USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 45
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In 1879 A. A. Blackman founded the Montour Review which soon passed into the hands of D. A. Ellis & Bro., who con- tinued its publication until the fall of 1882
when they removed the same to Bancroft. THE TAMA COUNTY UNION.
This was the first newspaper published at Tama City. Cyrus B. Ingham was the founder, and the first issue made its ap- pearance on the 26th of April, 1866. The first copy struck off is now in the hands of J. II. Hollen, of Tama City, who to en- courage the enterprise paid $20 for it. At this time Tama City was known as Iuka. The editors of the paper were C. B. Ing- ham and C. E. Heath, it being a six column folio. Under the heading the following motto appeared :
"O! seize on truth where'er 'tis found, Among your friends, among your foes, On christian or on heather ground,
The plant's divine where'er it grows."
For two years the paper continued in this management, meeting with good suc- cess, both in advertising and in circulation. It then went into the hands of W. G. Cambridge, who changed the name to
THE TAMA CITIZEN.
He enlarged it to an eight column folio. During his management the paper had a good support and circulation.
In the latter part of 1875, Mr. Cam- bridge was taken seriously ill and the issue of the paper was stopped. A few months later the material was sold to F. J. M. Wonser, and on the eighth day of October, 1875, the paper resumed issne under the head of
THE TAMA HIERALD.
It was made a nine column folio. Mr. Wonser remained editor and proprietor of the Herald until June 2, 1882, having changed the size of the paper at different times to a six column quarto, and eight column folio. On the date named, the
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present proprietor and editor, W. W. Wonser, purchased and took charge of the office. On December 29, 1882, the size of the Herald was enlarged to a six column quarto-the only quarto form newspaper published in the county. It has a large and increasing eirculation, and, it is the in- tention of the enterprising proprietor to add a power press to his already well equipped office.
W. W. Wonser is a lawyer by profess- ion and in connection with the chapter upon the "Bar of Tama county" a person- al sketch of him will be found. He is an educated and well-read man upon all topics and is a foreible and pungent writer.
TAMA CITY HERALD OF ECONOMY.
This was the title of a newspaper en- terprise carried on in Tama City in 1868. It was a monthly sheet, distributed gratu- itously through the city and surrounding country in the interest of the business men, its objeet being the advancement of the business prosperity of the town. It was well written, neatly printed and fur- nished a correct directory of Tama City at the time it flourished. The editor and proprietor was William Heath.
TAMA COUNTY LIBERAL.
This was a campaign paper started in the interests of the "good and true Democ- racy," by llon. L. G. Kinne of Toledo. This was for the general campaign of 1872 and the publication ceased soon after the election. The printing was done at Marshalltown, and it was one of the most ably edited papers ever published in the county.
CHELSEA PEOPLE'S FRIEND. This paper was started at Chelsea in
November, 1873, as an eight page, fonr- column-to-the page sheet. The founder was C. Fremont Neal. It was a well got- ten up paper, but for some reason lived but a few months. The editor-in-chief was a Spiritualist.
THE TRAER CLIPPER.
This paper was established by Bernard Murphy, in 1874. It was an eight column folio, and made its first appearance on the Ist of Jannary, 1874. Mr. Murphy was a good printer and an excellent writer. Hle continued to manage the paper until Au- gust 16, 1876, when it passed into the hands of Averill Brothers & Beatty. On January 1, 1877, they enlarged the paper to a nine column folio, and printed the paper entirely in the home office. In the fall of 1878 Averill Brothers bought Beat- ty's interest, made it one of the official papers of the county, and attempted to make a metropolitan paper of it.
In this shape it continued until the night of the 24th of December, 1878, when the office was destroyed by fire. The proprietors struggled on, notwith- standing this discouraging event, until the 20th of July, 1879, when it passed in- to the hands of Hon. James Wilson, James Morison and R. H. Moore. In a short time the latter named gentleman withdrew from the firm, and Wilson & Morison continued to conduct it until No- vember, 1881, when Hon. James Wilson assumed full control On the first day of April, 1882, a half interest in the office was purchased by O. J. Smith, and the firm became Wilson & Smith.
