USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 57
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dium. As this is a campaign year, and the number of political papers published throughout the country are almost unlim- ited, we believe an independent paper will be acceptable to a majority of readers- looked npon as an oasis in the desert of political strife. The Independent will en- deavor to give expression to public opin- ion in all public matters, to give a faithful report of all passing events, and keep its readers posted in mercantile matters, markets, etc. Now, if you wish to become a regular reader, our subscription book lies open on the desk, and when your turn comes, you can step up, sign your name, pay your money, and be happy."
The first paper contained six and one- half columns of home advertising and pro- fessional cards, the time tables, and direc- tory of churches and societies, besides spicy local columns, records of births, marriages, etc., for the week. The pat- ronage of the Independent rapidly in- creased, both in subscriptions and adver- tising, and it was not long before Mr. Erion could boast of a safely established business enterprise as the result of his labors on the paper. He has all along conducted it in the channel he started in, and it is to-day independent of politics.
J. B. Erion, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, August 29, 1842, and is a son of Philip and Matilda Erion. He spent his early life, and obtained his edu- cation in his native State. In 1861 he entered the army, enlisting in company A, of the Fourth Ohio Infantry, and serv- ing until October 22, 1862, when he was honorably discharged at Harper's Ferry. He returned from the army to Knox coun- ty, Ohio, where he attended school during
the following winter. January 1, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Leonard, a native of Ohio. In the fall of the same year they removed to Linn county, Iowa, where they resided till 1870, then removing to Bates county, Missouri, which was their home until 1876. In that year they returned to Linn county, where he engaged in the business of keeping a drug and book store, at Springville, con- tinuing it about a year, and during the time published a monthly paper, for the purpose of affording himself, and other business men, an advertising medium. It was called the Springville News. After closing out his drug and book business, he, in company with a young man from Cornell college, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, estab- lished the Springville Independent, to which he devoted his whole time. In 1879, he sold his interest in that paper to his partner, and in March, 1880, removed to Lewis, where he has since remained, engaged in conducting the Independent. Mr. and Mrs. Erion have six children- Jennie Mabel, now the wife of W. A. Terry, Luella M., Alice L., Francis L., Etta P. and L. De Witt. Mr. Erion is post commander of the G. A. R. and per- manent secretary of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
THE MARNE MESSAGE.
A journal with the above name, was started at the town of Marne, by O. C. Bates, in the summer of 1882. The first number bore the date of July 10, 1882, and was a fair specimen of the "art pre- servative." Mr. Bates was a good deal of a writer, and much of the paper was original, and withal consistent.
It passed into the hands of W. H. Sanders, who changed the name to
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE,
and removed it to Atlantic. After set- tling in the latter city, Conrad Linder- man became part owner, but the partner- ship did not long endure. On making the change from Marne to the county- seat, Mr. Sanders indulged in the follow- ing monograph, upon the new quarters:
"As we look through the skylight of our new sanctum, catching the flitting clouds running the race of time, appar- ently hustling along, as it were, to be- come dissipated in etherial space or reach that chemical condition which bids them condense and bathe with refreshing showers the parched earth-we then cast our eyes down to the crowded pavement below and there; hustling along, in the pursuit of business or pleasure, steadily treads the footsteps of humanity, vieing one with the other, seeking the depart- ment suitable to each, buoyed with hope- ful anxiety and ardent anticipations- treading along, directed by the offered opportunities none the less attractive by being so varied. We again look about us with still greater wonderment, so strange is our lot to be thus cast among men and looked upon by some-only a few-as an unnecessary evil; yet, we trust, after we are understood by them, that they will join in with us to aid once more in secur- ing honest legislation.
"To the business men we wish to say, that your success depends upon the farmers who now, as a class, are outrage- ously robbed by exorbitant freight charges and high rates of interest. Their success is your success, and common rea- son among ourselves means success for all; therefore, we ask a share of your pat-
ronage. We will strive to meet all dif- ferences in a candid, fair and conserva- tive manner. Your busy life should not be allowed to distract your attention from the surrounding encroachments upon your countrymen, and an occasional peru- sal of our columns will not, at least, darken yonr pathway. We invite you to consider, with us, the means to arrive at the wisest conclusions.
