Francis F. Hummel (The Dover Index)

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

THE DOVER INDEX

As a newspaper of intellectual dignity, and one of the first among the organs of opinion in Morris county, the Dover Index is one of the oldest and most successful journals published in the county. It closed its thirty-eighth volume late in august of the year 1913.

The Dover Index was founded October 5, 1875, by Francis F. HUMMEL and Lorenzo D. TILLYER, the gentleman first named being its present editor and publisher. Its first issue was a four-page weekly, and since that time many changes and improvements have been introduced, though it is still issued as a weekly. Owing to the increasing facilities of news service and the needs of advertisers, the Index first enlarged to a six-page sheet, later to eight pages; and in the past ten years was issued as a ten-page paper, while for the most of 1913, in order to accommodate unusual quantities of news and advertising matter, it has been and yet is expanded to twelve pages, of eight columns to the page, twenty-four inches in length.

The Index is issued from its own home on North Essex street, where a large well lighted and well ventilated building, thirty by sixty feet, gives amble room and comfort to the working force, and well utilized space for the varied equipment of a modern newspaper plant. Its machinery includes a Mergenthaler linotype, the operator being kept busy every work day the year through, in setting the reading matter for the paper. There are also a fine Hoe newspaper press, a new Omaha folder (1912) made expressly for its use; and three Gordon job presses, also an old Hoe hand press in fine order. On the second floor alone are twenty-two windows to provide light and ventilation.

During its early years, the circulation of the Index was 500 to 700, but since then it has been steadily rolling upward, and its list of paid subscribers now amounts to more than 5,000. About seventy-five per cent of its subscribers live within a radius of ten miles of Dover, and some 1200 or 1,500 copies of the paper are mailed to patrons between Morristown and New York City. The adequacy of its news service may be better comprehended when it is stated that more than 150 local correspondents throughout Morris count collect and transcribe all local occurrences of interest, and besides this force there are two salaried reporters, and a number of valued volunteer correspondents. The paper goes to every post office in Morris county, and also to those on its borders in adjoining counties.

Mr. F. F. HUMMEL has been owner, publisher, and editor of the Index since December, 1904, his connection with the paper having been continuous for thirty-eight years. As to politics, the policy of the Index has steadily been Democratic, and it is concededly one of the most influential Democratic journals published in Northern New Jersey. Its files would reveal a vast amount of State and national political history, beginning with the seventies. In 1876 it was staunchly supporting Samuel J. TILDEN for the presidency; and thirty-six years later it proved equally ardent and active in its support of Woodrow WILSON. Through all the intervening period, its policy has been consistently Democratic. Mr. HUMMEL, as editor, is regarded not only as a practical but most judicious and well informed writer, and few men in the State have succeeded so well in this field of enterprise. He is not only a most accomplished and well equipped journalist, but he is regarded as a most enterprising business man and exemplary citizen. He has succeeded in building up a large and substantial business in a peculiar field wherein thousands have failed. Newspaper publication is admittedly one of the most hazardous business undertakings, and in view of this fact the greater is the credit due to Mr. HUMMEL. The history of the Index is largely that of himself, and demonstrates what energy, ability, and enterprise will accomplish.

Mr. HUMMEL was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, in the 50’s, son of the late Joseph H. and Amelia (SHOENBERGER) HUMMEL of Carbon county; the last named is yet living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Joseph H. HUMMEL was born in the vicinity of Port Carbon, Schuykill county, Pennsylvania. His early training and environment were in a country district, and one of his keen desires was to visit Hummelstown. He was finally afforded the pleasure of visiting that place, and it was a delight to him in later years to relate his experiences there. While walking along the street, he heard some one call the name "Joe HUMMELL" on which he turned about and made reply, only to learn, to his surprise, that there were nearly a score of that name then living in the town. Mr. HUMMEL died in April, 1896.

Francis F. HUMMEL is one in a family of sixteen children, of whom there are now living six brothers and three sisters. He acquired a liberal education, but this is due more to his own remarkable interest and perseverance as a student, than to school advantages. He graduated from the Mauch Chunk (Pennsylvania) high School, and was a student at Mrs. Jane RIGHTER’s Select School, Deer Park Seminary, and St. Mark’s Academy. The interesting fact concerning this period of his youth is, that the time usually devoted by children to vacation enjoyments was employed by him in the industrious pursuit of knowledge, summer and winter being alike to him in this respect, and he did not know what a vacation was. His enthusiasm and industry thus enabled him to lay a more substantial educational foundation than is usually laid by those more favored as to the privileges and opportunities. Some of the schools he attended were in session five and a half days in the week, including Saturday morning.

It was in the office of Mauch Chunk Union Flag and under the supervision of a printer of Scotish birth and characteristic traits, the late Harry V. MORTHIMER, that Mr. HUMMEL served the apprenticeship which was destined to lead him to his present profession in which he achieved honor and success. Between his father and the Scotchman was executed a bond obligating each in the sum of $1000 for compliance with the terms of apprenticeship, and in accordance with its stipulation young HUMMEL spent three years under the Scotch printer and his successor. After that, as a journeyman, he worked in various offices in his home town, later at Philadelphia, Quarkertown, Pottsville, Catasauqua, Scranton, Pittston, and also in the west, including Shawneetown, Illinois.

In February, 1874, Mr. HUMMEL located in Dover, New Jersey, and engaged to work for the late William J. BRUCE, as foreman on the Dover Mail. On the discontinuance of that journal in 1875, Mr. HUMMEL and Mr. Lorenzo D. TILLYER established the Dover Index. Their partnership continued until December, 1904, since which time Mr. HUMMEL has been sole proprietor, publisher, and editor. Thus for thirty-eight consecutive years he has been intimately connected with the practical management of the Index, and has witnessed the town population of 2,900 increased to nearly 9,000, and the circulation of his paper expanded from less than 500 to 5,000. Since December, 1904, Mr. HUMMEL’s brother, William G. HUMMEL, who has been in the employ of the concern since October, 1876, has acted as business manager.

Though the Index has consistently supported Democratic principles since 1876, Mr. F. F. HUMMEL is himself an independent Democrat and is has been due to his independence of judgement and forceful editorial expression on local and public questions, that he has for some years been regarded as one of the most efficient leaders in the State’s citizenship. President WILSON addressed to him a letter of warm appreciation of his services during his gubernatorial campaign, and similarly acknowledged his valuable services during the presidential campaign of 1912. Mr. HUMMEL had for several years regarded Mr. WILSON as a coming man in national affairs, and was among the very first to encourage him to enter upon the campaign for the presidency.

In February, 1900, Mr. HUMMEL was married to Mrs. Pauline A. BACKOFF, whose death occurred in October, 1904. He married in August, 1906, Mabel Miller GUSTIN, of Rockaway, Morris county, New Jersey. Mr. HUMMEL is a communicant of St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church of Dover, and for a number of years has been a member of the vestry. His family home is on Richards avenue, corner or Mercer street, where in 1910 he erected a beautiful residence.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)