USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 22
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 22
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1007
treasurer, F. P. Thimsen. The store handles a line of general merchandise and is doing a large and increasing trade.
Furniture. The first furniture store in the village was opened by P. Haley, in 1873. Mr. Haley had formerly lived on a farm about two miles west of the village. The store was situated in block 8, nearly opposite the old Western house. For about two years the business was conducted by Mr. Haley, after which he sold out to William Marshall. John G. Lennon next succeeded to the business and sold out to A. B. Johnston. The next owners of the business were M. Olson, Ole Norval and Swen Embrickson. L. S. Ulland purchased the stock in 1887, and is still in the business. He soon added to this line that of farm implements, vehicles, etc. He has been quite successful and has a large volume of business.
J. C. Guthrie, M. J. Lee and H. O. Houg were each in the furniture business for a short time.
Hardware. In 1873, Curtis & Dunton opened a small hard- ware store with a small stock in one room of a double store erected by J. N. Dunton & Sons. After a few months' experi- ence, this company sold its stock to David Giddings, of St. Charles, Minn., who disposed of the goods to Edward Morton in the same year. Mr. Morton has been one of the leading business men of the village, and is still actively engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement trade. He is also the proprietor of a fine farm adjoining the village, and owns con- siderable other land in the vicinity.
The Blooming Prairie Iron Works does considerable busi- ness in manufacturing seed cleaners, pump jacks and other articles, and is engaged in general repairing. The company was organized by the Srsoen Brothers, April 12, 1897. and started operations at once. In 1909 the business was sold to Frank H. Skalieky and John J. Pribyl.
Physicians. The first physician to locate at Blooming Prairie village was Dr. Saulsbury, who came here from Owa- tonna in 1887 and remained about two years. Among others who are not now practicing here, but who were in former days may be mentioned the names of Drs. Theodore L. Hatch, W. S. Wood, J. Palmer Johnson, B. J. Hawkins, Emma Washburn, A. A. Finch, A. H. Johnson and Drs. Goudy, Hadley, Eberhardt, Caldwell and Watson. The present physicians in the village are Drs. Harry G. Wood. Benedik Melby, E. H. Cooley and J. W. Warren.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
NEWSPAPERS.
Watchman and Register-Medford Valley Argus-Owatonna Journal-News Letter-Owatonna Representative-Owa- tonna Register-Owatonna Democrat-Vidette-Owatonna Register-Owatonna Plaindealer-Journal and Herald- Owatonna Chronicle-Journal-Chronicle-People's Press- Our Pastime-Morning Star-Daily Herald-Owatonna Tribune-Ellendale Eagle-Blooming Prairie Times-Com- piled and Edited by Benjamin E. Darby.
Steele county is the home of six newspapers, all of which are well edited and well printed, having a satisfactory circula- tion and exerting an influence for good on the community. In former days still others have flourished, some having been dis- continued by removal, some by consolidation and some by lack of patronage. It will be noticed that there are several repeti- tions of names, several favorite cognomens being frequently revived.
WATCHMAN AND REGISTER.
The first paper started in the county was under the above title. It was established at Owatonna, in July, 1856, by J. H. Abbott and A. B. Cornell, who purchased press, type and fix- tures of Maj. W. A. Hotchkiss, at that time editor and pub- lisher of the "Northwestern Democrat," at St. Anthony. Mr. Cornell acted as editor and business manager for a time, when the services of H. M. Sheetz, an experienced newspaper man, were secured as editor. Some time in 1857 the word "Watch- man" was dropped from the name, and the "Owatonna Register" was published until some time in the winter of 1857-8, with Abbott & Cornell and W. F. Pettit as proprietors, and H. M. Sheetz as editor, and then it was discontinued. It had been a useful means of advertising the locality, and did its full share in molding the public mind.
MEDFORD VALLEY ARGUS.
This was the second local journal to lay claim to public favor in Steele county. It was published at Medford, dating its first appearance about the middle of August, 1858, and was under
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the control of Messrs. Francis & Sulley. It was printed with the same material which had been used in the publication of the "Register," the material having been purchased of the com- pany by William F. Pettit, and by him sold to Mr. Bartholomew, of Medford. Messrs. Francis & Sulley leased it of Mr. Bartholo- mew. Mr. Sulley soon sold his interest to J. R. Lucas, and the publication was continued for a short time, when the enterprise was abandoned and the material was rented to HI. M. Sheetz, who moved it back to Owatonna.
