Wright County, Minnesota - The Newspaper Press, 1915

The Aim of the Newspaper - Pioneer Journalism - Territorial Newspapers in Monticello - The Early Weeklies - Present Newspapers and Their Editors - Prepared With the Assistance of H. 8. Saylor.

The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow. The copies distributed, it is true, soon pass from sight. Even in a month from the time a paper is issued it is sometimes difficult to obtain a single copy. But in the newspaper office itself it has been preserved and placed on file, The files become an asset of the office and increase in value as the papers become yellow with age. Here in the musty volumes is found the day by day history of the town, the county, the state. The State Historical Society recognizes the value of the newspaper history, and a complete file of every newspaper in the state is kept in its library. A newspaper is one of the most accurate of all historical sources. The editor of a newspaper not only means to get correct information, but he also gets most of it at its original source, throwing sidelights upon events which are missing in the formal records. Hach day, if he edits a daily, each week, if a weekly, his effort stands before the bar of public criticism. His crities are those most intimately interested in the articles published. They do not trust to memory, hearsay, legend or tradition. They are eye or ear witnesses, or star actors in the passing drama. They surely are trustworthy crities. With them the newspaper must pass muster. If facts are not correctly stated they are corrected. The newspaper that is not substantially accurate cannot and does not live. Time gives authenticity. Criticism is forgotten, minor inaceuracies are overlooked, and the newspaper record stands as accepted history. A newspaper is not mere gossip. It is a record of passing events. Reports of buildings, new industries, biographies, social events, religious movements, births, deaths, polities, policies, honors that come to people, crimes that blacken the records, onward and backward movements in progress, disasters, amusements, aceidents, epidemics - all make up the newspaper history of a community. It is a mirror of life as it is daily lived, here and now.

The newspaper history of Wright county begins with the Monticello ''Journal,'' first published late in 1856. Monticello was for many years the only town in Wright county to have a newspaper. That town is intimately associated with the pioneer newspaper history of the state.

The Monticello Journal. This was the thirty-ninth newspaper printed in Minnesota. The press and material were brought to Monticello in the latter part of November, 1856, by H. C. Bunce. The first issue was set up and printed mainly by D. L. Kingsbury, for many years assistant librarian of the Minnesota Historical Society. The date of that issue was about the middle of December, 1856. The health of Mr. Bunce failed and he sold the press and material to a syndicate which started the Monticello ''Times,"' May 21, 1857.

The Monticello Times was the forty-seventh newspaper published in Minnesota. It was a six-columned successor to the Monticello ''Journal.'' Its first number was dated May 21, 1857. The editors were Rev. 8. T. Creighton, one of the proprietors of the town, and J. F. Bradley. C. M. Kenton was assistant editor, and also publisher and proprietor. It was neutral in politics,

June 18, 1857, Bradley withdrew and Creighton and Kenton were announced as editors. In July following, Creighton and George HE. Brott of the St. Cloud '' Advertiser,'' got into a rather heated controversy over the relative population of Monticello and St. Cloud. Brott was one of the promoters of the latter town. In reply to an article reflecting on Creighton, the latter eame back at Brott in a way worthy of the best days of Goodhue and Parson Brownlow. Here is a sample extract:

"Mr. Brott says something about wringing the parson's nasal organ. We wonder what the parson would be doing in the meantime. He then winds up his article by representing the parson as fallen from grace, and that the relation which he sustains to the church in Monticello as pastor might be dissolved by mutual consent of the parties. As to grace, we never did have, and have not now, much to brag about; still we have a comfortable hope of weathering the storm and at last having a home in that Upper City, equal, if not superior in size and beauty to St. Cloud. As regards to our pastoral relations they still exist, and we are permitted to preach every Sunday to what appears te be a wellsatisfied congregation.'' Rev. Creighton, who was a Methodist clergyman, also mentioned the fact that he had taken Brott to his bosom and warmed him to life, receiving ingratitude in return,

To conclude the matter, Brott wrote: ''When we eame to the territory, he took us to his bosom and warmed us into life, and received in return a fatal sting! Warmed into life! We never bought a cent's worth of property of him, never sold him a cent's worth, never borrowed a dollar of him, nor loaned him a dollar ; never acted with him one minute in any business whatever. His interests have always been opposed to ours, and he has acted accordingly. If this be heat, good Lord, save us from the cold!"

