Kane County, Illinois - Chapter 20: The Press, 1908

St. Charles has tlie honor of being tlie place at which the first paper in Kane county and the first in the Fox River valley, above Ottawa, was published. About December 15, 1841, Rev. William Rounseville, a Universalist minister, well known throughout this section of the country, in company with Rev. Seth Barnes, also a Universalist minister, established in the interests of that denomination a paper called The Better Covenant. The office was in the basement of Mr. Rounseville's stone dwelling in East St. Charles. After a few months the paper was removed to Chicago, where it was subsequently merged in The New Covenant. Mr. Rounseville was afterward connected with other newspaper enterprises in the county.

It was fitting that the first newspaper as well as the first religious paper should be published at St. Charles, then the most important place in Kane county; and consecjuently we find that on February 5, 1842, Rev. John Thomas, D.D., issued the first numljer of the St. Charles Patriot and the Fox River Advocate. The ofiice was in the second story of a building which stood on the east side of the river, near the northeast corner of Main and First streets. It was a small sheet, but exceedingly well conducted. Before the third issue the building was destroyed by fire. Another outfit was procured - - Ira Minard going to Hennepin, on the Illinois river, to procure a press - and the paper was revived as the St. Charles Patriot, Fox River Advocate and Kane County Herald. Dr. Daniel D. Waite succeeded Dr. Thomas about 1843 ''ir'f' continued the paper as the Fox River Advocate in a little brick office built by Dr. Collins, and later occupied by T. E. Ryan as part of a stable. In the latter part of 1845 Dr. Waite sold out, and in the spring of 1846 Messrs. Smith and Kelsey, school teachers, began the publication of the Prairie Messenger, the best of the early papers. It had not continued very long when Messrs. Cockroft and Wilson purchased the establishment and continued it under a new name at Geneva.

In October, 1848, Isaac Marlett established at Aurora a democratic paper called The People's Platf(irm, with Rev. Rounseville as editor. This paper was continued through the presidential campaign of 1848 in the interest of Martin Van Buren and the free-soil party, and on March 8, 1849, ^"^''is removed to St. Charles, where its name was soon afterward changed to the Democratic Platform. S. S. Jones purchased Marlett's interest about June i, 1850, and in August of the same year the name of the paper was changed to Kane County Democrat, George C. Hul)l)ard becoming associated with Mr. Jones in its publication. On the morning of January 22, 1851, Mr. Hubbard was found dead near the railroad track, about midw-ay between St. Charles and the junction with the G. & G. U. Railroad. It was supposed he had perished from cold on the night of the 17th while attempting to walk home from the junction (now West Chicago). It was also surmised by a few that he might have been the victim of foul play. The Democrat office was moved to Geneva in Janu-

The Weekly Argus, the publication of which was begun at Batavia, was removed to St. Charles in the early part of the year 1857, where it was published by Stitt & Matteson at the corner of Main and Second streets, east side. In the fall of that year the St. Charles Argus, as it was called, was purchased by R. N. Botsford and Ed Furnald, who continued its publication. About March i, 1858, Mr. Botsford purchased the interest of his partner, and after the November election in that year sold the establishment to John J. Moulding and a man by the name of Horton. The paper was merged finally in The Fox River Independent, established by John J. Moulding in January, 1861. The publication of the Independent ceased about September i, 1861, Mr. Moulding having enlisted for the war in the band attached to the Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry. During the Douglas and Lincoln campaign of 1858 Rev. William Rounseville published a campaign paper called The Observer. It was printed on the Argus press, and was discontinued after the November election of that year. After a lapse of several years, in which St. Charles was without a paper, S. L. Taylor, afterward of the Elgin Advocate, established the St. Charles Transcript in March, 1871. In July of the same year he sold out to Messrs. D. W. Tyrrell and Charles Archer, and removed to Elgin. In June, 1873, the office was sold to Frank McMaster and Hiram N. Wheeler, and in the fall of that year the name of the paper was changed to The Northern Granger, Mr. Wheeler became interested in the Grange movement. In December, 1874, the name was again changed to the St. Charles Leader and the paper enlarged from a seven-column folio to a six-column quarto. Its politics took another swing and became democratic. Early in 1878 the Leader was removed to Elgin and continued as the Elgin Leader. Mr. Wheeler, who had purchased Mr. McMaster's interest in 1876, finally entered the journalistic field at Quincy, Illinois. In September, 1874, D. W. Tyrrell began the publication at St. Charles of the St. Charles Independent, a weekly sheet, which was continued but a few months. Mr. Tyrrell afterward engaged in newspaper work at DeKalb, Illinois.

