Pipestone County, Minnesota - Chapter 31, 1911

The Peess

DriilX(< a newspaper history of tliirty-two years Pipestone connty has heen the lionie of no less than sixteen weekly, one monthly and one daily publications, ranginn- in life from a few issues to thirtv-two event Isaac L. Hart had disposed of a paper of large patronage in Iowa and set out to seek a location fur a new journal. After investigating the opportunities offered by many places, Mr. Hart came to the conclusion that Pipestone countv, years. Of these eighteen newspapers which was then enjoying rapid settlement, founded only five are in existence at the date of the publication of this volume, as follows: Pipestone County Star (semiweekly) by Star Printing company, Ealph G. Hart, editor: Edgerton Enterprise by Oscar A. Green, Jasper Journal by Selah S. King, Farmers' Leader (Pipestone) by George G. Stone, and Woodstock News by A. H. Higley. Those that have fallen by the wayside are the Pipestone r)aily Star, Pipestone Pepublican, Pipestone Eepublic, Pi[)estone Independent, the I*ublic Tribune and Farmers' Advocate, which were succeeded by the Farmers' Leader; The Week's Eeviow, which later went by the name of Pipestone Eeview ; Minnesota Stjernen, Edgerton News, Woodstock Journal. Woodstock Eagle, Holland Advocate, Holland News, Trosky Advertiser and Hutliton Gazette.

The click of type was heard for the first time in Pipestone county in the montb of June. 1879, on the nineteenth of which month was born the Pipestone Countv Star. A few weeks before this offered the best inducements for a long and ])i'(ifital)le newspaper venture. So he purchased a jilant and founded Pipestone county's first news journal - a paper which has ever since been maintaini'd. practically under one management.

The Star at its birth was a seven column fiili", only two pages of which were printed at homo, and for several years it was a weekly publication. The first copy fi'iiin I be ])ress was a proof and was purchased by Charles H. Bennett. The first c()ui]i!cte copy of the paper was presented to W. .V. Davidson, of Luverne, while the sccimd copy went to H. D. Sanford. who was till' lirsf I'cgular subscriber. For a few vcars the lu)me of the Star was a litflc frame linilding wiiich was located on ihc sifc (if Ihe present Odd Fellows bnihling. but in 1883 Mr. Hart erected a native stone 1)uilding on Hiawatha street, which has ever since been the home of the pioneer journal. The venture was a paying one fidin till' start and witliin n little over a year the Star was enlarged t" yii eiaht column folio.

Fjmiii tli.e (Into of I'oiindinii the pioneer journal lias never niisseil an issue, but in the early days circumstances arose Avhicli sorely tried the ]>ulilisher"s wits to maintain this I'ccord. As an instance: During the snow lilockade of 1S80-S1. when the ground was eovei'ed with four feet of the beautiful and the little village of Pipestone had lieen without mail, exjiress or fi eight matter I'm' eighty days, the Star was printed on colored paper for two weeks, then for several weeks on briiwn wrapping jiapcr. wbiili was serured frnm the stores, and when the supply was exhausteil the Star ajipeared one week in miniature I'lU-ni im ]iages cut from a stock of scrap books which w<'re cai'ried in the old Star book 'store.

From .lanuary 18S4. until February n. 1887, the Star was published as a semi-weekly, a seven column folio i:i size. On the last named date ihc wi-ekly issue was resnnu'd ami the ])aper was enlarged to a rptartii. (iardner E. Hart. son iif the fiiunder. was a( this time admitted as a ]iaiiiici-. and the pid)lishing firm became T. L. Hart & Son. At the close of the year 1889 the fonnder of the l>aper withdrew temporarily from active managenient. although retaining his property interests in the paper, and Gardner E. Hart became sole manager. He piil)- lished the paper as a six column (|uarto and in October, 1891, bought his father's interest and liecamc the sole owner and publisher. I. L. Ifart conducted Ihc job department and assisted in the management of the paper to some extent.