September 12, 1857, Creighton resigned the senior editorship of the ''Times'' and was succeeded by Edward Hartley. Kenton still remained as assistant editor, publisher and proprietor. At the same date, the publication date of the ''Times'' was changed to Saturday. The issue of October 24 appeared with Hartley's name missing. Kenton remained sole editor and proprietor. March 3, 1858, the publication day was changed from Saturday to Wednesday.

dune 26, after a suspension of six weeks, the ''Times'' appeared with a new dress. Kenton was announced as publisher and no announcement was made as to editor and proprietor, though it was understood that Kenton still remained the editor. In January, 1859, there came the usual number of half sheets to earry legal advertisements to a safe conclusion, and on February 16, the ''Times'' died, and the remains went to Z. M. Brown, one of the proprietors of Monticello.

Wright County Republican. The ninety-ninth paper started in Minnesota was the Wright County Republican. It was owned and edited by George Gray. June 30, 1859, was the date of the first issue. It was printed at Monticello, and its size was six columns, its politics Republican. Mr. Gray used the press and the material of the old Minnesota ''Times'' which was owned by 4. M. Brown, and which had been idle until Mr. Gray bought it to begin the ''Republiean."'

The newspaper publishers of the early days had many difficulties. Gray in after years often told of the scarcity of printing material in the upper country in the early times, He once wrote: '*T was engaged to print the delinquent tax sales of Wright, Sherburne, Carver, Meeker and Kandiyohi counties, and all the lists came down upon me at abont the same time. Material ran short.

I sent the office hand down on the steamer to St. Albany to borrow all the 'figures and quads' he could get hold of, while I took the steamer for St. Cloud and depleted Mrs. Swisshelm's office of about half a bushel of the needed material. Even then [ ran out of quads before the sales were all in type. I then ealled in a carpenter, showed him a '3-em quad' and told him to make a peck of wooden ones. With the aid of these basswood auxiliaries I got all my tax sales out on time. The ''Republican'' began at six columns, but at Volume I], No. 13, October 19, 1861, it dropped to five columns. At No. 18, November 23, 1861, it ceased publication.

The Northwestern Weekly Union. Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Northwestern Weekly ''Union,'' is dated November 30, 1861. It was published by George Gray in Monticello, and was really an extension of the life of the Wright County ''Kepublican,'' which began June 30, 1859, and which was the first of Gray's Monticello journalistie ventures. The ''Republican'' closed November 23, 1861, and the '"'Union'' began November 30, 1861. The '*Union'' did not live long. Its first five issues were run at four columns. It ended with a tax sale, December 6, 1862. It was the one hundred and fortieth Minnesota newspaper.

The Courier. George Gray was connected with Minnesota journalism in various capacities from the time he worked on the St. Anthony ''Express'' in the spring of 1857 until he sold the '*Northern Statesman'' plant at Monticello in the spring of 1871, a period of about fourteen years, during twelve of which he conducted his own paper. This was a long time to live and pay expenses of conducting country journalism in the sparsely populated Minnesota of those early days.

Gray was born in Lockport, New York, March 6, 1836, and came to Minnesota in the spring of 1857. After leaving the St. Anthony ''Express'' office in 1858 he bought the type of Ignatius Donnelly's defunct paper at Nininger, and on February 1, 1859, started the St. Anthony ''Advertiser."' He conducted it until June 1, 1859, and then sold it to Connolly & Haven, and not long afterward it was discontinued. He then located in Monticello, His connection with the Wright County ''Republican'' and the Northwestern Weekly ''Union'' has already been stated. The latter paper suspended publication December 6, 1862,

Somewhat discouraged, Gray went down to Ft. Snelling and tried to enlist in the army, but the examining surgeon would not have him. He then went back to Monticello and leased the idle plant of the ''Union"' to Samuel Bennett, then state senator from Wright county. Gray then went east. Bennett began the ''Courjer'' April 25, 1863 (one authority says a week later, May 2, but this is believed to be a mistake), issued fourteen numbers and suspended publication.

