Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 13: A Century of Newspaperdom, 1912

The "Edwardsville Spectator" - Drawbacks to Pioneer Journalism - Hooper Warren - Difference with Governor Coles - "Spectator" Overlooks Lovejoy Tragedy - "Al¬ ton Telegraph" - "Edwardsville Intelligencer" - "Edwardsville Republican" - The "Alton Banner" and "Alton Journal" - "Collinsville Herald" - "Highland Union" and "Journal" - Hooper Warren Again - Lawson A. Parks - Hon. John Bailhache - Hon. George T. Brown - Rev. John M. Peck - Other Madison County Editors.

The beginning of journalism in Madison county is almost coincident with the admission of the state to the Union. Illinois was ad¬ mitted December, 3, 1818, and the Edwardsville Spectator was established in 1819 by Hooper Warren. It was the third paper founded in Illinois and the .first after the ad¬ mission of the state. Its predecessors were the Illinois Herald, founded at Kaskaskia in 1814, and the Illinois Emigrant, established at Shawneetown in 1818. The Herald changed its name in 1816 to Western Intelligencer and later to Illinois Intelligencer, and in 1820 fol¬ lowed the state capital to Springfield. The Emigrant, a year after its establishment, was renamed Illinois Gazette, but the Spectator re¬ mained a looker-on until its demise in 1826 after an honorable and highly important ca¬ reer.

Publishing a newspaper in Illinois in those early days, was a strenuous task. The enter¬ prise was hampered in every way by adverse conditions. First was the difficulty of obtain¬ ing a press and type from the east and trans¬ porting them from the point of shipment to their destination. The only roads were mere forest trails, and at the time the first paper was established not a paddle wheel was turn¬ ing on the Mississippi or Ohio rivers. The first steamboat to ascend the Mississippi to St. Louis was the "General Pike" in 1817. It seems very fitting that this pioneer steamer should have been named after the great ex¬ plorer. No steamer is recorded as stirring the waters of the placid Illinois until 1822. The delays in transportation of paper and supplies for printing offices often occasioned the sus¬ pension of these pioneer sheets for weeks at a time, awaiting the arrival of orders forwarded months previously.

But when the delayed supplies were re¬ ceived and the papers run off on the primitive hand presses the next difficulty was the distri¬ bution to the subscribers. The mail routes were few and the subscribers widely scattered, and the mail carriers only traversed their routes once a week, and then were subject to chronic delays caused by flooded streams and impassable trails. The name of "trace" ap¬ plied to these trails was significant - a trace of a route was about all there was of it. Money was scarce and the subscribers were generally on the delinquent list. It was the custom of publishers to have two rates : - one for cash subscriptions and the other a dollar more, if "paid at the end of the year." But even with these elastic provisions the publisher's struggle to make both ends meet ended generally in failure and the turning over of the plant to some ambitious politician with an axe to grind. The starting of the pioneer papers was due not so much to business, or in response to a popular demand, as for political reasons ; there were United States and territorial or State laws to be published, and such contracts were, if obtained, of sufficient value to keep things going even though delinquent subscribers turned deaf ears to frantic appeals to settle.

For three years after its establishment the Edzvardsville Spectator had no rival. But in 1822 the Star of the West began to illumine the western sky. Its name was subsequently changed to Illinois Republican, having dis¬ covered probably that the orbit of a news¬ paper was sublunary rather than celestial. The Spectator was an anti-slavery paper, the first in the state and the Republican was es¬ tablished by the pro-slavery element to counteract the former's influence.

The general character of the newspapers of the early day was political and controversial, but their tone was moral and often religious. They paid but little or no attention to local news; therefore the historian finds in them surprisingly little note of events that occurred in their immediate locality. They seemed to think that items to be really news must have originated in some distant country. The edi¬ torials were mainly political ; in many cases the editor was merely a figurehead and behind him was a coterie of politicians, who manipu¬ lated the paper in their own interest under the guise of directing public opinion. The jour¬ nals were generally open to contributors to ex¬ press their views which was usually done anonymously. But the influence of editorials on the public was far more marked than at present, and the views expressed were often those of the most influential leaders of the day reflected in the columns of the paper. In the place of local news the space was often filled with literary clippings, often of merit, or with original contributions on matters of interest, but what is called "home news" in these days was seemingly studiously ignored.

The usual plan of starting a paper was for some ambitious person, generally a lawyer, to find a printer, furnish the plant, write the edi¬ torials and leave the printer to rustle for ad¬ vertisements and fill the gaps in the columns of the paper with more or less elegant miscel¬ lany. In addition to official advertising the prospectuses of new town sites, notice of run¬ away negroes and advertisements of taverns were numerous.

But the Edwardsville Spectator was of a different type from most pioneer papers. Its editor, Hooper Warren, was a man of great ability, independence and courage. He was a printer and an original thinker. He seldom put pencil to paper but set up his editorials at the case without "copy." He was a strong and out-spoken anti-slavery man and his cam¬ paign, in 1823-4, in opposition to the calling of a convention to revise the constitution in the interest of slavery was a masterly one. He was assisted by George Churchill, a man equally gifted and fearless, and by such men as Rev. Thomas Lippincott and Jeremiah Ab¬ bott. His paper was the first distinctively anti¬ slavery paper published in the state. Among his contributors were such men as Governor Edwards, Judge S. D. Lockwood, Daniel Blackwell, Jonathan H. Pugh, Morris Birbeck, Daniel P. Cook, Thomas Mather and George Forquer. It is doubtless true that, with the exception of the Illinois Intelligencer at \Tandalia, owned by Governor Coles, the Spectator did more than any other paper in influencing public opinion in opposition to the convention.