The St. Charles Review took the place of the Leader in May, 1878, and was published by D. L. Zabriskie and John F. Dewey, the latter having been formerly connected with the Leader. The Review was an able and exceedingly newsy paper, and during the latter part of its existence was published by Mr. Dewey alone. It was continued nearly two years, when the subscription list was sold to the Elgin Advocate, and its publication ceased. Mr. Dewey later becaine proprietor of the Aurora Daily News. The latest newspaper to be established in St. Charles was The Valley Chronicle, the publication of which was begun May 27, 1881, by Samuel W. Durant. It was a six-column quarto sheet, republican in politics, and did manful duty in battling for the interests of the place. It had a good circulation and its influence for the best interests of its abiding place can not be disputed. For a little over two years, in 1883- 84-85, when its proprietor was temporarily engaged in other business, the Chronicle was managed a short time by Mr. Durant's two sons, P. A. and S. W. Durant, Jr.. and then by P. A. Durant alone. The latter removed to

Aurora in August, 1885.' For a short period in 1877 Rev. D. Matlock published a small four-column folio sheet called The Quivering Leaf, which was mostly religious in tone and full of the ideas of its publishers. It existed but a short time.

At Geneva the first newspaper was printed in the winter of 1845-46 by Robert I. Thomas and H. Hough, and called the Fox River Advocate. It was continued only for a few months, when it was temporarily suspended, and then passed into the hands of H. Hough, who revived it under the caption of the Star of the West, which, after the issuing of two numbers, set in darkness. In the spring of 1847 Messrs. Wilson and Cockroft (Benjamin Wilson and Joseph Cockroft) bought the material of the Fox River Advocate office and commenced a paper April i, called the Western Mercury. In about three months the material of the Prairie Messenger, printed at St. Charles, also fell into their hands. The Mercury was continued four years, through the hardest times up to that period experienced by the farmers of the state, for bad crops and low prices, and finally, when the publisher could no longer "work for nothing and find himself," as a contemporary expressed it, the publication of the sheet was discontinued April 24, 1851. Mr. Wilson had also published for St. Charles a small paper, called the Temperance Messenger, which expired two weeks before the death of the Mercury. The job printing department was successfully continued and for many years the old sign, "Book and Job Printing," was suspended before the gaze of passing people. In January, 1856, Messrs. Wilson and Cockroft revived their newspaper, calling it the Kane County Advertiser, the firm at the same time increasing their job printing outfit and commencing a stereotype foundry. About 1867 the name was changed to Kane County Republican, and later to Geneva Republican. About 1S70 the ofiice passed into the possession of S. L. Taylor, who in 1871 sold it to D. \\'. Tyrrell and Charles Archer. In 1873 McMaster, Archer & Wheeler became proprietors, and in 1875 the oflice became the property of Charles Archer, who continued its publication until the present proprietor, Arthur D. Haynes, purchased it August 12, 1884. The Patrol, a four-column quarto temperance paper, was established in 1884 by J. N. Wheeler, who had associated with him at different times S. D. Tillotson and Forest Crissey. the latter having since made a national reputation as a journalist. The Patrol is still published at Geneva by C. \\'. Bailey, chiefly as the organ of prohibition; also the Twice a \\'eek Republican, by E. A. Mead.

At Batavia the first newspaper was a democratic sheet, called the Expositor, started about 1852 by James Risk and others. Although Mr. Risk may have been great, the risk he took in essaying the publication of a paper in Batavia was greater, for before becoming firmly established the sheet died a natural death. An old directory, issued in 1857, publishes in the Batavia department the advertisement of the Batavia Weekly Argus. The proprietors. Messrs. T. \\'. Stitt. 'M. D. and Elijah H. Eyer, announced that they had fitted up an entirely new office and were prepared to do all work in their line in a first-class manner. This attempt to supply the people of Batavia with a paper proved no more successful than the first one. and the office was soon moved to St. Charles. In May. 1869, Messrs. Roof & Lewis commenced the publication of the Batavia News. In ]\Iay, 1870. O. B. IMerrill purchased Ruofs interest and the latter has since heen located in the West. Mr. Lewis became sole proprietor in October, 1870, and continued the publication of the paper. The Fox River Times was a very neat eight-column folio paper, published about three months in the summer of 1876 by Roof, Gates & Fox. The Young Advocate was an amateur paper published for a short time, the first number being issued about September i, 1871, by John F, Dewey. In 1886 Messrs. Bunnell & Ward, of Aurora, began the publication of a paper called The Gleaner, having for a time associated with them Mr. C. H. Starkey. They sold to Shemian Bros., who, on the 30th of July, 1887, issued the first number of a well-filled eight-column folio called The Rock City Review, which still flourishes.

