USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 52
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A fortunate change took place January 1, 1899, when J. W. Haggard bought a half interest in the equipment and business. He was the first partner since the retirement of Mr. Horton to own so large a share; for Mr. Starr in all his previous sales retained a. controlling interest. The combination was a good one and the paper flourished as the result. A still greater change occurred July 1, 1902, when Starr & Haggard bought the Upper Des Moines equipment, good- will and subscription list from Harvey Ingham when the latter decided to move to Des Moines. Starr & Haggard then consolidated the two papers into one which they named The Upper Des Moines-Republican. It was conducted under the management of that firm until the spring of 1908, when sickness in the fam- ily of Mr. Starr compelled him to retire from the business and move to a higher altitude. He has since been living on a fruit ranch in Colorado near Delta.
Milton Starr was thoroughly familiar with every detail of newspaper work and could do every part of it when necessary. He took great pride in having his paper present an attractive appearance. For years he used to leave his edi- torial sanctum, and going into the pressroom make up the editorial page himself. He also kept his eye on the first page of type while being made ready to be printed. His scholarship was evidenced in all his writings. Some of his com- positions would easily come under the head of brilliant. His farewell editorial was an artistic literary production that elicited many favorable comments from the press from every part of the state. He had his own opinions and so in- trenched himself behind them that he became as secure as the everlasting hills. When he took a position-and it was generally on the right side-he was there to stay. A candidate for office who had Starr behind him knew that he had a strong support that would not desert him in the hour of peril. A candidate likewise who was being opposed by him knew that he had something to do to overcome the force of the opposition. On the question of morals every citizen knew the position he would take. His opinions in this regard were uniformly with the better element. Like most editors he could say mean things when he felt that he was justified in doing so, but as a rule his productions had an elevat- ing tendency.
When J. W. Shearer purchased Mr. Starr's interest, the firm of course be- came Shearer & Haggard. The first number published by that firm was on May 20, 1908. Mr. Shearer came and assumed editorial charge while he was an entire stranger. He was badly handicapped because he did not know the names of the people whom he heard telling of local events. Neither did he know where the parties lived nor how they spelled their names. Notwithstanding these ob- stacles he soon made a good showing of locals by his persistency in making double and triple inquiries about many of the events. Being an apt scholar the work grew easier for him as the weeks went by. The firm installed an electric motor to displace the old gasoline engine and made other needed improvements dur- ing the four years Mr. Shearer was connected with the paper. His editorials, as a rule, were argumentative in form and mild in tone. In newspaper flings at
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him, however, he was always able to reply with advantage, and sometimes these replies were severe and cutting in their nature. His competitors regarded him as being honorable in the course he pursued as an editor. Failing health which prevented his doing service at the office caused him to dispose of his interest October 1, 1912, and to seek other lines of work, the purchaser being Sid J. Backus.
The firm of Haggard & Backus will evidently prove a good one for the pros- perity of the paper. Editor Backus brought into his work a long experience as a teacher and county superintendent, a beneficial knowledge of human nature, an extended acquaintance in the county and the help of friends who have confidence in his ability to give them an excellent paper. He has already demonstrated that he can parry the thrusts made at him by brothers in the profession and land an unexpected stroke. His articles are on subjects usually that interest the people and are written in a style that make them readable. As he gains ex- perience in the work the paper will prosper accordingly.
J. W. Haggard, the head of the firm, has done longer newspaper service in the county than any other man. He began with Mr. Starr, January 1, 1881, and has been with the paper ever since. There is no part of the work he does not understand or cannot do. Much of the success of the paper in the past has been directly due to his supervision. He has been fortunate always in keeping good help in the pressrooms. Although his attention has been given mostly to the mechanical department, yet the paragraphs written by him in almost every issue for years have been much in evidence. He is a forceful writer and cap- able of being editor-in-chief.
THE KOSSUTH COUNTY PATRIOT
During the fall of 1880, two strangers-Sciple and Gould-brought to Algona an old Washington hand press and a small quantity of type and began the publi- cation of a paper which they called the Kossuth County Patriot. It was an eight- column folio, having patent insides and was democratic in politics. This was the second paper in the county to become established to advocate that political faith. Eugene Gould, the junior of the firm, by marriage, was a relative of Mrs. Jane Chapin. The paper in 1881 was one of the official papers of the county. The enterprise evidently did not pay, for it suspended after a few months, and the equipment was moved away. Mr. Gould is now living at Minneapolis.