But even in the anti-slavery ranks there were divisions. Warren had conceived an antagonism to Governor Coles, the great leader of the anti-slavery movement. They differed, first, it is said, on a question of policy, Gover¬ nor Coles had, in his first inaugural, strongly advocated the repeal of the barbarous black laws and the extermination of the remnants of slavery remaining in the state. This aroused the intense opposition of the pro-slavery ele¬ ment and precipitated the movement on their part to call a convention to revise the consti¬ tution. While holding the same views as the governor, Mr. Warren viewed his bold ex¬ pressions with alarm as being premature and calculated to do more harm than good. For this reason he held aloof from cooperation with the governor and his coolness towards the executive continued through the campaign. That was one reason why the governor was impelled to buy the Illinois Intelligencer in or¬ der that he might have an organ of his own. Both men fought bravely and unflinchingly for the same cause. But it is only just to say that while the governor regretted Warren's antipa¬ thy he did not resent it. He was fighting for a great cause and personal feeling had no place therein. Probably mutual explanations, could they have been brought about, would have allayed the antagonism. It is to be hoped that in the hour of victory these personal dif¬ ferences were forgotten.

Mr. Warren conducted the Spectator for six years and then sold out to Thomas Lippincott and Jeremiah Abbott, but in October, 1826, the publication of the Spectator was sus¬ pended. It probably ceased for want of sup¬ port. Perhaps the new proprietors lacked Warren's aggressiveness and virility. But the most probable reason is found in conditions following the great excitement of the cam¬ paign. The victory being won and the state saved from, the incubus of slavery, there was a slump in public interest on the question. The mass of the people had shown that they were opposed to slavery in Illinois, but they proved indifferent afterwards to its existence else¬ where. As a political and even as a moral question, it lost interest for them, and hence the subscribers to the Spectator fell off. It is lamentable that a paper with such an honor¬ able record could not have been perpetuated. After selling the Spectator Mr. Warren went to Cincinnati. His career is dwelt on more fully on another page of this work.

The second paper established in the county and the fourth in the state, as stated above, was the Star of the West, renamed Illinois Re¬ publican, also at Edwardsville. The founders were Miller & Son. Their enterprise was op¬ portune, as an organ to combat the Spectator was desired. Some of the pro-slavery leaders furnished some of the capital. It soon passed into the hands of Thomas J. McGuire & Com¬ pany and became the organ of the convention party, with Judge Theophilus W. Smith as virtual editor, and such contributors as Will¬ iam Kinney, Emanuel J. West and other lead¬ ers. After the defeat of the convention party in August, 1824, the paper suspended. The contest between these two papers was virulent and bitter, but after the campaign was over the defeated party, in Madison county, at least, accepted the result quietly.

For a few months after the demise of the Spectator the county was without a news¬ paper, but in 1827 R. K. Fleming started the Illinois Corrector, which he published for a year at Edwardsville and then moved back to Kaskaskia whence he came. The paper was pro-slavery and was probably intended to cor¬ rect its opponents' heresies.

The fourth paper in the county was the Crisis, established at Edwardsville in 1830 and edited by S. S. Brooks. It was charged with being the organ of Judge T. W. Smith. In less than a year its name was changed to the

Advocate, and it passed into the hands of Judge John York Sawyer and Jonathan Angevine. Judge Sawyer had previously estab¬ lished an agricultural paper (January, 1831), called the Western Ploughboy and the two publications were soon merged, the Advocate thereafter maintaining an agricultural page. The Ploughboy was the first paper published in the state in the interest of the farmer. In 1832, the Advocate was removed to Vandalia, Judge Sawyer having been appointed state printer.

The next paper published in the county seems to have been the Alton Spectator which was established January 21, 1832, by O. M. Adams and Edward Breath. It was first is¬ sued at Upper Alton and removed to Alton in October, the same year, by Mr. Breath, his partner having retired early in the campaign. Mr. Breath continued the publication for two years, then sold to J. T. Hudson. It was con¬ tinued under various proprietors, including W. Beatty, D. Ward, William Hessin and Seth T. Sawyer. A file of this paper is now before me extending from April 10, 1837, to September 15, 1838. William Hessin was the last pro¬ prietor, Mr. Sawyer, his partner, having re¬ tired in October, 1837. The next month, No¬ vember 7, occurred the pro-slavery riot and the death of Lovejoy. The issue of November 9th contains no report of the tragedy except a statement signed by the mayor, John M. Krum, giving particulars of the riot. The statement is a column long and is preceded by the following editorial reference : "We have delayed our paper for the purpose of inserting the following statement of the tragical occur¬ rence that took place in this city on the 7th inst. The mayor presents a plain statement of facts written without comment. This state¬ ment precludes all remarks from us, except as to the correctness of the statement, which we

This prelude is rather incoherent, but must be forgiven to the excitement of the hour. However, in the next issue of the Spectator, a week later, by which time Mr. Hessin's nerves ought to have become tranquil, there is not a word, line or reference to the tragedy. That is the way in which many old-time papers sup¬ pressed or ignored national events which oc¬ curred in their own purview. Of the two original proprietors of the Spectator, O. M. Adams and Edward Breath, the former re¬ mained in Alton and became one of its most prominent citizens, and was elected mayor in 1854. Mr. Breath, Alton's pioneer publisher, soon after retiring from the Spectator, went to Oroomiah, Persia, where he published a paper and engaged in missionary labors until his death in 1864.

