USA > Illinois > Ogle County > The history of Ogle County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Illinois etc > Part 50
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
aged 28 years. May 10, 1843, the names of Charles H. Lamb and A. G. Henderson appear as proprietors, but in July following. Mr. Henderson withdrew, leaving Mr. Lamb sole proprietor. When the Register gave up the ghost is not now known. Number 26, volume 2, dated August 25, 1843, is the last issue of which there is now any knowledge. This contains no notice of suspension, and it is very probable that it was continued some time longer, perhaps until the next year.
The Illinois Tribune .- In the Autumn of 1844, probably early in October, a paper called The Illinois Tribune was started at Grand de Tour, published by John W. Sweetland. It was, judging from its typo- graphical appearance, printed in the old Register type. How long it existed can not now be determined. It certainly lived two months.
The Mt. Morris Gazette .- It was several years after the failure of the first newspaper enterprise of Ogle County before any other parties were found with sufficient courage to try it again. But in February, 1850, Mr. J. Frederick Grosh and Mr. Tomlinson Ankeney purchased the material in which the Rockford Free Press had been printed, removed it to Mt. Morris, and in March the first number of the Mt. Morris Gazette was issued, published by J. F. Grosh and edited by Prof. D. S. Pinckney. It was a seven-column folio sheet, tolerably well printed and ably edited. It was professedly neutral in politics, but the editor was very independent in the expression of his opinions, and sometimes the paper inclined somewhat strongly to the party with which he affiliated. The printing of the first number of the Gazette was a notable event in the history of both the town and county, and occasioned as much excitement as did the completion of the railroad to the same place, twenty years later. From this time is to be dated the successful and continuous publication of newspapers in Ogle County. There has been at least one paper in the county ever since. The Gazette, however, was not a success financially, and the publishers, after a year's experience discovered that its publication was a losing business, and in the Spring of 1851 disposed of the material to R. C. Burchell, Esq., of Oregon, who removed it to that place and established the Ogle County Gazette, in June of that year. The sale of the material, however, does not appear to have stopped the Mt. Morris Gazette. Number 3, of the second volume, dated May 29, 1851, bears the names of Brayton, Baker & Co., pub- lishers, and Prof. Pinckney, editor. It says that there were no press. type or printers in Mt. Morris at that time, and although the paper was published there it was printed elsewhere, probably by Mr. Burchell, at Oregon. It also noticed the fact that the Ogle County Gazette was soon to be started at Oregon. But this manner of publishing a paper did not suit the enter- prising citizens of Mt. Morris, who organized a joint stock company, pur- chased a new outfit, and No. 4, dated June 26, was beautifully printed in new type, and was one of the handsomest papers ever printed in the county. It was under the editorial charge of Prof. Pinckney and Prof. S. M. Fellows, and it is needless to add was conducted with signal ability. Prof. Fellows contributed to its columns a series of articles comprising early reminis- cences of the county, in which he gave by far the most complete and authentic history of the early days of the county that has ever until now been attempted. The paper was not self-sustaining, however, and after a year's experience in the business the company rented the office to Messrs. C. C. Allen and S. D. Atkins, then attending school at the Rock River Seminary. These gentlemen, by devoting a part of their time to the
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office, and the remainder to their studies, were enabled to prolong its existence until the Spring of 1853, when the office was sold to them and removed to Savanna, Ill.
The Northwestern Republican, Mt. Morris. When the Gazette ceased to exist in 1853, Mt. Morris was withont a paper until September, 1856, when Messrs. Atwood and Williams started the Northwestern Republican, and continued it until September, 1857, when they sold it to Col. Myron S. Barnes, who changed the name of the paper to Independent Watchman and continued it until July, 1859, when it passed into the hands of a joint stock company, and under the editorial management of Prof. W. S. Pope, Dr. F. A. McNeil and Mr. J. D. Dopf, with Mr. Dopf publisher. The Watch- man was Republican in politics, but closed its existence in the Winter of 1860-'1, and Mr. Dopf removed the material to Polo.
The Annual, Mt. Morris, a Sunday-school paper was published for several years, commencing about 1862. The first editor was Col. B. F. Sheets, who was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Vincent.
About this time, for several years, a paper was published under the auspices of literary societies of Rock River Seminary, devoted exclusively to matters pertaining to that institution.
