USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 14
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Dr. A. H. King. Dr. A. T. Rice, Dr. J. C. Burton, Dr. J. W. Cox, Dr. J. A. Gillispie (eclectic), Dr. S. L. Claybaugh and Dr. F. L. Brackett.
Dr. A. H. King graduated at Keokuk Medical College from the class of [879 and at once located at Snow Hill, Page county, a mile from where Coin now stands. In the fall of 1879 he moved to Coin, where he still practices.
Dr. J. A. Gillispie was at one time Coin's principal physician. He grad- uated from Des Moines College April 17, 1888.
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Among those who have floated in and out of the village of Northboro, may be named Dr. William L. Freeman, who remained two years ; C. V. Beaver. M. D., who remained two years and went to Hepburn ; Dr. J. Whit- tier, homeopathic, who was here only a few months; and Dr. S. L. Clay- baugh, who remained a year and removed to Yorktown.
At Blanchard were Dr. J. W. Holliday and Dr. G. A. Pruitt. The former came in 1882 and the latter in 1884. Dr. Allan also practiced at Blanchard.
Others having practiced at Blanchard are Dr. Rogers, who came in 1880. Dr. J. V. Bightol came the same year. In 1882 came Dr. J. M. Livingstone. Dr. J. W. Chambers. Dr. J. W. Holliday and Dr. M. Carter. The above were all allopathic physicians ; also Dr. A. W. Davies, now at College Springs.
At the village of Hepburn have practiced Drs. Case, Bailey, Williams, Jackson, Beaver, Oliver, McColm, Sams, Dodds and Mrs. E. J. Carlson.
The present administrator of medicine at Braddyville is A. F. Large.
DECEASED PHYSICIANS OF PAGE COUNTY.
The physician's life is one of the most strenuous and, in most instances, he lays down his life in the service of his fellow-man. As a rule he has little control over his own time but must go to the bedside of a patient at a moment's notice. Especially is it true of the country practitioner that he endures the stress of weather and the toil of travel over roads many times almost impassable. He leads the "strenuous life" and goes the way of all flesh, practically worn out and many times prematurely by reason of his inordinate activity. Through the courtesy of Herbert H. Scott. of Clarinda, the following list of physicians whose remains lie peacefully and at rest in the Clarinda cemetery is here given :
George Kridelbaugh, Alex Farrens, John Kridelbaugh, Albert Heald, A. H. East, J. H. Cameron, J. H. Conine, J. C. Holmes, J. I. Stillians, S. H. Kridelbaugh, J. L. Barrett, -- Jeffrey, J. K. Rickey, H. L. Cokenower, N. L. Van Sandt, M. Enfield, S. H. Millen, P. W. Lewellen, - Shaw and P. Herren.
MEDICAL SOCIETIES IN PAGE COUNTY.
Dr. Samuel H. Kridelbaugh is given the honor of having started the first medical society in Page county. This took place at Clarinda, February 10, 1866. when the Southwestern Iowa Medcal Society was organized. A full description of the society cannot be given from the fact that the records were destroyed by fire in 1869. This society was very popular with its members and its jurisdiction extended over Page, Montgomery, Adams and Taylor counties. The society met for mutual improvement, read papers and discussed medical topics in general. Delegates were also sent annually to the State Medical Society, where much valuable information was obtained for discussion in the local society. Among those who acted as presidents of this organization may be mentioned: Drs. Samuel H. Kridelbaugh, N. L. Van Sandt, B. M. Webster, P. W. Lewellen. James W. Martin, H. A.
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McFatrick, J. B. McCartney, M. Enfield, J. L. Barrett, J. C. Holmes, W. C. Stillians.
For some reason not known to the writer the association went into "innocuous desuetude" in 1880.
THE PAGE COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
June 19, 1903, the Page County Medical Association was organized, with fifteen members as follows: C. E. Kellogg, R. J. C. Dodds, G. A. Pruitt, A. H. King, J. A. Gillispie, G. L. Smith, F. J. Driver, R. H. Sutton, C. F. Perkins, S. E. McClymounds, Albert F. Caldwell, R. J. Matthews, T. E. Powers, R. George and C. C. Parriott.