OWATONNA JOURNAL.
This paper was started by H. M. Sheetz with the material which he had secured at Medford, and made its appearance shortly after the demise of the "Argus." It was a seven-column sheet, neatly printed and ably edited, and was received with marked favor by its patrons. It was Republican in politics and the carnest and devoted advocate of all reforms. In October, 1859, Mr. Sheetz died, and the "Journal" was carried on by his widow for some time thereafter. Hon. William F. Pettit, at that time state senator from Steele county, had started a project to allow Mrs. Sheetz, who was a woman of considerable literary ability, to retain the office as a mark of esteem from the public, whom her husband had so faithfully served, and has already received $150 from his fellow members of the senate to aid in carrying out this benevolent project. But upon returning home he found that the office had been sold to A. B. Cornell, which at once put a stop to the publication of the "Journal."
NEWS LETTER.
Shortly after the suspension of the "Journal," the "News Letter" was established by A. B. Cornell. He kept up the enter- prise until 1862, when he took a sutler's position in the army, and Mrs. Cornell continued the publication of a small sheet some three or four columns in width until 1863, when Dr. Kelly, editor of the "Plaindealer." which in the meantime had been started, purchased the job office and the good will of the "News Letter," and its publication was discontinued.
OWATONNA REPRESENTATIVE.
In the summer of 1860 Messrs. William F. Pettit and John H. Abbott, assisted J. W. Crawford in the purchase of an office in Mantorville, Dodge county, and the publication of the "Owa- tonna Representative" was commenced. It was an eight-column sheet, and was very ably conducted and well printed, reflecting
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
much credit upon the enterprise of the citizens who sustained it, as well as those who conducted it. It was continued for about eighteen months, when Mr. Crawford entered the army, and Messrs. Pettit and Abbott sold the material to James E. Child, of Wilton, Waseca county.
OWATONNA REGISTER.
This paper was started by A. B. Cornell soon after his return from the army. It was published in an independent, neutral manner, consequently meeting with poor success, yet it con- tinued to drag out an existence for some little time, when it suc- cumbed from want of proper sustenance, and publication was discontinued.
OWATONNA DEMOCRAT.
This was a newspaper aspirant for public favor. starting with Capt. J. D. Wood a> editor and proprietor. It was received with considerable enthusiasm by the Democracy, as it was a purely Democratic paper ; yet it did not receive sufficient support to meet the necessary expenditures, and after trying the experi- ment for about a year it was discontinued.
VIDETTE.
In the spring of 1867. J. A. Spellman started a paper called the "Vidette." It was a seven-column folio, and independent Republican in politics. It was continued only for a short time, when it was merged with the "Journal," Mr. Spellman becoming one of the proprietors of that paper.
OWATONNA REGISTER.
In 1867 another Democratic paper was started, which was called the "Owatonna Register," under the control of C. F. George. He continued its publication at a pecuniary loss for about one year, when the office was removed to Faribault.
OWATONNA PLAINDEALER.
In April, 1863, Dr. L. H. Kelly commenced the publication of a paper called the "Owatonna Plaindealer." The town was then growing rapidly ; the business kept increasing until the "Plain- dealer" became one of the best paying offices in this part of the state. It was started as a seven-column paper, but in the spring of 1866 was enlarged to an eight-column folio. In the fall of the same year the office was purchased by Tappan, Higbee & Hathaway. The new firm shortly afterward commenced the publication of the "Republican Journal," and in a few weeks the
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1011
firm became Higbee, Spellman & Bickham, and the name of the paper became the "Owatonna Journal."
THE OWATONNA JOURNAL.
The files of the "Owatonna Journal" commenced with the issue of January 13, 1876; at least it is impossible to find any copies of prior issues. At that time the paper was running as an eight-column folio. The proprietors at that time were Cran- dall & Bickham-C. S. Crandall, W. H. Bickham-and Thursday was the day of issue. It was very neatly gotten up and well filled with local and general news, as well as having a good run of local advertising. During the same winter Mr. Crandall, one of the firm, was appointed postmaster, and that partially severed his former intimate connection with the management of the "Journal." The issue of October 19, 1876, was the last bearing the names of Crandall & Bickham as editors. With the issue on October 26, 1876, the name of F. T. Drebert appears at the head of the columns as editor and proprietor.
