Hon. Beman Brockway, son of Gideon and Nancy (Williams) Brockway, was born in Southampton, Mass., April 15,1815. He descends from Wolston Brockway, who, December 3, I659, "bought housing and land of John Reynolds," in Lyme, Connecticut, and became a permanent settler, and a man of consideration and substance. The line of descent is Wolston, William, William, Gideon, Isaiah, Gideon, Beman. He also has kinship with the Bridges, Pratt, Comstock, Beman, and Williams families, all conspicuous in New England history.
Coming thus of sturdy New England stock, and of parents who inherited honesty, industry, and self-reliance, and transmitted it unweakened to their children, his home surroundings were most admirably calculated to give a good "fitting-out" for a life of respectability and usefulness. Gideon Brockway was a farmer in an obscure part of an isolated town; a man of rigid integrity, unyielding will, advanced and liberal ideas; hard-working, and, after the New England manner, a great reader and independent thinker; a Democrat and an Universalist. He was athletic and vigorous. Mrs. Brockway, a woman of loving heart and Christian principle, "lived solely to make her friends
happy."
In the home circle, and not from school education, did Beman Brockway acquire the character and habits which have been-the foundation of his success; and in the rough, hard labor of the farm was formed that strong physique which has sustained him in his long life's able work. Three summers and three winters in the "backwoods" district school was all the "education" he received. A natural student, however, he seized every opportunity of adding to his store of knowledge. From a very early age his aspiration was to be a "printer"; and, in 1830, he answered an advertisement for an apprentice to the printing trade, and from that time to the present this has been his vocation, and every grade and position has been thoroughly mastered and successfully occupied. In 1833 he came to this state, and, in the spring of 1834, became a journeyman in the Fredonia Censor office. The next fall, while on a visit to New York city, he formed the acquaintance of Horace Greeley,
then conducting the New Yorker.
The Democratic leaders of Chautauqua, about this time, established the Mayville Sentinel and Mr. Brockway, whose sympathies were strongly Democratic, secured a position in the office and aided in getting out the first number. In a short time he became publisher. He was then 19 years old. Much of the editorial work devolved on him, but Judge Osborne, an able writer, wrote the political articles. This arrangement continued two years, when the owners of the paper, to reward the diligence with which Mr. Brockway had applied himself to their interests, proposed that he become the proprietor. He accepted the offer. He now had to be his own editor, and it was a great responsibility to the young man, as he considered himself indifferently qualified in education, experience, or culture. But his practical common sense came to his aid. He "wrote only what he felt compelled to write, said what necessity seemed to require in the fewest possible words, and stopped when he was through." His articles were approved, and his conduct of the Sentinel met with success. He remained 10 years in Mayville, then sold the office and shortly after purchased the Oswego Palladium, taking possession in June, 1845. In 1852 he established the Daily Palladium. In the spring of 1853 he sold the paper, removed to Pulaski, and took charge of the Democrat until October, when he was offered and accepted an editorial position on the New York Tribune. This paper then presented a rare array of talent, and was in its palmiest days. The "chief" was Horace Greeley; the managing editor Charles A. Dana; associates, James S. Pike, William H. Fry, George Ripley, George M. Snow, Bayard Taylor, F. J. Ottarson, William Newman, Beman Brockway, Solon Robinson, and Donald C. Henderson. With this brainy corps of associates, and in this congenial society, Mr. Brockway passed two years as day editor and general writer for the Tribune. His terse, rugged style was in harmony with the strength displayed in its columns, and had circumstances favored his longer stay he would doubtless have become one of the leading editorial writers of the nation.
His wife dying, Mr. Brockway, in 1855, returned to Pulaski, where he could better oversee the education of his children. Here he purchased flouring-mills, which he conducted for three years. In 1859 he represented his district in the legislature, there introducing and becoming the father of the first registry law of the state. During these years he made valuable contributions to the Tribune, Troy Times, Albany Journal, etc. One article published in August, 1859, in Hunt's Magazine, on "Our Canals and Railroads," attracted much attention from the leading men, was copied extensively by the press, and demonstrated that he was not only an able financier, but a far seeing statesman. In the spring of 1860 he purchased an interest in the Watertown Reformer. From this time he has been connected with this journal and the Daily Times, which was established in 1861. The anti-slavery sentiments of Mr. Brockway had brought him into communion and fellowship with the Republican party at its formation, and he gave his ablest utterances in its service. Strong personal friendship for Reuben E. Fenton did not tend to relax his efforts for the party in the campaign which made that gentleman governor, and his great knowledge of political affairs and men of the state caused Governor Fenton to select him for his private secretary and confidential adviser. In April, I865, he was appointed canal appraiser and continued in office until January, 1870.