In the issue of April 6, 1882, Mr. Smith said :
Jane Wedg
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"It is usually customary when a new man takes the helin as editor, that he make an editorial bow, and salute his pat- trons by declaring his aims and intentions, and make promises concerning the course he proposes to pursue, but we shall forego the custom on this particular occasion. * * We shall simply add, however, that we shall try to the best of our ability to aid Mr. Miller in making the Clipper second to no county paper in the Fifth congressional district in point of excel- lence."
O. J. Smith had for eight years been ed- iting the Shellsburg Record, was a natural and thorough newspaper man, and was very highly spoken of by the press in this part of the State. He at onee became one of the editors of the Clipper. In this shape the paper remained until the first of August, 1882, when Hon. James Wilson, having been nominated for Congress, and pressed by other business, sold his inter- est to G. Jaqua. In closing his connec- tion with the Clipper, among other things he said :
"I give over the care of the Clipper with regret. It is like a member of my family that I have worked for and thought for anxiously. It was poor and weak, it is strong and vigorous. Three years ago it had but few subscribers, now it has many. It was then a burden of expense, it is now a source of profit. Much of its success as a business enterprise is due to the untiring attention of Mr. James Morison, whose pride of locality induced him to devote time and thought to it. The present well filled local page and well appointed job office is due to the master hand of Mr.
Smith. So, really, the work that we set out to do, to put a home paper on its feet, is done. It has the sympathy of a superior farming community and the confidence of a elass of business men seldom equalled for honor and enterprise in the State.
JAMES WILSON."
Hon. Gamaliel Jaqua at once assumed editorial duties. He was well known to the public, having settled in Buckingham township in 1856. 1Ie is a native of Ohio, born in Preble county, that State, Decem- ber 30, 1828. He grew to manhood in Preble county, remaining at home with his parents until eighteen years of age, as- sisting upon the farm and attending dis- trict school. From this time he began teaching school during the winter months and attending school in the summer, until he attained his majority. He was appoint- ed examiner of teachers for Preble county, and was afterwards elected county super- intendent of schools. In 1856, as stated, he came west and located upon a farm in Buckingham township, and divided his at- tention for some time between teaching and farming. In 1866, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors and filled this office for a number of years. In 1875, he was elected to represent Tama county in the House of Representatives; and served for two terms, making a most industrious and faithful representative. lle is a man of culture and education, well read on all subjects, a sound and logical writer, and well fitted for the editorial po-/ sition he fills.
In introducing himself to the readers of the Clipper, Mr. Jaqua said :
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" Having purchased the half interest of the Clipper belonging to Hon. James Wil- son, in taking his place upon the same, it is only fit and proper for me to say that I shall to the best of my abilities, try to sus- tain for it the same reputation it now has in the county and elsewhere. Being a resident ofthe county for the last twenty- five years, it is needless for me to assure the public of the political course to be pursued in this paper while conducting the same. Republicanism is founded in the principles of justice and right and those claims will be set forth without fear or hesitancy. We shall treat all with cour" tesy and with a spirit of kindness and, while we shall maintain with fervor, what we deem to be right, we hope to accord to all who differ with us an opportunity when space permits, to give their views to the public. * * " *
Thus the firm became Jaqua & Smith, who still own and conduct the paper. The ('lipper is a neatly printed, nine column folio, well filled with home advertisements and local and general news. It has a cir- enlation of over 1,300 and is among the most able, influential and prosperous county papers in the State.
TAMA COUNTY INDEPENDENT.
This newspaper enterprise was establish- ed by Rudolph Reichman in 1874. It was an eight column folio and made its first appearance on the 4th of July, 1874. Po- litically it was independent and supported the anti-monopoly party, contributing largely to the election of the candidates on that ticket during the fall. On August 1, 1877, S. W. Grove leased the office and ran a paper for a few months, when it
again passed into Mr. Reichman's hands, and was shortly afterwards sold to Nathan C. Wieting.