The next paper founded in Alton was the American in 1833, by J. S. Buchanan. It was devoted to the general development of the city and was religious but not sectarian. It was edited by Rev. Thomas Lippincott and pub¬ lished by Parks & Bailey. Discontinued in

The next paper in Alton, in chronological sequence, was the Telegraph first issued Jan¬ uary 20, 1836. It was founded by R. M. Treadway and L. A. Parks, and published by them and S. G. Bailey in 1836-7, L. A. Parks and John Bailhache in 1837 and by Mr. Bailhache alone in 1837-8. S. R. Dolbee purchased an interest in the latter year and the partner¬ ship continued until 1850, when W. H. Bail¬ hache succeeded Mr. Dolbee. In 1852 E. L. Baker became interested in the firm and in t854-5 Parks & Baker conducted it. In the latter year the subscription list of the Tele¬ graph was purchased by the Alton Courier and the former was suspended. The Courier itself suspended in 1861 and the publication of the Telegraph was then revived by L. A. Parks, J. T. Beem and S. V. Crossman. In 1862 Mr. Beem went to the war and the publi¬ cation was continued by Parks & Crossman until 1864 when T. S. Pinckard succeeded the latter. In 1866 the firm consisted of L. A. Parks and Charles Holden. In 1867 W. T. Norton was admitted to the firm. Mr. Parks died in 1875 and the publishers became Holden & Norton from 1875 to 1880, and W. T. Nor¬ ton from 1880 to 1893. After 1888 the paper was published by the Alton Printing Company. In 1893 Mr. Norton sold his stock to J. A. Cousley and W. H. Bauer, who, with others, still continue its publication. J. A. Cousley has been editor since 1893. Among its edi¬ tors, along in the forties and fifties, were Judge Bailhache and George T. M. Davis. It was originally a strong Whig organ but be¬ came Republican after the demise of the Whig party. During the war, under the patriotic editorship of L. A. Parks, it was a powerful and fearless upholder of the Union cause. In 1841 it was known as The Alton Telegraph and Democratic Rezriew and in 1853 it became the Alton Telegraph and Madison County Record. Its publication as a daily began in 1852 and so continued until its merger with the Courier in 1855. It is still published and has a remarkably large circulation.

The Western Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer first saw the light at Alton June 30, 1836, and was continued until 1839, when it was merged with the Baptist Banner and Western Pioneer of Louisville, Kentucky. It was edited by Rev. J. M. Peck, assisted by Professor Washington Leverett and Rev. E. Rodgers.

In June, 1840, Rev. Thomas Lippincott be¬ gan the publication of the Taper , a non-secta¬ rian religious monthly at Alton, but its light apparently soon went out.

E. P. Lovejoy at the expense of his life. He started its publication in Alton September 6, 1836, having moved it from St. Louis. The paper was not revived in Alton after the riot of November 7, 1837, but on December 28th of that year its publication was resumed in Cincinnati and the paper was sent to Alton for distribution. Rev. T. B. Hurlbut supplied notes of events at Alton. This arrangement continued until April, 1838.

The Illinois Temperance Herald was pub¬ lished at Alton from 1836 to 1839 by the executive committee of the Illinois Temper¬ ance Society, with F. W. Graves and A. W. Corey and Timothy Turner, severally, as edi¬ tors. It was later combined with the Missouri Temperance Herald and published simultane¬ ously in Alton and St. Louis under the some¬ what formidable title of Missouri and Illinois Temperance Herald and Washingtonian, which serial name seems to have been too much for it as it was not continued after 1842.

At Ed wards ville, in 1838, James Ruggles be¬ gan the publication of the W estern W eekly Mirror, devoted to the introduction and prop¬ agation of a universal language. In 1840 its name was changed to Sovereign People. The editor seems to have been several generations ahead of his time, as the universal language is still in abeyance, although an effort has been made in the last decade to introduce just such an innovation as Mr. Ruggles struggled for vainly three-fourths of a century ago.

In 1838 a campaign paper called the Voice of Illinois was published by the Whig commit¬ tee at Alton in the interest of Hon. Cyrus Ed¬ wards for governor. Another Whig paper called the Altonian was started in 1838 by L. A. Parks and Edward Breath, the latter the pioneer editor of Alton. It suspended after the third number.

The Sucker was another campaign paper published in Alton in 1840. It supported Har¬ rison. Its editors were understood to be Will¬ iam S. and John Lincoln, sons of Governor Levi Lincoln of Massachusetts, and James Hall. It was later merged in the Telegraph.

In 1842 A. W. Corey began the publication in Alton of the Peoples' Miscellany and Illi¬ nois Herald, a sort of successor of the temper¬ ance paper named above but with a wider field. It went the way of its predecessor.

In 1845 Rev- A- T. Norton began the pub¬ lication of the Presbyterian Reporter, an or¬ gan of the Presbyterian church in Illinois. It was continued, with some interruptions, until 1867, when its subscription list was sold to the Herald and Presbyter of Cincinnati. In i860 and 1861 it was published in Chicago.

The Truth Seeker was the name of a quar¬ terly published 1845-6 by Rev. Lemuel Foster. It is stated by F. W. Scott in "Illinois Histori¬ cal Collections" that the occasion of this publi¬ cation was the suppression by the Chicago Western Citizen of the report of the discus¬ sion at the meeting of the Illinois Anti-Sla¬ very Society at Alton, in June, 1845. The Truth Seeker was finally suspended, but its cause won out.

The Protestant Monitor was published in Alton in 1846-8 by E. M. Lathrop and John H. McPike. Suspended with third volume, but was revived in 1848 by John W. Buffum as Alton Monitor. It was a religious and Democratic sheet and the two did not mix well enough to prolong its life beyond the year.

The Madison County Record was estab¬ lished in Edwardsville in 1859 by Dallam and Ruggles. L. T. Smith and David Gillespie were afterwards interested in its publication. It suspended in 1851.

Edited by Theodore Terry. It was suspended in 1856 and appeared again in 1858 as the Weekly Madison Press. It was published by Theodore Terry and James R. Brown, the lat¬ ter retiring in 1858. It was Democratic and its publication was continued until 1862, when it was succeeded by the Intelligencer.

