USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 14
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THE EARLY NEWSPAPERS
The Republican, a very detailed historical review of which immediately follows this opening paragraph, is the oldest of the present newspapers of York County. But it was preceded by a couple of newspaper ventures. In May, 1822. F. HI. White started the York Monitor, which he conducted until the fall of 1813. when he transferred the plant to E. F. Chittenden. Mr. Chittenden immediately changed the name of his enterprise to the York Record. In April, 1815, Messrs. Morgan and Ross took over the newspaper venture and issued one number, when they sold their interest to Messrs. Scott and Miller. These gentlemen named their newspaper issues the Sentinel, and after six months' participation, Mr. Miller sold his share to F. II. Gerard and the firm beeame Scott & Gerard. In a short time Mr. Gerard became the sole proprietor. In April, 1826, Messrs. Morgan and Ross purchased the plant
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
and changed the name to the York Republican. These changes are reviewed and noted in somewhat more detail, and carried forward in the following historical review of the Republican.
Upon the fortieth anniversary of its birth, the editor of the York Republican issued an elaborate birthday edition, wherein he not only reviewed the history of the paper but secured numerous reminiscenees of "old timers" and those who had played a part in the "younger days of York" in making the wheels go around. The following historical review of the early days of the Republican, published upon April 28, 1916, serves as a very effective method of reviewing the beginnings of the press in York County :
"On April 28, 1876, at the suggestion of W. B. Cummins, at that time county judge, W. E. Morgan, a homesteader living three miles east of the county seat, bought the Sentinel of E. H. Gerard, rechristened it the Republican and sent out volume one, number one of the new newspaper. Its home was in the old B. & M. land office, built for F. A. Bidwell, on the west side of the square. The building outside was as meager as those pioneer days would suggest-a Washington hand press (Armstrong) and a job press of equally ancient pattern and a case of type to match. Some time in the spring and winter of 1872, or the spring of 1873, Mr. Whitehead started the Monitor, in Bell Brothers' store, on the site now occupied by Mr. Hannis. It lasted but a short time, but it was good while it lasted. Then E. F. Chittenden put out the Advocate on the south side of the square, and was followed by the Sentinel. One of the first steps taken was to go to the William Dayton farm across the Blue River to take Elmer away from the plow and start him in this reorganized print shop to run the mechanical end of the paper. Then Frank M. Ross, another homesteader southwest of town, became a partner, but remained only a few months. Then Lee Love, who was elected to the Legislature that fall, took a half interest in the venture.
"The next winter the first petition for local option on the saloon question was worked off on the ancient 'jobber' and scattered among the church people of the various denominations of the state and sent out to the honorable lawmakers and made the first strong temperance impression on that august body.
"The office did the work at its own expense, paying the postage for distribu- tion. A. L. McClelland became part of the mechanical force of the office. Later on, the plant was moved to the south side of Sixth Street, across the alley west of the First National Bank. Lee Love later sold his interest in the paper to E. E. Post, a brother of Judges A. M. and G. W. Post. Another move was made to the building on the street west of Lincoln Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Still another move placed it in the east room, under the old city hall on Sixth Street. Here Mr. Post thought he had a more attractive business opened at St. Paul, so severed his connection with the Republican and sold his half to A. L. McClelland and W. E. Dayton, who had hitherto been in charge of the printing part of the business. After the strain of his hard work and the struggle to pay for his holding in the plant was abont accomplished, Mr. McClelland's health failed and he was compelled to leave the paper, and lived but a short time. Mr. Dayton bought Mr. McClelland's share in the fall of 1888, and W. E. Morgan sold his interest to M. C. Frank, who in turn sold his portion to Mr. Dayton, who had been one of the pioneer printers of the state and who was one of the mainstays of the Republican
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
for over thirty years, until the grim destroyer put a sudden stop to his honorable carcer.
"When the paper was first issued Fairmont was the nearest railroad station. The county seat had only two or three hundred inhabitants. Now it is second to none of its size in the state, or any state, in moral, social or business characteristics. While these changes were being wrought out the Republican has been a leader in reaching for higher ideals in all lines of activity.