"A special feature of our columns will be to aid the laboring classes in receiving for their toil a liberal, yet equitable, com- pensation for their services. The subsi- dized press, which the old parties control, heed not their righteous demands, but seek to place labor on a plane of serfdom and increase the burdens already too grievous to bear without earnest protest. Yours fraternally,
SANDERS AND LINDERMAN."
The paper is now edited by W. H. San- ders, who purchased the interest of Mr. Linderman. The paper is the particular champion of what is known as the Green- back-Labor party, for the advancement of whose principles it has labored and is laboring manfully. Mr. Sanders has a great and ready flow of language, and each issue of his paper teems with scath- ing remarks on the abuse of power, the growth of monopoly, the supineness of existing parties, and the necessity for the organization of labor for its own protec- tion.
W. H. Sanders was born on Novem- ber 27, 1852, in Lorain county, Ohio. His parents, Daniel and Mehitabel San- ders were farmers, who were raised in that State. In 1854 they removed to In- diana and stayed there one and a half
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
years, and then returned to their old home in Ohio. ITis father was a veteran of the Forty-first Ohio Infantry, company H, and was severely wounded in battle. During the last two years of the war the subject of this sketch carried mail over- land. In 1865 the whole family moved to Branch county, Michigan, and lived there until the year of 1870, when they emigrated to Newton, Jasper county, Iowa. November, 1871, they settled on new land in Franklin township, Cass county, Iowa, and improved it and made a success of farming.
December 15, 1874, Mr Sanders mar- ried Mary R. Hughes, of the same coun- ty; and as a result of said union, have an interesting family of three boys, namely -Vernie D., born September 28, 1875; Brinton B., born June 2, 1881, and Floyd A., born December 30, 1883. Mr. San- ders engaged for several years in the mercantile trade at Wiota, in this county, and had his stock of goods destroyed by fire; after which he moved to Marne, and published the People's Advocate. In the fall of 1883 he removed it to Atlantic, where he especially espoused the cause of labor, and has made his paper a power in the hands of the people, by whom he is held in high esteem, and is fast rising to a position of much usefulness and in- fluence.
THE SUNDAY MORNING CLIPPER.
This paper was established the first of Jannary, 1883, by Chas. W. Moseley, who had previously conducted a job printing office in Atlantic for some time. It was a small, three-column folio, set in nonpa- reil type. The first issue appeared Jan-
uary 7, which contained the following salutatory:
"This, the initial number of the Clipper, comes to you this morning as a specimen copy of our efforts toward trying to put upon a substantial basis what we think there is room for a livelihood in this city, a Sunday paper, published at home, for the benefit of our home people. Of course, there is probably vast room for improvement. In fact, we do not even expect to attain a standing in journalism, in the way of a Sunday morning edition, by the issuing of this small, amateur sheet, but by a combined effort on our part and the assistance of those who sanc- tion our efforts in this direction, we do think that it can, in time, be elevated to a standing among the press, such as will do just credit to our city in the way of a Sun- day morning publication. Still, we may not be correct as to this, and it may be a somewhat hazardous undertaking; but we are here to realize whatever may termi- nate from our labors-be it success or failure. We do not put a very high value upon the Clipper in its present form, but we are confident in the belief that we can furnish a sufficient amount of literary, local and miscellaneous news of this city and vicinity to inore than exceed the cost price asked therefor-three cents per copy. We do not intend to devote much space to editorial matter of so deep a na- ture as would stagger a Webster mind to comprehend its meaning; on the contrary, our column's will be devoted almost ex- clusively to the literary, social and other news of interest and importance, which transpires in and about the city, and also for the advancement thereof. We shall
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
always endeavor to fearlessly advocate such principles as our honest convictions tell us are right, and to denounce all others of an opposite nature, and also to make the Clipper a paper such as the lit- eral meaning that our motto implies-"A journal for the people, by the people, and of the people." However our motto may appear to some, we wish it to be under- stood that we shall maintain the privilege of the press and to set forth such ideas as we deem just and proper, and not to be governed or controlled by any party or clique."
