Greenbrier County, West Virginia - 160th Anniversary Booklet - Part 19 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County 160th Anniversary - 1778-1938 Published 1938 Transcribed by Lori Samples THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS In 1820, Joseph F. Caldwell started the first newspaper in Greenbrier County, in the Old Stone Lodge in Lewisburg. His "The Virginia Palladium and Pacific Monitor" continued until 1830. Joseph Waggoner was "printer's devil" and Capt. James Cox was the carrier boy. Other papers published in the county: Edward B. Bailey's "The Alleghenian, March 14, 1831" Name changed, after three years to "The Lewisburg Alleghenian". Date of discontinuation is unknnown. James Bowyer Caldwell's "The Western Enquirer," November, 1837. Joseph s. E. Smith's "The Western Whig" 1842. J. A. Harmon's and John S. T. Smith's "The Lewisburg Observer" 1844. Had many owners, suspended at begining of Civil War. Charles Hamilton's, William F. Ferish's, and Joseph C. Crane's "the Western Era" 1850. Later, "The Greenbrier Weekly Era." Crane was the leading spirit in this enterprise, and eventually became sole owner. Sold in 1860 to John S. Johnson and Adam C. Snyder, who published it until June 1861. John G. Alderson's "The Greenbrier Independent" in 1859, suspended publication in May 1861. With Archibald W. Folk, publication resumed in 1866. In June 1873, George T. Argabrite purchased half interest. col. Thomas Hammer Dennis and Mr. Argabrite were partners many years. Mr. Dennis sold in 1917 to Jesse L. Hern. Mason C. Brackman became a partner in 1921. "The Independent" was incorporated as a publishing company in 1927, and continues today under the management of Jess L. Hern and George Workheiser, editor, in its 72nd year of continuous publication. S. R. Patton, J. Geo. Reynolds, Col C. T. Smith and others started the "Greenbrier Valley Democrat" at Ronceverte in 1897. J. S. McWhorter of Lewisburg was once ini active charge. Howard Templeton moved it to White Sulphur Springs, where he operated "The White Sulphur Sentinel" until he died. The Sentinel has been operated by A. E. Huddleton, Paul Van Stavern, and (now) Charles Lockhard. The "Greenbrier Dispatch" is owned by J. Alfred Taylor of Fayetteville. Ronceverte's first paper was the "Ronceverte News", started about 1885 by Richard Burke. J. W. Hess became a partner. Wm. B. Blake, Sr., bought Burke's interest, later bought from Hess. The paper became "The Valley Messenger and News", was absorbed by "The West Virginia News". This paper was established December 11, 1897. On January 1, 1905, Wm. B. Blake, became a partner. In 1920 the senior editor retired, Ed. L. Blake became the partner, and the paper is now owned and published by the Blake Brothers. Oscar A. Price founded the Ronceverte Times, 1912. It was edited by Lorie C. Quinn, Jr. of Crisfield, Md. and Arthur S. Woodhouse of Staunton, Va., and suspend in 1916. Other Lewisburg papers include "The Lewisburg Times", W. H. Simms and F. M. Frazier, September 1865, for two years; "the Border Journal, John S. Johnson, A. D. Butt, A. C. Liggitt, 1869-1871; "The Greenbrier, Richard Burke and S. T. McBride, 1873, six months; "the Record", A. C. Liggett and S. R. Patton, 1878 - became w. A. Frantz's "The Criterion" in 1880; suspended, 1881, merged with Alderson Enterprise. NEXT: THE CREDIT OF THE COUNTY