The Springfield Republican

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Samuel Bowles

Samuel Bowles was one of 19th century America's most interesting newspaper editors; controversial, opinionated, and passionately involved in politics. At the age of 18, he took the successful weekly newspaper, the Republican, founded by his father, Samuel Bowles Sr. in 1824, and made the radical step of launching a daily newspaper in an era when the only dailies were located in cities such as Boston and New York. The newspaper became a model of journalistic excellence and became one of the most influential newspapers in the United States.

Springfield Republican Ad

At the time of Samuel's birth, in February 1826, Springfield was a small town, with only 5,764 residents. On March 27, 1844 when the first issue of the new paper was printed, it carried the announcement that this was an experiment, and would be given six months to a year to succeed. Subscriptions to the paper were sold at $4 a year, and advertisers were charged $20 a year for "one square daily”. Farm products were accepted in lieu of cash and given to a local store for credit.The city of Springfield expanded largely due to the presence of the U.S. Armory and the Republican grew in reputation and interest. By the time of the Civil War the newspaper had acquired over 18,000 subscribers, several thousand outside New England. Bowles urged the union of anti-slavery groups into a single national party,  praised insurrectionist and former Springfield resident John Brown, and strongly supported Abraham Lincoln. He was also one of the founders of the Republican party in New England, and used the newspaper to advocate its principles. Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune considered the Republican "the best and ablest country journal ever published on this continent."

Springfield Republican Building

Samuel Bowles pushed himself so hard that his health suffered. He was advised to go abroad for his health. Samuel was never strong, and died of a stroke at the age of 51. On his deathbed, he said, "I may die but the Republican will live," a testament to his tenacity and dedication to journalism. Bowles' son Samuel, the third generation to edit the Republican, continued the high quality of the now-famous newspaper.