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 46
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My numerous tilts with good natured and witty Bro. Wonser, or the Herald, oc- casional set-to's with Bro's Weiting, for- merly of the Times, Wilson of the Clip- per, and Connell of the Courier, together with an early "struggle" with Hon. G. Jaqua, and prolonged discussion, in the Truer Star with my esteemed and tal- ented friend, Rev. D. L. Hughes, in all of which I was worsted, but had the satisfac- tion of making it "lively for the boys ;" will afford pleasant recollections never to be forgotten. These gentlemen are bound to me by that " three-fold cord not easily broken." May they live long and prosper. Arrangements have been made by which all subscribers who have paid in advance of this number, will receive the paper un- til their time expires. Those in arrears will settle with me or some one I may ap- point as my agent. In conclusion I will add that the most friendly feeling has ever existed between myself and patrons ; -only one thing transpiring to ruffle the sea of my newspaper life-and in this, my farewell issue, there is a sadness which creeps over my pencil that mellows the
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words into regret that my stay in your midst cannot be longer."
T. N. IvEs.
In their first issue the new editor and proprietor says :
"In this, our first appearance before the people of Dysart as manager of the Re- porter, we thank the good people with whom we have become acquainted, fort e cordial treatment we have received at their hands, and take this opportunity to solieit the assistance of all citizens in making the Reporter of interest to all. We do not presume to be as able a writer as the re- tiring editor, but we will endeavor by un- tiring energy to merit the patronage of every citizen of Dysart. We ask the for- bearance of the people, if for a few weeks the paper does not contain the local news that it should, on the ground that we are not acquainted with the private citizens of the place. We intend to make the Re- porter a paper of Dysart (and when we say Dysart we mean all the county of which Dysart is the trading center), and the out- side world will be considered when we have an opportunity. The character of the paper will remain unchanged in regard to public affairs, and will have fixed opin- ions on public questions. We recognize every man's right to reason for himself and believe as the preponderance of evi- denee seems to him to prove, and never, while we have the control of these col- umns, shall they be made use of to insult any man on account of political affiliations. To quiet all apprehension on that head, we wish it distinctly understood that this is no man's organ, but intended for the use and edification of all, and while we turn
the erank we shall always be grateful for contributions of music, and we hope they will take such advantage of this oppor- tunity as to make the Reporter a fair rep- resentative of this locality.
To those who have been accustomed to write from other points, we would say we hope you will aid us and please the patrons of the Reporter by continuing these fa- vors.
With these few remarks we divest our- selves of our coat and settle down to solid business, preferring to leave missionary spirits of Tama editors in doubt as to our origin, but giving them all a cordial invi- tation to call and see us and give us fath- erly advice when pruning in this part of the moral vineyard."
W. J. ENDICOTT, Editor. ELMER E. TAYLOR, Proprietor.
They ran the paper until November 17, 1882, when the following appeared as their
VALEDICTORY.
" 'Full many a flower was born to blush unseen And waste its sweetness on the desert air.'
Perhaps were they but found they'd be plucked up, and naught remain to show they'd onee been there. Perhaps it is not the correct thing for a retiring editor to quote poetry ; it sounds like a corpse com- posing a mareh for its own funeral.
But the above stanza is the editor's only, for no other class are No modest as to "blash unseen." It is with regret that we lay aside a title that some of our best eit- izens have won honors for, and parting chords of friendship cause a pang as we bid good bye to the fraternal brotherhood,
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--
with a single exception in the feminine gender, the Van Horne Times.
'To all for eight short, anxious months, Our labor has been given ; But if a fellow lives on faith, He's got to board in heaven.'
" A printer must have a limited amount of patronage to keep soul and body in the same neighborhood. We have tried to earn the approbation of the just and the reproaches of the unjust. Next to a wise man's friendship we prize a fool's enmity. If we have friends, we are as grateful to them for their many manifestations of kind- ness as the emotions of a heart that knows Low to feel gratitude can express. We also thank the opposition for their lack of m. nagement in their efforts to injure us. There is an element that no one can please. They are the mercury of mankind, never at rest themselves, nor allowing others to rest who have anything to do with them.