THE FOUNDER OF THIS PAPER,
Rudolph Reichman, was born on the 15th of March 1821 in Schleswig-lol- stein, Germany. He is a son of Christian and Anna Dorothea ( Hansen ) Reichman ; his father being a printer by trade. He received his education at the High School of his native town. At the age of 16 he entered into apprenticeship in a printing office at Hamburg, Germany, serving as an apprentice for 5 years and 3 months. Hle traveled over a great portion of Europe for about seven years, working at his trade in different places In 1850 he came to the United States, landing at Quebec, started for Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he settled down and published a news pa- per in german, called the Wisconsin Republikaner. He remained at the head of that paper, for about one year, when he moved to Milwaukee, was engaged as fore- man in the office of a german daily called the Volksblatt, until the spring of 1852, when he came to Davenport, Iowa ; when in partnership with Mr. Theodore Guelich, he started a german weekly called Der Democrat. He remained there until 1856, then opened a real estate office which he continued until 1859, when on account of his health, he went to Mercer county, Ills., and engaged in farming until 1865 ; in the spring of which year he came to Tama county, Iowa, settling on sections 35-85- 16, Spring Creek township, where he has owned in all about 1,300 acres of land. He now has a farm of 400 acres on sections 26 and 35 also 85 acres on sections 2-85- 15. Here he remained until fall of 1973,
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when he removed to Toledo, Iowa, where in 1874 he edited and published the Tama county Independent. lle sold his paper in 1878, and retired from active life. He now resides at his private residence and owns several lots and warehouses near the depot, in Toledo. Mr. Reichman held the office of Justice of the Peace until the fall of 1873 in Spring Creek township. In politics, he is an Independent and cast his first vote for president for John C. Fremont in 1856. Hle was married in 1847, at Bremen, Germany, to Anna Gotte, a daughter of Johann F. and Meta ( Bru- ening) Gotte, by which union there are five children :- Ferdinand Gustav, Johan- na Ernestine, Fannie, Henrietta and Louise Antoinette.
As soon as N. C. Wieting purchased the Independent, he changed the name to
THE TOLEDO TIMES,
and Will Clark became interested in the publication of the paper. Clark had for two years been publishing the Penman's Help, and the office of that paper was merged into that of the Times. He re- mained in partnership with Mr. Wieting in publishing the Times for a year and ten months, when he returned to his old home in Delaware county, New York, where he still lives, publishing the Andes Recorder. Mr. Wieting continued alone with the Times until April 1, 1881, when he rented it for one year to J. C. Prehm & Son. After remaining in their charge .for about six months, Mr. Wieting pur- chased their lease and sold the office to Smith & Dillman. A large circulation had been worked up and the Times was
one of the most popular newspapers in the county. Mr. Wieting was an easy and forcible writer, having had many years experience in literary work, and a man possessing a vast fund of information. Ile was editor of the first newspaper estab- lished in Tama county, and was among the first lawyers. (See bar chapter.)
On July 8th, 1881, the Times was chang- ed from a weekly to a semi-weekly publi- cation, and also changed from a six column quarto to a six column folio. The editors said of the change: "There will be no change in our terms, either for subscrip- tion or advertising." This was continued until September 23, 1881, when it resumed the old size and day of weekly publica- tion.
With the issue on October 13, 1881, J. C. and A. A. Prehm retired from the man- agement, Mr. Wieting, as stated, having sold the office to E. H. Smith and J. W. L. Dillman. In their " good bye article, " the Messrs. Prehm, say :
" With this issue, our connection with this paper ceases. For three months, we have in connection with this, published a paper for Eagle Grove. We have dispos- ed of our interest here and will at onee remove to the Grove and devote our undi- vided attention to the interests of our pa- per at that place. In taking our leave, we feel that we are severing newly form- ed ties. We were weekly becoming more and more interested in our five thousand readers. But so it is. What is our loss, will be your gain. Messrs. Smith and Dillman will serve you better than we have. Our associations have been pleas-
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ant. The business men have been gener- ous, and we have learned to feel at home among the good people of Toledo, for whom we bespeak a bright future.
PREIM AND SON.
Smith and Dillman, at once assumed control, changed the form of the Times from a six column quarto to a nine column folio, and greatly improved its typographi- cal appearance. E. Il. Smith became edi- tor and 3. W. L. Dillman, publisher.
In this shape the management continued until August 3, 1882, when E. H. Smith died. He was aged twenty-nine years, a native of Dupage county, Illinois, and : graduate of Cornell College, in 1877. After graduating, he taught school until August, 1878, when he came to Toledo, and, in partnership with W. D. Lee, open- ed a book store. In July, 1881, Mr. Smith sold his interest in the store, and in a short time, with Mr. Dillman, purchased the Toledo Times, remaining in connection with it until the time of his death, which occurred while he was visiting his parents at Marengo, Illinois. He was an able writer, a man of honor and integrity, and his death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.