THE ALGONA COURIER
In a little building that stood on the site of the recent North Iowa Lumber yard, the Algona Courier first made its appearance. It was founded as a demo- cratic paper and has continued to be such through all these years. Homer I. Wasson, the editor and proprietor, brought his little printing equipment to Al- gona and opened up for business. I. M. Finnell and C. A. Ellmondorf set the type and made up the forms for the first issue which appeared during the first week in January, 1885. Mr. Finnell who has been with the paper since it first
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began only intended to stay that one week, but he never found a time when he could get away. That was fortunate because he couldn't be driven away now. The Courier was the third democratic paper to become established in Algona to advocate that political faith. The other two had an existence of only a few months; but the Courier seems to have come to stay. The democrats hav- ing swept the country at the preceding election, Cleveland was the president in 1885, while Mr. Wasson was endeavoring to get his paper firmly established. He was much animated over the change in the administration and aspired to be the leader of the democratic forces in the county which he thought he could organize and lead annually to victory. He was quite a fluent speaker and given to making sarcastic and unguarded statements which weakened his reputation for possessing the necessary qualifications to make him a leader. At that time the local party was under the leadership of three citizens of influence who had grown gray in its service. They were John J. Wilson, C. D. Pettibone and Willard Stebbins. They were not in harmony with Wasson's views and resented being dictated to by him. On one occasion he was delivering a harangue on the steps of the courthouse while advising the old time democrats as to what course they had better pursue. Said he in one of his wild statements: "The time has come when the old wheel-horses should step aside and let young democracy lead the party to victory over their political enemies." At the close of that sen- tence one of those same old wheel-horses jerked him by his coat-tail and said. "Your time has expired-you have talked long enough."
Mr. Wasson was full of energy and was enterprising in spirit. He made things happen lively and had to be noticed. He billed himself to speak on the political issues at numerous schoolhouses and filled most of the engagements. The party following he expected did not seem to materialize. Evidently being discouraged and perplexed. he sold his equipment and business to his successor after a trial of less than a year and a half.
J. W. Hinchon, to whom the paper had been sold, issued the first number under his administration May 7. 1886. He continued to publish it in the Was- son building until fall when he moved the equipment to his new building on the lot which he had purchased on State street. Fire in the spring of 1889 consumed that building. The business was then conducted for a short time in the Lund building south of the Tennant house while the present home of the Courier was being erected. In a few years the old Washington hand press which had been previously used was disposed of and a new Potter cylinder press installed. J. M. Finnell was admitted to full partnership January 1, 1898. The firm of Hinchon & Finnell is a strong one for conducting a newspaper. The two members seem adapted to each other in the work and as a result have built up by hard labor what is generally conceded to be one of the best paying news- paper properties in the county. Its subscribers as a whole stay by the paper without wavering; and the fact that no editor has been able to draw them away is conclusive evidence of the high regard they have for that paper.
The success of the Courier is largely due to the fact that the matter in its columns is readable. Whether one agrees with the statements or not the articles therein are read with interest. Mr. Hinchon composes slowly and with much consideration and care. The subjects of his editorials are those which usually
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attract attention and invite perusal. It is noticeable that the articles are short, 110 matter how interesting the events that are narrated. Consequently the read- ers do not tire while reading them. It is the evident policy of the office to omit needless and uninteresting details, so that the material facts in an account of an event can be easily comprehended and remembered. In regard to these mat- ters Mr. Hinchon has displayed good judgment. Each paper at the county seat has at different times been claimed by some foreign paper to be "one of the best weeklies published in Iowa," but no editor has received such a compliment more often than has Mr. Hinchon. His editorial career has extended over .a longer period than any other man in the county.
Mr. Finnell has done his full share towards making the Courier a success. He is an energetic worker and for years did as much as two men ought to have done. Even while an office employee he took as much interest as though he liad been the proprietor. Besides his ability to superintend the mechanical de- partment of the paper, he has the faculty for recording events in readable form. This fact was evident during the four years he managed the paper while Mr. Hinchon was in the postoffice. These four years ended on January 1, 1898, when Mr. Hinchon returned to the printing office and Mr. Finnell became one of the firm.
