USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 70
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 70
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The power for good or evil of the press is to day unlimited. The short-comings of the politicians are made known through its columns; the dark deeds of the wicked are exposed, and each fear it alike. The controlling influence of a Nation, State or county, is its press, and the press of Cerro Gordo county is no exception to the rule.
The local press is justly considered among the most important institutions of every city, town and village. The people of every community regard their particu- lar newspaper or newspapers, as of pecu- liar value, and this is not merely on account of the fact alluded to, but because these papers are the repositories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and the achievements, that go to make up final history. One by one these things are gathered and placed in type, one by
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
one the papers are issued, one by one these papers are gathered together and bound, and another volume of local, gen- eral and individual history is laid away imperishable.
CERRO GORDO PRESS.
This was the first newspaper established in Cerro Gordo county. In June, 1858, Datus E. Coon came from Osage, where he had been running the land office news- paper, bringing printing material with him, set up his press and began the publi- cation of the Cerro Gordo Press at Mason City. It is claimed to have been a seven column folio, all printed at home. Mr. Coon was not a practical printer, and the machanical work attended upon getting out the Press was performed by Will E. Tucker and C. C. Doolittle. The paper was rather neutral as to political doctrine, but Datus E. Coon was a democrat. The publication of the Press was continued at Mason City for nearly two years, when the office was moved to Hancock county. For several years the Press was the official organ for half a dozen counties in this region, and it is said printed enough tax list supplements to carpet every house in the county. When the war broke out Datus E. Coon abandoned his newspaper and went to the army as a captain in the grand old 2d Iowa Cavalry. He was promoted to major, then colonel and finally won the stars of a brevet brigadier general. After the war closed he located in Alabama and attempted to make that State his home, but having been a Union soldier was a poor recommend to the people of that State. But being a plucky man and a free American citizen he de- termined to stay. He bore all kinds of
petty abuse until about 1877, when he re- ceived the appointment of United States consul at Baracoa, Cuba, where he removed with his family, and still lives.
CERRO GORDO REPUBLICAN.
· This is the oldest established news- paper in Cerro Gordo county. In the spring of 1861 J. H. Aylesworth, who had been teaching the village schools, went to Chicago and bought a printer's outfit, which he moved to Mason City and opened up as the Republican office. The first issue made its appearance in April, 1861. It was a six column folio, all printed at home, and was well filled with local and general news and advertise- ments. Aylesworth continued the pub- lication of the Republican for a little less than a year, when he retired, selling the establishment to Horace G. Parker and C. W. Tobin. The latter had been one of the compositors in the office They took charge of the paper on the 1st of January, 1862. Mr. Parker had just assumed the duties of county treasurer and recorder, to which office he had been elected. Dur- ing the summer C. W. Tobin went into the army and left Mr. Parker alone with the publication of the paper on his hands. He continued alone until the Ist of Janua- ry, 1863, when Silan Noyes became in- terested in the publication of the Repub- . lican. Mr Noyes was a practical printer and had had newspaper experience. The firm remained Parker & Noyes until the summer of 1867, when Mr. Parker retired and the firm became Noyes & Sirrine- Silan Noyes and S. A. Sirrine.
After this the paper passed through several different firms. Noyes & Holt succeeded Noyes & Sirrine. Then came
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
N. V. Brower, Brower & Russell, and N. V. Brower again.
In the fall of 1873, Silan Noyes and George R. Lanning bought the paper, and they continued in partnership until the death of Mr. Noyes, Jan. 18, 1875. After the death of his partner, Mr. Lanning took the paper. Unfortunately the files of the Republican up to the year 1875 have all been lost, so the exact dates of the changes cannot be given. The files which have been preserved, commence with the date of Sept. 16, 1875, as Vol. 15, No. 2. At this time George R. Lanning was editor and proprietor, and the paper a nine column folio, all printed at home. Lanning con- tinued the publication of the Republican until Oct. 6, 1876, when John West, to whom the office was indebted, took charge of the paper. George R. Lanning was a young man of fine ability and prospect. He had grown up in Cerro Gordo county, learned his trade here, and was well known and popular. He was a pungent writer, and a good newspaper man. In 1883 he was running a paper in Dakota, and was succeeding well.