The publication of the Times was con- tinued by J. W. L. Dillman and the estate, under the old firm name, N. C. Wieting taking the place of editor, until Decem- ber 28, 1882, when the office was sold to L. G. Kinne and II. J. Stiger.
In closing their connection with the paper, the publishers said they regreted exceedingly the fatality which produced this result, but as they could not control
this adverse fate, they were obliged to abide the results, and thanked the subscri- bers and public for their patronage, and with best wishes for prosperity, bade them adieu.
With the issne on the 4th day of Jan- uary, 1883, the name of the paper was changed to
THE TAMA COUNTY DEMOCRAT,
and the names of Kinne & Stiger ap- peared at the mast-head, as the publishers and proprietors. In their salutatory, they say :
" The proprietors of the Democrat be- lieve that there is an opening here for a first class democratic paper. We have been very considerate of the feelings of the people of this county who, in the past, have been maintaining eight Republican papers, and have purchased the Toledo Times office, including the subscription lists and good will. We shall aim to pub- lish a decent and vigorous democratic pa- per. As newspaper men, we have no ene- mies to punish. . We shall criticise with- out fear or favor, when in our judgment, it is necessary. Special effort will be made to make this paper a necessity in every family. We expect to merit and receive a liberal share of your patronage. As soon as practicable we shall make sub- stantial additions to our office, enabling us to furnish a better and neater sheet. We are opposed to long introductions and pre- fer to let the paper speak for itself .- We have come to stay."
On the 9th of March, 1883, Charles D. Huston purchased an interest in the office and the firm is now Kinne, Stiger & Hus-
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ton, the latter being a practical printer. The Democrat is now a well printed, neat- ly arranged, nine column folio, and its editor, Hon. L. G. Kinne, is one of the most able editorial writers in the State. Mr Kinne is the law partner of Hon. George R. Struble, and is noticed at length in the bar chapter. II. J. Stiger, is also a member of the bar and is treated in the same chapter.
The Democrat has a very large and growing circulation ; its editorials are strong and powerful, and the local columns in " make-up " style of writing and news, are second to no local paper in the State, TAMA CITY PRESS.
The following is a history of this news- paper written by Samuel D. Chapman, son of the founder of the paper, and publish- ed in his "History of Tama county:"
"In consequence of the expression of the political views of the Republican pa- pers in the county, the Democrats in Tama City and vicinity were desirous of estab- lishing a D mocratie paper, and S. M. Chapman, father of the writer, was per- suaded to embark in the enterprise, and under the above name the first number was issued January 1st, 1874. .
After publishing but a few issues the paper was turned over to J. B. Spafford and W. S. Mesmer, who issued it for a number of months, but, on account of want of capital, these gentlemen soon withdrew, and the paper went back into its first owner's hands who again resumed the responsibility of publishing it. He after- wards sold an interest to S. W. Grove, and the paper was enlarged to a six column quarto, published every Friday morning
by Chapman & Grove, with good success, having a large circulation and recognized as an efficient advertising medium, until the latter part of 1875, when it passed into the hands of J. B. Chapman, son of S. M. Chapman, who run the paper ; making it one of the official papers of the county, until the latter part of 1877, when the ma- terial was sold to J. G. Strong, and re- moved to Grundy Center."
THE PENMAN'S HELP.
Will Clark established this paper at Toledo in March, 1877. It was devoted to the interests of penmen and penman- ship. In April the name was changed to The Album of Pen Art, and it became an eight page semi-monthly, with a circula- tion that extended over thirty-two states of the Union as well as Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It was well gotten up and ably edited. In 1878 the office of the Penman's Help was consoli- dated with the Toledo Times and Mr. Clark became associated with N. C. Weiting in the publication of that paper. In 1879, Clark withdrew and returned to New York, his native State.
DYSART REPORTER.
