Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 10: Journalism, 1887

Chapter 10: Journalism

ASECA County is well supplied with newspapers, and no county in the State has been more benefited by this means. It would be difficult to select a county in the Northwest more widely known than Waseca, and this fact can be directly attributed to its local papers, which have, week after week, month after month and year after year, continued to spread intelligence and record events relating to this locality.

The Home Views

This paper, a small six-column folio, first made its appearance at Wilton, then the county seat, on the 13th of March, 1860. It was edited by J. W. Crawford, but was published by A. B. Cornell, of Owatonna. Thus it ran for awhile, but in the fall of the same year the publication of the paper was transferred to the office of the Central RepuUican, at Faribault. About this time W. T. Kittredge became associated with Mr. Crawford in the editorial management, and under their joint efforts it was kept running until the latter part of the year 1860, when it passed away into that land that has received so many journalistic ventures.

The Waseca Home Views

About the 1st of March, 1861, Alexander Johnston and S. J. Willis commenced the paper with the above iieading. It was a seven column folio, and printed on their own press at Wilton, really the first paper printed in the county. Here they ran the Home Views until in the fall of 1861, when they removed the press and material to Faribault, though still publishing the Home Views from that place. In the latter part of October, 1863, Alexander Johnston became the sole proprietor, and, removing it entirely to Faribault, changed its politics to Democratic.

The Waseca Coueiee

A small paper with the above name was started in the town of Wilton, early in 1863, the initial number bearing date of January 21. It was a five column folio edited by John C. Ide, but printed at Owatonna, by Mrs. A. B. Cornell, at first, but later by L. H. Kelley. It had but a sickly existence at best, and about the first of December of the same year that saw its birth, it died.

Wilton Weekly News

About the beginning of November, 1863, the press and other material that had been used to print the Home Views, at Faribault, became the property of H. D. Baldwm, then a resident of Wilton, who determined to utilize it. James Mowatt was employed as printer and publisher and James E. Child as editor. On the 8th day of December, 1863, the first issue of the Wilton WeeMy News made its appearance. It was a small, six column folio, and Republican in politics. At the close of a year, the press and outfit of the office were purchased by Mr. Child, the editor, who assumed entire control. On the 8th of March, 1866, the jJajjer was enlarged to a seven column folio, in which form itcontmued for many years. This journal continued to be published at Wilton, until the latter part of October, 1867, when the office was removed to "Waseca, then a new town, laid out on the coming of the "Winona & St. Peter Railroad. On its arrival here the name was changed, and it made its appearance as the

Waseca News

Mr. Child continued the sole propi-ietor until in November, 1868, when "William J. Graham, formerly of Brownsville, Pa., purchased a half interest in the JVews, thus forming the firm of Child & Graham. The first issue under the new copartnership bears the date of November i, and contains a notice to the public of the change, signed by Mr. Child, marking out the future course of the paper, and formally introducing his partner to the patrons of the JVews. He concludes in the following words :

" "We (i. e. ' Pat') are already a fixture of this section. You all know us - at least you know the hard side of us. You know, too, that we have made the Neivs live, notwithstanding hard times, and some pretty strong opposition. "We shall continue our efforts to make it one of the most reliable and spicy of the many good papers of the "West. "We shall continue to battle for the right, and against the wrong. We shall work for the building up of the whole country. "We shall work particularly for the advancement of the State of Minnesota, and forever herald forth the praises of "Waseca County, believing, as we tlo, that God hath not made a better spot - all things considered - anywhere on this great earth."

