USA > Minnesota > Rock County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 31
USA > Minnesota > Pipestone County > An illustrated history of the counties of Rock and Pipestone, Minnesota > Part 31
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The efforts of the residents of Luverne to induce some one to cast his fortunes and his printing press with the new settle- ment were not successful until the spring of 1823. During the month of May a
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
printing outfit. consisting principally of an old Washington hand press and a few cases of worn ont type, was hauled in from the south in a humber wagon drawn by oxen. The outfit became mired in the mind a few miles from the town, and P. J. Kniss and E. D. Hadley went down lo assist in extricating it. S. J. Jenkins. the owner of the outfit. announced that he was looking for a location to launch a paper. and he was heartily welcomed.1 He set up shop in one corner of a real estate office, and on May 23, 1873, he issued the first number of the Rock County Heraldl."
The Herald was founded as a seven column folio and only two of ils pages were printed at home. Hs politics were republican and its subscription price was $2.00 per year. Mr. Jenkins employed Charles F. Crosby as managing editor and E. D. Hadley as local editor, who wore connected with the paper less than a year. H. A. Gregory became interested in the publication of the paper on No- vember 28, 1873, the firm of publishers he- ing Jenkins & Gregory and Mr. Crosby retaining editorial control. The latter's connection with the Herald ceased al the beginning of the next year, the owners, as a measure of economy, attending to the editorial feature. On April 10. 1844, Mr. Gregory sold his interest lo his partner. and thereafter the founder conducted the paper alone. Reviewing the first year's history of the Herald, Mr. Jenkins wrote:
With this number the Herald completes its first volume. One year ago, in answer to a want profoundly felt by the people of this vicinity, we tried the experiment of publishing a newspaper in Rock county. Ex- perience in other localities of the far west had taught us enough to prevent our en- tertaining any idea of suddenly becoming
rich at the newspaper business in so new a country among a population of pre-empt- ors and homesteaders. Aided at the out- set by the energy of Judge Crosby, who enlisted the business men in our enter- prise, and by the pen of Mr. Hadley, we started off with a generous patronage in the line of local advertising and a fair subscrip- tion list, and we proceeded to business. Since that time we have regularly issued the Herald in spite of storm, oppressive heat and wintry cold, in spite of all op- posing elements, never missing a number. While it is the custom of many frontier papers to suspend publication through the winter months, the Herald has not failed to visit the fireside of each subscriber once a week through the long winter. Our anticipations have not failed pecuniarily; although we have not become bloated capitalists, we have had our "meat in due season."
The founder of the Herald sold in Feb- ruary, 1815. to A. C. Croft, and that gen- fleman sold a half interest, on June 3. 1876, to his former foreman. A. 1. Stoughton. The paper was published un- der the firm name of Croft & Stoughton until September 13, 1828, when the jun- ior member of the firm became sole pro- prietor. Mr. Stoughton presided over the destinies of the Herald alone until the spring of 1829. when Herbert J. Miller. who was destined lo be the publisher of the paper over thirty years and to play an important part in the affairs of the community, was admitted as a partner. On May 2. 1829, the Herald printed this modest announcement of the transfer: "In accordance with a long cherished plan, we lake pleasure in introducing io our readers as associate editor and pro- prietor Mr. 11. J. Miller, formerly of Stoughton, Wisconsin, recenily of the Reinbeck ( lowa ) Herald, and a gentle- man whose acquirements and experience will redound to the interest of our pa- frons."
I"A novel incident occurred about 1873. A man came into town barefooted, ragged and in his shirt sleeves. As usual in those days. we corralled him to find out his name and busi- ness. He said that his name was Jenkins and that he wanted to start a paper in Luverne. Thinking him a tramp or lunatic, we asked where his printing outfit was, He replied that it was coming at a whoa, haw. gre gait up the valley, behind a pair of oxen. He did
not ask a bonns, but wanted a shelter in which to run a machine and make a first-class pa- per. Sure, enough, the founder of the Rock County Herald proved a better man than he looked and he gave us a very good paper. one which now has a wide reputation."-R. O. Crawford in an address, 1888.
