Livingston County, Illinois - Chapter 14: Livingston County Press Early Newspapers of Livingston County -, 1909

METHODS OF JOURNALISM FIFTY YEARS AGO - VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES (KING EDWARD VII.) in 1860 - INDIVIDUAL LIST OF EARLY PAPERS - NAMES OF FOUNDERS AND PLACES OF PUBLICATION - PAPEES OF THE PRESENT DAY.

Livingston County has cause to be proud of this part of its history. The county press numbers twenty-one newspapers, nearly every village having one and some three. They give particular attention to local news, many of them havíng no editorial. "Patent insides" furnish readable general matter, usually including a sermon or Sunday school lesson. Nearly all are neutral in politics and non-sectarian in religion. They are neat, clean and enterprising in their sphere, a credit to their publishers and to their patrons who sustain them. The newspaper published in an early day contained little or no local news, now so great an item in all modern newspapers. Important events occurring fifty years ago were treated with the greatest indifference. When the Prince of Wales passed through Pontiac in 1860, the Sentinel mentioned the fact in a fiveline local item. A few months later, Abraham Lincoln lectured in Pontiac, and the notice of his being here and a write-up of his lecture did not exceed one quarter of a column. Today, either of these events would be good for nearly a page of the local press. Fights and drunken brawls or a good joke on some prominent citizen would be treated at length, which to-day is considered by the press as not worth mentioning. The papers then were made up for the most part of miscellaneous reading matter, editorials and lengthy communications on political and religious subjects, but never contained what the people of this day and age want - local news. It was far easier then to start a newspaper than at the present time. A few cases of type, a bundle of paper, a Washington hand press and a "devil," was all that was required.

tion was the Vermilion Herald and was published at New Michigan in Newtown township. Mr. Cotton was a great writer, and the paper started off with a good list of subscribers, but as for finances he had none, and after careful consideration of the profits of the concern, he came to the wise conclusion that he could not swing it, and the second number never appeared.

The second newspaper published in the county made its appearance in Pontiac on March 14, 1855, and was called the Livingston County News. J. S. France, a lawyer from Ottawa, was editor and proprietor, It was independent in polities, but Mr. France lacked the necessary capital to keep the paper afloat, and after a hard struggle of less than three months, the publication of the News was abandoned.

But the people of the county at that time wanted a newspaper, and a few months later, M. A. Renoe and Philip Cook, two first-class newspaper men, arrived in town. They had but little capital, but were given encouragement by the business men and at once resurrected the News. They continued the publication of the paper until the fall of 1857, when Cook withdrew to engage with William Gagan in the publication of the Sentinel. Mr. Renoe continued with the News until it was sold to James G. Allbe, a printer from Bloomington. A. E. Harding was made editor of the News, and continued as such for about two,years, when he retired to give his whole attention to the law. Frank Streamer was made editor, and as the paper was Strongly Democratic and against the prosecution of the war, then so strongly favored by the people of this county, the paper was given little or no support and its publication was abandoned.

On the 9th of October, 1857, the first issue of the Sentinel appeared under the management of Cook and Gagan. The paper was owned by a stock company, composed entirely of the leading Republicans of the county, and was a success from the start. They continued the paper until 1860, when Mr. Cook was elected county treasurer, and Michael E. Collins was installed as editor. Collins was two years later elected county treasurer and the Sentinel was then sold outright by the stockholders to Henry $. Decker, a printer from Chicago, and James Stout. In 1866, Frank Denslow purchased a half interest, remaining with the paper about one year, when James Stout secured full control. In 1867, Henry C. Jones and M. A. Renoe commenced the publication of the Free Press in opposition to the Sentinel. In 1869 they purchased the Sentinel from Mr. Stout, and merged the two papers into one, calling it the Sentinel and Press. A short time after the latter part of the name was dropped and the old name Sentinel was retained, and by that name it has been known ever since. In 1875 Fred L. Alles of Belleville, Ill., bought the paper and ran it with success until 1884, when, on account of failing health, he sold out to Messrs. Lowry and Clark of Gibson City, and moved to California. H. J. Clark became editor and manager, Mr. Lowry remaining in Gibson City, where he was engaged in the publication of the Courier. In 1897 the Sentinel was sold to Charles R. Truitt, who continued its publication until 1903, when the paper was sold to a syndlcate. In the meantime, the plant of the Pontiac Daily News had been purchased by the syndicate and the Sentinel was Issued as a daily. During this time, M. F. Bovard, R. M. John and C. C. Strawn had editorial charge of the paper. In March, 1907, the syndicate sold out the paper to a stock company headed by Dustin & Holbrook, of the Dwight Star and Herald, who are now in charge.