Newspapers at Aurora have been numerous. Cyrus B. Ingham, who came to Kane county in 1835, and located in Sugar Grove township, went to Chicago in 1844 and was engaged until 1846 in the publication of the Better Covenant, or New Covenant. In 1846 he removed a printing office to Aurora and commenced the publication of the Aurora Democrat, the first paper printed in the place. Aurora then had but two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Mr. Ingham, in relating the history of his paper, in 1868 wrote of the circumstances as follows : "The Democrat, however, was short-lived, owing' probably to its own weakness and the inability of the sparsely settled country to sustain a local newspaper."

In December, 1846, Messrs. M. \'. and B. F. Hall began the publication of a six-column folio sheet called The Aurora Beacon. The publishers appreciated the condition of affairs about them, and not being proud, they offered to take wood and most kinds of produce in payment for their paper. The Beacon was the first permanent newspaper enterprise in the place and was at first conducted on neutral grounds as regarded politics, M. V. Hall being a whig and his brother B. F. a democrat. Finally it passed into the hands of M. V. Hall, who continued it as a whig organ and did valiant work in the political field. B. F. Hall became prominent in public affairs. The original publication office of the Beacon was on the west side of the river. In the winter of 1853-54 the paper was sold to James W. and Dudley Randall, who soon after removed the office to the east side of the river. Mr. J. H. Hodder, the present publisher, became connected with the office at that time as job printer. Here commenced a very rapid series of changes in proprietorship. William Goldy, a very excellent job printer; N. S. Greenwood, a literary farmer, of DeKalb county; George Brewster, an erratic Chicago editor; his son, a printer, sold and resold and formed partnerships of various kinds with the original proprietors. On Saturday, September 6, 1856, the Aurora Daily Beacon appeared, with Hon. A. C. Gibson as editor. It was a five-column four-page sheet and continued until April 30, 1857. The two issues were in 1857 published by Randall, Greenwood & Company, "at Concert Hall, Main Street." Mr. Brewster, Mr. Day and Augustus Harman succeeded Mr. Gibson as editors of the daily, Mr. Harman continuing until the consolidation of the Beacon and Guardian in July. 1857. The consolidated sheet was called the Republican Union. James ^^^ Randall and Simeon Whiteley publishers and proprietors. Mr. Whiteley had in 1852 established in East Aurora a democratic paper called the Aurora Guardian, which became a prosperous sheet and espoused the cause of the republican party at its birth. Its consolidation with the Beacon in 1857 was in the interests of harmony between the eastern and western sections of the city. One month after the consolidation Mr. Whiteley took the material of the old Guardian and reestablished a separate office, commencing the publication of the Republican, an eight-column folio paper. The publication of the Beacon was revived in September. 1857, by O. B. Knickerbocker & Company (Augustus Harman, former editor, and O. B. Knickerbocker, foreman for J. W. Randall, who had come in possession of the Beacon material). J. H. Hodder succeeded Mr. Harman in the firm in June, 1859. The Republican was sold to George S. Bangs, December 6, 1858, and that paper was soon consolidated with the Beacon, the latter name being retained, and the firm of Bangs & Knickerbocker established. The first issue under the new partnership was December 30, 1858, at w-hich time the Beacon had a circulation of one thousand five hundred copies. Its politics remained republican. Mr. Bangs was appointed postmaster at Aurora in the spring of 1861 and at the time of his death, a number of years later, he was superintendent of railway mail service of the United States. April 19. 1866. the Beacon was enlarged, and in October following Mr. Bangs sold his interest to J. H. Hodder, having virtually retired from the firm in the preceding spring. The firm of Knickerbocker & Hodder continued for almost nineteen years, or until the death of Mr. Knickerbocker, w^hich occurred ilay 8, 1885. He had been a short time before appointed postmaster. Mr. Knickerbocker was a capable, energetic and wide-awake gentleman, greatly esteemed in the community. The firm of Knickerbocker & Hodder built up a fine business, and to Mr. Hodder is due the credit of having done more to advance the standard of the printer's art than perhaps any other man in Aurora and to preserve it in its improved state. The accounts of the old firm were continued in the usual form until October i, 1885, when the title was changed to J. H. Hodder & Company. The Beacon is steadfastly republican in politics and is the oldest paper in the Fox River valley. The office was removed in 1882 to the fine new building on Stolp's Island, erected for the purpose by J. H. Hodder. and today is one of the most complete newspaper, book and job printing, binding, blank book and stationery establishments in the state outside of Chicago. It is published by the Aurora Beacon Publishing Company. Albert M. Snook president and general manager.