'JMie Pipestone Daily Star was founded April 4, 18n-2, and had an existence of nearly sixteen years, being discontinued on the last day of the year 1907. It was an evening journal, was founded as a five column folio, but was soon enlarged to a six column paper. There is, perhaps, no town in the state of Minnesota of the

(iaidtirr 1^. Halt withdrew from the business March 31. IDIIO. and the publishei-s became Star Printing company, llalph G. Hart, a younger son of the founder, becoming a mendier of the firm and taking editorial charge. Another change in management wa.s made in May, 1904, when the Star Piinting company was organized witli the following officers: I. L. Hart, manager: K. G. Hart, secretary and trea.-urer: Kalph G. Hart, editor. At the present tinu' Italpli ({. Halt has eilitdrial charge.

During the time the Haily Star was ]iiilili<licd the wceklv edition was also niaiiitained. Sime the suspension of the daily a semi-weekly Star has taken the ]dace (if the weeklv. The Star is republican ]iolitically. It has always been a factor in the ailvancemcnt of the city of Pipestone and of Pipestone county and is rated as (uie of the leading papers of sduthwestern IMinnesota. The plant is eipiipiH'il with miideni machinery and is a model in every way.

Pipestone county's second ncwspa]ier was not destined to live long. In the summer of 1880 Gardner E. Hart, of the Pipestone County Star, pnt a plant in the little village of Edgerton, then just founded, and on July 24, 1880, issued the first number of the Edgerton News, a six cfiliimn fidid. Ill Septembr'r of the same vear .Teroiue Havidson was installed as manager, but the venture not being a successful one, ou~October 2 pviblication was suspended and in November the plant was purchased by Morse & Chapman, of Tjake Benton, and moved away. ,

Edgertim was a progressive little city in the early eighties, the spirit of its citizens demanded the publication of a paper there and it was not long before offers of support were given for the estab-

Iisliment ot another journal. Ihe Jicloerton Enterprise was founded as a seven column folio by A. R. Burkdoll on Ayiril '28, 18S3, and that gentleman was connected with the paper for over three years. From Oetohor 11. 1884, to May 30, 1885, T?. H. Tjueneburg, now of Lakefield, was associated with Mr. Burkdoll in the manan;ement of the paper, and for two months during the closing days of 188-5 A. B. Barney was tlie publisher, he having bought the plant, but after a short reign having iiirned it liack to Mr. Burkdoll. During its early history the Enterprise was a republican paper.

To prevent the suspension of tlie i^aper, in the fall of 1887. William Lockwood. J. C. Fay and C. S. Howard, local business men, bought the plant in company with J. C. Marshall, the latter assuming editorial control October 1, and a little later becoming sole proprietor of the Enterprise. ^Ir. 'Marshall conducted the paper as a democratic organ for a number of v'ears and the paper and its editor wore prominent factors in the political life of Pipestone county. He was in charge f)f tlie plaiit until the last of T)ccemher. 1893. with the exception of a few months during the panic year. O. E. Hoiige conducted the paper fi-om December, 1893, to May. 180.3. and then turned the office b;!ck to Mr. Marshall. J. Baxter Brennan leased the office in .Tidy of I be same year but gave up tlie manageineiil after three weeks' trial.

.\ <ale of the Enterprise was e(feite(| al the beginning of the year 1894, when Iv C Brake became the owner. He conducted the paper only until September of the same year and then sold to William Lockwood, who installed A. P. McDowell as editnr and made the journal a re]iublican organ. Mr. McDowell published his valedictory nil Christmas day, 1806, and during the next vear William l\lc('u:ie managea the paper tor Mr. L,ockwood. At the beginning of the year 1808 the latter sold the paper to Prof. L. W. Ham, formerly principal of the Edgerton schools, and W. C. Akers, who conducted the publication under the firm name of Ham & Akers, changing the form to a five column quarto soon after assuming control and continuing it as a republican jmpcr. Mr. Akers was in editorial charge until June 1, 1808. when he enlisted in the army and the ]iaitnership was dissolved, ^fr. Ham becoming sole publisher. That gentleman published a creditable journal until the disposal of the plant in August, 1900.