Quite a number of papers were founded to compete with the Sentinel, but none were successful until the Free Trader was established by Charles A. McGregor and E. M. Johnson in 1871. Among these were the Constitution in 1864, published by E. B, Buck, as a Democratic paper to support McClellan and Pendleton; the Pontiac Republican started in October, 1865, by T. B. Harper; the National Union, a Democratic paper published by Dr. J. W. Youmans in 1866; the Democrat by Milton & Organ in 1868; the Weekly Monitor, a temperance paper, published by T. B. Harper; the People's Advocate, a prohibition paper, by Thomas Wing in 1870; the Pontiac Herald in 1871, by John H. Hewitt; Ford's Livingston County Democrat in 1878; the Pontiac Gazette by C. M. Cyrus in 1880; the Pontiac Observer in 1881 by M. A. Renoe; the Pontiac Daily and Weekly News in 1901 by E. P. Holly; the Commonwealth in 1902 by 8. W. Strong and George W. Torrance, the latter being discontinued in 1905 on account of Mr. Torrance's death.

In 1870, the Free Trader was established with A. L. Bagby as editor. It was a Democratie paper, and under the management of Bagby it was a failure, and in October, 1871,

Messrs. Johnson & McGregor took charge. Under their able management, the paper went to the front and soon circulated all over the county. McGregor sold out to M. A. Renoe, who continued with Mr. Johnson until 1877, when he sold his interest to John Stuff, who retired in a few years, leaving Mr. Johnson in full control until 1883, when the paper was consolidated with the Observer, a Democratic paper published by Mr. Renoe for about a year. Johnson & Renoe continued the publication of the paper until 1907, when it was sold to Charles R. Bruer, who is now in charge.

The first daily paper to be issued in Pontiac inade its appearance in 1896, and was published by J. S. Saul and B. L. Stinson. The paper was not a success financially and in a short time was sold to Clarence B. Hurtt. Mr. Hurtt was a young man of ability along newspaper lines and soon had the paper established on a sound footing. Having large financial interests in Idaho, he soon sold the paper to B. F. Shankland of Fairbury, who in 1901 sold the plant to H. J. Clark, formerly publisher of the Sentinel. Mr. Clark later disposed of a part interest to L. Victor Pearre, who at once assumed charge of the mechanical department, and these gentlemen are now publishing the paper, meeting with success. It is Republican in politics. The Weekly Leader was first issued in 1883.

FAIRBURY. - The first paper published here was the Intelligencer, which made its appearance in 1863, its editor being John Harper. The Journal was published in 1866 by H. S. Decker, who sold it to Isaac P. McDowell, and he to Otis Eastman in 1867, who continued to publish it until 1873. In April, 1871, O. J. L. W. Dimmick commenced the publication of the Independent, and in 1876 the Blade was started by C. B. Holmes. These papers were consolidated on January 12, 1877, when John S. Scibird became the proprietor. Later the name Independent was dropped, and C. E. Carter purchased the paper and continued as its editor until 1889, when he sold it to Thomas E. DuBois. Since then the publishers have been D. A. Fraley, B. F. Shankland, and the present proprietors, Fulton Sutton. It is a Republican paper. The News was started by Baker Bros., in 1886, but the plant was destroyed by fire in 1887. The Local Record (Democratic) was started by C. E. Carter in 1889, and a year or so later it was sold to E. W. Wilson. The paper then passed into the hands of C. S. Brydia, who continued its publication until 1907, when he sold it to M. A. Anderson. The Livingston County Democrat made its first appearance May 5, 1908, published by Fred F. Brydia. It was continued until J uly, when the subscription list was sold to the Pontiac Free Trader and Observer,

