USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
"Today journalism stands upon the summit of its past achievement and, looking eastward, heralds the dawning of that still grander day when the peace spirit shall pervade the entire earth-when, indeed
" 'Night's candles are burnt out and jocund morn Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.'"
Linn county's pioneer newspaper man, Thomas E. Brawner, was born in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1836, and came with the family to Missouri when he was only a year old. In 1850 Mr. Brawner entered the office of the Brunswicker as an apprentice. The paper was conducted by John H. Blue. While learning the printing trade, young Brawner also attended the seminary at Brunswick. In 1852 he went to Columbia and secured employment with the Statesman, a paper founded by the late Col. William F. Switzler, one of Missouri's best known journalists and historians. It was the association with this eminent man, then in the prime of his powers, that inspired young Brawner to take a step higher in journalism. He went to Milan, Sullivan county in 1857 and started the Milan Farmer. After demonstrating his capacity as an editor and publisher at Milan, Mr. Brawner was induced to move to Linneus, then the leading town of the county in all matters. He estab- lished the Linneus Bulletin, of which paper he was editor and publisher until his retirement from journalism, on account of ill health, in 1888.
When the Civil War came on Mr. Brawner severed his connection with the Bulletin in order to enter the army. In 1871 he resumed the publication of the Bulletin, and continued until his retirement, in the year mentioned.
159
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
Mr. Brawner was always a Democrat of pronounced type, even during his service with the U. S. army. He was a man of unusual energy and ability and labored night and day to make the Bulletin a power in the upbuilding of Linn county and the state. Mr. Brawner was married three times.
Among the pioneer editors and printers of northern Missouri was Maj. Frank M. Dalton, who, until quite recently, came to Brookfield once a year to visit his sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Dalton, and his nieces, Mrs. N. E. Wanamaker and Mrs. Sue Crainer. Major Dalton was born in Ralls county, Missouri, May 27, 1832, and at the time of the publica- tion of this history was operating a country paper in Rector, Arkansas.
On one of his visits to Brookfield Major Dalton described his long experience as a newspaper man, and told some things which are illus- trative of early day journalism.
"Some of the more important county seat papers in Missouri before the Civil War had only about 300 circulation," said Major Dalton. "It took a long while to get off even that small an edition on the old hand press. Every page of the paper was rolled by hand. A roller boy would stand between his ink slab-which was sometimes the reverse side of a tombstone-and the press. And as each paper was 'pulled' he would put on a fresh supply. The pressman laid on the sheets, and pulled around the big lever. Crude as the method was, it was regarded by the people of the old days as a most interesting sight, and they would often ride to town on press day to see the machine work and to take home a copy of the paper. We got $2.00 a year for the paper in those days, and would take anything for it that we could use-cord wood. corn, potatoes, tobacco, yarn gloves-any- thing. In one office where I worked we sent the paper for two years to a man who furnished us a large, smooth tombstone which he had taken from the grave of one of his relatives, who, he said, wouldn't need it any more."
Like most Missouri printers of his time, Major Dalton had worked at Hannibal with Mark Twain, and after he became famous Mr. Clemens sent his old comrade of the print-shop a copy of every book he wrote. Speaking of his career in Hannibal Major Dalton said :
"I never saw anything in particular about Sam that made me think he would be a great man. He and I worked together on the old Hannibal Union, which was run by Orion, Sam's elder brother. I was a typesetter there and saw a great deal of Sam. If I were asked to pick out the brightest one of the boys it would have been Henry. Sam was a rollicking, devil-may-care sort of fellow, more given to
160
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
pranks and jokes than to work. A large part of the copy that was handed in to us printers was reprint from Eastern magazines. I remember now that they were turning out some excellent literary matter in those days, and I set a lot of it up in the Union office. It may have been that Sam received an inspiration from some of these magazine articles which were passed to him as copy. If we had only known it there was a world of material for humorous country stories in those days, but Sam was the only one who seemed to remember it, and he put those stories on paper long afterwards and became famous.