"It might not be out of place to relate that the next month after the paper was first issued the Board of Commissioners had decided to license a liquor saloon at their next meeting. The editor and a few kindred spirits concluded to meet with the board and protest against the issuance of a permit to put a saloon in the county. At the outset of that meeting it was ascertained that the county officers had made up their minds that the protest was useless. The protestants, however, insisted that the price of the license be fixed at the highest legal limit, that being $5,000 for the license and $4,000 for the bond. The board granted this concession, but the applicant for the license thought that six months was too short a time for his first trial. So next November it will be forty years since the City of York proper has had a licensed saloou.
"W. E. MORGAN. "Greeley. Colo."
Following the above reminiscent letter of Mr. Morgan, the article of April 28, 1916, continues with the historical development of this enterprise and numerous other contributions and excerpts recalling "old times."
THE REPUBLICAN
"For forty years the Republican has been an institution of York and York County. When it started in 1876, York was a struggling village with a population of a couple of hundred. It was seventeen miles to the nearest railroad and the Blue River lay between. The first efforts to establish a paper here were successive failures, and the Republican was the third attempt. Rev. W. E. Morgan and Frank Ross were the first to give it strength. Mr. Morgan was a pioneer Methodist minister, a man with high ideals and earnest desire to do some good in the world. He was soon succeeded by Morgan and Love. Mr. Love retired in a few years, and two young men who had been employed in the office were made partners, and subse- quently the business became Morgan, MeClelland & Dayton. Later Mr. Morgan retired from the business, which was carried forward by MeClelland & Dayton until the death of Mr. MeClelland, when W. E. Dayton became the sole proprietor and publisher. Later, M. C. Frank purchased an interest in the paper and became editor. Dayton & Frank continued together for a few years, when Mr. Frank sold his interest to Mr. Dayton, who became the sole owner, and remained so until his death.
"For a short time G. W. Bemis edited the paper prior to the death of Mr. Dayton, and for some time after his death, the estate of W. E. Dayton. T. E. Sedgwick and J. D. Field purchased the Republican about four years ago (1912) and consolidated it with the Daily and Semi-Weekly Times, with Mr. Sedgwick as its editor. About a year later, Mr. Fields took the Daily Times and moved out, leaving Mr. Sedgwick
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
with the Republican, and since then the entire enterprise has been purchased by him, and he is the sole owner, with the exception of one share which is owned by Miss Phila Sedgwick, who is associate editor."
In September, 1917, J. G. Alden, who had been a successful newspaper man at Aurora, and from neighborhood experience was fairly well acquainted with the sit- nation in York, purchased the Republican from T. E. Sedgwick, and for the past four years or more has conducted the paper in a modern, up-to-date manner that has added to its splendid record.
"From a village of a couple of hundred when the Republican was horn, York has grown to be a city of six thousand, with all of the public improvements and evidences of wealth that go to make a metropolis. The success of the Republican has grown with the growth of the community. As the wild, wind-swept prairie has become a garden, the bleak plains became fields of growing grass ; as the beautiful rural homes have displaced the soddy and the dugout, the Republican has found its way into three-fourths of all farm homes in York County and has become a welcome visitor to many who have removed from the county."
Two men stand out prominently in connection with the Republican and have left their imprint upon the press of York County no matter how long history runs into the future-W. E. Morgan and W. E. Dayton. Mr. Morgan steered it through its early struggles and stayed with it, faithfully working and denying himself many things to make it good. Ile remained when others deserted the ship and found other employment. He relinquished it only when he was able to hand it over to men who he had the utmost confidence would keep it going. Mr. Dayton came to it as a boy from his father's farm on the Blue, and from "devil" rose until he was the sole owner for thirty years and gave all he had to the Republican. His service, his devotion and his energy were such as to entitle him to a very prominent place in its history and in the history of the York County press.