"Chief among our many sins, was the fault that we had not a wife and nine or eleven children. Should we ever conclude to found a paper of our own, we will borrow the widow and orphans of Brigham Young for the sake of appearances. The only fault that the proprietor had, was that he was born in Traer. Now, we solemnly warn succeeding generations to consider well before they select a town in which to be born. Many a brilliant youth has ruined his prospects for life by being born in the wrong locality. Start right, and success is assured. If we were to start anew in life, we believe that we would remedy our fault in this direction. There is a class that think to intimidate a printer into a passive consent to their ways by a
withdrawal of patronage extended for the same purpose. They have only to con- template their failure to convince them- selves of their mistake. To the anti- men who have been loud in their de- nunciations of our course, we say that you have, from this time forth, a more active enemy than before. We inherited little beside a good name and a clear conscience, and we propose to keep them good. We now know what principle will do, and while no one can suit himself and every- body else at the same time, he had better suit himself first and then you will know that some one is pleased. We have done all that it was possible for us to do-onr best.
" If we deserve credit we are not afraid a just public will withhold their apprecia- tion. If we have failed it is our own loss; but whatever be the estimation in which our labors may be held by others, there is no regret in our own mind.
" In taking leave, it is hardly necessary to introduce one so well known as our suc- cessor, Fred. W. Browne. Ile is a prac- tical newspaper man and will give the cit- izens a paper worthy of support. The shape and size of the paper will be changed from a seven column folio to a six column quarto, so that the places that have known the Reporter shall know it no more. We thank the people again for their kindness ; and no one that has not been a stranger with nothing to recommend him can ap- preciate our gratefulness."
Fred. W. Browne in his first issue gave the following as his
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
SALUTATORY.
" With this issue the Reporter appears under a new management, and,having pur- chased the office, subscription list and good will of the former proprietor, Mr. Elmer E. Taylor, W. J. Endicott retires, and we assume entire control. We shall make no extravagant statements to start on, lest we fall short of them ; but we shall put forth our best efforts to maintain the present good standing of the paper, and endeavor to improve it constantly.
" Our columns will be devoted to mat- ters of most interest and importance to Dysart and the vicinity from which we chiefly receive our support. We will ad- vocate such measures and policies as we deem best for the welfare of our patrons, and shall defend their rights against all encroachments of any form. We shall aim to give the latest general news, polit- ical items, and make a specialty of local and county news. And we solicit the con- sistent efforts of all those who have any interest whatever in the paper to aid ns.
We ask your indulgence on this issue, as we have had much to do in little time, have been hindered by the non arrival of goods, and deprived of the use of a most faithful servant, our right arm, by a pain- ful gathering on the wrist, rendering us unfit for mental as well as incapable for physical labor. We have to thank our good friend, T. W. Ives, founder of the Reporter, for its appearance this week, and much eredit is due to him for coming to the rescue.
lloping that the Reporter may hereafter
merit your favor and fully meet your an- tieipations, we greet you.
FRED. W. BROWNE."
Under Mr. Browne's editorship and management the Reporter is rapidly in- creasing in circulation, and it has become one of the standard papers of Tama county.
Fred W. Browne, editor and proprietor of the Dysart Reporter, was born in Black Hawk county, lowa, on the 5th day of January, 1857. He is a son of W. P. and Martha ( Wiley ) Browne, both na- tives of Maine. In 1863, the parents came to Tama county and located at Tama City where the father engaged in the grain trade. Mr. Browne received his educa- tion in the public school of Tama City and from private instruction. lle learned the art of printing in the Press office in Tama City. In 1877, he purchased the Gilman Dispatch and was editor of that paper until May. 1879, when he disposed of it and bought the Tribune at Fre- mont, Nebraska. In September, 1879, he sold the Tribune, and established the Illinois Tradesman at Peoria, Illinois, with which he was connected for about five months. He was then engaged in job printing in Chicago until November, 1882, when he purchased the Dysart Report- er, which, under his efficient editorship, is fast becoming one of the leading papers in Tama county. August 16, 1880, he was united with Miss Mary Williamson, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of G. Williamson an early settler of Tama ('ity. They have one child-Bessie, born October 18, 1882. He is a thorough news-
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paper man, an able writer and a man posted upon almost all subjects.
