Nobles County MN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XXII The Press 1908
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Book Title: An Illustrated History Of Nobles County

CHAPTER XXII.

THE PRESS.



  During its newspaper history of thirty-six years Nobles county has, at one

time and another, been the home of over thirty newspapers. Most of these have

been weekly publications, one was a monthly, and several were dailies, run in

connection with the weekly editions, ranging in life from a few issues to five

years. Of these thirty-odd' publications started, nine weekly papers are in

existence at the date of the publication of this volume, as follows:

Advance-Herald (Worthington), Chas. Hamstreet, publisher; Worthington Globe, by

Peter Thompson; Nobles County Democrat (Adrian), by A. J. Schaeffer; Ellsworth

News, by E. E. Lovrien; Rushmore Enterprise, by M. A. Mattison; Round Lake

Graphic, by J. L. Flint; Brewster Tribune, by Jesse Hamstreet; Wilmont Tribune,

by M. R. Berkhimer; Lismore Leader, by Leader Publishing company.



  Going back of the date of the sound of the first click of the type in Nobles

county, we must consider the Colony Journal, published at Toledo, Ohio, to make

the history of the press complete. This was a publication issued by Dr. A. P.

Miller, of the National colony, which was started for the purpose of advertising

the Nobles county lands owned by the colony. It did excellent service in

bringing settlers to the county, and many of the pioneers gained their first

knowledge of Nobles county from that journal. [1]



  Nobles county's first newspaper was the Western Advance, the name of which was

later changed to Worthington Advance. In the summer of 1872 the National Colony

company, of which Dr. A. P. Miller and Prof. R. F. Humiston were the principal

owners, purchased a printing outfit and issued a prospectus, stating that the

new paper would begin an existence in June. The material was ordered in time to

fulfil the promises of the prospectus, but owing to many delays it was

impossible to get out a paper before the last day of August. The name of the

publication was selected by Rev. B. H. Crever, who at the outset was to have

been connected with the editorial management. M. H. Stevens was finally selected

to manage the paper for its owners, with the privilege of buying the plant if

his management proved satisfactory to Miller, Humiston & Co.



  On the 31st day of August, 1872, the first issue was taken from the press. [2]

It was an eight column folio and the two outside pages were "patent." The

subscription price was $2.00 per year. The editorial utterances were strongly

republican. Ulysses S. Grant for president, Henry Wilson for vice president, and

M. H. Dunnell for congressman, received many favorable notices in the Advance

during the campaign that followed the establishment of the paper. I quote at

length from the salutatory:



  We commence the publication of the Western Advance, believing that there is a

sufficient demand for a paper of such character as we intend to make it, to

insure its success.



  Politically, the Advance will support republican principles and such measures

as we believe to be for the best interests of our country. Locally, while we

shall be consistently republican, we shall countenance no use of the party's

strength for personal motives, but regard the good of the entire community as

conducing to our own best interests.



  We have not assumed the editorial management of the paper without fully

appreciating the local differences, at the present time the subject of much

discussion, but we shall steer clear of the personal phase the subject has

assumed, deeming our duty to the public to be to advocate the carrying out of

principles, but not to occupy our space in spreading abroad the details of every

personal matter that may grow out of their discussion.



  We shall in a manner consistent with our ideas of public policy freely and

earnestly advocate the principles of temperance, believing, as we do, that

intemperance is undermining rapidly not only the social institutions of our

country, but is destroying by its demoralizing power the strength of our

democratic form of government.



  But our main efforts will be devoted to making a home newspaper, such as it

will be the duty of every citizen of whatever opinion on local differences to

support. Institutions to aid in •building up the country cannot be maintained

without  .  .  .  [3] to be in perfect harmony, it must be acknowledged that a

newspaper with no policy, and drifted about by every local breeze, to endeaver

to please all and displease none, would be but a sorry concern. In such we can

have no part or interest.



  During the first year of its existence the Advance enjoyed prosperous times.

Settlers were pouring into the country at a rapid rate, the little village of

Worthington was growing by leaps and bounds, and all lines of business

flourished. Then came the disastrous grasshopper days, and the newspaper

business suffered severely. Mr. Stevens presided over the destinies of the

Advance until March, 1874, when he withdrew. The colony company then installed

Mr. A. P. Miller as manager. A few months after that gentleman took charge the

name of the publication was changed from Western Advance to Worthington Advance,

[4] and about the first of the year 1875 he became the owner of the paper,

having purchased it from Miller, Humiston & Co. [5]



  Mr. Miller, who is now in the newspaper business at Los Angeles, Cal., was

undoubtedly one of the best newspaper men that ever conducted a Nobles county

journal, and he was financially successful. He belonged to the old school of

journalism, and no subject was discussed in an impersonal manner. He had a large

vocabulary, a good command of the language, wrote his editorials with vitriol,

and neither asked nor gave quarter in a word war. Whether he was berating his

subscribers for not paying their subscription dues, denouncing his

contemporaries as incendiaries, thugs and blackmailers, laying bare the personal

history of political aspirants, or writing poetry, his articles were always

interesting and were always read. He succeeded in making an enemy of nearly

every man in the community during his reign over the Advance. Repeated efforts

were made to start successful opposition papers and cause his retirement, but

all such efforts were fruitless, and he conducted the Advance nearly fifteen

years. He advocated spiritualism, and for years he filled his paper with the

teachings of that belief and berated those who did not agree with him. He once

described his beliefs as follows:



  "We are a free thinker and an agnostic. But we are also a Christian, a

spiritualist, a communist, a socialist, and, if you please, an anarchist. They

are all right in part. To sum it up in one word, we are an eclectic." [6]



  The Advance continued to be republican in politics under Mr. Miller's

management, as it has ever since been. During the grasshopper days the paper was

reduced to a seven column folio, but on April 4, 1878, the old form of eight

columns was resumed.



