McDonough County, Illinois - Chapter 22: Newspaper Enterprises, 1878

A history of the county without mention of its newspapers would be incomplete - like the play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out, We therefore make mention of the history of such as were easily obtainable. The first paper in the county was the

McDonougli Independent. - This paper was established in the year 1851, the first issue making its appearance Friday, September 12, George W, Smith and Theodore L, Terry were its proprietors, the former having charge of the editorial department. As its name would indicate, it was independent in politics, though leaning somewhat toward Democracy, It first appeared as a six column folio, being enlarged to a seven column folio the beginning ot its second year, Mr, Smith, its editor, was a sharp writer, and in newspaper discussion, almost always came off' first best. Mr. Terry Avas a practical printer, and had charge of the mechanical work of the office. He only remained connected with the paper about five months, when he disposed of his interest to the senior proprietor. The paper never attained a very large circulation, and Mr, Smith not being possessed of any means, could not give it the attention he would otherwise. The merchants of the town do not seem to have been the best advertisers; no local notices appearing, and but few standing or displayed advertisements. Patent medicine men used its columns freely. In the first number we find only the advertisements of three firms, Updegratt k Maury, druggists and booksellers, and D. & C. A. Lawson, and W. & II. Ervin, general merchandise. Hampton & Waters have a law card, and Dr, J, M. Major a medical card. Several Beardstown and St, Lous firms have cards, showing that in those days the trade drifted South.

The Independent continued to pursue a non-partisan course until the fall of 1854, when it came out square for the Democracy, advocating the doctrine of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and opposing the repeal of the fugitive slave law, questions then agitating the people. With the first number of the fourth volume, to its original heading it added, "and Democratic Review," making it read, McDonough Independent and Democratic lieview. This name was retained until September, 1855, when it was changed to McDonough Democrat, and R. M. Royalty associated in its management and becoming the responsible editor. In his salutatory, Dr. Royalty says : "Venerating the cardinal doctrines of the great Democratic party, as transmitted to us from the hands of Jefferson, Madison and Jackson, and having an abiding faith that the party will retain its integrity, unsullied and untrammeled by the cankering fetters of fanaticism, our humble efforts will be directed to the advancement of the party and the dissemination of correct principles among the people, in whom alone we recognize, under the restrictions of the constitution , the only legitimate source of power and independent sovereignty. Resting under this conviction, and that the doctrine of non-intervention by Congress in the affairs of the States and Territories embraced in the late Kansas-Nebraska bill is strictly constitutional, just and expedient, we shall earnestly contend for the finaiity of that measure, and the defeat of the allied factions of Abolitionism, Know-Nothingism, Fusionism and Republicanism, 'falsely so called,' which are arrayed against it." The doctor only remained connected with the paper about one year, when it again reverted to Mr. Smith, who continued editor and publisher until its final suspension in the spring of 1857.

llie Maconil) Journal - In consequence of the expression of political views of the McDonough Independent, a professedly neutral paper, many persons in Macomb were desirous of establishing another paper, and two young men, Messrs. T. S. Clarke and D. G. Swan were persuaded to embark in the enterprise, and under the name of the Macomb Enterprise the first number was issued in the spring of 1855. A favorable impression was made upon the people and the paper received a fair patronage, but, on account of the want of capital Mr. Clarke soon withdrew, and the paper was conducted for a while by D. G. Swan, with L. II. Waters as editor. Finding it impossible to continue without financial H - 17 assistance, Mr. Swan sold a half interest in the office to B. R. Hampton, who, as editor, continued in its charge for several years, becoming after a time sole proprietor. The paper was established as a neutral sheet, but soon came out as a supporter of the views of the anti-Xebraska and then the Republican party, and in the campaign of 1856 supporting the nominee of the Republican party for President. In politics the paper still continues to support Republican principles.

Just before the campaign of 1860 Mr. Hampton sold the office to J. W. Nichols, who continued its publication for some two years, a part of the time being assisted in eilitorial control by V. Y. Ralston, Esq., afterward Captain of Compau}- A, 16th regiment Illinois volunteers. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Xichols sold a half interest in the office to James K. Magie, Esq., who assumed editorial control and remained in that capacity until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the 78th regiment. After Mr. Magie went to the front Mr. Nichols assumed editorial control and continued in its management until Mr. Magie purchased his interest in 1863, when T. S. Clarke leased the office and ran the paper for some months, or until the expiration of Mr. Magic's term of service. We neglected to. remark that when Mr. Nichols purchased the office the name of the paper was changed to Military Tract Journal, and when Mr. Magie became interested it was again changed to Macomb Journal, which name it yet bears.