The Edwardsville Intelligencer was estab¬ lished November 12, 1862, by James R. Brown and H. C. Barnsback; G. B. Burnett, editor. Barnsback soon retired and the paper was continued by Mr. Brown until his death in 1882. In January, 1883, the paper was purchased by Charles Boeschenstein, who merged it with the Highland Herald which he had previously published. He issued it weekly until 1893 when he changed it to semi-weekly. Ten years later it was issued tri-weekly, and in January, 1907, it became a daily. Its publi¬ cation still continues. It is Democratic in poli¬ tics. It is a very successful paper and has an extensive circulation.

The Madison County Advertiser was found¬ ed by James R. Brown June 26, 1856, and after four issues sold to O. C. Dake, whose successors in order were Joseph L. Krafift and William G. Pinckard, Jr., the latter selling to Col. Frank Springer in the fall of 1861. It was first Whig, then Republican. In March, 1862, Springer sold to Thompson & Dunnegan, and in November or December of that year William Thompson came into sole con¬ trol, continuing to the latter part of 1865, when Whitman & Crab became proprietors and publishers, who then changed the name to the Madison County Courier, the first number appearing October 12, 1865. Crab soon re¬ tired from the partnership and J. D. Whitman continued as sole proprietor up to October 5, 1869, when he suspended the paper, selling his material to S. V. Crossman of the Republi-

The Edwardsznlle Republican was estab¬ lished July i, 1869, by S. V. Crossman, who continued it until his death in 1875. It was published successively by the S. V. Crossman Printing Company, R. B. Crossman and O. S. Reed & Company and was purchased in 1879 by T. M. and W. R. Crossman, sons of the founder, who continued it until 1907, when W. R. Crossman purchased the interest of his partner. On March 9, 1907, it was changed from weekly to "twice-a-week" and so con¬ tinues to this date. It has always been vigor¬ ously Republican.

The Madison County Bote (German) greeted Edwardsville in 1869, removed there from Highland by B. E. Hoffman. It was continued by Mr. Hoffman and others until 1873, when the material was sold to A. Neustadt of Collinsville.

Our Times, later Edwardsville Democrat, appeared October 2, 1872, published by A. W. and J. S. Angier who conducted it until 1881, when it passed into the hands of several differ¬ ent firms and the name was changed to Ed¬ wardsville Times. In 1882 it was purchased by Ansel L. Brown who changed the name to Edwardsville Democrat, under which cogno¬ men it is still published by him. Mr. Brown has made it a success and a power in the county.

The Madison County Anzeiger (German) was established in 1875 at Edwardsville by C. Lohman & Son and continued to 1879. A paper of the same name was established in 1881, independent in politics, but later Re¬ publican.

Edwardsville Demokrat (German). First issue in March, 1880; Gustavus Schwendler, publisher, B. E. Hoffman, editor. Suspended after four months.

1852 by George T. Brown, associated with James Gamble and John Fitch. Mr. Brown was sole proprietor from 1854 to i860 when he sold to B. J. F. Hanna and S. V. Crossman. In May, i860, Benjamin Teasdale and B. F. Webster obtained an interest, and publication was suspended in 1861. It was originally Democratic but in the Kansas-Nebraska con¬ troversy it opposed the extension of slavery into free territory. In the famous campaign of 1858 it supported Lincoln against Douglas. It was always ably edited and was, in its time, the most influential paper in the state outside of Chicago.

The Alton National Democrat, published by Geo. M. Thompson and edited by John Fitch ; from 1854 to 1859 by John and T. N. Fitch, and 1859 to i860 by John Fitch. In the spring of i860 the office building was de¬ stroyed by a tornado. Within seven weeks the publication of the paper was resumed by R. P. Tansey; then by W. T. Brock and next by W. T. Dowdall, with Thomas Dimmock as editor. In 1864 Mr. Dowdall sold to J. C. Dobelbower. In 1866 the office was destroyed by fire. Mr. Dobelbower removed the paper to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1869.

The Illinois Beobachter was published in Alton from 1855 to 1866. It was conducted successively by John Reis, V. Walter and G. H. Weigler. It was a German paper and its politics varied. Its career was closed by fire.

The Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian was removed to Alton from St. Louis in 1855; Rev. J. B. Logan, editor. Its subscription list was soon afterward transferred to a Louis¬ ville, Kentucky, paper.

The Freie Presse was a German paper es¬ tablished at Alton in 1858 by Dr. Canasius and transferred to Christian Schneider who con¬ tinued it one year.

Western Cumberland Presbyterian , founded and edited by Rev. J. B. Logan in 1862. In 1866 he sold the subscription list to T. H. Per¬ rin, but remained editor until 1868, when Rev. J. R. Brown bought a half interest. Dr. Lo¬ gan then bought the subscription list of the Cumberland Presbyterian and united with Dr. Brown. The word Western was dropped from the title and in 1874 the paper was sold and removed to Nashville, Tennessee.

The Alton Banner (German) was estab¬ lished in 1866, by Hesse & Pfeiffer and pur¬ chased from them in 1867 by H. Meyer & Company. Mr. Meyer is the present owner and editor. In 1875 he sold his interest to R. Boelitz, who published the paper for about five years and disposed of it to Henzel & Zechmeister. They subsequently sold it to William Bode who conducted it for five years and dis¬ posed of it to H. Meyer, who had, in the in¬ terim, been publishing the Bloomington Jour¬ nal. Since the transfer from Mr. Bode it has been ably conducted by Mr. Meyer, the pres¬ ent proprietor, who started originally in the newspaper business in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1859. He has been engaged in the work over fifty years and is the Nestor of journal¬ ism in Madison county. Politically it is Inde¬ pendent Republican. It is older than any other paper in Alton except the Telegraph.

Two temperance papers were published in Alton between 1872 and 1875. They were called the Temperance Watchman and Tem¬ perance Banner, respectively, and were edited by R. S. Smiley; E. A. Smith, publisher.

