USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 52
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The past decade has witnessed some radical changes in the newspaper situation in Albert Lea. These had their beginning with the sale by M. Halvorsen of an interest in the "Enterprise" to J. P. Hurley, during the fall of 1904. A few months later Messrs. Halvorsen & Hurley sold their business and plant to W. A. Morin and C. S. Edwards. Mr. Halvorsen never entered the news- paper field afterwards, and finally removed from Albert Lea to Silome Springs, Ark. Mr. Hurley interested outside capital to combine with him in the purchase of the "Tribune" publications, an evening daily and a semi-weekly published Tuesdays and Fri- days, and which had been established a couple of years later than the "Times." At the time of its purchase the "Tribune" was owned by C. G. Edwards and edited by C. L. Luce, formerly inter- ested in and editor of the "Enterprise." The next move was made by Morin & Edwards in consolidating the "Enterprise" with the "Times," which they purchased of Mr. Blackmer in December of 1905. Following this merger the proprietors of the "Tribune" publications and Messrs. Simonson & Whitcomb, who conducted a considerable plant doing job printing and book- binding exclusively, formed a stock company, taking over the business and plants of the two former firms, under the corporate title of the Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Company. Things re- mained in this condition from July, 1907, until August, 1910, H. G. Day, assisted by his younger son, H. Carroll, publishing the "Standard," which retained the same size and form as twenty- five years before; Morin & Edwards, incorporated as the Times- Enterprise Company, publishing the "Times-Enterprise," the former independent Democrat and the latter Republican in poli- tics, both published weekly, on Wednesdays, and the Simonson,
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Whitcomb & Hurley Company publishing the "Evening Tribune" and "Semi-Weekly Tribune." All maintained departments for job printing, and the Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Company, which was the better equipped plant of the three mechanically, also operated a bindery, with facilities for ruling and general blank book work. During the summer of 1910 C. S. Edwards, editor the "Times-Enterprise," received an appointment to the consular service and it was desirable on that account to make some dis- position of the paper with which he was connected as Mr. Morin, the principal stockholder in the company, was not disposed to continue the publication of the paper and the operation of the office without the assistance of Mr. Edwards. Accordingly nego- tiations were undertaken which resulted in the forming of a third stock company consisting of the principal stockholders of the Times-Enterprise Company and the Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Company, to take over the combined plants and busi- ness.
The new company was chartered during the summer of 1910, as the Albert Lea Publishing Company, with an authorized cap- ital of $50,000, of which $32,000 was paid in, and commenced business August 15, of the same year. The plant of the Simon- son, Whitcomb & Hurley Company, which had formerly been located in the Whelan Building, at 121 North Broadway, was removed to the Morin block, on South Broadway, at the corner of College street, where the "Times-Enterprise" was at the time located, and the two already large plants were combined, giving the city and county one of the strongest newspaper and printing plants in any city of similar size in the Northwest. The loctaion adjacent to the court house and the central part of town is ideal and the building which the company occupy was thoroughly over- hauled and rebuilt to meet its needs at the time of its location there. Commodious and pleasant offices for the business depart- ment are located in front, and immediately back of these are the two linotypes, by which the composition for the combined papers is handled, and still further in the rear is located the department for handling the large job printing and blank book business. Two cylinder and six platen presses are required for the press work in this department, while two large power paper cutters, with ruling, punching, perforating and wire stitching machines serve to complete the work. The printing of the "Trib- une," daily, and the "Times-Enterprise," weekly, is executed on a Duplex flat-bed perfecting press, capable of delivering over 5,000 eight-page papers per hour, folded and ready for mailing. This magnificent machine, which is operated by a ten-horse power electric motor, is located in the basement, as owing to its great
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weight it is necessary that it be set upon a foundation of solid masonry.
The company has on its payroll at the present time, thirty-two persons, exclusive of the officers of the company actively inter- ested in the conduct of the business, and the product of its presses is a most potent agency for publicity at the command of the fair city for which it is christened.
The present officers of the Albert Lea Publishing Company are S. Otis Simonson, president ; L. S. Whitcomb, secretary and treas- urer.
Freeborn County Standard. In the early part of 1857, George S. Ruble negotiated with Alf. P .: Swinford and N. T. Gray to start the first. Freeborn county newspaper. They arrived in March, 1857, but the first number was not issued until July 11, 1857.