  The Advance was purchased Nov. 15, 1888, by the late Rev. Robert McCune, who

at one time previously had been editor of the Toledo Blade, and he conducted the

paper nearly five years. In September, 1893, Carl S. Eastwood, who had

previously been proprietor of, and who is at the present time conducting, the

Heron Lake News, came to Worthington and purchased the Advance. He at once put

in a large power press, added new type and material and made other improvements

in the paper. He enlarged it to a six column quarto, and during part of the time

printed it all at home. He attempted the publication of a daily Advance, which

had an existence from Nov. 3, 1894, to Jan. 1, 1895, but the venture was not a

financial success.



  Mr. Eastwood sold his interests March 5, 1896, to H. Hawley. The latter made

many improvements in the equipment of the office, adding a Simplex type setting

machine, a paper folder, and a lot of other new material. During the first few

years he was in charge the Advance was an eight column quarto; in the spring of

1901 it was made a six column quarto, all printed at home, but on Dec. 25, 1903,

the "patent" features were resumed. Mr. Hawley demonstrated that a daily paper

could live in Worthington by publishing one over five years. The first issue of

the Daily Advance was published in September, 1899, and was a three column

folio. It was later enlarged to a four column paper, and in 1902 to a six

column. Mr. Hawley denied that the venture was a profitable one, and the daily

was discontinued Nov. 19, 1904. O. S. Hawley was in charge of the Advance from

Jan. 1, 1905, when H. Hawley took the office of register of deeds, to which he

had been elected the preceding fall, till August 26, 1905, when the plant, was
sold.



  Thos. Dovery, formerly of Barron, Wis., became the publisher on the last named

date, and presided over its destinies until July, 1908. Then the Worthington

Advance went out of existence and was succeeded by the Advance-Herald. Mr.

Charles Hamstreet, who for many years had been conducting newspapers in

different towns of the county, and who had a short time before become the owner

of the Worthington Herald, bought the subscription list and good will of the

Advance, consolidated the two under the name of Advance-Herald, and is now

conducting the paper. He has made many additions and improvements and is

publishing the best local paper in southwestern Minnesota. It is a six column

quarto and is all published at home. Mr. Dovery removed the Advance plant to

Idaho, where he is now engaged in publishing a paper.



  Nobles county's second newspaper was a campaign publication, a two column

folio, known as the Claim Shanty Vindicator, which had an existence from Oct. 7

to Nov. 4, 1874. It was published at Worthington by the central committee of the

democratic and liberal republican parties, and the Bennett Bros, were the

editors. The little plant upon which it was printed was owned by W. R. Bennett.

The salutatory is so unique that I reproduce part of it here:



  Believing that something should be speedily done to counteract the baneful

effects produced by the republican press upon the people, it has been deemed

advisable to commence the publication of a paper, that thereby some of the evils

might be remedied, and that truth might find its way into more remote localities.



  To that end the Vindicator will be published every week, and at so trifling a

sum that all may have an opportunity to understand what is the best course to

pursue at the approaching election. It will faithfully defend what its name

implies, the interests of the settlers and particularly those who have pioneered

their way into the wilds of the country to build themselves homes, and thereby

put something away against the evening of life. In so doing such language will

be used that can easily be understood. No attempt will be made at eloquence, but

the political .situation will be discussed in a fair, impartial and intelligible

manner. . . . So long as the present political party is in power, wrenching from

the people their hard earned money, office holders can well afford to buy up

republican editors and send their papers' broadcast throughout the country,

deceiving the people and diverting their attention to some imaginary evil in

some distant part of the country, while their substance is being purloined, to

again play their "confidence games" and retain their hold upon the offices.



  A. P. Miller, the "bought up editor" referred to, facetiously announced the

birth of its rival:



  "The staff we understand to be as follows: Owner of material and presses, W.

R. Bennett; principal stockholders, L. B. Bennett, L. F. Bennett and W. S.

Stockdale; editor in chief, L. F. Bennett; associate editors, L. B. Bennett, W.

R. Bennett, W. S. Stockdale, Warren Smith and others; city editors, L. F.

Bennett, L. B. Bennett, W. R. Bennett, W. S. Stockdale and others; foreman, B.

Bennett; business managers, L. B. Bennett, L. F. Bennett, W. S. Stockdale;

subscribers, L. F. Bennett, L. B. Bennett, W. R. Bennett, W. S. Stockdale, Major

Thurber, Thomas Crever, D. Stone, O. Bigelow."



  : After the suspension of the Vindicator the little plant was purchased by two

Worthington boys, Will S. Langdon and Clayborne Rohrer, who launched the

Literary Triumph. This was in the same form and style as its predecessor, except

that it was devoted to the interests of young people instead of the democratic

party. The first number was issued Nov. 21, 1874, and it was the intention to

make the Triumph a weekly publication, but for some reason publication was not

very regular. In all eight numbers were printed, the last one being on March 20,

1875. Will W. Loveless, still a resident of Worthington, was reporter for the

Triumph for a time. After the suspension the plant was purchased by the Advance.