The Christian News was a Congregational organ and edited in 1875 by Rev. Robert West. It was published monthly by E. A. Smith and was sold in 1876 to the Chicago Advance.

Alton Democrat, established 1875 by J. N. Shoemaker and Hugh E. Bayle as a weekly, changed to a daily the following year. The paper soon after passed into the hands of Perrin, Smith & Company and in 1888 was combined with the Sentinel. D. C. Fitz- Morris edited the Democrat.

The Madison County Sentinel was estab¬ lished in 1879 as an independent daily by J. J. Mclnerney, and merged in 1888 with the Democrat as the Alton Daily Sentinel-Demo¬ crat, with Mr. Mclnerney as editor and pro¬ prietor. It was later published by a stock company, Mr. Mclnerney continuing in con¬ trol. In 1905 W. H. Murphy bought a half interest. Mr. Mclnerney died in 1909 and after a troubled existence the subscription list passed into the hands of the Alton Daily Times, of which Mr. Murphy was one of the proprietors.

The Free Lance was a paper established in Alton in 1894 by James T. Callahan, a bril¬ liant and versatile journalist. Its meteoric career ended prematurely. It was succeeded by The Advance published successively by various parties, but its progress was soon stayed by the lack of public appreciation.

Alton Daily Republican was established No¬ vember 4, 1894, by the Alton Publishing Com¬ pany, W. T. Norton, editor, who retired two years later. He was succeeded by various editors, including Clark and John D. Mc¬ Adams. On July 1, 1905, it was merged with the Alton Daily Telegraph under the name of the latter.

Alton Journal (German and English), owned and edited by W. A. Bode, was estab¬ lished in Alton in 1906, and is still published. Some years prior to this Mr. Bode was pro¬ prietor of Alton Banner.

Alton Daily Times was established in Alton September 4, 1909, by the Alton Daily Times Company, E. E. Campbell, president; W. H. Murphy, secretary. It is Democratic in poli¬ tics and during its brief career to the present time has been a notably successful and in¬ fluential publication and attained a wide cir¬ culation.

The Collinsville Argus was established in 1871 by the Union Publishing Company, A. W. Angier, editor. It had thereafter various editors and proprietors and was successively Republican and Independent. It suspended in 1879.

Collinsville Weekly Herald, established in 1879, J- N. Peers, editor and publisher. Edited in 1882 by W. A. Garesche, succeeded by J. N. Peers. In 1906 it was purchased by the Collinsville Publishing Company, which still issues it. H. W. Eberhardt is president of the company; M. G. Peers, vice president; A. C. Gauen, secretary and treasurer; C. D. Case, editor and manager. Published semi¬ weekly.

During the lifetime of the Herald several rivals have been established in Collinsville, all of them short-lived. Among them were the Star, published by Mumme & Whitmore; the Progress, by Jung Brothers, which was published about three years; and the Monitor.

The latest candidate for public favor in Collinsville is the Advertiser, published by Schimpfif & Stucker. It was established in March, 1911.

The Marine Gazette (independent), was established October 29, 1898, by J. Ambrose, who sold it later to A. S. Gentry, who after¬ wards disposed of it to local stockholders. W. Pattermann next secured the plant, but, owing to reverses, it went back to the stock¬ holders ; was idle about two years. Material was purchased by L. C. Heim, March 4, 1904, and name changed to Marine Telegram. Mr. Heim is editor as well as publisher. It is Republican in politics.

The New Douglas World, independent, was established the first Friday in January, 1894, by L. C. Heim. A month later he sold a half interest to L. F. Alsop and, later, the entire paper. In June, 1904, the paper was purchased by John Camp, who conducted it for several years and then moved it to Staun¬ ton in the adjoining county of Macoupin.

The Troy Weekly B idle tin was established in 1873 by James N. Jarvis, succeeding the Commercial Bulletin he had founded the pre¬ vious year. Mr. Jarvis continued the publi¬ cation to 1881 when he sold to George Arm¬ strong and Joseph S. Umberger, who later transferred it to Henry B. Morris. In 1882 the latter sold to Dr. F. A. Sabin. In Sep¬ tember, 1885, Mr. Jarvis established the Troy Record, bought the Bulletin and merged the two papers under the former name. The paper was independent. After various trans¬ fers and the changing of the name to Moni¬ tor, the removal of the plant to Collinsville, and subsequent return to Troy, in 1894, the paper reappeared as the Weekly Call. After other changes in proprietorship the Call came into the possession of B. W. Jarvis, son of

Der Erzaeliler, Highland (German), was first issued March 26, 1859, by Rudolph Stadtmann and John Karlen, Mr. Stadtmann editor. On April 30, 1859, the latter became sole publisher. On May 7, 1859, the name was changed to Der Highland Bote. June 25, 1859, Peter Weiss and Peter Voegele be¬ came proprietors; Mr. Weiss editor. Decem¬ ber 21, 1859, Mr. Voegele became sole proprie¬ tor and publisher, with Heinrich Stiefel as edi¬ tor from March 1, 1861, to August 17, 1862. On April 10, 1863, Mr. Voegele sold out to Timothy Gruaz, who, on January 12, 1867, changed the name to Highland Bote and Schuetzen-Zeitung. In June, 1868, Mr. Gruaz sold out to B. E. Hoffmann and Mau¬ rice Huegy ; Mr. Hoffman editor. In Novem¬ ber, 1869, Mr. Hoffmann purchased Huegy's interest and moved the material to Edwardsville, where the paper was continued as the Madison County Bote. The Bote always ad¬ vocated Democratic principles. Under the name of Bote und Schuetzen-Zeitung it was also the official organ of the National Sharp¬ shooters' Association.

