USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 38
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editor, for, so far as we may learn, they are the hardest worked and poorest paid fellows in Christendom. Neither do we assume this responsibility as a labor of love, for however much we might love the people of Kossuth and the adjoining counties, it is obvious that something more material is necessary to satisfy the cupidity of our compositor, and stop the whimperings of our devil. But we have been led to believe that such a paper as we intend to make the Press can be sus- tained in Algona and made to pay-not the proprietor alone, but the whole com- munity. We do not ask a gratuity, and have no desire to live on charity. All we expect is the co-operation of our friends, and the support of the people so far as our paper merits it, and they think it compatible with their interests to give it. One principal object of the Press will be to bring to the attention of those looking westward for homes, and a remunerative field for the investment of their capital, the vast extent and productiveness of our unoc- cupied and unsold lands. While Kansas has been over-run with emigrants, and Minne- sota rapidly filled up, northern Iowa has remained in statu quo. A man may travel through the counties west of us, border- ing the Sioux river, for a hundred miles without seeing a single sign of civiliza- tion, the buffalo and elk unscared by the pioneer. And what is the reason of this? We believe that as northwestern Iowa holds out as many inducements to the emigrant as any other portion of the United States, the reason is this, those wishing to come west have been deceived; they have been made to believe that the lands of Iowa are already all occupied;
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they have been coaxed on to the sterile plains of western Kansas by political or- ganizations for the purpose of accom- plishing certain political ends, without any regard whatever to the resources of the country; and during the past winter, if we can credit the reports coming from there, many have died from actual starva- tion. We believe a reaction is abont to take place. The unsettled condition of the country, and the small demand for labor and capital in the eastern States, will create a demand for western lands, and cause a heavy emigration to the west the coming summer, and it is for the in- terest of northwestern Iowa, in order to develop her resources and to secure the speedy completion of her railroads, that she should receive her fair proportion. And we believe that to secure this, it is only necessary that the people should be enlightened in regard to our resources and prospects.
To our acquaintances, it is not necessary to say anything in relation to the politics of the Press, but to those with whom we are not acquainted, we would say that the editor has worked with and for the repub- lican party ever since its organization, and has no desire to forsake it now. We expect to support the administration of Lincoln, having faith in his integrity and statesmanship, and believing that he will stand firm to the principals enunciated in the Chicago platform, and endorsed by the people on the 6th of November. Upon new questions, as they arise for the consideration of the American people, the Press will take the liberty of deciding for itself, without asking the permission of
political leaders, or having its opinions forestalled by the actions of others.
The paper contains the proceedings of the first board of county supervisors, and a few foreign advertisements. The only home advertisements are the cards of Dr. Franklin McCoy as physician and sur- geon, Lewis H. Smith as attorney at law, and John Heckart as turner and painter.
The sheet was a six column folio, and quite neatly made up and printed. The editorials were far above the average of the usual effusions to be met with in the country newspapers of that date, and, taken altogether, the Pioneer Press was a model paper. The second number con- tains an account of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in Charleston bay, and the subsequent ones teem with war news, and overflow with the loyalty and patriotism of the editor.
In those days, a newspaper received ad- vantages that none at the present day can boast of. The printing of the tax-lists was a "fat take" and the Algona Pioneer Fress, not only enjoyed the official patron- age of this county, but several of the adjoin- ing counties, not being yet honored with the great civilizer, a local press, had their legal printing done here. All these things combined to make this a lucrative under- taking. In 1863, Mr. Call rented the office, material and business to George Ingersoll, of the Fort Dodge Messenger, who sent Col. Page, the present post- master of that town, to Algona, to manage the paper. Under this administration the Pioneer Press was continued until the lat- ter part of 1864; when the paper was sus- pended.
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After the lapse of a year or two, the materiał was purchased by Mrs. Lizzie B. Read, and the paper commenced a new life under the name of the Upper Des Moines, a name it has retained until the present. This was engineered by Mrs. Read, and is said to have been a very read- able paper. The editorial and literary columns teemed with good things well said.
