History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 39

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742

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Grass state, where he early became acquainted with agriculture. For many years he operated as a drover, and it was his custom to drive hogs over the mountains to Richmond, Virginia, also to trade with the Indian tribes of Mississippi and Alabama. These journeys occupied the winter months. while during the summer he cultivated his farm. His death occurred in February, 1854. The maternal grandfather of Abel D. Kirk, Joseph Down- ing, was born in Maryland, a descendant of English and Welsh ancestors, and was a pioneer of Mason county, Kentucky. His daughter, Rebecca, the mother of Abel D., was born in Mason county, where the greater part of her useful life was passed. When advanced in years, she moved to Falls City, Nebraska, where she passed from earth at the age of eighty- one. Her marriage had been blessed by the birth of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity.

At the age of twenty Abel D. Kirk began to teach school, receiving five cents a day for each pupil, and continued thus employed for nine months. He then located in Maysville, in Mason county, Kentucky, where for one year he was employed as a clerk in a clothing establishment, and later commenced the study of law under Judge R. H. Stanton and Theo Campbell. In 1850 he embarked in the general mercantile business and conducted a store there until 1854,. when he removed by boat to Weston, Missouri. One year later he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in Archer, where he erected the first store building in the village and engaged in merchandising. While the war was raging between the Northi and South, Mr. Kirk removed to St. Joseph, in 1862, and for two years made his home on a farm in old Sparta. Upon that place his wife died, in 1863, and within the following year he moved to St. Joseph to establish his home permanently. For a few months he served as clerk in the office of the county clerk and also conducted a legal practice in the probate court. Subsequently he was associated with Judge Tutt for a time, then he opened an office for the practice of his profession, which he afterward conducted alone.

In Tazewell county, Illinois, Mr. Kirk married Mary A. Hammett, who was born in Illinois and died in Nebraska. The second marriage of Mr. Kirk united him with Helen Donovan, who was born in Brackett county, Kentucky, and was reared in Sparta, Missouri. She died, in 1863. leaving one child, Lulu M., who passed from earth when eleven years old. The third wife of Mr. Kirk was Elizabeth A. Beattie, who was born in Saline county, Missouri. She and Mr. Kirk were married in Andrew county, Missouri, in 1865, and their union was blessed by the birth of two children.

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William B., of Glendale, California, and Angeline R., wife of George E. McIninch, a prominent citizen of St. Joseph, Missouri. In his religious belief, Mr. Kirk was identified with the Christian church, and was a worthy and devoted member of the same.

NEWSPAPERS OF FALLS CITY.

The Broad Axe was the title first swung to the breeze by a Falls City newspaper. This paper made its initial appearance in 1858. It was owned by J. Edward Burbank and the editorial management was in the hands of Sewel Jamison. Before coming to Nebraska Burbank and Jamison were the owners of a paper bearing a similar name published in the state of Indiana. As was customary in those days, and a practice still indulged in to a great extent by the publishers of country newspapers, the Broad Axc bore a "motto" under the masthead calculated to convey in brief at once to the reader in a forcible way that the paper had an urgent purpose in the world. In the case of the Broad Are the following served the pur- pose : "Hew to the mark, let the chips fall where they will." "There is a destiny which shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will." The paper was independent in order and was evidently a town boomer, because it soon fell into the hands of Judge Jonathan J. Marvin, who for some reason changed the name to the Southern Nebraskan, and moved the paper at once to the town of Arago, on the banks of the Missouri river, to be used in the interests of the Arago Town Company, which was anxious to induce Eastern people to locate there. At this place it was published for a tinie in both English and German. The latter for the benefit of the major part of the Arago people, who were Germans from Buffalo, New York, and who were being colonized in the new country.

While newspapers were much desired in those days, the publishers did not find them money-makers, as was evidenced by the fact that this paper passed rapidly through various hands; among those getting "experience" in this line at that time being: C. L. Mather, G. A. Hill, E. L. Martin. Metz & Sanderson and H. A. Buel. The English type and equipment at last passed into the hands of F. Barrett, who moved the plant to Falls City and for a time published the Times. Later the Times was sold to Scott & Webster, who merged it with the Little Globe, then being published by Ed. W. Howe, who later became known the country over as the editor of the Atchison (Kansas) Globe.