The following response by Cliff Frank, upon March 12, 1916, develops a little further a reflection upon the past days of the Republican :
"Your request for a few lines in memory of the days when I was editor and correspondent of the York Republican causes the past to rise before me like a dream. Twenty or thirty years ago I wanted to mould public opinion. I have turned my mind backward to recall some of the men who did things at that time- men who left their imprint on the city and who worked on questions that came up for settlement-and I find, among many others who could be named, the following thinkers and leaders of my time on that paper: Dad Keckley, Joe Stricklet, Ed Lancaster. W. A. Beck, A. J. Newman, C. J. Nobes, John Chilcote, O. Froid, Nels Ferguson, F. B. Daggy, Colonel Crabb, John Bremer, Dad Blodgett, John Reel, Barney Friel, A. S. Thomas, Jude Clark, Lee Love, J. C. Kingsley. Charles Le Count, John Etherly, T. D. Knapp, Benton Barnett, F. Baldwin, William Mapps, William Melton, F. B. Reed, Eli Chittenden. L. D. Stilson, Carpenter Morgan, W. E. MeCloud, Alex. Stephens, Dave Meloy, Joe Boyer, Major Pembleton, George Rossiter, E. A. Warner, Wash Wirt, E. M. Cheney, I. II. Shieks, J. P. Small, Nate Johnson, Colonel Morrison, Lew Weeks, G. P. Chessman, Bob Lytle, Henry Poor, David Fisher, J. Raper, John Osborn, Will Meradith, S. Ilubbell, Lafe Cline. William Glover, Peter Hull, Link Bell, Jerry Tondrau, Levi Sidwell, T. O. Wright, Joe Newcomer, Phil Fink, Kim Sturgeon, Diek Price, J. K. Sheen, Dad Gould,
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George Howe, J. E. Prest, Joe Detrick, Cap Eberhardt. John Moulds, Jack Walsh, Jonathon Shaw, and George Harthurt. Professional men in those days included W. T. Scott, J. F. Hall, W. P. Connor, A. C. Montgomery, D. T. Moore, George B. France, J. C. Naylor, W. W. Giffen, Judge Cummings, lawyers, and Doctors Reader, Davis, McConaughy, Porter, Shidler, Ryan, Sedgwick, Wyckoff, Carscadden, and S. V. Moore.
"May the present leaders and thinkers of York, twenty or thirty years from now be able to look back as delightfully as we do upon these men. I love those boys yet, and know those of them still there care for me."
OTHER PAPERS IN YORK
The York County Tribune was inaugurated by Frank A. Wellman, a brother of the Walter Wellman who made the famous North Polar expedition for the Chicago Record-Herald some fifteen or twenty years ago. Its first number was issued in March, 1822. It remained under the editorship of Mr. Wellman until the summer of 1880, at which time Messrs. Whedon and Culley became its proprietors. Mr. Whedon later became a notable figure in Nebraska press history through his many years of notable management of the Kearney Democrat. On March 25, 1882. Mr. J. C. Armstrong took possession of this plant. About this time its name was changed to the Democrat.
The York Democrat has been a notable member of the newspaper family of York County. Its publication under that name began in 1882 and has continued until this date. The paper was sold by Armstrong a short while later, and L. D. Woodruff was publisher in 1884. In 1885 Woodruff and Coreoran was the firm name of the owners of the plant. It was soon after that taken over by George F. Corcoran, who has remained the owner of this plant through the many intervening years, though his duties in court circles and legal practice have deterred his personal management of the paper, and it has been under many other guiding hands for various lengths of time. Through the later '80s and early '90s George F. Cor- coran was editor of the paper. Through the later '90s, Dan T. Corcoran was editor most of the time. About 1900 it was conducted for a time by Corcoran and Frank. this firm being Dan T. Corcoran and Cliff Frank. There was a short period it was named the Teller-Democrat. When Judge Corcoran first purchased the paper, there was a period during which F. L. Whedon remained editor, and abont 1892 II. C. Waldrip, who for many years has published the Scotia ( Neb.) Register, was denominated as publisher for the Democrat. At another period Albert P. Sprague conducted this paper. But the longest period of service was that of Dan T. Corcoran. Will M. Maupin took charge of this paper in 1915 and conducted it for about three years. During this time his notable Midwest Magazine was issued from this office. When this talented writer left York in 1918, for a short time John E. Kavanaugh of Spalding, Neb., took the management of this paper, but it was turned over shortly to A. G. Ward, who has faithfully handled this enter- prise for the last couple of years, and in 1921 is publishing a bright, breezy sheet.
The York Times, which has been the third newspaper in age in York, in com- petition with the Republican and the Democrat for the past forty years, was started on August 13, 1880, by Adams and Woolman. It was first published as
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
the Tidal Wave. G. W. Woolman had sold his farm and came in during the sum- mer of 1880 and started the Tidal Wave and conducted it for a few weeks during the campaign in the interests of the greenback currency campaign. When that mission was performed the new enterprise was taken over by Adams and Woolman and conducted for a few months as the York "Times." In March, 1881, this paper was taken over by Theron E. Sedgwick, who condneted it as a republican newspaper for many years, in fact until it was consolidated for a time with the Republican by Sedgwick and Field in 1912. A little while later Mr. J. D. Field took the Daily Times and Mr. Sedgwick took the Republican. This paper was then sold to Thomas Curran of the York Blank Book Company and York News Company.