Mr. Graham, in the same number, makes his salutatory to the people of the county, in a bold, manly style. In speaking of the political course of the paper, he said :

" Eeared in the political faith of the Republican party, we shall give it an earnest and consistent support, recognizing its principles as being founded on truth and right, having for its ends the elevation of mankind, tlie perpetuity of the union on an enduring basis, and the fulfillment of all national obligations according to the spirit and letter of the law. "While we shall render true allegiance to the great principles of the party, we claim the right to criticise the acts of our leaders, and to express freely and candidly our opinion on all questions of the day. ' "With malice toward none, with charity toward all,' we shall seek to do our dutj' at all times, ' unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.' As the sum of our political action we accept the Augustine maxim : ' In essentials, unity ; in non-essentials, liberty ; in all things, charity.' "

In October, 1869, Mr. Graham assumed the greater burden of the editorial work of the office. On the 31st of May, 1871, he severed his connection with the News, which then passed into the hands of J. E. Child as sole proprietor. Just previous to the change the form of the paper was altered to that of a six column quarto.

On the 1st of August, 1871, John F. Murphy became associated with Mr. Child in the News, and was connected with this journal until the 29th of May, 1872, when the name of Mr. Child appears alone at the head of the paper. This well-known gentleman continned at the head of the News until January 6, 1875, when he changed the name of the paper to that of the and made it the organ of the temperance and prohibition movement. Its motto was " temperance, anti-monopoly, anti-corruption, and a new party - the Radical Reform party." The stated object of this change was to enlarge the field of his paper, making it a State journal and making it the champion of the above causes. In the first number the editor thus speaks:

" This paper will aim to be radically right on all questions of public policy and will advocate the truth about men, parties and principles. Some of the old ])arty papers will j^robably insist that the liadical is a 'crazy' sheet, but as that is the argument

In May, 1878, Walter Child, a son of the proprietor, became associated in the publication of the paper, the elder Mr. Child still havine: editorial control. In October, the same year, W. W. Satterlee, then candidate for governor on the temperance ticket, became joint editor of the Radical, although he had no pecuniary interest therein, it being brought about b}' the consolidation of the Liberty Blade, of Minneapolis, with the Radical. The united papers were printed simultaneously at Waseca and Minneapolis, and was the exponent of the temperance and antimonopoly cause. Under these auspices the Radical and Liberty Blade continued until July, 1880, when it was purchased by William G. Ward, then a candidate for congressional honors, tie restored the old name of Minnesota Radical, or rather cut off the name of Liberty Blade from it, and changed its politics to that of the Republican party. For a short time he continued to edit the paper himself, but afterward employed E. B. Collester as editor, who continued to occupy the editorial chair until August, 1881, when the paper was purchased by C. E. Graham, the present proprietor. About a year after becoming its owner, Mr. Graham cUanged the name to under which head it is now known. On the 9th day of September, 1885, the journal made its appearance as a six column quarto, in a new dress, and is a neat and tasty exhibition of the printer's skill.

Clarence E. Graham, the editor and proprietor of the Waseca Radical, was born at Windsor, Broome County, N. Y., December 22, 1841, and is a son of John L. and Emma L. (Hermans) Graham. His father comes of a noted Scottish house, and his mother is of German descent. C. E. was reared in the county of his birth until February,18tJ0,when he went to Perryville, Perry County, Mo., where he engaged as carpenter onthe court house then building,and while there,saw what they termed Lincoln men ridden upon a rail for their opinion's sake. In the winter of 1860^61, he was taken sick and returned to New York, where he did a little work on the farm. In the spring of 1862, his father and brother came west to Minnesota, and he and his mother followed the same fall, all locating in Houston Count}'. In 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, known as Washburn's Cavalry, and remained in the service until December 12, 1865, when he was mustered out and came to Waseca County.- January 9, 1866, he settled on a farm in Freedom Township, where he remained until 1873. He then removed to the village of Janesville and established the Argus, and was made postmaster of the village. He continued at the head of this paper until 1881, when he disposed of it to J. A. Henry, the present owner, and came to Waseca, and in August of that year purchased the Radical and has been engaged in editing it ever since. January 3, 1869, he was united in marriage with Rocepha Helen Stone, a daughter of Hiram and Ann (Comstock) Stone. They are the parents of four children : Aretas Earl, Frederick Comstock, Clarence Charles and George Stone. Mr. Graham is a member of McKune Post, No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic. As a writer Mr. Graham has an easy, graceful style, and conducts his paper in an able and business-like manner.

