(computer-enhanced -- original pdf)
SUPPLEMENT TO THE GENEVA GAZETTE.
supp. ]
Geneva, New York, Monday, November 1, 1830.
[supp.
BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
CHAPTER I.
How John C. Somerset became finally reconciled to Stephen Sapboiler.
1. Now it came to pass in the second year of the reign of Enos, that there dwelt in the county of On,
two men who were enemies. And the name of the one was Stephen the Committee-man, and the name of the
other was John C. the Candidate. And they signed his name Sapboiler; and they called John C., John C.
Somerset, because he excelled all other men in political evolutions.
2. And Stephen bewailed his alienation from John C.; and being penetrated with sorrow, he put off his
shoes from off his feet and made bare his head and demeaned himself as a penitent, and went and stood
at the door of the office of John C. And John C. lifted up his eyes, beheld Stephen standing at the door,
and he said within himself, this is Stephen Sapboiler, and he is penitent; and he exclaimed --
"Welcome, old friend, to me yet dear,
"Pray what the devil brings thee here?"
3. Then Stephen Sapboiler entered into the office of John C. Somerset. And Stephen raised his voice
and said, Verily, John, it grieveth me these many years that a misunderstanding existeth between thee
and me. I pray thee let there be none.
4. Behold I have loved thee greatly and long. My bowels have yearned for thy political welfare, albeit
my countenance hath appeared unto thee as one in wrath. Yea I have sacrificed my personal interest for
thy good; I have consented that thou shouldest be the candidate, when all the people said let Stephen
Sapboiler be the candidate for the Assembly. But I knew that thou wert mightier than I in word and deed;
for thou didst write the law, even the law of the land, which is "concise," as "all thy writings" be
concise.
5. Then opened John C. Somerset his mouth and said dryly; Ahem! verily Stephen I perceive that thou hast done well, in that thou hast preferred thy friend to thyself: it was even the command of Thurlow the whisker maker. Henceforth let there be no more difference between thee and me. Verily thou deservest thy reward, and thy reward shall be fixed even by me.
6. Stephen Sapboiler shall be Surrogate of the county of On, under Frank Governor's administration. And Stephen Sapboiler shall remove himself from the county, which is full of low people, and shall come and reside in the village which is called the village of "all the talents;" and his house shall be hard by the house of John C. Somerset, which is situate in Turn-Coat-Row; and Stephen Sapboiler shall sugar off in John C. Somerset's kettle.
7. So John C. Somerset saluted Stephen Sapboiler, and Stephen Sapboiler bowed his head thrice and retired.
8. Now those things which relate to matters which came to pass afterwards, wherein John and Stephen quarreled greatly, are they not written in the proverb that "two of a trade --------?"
CHAPTER II.
How there was much trouble among the political Antis; and how they held a great meeting of all their wise men.
1. Now it came to pass in the latter days that there was great commotion in the county of On; and great tribulation came upon the people called the Antis, and sore perplexity, insomuch that they were like to become scattered and to fall into a minority.
2. And grievous plagues fell upon them: plagues of squibs, and plagues of paragraphs, and plagues of chronicles, and plagues of nicknames.
3. And there was sorrow in all the land, because of a paper called the Gazette, such as had never been known before, no not even from the beginning of Anti-Masonry.
4. Then arose Henry W. the lawyer, about the middle of the night, for he was a nervous man, and sore vexed [of] the sign of the times; and he betook himself straightway to the house of Jonathan the Executor of the laws, and he said, Arise, I pray thee, quickly, and summon together the great council, which is called the Sanhedrin, for mighty trouble hath come upon the people of the Antis.
5. Then rose up Jonathan, in the middle of the night, as he was commanded, and drew on his clothes swiftly, and went and called together the council of the wise men, and they suddenly assembled at the house of one W. W. Phifer, which is known by the sign, being the sign of The Phoenix.
