USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 58
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" In the first place, then, we have put our money in this enterprise, because there seemed to be an opening for a remunera- tive return upon both capital and labor that might be invested, and our determi- nation is, if possible, to achieve success by deserving it. In pursuit of this object, no dishonorable means will be resorted to- no personalities will be indulged in, nor will the Herald ever become the organ of any ring or clique, as we propose to run our business-as we own it-to suit our best judgment. There is room in Hardin county for a good opposition paper to live upon its merits, and we shall enter into no rivalries but such as pertain to a fair com- petition in legitimate business.
" We believe the initiative steps in a great revolution, which is destined to re- form the abuses that have been growing upon our political system for years, have been taken, and to aid in this good work we shall labor conscientiously and zeal- ously. The people have been finally aroused to the dangers that beset the Re- public from the venal and corrupt prac- tices of the politicians of the old parties, and they consequently demand new leader- ship, and new and untrammeled vehicles for the interchange of thought. The pub- lic now need presses that shall give hearty voice to the demand for reform in all departments of the government, and against monopolies of all kinds and degrees. This they can hardly expect of any of the old organs, whose music lias become monotonous. The business of these is to palliate the offenses and
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crimes of their official partisans and sup- porters, and placate opponents with plaus- ible but deceptive promises for the future; hence the necessity for anti-monopoly newspapers.
"The strength of the new party, com- posed of the more independent and honest members of both the old parties, wherever tested, has been such as to give hope that it may be triumphant at the general elec- tion, and hence there is encouragement for all true patriots to work, and talk, and unite, and print in its favor. In volunteer- ing as an humble supporter of what we deem to be the cause of right, and of patriotism, in this war against corruption and monopoly, we shall, while using all honorable means to secure triumph, at the same time try to treat opponents with fair- ness and Christian courtesy.
"Special attention will be paid to the agricultural, literary and home depart- ments of the paper, and through this means it is hoped it may soon become a welcome visitor at every fireside in town and county."
Isaac L. Hart was born in New York, and imigrated with his parents to Chicago in an early day. He learned the printer's trade in the old Chicago Times job rooms, and upon the breaking out of the war he enrolled his name as drummer boy. In 1863 he was appointed a clerk in the spe- cial treasury department at Natchez, which position he held till 1864. Returning to Chicago, he readily received a situation in the Journal office, where he remained until invited by James Miller to take charge of the mechanical department of the Eldora . Tribune. Subsequently Mr. Miller went to Sac county, and started the Sac City
Sun, and Mr. Hart was employed as editor, in which position he continued until July, 1871, when he started the Steamboat Rock News. The News prospered for over a year, when the division among the people of Steamboat Rock over the management of their school boards, crippled the paper, and the office was sold in April, 1873, to a stock company, and removed to Porte City, Iowa. Mr. Hart then returned to Chicago, and was again employed in the Journal job rooms. During the summer he took an extended trip East, with his family, and ran through with over $1,000 he had made in his newspaper enterprise in Hardin county. In March, 1874, Mr. Hart again returned to Eldora and took the Herald office.
The stockholders had paid about one- half of their stock, and a Chicago firm held a mortgage against the office for some $800, and the newspaper enterprise was not a success so far, so the stock was turned over to Mr. Hart, conditioned that he would assume all indebtedness against the office. In the spring of 1876, S. M. Weaver was associated with Mr. Hart, as the editor of the Herald, but remained in connection with the paper only a few months. Mr. Hart then continued as editor and proprietor of the Herald until April, 1879, when he sold the office to E. R. Zeller, of Winterset, Iowa, and James S. Ross, who had been his foreman for a number of years, and has assisted largely as local editor. Mr. Hart then located at Pipe Stone City, Minn., and established the Star. Mr. Hart has made a financial success of his last newspaper venture, and has accumulated considerable property. He has held the office of County
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Judge several years, and carries on a book and stationery store in connection with his paper.