On the east side of the postoffice block, second lot north of William, facing Elizabeth, is the birth-place of "The Southern Minnesota Star." On this auspicious event every street in the "village" was clothed in untrodden bluegrass, as it was a thou- sand years ago, though a crooked wagon track was seen on Clark street. from Broadway east to the "new mill." The first lumber sawed at the mill was used in its construction. It was one and a half stories high, built and battened like a barn. Under the sledge-hammer blows of Swineford, Albert Lea's county seat pros- pects brightened, while a terrific howl was heard from the "Ban- croft Pioneer," edited by David Blakely, who for many years was one of the editors and publishers of the "Pioneer Press" of St. Paul. Politically the "Star" was: Democratic:
The "Star" glistened until the autumn of 1858, when it was removed to a small office : on the southeast corner of Clark and Elizabeth street and its name: changed to "Freeborn County Eagle." Isaac Botsford issued the first copy as the " 'Junior' Eagle," but the next issue found Alf: Swineford at the helm, as editor, who continued with the paper until March, 1857, when he retired to take up newspaper work at La Crescent, Minn. Botsford edited the "Eagle" until May; 1860, when Ruble and Hooker took charge of it, changing its name to:"Freeborn County Standard." and Hooker appearing as "conductor." In October, 1860, A. D. Clark, Albert Lea's first school teacher, purchased the outfit, removing it to the old Merry house. Here it remained under the management of Clark, A. B. Webber, J. C. Ross and finally passed to the possession of Wm. Morin, who issued it until July 4, 1864, when it lay idle until 1865, when it was revived by D. G. Par- ker, who was the first one to make it a business success. About 1882 Parker sold out to Botsford and Robinson, who conducted it but a short time, when it fell into the hands of Williams &
S. OTIS SIMONSON
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Drake, and by them to its present management. Five times has the "Standard" been baptized with fire-once a total loss. First fire it met with was discovered by Martin V. Kellar while on his way to school one morning in 1867. It was the first fire ever had in Albert Lea, and consumed the old Merry house -. the first house ever erected in the vicinity of Albert Lea. Its second fire was in a small office where Willard's saloon now stands, its third in a small office on West Clark, where stands the wall paper store of N. C. Nelson, its fourth in rooms over Towne's drug store, where everything was consumed-even to the old Franklin press which ought today be on exhibition at our library for future generations to view as the press that made Albert Lea the county seat. Its fifth and last fire in its quarters, over the Citizens Bank, was suffered by its present management.
Following is a correct record of the editors, owners and man- agers of the "Standard," and the term each was connected with the paper since it was established : The "Minnesota Star," estab- lished by Alf. P. Swineford and Nathaniel T. Gray, at Albert Lea, Freeborn county, Territory of Minnesota, July 11, 1857. Under their management until February 12, 1859. "Freeborn County Eagle," Isaac Botsford, February 12, 1859, to June 9, 1860. "Free- born County Standard," J. B. Hooker, June 9,1860, to October 27 1860. "Freeborn County Standard," A. D. Clark, October 27, 1860, to August 1, 1861. "Freeborn County Standard," A. B. Webber, August 1, 1861, to February 4, 1864. For three months during Mr. Webber's term John C. Ross was the publisher. The“ Minne- sota Star," Wm. Morin, February 4, 1864, to April 6, 1865. "Free- born County Standard," Daniel G. Parker, April 6, 1865, to May 9, 1878. Since that the name of the paper has remained unchanged. W. W. Williams and G. F. Robinson, May 9, 1878, to February 27, 1879. W. W. Williams and F. W. Drake, Feb- ruary 27, 1879, to October 18, 1883. H. G. Day, October 18, 1883; yet editor. For several years Carlyle H. Day, his son, was associate editor and publisher, the two comprising the Standard Printing Company. After the latter's retirement the senior's younger son, H. Carroll Day, became, and yet is, an editor and associated in the business. "The Western Publisher" says : "When H. G. Day assumed control the 'Standard' was not a very vigorous or prosperous publication. Of course there have been some vicissitudes in Mr. Day's connection with the paper, but the application of brains and energy has triumphed, until now the 'Standard' is one of the foremost weeklies of the state. As in the case of all strong publications, there are many who cannot always agree with Mr. Day, politically, but friend or foe always respect him for his honesty and loyalty to the community."
