Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 24: Journalism in Jersey County, 1919

First Newspaper

The Backwoodsman was the first newspaper published in Greene County. It was issued in 1837, by John Russell, editor, a resident of Bluffdale, Greene County. Bluffdale is more than thirty miles from Grafton, where the paper was published. This was a weekly newspaper, and the editor rode from his residence at Bluffdale to Grafton, to edit it, and after setting up most of the paper, mounted his horse, and rode back to Bluffdale where he spent each week end, after he had ' ' put his paper to bed."

John Russell was a man who was well educated, and he was also quite accomplished from a literary standpoint, for he was an author of considerable merit. Particular attention is called to his article, "The Worm of the Still," which was published in McGuffey's Fourth Reader, in use in all of the early schools of Jersey County. The pub¬ lication of the Backwoodsman was continued for a time after the or¬ ganization of Jersey County. This paper was sold to a joint stock com¬ pany in 1840, and its publication was continued at Jersey ville by A. S. Tilden. At a later date Tilden retired, and Fletcher and Parentau were its publishers and editors. The office of this paper was destroyed by fire, and Fletcher went to Carrollton and published the Advocate in 1842.

Prairie State William Kirby Experience Kirby

was changed to the Prairie State, at which time a man by the name of Conklin became its proprietor and editor, and it was conducted as an independent paper. For a few months, Abner C. Hinton owned the paper, and then it was bought by a joint stock company, with A. C. Clayton as editor. In 1860 its politics were changed, the policy becom¬ ing strongly Republican, and in the presidential campaign of that year, it gave unqualified support to Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. In 1862, Charles Williams became the editor, and while it was under his charge, the office was burned, and publication of this paper was never resumed.

Daily Democrat

The first Democratic newspaper in Jersey County was the Demo¬ cratic Union, issued by Thomas Wright in 1854, at Jerseyville. Its publication was continued for two years, and then it was discontinued for a year. In 1857, publication was resumed by Henry H. Howard, who in 1858 was succeeded by John C. Doblebower, who continued the publication of the Democratic Union until 1865, when he retired and the office was taken over by a stock company. The name was then changed to the Jersey County Democrat, and Augustus Smith was made editor. He continued issuing this paper for one year, when the stock company was dissolved, and the paper was purchased by Thomas J. Selby, who was editor and proprietor until October, 1869, when he sold to A. A. Whitlock and L. L. Burr. In September, 1870, J. A. J. Birdsall and J. I. McGready became the proprietors. Mr. Birdsall retired a year later, and Mr. McGready continued as sole proprietor until October, 1880, when he sold to J. M. Page, the present editor and proprietor. In September, 1898, the Daily Democrat was issued, and its publication has been continued, to the present time.

Joseph M. Page, present editor and proprietor of the Jersey County Democrat, was born at Stoughton, Mass., May 20, 1845, and was three years old when he was left an orphan. After attending the schools of Stoughton until he was sixteen years old, Mr. Page was then grad¬ uated. At that time he attempted to enlist for service during the Civil War, but was rejected on account of his youth. In the spring of 1863, when only eighteen years old, he came to Illinois, and for a time worked on a farm near Greenville, Bond County. He then went to St. Louis, Mo., and was employed in a wholesale grocery house. On August 3, 1864, he succeeded in being accepted as a soldier and enlisted in the Fortieth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for one year, was honorably discharged in August, 1865, at which time he returned to his old home in Massachusetts, where he remained until the spring of 1866. He then returned to Illinois, coming to Jerseyville as a stranger, and with only twenty-five cents as his financial capital. Im¬ mediately upon his arrival, he apprenticed himself for a period of three years to William Embly, a carpenter, with the understanding he was to receive $100.00 per year and board. After six months, Mr. Embly discontinued carpentering, following architecture only, and hired Mr. Page out to Nick Smith for fifteen dollars per week. Mr. Page kept to his original contract of two dollars per week and board during the remaining two and one-half years. At the expiration of his three years' contract with Mr. Embly, Nick Smith employed Mr. Page at eighteen dollars per week, showing his appreciation of his services by making him his foreman. Until the spring of 1877, Mr. Page con¬ tinued carpenter work, and then received the appointment as city marshal of Jerseyville, which office he held for four years, resigning in October, 1880, at which time he purchased the Jersey County Demo¬ crat. In 1881, he was elected city clerk and treasurer, and held these offices for five years. For three terms, from 1887, Mr. Page was mayor of Jerseyville, and it was during his administration that the water works system was inaugurated and completed, and he also installed the elec¬ tric light system, and the Telephone Company of Jerseyville. For the past thirty-eight years he has been editor and proprietor of the Jersey County Democrat, and he has been otherwise prominent, as for thirtythree years he has been master-in-chancery, which office he still holds; for many years he was secretary of the Illinois Press Association, of which he was president for one year, and for about the same length of time he was corresponding secretary of the National Editorial Associa¬ tion. In 1897 he organized the Cold Spring Gold Mining and Tunnel Company with a paid up capital of $2,500,000.00. On March 17, 1871, he was married to Miss Sadie Remer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Remer of Jerseyville. They have one son, Dr. Theodore H. Page, a physician, who has been practicing his profession in the city of Peoria for many years.