Dr. J. A. Gillispie was selected as the first president ; Dr. R. J. C. Dodds, vice president : and Dr. C. F. Perkins as secretary and treasurer. The present officers are : President, Dr. R. H. Sutton ; vice president, Dr. G. L. Smith ; secretary, Edward Luke. The following is a list of physicians now practicing in the cities and towns of Page county, all of whom are mem- bers of this society :
J. F. Aldrich, Shenandoah; Dr. Benning, Shambaugh; F. H. Clarke, Clarinda ; A. W. Davies, Blanchard ; R. J. C. Dodds, removed to California; F .. J. Driver, Shenandoah ; J. D. Elliott, Hawleyville; M. L. English, re- moved to Colorado; E. T. Farrens, Clarinda ; C. E. Fish, Clarinda ; Clara M. Hayden, Clarinda; C. L. Jones, Shenandoah ; C. E. Kellogg, Shenandoah ; D. H. Killingsworth, Clarinda ; A. H. King, Coin ; Frank L. King, Clarinda ; A. F. Large, Braddyville; Pauline M. Leader, Clarinda; Edward Luke, Coin ; S. E. McClymounds, College Springs ; M. C. Mackin, Clarinda ; R. J. Matthews, Clarinda; Roy Moon, Clarinda; W. H. C. Moore, Essex ; E. R. Monzingo, removed; O. W. Okerlin, Essex; A. W. Parker, Essex; C. C. Parriott, Essex ; W. C. Phillips, Clarinda ; T. E. Powers, Clarinda ; G. A. Pruitt, Blanchard; T. L. Putman, Shenandoah; R. W. Robb, Blanchard ; B. B. Sandy, Shenandoah ; H. W. Scales, Yorktown; J. W. Sellards, Clar- inda; A. M. Sherman, Braddyville ; G. L. Smith, Shenandoah ; W. F. Stot- ler, Shenandoah ; R. H. Sutton, Shenandoah; J. E. Swanson, Essex ; J. R. Thompson, Northboro; Richard Wallace, Norwich; W. W. West, Hep- burn ; J. W. Wherry, removed; M. E. Witte, Clarinda.
THE PRESS OF PAGE COUNTY.
There are but few deeds of either crime or benevolence which man can enact in America today that through the medium of the electric wire and printing press may not be known and read of all men before the going down of another sun. If one wishes to succeed in business enterprises he must consult the daily and weekly press. If one hopes to be well posted in regard to any given line of thought or action he must be the subscriber of a journal (their name is legion) edited especially for his own calling. Every trade, profession, school, science, art and calling, now has its own organ talking and arguing its specialty to the multitude through the medium of the press ..
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To the average citizen none of these publications is sought after more, or in reality of so intrinsic value, as the county paper, wherein the local events together with the general news of the entire globe is found in clear, concise printed form each week. Iowa has ever been noted for her excellent newspapers and indeed the press is an index of the population of any community.
Page county is not wanting in this direction. Indeed she has been well supplied with excellent journals, some of which have attained a state wide reputation for their sparkling brilliancy and are quoted from not unfre- quently. The newspapers have done more toward building up commerce, settlement and general business and social prosperity than any other ten causes. What were the soil with all its richness and the business advantages of this locality without the local press to tell the glad tidings abroad? Would the county have been spanned by a network of wires and girded by a network of steel rails had it not been for the good work of the press, molding public opinion ? Would the magnificent court house and churches have been in existence had the local press been silent ?
THE CLARINDA HERALD.