The "Albert Lea Enterprise" first appeared April 25, 1872,
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with James C. Hamlin, of Mason City, Iowa, as publisher. At the end of a year, S. H. Cady, of Wisconsin, came and brought a job printing outfit, and the paper then appeared as published by the Enterprise Printing Company. On September 25, 1873, Mr. Hamlin sold his interest to Mr. Cady, and on October 2 the paper came out with S. H. Cady as sole proprietor. Thus it remained until the winter of 1874-75, when Fred Cochrane became editor of the sheet. On August 26, 1875, the establishment was pur- chased by Marcellus Halversen, and in July, of 1884, a half interest in the paper was purchased by Clint L. Luce, who soon afterward took charge of the editorial work and continued in that capacity for the following fourteen years, finally selling his interest in the business to Mr. Halvorsen and his son Salsich, who came into the business at that time to take an active part. During the fall of 1904 Halvorsen sold an interest in the "Enter- prise" to J. P. Hurley, who was connected with the business from that time until the paper was sold by himself and Mr. Halvorsen to W. A. Morin and C. S. Edwards, about the first of the year of 1905. After the transfer of the "Enterprise" to Morin & Ed- wards, the latter took charge of the editorial work. The "Enter- prise" was consolidated with the "Times" December 27, 1905, Morin & Edwards purchasing the "Times" and merging the plants which were located in Mr. Morin's building at the corner of Broadway and College streets, from which location the combined papers have been published ever since. By the formation of a stock company composed of the stockholders of the two corpora- tions owning the "Times-Enterprise " and the "Tribune" publica- tions, daily and semi-weekly, three newspaper plants and the job printing plant, formerly operated by Simonson & Whitcomb, were united under one management and located on the ground floor and basement of the Morin block at the corner of Broadway and College street, the company being known as the Albert Lea Pub- lishing Company.
The "Freeborn County Times" was established and first pub- lished November 15, 1895; Ray C. Blackmer editor, D. A. Scott associate editor. It was Republican in politics and very ably edited as well as carefully handled mechanically. By much expense and persistent effort it built up a large list, being espe- cially strong in advocating improved methods of agriculture and dairying. Mr. Scott severed his connection with the paper after a few years, going to Oklahoma to enter the real estate business. Mr. Blackmer continued as editor and manager of the business until December 27, 1905, when he sold the entire business and plant to Morin & Edwards, who consolidated the paper with that of the "Albert Lea Enterprise."
The "Albert Lea Evening Tribune" was the first attempt at
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LESLEY S. WHITCOMB
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publishing a daily paper in Albert Lea. The first issue was dated October 15, 1897, the plant being moved from Ottumwa, Iowa, by Jennison & McClellan. E. M. Jennison was business manager ; W. L. McClellan, managing editor, and T. H. Russell, city editor. The paper was a seven column folio. In spite of capable effort editorially the venture was not profitable, and on February 11, 1898, publication was suspended. Referring to its suspension the "Freeborn County Times" of February 18, 1898, has the follow- ing: "The Albert Lea Evening Tribune Company, last Friday evening, suspended the publication of the 'Albert Lea Evening Tribune' and the 'Albert Lea Semi-Weekly Tribune.' The 'Trib- une' was moved here from Ottumwa last fall. Its management with true newspaper spirit, published each day a condensed report of the American Press dispatches, and the paper presented quite a metropolitan appearance. About a month ago it was thought advisable to extend the scope of the enterprise and a semi-weekly publication was commenced in connection with the daily. The territory, however, has proved too limited to support another paper, and, as was foreseen by newspaper men everywhere, and by a large percentage of our citizens, the 'Tribune' was compelled to suspend publication. Editor Jennison has gone to Fond du Lac, Wis., where he has accepted a position on the 'Daily Reporter,' a Democratic paper of that place, and Mr. McClellan will write life insurance for the Southwestern Life Insurance Company of Albert Lea. The plant will remain in the building of. W. A. Morin, who has a mortgage on it, but it is not known what disposition will be made of the type and machinery."
Again, on August 5, 1898, we quote from the files of the "Times :"' "The 'Albert Lea Evening Tribune' will commence publication again Monday. Rev. R. N. Joscelyn is the editor in chief, with Angus Hay as city editor. Rev. Joscelyn will con- tinue his duties as pastor of the Methodist Church. The 'Tribune' will be the same size as formerly and Republican in politics."
