USA > Missouri > History of southeast Missouri : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 73
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In 1882 Joseph A. Ernst began the publica- tion of the Ste. Genevieve Herald. It was . published in both English and German and has continued to the present under the con- trol of Mr. Ernst. It is a popular and influ- ential journal, and is independent in political affiliations.
St. Marys has had a number of papers pub- lished at various times. Among these were The Times and The Progress, published for a time between 1902 and 1906. At the present The Review is the only paper published there. It is independent in politics and is edited by C. R. Bartels. It was established in 1906.
The first newspaper in Benton, Scott county, was the Benton Record, established by George M. Moore in July, 1879. The editor was Louis Diehl. He was succeeded by Jefferson Shelton, and he by S. Henry Smith. Smith purchased The Express, a paper which had been established by T. S. Adams, and combined the two under the name of the Express Record. He sold the papers in August, 1886, to J. F. Mitchim.
The Dispatch was the first newspaper pub- lished in Commerce, and it was established in 1867 by Wm. Ballentine and H. P. Lynch. The paper was continued, going through a number of changes of ownership, until the county seat was moved to Benton. In March,
1885, a paper called the Scott County Agri- cultural Wheel was begun with Rev. S. A. Mason as editor. Publication was continued for only a short time.
The first newspaper in Sikeston was called . The Star, and was established by J. F. Mitchim in January, 1884. He was succeeded as editor by W. S. Mitchim.
In 1893 Heckam & McClintock began the publication of a religious paper at Sikeston. It was called the Methodist Advocate, but was discontinued after a short time.
In 1894 The Democrat began to be issued at Sikeston. It was a Democratic sheet and was published by E. R. Larey. The Budget was established by Guy Cooksey in 1898.
At present there are two Sikeston papers. The Herald is Democratic and is published by John B. Huffman.
The Standard was established in 1911 by Naeter Brothers of Cape Girardeau. It is in- dependent in politics and is devoted largely to local news and to the building up of the interests in Scott county.
The Chaffee Signal was established at Oran, Missouri, April 15, 1910, as the Oran Leader. It was moved to Chaffee on August 26 of the same year and its name changed to Chaffee Signal. The editor and proprietor is C. E. Mattocks and the paper is Democratic in politics.
One of the veteran editors of Southeast Missouri is Phil A. Hafner, editor of the Scott County Kicker at Benton, Missouri. This is a Socialist paper published by the Workers Printing Company. Mr. Hafner was at one time in his life a conductor on the street rail- way in St. Louis, and while engaged in this business became impressed with the idea that he would like to own and edit a newspaper, The idea grew upon him and he went so far as to select a name for his proposed news-
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paper. He decided that if he ever should pub- lish a newspaper it should be called The Newsboy, the name being suggested by the newsboys who are always bright and always much in evidence on the street cars. In 1888 Mr. Hafner was able to carry out his plan and established at Benton, Missouri, The Scott County Newsboy. He continued the publication until in 1901 when its name was changed to the Scott County Kicker, under which name it has since been published.
The Scott County Banner is published at Morley in Scott county, the editors being R. L. Buck and R. L. Reed. The paper was es- tablished at Oran under the name of the Scott County Citizen in 1905, and in 1908 it was removed to Morley and was continued inder that name until 1911, when it came nto the possession of Buck and Reed and its name was changed to The Banner. It is pub- ished as a Democratic paper.
The Illmo Headlight is published at the new and growing town of Illmo. It is a Dem- cratic sheet and is issued by Tim Hosmer, a reteran editor of this section.
The Scott County Democrat is published at Benton by T. F. Rucker. It is Democratic in politics and gives the news of the county seat f Scott county in general.
Stoddard county's first paper was called The Herald, and was established in 1858 at Bloomfield by A. M. Bedford, of Charleston. The editor in charge of the paper was J. O. Tull. The purpose in establishing this paper as to further the construction of the Cairo Fulton railroad. The publication was con- nued until the breaking out of the war, hen the office was destroyed and publication opped. The Argus was established in loomfield in 1866 by James Hamilton, who arried on the paper until 1873. The next
paper was under the management of George H. Crumb and O. C. Jones. This paper was called The Messenger and was published from 1874 to 1877. At that date it was consoli- dated with the Dexter Enterprise. The Vin- dicator was established in 1878 by T. L. Roussin. He sold it to. Buck and Miller, who employed H. N. Phillips as editor. Later, the paper was purchased by Charles E. Stokes, and it was again transferred in 1882. The purchaser at this time was Ligon Jones. Jones published the paper for a time and it then changed hands several times. At one time Connelley & Moseley were in control, then J. O. Turnbaugh, and later it passed to the charge of M. S. Phelan. At the present time The Vindicator is edited by Stephen Chapman. It is a Democratic paper and has a well established circulation.