The Nemaha Valley Journal first made its appearance as a newspaper

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at Nemaha City ( Nemaha county), where it was published in 1857. It was later moved to Brownville, in that same county, where it was published for a short time, in 1867-68, by Blackburn & Hill. At that time W. S. Stretch became interested in it financially and it was removed to Falls City, where it has been published continuously ever since. While the name has changed some, yet the title Journal has ever been retained, and the paper is now known as the Falls City Journal. Gen. E. E. Cunningham, who became interested with Stretch in the paper in 1869, was at that time quite prominent as a politician in the state. This management lasted a year or so, at the end of which time the paper was sold to the firm of Weaver & Fulton. The Journal has always been a Republican organ and Judge Weaver, who at that time had his eye on Congress, recognized the value of a paper that would support him. -

It was at this time that Frank Barrett recognized the necessity of an opposition paper and accordingly bought the English part of the paper at Arago and brought it to Falls City and published it as the Times. He did not long remain in charge, but sold the business he had established to Judge A. R. Scott, Rev. George T. Webster and James Fuson. Judge Scott re- mained with the firm but a little while, presently selling his holdings to W. T. Chadwick. The paper did not last long under this management and evi- dently suspended.

It was at this juncture that Ed. W. Howe, who had been in the news- paper business at Golden. Colorado, started the Little Globe here. Mr. Howe thought so much of the name Globe that he always retained it, later using it as the name of his paper at Atchison. Prior to 1875 for a time the Little Globe ceased to be and at that time the Journal went into the hands of .A. L. Rich and D. W. Hanlin, but in 1875 Mr. Howe revived the Little Globe and during that year also secured the Nemaha V'alley Journal and consolidated the names of the two publications, calling the new paper the Globe-Journal. He did not long keep the Journal, however, but sold it to Jacob Bailey. Under this latter arrangement the papers were entirely in the hands of the Republicans.

This condition was met by Wes Spurlock, a leading merchant of Salem, and Judge Francis Martin, under whose management the Falls City Press was launched in February, 1875. The mercantile business had charms for Mr. Spurlock, who is at this present time engaged in the same at Salem. although he was a practical printer. Judge Martin knew his forte was the law business and the paper occupied so much of his time that on July 1, 1875. Henry Clay Davis, the present publisher of the Falls City News, and George

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P. Marvin, who was the publisher of the Weekly Democrat at Beatrice and the Democratic postmaster at that point, purchased the paper and after pub- lishing the same for about eighteen months sold out to Stephen B. Miles, Sr. Local politics at that time was at quite a red heat and Colonel Miles secured the services of Hon. J. F. Gardner, quite a politician at that time, as the editor and the paper was so conducted for a period of about six months. Mr. Gardner was succeeded on The Press by H. C. Davis and Ed. Ford. The latter remained for a time and then went to St. Joseph, Missouri.

In May, 1877, Ruel Nims, later county clerk, established the Richardson County Record and managed it until the end of the campaign that year. which resulted in the election of John W. Holt as county treasurer and W. H. Hay as county clerk. Mr. Nims conducted the banking business in Falls City for a number of years and then went to the Pacific coast, where he became interested in land speculations and built a town which was called Cosmopolis, located on the south side of Grays Harbor, west, on the coast. from Olympia, Washington. It was during the time that Mr. Nims was publishing the Record that Ed. Howe again started up the Little Globe. and one of the interesting features about the matter was that the Little Globe as well as the Record were issued at the Press office, which at that time was conducted by H. Clay Davis and Ed. Ford. The increasing interest in the campaign aroused Nims's suspicions of the publishing office, as it was pretty thick there with three papers, and he equipped an office, for the Record. After the campaign the Record was published by Col. W. S. Stretch, who published it until the following May, when he suspended its publication. At the suspension of the Record, Colonel Stretch surprised some of the people by refunding unexpired subscription and compelling many delinquent sub- scribers to pay up by the aid of the justice courts.