After a few months Mr. Joscelyn disposed of his interest in the "Tribune" to C. G. Edwards, who conducted the management of the daily and semi-weekly issues of the "Tribune." Hay con- tinued as editor until July 28, 1900, when he was succeeded by C. L. Luce, former editor of the "Albert Lea Enterprise." During April, 1905, the "Tribune" was sold to J. P. Hurley and F. G. Atherton, the latter residing at Osage, Iowa., the partnership being styled Hurley & Co. Mr. Luce was editor until the con- solidation of the plant of Hurley & Co., with the exclusive job printing business of Simonson & Whitcomb, July 1, 1907. The combined plants were housed in the Whelan Building at 121 North Broadway. The consolidated partnerships were formed into a corporation capitalized at $25,000, the officers being J. P.
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Hurley, president and editor; F. G. Atherton, vice-president ; S. O. Simonson, secretary and superintendent; L. S. Whitcomb, treasurer and business manager. The company did general pub- lishing, job printing and book binding. The corporation was chartered as Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Co.
August 15, 1910, the Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Co., with its daily and semi-weekly issues of the "Tribune," was merged with that of the "Times-Enterprise" Company, of which W. A. Morin and C. S. Edwards were the principal stockholders. The new company published the "Times-Enterprise," strong Repub- lican weekly, being a combination of the "Albert Lea Enter- prise" and the "Freeborn County Times." Both Morin and Edwards retained stock in the new company, which was incor- porated for $50,000 and called the Albert Lea Publishing Com- pany. Officers and active stockholders were the same in the new company as of the Simonson, Whitcomb & Hurley Co., and continued thus until October, 1911, when Simonson and Whit- comb bought the holdings of Hurley, the latter retiring from active participation in the business. In the reorganization of the business, S. O. Simonson was chosen president to succeed Mr. Hurley and L. S. Whitcomb was made secretary and treas- urer. At the time of the consolidation of the "Tribune" and the "Times-Enterprise" publication of the "Semi-Weekly Tribune" was suspended and the subscribers were transferred to the lists of the "Daily Tribune" or the "Weekly Times-Enter- prise." After the final consolidation a splendid new Webb per- fecting press was added to the equipment as it was seen that the printing of the combined circulation was too great an under- taking for the old equipment. The Albert Lea Publishing Com- pany is one of the strongest and best equipped newspaper plants in the state outside the larger cities. L. S. Whitcomb is at pres- ent business manager and managing editor of its papers, S. O. Simonson the superintendent of the mechanical department, C. M. Hobart editor. The "Evening Tribune" is a seven-column six or eight page paper and the "Times-Enterprise" is the same size page, twelve, fourteen or sixteen pages.
The "Emmons Leader" is now in its tenth volume. It is a bright, well-printed and carefully edited paper, with quite a cir- culation throughout the territory tributary to Emmons. The paper was started by Hans Grytdahl. Other editors have been W. Nordland, Joseph Solheim and Martin Aasgaard. The pres- ent editor, F. W. Lovestrom, is a talented editor and progressive business man, and under his able management the paper has become a model for all country journals.
The "Alden Advance," under the able management of J. H. Gleason, has a circulation of something like a thousand copies,
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is well edited and printed and stands in high favor with its many readers. The "Advance" had its beginning with a school paper, issued by the Thompson Brothers. April 27, 1891, they issued the first number of the "Alden Advance." In 1892 the paper was sold to Glenn Howard, and he conducted it until 1909, when Mr. Gleason became editor and proprietor.
The"Glenville Progress" is one of the leading newspapers of the county ; its sane, conservative editorial policy and liberal business policy winning much favor among its wide circle of readers. The paper was established in 1897 by Joppa & Miller and was edited by E. Joppa until 1907, when it was purchased by E. Mathiesen, who conducted the sheet until 1903, when it was sold to M. P. Fuller. June 12, 1905, the present owner, A. G. Morgan, took charge. The paper has been independent part of the time, but a larger part of its career it has been strictly Repub- lican. The paper has progressed under its present owner and has been increased in stock, presses and type until it is admirably equipped for the field it serves.
FORMER PAPERS.
Aside from the papers still in existence in the county, there have, at various times, been other journals, worthy of note here. Some have long since been forgotten. But the "Bancroft Pio- neer" and the "Freeborn Springs (Itasca) Herald" will always be remembered for the part they took in the memorable county seat contests. It is interesting to note that two important papers, the "Rochester Post" and the "Blue Earth Post" had their birth in Freeborn county.