The first Republican paper in Bloomfield was The Cosmos, established in 1896 by Bear & Ollar. Ollar's interest was later purchased by Walter S. Bear, who continued publica- tion for some time and then was succeeded by N. A. Moseley, an accomplished lawyer and one-time congressman of Bloomfield.
About 1905 Tim Hosmer, who has been connected with southeast newspaper enter- prises for many years published a paper at Bloomfield called The Enterprise.
The Stoddard County Republican is a new paper, having been established October 1, 1910. O. B. Parrott is the editor and the paper is owned by a stock company known as the Republican Printing Company. It is published at Bloomfield and is Republican in its politics.
Charles E. Stokes, whose name is asso- ciated with a number of newspapers in this section, began the publication of The Enter- prisc at Dexter in February, 1875. Two years later he purchased the Bloomfield Mcs-
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senger and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Enterprise-Messenger. He continued the publication under this name until 1887, when he transferred it to R. H. Jones, and then founded a paper he called the New Southeast. After a short time he removed it to St. Louis. Jones changed the name to The Dexter Messenger and the paper was afterwards bought by Hill and Watkins in 1894. The present owner and editor, Webb Watkins, bought out the interest of Mr. Hill in 1899. The Messenger is Democratic in politics and is not only one of the old papers of this section, but also one of its influential papers as well.
The Dexter Statesman is published at Dex- ter, its editor and proprietor being Edmund P. Crowe. The paper is classed as an inde- pendent Democratic paper. The Statesman was formerly the Sikeston, Missouri, Enter- prise, which was established in Sikeston in 1883. The Enterprise was published and con- trolled by a number of people, the last of whom was M. G. Gresham, by whom it was sold to E. P. Crowe in 1910. Crowe re- moved the entire plant to Dexter and has continued the publication of the paper since that time.
The Purico Index was established by E. J. Hickman in 1895. Later it was published for a time by G. N. Wynenger. It is at pres- cut under control of Marion Harty. The Iudex has always been Democratic in its polit- ical affiliations.
The Essex Leader is published at Essex in Stoddard county and is owned and edited by D. O. C. Brydon. The publication of the paper was begun May 15, 1908, by Mr. Bry- don, who has owned it continuously since that time. It is a live paper and very much de- voted to the agricultural and business inter- ests of Essex and the surrounding country.
Advance has no paper at present, though for a time one was published there. This was the Advance Guard, which was established in 1903 by G. M. Brydon. He continued it for some years.
The Bernie Star, an independent paper, was established in 1905 by J. B. Daniels. Later John Russell published it. Others in- terested in it were DeWitt Henderson and O. B. Parrott. The present editor is Claud Wilkins, and The Star is independent in its polítics.
The first newspaper published in Washing- ton county was The Miners' Prospeet, estab- lished at Potosi September, 1846, by Phillip G. Ferguson and F. A. Dalla. It was an in- dependent paper and passed out of existence in 1849. The next paper established in the county was The Washington County Miner, which was published by N. P. Buck, begin- ning in 1856 and was discontinued in 1861. After the war, George B. Clark established The Washington County Journal, in 1867, and transferred it to Eli D. Ake in 1872. He soon removed it to Ironton. The Potosi Inde- pendent was established in 1873 by Frank Harris, who published it until his death in 1886. It was sold to Henry C. Bell in 1888. The Potosi Free Press was started by Jesse W. Homan in 1886, but was soon discon- tinued. In 1888 The Potosi Eagle began a publication as an independent paper and had a struggle for existence for a few years and finally passed out of existence. Another paper was The Republican, established in 1887, and published for a short time. The Washington County Journal was established in August, 1894, by F. M. Deggendorf. The Independent and The Journal have had an un- usual history. Since Henry C. Bell pur- chased The Independent in 1886 he has con-
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tinued its publication without change, and Mr. Deggendorf has been in charge of The Journal since he became connected with it in 1894. These long terms of service bespeak unusual success in the conduct of papers, as measured by the standards of Southeast Mis- souri. The Independent is Democratic while its rival, The Journal, is Republican in pol- itics.
