USA > Illinois > De Witt County > History of De Witt county, Illinois. With illustrations descriptive of the scenery, and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 26
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attract a large number of cash paying subscribers, as we find in a few numbers later, the editors calling upon their subscribers to pay up so that they might be enabled to continue the publication of the paper. They also take their correspondents to task for sending them letters on their own private business without pay- ing the postage. They are reminded that postage costs money and " potatoes are one dollar and fifty cents per bushel." That has the ring of practical sense about it. Times were hard and money scarce, and editors at best had a sorry time in collecting sufficient money to pay current expenses and provide a living for themselves
The firm of MeElheney & Mills conducted the COURIER until February 9th, 1855, when McElheney's ioterest was purchased hy A. J. Back, a practical printer. The firm of Mills & Back continued nutil August 31st, 1855, when the office passed into the hands of Burrell T. Jones. Up to this time the COURIER had been neutral in polities. Mr. Jones converted it into the organ of the Democratic party. On the 16th of November fol- lowing, Paul Watkins secured a half interest in the office, and became the publisher of the paper, Mr. Jones' name appeared as editor. Together these gentlemen continued the paper in support of James Buchanan for the presidency. The firm of Jones & Watkins was dissolved July 4th, 1856, Jones retiring on account of long continued bad health. Watkins conducted the COURIER through the political campaign of 1856, and until the winter of 1856-57, when the office caught fire and the type and presses were destroyed.
The Democratic party were now without a paper to represent them. No effort was made to secure an organ until the Spring of 1858. Very early in that year was heard the mutterings of the political storm. Parties were much divided. Stephen A. Douglas and his squatter sovereignty doctrines was met with fierce opposition by a faction in his own party. The fight was between him and the administration party represented by James Bucha- nan, aud backed by the federal patronage of the nation in addi- tion to the young Republican party. Douglas was a candidate for the United States Senate, and opposed to him was Abraham Lincoln, and together these rival candidates stumped the State. The campaign was the most memorable that, perhaps, ever oc- eurred in the nation. The issues presented, the result, effect and causes which grew out of it are well known to all students of American history. The leading representatives, democrats of De Witt County, who espoused the cause of Douglas, cast about to provide ways and means to start a newspaper in the interests of their candidate. They found two men, E. F. Campbell and E. Douglass King, who had some means, aod who were desirous of journalistic fame They furnished the presses and material necessary, and a number of the leading democrats, conspicuous among whom was Will Fuller, who is still a citizen of Clinton, became sureties for the payment of the materials, stipulating that for so doing they were to control the politics of the paper. An agreement setting forth that fact was drawn up and signed by the parties. The office was opened, and on the 14th of March, 1858 the first number of the paper was issued. It was called the
DE WITT COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
The Editors entered heartily into the contest in the support of Douglas, and their efforts continued nnabated until near the close of the campaign, when influences were brought to hear on King that made him lukewarm in the support of the " Little Giant." He was ousted from the office, and Campbell took con- trol, but he proved more recreant even than King. He was ap-
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
proached by members of the different parties and importuned to give this or that candidate the preference and benefit of his columns. His weak spirit yielded to all the factions. In order, as we suppose, to satisfy all parties be got out his last issue with one side of the paper advocating the claims of Douglas, the other side the claims of Lincoln, aud the third advocating the claims of the administration party as represented by James Buchanan. The leaders of the Douglas wing of the party discovered the treachery before the papers were circulated. They seized the en- tire issue and suppressed it. They then sent William Fuller to Bloomington where be secured the services of a printer by the name of Edson. He was placed in charge of the paper, and conducted it through the campaign and until the Spring of 1859, when the office caught fire, and the press and type shared the same fate as its predecessor of three years before.
During the campaign of 1858, spoken of above, political excitc- ment ran high. The administration party in the county deter- mined also to have an organ. Members of the party secured a press and material, and the services of Joseph M. Prior to con- duct it. It was called
THE VINDICATOR.
It made an open and aggressive fight upon Douglas, aud in- tensified the already bitter feeling between the different wings of the Democratic party. It was backed, financially, by some of the most influential men in the county, and edited with consider- able ability. After the campaign closed it suspended publication.