This paper is the one among the press of York which has been maintained for many years upon a daily basis. It was first issued as a daily in 1888. It has also at times been issued as a weekly and semi-weekly as well as a daily sheet. After it was sold to Mr. Curran it became consolidated with the York Daily News, which Mr. Curran was managing for the York Blank Book Company. For the past few , years it has been handled as the York Daily News-Times, and during 1920 Mr. T. E. Sedgwick returned to the newspaper fold and assumed the editorship of this paper.
In 1897 another newspaper was started in York, which is surviving in 1920 as the fourth York paper, the York Teller. It was organized by M. C. Frank in 1897 as a weekly sheet. He sold it some years ago to Miss Grace Moore, who, with the assistance of Mr. Bemis and her faithful staff, published a splendid paper under the name, the New Teller.
In 1889 local capitalists, mainly through the energy of the Sedgwicks, pro- moted the Nebraska Newspaper Union. This enterprise developed into an impor- tant institution, which made a business of collecting news items and artieles from all sources imaginable, preparing the plates and furnishing these as "inside plate sheets" to hundreds of smaller newspapers throughout Nebraska and some neighbor- ing states. In 1910 this enterprise was sold to the Western Newspaper Union and York lost the same. But during its existence this company built the splendid four- story building now used by the News-Times and York Blank Book Company as their business home.
OTHER PAPERS IN YORK COUNTY
Bradshaw has a very excellent newspaper, the Monitor, which has been pub- lished for several years by I. D. Beltzer. This paper is about twenty-five years old.
McCool Junction has a paper called the Blue Valley Journal, which began pub- lication June 10, 1897. Mr. E. C. Gilliland and wife carried this enterprise through its first years of life, as editors, publishers and proprietors. I. L. Slagle was the publisher and editor in 1920.
Waco has a live newspaper called the Waconion. In 1920 this sheet was started by F. P. Shields of Tamora, who issues it in a very interesting book form, with pages 6x9 inches, usually twelve to sixteen pages, and different colors used for various pages.
Gresham has had a newspaper for many years, the Gresham Gazette. J. A. Ruddock is the present editor and publisher.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
THE PLEASANTRIES
York County journalism presents many interesting phases, and none more so than some of the departments of local humor and jesting "personality" indulged in by the various papers. Space prohibits any very lengthy excursion into this realm, but the compiler has selected a few excerpts from the Lazy Man's Corner, con- ducted for many years during the late '80s and early '90s by the Democrat, and a few similar excerpts from the Squawker, of the past few years, conducted by the New Teller.
Believing that the reader will accept the older pleasantries of forty years ago with the same spirit of understanding that the current ribaldries are taken, these are included for purposes of contrast and comparison, and to give a balanced con- eeption of this interesting phase of newspaper work.
LAZY MAN'S CORNER
Leroy, Feb. 26, 1886.
To the Faithful :- Having organized a caneus on Lazy Man's Corner, and know- ing that the success of all societies depends on the grit and integrity of the members, we are holding under consideration the propriety of admitting to membership our honorable, his high mightiness, our ex-supervisor ; and if received into the fold of the faithful, we propose to make him the Grand Mogul, for we all know that he ean get more solid comfort out of a dry goods box and a good jackknife than any of the faithful. We shall probably be obliged to stay his initiation 'till the ice runs out of the creek, or till the oh-be-joyful gets cheaper as a cold chill would be dangerous to a lazy man, and he being hollow to the tops of his boots, it would take about four gallons of old Bourbon to fill him up.
Yours for the faithful,
SALT-PETER. LAZY MAN'S CORNER
Annual Meeting
March 10, 1887.