The first attempt at journalism in Page county was the founding of the Page County Herald, the first issue of which bore date of May 24, 1859. C. B. Shoemaker & Company were proprietors of this pioneer news sheet, whose forthcoming heralded a new era in the growth of the county. The founders had been running a paper over at Sidney, in Fremont county in 1858, and removed to Clarinda, the field seeming more favorable. The Herald was a six column folio, all home print, for that was before patent ready print or "plates" were even dreamed of. Its politics was republican. Considering the newness of all things in Page county at that date, this paper was a very newsy and well managed local paper, ever alive to the interests of Clarinda and the entire county. When first established it enjoyed but four columns of advertisements and as the whole population was less than four thousand, the subscription list was very small and profit- less to the publishers. April 5. 1861, C. B. Shoemaker purchased his brother's interest and thus became sole proprietor. He continued to publish the Herald until he entered the Union army in defense of the country he so dearly loved, in September, 1862, as major of the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. At the close of volume three Mr. Shoemaker congratulated himself as follows regarding the Herald:
"It has been three years since we commenced the publication of the Herald at Clarinda, and those three years have been through the most wretched times, financially, that this generation has ever known. And no class of business men has suffered more than the publishers of newspapers. Fully one-half of the local papers of Iowa have failed to make their regular issues, while at least one-fourth have failed entirely. During this time this judicial district has had fifteen papers but today only seven are found 'alive.' It affords us no little pleasure to reflect that we have been able to keep afloat
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amidst such general work. It has cost us an effort-a great one too, and if the good public will stand by us in the future as in the past, we expect to keep the Herald afloat. We have lived to see our county furnish more men in the present war than any other county in Iowa, considering its popula- tion. We have lived to see her one of the most prosperous and highly re- spected counties of the state and we have also lived to see her entitled to an independent member in the state legislature. We think we have aided in all these accomplishments and other objects of equal value we expect to use the influence of the press for, if enabled to continue the publication of the Herald."
Three months after writing the above he entered the army, leaving T. R. Stockton in charge of his paper, who conducted it until 1864, when Mr. Shoemaker sold the office to W. T. Smith, who changed the name to the Southwestern Observer, and published it as such for one year, when it be- came the property of Messrs. Horndobler & Aldrich. They had charge one year, when it passed into the hands of Irad Richardson, who changed it back to the Page County Herald.
November 7, 1866, George H. Powers bought a half interest in the plant and the following January he purchased Richardson's half and con- ducted the paper alone until July 3, 1867, when he sold a half interest to Colonel W. P. Hepburn. In March, 1868, Colonel Hepburn leased his interest to W. E. Loy for the term of one year. In June, 1869, Mr. Powers purchased Hepburn's interest in the paper, remaining in charge and con- ducting it ably until April, 1871, when he leased it to Lowry & McIntire, who consolidated the paper with the Republican. The latter part of January, 1871, Lowry & McIntire established a journal known as the Republican, sev- eral of the party leaders having became dissatisfied with the management of the Herald. The new paper was named from both and called the Republican and Herald, with James Lowry as its editor. He was more than an average newspaper man and very soon his organ became the liveliest sheet in south- western Iowa. He remained in charge until February, 1872, when George H. Powers again resumed control and dropped the word Republican from the title of the paper. May 12, 1874. the entire plant was destroyed by fire. The loss was great, but still full of pluck Mr. Powers was soon reestablished and doing business on a better basis than ever. In February. 1875. Powers sold to Ralph Robinson, who conducted the paper until October. 1876. when C. B. Shoemaker, its founder, returned and bought the office. He con- tinued to conduct it until his death, October 23, 1877. From that date to March. 1878, it was edited by T. E. Clark, who was an efficient manager and a forcible writer. In March, 1878, J. W. Chaffin bought the plant and assumed control. He enlarged it to a nine column folio and changed the name to The Clarinda Herald. It underwent various changes, during which time J. E. Hill managed and owned a part of it. June 24, 1885, C. A. Lisle bought Mr. Hill's half interest, after which the firm was Barker & Lisle. This continued until May 1, 1886, when the paper plant and job department were divided. Lisle retaining the paper, and Barker the job busi-
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ness. The following winter and on January 29, 1886, the combined office was totally destroyed by fire.
The plant had just removed to new quarters when the fire fiend claimed the whole block in which the Herald was published, including the hotel, which stood where the Linderman now stands, The Herald was soon "on its feet" and doing a better business than ever. New material, a power cylinder press, with a Dexter folder, was put in, together with an engine and other machinery to make a No. I printing house. The plant is now one of Iowa's best and enjoys a larger circulation than any other county paper in Iowa. In size and form it is now a six column quarto, all home print. Its publica- tion day is Thursday. It is, and always has been, the leading official paper for Page county and he has always been a radical republican.
THE PAGE COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
The Page County Democrat was the second newspaper established in this county. Its first issue came from the press full of fresh news items and stanch democratic doctrines, during the month of August, 1868. It was established by James Arrick, who conducted it until December, when Newton C. Ridenour purchased the office and at once assumed the editorship of the paper. At first it was a seven column folio. From that form it took that of a five column quarto and then was enlarged to an eight column paper.