Mr. Brockway's loyalty to his old friend Greeley attached him to the Liberal Republicans during the campaign of 1872, and he accepted the nomination for member of Congress tendered him by that party, although it was evident that a "Greeley man" stood no chance of an election. He received 12,899 votes, and was much gratified by such an endorsement, and he considers that in supporting Mr. Greeley he did not deviate from true Republicanism.
In May, I870, the firm of Ingalls, Brockway & Skinner was formed to conduct the Times and Reformer, and for general printing. In 1873 the interest of Mr. Ingalls passed to Mr. Brockway, and the next year he became sole proprietor. In 1880 his sons were associated with him, and the firm became as now -- Brockway & Sons. In its new building, with its model equipment and arrangement, the Times office has no superior. Mr. Brockway is one of the oldest and ablest editors in the state; he has had more than half a century's experience, and enjoys the esteem and veneration of the fraternity. He has ever been very careful in his statements; has always clothed his ideas in words intelligible to any ordinary mind; and has never been charged with ambiguity, nor could his readers ever be in doubt concerning his positions. He has spoken his thoughts in an original, simple, and concise manner; going directly to the pith of the subject in a way peculiarly his own. His writings have been filled with thought, and impressed with their power both friend and foe. He has always been Industrious, economical, energetic, and, although tenacious of his rights, carefully respects those of others. As a mere boy, in a
strong opposition county and a small country village, he made the Mayville Sentinel the acknowledged heading paper of the county.
In Oswego he found the Palladium weak and declining, infused into it vigor
and life, and soon made it a "paying" sheet and an oracle in the section. It is not too much to say that but for his energy, common sense, and business principles the Times would have long since ended its career, and
that his sagacity, push, and practical ability have made it the power in journalism it is today. His business has been the object of his efforts, and he has proven himself a successful "newspaper man " in every sense of the word. Honors have come to him, but always unsought, and their accompanying duties have been conscientiously discharged. He is interested in all matters tending to elevate and improve humanity, and liberally contributes to their advancement;
he has done good service in the causes of education and historical research, and has been president of the Jefferson County Historical Society from its organization. His connection with Odd Fellowship began in 1846, and from
that time he has been an active member. He was district deputy of Oswego County for several years, and has been frequently, and now is, a member of the Grand Lodge. Mr. Brockway is a forceful and effective speaker. His
lectures are original, spicy, and valuable. On the platform he attracts attention by the vigor of his presentation and logical reasoning. His love of fun and dry jokes comes out to relieve both his spoken and written arguments.
Mr. Brockway has been twice married, first, May 23, 1837, to Elizabeth Allen Warner, who died September 10, 1854. Their children are Jefferson Warner, Elizabeth Gertrude (Mrs. H. L. Lamb), of Lansingburgh, and Henry Allen. October 22, 1855, he married Sarah Warner Wright, a cousin of his first wife, and, like her, a niece of the celebrated Professor Warner, of Amherst College, Mass.
Mr. Brockway possesses a strong personality. A man of the people, he resembles Abraham Lincoln in many parts of his make-up; and, like him, has a way of his own for whatever he does, great persistency, untiring energy, a rare insight into character and motives, and is quick in drawing inferences. He is straightforward, not serpentine, in his methods, and tells the truth as he sees it, let it hit where it may. His standard of honor and truthfulness is high, and duplicity and deceit are abhorrent to him. His nature, sometimes apparently brusque, is kindly and sympathetic, and he makes friends with congenial natures readily, and does not relinquish them easily. His life has done credit to the family name, and we trust his vigorous pen may push its pungent truths home to his readers for long years to come.