Die Union (German), was established by the German Literary Society ; first issue Octo¬ ber 24, 1863. C. H. Seybt was editor until January 28, 1865, when he was succeeded by Dr. Gallus Rutz. On December 28, 1866, Dr. G. Rutz and J. S. Hoerner became proprie¬ tors, with Dr. Rutz, editor. October 22, 1868, the name was changed to Highland Union , which it has retained to this date. On March 18, 1874, John S. Hoerner became sole pro¬ prietor, publisher and editor. In September, 1898, Mr. Hoerner sold out to C. T. Kurz, who is still in possession (1911). The Union has always been Republican.

Highland Herald; first English paper in Highland ; independent. Established by busi¬ ness men. First issue April 13, 1881 ; Wm. H. Toy, editor and publisher. June 24, 1881, L. E. Kinne and Geo. Roth became proprie¬ tors and publishers; T. S. Richardson, editor. August 19th of the same year J. A. Krepps and Charles Boeschenstein assumed control as proprietors and editors. September 8, 1881, Mr. Boeschenstein became sole proprie¬ tor and editor, continuing to February 8, 1883, when the paper was suspended and the material moved to the Edwardsville Intelli¬ gencer, which Mr. Boeschenstein bought the last week of January, 1883.

5. Hoerner and J. A. Krepps, February 27, 1883. On December 10, 1883, Mr. Krepps re¬ tired, leaving J. S. Hoerner sole proprietor and publisher. Suspended October 7, 1885. It was independent in politics.

Highland Journal; established by Charles Weiss; first issue January 27, 1893. A. J. Utiger purchased half interest on September 27, 1894; firm, Weiss & Utiger. October 1, 1895, J. N. Stokes purchased Weiss' interest; firm, Utiger & Stokes until January 1, 1898, when Mr. Stokes became sole proprietor, pub¬ lisher and editor, continuing to this day. The Journal has always been independent in politics.

Highland Citizen; by Citizen Publishing Company; first issue October 19, 1895; Rev. W. W. Stubbins, editor. Advocated temper¬ ance and religious ideas. Suspended March

The Qui Vive, an organ of Shurtleff College students, was first issued in 1868 and its pub¬ lication continued nine years. It was suc¬ ceeded in 1879 by the College Review.

The first paper published in Granite City was the Tri-City Progress, moved there from Venice. Further particulars of this paper and other early publications in Venice will be found in the chapters dealing with those municipalities.

The Granite City Press and Herald was founded by C. W. Judd in 1903, who, in April, 1906, sold to his brother, John B. Judd. Since October, 1908, it has been published by the Press Publishing Company, of which John B. Judd is business manager and J. W. Cas¬ sidy, editor. The Tri-City Labor Herald was founded in 1905 by Ben Ford, who continued it until 1908, when it was absorbed by the Press. The paper is issued twice a week.

The Granite City Daily Record was estab¬ lished by the Daily Record Publishing Com¬ pany, in 1909. W. J. Lynch is president of the company and Elmer McNary secretary and treasurer. The managing editor is John H. Willis. The paper is Republican. Mr. Lynch is also superintendent of the National Enameling and Stamping Company.

The Madison Republic, a weekly paper, was established in 1905. It is issued by the Re¬ public Printing Company ; editor, A. F. Koontz ; present owner, John Hinde.

For much of the data and statistics con¬ tained in the above list, up to 1882 (except¬ ing comments), I am indebted to F. W. Scott, compiler of the list of "Newspapers and Per¬ iodicals of Illinois" for the State Historical

Library, who sent the manuscript to the writer for revision prior to publication. Also to a later list compiled by J. S. Hoerner, for¬ merly of the Highland Union.

Madison county has been a graveyard of newspapers. Of the seventeen papers started in Edwardsville, between 1819 and 1912, only three now survive, the Intelligencer, the Re¬ publican and the Democrat.

In Alton, out of forty newspapers started between 1832 and 1912, only four are now published. They are the Telegraph, the Ban¬ ner, the Journal and the Times. All others in both Alton and Edwardsville have either died, moved away or lost their identity in other publications by consolidation. The same story is told in the smaller towns of the county. It is rather a melancholy record, and adds emphasis to the fact that newspapers do more for the progress and upbuilding of the communities in which they are published than the communities ever do for the newspapers. This is especially true of new settlements struggling to place themselves on the map. The newspapers confide to the world that out somewhere on the border is located a future metropolis which offers more inducements for the investment of capital, with dazzling re¬ turns, than any locality in the country. The projectors of the town site, the holders of real estate and an army of speculators get the benefit of an indefinite amount of free advertising while the editors harvest sheaves of experience that, perhaps, they may utilize thereafter.

Hooper Warren, the founder of the Ed¬ wardsville Spectator, the third paper pub¬ lished in Illinois, was born at Walpole, New Hampshire, in 1790. He learned his trade as a printer in the office of the Rutland (Vt.) Herald. He removed to Kentucky in 1817 and in 1818 to St. Louis. In March, 1819, Mr. Warren removed to Edwardsville and commenced the publication of the Spectator. His paper was the able organ of the anti¬ slavery men of Illinois in their successful campaign of 1823-4, to prevent the engrafting of slavery upon the constitution of the state, of which we have spoken. After his six years of service at Edwardsville he passed part of the year 1826 at Cincinnati, editing the Crisis, when he removed the press of the Spectator to Springfield, and for two years edited the Sangamon Spectator. In 1829 he removed to Galena, establishing there the Galena Advertiser and Upper Mississippi Herald. In 1831 he removed to Hennepin, Illinois, where for five years he filled the office of clerk of the circuit court. In 1836 he pub¬ lished for about a year the Chicago Commer¬ cial Advertiser. He then returned to Henne¬ pin and in 1839 removed with his family to Henry, where he engaged in farming. In 1850 he published the Bureau Advocate at Princeton for one year and then removed to Chicago where he was associated for three years with Zabina Eastman in publishing the Free West and Western Citizen. He then re¬ turned to his farm at Henry where he con¬ tinued to reside until his death in 1864, at the age of seventy-four. In an obituary notice written by Rev. William Barry and published in the Chicago Tribune, it was said of him: "Earnest, calm and undaunted, yet wise and just, he remained ever true and inflexible in his principles, liberal in his politics, in warm sympathy with the people and the people's rights, yet, as such, a stanch advocate of the natural rights of all men and all races, and hence the open, unflinching foe of African slavery. Few men have passed through a long life of such labor as his with a purer record; more blameless, more respected, more trusted. His tranquil old age was not inac¬ tive but was occasionally improved by him in writing upon past events in Illinois history, about which few men had better information or could write more justly and more wisely.