In March, 1858, James B. Snell commenced the publication at Aurora of a neat temperance sheet, called The Temperance Monitor. It continued in existence but about a year. ]Mr. Snell served meritoriously in the Fiftysecond Illinois Infantry during the war, was aftenvard editor of the }iIendota (Illinois) Bulletin, and for a number of years w-as connected with the map and historical publi-^^hing house of L. H. Everts & Company, Philadelphia. He is now deceased.

The Reformer, published in the interests of prohibition, dress reform, etc., was started by Augustus Harman and Ellen Beard in July. 1858, and was a fine paper of sixteen pages. The proprietors soon united their fortunes as husband and wife, Mrs. Harnian maintaining her active membership and assisting in every way in her power. In April, i860, Mr. Harman began pub- Hshing the Temperance Tocsin, a paper half the size of the Reformer, designed for local circulation. The labor of managing the two papers was too great for Mr. Harman's constitution, and in June, i860, the publication of the Reformer was discontinued. Mr. Harman died in the fall of the same year and his wife continued to publish the Tocsin but a short time after his death.

February 8, 1861, John H. Hodder. who had for some months been proprietor of a job office, established the Auruora Chronicle, which succumbed to the hard times about six months later. Mr. Hodder removed the outfit to Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois, where for two years he published the McHenry County Union.

The Aurora Herald, established by Thomas E. Hill, was first issued Saturday, June 2, 1866. He was succeeded in its publication by the firm of Hill & Gale, Gale & Shaw, Shaw & Bangs, Bangs, Owen & Ford, and Bangs & Owen, all within a couple of years. Finally, in December, 1871, the establishment was purchased by Pierce Burton, who had been prominently engaged in both the newspaper and political fields in Alabama. In 1883 the Daily Express was established by Pierce, Burton & Company. The weekly edition was known as the Herald Express.

In June, 1867, Dudley Randall, afterward of Elgin, established the Aurora \\'eekly, which was soon afterward changed to the Aurora Argus. He was assisted in the editorial work by \V. H. H. Brainard. The paper did not long continue. Mr. Randall afterward published for a time the Illustrated City Life, a humorous paper, which made spicy reading for the people of the vicinity.

In February, 1874, Jacob Sieginund and C. M. Faye issued the first number of the Aurora Daily News, Mr. Siegmund as publisher and Mr. Faye as editor. September 11, 1875, Mr. Faye was succeeded by O. B. Merrill. About February i, 1876, a half-interest in the paper was purchased by Willis B. Hawkins, a native of Aurora and a gentleman of extensive newspaper experience. The paper was enlarged in December of that year and steam power was added at the same time. A year later the publication of a weekly edition was begun. Richard W. Corbett was for a number of years local editor of the News. Messrs. E. D. Northam and E. F. Beaupre at length became proprietors and so continued until 1887, when John F. Dewey secured an interest. In the fall of the same year the establishment passed into the hands of Mr. Dewey and Arthur Evans. In November of same year John F. Dewey became sole proprietor. The weekly edition was some time previously discontinued. The paper is a clean, well printed sheet, contains a large amount of local news, and is evidently prospering. It is republican in politics.

The Aurora Volksfreund, a weekly paper, printed in the German language, was established in the winter of 1868 by Peter Klein and Jacob Siegmund.