In taking charge of the Republican, in the issue of Oct. 12, 1876, John West gave notice that he meant business by present- ing the following salutatory :
"To whom it may concern : I, John West, am now the owner of the Cerro Gordo Republican, and also all assets due the same, George R. Lanning paying all liabilities, previous to October 6, 1876, and all parties indebted to the Republican office, are advised to call and settle with
J. J. Clark, as the books and accounts are in his hands for immediate collection.
JOHN WEST."
About the 1st of November, 1876, John West sold the Republican to Hon. W. V. Incas, late from Waverly, Bremer county. In closing his connection with the paper, Mr. West, among other things, said : "When I took the Republican I found it necessary, as a business precaution and to ascertain the exact condition of the finances of this office, to notify every subscriber of the amounts which appeared to be due. In doing so I did not intend to cause any hard feelings or litigation. It was a mat- ter of business." In introducing Mr. Lucas to the people Mr. West further said: "Hon. W. V. Lucas has been a resident of Waverly for fifteen years. He was a soldier in the army. He is a good citizen, upright, moral, identified with the Church and the best interests of society. He is a republican and a candidate for Presidential elector on our ticket. He has a fine family. He is a newspaper man and has been con- nected with the Waverly Republican as editor for eight years, and the Shell Rock News for one year. * His praise * is in all mouths. We congratula e Mason City on this accession. It is valuable in any way you view it-commercial, finan- cial, political, moral or intellectual."
With the issue of Nov. 9, 1876, Capt. Lucas assumed editorial control, saying in his salutatory :
"We come to Mason City and Cerro Gordo county to make our home in the future. We shall do our humble part in the work of developing the resources of the country, and in building up the inter- ests of morality, sobriety and good order
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
in all the walks of society. * * It is our purpose to make the Republican the exponent of the doctrine of the repub- lican party, and to elevate political morals and integrity to a standard of respecta- bility. We shall eschew all personalities in the discussions of questions of public interest as far as possible, and the cultiva- tion of sociality and harmony in the party as well as out of it. We shall studiously labor to please and benefit our patrons, and if we deserve it, we invite their sup- port and good will. In short we promise to do the best we can to make the Repub- lican an indispensible article in every household in the county. With this bow and introduction we begin our labors."
Capt. Lucas continued alone in the management of the Republican until Oct. 9, 1879, when he sold a half interest to C. G. Sargent, late editor of the Hancock Independent, and the firm became Lucas & Sargent. Mr. Sargent was well known in Cerro Gordo county, having lived in Mason City and worked in the Republican office. He was an excellent printer and a fair writer. After a connection of five months with the Republican, on the 4th of March, 1880, the partnership was dis- solved and Mr. Lucas continued the man- agement of the paper, assisted by his son, A. B. Lucas, and in a few weeks the firm became W. V. Lucas & Son.
In the fall of 1880 Capt. W. V. Lucas was elected auditor of State, and although he was absent at Des Moines most of the time attending to official duties, the old partnership name was retained. Briney Lucas became editor and attended to the business of the office. After the expira- tion of Mr. Lucas' term of office he re-
turned to his newspaper work at Mason City, and the paper continued under the management or W. V. Lucas & Son until the 12th of April, 1883, when Leo Chap- man purchased the office. Mr. Lucas and his family, a few months after the sale, removed to Dakota.
In closing their connection with the Republican, Messrs. Lucas introduced their successor, Mr. Chapman, saying:
"Mr. Leo Chapman, who succeeds us, is a gentleman of ability and life-long ex- perience in the newspaper business. He began his work in the State Register office, and by faithful service worked his way up from the case to a responsible place on the staff of that great paper. In all re- spects, Mr. Chapman is worthy of the con- fidence of the patrons of the Republican. In politics he is a sound and reliable re- publican, one who believes in the princi- ples of the party. In all respects we most heartily recommend him to the read- ers of the Republican. He has come to live in Mason City, and become a perma- nent fixture of the county. He is a stranger now but will be glad to meet you. Call on him and give him a welcome such as a worthy gentleman should re- ceive.
