USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 72
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A non-political paper called Columbian Reciprocity was published for a short time in Ironton about 1893. It had no particular patronage and was soon discontinued.
The first newspaper in Jefferson county was established at DeSoto in 1859 by E. E. Fur- ber. He continued its publication until forced to suspend by the breaking out of the war. No attempt was made to conduct an- other paper in DeSoto until 1869, when C. D. Clarke established a paper which he called The Republican. It was Republican in pol- itics, but its publication was suspended within a short time.
In 1890 a company was organized at
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DeSoto to publish a paper called the DeSoto Facts. Just as in other cases it was discon- tinued after a time.
In 1893 the Mitchim Publishing Company began to issne a paper which they called the Press. The editor was J. F. Mitchim, who was for a long time connected with news- paper enterprise in Southeast Missouri, edit- ing at various times a number of papers. The Press is still published and is edited by C. C. Mitchim, who became editor in 1906. It is a Democratic paper with a wide circulation and considerable influence.
The only other paper now published at DeSoto is the Jefferson County Republican, a Republican paper edited and published by W. E. Crow.
The oldest and one of the most influential papers in Jefferson county is the Jefferson County Democrat at Hillsboro. It was estab- lished immediately after the war in 1865, and has been continuously published since that time. A family of newspaper men have been identified with this paper. The member of this family now in control is R. W. McMul- lin. Mr. McMullin has a wide acquaintance with Missouri history and has a valuable col- lection of historical material of various kinds.
The Jefferson County Record, also pub- lished at Hillsboro is the Republican rival of the Democrat. Its editor is John H. Reppy. Mr. Reppy is a practicing lawyer, but is a man of literary turn of mind, has a wide ac- quaintance with the history of the state and publishes a good paper. The Record is the successor of the New Era, which was estab- lished at Hillsboro in 1903 by the New Era Publishing Co.
Festus, in Jefferson county, has two papers at the present. The Festus News is a Demo- cratic paper published by H. L. Marbury ; the
Tri-City Independent is Republican in politics and is published by W. P. Brent.
For a number of years J. J. Wilson pub- lished a paper at Hillsboro, which he called the Jefferson County Crystal Mirror. It was a Republican paper and for a time received considerable support, but finally ceased to be issued.
The first paper in Madison county was called the Espial. It was established in 1847 by James Lindsay, and was the first Free Soil paper in the state. Its publication ceased after a very short time. In 1885 the Fred- cricktown Journal was established by W. H. Booth, but was discontinued in September, 1861, and no other paper was published in the town until after the close of the war. S. Henry Smith established the Conservative in 1866, and sold the office to Charles E. Barroll two years later, who changed the name to the Bee. In a short time this paper was pur- chased by E. P. Caruthers, and in 1875 he combined it with the Plaindealer, which was established by William Gosner in 1874. From 1876 to 1882 the paper was published by W. J. Collier. At a later date it passed into the control of O. K. Clardy. The next paper established in Fredericktown was the Standard, the publication of which was be- gun in 1887 by E. D. Anthony. Among other papers which were published for a short time were the Jeffersonian, edited by H. M. Williams, the Farmer & Miner, by C. W. Dunifer, and the Clarion, by Perry D. Martin.
A paper called the Advertiser was pub- lished at Mine LaMotte for a short time in 1877.
The Fredericktown Democrat was estab- lished in 1893 by Geo. B. Pressgrove. It was later published by Pressgrove & Gale. About
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1897 R. L. Daniel secured control of the paper and it was shortly afterward combined with the News. This paper was established in 1889. It was a Republican paper and its editor was E. L. Purcell, who has been con- nected with it since that time. The Democrat- News is one of the influential papers of its section.
The Tribune was established in 1900 by Ed. Costello. He was succeeded as editor by T. A. Bowman. The next man who controlled the paper was E. P. Francis, who still con- tinues its publication. The Democrat-News is Democratic in politics, while the Tribune is Republican.
The first paper published in Marquand was The Echo, which was established by A. V. Cashion, now: the editor of the Perry County Republican. Cashion was the editor and the plant was owned by Thomas Estes. The Echo appeared for only two years, from 1890 to 1892. After its discontinuance, Marquand was without a paper until in October, 1910, when Dean Gibson established the Marquand Leader. This paper is independent in politics and is devoted to local interest, principally.