After Davis & Ford had published the Press about a year they retired from the office and A. J. Reed assumed charge of it. Mr. Ford went with Mr. Howe, who moved the Little Globe down to Atchison, Kansas, where they commenced the publication of the Atchison Globe, which paper is still published at Atchison. Soon after the Press went under the management of Mr. Reed, some disagreement arose between him and Col. Stephen B. Miles, who owned the material in the office. Reed having been brought to the city from Washington, D. C., by Mr. Miles, and Mr. Reed purchased a new outfit, organized a stock company, abruptly stopped the Press and commenced the publication of the Netes, in the spring of 1880. The Press was never revived. In the fall of 1880 A. J. Reed died and the New's was managed for a short time by Elder T. W. Pinkerton of the Christian church,

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but in January, 1881, the Vores office was purchased by Henry Clay Davis. the present publisher, who has continued uninterruptedly from that day to the present time.

Lon M. May and H. C. Davis effected a partnership and took control of the Journal, but the partnership did not last long, Mr. May being left in charge by the retirement of Mr. Davis, who started a job-printing office. In the fall of 1881 T. W. Peppoon, of Pawnee City, purchased a half interest in the Journal and assumed editorial charge of that paper, Mr. May attending to the business management. Presently May sold his remaining interest to Peppoon and entered the postal service, in which he continued until his death in 1890. In 1882 Mr. Peppoon took his son Percy into partnership, which was continued throughout the year 1883, when the son, Percy Peppoon, retired. The elder Peppoon controlled the management of the paper throughout 1884 and 1885 and then formed a partnership with Cyrus Thurman, which lasted about a year, at the end of which time they sold the paper to W. W. Abbey, who controlled the ownership from 1887 to 1890. During the year 1890 John J. Faulkner, a son-in-law of W. W. Abbey, appeared as editor. From 1891 to 1894 F. O. Edgecombe was the owner and editor. It was while publishing the Journal that Mr. Edge- combe lost the sight of his eyes in a hunting accident in northern Nebraska. Possibly he was discouraged at the time by this accident, for he sold the paper to Norman Musselman, who published it during 1895. Musselman found newspaper life too strenuous and, in 1896, sold out to Judge Francis Martin, A. J. Weaver and F. E. Martin. The free-silver wave came along and carried Weaver away as a follower of Bryan and he sold his interests to his partners. Martin & Martin continued in possession from 1897 to 1899, in which latter year they sold the paper to Allan .D. May, Grant Southard and George W. Marsh, who published it from 1900 to 1903. In 1902 George W. Marsh, who had been acting editor, was unexpectedly car- ried into office by a Republican landslide that year and moved to Lincoln to enter upon his official duties as secretary of state. After a time this brought about another change in the management of the Journal. John Martin and his brother, Frank E. Martin, regained possession of the paper in 1904 and continued until 1907. building up in the meantime a large job- printing business, largely the publication of catalogues, which business arose mostly outside of the county, and to better take care of this job business they desired to move to some nearby city, where help was more readily obtainable. Council Bluffs, Iowa, was selected and the Journal was put on the market. It was a slow sale because the judicial fight of 1903, in which

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the Martins had used the Journal as a weapon to fight C. Frank Reavis, the Republican candidate for district judge, had taken away much of the paper's patronage, which had gone very largely to an opposition Republican paper, the Tribune, which had by this time become a formidable competitor. Many of the partisan subscribers also had gone. Finally, in 1907, L. J. Harris, of Omaha, became the owner of the Journal and he changed the paper to a daily. He succeeded in increasing the subscription list, but was em- barrassed by lack of financial support and, in March, 1909, Martin & Martin took possession of the plant under a chattel mortgage. They sold it on May 3, 1909, at which time it passed into the hands of A. R. Keim and Miss Jennie Keim, the present owners and under whose management the publication has been made one of the strongest country dailies in this part of the state.

In the fall of 1881 G. W. Holton, believing that a third paper was a necessity at Falls City, moved the Register up from Rulo, but after a short time sold it out to a company which continued it as the Observer, under the editorial management of Dr. Stephen Bowers. The third paper did not suc- ceed as Doctor Bowers thought it should, and after a short time he went to Buena Vista, California, where he conducted a daily paper with success. The Observer fell into the hands of John Saxton, an attorney, who con- tinued the publication of the same under many difficulties and it was finally moved by him back to Rulo.

It was on the 24th of May, 1885, that Colonel Stretch started the Daily Argus, a five-column folio, which he conducted until the time of his death, July 20, 1885.