W. V. LUCAS, A. B. LUCAS."
On taking charge of the Republican, Mr. Chapman presented a lengthy and able salutatory, setting forth his views re- garding matters involved and the course his paper should pursue. He delivered a a fitting tribute to Captain and A. B. Lucas on their retirement from the Iowa journalistic field. As regards the political policy of the Republican, Mr. Chapman said that it "would continue as heretofore
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
straight and pronounced in its republican- ism-it only passes from the hands of a soldier into those of a soldier's son-and shall serve the best interests of that great party in city, county, State and Nation, so long as it continues to promote the dear- est interests of the whole people and the republic."
Leo Chapman is still the proprietor, publisher and edi or of the Republican. Under his management the Republican has prospered and grown more pupular than ever before. It has attained a large circulation, and, without exageration, is one of the most effective advertising me- diums in the State. It has varied in size, as all journals do, but is now a nine col- umn folio, all printed at home. The office is thoroughly equipped with all the modern printing improvements, power press, etc.
Mr Leo Chapman, editor and proprietor of the Mason City Republican, was born in Valparaiso, Ind., Feb. 5, 1857, and while still a babe his family removed to Windsor, Ill., where he lived till after the war, when the family were driven back to Indiana by ultra northern rebelism on ac- count of the father's participation in the Union service. In July, 1870, the family removed west to Iowa, locating at Mar- . shalltown. When the following spring ar- rived Leo, by this time quite a boy, was sent with the family to break out a new farm near Edenville, Marshall county, while the father worked at his trade in Marshalltown. At the age of twenty-one our subject entered upon an apprentice- ship in the office of the Iowa State Reg- ister, at Des Moines, and continued to work and study in that capacity, occasionally
doing reportorial work, until the proprie tors took him from mechanical work, and installed him local editor of that great paper. He remained in this position until the convention of the nineteenth General Assembly of Iowa, when he was made press reporter for the Legislature in the house, and as a mark of appreciation for his selv- ices here, the members of that body on ad- journing presented him with a handsome gold watch bearing the following inscrip- tion: "Presented to Leo Chapman, (Chap.) journalist, bythe members of the nineteenth General Assembly of Iowa, as a token of esteem. 1882." On April 10, 1883, Mr. Chapman assumed ownership and editorial control of the Mason City Republican, where he is to-day and in which occupa- tion and paper he expects to live and die, as he is an enthusiastic lover of his busi- ness and location. He is temperate in habits, republican in politics, American in nativity and notion, and in religion is as liberal as the world is wide.
CLEAR LAKE INDEPENDENT.
The first newspaper established at Clear Lake was the Independent. Silan Noyes and John M. Brainard were the editors and proprietors. The first issue made its appearance on the 10th of February, 1860. It was a six column folio all printed at home. The first issue contained a finan- cial review of Cerro Gordo county's his- tory to 1860, and stated that warrants had been issued to the amount of $19,556.98; amount outstanding $5,754.47. The publi cation of the paper was continued at Clear Lake for about one year, when it was moved to Upper Grove, Hancock county, where it was published a short time by Brainard and then discontinued. The
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
file of the first year of the Independent is now in the hands of George E. Frost. Silan Noyes is dead. John M. Brainard is now publishing a paper in Boone county, this State.
CLEAR LAKE OBSERVER.