"The only original matter in the Union, outside of a few personal items, was the leader or chief editorial. Orion always wrote that him- self. As I recollect it Orion was a very serious writer, and I presume he carried a certain amount of influence in Hannibal.
"In those days of early journalism the editor and the printer were about the same thing. The editor generally set up his own copy, and often he would change it a good deal at the case. He was afraid that if it would go into the hands of some journeyman printer it might not measure up to what he had intended. The editorials were the big feature with the editor. He thought that everything he wrote was acted upon by the big wide world, and the truth is, I think the people did pay more attention to editorials than they do now. There were not so many things to divert their minds and the country newspaper was read and seriously pondered by every member of the family."
The only interruption that ever occurred in his life as editor and printer was when the war came on. Major Dalton was publishing a paper at Edina, and doing fairly well. He was a Southern sympathizer, but never regarded himself as a fighting man. It so happened, how- ever, that in his town there were two companies of soldiers drilling daily. One of these companies intended to join the Union army and the other was organizing for the purpose of going South. The people were very much concerned for fear that the two companies would get to fighting with each other before they left town. When Col. Martin Green organized a regiment over in Lewis county, the Edina Confed- erate company was ordered to report to him. As soon as the company left the Union company, under command of Col. David Moore, set out to prevent its joining Colonel Green. Major Dalton learned of this and he managed to convey to the commander of the Confederate com- pany the trap that was being laid for him. The Confederate captain was so well pleased with the lad for bringing him the information that he prevailed upon him to join the company, stating that they were only going out for a little frolic and that the war would soon be over.
161
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
That little frolic lasted four years, and when it was over Major Dalton went back to the printing business, resuming where he had left off.
It will be a matter of some interest to those who weekly read the county letters in the newspapers to know that the originator of that custom is a resident of Linn county. His name is I. Jeff Buster, and he still retains keen interest in all that the boys of the press are doing today. The inspiration for Mr. Buster's idea came in 1866. In those days, as Major Dalton said, the average newspaper editor thought the important thing to print was heavy editorials, literary clippings and foreign telegrams. As a rule but comparatively small space was given to happenings around home-they were too trivial.
In his young days Mr. Buster was a regular attendant at the Friday night lyceum in the district school at Kaseyville, Macon county. The general program was to debate on all sorts of big subjects, just as the newspapers were eternally soliloquizing on something far be- yond them. Mr. Buster decided one night to vary the rule. He pre- pared a paper which he called "The Neighborhood News." .Every event, large or small, that had occurred in the vicinity during the week was found in Mr. Buster's paper. It told about the new babies, the deaths, weddings, crops, the new bell on the village church, or the recent damages to the farmers' crops on the creek bottoms, about the wreck of a rail fence by the wind, the old cow that "had its leg to get broke," and which, if you are still a reader of the county news letter, is happening regularly every week just as it was in I. Jeff's time.
That paper created a sensation. It did more. It made Mr. Buster the leading man of the community. Kaseyville voted the production the most interesting event that had ever occurred in the history of its lyceum.
Following the natural trend of things, it occurred to Mr. Buster if the paper was good to read to the community at Kaseyville, it might be of still greater interest if printed in a newspaper. He mailed his manuscript to Macon. Col. Clark Green was running the Macon Times. The colonel read the news from Kaseyville and promptly pigeon-holed it until Mr. Buster should send him stamps to pay the freight back home. He didn't intend to load up his paper with a lot of neighborhood gossip. What he wanted was wars and rumors of wars; what they were doing over there at Washington; stories of earthquakes in the Sandwich Islands and the revolutions in Chili and Peru. In other words, the
162
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
country editor was featuring pretty much the same thing that the magazines are featuring today.
Mr. Buster went over to Macon and hunted up his friend, the editor. Colonel Green extended the glad hand, and then gently chided Mr. Buster for sending in such tommy-rot. He really couldn't think of printing it, you know ; his subscribers wouldn't stand for it.
"How many subscribers have you got over in Morrow township, Colonel?" asked the author of the Kaseyville news letter.
Colonel Green went over his list and replied that he had some ten or twelve very nice subscribers. Mr. Buster smiled.