The first newspaper in Charleston, Missis- sippi county, was The Courier. It was estab- lished by George Whitcomb in the latter part of the year 1857. It was ably conducted and a very creditable paper. It was established as an independent paper and was one of the few Southeast Missouri papers that continued to be published during the war. Even The Courier, however, was subject to freqnent in- terruptions. From 1858 to 1872, the man- agement was in the hands of W. F. Martin, who was also during part of the time, its editor. The plant was sold in 1872, on the death of Mr. Martin, to Frank M. Dyer, who
published The Courier until 1877, when he sold it to C. M. Dunifer. In 1875 The Charleston Gazette was established by George M. Moore, and the two papers were consoli- dated under the name of the Charleston Ga- zette in 1877. In a short time Dunifer with- drew from the firm and established a new paper called The Sentinel, which two years later was removed to Arkansas. Moore sold the Charleston Gazette to a joint stock com- pany and they sold it to W. H. Campbell. Campbell operated the paper something like a year and then sold it to Andrew Hill, and in April, 1886, the office, material and press were removed to Malden.
In 1865 George Martin, a son of W. F. Martin, who had published The Courier for many years, began the publication of a little sheet which he called The Enterprise. Mar- tin was then only 15 years old and his sole help in working the paper was another boy about his own age named M. V. Golder. Mar- tin continued the publication of The Enter- prise until 1892, when he sold it to his brother, John F. Martin. In 1902 the paper was transferred to Colonel P. B. Moore and from that time until 1907 was under the management of S. G. Tetweiler. Tetweiler combined it with the Democrat, which he published since 1887. In the year 1907 R. E. Douglas became the editor and proprietor of the paper and has continued its publication ever since that time. It is Democratic in politics and it is probable that The Enterprise has had the longest continuous existence under the same name of any paper in this part of the state. At one time the paper was published as a daily. This was during the time of the management of John F. Martin.
The other paper published in Charleston is the Republican, whose editor is G. N. Stille.
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As its name indicates it is a Republican paper, and together with The Enterprise, gives Charleston a good news service.
But one other paper is published in Missis- sippi county. This is the East Prairie Eagle, published at East Prairie. It was established in 1905 by Guy E. Cooksey as The Leader, and is now published by David Bright. The Eagle is Democratic in politics.
There have been other papers published from time to time in Charleston. One of these was a Democratic sheet called The Call. It was published in 1893 by HI. D. Lutz. Another was The Star, whose editor for a time was F. A. Wiggs.
In 1846 John T. Scott, a lawyer from Ten- nessee, came to New Madrid and established the first newspaper there. It was called The Gazette. In 1850 Mr. Scott sold the paper to Mr. Barber, and he transferred it a year later to Hopkins & Nash. The publication was continued by them until 1854, when they were succeeded by John C. Underwood, who changed the name to The Times. The break- ing ont of the war cansed the suspension of this paper, as it did of nearly all others pub- lished in the southeast, and the publication was never continued. About 1867, Albert O. Allen began the publication of The Record, which he has owned since that time, with the exception of a few months, when it was under the control of Frank Jones. Mr. Allen gave up the editorial control of the paper, though not its ownership, in 1886, when he became swamp land commissioner of the state and later state auditor. During these years E. A. Wright was in editorial charge. In 1906 Mr. Allen returned to New Madrid, and since that time has conducted the paper him- self. The Record is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most influential papers in
the southeast. Mr. Allen's wide acquain- tance, his familiarity with state affairs, his long residence in the southeast, enable him to conduct a paper ereditable in every way.
In 1872 a firm known as Masterson & Mul- key established a newspaper called The Chronicle. They continned its publication for about eighteen months.
In 1895 W. W. Waters. a member of one of the old pioneer families of New Madrid, began the publication of a paper which he called the Southeast Missourian. The venture was successful from the first and Mr. Waters soon acquired a standing among newspaper men. He continued its publication until about 1904, when he became connected with the administration of the State Hospital for the Insane at Farmington and was succeeded in control of The Missourian by E. A. Wright, who had long been associated with The Record. Mr. Wright continues the publica- tion of this paper and is firmly entrenched in the newspaper world. Both The Record and the Southeast Missourian are Democratic in politics.