The paper was successful from the start, and the following March was enlarged to eight pages, and neatly printed on a tinted book paper. Not long afterward he asso- ciated with him S. W. Teagarden, under the firm name of Moseley and Teagarden, and in the issue of April 15th the follow- ing announcement appeared:
"A change has taken place in the pro- prietorship and management of the Clip- per this week, which we do not hesitate in predicting will be for the best interest and advantage not only to ourself, but all our subscribers and patrons generally. Mr. Wilmot Teagarden, a long-time and well-known resident of Atlantic, and who has been connected with the Telegraph office of this city for several years past, has purchased a half interest and will hereafter share equally the success and merits of the Clipper, if such may term - nate from the united efforts put forth in that direction. It is useless for us to add anything by way of introduction, or to extol the ability or qualifications of Mr. Teagarden as a newspaper man, as his long
acquaintance and business transactions with the business men of Atlantic and all with whom he has come in contact will verify. Both of the proprietors being practical printers, it will enable us to pre- sent to the people of Atlantic in the near future a much better paper than at pres- ent, as several good improvements will be made as soon as the necessary arrange- ments can be completed. Thanking our many friends for the kind consideration and patronage they have tendered the Clipper in the past, we will try and doubly merit an increased patronage in the future."
May 6, 1883, the paper appeared en- larged to a five-column quarto, printed from new type and the name changed to the Sunday Herald, in which form it con- tinued permanently. The first of Novem- ber following, Mr. Teagarden retired from the paper. It was continued by Mr. Moseley until' the first of March, 1884, when the publication was suspended. Mr. Moseley was a spicy writer, but inexperi- ence led him into expressions that did the business no particular good.
THE ANITA TRIBUNE
Was established in the town of Anita in December, 1883, by Sherman F. Myers. The initial number of this journal ap- peared on the 20th, of that month, and was and is a neatly gotten up eight column folio and was in politics, independent. Mr. Myers, although a young man, is a ready writer and has a fluent style. He had had charge of. the Times, but had severed his connection with it to institute the new journal. In starting out, he says by way of salutatory:
e
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
"It is with pleasure that we present to our many old friends and readers this week, the initial number of the Anita Tribune. Although at one time having charge of the Times, it has passed from under our control, and the Tribune is now a candidate for public favor among the many journals of Cass county.
"Anita already has one paper, and though it seems a risky adventure to start a second one, we are willing to try it, be- lieving that the Tribune will be worthy of a share of the public patronage, and in the course of time be a welcome visitor in every home in eastern and central Cass county.
"Our esteemed friend of the Times has jumped from the political wall onto the Republican side, and will do what he can with his 'voice and vote' for that party. He announces that he is a strong believer in the principles of the Republican party, and further states that to publish an inde. pendent paper, 'is a position untenable by one in whose blood there is a drop of pa- triotism or positive principle.' Every man has a right to his opinion in all mat- ters, and if he chooses to be independent on political questions he has, probably, just as much patriotism and principle with- in him, as the disciple of any political party. The Tribune will be an outspoken, independent sheet, will work for the best interests of the town and its business men, and if it sees proper to express its opinion on any subject, it will do so with- out fear or regard to party.
"It is our intention to publish the best lo- cal paper in the county, and although this is saying a good deal, we propose to ac- complish the task if perseverance and hard work are any good.
"We ask of the business men of this city an ample portion of their newspaper patronage, as a paper without support is a wagon without wheels. Thanking you all for past favors, and asking a liberal continuation of the same, we again launch out on the journalistic sea, with the de- termination to either make or break!"
Mr. Myers has continued to run this paper to the present time, although it has lately assumed a democratic tone, and is one of the leading journals of that party in this section.