The Northern Statesman, About the time the ''Courier'' was suspended, George Gray returned from the Hast. He and Samuel Bennett took up the remains of the ''Courier'' and on August 1, 1863, began the ''Northern Statesman.'' After afew months, Bennett became discouraged and withdrew. Gray hung on. Bennett died June 10, 1865. Not content with the rough road he was traveling with the 'Northern Statesman'' on his back, Gray went over to Anoka in 1865 and started the Anoka ''Union.'' When he had grown footsore taking his many journeys between Monticello and Anoka, he sold the Anoka paper to Granville 8. Pease, May 6, 1871, he sold the '' Northern Statesman'' at Monticello, to T. A. Perrine, and moved to Michigan.

In this connection the subsequent story of Mr. Gray is most interesting. In Reading, Hillsdale county, Michigan, he started a new paper called the Reading "'Tribune'' and conducted it until he contracted the ague, when he sold out and came back to Monticello, where he conducted a mercantile business from 1876 to 1888. In the winter of 1888 he took the journalistic fever again. He bought the Otter Tail County ''Farmer,'' published at Fergus Falls, where he removed with his family. The next year he sold out to the Daily Journal Co, of Fergus Falls, and removed to Minneapolis, where he became a member of the Gray Printing Co,

In regard to the ''Northern Statesman'' Daniel 8. B. Johnson, from whose masterly contributions to the Minnesota Historical Society the information regarding these early papers of Monticello is obtained, says: ''I have traced the ''Statesman'' through the files of the Historical Society, and find it began with a five column issue August 1, 1863, as stated. May 4, 1864, the partnership with Bennett was dissolyed. At Vol. IIT, No. 24, February 10, 1866, the paper was enlarged to six columns, and April 7, 1866, it swelled to eight columns. At Vol. V, No, 28, February 28, 1868, it shrank to four columns, and ran at that size until April 11, 1868. Then a county tax sale came along and boosted it to six columns. It did not change from that elevation during the remainder of its life.

"Byrom. Vol. VI, No. 23, December 12, 1868, to August 31, 1869, the paper is not in the files, and in the meantime the volume and number jumped to Vol. XI, No. 4, showing the ''Statesman'' to have grown five years in about nine months. This count was continued to Vol. XII, No. 42, May 6, 1871, the last issue. It is evident that Mr. Gray followed a custom common in those days of dating back to the first number of his pioneer ancestral paper, the Wright County ''Republican,'' which was started June 30, 1859. But giving the ''Statesman'' a start with the '*Republican'' yolume and number will hardly account for the swell to 666 total weekly issues, in the 620 weeks between June 3, 1859, and May

7, 1871, at which later date Gray sold out, and the paper was discontinued. The ''Statesman'' was the one hundred and sixtieth newspaper started in Minnesota.

The Monticello Times. T. A. Perrine purchased the ''Northern Statesman'' from George Gray, and its last number was issued May 6, 1871. On June 3, 1871, Mr. Perrine issued Vol. I, No. 1, of the Monticello ''Times.'' Mr. Perrine was an enterprising publisher and an able editor, and the ''Times'' soon ranked as one of the best country newspapers in the state. In 1878, Perrine solid the paper to Fisher & Kling, but with Perrin's influence withdrawn the paper was not a success, Samuel E. Adams purchased it in 1880, and conducted it for some two years, making the ''Times'' a first class family newspaper. He sold to G. W. Me- Donald, The ''Times'' is now published and edited by O. G. Bates. It is issued every Thursday and is Independent in politics.

Otis G. Bates, editor, Monticello, was born in Wellsboro, Penn., November 23, 1873, son of James K. and Emma L. (Seeley) Bates, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. The father is dead and the mother makes her home with Otis G. There is another brother, Edwin G. At the age of twelve years, Otis ©. started work as an office assistant in the coal mines in bis native place. Later he went to Corning, New York, and secured employment in a newspaper office. While at Corning he secured the greater part of his education by studying under a tutor outside of working hours. From Corning he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he was likewise employed in a newspaper office, From there he went to Erie, Penn., and clerked in a general store about two years. Then he returned home and worked in a general store. Later he came to Minnesota and secured employment in a drug store in Wright county. From there he went to Minneapolis, where he was salesman ten years for an oil company and seven years for the Ford Glass & Paint Co. In 1912 he came to Monticello and purchased the Monticello ''Times.'' He has a splendid newspaper plant, his paper has a wide cirenlation, and his editorials command confidence and respect. Mr. Bates belongs to the Masonie order and the U.C. T. He is a Republican in polities, and the family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Bates married Elsie Lewis, of Marquette, Mich., and they have two children, Russell J. and Hleanor E.