DwicHt. - In June, 1868, Smith Rutan began the publication of the Weekly Courier, which after six months was discontinued. May 5, 1868, Charles L. Palmer commenced the Star at Dwight. The paper when first published was a small affair, but Mr. Palmer was a thorough newspaper man and soon enlarged his paper, and it was well supported. For a short time, his brother was a partner in the paper. After publishing the Star for twenty years, Palmer sold out to C. A. Stuck, who changed the name of the paper to the North Star. In 1889, L. D. Plummer began the publication of the Dwight Herald and by request of Palmer changed the name of the paper to the Dwight Star and Herald. In 1890, W. G. Dustin started the Daily Messenger as a campaign paper, and after the campaign was over the publication ceased. In 1890 the Star and Herald was purchased by A. R. Zim- ` merman, and in 1891 W. G. Dustin purchased a half interest. October 10, 1891, both the Star and Herald and North Star plants were destroyed by fire, and in 1892 Stuck moved the North Star to Odell. In 1893 J. F. Wassell purchased Zimmerman's interest in the Star and Herald, and continued with Dustin for about one year, when Dustin secured entire control, and continued until twelve years later, when he disposed of a half interest to A. S. Holbrook, the firm now being Dustin Holbrook. In 1904, W. H. Ketcham began the publication of the Dwight Sun as an Independent paper, but later changed it to Democratic.

CHATSWORTH. - In 1873 Dimmick Bros. of Fairbury commenced the publication of the Palladium at Chatsworth, which they sold to George Torrance, he to C. B. Holmes in 1874. The paper was afterwards changed to The Plaindealer by R. M. Spurgeon, who sold the plant to James A. Smith in 1880, who still continues the publication. The Chatsworth Times was first issued in 1902 by the Chatsworth Printing Company, composed of the following named gentlemen: Stephen Herr, A. F. Walter, George J. Walter, J. Q. Puffer, Dr. G. T. Carson and Marion Roberts. The Times is Independent in politics,

CORNELL - A, E. Tiffany issued the first number of the Cornell Journal in 1890 and is still at the head of the paper. The Journal is Independent in politics.

SAUNEMIN. - The Saunemin Gazette was first issued in 1888 by C. S. Brydia of Fairbury, who disposed of his plant to M. A. Anderson in 1907. The paper is issued from the Local Record office in Fairbury. The Saunemin Headlight was established in 1904 by Miss C. M. Mabood. The plant was sold to S. J. Porterfield of the Cullom Chronicle in 1908, and the Headlight is now issued from Cullom.

EMINGTON. - The Joker was first issued by the Schultz Bros. in 1903, who still continue the publication. The Joker is Independent in politics.

FLANAGAN. - The Home Times was first issued in 1885 by J. M. Breen, later by W. W. Kenny, now County Clerk of Livingston County, who sold the paper to W. E. Galvin, the present proprietor. è

Forrest. - The Rambler was established in 1883, since which time several newspaper men have had charge of the plant. Louis Wingate is now editor and proprietor. The Rambler is Republican in politics.

ODELL. - Since J. H. Warner's first issue of the Independent in 1869, Odell has witnessed the rise and fall of several newspaper publications. The present publication is the Gazette and Reporter, of which C. A. Stuck is the publisher.

Lone Potnt. - The Advocate was established in 1883 at Ancona by G. W. Mathis. In 1904, the plant was moved to Long Point, where the paper is now issued. W. E. Goldsmith is the present publisher. The Advocate is Independent in polities.