  The next publication to begin life in Nobles county was the Worthington

Journal—a paper destined to play quite an important part in the county's early

history during its life of a little less than six years. There was more or less

dissatisfaction with the policy of the Advance as conducted by A. P. Miller in

1876, and promises of support were given to anyone who would start a new paper

in Worthington, Mr. Miller declared that there was no possible need for a second

paper and that it was to be started for spite work. [7] Nevertheless the paper

came into existence on April 29, 1876, with good support. The Journal was under

the management of Major T. C. Bell, who was its editor, and Thomas M. Gruelle, a

former employe of the Advance, who had charge of the mechanical department. At

the end of the first year Major Bell sold his interests to his partner, and Mr.

Gruelle conducted the paper alone for a year and a half. In May, 1878, he

enlarged the Journal to an eight column quarto, four pages of which were printed

in the office of publication.



  In the fire of August 6, 1878, which destroyed Miller hall, the Journal plant

was destroyed, all that was saved being a job press and the books and accounts.

The loss to the newspaper was estimated at from $3,000 to $4,000, and was

covered with $2,500 insurance. A new plant was immediately installed, and

publication was resumed. A. S. Lindsay purchased the Journal in October, 1878,

and was its proprietor until January, 1880. For a short time in the fall of 1879

Paul Blount had charge of the paper during the absence of Mr. Lindsay, who was

on a concert tour. About the first of January, 1880, Mr. Lindsay sold the plant

and went to Pana, Ill., to take charge of the Argus. The purchaser of the

Journal was Rev. J. C. Ogle, who was at the time superintendent of schools of

Nobles county. In October, 1881, J. C. Ogle went to Winnebago City, Minn., to

accept a call to fill one of the pulpits there, and the management was turned

over to his son, George A. Ogle.



  Its publication was continued until February, 1882, when a mortgage on the

plant, which was held by Peter Thompson, was foreclosed, and the Worthington

Journal became a thing of the past. The plant remained in Worthington, however,

and a little over a year later it was used in publishing the Worthington Record,

the history of which will be told later. Below is given Mr. Miller's account of

the demise of the Journal. It is reproduced, not in the belief that it properly

tells the story of the Journal, but rather to illustrate Mr. Miller's style of

dealing with a contemporary:



  Died—On Thursday, Jan. 26, 1882, of financial exhaustion, congenital scrofula

and general moral, social and business leprosy, the Worthington Journal, aged

five years, eight months and twenty-eight days. And of such is the kingdom of

heaven.



  Funeral services from the house. Sermon by one of its fathers, the Rev. J. C.

Ogle, from the text-"It sprung up like a sparrow-grass, hopped about like a

hoppergrass, and died like a ja—donkey."



  Epitaph: "Here lies the Worthington Journal, a mishappen newspaper Caliban. It

was conceived in ringism, born in a blaze of rowdyism, and nurtured in spite and

fraud."



  It never paid its taxes; it burned a $7,000 building to get an insurance of

$1,800 on its accursed life; and it led a career of fraud, dishonesty and

strife. With a few upright and decent men for backers, it was nevertheless a

rendezvous and mouthpiece of about all the sneaks, frauds, dead-beats, scandal

jockeys, hypocrites and white trash of the community. It died as it lived,

physically a Caliban, politically a Guiteau, and morally and socially a Ruloff.



  Although Adrian had been founded in 1876 it was several years later before a

newspaper made its appearance there. A little advertising sheet, called the

Adrian Advertiser, was published for a short time in the spring of 1879,

beginning early in March, by Geo. H. Carr, one of the merchants there. But no

legitimate newspaper was issued there until May, 1883, when the Guardian was

started. In the fall of 1882 W. M. Patrick, editor of the Mendota (Ill.) Index,

decided to come to Adrian and establish a paper to be called the Adrian Press,

and went so far as to issue a prospectus to that effect. He expected to start

before winter, but did not, and in the spring word was received that he had

abandoned the project and was about to engage in the business in Lyndon, Ill.



  The people of Adrian were determined to have a paper and opened communication

with S. S. Haislett, who had been publishing the Heron Lake Guardian since 1880,

with a view to having him locate in the Nobles county town. Mr. Haislett decided

to make the change and moved the plant, issuing the first number of the Adrian

Guardian on Saturday, May 19, 1883. The motto of the Guardian, conspicuously

displayed for so many years was: "While the Guardian will the people's rights

maintain, we publish it for bread and butter, not for fame." During the many

years he was at the helm of the Guardian, Mr. Haislett issued a creditable

publication, and received liberal support from the people of Adrian. He retained

the active management until late in August, 1896, when he leased the plant to

his son, Orrie M. Haislett, and C. C. Spaulding. Later he again took charge for

a short time, but on April 28, 1899, his sons, Orrie M. and S. S., Jr., took the

management, and the founder retired from newspaper work. In December, 1899, the

firm of O. M. & S. S. Haislett, Jr., was dissolved, the junior member of the

firm assuming entire charge.