The Monticello News is edited and published by C. A. French. It is issued every Wednesday and is now in its third volume, the issue of May 26, 1915, being numbered Vol. UI, No. 34. It was entered at the Monticello postoffice as second class mail in October, 1912.

The Big Woods Citizen, About March 1, 1872, H. A. Ball and Daniel Fish, under the firm name of Ball & Fish, issued a prospectus announcing the fortheoming publication of a weekly news- paper in Delano. March 29, of the same year, they issued the first number of the ''Big Woods Citizen,' a six column folio, with Daniel Fish as editor, and Daniel Merritt as printer. Messrs. Ball & Fish continued the publication until about August 20, 1872, when they sold the paper and material to Messrs. Gutzwiller, Landis, Eppel and others.

The Wright County Eagle. When Messrs. Gutzwiller, Landis, Hoffman, Eppel and others purchased the ''Big Woods Citizen,"' August 20, 1872, they organized the Hagle Publishing Co., and engaged EK. H. Farnham as editor. The paper was enlarged to a seven column folio, and on September 27, 1872, issued for the first time as the ''Wright County Eagle.'' E. H. Farnham was editor until February 7, 1873, and was followed by J. B. Wiggin, who in turn was succeeded by Frank Matchett, April 4, 1873. In the meantime the paper had not flourished. When the "Wright County Eagle'' was started, it had abandoned the polities of the "Big Woods Citizen,'' which were Republican, and had become Demoeratic, encouragement in this direction being given by E. M. Wilson, then a candidate for presidential elector on the Greeley ticket. Mr. Wilson advanced the $600 for the purchase of the "Big Woods Citizen,' and was given a note for the amount signed by George A, Hoffman, P. M. Wright, W. H. Landis, Charles Eppel, Valentine Eppel, and I. Gutzwiller, Jr. In the fall of 1873, I. Gutzwiller, Jr., paid $690 for the Wilson note, ete., and he and Frank Matchett bought the outstanding stock, paid the liabilities, and became sole owners. They added to the equipment much new material, including a cylinder press, the first in the county, and engaged in a general printing business. In March, 1876, a still larger job press, and much new material was added. March 15, 1877, Mr. Matchett sold his interests and retired from the editorial chair. On that date, I. Gutzwiller, Jr., became the sole owner, editor and manager. A year later he sold the old Hoe press, one of the first that had been in use in this part of the country, and purchased a new Washington hand press. In June, 1881, this was replaced by a Prouty power press. On September 8, 1881, the last number of the '' Wright County Eagle'' was issued.

The Delano Eagle. On September 15, 1881, I. Gutzwiller enlarger the old '' Wright County Eagle'' to an eight column paper, and changed the name to the Delano ''Ragle,"' the first number appearing on that date. The ''Bagle'' is now published by the Eagle Printing Co., and edited by Clarence J. Buckley. It is issued every Thursday, and is Independent in polities.

The Howard Lake Union was started by Orlando E. Hoag, in 1876. It was a five column quarto, and was published about 4 year and then suspended. June 12, 1877, Frank Matchett, having

The People's Advocate. After having published for a while the ''Union"' as a five column folio, Frank Matchett changed it to its former size as a five column quarto, and changed its name to the ''People's Advocate.'' Soon afterward he sold to Alley & Smith, and they in February, 1879, sold it to J. E. Warren. He changed it to a six column folio. Herbert Tanner bought the paper in October, 1879, and changed it to a seven column folic.