6. And there were there, Stephen, who is called Sapboiler, and John C. the son of Ambrose, commonly called John C. Somerset, and Frank, the Magnificent, and Henry W. who is surnamed the Tall and Thomas S. who is called Chubhead, and Jonathan, the Executor of the laws, and W. W. Phifer, who is called Editor, and Jonas M. the keeper of the prisoners, and Joel the worker in leather, and Henry the Justice, and Charles G. the Medler, and Justus, who is nicknamed Goggle.
7. And great silence prevailed, and fear.
8. Then stood up John C. who is the Candidate, and moreover a stout-hearted man, and spoke these words. Verily, brethren, we have fallen upon evil times. Behold, I John C. the son of Ambrose, have dreamed a dream: being at rest in my house and slumbering in my palace, I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
9. Thus was the vision of my head upon my bed:
10. Behold there stood before me a man of fierce countenance, and his garments round about him were as thunder clouds, and his head was covered with serpents. He grasped in his right hands a bundle of papers, and in his left he clenched a book; and the papers appeared like unto pamphlets and handbills and newspapers, and on one thereof I read "Resolutions for the Jackson Convention of 1829," and on another "Report of the Special Counsel to the Governor and Senate."
11. And on the book which he held there was written on the one side thereof "Fabrications of Political Anti-Masonry," and on the other side thereof was written "Somersets of John the son of Ambrose," and on the back thereof was inscribed "TRUTH;" and he carried a flaming sword, which was unsheathed, and on the blade thereof was engraved "Retribution."
12. So the man stood and cried with a loud voice, John C. the son of Ambrose! behold I am thine adversary -- my name is CONSCIENCE: I am thy tormenter of old. Behold thou art a withered leaf and thy tree whereon thou hangest is political Anti-Masonry; thy tree is blasted and thou art rotten: it is eaten with worms and thou art shaken with the wind.
13. So when the man had made an end of speech, my heart sank within me, and I became stupid for a season, till I heard the voice of Jonathan the Executor of the laws, crying at the gate. Now who shall deliver me from mine Adversary? Who shall be found able to cope with conscience?
14. And so he sate himself down, being sore vexed, and grated his teeth.
15. Then rose up W. W. Phifer, who is called Editor, and spake furiously after this sort: Let me maul him; let me douse him with five columns of clear Phoenix grit, as I doused them fellers that called me "deserter;" when all the people marvelled at my "Certificates" and said, verily "a good favored person is the gift of art, but readin' and writin' comes by natur[e]." Leave Johnny to me.
16. And he grinned a broad grin.
17. Then Henry W. Tall was filled with wrath [as] the vanity of W. W. Phifer, and his eyes flashed fire even through his spectacles; and he stood and
said, W. W. Phifer, thou art become an offence: verily thy services be no more needed. Thou hadst better betake thyself to thy musical instrument,
and play a quick step to the tune -- "How swift through the woodlands."
18. And Charles G. the Medler, sat in his chair and spatted mightily with his hands, and shouted nine times, Amen.
19. But John C. Somerset was enraged, and took his hat and cane hastily, being about to depart; but they constrained him, laying violent hands on him and entreating him. Nevertheless, he tore himself away and went thence, and there was a great tumult.
20. Then some said let the meeting be dissolved. And some one said one thing and some another; and they wrangled among themselves for about the space of half an hour.
21. Then arose Frank the Magnificent, and, beckoning with his hand, made a great silence. And when all had become quiet, he thrust his hand in his bosom and said, This is a beautiful business.
22. Know ye not brethren, how that order is Heaven's first law, and how by it the stars do roll in their orbits; and by it we "spangles" must move on together.
23. A fig for John C. Somerset! Be the dog returned to his vomit.
24. Behold I have in my mind's eye an expedient, year a beautiful expedient, the result whereof will be sweet.
We must blind the eyes of the people. Let us declare that Stephen Sapboiler is murdered by the hands of the
Masons. And Stephen Sapboiler shall conceal himself; and we will bruise his head-board with bruises,
and make affidavit of all the circumstances how he was slain; and we will spread the affidavits abroad over
the land; and the people being greedy of novelty will swallow the hoax, as they swallowed the hoax of Witherell
and [Anderson]. So great accessions will be made to the numbers of the people of the Antis. Now what think ye
of the plan?
