USA > Iowa > Benton County > History of Benton County, Iowa. From materials in the public archives, the Iowa Historical society's collection, the newspapers, and data of personal interviews > Part 15
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"When I came to it. the paper was an eight-column folio. printed on a Washington hand press, which used to call forth strong language on the part of T. B. Moore, who pulled off the weekly edition. In the spring or summer of 1869 the owners bought and installed a George P. Taylor power press. then a nine days' wonder in the country offices, and at the same time enlarged to nine columns to the page, giving it a new dress of type. For years afterwards the paper was admitted to be the handsomest in the Cedar Valley in typographical appearance. It is hardly nec- essary to add that it was 'all home print.'
"Not very long after my entrance into Benton county journal- ism Mr. A. H. Brown, a one-armed veteran of the 13th lowa, and his brother George. started the People's Journal, as a Republican competitor. Mr. Brown had been a popular school teacher in Cedar township. and as he had besides a host of army friends, the presence of his paper became something of a thorn in the flesh-to the Eagle. The Journal was not only a competitor in business. but as there were two Republican factions. it gathered the support of those politicians who had not been satisfied with the course of the Eagle. Journalism, in those days, was intensely local and per- sonal. and it took the least effort to batter your opponent by holding him up to ridicule and contempt. and many were the digs and sarcasms launched at each other. It was a common thing for the Journal to refer to the Eagle as The Buzzard, an epithet that really deeply wounded Mr. Hanford who was very sensitive.
"The late Judge Shane was the colonel of Brown's regiment. naturally took an interest in his success, and was supposed to oc- casionally furnish an editorial. Hle therefore became the target for a good many sarcastic references. It was one of the ironies of fate that some years afterward Col. Shane and I became part- ners in the ownership of that same Journal.
"A. IT. Brown moved to Nebraska in 1872. and was in the newspaper business there for some years. I believe he is now a resident of Central City where two of his sons publish a paper on which Mr. Brown does editorial work. George Brown is a pros- perous banker at Hastings, Nebraska. Soon after retiring from
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the Eagle, Judge Frost bought the Bolle Plain Union, which he conducted for a number of years, removing thence to some western state, where he died not long ago. I remember of deeply offending him by alluding to his paper as the 'Onion.' Mr. Frost was a man of fine education, high principles and a strong writer, but the handicap of deafness. and a retiring disposition, kept him from making acquaintances easily.
"In the fall of 1870. Mr. Hanford purchased the interest of Mr. Holt, the latter buying into the Mason City Republican. A few months after Mr. Hanford sold a half interest to Mr. J. W. Rich, and he assumed the editorial direction, which closed my con- nection with the paper. Mr. Rich proved to be an able and painstaking editor, and wielded a strong unfinence.
"A. C. Holt was subsequently associated with me in the People's Journal, but the progress of consumption forced him to retire. After fighting as brave a battle as was ever waged by any soldier, he succumbed to the disease, dying in California. In January. 1876, Wallace W. Hanford also answered the final sum- mons. Hle was a man of just and honorable life. So have passed away my first employers, men beloved and respected"
I. Van Metre has this to say of William Stoughton, who be- came editor and part proprietor of the Eagle in 1857: educated man and the best writer in the village. One of that sort of men who have talent and capacity for fine work, but who are eternally getting sour on somebody: the disgruntled disposition. Beneath those unfortunate disguises, he was a fine-spirited and most companionable gentleman. Stoughton did not know or had forgot that people rarely, judge you except from what is easily observable on the surface. They never seek under the disagreea- ble outside for the beauty and riches underneath. Stoughton unght to have been one of the foremost men in the history of Vinton."
"BENTON COUNTY DEMOCRAT"
The Benton County Democrat had a troublous existence of more than three years, its first number being dated October 2. 1856, and its last. October 20. 1859. At first D. B. Pyne was the pub- lisher and Nathan Bass, political editor. it being generally under- stood that Samuel Douglas, then and for several years thereafter. county judge, and a democrat of influence, was the power behind
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the venture. But the judge finally gravitated to the Eagle; only about forty of the two hundred subscribers on paper actually cashed in: the Democrat col- lapsed in the early winter and revived the following spring : was sold by Mr. Pyne to James Fowler and Henry Price, and, on May 21, 1859. to John Alex- ander and I. Van Metre. Under that management it was con- 5 dueted with ability. not to say brilliancy (editorially speak- ing); but it was the song of the dying swan, for. although Mr. Pyne re-entered the busi- ness and worked hard to revive it. the paper was forced to suspend after the October election, which went against the Democrats.
