Nevada's early 'Sagebrushers' brought literary journalism to the American West
Sagebrush journalism was a style of literature born in the American West that had some very deep roots in Virginia City. It came to life around 1860 and had run its course by the turn of the 20th century. In that ensuing 40 year time period some Sagebrushers became world renown.
Mark Twain honed his writing skills while employed at Virginia City’s Territorial Enterprise newspaper from 1862 to 1864. Twain was fortunate enough to be working along side some very talented writers at the paper; Sagebrushers such as Dan DeQuille, Joseph Goodman, Rollin Daggett and Lyin’ Jim Townsend all had a profound impact on Twain’s writing.
Historical Milestone: Samuel L. Clemens began his employment with the Territorial Enterprise in September, 1862. Five months later while covering the territorial legislature in Carson City, Clemens signed his dispatch for the first time using his new moniker, Mark Twain. The date was February 3, 1863, thus Mark Twain was officially born in Carson City 150 years ago.
The majority of Sagebrushers were newspapermen born and baptized in the world of letterpress printing. Many were practical printers who learned their craft as a printer’s devil, and then graduated to the composing room to assemble the type forms, that turned blank sheets of newsprint into a daily newspaper. Many a time when the composing room was shorthanded, a Sagebrusher would set the type on a story he had just written.
Most readers of Nevada’s early newspapers might have assumed that the writers were uneducated, uncouth and barely had a rudimentary knowledge of the English language, but that was far from the truth. Many were well read and could write prose and poetry with ease. Dan De Quille was a prime example of a Sagebrusher with many talents. A voracious reader of scientific journals, Dan would use some of that scientific stuff to write fictitious pieces he called “Quaints.” Dan wasn’t alone writing hoaxes to fill those long empty columns on a slow news day.
Samuel Post Davis was another talented Sagebrusher who left a lasting legacy in Carson City. Sam began his Nevada career in 1875 writing for the Virginia Evening Chronicle. In 1879, Sam became editor of the Carson City Daily Appeal when its publisher Henry Mighels died that year. Sam became a stalwart for the newspaper and for Carson City in the 20 years he was associated with the newspaper. Davis, like De Quille had a very vivid imagination and could conjure up “Quaints” of the first order. Davis’ journalistic battles with E.P. Lovejoy, editor of the mythical Wabuska Mangler still stands as a prime example of some very creative writing by a talented Nevada newspaperman.
Next time, Part 2 of “The Sagebrushers”
— Chic DiFrancia is a long-time Virginia City resident, freelance writer, historian and letterpress printer. In his youth he once was a typesetter at the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City.
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