TAMA COUNTY NEWS.
This paper was started at Tama City, by The News Publishing Company, an 'out growth of the Tama county Democrat es- tablished by W. S. Groves at Toledo in April, 1878 afterward bought by Clark & Winn, and run by them as an independent sheet. In October 1880, it was bought by the News Publishing Company and moved to Tama City the first issue being October 7, 1880. The following was their saluta- tory. "On this date we present a copy of the News for the inspection of the public. We have no wild or extravagant promises to make, but will let the News venture out upon the rough and rugged sea of journ- alism upon its merits and favors it may receive from the reading public. It will be the aim and ambition of the company to make the News a complete courier of news, and to chronicle all matters of interest throughout Tama county. In politics it will be Democratie, not of the fluctuating kind, but open and uncompromising in its principles. It is hoped that every Demo- erat in this and adjoining counties can see the necessity of an organ in this field of Democracy, and will give it their hearty support-not promises, but financial, as well as the good work it may deserve. We have founded the News for the pur- pose of helping to sustain our strong hold upon the opposition, and expose the crook- edness and corruption of the old ring leaders and stalwarts of Republicanism. We will uphold no "76 conspiracy,' no 7 to 8 commissions, nor defend any participators in bribery and frauds ; but censure and expose any one guilty of such
demeanor. Trusting that every Demo- erat in Tama county will not falter, but come to the support of his cause and organ, without hesitancy, we submit the News to your cause and support.
Truly your fellow democrats,
NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY."
This company ran the News until March 31, 1881, at which time dates their last issue, in which they say, through the edi- tor, John E. Chapman : " With this issue the News will pass into the hands of W. R. Lesser, formerly of the Enterprise, of State Centre. This change comes as do changes in any branch of business. Men will change their ideas and plans, and often it is necessary to make a change in one's vocation to effect the desired end. We have concluded to change our busi- ness and enter into some branch of the mercantile trade, and to do this we are obliged to sell this office. It will be re- membered that the News was purchased from J. M. Winn, of Toledo, and moved to Tama City by its managers, and here let us say, that the present managers en- tered into the publication of the News without the aid and help of any one, inde- pendent and alone, on business principles, and considered it wholly-a business transaction. We are under obligations to no one, asked no aid, expected none-as we had the individual backing and finance to see our way through, and we desired to be free from obligation to any one. We did express the hope that every Democrat in the county would see the necessity of having and supporting a Democratie organ in the county, but after six months of tedious waiting, we found that the Demoe-
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racy would not come to the support of this paper (a few excepted, their own kindness would tell them who ), and find- ing that the Democrats would not sustain their paper and as we found that our main support came from Republican friends, we concluded, as we could not conscientiously publish a paper in opposition to those who support it, neither could we desert the golden principles of Democracy to please them-hence the change comes. We did all that we consider can be asked of us, informed the leading Democrats of our intentions, but they took no interest and did nothing. It cannot be expected that we can carry all the burden of publishing the paper in the interests of the party unless the advocates of the party come to its support. Let it be understood that we do not complain of the financial success of the Nors since we purchased it, for it has been a gratifying success in this par- ticular to us-far exceeding our anticipa- tions. Our files show a liberal patronage, not dead advertisements but fair paying ones, not at prices as should be, as adver- tising in this place has been recklessly and unreasonably spoiled by former news- paper men. Our list of subseribers reaches the hundreds ( nearly two-thirds Republican ) and nearly all paid. Our job rooms have enjoyed a gratifying run of work at fair rates. Taking it as a whole we do not complam. We have worked for patronage and have made several hun- dred dollars clear of expenses during the last six months. We took hold of the office with the determination of making, not losing money, and we have succeeded. We made no promises in the beginning, and have none to forfeit-we consider the
matter wholly a business transaction. We have endeavored to make the News a clean, readable sheet-in this we have succeeded-by tried patience and endur- ance, and can thank the public for an ap- proval of this course. During the time we have wielded the pen on the News, we have received many cheerful and encour- aging words from friends, for which, we thus publicly tender our sincere thanks, and to the business men of this thrifty and growing city, we shall ever feel under obligations for their courtesies and patron- age. Toward our exchanges abroad, we owe a gift of gratitude, for the fairness with which we have been treated and the courtesies received. In brief, our short connection with the News, has been a period of pleasantness to us, and if we were to continue in the paper business we would not wish for a better and more profitable field than here in the metropolis of Tama county, with all its bright future. We most earnestly hope the News is on the road to prosperity,-though it be an independent paper, as Mr. Lesser informs us he will make it.
