USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Omaha: the Gate city, and Douglas County, Nebraska, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 40
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On May 5, 1858, Edward F. Schneider and Harrison J. Brown launched the Omaha Republican, which, as the name indicates, was intended to promote the interests of the republican party. Schneider & Brown were soon succeeded by Dr. Gilbert C. Monell, who sold the paper in August, 1859, to E. D. Webster, who gave the paper a reputation that was known far and wide. Shortly after President Lincoln was inaugurated in 1861, Mr. Webster, who had previously been associated with Thurlow Weed, went into the secretary of state's office as private secretary to William H. Seward. He then sold the Republican to E. B. Taylor and E. A. McClure, who began the publication of a daily edition in January, 1864. About two years later the outfit was purchased by St. A. D. Balcombe, who in 1871 sold a half interest to Waldo M. Potter.
In the meantime the Daily Evening Tribune had been started by some men who were anxious to defeat Gen. John M. Thayer for re-election to the United States Senate. The first number of the Tribune was issued on July 20, 1870. John I. Redick was the principal promoter of the project and furnished a large part of the funds for the establishment of the paper. Others who were inter- ested, financially and politically, were : Clinton Briggs, Charles F. Hickman, Wal-
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lace R. Bartlett and Phineas W. Hitchcock. Joseph B. Hall was president of the Tribune Company and C. B. Thomas was the principal editor. Old residents recall the bitter campaign and the spirited controversy between the Tribune and Republican. The campaign ended in the defeat of General Thayer and the elec- tion of Phineas W. Hitchcock to the senate. The Tribune had served the pur- pose for which it was founded and many were surprised when the announce- ment was made that the paper had been consolidated with its old opponent, the Republican. This consolidation took place in 1871 and the name of Tribune and Republican was adopted. In 1873 the Tribune part of the name was dropped.
In 1875 the Republican became the property of a stock company, with Isaac W. Miner as secretary and Casper E. Yost as business manager. This company conducted the paper until 1881, when it was sold to Mr. Yost and Fred Nye. During the next ten years it was owned successively by S. P. Rounds and Cadet Taylor, Nye & Johnson and Maj. J. C. Wilcox, who issued the last number of the daily paper on July 29, 1890, though the weekly edition continued for some time longer.
Sometime in the summer of 1858, not long after the Republican was estab- lished, Hadley D. Johnson began the publication of the Omaha Democrat. Mr. Johnson was an active politician, one of the leading citizens of the town and a man of some ability, but his newspaper venture was a failure. The Democrat lived but a short time.
In September, 1860, the Daily Telegraph was started by Maj. Henry Z. Curtis, son of Gen. Samuel R. Curtis. Charles S. Goodrich, afterward city comptroller, and Charles W. Sherman, later the proprietor of the Plattsmouth Journal, were the compositors on the Telegraph, which was an afternoon paper. It took its name from the fact that it received news by telegraph over the lines of the Missouri & Western Telegraph Company (the Stebbins line), though the despatches were usually very brief, probably because the exchequer of the paper was not sufficiently plethoric to pay for a more extended telegraph service. In the fall of 1861 the Telegraph ceased to exist, its owner enlisting in the Union army as a member of his father's staff.
The Omaha Daily Herald, a democratic paper, was started in October, 1865, by Dr. George L. Miller and Daniel W. Carpenter, who conducted it for about three years. It was then sold to John S. Briggs and Lyman Richardson, Doctor Miller being retained as editor. A little later he bought Mr. Briggs' inter- est and the firm of Miller & Richardson continued as owner until March, 1887. when the Herald was sold to a company of which John A. McShane was the head. In March, 1889, it was purchased by Gilbert M. Hitchcock and con- solidated with the Evening World, which he had started in August, 1885, in connection with Alfred Millard, W. F. Gurley and Frank J. Burkley, with W. V. Rooker as managing editor. Through the consolidation of these two papers was formed the World-Herald, now one of the leading newspapers of the Missouri Valley. In 1889 a three-story building, on Farnam Street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth, was purchased by the owners of the World-Herald and occupied until May 1, 1916, when the publication office was removed to a magnificent eight-story building erected expressly for the purpose on the northwest corner of Fifteenth and Farnam streets. In its new home the World-Herald issues
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morning and evening editions every day except Sunday and a Sunday morn- ing edition which has a wide circulation.