In November, 1866, J. H. Warren be- came the owner of the Upper Des Moines, and assumed the editorial chair. Mr. Warren had never before acted in this capacity, or had experience in the printing business, but great natural abilities united with a mind well stored gave him the advantage of circumstances, and he soon gave evidence of his fitness for the posi- tion. As a writer he was pungent and to the point, wasting no long space or time in long winded editorials, but going straight to the point and in a few words disposing of the subject under disenssion. Upon assuming the helm of the good ship Upper Des Moines, he addressed his readers in the following words by way of saluta- tion: "In assuming the responsibility of publishing a weekly journal, we do so with a full knowledge of the magnitude of the undertaking. To publish a journal that will please every one is a task that we do not expect to perform; as such a task has never yet been accomplished by any power, either human or Divine. But if careful attention to business, persever- ance and hard labor can make the Upper Des Moines a welcome visitor to all our patrons. we shall perform the task cheer- fully. We are aware that during the past three months complaints have arisen
against the former publishers ; but whether such complaints have been just, well grounded, or false and unreasonable, it would be neither wisdom nor policy in us now to decide ; for, peradventure, we might be pronouncing sentence against one whom we would not wish to censure. For, in taking the place of the former publishers, we are subjecting ourself to a like criticism.
"The political complexion of the Upper Des Moines will continue, as heretofore, Union republican. The principles advo- cated by the two great political parties of the present day, are too well understood by every one to require any explanation here. But, like Col. Crockett, shall en- deavor first, to be sure we are right, and then go ahead.
"The advancement of the interests of Kossuth and adjoining counties will claim particular attention. And to this end we hope for and shall expect the aid and co- operation of all who desire to see this portion of our State still further improved; our vast prairies more thickly dotted with improved farms, farm houses, school- houses and churches, the natural results of honest industry and intelligence com- bined.
"Our columns will at all times be opened for the full and free discussion of all topics of general interest, but it cannot be used for the gratification of personal ill- will, under any circumstances, as such things always have a bad effect upon the moral and social condition of society, and will never be tolerated by any publisher desirons of maintaining the respectability of his journal.
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"With these remarks we leave the Upper Des Moines to speak for itself, and our readers to judge of its merit."
After nine years of strennons work in placing the paper on a proper footing, and raising it from a small six column affair to a large, handsome and well con- ducted journal of nine columns to the page; graduating from the printing of it upon the old fashion hand press to the much more speedy steam press, Mr. Warren disposed of the office and busi- ness to Pitt Cravath. This was upon the 20th day of September, 18:5. In stepping out from the sanctum, Mr. Warren said a few words at parting, that have the right ring about them. He said:
"To say good-by to friends has always been to me one of the most unpleasant tasks of life. And at this time it is with feelings of deep regret that I say it to those with whom I have for the past few years maintained business and friendly relations. A trifle less than nine years ago I quietly and unostentationsly stepped into the editorial harness, and now I as quietly and unostentationsly lay it by and resume a place in the peaceful walks of private life. During the years of my man- agement of the Upper Des Moines I have assiduously labored for what I deemed the best good of the town and county in particular, and the whole State in gen- eral. If at times I have erred, which I can- not deny has often been the case, it was an error in judgment, without evil intent.
"The bold, uncompromising course I have at all times pursued when combat- ting the powers of evil, in attempting to expose corruption or to thwart the de- signs of unscrupulous schemers, has made
enemies of such, but has also made friends of honest men who always pursue a policy that shall result in the greatest good to the greatest number.
"Of my success in bringing the Upper Des Moines to the enviable position it now occupies in journalism, I scarcely need speak. Starting from a small twenty-four column sheet, it has steadily advanced with the growth of the county, until it has reached a size of thirty-six columns, with a large and constantly increasing circulation, and a good, paying patron- age.
