Boone County, Indiana - Chapter 13: Xf.w Spapers, 1914

Chapter 13: Xf.w Spapers

In the building of a community and a county or state, there is no more important factor than the newspaper. No community can live without it, and keep abreast of the age in which we live. A real newspaper does not belong to the printer or proprietor but to the public. Its ambition must be to serve for the good of the community. It must stand for the truth and in all cases for what is right and just. It must be a teacher and a leader to a higher standard of morals and culture. This has been the standard of the newspapers of Boone county. It is the trend of all local newspapers and largely of the city press. In a Republic like ours, it not only molds the moral sentiment, but largely the political. When we understand the power of the press, we will all the more realize the importance of keeping it pure. When we realize fully that the mind is as easily poisoned as the body and whatever enters it, is as effective and serious as whatever enters the body seriously affects it, we will be more guarded in regard to what we read. Our reading forms our character and our moral strength, just as surely as food forms and gives strength to our body. This is the mission of the press that sends forth papers and books to feed the minds of the people.

The Pioneer

In 185 1, when the county became of age and able to speak for itself, The Pioneer was started at Lebanon. Whether this was the pioneer newspaper, in fact in Boone, or only in name, we are not able to say. It is the first on record and will hold the distinction until some one claims and establishes title to the honor. Henry Hill is the hero that made the venture. He was editor and proprietor and publisher and a practical printer. He continued the publication for four years, when he closed out the plant to Dr. James McWorkman and Col. W. C. Kise, who became editors and pro- prietors. Under this management the paper prospered. Hill has managed the paper through the uprising of the Know-nothings of 1854. It was here that the Democrats met their first Waterloo. They had the scepter in Boone from its origin until the Know-nothings came upon the political stage.

When the storm of 1856 began to gather on the political horizon, Mc- Workman and Kise sold the paper to George Washington Buckingham, of Newark, Ohio. He was a young man and full of fire and steered the craft through stormy seas. Those were rough seas for the Democrats. Hot disputes and divisions arose dividing parties, homes, the church and finally the country. Of course the hot blood of Buckingham boiled. Those were days that would make the blood of a phlegmatic red hot. The young man bravely stood at his post until the storm of i860 arose, when he sold to James Gogen, who continued the publication until the war cloud burst upon the land in the spring of 1861. So intense was the fury of the blast, so feverish was the fever in Boone, that patriotism absorbed every interest and all political lines were absorbed and a Democratic newspaper could not be run without financial loss, so Gogen closed out and the publication was discontinued for lack of financial support. It took a Rip Van Winkle sleep of seven years. When you consider what took place those seven years, it was longer than twenty years.

During four long years the black cloud hung over us. The internecine struggle raged and ended. The shackles of involuntary service were ended. Lincoln dead, peace restored and Johnson had labored three years trying to heal the wound. After all this had passed and the vexed questions that came near floundering the ship of state, the spirit of sleepy Democracy of that age began to rub its sleepy eyes and to arise to new duties and issues. They knew that it could not thrive without an organ to advocate its principles. The old Pioneer was resuscitated and Jap. Turpin took charge of its interest. His career was short and he was succeeded by Lafe Woodard, who also made but a short stay with the people of Boone. General R. C. Kise then took charge of the enterprise and managed it with distinguished ability and great financial success, until the year 1869, when he was succeeded by Henry S. Evans. In the campaign of 1870, Benjamin A. Smith took charge of the paper. He gathered the best local writers of the party together and made a lively paper continuing until 1874, when he disposed of the entire office to

In 1889, Dr. T. H. Harrison leased the office to Ben F. McKey, who had been in the office since 1876. The following year 1890, Mr. McKey became sole proprietor. The Pioneer was placed on a solid footing by Dr. Harrison and when it came into the hands of Mr. McKey, it maintained a steady growth and has continued to improve year after year to the present time. The energy and aptness as editor and manager and knowledge of all the details of the business eminently qualified Mr. McKey for success in the newspaper enterprise. He developed a system of correspondence from all parts of the county which brought in the happenings and doings from all parts of the county which created an interest in each locality and knit the county as a whole to the office as a news center. This made the paper desirable as a local paper all over the county and increased its subscription list and its value as an advertising medium. It was a true advocate of Democratic principles, of sound morals and always working for the best interest and growth of the county.

On April 1, 1914, a change was consummated by which an interest of the Pioneer from Ben F. McKey, the publisher, passed to Claude D. McKey, his son, and Truman O. Edwards, his son-in-law, thus instilling new and young blood into its growth. Both of these young men have had experience in the newspaper business. Claude was literally brought up in the office by his father and in addition to the experience in his father's office, he has had experience in the newspaper work in other fields not only as editor and manager but also as linotype operator. Mr. Edwards has been connected with the Pioneer for some time as business manager and fully recognized as a man of ability in this line.