There have been some other ventures in the newspaper field in Washington county, which have not proved so successful. About 1901, Will D. Wright began to issue two papers at Belgrade. One of these was an independent paper called The Messenger, and the other was religious and was named the Farmington District Messenger. They were soon discon- tinued. Soon afterward Dean Gibson began the issuance of the Washington County Ga- zette at Irondale. The office was later re- moved.
The first newspaper published in Piedmont, Wayne county, was called The Banner. It was founded in 1872 by Banks and Crawford. They soon sold out, however, to S. B. Sprowl, who removed the paper to Patterson and pub- lished it under the name of Patterson Times until 1876; he then came back to Piedmont with the paper and after a few months dis- continued its publication. In March, 1878, The Vindicator was established by B. E. H. Warren. About the close of that year The Vindicator was sold to T. L. Roussin and moved to Bloomfield, where it was published under the title of the Bloomfield Vindicator. In 1885 G. Y. Gale established The Piedmont Rambler and somewhat later the paper be- ame known as The Piedmont Leader and was published by W. B. Harris. The office vith all of its material was destroyed by fire n 1888. In 1892 The Piedmont Weekly Banner was established by Dr. J. N. Holmes, Vol. I-35
who continued its publication for a time and then sold out to Charles Mitchim. After Mitchim's ownership the paper was published for a time by Rev. Mr. Wilson, W. II. Lewis and others. In 1905 Lewis sold The Banner to the present owner and editor, Bristol French. Mr. French proceeded to put the office in good condition, equipping it with modern machinery and presses. The Banner is a Democratic paper.
Some other ventures at Piedmont have been Crucible, a religious paper published by the Christian Publishing Company. This was in 1893 and the enterprise came to an end within a few months. John Marsh at about the same time published The Herald, which was a Re- publican paper. It, too, soon disappeared.
A number of papers have been published in Greenville, Wayne county. The first of these was The Reporter, established about 1869, by C. P. Rotrock and afterward pub- lished by Frank C. Neely & Company. A. W. Banks began the publication of the Greenville Democrat in March, 1872. This paper, how- ever, was afterwards removed to Piedmont in 1876. The Weekly Journal was established by J. N. Morrison, who continued its publi- cation about two years and was succeeded by John T. Rhodes. Rhodes sold the paper in 1881 to A. T. Lacey and he in turn trans- ferred it to Jolin G. Settle in 1886. It then passed into the control of J. N. Holmes, who at the same time conducted with great suc- cess the Piedmont Banner. It was afterward transferred to a number of persons. Clarence Carleton published it for a time, as did C. C. Mitchim.
It is now owned by G. W. Stiver and Will- iam B. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy is the editor of the paper, which is Democratic in politics.
The Greenville Sun was established in 1894 by S. A. Bates. It was issued as the
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organ of the Republicans in Wayne county, the rival paper, The Journal, being Demo- cratic. Later the paper was published by J. S. Marsh. At the present time its editor is Chas. Barrow. It is still Republican in politics.
The Williamsville Iron News was estab- lished in 1905. The principal purpose in pub- lishing the paper was to push the iron ore in- dustry in the county, which had its center at Williamsville. It is independent in politics. Before The News, W. D. Wright had pub- lished an independent paper called the Buzz- Saw, which was soon discontinued.
The record of newspapers in this section, incomplete as it must be, is a long one. It includes the names of many papers, some of them at present prosperous and active, many others long since discontinued and almost, if not quite, forgotten. Such a list indicates the strong attraction which newspaper work has for many men, and the feeling of the necessity of the establishment of papers in this part of the state.