THE ALGONA ADVANCE
The Algona Advance was founded by George C. Call, as an exponent of the Iowa Idea and progressive republican principles generally. He built the brick home for it on the corner of Thorington and Call streets and installed a complete printing equipment without knowing who was to edit the paper or take charge of the management. Hugh R. Smith, who at that time was run- ning an independent job press in town, was induced to become the foreman on condition that his jobbing outfit should be purchased by Mr. Call. Cecil Beatty was next secured to become office devil and Harry Lord the head printer. Every- thing else was made ready to run off the first issue except the man who was to furnish the copy for the items and articles.
B. F. Reed was finally engaged to become the managing editor. The first number of the Advance was issued August 2. 1901. As several hundred sub- scribers had been secured previous to that time, the edition was much larger than most people in the vicinity expected. The paper started with a flattering prospect for success, but its growth was somewhat retarded on account of the several changes in the proprietorship which occurred during the next eighteen months. In the spring of 1902, wlien George C. Call decided to move to Sioux City, he sold all of his bank interests and the Advance property to A. D. Clarke. Through some kind of a deal. not generally understood, Eugene Schaffter, of Eagle Grove, was designated as the proprietor and publisher, though no change in the working force occurred. The first number after the transfer, was issued May 2, 1892. Another change took place July 25. 1902. when R. W. Hayes, also of Eagle Grove, made a conditional purchase of the plant from Clarke or Schaffter, or both. He came up and assumed control though all the help re- mained and did service as before. Early in the following January Hayes de- cided to sell the paper if he could find a purchaser who would pay him more
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than his option price. B. F. Reed, who had been with the paper from the start and working under the title of associate editor, though doing practically all the manuscript work, desired to purchase the Advance establishment, but found conditions too complex to justify him in doing so. After the edition of Jan- uary 1, 1903, had been issued, he severed his connection with the paper. Hayes surrendered his option March 19, 1903, and turned the property and business over to A. D. Clarke again. This move left the office without an editor. Fore- man Hugh R. Smith managed to get out five numbers. Matters by this time were in bad shape and the business demoralized. It was evident that someone would have to come to the rescue or the Advance would have to go under.
April 23, 1903, B. F. Reed purchased a half interest in the building, equip- ment and business and assumed control as managing editor. The firm of Reed & Clarke existed until January 3, 1907, when Reed purchased his partner's in- terest and became sole proprietor. Mr. Clarke at no time had any working connection with the office; in fact paid no attention to it whatever. The entire Advance property was sold by B. F. Reed to W. C. Dewel, November 1, 1908.
Had Schaffter and Hayes actually owned the Advance and lived in Algona, either would have made a success of his enterprise. Both possess good mental attainments and have other qualities necessary for conducting a newspaper. Their business abilities and skill in writing are exceptionally good. The former is now practicing law at Eagle Grove, and the latter running a daily paper at Hillsdale, Michigan.
What rank B. F. Reed attained as an editor while connected with the paper we will let some future historian state if he so desires. All he did was to man- age the business, write editorials, run down the news, put the locals in manu- script form, correct the proof, post the books, attend to the correspondence, make out bills, make the collections, make contracts for job work, pass upon the quality of the work when done, repair broken machinery, correct the gal- ley when subscription addresses changed, take in the money, pay off the bills, attend Dutch weddings, kiss the bride and kick up a row with the other editors. That was all. For doing this simple service he received his reward-a huge carbuncle on the back of his neck which drove him out of the office and com- pelled him to retire from the business.
THE KOSSUTHI COUNTY ADVANCE
When W. C. Dewel took possession of the paper, after purchasing from B. F. Reed, he immediately changed the name to The Kossuth County Advance. He ran it alone from November 1, 1908, until January 1, 1909, when he sold a half interest to Frank Clark. The firm name has been Dewel & Clark since that time. Both having had considerable experience in newspaper work previous to their ownership of the Advance, they at once began making improvements in the equipment. The editor's sanctum was remodeled so that it has the ap- pearance of a city office. They put in an electric fan for hot weather and an electric motor to run the presses. The most costly and beneficial apparatus installed was the linotype junior typesetting machine, the only machine of the kind now in the county.