  D. J. and Chas. T. Tinnes leased the plant a little later, and for a time

conducted it under the firm name of Tinnes Bros. In April, 1902, D. J. Tinnes

purchased the Guardian and conducted it over three years. Publication was

suspended early in November, 1905, owing to lack of support, and Nobles county's

second oldest paper went out of existence, after a life of over 22 years. During

its early history it was a paying institution, and it assisted materially in

making Adrian the prosperous town it has always been. The Guardian was

republican in politics.



  After the suspension of the Worthington Journal in January, 1882, the plant,

which was the property of Peter Thompson, remained idle until the summer of the

following year. Then two Sioux Falls printers, A. E. Caldwell [8] and R. J. W.

Bloom, were induced to come to Worthington and resuscitate the Journal. Parties

in Worthington had given the partners considerable encouragement, and on

Thursday, June 7, 1883, they got out the first number of their paper, which they

named Worthington Record, having leased the plant from Mr. Thompson. A little

over a month later Mr. Caldwell gave up his interest in the paper and returned

to Sioux Falls.



  Mr. Bloom presided over the destinies of the Record until March 10, 1884, when

he relinquished his interest in the paper and turned the property back to Mr.

Thompson. The owner then sold to Geo. W. Penn, formerly of New Castle, Pa., who

took charge of the paper in April. The new editor changed the politics of the

Record from republican to democratic, and it was at the time the only democratic

paper south and west of Mankato in the state of Minnesota. Mr. Penn remained in

charge only until Nov. 26, 1884, but during this time he demonstrated the fact

that he was an able and forcible writer and a good newspaper man. On the last

named date F. M. McCormack, formerly of Sheldon, Iowa, leased the plant from Mr.

Penn, made it a republican paper, and published it until Jan. 29, 1885. Mr.

McCormack issued a good paper, but the necessary support was lacking, and he did

not make a financial success of the venture. Mr. Penn returned to look after his

interests, found the affairs of the Record in a bad way financially, and on Feb.

21, 1885, the plant was sold at sheriff's sale, being bid in by Daniel Shell,

who held a note against Mr. Penn for $325. The plant was then purchased by C. S.

Eastwood, who was the publisher of the Lakefield Citizen, and removed to

Ellsworth, where it was used in publishing the Ellsworth News, which was

established by G. H. Eastwood.



  The next Nobles county paper to be considered in the chronological order of

founding was a monthly publication, the Minnesota Home, from which later sprang

the Worthington Globe. The publication came into existence as the result of a

desire on the part of the real estate dealers of southwestern Minnesota to

advertise the country's resources. Originally it was proposed to raise $2,100 in

the seven southwestern counties to be spent in printed matter to advertise the

Blue Grass region. Peter Thompson and Geo. J. Day of Worthington, who were then

partners in the banking and real estate business, conceived the idea of a

publishing company for the purpose of issuing a regular monthly paper, to be the

organ of the real estate men.



  The plan of the Worthington bankers was adopted, and on May 31, 1884, articles

of incorporation for the Minnesota. Home Publishing company were filed, with the

following incorporators: Joseph Flanders, of Madelia; E. J. Graves, of Heron

Lake; Peter Thompson, of Worthington; Neil Currie, of Currie; and Geo. A.

Iselin, of Mountain Lake. The principal place of business was to be Worthington,

the capital stock was to be $10,000, and the corporation was to commence June 1,

1884.



  The first number of the Minnesota Home was issued in October, and the paper

was published until the spring of 1886. Geo. J. Day was the editor. Five

thousand copies were issued each month for free distribution. A Campbell

printing press (the one now employed, in the Globe office) was installed and

other expensive machinery was purchased. A building was erected on Third avenue

as the home of the new publication, and the building is still used as a printing

office. In the spring of 1886 publication of the Home was discontinued, and its

place was taken by the Worthington Globe, mention of which will be made later.



  The village of Ellsworth was only about six months old when its first

newspaper came into existence—the paper which has ever since been published

there. When the Worthington Record suspended in March, 1885, the plant was

purchased and moved to the new town in Grand Prairie township, and there, early

in April, the first number of the Ellsworth News was printed. It was a seven

column folio, republican in politics, and G. H. Eastwood was the owner and

publisher. The News celebrated its second birthday by reducing the form to a

five column folio and taking in Frank Eastwood as a partner. Soon thereafter G.

H. Eastwood became sole owner again. The paper was enlarged to an eight column

folio, which form it retained many years.



  On June 23, 1892, the office of the Ellsworth News, together with the

residence of Mr. Eastwood, was almost entirely destroyed by fire, causing a

total loss of about $2,500, covered by only $500 insurance. Several hundred

dollars were raised by the people of Ellsworth to assist Mr. Eastwood in

replacing his plant, which was done after the paper had missed two issues. On

Aug. 24, 1894, the paper was enlarged to a five column quarto, with four pages

printed at home. After fourteen years satisfactory service as editor and

proprietor of the News, Mr. Eastwood in December, 1898, sold to P. F. Levins,

formerly of Clare, Iowa.



  Mr. Levins made the News a democratic paper. On March 1, 1901, he enlarged, it

to a six column quarto, installed a new press, and otherwise added to the

equipment and value of the paper. He retained possession about five years, and

during that time built up a fine business. E. E. Lovrien, formerly of New

Hampton, Iowa, took, possession of the News on August 1, 1905, having purchased

it two months before, and has since directed its course. October 4, 1906, he

made it an all home print paper, and it is now one of the three Nobles county

papers which is printed entirely in the office of publication. Mr. Lovrien

conducts the News as a democratic paper.



