Samuel Bowles (journalist)

Samuel Bowles III (February 9, 1826 – January 16, 1878) was an American journalist born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Beginning in 1844 he was the publisher and editor of the Springfield Republican, a position he held until his death in 1878.

Bowles was educated in public schools. After some time spent at the high school, he was finished at a private institution run by George Eaton, in Springfield. Bowles inherited the Republican from his father, Samuel Bowles (II) (1797-1851), who had established the paper as a weekly in 1824. At the age of seventeen years he began working in the printing-office. For a year his work consisted in the miscellaneous duties of office-boy, and included everything except the writing of leading editorials. In 1844 he persuaded his father to publish the paper daily, and on 27 March of that year the first daily issue appeared. The principal duties of the management of the new journal fell on young Bowles.

The winter of 1844-1845 he became ill, and he was obliged to spend some time in the South. A series of fifteen letters, descriptive of southern experiences, contributed to the paper at this time, were widely read. In December 1845, the Republican became a morning paper, and with the change followed the severe night-work for the editors. The father meanwhile devoted more attention to the counting-room, and the son occupied himself more exclusively with the editorial duties, in which he was ably assisted by Dr. Josiah Gilbert Holland, who continued with the paper as editor until 1857, and as a contributor until 1864.

By 1850 the Republican had acquired the largest circulation of any daily paper in New England, outside of Boston, and as fast as the money came in it was expended in increasing the plant. In 1851 the father died, and the entire management devolved on the young Bowles, who was then twenty-five years old. During the years that followed the time was occupied with incessant work and hard struggles. The paper was steadily growing in reputation and circulation, and its editor becoming known as an industrious, bold, and fearless journalist.

Bowles was highly involved in all aspects of the paper's operations and retained primary editorial control for most of his career. During his tenure, the paper gained its national reputation, though it remained largely regional and local in its concerns, featuring news from Springfield and surrounding small towns. At the time, the New York Tribune called it "the best and ablest country journal published on the continent." In 1857 Bowles attempted to expand into the Boston market by partnering to publish the Boston Traveller. As the new venture was largely unsuccessful, he left the partnership after a few months to return as editor of the Republican.

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