Mt. Morris Independent was established by a joint stock company in 1876, with Prof. D. J. Pinckney editor. In the Spring of 1877 it was changed to the Ogle County Democrat, John Sharer publisher; Dr. B. G. Stephens, associate editor.
Ogle County Gazette, Oregon. Robert Burchell, Esq., having pur- chased the office of the Mt. Morris Gazette, removed it to Oregon, and June 11, 1851, issned the first number of the Ogle County Gazette, the first news- paper printed in the town. It was published in an old frame building then standing on the West Third Street, near Franklin, just north of the brick house now occupied by Wm. Artz, Esq.
At this time the population of the county was only 10,020, and the enterprise was by mary considered of doubtful expediency. The enter- prising publisher was unacquainted with the details of the business, but he was determined to succeed, and by hard work and strict economy had the proud satisfaction of passing the paper to his successor firmly established. The task, however, was one of no ordinary magnitude. The difficulties under which publishers labored in those early days can hardly be appreciated in these days of railroads. Mr. Burchell obtained his paper and ink by team from Chicago. Often publication must be delayed for days awaiting the arrival of the slow freiglit wagon over the primitive roads, often so muddy as to be almost impassable. Depending upon "traveling jours" for com- positors, Mr. Burchell often had much difficulty in getting his paper ont. Mr. Sharp, in his " History of the Press of Ogle County," written in 1872, relates the following incident that illustrates the trials to which Mr. Burchell was frequently subjected by his "hands."
He had a printer named " Larrey " Cook, who was perhaps the most rapid compositor that ever traveled in this state. One day Cook, after setting up about twelve thousand ems of type, became very drunk, and getting mad about something, he went into the office, took the galley upon which the types was placed and emptied them upon the floor, piling his " case " upon this mass of " pied " type. He then left for some other office. But these dif- ficulties were gradually overcome, and soon the publisher could, with a reasonable certainty, count that his effort to have his paper appear on time would not be frustrated by the drunk- enness or carelessness of his employes.
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
After the paper had been published several months, to avoid the diffi- culties arising from a similarity of names, the Ogle County Gazette was changed to the Ogle County Reporter, which has been continuously pub- lished ever since. In 1852, a telegraph line was built from Dixon to Rockford via Grand de Tour, Oregon, Mt. Morris and Byron, and the office at Oregon was in the Reporter office. This is the only instance where an Ogle County paper enjoyed the privilege of telegraph dispatches free of expense. Only two telegrams were received for publication over the line, one of which announced the nominees of the Democratic National Convention for Presi- dent and Vice President, and raised the question of Who is Franklin Pierce ? " The only benefit," says Mr. Smith, "the line conferred upon the people was to fill the pockets of the parties who sold the stock to the citizens along the route. The entire line was Jim-fisk-icated shortly after, and the wire and poles sold by an agent of the creditors, who pocketed the proceeds."
In January, 1853, Mr. Burchell sold the Reporter office to Mortimer W. Smith, then recently arrived from Montrose, Pa., who was a practical printer. Mr. Smith devoted his entire energies to the paper, and by working hard himself, inspiring his employes with the same spirit, and by economical management of the business affairs of the office, he soon brought the paper to a high degree of prosperity. The county was now rapidly filling up with an enterprising and liberal people, railroads were being built, and all fears for permanent success were set at rest. Mr. Smith edited the paper himself, and conducted it with much ability.
In 1854, the Reporter was an earnest advocate of the Maine Liquor Law. In 1856 it raised the Republican standard and supported Fremont and Dayton. Until that date it had been politically neutral.
In 1857 Mr. Smith having been elected Circuit Clerk and Recorder, sold the office to Edward H. Leggett, of Dixon.
Mr. Leggett was not a practical printer, but he possessed energy, humor, tact, and superior business ability, which enabled him to maintain the position of the paper. He comprehended the value of a local news- paper, and devoted a large portion of his time and space, to local affairs. He was the first editor in the country who established a special local de- partment in his paper. Towards the close of his proprietorship, the trans- fer of business to the growing railroad towns of Rochelle and Polo, and the establishment of papers at these points, began to tell somewhat upon the profits of the business, and deprived the office of much job-work and adver- tising patronage, which condition of affairs continued until the completion of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad set the current Oregonward again.