The new proprietors A\ere Oscar A. Green, -who became editru' and manager, and Tvce W. Lockwood, who assumed the duties of local editor. They began printing the paper all at home in December, 1900, and one year later ^enlarged it to a six column quarto, which has ever since remained the form. Ed. Yocom bought Lee Lockwo'^d's interest on January 1, 1902, and \'e publishing firm became Green & Yocom, Mr. Green continuing as manager and editor. On October 29, 190.3, W. V. Olin became a member of the publishing firm, being associated with Messrs. Green and Yocom until .Tune 9, 1904-

The last change in the affairs of the Edgerlon Enterprise occurred December I, IfiO.";. wlien William Tvockwood and Lee \V. Tjockwood purchased the |iliiiil. Tt was (bell leased for a term of years by Oseai- .\. Green and L. I.. Green and its nuuiagement is now vested in Oscar .\. Green, who publishes an excellent journal. Tlie Enterprise, during its long life, has had a varied career, luit it has always been an inqiortant factor in the affairs of the little village in which it is published and ill tlie history of Pipestone county journalism- age of the people o[ Pipestone county wa-; tlie Pipestone Ttepuhlic, wliicli was founded by AY. F. Janiieson on Febrnary 3, 1884. It was a six column folio, devoted largely to the interests of temperance. Mr. Jamieson published the Eepnblic until Ajiril 11, 1885, when, not having met with financial success, tho jilant was moved to Delavau. ^Minnesota.

Just twelve days after the Pipestone Pepublic was launched on tlie sea of journalism, Pipestone's third paper, the Pi]ie- -stone Republican, was put forth, the first number a])]ienring February 11, 1884. For some liiiu' previous some of the local pi)liiicians bail been dissatisfied with the coTTi-se of the Pipestone Couniy Star and had offered inducements tn a number of news])a])er men to start an opposition paiiei' in Pi]jestone. but not nntil tliis time liad thev succeeded. James Baynes was the foumler nf the Pc]mblican. started as a nine column folio and made a six column quarto a year later. As the name indicated, the journal was an organ of the republican party. Tn October of the year of founding ^Messrs. 0. T. Letcher and T. M. Letcher liecame the owners of the plant and J. TL Letcher was installed as managing editor. Frank C. Cnlley liccame the publislier on Xovembcr 20, 188."). conducted the paper until Dccembci- 0. 1887, then announced its suspension and sliip|)ed the ))lant to southern C'aliroi-nia, whore it did duty in the publication of another paper. Tn his announcement of the suspension I\rr. Oulley said: " . Tt is sufficient f<ir the publisher to know and state that the publication of the ]iaper has been a financial failure from its commencement to its close. Tn the first place there was no reasonable business reason for a second paper ever being started in Pipestone."

])rincipally to literature, which was founded by Dr. TT. Wilson, formerly of Edgerton. in ]\Iay. 1.SS6. Only a few numbers of the paper were issued.

When the Great Xorthern Railroad company Imilt its line through Pipestone county in 1888 and the town of Jas])er was founded, one of the first considerations was the establishment of a newspaper to assist in building np the town. The Jasper Jonrnal, the first and only pa]ier ever started in Jasper, was issued foi- tlie first time on July 27. 1888, - almost simultaneous with the birth of tlir town. It was started as a seven column folio and retained that form nntil a August, ^i>99. when it became a five col- * umn (|n(nto - its |)rcsent form. The Journal was founded by, and is still owned by, 8elah S. I\ing and E. W. Pavies. and has always been under the management of tlie former, who conducts it as a republican iiaper. Tt has seen Jasper grow from a mere notliing to the second largest town in the countv, and the Journal has certainly shared in the prosperity and advancement of the place, and todav is enjoying the lilicral patronage it deserves. If it were necessary to introduce any cviili'iice to subslantiate the statement that Mr. i\in'j"s conduct of the |iaper has been .satisfaclorv to tlie people of daspcr. the fact that lie lias published the one ])aper for ucarK' a (piai'tcr of a cetiiiiry without tlic appearance of a rival in the field iniLild be set forth.