At the time Mr. Drebert came, the office was kept in what was known as the Dresser building. It remained there until it was moved to the Temple block. One incident in the history of the "Journal" was its connection with the failure of L. Bixby's "Review." Mr. Bixby had rented the material of the office to A. H. Lewis, and in 1879 he made arrangements with Mr. Drebert to turn over the subscription in the manner of a consolidation of the two, the publication of the "Review" to cease, and, accord- ing to the arrangement, while he did not become a partner in the publication, he was to get a percentage on the job work and advertising. By consent of Mr. Drebert he moved a lot of paper and stock into the "Journal" rooms for storage purposes. As soon as Mr. Bixby learned of this he got out a writ of replevin and secured possession of the material, making Mr. Drebert a co-defendant. When the suit was settled Mr. Bixby started a paper called the "Review," having copied the subscription list. This paper was afterward removed to Minneapolis and became the "Temperance Review." February 12, 1886, the "Journal" was consolidated with the "Herald," which had been established by the Soper Brothers, and the name of the paper became the "Journal and Herald."
JOURNAL AND HERALD.
Under this arrangement the firm name became Drebert & Soper Brothers-F. T. Drebert, J. A. and W. B. Soper. W. B. Soper retired from the firm in October, 1886, leaving the man- agement in the hands of F. T. Drebert and J. A. Soper.
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The "Owatonna Journal" continued under the ownership of F. T. Drebert and the Soper Brothers until April 27, 1888, when the Sopers sold their half-interest to W. A. Dynes. This change was followed a little over a year later by the retirement of Mr. Drebert, on June 7, 1889, Mr. Dynes buying his interest and becoming sole proprietor. Mr. Drebert's retirement was gen- crally regretted, as he was an able and honest editor and highly respected. He went from Owatonna to Chatfield, where he bought the "Chatfield Democrat." which he conducted until his death. On February 14, 1890, W. A. Dynes sold a half-interest in the "Journal" to 1. W. Burch, an old resident of Owatonna, who assumed the editorial end. It is interesting to note that even at this early date the "Journal" advocated a reduction in the tariff. Messrs. Dynes and Burch retired from the business February 16. 1891. selling to A. J. Truesdell, the eldest son of J. E. Truesdell. Mr. Truesdell considerably built up the paper, being not only well equipped for business and editorial manage- ment, but also a inost energetic man. In fact. it is generally believed that his extreme devotion to the end of making a suc- cess of his venture wrecked his health. He died April 14, 1894. mourned by the entire community as he was held in the highest regard.
On May 1 following. J. Frank Dean, who had been in charge of the mechanical department of the paper, purchased the "Jour- nal." and from that time on for nearly ten years the "Journal" had a varied career. For several years Mr. Dean, who was a very capable business man and especially a clever solicitor, vastly built up the business. But the establishment of the "Owa- tonna Chronicle" in 1897, by E. K. Whiting and H. F. Luers, opened a new epoch in the county's newspaper history, really the most interesting period of that history, and the competition thus created gradually sapped the "Journal's" prestige and pros- perity. The history of the "Chronicle" will be later referred to.
Following the establishment of the "Chronicle" and the defec- tion of its founders, Messrs. Whiting and Luers, from the "Jour- nal" staff. John Lawson, former editor of the "Northfield Inde- pendent," was brought to Owatonna to edit the "Journal." His was a pungent pen, and frequently vitriolic, and the passages-at- arms which the advent of such a writer invariably causes be- tween newspapers made spicy reading for Steele county people. until the publishers at last learned. as is always the case, that the people soon tire of such arguments and the game is not worth the candle. Mr. Lawson remained with the "Journal" until May 14. 1903. meantime assisting in starting the "Owatonna Evening Journal." the launching of which was one of the incidents of the period of lively competition between the "Journal" and
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1013
^Chronicle." During this time both the "Journal" and the "Chronicle" also tried the experiment of changing from weeklies to semi-weeklies. This lasted for almost three years, when, find- ing the experiment unprofitable, both papers dropped the semi- weekly publication by mutual consent. Mr. Lawson was suc- ceeded as editor of the "Daily and Weekly Journal" by John M. Cotton, another importation, who occupied the position for two years.
