John D. Defrees
Encyclopedia
John Dougherty Defrees was an American
newspaperman and politician.
, Defrees moved to Ohio
and worked in the law office of Thomas Corwin
, who would later serve as Governor of Ohio. In 1831, Defrees and his brother, Joseph
, moved to South Bend, Indiana
, where they founded the Northwestern Pioneer and St. Joseph Intelligencer, Northern Indiana
's first newspaper.
, and began publishing the Michigan Statesman and St. Joseph Chronicle, only the third newspaper published in the Michigan Territory
and the first published between Chicago
and Detroit. Under Defrees, the paper took a radical Democratic
line and supported President Andrew Jackson
. Defrees sold his interest in the paper in mid-1834 to Henry Gilbert
, who later shortened it to the Michigan Statesman. The paper became the Kalamazoo Gazette
in 1837 and remains in publication.
Defrees returned to South Bend and was admitted to the Indiana bar. Defrees became involved in Indiana state politics and won election to the Indiana Senate
as a Whig. In 1846, Defrees bought the Indianapolis Journal
(now the The Indianapolis Star
) which he also edited until he sold the paper in 1854. Defrees sought the Republican nomination for his congressional district in the 1858 election but lost out to Albert G. Porter
, who later became Governor of Indiana
. Defrees returned to newspapering and founded the Atlas, another pro-Republican newspaper. Under Defrees, the Atlas promoted Edward Bates
for the 1860 presidential nomination, although Bates lost to Abraham Lincoln
. By 1860 Defrees, along with Henry S. Lane, Schuyler Colfax
and Cyrus Allen controlled Republican party politics in Indiana. When Lincoln became President, he named Defrees Public Printer, at which point Defrees sold the Atlas to the Journal.
. In those days, the Government Printing Office was a rich source of patronage, and Defrees' failure to satisfy members of Congress in that regard led to his removal in 1869, and the restructuring of the post of Public Printer. Previously, the President named the printer; now and to this day the Senate must approve the appointment.
Defrees backed Horace Greeley
for President in 1872 and Rutherford B. Hayes
in 1876; after his election, Hayes returned Defrees to the Printing Office, which post he held until April 1, 1882. Defrees retired to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, where he had made his home since 1861, and died there October 19, 1882. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
, Indianapolis.
Defrees was the brother of Joseph H. Defrees
, who served in the United States House of Representatives
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaperman and politician.
Political career
Born in Sparta, TennesseeSparta, Tennessee
Sparta is a city in White County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,599 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of White County. It was the hometown of Lester Flatt of the bluegrass music legends Flatt and Scruggs.-Geography:...
, Defrees moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and worked in the law office of Thomas Corwin
Thomas Corwin
Thomas Corwin , also known as Tom Corwin and The Wagon Boy, was a politician from the state of Ohio who served as a prosecuting attorney, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate, and as the 15th Governor of Ohio 20th...
, who would later serve as Governor of Ohio. In 1831, Defrees and his brother, Joseph
Joseph H. Defrees
Joseph Hutton DeFrees was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.Born in Sparta, Tennessee, DeFrees moved to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Piqua in 1819.He attended the common schools....
, moved to South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, where they founded the Northwestern Pioneer and St. Joseph Intelligencer, Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana is the region of Indiana including 26 counties bordering parts of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. The area is generally sub-classified into other regions. The northwest is economically and culturally intertwined with Chicago, and is considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
's first newspaper.
Newspaper career
In 1833, Defrees moved to White Pigeon, MichiganWhite Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
, and began publishing the Michigan Statesman and St. Joseph Chronicle, only the third newspaper published in the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
and the first published between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Detroit. Under Defrees, the paper took a radical Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
line and supported President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. Defrees sold his interest in the paper in mid-1834 to Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert was a popular children's author, and the paternal grandfather of Molly Holden. His books continue to be reprinted as late as 2009, nearly 100 years after their original publication...
, who later shortened it to the Michigan Statesman. The paper became the Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Gazette
The Kalamazoo Gazette is the daily newspaper in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. The Gazette is owned by Booth Newspapers which is owned by Advance Publications....
in 1837 and remains in publication.
Defrees returned to South Bend and was admitted to the Indiana bar. Defrees became involved in Indiana state politics and won election to the Indiana Senate
Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...
as a Whig. In 1846, Defrees bought the Indianapolis Journal
Indianapolis Journal
The Indianapolis Journal was a newspaper published in Indiana during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The paper published daily editions every evening except on Sundays when it published a morning edition. The paper was established in the 1823 as a pro-Whig newspaper. M.B. Martindale...
(now the The Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Star
The Indianapolis Star is a morning daily newspaper that began publishing on June 6, 1903. It has won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting twice, in 1975 and 1991. It is currently owned by the Gannett Company.-History:...
) which he also edited until he sold the paper in 1854. Defrees sought the Republican nomination for his congressional district in the 1858 election but lost out to Albert G. Porter
Albert G. Porter
Albert Gallatin Porter was an American politician who served as the 19th Governor of Indiana from 1881 to 1885 and as a United States Congressman from 1859 to 1863. Originally a Democrat, he joined the Republican Party in 1856 after being expelled by the pro-slavery faction of the Democratic Party...
, who later became Governor of Indiana
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
. Defrees returned to newspapering and founded the Atlas, another pro-Republican newspaper. Under Defrees, the Atlas promoted Edward Bates
Edward Bates
Edward Bates was a U.S. lawyer and statesman. He served as United States Attorney General under Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1864...
for the 1860 presidential nomination, although Bates lost to Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. By 1860 Defrees, along with Henry S. Lane, Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative from Indiana , Speaker of the House of Representatives , and the 17th Vice President of the United States . To date, he is one of only two Americans to have served as both House speaker and vice president.President Ulysses S...
and Cyrus Allen controlled Republican party politics in Indiana. When Lincoln became President, he named Defrees Public Printer, at which point Defrees sold the Atlas to the Journal.
Civil war politics
Defrees was a vocal supporter of the Union and the government during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In those days, the Government Printing Office was a rich source of patronage, and Defrees' failure to satisfy members of Congress in that regard led to his removal in 1869, and the restructuring of the post of Public Printer. Previously, the President named the printer; now and to this day the Senate must approve the appointment.
Defrees backed Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
for President in 1872 and Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
in 1876; after his election, Hayes returned Defrees to the Printing Office, which post he held until April 1, 1882. Defrees retired to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, where he had made his home since 1861, and died there October 19, 1882. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
, Indianapolis.
Defrees was the brother of Joseph H. Defrees
Joseph H. Defrees
Joseph Hutton DeFrees was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.Born in Sparta, Tennessee, DeFrees moved to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Piqua in 1819.He attended the common schools....
, who served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
See also
- List of United States political families (D)#The Defrees and Frazers