  Those who were opposed to the policy of the Worthington- Advance under the

management of A. P. Miller were ever on the alert to secure an opposition paper.

When the Minnesota Home was launched there was a rumor that another local paper

was to be published from that office, [9] but the paper did not materialize. In

the spring of 1886 the rumor was again revived. It was said that inducements had

been offered to the proprietor of a job office in Sioux City to come to

Worthington and launch a second paper. This rumor was verified, [10] and on

March 23, 1886, the first number of the Worthington Globe was taken from the

press. The Sioux City job printing office had been combined with the Minnesota

Home plant. The Globe was started as a republican paper by Edward Hitchcock &

Son. It was an eight column folio, with two "patent" pages.



  The history of the Globe is a romantic one. Since its founding in 1886 it has

had no less than seventeen editors, and it has advocated the policy of every

political party that has had an existence during that time. From its office was

issued the first daily paper ever published in the county, one being issued by

Mr. Hitchcock during the holiday season of 1886—Dec. 17 to 25. The founding of

the Globe was not a financial success to the Hitchcocks, and they departed late

in 1887. The Globe Publishing company, of which Peter Thompson and Geo. J. Day

were the members, became the owner after Mr. Hitchcock departed. In April, 1888,

when the dissolution of partnership between Messrs. Thompson and Day took place,

the former became the proprietor, and he has had an interest in the plant ever

since.



  When the founder of the Globe left Worthington in the closing days of 1887

Rev. E. R. Lathrop, pastor of the Methodist church, was made managing editor,

and he conducted it until Nov. 22, 1888. Then Frank G. Martin, who had been

foreman of the office, assumed charge and was at the head of the paper until

Nov. 19, 1891. On the date last named I. J. Williams and Ernest Perry bought the

plant, and for a time published the paper under the firm name of Perry &

Williams. Mr. Williams was the editor and Mr. Perry the business manager. They

changed the form of the paper Dec. 24, 1891, to a six column quarto, with four

pages printed at home. The firm was dissolved May 20, 1892, and Mr. Perry became

sole publisher.



  The ownership had returned to Peter Thompson, and on Sept. 1, 1393, Ernest

Perry and E. K. Smith took the Globe on a lease. The first of the following year

Mr. Smith became sole manager and conducted the paper until July 1, 1895, as a

republican paper. John S. Blair took a lease of the plant when Mr. Smith retired

and conducted it as a democratic paper until February, 1899. He issued a

creditable journal and rendered his party excellent service. The Christmas

edition of the Globe, published by Mr. Blair in 1895, was the largest paper ever

issued in Nobles county, both as to number of pages and the amount of

advertising carried. A lease was taken in February, 1899, by Dan Devaney and

Harry Allen, who were the publishers until May 19, 1899, when the latter became

sole publisher. He was succeeded Oct. 1, 1899, by Deacon Donham, who hailed from

St. Peter. Mr. Donham ran the Globe as a democratic organ until May, 1900. Then

John Watts, of Blue Earth City, took the management and ran the paper two months.



  A. E. Caldwell, of Sioux Falls, who for a short time had been part owner of

the Worthington Record in 1883, leased the Globe in July, 1900, and announced

that he would run a straight democratic paper. He did until June 27, 1902, when

he announced that thereafter it would be independent in politics. Mr. Caldwell

was a good newspaper man and made the Globe a creditable publication. He retired

from the management August 21, 1903. For a short time thereafter Mr. Thompson

was the publisher and O. B. Congdon, who had. been employed on the paper for the

preceding three years, was made editor and manager. I. A. Roshon conducted the

paper under a lease from May, 1904, to Oct. 12, 1905. A. E. Smalley was the next

editor, he taking it under a lease from Mr. Thompson when Mr. Roshon retired. He

attempted the publication of a daily Globe, which had an existence from Dec. 11,

1905, of about one month. He retired Oct. 14, 1906, when the plant was purchased

from Mr. Thompson by J. L. Berkhimer. A daily was issued for a short time in

December, 1906, by the new management. Mr. Berkhimer departed in the fall of

1907 for other green pastures, and the ownership of the paper reverted to Mr.

Thompson. That gentleman is now the publisher, and Frank Duster is the editor

and manager.



  For a period of five years, from the time of the establishment of the Globe in

1886 until the starting of Adrian's second paper in 1891, newspaper founding was

at a standstill in Nobles county, if we except the Independent, a campaign paper

started in September, 1888, in the interests of some of the independent

candidates of that year. The sheet was printed in the office of the Worthington

Globe and was fathered by E. S. Mills, independent candidate for county auditor.



  The farmers alliance was quite a strong organization in Nobles county in the

early nineties, and inducements were offered W. O. Lester to start an organ of

that party at Adrian in opposition to the Guardian. About the middle of April,

1891, he issued the first number of the Adrian Citizen, a seven column folio. It

was enlarged early in the following, year to a quarto, but carried six pages of

"patent" matter. Mr. Lester continued the publication, with indifferent success,

for two years, and then publication was suspended. [11]



  Over a year before the Adrian Citizen suspended a third paper had made its

appearance in the west end metropolis, making the sixth in the county. This was

the Nobles County Democrat, which was started in February, 1892, by John E.