Mr. Leggett was a genial companion, a true friend, and a perfect gen- tleman. In January, 1861, he sold the paper to Mr. John Sharp, of Ore- gon, and removed to New York, where he died in 1861. Under Mr. Sharp's management the paper continued to prosper. In 1867 it was en- larged from 22 by 32, to 25 by 38, by widening and lengthening the columns. In April, 1868, M. W. Smith, Esq., again became proprietor, but Mr. Sharp remained associated with him in the editorial department until March, 1871, when they both retired, and were sncceeded by Charles L. Miller and E. L. Otis, of Rochelle. Miller was the editor, and in June, 1871, his brother, James P. Miller, purchased Otis' interest, and it was published by Miller & Brother until October, 1871, when Mr. William H. Gardner, from New York, became the editor and proprietor, who continued it until February, 1872, and then he associated himself with Mr. Timoleon
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
O. Johnson, of Vinton, Iowa, and it was published by Gardner & Johnson. In June, 1872, a Newbury power press was purchased, and the paper was enlarged. November 7, 1872, Mr. Johnson purchased his partner's interest, and became sole editor and proprietor. Under his admirable management the circulation of the Reporter has increased from 750 to over 1,200, withont the aid of canvassers, and it now claims a larger eirculation than any other paper in the county. It is a large, six-column quarto, well edited and handsomely printed. The office is in a handsome two-story and basement briek building, owned by Mr. Johnson, on the east side of Third Street, and near the corner of Franklin, north of, and adjoining " Mechanic's Bloek." The paper is printed on a Newbury power press. The office is supplied with two job presses, and type for exeenting every deseription of printing. The Reporter is now the quasi official paper of the county, but the county printing is done by Culver, Page, Hoyne, & Co., of Chicago, under contract made in 1877. The true economy of such a measure may well be questioned. For the last three years it has been the official paper of the City of Oregon. The Reporter has always supported the principles of the Republican party, and frequently has been the only paper in the county to place the entire list of Republican nominations at the head of its columns. It has just put on a new dress, and is as bright and elean as one of the new silver dollars of 1878.
Oregon National Guard .- Democratie. June 6, 1866, the first num- ber of this paper was issued, by Samuel Wilson, Esq., most of the money for the purchase of the material having been furnished by a joint stock eom- pany. The office was in the Union Block, southeast corner of Washington and Third Streets. In his salutatory, Mr. Wilson declared that, " as far as the Oregon National Guard is to sustain the principles of a political party, it will be Democratie. * * We intend to stand by the administration of Andrew Johnson, and to render it a hearty and undi- vided support." Mr. Wilson wielded an able pen, and soon made his newspaper one of the most influential in this Congressional Distriet. In September, 1866, he associated with himself his brother, F. B. Wilson, who, as a ready writer, had few equals in this county, and the paper was published by S. & F. B. Wilson until August, 1867, when the junior part- ner retired, and Mr. S. Wilson became sole editor again. June 5, 1869, Mr. Ed. T. Ritchie, beeame associated with Mr. Wilson, under the firm name of Wilson & Ritchie, but Sept. 22, 1869, the partnership was terminated. Mr. Wilson retired and Mr. Ritchie became sole proprietor, and published the paper until the Spring of 1871, when he sold it to Mr. Wilson, who again assnined its management. In March, 1873, Mr. Jacob J. Bnser pur- chased one half of the office, and in April or May following, the name of the paper was changed to
The Ogle County Grange, Wilson & Buser. editors and publishers, un- til August, 1873, when Mr. Bnser purchased Mr. Wilson's interest, and re- moved the office to Etnyre's Block, on the east side of Fourth Street, oppo- site Court House Square, and remained sole proprietor until February 22, 1875, when he associated with himself, Mr. G. L. Bennett. In May, 1875, Buser & Bennett disposed of their entire interest in the paper, to Mr. Charles R. Hawes, of the Freeport Journal, who again changed the name to the
Oregon Courier, and continued as editor and publisher until Angust, but the paper was left mainly to run itself. Mr. Hawes enjoyed fishing
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HISTORY OF OGLE COUNTY.
better than the confinement of a printing office. In August, the paper was transferred to Mr. G. L. Bennett, who controlled it until February 23, 1876, when Mr. Henry P. Lason, who held a mortgage on the concern, fore- closed and took possession, and is the present editor and proprietor. The present editor is now, and always has been, a firm and consistent Republi- can, but the Courier, under his management, is not bound to that or any other political party. It strikes hard for the right, let the splinters hit whom they may. Mr. Lason was a private in the 76th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers; enlisted in 1861; lost his left arm at the 2d battle of Bull Run. in 1862. He is a clear, forcible, and ready writer, and the Courier, under his able management, takes its place in the front rank of the press of Ogle County.