"George Blasdell received the first copy taken from the press,
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
The publishing firm now became Stoughton & Miller, but almost immedi- ately the management devolved upon the junior member, Mr. Stoughton leaving in the fall of 1849 to attend the university of Wisconsin. Under the direction of Mr. Miller the Herald began to improve and continued to do so until it developed inio one of best and most liberally quoted country journals of the state. Mr. Mil- ler wielded a trenehant pen and he made the Herald a powerful influence in the af- fairs of the city, county and state. In Jannary, 1882, J. W. Hardwick, who had been engaged in teaching school at Drake station, bonght Mr. Miller's inter- est in the Ilerald, the latter taking a po- sition on the editorial staff of the Minne- apolis Evening Journal at that time. Early in June of the same year Mr. Mil- ler was obliged to foreclose a mortgage on Mr. Ilardwiek's interest in the Herald, and he again became one of the publish- ers. A few months later, on September 1, 1882, Mr. Stoughton sold his interest to Mr. Miller, who then became the sole owner and publisher.
Herbert J. Miller continued to pub- lish the Herald until his death, May S, 1909. From July 8, 1884, to November 26, 1889, it was published semi-weekly, and for a few months during the Span- ish-American war in 1898 the Daily Her- ald was issued. Owing to ill health, in May, 1907, Mr. Miller announced his withdrawal from aetive management of the paper and installed A. O. Moreanx as manager and editor. Since Mr. Miller's death the Roek County Herald has been published by his estate, Mr. Moreanx con- tinuing in charge. Under that genile- man's control the Herald has maintained . its former high standing and is one of the best and most liberally quoted coun- try journals in the state.
The pioneer journal has always been
republican in politics. Its size has varied from a five column paper, with only two pages printed in the home office, to a twelve page, six column paper, all printed at home, which is the present form.
Rock county's second newspaper was the Inverne Gazette, whose eareer was short. W. A. Hutton, formerly of Web- ster City, Iowa, brought a newspaper out- fit to Luverne and on August 20, 1884, put ont the first number of the paper, an eight column folio, with two "patent" pages. W. A. Hutton & Co. were the pub- lishers. Two months after the founding C. HI. Craig leased the plant, got out one or two numbers, and then gave up the lease. Publication was discontinued un- til the first day of the year 1885, when the Gazette was revived by E. Savage and W. A. Hammond, who leased from W. A. Iluiton & Co. Mr. Savage became the manager and conducted the paper until May. Ile, too, gave up the effort of pub- lishing a second paper in Luverne and departed. The proprietors of the plant made one or two unsuccessful attempts to find some one who would revive the Gazette, and early in 1886 sold the plant to HI. M. Bruner, who removed the plant lo Iowa.
The Times was the name of the next Lnverne paper to be launched. It was democratie and appeared for the first time February 18, 1886. Buchanan Brothers, sons of R. J. Buchanan, a well known Iowa journalist, were the founders, W. T. Buchanan having the active management. The Times was not a finaneial success. The last number was printed April 28, 1887.
The Luverne Democrat, a six column quarto, was founded June 14, 1888, by Irving Bath and D. W. Bath, the latter having the management. Its life was short, the last number being issued on October 5 of the same year. The plant
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
was not moved, however, and immedi- ately following its suspension appeared the Rock County News, printed from the Democrat office.
For the purpose of publishing the News, the Rock County News company, composed of prohibitionists, was organ- ized and the plant of the Democrat was purchased October 3, 1888. N. R. Rey- nolds was selected to edit the paper and Clifford Reynolds was for a time associ- ated with him in the business manage- ment. Harmony did not dwell among the stockholders of the company and there were several changes of stock within the next few months. Mr. Reynolds conduct- ed the News as a prohibition paper until October. 1889, when he was succeeded by F. N. VanDuzee. The latter leased the plant for a time and then became one of the stockholders, later still.becoming sole owner and conducting the paper in the interests of the alliance party.
Mr. VanDuzee published the News un- til Angust, 1893, when he sold to John E. King, publisher of the Nobles County Democrat, and S. S. Bellesfield, who was the local representative. They made the paper a democratic organ. In the latter part of October, 1893, the News was pur- chased by a syndicate styled the Rock County News Publishing company and composed of John J. Ryder, Max HI. Voelz and W. M. Cutcheon. The com- pany was capitalized at $3000. Messrs. Ryder & Voelz, who had previously been connected with the St. Paul Globe, took the local management and published a democratie paper. Later Mr. Voelz be- came the sole editor.
Early in Jannary, 1898, F. N. Van- Düzce, the former proprietor, foreclosed a mortgage on the plant and at once sold to E. S. Holman. The latter conducted the News as a democratie paper (for a short time in partnership with Edward S.