Sherman F. Myers, a native of Iowa, was born at Fairfield, Jefferson county, November 4, 1863. He is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Koons) Myers, the former a resident of Fairfield, Iowa, and the latter a resident of Grant township, this county. In 1874, in company with his mother, brother and two sisters, Sherman came to Cass county, settling near the town of Wiota. Here he engaged at whatever employment he could find, and for some time earned many spare dimes on the streets of Wiota as a boot-black, to aid in his sup- port. His opportunities for gaining an education were not of the best, but were always improved. He remained here un- til November, 1878, when he went to Anita and entered the office of the Anita Times, as a printer's "devil," under the direction of Charles F. Chase. When that paper was removed to Atlantic, Sher- man went with it. He afterwards worked in the Audubon Advocate office, in Audu- bon county, and several other places, after the completion of his trade. Since the completion of the printer's trade, Sher- man's advancement and success in life has been rapid. About March, 1, 1883, he
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
became the editor and publisher of the Anita Times, being employed by the pro- prietors, S. C. Rood and Company, who had very recently purchased the same of E. W. Blakesley. He conducted the pa- per successfully and creditably until No- vember of that year, when Rood and Com- pany disposed of the office to S. W. Teagarden. He then established the pa- per of which he is now sole editor and proprietor-the Anita Tribune. Mr. Myers was married in Anita, December 28, 1882, to Mamie La France, of Dubuque, Iowa, a daughter of Capt. Louis and Mary La France. Capt. La France is a native of France, and Mrs. La France, of Scot- land. Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Myers have one child-Jessie L., born September 17, 1883.
GRISWOLD ADVOCATE.
No town can ever "expect to become known among men," unless it has a good newspaper to scatter the news broadcast, and to give the business interests a boom. In this regard Griswold has been very fortunate. Long before the business of the town would sustain it, the Advocate was established there. The first issue of this paper was printed on the 18th day of February, 1880, when there were only some three or four firms doing business in the town. It was printed under some difficulty, however, as the room in which the office was located was only sheeted over-head, and after the editors got fairly to work running off their first edition, there came up a driving, blowing snow, and for all they had a red-hot fire in the office, the snow fell to the depth of an inch on the office floor.
The founders of the Advocate were G. H. Ragsdale, editor and publisher of the
Chariton Patriot, and D. H. Scott, under the firm name of Ragsdale and Scott, edi- tors and publishers, and D. H. Scott, man- aging editor. Following are the intro- ductory words used by these gentlemen: "Our first observation here- indicates that there is a discount on words and a premium on results in Griswold. This is business and a characteristic of the young town which we are glad to see, and one we hope to encourage. Bearing this in mind, we will be very brief in introducing ourselves, and in the remarks usual on an occasion of this kind.
"The Advocate has come to stay. It is paid for and establishlied on a sure basis its weekly issues will be the products of our own labor and not of hired help. It can and will live, even on indifferent sup- port. It does not depend upon public sympathy, and does not want the patron- age of those who may be afraid that they will not get value received. There is not a man in the place who has any doubt in regard to the benefit which a good paper is to a town, and we do not believe that there is even one man here who would shirk his fair share of the expense of sus- taining a public institution of this kind. Politically we are of the opinion that there is no ground upon which true and respec- table men can stand neutral. Neither of the parties are what we would like to have them, and never will be until the Golden Rule becomes the guide of the masses. Dishonesty is abroad in the land, and its out-croppings appear everywhere. It is more conspicuous in politics simply be- cause men have more opportunities in that field, and their conduct is more ex- posed. When common honesty is taught
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by precept and example around every fire- side, we will have better society, larger churches, fewer hypocrites and truer men to lead and control the politics of the country. The people must choose he- tween such parties as they have and do what they can to purify them by purify- ing themselves and those growing up un- der their teaching. We have but little patience with that class of frands who think they are too honest to be identified with either party and go straddling around among all of them. Our earnest belief is that the interests of the people are safest in the hands of the Republican par- ty, and we are anchored fast to that polit- ical faith. That party, in this section, is already largely in the majority, and has most of the established papers working in its interest. Under these circumstan- ces we expect to devote our at ention al- most exclusively to the building up of Griswold and to the material interests of the townships and counties of which it is now the trade center."