King, formerly of the Rock Rapids Review. As its name implies, it was democratic

in politics, and it was the only democratic paper in the county at the time. It

was a six column quarto, was printed from new material, and presented a very

neat appearance. Mr. King published the paper nearly ten years, and during that

time issued one of the best papers ever published in the county. He made a

financial success of the venture, which is not always the case with country

newspapers. For a short time soon after the establishment F. H. Millard was

associated, with him in the publication. From Dec. 1, 1894, to July 1, 1895,

John S. Blair had an interest in the paper.



  A. J. Schaeffer became the owner and editor of the Democrat on August 30,

1901, and he has since presided over its destinies. He has maintained the high

standard set by the former owner, and today issues one of the best country

newspapers in the state. It is a six column quarto, and all eight pages are

published at home.



  Prior to 1892 there had not been a newspaper established in the county outside

of the three leading towns—Worthington, Adrian and Ellsworth. The first of the

smaller towns to support a paper was Bigelow. In February, 1892, there came into

existence the State Line Sentinel, bearing a Bigelow date line. It was founded

by John A. Flower, and was printed in the office of the Sibley Gazette. B. I.

Tripp was the local editor. The Sentinel was published for a short time only.



  Three papers were established in the county in 1892. The third of these was

the Nobles County Independent, which first saw the light of day April 19. The

independent was a seven column quarto, with six "patent" pages, was democratic

in politics, and was edited by Leon Carr. It had a troubled existence of less

than a year, and then Mr. Carr discontinued the paper and removed the plant from

Worthington.



  Another paper which, had a short existence in the county seat town was the

Minnesota Allahanda, a paper printed in the Swedish language and catering to the

whole state. Geo. Bylander was the founder of this publication, which came into

being during the hard times period in the fall of 1893. It was independent in

politics. Although it gained a circulation of 500 or 600, it did not fill a long

felt want, and about the first of April, 1894, the last number was printed. Its

suspension is said to have been hastened because of the inability of the

publisher to rescue his ready prints from the express office.



  Rushmore's first newspaper experience was in 1894, when the Rushmore Gazette

was founded by Fred H. Millard. The first number was issued Feb. 9, 1894, and

was a six column folio, two pages of which contained local news. The paper was

printed in the office of the Nobles County Democrat, at Adrian. Mr. Millard ran

the paper some months and then turned the management over to Emmett Carrell.

Publication was discontinued early in 1895.



  On September 20, 1894, the Kinbrae Herald was established by T. E. Cole and

Chas. Hamstreet, under the firm name of Cole & Hamstreet. The plant upon which

it was printed was brought from Caliope, Iowa. The Herald was a little four

column quarto and was printed on a job press. Mr. Hamstreet was editor and

manager and had entire charge of the paper, which was republican in politics.

After running it three years under the firm name of Cole & Hamstreet, the junior

member purchased his partner's interest and became the sole publisher. In 1897

the paper was enlarged to a seven column folio, which form was maintained until

its suspension. In November, 1899, Mr. Hamstreet leased the plant to the Misses

Fuller and Lindsey, who ran it till the following February. Thereafter there

were several different people in charge, who conducted it for short periods

under lease from the owner. Mr. Hamstreet obtained possession in September,

1901, and ran it until February, 1903, when he suspended publication and removed

the plant to Rushmore.



  One day after the birth of the Kinbrae Herald there came into existence at

Worthington the Worthington Herald, founded by T. G. Nicholson. It was a six

column quarto, four pages "patent," which form it always retained, and was

democratic. Mr. Nicholson was a spicy writer, and the Herald at once leaped into

favor. On Nov. 1, 1895, E. K. Smith, formerly editor of the Globe, bought a half

interest in the Herald, and the publishers became Nicholson & Smith. The former

was business manager and the latter editor, and the politics became independent

republican. Mr. Smith purchased his partner's interest on July 17, 1896, and

thereafter ran the Herald as a straight republican paper. For nine years he

published the Herald and made it one of the leading county papers from a

business and political standpoint. After his election to the office of county

treasurer in the fall of 1904, he sold the plant to Nicholas Wienandt, formerly

of the Brewster Tribune, who continued it as a republican paper. Nov. 1, 1905,

Harvey G. Beckley bought a half interest and was interested in its publication

until October 1, 1906, when Mr. Weinandt again became sole publisher. The latter

made a financial failure of the venture, and on June 1, 1908, Charles Hamstreet,

formerly owner of the Rushmore Enterprise, bought the plant. He conducted the

Herald a little over a month and then consolidated it with the Advance, as

stated earlier in this chapter.



  Very soon after the suspension of the Rushmore Gazette a newspaper man by the

name of Brandon brought in a plant from Fulda, erected a building, and commenced

the publication of the Eushmore Times, the first number being issued during the

closing days of April, 1895. Mr. Brandon did not make his home in Rushmore, but

had a local manager named Ralph Tiedens. After a life of about three months the

paper was suspended and the plant removed.



  The next Nobles county newspaper to come into existence was the Minnesota

Signal, which was established at Bigelow in February, 1896, by C. M. Davis. That

gentleman was the publisher until December, 1900, when E. F. Clower, formerly of

Ireton, Iowa, purchased the plant. He published the Signal until July, 1907,

when he disposed of the plant, and Bigelow was without a newspaper for the first

time in over eleven years.