'i'he Minnesota Stjernen, printed in the Xcu'wegian language, was started at Edgerton October 26. 1880, by TT. W. Roll. It was publi.'ihed in that village . until Februai-y, 1890. when a removal to Pipestone was made. C. T. TJing at this time became interested in the ownership of the pa]iei-. Tn the latter part of .\pril, 1890, the enterprise bringing a financial loss to its owners, the plant was moved to

Although several newspapers were started in Pipestone in opposition to the Star in the early days it was not until 1890 that the town had reached the size to warrant the continuance of two publications. That year was founded the Farmers' Leader, which has ever since divided the patronage of the city with the Star.

This paper was started as the Public. Tribune, wliieli ap]jeared for the first time on February 19, 1890, with F. A. Klunder as the editor and proprietor. After eight numbers liad been issued, on April l(i, 1890, A. D. Ferris bought an interest in the paper and the name was changed to Farmers' Advocate, it lieing announced by Messrs. Ferris & Klunder that the paper would be devoted to the interests of the farmers' alliance and other lal)or organizations.

Changes came thick and fast in the parly history of this journal. On August -20. 1890, it was put forth as a five column quarto under the name of Farmers' Leader, with C. C. Goodnow as owner and editor, and after the birth of the peoples party it became a stanch supporter of that organization. A few months after the change noted above, in December, 1890, George G. Stone bought aii interest in the Leader and tlicreaftx^'r until January 1.5, 1895, it was published by Goodnow & Stone. On the last named date Mr. Stone, bought his partner's interest aid lias ever since conducted it. with the exception of one year. Under his leadership the Leader has been democratic. In the spring of 1S99 he enlarged the paper to a six column quarto and added power machinery throughout. From the first of the year 1905 until December 1. of the same year, tlie Leader was conducted under a lease by W. C. Akers and .T. L. ilarshall, and was then again taken possession of bv Mr. Stone,

The Farmers' Leader takes front rank among the newspapers of this section of the state and is an ably conducted Journal. In Mr. Stone the people of Pipestone county have an able champion.

For a little over a year the Woodstock Eagle was published. It was founded in .August. 1891, by Carl S. Eastwood, wdio has published more newspapers in southwestern ^linnesota than any other two men. The montli following its liirtli f. Ia Wing Ijought a half interest in the paper and managed it under the firm name of Eastwood & Wing until August, 1892, and then secured full control. The last issue of the Eagle was printed December 23. 1893. having succumbed for lack of projser su]i]iort, and the plant was taken to Balaton, where it was used in publishing tlie Balaton Eagle.

The village of Trosky was the home of a newspaper for something less than eight months in the early nineties. Jacob Tenney established the Trosky Advertiser, a seven column folio, March 24, 1893, and presided over its destinies until the following November, when he moved the plant to Wykoflf, Minnesota, and launched the Wykoff Advertiser.

Pipestone Independent was the name of a paper founded by J. E. Mack on September 23, 1S94. It was a campaign paper and was started for the purpose of su|i|]iirting an independent county ticket in the campaign of that year. Mr. Mack, who was an unsuccessful candidate for countv attorney on the ticket, was quite lilieral in his abuse of the nominees of the regular parties. Only eight numbers were issued, the last one being dated November 10, 1894. Lator in the year the former editor was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the state penitentiary.

quarto. ]\Ir. Stewart, who came from Ocheyeflan. Iowa, established the paper for tlie purpose of boominp; tlie land business in which he was engaged in Woodstock. He conducted the paper until October 3, 1896, when Guy Lincoln took control. That gentleman conducted the paper only a few weeks, being succeeded on December 11 by M. D. Cadwell and \V. E. Brower, the latter having editorial charge. The patronage accorded the new firm did not Avariaiit il in continuing the ])idilication long, and early in IMarch. 1897, the publishers abandoned the business and left Woodstock without a paper. Two of the local business men, George IT. Shiehl.a and Alta Bean, not wishing the town to be without a paper, got out four issues of the Xews, after which T. .\. Stewart, the founder, again took control. He conducted the ]ia]ier until October n. 1898. when William McCune lea.«ed the ]ilant, ran it only until January l.S. 1899. and then turned it over again to ifr. Stewart. Tlic latter resumed ediorial control and conducted the i)-i]ipr until he leased it to Carl Cloud on .\ugust 1."). 1899.

