Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Newspapers 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

NEWSPAPERS.

   The Petaluma Weekly Journal was issued on the 18th day of August, 1855, by
Thomas L. Thompson. At this time Sonoma county embraced the whole of Mendocino,
but the population was sparse, and the mail facilities were imperfect and
irregular. The Journal, however, was a wide-a-wake paper, and even at that early
day was instrumental in bringing this portion of the State prominently into
notice. Mr. Thompson disposed of his interest in the Journal in March, 1856, to
H. L. Weston. Mr. Weston made it a valuable local journal, ever alive to the
interests of Petaluma and Sonoma county. We are indebted to files of the
Journal, from 1855 to 1860, for much that is valuable, culled from its columns.

   In November, 1862, Mr. Weston disposed of a part interest in the Journal to
T. W. Abraham. That firm continued the publication until February, 1864, when
they sold the paper to McNabb & Co., and it was merged into the Argus, and took
the name of the Journal and Argus. Mr. Weston was interested in a Nevada paper
from March to August, 1864; in the last named month he returned to Petaluma, and
shortly after repurchased an interest in the Journal and Argus, which he still
retains. The name of the paper was changed to Petaluma Weekly Argus.

   In November, 1859, J. J. Pennebacker issued the first number of the Petaluma
Argus. In December, 1860, he disposed of his interest in the paper to A.
Drouilliard. In July, 1861, J. H. McNabb & Co. bought out the interest of A.
Drouilliard, and in August, 1864, the Journal and Argus were consolidated as
above stated. The paper is now published by H. L. Weston, N. W. Scudder and
James H. McNabb, under the firm-name of Weston, Scudder & Co. It is an elegantly
printed quarto, made up in best style of newspaper typographical art. Its
managers are thoroughly up in the mechanical, editorial and local departments of
the paper. The Argus has always been a staunch advocate of the principles of the
Republican party. Though decided, it is fair in its treatment of political
subjects, and commands the respect of those who hold opposing views. Mr. D. S.
Lane, of the editorial staff) is a careful and accurate writer, a close
observer, and a natural statistician. He rarely trips in his facts, figures,
logic or language.

   To Messrs. Woods, McGuire & Edwards is due the credit of starting the first
daily newspaper in Sonoma county. The Petaluma Daily Crescent was commenced in
the summer of 1870; Mr. C. B. Woods was editor; it was published most of the
time by A. McGuire. In the spring of 1872 the Crescent passed into the hands of
H. M. Woods, who discontinued it in the lull of that year. The Crescent was
Democratic in politics, and, in addition to its daily, issued a weekly edition.

   In July, 1872, the Petaluma Argus commenced the publication of a daily
journal, which continued for one year and suspended publication. It was a well
made-up daily paper, and its suspension was a surprise to its patrons.

   The Petaluma Courier was started in the fall of 1876 by W. F. Shattuck. It is
Democratic in politics; the proprietor is a practical printer, who grew from
boyhood and learned his trade in Sonoma county. He makes an excellent paper, in
all its departments. The editor of the paper, E. S. Lippitt, is a leading lawyer
of Sonoma county, in large practice. He is a man of fine education, and is a
pointed and forcible writer. Mr. Lippitt has a thorough knowledge of the
politics of the country. He is an old resident of the county, and knows its
local needs. Under its present management the Courier cannot fail to become an
influential as it is an able journal.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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