The attempt of members of the Democratic party in the county to establish an organ representing their views, had twice met with disaster. Both offices had been destroyed by fire, consequently they were loth to put their money iu an enterprise that promised nothing but total and actual loss. No attempt was made to start a Democratic paper until 1868, when the Register was started. Of this paper we shall speak hereafter.
During the year 1856 the young and aggressive Republican party effected a national organization. John C. Fremont was chosen as their leader, and his name presented as their candidate for the presidency of the United States. The party in De Witt County were without an organ to represent them in the campaign. To supply this want, a Mr. Blackford and Isaac N. Coltrin, the latter a practical printer, (at present foreman of the Republican Office, in Decatur, Illinois, which position he has held for many years), established a paper bearing the name of the
CENTRAL TRANSCRIPT,
which has, from that time to the present, been the authorized exponent of the principles of the Republican party. The first number of the Transcript was issued in September, 1856. It openly declared in favor of Fremont for President, Wmn. II. Bis- sell for Governor, Owen Lovejoy for Congress, and Ward H. Lamon for Prosecuting Attorney 'for the 8th Judicial District. With the thirteenth number, B T. Jones became associated with the paper as editor. The firm of Coltrin & Blackford conducted the publication until February 20th, 1857. On the 28th of May of the same year John R. Blackford purchased the office and fix- tures, and remained in possession until November 13th following, when I. N. Coltrin and B. T. Jones came into possession of the office by purchase. The firm of Coltrin & Jones continued one year. The interest of Jones in the office was then sold to James W. De Lay. The date of sale was November 12th, 1858. The firm of Coltrin & De Lay changed the name of the paper to the
WEEKLY CENTRAL TRANSCRIPT.
On the 22d of July, 1859, Coltrin published his valedictory, stating his reasons for his withdrawal from the Transcript, and severance from the printing business in De Witt County, but from some cause he failed to go out, and still continued the management of that journal. In August of the same year Joe M. Prior, since one of the veteran editors and publishers of Illi- nois, was made local editor. Soon after a partnership was formed between Coltrin and Prior, which continued until July 1861, at which time A. J. Blackford became Prior's successor. The firm of Coltrin & Blackford was dissolved November 5th of the same year. Blackford's interest was purchased by James M. De Lay. On the 30th of May 1862 the Transcript was sold to M. M. De Levis and O. F. Morrison. These gentlemen were at that time editors and proprietors of the Puna Public, a newspaper published in Pana, Christian County, Illinois. That office was moved to Clinton, on the Ist of June, 1862, and consolidated with the Transcript Office, and the paper issued under the name of
CLINTON PUBLIC.
At the time Messrs. De Levis & Morrison purchased the TRAN- SCRIPT office, it was understood and agreed with Mr. Coltrin that he would retire permanently from the newspaper business in De Witt County, but soon after the sale was completed, Coltrin gave evidence of his desire and longings after the journalistic flesh pots, and made up his mind to again enter the De Witt County field of journalism. The new proprietors, believing he would adopt the old name of CENTRAL TRANSCRIPT, changed the name of their paper to the
DE WITT COUNTY PUBLIC AND CENTRAL TRANSCRIPT,
which name it bore for a number of years. On the 2ud of July, 1863, Mr. De Levis purchased Mr. Morrison's interest, and con- tinued sole editor and proprietor of the paper until April 29th, 1869, when he sold a half interest to J. Van Slyke. The latter was a practical printer, and took charge of the mechanical de- partment. He, however, failed to comply with the conditions of the sale, and defaulted iu the payments, and soon after, his inter- est reverted back to De Levis, who remained in possession until March 3Ist, 1870, when he sold out the office, fixtures and good- will, to George B. Richardson. Under Mr. De Levis' manage- ment the PUBLIC for the first time was brought up to a paying basis, and made self-supporting. He was a good new-paper man, and a writer of more than average ability. He was the first to intro- duce method and system into the business, in the county. He learned the trade in the course of his experience in the printing business, and did much of the composition, besides attending to the editorial duties. Since his retirement from the printing office, he has been engaged in the drug business, in Clinton. Mr. Richardson continued editor and publisher of the PUBLIC until March Ist, 1872, when he sold out to Richard Butler, the present editor and publisher.