After the return of Mr. Magie from the army he continued in the management of the paper until 1865, when he sold the office to B. R. Hampton, Esq., who continued sole editor and proprietor until June 10, 1870, when he disposed of a half interest in the office to AV. II. llainline, Esq., the two together becoming joint editors and proprietors, which relation is yet continued. The paper has grown from a weak, sickly sheet to ojie of the strongest and brightest papers in the Military Tract, with a circulation second to none in that region. Its editors are both live, publicspirited men and deserve. success. It is now a large, eight-column f jlio, printed on new brevier type on a Taylor power pnes.':, which i-5 run by steam, the old hand press being superseded some years since. Terms, $2 per year. Address Hampton & llainline.

The 3Iacomb Ledger. - This paper was established in Macomb, in 1866, by T. S. Clarke, and only lived about four weeks. It was a sprightly local sheet, and had it been continued it would doubtless have done considerable good. Its editor and proprietor was one of the best local writers in the State, but being possessed of no pecuniary resources, without which no paper can succeed, he was compelled to suspend its publication. B. 11. Hampton became proprietor of the ofhee, and sent it to Havana, Mason county.

The Western LigJd. - This paper was established by S. J. Clarke and Charles P. AV^hitten, in January, 1868. It was a lail^e fivecolumn quarto, well printed from new type, and was devoted to literature, art, science, temperance and local news. Many warm words of commendation were passed upon it; but words arc cheap and will not support any periodical. It lived just one year. Mr. A\"hitten was connected with the paper but about four months, when Mr. Clarke became sole proprietor. The office was disposed ot to Reynolds and Garrison, in December, 1868, and was used in printing the Gospel Echo for about one year, when B. II. Hampton became proprietor. The material since has had a very migratory existence, and has been used in publishing several different papers in Missouri and in this State, and in now used in the publication of the Macomb Independent.

The Bashmil Record. - This paper was first established in 1865 by 1). G. Swan, and was then known as the Union Press. Mr. S. continued its publication about two years, when he sold to Andrew Hageman, who changed the name of the sheet to its present cognomen, The Bushell Record. Although without previous experience in the newspaper business, Mr. Hageman got up a very readable paper. After two years experience in newspaper life, Mr. H. sold the press and material, together with the good will of the paper, to A. W. Van Dyke, a young gentleman of good address and one of the best job printers in the State, who in turn sold to S. A. Epperson and W. A. Spencer in 1873. The latter gentleman dissolved his connection witli the same after one year's experience. Captain S. A. Epperson becoming sole proprietor, and yet continues in control ot the same.

Like many other newspaper enterprises, the Record has had its ups and downs, its seasons of prosperit}' and seasons of adversity ; but it has continued to toil on, looking forward to the better day coming. We now find it, in the ])eginning of the year 1877, a large six column quarto, filled with interesting and profitable reading matter, and with advertising patronage that betokens prosperity, and that the family of its editor can have and enjoy a little more than the bare necessaries of life.

The Record has latel}^ added to its office a Campbell power press, and now boasts of doing its work a little faster and a little better than its neighbors. The job office is complete, and work of all kinds, from a visiting card to a mammoth poster, or a large book, can be printed in the best style. Captain Epperson is determined not to be outdone in anything, and will not rest until he is in advance of all his neighbors in that which goes to make a first class printing office, and a neat readable paper.

Prairie City Chronicle. - This was the name of the first paper published in the town of Prairie City, the first number of which bears date April 23, 1857. It was edited and published by R. W. Seaton, and was a seven-column folio, well printed, and an honor to the town, although its local news was Yevj limited. The introductory shows that its editor was very sanguine of success. In speaking of its then limited circulation, he says : "Our circle at present is small, like that of a pebble dropped in the ocean, but it will gradually and silently expand in every direction until it reaches the far-off" boundaries ot civilization." Of course no paper could live in a small town like Prairie City if it endeavored to expand in such a way as that, as it surely would meet the fate of the frog in the fable that endeavored to swell its proportions to the size of an ox, and in doing so burst itself; we therefore learn that in about one year it ceased to exist, but its editor, like many more of the craft, had more grit than money, and determined on the establishment of another sheet on its ruins; and accordingly in May, 1858, appeared the first number of the -

Prairie Chief. - A. four column quarto, and published in the interests of the Good Templars. It lived but a few weeks, the order not giving it sufficient patronage on which to exist, and having no local news of any kind, the people of the town in which it was published failed to render it any aid. l^ext appeared the

Prairie Chicken. - We have been unable to find a copy of the paper, or learn any special information in regard to it, further than it was published by an erratic genius, who knew more about table-tipping than running a newspaper. The " Chicken " was doubtless trapped when quite young and destroyed without mercy.

