USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 32
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 32
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boarding house at Bellevue for the accommodation of regular boarders and occasional visitors, who he will take pleasure in making as comfortable as lies in his power." This is followed by an advertisement of "W. R. English, collector, general land agent, counselor at law, etc., Bellevue, Neb. Having an experience of seventeen years in the Territory, will pay prompt attention to all communications in regard to the Territory, etc. Office near the Government building, and in rear of P. A. Sarpy's banking house." This first issue also contained advertisements of C. E. Watson, land agent and surveyor, and of Peter A. Sarpy's ferry boat, Nebraska, running between St. Mary's and Bellevue, and St. Mary's, Council Bluffs and Glen- wood advertisements.
On the second page in an editorial entitled "The Newspaper Press in Bellevue," occurs the following passage: "The Palladium office was the first newspaper estab- lishment put in operation in Nebraska, and the present number, the first ever issued from the Territory. The first printers in our office and who have set up the present number are natives of three different states-Ohio, Virginia and Massachusetts, namely : Thomas Morton, foreman, Columbus, Ohio; A. D. Long, compositor, Virginia ; Henry M. Reed, apprentice, Massachusetts.
"At the very time our foreman had the press ready for operation, the following persons were-not by invitation-but providentially present, to witness its first operation, namely :
"His Excellency, T. B. Cuming, governor of Nebraska, and Mrs. T. B. Cuming; Hon. Fenner Ferguson, chief justice of Nebraska ; Mrs. F. Ferguson ; Rev. William Hamilton, of the Otoe and Omaha Mission, and Mrs. Hamilton; Maj. James M. Gatewood, of Missouri; Bird B. Chapman, candidate for congress from Nebraska Territory : George W. Hollister, Esq., of Bellevue ; A. Vandergrift, Esq., of Missouri ; W. A. Griffin, of Bellevue; Arthur Ferguson, of Bellevue; Theodore S. Gillmore, Chicago, Ill .; Miss Mary Hamilton and Miss Amanda Hamilton, of Bellevue. The first proof sheet was taken by His Excellency, Governor Cuming, which was taken from the press and read by his Honor, Chief Justice Ferguson.
"Thus quietly and unceremoniously was the birth time of printing in Bellevue, Neb., celebrated. Thus was the Nebraska Palladium inaugurated into the public service. This event, although to some it may seem unimportant now, will form an epoch in history which will be remembered ages after those present on this interesting occasion are no more.
"The Palladium is issued from Bellevue, a beautiful spot amid the far off wilds of Nebraska, issued in the very wake of heathen darkness, and we might almost say in its midst. We have taken joint possession with the aboriginal occupants of the soil. Our office is frequently visited by the dark children of the forest and prairie, whose curiosity prompts them to witness the operation of the-to them- incomprehensible art by which thought is symbolized and repeated in ever-during forms on the printed page. As the Indian disappears before the light of civilization, so may the darkness and error of the human mind flee before the light of the press of Nebraska."
On April 11, 1855, the Palladium discontinued publication and issued the fol- lowing pungent manifesto of the cause of such action : "To subscribers and friends : We have against our own desires and that of many ardent friends made up our mind to suspend the issue of the Palladium until a sufficient amount of town pride springs up in Bellevue to pay the expense of its publication."
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THE GAZETTE
The Bellevue Gazette, a six-column folio was started in 1856 by Silas A. Strick- land & Co., the company including David Leach and others. This ambitious sheet seemed, like its jovial and well known editor, to desire to please everybody. In its first number it unburdens itself of its intentions in a salutatory. promising the publication of all the newest inventions for the benefit of the mechanic; of the latest news from St. Louis papers, and of letters from the farmers. In the same issue are set forth the excellencies of the Bellevue House, and the readiness of various indi- viduals to barter goods for cash or land for either. There is also a brotherly pat on the back for the Nebraska Democrat, then a novelty in Omaha journalism, pub- lished by H. T. Johnson. The Gazette was short lived.
THE PLATTE VALLEY TIMES
The Platte Valley Times was started on July 31, 1862, by H. T. Clarke & Co. The Times was a five-column folio, and contained besides full accounts of the war, then raging, notices of favorite packets bound up or down the river, and also a poem by "Professor" Longfellow. This was the last attempt to establish a local paper in the town, and the new comer shared very shortly the fate of its older brethren.
The second newspaper to start in Nebraska was at Omaha.
