Death of Hon. John F. Hubbard, Sr., October 1876

 Death of Hon. John F. Hubbard, Sr.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, October 12, 1876

Between the hours of twelve and one o'clock on Thursday afternoon last, after months of patient waiting, our venerable townsman passed to his rest.  The machinery of life had become worn out, and the summons, which came unaccompanied by any apparent disease found him prepared for his peaceful departure.

Mr. Hubbard was born in Columbia County, N.Y., February 15th, 1795.  At an early age he entered the office of Messrs. H.&E. Phinney, in Cooperstown [Otsego Co. NY], where he learned the printer's trade, and afterwards worked as a journeyman in Harrisburg, Pa.  In November, 1816 he purchased the press and materials of the Volunteer, a small paper published in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co. NY] by John B. Johnson, and issued the first number of the Norwich Journal, the office being "one door north of Mr. Steere's Tavern," which was probably where Slater's building now stands [in 1876], north of the Eagle Hotel.  The office was removed, in the fall of 1817, to the building "nearly opposite Gates' Hotel," in the south part of the village - the building for many years owned and occupied by H.A. Rindge, as a harness shop, and which now [in 1876] stands in the rear of his brick block on South Broad Street.

Thurlow Weed purchased the office in the fall of 1818, when he changed not only the political course, but the name of the paper also, calling it the Agriculturalist.  Many leading men throughout the County were displeased at being left without an organ, and Mr. Hubbard was induced to resume the publication of the Journal, the first number of which was issued January 9th, 1819, the office being "a few rods north of Mr. Steere's Tavern."  His subsequent editorial contests with Mr. Weed were evidences that he wielded no ordinary pen, and his reputation as a powerful and vigorous writer, then and in after years, was not confined to the limited circulation of his little sheet.

September 10th, 1828, Ralph Johnson, who had served an apprenticeship of six years in the office, became a partner with Mr. Hubbard, and the office was soon after removed to rooms "one door north of P. Fryer's Military Store."  The following winter Mr. Johnson went to Albany with a team, and procured a new had press, which he brought with him-the same press now in the Union office.  Up to this time the wooden "Ramage" press had been used. The office underwent several removals, the paper being for a number of years published in the old building on the lot now [in 1876] owned by A.J Beebe, south of the Methodist Church, which was removed to give place to the present modern structure.

At the expiration of six years, Mr. Johnson retired from the paper, and its publication was continued by Mr. Hubbard until October 1847, when it was purchased by Messrs. Leal & Sinclair, who united it with the Oxford Republican, under the title of the Chenango Union, which it has since borne.

In 1820, Mr. Hubbard married Miss Almira Mead, daughter of the late Geo. Thompson Mead, who at that time resided upon his farm on the east side of the river, opposite Plasterville, then in this town.  He represented his county in the Assembly of 1824, with John Latham and Daniel Root.  In 1828 he was elected to the State Senate, of which body he was a member for eight successive years, occupying a high position among his fellow Senators and at one time was prominent as a prospective candidate for the office of Governor.  To him the people of this valley were largely indebted for the passage of the bill authorizing the construction of the Chenango Canal, and many of our older citizens will recollect the enthusiastic ovation which he received upon his return home from the Seante, after the bill was passed.

For a number of years after he retired from the editorial field, Mr. Hubbard held the office of Justice of the Peace, the duties of which position he discharged with fidelity.  Honored and beloved by the people among whom he had so long resided, and whose prosperity he had done so much to advance, esteemed by a large circle of friends outside of his immediate neighborhood, and respected throughout the country, he passed the last years of his life in quiet, receiving every attention at the  hands of his devoted wife, and only surviving son, Hon. John F. Hubbard, Jr.  His death, although not unexpected, caused a feeling of sadness throughout the community and he was long be held in kindly remembrance by those who knew him best.

Funeral services were held at his late residence on Saturday afternoon last, when many friends assembled to mingle their tears with those of the bereaved family Rev. L.M.S. Haynes conducted the service and we are permitted to publish a portion of the excellent discourse delivered by him, which follows this article.  A number of Masonic brethren were also in attendance, deceased having been for many years an honored member of that fraternity and one of the chapter members of the present Lodge, and the burial service of the order was conducted by Rev. D.E. Loveridge, their Chaplain.

Funeral Discourse by Rev. L.M.S. Haynes

John Flave Hubbard was born in Columbia County, New York, in February 1795.  He was therefore at the time of his death eighty-one years of age.  His age was so great, and his public career so marked, his end so peaceful, that we are called upon for rather more than an ordinary notice of his life.

He was married to his dear wife, who survives him, in 1820.  Until his death they could look down the path of forty-six years of unbroken gentleness and love.  Few couples are permitted to join hands in this world for so long a period.