"Mr. Lesser is well known in this place and has had years of experience in the printing business, and doubtless will make it a success. He has purchased the office fixtures, and the subscription books, and will continue the paper to those who have paid in advance, and collect all arrearages The book accounts for advertising and job work will be collected by us at onee. We expect ( nothing to the contrary,) to remain here and enter into business and feel confident that our standing among the people in Tama City is such that we can friendly and unembarrassingly ask your
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patronage if we do enter into other busi- ness here. Considering the above a fair statement, and again thanking you for your patronage, we subscribe ourself.
JOHN E. CHAPMAN, Editor."
Mr. Lesser changed the name of the paper to
THE FREE PRESS.
llis first issue appeared April 15, 1881, with the following announcement :
"How often the remark, 'Well, he'll soon be glad to come back again, ' is made in regard to a person who has resided in a town for a number of years, when he takes his departure therefrom. In many cases, it proves to be the truth, and if any one uttered the aforesaid sentence when we left Tama City two years ago, they spoke the 'Gospel Truth' for we are back again and as far as we are able to peer into the future, to remain, adding our mite towards making Tama City what every citizen wishes to see her-a promi- nent city of Iowa. It is useless for us to introduce ourselves to the citizens of Tama ('ity and vicinity, for we are well known to the larger majority of them, so we pass to more important things. There is no doubt in our mind, and we presume every citizen has the same ideas, but that for Tama City, there are in the future many bright days in store for her, and they will be very bright, as a contrast to the dark ones, which for various reasons has hover- ed over her in the past, and we shall work faithfully, doing all in our humble power, to add brightness to those days. We shall publish, as far as national politics are con- cerned, an independent sheet, with a right
to say what we please on either side, but we shall pay greater attention to town and county news, and a good selection of gen- eral news, than to political broils. Our aim will be to furnish a paper nnobjection- able to any one or any fireside, always having Tama City's and Tama county's interest in view, giving all the local and county news it is possible for us to obtain, making a paper which will be read with
almost equal interest in all parts of the county, and by all classes-the merchant, mechanic, farmer, laborer, &c. We shall endeavor to get a good live corps of cor- respondents who will chronicle all the news of their district; an educational eol- umn, conducted by some competent educa- tor, devoted to the interest of the Tama county schools, will also be a prominent feature of this journal.