THE FIRST MORNING DAILY
The following story, concerning the first morning daily in Omaha, was writ- ten by C. D. Shultz for the World-Herald of March 2, 1891. At that time Mr. Shultz was editor of the publications of the Western Newspaper Union in Omaha and his story forms part of the history of the World-Herald.
"In a recent issue of the World-Herald reference was made to its being the oldest paper in the city and some interesting reminiscences given of its pioneer days and the perplexities and difficulties under which it labored at that time. In the article alluded to no reference was made to the fact that the World-Herald (more properly speaking the Herald) printed the first morning daily ever given out in Omaha, as well as that it is now the oldest paper in the city. Its old-time editor and manager, Dr. George L. Miller, made this claim some months ago in a series of articles contributed to the Omaha Bee on the subject of early journal- ism in this city, and the writer hereof adds his testimony to the correctness of the doctor's conclusions.
"John S. Briggs, who is still a resident of Omaha, could tell the story about the first morning daily publication in the Nebraska metropolis, as its writer heard him tell it nearly twenty-five years ago. He was an important factor about the Herald building, on the corner of Thirteenth and Douglas in those early days. He it was, I think, who officiated as 'make up' of not only its first daily, but also the first weekly forms of what has now grown to be a powerful and widely circulated journal in this prosperous and progressive city. But not to digress from the original thought-that of the first morning daily paper in Omaha-the fact is now recalled that the Republican appeared as a morning daily the same day the Herald did, but its inspiration came from the indomitable energy and push of the editors and managers of the democratic paper, who were constantly on the alert for new fields to conquer, and, as a consequence, was a little behind that sheet in getting before the public in its new form, accompanied with the announcement that it would hereafter issue in the morning instead of evening. Both the Republican and Herald had for many months been putting forth daily evening editions, but Doctor Miller, alive to the signs of the times, saw there was a demand for later and more satisfactory news, such as could only be secured and properly put in shape by a daily morning edition. The thought came with such force that the doctor at once determined upon the change.
"The contemplated new departure was communicated to Foreman Briggs and that gentleman, after the evening edition had gone to press, notified the composi- tors (of which there were less than half a dozen) to be prepared to represent their cases at an early hour in the evening, explaining that the Herald henceforth and hereafter was to be a morning daily. In the meantime arrangements had been made for lighting, the pressman notified of the new order of things and other preliminaries arranged for inaugurating the change that was about to take place in publication hour. It is surmised, too, that the foreman cautioned the printers not to mention out of the office the information that had been communicated to
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them. There is good ground for the supposition, for the proprietor of the Herald had in view the surprising of the public, as well as the publisher of the Republican.
"The scheme worked well enough so far as the readers of the paper were concerned, but Major Balcombe 'got onto the racket,' so to speak, either by seeing operations going forward in the Herald Building, or through information com- municated to him by some of his printers, who had probably been given a 'pointer' by brother workmen doing the night act on 'the sheet over the way.' Then there was hurrying to and fro. Printers were hunted up in various parts of the city, some of them called out of bed, it may be, and told to present themselves at the office without delay. They obeyed promptly and thus the Republican was enabled to present a morning daily on the same date of its contemporary, though perhaps not as early in the day or in quite as good shape. It is due the Republi- can, however, to say that it 'got there' in very good shape, for Major Balcombe, although not the aggressor in journalistic innovations, was capable of doing some tall rustling when about to be distanced by some rival paper.
"Thus was inaugurated daily morning journalism in Omaha and credit must be given the Herald and its energetic publishers of that day, not alone for having issued a little in advance, but also for having furnished the inspiration that called two Omaha morning dailies into the field almost simultaneously."
On June 19, 1871, a new afternoon paper called the Evening Bee appeared in Omaha, with the name of H. H. Geralde at the head of the editorial columns as editor and proprietor. Before the Bee was six weeks old a public announcement was made of a change in ownership, the edition of July 27, 1871, containing the following editorial :
"The popular favor heretofore accorded the Bee as a gratuitous advertising medium, and the general desire expressed by a large number of our citizens for its enlargement as an evening journal, warrant the hope of its future success as a thoroughly fearless and independent exponent of public opinion. Mr. Harry Geralde will continue as editor-in-chief, assisted by gentlemen of journalistic experience. It will be the aim of the publisher from the outset, to make the Bee a newspaper in the true meaning of the word.