To the men who have labored at the great task of giving this section adequate news- paper facilities is due a great debt. The task cf circulating newspapers here was a hercu- lean one. The wrecks which strew the path of journalistic progress is sufficient attesta- tion of that fact. It was a task which must be performed. Few appreciate the tremen- dous importance of the local paper in the de- velopment of the life of a community. Too often it is referred to with a sneer and com- pared to its great disadvantage with the met- ropolitan daily. Its limitations are apparent. Much less apparent, but far greater is its use- fulness to the community. It is safe to say that the newspapers of Southeast Missouri have been one of the strong forces for up-
building this section. No great movement for public improvement has been pushed to success or doubtless could have been pushed to success without the aid and support of the local papers. They have formed the medium of exchange for ideas, a forum for discussion, a means of comparison of one part of the territory with another. Drainage, rail- roads, education, religion, all of these and scores of other enterprises have received help from the papers.
Too often this contribution to the good of the public has been gift for which no ade- quate return has been received. The papers which have ceased to exist here did not go out of existence because their editors desired to give up their work. In most cases the failure was due to a lack of financial support. Small subscription lists and little advertising have caused the downfall of most of the papers that are no longer published.
As one goes over the roll of the papers he is struck by the number of times that a few names occur. Certain members of the pro- fession have had experience in many places and on many papers. These were the men for whom the life of the editor had an at- traction too strong to be resisted. Not meet- ing with the desired success in one place they have sought it in another. The conclusion is forced upon us in many cases that some really quit the profession because of lack of returns from it and then found its lure too strong. Sometimes they have at last found the op- portunity for which they sought and achieved that prosperity which their talents and in- dustry richly deserved. Others were less for- tunate and finally drifted away from the work they loved, into other fields.
It is not possible to review the work of all the worthy men whose names live on the pages of the papers of this section. From T
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E. Strange, that first member of the profes- sion in this part of the state until this pres- ent time, there have always been men whose lives and work have adorned the profession of letters. Whitcomb and Martin, of Charles- ton, McGuire and Kies, of Jackson, Ake of Ironton, Fisher of Farmington, Bell and Deg- gendorf, of Potosi, Allen of New Madrid, Caruthers of Kennett, Roussin and Holmes, of Piedmont, Flynn of Cape Girardeau, Wat- kins and Stokes, of Dexter, Mitchim of De- Soto, MeMullin of Hillsboro, Ernst and Janis, of Ste. Genevieve, among the older men have been distinguished for ability, long service and great usefulness. Other men have contributed to the total of journalistic use-
fulness in great measure also. The younger men of this day are pressing the work and advancing the profession to greater influence. Some of the most powerful and successful papers are now in the hands of men who have not been long connected with the profession in this part of the state.
It remains to be said that it is a matter of deep regret that there is not to be found com- plete files of all these papers. They contain much of the history of the times. Out of them must be dug much of that intimate acquain- tance with the course of events and lives of men which makes the story of a country's progress real and vital.
CHAPTER XXXIX
SOME BIOGRAPHIES
LOUIS HOUCK-LOWNES H. DAVIS-ROBERT H. WHITELAW - WILLIAM B. WILSON - JUDGE JOHN W. EMERSON-SAMUEL S. HILDEBRAND-SAMUEL BYRNS-B. B. CAHOON-JAMES D. Fox-J. J. RUSSELL-H. J. DEAL-ABSALOM MCELMURRY - WILLIAM DAWSON - JOSEPH HUNTER-JOHN A. MOTT-ROBERT A. HATCHER-ELIZA A. CARLETON-WILLIAM CARTER -PLACIDE DELASSUS- JAMES R. MCCORMACK-MILTON P. CAYCE-GUSTAVUS ST. GEM- CHARLES S. HERTICH- M. L. CLARDY- MARSHALL ARNOLD - JAMES P. WALKER - N. B. HENRY-F. P. GRAVES-FIRMIN DESLOGE.
A separate volume of this history is given to the biographies of men and women who have had to do with making history in this part of the state. It is concerned largely with those who are still in active life. A few men whose work has ended, and a few who for spe- cial reasons have been prominently connected with the development of Southeast Missouri by reason of official or business relations, are mentioned in the following pages. The list includes only those connected with the his- tory of the period since the war. Others who were active before that time have been dis- cussed in other sections of this work.
