Jack County, TX - History - Jacksboro Gazette Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary ************************************************************************************* This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************************* The Jacksboro Gazette Jacksboro, TX Thursday, May 29, 1930 The Gazette Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary This Week This issue of The Gazette completed Volume 50, which means that it is now fifty years of age, and naturally ranks as one of the pioneer newspapers of north Texas. The original publication was known as the Rural Citizen, and was printed by the late J.N. Rogers, a pioneer citizen of the county, at his Springdale Cottage eight miles south of the court house. The Rural Citizen (now The Gazette) was founded in answer to the need of a newspaper for the people of the then sparsely settled county, to supplant the transient ÒeditorsÓ who were coming to this section of the State, with increasing frequency, securing bonuses for starting newspapers and after printing a few numbers would vanish from the scene of activity. After a few months when the success of the new publication was assured Mr. Rogers moved his equipment to Jacksboro, and changed the name from the Rural Citizen to the Jacksboro Gazette, after which he devoted his entire time to its publication. A brief outline of the newspaper history of Jack County is found in ÒBiographical Record of Men of North and West Texas,Ó published by B.B. Paddock in 1906, which says: ÒThe newspaper age of Jack County began with the month of March, 1860, when the renegade Hamner, brought the first issue of ÒThe White ManÓ before the few people who constituted the citizenry of all of the territory under the jurisdiction of Jack. The conduct of the editor of this pioneer paper became so questionable and his presence so odoriferous that the elements which did the work of purifying society in those days elevated him to the limb of a cotton wood tree and separated him from ÒThe White ManÓ for all time to come. The Frontier Echo appeared after the death of ÒThe White ManÓ and this was succeeded by the ÒJack County Guide,Ó which suspended and left the field to the ÒSunday Wreath,Ó a little leaflet devoted to moral and spiritual welfare of the county.Ó Another publication of more or less renown was ÒThe Flea,Ó edited in 1869, by the late H.H. McConnell, who was, at that time, serving with troops of the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Richardson. Only six issues were published, Mr. McConnell located in Jacksboro, after serving his enlistment in the army. About the year 1895 ÒThe Jacksboro NewsÓ was established and after a checkered career of some eight or ten years was purchased by T.M. Marks, an experienced newspaper man, who continued its publication and made it one of the leading newspapers of this part of the State. After several years it was agreed by the owners of both the Gazette and the News that two newspapers could not satisfactorily exist with the limited amount of business available in so small a town and the two were consolidated, after which time Mr. Marks devoted his entire time to Government Extension service where he has won an enviable reputation. Among his most notable accomplishments was the founding of the BoysÕ Corn Club while editor of The News. He now resides at Hollis, Oklahoma. A distinction of The Gazette is the few times which is has changed ownership. Mr. Rogers, having no sons, took two of his daughters, Alice Maude and Joanna Lois, into the business, they becoming partners with him in the publication of The Gazette, under the firm name of J.N. Rogers & Company, under which firm name it continued until 1920. At the death of Mr. Rogers in January 1910, his daughters, and partners became the sole owners and published The Gazette successfully until they sold it to the present publisher, J.R. Dennis, and his brother, H.E. Dennis. After a few weeks J.R. Dennis purchased the latterÕs interest and is now the sole owner. He dates his connection with the business from January 4, 1904, beginning as an office boy, or as was generally designated at that time, ÒPrinterÕs Devil,Ó learning the various phases of the printing trade which he followed until the World War. Returning here at the conclusion of the war he became a partner with the Misses Rogers, who were then the owners, and a short time later as above stated, purchased the entire business, thus making only two families who have been financially interested in its ownership. The Gazette is not the oldest newspaper in this section of the State. The Palo Pinto County Star was founded three or four years previously by J.C. Sun, who is still its editor and owner. The Star also has the distinction of being one of the few papers that is printed on the old style G. Washington hand press. The Graham Leader was established a short time prior to the Gazette, and the same year the Wise County Messenger of Decatur began its publication. There are possibly others that are older, not known here. In the early days newspaper publishers often moved from one town to another, taking their equipment with them, and claiming their volume number from when they were first in business. The papers named above, however, are actually bona fide publications of more than fifty years. The original issue of the Rural Citizen contained 24 pages of wholesome reading interspersed with advertisements of the progressive merchants who were in business in Jacksboro at that time. Each page was 6 x 9 inches in size. From among the advertisements the following are noted: McConnellÕs Drug Store agents for Peach Stone Liniment, Drugs, Baking Powder and Blueing, Mizell & Bernard, dealers in Groceries and Provisions; Restaurant and Lodging House with First Class Bakery - W.B. Stramer, Prop., D.C. Brown, Dry Goods and Clothing; Dr. Phillip GreshamÕs New Drug Store, Drugs and Medicines; Dr. J.C. Cornelius, an experienced physician who guaranteed all of his prescriptions; Robinson & West, Attorneys at Law; D.M. Horton & Co., Groceries and Hardware; Wichita Hotel; W.W. Duke, Prop., S.O. Callahan, dealer in Hardware, Tinware, and Hollow ware; J.W. Knox, dealer in General Merchandise; mason Oldham, Sewing Machines; M.T. Kerr, Photographer; S.B. Russell, Photographer. Two of the advertisers are still in business here. Mr. Knox abandoned the mercantile business and has for many years served as president of the First National Bank. Mr. Callahan is still in the tinning and plumbing business and has the distinction of owning and operating the oldest established business in Jack County. There are many people who have read The Gazette almost continuously from its beginning. Hundreds of families have been subscribers and readers from their beginnings. There are several instances where the Gazette reported the marriage of couples in its early day later recorded the births of their children, their childrenÕs marriages, the births and marriages of grandchildren, and births of great grandchildren. Other instances are of the Gazette going to some members of families for as many as four generations. He has at all times attempted to support every movement for the development of Jack County and its citizenship.