D. B. PYNE.
VAN METRE VS. DRUMMOND.
The most exciting local event in the campaign was the fistic encounter which occurred between Editor Van Metre and Editor Tom Drummond. the dashing young Republican and pride of the Eagle. It is said that although on his last financial legs the Democratic champion got rather the best of that kind of an argument. albeit Drummond becane so gallant an officer in the Civil war. The files of the defunet journal have for years re- posed peacefully with those of its old-time enemy, still "alive and kicking."
"EVERY OTHER DAILY UNION, " BELLE PLAINE.
The Belle Plaine Every Other Daily Union, of which C. A. Noble was editor and proprietor. from November. 1907, until his death in 1910. had its origin in the Belle Plaine Transcript, which was established about the middle of December, 1866, by N. C. Weiting. It was a folio. seven cohunns, and Republican in poli- ties. On February 14, 1867, Mr. Weiting sold the office to W. W. Yarhan and William Nixon, and a few months thereafter the
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paper passed into the possession of S. S. Farrington, who materi- ally improved it. On March 4, 1869, Mr. Farrington disposed of the Transcript. to D. IL. Prost, whose connection with the Vinton Eagle has already been noted. It was Mr. Frost who changed the name of the paper to the Belle Plaine Union. George R. Lee was one of its earliest and ablest editors. Alexander Calvert also con- trolled it for some seven years, he being followed by H. Roy Mosnat and Mr. Noble.
BELLE PLAINE "DEMOCRAT-HERALD."
The Democrat-Herald was founded in 1898 by G. M. Myers. It began as a weekly and was then known as the Belle Plaine Herald. Mr. Myers was both editor and publisher. He was an able and forceful writer and the Belle Plaine Herald was not with- ont influence in the political affairs of Benton county. Editor Myers was also a successful business man and his newspaper grew very rapidly in circulation throughout Benton, Poweshiek and Tama counties. But most unfortunately for the new publication when but a little more than two years old, his entire plant was destroyed by fire. Ile immediately went to work energetically to replace the material thus destroyed. and in this undertaking was remarkably successful; but just when fairly getting his newspaper back on its feet again, the great fire of 1894 broke out, sweeping away the entire business section of Belle Plaine, taking the Her- ald along in the general sacrifice. This was a great financial blow to Editor Myers, from which he never fully recovered, and though successful in getting a new plant established and in operation, he was handicapped by his repeated financial losses which made it necessary for him to sell the paper. It was bought by C. N. Whitacre, of California, who conducted the destinies of the Herald for the next two years.
Mr. Whitacre was also an able writer. but very caustic and aggressive in political matters and very bitter in his personal at- tacks on all political opponents. The consequence was. that he lost the patronage of a number of the more active business men of the city and the venture soon ceased to be remunerative. He then . sold to C. V. Walz. of Illinois, who took possession abont June 1. 1898. Ile again sold to Harvey Slack. the present editor and pub- lisher, who took possession October Ist of the same year. In May. 1901. Editor Slack consummated a deal whereby he became the owner of the Belle Plaine Democrat also, and the two papers were consolidated into one.
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Since that time the publication has borne the name of the Democrat-Herald. During the year following the union of the two papers. Dr. Jas. A. Williams became associated with Mr. Slack in the work of editing and publishing the paper. At the close of the year Dr. Williams relinquished his interest and Mr. Slack continued as sole editor and publisher until October 16. 1908, when W. P. Haley took a financial interest and since that time has remained a member of the firm of Slack & Haley, the present publishers of the paper. The Democrat-Herald is decidedly democratie politically, and its influence in local politics is fully recognized. For the last eight years the publication has - been the official paper of the city and its circulation has steadily in- creased. In May, 1893, the paper was changed from a weekly to a semi-weekly and so remains.
SERENO S. FARRINGTON.