The first paper established in Omaha was the Arrow, printed at Council Bluffs, followed by the Nebraskian, the Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, Republican, Statesman, Herald, Tribune, Bee, News and Telegram. The growth of the press in Omaha is a symbol and measure of the growth of the state. When the first number of the Arrow was issued there was but a limited number within the present limits of Nebraska, and those were largely composed of Indians, traders, etc. There was no telegraph in those days in this region and no railroad. and if the members of the Fourth Estate then prominent, now dead, could rise from their graves they would be astonished at the changes which have been accomplished in the system of artificial communication by rail and telegraph, considered merely as an apparatus for the collection and distribution of news.
THE ARROW
The first paper published at Omaha was the Arrow, a folio of twenty-four columns and bearing date "Friday, November 28, 1854." with J. E. Johnson and John W. Pattison, as editors and proprietors. It was a weekly and furnished to subscribers at the rate of two dollars per annum, invariably in advance, and aimed to supply "a family paper devoted to the arts and sciences, general literature, agri- culture and politics, to the people-sovereigns of the soil."
The prominent feature of the first issne was the Kansas and Nebraska bill, as it passed both houses of Congress, supplemented by editorial notices, an account of an excursion to Bellevue, town sites in Nebraska, plan of Omaha ('ity and the usual complement of editorial and local paragraphs. The advertisements included notifi- cations that "A. W. Babbitt, Street & Turley. James D. Test, Johnson & Casady. C. E. Stone, A. C. Ford, A. V. Larimer, W. C. James, and L. M. Kline, were practitioners domiciliated in Council Bluffs: J. W. Pattison was similarly estab-
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lished in Omaha, and others at different points throughout the West. "The Council Bluffs and Nebraska ferry was ready with their new steam ferry boat Marion, to commence crossing at the opening of spring"; proceedings of a claim meeting, and a large amount of advertising, principally confined to pations residing in Council Bluffs. For a time, or until presses and fixtures arrived, the Arrow was printed at the office of the Bugle in Council Bluffs, and the announcement was made that any "person who within one year from date should send the largest list of subscribers to the Arrow would be entitled to a full Omaha Indian costume to be subject, upon decision, to their order."
The paper presented a neat appearance and for its first issue, considering the obstacles in the way of publishing a journal at all to be compared to those of the present day, dearth of news, etc., was a most creditable production that improved with each succeeding issue. Among the items of interest that appeared subsequently, were the following notices:
There will be preaching at the residenee of Mr. Snowdon, in Omaha City, on Sunday the 13th of August, 1854, by the Rev. Peter Cooper of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
A. D. Jones, Esq., has obtained his surveying instruments and now stands ready to do any job in his line when called upon. Persons desirous of purchasing town lots can be accommodated by calling on Dr. J. Lowe or J. A. Jackson. M. W. Robinson has put on a regular line of stages between this place and Council Bluffs; persons visiting this place from Council Bluffs and desirous of returning must be at the ferry landing upon sun down. Persons may receive Omaha City mail matter from the postmaster, A. D. Jones, at Mr. Claney's provision establishment every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, etc.
On October 13, 1854, the death of William R. Rogers, aged fifty-four years, is announced, and in the issue of the following week that of Francis Burt, governor of the Territory, followed by the proceedings of a meeting convened to take proper action in this connection at which D. Lindley presided, M. Murphy appointed as secretary and J. W. Pattison, C. B. Smith, A. D. Jones, W. Clancy and (. H. Downs were appointed a committee on resolutions.
On November 3, 1854, pleasure was expressed at seeing the sign of Dr. G. L. Miller, the present distinguished editor of the Herald, hanging out of Mr. E. Bud- dell's residence. The city was congratulated upon the acquisition.
The paper continued for some months but failure to obtain presses, office equip- ments, etc., prevented its removal to Omaha as was anticipated, and culminated in its suspension before the expiration of the year during which it was born.
THE NEBRASKIAN
In 1854, Bird B. Chapman, of Elyria, Ohio, established the Nebraskian at Omaha, in a frame building on Farnam Street, near Fourteenth. Having put his house in order, with a view to future rewards, he began the weekly "grind" as editor. As days came and went, his prospects, from a political standpoint, grew brighter, until the dawn of a perfect day, upon which he was elected as a delegate to Congress from the infant Territory. John Sherman, the editor, was left in charge of the paper, while Mr. Chapman went to the front, and in 1857, Theodore HI. Robertson
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assumed the ownership. Two years later, M. H. Clark succeeded to the title, and secured the services of Milton W. Reynolds as editor.