The Argus was purchased by Davis, who conducted it for some time The Journal also published a daily during the summer and fall of that year. but the patronage was not sufficient and both were discontinued at the ap- proach of cold weather.

Coming into the possession of the material on which John Saxton had been running the now defunct Observer, George Gird, of Humboldt, and J. L. Dalbey started a seven-column folio paper, independent in politics. called the Richardson County Leader. This paper had a good patronage and increased in circulation rapidly, but at the end of three months J. L. Dalbey withdrew from the firm and soon after purchasing the Stella Tribune moved to that town. Soon after the retirement of Mr. Dalbey, Mr. Gird consolidated the Leader with the Humboldt Sentinel, removed the latter plant to Falls City and published the paper under the name of the Leader-

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Sentinel; but by bad management the paper lost favor in the community. and after a career of a few months went to "join the great majority."

With the advent of the Populist party, Jule Schoenheit, recognizing the need of a party organ, on February 13, 1891, started the Nebraska Plebian, which he published for one year, at the end of which time he sold it to Watson & Kellog, who soon allowed it to go to the newspaper heaven. With the belief that a non-partisan paper would meet with encour- agement, Joseph Mason started up the Falls City Basoo with the material of the defunct Plebian, November 10, 1892, but after publishing the paper for only a few months he suspended and paid back to the subscribers all unexpired and paid-up subscriptions.

The Falls City Tribune, which figured in recent years as one of the most influential papers in Richardson county, was founded by T. T. and Ora Ross, who had for many years been employed on various papers of the city and county. It made its first appearance in 1904 as a third paper in Falls City, there being at that time the Falls City Journal and the Falls City Notes. the one a Republican and the other a Democratic organ. Its advent in the newspaper field fell at a time just prior to a political upheaval in the county and it was eagerly seized by a faction of the Republican party, who bought it and used it with intent to further their individual interests politically. It passed into the hands of what was known as the Tribune Publishing Com- pany, and this company was soon able to induce E. F. Sharts, at Humboldt, to bring his Humboldt Enterprise to Falls City and consolidate the same with the Tribune and assume the management of the plant. This he did and the Tribune at once became one of the most widely read and important . papers of the county. As soon, however, as it served, or failed to serve, the purpose of those of the company politically inclined, they withdrew, selling their interests to Mr. Sharts, who soon controlled the major portion of the stock. He built up and increased the business of the plant and then sold it to a stranger, who was but little fitted for newspaper work in this field. After a few months it became apparent that it had completed its course as a money-making proposition and it suspended publication.

The Tribune was published in the rear of the building which now occu- pies lot No. 24 in block No. 91, facing Stone street, and it is worthy of note that the Tribune was the first newspaper in Falls City to introduce mechan- ical means for type composition. They installed what was known as the Junior Linotype, which machine at that time proved both serviceable and practicable. It was the first typesetting machine brought to Falls City and attracted much attention at the time.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.A.

The other newspapers of Falls City have since that time installed mod- ern linotype machines.

THE PRESS OF HUMBOLDT.

From the very first days of the town Humboldt has had newspapers far superior to those of most towns of its size in the state; this condition no doubt being attributable to the very liberal support always given the press by the business interests and people of the city and surrounding country.

The Humboldt Sentinel appears to have been the first paper published at Humboldt. Its first issue went to press on the 2nd day of November. 1877, and was fathered by George P. Monagan, whose outfit had been brought up the river by steamboat from St. Joseph to Brownville, in which latter place it was used for a time and then was brought to Humboldt. Much of the material had been previously owned by Robert W. Furnas, of Brown- ville. In the month of January, 1878, David Speiser, Jr., bought a half interest in the business. In the month of April Mr. Monagan leased his interest in the business to Jacob Bailey, whose connection with the paper lasted one year, when Mr. Monagan came back. Later Mr. Speiser bought Monagan's interest and took in his brother-in-law, George Gird, and Wil- liam Gird, a brother. Later Gird removed the Sentinel to Falls City and consolidated with the Richardson County Leader. published there.