"A word to my former patrons in rela- tion to my successor will here be appro- priate. Something more than a years' residence in Algona, during which time his deportment has been that of a gentle- man and a ripe scholar, has drawn around him the best elements of society and has made him universally admired and esteemed for his good qualities. I cheer- fully recommend him to my friends and former patrons, and trust they will con- tinne unbroken the friendly relations so long existing between themselves and the former publisher. The future policy of the new proprietor will be fully set forth in his salutatory, and I have not the shadow of a doubt but it will be rigidly adhered to.
"And now, in the full belief that my friends who have so long stood shoulder to shoulder with me in every good work, will always have in their hearts a warm place for me. I say to them, good-by. To my enemies who have so relentlessly pur- sued me in the rain hope of tearing down whatever I had builded, I say I can for-
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get and forgive, but shall always remem- ber them."
Pitt Cravath continued sole proprietor of this flourishing paper until Feb. 20, 1879, when he sold out to A. L. Hudson Mr. Cravath was a bold, fearless writer, with a keen, sarcastic pen that pricked the evil-doer or political enemy until they writhed.
Mr. Hudson, who was alone in the con- trol of the Upper Des Moines for one year, was a prominent member of the bar of Kossuth county, and was of a most aggressive disposition. Like Paul Jones, of yore, he sailed through the seas of life, with the ominous motto, "Don't tread on me," displayed at his masthead, and woe betide the unfortunate wretch that dared to meet him in the tilt. Keen, scathing and scholarly, his attacks were so fierce that all dreaded his pen. Yet gentle- manly in all that he said and did he was a great favorite in all eireles, except that of the few political enemies he must have of a necessity made.
On the 20th of February, 1880, R. B. Warren acquired a half interest in this paper and the firm became Hudson & Warren. The latter partnership contin- ued until Nov. 20, 1882, when Harvey Ingham purchased the interest of Mr. Hudson, and the present firm of Ingham & Warren came into existence.
Throughout all these years, the paper has gone through manifold changes in shape, size and make up. Commencing as a six column folio, under the manage- ment of Mr. Warren, it arose to the dig- nity of a nine column, having been en- larged anccessively to seven, eight and nine, as the years rolled on. After it
passed into the hands of Mr. Hudson, it became a six column quarto, and later a seven column, of the same form. The present paper is a nine column folio, on the "flexible plan." On weeks when there is an abundance of matter, it is issued with six pages, and when material runs short, but fonr pages. Messrs. Ingham & War- ren are both young men, and understand all the branches of the art of printing. The paper is a model of neatness besides being well edited.
Harvey Ingham was born in Portland township, Kossuth county, Sept. 8, 1858, and is a son of W. II. and C. A. (Rice) Ingham. In 1876 he entered the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, and grad- nated from the literary department in 1880. Ile immediately entered the law department of the same institution, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881. Soon after leaving college, he ob- tained a situation as county historian for Capt. A. T. Andreas, of Chicago, Ill., and was one of the assistants in compiling and editing the history of Nebraska. When that volume was completed, and ready for publication (1882), Mr. Ingham purchased a half-interest in the Upper Des Moines, and in connection with R. B. Warren, has been fairly successful in the publishing business.
R. B. Warren was born at Horicon, Dodge Co., Wis., Dec. 1, 1849, and is a son of J. H. and A. B. (Horton) Warren. He passed his earlier life in Trempealeau and Eau Claire counties, Wis., and attended school until thirteen years of age. In September, 1865, he entered the office of the Eau Claire Argus, R. H. Copeland publisher, to learn the printer's trade, and
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remained with him until June, 1866. In November, of the same year, his father, who had removed to Iowa in June, pur- chased the office of the Upper Des Moines, and good will of the paper, and our sub- ject assisted him in the management of the paper for nine years. In July, 1875, he went to Chicago, Ill., and secured a position as compositor on the Daily Times, holding a case for fifteen months. Leav- ing Chicago, he was employed, for nine mouths, as a traveling salesman through Kansas, Missouri and southern Iowa, and in the fall of 1877, accepted the fore- manship of the Upper Des Moines, then under the management of Pitt Cravath. He remained in charge of the office for fifteen months, and continued with the new proprietor, A. L. Hudson, a year longer. He then purchased a half inter- est in the business, and Feb. 20, 1880, as- sumed the management of the business, which position he has since continued to hold. In 1882 Harvey Ingham purchased Mr. Hudson's interest, and the firm name was changed to Ingham & Warren.