It is the only real democratic paper ever published in Page county and as such has been a stanch advocate. Running a successful democratic paper in the midst of a county whose usual republican majorities range from six to eight hundred and sometimes a thousand, is no light task. Especially is this true where its editor is outspoken and fearless in the defense of his party principles, as this journal editor ever has been.
Aside from politics, a glance at the Democrat files leads one to believe that Mr. Ridenour was a natural born chronicler of local events and one who ever worked for Page county's best interests. No factor began to have the power and influence in inducing the various railroads to locate their lines through this country that did the editorial suggestions found in this paper. The beautiful temple of justice, the court house, the magnificent school buildings and church edifices have all been aided and made certain by the potent voice of the newspapers of Clarinda, none of which cut a more conspicuous part than did the Democrat. It never gave quarter to "moss- backs" but always encouraged those who sought to build up enterprises.
In its earlier days the Democrat had hard pulling and but few would ever have survived. The county officials, who were republicans, gave the most of the county printing to their own organ, which gave them much financial aid. Mr. Ridenour worked carly and late for success and was quoted from throughout the entire state. Not until the national democratic party was successful in the election of President Cleveland did the editor of the Democrat ever gain a farthing for the advocacy of democratic princi- ples. Upon the change of administration he was made postmaster at Clar-
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inda. It was operated by Cooper & Ridenour a short time, then Ridenour sold his share to a Mr. Howard, who in turn sold to Robinson. In the spring of 1889 it was changed to a six column quarto and run on a Potter power press. Its subscription price is a dollar and a half a year. Its publica- tion day is Thursday.
THE CLARINDA JOURNAL.
The Clarinda Journal was established in 1893 by J. P. Kenea and Edwin C. Lane, who moved to Clarinda from La Cygne, Kansas, where they had been the publishers of the La Cygne Journal. Messrs. Kenea and Lane have both made the printing and publishing business their life work. The first few years' experience of Mr. Kenea as a printer was had in The Wis- consin State Journal office at Madison, where he became familiar with the mechanical part of daily newspaper work and with typographical details in state printing contracts. Mr. Lane gained his early experience in printing in one of the best of printers' schools, a country newspaper office. that of The Kendall County Record, at Yorkville, Illinois. In 1870 Mr. Kenea became one of the founders of The Journal at La Cygne, Kansas, and in 1875 Mr. Lane joined him as one of the editors and publishers of that paper. The partnership formed in 1875 by these gentlemen under the firm name of Kenea & Lane has continued uninterrupted to the present time (1909) and promises to exist indefinitely, subject only to the limitations of human life.
The founding of The Clarinda Journal by these gentlemen was due to their conclusion after a long consideration of the subject of a change of location, from a purely business standpoint. Although strangers to Clar- inda and Page county this city and county appealed to them as the most inviting in comparison with every other location under their consideration. At the same time they received the slightest possible encouragement from Clarinda people in regard to the starting of a new newspaper here; in fact, the advice against so doing was general. Messrs. Kenca & Lane, however, were not discouraged. They discussed with cach other over and over again all the obstacles likely to be encountered in their project, planned to meet them, and, self reliant, determined that ultimately they were bound to suc- ceed. They could not estimate with exactness the length of the cam- paign but were convinced that it would have but one outcome, and that a victory confirmatory of their expectations. Thus it has proven to be.
Messrs. Kenea & Lane sold the subscription list and advertising con- tracts of their Kansas newspaper and moved their printing office equipment in a carload lot to Clarinda. This printing equipment was installed in a portion of the second floor of the Orth building at the southeast corner of the square, which they had rented and for which they paid rent for two months before they moved into it.
The first issue of The Clarinda Journal was dated Saturday, September 23, 1893. It had little advertising but much Clarinda local news. In policy it entered heartily into the spirit of Clarinda movements, from a Clarinda standpoint, and politically it upheld straight republicanism, es-
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pousing the cause of the straight republican ticket, arguing for the elec- tion of Frank D. Jackson, republican, to succeed Horace Boies, democrat, as the governor of lowa, and also advocating the election of every republi- can nominee before the voters of Page county. Straight republicans from principle, Messrs. Kenea & Lane in every campaign have invariably ad- vocated in The Clarinda Journal the election of the straight republican ticket. At the same time they have endeavored to avoid making The Clarinda Journal personally offensive to voters of other political beliefs than their own.