The Aurora Evening Post was founded in 1877 by David Welch and soon after purchased by L. A. Constantine, the present pubHsher. In July, 1883, John F. Dewey secured a position on the editorial staff and was later associated with Mr. Constantine in the publication of the paper under the firm name of Constantine & Dewey. This relation ceased in the summer of 1887, when j\Ir. Dewey secured an interest in the Daily News.

Besides the papers named, others have been published for short periods at various times, among them being the Aurora Sunday Tribune, by S. D. Tillotson, which was, after a short existence, absorbed by the Geneva Patrol.

The people of Elgin have witnessed the rise and fall of numerous newspaper publications in their midst. The first was the Western Christian, established in 1845 by a joint stock company, and edited by Spencer Carr. Rev. A. J. Joslyn and Rev. Wareham Walker. It was a Baptist and anti-slavery paper and in a short time was removed to the state of New York. It was succeeded in July, 1850. by the Elgin Gazette, published weekly by E. Owen, editor and proprietor. It was an excellent paper, according to the testimony of contemporary publications in the county. The Gazette was continued under its original name until 1874, when it was consolidated with the Advocate, which was established in 1871 by S. L. Taylor, of Geneva and St. Charles. After the consolidation the Advocate, under which name the new paper sailed, began an era of prosperity such as had never been experienced by any Elgin publication. Book-binding, blank book manufacturing and job printing departments were added and the business grew to handsome proportions. ^Ir. Taylor died suddenly at Leadville, Colorado, in 1882, and some time later the office passed into the hands of A. H. Lowrie, who was afterward associated with J. K. Le Baron, now publisher of Every Saturday, and later with W. L. Black, the proprietors now being Lowrie & Black. Mr. Tomlinson, of Detroit, Michigan, purchased a half interest in the spring of 1886 and continued until the fall of 1887, when he was succeeded by Mr. Willis L. Black. The Advocate's circulation was increased by the purchase of the subscription list of the semi-weekly Envoy, published by Mr. Le Baron, and was also consolidated with the Daily News, which is still published from the office and enjoys the largest circulation of the Elgin papers. It is republican in politics.

The Fox River Courier, a. whig paper, was published for a short time, commencing in 1851. The Elgin Palladium was first issued in 1853, edited by Mr. Hough, and about three years later became the Kane County Journal, published by Lyman & Smith. Grosvenor & Willis established a democratic paper in 1858. which was in 1865 succeeded by the Second District Democrat. The Elgin Chronicle succeeded it, published by Ed. Keogh, and this, after being purchased by E. C. Kincaid, now of Cleveland. Ohio, was finally merged in the Elgin Watchman. All these passed out of existence previous to 187 1. The Lady Elgin, a monthly publication, issued under the control of the watch factory operatives, was begun in 1872 and continued until 1878. In the fall of 1874 the Elgin Republic was first published by the proprietors of the Dundee Citizen, and continued until 1877. when it became the Elgin Free Press, with

C. Stoddard Smith editor and proprietor. It attained a good circulation. In 1874 the Elgin Times was estabhshed by Ed. Keogh and flourished for several years as an organ of the greenback party. Dudley Randall, from Aurora, removed to Elgin in December, 1874. and began the publication of the Daily Blufif City. W. J. Christie purchased a half interest in it in August, 1875. Randall in the same year started another daily, which only lasted a few weeks. Both these papers are now defunct.

The Elgin Daily News was first issued June 17, 1876, by the Elgin Printing Company, with F. H. Taylor as manager. J. K. Le Baron afterward became its publisher, and in 1880 published the Weekly Envoy, formerly the Dollar Weekly News. This was principally intended for a campaign sheet. It was later changed to a semi-weekly and at length its subscription list was sold to the Advocate, with which the Daily News was also consolidated, the publishers being Lowrie & Le Baron. From Januarj- 8, 1882, to February, 23, 1884, Mr. Le Baron was postmaster at Elgin. April 12, 1884, he established a tine six-column quarto paper, devoted to general news and to social and literary matters, which he named Every Saturday. In August, 1884, J. R. Lane became a partner in the establishment and so continues, the firm at present being Le Baron &: Lane. The paper was independent in poli- 1887) of 1,920. Two monthly publications, the Informer and the Gospel Trumpet, were both established at Elgin in 1874.