25. And they all cried with one voice, It will be a good enough murder till after the election.
26. And Thomas S. Chubhead, being a supple man, sprang up and stood up and placed himself upon a chair, (for he was small) and he
smote with his hand upon his thigh, and shouted mightily, Great is Frank Magnificent! Behold I will be the witness to the murder
of Stephen Sapboiler; for I am not ignorant of the "tricks of the trade," being long time in the office of W. W. Phifer.
27. So Frank, the Magnificent, being a ready writer, set himself down and wrote the affidavits; and the affidavits were sworn to
before Henry the Justice; and they gave the affidavits to Justus, who is nicknamed Goggle.
28. And Justus saddled his ass, and rode furiously, and stopped not by all the way till he had spread the affidavits throughout
the County of On.
29. Now the rest of the deeds of the Antis; and how Frank the Magnificent was not elected Governor; and how
John C. Somerset, having fled to his office, betook himself to black letter, are they not written in
the third chapter of the book of Chronicles?
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(From the Ontario Messenger of Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1862)
Death of James Bogart. -- We learn from the Geneva Gazette that this veteran Printer died in that village last Tuesday.
Col. Bogart was one of the early pioneers of Geneva, and the oldest surviving editor and publisher in Western New York. He moved to Geneva
in 1806, where he soon commenced the publication of the Expositor, which was discontinued until 1809, when it was changed to the Geneva Gazette.
He published that paper for over twenty-seven years, retiring from it in 1833.
(From the Daily Geneva Gazette of Thursday, Feb. 6, 1862)
The Late Col. Bogart. -- The following just tribute was paid to Col. Bogart by the Rev. Dr. Wiley, in a sermon preached by him on
the occasion of the funeral of the deceased. After some general reflections in harmony with the occasion, the preacher said:
"These remarks are not unnaturally suggested by the venerable member of our church and community, whose obsequies we are now attending.
Mr. James Bogart -- one of a most interesting class of citizens, of whom only a very few still survive as the representatives and witnesses of earlier
days. For nearly or quite half a century has Mr. Bogart been intimately connected with this place, witnessing its progress almost from the very
outset, and participating more or less in its changes and fortunes, so that his death could hardly fail to beattended with some unusual sensation,
as the blotting out of a venerable and familiar name from the roll of the living. With the early history of our departed friend I have no minute and extended
acquaintance. I only know, in common with the most of you, that he was descended from a worthy and respectable line of ancestors, originally settled
at the East; and that at an early period, some fifty years since, he came to this part of the country and took up his residence in this place. Here he
very soon established, himself in the business of Editing find Publishing a weekly newspaper which still exists, prosecuting at the same time the
business of a Bookseller and its kindred branches of pursuit. By his judicous management, his industry, and his careful attention to business, he
succeeded not only in gaining a subsistence and a competency, but, in course of time, in accumulating a handsome estate. His prosperity, however,
did not continue to the close of his life, as subsequent severe reverses greatly reduced his property, so that in the later years of his life he found
himself in moderate and restricted circumstances.
In attempting a brief delineation of the qualities of our departed friend, I would mention, first of all, and as most conspicuous, his transparent integrity
and sincerity of character. He was at the farthest remove from anything like duplicity or deceit. It was apparent to the most careless observer that
his breast was the seal of honor and of sterling integrity; nor do I imagine that it ever occurred to any one to doubt the uncommon probity and single
mindedness of his character and course. Certain it is that his name is untarnished with a solitary breath of suspicion or reproach as regards the qualities
of entire uprightness and unsullied, honor and honesty.