I'he Prairie City Herald is a thirty-two column paper, is always clearly and neatly printed, and is now in its seventh volume. It enjoys a large circulation in its immediate vicinity, and is a welcome visitor in many homes in the far west, where it is eagerly read by former inhabitants of this county. It was established by C. W. Taylor, a brother of its present editor and proprietor, Mr. H. B. Taylor.

The chief feature of this paper is its excellence as a local and family newspaper. Nothing is ever permitted to appear either in its editorial or advertising colums which may not be read by any family circle or at any lireside. It has a good advertising patronage, and stands on its own merits. It gives no premiums to subscribers, and asks no one to take it "just to help it along." It is well known for its short and spicy paragraphs, and is more widely quoted from than any paper published in the county. Terms of subscription, $2 a year in advance.

The Macomb Independent. - This paper was started as The Illinois Granger, by H. II. Stevens and E. A. Hail, under the firm name of Stevens & Hail, in September, 1873. It was devoted to the interest of the laboring classes, and took strong ground against monopolies of all kinds, and advocated the organization of a new political party. It supported the anti-monopoly party, and contributed largely to the election of the candidates on that ticket in McDonough county that fall. The influence brought to bear against it was almost impossible to withstand, and men of less nerve and devotion to the cause would have given up the enterprise as utterly hopeless. IS'ot knowing which of the two old parties were being injured most by the new organization, it was bitterly opposed by the party organs of both.

The secret order of the Patrons of Husbandry, or the Grange, was then attracting a great deal of attention in the county, and owing to a lack of knowledge on the part of the uninitiated as to the real object of the order, wrong impressions took deep root in the minds of the public, and more especially was this so with the various merchants, who had an idea that this order was hostile to their interests. The Granger defended this organiza- tion, and hence a prejudice among the merchants sprang up against it. The Granger, as before stated, took an active part in politics, and for this reason the belief that the order of Patrons of Husbandry was a political party becoming quite prevalent, a fact which -was neither beneficial to the order, to the new party, or to the paper. The mistake in the selection of a name for the paper was discovered before it had completed its first volume, but it continued under that name until March, 1876, when it was discarded and that of Macomb Independent was assumed, under which name it is still published. It struggled hard for an existence, and its publishers were frequently driven to borrow money to meet their obligations, but the employes in the office were always paid off' promptly at the end of each week.

There were many trying times in its history, but the darkest days of its existence were during the unsettled political condition of the country which followed the presidential election of 1876. On the thirteenth of December of this year, during the darkest hours of its darkness, Stevens bought Hail's interest in the paper, books and accounts - the presses, type and material of the office being equitably divided. Immediately alter this a healthful change set in. The inactivity which pervaded the ranks of the Independent Greenbaciv party during the month and a half immediately following the election was succeeded by activity, renewed life and vigor. "Organize for 1880" were the words of the national executive committee of the Independent party, and it seemed to meet with a hearty response from the people. More money was paid in on subscription to the Independent during the two first weeks in January, 1877, than had been received from the day ot election up to the first of that month. ]^ew hopes and new energies were begotten, new names were enrolled, new advertisements came in, and the success of the paper was assured. It now circulates about 700 copies among the farmers of the county. It had a hard struggle, it met with a powerful and determined opposition, but it braved all and its future prospects are bright and full of hope. Subscription price $2 00 per year. Office in Campbell's block, west side of the square.

The Gleaner - This paper was started in January, 1876, and is one of the neatest and sprightliest in the county. In i^olitics it is independent, not in a partisan sense but in conduct. Its editor and publisher is J. E. Cummings. Connected with the office is a No. 1 job office, presided over by one of the best job printers in the Military Tract. Terms of subscription $2 per annum in advance. Address J. E. Cummings, Bushnell, Illinois.