Peterson) until November 28. 1900, when publication was suspended. The subserip- tion list and good will were sold to the Luverne Journal, which had then been founded, and the plant was moved to Hardwick, where it did duty in publish- ing the Hardwick News, which had been founded the year before but which had no plant of its own. During a part of its career the Rock County News was ably edited and enjoyed a state wide reputa- tion.
Western Literary Journal was the name of a little monthly magazine devoted to literature which was issued a few times in the fall of 1889. F. M. Bailey and F. L. Hinkly were the publishers.
The last paper founded in the county seat was the Luverne JJournal, which is still published. The Journal came into existence August 18, 1898, and was founded by W. Il. Workman. It was founded as a five column quarto and as a republican paper, but at the end of two years became a disciple of the democratic faith. Mr. Workman presided over the new paper four years and eight months, selling in April, 1903, to Daniel Gagen. The latter managed the Journal only a few months, selling in November to P. 1. Niester and J. Edward Jensen. The lat- ter took charge of the office but remained only a short time.
In April, 1904, R. R. Hickie located in Lawverne and assumed control of the Journal under contract with Mr. Niester, who was the owner, the two publishing the paper together. The plant was sold under a mortgage in July, 1904, being bid in by the former owner, W. H. Work- man. The following day he sold to R. R. Hickie and A. H. Osborne, Jr., and in September the latter became sole owner by purchasing his partner's interest. Mr. Osborne published the paper until July, 1905, when W. V. Olin took the manage-
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
ment, being assisted by J. L. Marshall. Later A. E. Smalley was the manager. The ownership became vested in A. C. Finke, A. J. Daley and C. D. Eckliff. Mr. Finke bought his partners' interests and on February 1, 1909, sold to C. C. Lowe. The latter greatly improved the Journal and made it an excellent publication. Mr. Lowe sold the Journal in August, 1910, to E. D. Lum, who published it un- til the following spring. R. II. Ross he- came the managing editor in February, 1911.
The third newspaper founded in Rock county and the first of the five that have had an existence in Beaver Creek was the Beaver Creek Graphic. The little village on the Beaver had developed during the early eighties into a lively place and its citizens offered support to a paper which would champion its cause. A plant was installed, and on August 27. 1885, ap- peared the Beaver Creek Graphic, found- ed by Charles Y. Knight and F. A. Knapp. The new journal started off like a winner and received liberal support during the early part of its history. Three months after its founding Mr. Knight sold his half interest to Rev. H. W. Knapp, and the publishing firm became H. W. Knapp & Son. They conducted the Graphic with indifferent success until January, 1887. when Mr. Knight secured the interest of the elder Knapp and the founders of the paper again became the publishers, Mr. Knight becoming the editor. John Park, who had been in business in Beaver Creek. took charge of the paper in July, 1881. and managed it until it suspended in September, 1888, to be revived a few weeks later as the News-Letter.
In opposition to the Graphic, on March 27, 1886, appeared the Beaver Creek Bee, published by the Beaver Creek Publish- ing company and edited by Col. Harrison White. The Bee was printed from the of-
fice of the Rock County Herald. After the election in November, 1886, publica- tion was suspended.
Early in October, 1888, Frank N. Rob- inson bought the old Graphie plant and commenced publication of the Beaver Creek News-Letter. He conducted it one year and then sold to Leon F. Carr. The News-Letter under Mr. Carr's administra- tion was "published for fame, not for lucre" and succeeded in living under that motto until July, 1890. Publication was then discontinued, the proprietor having received an offer of support for a paper at Sioux Center, Iowa. After a month spent in raising the mortgage from the plant, Mr. Carr moved it to the new location.
For a little over a year Beaver Creek was without a paper. Then A. B. Vines moved a plant from Highmore, South Da- kota, and on September, 25, 1891, issued the first munber of the Beaver Creek Mag- net. For a time the Magnet drew well and in June, 1892, was enlarged to a six column quarto, in which form it was pub- lished until January, 1896, when it was made a folio. Mr. Vines conducted the Magnet without much success or ability until August, 1897, when he moved the plant to Rushmore and founded the Rushmore Magnet.