Sereno S. Farrington, a leading old-time editor of the county. was a native of Crawford county, Ohio, born June 25, 1840. His father died when he was an infant of two months. the oldest of the eight children in the family being only thirteen years old. After doing what he could to assist the family until he was sixteen years of age, young Farrington left his home. near Bucyrus, Ohio, and came to Springdale. Cedar county, Iowa, where he obtained work in the nursery of G. T. Wood. He remained thus employed until November. 1857. when he went to Marshall county to visit relatives. But in the following month he decided to remain, and commence his apprenticeship as a printer in the Erpress office at Marietta. then the county seat of Marshall county. With the discontinuance of the Erpress in November, 1859. Mr. Farrington next entered the office of the Marengo Citizen, and finished his trade in March. 1860, with the Morrison (Illinois) Sentinel. While thus engaged he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. and in June, 1861, the month after the outbreak of the Civil war, moved to Des Moines. where he entered the Register office. In August he left his case to enlist in Company I. Thirty-ninth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. Hle then returned to > Des Moines and worked in the Register office until September. 1867, when he came to Belle Plaine and bought the Transcript of Diekson and Campbell. In February, 1869. he sold his business to D. II. Frost and in October, 1874. founded the Belle Plaine Review.
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DANIEL II. FROST.
As noted in the history of the press. Daniel HI. Frost bought the Transcript of S. S. Farrington in February, 1869, and changed its name to the Belle Plaine Union. Mr. Frost was an old and able journalist and was in the late seventies the veteran of his profession in Benton county. He also held the office of postmaster at Belle Plaine for about ten years. He graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton. New York. During the earlier years of his man- hood he engaged in farming. but in 1851 sold his land in Stock- bridge, and moved to Oneida, also in Madison county, New York. where in October of that year he established the Telegraph. the first newspaper published in that town. He was the pioneer advo- cate of "free soil" principles in that congressional district, and vigorously supported the widely known Gerrit Smith in his first race for congress. Mr. Frost continued the publication of the Oncida Telegraph until 1854. and in the following year took part in the organization of the Republican party as a member of its first convention held in York state. In 1856 he moved to the territory of Minnesota and engaged in the milling business. also serving as justice of the peace and securing his admission to the bar. In 1858 he was elected to the state senate of Minnesota, sery- ing in the first Republican legislature of that state. He was also postmaster at Northfield. from 1861 to 1865. He established the Northfield Telegraph in the former year, and in 1861 was also elected judge of probate for Rice county. Minnesota. He was ro- elected in 1863, and was at different times a member of the State Normal Board and board of trustees of the deaf, dumb and blind asylum of Minnesota.
Mr. Frost located at Vinton in 1865. when he purchased a half interest in the Eagle of W. W. Hanford, then sole proprietor. and acted as its editor until October. 1868, when he sold his in- terest to A. C. Holt. In the following February. he bought the Belle Plaine Transcript of S. S. Farrington, and, as stated changed its name to the Belle Plaine Union. He was first appointed post- master of Belle Plaine in December. 1872. and in January, 1877. was re-appointed for a term of four years.
". PEOPLE'S JOURNAL." VINTON
Mention has already been made of the People's Journal. which first appeared as a distinct publication December 19. 1868. although there were two ephemeral ventures which may be called
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its predecessors. Early in the spring of 1865 Frank and Weed commenced the publication of the Benton County News at Vinton, but they failed to make a success of it and the office passed into the hands of James Wood, trustee of their bankrupt concern.
In the spring of 1868. Harrison Berry, who had returned from Pike's Peak with some others of the Vinton colony. caught the legislative fever of the hottest kind and, to further his ambitions. revived the News as a democratie paper under the name of the Standard. Mr. Berry was nominated without diffienlty. but failed of an election, although he afterward became a member of the Kansas legislature and eut quite a figure in the politics of that state.
J. F. Pyne, as publisher. editor and what not, floated the Standard along for about six months longer, when it was sold to Alfred II. and George Brown, who. as stated. began the pub- lication of the Journal. They made the paper a republican sheet. and thus put a period to the second democratie newspaper of Ben- ton county. It made its appearance as an eight-column folio. and in 1871 was changed to a six-colunm quarto and a semi- weekly. During the succeeding two years it was managed and edited most of the time by A. H. Brown, a Civil war soldier with an empty sleeve and a lively pen. On April 1. 1872. he sold the paper and plant to C. R. Wilkinson and Company, and moved temporarily to Nebraska. The People's Journal continued to ap- pear under various auspices and conditions until 1881. when it was purchased by Rich & Murphy, proprietors of the Eagle and dis- continued. 1
VINTON'S FIRST DEMOCRATIC EDITOR.