Chairman Wendall looked very handsome with a quid of tobacco, and his linen duster buttoned np with brass buttons, which gave him a decidedly military appear- ance. The chairman said we should all return thanks that the winter was so far advanced that we could hear the squeak of the wild goose and lie on the south side of the straw stack. in the warm sun, and play seven-up. The chairman said the dele- gate they sent to Lincoln to get offices for the club had been very successful. Ile had succeeded in getting an office for each member of the club, but unfortunately. like 99 out of every 100 applicants for office at Lincoln, this winter, our inaugura- fion does not take place for two years yet. The chairman then announced that the old year had expired, and the new year began on the 4th of March, the same as Congress. At the beginning of the new year, Secretary Small would report how each member's account stood on the ledger. The secretary then read: Lyman Mil- ler, Cr .- To drinking 21 gallons of hoss medicine, 3 kegs of beer, and one gallon of gin. Dr .- By drinking one quart of water.
Hutchison. Cr .- To whipping his wife 2? times. Dr .- By not whipping her 10 times.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
Wendall, Cr .- By going to 20 dances, 13 card parties, 3 raffling matches and one dozen fights. Dr .- To going to Sunday school once, but made a mistake and went on Saturday. To going to church once, but did not get there until church was out. Small, ('r .- By allowing the club to use his head for a reflector to the lamp. Dr .- To shearing 25 head of sheep in the month of January.
The secretary announced that the rest of the member's account was not posted. The chairman said he wanted to give the club a little advice, at the beginning of the new year: Figuratively speaking, we were now standing with one foot on the caboose of the past year, as it went thundering down the foggy road of the fast fading past, laden with politicians who had been false to the people, and traded their souls for a free pass and a few dollars. There were several Methodist preach- ers aboard, of Lincoln University notoriety. The Omaha Herald was engineer, the Omaha Republican, conductor and the editor of the York Republican, peanut boy, on said train. Our other foot on the cowcateher of the new year, as it comes rush- ing around the curve, with steam up and brakes off, laden with good resolutions and promises of the new year. Every member should firmly resolve that during the coming year he will do nothing worse than whip his wife, steal, and vote the democratic ticket. But man was so prone to evil, and naturally depraved, that he was afraid they would forget all these good resolutions, and before dog days, be reading the anti-monopoly editorials of the York Republican, and drinking mixed drinks and be guilty of all the crimes that would naturally follow such a course. As the chairman took his seat, Tom Pence passed around his old hoss medicine, winter prescription. Luckey played on his jewsharp and Carter danced. The chaplain then arose and said if he could always live in such society as this, he would like to turn to a seruldling and live forever. He said the club must not disband, as this club and the Methodist preachers and the saloons had to eleet our Jim onee more to Congress, which was going to be a big job, unless a certain man took the cramp cholera. MAGNA CHARTA.
LAZY MAN'S CORNER
July 1, 1886.
Wendall, on taking the chair, said we would have to curtail the boundary of the Corners or have more drug stores or larger bottles, as our supply of stimulants was insufficient. Carter moved that as Wendall was done gathering corn he be allowed to go to the celebration on the Fourth. Carried by a rising vote. Vandeventer then took the floor and stated he had been away out west in Custer and Sherman counties among the Indians and Buffaloes ; had several narrow escapes, but his beauty saved him. When he got to Grand Island he heard that James Hamilton, Powers, Scott, and several other parties from York were in town. He wanted to find them and of course went to the saloons (which are every other house in town) but they were not there, nor had they been there. He went to the police and stated the facts and told them he was satisfied they had been foully dealt with. The police laughed and said if they were from York he would find them at the drug stores, as Yorkites never patronized saloons for it was a little disgraceful, besides it was more economical to deal with drug stores. This satisfied him as he knew habit was second nature. Secretary Small then read a communication from the York ring stating that Doctor Knapp had changed to a Van Wyck man, as he thought a man running for governor of Nebraska as anti-Van Wyck would be in as poor a business as a farmer raising corn for the railroads. Also, Laird is to be elected to Congress, Knapp, gov-
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ernor : then all hands are to join and elect Laird United States senator. Governor Knapp will appoint Judge Post to fill the vacancy, then the millennium is close at hand. All members of the L. M. C. were ordered not to read the York Times, as it was no good. Henry Smith wanted to know what the railroads would tink ven dey see Knapp mit der Van Wyck beoples. The chairman said as long as Knapp kept in good company like Post, Laird, and the York Republican it was no difference he said the railroads were satisfied. Lyman Miller said if we could get Bill MeCloud to support Van Wyck he would be defeated for Bill never supported a man in his life but what he was defeated.
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