"Colonel," he said, "if you will print my Kaseyville news letter -that tommy-rot as you call it-I'll wager a new hat that I can put half the people in my township on your subscription list."
Colonel Green lifted his eyebrows and looked hard at his visitor to see whether he was joking or not. Finally he said :
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Buster. I'll print that stuff this week if you will let me run it over your name. What do you say?"
That was entirely satisfactory to Mr. Buster and the news from Kaseyville got in. It is said to be an historical fact that that was the first real county news letter printed in the state. At least Mr. Buster says it was the first one he had ever seen.
Colonel Green sent Mr. Buster a stack of papers, and the man from Kaseyville set out to make his wager good. When he showed the people that the news letter was in the paper, that was all he had to do. Nine out of every ten men put down their names.
The result established the news letter. It has been found to be an absolute asset of every up-to-date country paper, and this is what some of the great metropolitan editors seem not to know, that people are more interested in reading about what is going on in the home locality than things that are happening across the high seas.
It became Mr. Buster's interesting duty while engaged as neigh- borhood correspondent for the Times to report an unusually sensational killing in his neighborhood.
He was on the spot with several other men near a bridge. It seems that one of the workmen-they were all farmers-had offended a man of the vicinity who had started out with a double-barreled shotgun and a six-chambered Colts revolver to seek a bloody vengeance. The armed man rode into the crowd and began blazing away at his victim, who ran some distance, though badly wounded. The merciless assailant got off his horse and completed his deadly work with the revolver. Then he turned to the horrified spectators and remarked :
163
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
"Gentlemen, I just had to do it. There is no need for any of you folks to follow me."
The man rode away unmolested and has never been heard of from that day until this.
Mr. Buster took that story up with the instincts of a trained jour- nalist. He wrote a graphic introductory, which was followed by the report of the coroner's inquest. The Macon Times printed it, but not on the first page, as it should have done or would do now. One head was deemed sufficient to identify the story. Curiously enough, no St. Louis paper seemed to be interested in the matter, and as far as known not a line was printed about it outside of Mr. Buster's contribution to the Times. Today such story would have occupied first page position in every city newspaper in Missouri, and every picture that could be obtained of the parties and of the scene would be printed.
Some twenty or twenty-five years ago Mr. Buster removed from Macon to Linn county and located at Marceline. There be acted as correspondent for the Linneus Bulletin for nearly twenty years. It might be said that his experience as a newspaper correspondent covers some forty years altogether. But he is not an old man by any means. Mr. Buster is just as young as he ever was and if he cared to could take hold of any end of a country newspaper and run it successfully. Newspaper readers were familiar with his signature, which was always "I. Jeff."
The Brookfield Gazette was the first newspaper established in the city which forms a part of its name. In the year 1867 R. Channing Moore, a young physician, and A. C. Buffington, a practical printer, decided that the time was ripe for the publication of a newspaper in the young railroad town. Besides being a very good printer, Mr. Buffing- ton had had some experience as a country newspaper publisher. Dr. Moore assumed charge of the editorial and business departments, while Mr. Buffington was the mechanical superintendent. The first issue was dated April 23.
After conducting the paper a short while Moore and Buffington disposed of it to W. D. Crandall and Henry Ward, two young lawyers. Later on Mr. Ward retired and went to Denver. Mr. Crandall, a schol- arly and interesting writer, and a man of broad information, success- fully operated the paper alone after the retirement of his partner. He gave to the Gazette a reputation for enterprise, fairness and reli- ability, a reputation that has abided with it through all the years.
The Brookfield Gazette has at all times advocated the principles of the Republican party, and has always given its support to the candidates
164
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
of that organization, except in one instance. Then it declared for what was termed the liberal Republican ticket, headed by B. Gratz Brown, instead of the one headed by Joseph W. McClurg for governor.
