Callahan Co., TX - History - History of Baird Star *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** The Abilene Reporter News Abilene, Taylor County, Texas Friday, January 7, 1944 56 Year old Baird Star, Famous Weekly Paper, Sold by Daughter of Founder by Hamilton Wright Reporter-News Staff Writer BAIRD, Jan. 6 Nimble fingers of a veteran writer and publisher will take a long-desired rest after 56 yeaers of general newspaper toil. Eliza Gilliand, 68, owner and publisher of The Baird Star, founded by her colorful father, W.E. Gilliland more than 56 years ago, sold the famous weekly paper on 11 December 1943 to S.W. Adams, well-known former East Texas newspaperman. "My present plans for the future? Well, I'm going to take a long, long rest, and after awhile go to West Texas, and stay as long as I please," the friendly, courteous editor-publisher told The Reporter-News "roving reporter." "West Texas" referred to the sky-piercing, alfalfa-framed mountains in the vicinity of Balmorhea, in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Associated with "Miss Eliza," as she is generally called, was her brother Haynie, though he held no stock in the newspaper proper. Haynie owned a half interest with Miss Eliza in a job department in connection with the Gilliland publication. Haynie, a World War 1 veteran, disposed of his interest, as Miss Eliza did of hers to Mr. Adams. "I'm tired of working for myself," Haynie said. I think I'll try working for the other fellow a while." Haynie who is a top man in any of the mechanical departments of a newspaper or job work could "hire out." Adams, Miss Gilliand's successor, is almost as old as his predecessor. Grayheaded, he is 64, and has had a colorful career in the publishing field. In addition to owning many newpapers he was connected with the Houston Press, the Sugarland Enterprises, and later the Gladewater Journal. He got out of the business in 1938, but the "virus of printer's ink" led him back in to the game. He enjoyed quite a lot of publicity in 1932 when a fight against the oil policy of Gov. R.S. Sterling caused dissemination of single issue of 1,000,000 copies of his periodical throughout the state. Independent oil operators supported him in his fight. Adams is not entirely a stranger to West Texas. Back in 1910 he taught school for a time at Spur. A noteworthy fact is that Ollie Clark, Albany's chamber of Commerce manager was principal of the school. Since Admas took over here she has written him a letter of felicitation and well wishes. "What induced me to buy this Star and come to Baird? Well, I noticed that the people were all good Americans, with names like Jones, Gilllands, Smiths, Browns. That appealed to me. I'm fed up on hyphenated Americans." Adams said he proposed expansion and improvements as conditions permitted. He said he had remarked at the very excellent response already accorded by Baird people. The retiring publisher was born in a brand new log cabin whose square logs were hewn by her father. It stood on Hog Creek, near Byrd Store, Brown Couny. Her birth was on 5 September 1875. In 1882 she came to Belle Plain, then county seat of Callahan county, with her parents. Her father became office deputy under Sheriff W.J. Jones. It was 1883. He did all the office work for the other county officers. Years before he had served as tax assessor of Brown County. When the railroad came and Baird was founded Gillland came with the rest to the new town. His stay there was short, for he was offered and accepted a position operating the J.D. Windham ranch store at old Tecumseh, in south Callahan County. It was here Gilliland got his first real taste of printer's ink. He founded the Tecumseh Banner 11 September 1886, principally to advertise the store's wares, but the periodical - printed semi-monthly - got quite a lot of State and National Advertising. A little over two years afterward he bought the old Callahan County Clarendon from Howard Allen and began publication of the Baird Star. He was 39 years of age. Mr. Gilliland served a term as representative in the State Legislature under Governor Culberson, and also as a city councilman at Baird. He was identified with the paper until 14 January 1929, when he suddenly expired. His wife followed him to death 23 December 1934, as did two children earlier. They were Sam in 1889, Ellen in 1924 and after his death, Mrs. Clara Blakley, a daughter in 1937. Nine of his children survive. They are Mrs. J.R. Price of Brawley, Calif.; Eliza Gilliland, the former publisher of Baird; Mrs. Amy Walker of Balmorhea, Texas; Mrs. Irene Carter of Welch, Texas; Johnnie, postmaster at Baird; Mrs. Larmer Henry of Baird; Mrs. Robert Estes of Baird; Eliska, first clerk of the post office at Baird; and Haynie Gilliland, who owned half interest in the job plant. Eliza noted some incidents in connection with her newspaper. When she was 12 she helped her dad get out the paper. That meant being late at school many times and then long intervals when denied privilege of schooling. "I have never drawn a dime of salary in my life," she reminisced. For 42 years she has been continuously connected with the paper, the last 15 as sole owner and director of its policy. "In all the newspaper experience of father and myself we have never had a libel suit," she said. "And until a few days before selling I had not a single complaint about shipments over the railroad. Then some paper was damaged." "The hardest years for us to keep above the surface were 1893-1894, during the financial depression," she remembered. The Baird Star was a "daily" for three days during the first Callahan County Fair, she recollected. That was back in 1892, the year before the Great Columbian Exposition in Chicago. "It nearly worked us to death," she observed. The three Gilliland sisters - Eliza, the publisher, John, postmaster and Eliska, first clerk in the post office, live togther in the palatial Dutch Colonial residence on Highway 80 a few blocks east of the public square, and which they erected three years ago this Christmas. It was built on the site of the old Gilliland home, part of the material in the old home, as well as of the old printing office being used in its fabrication. Eliza is probably the best historian of the county. Without hesitation, she recalls almost every incident, murder or whatnot that has occurred in Callahan county over a period extending back more than 50 years. She has handled the publicity for the Old Settlers Reunion every year. When the Gilliland I passed away the newspaper family gave his grave a unique marker. In Ross Cemetery here the marker is made of two imposing stones that had been in use in The Star office. One a 3x6 stone made o fnative limestone and used in the Callahan County Clarendon office from the time it was established 15 November 1879. The other a 3x3 marble stone used in the Tecumseh Banner office. The large stone is set in an 8 inch base full length being reinforced with the roller cores and carriage from the old Prouty news press. The smaller stone is placed on top of this stone and bears the inscription. "W.E. Gilliland, born in Washington County, Texas 28 November 1848...Established the Tecumseh Banner 11 September 1886.... Established The Baird Star, 8 December 1877. For nearly 57 years just under the mast of the paper ran the motto Mr.Gilliland adopted, which interpreted well the mien and character of the founder. It reads: "Our Motto: 'Tis neither Birth nor Wealth, nor State, but the Get-Up-And-Get That Makes Men Great." The motto is to be preserved by the new owner. In Baird the sale of the paper and its separation from the pioneer Gilliland family brought tears from some of the old timers. Judge Ben L. Russell, old-time lawyer and former State Senator, could not repress taers upon learning of the change. But he heartily welcomed Adams, though memory just started the tear ducts. A feat in rural journalism was its 50th Anniversary Edition of The Baird Star issued on 10 December 1937. It contained 40 pages, filled with historical data of Callahan county which makes it a number much prized and invaluable. Profusely illustrated it drew minds back to the early days of hardship and privation and provoked in the younger generation a feeling of deep veneration for the pioneers who made possible the ideal conditions now prevailing.