The first issue of The Clarinda Journal was received with popular favor and the publication immediately began doing a good business. Its job printing department earliest became the most profitable, but soon adver- tising and subscriptions returned a steadily increasing financial volume. With the passing of the years the business of The Clarinda Journal has annually become better. Starting with an edition of one thousand copies, most of which were given away as samples, the circulation of the paper soon went to subscribers instead of being given away. For over twelve years past a regular weekly edition of more than two thousand copies has been necessary, all but a very small percentage of each edition being used for paid subscriptions, the small balance being disposed of in the manner usual with established publications.
The advertising matter carried by The Clarinda Journal has been and is so great in quantity as to cause universal comment among people inter- ested in such a matter. It is one of the best patronized advertising medi- ums of any country county seat towns-from thirty to thirty-five columns of advertising in an edition is a common thing, while forty or fifty columes a week would be no surprise to the publishers at certain times in the year- or even sixty columns.
The Clarinda Journal is fortunate in being in favor with the farming as well as the town population of Page county, and derives the greater pro- portion of its support in consequence of the friendliness toward it enter- tained by the farmers and farmers' families. The Clarinda Journal is ex- ceedingly popular as an advertising medium for farmers, and during the public sale season carries more auction advertising than any other news- paper in this portion of Iowa.
The Clarinda Journal became an official newspaper of Page county soon after it was founded and has steadily remained such.
The entire upper floor of the building in which The Clarinda Journal was started,-a structure one hundred feet in length,-is now exclusively occupied by the publication; its equipment has been frequently added to and improved ; old material discarded for new, and opportunity often im- proved to make use of modern appliances. The Clarinda Journal was the first newspaper in southwestern Iowa, outside of Creston, to purchase a typesetting machine. The Clarinda Journal equipment of 1893, counted ample in those days, was like a sample of part of what it is today.
The Clarinda Journal was started as an eight-column folio newspaper. Soon it was changed to a nine-column folio, and not very long afterward to
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a regulation size six-column quarto. Extra pages have been issued as occasion has required them. During the earlier period of the Spanish- American war the paper issued a daily edition, with telegraphic news serv- ice. It has also been in the habit of issuing a daily edition while the Clarinda Chautauqua Assembly has been in session. Twice the day of issue of the The Clarinda Journal has been changed: first from Saturday to Friday, and in December, 1908, from Friday to Thursday. Both changes were made for suitahle reasons-the last of them for the better accommo- dation of Clarinda advertising merchants.
Messrs. Kenea & Lane as the publishers of The Clarinda Journal have given their newspaper and job printing business the closest of personal attention, have made their home field-that of city and county-their first consideration, have applied strict business principles to the conduct of their business and have steadily maintained its financial credit as rigidly as if it were a banking institution. From the first, and continuously, The Clarinda Journal, the exclusive property of Kenea & Lane, has received from them in its conduct and management, the most faithful, intelligent and judicions attention, and so they have been rewarded by success phenomenal in coun- try newspaper making.
THE SENTINEL-POST, SHENANDOAH.
The Sentinel-Post, located at Shenandoah, is the largest newspaper published in Page county, printing two eight-page papers each week, and has the largest printing plant in the county. As the name indicates, it is the result of the consolidation of two newspaper plants, The Sentinel and The Post.
The Post was established in 1882, by C. S. Hanley, who made it an influential organ of the republican party in the early eighties, and one of the official papers of the county. In 1887 Mr. Hanley turned his energies to religious work and the paper passed into the hands of Blake & West, who conducted it for a few years and then Benjamin Clare became proprietor and editor and published it until 1902. During that year a corporation. known as The Post Publishing Company, was organized and purchased the plant and good will of the old Post and its passed under an entire change of management, H. E. Deater becoming the editor-in-chief and manager. The Post continued under this management until April, 1905, when it was consolidated with the Sentinel.
The Sentinel was started in the fall of 1887, by C. N. Marvin, who con- tinued as sole owner until about 1900, when The Sentinel Publishing Com- pany was organized, with Marvin as the principal stockholder, and this company continued until April 1, 1905, when the consolidation above re- ferred to was effected.
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