The Howard Lake Herald. Herbert Tanner changed the name of the ''People's Advocate' to the Howard Lake ''Herald,'' but as the issue of May 7, 1915, is numbered Vol. XXXVILI it is evident that the numbering goes back to the first issue of the '' Advocate.'' After Mr. Tanner, C. A. Pike edited the Howard Lake **Herald"' for a year, then Frank N. Stacy for two years. Harrie S. Saylor was the next editor, serving from August, 1891, until February, 1900. Then the paper changed hands several times. The present editor and publisher is Norton B. Reynolds.

Herbert Tanner. A history of Wright county newspaperdom would be incomplete without mention of Herbert Tanner, who had been a wheat buyer in Carver county before he became editor of the Howard Lake Herald about 1879. He was one of the most forceful and able writers who ever served in Wright county, and extremely caustic; one of the old school of editors who considered it a part of newspaper work to exaggerate the short-comings of his ''esteemed contemporaries,'' but he was always fair, though sarcastic. He was a close student and very thorough and painstaking in his work, and his reputation for accuracy gave great weight te his writing. After his retirement from the Howard Lake field he became editor of the Waverly Tribune, but as a contributor only. Personally, Mr. Tanner was ''as mild a mannered man as ever scuttled ship or eut a throat,'' was diffident and modest in his brief address in conversation, but when his 'trusty'? pencil was in hand he opened the gates and let the flood rush out. He and the late Ignatius Gutawiller, Jr., who was editor of the Delano Eagle had many a bloodless battle, but the populace around the arena never turned their thumbs down for them. Mr. Tanner was a man of the highest integrity and entirely reliable in all of his relations with mankind; of good disposition, charitable and kindhearted,

The Cokate Enterprise, published by William A. and M. A. Donohue, is a modern, newsy paper, which exercises a strong influence in its field of circulation. The paper is now in its thirtyfirst year, the issue of May 27, 1915, being numbered Vol. XXXI, No. 32. The paper was started by W. F. Rowe in 1884 as the

Wright County Republican, being brought here from Howard Lake by business men who paid a bonus. At that time Howard Lake had two papers. Rowe was followed by a stock company composed of Gordon Johnson, Axel Almqust and John Carlson, Frank B. Lamson came next, changed the name to Observer, and after a while sold to - - - - - Helmick. The next owner was H. W. Roll, a populist, who changed the name to the ''Commoner.'' He was suceeded by a stock company composed of leading business men; Ole Mattson, S. J. Swanson, Axel Hammarsden, A. P. Peterson, and Frank Swanson, with P. O. Skoglund as manager. Next came - - - - - Whitaker, who sold to W. W. Frank. Mr. Frank changed the name to the Cokato ''Enterprise,'' the present name. C.J. Carlson, banker, came next. He sold to KE. E, and L. O. Carlson, who conducted the paper for ten years. William A. and M. A. Donohue bought the paper in 1912. The first plant and several succeeding ones were operated with a "'hatful of type'' and a Washington hand press. HE. E. and L. O. Carlson installed cylinder press and typesetting machine. The present owners have the most modern linotype in the county. The paper has been almost consistently Republican. It is now strictly Independent.

William A. Donohue, editor of the Cokato ''Enterprise,'' and one of the leading newspaper men and commercial printers of Wright county, was born in New London, Connecticut, October 19, 1888, son of M. J. and Catherine Donohue. He received his education in the publie graded and high schools of his birthplace, and early became interested in newspaper work and the printing trade. After graduating from school he traveled extensively, working in the mechanical and editorial departments of some of the largest newspapers in the United States. In 1911 he came to Cokato and bought the Cokato Enterprise, He has increased the circulation by publishing a live country weekly, and his printing department does a large business. He owns the only Model 5 linotype machine in the county and this is a most valuable adjunet to the plant. As a printer Mr. Donohue has allied himseif with the I, T. U. Fraternally he is a member of Cokato lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Donohue was married January 17, 1910, to Maude A. Clarke, of Fairmont, North Dakota, born August 19, 1887, daughter of Joseph and Ida (Sparks) Clarke. She is an expert linotype operator and newspaper woman and is her husband's partner in business, the firm operating under the name of Wm, A. and M. A. Donohue.

