Newspapers & Periodicals - Early History - Natchitoches Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, 1890 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** TIPS FOR SEARCHING RECORDS ON THE INTERNET Netscape & Ms Explorer users: If searching for a particular surname, locality or date while going through the records in the archives or anywhere....try these few steps: 1. Go to the top of the report you are searching. 2. Click on EDIT at the top of your screen. 3. Next click on FIND in the edit menu. 4. When the square pops up, enter what you are looking for in the FIND WHAT ___________blank. 5. Click on DIRECTION __DOWN. 6. And last click on FIND NEXT and continue to click on FIND NEXT until you reach the end of the report. This should highlight the item that you indicated in "find what" every place it appears in the report. You must continue to click on FIND NEXT till you reach the end of the report to see all of the locations of the item indicated. NEWSPAPERS & PERIODICALS - EARLY HISTORY Natchitoches, Parish During the pioneer days of the parish readers were supplied by newspapers and periodicals, both French and Spanish. When the first paper was printed in the English language here can not be ascertained. In 1848, when Mr. Duplex settled here, the Chronicle was published by Thomas C. Hunt. In 1860 the Natchitoches Union, printed in French and English, was issued by Ernest Le Gendre for the Union Publishing Company. On the editor's death in 1862 L. Duplex took charge as editor; but in 1864 the Federals issued it for one week, and removed two presses and the material. On Banks being driven away, Mr. Duplex refurnished the office and carried on L. 'Union until 1872, under the tile Natchitoches Times, when the publication ceased. In 1876 the office was sold to J. H. Cosgrove. The press was sold in 1877 to the Winnsborough Sun. On April 5, 1864, the Natchitoches Daily Union was issued from the government printing office, Lieut. Thomas Hughes was editor and Sergt. H. R. Crenshaw & Co., publishers. A beautiful word painting of the happy condition of the people before the war was drawn, the leaders who led them into Rebellion denounced and promise made that only one flag should wave in the North and South. Among the poems of the war period were the "Marseillaise du Sud," dedicated to the chasseurs a pied des Natchitoches, by E. L. Caporal; "Aux Volontaires," was written in May, 1861, by Malle; "The Soldier's Dirge" in 1864, and "Farewell to the Lafouche Guards" in 1861. During or after the visit of Ex President Davis, "The Saddest Run of the Storm," written by Mary E. Bryan for the Spectator. Natchitoches Spectator was issued December 5, 1867, by J. M. Scanland. On September 22, 1868, Mr Scanland issued his valedictory and Mr. Cromie purchased the office and filled all contracts from the Red River News Republican, 1874. The Red River News was established by James Cromie in 1808. L. H. Burdick became owner in 1870 and continued publication until June, 1874. The Record was issued here later, and in 1875 D. W. Hubley published the Republican. The Peoples' Vindicator was issued June 17, 1874, by J. H. Cosgrove, as a Democratic journal, this was the first Democratic paper since the Times suspended. In 1881 the office was sold to Phanor Breazeale and publication suspended. (On March 29, 1884, the office of the Vindicator was sold to C. V. Portor). The Daily Vindicator was published in 1876 by J. H. Cosgrove; but owing to the heavy expense of associated press despatches, this great enterprise was surrendered after six weeks. The Natchitoches Register was issued in June, 1880, by John E. Hewitt. The Democratic Review was established May 13, 1883, by C. V. Porter. In 1887 Thomas J. Flanner was editor and in May 1888, J. H. Cosgrove became proprietor. In 1883 the "Race Problem" was written by Mr. Cosgrove and subsequently he contributed to the press of this Sate many of the ablest, matter of fact papers on political and social affairs. He brought the Review into the front rank of Louisiana journals. The Enterprise was issued here in 1888 by H. P. Breazeale. The Robeline Reporter was established in February, 1883, by S. M. Potts & Son, who published it until 1884, when J. M. Porter and W. A. Laurent became owners. Later that year the latter sold to W. A. Carter, who a short time after purchased Porter's interest. In 1886 the Reporter became the property of the Robeline Publishing Company, W. A. Ponder, superintendent, and A. B. Carter, editor. After a few months Dr. J. H. Cunningham became editor, and during his illness Mrs. M. E. Cunningham became editress. On the latter's death in 1886, C. R. Lee controlled the office, but publications ceased for a short time, when I. F. Carter revived it. In 1887 Hickson Capers purchased the office, and in February, 1889, when the Publishing Company resumed ownership, another suspension followed until R. M. McIntosh purchased the office, but in 1889 A. V. Carter became owner and changed the name to the News. In January, 1888, R. W. Ferguson was editor and D. W. Hubley, publisher. The valedictory of A. V. Carter as editor, of the Robeline News and of Carter & Son as proprietors, appeared May 30, 1890, and in the same issue, a stirring salutatory was issued by S. C. Presley. J. E. Howe, now connected with the News, entered the office in February, 1883. Martha's Bulletin was issued at Marthaville in 1888, with W. A. Gilbreath publisher. On September 12, 1890, the name was changed to the People's Republic, and Lee & Gilbreath were editors. The size of the paper was doubled at this time.