  Round Lake's first newspaper was launched in April, 1897. This was the Round

Lake Wave and was founded by Shepard & Acheson. Harry Acheson secured full

control soon after, but the paper was compelled to suspend because of lack of

support. It was published a few months only.



  For the third time in its history Rushmore had a newspaper in the fall of

1897. It was the Rushmore Magnet, and was published by A. B. Vines, who brought

the plant from Beaver Creek, where for some time he had published the Beaver

Creek Magnet. This third Rushmore paper was discontinued in July, 1898, and the

plant was moved to an Iowa town, where Mr. Vines is still publishing a Magnet.



  The only Nobles county newspaper which is now being conducted by the man who

founded it is the Bound Lake Graphic, which was issued for the first time July

7, 1898, by J. L. Flint. At the time of founding, it was a six column folio, but

in 1900 was made a quarto, with two pages printed at home, and that has been its

form since. The Graphic is an independent republican paper. That Mr. Flint has

given satisfaction to the people of Bound Lake is attested by his long newspaper

residence there.



  For several years the village of Dundee had a newspaper. This was the Dundee

Advocate, started in 1898 by G. B. Miller, who put in a new plant and issued the

paper as a seven column folio. He sold to B. F. Drake, and in September, 1901,

the paper became the property of Chas. Hamstreet. Mr. Hamstreet was the

publisher until April, 1905, when he discontinued publication and moved the

plant to Rushmore and added it to the equipment of the Enterprise.



  The fourth attempt at publishing a paper in Bushmore proved successful, and

during the last nine years the little village has had a regularly issued

newspaper. The Rushmore Enterprise was started March 24, 1899, by W. H.

Christensen and Dr. F. A. Carrell. They had no plant from which to print the

paper, and the work was done in Sioux Falls. It was a seven column folio, two

pages being "patent." The people of Rushmore have always loyally supported their

newspapers, and as the Enterprise was issued for many years more from loyalty to

the town than because of any profit, the Enterprise has always been a good

paper. Christensen & Carrell ran it a short time and then turned the management

over to E. S. Wemple, who was its manager until November, 1901. Under his

administration the mechanical work was done, first in the office of the Nobles

County Democrat, and later in the office of the Worthington Advance.



  On November 7, 1903, the Enterprise Publishing Co. was formed for the purpose

of continuing the paper. Among those who comprised the company and who agreed to

assist in the work of preparing "copy" were Burr Ludlow, S. B. Bedford, W. H.

Christensen, Dr. F. A. Carrell and others. Burr Ludlow took the active

management and did the bulk of the work. Under this management the Enterprise

was printed in the office of the Advance and was a seven column folio. In the

summer of 1903 Chas. Hamstreet, who had been in the newspaper business at

Kinbrae and Dundee for many years, came to Rushmore with a plant, bought the

subscription list and good will of the paper, and continued its publication. He

got out his first number June 4. He conducted it as a republican paper, and at

first it retained the old form of seven columns. On the first of October

following he changed the form to a five column quarto, and printed four pages at

home. Early in 1906 he discarded the "patent" features and printed all at home.

August 1, 1907, the form was again changed to a six column quarto, with four

pages printed at home. A new press was added, and the office was otherwise

greatly improved. Mr. Hamstreet built up an excellent business and had one of

the best' paying newspaper offices of the county. Having bought the Worthington

Herald, he leased the Enterprise, on June 4, 1908, to M. A. Mattison, and a few

weeks later that gentleman bought the paper.



  Brewster has been the home of a newspaper since the summer of 1899. In June of

that year Allen Flint, of Sibley, took a plant to the Nobles county town and

launched the Brewster Beacon. He ran the paper only a short time when the plant

was bought by E. L. Kelly, who changed the name to the Brewster Tribune and ran

it until the summer of 1900. On July 17 of that year Nicholas Weinandt, later of

the Worthington Herald, purchased the paper. He ran it until December, 1902,

when J. S. Randolph became the publisher. Mr. Randolph changed the form of the

sheet from a six column quarto with two pages of home matter to a five column

quarto with four pages at home. He installed a Prouty press and a new jobber,

and added lots of other material. Mr. Randolph sold the paper October 5, 1908,

to Jesse Hamstreet, who is now its editor. The Tribune is independent republican

in politics.



  Among the first business enterprises of the new town of Wilmont was the

Wilmont Initiator, which at the time of its founding was the thirteenth paper in

Nobles county. It was started March 2, 1900, by L. C. Long & Son, who brought

the plant from Magnolia, where it had been in use many years in the publication

of the Magnolia Initiator. While L. C. Long was interested in the new paper

financially, the management of it was vested in Sidney L. Long, the son, who

conducted it until January, 1903. At the start it was an eight column folio; in

January, 1902, it was made a six column quarto; in June of the same year a

cylinder press was added, and the paper was made a five column quarto.



  Mr. Long presided over the destinies of the paper until January, 1903, when W.