The Waverly Star and Tribune. This paper dates from 1894, when James P. MeDonnell as a lad of eight years issued the first copy of the ''Star'' in pencil. The Waverly Star as a printed newspaper dates from July, 1902, In 1908, James P. MeDonnell formed a partnership with his brother, and they bought out the

Waverly ''Tribune.'' James P. McDonnell is the editor and Frank MeDonnell his associate. The story of the growth of the newspaper ventures of James P. MeDonnell is most. interesting. His first printed paper was one leaf, two columns. He still retains some of the erude apparatus with which he printed this paper. Later it was enlarged to three columns, still one leaf, two pages. Then it was inereased to four columns, four pages; then to four columns, eight pages, and finally on August 15, 1903, with Vol. 9, No. 6, to its present form of six columns, eight pages. The Tribune was started August 1, 1900. When it was consolidated with the Star it was owned by E. 8. Paterick, now editor of the Lake City ''Leader.'"' Many prominent men had been in charge of the ''Tribune,'' including H. Tanner, the distinguished Howard Lake journalist.

James P, McDonnell, editor and publisher, is one of the influential citizens of the county. He is a good business man, and an able writer, and his editorial columns stand ever for that which he believes to be right and just. So widely is this understood and appreciated that he has won a position of commanding importance in this community. He was born in Waverly, October 6, 1886, son of James F. and Catherine (Cullen) MeDonnell. His early education was received in the publie schools. He learned to read when very young, and from his childhood showed an inclination toward newspaper pursuits. Later, he attended the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University. He was eight years old when he began getting out a loeal pamphlet, ''The Star,'' which he printed and illustrated with a pencil, In July, 1902, he issued the first number of the Waverly ''Star'' in printed form, This paper, together with the job department which was operated in connection, flourished and prospered, and became an important faetor in the community. In 1908 he formed a partnership with his brother Frank, and the Waverly ''Star'' and the Waverly 'Tribune'? were consolidated under the name of the Waverly 'Star and Tribune.'' The first number of the new paper was issued in September, 1908. The venture has been successful in every way, and the paper is one of the best in the county.

Frank McDonnell, postmaster of Waverly, associate editor and assistant manager of the Waverly Star-Tribune, was born in Waverly, May 24, 1883, son of James F', and Catherine (Cullen) MeDonnell. He attended the district and parochial schools, and was reared hy his father to mercantile pursuits. As a young man he went to work for his brother, James P., then editor and manager of the Waverly Star. In 1908 they formed a partnership, and bought out the Waverly Tribune, which they consolidated with the Waverly Star. Frank MeDonnell is widely known and 18 a man of much influence in the community. During Gov. John A. Johnson's last two terms, and Gov. Adolph O. Eberhart's first term, he served as oil inspector for this district. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus at Waverly. Mr, McDonnell is now postmaster of Waverly.

The Annandale Advocate. Late in the fall of 1886 Judge Willitts moved his printing plant from Clearwater and began to publish the Annandale Post. The first issue of this paper came out the last Thursday in this year, and has been published every Thursday since that time. The Annandale Post had many proprietors. Judge Willitts' successors were: William Rickerson, George Clement and Samuel L. Rank. About this time another paper was started by M. P. Satterlee, the Annandale Advocate. This paper was issued for a few months when Mr. Satterlee purchased the Post and the two papers were consolidated as Advoeate-Post. The name Post was finally dropped. The business men of this village purchased Mr. Satterlee's plant and incorporated under the name Annandale Publishing Co. The first editor was Thomas E. Chesney, who was succeeded by F. EB. Bacon, who resigned in June, 1911, when George A. Hannah assumed the editorship. In May, 1912, Hiel E. West, the present editor, purchased a controlling interest. and became editor and manager. Many improvements have been made, and the Advocate office is pow thoroughly modern and well equipped.

The Maple Lake Messenger is published every Thursday. <A. N. Nary is the editor and publisher. The paper is now in its twentieth year, the issue of May 27, 1915, being numbered Vol. XX, No. 27,

Albert W. Nary was born in Northfield, Vt., Mareh 5, 1860, where he remained until he was nine years of age, when his parents moved to Albion, Minn., locating on a farm, where our subject attended district school in the winter months and labored with his father during the summers in clearing up the farm. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Emma D. Cremer by whom eight children were born and raised, In 1900 Mr. Nary left the farm and came to Maple Lake, where he has since resided. Here he purchased the ''Messenger,'' a weekly newspaper, and has edited it ever since with the exception of a couple of years. Has held the office of justice of the peace for the past fifteen years, a member of the village council three years, postmaster seven years, besides several minor offices, is also prominent in several benevolent lodges. Through his careful management he has acquired a nice home and property.