After running the Reform Herald about one year, Mr. Hart changed its name to the Eldora Herald, and also its politics to Democratic. As a Democratic organ, it continued until sold to Zeller and Ross. In closing his connection with the Herald, Mr. Hart said:
"With this issue of the Herald, the connection of the undersigned with it ceases. The good will, material, etc., have been disposed of to Mr. E R. Zeller, of Winterset, Iowa, and Mr. James S. Ross, formerly of this office.
"It is with a feeling of regret that we make this announcement. During our five and a half years' connection with the Herald, we have made many warm, true friends from whom we shall dislike to separate.
"We have endeavored to stand by the right, regardless of politics or personal feeling. Many times we may have erred, but the error was in judgment, and not with any intention to do injustice. We have tried to regard principle above poli- tics, right above wrong, and temperance above intemperance. In standing upon this ground, we have received many hard knocks, and given many. But we have no forgiveness to ask, and have nothing to forgive. The support we have received has been sufficient evidence that our course was right.
"In making this sale, we have done so purely from a business standpoint. We got our price, and that is all there is of it Financially, the Herald was as sound as a dollar. Not a type founder, paper or ink
dealer does it owe a single cent, and any other person having a claim has only to present it, and the money is ready. We do not make this statement from a desire to boast, but merely to show that no pecu- niary embarrassment affected us.
"To the many kind friends who have aided us to success, we return oui heartfelt thanks, and we believe our successors will be entitled to the same confidence and sup- port. That the Herald will yet live to be the leading paper of the county we confi- dently believe, and that it will always labor for the right and be an honor to the county and its people, is our sincere wish." ~
On assuming control of the paper, as customary, the publishers sent forth their greeting, as follows:
"The Herald has changed owners. The foregoing statement will be no surprise to our readers, as their minds were prepared for it by the parting words of our predeces- sor. With the change of owners comes a change in the editorial management, and a consequent change in the tone and policy of the paper. This statement may surprise some of our readers, but we deem it best that there should be a clear understanding between us and our patrons at the begin- ning of our new relations.
" The political tone of the paper will be Republican. Questions which grew out of the late civil war were disposed of accord- ing to the reconstruction policy of the Re- publican party; we regard the agitation of these questions as prejudicial to the best interests of the country, and the present attempt at reopening them cannot be en- tertained only at the peril of our national existence. If the questions relating to State rights, negro enfranchisement, and
A Milheiro.
DESEASED.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
the payment of the confederate war debt are re-opened, the idea of their settlement suggests the re-opening of the contest which began at Sumter and ended at Appomattox. In the light of the recent developments at the National Capitol, the re-opening of that contest is a frightful possibility, the sug- gestion of which can but fill the heart of every patriot with the most serious alarm, and promote the gravest reflections.
"The payment, by the government, in honest money, every dollar of the debt honestly contracted, we believe to be the only course consistent with the Nation's credit, and any other course we believe would be at war with the industrial and commercial interests of the country. We point with pride to the record of the Re- publican party in this respect, and suggest that the consistency of the policy hereto- fore pursued can but commend itself to all fair-minded men.
" What influence we have, shall be ex- erted in favor of temperance, morality and good order; while we have decided opinions on these matters, and shall express them from time to time, as occasion may seem to demand, we shall not quarrel with others who may conscientiously differ from us in regard to the best methods to be employed in promoting these desirable ends.
" Our constant aim shall be to advance the material interests of Hardin county, and make a living."
In August, 1879, Mr. Zeller sold his in- terest to J. E. Duncan, and the firm was known as Duncan & Ross. The firm was dissolved in the summer of 1882, Mr. Ross becoming sole proprietor.
The Eldora Herald is Republican in politics, and is recognized as a standard-
bearer of that party in Hardin county . Being devoted to the interests of the peo- ple, and fearless and outspoken in its op- position to public abuses, it is a powerful exponent of the principles it advocates, and a true friend of the people. Under Mr. Ross' mechanical management and business tact, the Herald has been estab- lished upon a firm financial footing, and can be classed as one of the permanent in- stitutions of Eldora.