Rapalee's Jokinello, Oregon; monthly, started September, 1877, by Norman Rapalee, and is now printed in the Courier office. It is a five-col- nmn folio, keen, sharp, and brimful of fun.
Polo Sentinel .- The first paper published in Polo, and the first Demo- cratic paper in the county was started by Mr. F. O. Austin in October, 1856, and called the Sentinel. It was intensely partisan, and was discon- tinned for want of support in December of the same year.
Polo Transcript .- Early in the Summer of 1857, a joint stock company was organized in Polo for the purpose of establishing a newspaper on a permanent basis in Polo. The material was purchased and the Polo Transcript commenced in June of that year with Charles Meigs, Junior, of Chicago, as editor and publisher, by whom it was published until April, 1858, when the office was purchased by Mr. Henry R. Boss, then of Free- port, but now of Chicago. Mr. Boss changed the name of the paper to the Polo Advertiser, which was moderately prosperous under his inanagement, until November, 1860, when he was succeeded by Col. Morton D. Swift. The Rock River Press, then recently started by Mr. J. D. Dopf, was consoli- dated with the Advertiser in February, 1861, and the paper was managed by Swift and Dopf until March, 1861, when Dopf retired, and it was published by Swift alone until May, 1861, when he enlisted in the army, and the paper was purchased by J. D. Campbell, and his law partner, J. W. Carpenter, Esq. Messrs. Campbell & Carpenter continued its publication until August, 1862, when they were compelled to suspend its publication, for the reason that all their printers had volunteered into the army, and they had nobody to set type. The paper was not published until March 11, 1863, when it was revived under the name of the Polo Press, J. D. Campbell, Esq., and the estate of J. W. Carpenter, publishers-Mr. Carpenter having died in October, 1862-Mr. Campbell and Col. M. D. Swift, editors. Thus the Press continued until February, 1865, when it was sold to Daniel Scott, and M. V. Saltzman. Scott soon sold ont to M. D. Swift, and Swift con- tinued its publication until the 4th of August. 1865, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, John W. Clinton, who in 1866 changed its name to the Ogle County Press. Until March, 1876, the Press was printed upon one of R. Hoe's hand presses, but at that time Mr. Clinton exchanged the Hoe press for one of C. Potter, Jr.'s, cylinder presses of the latest improved pattern, and fitted for steam power, which he hopes to be able to add to the office next Winter. Beside this press the office is equipped with eighth and quarter medium Gordon job presses. This paper continned uniforinly from its commencement Republican in politics.
Ogle County Banner, Polo. On the 14th of April, 1858, Richard P. Redfield commenced the publication in Polo of the Ogle County Banner, &
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democratic journal, and continued its publication until 1859, when it passed into the hands of J. M. Williams, who after a short time transferred it to Geo. D. Read, Esq., who continued to be its editor until some time in the year 1860, when it was discontinned.
Banner of Freedom, Polo. In 1858 this paper was published a few months by Marcellus Perkins, and was as it name indicates, what was then termed an abolition paper.
The True Democrat, Polo. During the exciting political campaign of 1860, a Mr. Johnston published a paper in Polo called the True Demo- crat, which was discontinued after the election.
The Church .- About 1868, a paper was published in Polo called The Church, Dr. J. C. Allaben, editor. It was published "as often as God' furnished the means," but it was not published very often, and there is no information now at hand to determine when the last number was issued.
The Poultry Argus, Polo. An illustrated monthly journal devoted to poultry interests, was started in January, 1874, by Doctors C. H. Kenegy and M. L. Wolff, Dr. Wolff retiring in the following June. Dr. Kenegy selling out in December following to D. D. L. Miller and J. W. Clinton, who continued its publication under the firm of Miller & Clinton until June, 1876, when J. W. Clinton became its publisher, D. L. Miller still acting as its editor. The Argus from a small beginning enjoyed a steady growth, until it circulated in nearly every state and territory of the Union, diffusing a proper knowledge of our domestic fowls in many a farmer and and villager's home, and cultivating among its young readers a love for, and appreciation of, birds of every kind. The Argus was at first printed in Freeport, but was subsequently printed in the office of the Ogle County Press, until in the Spring of 1877 it was sold to other parties and removed from the county and state.