Meantime, in September, 1903, Mr. Dean, needing new cap- ital, interested Dr. E. E. Bigelow in the proposition and sold him a half-interest in the concern. The ownership was vested in an incorporated company called the Journal Publishing Company, of which E. E. Bigelow was president and treasurer and J. Frank Dean, secretary and manager. But the association of Messrs. Dean and Bigelow was not a success, and the difficulties between them finally culminated in Dr. Bigelow's application for a re- ceiver for the company. The district court examined the case and granted the application in January, 1905, and placed Harvey S. Dartt in charge of the concern as receiver. The receivership ended in September, 1905, when Dr. Bigelow bid in the business at receiver's sale and became sole owner. Meantime Harry A. Lawson, son of John Lawson, had been placed in editorial charge and conducted the daily and weekly "Journal" as editor until March 6, 1906, when Dr. Bigelow sold the concern to C. K. Ben- nett, who was acting as purchasing agent for Messrs. Whiting & Luers, the proprietors of the "Chronicle." The consolidation of the two papers followed as a matter of course, and will be treated of in connection with the history of the "Owatonna Chronicle."
The "Journal," at the time W. A. Dynes bought ont F. T. Drebert, was located in the second story of the Lorence block, on Cedar street. This office it occupied until a year or so after the establishment of the "Chronicle," in 1897. The office was then removed to the first floor corner office and the front base- ment of the Metropolitan opera house. Here a very handsome business office was fitted up, but in general the location was never ideal, either from a business standpoint or for printing purposes. The "Journal" occupied this location until its con- solidation with the "Chronicle" in 1906.
OWATONNA CHRONICLE.
The advent of the "Owatonna Chronicle" into the newspaper field, as before stated, marked an epoch in the newspaper his- tory of the county. The founders, E. K. Whiting and H. F. Luers, who had previously been connected with the "Journal's"
1014 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
business and news departments, were young men with progres- sive ideas and were well equipped for the task of founding and conducting a first class modern newspaper.
They obtained a footing in the field by first purchasing the "Farmers' Gazette," a paper which had been established in 1896, in preparation for the free silver campaign, first as a semi-weekly, and a little later changed to a weekly. Up to this time the "Ga- zette" had been a nondescript affair, with limited equipment and little patronage, and had been leading a precarious existence despite the efforts of its publisher, M. D. Toof. The object of Messrs. Whiting & Luers in purchasing the "Gazette" was to clear the field and get the advantage of its footing as an estab- lished paper. The new owners continued the publication of the "Gazette" only until they could buy and install a complete new newspaper and job printing plant of capacity equal to the pro- duction of such a paper as they proposed to publish. So soon as this was accomplished and the new plant was ready for busi- ness on the east half of the second floor of the Morehouse Opera block, the "Owatonna Chronicle" appeared, on September 2, 1897, and the "Gazette" passed into oblivion, both as to name and character.
The "Chronicle" met with favor from the start. Its pub- lishers announced it as a Republican paper, but their policy has always been one of independence of the dictation of politicians. The first big hit made by the "Chronicle" was almost at the very start, when it secured what still stands as the biggest "scoop" in the newspaper history of the county-the announcement of the confession of Leigh Hough, who had murdered Joe Clark a week or ten days before, and was subsequently captured in the south and brought back to Owatonna. The "Chronicle" alone learned that Hough was about to confess, and was alone repre- sented when the confession was made. The force of printers was hastily and quietly assembled and worked all night, and the first anyone else, including the publishers of other papers, knew of the confession was when the improvised newsboys were crying the "Chronicle" extras on the streets, the first extra edition ever issued in the county.
The ginger shown in this enterprise was characteristic of the policy which built up the Chronicle in less than a decade into the newspaper of largest circulation in the county. The "Chron- icle" "set the pace" (and it was often an expensive one), being in the forefront in adopting new ideas in the manner of pre- senting news and improving the attractiveness of the paper. It was a pace which made the newspapers published a few years before look like backwoods affairs.
The natural result of this stimulating and expensive contest
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
for public favor was the elimination of one paper, as in a field such as presented in Owatonna there is room for no more than three such expensive newspapers as have been published in Owa- tonna since the establishment of the "Chronicle." It fell to the "Journal" to be eliminated, by the process of consolidation al- ready mentioned in the "Journal's" history.