During this administration, a daily paper was established, and was run through about three volumes, but the absence of data prevents the presentation of a more extended notice of the same.
In all respeets, the Nebraskian is represented to have been a credit to its founders, its publishers, its patrons and Omaha City. It labored for the interests of its constituency, and those of the Territory, and did much toward the develop- ment of the business interests of the city, the county and the present state. In politics, it was democratie, insisting that the doctrine of that party was not heresy, and that the glories gathered into the national garner for fifty years, were substantial and lasting testimonials of the vitality and correctness of the principles originally propounded by Thomas Jefferson.
On December 18, 1863, Clark & Reynolds sold out to Alfred H. Jackson, until June 15, 1865, when the Nebraskian, aged, but aspiring and determined, yielded precedence to the Herald, which has since grown to be a power among the demo- eratie organs of the country, and a journal that is by no means the least convincing proof to prosperous Omaha, and the Northwest, of the dependence upon the Fourth Estate, that cities and countries in their success rely.
The occasion is here availed of to deny, on the authority of Doctor Miller, that the Nebraskian was "merged into the Herald, or that the Herald was recreated out of the ruins of the Nebraskian." All such rumors are figments of imagination unde- serving of consideration.
While the Palladium and Arrow and Nebraskian were short lived, another news- paper was moved into Nebraska from Sidney, Iowa, in 1854, destined later to become the Nebraska News.
THE NEBRASKA CITY NEWS
The printing material with which the Nebraska C'ity News was published, was purchased in Sidney, Iowa, by S. F. Nuckolls, H. F. Downs and 1. A. Bradford, owners of the town site, the press work of the first number being done in that place, November 14, 1854, with Dr. Henry Bradford as editor. The office was immediately removed to Nebraska City and placed in the old block house, where it remained for some years. In 1855 Thomas Morton purchased the outfit from the town company, J. Sterling Morton being at that time editor, receiving for his services fifty dollars a month. Subsequent editorial changes have been as follows : R. Lee Barrowman, April 13, 1856, to April 15, 1856; J. Sterling Morton, April 15, 1856, to August 26, 1857; M. W. Reynolds, August 26, 185%, to October 19, 1861; Angustus F. Harvey, October 19, 1861, to Angust 25, 1865; J. Sterling Morton, August 25, 1865. to August 20, 1897 ; J. Stilson Potter, August 20, 1822, to November 1, 1879 ; E. D. Marnell, November 1, 1829, to date. The proprietorship has been wholly or in part vested in Thomas Morton ever since his first purchase of the paper. The editorial management has been remarkably able and the paper is now a daily and weekly sheet, democratie in polities from the first. During the Kansas war of 1857, its utterances were decisive, so far so that its office was threatened with destruction and its editor with lynching by Lane and his lawless associates.
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This Nebraska News remained the leading journal of the state until outstripped by the Republican and Herald of Omaha. After its change to the name of Nebraska City News in 1858, it continued to serve its public, and it has had an existence of over sixty-five years, the longest record in the state for continuous service, were it not broken by one slight interruption.
The next newspaper to start was the
BROWNVILLE ADVERTISER
In the autumn of 1855, Dr. John McPherson came to Brownville, and, pleased with the town and its prospects, determined to remove his printing material from Tippecanoe, Ohio, for the purpose of engaging in the newspaper business. He traded one-half his establishment to R. Brown for Brownville town lots, stipulating to publish a weekly newspaper one year. On the 9th of April, 1856, Robert W. Furnas, who was to have editorial charge of the office, John L. Colhapp and Chester S. Langdon, printers, arrived with the material, and on the seventh day of June, 1856, appeared the first number of the Nebraska Advertiser. From that time to the present the paper has been regularly issued. One of the earliest contributors to the columns of the Advertiser was Dr. A. S. Holladay, who occasionally occupied the editorial chair during the absence of Mr. Furnas. Soon after the publication of the first number of the Advertiser, Doctor McPherson donated his one-half interest in the office to R. W. Furnas, on condition that it should be published as an independent or neutral journal. The restriction was rigidly observed. At that time the territory was strongly democratic. The office was opened in Lake's Block, on Second, between Main and College streets; was afterward removed to MePher- son's Block, on the south side of Main between Second and Third streets; at a still later day, to the north side of Main, between First and Second streets.