The Clearwater Herald is published every Friday by John Evans, It was established in 1903, the issue of May 28, 1915, being numbered Vol. XIU, No. 4.

Buffalo Journal. The first issue of the Buffalo Journal was printed in a small one-story building opposite the courthouse on the west, on January 17, 1887. W. BH. Hellen was its first editor and publisher, who had investigated the field when the *"Soo"' road was assured to give Buffalo railroad facilities. Another newspaper man looked up the location at the same time, and it became a race to see which of the two could be first to start a newspaper in Buffalo, Mr. Hellen bought a second-hand outfit and moved it from Minneapolis by team. There was much snow and the load was tipped over near Roekford, which is a serious mishap for type in cases by reason of the sorting of "pi'' te replace the letters and characters in some ninety boxes. Mr. Hellen was succeeded by B. F. Barge as owner of the '' Journal,' and in 1889 he sold to the late A. Y. Eaton, lawyer and member of the state senate. From its establishment until 1896 it was Republican in polities, but that year began to espouse the cause of democracy, Mr, Eaton conducted the paper until his death in September, 1899, and in February, 1900, H. 8. Saylor bought it from the Eaton estate, and in May following he, with F. B. Baker as a partner, bought the Buffalo ''Standard,'' which had been established by F. B, Lamson in 1897, and combined it with the "'Journal.'' In December, 1902, H. 8. Saylor bought the interest of F. B. Baker and continued as publisher until January, 1915, when he sold the paper to L. M. Mithun.

Harrie 8. Saylor came to Wright county in August, 1891, when he bought the Herald at Howard Lake, which he published until his removal to Buffalo, when he bought the Buffalo Journal in February, 1900, which he published until January, 1915, when he sold the paper. The subject of this sketeh was born in Jenkins township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1863. In 1885 he left Lafayette College at Easton, Pa., at the end of his Sophomore year, and came to Minnesota. January 17, 1888, he married Alice L. Robinson, of Minneapolis, formerly of Bath, N. Y. He engaged in fuel and paving contractors' supplies business at St. Paul prior to 1891, when he moved to Wright county.

The Buffalo Gazette was started as a Democratic paper in the late eighties by Dr. Barton, and was sold by him to Dr, Catlin, of Delano, where it was published for several years, much of the time as the only newspaper exponent of the Demoeratie party in Wright county.

Prohibition Magazine. About 1890 Edward 8. Oakley established a monthly prohibition paper in Buffalo, for which a printing plant was bought, which was moved to Howard' Lake Herald office when publication was suspended in 1891,

The Truth Teller was issued at Buffalo in 1879. At first it was issued as a semi-monthly, and later it was published at varying intervals for about three years. It was also known at times As the Agathocrat. The editor was Frank H. Wiedstrand, whose advanced views on morals, religion and polities it reflected, Wiedstrand was born in Stockholm, Sweden, October 10, 1824, re- ceived a university education, served the Swedish government in various capacities, and finally located in Minnesota. April 19, 1856, he took a claim on section 7, on the west side of Lake Con. stance, in Buffalo township. Lame as he was he was not suecessful as a farmer, and his radical journalism did not appeal to the conservative people of Wright county, After leaving here, he established the ''Radical'' at Litchfield, in Meeker county, this state.

The Buffalo Standard. The first issue of the Buffalo ''Standard'' appeared September 8, 1897, and the last number was published April 25, 1900, after which it was consolidated in the Buffalo ''Journal.'' It was edited by Frank B. Lamson, and had an important influence ou county affairs.

The South Haven Leader is published every Thursday by John Tygeson, who came from Centuria, Wis., and bought out P. A. Neff, The paper was established about 1911.

The Montrose Banner was published from spring to fall in 1913, by Ellen Turngren. Earlier than this two other papers had been started, under the names of the "'News'"' and the ''Graphie,'' but they continued in existence for only a short period.