"EDWARD ROSEWATER, "Publisher and Proprietor."
For some time the Bee continued solely as an afternoon paper. Then a morn- ing edition was started. Notwithstanding numerous obstacles, among which was the destruction of the publication offices by fire on June 11, 1872, the Bee has maintained a steady growth. In 1878 a stock company called the "Bee Pub- lishing Company" was formed, Edward Rosewater holding the controlling inter- est in the company and remaining in charge of the editorial policy. In June, 1889, the offices of the paper were removed to the Bee Building, a seven-story structure on the northwest corner of Seventeenth and Farnam streets, where the paper is still published every morning, and afternoon editions are issued on every day except Sunday. Victor Rosewater, a son of the founder, is the principal owner and in charge of the editorial department. The Bee is a republican journal and is one of the best newspapers of that party in the Upper Missouri Valley.
Maj. J. C. Wilcox issued the first number of the Evening Dispatch on October 27, 1888. It was a small republican daily, which bore the same name as a paper Vol 1-20
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started by Major Wilcox in 1873, but which survived only a few months: In October, 1889, he purchased the Republican and published both newspapers for a short time, but in July, 1890, the publication of the Daily Republican was dis- continued. The Dispatch created quite a sensation in its issues of July 1, 1890, by coming out in favor of a constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufac- ture and sale of intoxicating liquors in the State of Nebraska. Prior to that time the Dispatch had opposed the adoption of the amendment. The sudden change of front on a vital issue caused many people to wonder if the major was really sincere and some accused him of having "something up his sleeve." By this course Major Wilcox alienated the support of many of his former patrons and the Dispatch was finally forced to suspend.
About the time the Dispatch was launched, in October, 1888, W. R. Vaughan purchased the Inter-State Herald, published at Council Buffs, and removed the office to Omaha. Two years later he changed the name of the paper to the Omaha Daily Democrat, which was published by a stock company of which M. V. Gannon was president ; W. R. Vaughan, vice president and managing edi- tor; B. A. Fowler, secretary; William McHugh, treasurer. Under the new management the Democrat flourished for a time, but it passed out of existence in the spring of 1891.
The Omaha Daily News, an afternoon paper, was started in 1899. Some years later the News Building was erected on the southwest corner of Seventeenth and Jackson streets and the Daily News Company was incorporated. The News is issued as an independent daily every afternoon except Sunday and a Sunday morning edition is also published. Joseph Polcar is president of the company and editor of the paper, and John W. Kurtz is business manager.
DEFUNCT PUBLICATIONS
Several of the newspapers above mentioned are no longer in existence, but there were a number of others which sprang up like mushrooms, flourished or languished for a brief period, and then gave up the ghost, leaving but little history behind them. Among these may be mentioned the Evening Times, which was started by Charles Collins, P. F. O'Sullivan, William E. Cook and John Howard in 1869. It was the outcome of a printers' strike and lived only about six months. Another paper called the Omaha Times was started in September, 1890, as a weekly, the publishers being Blackman & Garton, with H. G. Boluss as editor. It lived but a short time.
The Weekly Mercury began its existence at Plattsmouth in 1871 as the Watch- man-F. M. MacDonagh editor and proprietor. In 1878 he removed the office to Council Bluffs and the next year to Omaha, when the name was changed to the Mercury. Mr. MacDonagh died on June 5, 1885, and the paper was purchased by A. L. Pollock, who sold it to John T. Bell in the fall of 1888. Mr. Bell sold the outfit to Bender & Taylor in January, 1890, and the following May Victor E. Bender purchased his partner's interest, becoming sole proprietor. It continued for a few years longer and during the latter part of its career was devoted chiefly to legal matters, being recognized as the organ of the Omaha Bar. It was succeeded by the Record, which is now published daily except Sunday by N. O. Talbot.