Wilton Coueant

After the removal of the JVews from Wilton to Waseca, in the fall of 1867, the countyseat was left without a newspaper, and so continued until the spring of 1869. On the 6th of March of that year the initial number of the Wilton Courant made its appearance, with the name of W. D. Palmer at its head as editor. After but two issues had been printed A. J. Clark's name was substituted, and under his editorial management the paper continued until with the number bearing date of August 17, 1869, the venture

An advertising sheet with the above name was issued at Janes ville, October 25, 1871, by H. P. Paclvard, of that village. It was not a newspaper in the true sense of the word, being printed for general distribution. Only a few numbers were issued.

The Independent

A paper was established at the village of Jauesville during the spring of 1873, with the above name. The citizens of that place, desiring a journal of their own, ]Hirchased the press and material for an office, and sold the same to John L. Barlow, taking therefor, a chattel mortgage as security. After about twelve papers had been issued, the people becoming dissatisfied with the way it was conducted, closed the affair up under the mortgage and brought the paper to a stand-still.

The Kecokd

In the fall of 1873 a paper was published at the village of "Waseca, under the above title, the initial number bearing date of October 14, with "W. J. Graham as proprieetor, and Graham & Carman editors. It was a three column folio, and neatly gotten up. On the 15th of November following, Mr Graham's name was taken from the head of the columns, A. H. Carman continuing to act as editor until the following spring, when it suspended. The material was sold to the Kasson Repuhlican and moved to that city. Mr. Carman is now engaged in preaching at St. Charles, Minn.

Janesville Argus

This venture in the newspaper world first saw the light in the fall of 1873. The Inde- ^endeni,then published at the village of Janesville, not meeting the expectations of those interested, C. E. Graham, although without in any previous knowledge of journalism, undertook to establish a paper at that point. Purchasing an outfit, on the 2d of November he issued the first number of the Argus. It was a neatly printed and well gotten up sheet, five-column quarto in size, and justly met the approbation of the people of the northwestern part of the county. Mr. Graham continued to occupy the editorial chair and remained sole proprietor until August, 1881, when he purchased the "Waseca Radical, and disposed of the Argus to John A. Henry, the present proprietor.

J. A. Henry, the editor and proprietor of the Janesville Argus, is a native of Crawford County, Pa., born May 25, 1855, and is the son of J. N. and Diana (Merchant) Henry. When he was quite small his parents removed to the State of New York, where they remained until 1872, when they came to Blue Earth County, locating near Mankato. Mr. Henry, the elder, was both a graduate in medicine and a Methodist minister, and is now a resident of Anoka, Minn., where he is engaged solely in healing bodies. Before J. A. left New York, he attended the Griffith Institute at Springville for a term and after coming to Minnesota he attended the State normal school at Mankato for three terms. Later, he commenced the study of law with S. D. Crump, then of Janesville, meantime acting as clerk in the postoffice here, and absorbing aU the knowledge of local newspaper that he could from C. E. Graham, who was then postmaster and editor of the Argus. "When the latter moved to Waseca in 1881, Mr. Henry purchased the paper and has since continued to manipulate the editorial pen, and control its entire machinery. In the fall of 1881 he was appointed postmaster and held that office until March, 1887, when Mr. Tefft was appointed, although Mr. Henry still has charge of the office as deputy. Mr. holds strictly to the Republican principles, but in local matters supports the man for the place, rather than party.

Waseca Leader

Early in the spring of 1876 T. F. Hollister came to the village of Waseca from Chippewa Falls, Wis., and instituted the paper with the above name. The first number Avas issued on the 8th of April, 1876. Mr. Hollister is said to have been a Democrat, but on coming here commenced the publication of a Republican sheet. This paper continued in his hands until May 7, 1880, when it was sold to G. W. Morse and A. F. Booth, who consolidated it with the Herald, the material of the ofBce being removed to Sparta, Wis.