" We are aware that in taking this paper we are doing so under peculiar disadvan- tages, which we shall work with all our power to overcome, and we ask our read- ers to bear gently with us, and not judge us too harshly at the beginning, but give us a little time, wait, and see how things will develop, and in the meantime we shall strive hard for success. At all times we shall be awake to the interests of our business men, and shall hold ourselves in readiness to serve them in whatever man- ner the occasion and welfare demands. There are a number of things connected with our town, which, from our two years experience in other towns, we would like to see different, and which we are certain were they changed or worked on different principles, would be of great benefit to
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the town and its citizens, and as time passes by, we shall work for that end. The Free Press starts out with a good subscription list, well distributed throughout the eoun- ty ; about equally between the Republi- eans and Demoerats, and we wish to say right here, and hope all will comply with the request, that we wish all persons re- ceiving a Free Press directed to them in any post-office, to accept it and read it earefully, for one month or four numbers, and if at the end of that time they do not wish to continue taking the paper, they can call at our office, or drop us a postal card, informing us of their desires, and we will discontinue sending it, without any expense whatever to them for the four numbers received. We shall deem it a special favor if all will accept the paper on the above terms. With our cotemporary the Herald, we expect pleasant relations, and shall do all we possibly can to keep ont of what very few people rejoice in, but what to general readers is very dis- gusting-'a newspaper fight.' Perhaps a harmless joke or pun may pass between us, but for a fight where the character of each editor will be picked to pieces and scattered broadcast to the world, we shall certainly refrain from. With a few words to the business men of the town we shall close. We are aware that for a number of years there has been a great many dol- lars' worth of job work sent to foreign offices, which, by all means, should have been done at home. We are confident that we can give satisfaction to our pat- rons in all classes of work, that can be done in a country town, at priees equally as cheap and in some cases cheaper, taking
into consideration, cost of transportation, quality of stock used. We have an ex- eellent job office, new and late styles of type, good presses, and a well selected stoek of stationery, and we do think it is right for our business men, to give all of their work to home offices in lieu of send- ing it away. We do not, by any means, ask that all of it should come to the Free Press office, but that it should be divided between the two home offices.
"Tama is not, nor never has been an ad- vertising town, but we are certain that it pays, not because we are in the business, but from the experience of leading busi- ness men of the county, and we hope in time to demonstrate the fact to the busi- ness men of Tama City, until every busi- ness house in the town is represented in some manner in the columns of its home papers. Before closing, we wish to make another suggestion, and that is, praise of our town by its citizens at home and abroad. If a stranger asks you 'what kind of a town you have got here' tell him, and tell it to him strong ; do not, of course, misrepresent the place, that will not be necessary, as the prospects of our town to-day are such, that it can be shown up in glowing colors. There is a town not many miles from here, which owes a good- ly share of its popularity to the praise of its residents, and such a course by the citizens of Tama City, will develop in its way, good results. Already Tama is gain- ing a valuable reputation abroad, and we should all 'put our shoulder to the wheel' and keep'er booming. We have, in our own mind, set our stake high on the journalistie mountain, and shall work hard to reach it, and perhaps pass it, but if we
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fail, no one but ourself will ever be the wiser.
WALLACE R. LESSER. "
Within two weeks Mr. Lesser changed the Free Press from a six column quarto weekly to a six column folio semi-weekly, making Tuesday and Friday, the days of issue. This arrangement is still continued by Mr. Lesser. The Free Press is neatly printed, well made up and ably edited. Mr. Lesser is a genial, affable gentleman, a natural newspaper man and an easy and pungent writer.
Wallace R. Lesser, editor and proprietor of the Free Press, is a native of Hunts- ville, Texas, born August 6, 1856. His father was of French descent, his mother American, the former died in Tama City, January 5, 1875; his mother is still living and making her home with her son in Tama City. Wallace was brought up until eleven years of age, at the place of his birth, attending select school, when he went with his father's family to Chicago, where they remained a short time and then removed to New York City. Ilere they remained for nearly two years, when they moved to Earlsville, Illinois, and in 1872, came west and located in Tama City. Wallace had the advantages of a good education, attending the high school while in New York, and in 1874, began learning the printers' trade. In April, 1879, he purchased the Gilman, Marshall county Dispatch, published that paper for one year and then sold out and pur- chased the State Centre Enterprise. In April, 1881, he sold that and purchased the Free Press, of which he is still pro- prietor. Ile was married in 1877, to Mag-
gie A. Brown, a native of Tama county, and three children have blessed the union, Walter, Lawrence and an infant.
THE TRAER STAR.
This spicy sheet came into existence at the instigation of Elmer E. Taylor, in 1878, the first issue making its appearance on Wednesday, the first day of May. Its size was a five column folio, or, twenty columns, all printed at home. It was neat- ly printed and well gotten up, both editor- ially and mechanically. In his salutatory Mr. Taylor said :
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