James S. Ross editor and proprietor of the Eldora Herald, was born in Hunting- don county Canada, on the 23d day of December, 1851. He is a son of Donald Ross, a native of Scotland, and Martha McArtha, of Scotch descent. His father came with his parents to Canada when he was two years of age, where he remained until 1849, when he came to the States, and was employed in the mines of Lake Superior, where he was superintendent of the shipping department. In 1857 he came to Steamboat Rock, where he pur- chased a steam mill, and soon after moved his family, who had never left Canada. The mill business proving a financial fail- ure, he sold out, and purchased a farm, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1866. His mother is still living, in Eldora. The subject of this memoir came to Hardin county when he was six years old. His parents being in limited circumstances, his schooling was limited, only attending two terms. He is a self-educated man. In 1871 he entered the office of the News, at Steamboat Rock, to learn the trade, where he remained a couple of years, when it was sold to a stock company and removed to Laporte City, Mr. Ross going with it as foreman.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
In the fall of 1873 he came to Eldora, and he was employed in the Herald office, where he has passed from the vari- ous departments, until now he is proprietor and editor of the same. On the 23d day of December, 1879, he married Martha H. Daniels, a daughter of S. P. Daniels, of Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa. By this union there are two children-Clarence S. and Donald.
UNION STAR.
This paper was first started by Dr. J. Lewis, in Union, in March, 1875,-a gentle- man well-known in the community, and who afterwards died of yellow fever in one of the Southern States.
Mr. Lewis published the paper ten weeks, and then sold out to R. L. Rowe, who suc- ceeded in keeping it alive for some nineteen weeks. At the expiration of that time, J. W. and R. Q. Wickham took the helm, and ran itfor about three months. R. Q. Wick- ham then retired, and handed over his share to his brother J. W., who succeeded in giving the people a newsy little paper, for over four years. J. W. Wickham is now en- gaged in the mechanical department of the Daily Leader, at Des Moines. During his stay here he married the daughter of Mr. Jas. Speer. J. Q Adams then pur- chased Mr. Wickham's interest, and, in connection with the postoffice, published it for about two years. Mr. Adams was a writer of some note, and gave the people of Union a good paper, but he failed to make it a success financially. Below we give his valedictory:
Valedictory.
Our connection with the Star terminates this week, and we will avail ourselves of the oppor- tunity to say a few parting words. We lay
down the editorial pen with more reluctance than we had anticipated, when we decided to sell the office and retire. When real, true and much esteemed friends depart from your house, after a welcome and joyous visit, you feel lonely, cheerless, and as if something like a cloud hovered where only brightness dwelt be- fore; so it is with us, week after week, for many months, we have talked not only to you, but with you and for you. We have endeavored to please and benefit you in our weak way. Our relations įhave been so pleasant and so friendly that it seems like stepping out of the old loving family circle into a world of strangers to leave you now. Of course we have erred many times. Who has not? Sometimes we have viewed things from a different standpoint from what many thought we should. But we have tried to choose the right side as we understood it. We regard it as only right and proper that a man should have an identity, an opinion, a position, and that he should not attempt to conceal these from the public. We believe that we have made and retained many friends and few ene- mies while conducting this paper. The former we shall remember through all time, with emo- tions that we cannot here convey, and the latter we shall strive to speedily forget.
We shall doubtless contribute an occasional item for the Star, and will probably help a little in the editorial work for a week or two, till the new nianagement get their "hands in," but our place as editor will be lienceforth filled by an- other, whose abilities we believe far superior to ours, and whose efforts to build up and maintain a standard of high moral excellence and influ- ence in the paper, we trust, will be rewarded with full success. Of course the difficulties with which we have had to contend in publishing the Star, we need not speak of here, except to say they have impeded our progress, swallowed up resources, and crushed our courage and ability more than any man in the world except ourselves can ever know.
When we go out from hence we really start in life anew, and without much of a start either.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Our story need not all be told. The seeds that we have scattered along the rugged path of life may some time grow and bear at least a moiety of fruit, and if so, we shall feel repaid.