Waseca Herald

In the fall of 1877 Lem. Eeeves and A. J. Fullerton commenced the publication of this live paper. The initial number was issued October 5. It was a seven column folio, and straight Republican in politics. Reeves was a young man who had been reared at McGregor, Iowa, learning his trade as printer in the office of tlie North Iowa Times of that place. For a year the paper was an "all at home printed" sheet, but on the 4th of October, 1878, the form was changed to that of an eight column folio with "patent inside." In December of the same year Mr. Fullerton retired from the firm, and the sole management fell upon Mr. Reeves. Becoming involved in some libel suits, on the 2d of May, 1879, he disposed of the paper and office to G. F. Booth, who on the 1st of July following associated with himself, in the control of the paper, H. F. Pond, formerly of Trempealeau, Wis., and they, under the firm-name of Booth & Pond, carried on the journal until April 23, 1880, when by the retirement of Mr. Pond, Mr. Bootli again became sole owner. On tlie 7th of the following month he purchased the subscription lists and good-will of the Leader, and consolidated it with his own paper, and at the same time forming a copartnership with G. W. Morse. The new firm was of but short duration, for with the next issue, that of May 14, 1880, is heralded a new firm, Mr. Booth selling his interest to S. M. Rose, late of Mantorville, the firm name being Rose & Morse. Under the management of these gentlemen the Herald was conducted until March 13, 1883, when Mr. Rose died. He was a native of New York, born in 1832, and had come to Minnesota in 1868, locating, at first, in Dodge County, where he was united in marriage with Abbie F. Bunker. He was a practical printer of ability, and was early in life connected with the journalism of this State. Noted for his energ}^, honesty of purpose, and general integrity, he left many friends. After his death his widow continued with Mr. Morse as a partner, and the latter as editor, to conduct the paper until Decembei', 1883, when John F. Murphy purchased her interest, forming the new firm of Morse & Murphy. On the 15th of October, 1885, James E. Child, the former wellknown editor of the News, and later of the Radical, became the owner of the interest of Mr. Morse. Owing, however, to the fact that Mr. Child could not yet give his attention to his editorial duties, Mr. Morse consented to act as such until such time as, former businesses being settled, Mr. Child could again take up the " broken thread of life's duties" in the sanctum. In the issue of December 4 following, we find this greeting to his friends, over the signature of the incomingeditor, and under the heading " Back Again ": "The vindersigned, having spent the last five years as a Jackson County granger, and made a fortune {^) by tilling the soil, returns to his 'first love' - the rich hunting-grounds of the Le Sueur Valley - and among his old friends and neighbors, and again takes up the editorial pencil for better or worse. The kind greeting and friendly words which meet him on every hand, encourage him to again commence the difficult task of editing a newspaper. The Herald^ so far as the writer shall be able to aid in its publication, will continue to be a first-class local newspaper, and will put forth every effort to ad- vance the local interests of this city and county. Politically it will be aboi;t as independent and outspoken as any newspaper in this newspaper land of ours. ' With charity for the erring, and malice toward none,' the writer invites the cooperation of every citizen to aid in making this paper the Herald of news, and the promoter of education, industry and sobriety."

Under the firm name of Child & Murphy the Herald has continued to flourish, and it has become one of the leading journals of this portion of the State of Minnesota.