The first paper established in Morehouse was the Morehouse Sun, which James L. Bailey began to publish in 1905. It was later transferred to Claude B. Hay and the name changed to The Hustler. This was about 1907. It is now an independent paper and is edited by C. Harvey Burgess. The Parma Victor was established about 1905 and is now published by A. L. Stearnes. The Portageville Critic was established in 1905 by Charles N. Walker. It is a Socialist paper with a large circulation. There had been one other at- tempt at running a paper in Portageville. J. Blake Taylor began to publish a paper, which he called The Push, in 1903, but it was discontinued after a short time.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
The first paper in Pemiscot county was the Gayoso Democrat, established in 1871 by B. H. & T. S. Adams. For a time it was pub- lished at Cape Girardeau. In 1872 it became the property of W. S. Carleton and Maj. Geo. W. Carleton was made editor. It was pub- lished then at Gayoso. Its name was changed in 1875 to the Southeast Missouri Statesman. For a number of years it passed from hand to hand, coming back into the possession of Major Carleton, who continued it for many years. In 1879 it was again called The Demo- crat. In 1892 it was finally transferred to Caruthersville. Here it was published by a number of persons. In 1893 W. D. Schult became the editor. He was soon succeeded by G. B. Gale. About 1897 Del Loggrear be- came connected with the paper and directed it for some years. The paper finally, in 1900, came into possession of W. R. Lacey, under whose management it entered upon an era of prosperity. It is now published twice a week, has its own brick building, and well appointed office. It has always been a Democratic paper.
When W. D. Schult gave up his control of The Democrat he established The Press. Later, Corridon Garrett became its editor, remaining in the position until about 1904. The Press was finally discontinued. Previous to his connection with The Press Garrett had conducted a paper called the Southern Scimetar.
The Republican is published in Caruthers- ville in Pemiscot county by Frank Abernathy. Mr. Abernathy is also the owner of the paper and has been since the first publication, Angust 12, 1910. It is the only Republican paper in Pemiscot county. Other Republican papers have been established from time to time, but have been unsuccessful. The pres- ent paper, however, has won its place and seems to be firmly established.
The Pemiscot Argus was established at Caruthersville by the Argus Printing Com- pany, a corporation. Its editor is Harvey E. Averill, and the paper is independent in politics and favors temperance. It is the suc- cessor of a paper established in 1898 at Hayti by C. S. York. From the time of its establishment until 1907 it was published at Hayti, being at various times forced to sus- pend publication. In the latter year it was removed to Caruthersville in charge of Amos Huffman. It suspended publication again in November, 1907, and in February, 1908, it came into the possesion of the present propri- etors and has been published continuously since that time. The Argus is a well edited and an influential journal.
The first paper published in Hayti was started in 1897. It was called the Hayti Signal, but its publication was discontinued after a time. In 1898 another effort was made to establish a paper and this was called the Pemiscot Argus, which was afterward re- moved to Caruthersville, where it is still pub- lished. In October, 1908, Mr. York began the publication of a paper at Hayti under the name of Hayti Herald. It has continued since that time, being owned and edited by Mr. York and is Democratic in politics.
The Southern Pemiscot News was estab- lished in Steele in the south part of Pemis- cot county in 1910 by G. Clarence Smith who still continues its publication. The News is independent in politics and is devoted to the furtherance of the interests of Steele and surrounding country.
The first paper published at Perryville was called The Union. This was formerly the Fredericktown Conservative, but was moved to Perryville in 1862 by W. H. Booth, wh( continued the publication for twenty years
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John B. Robinson established the next paper in 1875, and called it The Forum. A year or two later he transferred it to a stock com- pany and in March, 1880, it was succeeded by the Perry County Sun, under the manage- ment of John B. Holmes. The owners of this paper subsequently purchased The Union and the combined papers were under the di- rection of John B. Davis. In 1886 the Perry- ville Chronicle was established by E. H. Elliff.
The Sun passed from one control to another for several years. At one time it was pub- lished by S. Henry and Harry A. Smith, the former a veteran of the newspaper field in this section as editor. At the present time it is published by Zoellner & Zoellner. It is Democratic in polities and is well established in the esteem of a wide circle of readers.
The Perry County Republican was started at Perryville in 1889. It was a Republican paper published in opposition to The Sun. For a time it was edited by F. W. Hempler. At the present time The Republican is under control of A. V. & C. E. Cashion and is an in- fluential sheet.