In 1891 George W. Martin purchased a half interest in the Brook- field Gazette, and the paper was published under the firm name of Martin & Jones until 1905, when Mr. Jones retired. His interest was purchased by J. V. Martin. Since that time the paper has been success- fully operated by George W. and J. V. Martin and has steadily main- tained its prestige as a thoroughly conservative, courageous and efficient journal. Editorially the Brookfield Gazette has always led. It clings to the old-time idea-one founded on excellent judgment-that editorials are yet considered by a paper's constituents and that they wield an influence. The greatest care is taken in the preparation of the matter for the editorial page of the Gazette and its typographical arrangement is always attractive. The Gazette's paragraphs have become a feature of the paper, and are oftentimes reproduced by the metropolitan papers. The "Missouri News Department" presents a good natured, though sometimes satirical resume of happenings all over the state, and have made that department of the Gazette what "Starbeams" are to the Kansas City Star.
Printers all over the state commend the handsome typographical appearance of the Gazette. This is mainly due to the skill of Mr. Fred E. Culler, who for many years has occupied the position of mechanical superintendent, and who has not only made the Gazette one of the most beautiful papers in the state from a typographical standpoint, but has turned out some printers who have made splendid reputations for ability in the printing offices of Missouri, where skill is appreciated. The Missouri Press Association in May, 1880, declared the Brookfield Gazette, the best printed paper in the state.
As has been stated, the pioneer newspaper of Linn county was the Linneus Bulletin, which was originally started by Thomas E. Brawner in 1859. When the Civil War came on Mr. Brawner went into the service on the Union side, and shortly after the close of the struggle resumed the publication of the paper. The history of the Bulletin from that time is thus given in an issue of May, 1912:
"Volume Forty-Two. It was in May, 1871, that Capt. Thomas E. Brawner, after a brief rest from his arduous struggle in behalf of the Union, witnessed the triumph of his idea to found a Linn county Demo- cratic newspaper at Linneus. Prior to the appearing of the first number of the Bulletin numerous citizens of the county, in order to warrant
165
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
the establishment of the enterprise, subscribed for the paper, many of them paying as much as five years in advance for it. The new paper came out with flying colors and for nearly twenty years was success- fully conducted by Captain Brawner-Col. George W. Tyler being associated with him in the business a portion of the time.
"In February, 1888, Captain Brawner's health having failed, he sold the Bulletin to Messrs. Wigginton & Conger. At that time, while the paper ranked high as a county newspaper, the office equip- ment was somewhat crude compared with what it is today. The office was located in the rear end of a rented upstairs room. The paper was printed upon an antiquated Washington hand press. The type was old and rather scarce. The force of printers was small but efficient. The new management, thanks to an increasing patronage, soon put in a new power press, better job presses, new type-much larger in assort- ment-and, later, purchased a home for the plant-a brick building 40x60 feet in dimensions-the building in which the plant is now housed. In the summer of 1909, the present publisher, H. J. Wiggin- ton, became sole proprietor of the Bulletin plant. By means of a vigorous campaign for more business and a cordial response from the good people of Linn county, the Bulletin's subscription list has been almost doubled during the past three years, and its advertising and job printing business has been substantially increased. But with this increase of business the expense of conducting the plant has also increased. Our office foreman, for instance, who ranks with the most proficient in the state, commands a salary double that we paid a foreman some years ago. Our pay roll is larger than it has ever been before and printing materials of all kinds have soared higher in prices. But we are not complaining. We could expect nothing else in this era of progress. We like to pay good prices for labor when we have sufficient increase of patronage to justify it. We believe in progress all along the line. And while it has ever been our purpose to promote the best interests of the community in which we live we doubtless have, like other members of the human family, made many mistakes of judgment which we hope may be converted into stepping-stones to higher achieve- ment in the future. We have learned to love the people of Linn county, and it is our chief ambition to make the Bulletin an effective factor in building up the material, intellectual and moral aspects of the com- munity. In the future we may make errors; we do not expect to please everybody, but we shall express our honest opinions editorially in a straightforward, conservative manner, with no intention of offending
166
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
those who honestly differ from us. Politically we shall continue to advocate Democratic measures and men. As to local progress, aside from politics, we shall know no party lines, but shall always be on the side of progress, pulling for what we believe to be the best interest of our local towns and county. Leaving the past efforts and attainments of our paper to be adjudged by its readers and pledging them a renewal of effort to be more useful in the future than we have in the past, we enter upon Volume Forty-Two, enthused by higher ideals, which cannot fail to bear fruit of their own kind. The Bulletin begins the new volume with good will to every member of the human family."