J. Q. ADAMS.
Mr. Adams is now engaged in tilling the soil in Providence township. On or about January 1, 1882, Mr. Adams sold his inter- est to Walker & Wood, who had the extra- ordinary good fortune to run it two months. On the 14th day of March, 1882, George Whitney purchased Mr. Wood's interest, and the firm became Walker & Whitney. Two impressions of the paper were gotten out by this firm, when another change was made, and the firm became Whitney & Son, with U. G. Whitney at the head of the editorial columns, where it remained for four weeks. On Saturday, April 22, 1882, the office was purchased by the present pro- prietor, O. M. Smith, who announced him- self to the people in the following manner:
Our Salutatory.
It is customary in one assuming the editorial duties of a paper, to dip his pen, make his bow, tell what he proposes to do, vindicate his princi- ples and make an endless number of promises, all of which we will not, at the present time, undertake. But it will be the aim and object of the new management to publish a paper that will promote the interests of Union and surrounding country, and to make the Star a welcome visitor at the fireside of all classes in this community.
We hope our patrons will show us some indul- gence for the errors and mistakes that we are liable to make, from not being fully acquainted; but this, we hope to fully overcome in a very short time; in the meantime we hope our friends will be liberal in contributing any little bits of news that may come under their observation. .
If there are any who have prejudices against us, we hope they will bear with us, until wehave had
time to show them that we are worthy of their patronage and support.
We have come to Union to stay, and cast our fortunc with her. We expect to share her fate, be it good or bad, and hope by untiring industry and persevering efforts, to make you a paper that will be worthy of your patronage.
O. M. SMITH.
New type and presses have been added to the office, and it is now in a flourishing condition .
O. M. Smith, editor of the Union Star, was born in Wyoming, Jones county, Iowa, on the 17th day of July, 1857. He is the son of J. M. and Mary J. (Moore) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of two children-one son and one daughter. In 1852 the elder Smith emi- grated to Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where he was employed as superin- tendent in a woolen mill. He afterwards removed to Wyoming, Jackson county, Iowa, where he built the first house in the village. He is at present living in Mitch- ellville, Cedar county. O. M. Smith re- ceived his early education in the common schools in Iowa, graduating at the Agri- cultural College at Ames. In the spring of 1882 he purchased the Union Star, which he edits with ability, and under his administration it is fast taking rank among the best local papers in this section of the State.
THE HUBBARD NEWS.
The flourishing town of Hubbard, as a matter of course, could not long exist without a newspaper, and early in the spring of 1881, J. J. Parsons, who was among the first settlers of the town, pur- chased an office, and on the 12th day of April, of that year, the first number of the
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Hubbard News was given to the world. The News was a six-column folio, and published at the low price of $1 per year. Mr. Parsons was editor and proprietor. Although small, it was a newsy and read- able sheet. Its publication was discon- tinued in August, 1882.
J. J. Parsons was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 19, 1853. In 1854 his parents settled in Linn county, Iowa-his father, Lewis Parsons, making a claim in Otter Creek township, where he lived until he died, in 1876. Here J. J. Parsons remained until sixteen, receiving a liberal education. He then began teaching, and at twenty-two began reading law with Hon. William G. Thompson, member of Congress from the 5th district, at Marion. He was admitted to the Bar, in the Circuit Court at Marion, June 3, 1878. He located at Hubbard in 1880, and soon began the practice of his profes- sion. On the 3d day of December, 1880, he was appointed postmaster at Hubbard, which office he still continues to hold. In February, 1880, Mr. Parsons was married to Estelle J., daughter of .Charles Boody, one of the pioneers of Pleasant township. They have one son-Charles H.
THE HUBBARD TIMES.
The first issue of the Hubbard Times, bore date September 9, 1881. It was a seven column folio, and established by Mark J. Kelly, who was editor and proprietor. Mr Kelly continued its publication alone. until July 1, 1882, when a half interest in the office was purchased by Pliny Fry, and its publication continued under the firm name of Kelly & Fry. The Times in its first year, secured a circulation of 600 copies
weekly. It is Republican in politics, strongly prohibition, wide-awake and newsy.