In the winter of 1869-70 H. D. Lindley brought a small job press and a quantity of type to Clear Lake, and induced a few of the citizens to subscribe money to fit np a newspaper office; so type and material were accordingly ordered. Upon its arrival most of the subscribers refused to pay, and George E. Frost advanced the money and paid for the outfit. Mr. Lind- ley issued the first number of the Observer in April, 1870. He published fifteen numbers of the paper and left, leaving Mr. Frost with a printing office on his hands. The latter employed a printer and published the paper until May, 1872, when he sold the office to Judge M. P. Rosecrans. With Mr. Frost at the helm, the Observer was strongly republican. It was ably edited, and did good work for the party it supported. With Mr. Rose- crans the paper became independent in tone and sentiment, and was among the best edited papers the county has ever had. Mr. Rosecrans continued its publication until December, 1872, when he sold the office, and it was moved to Belmond, Wright county. The press upon which the Observer was printed during this time was the first abolition press ever used in the United States, and the identical press owned and used by Lovejoy at the time of his murder at Upper Alton, Ill., when it was thrown into the Mississippi river by a mob, where it lay until 1859, when D. B. Mead, of Cresco, bought it as
it lay for $35, and raised the press and a quantity of the type, bringing them to Iowa, and used them at Cresco until they came to Clear Lake. Immediately after the office was moved away, the citizens began to canvass plans to get another printing office and induced George E. Frost to purchase another. He went to Chicago and purchased an entirely new outfit, shipping it to Clear Lake the first week in January, 1873, but owing to an unusual storm it did not reach its destina- tion until March, when the office was put in order, and the first number was issued March 15, 1873, by Frost & Bush. Mr. Bush withdrew from the firm before the end of the second month. Mr. Frost con- tinned the publication of the paper alone for one year, when he sold the office to Mr. Brady, a printer, who had done the mechanical work in the office. Mr. Brady published the paper for one year but did not meet with success, so Mr. Frost again took charge of it. In 1879 Mr. Frost sold the office to F. J. Bush, who changed the name to
THE CLEAR LAKE MIRROR.
In referring to the change, Mr. Bush said:
"With this issue, No. 1, Vol. 1, of the Observer that was, and the Mirror that is, we offer ourselves as a candidate for admis- sion to the editorial fraternity of Iowa, and, taking it for granted that we will be admitted, at least on probation of not in full connection, we tip our beaver and consider ourselves one of the "press gang." * *
* In politics the Mirror will be republican so long as the republican party adheres to and carries out
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
the principles as heretofore. We intend to give our readers all the current local news of interest, and as much general news as our limited space will admit."
In a short time Mr. Bush sold to M. Cooley & Sons, but in a short time, in company with D. W. Hurn, re-purchased it. They still conduct it. The Mirror is now a neatly printed six column folio, well managed, ably edited, and has attained a good circulation. It is repub- lican and prohibition in sentiment.
The Park Herald is also published at the Mirror office during notable times at Clear Lake.
MASON CITY EXPRESS.
This paper was established at Mason City in December, 1870, by Hamlin & Kirk-J. G. Hamlin and I. R. Kirk. It first made its appearance as an eight col- nmn folio, well filled with advertisements and interesting news, both local and for- eign, presenting to the reader a neat and attractive appearance. It had for its motto "Business," and during its career, under the management of Hamlin & Kirk, it never belied its motto. In their saluta- tory, the editors said :
"With this, the first number of the Mason City Express, we make our bow to the public, and assume the responsibilities of editors and publishers of what we hope to make a live republican paper. We accept the position with a full understand- ing of the manifold and arduous duties which it brings, and with a firm determin- ation of pleasing those who may favor us with their patronage. We propose that the Express shall partake of and ex- press the spirit of the times and of the country-that invincible spirit of advance-
ment which is a sure forerunner of suc- cess, and which is characteristic of Mason City and its surroundings. In order that we may do this, we ask for a liberal pat- ronage from those who, like ourselves, are interested in the growth and development of our city and county. The influence of our paper shall ever be used in the interests of the community at large, and in the advancement of every laud- able enterprise. We shall endeavor to support right and justice under all circum- stances and upon all occasions, both mor- ally and politically : for upon the su- premacy of right and justice our safety as a Nation and community depends."