In addition to this, Mr. Bogert was a man of generous impulses and of kindly feelings. He was always ready, according to his ability, to promote objects
of public charity and benevolence, nor was he slow to confer a private benefit, or to render individual assistance. I could mention specific incidents if it
were proper or necessary, that would place in a very amiable light the benignant and friendly qualities that marked the character of our departed friend.
He was greatly endeared to his own kindred by the possession of these kindly traits, and the record of these traits is to be found even beyond the circle
of his immediate kindred.
A prominent feature also in our departed friend not to be overlooked, was his uniform urbanity and politeness of demeanor. Courtesy, and a considerate
and delicate deportment towards others, was with him a natural and instinctive thing. He was a gentleman of the old school: simple, modest and
unpretending in his demeanor and manners -- conciliating respect and winning universal esteem by the observance of a genuine, unforced and natural
considerateness and courtesy towards all around him. Besides these excellent natural qualities of character, which existed in him in an unusual degree,
Mr. Bogert was a settled believer in the christian faith. It was his privilege to be descended from a pious ancestry, and to be surrounded by a religious
kindred; and although it was late in life before he formally connected himself with the christian church, he at no time wavered in his attachment to the
evangelical doctrines of religion. He was one of the earliest members of this congregation, and contributed by a cheerful co-operation to the support of
the gospel here from the very outset. He loved the worship of the house of God, and seldom or never was his place in the sanctuary vacant, when his
attendance was not interrupted by over-ruling necessity or sickness. He was a model of punctuality here as in every other branch of duty; and since
his formal connection with the christian church, his growth in piety has been apparent. Though humble and self-distrustful, it was impossible not to
discern in him the traces and lineaments of a sincere, undoubted and growing disciple of the cross -- one who was manifestly treading the path of the
just that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
And what shall I say respecting the circumstances of his death, except in a single word, that it was in entire harmony with the propriety, and if I
may so speak, the decorum of his life. Seldom has it been my privilege to witness a scene so entirely exempt from all unseemly perturbation,
so marked by every peaceful feature, as the chamber of his last sickness and death. For the few offices of attention that he requested from those around
him, he expressed his gratitude with his accustomed courtesy. To the inquiries that were put to him respecting his spiritual state and the foundation of
his hopes, he re returned brief, intelligible, humble and satisfactory replies. In all that he said or did during this trying period, he exhibited a delicacy of
feeling and a true perception of propriety, that bespoke the complete tranquility and quiet of his state; and thus to the end did he retain his self-possession,
composure, and entire naturalness and ease of mind -- sometimes rising in his feelings to the warmthof ardent expressions of piety and praise; and the
very last utterance that fell from him was a distinct and hearty approval of the few words of prayer on which his spirit seemed to be wafted to the presence
of his Savior. And thus has passed away the man of virtue, of piety, and of a gentle life. He has gone to join the company of the honored dead, whose
names will be inseparably associated in a grateful remembrance with the annals of this place.
The Geneva Gazette office (on the left) was located in the upper two stories of the Post Office. An earlier building with its office burned down.
Col. James Bogert, the author of these reminiscences, came to Geneva in 1806. He served his apprenticeship in the old office of T. & J. Swords,
New York. In November, 1806, he issued the first number of the "Ex- positor," which was continued until 1809, when he changed the title to
"Geneva Gazette." He conducted the paper for over twenty-seven years, retiring from it in 1833, and is the oldest survivor of the conductors of the
press in Western New York. He was a good printer, and editor, and in all respects a worthy member of the "craft."... After retiring from the Gazette he
was for five years Collector of Canal tolls at Geneva.... Col Bogert still lives on Main Street, and though feeble from long illness, has kindly interested
himself in placing in my hands such information as I have requested from him... Note. -- Since the first form of this History went to press, in the pages
of which reference was made to an old and highly esteemed citizen, Col. James Bogert -- that aged veteran and christian has been called to his final
rest. He died on the evening of the 27th of January, universally beloved and morned. (Brigham's Geneva, Seneca Falls and Waterloo Directory, 1862).
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