By Christine Lorraine Morgan, April 11, 2026

In 1826 the parents of noted journalist Horace Greeley settled in Wayne Township. When Greeley’s New England apprenticeship was finished in 1830, he then walked home to his parents’ Erie County settlement.

Having secured a job at the office of the “Erie Gazette,” Greeley rented a place to live in downtown Erie at 414 State, a federal-style two story brick house that was newly constructed. The residence had been built for Joseph Sterrett, proprietor of the “Gazette” who had founded that publication at age 20 in 1820.

Greeley was reportedly “tall, ungainly and unprepossessing, poorly and outlandishly dressed, careless of his appearance,” according to the “History of Erie County,” 1884. The book continues to explain that the people with whom Greeley associated were “disposed to make a good
deal of a butt of him. In society matters, they undoubtedly had the advantage of the homely young printer; but when it came to literary and political discussions, he was superior to the best of them.”

Greeley found extreme enjoyment in discussing politics, and was regarded as an oracle or sorts regarding that particular topic.

In August 1831 Greeley left Erie for New York, where he was said to have arrived with a mere $1.10 to his name.

After he moved away, Greeley spoke disparagingly about his time in Pennsylvania’s port city, even though some of his family members were still residents of Erie County as of 1884.

NOTE: The house in which Greeley lived from 1830-31 at 414 State is still standing, and is the oldest structure on State Street at age 196 years as of this writing.