Mr. Ben F. McKey will continue as editor-in-chief of the paper. The paper will continue in politics as it has been from the beginning, true to Democratic principles. The Democratic party of Boone county and of the Ninth District and even of the state owe much to the stanch support that has been given them by this virile newspaper.

In 1854, when the Know-Nothing wave gave a clean political sweep to Boone county, a new newspaper came upon the stage under the title, The Boone County Ledger. It was the organ of all voters opposed to the Democratic party. At the time of its origin the Know-Nothings were in the saddle.

Edward Bell was the practical printer. At first the paper was published by a stock company. Later it passed into the hands of Volney B. Oden, thence to David M. Burns and finally to Edward Bell. He was all right as an editor and in favor with his party, but proved a poor business manager and the concern was sold ; the press to Mr. Lewis, who moved it to Danville, Hendricks county and published it as The Hendricks' County Ledger.

In the meantime, the Republican party grew into considerable power and the next paper established was the Expositor as its organ. It continued for about three years under the management of first, W. F. Smith, followed by Asa P. Taft. It weakened and died for lack of support as is the common fate of young newspapers.

In the year i860, Joseph W. Jackson published a Republican paper at Thorntown called The Thorntown Evening Mail. He moved his office to Lebanon and published it as The Indiana Mail, which he continued to edit for two or three years. It was then purchased by John H. and J. W. Hendricks to which they added what was left of the old Expositor, enlarged it to a seven column folio, and named it the Lebanon Patriot. In 1866 T. H. B. McCain became proprietor. The plant burned down in March. Rising from the ashes it was continued for a short time by Mr. McCain, who sold it to David E. Caldwell. Steam power was introduced, being well equipped with power in addition to printing the Pafriot, it printed the Indiana Farmer, Ladies Own Magazine, National Farmer and the Sunday School Union, which it mailed to subscribers in this and other states. In 1870 the sixteenth year of its trials and tribulations, through the next sixteen years of equal tribulations and trials it passed through various hands as proprietors and editors, among whom may be mentioned M. M. Manner, W. O. Darnell, J. A. Abbott, S. L. Hamilton, J. A. Abbott and D. H. Olive, W. C. Gerard, Charles E. Wilson. In December, 1878, Mr. Wilson added a new press, new dress and changed it to an eight column folio. July 19th, he sold the plant to W. C. Gerard and he changed it to a semi-weekly. October 16, 1884, he sold to Jacob Reiser. S. J. Thompson and son Flem, became proprietors in January 14, 1886, who made it a zealous Republican journal. They moved the paper to the Higgins block on the southeast corner of the public square where it remained until the year 191 3. They continued its publication until February, 1891, when they sold to Albion Smith who held it for a short time and sold to S. N. Cragun.

Mr. Cragun entered the field of journalism fresh from the field of pedagogy, having served as county superintendent of Boone county. He put new energy into the soul of the Patriot, put it on a permanent basis, gave it a new dress and maintained its high standard in morals and journalism. It continued as an advocate of the Republican principles and faithful advocacy of the best interest of the people. After a faithful continuance of service twenty-two years, the longest time that any had been connected continuously with the paper, he sold it July 25. 191 3, to Lester F. Jones of the firm of Campbell, Smith & Ritchie Company. Rev. George W. Jones, brother of the proprietor, assumed charge as managing editor. In the retirement of Major Cragun, from the newspaper field of Boone county, the county loses a true faithful worker in this important field of labor. The new proprietor greatly improved the outfit of the office with new dress and the very best of presses and machinery; and moved the office to the first floor on the east side of the court house, and connected with it the publication of the Daily Herald, making it the printing establishment of the county, and equipped it with a press equal to the larger cities. In September, 1914, Reverend Jones laid down the pen and returned to his first love by re-entering the ministry.

The Pioneer and Patriot are the only weekly papers in Lebanon that have run the gauntlet and secured a sure footing. Several other newspaper efforts made in Lebanon lived for a season and passed away. R. C. Kise, while an apprentice in the Pioneer office, made ventures with the "Jaw Breaker," "Night-Hawk," and "Swamp Angel" ; all flourished for a season and passed from the field. The Daily Times, the first daily effort, was a venture of John C. Taylor and lived an ephemeral life. When the Pioneer sank away under the dark clouds of the Civil war, W. A. Tipton and other parties started the Democrat and tried to make it go but it died in infancy. In 1875, Ben A. Smith returned to Lebanon and tried his hand in resuscitating the Democratic brotherhood by starting another paper and christening it the Democrat. The Democratic party would not forsake their first love, the Pioneer, and Mr. Smith was not supported and his enterprise failed. In the year 1878, when the "National" or "Greenback" fever was burning in this land, they became anxious for an organ as an exponent of their policy. The press was established and C. M. Wyncoop, II. H. Hacker, Charles Norris and Charles Calvert each in turn, successfully drove the pen and the enterprise flourished as long as the party advocating paper money flourished. The latter editor changed the name of the paper to the Lebanon Bee and finally moved the office to Kansas. Afterwards E. G. Darnell launched The Lebanon Mercury, an independent newspaper which he published for eighteen months and sold it to C. B. Mock.