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Mr. Dewel is one of the most energetic and ambitious editors in this region. If hard work and long hours bring success he will secure it. Although badly handicapped by defective hearing and the loss of one arm, the amount of news he finds each week and gets into shape for the paper is little short of marvelous. If he has a hobby, that hobby is system in every department of the work. He delights in arguing for the sake of the argument, and in punching for the sake of the punch. He is able to cover the county in publishing the news much more readily than his competitors on account of having a typesetting machine. He is a rapid typewriter and composes direct from his notes.
Mr. Clark gained his early knowledge of the mechanical department in d hard school of experience under the direction of R. B. Warren. He needs no better recommendation than to have that fact made known. He is not only capable to supervise the force in the pressroom but is a hustler after patronage for the office-a patronage he generally gets when he goes after it. He was regarded as a competent foreman long before he became connected with the Advance.
All the newspapers heretofore referred to in this chapter were established at the county seat. Those published in the other towns are treated in connection with the history of those places, in the chapters at the close of this volume. For that reason only a brief reference to them in this chapter will be necessary.
LuVerne-The Kossuth County Review, V. S. Ellis, March 16, 1883; suspended in 1887; Des Moines Valley News, S. C. Platt and Dr. Lacey 1890; then in turn came J. J. Clark, S. C. Platt, Chas. Sinclair, Hugh Smith, Hal E. Rogers 1895, E. F. Kluckhohn 1902, and then Hal E. Rogers again one year later. He is still the editor and proprietor.
Bancroft-Bancroft Register, April 14, 1882, David A. Ellis; V. S. Ellis in the latter '8os; W. F. Laidley 1893; Mrs. W. F. Laidley, June 23, 1909; A. H. Westphal and R. E. Hutton, December 1, 1912.
Burt-Burt Monitor, John A. Shaeffer, February 10, 1893; H. B. Hallock, December 1893; W. C. Dewel, January 1, 1900; R. S. Sherwood, December 1. 1902.
Ledyard-Ledyard Leader, R. M. Carpenter, April 24, 1895; F. T. Shepard, November 1895; R. M. Carpenter, May 6, 1896; U. S. Clark, August 12, 1896; H. H. Connor, 1897; F. J. Staenders, 1899; Mrs. M. A. Carpenter, September 1, 1899; Carpenter & Co., Jaunary 1, 1900; Tucker & Williams, January 1, 1901 ; W. E. Tucker in the fall of 1901 ; suspended April 20, 1905.
Whittemore-Whittemore Gazette, A. J. Henry, fall of 1878; Whittemore News, L. S. Merritt, October 26, 1887; Whittemore Advocate, Chas. Floyd, fall of 1891 ; Whittemore Champion, S. E. Albin, August 1892; Albin & R. M. Hatch, April, 1895; Hatch & Hatch (H. P. and R. M.) fall of 1895; J. E. Randall, January 5, 1899; Dennis O'Leary, February, 1900; P. H. McCarty, October, 1901 ; C. R. Kendall, August 8, 1902; P. H. McCarty, February 27, 1903. E. F. Kluckhohn, May, 1903; Tom J. White, October, 1904.
Wesley-Kossuth County Reporter, John Ford, April, 1891 ; then came Way & Barrett, Barrett & McMullen, and J. E. McMullen. Wesley News, Chris Peterson ; absorbed the Reporter ; Wesley World, Stitz Way, 1901 ; Wesley News- World, Way & Peterson (the union of the two papers) ; Way & Sherman, 1905.
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The Wesley Record, started by Harvey Braffet, was next sold to Way & Sher- man and then that publication ceased. Wesley News-World, Dewel & Clark and V. J. Sands, fall of 1911; Dewel & Clark and Wm. Sturdivant, February 1, 1913.
Fenton-Fenton Reporter, H. B. Hallock, spring of 1899; W. O. Hodgson, fall of 1899; Dewel & Bilsborough, July, 1900; T. M. Bilsborough, April, 1901, J. A. Schwartz, February, 1911.
Titonka-Titonka Topic, Ella Graham, January 19, 1899; Lee O. Wolfe, October, 1899.