Although it has been written that the Pioneer Press was the first paper in the county of Kossuth, still a strict regard for historical accuracy impels the statement that this is only true so far as regards printed papers. A manuscript paper, call- ed The Bee, was in existence several years prior to the appearance of the above-men- tioned periodical. This was an eight-page paper, written on letter paper, and was edited by Harriet E. Taylor, now Mrs. J. E. Stacy. The first number of this paper was issued upon the 27th of December, 1857. The fair editress, in this initial
sheet, makes an opening address to the readers of The Bee, in the following words:
"We are happy to present to our friends this first number of The Bee as the first paper published in this 'little world of Algona,' and though now small and may be insignificant in the eyes of many, still we have sanguine hopes that it will thrive, and before many years stand the first and oldest among our village papers. A per- son when first starting in an enterprise like this, feels rather delicately. Many fears arise whether the paper will suit the readers. Knowing there are as many minds as persons, and also knowing that unless all these minds are satisfied, we are the loser, we feel still more anxious than we would otherwise.
"The Bee is intended to be strictly a neutral paper. We shall strive to please all by offending noue. It will abound in wit and humor, be graced with sound, in- tellectual studies and pleasing stories, have all the news of the day, we hope none of the gossip. We have able corres- poudents for The Bee who will favor it with their productions from time to time. A few advertisements will be inserted just to help pay expenses. We have tried to tell you imperfectly, however, what we shall strive to make The Bee, and we bun- bly beg our friends to stand by us and not allow it to sink into obscurity, as the papers in our neighboring towns have done."
Miss Taylor sometimes was assisted in her arduous labor by junior editors and a corps of contributors, but still the labor of writing the paper every week, must have proved irksome. The paper ran for two or three years, and filled the niche
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that it was intended to. Some numbers betray a literary excellence far in advance of later and more pretentious sheets.
In the fall of 1871 Bryan J. Castle, who had been a member of the Chickasaw county bar, and the ex-editor of the Law- ler Times, established a paper at Algona. This sheet, which was a seven-column folio, was called the Algona Times, and was democatie in politics. The initial number of this paper was issued upon Friday, Sept. 15, 1871, and Mr. Castle thus addressed his readers, in a plain prac- tical talk :
"With this number commences our new paper, and as custom requires us to make known our principles in the beginning, and let the people know what kind of a paper we intend to publish, we proceed to perform that duty. The Times will be, emphatically, a people's paper, devoted to the local interests of our town and sur- roundings. It will be our aim to advance the best interests of all classes-mercan- tile, mechanical and agricultural-and do all in our power to develop the resources of the country.
"In politics we are democratic, and as a democrat, we intend to discuss freely all the issnes before the country, and show up and expose the short comings of all our public functionaries, no matter of what political complexion. We will not frame our views with reference to latitude or longitude; but will feel free to express ourselves on all subjects affecting the wel- fare of the country.
"The prosperity of Algona will be to ns of paramount importance, and we will ever work for its growth and development in preference to anything else. We will
discuss freely and candidly all those ques- tions in which the people are interested ; as free trade, tariff, protection, etc., and will be found at our post at all times ready to stand up for 'the right;' to ad- vocate economy, encourage industry, and add to the general welfare of the people.
Upon the 14th of March, 1872, the Times appeared under the management of the new firm, who had just purchased the interest of Mr. Castle-Messrs. Horton, Jones & Co. This firm was composed of the following parties: A. M. Horton, J. B. Jones and Milton Starr.