The Beaver Creek Banner, the last pa- per founded in Beaver Creek, has had a life of eight years. This publication was started by Howe & Misener early in May, 1903, as a six column quarto. Lincoln Misener edited the paper until Novem- ber. 1905, when he departed and the plant was bought by O. J. Nash at mort- gage foreclosure sale. That gentleman conducted the paper until February 16. 1906, when J. Roland Doan leased the plant and conducted the Banner until May 10 of the next year. The next two months Fred W. Gluck edited the journal. On July 5, 1907, A. E. Caldwell took
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
charge of the paper for the Beaver Creek Publishing company, which was controlled by Finke & Nash, of ITills.
Mr. Caldwell bought the Banner plant in September, 1907, and conducted the paper until February, 1909. He was un- successful in putting the paper on a sound financial basis, and on February 26 an- nounced that the plant had passed into the hands of the following named Beaver Creek business men: S. L. Toda, F. E. Henton, E. C. Brooks, E. W. Timm, Wil- liam T. Jennings, II. Ohs, J. C. Claussen and M. O. Page. Mr. Howe, of Valley Springs, was employed to condnet the pa- per, which he did until April 9, 1909. At that time HI. IF. Peters, who had bought the plant a few weeks before. took posse: sion and he has since presided over ite destinies. lle changed the form to a five column quarto, added machinery and m+- terial, and has brought the Banner up to a prosperous condition.
Magnolia's first paper was the Magnolia Citizen, founded in February, 1893, by 1. M. Cady. li was printed in the office of the Adrian Guardian and was published only a short time, discontinuing in April.
The lown was not destined to long ro. main without a newspaper, however. In April, 1893, publication of the Adrian Citizen, a peoples party organ, was discon- tinned, and in May the plant was purchas- ed by 1. M. Cady and G. E. Green, who on June 16 issued the first number of the Magnolia Advance. In October, 1893, Mr. Green sold his interest in the paper to S. S. Smiley, but purchased it again the next month, and the Advance was published by Cady & Green until 1895. That year Mr. Green retired, since which time Mr. C'ady has been the owner and publisher. The Advance is a seven column quarto. It is independent in politics but has always supported the republican national ticket.
For a time Magnolia had a second pa-
per, the Initiator, which was published as a peoples party journal by L. C. Long, at one time the nominee of his party for con- gress. In February, 1900, he discontin- ued the publication, moved the plant to the new town of Wilmont, and on March 2, 1900, started the Wilmont Initiator.
The only paper ever established in the town of Hills is the Hills Crescent, which began life on August 17, 1893, and which has ever since been published. F. M. Bailey and Orrie Haislet were the found- ers. Hills had for some time wanted a newspaper and finally inducements were offered Mr. Bailey to launch the enter- prise. Mr. Bailey has told of the founding of the Crescent in the issue of that paper of August 20, 1903:
Mr. Bailey had at that time $95 in cash, which he at once put into a first payment on type and material, but he hadn't enough to buy a press. It so happened that S. S. Haislet, of the Adrian Guardian, was friendly to the long gander-shanks and agreed to furnish the press if Bailey would take his son Orrie along as a partner in the en- terprise. This press was an old Ramage. It had been used by Ben Franklin, and later the Decorah Posten was printed on it when Mr. Amundson had no more money than Mr. Bailey. It was the oldest press in use in the United States, printed one page at a time, and was used for the Crescent for nearly three years. Saturday the outfit reached Hills and Mr. Bailey started on his wheel early and rode to Hills. That after- noon he rented a building, made up a dum- my of the paper and hustled eight or ten columns of
ads. Sunday Orrie Haislet arrived by team from Adrian with the press. Monday they carried the ontfit from the depot. The new firm of Bailey & Haislet couldn't raise the $5 freight due on the outfit, but Frank Jordan came to the rescue and paid in advance for five papers for a year, and Thursday the first issue of the Hills Crescent came out.
Six weeks after the founding the junior member of the firm sold his interest to B. F. Heastand for $5, and a few months later Mr. Bailey became sole proprietor. For two months in 1895 Mr. Bailey is- sued a Daily Crescent. and from Septem- ber 19, 1895. until March 4, 1896, when he sold out, the Crescent was a semi-
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weekly. On this date the plant was pur- chased by a company of Hills business men, of which J. R. Wright was president, and 11. E. Wyum, secretary. James W. Simmons was employed to conduct the pa- per. On April 15, 1896, the ouifil was purchased by A. C. Finke and James W. Simmons, who conducted the paper under the firm name of Finke & Simmons until the next July. Mr. Simmons then sold to his partner, and Mr. Finke conducted the paper alone until August 11. On that date Olaf Nash bonghi a half interest. and for more than fourteen years the Cres- cent was published by Finke & Nash. Dur- ing the greater part of the time under this regime Mr. Nash had charge of the paper. Ile conducted it in an able manner, made many improvements, and built it up to ils present high standing. Messrs. Finke & Nash sold the Crescent September 1, 1910, to A. A. Hanson, formerly of Decorah, lowa, who has maintained its former high standing.
