In the early life of the nineteenth century we find Henry O’Reilly editing the New York Columbian. At seventeen he was editor of the Patriot, ably advocating, in 1842, the election of DeWitt Clinton, an Irish immigrant’s son, as governor of the Empire state. In 1826 the Rochester Daily Advertiser was issued and was the first daily between the Hudson river and the Pacific Ocean. O’Reilly was then only twenty-one years old, but was considered one of the ablest men in his profession at that time. He was a great advocate of the canal system of New York and was always ready to defend it from the attacks of designing politicians. He was one of the foremost champions of the great common school system of his state. To him belongs the credit of the establishment of the State Agricultural college. Almost every state in the Union has followed New York’s lead in this matter. As a promoter of the infant telegraph business, Mr. O’Reilly is acknowledged to have been the foremost man in the matter, assisting Morse with his pen and money. No man had more influence than O’Reilly throughout the state, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion he did yeoman service for the Union cause. He died in 1867, loved and respected by all.
William Cassidy, the son of Irish parents, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1815. His father was a great friend of DeWitt Clinton, the governor of New York. Cassidy was the editor of the Albany Atlas and Argus which were united in 1856, taking the name of the Argus. From that date the Albany Argus has been one of the leading papers of New York state. Cassidy was a fine classical scholar, and for many years secretary of the Democratic state committee. He was a noted platform builder and often helped his party out of trying positions.
James McCarroll was a noted journalist of his day. He was born in the county Longford, Ireland, came to this country when a young man, and in 1845 was a proprietor of the Peterboro Chronicle. Later in life he was engaged as a musical and dramatic critic on New York daily papers. His father fell, fighting bravely for the Union, at Antietam.
Who is there that does not recall Fitz James O’Brien and his heroism on Union battlefields, that won him the official praise of two great generals? He lived a newspaper man, a poet, and a writer of preëminent ability. He died a Union soldier. He gave his life to his adopted country freely and without price. A record of heroic deeds on the battlefields survives him. Of him, suffice it to say, that during his ten years’ residence in America, this adopted citizen brought out some of the most brilliant writings of their class published. He died in Virginia, an aide in the staff of General Landers, from the effects of a wound received in a charge he led, and lies buried in Greenwood cemetery, New York, in an honored grave.
The mention of poor O’Brien recalls to mind Charles Dawson Shanley, another Irishman, who died in 1875. For eighteen years Mr. Shanley occupied a prominent place in American journalism, having been connected with several New York newspapers as editor and contributor. His poems and novels still delight the lover of realistic beauty. His old friend, William Winter, paid this tribute to him in the columns of the New York Tribune, April 19, 1875: “There is no one of the busy workers in journalism who will not be benefited by reflection upon a character so pure and simple, a life so industrious, useful and blameless, and an end so tranquil.”
Col. James Mulligan once edited a Chicago paper. General Thomas Francis Meagher, of ’48 fame, was editing the Irish News in New York at the breaking out of the Rebellion of ’61.
Robert S. McKenzie, a native of Limerick, Ireland, a graduate of Fermoy, was noted for his literary work, and was engaged in general newspaper correspondence for many years.
One of the most successful journalists of Irish blood was Thomas Kinsella, editor of the Brooklyn Eagle. Mr. Kinsella was born in Ireland in 1832, learned his trade as a printer and in 1861 was editing the Brooklyn Eagle. He was postmaster at Brooklyn, member of Congress, one of the original Brooklyn bridge trustees, and at one time president of the St. Patrick club of Brooklyn.
In Indiana, no two newspaper men of their time were better known than Thomas and John Dowling in the early part of the nineteenth century.
A son of Judge John D. Phelan of Tennessee, who graduated with high honor at Nashville University, started a Democratic paper in Huntersville, conducting it with success. Editor Phelan was a leading figure in politics and at his death was a judge of the supreme court of Tennessee.