The editor, Mr. Horton, in assuming the tripod, thus addressed the patrons of the paper, and the public in general:
"In appearing before the people of Kos- suth county in the capacity of caterers to the public appetite for news, the present proprietors of the Times fully realize the magnitude of the task to which they have set themselves. In a community like our own, where the great eastern dailies are taken and read by a large number of in- habitants, it is no light undertaking to attempt the publishing of a weekly which shall be at once interesting as a news pa- per and an organ for the dissemination of sound and wholesome views on subjects of general and local importance. Indeed we could not hope to exist in competition with these great organs were it not for the fact that we will be able to furnish our patrons with what in the nature of the case it is impossible for foreign publica- tions to supply them-local news, and an opportunity to discuss through our columns matters of local interest, and read the opinions of others on those sub- jects. These advantages it shall be onr
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chief aim to furnish to the Kossuth coun- ty public, and it is our ambition to be- come par excellence the organ of the peo- ple.
"While we shall hold decided opinions upon all questions of eitlier general or local public policy, we will endeavor to discuss them in a dispassionate manner, and be willing to accord to our opponents that courteous treatment which we ask for ourselves. We will not stultify our manhood by cringing to power, be the same considered respectable or disreput- able. We shall make it a point to assail principles, rather than men.
"When found in the ranks of the major- ity, it will be becanse we believe them to be right, and we will when compelled, patiently if not cheerfully bear defeat with the minority, believing it better to be right than to be successful, and that,
"Though the mills of God grind slowly, Yet they grind exceedingly small;
Though with patience he stands waiting, With exactness grinds he all. "
"Believing intemperance to have been and still to be the cause of more human misery than any other evil, or all other evils combined, we will ever stand ready to second all well directed efforts for its suppression.
"Having always been found in the ranks of the republican party, and firmly be- lieving that the accession to power at this time of the so-called democratic party would be a National calamity, we shall continue to identify ourselves with that party for whose principles we have con- tended as well on southern battle fieldsas in the more congenial but not less earnest contests of civil life.
"Our principal reason for adhering to the republican party is that we consider the administration of affairs to be safer in the hands of those who preserved the Nation from distruction than in the hands of those who either attempted to destroy it or sympathized with those who did so attempt.
"We speak of the democratic party as an organization ; with individual mem- bers we have no controversy. Good men and patriotic can be found in the ranks of the democrats, but the record of the party, as an organization, during the darkest period of our existence as a Nation, must ever remain a source of humiliation to every true American.
"Gen. Grant is our first choice for the next Presidential term. Not that we do not believe many others to be just as capa- ble of discharging the duties of chief ex- ecutive as he ; but we believe Grant, in the main, to have administered the affairs pertaining to his office with an eye single to the public weal, and in a manner satis- factory to all who are not either blinded by party prejudice or warped by disap- pointed ambition.
"In county, town and village affairs, we shall advocate that conrse which we deem to be most beneficial to all concerned, knowing no north nor south, but whole sections.
Of our predecessor, B. J. Castle, Esq., who bowed himself out in last weeks' issne, it is unnecessary to speak at length. To his reputation as a journalist, no words of ours can add. His public career in Algona, although not of long duration, has certainly not been devoid of interest. Hle has not failed to strike at whatever in
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his opinion had the appearance of evil, nor has he been found wanting when any laudable enterprise needed encouragement. We will gladly hail his decision to settle permanently in Algona; but if he con- cludes to locate elsewhere, we bespeak for him a cordial reception, and prophesy for him a successful career, and hosts of friends among those whose friendship it is an honor to possess.
"In concluding this, our salutatory, we respectfully solicit your patronage, when, after strict trial, we shall be found deserv- ing it, and your indulgence when, as is very likely to be the case, being human, we make mistakes."
Respectfully, HORTON, JONES & Co.
This new firm, as will be seen, changed the politics of the paper, and upon the 16th of May, 1872, altered the make-up of the sheet to an eight column folio, and the name to that of Algona Republican, a name it still retains.
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