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The Nebraska Daily Statesman, the first issue of which was dated July 17, 1864, lived but three days. In 1873 the Daily Union, which was the outgrowth of another printers' strike, was started by C. D. Shultz, William Edwards, Thomas Frost and some other union printers, but was a short-lived affair. T. H. Tibbles began the publication of the Independent in September, 1877, but dis- continued it within six months. Mr. Tibbles afterward became an editorial writer on the World-Herald. Fred Nye began the Evening News in May, 1878, and published it until in June, 1880. About a month before it suspended, S. F. Donnelly and H. S. Smith launched the Evening Telegraph, which lived about two years. The Union was established in the fall of 1883. It was a print- ers' paper and was purchased by Frank Sweezy and Leonard Livesey, who changed the name to the Evening Dispatch. Still later it was owned by George C. and Robert Wallace. It was suspended in the latter part of 1884.
Two Sunday newspapers were published for awhile along in the '80s. Harry Merriam issued the first number of the Sunday News on May 10, 1885. It sur- vived for ten months, when it succumbed to the inevitable. In 1889 Frederick Benzinger and Daniel Shelley issued about half a dozen editions of the Sunday Mirror.
The Chronicle ran for several months in 1887-88, with Thomas Cotter as proprietor and G. M. Crawford as editor. It was a sprightly sheet while it lasted, but finally perished "for want of adequate support." About the time it went down the Rising Tide was started as the organ of the temperance organizations. Subsequently the name was changed to the Omaha Leader. George H. Gibson's name appeared at the head of the editorial columns as editor and proprietor. When the prohibition amendment was defeated in the fall of 1890, the Leader suspended.
Among the early newspaper ventures were two publications devoted to farm- ing interests. The Agriculturist was published for a number of years by Jeremiah Behm. It suspended about 1878 or 1879 and was succeeded by the Center-Union Agriculturist, of which George W. Brewster was editor and proprietor. The last number of the paper was issued in the fall of 1882.
Journals devoted to the interests of some particular trade, industry or fra- ternal order were not wanting. The Railway News and Reporter was published by Daniel B. Honin for a time as the organ of railroad men. It was issued weekly. The Furniture Journal, edited by A. Spitko, was issued monthly and was devoted to the interests indicated by its name. A. H. Comstock published for a time the Western Merchant, and the Western Printer was issued by the Great Western Type Foundry. The Nebraska Journal of Commerce endeavored to promote the mercantile and banking interests, and the Commercial Exchange. which was established in the latter 'zos, worked along similar lines. The former was published by Taylor Brothers and the latter by W. C. B. Allen. A monthly periodical called the Knights' Jewel was published for awhile by Will. L. Scism in the interests of the Knights of Pythias. The Omaha Clinic, a medical journal, was established by H. J. Penfold in March, 1887. It was published monthly with Dr. J. C. Denise as editor. About 1891 the Clinic passed into the hands of Dr. George Wilkinson, who continued its publication for a few years, when it passed into history.
A few attempts were made to publish journals of a literary character, rather
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than to give attention to current news. One of these was the High School Jour- nal, which was established by an association of high school students in December, 1872, with Henry D. Estabrook as editor-in-chief. Other students who were members of the association and connected with the Journal in various capacities were: Miss Stacia Crowley, Miss Kate Copeland, Charles R. Redick, John Creighton, Lucius and Arthur C. Wakeley, Miss Josie Ord, Arthur Remington, Miss Blanche Deuel, Miss Etta Hurford, Miss Martha Crary, Miss Claire Rustin, Frederick Knight and George Jewett. Although issued only once a month, the work fell rather heavily upon the students, and in a few months the Journal was sold to James F. McCartney, who changed the name to the Omaha Home Journal. Mr. McCartney ceased its publication in the winter of 1881 and soon afterward went to Denver, Colo., where he died on September 4, 1883.
Henry D. Estabrook and James Ross associated themselves in 1876 in the publication of a little magazine called Miscellany, which was issued monthly. Part of the contents was original matter and part was made up of selections of a high class. After a short time Estabrook & Ross sold to John H. Pierce, who changed the name of the periodical to the Western Magazine. Under the new management it became a journal of decided merit, but it was too pretentious for the field it occupied and after a few months yielded to "financial pressure."
On Easter Sunday, 1891, the first number of the Omaha Original appeared with Mrs. Helen A. Van Camp's name at the head of the editorial columns. The Original contained a number of well selected literary articles and was continued for a short time as a weekly family paper.