Besides these two papers, which are still published, there have been other newspaper ventures in Perry county. The Democrat was established in 1898 and published for a time by the Democrat Publishing Company. An older paper was called The Chronicle and was published for a time by E. H. Elliff, be- ginning in 1886.
The first paper in Ripley county was The Doniphan Prospect, established about 1874. It was followed at a later date by The News. These two were combined in 1883 as the Prospect-News. The editor of the combined papers for a time was R. E. Douglass. At the present time the Prospect-News is pub-
lished by J. P. Campbell. Associated with him is J. P. Morrison. The paper is a weekly and is Democratic in politics.
In 1895 The HIcadlight was established. It was conducted for a time by J. W. Presson. In 1898 D. C. Cunningham began to publish a Democratic paper which he called The Hustler. The name was later changed to The Democrat, and it is still published by Mr. Cunningham. Both the Prospect-News and The Democrat are well conducted papers.
It was December 8, 1905, that F. A. Vire began the publication of the Doniphan Repub- lican and has continued as its owner and publisher since that time and the paper owns a well equipped office and is installed in its own building.
In 1910 Dr. M. M. Lane established the Naylor Nail at Naylor, Ripley county, and has continued its publication up to the pres- ent time. The Nail is Democratic in politics.
Several other attempts had been made to establish a paper at Naylor. Mobley & Com- pany published The Advocate for a time in 1893. This was a Democratic paper. About 1905, J. E. Slattery began to publish a Repub- lican sheet called The Republican. Both were later discontinued.
A Populist paper was published at Bar- field, Ripley county, for a time, beginning in 1895. Mobley & Lilley were the proprietors. On the collapse of the Populist movement in Missouri the paper was discontinued.
The first paper established in Reynolds county was the Reynolds County Outlook. It began to be published in 1877 at Centreville and its publication has been continued to the present time. For a number of years it was conducted by A. P. Shriver. It is now owned and edited by T. D. Shriver. The Outlook is Democratic in politics. The second paper in
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
the county is The Headlight. Its editor and owner is W. S. Tussey. The Headlight is also a Democratic paper.
The Ellington Press was established in 1906 at Ellington, Reynolds county. After some changes of ownership, The Press came into the charge of R. Daniels, who has con- tinued to be both editor and proprietor. Mr. Daniels was for a number of years a teacher and also a member of the state legislature. He is a Democrat and The Press sustains the policies of that party.
In 1892 Dr. W. C. Bowles was publishing a paper in Centreville which was called The Reformer. It was discontinued in 1894, but revived again in 1898. He published it for a number of years, but it was finally discon- tinued.
The first paper published at Farmington, St. Francois county, was the Southern Missouri Argus, which was established in April, 1860, by Nichol, Crowell and Shuck. Nichol was a native of Kentucky, Crowell was from Massa- chusetts, and Shinek a Missourian. Their purpose in establishing The Argus was to support that wing of the Democratic party that favored the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas. In 1861 they sold the paper to Joseph Brady, who called it The Missouri Argus, and published it until 1866, when he transferred it to his two sons, J. J. Brady, Jr., and S. B. Brady. After a few years they changed the name to the Farmington Herald and in 1872 they removed the paper to DeSoto. In 1871 Washington Hughes began the publication of The New Era at Liberty- ville in St. Francois county. He soon re- moved it to Farmington and continued its publication until 1876. IIe then sold it to George W. Herrington, who in a few years removed to Marble Hill. The Farmington Times was established in 1874 by C. E. Ware
and I. H. Rodehaver. They published The Times until 1875, when R. H. Sylvester be- came editor of the paper in place of Mr. Ware. T. D. Fisher was made its editor in January, 1879, and in 1881 he purchased the entire in- terest in the paper and has been its owner and editor since that time. In March, 1886, I. H. Rodehaver began to publish a paper known as the St. Francois County Democrat. It was Democratic in politics, but in Novem- ber of that year it was sold to John Hart- shorn, who published it in the interest of the Republican party.
About 1903 The Times was combined with The Herald under the name Times-Herald, and was published with this title for several years, but finally the old name was resumed. The Times is one of the oldest and ablest papers in this part of the state. Mr. Fisher is an editor of unusual gifts as well as an able business man. The Herald, which was consolidated with The Times was established in 1892 by J. J. & S. H. Lews. It remained in their hands for some time, being edited for a while by C. R. Pratt.