Mr. Butler learned the printer's trade in Canada, his native country. He had considerahle experience in journalism before coming to Clinton. The first paper he published was the "Oxford Citizen," in the town of Oxford, Ohio. Rev. David Swing assisted in the editorial duties until Mr. Butler had ac- quired sufficient confidence and experience to mount the editorial tripod. Even then his editorials passed under the inspection of Mr. Swing, who kindly criticized, corrected and improved them, and in various ways aided young Butler in acquiring a knowledge and skill in writing. Mr. Butler was afterwards editor and pub-
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
lisher of the " Oberlin News." From Oberlin he went to Bur- lington, Iowa, where he accepted a situation on the "Ilawkeye," as city editor, a position he filled with credit to himself and the complete satisfaction of the proprietors of that journal. Hle resigned, and his place was filled by " Bob " Burdette, who has since acquired a national reputation for his witticisms and humorons writings.
Mr. Butler has remained sole editor and proprietor of the PUBLIC since March 1st, 1872. The paper has been since its first establishment, a faithful exponent of Republican principles. Under its present management it has done valuable and effective work in the political campaigns in the past, and has been, and is yet, one of the potential organs in the 13th Congressional District. Mr. Butler is a terse logical writer, and possesses good business qualifications. The office of the PUBLIC is well supplied with the modern style of type and power presses.
THE CLINTON UNION
was established by Joseph M. Prior. The material was pur- chased new and brought to Clinton, and the first number made its appearance August 20th, 1863. It was a six column folio, and typographically, a neat paper. It was neutral in politics, and was continued for several month, when its editor was convinced that there was no room in Clinton for his paper, and its publica- tion was abandoned. The material was finally traded off for patent washing machines, and removed out of the county.
THE CLINTON TIMES.
The first number of the TIMES was issued May 11th, 1866, by A. J. Bell and Thomas J. Sharp. In form it was a five column folio, and intensely Democratie in its tone. On the 17th of August, 1866, Mr. Bell retired from the concern, and Mr. Sharp continued the publication until the spring of 1867, when he re- moved the press and material to Maroa in Macon County, and there issned the " Maroa Times."
THE DE WITT REGISTER
was established May 29th, 1868, by Jason Blackford, who was a native of Ohio, and by trade, a printer. He came west to Illi- nois, and settled in Clinton, where he commenced the practice of law. At that time the Democratic party in De Witt County were without an organ. Through the solicitation and promises of aid from the leading representative men of the party, Mr. Blackford was induced to start a paper. He purchased the type and presses of S. P. Rounds, of Chicago, established the office and issued the first copy on the date above named. He remained in charge of the office until November 27th, 1868, then sold out to William L. Glessner and C. C. Stone. They remained in charge without change until September 15th, 1873, when F. M. Van Lne pur- chased Stone's interest. The firm of Glessner & Van Lue con- tinued the publication of the REGISTER until August 7th, 1874, when Mr. Van Lne retired, and Mr. Glessner became sole owner of the office. He had been the editor of the paper from his first connection with it. With the commencement of Volume Third, the word " De Witt " was dropped out and " Clinton " substituted, since which time it has borne the name of the
CLINTON REGISTER.
At the same time the change was made it was issued as a semi- weekly, and so continued until January, 1873, when its form was changed to a six column quarto, and issued weekly. Mr. Glessner is one of the best country newspaper managers in Illinois, and is one of the few men who have been able by good management,
tact and industry to make the business profitable. He is a prac- tical printer, and was trained to the business from his youth up, which in a measure accounts for his success. As a writer of political articles Mr. Glessner wields a graceful pen, and is forci- ble and vigorous. He may be regarded as the first editor and publisher who has successfully established a Democratic newspa- per in De Witt County.
Without disparaging the efforts of other editors and publishers, who have conducted journals in this county, we think that Mr. Glessner has been by far the best editor on the Democratic side, as Mr. Butler has been on the Republican. Both are excellent newspaper men of much tact and ability. Mr. Glessner con- tinued the REGISTER until October Ist, 1881, when on account of long continued ill health, he was compelled to seek some warmer climate. He sold the office and fixtures to J. H. Waggoner & Son, residents and former editors, of Sullivan, Moultrie County, Illinois. Mr. Waggoner has had considerable experience in the newspaper business, and we doubt not that he will keep the REG- ISTER up to the high standard that it has always maintained, among the country journals of the State.