Germania-Germania Standard, Ralph Grow at the age of sixteen began in 1895; paper suspended in a few months. Germania Gleaner. Beach & Myers and then C. E. Myers. North Kossuth Record, Ley & Ellsworth, May, 1898; after six months, H. B. Ley ; Leroy Billings, 1907; H. B. Ley again 1907: Wild- man & Wagner, 1908; Wildman alone soon after; Thaves Bros., 1909; Gus Thaves alone since February, 1912.
Swea City-Swea City Herald, Cora E. Ellis and G. T. Stebbins, January 10, 1895; R. M. Richmond, A. I .. Anderson & J. M. Dye in company, October 29, 1896; V. S. Ellis & Co.,. February, 1808; Burruss & Burruss in the fall of 1905; Spurbeck & Son, January 1, 1909.
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CHAPTER XXII
THE GREAT JUBILEE CELEBRATION-1904
Among the important events in which our citizens have participated, the great jubilee celebration, to commemorate the time, fifty years before, when the first pioneers began to form settlements in the county, was one of the most en- joyable and successful. It was held for two days-September 28-29, 1904. It was an occasion which drew an immense concourse of people, many attending from neighboring counties. The pioneers of 1854 were remembered and hon- ored with an elaborate program appropriate for such an important occasion. It was the golden anniversary, the semi-centennial of the dawn of civilization in the county. Nothing of the kind had ever been attempted in the county before. and probably will not be again until the centennial jubilee in 1954.
The following editorial which the author published in the Advance, April 14, 1904, proved to be the origin of the celebration: "As the old settlers' asso- ciation has not met for several years, would it not be expedient and highly ap- propriate to make an extra exertion to have a rally meeting during the coming summer or fall? Within a few weeks a half century will have rolled by since the dawn of civilization appeared in merry old Kossuth. Fifty years have nearly elapsed since the first permanent white settlements began to form and the wild surroundings began to disappear. The elk, the deer, the buffalo and the In- dian that once roamed over our prairies have long since been crowded from the confines of the county by the encroachments of those who came to start into activity the developments of the county.
"The year 1854 is an important date in the history of Kossuth, and it is fitting that the events of that pioneer period should be celebrated by appropriate ceremonies during this year. That year marked the beginning of the good old days of staking, claiming and transferring real estate. Then the titles to the soil first began to be lodged with those who had faced danger and endured hard- ships that the land might become their own.
"Many of our readers are today living on well improved farms and enjoy- ing all the blessings of modern civilization, who cannot realize what sacrifices the original owners made in obtaining the titles to the claims. All who live and prosper now in the county owe much to the early fathers and mothers who paved the way for the later rich developments that are to be observed in every direction.
"Of the 1854 pioneers who once constituted the sole population of the county, a majority have crossed the silent river. Only two now remain within the borders of the county-Ambrose A. Call, who with his brother, Asa C., led the
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vanguard, and W. H. Ingham, who came later in the year. Not more than a dozen of those who founded homes here during the year following are with us. The reaper, death, has been active in thinning the oldest settlers and the time is close at hand when the remaining ones must bow to the inevitable.
"This is the year for the old settlers' association to meet, if it never meets again. Some fitting exercises should be given to commemorate the events that transpired when the first homes were founded fifty years ago. Is it not the thing to do? Who will suggest an appropriate program? When and where shall it be rendered? If you, kind reader, are interested, and you should be, what have you to offer ?"
The old settlers began taking an interest in the matter soon after this edi- torial appeared. By the middle of July, it became quite evident that some kind of exercises to commemorate the early days would be had before the close of the warm weather. The machinery was set in motion on the evening of July, 30, when the Algona city council passed Alderman A. L. Rist's motion author- izing Mayor W. K. Ferguson to appoint a general committee of arrangements which should also include himself, and which should have full power to arrange every detail. A few days later Mayor Ferguson appointed the following general committee : E. B. Butler, A. L. Rist, Rev. O. H. Holmes, M. P. Haggard, Chester C. Call, M. Starr, Ed Blackford, B. F. Reed, George C. Call, C. T. Chubb, J. W. Sullivan, Harvey Ingham, C. B. Hutchins, I. M. Finnell, W. E. McDonald and B. F. Crose. Chairman Butler then subdivided this committee as follows :
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