This was the first newspaper establish- ed in Dysart, the first issue making its ap- pearance on the 22nd day of March, 1878. The founder was T. N. Ives, who was po- litically an "Independent" and conducted his paper on those principles. In his sa- lutatory he said: " Through many vicissi- tudes, which have been alike trying to our patience and our pockets we have at length surmounted the manifold obstacles that ever attend the starting of a newspa- er, and to-day present to the public the p
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first number of the Dysart Reporter. And while we are willing it should be the sub- jeet of fair criticism it may be necessary to remind you that we have labored under many disadvantages, always met in the establishment of a new enterprise, and are entitled to some leniency.
" Custom, a despot venerable with age, requires of us, at this time, a most respeet- ful bow, and an introductory salutation, with an outline of our intentions in regard to the character of our paper.
We were moved by two great consider- ations in the establishment of a paper in Dysart, the first personal and material to ourself, the other common to the commu- nity at large. Believing, as we do, that the county surrounding and tributary to this town possesses superior agricultural and commercial advantages and, that nature has been lavish in its manifold gifts to this immediate locality, that enlightened enterprise will find here a field for suc- cessful operation, and that the great natur- al resources it so abundantly possesses, will, in time, be made to yield a golden harvest to all whose genius and industry are devo- ted to the various pursuits that can here be so advantageously and successfully prosecuted ; we concluded to cast our lot with the people of Dysart, and be partici- pants in the realization of the coming worth and power of this part of our com- mon country. We intend to make the Reporter a truthful reflex and representa- tion of the intelligence, progress and pros- perity of our town, and surrounding coun try. We intend that it shall grow as our young eity grows ; that its cohunns shall
be used to convey information far and wide of our country, its railroads and its agricultural resources, of our town, its de- lightful location and many business advan- tages.
We intend to invite honest emigrants from every quarter to come and help us in developing our hidden riches and partici- pate with us in the magnificent future. The Reporter will be eminently independ- ent in tone, will discuss all questions of interest to the public with perfect freedom of thought, and criticise the acts of fune- tuaries regardless of their political atlin- ities or party predelictions. It will un- sparingly denounce and condemn all that is corrupt, demoralizing, unjust, undemo- eratie or unrepublican in party measures or party leaders, acting upon the belief that independence of thought is the duty of every voter, and holding that the meas- ures of men and parties shall be open and subject to just, impartial and candid criti- cism.
Although we shall devote a fair portion of our time and space to political and general matter, it is our ambition to make .the Reporter pre-eminently a local paper, devoted to home interests, home business and home news. How well we shall suc- ceed, depends greatly upon the support received. If the people of Dysart and vicinity desire a live paper, and we think they do, they will bestow their patronage liberally and promptly, and if they do this, we have no fears for the result.
With the above announcement we sub- mit our paper to the consideration of an enlightened public, hoping that the inter-
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course between publisher and patrons may be both pleasant and profitable."
T. N. IVES.
Mr. Ives ran the paper until April 14, 1882. In his valedictory he says: "It is with a feeling akin to regret that I pencil the farewell that separates me, editorially from friends and associations of Dysart, but "the best of friends must part" and with the current issue of this paper, hav- ing sold the office to Mr. Elmer E. Taylor my name only appears in bidding a brief adien. My sojourn in Dysart has been pleasant, and in the vista of the future no recollections will be cherished in my heart with greater pleasure, than the memories of the four years spent in the beautiful and enterprising town of Dysart. Whether or not my labors here, in the capacity of ·editor and publisher, have been fruitful, even in a limited degree, is not my prov- ince to assume. If you have seen any- thing amiss, please attribute it to an error of the head and not of the heart, and throw the broad mantle of charity over my mistakes and short comings. I hope the paper has been beneficial to the town_ and exerted a good influence, and I am confident that under the new administra- tion, or proprietorship, nothing will be left undone to advance its influence and use- fulness.
It will be in charge of Mr. W. J. Endi- cott, whose name appears at the head of these columns. I take pleasure in intro ducing him to the patrons of the Reporter as a young man of ability and moral worth. Ile has taught several terms and is recognized as one of the successful
teachers of the county. For some months past he has been learning the " Art Pre- servative" with Mr. Taylor, of the Traer Star, and is competent to, and I believe will, give you a paper that will merit a liberal patronage, which I hope and believe it will receive. I indulge in high hopes for this town and paper. My inter- course with the editors of Tama county, both socially and professionally, has been of the most agreeable nature. They are, one and all, the princes of good fellows.
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