Lassen County CA Archives History - Books .....Journalism 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 18, 2006, 2:13 am Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties JOURNALISM. On the first day of July, 1865, the initial publication of Lassen county, The Sage Brush, a four-page, six-column weekly newspaper, made its appearance at Susanville. It was inaugurated by A. C. Longmore, an Englishman who had traveled extensively in tropical countries before coming to the United States. The articles emanating from his pen were written in a clear, forcible, pleasant style, entirely devoid of ambiguity. Politically, he espoused the principles of republicanism; and if a portion of his patrons were at variance with him in opinion, they have always done him the justice to say they believed him sincere in all his writings. Longmore continued at the helm, advocating the interests of this section at all times, until August 10,1867, at which time the name of A. T. Bruce, editor and proprietor, appeared at the head of the first column. Mr. Bruce, whose biography is given elsewhere, was a young man of considerable ability, and while he continued to wield the editorial pen, the paper was conducted in an able and vigorous manner. In politics he was republican, and at the judicial election in 1867 was chosen county judge for two years, and acted in that capacity to the end of his term. He continued, however, to edit The Sage Brush until September 5, 1868, when John C. Partridge bought the establishment, changed the name to Lassen Sage Brush, and entered upon the discharge of the arduous duties of a country editor, which he did to the satisfaction of its patrons. His biography is given elsewhere. Mr. Partridge conducted the paper independent of all political parties, believing this to be but justice to all in a county where the patronage was not adequate to the support of two papers. It was managed solely as a business enterprise, and not for personal, political, or literary fame, always aiming to give the public value received for their money. Other pursuits occupied so much of his time that he decided to form a copartnership, selling a half-interest to his brother-in-law, D. C. Slater. Mr. Slater was a democrat, and this independent course outlined at the beginning was continued. They afterwards changed the name to The Lassen Advocate, and together continued its publication until Mr. Slater withdrew and embarked in the same business farther north, starting The Modoc Independent, the first paper in Modoc county, where he has since lived. Mr. Partridge managed the paper until he sold out, and was succeeded June 22, 1878, by E. A. Weed, a gentleman who had but recently arrived in the county. Mr. Weed bought the material formerly used in the publication of the Lassen County Farmer, and merged the two papers into one. His course was independent, although he leaned towards republicanism. He changed the title, October 19, 1878, to Lassen Advocate, which appellation it still retains. During the year 1880 he started a newspaper at Greenville, Plumas county, and soon after sold the paper here to D. C. Hyer, his name appearing as proprietor November 19, 1880, for the last time. Mr. Hyer at once formed a copartnership with Albert L. Shinn, late of the Mountain Review, to whom he sold a half-interest. In politics Mr. Hyer was democratic; but they paid no attention to politics, aiming to avoid partisanship as much as possible. These gentlemen continued together until April 1, 1881, when Hyer sold to his partner, stating in his valedictory that "his preferences led him to embark in other pursuits." Mr. Shinn continued to manage and edit the sheet until October 28, 1881, when he resigned his office, material, and pen to N. S. McKinsey, and retired from the field of Lassen county journalism. Mr. McKinsey first entered into journalism in Modoc county, where he is still interested. Since the purchase of the Advocate he has remained here in active management of the paper constantly. In politics he has maintained a strictly neutral and independent course. In the past the people have spoken of his management in terms of appreciation, and it is evident from his record that he possesses that varied experience essential to the successful management of a country journal. His partner is D. C. Slater, who is interested with him in the same business in Modoc county, which branch he manages. The Advocate is now a seven-column, four-page weekly, published every Thursday. October 22, 1874, the first number of the Lassen County Journal made its appearance. George M. Pierce was editor and proprietor. He continued the publication for a year, and then retired. The press lay idle until the spring of 1876, when J. G. Law and W. S. Lewis, both of Reno, Nevada, revived the paper, under the name of The Lassen County Farmer. Law soon retired, and Lewis continued the publication a few months, and abandoned it. After another season of suspension, it was again revived by T. H. Dawson. It was soon suspended again, and in 1878 was combined with the Advocate. November 12, 1879, Albert L. Shinn began publishing the Mountain Review, a four-page, five-column paper, issued once a week. Politicaly, he said he was "with the people and for the people," which meant that he would run an independent paper. In the campaign of 1880 he advocated the greenback cause. He assumed the aggressive from the first, denouncing the leaders of the republican and democratic parties abroad and at home. In the early part of December, 1879, his brother James O. became associated with him, and continued until the time of his death, August 16, 1880, at the age of 33 years. Albert continued the business alone until November 10, 1880, when the last number was printed, having been issued just one year. He then associated himself with Mr. Hyer in the Advocate. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties San Francisco: Fariss & Smith (1882) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/lassen/history/1882/illustra/journali137nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb