or his connection with those outside the pr!ofession,his sterling manhood and ability, joined to an indefatigable industry and a pride in the performance of duty, made friends of acquaintances and enforced confidence and esteem.The Gridiron Club, to the institution and success of which he gave much of his time and solicitude, and in the furtherance of the aims, of which he was always a devoted worker, hereby places on record the expression of its deep sorrow at his loss and its affectionate sympathy with his family in their bereavement.A committee was also appointed to accompany the remains from the house to the railway station, consisting of President W. E. Annin, S. E. Johnson, O. O. Stealey, P. V. De Graw, E. G. Dunnell, F. A. G. Handy, Alfred Stofer, and George H. Walker. The club also decided to be present at the funeral services in a body. At the request of Mrs. Wight the Gridiron Quartet consisting of Herndon Morsell, Alex. Mosher, J. Henry Kaiser, and W. D. Hoover, will sing at the funeral.His Career as a Correspondent.Mr. Wights career as a correspondent was a brilliant one. For twenty-five years he represented leading daily newspapers at the Capital, the most important in recent years being the Chicago Inter Ocean. He was born in Wales, Mass., December 6, 1843, and at an early age went with his parents to Illinois, where they lived near Chicago. After acquiring an education at the University of Chicago, he spent some years in Germany, becoming a thorough master of the language, which was afterward of great use to him. He was afterward connected for some time with a law firm of which Attorney General Harmon was a member.He came to this city about 1870, and accepted a position in the New York Times bureau. Three years later he became Washington correspondent of a paper which was started in New York in the interests of Gen. Grant. He next became Ben Perley Poores assistant on the Boston Journal, and later succeeded the brother of Editor Medill, as head of the Chicago Tribune bureau. He occupied this position for nearly twenty years, retaining, however, his connection with the Boston Journal. He married a daughter of Mr. Clapp, who was editor and controlling owner of the latter paper.Several years ago he accepted the position of Washington correspondent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean, and represented both the Inter-Ocean and the Boston Journal at the time of his death.His Collection of Press Clippings.He was a tireless worker, and devoted a great deal of time to study and affairs outside of the regular run of his profession. One of his most valuable achievements was the collection of an enormous mass of newspaper clippings on important and interesting subjects. Added to his own collection, the accumulation of thirty years, was the collection made by the late Mr. Kingman, which was purchased by Mr. Wight. The collection has been kept complete up to day, and as he had prepared a comprehensive card index this vast fund of useful information is easily accessible, and makes a record of almost priceless value. Mr. Wight was also a photographer of considerable ability, his efforts in this line rivaling those of any professional.Transcribed by: Jamie M. Perez
DisplayMail('flash.net','jamiemac');
jamiemac@flash.net Trying to confirm or refute that CORNELIUS McLEAN SR. (circa 1774-Sep. 12, 1836) of Washington, D.C., was the uncle of WILLIAM McLEAN CRIPPS (1799-1876) of Washington, D.C, and, furthermore, that Cornelius was born in Staten Island, NY.
___________________________________________________________________

Gridiron Club
3/26/2008

From:
Cheryl Arvidson [carvidson@cox.net] [Historian of Gridiron Club]

Poore was the first president of the club; E.B. Wight was the eighth president of the club. The Gridiron was founded in 1885.

CRA
From: Theodore Wight [mailto:tmwight@att.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:31 PMTo: 'Cheryl Arvidson'Subject: RE: Letter from Theodore M. Wight

Thank you. As I understand it, E. B. Wight succeeded Ben Perley Poore at the Journal. I will use your information. Ted Wight

From: Cheryl Arvidson [mailto:carvidson@cox.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:08 AMTo: 'The Gridiron Club'; tmwight@att.netSubject: RE: Letter from Theodore M. Wight

Dear Mr. Wight:

As Susan Hahn told you, there are no early records of The Gridiron Club in the office, but you could try some reference books to get a sense of The Gridiron’s early days. One is “Gridiron Nights” by Arthur Wallace Dunn, and another is “Forty Eight Gridiron Years” by Ernest George Walker. Another one of the Gridiron founders, Ben: Perley Poore, was a quite prolific writer of books, and there might be something in one of his books about the early years of the club. You might be able to find these books on Amazon although they are quite old and might be found easier at the Library of Congress since you are planning to be in Washington this spring.

The Gridiron archives also are at the Library of Congress and the early years are in volumes that are located in the Madison Building, the new structure across the street from the main Library of Congress building. You may need to sign up for a reference card, but that is not a burdensome undertaking. Then you can go to the reference room and check out the early volumes of historical material for the Gridiron. You are required to only take notes with pencil and cannot take anything with you except your notes upon leaving, but perhaps this will give you a little more information on your great gradnfather.

Good luck in your research.

Cheryl Arvidson
Historian, The Gridiron Club

From: The Gridiron Club [mailto:gridiron.club@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:40 AMTo: tmwight@att.netSubject: Re: Letter from Theodore M. Wight

Dear Mr. Wight:
I have received your letter regarding research on your great grandfather, Eugene Barton Wight, and his connection with the Gridiron Club. I have forwarded your query to the club historian. Briefly, I have found that Eugene Barton Wight, then of the Boston Journal, was a charter member of the Gridiron Club, was elected as the club's 8th president on May 12, 1894 -- and died January 9, 1896. That's all the info available in the tiny one-person club office in the National Press Building though you are welcome to stop by when you are in town -- just let me know when so I can be there. There are no historical records in the office that you could research, but okay with me if you want to see the office, The club historian is looking further and may be able to refer you to the Library of Congress -- many of the club's early records are now there.
Susan L. HahnThe Gridiron Clubgridiron.club@gmail.com(202) 783-4050 (office)(202) 256-2472 (cell)

(The National Press Building is at the corner of 14th and F St next to the J.W Marriott)

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