The Humboldt Standard was established by George P. Monagan, in 1882 and continued as a Republican paper under his management until 1892, when it was sold to F. W. Samuelson and later passed through the hands of H. C. Pershing, James Ed. Tracey and Samuel P. Grinstead. It was sold in 1901 by Mrs. Emma Grinstead to L. C. Edwards, who later sold a half interest to Oliver Hall. Under this management it was changed to a Democratic paper and was operated by them until 1906, when Mr. Edwards was elected county register of deeds and severed his connection with the paper, leasing his interest to his partner. At Mr. Hall's death, a couple of years later, Mr. Edwards bought the Hall interests and in a short time sold the entire business to William C. Norton, the present owner.

The People's Paper was run for a short time by Sylvester Franklin Wilson, of Nebraska City. This paper was published by the State Journal Company at Lincoln for circulation in Richardson county. This was the

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first paper to make its appearance as a Humboldlt paper, though published out of town.

The Farmers Advocate was established on July 9, 1881, and was owned by Dr. J. L. Gandy, of the Humboldt Printing Company. It was a farmers paper. This paper was for a time under the editorial management of G. Minor, well known to the people of Humboldt in the early days. He was born in Virginia, in 1815, and came to Missouri when he was twenty years old and began the practice of law. Coming to Nebraska in 1878 he engaged in the newspaper business for some time, starting the Nebraska Ycoman at Salem and later the Farmers Advocate at Humboldt. Minor had been a member of Congress for eight sessions from the state of Maryland and had been secretary of the Senate.

The Humboldt Enterprise was for a number of years (its first years). under the management of I. E. Shrauger and E. F. Sharts. It at first was known as the Nebraska Enterprise, and was easily one of the best news- papers in southeast Nebraska at that time. Later it was sold to Mr. Sharts, who conducted it successfully for a number of years, and then sold it to Charles Rothenberger, a farmer residing near town, who a year later sold it back to Mr. Sharts, who again ran it for a number of years, at the end of which time he sold it to Samuel W. Grinstead, cashier of the State Bank of Humboldt. Mr. Grinstead at that time also acquired the Standard and for a time the two papers were owned and operated from the same office. Later the Enterprise was sold to Hon. William Fenton, of Dawson, who with his daughter, Miss Mamie, operated it successfully for a time. It was again sold to Mr. Sharts and remained under his management until 1905, when it was removed to Falls City and consolidated with the Falls City Tribune and when the latter passed out of existence the Enterprise disappeared forever. But in all its years at Humboldt it ranked as one of the leading papers of the city and wielded a wholesome influence for good.

The Humboldt Star was started by Dr. Adolph Blumer, who was not acquainted with the printing business himself and the mechanical part of the work was very largely looked after by Arthur W. Gird and the owner's daughter, Miss Anna Blumer. The paper was a bright, newsy little sheet, but did not long survive. The Doctor was a German and not any too con- versant with the English language, being hardly able to speak it; and just what might have prompted him to start a newspaper is not quite clear, but with the assistance of Mr. Gird, who was a practical newspaper man, and Miss Blumer, soon had quite a following, but lack of sufficient support and strong competition served to prevent its getting a firm footing.

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The Humboldt Leader, which is now one of the leading papers pub- lished at Humboldt, was launched on its career on May 5, 1896, by Harmon P. Marble and his wife Myrtle W. Mr. Marble had for a time been em- ployed on the Standard, under the ownership of S. W. Grinstead, and upon resigning from his position there made a visit to Lincoln, where he met the owner of a defunct paper known as the Pawnee Independent and effected the purchase of the type, presses and material and brought it to Humboldt, and in a short time issued the first number of the Leader. A short time later the Standard passed into the hands of S. P. Willis and the latter consolidated it with the Leader. The new combination was known as the Standard-Leader and under this name grew into a strong paper, having as a competitor, the Humboldt Enterprise. Later the Standard-Leader dis- solved partnership and the former paper passed under the control of George W. Gird, then to Henry Scheidegger and lastly to Lewis C. Edwards, who continued its publication for five years, at the end of which time he sold it to its present owner, William C. Norton. The Leader, under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Marble became widely known as one of the best weekly and country papers of the state. It is now owned by J. J. Hayden. who is a well-known newspaper man of this section of the state, and under his management it is a progressive Republican paper.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 39

Author: Edwards, Lewis C Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1742

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742