The first paper in Thorntown was started by Joseph W. Jackson in 1858, called The Evening Mail, which was continued for two or three years and moved to Lebanon. In 1872, F. B. Rose started The Thorntown Commercial," which was published only a short time. Next on the list was L. B. Kramer, who talked to the people through the Register until near the close of 1873. N. C. Rayhouser brought forth The Messenger for a season. After the run of the above papers in quick succession. F. B. Rose came upon the stage with The Independent for a short time, and was followed by Gait and Runyan, who changed the name to The Leader, and made the paper a lively acceptable medium of news to the people. After all of these rapid changes pioneering the way, in 1879, S. VV. Ferguson came forth with a new paper under the title of Argus. In its history it was owned and published by the following parties in succession : Messrs. Darrough and Crouch, C. W. Hazelrigg, F. B. Rose, C. B. Mock, F. B. Rose, G. H. Hamilton. It was finally purchased by The Thorntown Printing Company in 1905, and merged with the Enterprise. The Enterprise was started by L. D. Woodcock in 1898, who continued its publication until 1904, when he sold to Everett White. White sold to the Thorntown Printing Company in 1905, which was combined with the Argus and titled Argus-Enterprise , under which title it continues to this date, edited by L. M. Crist and owned by Crist and Trinkle. G. H. Hamilton in 1908 started the Thorntown Times, which he continues to publish. The Times is an up-to-date county paper and has a well equipped office.

In the years 1899, 1900 and 1901, the Thorntown Enterprise published the Twentieth Century, a monthly journal devoted to the temperance work and was edited by L. M. Crist. This was a spicy live paper that grappled with the live issues of the day.

The Zionsville Times

This is a live eight page six column paper published at Zionsville, Indiana, by the able editor Cal Gault. The paper was established at the begin- ning of the year i860, and will enter upon its fifty-fifth year of prosperity, the first of next January. It is the third paper in the county in age, ranking next to the Pioneer and Patriot of Lebanon.

Mr. Gault, its present editor and proprietor, is among the oldest and most experienced newspaper men in the county. He has been connected with the Times for nearly half a century. A. G. Abbott was the original projector of the paper in i860 and made it a very newsy journal. He was succeeded by W. F. Morgan for a short time and then by John S. Grives. His restlessness would not let him remain long at the post and the steady enterprising editor Gault assumed ownership and control and has remained in possession until this day. He has made of the Times, one of the most reliable and steadfast papers of the county. He publishes a clean, lively newspaper and one that reflects a credit upon the community that supports it. Long may it live to cheer and bless its patrons and Mr. Gault be spared to give it life and character.

In 1872, the Times was energized by a lively competitor, which put new life and energy in its pages. There is nothing that so calls out all there is in us as a good lively competitor to make us move up. John Messier and Will Eagle, at the above date, started the Commercial, which flourished for a short time, until a chattel mortgage compelled it to surrender. F. B. Rose became proprietor but he was unable to resuscitate it and its remains were moved to Thorntown and Mr. Gault has held the disputed field ever since.

The Jamestozvn Press, now in its twentieth year, and nearing its majority, is published by George R. Darnell. It is a live eight page, six column, breezy local paper, that keeps the metropolis of the southwest corner of Boone county before the world. Every week it goes out fresh and clean to tell the doings of the city and let everybody know that it is alive and crowding the world to remember that fact. It must have had a stormy time at first, for the record states that one G. W. Corbin came out early with Nip and Tuck, The Northern World and Temperance Tribune. There was plenty of name to these journals, but not enough sales to keep them floating. In a short time A. S. Clements was at the helm of the Tribune as its editor. Next came W. C. Brown who for a season made of it a very newsy paper. At the last G. W. Snyder put his push and energy to the wheel and made it a first-class newspaper of that corner of our county. He continued it for a number of years and finally it was purchased by the present proprietor. The Tribune was changed to the Jamestown Press, under which title it has continued for twenty years, growing and becoming better as the years are passing. It is a local paper of good tone and holds a high standard for morals and the best interest of the community.

Whitestown The Hustler

In 1901, Ora McDaniel established "The Hustler" in Whitestown, and continued its publication for three years and sold it to H. C. Darnell, who published it for two years and sold to H. E. Rogers. Mr. Rogers' connection with the paper was only one year, when he sold to Ellis Cook, who could only stand the wear and tear for six months and unloaded upon Smith and Darnell. These gentlemen had the grit to stick to their job long enough to become acquainted with its loveliness. For four years and six months they held the scepter and power of the press in the capital of Worth province, then they disposed of it to McMakin, who is there to this day. The name of "The Hustler" was changed to "Whitestoum Dispatch" by Smith and Darnell at the beginning of ownership. The Dispatch is a live energetic paper, looking after the interest and best welfare of the village and Worth township.