until Feliruary 1, 1905, when the latter again became sole publisher. On October G, 1905, H. W. Haislet, formerly of the ilurray County Herald, bought the plant from Mr. Shields and was the publisher until March 29, 1907, whvn the paper was purchased by F. G. Sullivan. He conducted it two years, .selling on December 29, 1909, to Irving Shields, who took possession April 1. 1910. At that time A. H. Higlev leased the plant and has since published the paper.

The next paper we have to consider in the order of founding is the Euthton Gazette. This jiapcr was established by W. C. Smith as a six column folio August G. 1897. and was published by him for many years - for a time in partnership with D. W. Henderson. After having conducted the paper nearly twelve years, early in Mav. 1909. he announced the susiieusion of the Gazette aud left Puthton without a paper. After a lapse of six weeks the Gazette was revived by Mark Woolstencroft. who ju-inted his first issue June 11. He changed the form to a five column folio and presided over the destinies of the publication until it= suspension in January. 1911.

The Pipestone Peview. whirh was founded as the Week's Pevicw. had a checkered career of a little more than twn M'ars. The Week's Pevicw was founded (.11 111.' luil ion's birthday, 1903. The ]iulilishers were Week's Pcview company, nf wliich Jav G. Kaplan was the manager and O. M. Hai.slet editor. It was founded as a six eoliimn (piarto and retained that foi'm during its life Mr. Kaplan was activelv connected with the management oiilv one week, being succeeded in the company by Charles S. Young and (ieoi'oe T. Fox. Two months after the I'ounding III' the Week's K'eview Paul .\ Mwert secured the interests of Messrs. Haislet and Fox and from that date the

Journal was conducted by Charles S. Young as manager and Paul A. Ewert as editor. The next change occurred March -i, 1903, when Mr. Young retired and Mr. Ewert became sole publisher. A few weeks later he changed the name of the publication to Pipestone Eeview.

In "Slay. 1904. Mr. Kaplan, who founded the Eeview, again took charge of the pul)lication. securing it as a result of a decision in the district court, in wliicli tlie jiny awarded the Review plant to hini. Mr. Kaplan had brought an action for replevin against Mr. Ewert. who claimed tliat he had traded land for tlie Eeview ])lant. Mr. Kaplan asserted that no such deal liad been made and that he did not, noi' liad he agreed to. dispose of the plant. Mr. Kaplan again liccame the publisher and conducted it until June, 1904. At thai time tlie Eeview ]ilaut Avas purchased hv .1. L. :\l,-n-lwdl .^- Co.. wlio installed IT. 1.. Williamson as editor and manager. l)crcnil)er 10. 1904, ]\Iarshall & Marshall became tlie imblishers and a little later the )>a|)er was discontinued and tlic plant ninved away.

purchased by Dan Gagen in May, of the following year, who conducted it until March, 190.5. At that time D. A. Gibbs became the editor and proprietor. It was an u]i-hill job pulilishing a paper in a town the size of Holland and although Mr. Gilibs made strenuous efforts to keep up the struggle he gave up the effort late in July, 190.'), and suspended publication, sliip|iing the plant to North Dakota.

The last paper founded before the publication of this volume was the Holland News, whicli made its appearance in July, 190G. It was issued from the office of the Woodstock News and II. W. Haislet. the editor of that paper, was also the publisher of the Holland paper, A. E. Hatch, of Holland, acting as local editor. Disaster overtook the new journal almost immcdiatelv. Because it was not printed in the town from which it was mailed it was (icnicd admission to the mails as second class matter. !Mr. Haislet at first decided that he would continue tlic imblication desjiite the ruling of the postoffice deiiartment, but later decided that discretion was the better part of valor and gave up the venture. The Holland News had an e.xistence of about one month.