October 2, 1857, Chester S. Langdon was admitted as a publisher, making the firm Furnas & Langdon. On the 15th of May, 1858, R. W. Furnas assumed control again, and continued in entire charge until November 24, 1859, when L. E. Lyanna became a partner. On the 28th of November, 1861, the Union office was consolidated with the Advertiser, and T. R. Fisher was taken in as a partner. May 8, 1862, Furnas & Fisher were proprietors, with Fisher & Hacker as publishers. [R. W. Furnas had enlisted and gone to the war, as colonel of a Nebraska Regiment.] December 6, 1862, T. C. Hacker withdrew from the office as one of the publishers. July 16, 1863, the names of proprietors of the paper were dropped, only the name of T. R. Fisher appearing as the publisher. In the autumn of 1863, Fisher & Colhapp (the last named came with office to Brownville in 1856), became publishers. September 14, 1864, W. H. Miller became the publisher, and was succeeded Decem- ber 22, 1864, by George W. Hill and J. H. Colhapp. July 18, 1867, R. V. Muir entered the firm. November 17th of the same year, Jarvis S. Church bought the interest of Hill & Muir, and the firm name became Church & Colhapp. January 23, 1868, T. C. Hacker entered the firm as junior partner and business manager. January 6, 1870, the original publisher, R. W. Furnas, bought out Church, and the firm name became Furnas, Colhapp & Hacker. January 5, 1871, Church & Hacker became the publishers, and July of the same year, Major Caffrey purchased Church's interest, and the firm name became Caffrey & Hacker. This firm remained unchanged until January 22, 1824, when G. W. Fairbrother bought out Major
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Caffrey, and the firm of Fairbrother & Hacker continued until December, 1881, when G. W. Fairbrother became sole proprietor. In March, 1882, the material was removed to Calvert, where under the same name, the Advertiser continues to be published. It is now published by G. W. Fairbrother & Co. The Advertiser is republican in politics, and has been so since 1860.
For a few weeks in 1857, a small daily sheet named the Snort, was issued from the Advertiser office, under the editorial supervision of Langdon & Goff. "Old rye" was a legal tender in payment of subscriptions. A score of issues was enough to send the little paper to "the tomb of the Capulets."
In September, 1860, a four-column daily paper, entitled the Bulletin, was issued from the Advertiser office, but proving unremunerative, was suspended in August, 1861.
In 1870, a campaign Daily Advertiser was published for a few months.
The first agricultural journal in the state was established in Brownville, in January, 1859, by R. W. Furnas, and its publication continued three years.
THE TIMES
was established in Omaha, June 11, 1857, by W. W. Wyman, and courted popular favor with the assurance that it was
Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law, No favor sways us, and no fear shall awe.
It was an eight-column folio, and aimed to furnish to readers a weekly résumé of news, foreign and domestic. Its office was over the postoffice, where it was issued every Thursday, and presumably met public expectations. In politics, it was demo- cratic, but in this particular, as in all others, that would remotely contribute to the development of Nebraska, and the prosperity of the territory, the editors left nothing to be desired. Information was at all times furnished by them to inquirers, and a portion of each issue was devoted to answers to those seeking information relative to lands, markets and other features of frontier life, with which residents at a distance are entirely unfamiliar.
On September 9, 1858, John W. Pattison was admitted as a partner in the concern, and undertook the general conduct of the paper. He was a graphie and forcible writer, long and favorably known throughout the territory, of which he was an old settler, and his co-operation was an invaluable aid to the benefit and pros- perity of the Times. He remained, however, but two months, circumstances prevail- ing to prevent that devotion of time and attention to the paper which was demanded, he severed his connection therewith. The Times, however, survived. Its editorials indicated marked ability, and were couched in candid, courteous language. In addition, the pages contained a choice selection of miscellaneous matter, full and accurate market reports, and a carefully prepared summary of congressional, local and foreign intelligence. In 1859, the Times was merged into the Nebraskian, and on February 26, 1864, with the type and press formerly employed in the composition and publication of the Times, was the obituary of Mr. Wyman promulgated in the Nebraskian.
So truly is the story of the press that of civilization. Its history is that of
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the locality in which it is situated. It has made and unmade parties, established and destroyed reputations. It has served as the antiquarian, the historian and the prophet. Day by day it has recorded the history of the state, or allowed, by omission, valuable records to perish. While space will not permit us to take each and every newspaper that has graced the history of Nebraska journalism and trace its rise and fall, its beginning and end, we can at least most certainly afford to stop and review the beginnings of the press in about seventy of the first settled counties of the state, and then take a retrospective view from 1920 of the papers existing after the Nebraska press has had three-quarters of a century life, and note the years of their establishment, and be able to compare the advance by a study of the beginning of this profession-the history of histories-and its present stage of progress.