In the spring of 1878 H. N. Wheeler removed the Leader from St. tics and published weekly, as its name indicates. It had a circulation (October, Charles to Elgin, where he continued its publication for a time, when he entered similar business at Quincy, Illinois. The Leader was then published by his brother, J. N. Wheeler, together with a daily edition. The name was changed to The Elgin Frank upon the latter assuming control, and in February or March. 1884, the establishment passed into the hands of W. S. Doherty and H. D. Hemmens, who took the remains of the once prosperous paper, changed the name to The Elgin Courier, and succeeded in building up a prosperous and widely influential publication, which today enjoys the confidence and patronage of the people. It is republican and has a large circulation. A. L. Hall is the present editor.

Mr. Doherty began the newspaper business at the bottom round in the oiifice of the old Kane County Republican when a boy, in 1869, and in March, 1871, removed to his home, St. Charles, with Mr. Taylor, assisting him in the chemical work upon the Transcript. Later he went with the proprietor to Elgin and was connected with the Advocate in various capacities until after the death of Mr. Taylor. By dint of hard work, perseverance and the aid of a naturally bright mind, he placed himself in the very front rank of newspaper writers in northern Illinois. He had an acquaintance extending over a large territory and was acknowledged to be a leader in his profession. When the Courier had been placed upon a firm foundation - a result which required much hard labor on the part of its proprietors - Mr. Doherty, who was in a fair way to political advancement, suddenly sickened, and on May 8, 1886. his death occurred at Elgin. The people of the city united in doing honor to his memory and large numbers were present from various portions of the county at the funeral, which was held at St. Charles, where he was buried. The Courier has since progressed along the way mapped out and Mr. Doherty's interest has been purchased by his partner, H. D. Heinmens. The business was later incorporated.

The Deutsche Zeitung, a democratic paper, published in German, at Elgin, was established in 1880 by Frank Kramer. It has a good circulation.

The Elgin Democrat was established October 16, 1886, by the Elgin Democrat Publishing Company and built up on the ruins of the Elgin Sittings, formerly published at irregular intervals by Alex. Carline, and its successor, the Temperance Reformer, which, under the guidance of James Coleman, Esq., floated its banner for a short time. As its name indicates, the Democrat is published in the interests of the democratic party in this section. R. P. McGHncy was for a time its editor, a position afterward occupied by Carl E. Botsford. It later became the Elgin Dial and now survives as the Daily Press, an independent sheet.

The newspapers which have at different times been published at Dundee, although in the main able and well conducted, have been rather unfortunate. The first attempt was made by E. J. Farnum, who established a four-column paper called The Dundee Advocate in the latter part of October, 1859. The village then, the paper stated, had over thirty business firms and four secret societies. About 1866 the Dundee Weekly was commenced by P. Swick and was in existence until 1871 or later. C. P. Thew and R. B. Brickley were proprietors, succeeding ]Mr. Swick. The Dundee Citizen, formerly the Algonquin Citizen, was published by George Earlie for a year, commencing in 1875, being removed from Dundee to Elgin and later published as the Elgin Free Press. ]\Iarch 29, 1877, the first number of the Dundee Record was issued by S. L. Taylor, publisher of the Elgin Advocate. Its editor was Dr. E. F. Cleveland, who later in the year purchased the paper, the puljlication of which was continued by him for several years. Dr. Cleveland made of the Record one of the best family papers in the region, but because of lack of adequate support it was finally discontinued, and the place has been without a newspaper for many years. The Dundee Hawkeye, a four-page weekly, was later established and is still published with success.

Hampshire has also had its newspapers. About November i, 1877, C. E. Howe established the Hampshire Gazette, a live local paper, which flourished for a time and finally succumbed to the pressure of circumstances. March 5, 1885, the first number of the Hampshire Register was issued by L. A. & G. E. Sisley. A few months afterward L. A. Sisley retired and entered the law. loan and real estate business at O'Neill, Nebraska. After his departure the paper was conducted by his brother. George E. Sisley, and had a good average country circulation. In form it was a seven-column folio and in political matters independent. It was succedeed by the Hampshire Register, still published by A. B. Brill.

At Blackberry Station (now Elburn) W. R. Pooley established a small paper about 18S0, called the Blackberry Blade, which was subsequently enlarged a column to a page. The subscription list was, after about three years, sold to The Elgin Frank, and Mr. Pooley moved to Dakota and continued his newspaper work in a newer and perhaps more prosperous field. Elburn now supports the Elburn Record, a weekly republican sheet of value.