Mark J. Kelly, editor of the Hubbard Times, was born at Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 30, 1844, where he remained until April, 1861. At the age of nine years, he entered the printing office of the Indianian, where 2 he received his education in the "Poor Man's College," and learned the "Art pre- servative of all arts." In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 9th Indiana In- fantry as a drummer boy, under the first call of the President for three months' men . In July, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company F, 12th Indiana Volunteers, and was appointed Sergeant. In December, 1861, he was captured by the rebels, and sent to Libby Prison and Castle Thunder, being among the first to taste the sweets of prison life in those afterwards famous places. He remained there two months, and was then paroled. In July, 1862, he was mustered out of the service at Indiana- polis, and was made recruiting sergeant. In September, 1862, he was commissioned 2d Lieutenant on staff duty, and in Febru- ary, 1863, promoted to 1st Lieutenant. In May, 1863, he was again captured by the rebels in Tennessee, and while on the way to Salisbury, North Carolina, prison, escaped, in company with three others, and returned to the Union lines, by the under- ground route, thanks to the negroes, In September, 1864, he was promoted to Captain, and in May, 1865, to Major. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., in February, 1866. He was then employed as correspondent of the Wash- ington Chronicle until the inauguration of Grant, in 1869. He then went to Kansas
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
and founded the Washington County Re- publican, which he ran five years. He then founded the Beloit Record and ran it four years, eight months of which term he ran it as a daily. While in Kansas he took an active part in politics, holding several positions of trust. Mr. Kelly is an able writer, a good business man, and one who will make his present enterprise a success.' In May, 1881, he came to Iowa, and June, 1881, located at Hubbard, and in September, 1881, founded the Hubbard Times, and is at present editor. In politics, is a staunch Republican. He was married in November, 1878 to Francis J. Spengle, a native of Ohio. Two children have been born unto them-Walter W. and Amelia J.
THE ALDEN NEWS.
The Alden News was established in 1873, by a Mr. Robertson, who ran it a short time, and then disposed of it to J. B. and J. O. Matthews, who continued it until 1878, when not being satisfied with the support received, they discontinued its publication and moved the office to Earl- ville, Iowa. The News was Republican in politics.
THE ALDEN TIMES.
The first issue of the Alden Times, bore date April 12, 1878. It was established by A. McClara, who continued its publication something over two years, and then sold to Birdsall & Jones, the present proprietors. The Times is a well edited local newspaper, Republican in politics, and has a circulation of six hundred copies. It is a six column quarto. In its first issue Mr. McClara said :
In the first copy of the Times, which we to- day present to our subscribers, we follow the old, well-beaten track. We make our bow, ten- der our compliments, and proceed to make a declaration of our intentions, that our readers may know what to expect. But first, we heart- ily thank the business men of Alden for their unanimous support of the enterprise-a support that at once gives life and vitality. and places us in an unembarrassed position. Readers, please notice that nearly every business and pro- fessional man in Alden to-day tells you where he may be found, and in what manner your interests are identical. Also our thanks for the unparalleled list of subscribers, who have so quickly responded in aid of the enterprise. Our objeet is not necessarily a laudible one, inasmuch as to make money is the chief one. Still, justiee should prompt us to a great effort to merit the confidenee already shown.
Politieally, this paper will be a eipher: 1st. As its editor would have to treat as a eonun- drum the question, "Which of the politieal parties of the present day deserves the confi- denee of the people?" 2d. It would not pay to deal in polities in the role we have assumed.
In the matter of religion, be it known we shall not try to convert the world, or our little world about us to our views. Genius will have to take another flight before we attempt to preach.
Although our patent sides will contain, besides miseellaneous information, a full summary of events occurring all over the world. We shall condense from other sources the important news up to the hour of going to press.
We have no old grudges that we propose to revive. We shall not use our paper, nor allow it to be used, to intensify personal animosities. We shall treat the defunet News as have all our citizens-let it rest in the grave of its own dig- A. McCLARA. ging.
On disposing of the office to Birdsall & Jones, Mr. McClara inserted the following valedictory :
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