TIIE FARMER CITY REPUBLICAN
is credited with being the first newspaper printed in the thriving town of Farmer City. John S. Harper, so w Il known to fame as the great newspaper founder of the west, was the proprietor and editor. The material and presses were the same from which the Homer Journal in Champaign County was issued. The first number appeared July 28th, 1870. It was a seven column folio, neat in its make-up, and full of local news. It started off with a fair amount of local patronage, and had its editor possessed as mich tact, energy and industry in conducting a newspaper as he exhibited in starting, then he would without doubt ere this have risen in point of financial wealth to the dignity of a millionaire. In his salutatory to the public he announces that he " has come to stay one year, and that upon the political complexion of the REPUBLICAN there will be no manner of doubt." Those two im- portant points settled, the editor was ready for.business. Mr. Harper continued the paper until the time stated, and then it was sold to Messrs. Cummings & Wilkins. They changed the name to the
ORTHORSPOR.
It was then a thirty-two column sheet, and was run in the inter- est of the temperance movement. Prof. Wilkens was the editor. Soon after the purchase of the paper by the above named parties J. W. Richardson became local editor and manager. The paper survived its name about six months and then passed into Mr. Richardson's hands, and was by him removed ont of the county. Soon after the suspension or sale of the Republican Mr. Harper went to Le R y, and started the "Sneker State, " subsequently removed to Saybrook, in McLean county, and in the fall of 1872, returned to Farmer City. On the 14th of November, 1872, he issued the first number of the
FARMER CITY JOURNAL,
and continued the publication for nearly two years, then sold the property to O. J. Smith and J. R. Robinson. These gentlemen were farmers by occupation, and nnacquainted with the details of running a newspaper. They conducted the Journal into the Greenback fold, and made it the organ of the Granger element, which had then some political prominence. Harper had pre- pared the way for the paper to advocate Granger measures before he sold out.
101
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Before Messrs. Smith and Robinson purchased the Journal, W. L. Glessner of Clinton, had made arrangements with one of them to go into partnership in the purchase, and for that purpose had solicited aud obtained quite a large list of subscribers. To the surprise of Glessner the purchase was made and he was left out. He immediately made arrangements to purchase a complete out- fit in Chicago and start an opposition paper, but before doing so the parties came together, and Smith & Robinson sold the paper to Glessaer. They did not get out a single issue of the paper. Mr. Glessner associated with him his brother, L C. Glessner, and the latter purchased a half interest and took charge of the paper. The first number under their management was issued October 15th, 1874. Under Harper's management it had been an eight
page, seven column paper, three-fourths of it printed in Chicago. The Glessner Bros. cut it iu two, and printed it all at home as a seven column folio. In June, 1877, L. C. Gessner bought his brothers interest, and conducted the paper with commendable success and much ability until February 7th, 1879, when the office was removed to Carlinville, Macoupin county, Ills , from whence it was issued as the Herald. The Journal when conducted by Mr. Glessner was independent in politics and had the reputation among its exchanges of never being asleep. In truth it was a wide-awake Journal brimful of local news. Before removing the office from Farmer City, Mr. Glessner made arrangements with W. C. Devore to continue the Journal, aud in consideratiou for so doing, gave him the subscription lists. The paper has been con- tinued by Mr. Devore to the present. It still retains the same form. It is now the recognized organ of the Republican party in the northern part of the county. It started as a neutral paper, but Mr. Glessner gave to his editorials a Democratic coloring although it was not a partisan paper. Mr. Devore is a practical printer, and has demonstrated his ability to give the people of Farmer City and vicinity a good paper, of which they may well be proud, and to whose support they can graciously contribute. In 1873,Mr. Devore, who was then a resident of Iowa, brought a printing office to Farmer City, and on the 23d of September of the same year he issued the first number of the
FARMER CITY HERALD.