The Jerseyville Republican

In 1863 the Jerseyville Republican was established by a stock com¬ pany, with E. P. Haughawaut as editor, and it was issued through the campaign of 1864. In October, 1868, the paper was offered for sale.

and Col. George P. Smith, of the Jacksonville Journal, became the proprietor. Afterwards Colonel Smith sold the Jacksonville Journal, and the prospective Jerseyville Republican, to Chapin and Glover, in December, 1868, and on January 1, 1869, William H. Edgar became editor of the Jerseyville Republican, and published the first issue of it. On August 25, 1870, Mr. Edgar became proprietor as well as editor, continuing to edit the paper until September 3, 1880, when the Jersey¬ ville Republican was consolidated with the Examiner, under the name of the Republican Examiner, with William H. Edgar, and Morris R. Locke, former editor of the Examiner, as editors and proprietors. This firm continued until January 12, 1885, when Locke retired, and wras succeeded by Frank M. Roberts. Mr. Edgar retired from the new firm, March 27, 1885, and he was succeeded by a Mr, Hedley, the firm becoming Roberts & Hedley. From 1885 to 1891, there wrere several changes in the proprietorship and editorship of the Jerseyville Repub¬ lican, and in 1891, the paper was sold to Frank Ladd by Abraham Locke. In 1895, Mr. Ladd sold it to Joseph W. Becker, who continued editor of the paper until its sale to C. F. Kurz. Mr. Kurz remained as editor and proprietor only a short period, then selling to Pinkerton Bros., who published ia live, active, newsy paper, Republican in its politics.

Jerseyville Independent

In 1877, Col. William H. Edgar of Jerseyville established the Graf¬ ton Independent, which was printed at Jerseyville, the first number appearing October 1, 1877. R. R. Claridge appeared as editor of the paper, although it was printed and issued from the office at Jerseyville, and he continued as such until September, 1888, when he purchased the necessary materials and removed his office to Grafton, becoming sole proprietor as well as editor. The Independent continued as a Graf¬ ton newspaper until 1880, when it was taken back to Jerseyville, and its name changed to the Jerseyville Independent. In April, 1882, Mr. Claridge retired from the editorship and proprietorship, and Lyman T. Waggoner and Allen M. Slaten, under the firm name of Waggoner, be¬ came the proprietors. Soon thereafter, Mr. Waggoner retired from the firm, Mr. Slaten assuming the entire ownership and control. Later he disposed of the paper to J. M. Giberson of Elsali, and C. H. Kelley, also of Elsah, became the editor and proprietor. In the fall of 1885 the issuance of this paper was discontinued.

Jerseyville Examiner

The Jerseyville Examiner was established in 1878, by the Jersey ville Publishing Company, and Morris R. Locke, William M. Bartlett, Hor¬ ace N. Belt, James A. Barr, William H. Pogue composed the company, and J. Stirling Harper was the editor. Mr. Harper issued the paper for two weeks, when he withdrew from the paper, and Morris R. Locke be¬ came the editor in December, 1878, continuing as such until 1880, when the Examiner was consolidated with the Republican, as stated above.