The Lane Leader was established by John R. Howlett, in Lane (now Rochelle) October, 1858. He published a very readable paper, in which there was, says Sharp, " considerable vim." He used plain English, and made enemies in consequence, and lost support that otherwise might have been accorded to him. But he was a man of great energy and maintained his position until the Spring or Summer of 1861, when he was compelled to abandon the enterprise and the material was sold to Prof. James A. Butterfield, who started the Lane Patriot in the Fall of 1861, but soon dis- covered that his ledger balance was in the wrong column, and after a few months he suspended the publication in the Spring of 1862, and the material was stored away in an old garret until 1863. "Charley " Butter- field was not remarkably successful in the mechanical department, although editorially the Patriot was well managed. "Charley's " tastes ran in a different direction, and he was afterwards recognized as one of the leading musicians of the country. He was the leader of the Chicago delegation at Gilmore's " Peace Jubilee," and is the author of several popular songs, among which was, " When you and I were young, Maggie."
The Lane (now Rochelle) Register .- In the Summer of 1863 Mr. E. L. Otis, of Rockford, had called to his attention the material of the old Leader office, and the advantages of Lane as a good location for a newspaper. After looking over the field carefully he decided to try the experiment. The old press and type were dragged from their obscure hiding place and put into a room over Clark & Dana's drug store, and after two or three weeks' hard labor in placing the office in working trim he issued the first
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number of the Lane Register July 25, 1863. Mr. Otis labored under many serious disadvantages. One paper had failed and suspended, and many people fearing a second failure did all they could to produce that result by withholding their patronage when it was most needed until it had won suc- cess without their aid, the type and other material were old, much worn and in a state of almost inextricable confusion, and, last but not least, the editor had but little surplus cash to invest in the enterprise. But he was not discouraged; he commenced his work with a will, determined to suc- ceed, and the general prosperity that has attended the Register is but a just reward of the steady application, enterprise, indomitable energy and skill of its founder. Mr. Otis has one of the finest newspaper and job offices in the state. He has a Taylor drum-cylinder press, besides two job presses-a half-medium Gordon, and an eighth-medium Degener-all run by a mag- nificent 6-horse power steam engine. His jobbing material includes all the latest and most fashionable products of the type founder. He has every appliance necessary for doing good work, and his printing can not be excelled by any city office. The Register is as large as any country paper in the state, has a large circulation, a firm and steady advertising patronage, presents a splendid typographical appearance, is edited with superior ability, and is, altogether, a fair representation of the enterprise and business of the city. In 1865, when the name of the town was changed, the name of the paper was changed to the Rochelle Register.
The Rochelle Independent was commenced September 4, 1872, by E. L. Derby, and supported Greeley and Brown, during the remainder of that exciting campaign. It survived nearly a year, and was managed by Derby, Ed. T. Ritchie and John Sharp in succession.
The Creston Times was established in 1872, Isaac B. Bickford, editor and publisher, who conducted it until 1874, when he retired and it was managed for several months by L. H. Post of the DeKalb News. Dr. H. C. Robbins became editor and publisher in 1874-'5. He published it until March, 1877, when he sold to D. C. Needham, who late in the Fall of the same year sold to Granville W. Morris, the present editor and proprietor. The Times is Independent politically.
The Byron News started November 21, 1874, by Isaac B. Bickford, who had purchased the Forreston Journal, moved it to Byron and changed its name. It was a six-column folio, independent in politics, and was not revived after the fire of November 13, 1877, when its office was entirely destroyed.
The Byron Times, established in February, 1876, by E. H. Love, soon succeeded by Dr. William F. Artz, who sold to C. E. Howe. May 1, 1877, G. W. Hawkes purchased an interest in the paper, and it was published by Howe & Hawkes until October 22, 1877, when Mr. Howe retired and Mr. Hawkes assumed the entire management. It is Republican in politics and is well filled and well printed.
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