RAGSDALE & SCOTT, Proprietors. D. H. Scorr, Managing Editor.
Of the very many flattering notices and cheering words extended to the Advocate from the newspapers throughout the State, the following from the Chariton Patriot is a fair sample:
"D. H. Scott, for several years a stand- by in the Patriot office, has gone to Gris- wold, Cass county Iowa, where he takes a half interest in and immediate charge of the Advocate, a new paper just started in that stalwart young city. It gives ns great pleasure to introduce young Scott to the Griswold and Cass county people,
as one in every way worthy of their con- fidence and patronage. He is industri- ous and economical, with fixed habits and character. He has never been faltered in supporting a fatherless family, five in number, or failed to meet every obligation promptly and with scrupulous honesty. Ilis folks will join him early in the spring and make their permanent home in Gris- wold."
The only change that has taken place in the management of the Advocate since it was first established occurred the 1st of April, 1881, when Mr. Ragsdale disposed of his interest therein to his partner, Mr. Scott. Following is Mr. Ragsdale's fare- well remarks:
"The undersigned has sold his interest in the Advocate to D. H. Scott, who has been its editor and manager from the initial number to the present time. Un- der his charge the paper has prospered and been one of the most industrions agencies in the upholding of Griswold and making the new town a name for public spirit and rapid development second to no point in Iowa.
"We heartily congratulate him and the young city over the future, which gives the one an industrious young man of abil- ity as an editor and publisher and the other, so generous, wide-awake and ap- preciative people, as patrons. The first days of the Advocate were the first days of experience which young Scott had in editorial and business management and the development he has made has been no less rapid than the vigorous young city which he has selected as his abiding place.
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"We retire from a business connection with the office in the full belief that the reputation of the paper will not only be sustained but greatly enlarged " G. H. RAGSDALE. Chariton, Iowa, April 7, 1881.
The Advocate, as stated in the salutatory, is established upon a sure foundation and has steadily kept step in the onward walks of life with the community in which it is published until the present time, when it enjoys a patronage that any per- son may well feel proud of. It has a cir- culation of almost seven hundred copies and is widely quoted from by the press throughout western Iowa.
David Hamilton Scott, editor and pro- prietor of the Advocate, is a young man of twenty-eight years of age. He is of Scotch-Irish parentage. He was born in Lucas county, Iowa, and when only a few months old, his parents moved to Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania. When he was thirteen years old his father died, and as he was the only boy in the family, had thrown npon him the care of an invalid mother and four sisters, one of which was older than himself, two years, and the other three much younger. Having but 1
very little means and with the hope of regaining his mother's health, the family moved to southern Kansas in 1870, where they resided until the fall of 1872, when they returned to Iowa. In the spring of 1873, he entered the office of the Chariton Patriot, as "devil," and gradually worked his way up until the summer of 1875, when he was made foreman of that office, which position he filled with great credit to himself and his employers on account of his excellent workmanship. Mr. Scott's career in Griswold has been an unusually bright one. He has ever stood by his mother and sisters and has won the uni- versal esteem of all the good people with whom he has come in contact. On the 19th day of April, 1883, he led to the hy -. menal altar, Miss Rebecca Black, an ac- complished young lady, and the first teacher in the primary department of the Griswold schools. This he says is the best act of his life and he advises all his young friends to go and do likewise, and in the words of old Rip Van Winkle, he will say, "here's to your good health, your friends good health, and may you all live long and prosper."
CHAPTER XVI .
EDUCATIONAL.
History has furnished no lens powerful enough for us to discern the beginning of the school system,if system it can be called, that, in the early dawn of human intelli-
gence first undertook to instruct the young. It appears like some fixed star which is lost in the nebula of mythology, and is obscured from our eyes in the misty past.
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