Jerseyville Register

The Jerseyville Register was established in the early part of Novem¬ ber, 1865, by T. S. Haughawaut, who was editor and proprietor, and it was printed at Jerseyville. The publication was continued until 1868, when Mr. Haughawaut disposed of it to L. Williams, formerly known as "Yank" Williams, who soon afterwards moved to Topeka, Kas., and his son, Charles T. Williams, leased the paper, continuing as its editor and publisher until October, 1868, when the paper was advertised for sale. It was purchased by Col. E. P. Smith of Jacksonville, who estab¬ lished the Jerseyville Republican.

Jerseyville Evening News

The Jerseyville Evening News was first issued May 25, 1885, by J. A. Walker and J. A. Blannerhassett. On July 13, 1885, the paper was changed to a morning publication. J. A. Blannerhassett retired on August 17, 1885, and Mr. Walker, after publishing it for some time, sold it, and its publication was discontinued.

Daily And Weekly Journal

The Daily and Weekly Journal, a Democratic paper, was established by J. I. McGready in 1893, but in the fall of 1895, he sold his interest to Walter E. Carlin and A. F. Ely, wTho in turn sold the plant in Sep¬ tember, 1895, to J. M. Page, and its publication was discontinued.

Republican Call

During the campaign of Harrison and Cleveland, the Republican Call was established as a daily and weekly by A. H. Rue, but after about two years, its publication was discontinued.

Power Of The Press

It will be seen that during the publication of the various newspapers in Jersey County, that from 1866 and 1867, when T. J. Selby became editor of the Jersey County Democrat, and William H. Edgar became editor of the Jersey ville Republican, that the main interest in news¬ papers has been concentrated about these two publications, and they have had a very extraordinary influence in moulding the opinions and shaping the actions of the people of Jersey County, and in bringing about their present enlightened and progressive condition.

Joseph W. Becker

Joseph W. Becker was born at Silver Creek, Calhoun County, Ill., January 6, 1865. During the summers, he worked on his father's farm, and attended school in the winter months. In 1883 and 1884, he attended the Central Wesleyan College at Warrenton, Mo., and he also attended the Illinois State Normal School, at Normal, Ill. After teaching school for several years, he located at Hardin, Ill., and established the Leader, and in 1895 he became principal of the Hardin high school, which posi¬ tion he held for two years. In December, 1894, he sold the Leader, and in 1895 he became the editor and proprietor of the Jerseyville Repub¬ lican. In 1902, he was appointed postmaster, holding that office until 1906, and from that date until 1914 he was assistant postmaster under William P. Richards. In 1914 he was elected superintendent of schools for Jersey County, which office he still holds, and during his term of office he has been a very active and efficient official. He is also at the head of the Centennial Commission of 1918, appointed for Jersey County and has been since its organization an active member of the Jersey County iHistorical Society. It was during his administration as postmaster that the business of the postoffice was increased until Jerseyville was able to come into the second class, and he has also taken an active interest in the War Savings Stamp movement, and all modern social reforms. In 1889 Mr. Becker was married to Miss Maggie Cloniger of Summit Grove, Calhoun County, Ill. They have two daughters, namely: Mrs. Edwards of Grafton, Ill., and Miss Nellie Becker, who is at home.

Col. William H. Edgar

Col. William H. Edgar not only is remembered at Jersey ville on account of his connection with newspaper history, but because he served as postmaster of Jersey ville from 1882 to 1886, when he was succeeded by Hon. H. 0. Goodrich, who held the office from 1886 to 1890. After the expiration of his term of office as postmaster, Colonel Edgar left the state of Illinois, and later went to Nebraska, where lie edited a daily newspaper in the interests of the Republican party. Still later he returned to Illinois, and located at Chicago, wdiere he died December 15, 1917. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Jerseyville, December 17. 1917.