In July, 1871, Will Ed. Tucker and H. R. Spink became publishers and proprie- tors of the Express. In leaving the edito- rial chair Hamlin & Kirk said :
"Since the issue of the last Mason City Express, we have sold the establishment to Messrs. Tucker & Spink, who have had charge of the mechanical execution of the paper since its birth, little more than six months ago. To-day we occupy the chair only long enough to acquaint our old pa- trons and friends of this fact, and bid them a kind editorial good-bye. In doing so, we would gladly review the history of the past months of labor 10 make a good home paper, but time and space forbid ; suffice it to say, we quit the helm from no lack of support or disappointment what- ever. Our success and the liberal patron- age received from a generous and appre- ciative people, has been beyond our most sanguine hopes. But we have received our price for the establishment from men who, we are confident, can and will keep the Express up to its present enviable
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
standing, and we feel happy to leave it in such good hands. The new proprietors are well known to most of our readers. Mr. Tucker, our old foreman, years ago acquired the reputation of the 'best news- paper printer in Iowa'-and he should be, after an experience of nineteen years at the business. He has the honor of having set the first stickful of type ever put up in Mason City. Mr. Spink is a young man of sterling integrity, steady, industrious habits, careful business qualifications, and a good printer. Both of them like to work, and our old patrons, to whom we heartily commend them, will find them at case or press six days in the week.
"We bespeak for our successors the con- tinned liberal support and patronage their handiwork has helped us to build up ; and wishing prosperity to the Express, and all its patrons, we retire. "
In the same issue, the new proprietors saluted the public in the following lan- guage :
" We have neither time nor space this week, to devote to marking out a long- winded platform for the future govern- ment of the Express. We shall make few promises, nor promise more than we perform. By the 'new departure, ' above explained, we find ourselves editors and publishers of this paper. The flattering introduction or recommend to your favor, from our quondam bosses, will let us out of the extensive task of enumerating our own good points and superior qualifica- tions for the station. Hence we have . only to promise the readers and advertis- ing patrons of the paper, that it shall lose nothing in local or general interest by the change. We shall regularly issue a live
republican paper, brimming full of local and latest general news ; and to this end we have no hesitancy in asking the gener- ous people of Cerro Gordo county to lend us their aid and comfort in the way of good words and greenbacks."
The paper continued under the man- agement of this firm until in June, 1874, when Mr. Spink became sole publisher and proprietor. Mr. Tucker, however, continued work on the paper as editor.
In April, 1876, Mr. Spink sold the pa- per to Will Ed. Tucker, and in the issue of April 13, penned the following parting words :
"With this number, we close our con- nection with the Express, having sold the entire establishment to our present co- editor and valued assistant, Will Ed. Tucker. This change is made necessary by ill health, which will no longer permit us to continue the duties of the office.
"In writing these last few words, we cannot omit the opportunity to return our thanks to the citizens of Mason City and the whole county, for the good will and substantial encouragment which has been so generally extended to us during the five years of our connection with this paper. To the liberal and public spirited business men of this city, especially, and to our former and present county officials, who have all proved themselves steadfast friends, do we feel grateful for the gen erous patronage which has ever been ac- corded the Express, and to which is due, in a great measure, its past and present prosperity.
"Of our successor, we need say but lit- tle to the people of this community, where his reputation as a good newspaper man
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
is so fully recognized. To his efforts must be credited much of the popularity of the Express as a local and home news- paper; and no assurance from us is needed that the paper under his charge will be kept fully up to its present standard. We feel confident that he will receive every encouragement from our citizens, and his efforts to furnish a good live local news- paper will meet with a just appreciation. And now, with kindly feelings and good wishes for all with whom our editorial and business relations in the past have as- sociated us, we bid readers and patrons of the Express good-bye."
In the following issue Mr. Tucker opened the editorial columns by saying: "A formal bow to patrons of the Ex- press is hardly necessary from the under- signed ; and yet it may not be amiss, on assuming proprietorship, and full control of its columns, to advert briefly to the, to us, important change, and in a few open- ing words mark out something of the fu- ture course of the home paper. The steady, unvarying success which has thus far attended the Express and, the degree of prosperity to which it has attained, is the best evidence that its past course has been satisfactory to the community, town and county, for which it has labored. A good, healthy increase of business each year, and a rapidly swelling subscription list, are gratifying manifestations of pub- lie appreciation.
" Politically our Express-ions will be republican, and while our best hold is localizing-fortunately just what our town and growing country most needs, and best appreciates,-yet in this year of impor- tant political interests for our whole great
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