In 1816, when twenty-one years of age, Mr. Hubbard moved to Norwich, and began the publication of a weekly paper called the Norwich Journal.  The first volume of that Journal is still extant.  I will read a few extracts from the opening editorial, which for a young man twenty-one years of age, sixty years since, is certainly not a little remarkable.  It sets forth in strong light the leading traits of character which have distinguished the deceased all through his prominent career.

In 1828, Ralph Johnson, who had been an apprentice for six years, entered upon a partnership with Mr. Hubbard.  It is hardly possible to conceive of the value of a weekly paper to the people sixty years ago.  That it could be originated in so remote a period, among a population so sparse, is evidence both of the foresight and genius of the editor and the unusual intelligence of the community.  We may look upon this young man of twenty-one summers, a prophet among the people, with admiration.  The voluminous journalism of the present day is sometimes a subject of regret, so much of it is vapid and pernicious.  But then, this single-handed yeoman went forth to duty, building better than he knew.  He was comparatively alone.  The absence of local news from the columns of the Norwich Journal is remarkable.  It may have been that there was but a small supply. But we cannot help noticing, even in a hurried glance through the bound volume of a year or more, that the mind of the young editor was bent on grappling with the great political and intellectual problems then agitating the land, to the exclusion of "evil communications that corrupt good manners."

For thirty-one years, until he was fifty-two years of age, he stood at the helm of his little bark - an ordinary lifetime for most men.  Through what seas he sailed, what precious freight he carried, eternity alone can tell.   One thing is morally certain:  He steered his bark according to the dictates of conscientious principles.  He trimmed his sails to no popular wind.  He sought refuge in no harbors of hireling expediency. He had an aim in life, and blow the wind strong or mild, from the north or the south, he did not change his course.

The pilot has at last found harbor.  He has gone ashore.  Other hands hold the helm.  We gather around his silent bier and thank God for the sweet calm of his heroic face.

In 1847, two gentlemen from Oxford bought the Journal, changed its name and Mr. Hubbard's connection with it ceased.

In 1823, when twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Hubbard was elected to the Assembly of the State.  In 1828 he was chosen by the people in the then large Senatorial District, to represent them in the Senate at Albany.  At that time there were only eight Senatorial Districts, and the term of office was four years.  In 1832 he was re-elected by unanimous consent, for another long term, he having no opponent.  He as now a man of thirty-seven, in he full maturity of his intellect and strength of body.

During his senatorial career he became the principal champion of the Chenango Canal.  To his influence its projection and ultimate completion is greatly indebted.  It is a suggestive fact that such an enterprise could originate, grow to a great success, and finally become useless, within a single life period.

It is not perhaps generally known that Mr. Hubbard was prominently mentioned as a candidate for the Governor's chair. After his return from Albany, he served as justice of the Peace for a good many years, to the general satisfaction of the entire community.

He lived to see the small four corners grow to be an enterprising village of four or five thousand inhabitants.  During his life the most of the great inventions, which have become a second nature to us, were originated and perfected.  The half century from 1820 to 1870 has been the most wonderful of the world's history. The next fifty years may witness extensions of power over greater areas of population, but there will never be greater discoveries.  As he came to his grave a shock of corn fully ripe to the harvest, it was his great privilege to see human genius reach perhaps its greatest possible height.  He ripened with the century that gave him birth.  If he borrowed from its fertile years the culture for which he was justly eminent, he gave in return to his neighbors, patrons, constituency and country a full return. The editor's influence for thirty years cannot be estimated.  but he was the people's representative as well, and not only with his pen in his office, but with his voice in the legislative halls, he lent patent manhood to what he believed to be true and good.

Peace to thy ashes, aged father!  Thou hast labored long, and hard, and well!  It is not difficult for us, thy children, to hear the plaudit "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

But, after all, this was only the outgrowth of what was inside.  What he felt and believed is of vastly more consequence to his immortal spirit today, that what he did.  A man may fail as to results in life, and still be great and good.  The universal testimony of family, neighbors and friends, bears witness to his uniform gentleness, kindness and magnanimity.  when about forty years of age he became identified with the great Washingtonian movement which swept over this country, signed the temperance pledge, and for the remainer of his life he was a temperate man.  He was a regular attendant at the Baptist Church, though not a member, and a particular friend and supporter of Marsena Sione, one of its pastors.  His constant reading of the Bible made him familiar with its teachings, in which he firmly believed, and though for some reason he made no public profession of religion, he accepted the vicarious atonement of Christ and slept with his fathers in full hope of the resurrection of the body.

He fell asleep last Thursday, the 5th of October.  As the wick pales when the oil is exhausted, as the wind hushes when its force is spent, as the child sleeps on its mother's breast, he passed away.  Long ere this his immortal spirit has been welcomed to the land of fadeless youth.  Once more he is young again.  God will have a place for him and his in the activities of a brighter dawn.  He will not lie on pillows of down.  He will not dally with flowers, but guided by and by with a body that knows neither fatigue or sin, he will become the messenger of the true and the good to other people.  It remains for us to imitate his example and profit by his death.