OMAIIA PUBLICATIONS OF 1916
In addition to the World-Herald, Bee, News and Record already mentioned, Ayer's Newspaper Directory for 1916 gives the following list of Omaha pub- lications :
The Cesko Ameriky Venkov, a Bohemian agricultural weekly, issued every Friday since it was founded in 1911, with E. J. Kronpa as editor and the Pokrok Publishing Company as publishers. It circulates among the Bohemian farmers of Nebraska and the Missouri Valley.
The Corriere del Popolo, an Italian weekly, was established in 1911 and is published every Friday in the interests of the Italian population of Omaha and the surrounding country. The publication office is at No. 106 North Thirteenth Street and Louis Fadanelli is the editor and publisher.
Creighton Chronicle, a monthly established in 1909, is published by the faculty of Creighton University and is devoted to the interests of that institution.
Danske Pioneer was established in 1872. A few years later it passed into the hands of Sophus F. Neble, who is still the owner and editor. The Pioneer is an independent weekly paper, published every Thursday and has for its mission the advancement of the Scandinavian citizens of the Northwest.
Every Child's Magazine is an entertaining little monthly which was estab- lished in 1914. Entertainment and instruction are well balanced in its columns. Miss Grace Sorenson is the editor and publisher.
The Examiner, an independent republican weekly, published every Saturday, was established in 1900 by Alfred Sorenson, who is still the editor and publisher.
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Excelsior was established in 1871 as an amateur publication by Clement C. Chase, who was then a student in the Omaha High School. It has developed into an illustrated weekly journal and is published every Saturday by the Chase Publishing Company at 318 South Nineteenth Street. Mr. Chase is still the editor. The issue of the Excelsior for September 30, 1916, was a "historical number" and contained many interesting reminiscences of early days in Omaha, as well as several old illustrations showing how the Gate City looked in bygone days.
The Free Lance, devoted to social reform and literary subjects, began its career in 1913. It is published monthly by the Free Lance Publishing Company and is edited by A. E. Story.
Hospodar, a semi-weekly agricultural paper printed in the Bohemian language, was established in 1891. It has a wide circulation among the Bohemian farmers of Nebraska and adjoining states and is published by the National Pub- lishing Company. Jan Janak is the editor.
Middle West School Review is a monthly educational journal, which was established in 1908. Its principal patrons are the teachers and school officers of Nebraska and the adjacent states. Zane Thompson is the editor and publisher.
Mid-West Construction News is a trade journal, devoted to the building trades and kindred lines of business. It was founded in 1915 and is now under the editorial management of K. M. Bickel. The Mid-West Publishing Company is the publisher.
Mid-West Hotel Reporter, which made its first appearance in 1907, is a peri- odical published every Saturday by the Irvin A. Medlar Publishing Company. The Reporter is the outgrowth of a small daily that was started in 1893, assuming its present form in the fall of 1907. Irvin A. Medlar is the present editor. As the name indicates, the paper is devoted to the interests of the hotel men of the Middle West.
The Mid-West Magazine, a literary and domestic monthly, was started in 1904. The present editor and publisher is Will M. Maupin.
The Monitor, a weekly newspaper published in the interests of the colored people, is issued every Saturday by John A. Williams, editor and proprietor.
The Mortist, a monthly magazine published for automobile dealers and owners, was established in 1906. It is published by the Motorist Publishing Company and is edited by L. A. Higgins.
Nebraska Dental Journal, of which S. A. Allen is editor, was established in 1913 and is the organ of the Nebraska State Dental Society.
Nebraska Farm Journal, a semi-monthly publication devoted to agricultural interests, is one of the Arthur Capper publications and is dated also at Topeka, Kansas. A. G. Kittel is the editor.
The Nebraskan was established in 1905 as a weekly democratic newspaper. Richard L. Metcalfe is the editor and the paper is published every Thursday by the Nebraskan Publishing Company.
Nova Doba, an independent Bohemian newspaper, is issued on Tuesday and Friday of each week from the press of the New Era Printing Company. It was established in 1911.
Osveta Amerika, another independent Bohemian publication, was established
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in 1884. Jan Janak is the editor and the publisher is the National Printing Com- pany, Twelfth and Harney streets.
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