The "Bancroft Pioneer." This paper was established at Ban- croft village by David Blakely, and the first number was issued October 17, 1857. So far as is known no copies of this issue have been preserved. In spite of its strenuous booming of Ban- croft for county seat honors, that village was defeated in the contest of 1857, and Mr. Blakely, early in the fall of 1858, moved to Austin, where he established the "Mower County Mirror." The stereotyped caption did not arrive as soon as expected, and for several issues, the "Mower County Mirror" retained the old head of "Bancroft Pioneer." Early in the fall of 1860 the paper was moved from Austin to Rochester and the "Rochester Post" established.
The "Freeborn Springs Herald." During the county seat contest of 1860, Dr. A. M. Burnham, the proprietor, of Itasca, at which place the postoffice had been named Freeborn Springs, saw the necessity for a newspaper to present the claims of that village to the votes of the citizens, and accordingly started a
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newspaper, with Isaac Botsford as editor. The paper was issued August 21, 1860, and continued for thirteen numbers. Several copies of this paper are preserved in the priceless files of the "Standard."
It is interesting to note that the late Dr. F. A. Blackmer was "printer's devil" in the "Herald" office. The equipment of the "Freeborn Springs Herald" was taken to Blue Earth City, and the "Blue Earth Post" established.
The "Albert Lea Posten," published in the Norwegian lan- guage, was first issued July 5, 1882, and continued to exist for some time. It was issued by the Albert Lea Publishing Co., the officers of which were : President, H. Erickson ; vice-president, H. G. Emmons; secretary, J. P. Grinager; treasurer and gen- eral manager, II. O. Haukness ; editor, O. J. Haugen. This paper followed the "Sanverke," published by the same company, with N. Nelson as editor. Before this there was the "Soudre Minne- sota," issued by Peterson, Anderson & Motezfeldt, and the "North Star" issued by J. Ellickson and T. T. Pierce. All these were printed in Norwegian, except. the "North Star," which was partly Norwegian and partly English.
Other Publications. Aside from the papers mentioned there have been other journals more or less transient, including sev- eral high school and club papers. Leonard G. Lewis attained a national reputation with his "Lewis' Lie," a literary and humorous monthly magazine. The paper met with popular favor and continued for several years. The "Hartland Herald," pub- lished by the Brown Brothers, flourished a while and did much toward assisting in the progress of that village.
Note : . The history of the "Freeborn County Standard" here presented was written by Martin V. Kellar and edited by H. G. Day and H. Carroll Day. The first paragraph regarding the mis- sion of newspapers was written by Gertrude Ellis Skinner, of Austin.
CASSIUS M. HOBART
CHAPTER XXXIV.
ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.
Celebrations-Blizzard of 1873-Two Famous Horse Races-Some Early Deaths-Some Excellent Men-The Neutral Strip- Freeborn County Archeology-Reminiscences of Thomas R. Morgan-Reminiscences of D. W. Horning.
Celebrations. Our nation's birth was not forgotten in early days. The first celebration in the county was at Albert Lea July 4, 1856, consisting only of a dance at Merry's and a flag raising. William Kellar took up a collection, and going to St. Nicholas purchased material for a large flag, which was made by Mrs. George S. Ruble and her hired girl. A good pole was cut at the rear of Judge Blackmer's residence, near Oakwood, and erected out on the smooth prairie in the middle of Broad- way between William and Main. As a historical fact when the boys of Company F, Fourth Minnesota, had their first rally in 1861 they marched around this same flag and pole. Our second celebration, 1857, was only a splendid dinner served by Mrs. Daniel Hurd in her new home at 121 East Clark street. It was gotten up at the request of those living in the neighborhood.
The first general public celebration took place at Glenville in 1859. It was held beneath large oak trees that stood about sixty rods east of their beautiful cemetery on the north side of the road. The main speakers were the Rev. Stott and the Rev. Thompson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On this occasion the Albert Lea Union Sabbath School was taken down in one wagon-superintendent, teachers and scholars. Our ban- ner, prepared by Colonel Eaton, bore this inscription : "Albert Lea Honored-Upward Sabbath School." The attendance was fully 300, some with ox teams coming eleven miles.
Blizzard of 1873. Old settlers delight to tell of the famous blizzard of January 7, 8 and 9, 1873. Up to January 6 the weather had been very cold, but the morning of January 7 saw a decided change and the day was warm and mild. During the morning some rain fell. Naturally the warm weather brought many of the farmers to the towns. Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon the storm came up with a well-defined wall. The thermometer dropped some thirty or forty degrees in one minute and in as brief a time the worst blizzard known to the white settlers of Minnesota took the place of a mild and pleasant
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