The Republican paper of Farmington for many years was The News. This was issued for the first time in 1883 by T. P. Pigg. Mr. Pigg continued his connection with the paper for many years, but finally disposed of it to the present proprietors, the Farmington News Publishing Company.
The editors of The News are Harry and Clint Denman. The News pursues a some- what different policy from most of the county papers, as it is a purely local paper and pub- lishes no news outside of St. Francois and adjoining counties.
About 1903 R. M. Yost began to publish in Farmington a weekly Democratic paper called The Progress. He did not long con- tinue it, however. The Farmington Eagle
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
was later published for a time by E. C. Bar- roll.
The St. Francois County Republican is the title of a Republican paper now being issued at Farmington by the veteran editor, T. P. Pigg. He established it in 1911.
The Bonne Terre Star was established by H. M. Butler about 1896. Within a short time he transferred it to I. L. Page, who has continued its publication to the present time. The Star is Democratic in politics.
The Lead Belt News is published at Flat River by Melbourne Smith. It is a Demo- eratie paper and was established in 1901 by Ward & Gibson. Later it was published by W. H. Lewis, who became associated with C. R. Pratt under the name of Pratt & Lewis.
The Labor Herald is published at Elvins by the Lead Fields Publishing Company. The publication of The Herald was begun in 1905 by the Elvins Printing Company. Later the paper was owned by Cameron & Raines. The Labor Herald is Republican in polities.
The Lead Belt Banner is published at Leadwood by the same company which issues the Labor Herald. It is Republican in poli- ties.
The Bismarck Gazette is a continuance of the Washington County Gazette which was established in Irondale about 1904. In 1906 it was transferred to Bismarck and its name changed. In 1908 the paper was sold to George H. Bisplinghoff who continues its pub- lication at the present time. The Gazette is Democratie in politics.
In 1907 the DesLoge Sun was established by Frank Abernathy at DesLoge in St. Fran- pois county. It was sold to Claude E. Ab- hier in 1908 and is still published by him. The Sun is independent in politics and is de- voted principally to the building up of the own and surrounding country.
The Bonne Terre Register was established in 1888 by J. M. Kirkpatrick, who continued the publication until 1890, when he sold the plant to E. H. Elliff. In 1890 B. A. Roy bought The Register and combined it with The Democrat. Ile continued its publication until 1911, when the paper was sold to its present owner and editor, J. II. Wolpers. The Register is Republican in politics and is a hve, aetive and progressive paper.
Besides the papers mentioned there have been a few others established in St. Francois county which did not long survive. A paper called The Sunnyside was issued at Bonne Terre for a time in 1905 and 1906.
In 1821 there was begun the publication of a newspaper in Ste. Genevieve. It was called the Correspondent and Record, and its editor was James Foley. The State Gazette was es- tablished in Ste. Genevieve in 1833 by Will- iam B. Baker. Later, there was published for a short time, the Missouri Democrat in the same town. None of these papers was pub- lished more than a very short time. In 1849, Concannon and Lindsay began the publication of a paper ealled The Pioncer. They trans- ferred it later to James H. Dixon. From 1850 to 1851 Charles C. Rozier published a paper called The Creole, which was then transferred to St. Louis. In 1854 The Indc- pendent was established by Amable Rozier, and the Missouri Gazette in 1859, by E. K. Eaton. O. D. Harris began the publication of the Pleasant Dealer in 1860, and the Pro- vost-Marshal cansed its diseontinuance in 1861. Halleek and his brother published The Representative in 1865 for a short time. In 1868 the News Advertiser was established by G. L. Setts. Fairplay was published for the first time in June, 1872, by S. Henry Smith. In 1882 he transferred the paper to
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Valle Harrold, and he published it from 1880 to 1884. Henry Shaw then carried on the paper until 1886, when it was transferred to Joseph Flynn. Flynn soon disposed of his interest in the paper and it passed into the hands of Henry J. Janis, a member of the old pioneer French family of that name. It is now ably conducted by Jules J. Janis. Fairplay is a Democratic paper and is well established in the esteem of the people of Ste. Genevieve and wields an influence there.
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