Other Early Papers
The plant of the old Spectator was to have another first to its credit in Oregon journalism, for it was purchased by W. L. Adams, a pioneer of 1847, for $1200 and used to publish the Oregon Argus, the first distinctively Republican paper in Oregon, perhaps the first on the Pacific coast.
Adams was one of the big figures in Oregon pioneer journalism He was better educated than most of the early Oregon editors and perhaps the most versatile of that rather variously talented crew. Educated for the ministry, he was teacher, writer, editor, lawyer, judge, and late in life studied medicine and practiced that profession for many years. He was Oregon's first cartoonist.
Born in Painesville, Ohio, February 5, 1821, he was connected on his father's side with the Adamses of Massachusetts and on his mother's side with the Ethan Allens of Vermont. Building on a preparatory school education obtained in the academy at Milton, Ohio he worked his way through Bethany College, Virginia, obtaining there a classical education far in advance of that of most of his contemporary editors in Oregon. He was ordained in the Christian (Campbellite) ministry. His teacher at Bethany was Alexander Campbell, president of the college and founder of the Christian church
Crossing the plains in 1848, he was immediately drafted as teacher for one of Oregon's early schools near his claim in Yamhill county. It was this school, so Gaston says85 that gave Amity its name. The settlers, in dispute about the site of the schoolhouse, finally settled the controversy by selecting a site at a compromise location, which, in honor of the happy result, was called Amity
Before starting the Argus (1855) Adams contributed political articles to the Whig Oregonian, over the signature of "Junius" and was the author of Oregon's first extensive political satire. This was entitled "Brakespear; or Treasons, Stratagems, and Spoils." It appeared in the Weekly Oregonian February 14, 21, March 6, 13, 1852. Afterward it was issued in pamphlet form for the damage it could do the Democratic clique in control of politics in the territory. It was illustrated with cartoons drawn by Adams. The sort of cutting satire and sarcasm of which he was a master made him one of the small group of originators of the "Oregon style" of journalism elsewhere referred to. Though feeling was high at the time, it was all forgotten in after years, so far as Bush and Adams were concerned. On one occasion, when Adams was in need of money, Bush, then in the banking business in Salem, supplied it. "Brakespear's" usefulness was long since gone; and Adams, its creator, rounded up all the copies of the pamphlet he could reach and destroyed them.
In 1850 Adams was elected county judge of Yamhill county.