John F. Pyne, whose name has been mentioned in connection with the Benton County Democrat and the Standard. was the first and most prominent democratic editor of Vinton. Hle was born in the town of Ovid. Seneca county. New York, and was the oldest of seven sons in a family of twelve children. At the age of four years the family moved to Boston, where he attended the first school on Corn Hill. Six years later the family returned to New York state where he learned the cordwainer's trade with his father and bought the home for the family that his father had rented for a number of years. At the age of sixteen years he was an expert workman. At nineteen years he was graduated from the Oneida Seminary and taught school for four months at twenty
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dollars a month. He read law with Richard Thomas, in Caze- novia, and at twenty-one went to Susquehanna. Pennsylvania, and engaged as bookkeeper and salesman with L. N. Lenheim in an extensive general store. At twenty-four he married Miss Ruth Ann Stringham. of Windsor. New York. and on May 5. 1855. settled in Vinton where he has since resided.
In 1856 Mr. Pyne commeneed the publication of the Benton County Democrat, and later the Standard. In 1876 he became publisher of the Benton County Herald, a few years later selling the property of J. P. Wallace. Mr. Pyne was intimately acquainted with Messrs. Lyman and Foster, the founders of the Eagle. in 1855, and with all of its editors since. He is believed to be the only liv- ing Mason that assisted at the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the old court house in Vinton in April. 1856.
THE "REVIEW" OF VINTON.
The Vinton Review, a weekly of independent action published by E. K. Allen and I. S. Hevener, had its inception in the Benton County Herald, which was established by J. F. Pyne and Sons. July 2. 1878. Those who have ever known Mr. Pyne and his family need not be informed that its polities were straight Demo- vratis aud remained so under his management. It was an eight- column folio weekly. and for some years was the only paper of its political faith in Benton county. In 1884 the Pynes withdrew and the journal continued to appear under its original name until 1894, when George Weber, its publisher, changed it to the Review. Frank and Edward Gerberich (as Gerberich Brothers). Roy Diekinsen and others. issued the paper until 1899. In that year Mr. Dickinson sold his interest to A. L. Flude, who retained the same for about a year. when he disposed of it to James E. Whipple. The Receiver remained under the business and editorial management of Whipple and Gerberich until 1907. when Messrs. Allen and Ilevener came into control.
"BENTON COUNTY TIMES."
The Benton County Times, edited and published by H. G. Kruse, is the official paper and organ of the Democratic party in the county. It was established in 1883 by J. HI. Allen and Dr. A. D. Griffin, the former acting as editor. The plant was moved to Vinton from Van Horne, where Mr. Allen had previously founded a paper. vacating the field in order to establish himself in the news-
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paper business at the county seat. Several years later Dr. Griffin retired and Mr. Allen continued the publication of the paper until 1903. when he sold it to E. T. Matthews. Two years later Mr. Matthews disposed of the business to C. HI. Plattenburg, who. in turn sold to II. G. Kruse in the fall of 1907. The Times is an all home-print weekly paper. each issue containing from eight to twelve pages of local and county matter. Its circulation is about three thousand. and few county publications in the state can boast a larger. It was among the first newspapers in Iowa to add a Mergenthaler linotype machine to its mechanical equipment. Under its present management the Times has gained steadily in circula- tion, volume of business and influence, and is generally recognized as a potent factor in shaping the policies of the county and city.
"WESTERN TELEPHONE JOURNAL, " VINTON.
The Western Telephone Journal, which is the official organ of the independent telephone associations and companies of Iowa. South Dakota. Nebraska and much of the territory designated as the Middlewestern states, is issued from Vinton. its plant and building being neat and up-to-date. Its business is incorporated. with A. H. Ellis as president and treasurer and William M. Traer as vice president and secretary. The Journal was established in 1902, and let its printing until the fall of 1905. when it installed a small plant which has since been increased to the proportions and standard of the modern printery. In 1908 a substantial one story brick building was erected. which virtually covers a site represented by a frontage of forty-two feet and a depth of one hundred and twenty-four.
"GARRISON INDEPENDENT."