Adams County. The first paper in this county was the Adams County Gazette, started January, 1872, by C. C. and R. D. Babcock. In 1880 it was removed to Hastings and became part of the Gazette-Journal, which had been started there in 1873 by the Wigtons. The Juniata Herald was started in 1876 by A. H. Brown, and has been that town's paper these many years. The Hastings Central Nebraskan started in 1876, and the Adams County Democrat in 1880. Kenesaw had a paper in 1876, The Times, which later became part of the Central Nebraskan, at Hastings.
Antelope County. The Oakdale Journal, established in 1874, became the Neligh Journal in October, 1875. The Neligh Independent was the second paper there in 1878.
Boone County. The first paper published in Boone County was the Boone County News, in 1874, lasting about six months. The Boone County Argus, started in 1876, "for Boone County first-the world afterward," with W. A. Hutton as editor and publisher. A. W. Ladd started in 1879 the Boone County News, in no way related to its predecessor.
Burt County. Tekamah's first newspaper was the Burt County Pilot, in 1871, later moved to Blair in 1874. The next, in 1872, was the Burtonian. Oakland Independent was established in 1880, the Decatur Herald in 1881.
Buffalo County. This county can claim the Huntsman's Echo, in 1860, founded by Joseph E. Johnson at Wood River Center. The Central Nebraska Press, at Kearney, was founded in 1873. The Kearney Times was started in 1873, and its outgrowth, the Buffalo County Journal, started in 1880. The Kearney Weekly Nonpareil started in 1878. These have all been superseded by later papers. Kearney, in 1882, had the National Soldier, a paper established for veterans of the Civil war.
Butler County. The first papers at David C'ity were the Butler County Press, started in September, 1873, by W. G. Rutherford and Charles D. Casper, and the David City Republican, issued first by Calmer D. McC'une, February 6, 1877. Ulysses' first paper, the Dispatch, started May 6, 1880. Rising City Independent started September 17, 1880, by D. O. and C. E. Verity.
Cass County. This county, one of the first in the state settled, presents some of the pioneer journals of the state to this roster of early newspapers. The Platts- mouth Jeffersonian, the first paper in Plattsmouth, started early in 1857, with L. D. Jefferis, assisted by J. D. Ingalls. The Platte Valley Times, of Pacific Junction, Iowa, was removed in 1858 to Plattsmouth and came out as the Platte Valley Herald. In 1859 the Cass County Sentinel came forth, published first at Rock Bluffs, and later taken by E. Giles, its editor, to Plattsmouth. The Nebraska
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Herald was started in February, 1865. Another Cass County Sentinel started in 1870. A German weekly, the Deutsche Wacht, started in 1825; in 1877, a news- paper outfit was moved from Sarpy Center to Plattsmouth, and the Cass County Chronicle started in 1878. H. M. Bushnell in recent years until his death within the past year, published the Lincoln Trade Review, started in with this paper, and in 1879 started the daily Enterprise at Plattsmouth. The Plattsmouth Journal, as a daily, began in 1881. The extended account of the press of this county serves to illustrate the manner in which many papers have come and gone in the older coun- ties.
Cedar County. St. Helena had a paper, the Cedar County Advocate, in 1874, which later moved to Vermilion, Dakota. The Cedar County Bulletin started in 1875, and changed to the Cedar County Nonpareil.
Cheyenne County. The first paper in this county was the Sidney Telegraph, the first number of which was issued in May, 1873, by L. Cornell, it being a four-column folio sheet, and being practically the pioneer of the western end of the state.
Clay County. The first paper in Sutton was the Times, June 20, 1873. This paper was started by Wellman & Brackman, later owned by Wellman Bros., and then Frank E. Wellman, brother of the Walter Wellman, of Chicago Record-Herald fame of fifteen years or so ago, on the polar expedition. The Clay County Herald, starting June 21, 1873, and Clay County Globe, 1875, were other early ventures at Sutton and the Sutton Register started in 1880. Edgar had a paper in 1875 for a short time, and the Leader started there in 1877. The Fairfield News started in 1877. Harvard started a series of unsuccessful attempts, with the Leader, in 1873, running later to attempts to start the Advocate, the Sentinel and the Journal. Clay Center made a journalistic attempt in 1881, with the Citizen.
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