Samuel Jay Mathes (1849?–1927), known as S. J. Mathes, was a pioneer printer and newspaperman in Los Angeles, California, who in 1881 and 1882 directed the editorial policies of the newly established Los Angeles Daily Times, which later became the Los Angeles Times, until General Harrison Gray Otis took over in August 1882. Mathes later became, in effect, a tour operator for visitors to Southern California aboard Pullman sleeping cars from the East[1]
1882 Mirror Printing Company advertisement and logo
Mathes came to Los Angeles in 1875. "It was a little one-horse town in those days, but there were two or three newspapers," he recalled in a Times interview forty-six years later.[2]
I took a job as foreman of the old Herald and stayed there three or four years. Then Tom Caystile and Jesse Yarnell and I went into the printing business. We published the Mirror as a little house organ to advertise our business. It was always in my mind to start a daily paper. I suggested it several times to my partners, but they wouldn't hear of it.[2]
The three partners were the printers for a number of other newspapers as well. On December 4, 1881, the firm contracted with Nathan Cole Jr. and Thomas Gardiner to publish their new newspaper, the Los Angeles Daily Times. Cole and Gardiner simply could not meet their printing bill, so Gardiner turned the enterprise over to his partner, Cole, and to Mathes, Yarnell and Caystile within a month of the paper's birth. Mathes took over as editor.[1]
For about a year, I ran the paper alone. It was a fearful job. I worked until I was completely worn out, and my health was imperiled. Col. Otis happened to come along then. . . . He bought a fourth interest in the paper, and at once became a dominant figure in the office as well as the community.[2]
A Mathes Pullman excursion advertisement from November 21, 1886
With Otis as editor, Mathes served for a short time as business manager but then "we finally sold out our interests and the paper was reorganized."[2] Mathes then began conducting Pullman excursions between Chicago and Los Angeles. He later became a real estate man. He moved to Catalina Island off the Southern California coast, where he became the correspondent of the Times and was editor of a small daily.[1][3]
An illness he contracted in 1900 remained with him until the day he died at age 78 in Los Angeles on January 28, 1927. He died at the home of Minnie Neighbors May, a former Sunday school pupil. Mathes was survived by two grandchildren, Ralph and Eleanor Bowdie, both of Long Beach, California.[1]
^ abcdef"Pioneer of Newspaper Trade Dies," Los Angeles Times, January 29, 1927, page A-1 Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
^ abcd"Took 'Times' When Owner Was Broke," Los Angeles Times, December 4, 1921, page VIII-3 Access to this link requires the use of a library card.
^"A 'Wireless' Newspaper," Western Electrician, April 25, 1903, page 329.
^Henry Wildasin, Revised History of Wilton, Iowa, Containing a complete reprint of Wilton History 1854–1876 by Rider & Stevenson, 1947, quoted at Wilton History 1854–1947, iagenweb.org
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
mathes, samuel, mathes, 1849, 1927, known, pioneer, printer, newspaperman, angeles, california, 1881, 1882, directed, editorial, policies, newly, established, angeles, daily, times, which, later, became, angeles, times, until, general, harrison, gray, otis, to. Samuel Jay Mathes 1849 1927 known as S J Mathes was a pioneer printer and newspaperman in Los Angeles California who in 1881 and 1882 directed the editorial policies of the newly established Los Angeles Daily Times which later became the Los Angeles Times until General Harrison Gray Otis took over in August 1882 Mathes later became in effect a tour operator for visitors to Southern California aboard Pullman sleeping cars from the East 1 1882 Mirror Printing Company advertisement and logo Contents 1 Southern California 2 Personal life 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksSouthern California editMathes came to Los Angeles in 1875 It was a little one horse town in those days but there were two or three newspapers he recalled in a Times interview forty six years later 2 I took a job as foreman of the old Herald and stayed there three or four years Then Tom Caystile and Jesse Yarnell and I went into the printing business We published the Mirror as a little house organ to advertise our business It was always in my mind to start a daily paper I suggested it several times to my partners but they wouldn t hear of it 2 The three partners were the printers for a number of other newspapers as well On December 4 1881 the firm contracted with Nathan Cole Jr and Thomas Gardiner to publish their new newspaper the Los Angeles Daily Times Cole and Gardiner simply could not meet their printing bill so Gardiner turned the enterprise over to his partner Cole and to Mathes Yarnell and Caystile within a month of the paper s birth Mathes took over as editor 1 For about a year I ran the paper alone It was a fearful job I worked until I was completely worn out and my health was imperiled Col Otis happened to come along then He bought a fourth interest in the paper and at once became a dominant figure in the office as well as the community 2 nbsp A Mathes Pullman excursion advertisement from November 21 1886With Otis as editor Mathes served for a short time as business manager but then we finally sold out our interests and the paper was reorganized 2 Mathes then began conducting Pullman excursions between Chicago and Los Angeles He later became a real estate man He moved to Catalina Island off the Southern California coast where he became the correspondent of the Times and was editor of a small daily 1 3 Personal life editMathes was born in Knoxville Tennessee the son of a Presbyterian clergyman who was a firm believer in abolition The father sold his slaves and moved to Sigourney Iowa where the younger Mathes received his education 1 When he was 16 the boy left home to go to Burlington Iowa where he learned his trade as a printer He was a printer also in Chicago Illinois but returned to Iowa to found the Wilton Chronicle in Wilton In 1875 he was briefly in Colorado Springs Colorado where he founded the Colorado Mountaineer 1 Earlier in 1868 he worked at the Wilton Press in Wilton Iowa 4 An illness he contracted in 1900 remained with him until the day he died at age 78 in Los Angeles on January 28 1927 He died at the home of Minnie Neighbors May a former Sunday school pupil Mathes was survived by two grandchildren Ralph and Eleanor Bowdie both of Long Beach California 1 See also editList of Los Angeles Times publishersReferences edit a b c d e f Pioneer of Newspaper Trade Dies Los Angeles Times January 29 1927 page A 1 Access to this link requires the use of a library card a b c d Took Times When Owner Was Broke Los Angeles Times December 4 1921 page VIII 3 Access to this link requires the use of a library card A Wireless Newspaper Western Electrician April 25 1903 page 329 Henry Wildasin Revised History of Wilton Iowa Containing a complete reprint of Wilton History 1854 1876 by Rider amp Stevenson 1947 quoted at Wilton History 1854 1947 iagenweb orgExternal links edit The Times 128 Year History Los Angeles Times Media Group Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title S J Mathes amp oldid 1168000851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