H. J. Wigginton, editor and publisher of the Bulletin, was born in Boone county, Missouri, January 17, 1863. His father was the Rev. W. R. Wigginton, a pioneer Baptist preacher well known throughout Missouri.
Mr. Wigginton acquired his education in the public schools of Audrain county, and at his graduation from the Mexico High School was awarded the Orator's Medal. He became one of the proprietors of the Linneus Bulletin in February, 1888, and became sole owner in 1909. For several years he served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Linn county; also as secretary of the Second District Congressional Committee and as a member of the Sixth District Senatorial Committee. Mr. Wigginton has frequently been chosen as delegate to state and district conventions by his party, but his most last- ing reputation has been achieved by his conscientious devotion to high journalistic ideals, and his unfaltering ambition to make the Bulletin one of the very best country newspapers in the state. He has been a member of the Missouri Press Association for twenty years. For a long period the Bulletin has been the official paper of Linn county.
On May 9, 1907, Mr. Wigginton was married to Mrs. Katherine Burch Stewart of Chillicothe, Missouri.
The Linneus Missourian was founded by G. S. Nicholas in 1865. The paper run until 1871, when the plant was destroyed by fire.
Politically, the Missourian was stalwart Republican, and during its short life it was a power in the councils of that party, which at that time was in entire control of the county's administration.
Mr. Nicholas-"Nick"-they mostly called him-had been a preacher previous to his adoption of the newspaper profession. Out in West Virginia, from whence he came, he became noted for his earnest championship of the national cause and its flag, and when he came to Linn county and founded the Missourian he continued preaching the
167.
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
same doctrine he had so earnestly advocated in the east-the only difference being he now had a newspaper to present his views, where formerly he gave them from the pulpit or platform.
At times the Missourian seemed a shade too severe in dealing with men who could not see things from the same point of view that its editor did.
Mr. Nicholas was a forcible writer, you might say a strenuous one, in coming back at a contemporary who was incautious enough to hazard a criticism of the Missourian or its energetic editor, or who dared assail the good old Republican party.
The editor of the Missourian did not seek newspaper controversies, but when somebody had developed a causus belli he seemed to enjoy the resultant fight. His literary ammunition box was always well stocked up with burning English, which he applied liberally to his adversary's cuticle in the laudable endeavor to bring him around to see the error of his ways, the editor said.
The Missourian is now but a memory, and its vigorous editor has gone from among us. He sleeps in the silent city of the dead at Linneus.
Notwithstanding his frequent acrimonious political combats, Mr. Nicholas was a most agreeable gentleman personally, and was generally liked and respected.
The Linn County News was founded by J. H. Brunnermer, and the first number was published at Laclede in June, 1881, where the office of publication was maintained until the 14th day of September, 1882, when the plant was purchased by C. W. and B. F. Northcott and moved to Linneus. For a time it had quarters in the old court house building and later was moved to the upper rooms in the Perkins building, now occupied by the F. D. Bates Drug Co. Having secured an appointment in the railway mail service, C. W. Northcott sought a purchaser for his part of the plant and D. B. Ormiston entered the firm on the 18th day of September, 1884, and the firm became Northcott & Ormiston, the senior member being Col. B. F. Northcott.
Time rolled on and on the 25th day of December, 1884, Mr. Ormiston married the youngest daughter, Miss Nellie, of Col. and Mrs. B. F. Northcott, the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. J. O. Taylor, the young pastor of the Linneus Methodist Episcopal church, now superintendent of the Brookfield district. About a year later the senior member of the firm sold his interest in the paper to N. Fenstemaker and the firm name was changed to Ormiston & Fenste- maker. This partnership lasted not quite two years, when Mr. Ormiston
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.