H. Sievert purchased the plant and installed F. H. Densmore as editor. Mr.

Densmore ran it for the owner till June, then leased the plant and conducted it

for himself until March 1, 1904. F. B. Duster then had charge of the paper for

Mr. Sievert until Nov. 1, 1904. He was succeeded by Chas. Sundberg, who ran it

only until Jan. 1, 1905. The Initiator was then purchased by J. D. Lasswell, who

ran it ten months, and then announced that he had sold the subscription list and

that the paper would suspend. It did not, however, and Mr. Sievert regained

control by foreclosing a mortgage against the plant. That gentleman then edited

the paper until Dec. 8, 1905. Mead & Geisel then took possession on a lease and

conducted the paper until May 4, 1906. F. H. Densmore returned and took the

lease from Mead & Geisel, operating the paper from May 4, 1906, till Aug. 17, of

the same year. On the last named date the plant was purchased by J. L. and M. R.

Berkhimer, who changed the name to Wilmont Tribune, and were its publishers

until October, 1906. J. L. Berkhimer then moved to Worthington to take control

of the Globe, and since then M. K. Berkhimer has been the publisher.



  A second paper was started in Ellsworth by Ham Clay in June, 1901. This was

the Ellsworth Herald. It was brought into existence at the instance of several

Ellsworth people who were not in accord with the views of Mr. Levins, of the

News. The field was not large enough to support two papers, and the weaker one

went to the wall. The last issue of the Herald was published in October, 1903,

and the subscription list was sold to the Adrian Guardian.



  For a few months in 1901 a second paper, known as the Kinbrae Chinook, was

conducted at Kinbrae. It failed, was revived in October by Guy N. Phillips, of

Sioux Falls, but had only a short life.



  The Lismore Leader was founded Nov. 29, 1901. C. N. Sawyer was the proprietor,

and he made the Leader independent in politics, a policy it has ever since

retained. It was started as a five column quarto, with four pages of home news

and four pages of "patent" matter. It was run in that form till Feb. 13, 1903,

when it was enlarged to a six column quarto. Mr. Sawyer sold the plant June 17,

1904, to W. V. Olin, who conducted it until Nov. 3, 1905. Then E. J. Conrad

leased the plant and was the publisher of the Leader till April 6, 1906,

reducing it to a five column paper. C. N. Sawyer & Co. then became the

publishers, Mrs. C. L. Wynia being the local manager until Feb. 8, 1907. Charles

Orsamus Sawyer, son of the founder, then took charge of the Leader, enlarged it

to a six column paper, and ran it until Sept. 6, 1907. It was then decided by

the owners to suspend publication and remove the plant, but several of the

business men of Lismore, desirous of having the paper continued, formed the

Leader Publishing Co., purchased the plant, and have since edited the paper.



ENDNOTES



   [1] The Colony Journal  .  .  .  has done more to spread abroad a knowledge

of the advantages of Minnesota as a home for the emigrants and the capitalist

than any immigration document issued at the expense of the state."—Western

Advance, Aug. 31, 1872.



   [2] The first copy that was taken from the press was given to Mrs. R. F.

Humiston, the second to Dr. Geo. O. Moore. 



   [3] The only copy of the first issue of the Advance known to be in existence

is considerably worn, and the few words omitted from the above paragraph cannot

be made out.



   [4] "The Advance, with its present issue, drops the word 'Western' and

substitutes instead the name of the town, 'Worthington.' This will be more

convenient for exchanges in copying, and will tell at a glance where the paper

is published, besides serving a better purpose in advertising the

place."—Worthington Advance, Sept. 12, 1874.



   [5] "The question as to the ownership of the Advance is raised so frequently

that some statement of the facts and of the position of the paper seems to be

demanded. The Worthington Advance, with all the material, good will, book

accounts, etc., is the property of the undersigned. The purchase was made last

summer and the necessary papers have been duly executed. Miller, Humiston & Co.,

the former owners, have no interest in the paper whatever and no more voice in

its management than any other citizen or citizens. Let this statement once for

all settle the question of ownership . . ."—A. P. Miller in Advance, Jan. 15, 1875.



   [6] Advance, March 22, 1888.



   [7] "A half dozen office seekers and a half dozen men animated by personal

feeling are about all the men in Nobles county who are demanding a new

paper."—Advance, March 30, 1876.



   [8] This is the same A. E. Caldwell who in more recent years had charge of

the Worthington Globe.



   [9] "We hear talk of another paper to be issued from the Minnesota Home

office, but we doubt whether Worthington parties have anymore money to waste in

that way."—Advance, March 26, 1885.



   [10] "The Globe job printing office, opened by E. Hitchcock & Son, has been

packed up and will be shipped tomorrow to Worthington, Minn., where extra

inducements have been offered the proprietors to publish a paper. To the

material shipped from this city will be added a large assortment of new type,

and the paper will appear about the twentieth of March. It will be called the

Globe."—Sioux City Journal, Feb. 28, 1886.



   [11] "With this issue the Citizen completes its second year, and also

completes its labors. The move is not new to our minds; in fact we have

contemplated taking this step ever since the alliance people failed to fulfil

their agreements at the beginning. But circumstances have never seemed to

warrant closing until the present. We have never considered an alliance or

peoples party paper at Adrian as a paying institution unless it could have the

active support of its friends, and this has never been given."—Adrian Citizen,

April, 1893.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:



AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY

MINNESOTA

BY

ARTHUR P. ROSE



NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY 

WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA 

PUBLISHERS

1908



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