He has passed away in a full age, to join the band of faithful laborers for humanity and right who, once stigmatized as seditious and disturbers of the peace, will be forever hon¬ ored as fellow workers with God and the good, friends of their country, advocates and defenders of the oppressed. The loss is our own when such men are forgotten in their death."

Lawson A. Parks, the founder of the Alton Telegraph, was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, born April 15, 1813. He learned the trade of a printer in Charlotte and in 1832 removed with his father's family to St. Louis where he worked at his vocation in different offices, being at one time connected with Rev. E. P. Love joy while the latter was publishing the St. Louis Observer. He removed to Al¬ ton in 1836 and commenced the publication of the Telegraph, in connection with R. M. Treadway, as previously narrated. He was connected with the press of Alton for over thirty-nine years. Although born and reared in a slave state, he looked upon the institution of slavery as a moral wrong and in a time that tried men's souls had the courage to live up to his convictions. He was first a. Whig and afterwards a Republican, but his political views were broader than partisanship and founded on integrity and justice. During the dark days of the Civil war he rendered monu¬ mental service to the Union cause, both through his paper and on the rostrum ; for he was a ready speaker as well as an able writer. He was a deeply religious man, an elder in the Presbyterian church and a licentiate of Alton Presbytery, though not an ordained minister, and served at one time as stated supply of the Presbyterian church at Troy. His life was an harmonious progression and when in 1875, aty the age of sixty-two, he laid down his armor he had not yet reached the zenith of his de- velopment. He was one of the great editors of Madison county and lived to see the triumph of the political and moral battle he had waged during his public career.

Another name that stands high in Madison county journalism is that of George T. M. Davis, at one time editor of the Telegraph. He was a pioneer resident of Alton, a brilliant lawyer and ready writer. He served on the staff of General Shields in the Mexican war, and his letters to the T elegraph from the battle line were of historic value. His career is fully delineated in the biographical volume of this work.

Another shining name in the annals of Mad¬ ison county journalism is that of Hon. John Bailhache, editor of the Telegraph from 1837 to 1854. He was born at St. Ouen, the largest of the Norman isles in the British channel, May 8, 1787. His mother tongue was French but he learned English at a school he attended. At the age of sixteen, after completing his studies, he served an apprenticeship of five years to the printing business. In 1810 he em¬ igrated to the United States and settled at Cambridge, Ohio, and in 1812 became the ed¬ itor of the Fredonian. In 1815 he purchased the Scioto Gazette and united it with his own. He was subsequently state printer at Colum¬ bus and owner of the State Journal. In 1820 he was elected a member of the Ohio legisla¬ ture and in 1825 was chosen a member of the court of common pleas of Ross county. In x 835 he was elected mayor of the city of Col¬ umbus. At the solicitation of his wife's friends, who had removed to St. Uouis, he came with his family to that city in 1836. Failing to secure an interest in the Missouri Republican, he came to Alton and purchased a half interest in the Alton Telegraph in May, 1837. A year later he purchased the interest of his partner, L. A. Parks, and became sole proprietor. In June, 1838, he associated S. R. Dolbee with himself in the business, which connection continued until the close of 1849. His son (William H.), E. L. Baker and L. A. Parks were associated with him in the paper and up to 1854 when he retired.

Judge Bailhache had the distinction of serv¬ ing in the legislatures of two states, having been elected to the Ohio general assembly in 1820 and to that of Illinois in 1841. His death took place in his seventy-first year and was accidental. While out riding on September 2, 1857, his carriage was overturned into a ravine opposite what is now Lincoln school, Alton, and he received injuries from which he died the next day. Judge Bailhache was brought up in the Protestant Episcopal church and in that communion he lived and died. His fun¬ eral was attended by a great concourse and a remarkably eloquent eulogy was pronounced upon his life and character by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters.

Probably the editor who exerted the widest political influence, while engaged in journalism in Alton, was Hon. George T. Brown. He was a Scotchman by birth and settled in Alton in the early thirties. He was educated for the law but seems to have paid more attention to politics than to pleading. In 1846 he was elected mayor, an office held by his brother, Joseph, ten years later. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1847, and in 1852 was a candidate before the Democratic state convention for lieutenant governor, re¬ ceiving 1 13 votes to 132 for Gustavus Koerner of St. Clair. In 1855 Mr. Brown was secre¬ tary of the state senate. On May 29, 1852, he established the Alton Daily Morning Courier, which was, under his direction, the best and most influential daily in the state outside of Chicago. It had the finest and most complete newspaper plant in Illinois, in a building specially erected for the purpose. It in¬ cluded news and job offices and a book bind¬ ery. The building was four stories high, lo¬ cated on State street, opposite Third. It is now the property of the Alton Masonic Order. But the enterprise was too large for the size of the town and in 1861 the paper failed. Mr. Brown was also the moving spirit in the es¬ tablishment of gas works in Alton and lighting the streets by gas. In 1861 Mr. Brown was appointed sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senate and for the next few years was a prominent figure in the national capital. Af¬ ter his successor was appointed he returned to Alton, but with his absence from the state he had lost his prominence in politics and failing resources added to his misfortunes. He was unmarried and led rather a lonely life, his death occurring June io, 1880, at the age of sixty years. He is buried in the Alton City cemetery. During his later years the journal¬ istic instinct was still strong in him and he was accustomed to frequent the newspaper offices to look over the exchanges and thus keep pace with a world in which he had once borne a prominent part.