It was in form a five column quarto, and Republican in pol- itics. He edited and published the Herald for two years, then sold it to the Whetzell Brothers. They continued its publication in Farmer City for six weeks, then moved the office and fixtures to Lovington, Moultrie County, Illinois, and there issued a paper, "Lovington Index." They continued the publication for six months, then they defaulted in the payments, and the office passed back into the hands of Devore. He continued the paper under the name of the " Lovington Free Press" until the spring of 1879, when he removed the material back to Farmer City, and commenced the publication of the Journal at the date and under the circumstances as above stated.
THE FARMER CITY REPORTER
was the name of a five-column quarto, the first issue of which was in the fall of 1878. Albion Smith was the editor and pro- prietor. It continued until August, 1970, when the office was destroyed by fire, and all the material consumed.
THE PUBLIC REAPER
is the last candidate in Farmer City for journalistic favors. The type and material of the office originally composed the old "Gibson City Herald." It was brought to Farmer City in the fall of 1878, and the first number issued November 1st of the
same year. Wesley Clearwaters was the publisher, and R. M. Ewing, editor. On the Ist of January, 1881, they retired and M. L. Griffith became the publisher, and Reuben Clearwaters the editor, in which capacity they still remain. The Reaper was originally a six-column folio. In 1880 it was enlarged to a six- column quarto, then reduced back to a six-column folio, which form it still retains. It was started as an Independent paper. In the campaign of 1880 it supported Hancock for the presidency, but lately it has paid little attention to politics, but is especially devoted to the interests of Farmer City and vicinity.
TIIE REAL ESTATE INDEX
was the name of a small advertising sheet published in Farmer City by W. H. Anderson. The first issue was in 1871. It had a brief existence.
THE TEMPERANCE VIDETTE
was a sprightly four-column quarto, first issued in Clinton, Oct. 17, 1860. Its name indicated its missing.
THE DE WITT COUNTY GAZETTE,
No 1, of Vol. 1, was issued March 28th, 1875. Its founder was the erratic, though versatile Joe M. Prior, who, as stated before, was among the pioneer newspaper publishers of De Witt County. He had, prior to this time, much experience in found- iug and editing newspapers, but from some cause or other, when he assayed the role of publisher his ventures turned out badly. He was a fine paragraphist and a good general newspaper writer, but managing a newspaper, to use his own words, " was not his best holt." One year previous to his coming to Clinton, he was local editor of the " Campaign Gazette." From there he went to Indiana, then came to ('linton and set up a printing office which was furnished throughout with a large lot of type of the latest styles and patterns, power presses, steam fixtures. and was in its appointments, the most complete office ever brought to the city of Clinton. But like all previous veutures, six months had scarcely elapsed when the office was closed up. It was re-opened for a short time, then the type and fixtures were sold at auction. The greater portion, if not all, was purchased by Mr. Anderson, who, with the material started the
DE WITT COUNTY MESSENGER,
which had a brief existence. The office was then closed up, and the material was removed by Anderson to Windsor, Shelby Co., Illinois, and therefrom was issued May 25th, 1876, the first num- ber of the " Windsor Sentinel." The material afterwards passed back into the hands of Priors friends, and by them it was re- moved to Paris, Illinois.
The Gazette was a six-column folio, and was Republican in politics. It was ably edited and a live, wide-awake, spicy jour- nal, and deserved a better fate.
The young and growing town of Kenney is situated on the line of the Gilman, Clinton and Springfield Railroad, on section 16, in the township of Tunbridge. The first paper established in the village was named the
KENNEY REGISTER.
W. L. Glessner, the publisher of the Clinton Register. was the editor and proprietor. It was printed in the office of the Clinton Register, and sent out and distributed. The first number was issued July 16, 1875, and was continued for a short time, over one year. It was the same size and form as the Clinton Register. In 1877, J W Wolfe commenced the publication of the
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
KENNEY RECORD.
It was a four column quarto-patent insides. It was continued for oue year, then the publication was abandoned as unprofitable, and the office removed to Mt. Pulaski, Logan County, Illinois.
On the 20th of March, 1881, R. T. Spencer commenced the publication of the
KENNEY GAZETTE,
a neat, seven-column folio, printed in Atlanta, Logan County, Illinois, and sent out to Kenney and distributed. It still con- tinues, aud in time, we have no doubt, the town of Kenney will see the importance of having a newspaper office in their midst, and give it such support as will insure its usefulness and per- maneucy, and make it oue of the institutions of that enterprising town.
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