James E. Child, the veteran journalist of Waseca County, is the son of Zabina and Orilla (Rice) Child and was born in DeKalb, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., December 19, 1833. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and worked at that and farming. In the spring of 1834 the family removed to Medina County, Ohio, where they remained some three years and then returned to St. Lawrence County, where the head of the familj' purchased a small farm on which they remained until about 1843, when they again returned to Ohio, but one year later emigrated to Dodge County, Wis., and were among the early settlers of that region. About 1854, the family removed to Outagamie County, Wis., near Appleton. James E. taught three terms of school in Wisconsin, following farming in the summer. In September, 1864, he went to the pineries of the great Badger State, and returning from thence in December, shortly afterward started with A.G. Sutlief for Minnesota, as detailed elsewhere, arriving in Waseca County, February 2, 1855. He came to take charge of the Sutlief farm and stock, which he did, taking up a claim for himself, however, on section 24 and 25, putting up a shanty in the fall of 1855, in the latter section. He remained with Sutlief until November, 1855, breaking some land and cutting some hay on his own place that summer, however. He remained on this farm until the spring of 1863, when he rented it and moved to Wilton and commenced the practice of law. Shortly afterward he was appointed deput\' United States marshal, which office he held for about a year. In the fall of 1863 he commenced his labors as editor of the paper as above mentioned, and has been in the journalistic harness nearly all the time since. In the fall of 1867 he removed to Waseca, where he practiced law in addition to his editorial duties, and has held the offices of county attorney, court commissioner, superintendent of schools and justice of the peace, besides numerous minor offices. He \\'as elected to the Legislature in 1860, and took his seat in the Hid Legislature in January, 1861. In the XlVth Legislature, in 1872, this county was represented in the Senate by Mr. Child, and in the lower house of the XVIth Assembly, in 1874, he was a member. He represented the district composed of Martin and Jackson counties in the XXIIId Legislature - 1883. At the gubernatorial election held November 2, 1886, James E. Child was the Prohibition candidate for the office of governor. On April 19, 1856, Mr. Child and Justina Krassin were united in marriage, and they have been the parents of eight children : Walter, a resident of Waseca ; S. M., now in Jackson County, Minn.; Annie, now Mrs. F. A. Wood, of Waseca; Orilla, now Mrs. George H. Goodspeed, of the same place; Dora M., a teacher in Jackson County, this state; George E., at home, and Avery and Marcia, deceased. Mr. Child is a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 77, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. His life has been a busy one, and while he has "of necessity" made some enemies, he has a host of warm friends. A keen and trenchant writer, he is extreme in all his views and does not fear to give utterance to his belief on all occasions.

John Fiske Murphy, " the printer," is a son of William and Sophia (Fiske) Murphy, and was born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 7, 1850. His father was a native of county Armagh, Ireland, who came to America when three yeai's old, and was a homeopathic 2)h\'sician, a graduate of the Hahnemann College, of Philadelphia, and practiced his profession in that city. In 1857 the family came to Minnesota and located at Wilton, after stopping a few months in Steele County. Dr. Murphy did not live 'long after coming here, dying May 14, 1859. John remained at Wilton until the fall of 1862, when he went to Iowa with Nathaniel Gai'land, and herded sheep for him. He was but a boy, but the oldest of the children, his elder brother having died, and he had to hustle to help support the family. In the fall of 1863 he returned to Wilton and entered the office of the Wilton A'ews, and remained until January, 1864, when he went to Philadelphia. After a time he entered the office of the Daily JVews, of that cit}', edited b}' J. li. Flanegan, as proof -taker and copyholder. Afterward he was employed as errand boy in the toy store of G. A. Schwartz, 1008 Chestnut street, of the same city. He came back to Wilton, July 15, 1865, and went to work again in the JVetos office, where he remained until 1869, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked on the Gazette. From there he went to Monona County, Iowa, and took up a homestead in Grant Township, but shortly after moved to Omaha, and was employed on the RejnihUcan. In 1870 he was in cliarge of the mechanical department of the Pilot, of Blair, Neb., during the summer, and from there returned to Omaha, where he ''held cases'' on the Tribune, and later was employed in a job office in that city. In 1871 he returned to AVilton, and, after a short time spent as part owner of the News in Waseca, put in a job office, the first in tliis county, he being the first to bring a job press to Waseca County. This was a Liberty, eighth medium. He then ran a Lib eral-Republicau-Democratic campaign sheet in tlie interest of Horace Greeley Democrats, and sold out the office in 1873 to W. J. Graham, of the Record. For several years following he worked at his trade in this place.