The pioneer of religious journalism in Illi¬ nois was Rev. John M. Peck, who in connec¬ tion with T. P. Green, established at Rock Spring, May 25, 1829, the Pioneer of the Val¬ ley of the Mississippi. It was published in the interest of the Baptist denomination and of his seminary. After a troubled existence the paper was moved to Alton, in 1836, and its name was changed to Western Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer. It was a heavy bur¬ den on the publishers and in 1838 its name was shortened to Western Pioneer, but that did not help matters and it was removed to

Louisville, Kentucky, and combined with a paper there. Mr. Peck was the foremost cler¬ ical opponent of the convention in the great anti-slavery campaign of 1824, and his labors were perhaps greater than those of any one man, except Governor Coles. He organized almost the entire religious element of the state against the convention, but it is a striking fact that his aggressive views on slavery after¬ wards underwent a change, or at least a great modification. In 1837 he was opposed to Lovejoy in his anti-slavery campaign, in re¬ gard to which Rev. Thos. Lippincott writes in his reminiscences as follows: "In the grand struggle to preserve liberty in Illinois Mr. Peck was among the most active and efficient. I cannot tell how much he wrote but it is im¬ possible to believe that his ever active pen was idle ; he traversed the state over and over, and everywhere scattered publications, and preached and argued with his forcible logic, spreading light and influence everywhere, ex¬ posing the schemes of political adventurers and the horrors of slavery. Nor did he think his labors against the convention desecrated the pulpit, or were incongruous with the call¬ ing which he deemed the highest and holiest. He was pleading against oppression. Illinois has reaped vast blessings from his labors.

"But it is a matter of painful regret that when Elijah P. Lovejoy was doing what Mr. Peck had so nobly begun in years agone, the latter, instead of joining in the noble work, threw his influence against him ; and when the popular feeling was rising against the faithful witness, Mr. Peck (unintentionally and un¬ consciously I am sure) pursued such a course as tended to fan the flame. And it is believed that ever after he was on the conservative in¬ stead of the progressive side. Yet let not any of us condemn him for this. He was doubt¬ less honest and sincere as ever. Let the good he has done for the state and the world be held in everlasting remembrance."

In confirmation of this statement of Mr. Peck's change of views on the slavery ques¬ tion I have seen a published sermon which he preached before the legislature, in the later fifties which apologized for and extenuated slavery, and deprecated any interference therewith. Mr. Peck lived to old age, his de¬ mise taking place March 15, 1858.

John Fitch was another notable name in Madison county journalism. He was first editor of the Alton Courier, 1853-4, and of the National Democrat from 1854 to i860. Mr. Fitch subsequently went into the army where he rendered important service as an of¬ ficer and later was the author of "The Annals of the Army of the Cumberland," a compre¬ hensive work in two volumes.

Rev. J. B. Logan, D. D., has an honored place in the journalism of the county as editor severally of the Missouri Cumberland Presby¬ terian, transferred from St. Louis to Alton ; the Ladies' Pearl, the Western Cumberland Presbyterian and the Cumberland Presbyter¬ ian. His son-in-law, Thomas H. Perrin, was associated with him in these publications as publisher. Rev. Dr. J. W. Brown was also associated with Mr. Logan editorially. Air. Perrin was also one of the proprietors of the Alton Democrat from 1876 to 1882, with D. C. Fitz Morris as editor. The latter has since occupied prominent positions on the St. Louis press. A. W. Corey was a leader in temper¬ ance journalism from 1836 to 1842, editing a series of papers devoted to that cause. An¬ other editor engaged in the same work, over twenty years later, was B. H. Mills, of Upper Alton, publisher of the Good Templar.

and Sentinel-Democrat for a period of thirtyfour years. He was a native of Alton, of Irish parentage, and was a fine example of a selfmade man. Although his educational advan¬ tages did not extend beyond the public schools he was a ready and forcible writer, a pleasing speaker and a leader in the Democratic party. He was once the nominee of his party for con¬ gress and an independent candidate for mayor, but had the misfortune to reside in a Repub¬ lican city and district and suffered defeats which were no personal reflection on himself. He made his mark in his generation and is worthy of remembrance.

Hon. Thomas Dimmock, who was editor of the National Democrat for some years, was a polished writer, of scholarly tastes and at¬ tainments. He was subsequently, and for many years, one of the editors of the St. Louis Republican. As a public speaker and lecturer he had few superiors. His elegance of diction and felicity of expression were remarkable.

Coming down to the present time I close this chapter with a reference to the fact that several of our veteran journalists have been connected with the press of Madison county for a generation, or more, and are still on the stage of action with their younger associates or competitors.

Hon. Charles Boeschenstein, of the Edwardsville Intelligencer has been connected with the press of the county for over thirty years. The Crossman family, of the EdwardsvUle Republican, for forty-three years counting from the founding of the paper in 1869 by the elder Crossman. J. S. Hoerner, late of the Highland Union, for thirty-two years. A. L. Brown, of the Edwardsville Democrat, for thirty years. Henry Meyer, of the Alton Banner, for thirty-one years, not counting his service in other places. W. T. Norton has been connected with Alton papers

D. C. FitzMorris and Clark McAdams, who were connected with the Alton press for several years, have both since won distinction in St. Louis journalism.