JOURNAL-CHRONICLE.
The consolidation effected, the name of the "Evening Journal" was changed to the "Daily Journal-Chronicle," and the combined weeklies were given the name of the "Owatonna Journal-Chron- icle." The ownership was vested in a stock company, called the Journal-Chronicle Company, in which E. K. Whiting and H. F. Luers were the principal stockholders, C. K. Bennett taking a small block of stock and acting on the directorate. Later E. A. Brown, foreman of the mechanical department, was sold a small block of stock, and Mrs. C. S. Crandall purchased C. K. Bennett's stock.
Under the consolidation arrangement, the quality of Steele county newspapers, already recognized all over the state as above par, made another advance, and the "Daily Journal-Chronicle," the weekly "Owatonna Journal-Chronicle" and the "People's Press" are recognized as brilliant planets in Minnesota's firma- ment of live country newspapers.
The quarters of neither the "Journal" or the "Chronicle" were sufficient to accommodate so large and busy a concern as the consolidation created, and immediate arrangements were made with the National Farmers' Bank for quarters in its famous new bank building, then just about to be built. The east end ground floor and two upstairs offices in the handsome new building were reserved for the "Journal-Chronicle," and built especially for its use. The result was the handsomest, most conveniently ar- ranged and completely equipped newspaper and printing office in the state, outside the twin cities. Further mention of this fine printing and publishing office will be given in another portion of this history.
The president of the Journal-Chronicle Company is H. F. Luers, who is also editor of the "Daily and Weekly Journal- Chronicle." He was born and raised and has always lived in Owatonna, and therefore has that intimate knowledge of the city and county, their history and their people, which is so valuable and desirable in a man occupying the position of editor in a com- munity. He first entered newspaper work as a reporter on the "Journal." in 1896, remaining in that position until he joined with E. K. Whiting in founding the "Chronicle," in 1897.
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E. K. Whiting is secretary and business manager of the Journal-Chronicle Company, and is a man who has won respect for character and ability as a business and newspaper man since his coming to Owatonna, in June, 1894, to accept a position on the "Journal." He had previously had considerable experience in the management of a printing office in St. Cloud and in the printing business in the twin cities, and after coming to Owa- tonna was entrusted with a large share of the business manage- ment of the "Journal." Consequently he was well equipped for the large task of building up a new newspaper from the business end. and as a testimonial to the success of his efforts stands the "Journal-Chronicle" of today.
Any history of Steele county newspapers would be incom- plete without mention of E. A. Brown, foreman of the "Journal- Chronicle," and a stockholder in the Journal-Chronicle Company, for Mr. Brown has been in the printing business in Owatonna continuously for a longer time than any other man not the owner of a newspaper. He came to Owatonna in 1885, and since that time has served as foreman, first on the "People's Press," later on the "Journal," then on the "Chronicle." and finally on the "Journal-Chronicle." He is an expert in his line, and so regarded by the other members of the Journal-Chronicle Company, and the printers' fraternity generally.
PEOPLE'S PRESS.
The first issue of this paper made its appearance on Wednes- day, September 2, 1874, as an eight-column folio. It was estab- lished by B. E. Darby and N. E. Lemen, under the firm name of Darby & Lemen.
Although the name of Mr. Lemen appears as one of the pro- prietors of the "Press," he was not an active partner, and on September 16, 1874, his name was dropped from the head of the columns, and that of B. E. Darby appeared as sole editor and proprietor. Mr. Lemen had been running a paper at Kasson, Dodge county, and when the "People's Press" was established he sold Mr. Darby the material with which the "Press" office was then furnished and agreed to get out the first issue. In this, however, he failed, as Mr. Darby arrived before that time, and the first number of the "Press" made its appearance through his exertions. Mr. Lemen never moved to Owatonna.
Mr. Darby continued the publication of the paper alone until January 6, 1874, when L. C. Martin became associated with him as partner, under the firm name of Darby & Martin. Mr. Martin came here from Prairie du Chien, Wis., and worked as a printer for Mr. Darby during his first year's residence here. In March,
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1876, the day of publication was changed from Wednesday to Saturday. On March 9, 1878, Mr. Darby bought out his part- ner's interest, and the firm of Darby & Martin was dissolved, Mr. Darby again assuming full ownership.
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