and in January, 1878, went to Baltimore, and had charge of the mechanical department of the Presbyterian Weekly, of Baltimore. On March 5, 1879, came back here, and worked at his trade for W. G. Ward, who was running the Radical. In the fall of 1881 he rented the office, but, on finding that C. E. Graham wanted to buy it, canceled his lease and worked for Mr. Graham for a year. In December, 1883, he purchased a half interest in the Herald, and has been connected with that paper ever since. November 15, 1871, he was united in marriage with Emma J. Ililler, daughter of Henry and Lydia Hiller, and they have one child, Martha Inez, born November 7, 1 872. Mr. Murphy is a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 77, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Waseca Chapter, No. 26, Eoyal Arch Masons.

A paper bearing the above name was established at New Eichland, in the fall of 1878, by E. P. Child, the paper being published in the office of the Radical, at Waseca. It was of but short life, lasting only some six months.

The Town Talk

On the 9th of October, 1879, a small, three column folio paper, under the above heading was issued at Waseca, with the name of T. White as editor. The second number bearins date of October 23, seems to have been the work of several hands, and this was the end of it.

New Richland Review

An eight column folio paper was started in the fall of 1884, the initial number bearing date of September 24. It was published by Morse & Murphy, of the Herald, with L. M. Paschall as local editor, and, as its name of New Richland Review denotes, was a fair exponent of the business of that thriving town. It was neatl}' and tastefully gotten up, full of good advertisements and a credit to any village. The support it drew, however, was not consonant with the

February 4, 1886, witnessed the birth of the youngest of the newspapers of Waseca County. On that day, at the village of New Eichland. S. K. Gregg and M. E. Goodwin launched this paper upon the journalistic sea. In their salutatory they give their reasons for establishing the new ]iaper : " For the purpose of deriving some pecuniary benefit therefrom, and to aid, to the best ability in our possession, in the development and prosperity of the inhabitants of New Richland and the vicinity." The pajjer was a neatly gotten up five column quarto, a form which it still preserves. On the 15th of April, 1886, Mr. Goodwin retired from the firm, leaving S. K. Gregg the sole proprietor. In August, 1887, Mr. Gregg disposed of his interests in the North Star; to Bronson & Holland, and with O. H. Bronson, in the chair editorial, it launches out on its new career, with renewed life and with every promise of a successful future. The first paper issued under the new administration bore the date of Septembers, 1887.

O. H. Bronson, the editor of the North Star, is a native of "West Monroe, Oswego County, N. Y., and was born September 17, 1853. In 1859 his parents removed to Watertown, Wis., where be was reared. He attended the usual district schools and the college at Ripon, Wis., for several terms. His father was interested in a saw, stave and heading mill with a man by the name of Sanford, and he remained with them in that business until he had 2-eached his majority. He then started out for himself and landed in Chicago , where he was a clerk in a store for five years, then was in business for a short time on his own account, but later went on the road selling goods for Leonard, Thompson & Bates, afterward C. T. Leonard, of Minneapolis. In March, 1887, he came to New Richland, and took charge of the Washburn House, one of the leading hotels, which he is still running. At Henderson, Minn., December 17, 1882, he and Lois M Stearns were united in matrimonial bonds. September 5, 1887, Mr. Bronson took charge of the North Star, in connection with Mr. Holland, and is the present editor. He is a son of Royal P. and Antoinette Eliza (Duerden) Bronson.

New Year

An amateur journal bearing the name given above made its appearance at Waseca. January 1, 1877, edited by Carl and Cad Young. It was a small two column folio, well printed and neatly gotten up. It was furnished for 50 cents a year, published biweekly. It was of but a short life, however, not outlasting the cold weather. The senior editor is now the deputy auditor of Waseca Count}'.