The Garrison Independent was established in October. 1898. by Henry Ridge, who was succeeded. as editors and proprietors, by L. E. Deutremont. I. E. Coffee. W. F. Reed and F. M. Springsteen. The last named teok possession in May. 1903. and runs an inde- pendent weekly, leaning toward Republicanismi.
"THE SHELLSBURG CALL."
The Saturday Morning Call. of Shellsburg, was founded Orto- ber 11. 1884, by Thomas A. Carver, who established it as a six-col- nin folio and afterward increased it to a quarto. He continued as
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its editor and proprietor until early in the spring of 1886, when he disposed of the establishment to Carrie T. Horton. In July of the same year Charles F. Stookey and F. C. Summers purchased the business and conducted it until Angust. 1888, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Summers retiring. Mr. Stookey continued as editor and proprietor of the paper until September, 1909. and it was during his able conduct that the name was changed to The Shellsburg Call. At the date mentioned the business was taken over by J. E. Albertson, and Mr. Stookey returned to the practice of the law and continued his dealings in western lands. Ile had already served as county attorney and is recognized as a lawyer, an editor and a business man of ability. Ile is also one of the old-timers of Shellsburg. at and around which were made some of the earliest settlements of the county.
THOMAS A. CARVER.
Thomas A. Carver, founder of the Call. is a Linn county man. born April 24, 1860, and his father. Thomas B .. was a Civil war soldier of the Twentieth Iowa who died at New Orleans in the spring of 1864. while vet in the service. The son was educated in the schools of Shellsburg. and learned the printer's trade in the office of the Shellsburg Record. Mr. Carver not only founded the Y'all but the Western Poultry Journal. the latter being removed to Cedar Rapids.
VAN HORNE "METEOR."
Not long after the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road had been put through Benton county. Van Horne. Keystone and other enterprising stations along the line commenced to agitate the desirability of newspapers. The people of the former town de- vided that they wanted one so promptly that the Comet shot into the sky of journalism in December, 1882. William G. Waters put it forth, but after a time sold the paper to E. K. Allen. now part proprietor of the Vinton Rerice.
VAN HORNE "'ENTERPRISE."
The Van Horne Enterprise next appeared. April 17. 1891. and when it came into the hands of W. II. Wheeler of Blairstown it was changed to the Benton County Record, which is now edited and owned by H. J. Breuer. The publication embraces a Keystone
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department. known as the Keystone Courier, which has a local editor who "gets all the news."
"MOUNT AUBURN NEWS."
The Mt. Auburn News was founded in Fine. 1900, by John Bills. but was sold to Il. B. Lizer, of the Lo Porte City Progress- Review. The paper has since been printed in that city, although the office of publication is maintained at Mt. Auburn, with E. L. Esher as associate editor and Miss Ada Call as local reporter.
"BENTON COUNTY SIGNAL. "
The Benton County Signal was founded at Norway, by W. H. Iloffman, of Center Point. in September. 1900. In 1902 J. E. Friis purchased the plant of Mr. Hoffman and in 1909 sold the business to John T. Smith, cashier of the First National Bank of Norway. The Signal is independent in everything.
DEFUNCT NEWSPAPERS.
On the whole Blairstown has not proven a newspaper town of substantial fruits. although various journalistic attempts were made early and continued to a comparatively late date. . Its first paper was the Herald, issued by W. HI. Wheeler March 1. 1869. and printed for some time at the office of the People's Journal. Vinton. It appeared also that the Journal management controlled the editorial policy of the Blairstown publication to such an extent as to insist upon the insertion of matter into the Herald which was in direct opposition to Mr. Wheeler's views. This became so offensive in the matter of the candidacy of ex Governor Stone for congress that Mr. Wheeler removed from Blairstown and the Ilerald. suspended publication.
In January. 1876, the Independent was established by S. P. Grover, who soon after transferred it to L. H. Barnes. Mr. Barnes failed, J. P. Wallace bought the tottering enterprise and for a unmber of years made a live newspaper of the Independent.
Among other early journals which are now defunct. as far as Benton county is concerned, is the Iowa Fine Stock Gazette, a monthly which was founded by C. R. Wilkinson and Company in July. 1874. and about two years afterward was sold and removed from Vinton to Cedar Rapids. the publication being even then in a flourishing condition.
CHAPTER X. .
EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY.
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