Hardwick's first news journal was the Hardwick News. It was a six column fo- lio and was founded by A. M. and D. J. Ross May 18, 1899, the mechanical work being done in the office of the Rock Coun- ly News at Laverne. The News celebrated its first birthday by changing manage- ment. A. H. Higley being the purchaser. When the Rock County News suspended publication the plant was moved to Hard- wick, and thereafter it was used in putting
forth the Hardwick News. A partnership was formed between E. S. Hoban, the former publisher of the Rock County News, and Mr. Higley, who continued publication in partnership, the latter be- ing editor and manager. With this change came a change in polities-from republi- can to democratie. When the plant was installed the size of the paper was increas- ed to a five column quarto. From An- gust to December, 1902, the News was con- ducted under a lease by J. S. Randolph, and thereafter by the former publishers. Holman & Higley suspended publication of the News July 6, 1906, alleging lack of support. An effort was made to form a company of local business men to take over the plant and continue publication, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
December 15, 1909, C. C. Lowe, of the Luverne Journal, and Charles J. Olsen began publication of the Hardwiek Star. A few months later Mr. Lowe became sole publisher and installed C. Milton Sehuliz as editor and local manager. The Star was purchased by William R. Minard, for- merly of Little Rock, lowa, and that gen- tleman took possession August 3, 1910. Mr. Minard has since conducted the paper in a creditable manner.
The Kenneth Pioneer, established May 3, 1902, by B. H. Berry, had an existence of a few months. It was a five column quarto.
-- TP NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTO :. 1 NOX AND TILD- N FOUNDATIONS.
CHAPTER XVI.
REMINISCENT.
I N GATHERING data for a volume of this kind one runs across many stories of the early days for which no place can be found in the historical part but which are truly interesting and in many instances throw vivid light on early day conditions. These have been preserved and are here incorporated under the chapter heading "Reminiscent." Some of the stories have been written by early day resi- dents ; some are taken from the files of the local press ; others are original, prepared by the author from data gathered from personal interviews.
THE PRAIRIE FIRES.
Those who lived in Rock county during the years of its early settlement, and up into the eighties, will never forget the alarm caused by the approach of a prairie fire. Many of the present generation are skeptical of the dangers to life and prop- erty from this source. Others can but mar- vel at the conditions that made a prairie fire dangerous or even possible. But con- ditions in the early days differed greatly from those of the present time. Then there were vast stretches of sparsely set- tled and unbroken prairie, covered with a dense growth of grass, which in the low places often grew to a great height. In the fall the grass died and formed a thick
covering of highly inflammable material, which "burned like a prairie fire" when it became ignited.
When a heavy wind accompanied one of these conflagrations the effect was thrill- ing. The flames would race over the prai- rie with the speed of the wind, leaping, bounding, rushing on their fiery way. By day the air would be filled with smoke and cinders and the atmosphere would be- come hazy ; at night the heavens would be illumined by the blaze, and the bright lines of the raging fires could be seen, often miles in length. After the pass- ing, the prairie would be left a blackened waste.
The few scattered settlers were in the greatest danger when one of these fires approached. Many settlers lost their whole belongings, and but few escaped without loss from this source. "Firebreaks," made by plowing furrows around the buildings or hay stacks, sometimes served as a check to the flames, but with a strong head wind the flames often jumped hun- dreds of feet, and in such cases the breaks were no protection. The favorite method of fighting fire was by "back-firing." When one of the terrors of the prairie was seen approaching with the wind, a fire would be set near the property to be saved. This, small at first, could be controlled and whip-
.
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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
ped out on the leeward side. leaving the flames to slowly cat their way windward to meet the coming lurid destroyer. Some- times a space of sufficient width was thus burned over in time to prevent the de- struction. In case of a big conflagration fire fighting companies would be organized to go out and contend with the flames, using dampened sacks, quilts, or whatever was handy, to whip out the blaze.
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