Perhaps Southeast Missouri owes more to Louis Houck, of Cape Girardeau, than to any other one of its citizens for it was due to his energy and ability that this section of the state was supplied with railroad facilities. The impulse toward development given by the network of railroads constructed by him has had a remarkable influence in building up the country and in causing the construction
of other lines and systems of railroads. Mr. Houck is a native of Illinois and is now sev- enty-one years of age. His early life was spent in Illinois and part of it in his father's printing office. He received two years' train- ing at the University of Wisconsin and then published a paper for a time, but later began the study of law in 1862 in the office of Wil- liam H. Underwood. Until 1868 he practiced law at Belleville and in that year removed to St. Louis and became assistant United States attorney under General John W. Noble. He became a resident of Cape Girardeau in 1869, engaging in the general practice of law until 1881. Mr. Houck became known as one of the most active and resourceful attorneys in Southeast Missouri. He was a diligent stu- dent and a man of unlimited energy. In ad- dition to his work as a practitioner he pub- lished a number of legal texts and was also the editor of the 15th volume of Missouri Re- ports.
Although his profession had absorbed his energy to a considerable extent and although
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he found himself amply fitted for its work, Mr. Houck turned to other fields of labor. He had become interested in the resources of this section of the state and determined to begin the building of railroads. From 1881 up to the present time he has been engaged in this work. In the chapter on railroads an account is given of his activities. Southeast Missouri owes to him, however, more than simply a debt for railroad building. It is dne as much to his ability as a writer as to any other one canse that the resources and opportunities of Southeast Missouri have been made known to the state at large. Numbers of articles have been contributed by him to papers and magazines in which he has set out with force and skill the situation actually existing in this part of the state. During all the years of his active life here he has given most in- telligent attention to collecting material re- lating to the history of the state. His private library is one of the best and largest in Mis- sonri and in spite of the numerous occupa -. tions which have engaged him, he has devoted himself to the preparation of an adequate ac- count of the early days in Missouri. His his- tory of Missouri from the earliest time to the formation of the state government is a monu- mental work which represents years of study, the accumulation of a great deal of material, and the expenditure of large sums of money. It is not a mere composition from second-hand authorities but has resulted from patient in- quiry into sources of early history. A com- panion work. The Spanish Regime, is an ac- count of the Spanish rule, containing transla- tions of all the old documents relating to the government of Missouri during the Spanish period, many of these having never before been translated.
It is doubtful, however, if the great work which Mr. Houck has wrought both as a rail-
road builder and as a student of history out- weighs his service to the state as a regent of the State Normal School at Cape Girardeau. For more than a quarter of a century he has been president of the Board of Regents and during that time has been active and untir- ing in his work for that great institution. To him perhaps, more than to any other one man is due the credit for its buildings and con- tinned growth. He has given it the best serv- ice of his life and his wide experience, his untiring energy and the respect and confi- dence in which he is held by a large circle of acquaintances throughout the state have en- abled him to secure a consideration for the claims of the school not possible otherwise to be obtained.
Lownes H. Davis was born at Jackson De- cember 14, 1836. He received a good educa- tion, being graduated at Yale College in 1860, and at the Louisville Law School in 1863. After his gradnation he began the practice of law at Jackson, and in 1868 was elected pros- ecuting attorney, serving for four years. Later he was a member of the State Legislature and in 1878 was elected to the 46th Congress and was twice reelected. He is a Democrat and recognized by his associates as a man of abil- ity and uprightness of character.
Robert H. Whitelaw is a native of Virginia, coming to Cape Girardeau with his parents in 1862. He was educated in the public schools and in the law school of the Univer- sity of Michigan. He began the practice of law at Cape Girardeau and in a short time became interested in politics. He was prose- cuting attorney of Cape Girardeau from 1874 to 1878, and from 1881 to 1885 was a repre- sentative in the general assembly. In 1890 he was elected to congress serving one term
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and then returning to Cape Girardeau to take up the practice of law. Since 1899 he has been city attorney of Cape Girardeau.
William B. Wilson was born near Apple- ton, January 12, 1831, his family having been residents of Cape Girardeau county since 1808. Dr. Wilson was educated in private schools and in the medical school of the Uni- versity of New York, from which he gradu- ated in 1852. After his graduation he be- gan the practice of medicine in Cape Girar- deau and continued it until his death in Oc- tober, 1900. He was a very prominent citi- zen of Cape Girardeau and was well known especially for his connection with the Masonic order, in which he held high rank. He was regarded as a very upright and able man and while never engaging in politics, held a num- ber of positions, having been a member of the council, school director, and member of the board of regents of the State Normal School.
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