Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 33: - Johnson County Newspapers, 1918

[Editor's Note: Mel P. Moody, though still distinctly one of the "younger set" of Warrensburg. is one of the oldest newspaper men of Johnson county. He has been connected with the printing business all his life and has a viewpoint that is live and discriminating. In the following article, Mr. Moody has modestly not given the newspapers of the county credit for what they are doing today. For city, town, village and farm - in the material, intellectual and spiritual betterment of our people - generously and in every way tl^ey can, these newspapers are, day by day, doing a work that no other agency is doing, or can do.]

The history of the newspaper is largely the history of modern civilization and freedom, as no other factor has filled a more important role in human progress. As soon as the race emerged from savagery, tribe and community sought communication. At first came the rude pictures upon the rocks, finally growing into an alphabet and then came the printing press and knowledge began to run to and fro upon the earth.

The influence of the early .\nierican papers was even greater than today, though they were few in number. Their editors were looked up to and weight was given to their opinions, while now the people take them as the ideas only of ordinary men, and indeed some go so far as to doubt the integrity of newspaper men and inquire how much they get for such and such an editorial.

The old-time country paper was but little different from those of today, but their similarity of make-up was because of entirely different reasons. Then news was difficult to get. There were no telegraph lines and it took a long time for information to travel over the country, consequently the contents of the papers consisted of country gossip, agricultural advice, stories and the profound impressions of the editors usually very forcibly expressed.

Today the country paper is about the same, excepting that the tone of the editor is more polite, having been tempered by libel law. It is now too much news facility that devotes the country paper to local gossip. The great metropolitan dailies are sown broadcast over the land, making the state, national and foreign news of the country weekly, "old stuff."

The first attempt at a paper in Johnson county was the "Warrensburg Clipper," edited by ^^'illiam Stephenson, known as "Uncle Billy." It was written by hand, five or six copies, and posted in the show windows of the prominent stores. Uncle Billy depended upon advertising to pay him for his labor and in that day the unregenerate ancestors of modern non-advertisers flourished, So Uncle Billy, like the poor editor of today, had some difficulty in making ends ineet. One firm, Pinkston & Calhoun, druggists, were so particularly averse to inserting a 25-cent weekly ad., that Uncle Billy in disgust decided to give them a free advertisemeiTt. He drew a picture of their store with the sign, Pinkston & Calhoun, Druggists, very prominent. In front of the store stood a man bended doubled with his hands upon his stomach, unloading all that he had eaten for a month. The legend froin his mouth was, "Damn your stuff." We do not know whether this converted the firm or not, but we note that in a paper of 1858 they were liberal advertisers.

The two important papers prior to the Civil ^^'ar were the "Western Missourian," edited by Marsh Foster, and the "Signal," we do not know by whom edited, but C. A. Middleton, one of our citizens still living, was connected with it - and by the way, he is now the oldest printer in the state. It was in this office that we first got smeared with printer's ink and paid the penalty by being licked at home.

As we have hinted above, the language of ante-bellum editors would hardly be acceptable in a prayer meeting. Here is a mild sample clipped from a paper of 1857. It seems that the editor failed to appreciate the sentiments of a communication signed "Knob Noster," and pays his respects as follow: "We have applied for the author of 'Knob Noster' but it is not forthcoming, but we know him by his ear-marks and we know him not only to be a dirty Black Republican of the Fremont stripe.

at heart, but a black-hearted scoun(h-el and liar, a traitor to the institutions of the state that gave him birth and a pest to the community that now gives him bread. He lives in \\"arrensburg.'" For this frank opinion the editor was a few days later compelled to take a pistol away from "Knob Noster" and throw him down stairs. In those days there were not so many decorous libel suits. l)ut gun-play was one of the popular amusements.

With the breaking out of the war the newspaper business stopped short. If it had been a gun-powder proposition before it was now a dynamite venture. There are now nine papers published in Johnson county, affording e\'ery facilit}- for starting a controversy, expressing any variety of political opinion or placing advertising before the public. We have the "Star-Journal." "Standard-Herald." "Holden Progress." "Holden Enterprise," "Knob Noster Gem," "Chilhowee Blade," "Leeton Times," "Normal Student," and the "Johnson County Democrat." In order of their foundation, they are as follow:

"Standard-Herald," 1865. - The first paper published after the war was the "Warrensburg Standard." now the "Standard-Herald." The "Warrensburg Standard" was started in 1865 by N. B. Klaine and S. K. Hall. In 1880 Hall sold his interest to Roderick Baldwin and in 1877 Klaine sold to George A. Richards, later Richards sold to Van Matre. After the death of Major Baldwin, his son, Mark Baldwin, succeeded him until he sold his interest to J. M. Shepherd, who bought out Van Matre. Shepherd sold to C. M. Jaqua, the present editor and proprietor. The hyphenated name came from the aljsorption of the "Daily Herald," published by ^^'ill Carr. The paper is the only torch-bearer of the Republican party in Johnson county, and is ably edited.

"Star-Journal," 1865. - The "Star-Journal" is the largest jiaper in the county and has a plant worthy of a metropolis. It is a combination of the "Star" and the "Journal-Democrat." which was a consolidation of two of the oldest papers in the county, the "Journal," established in 1865 by J. D. Eads. father of J. D. Eads, a popular Warrensburg banker, and the "Democrat." founded by Julian & Conklin in 1871. The "Star- Journal" is owned bv a stock company, the largest stockholders being Wallace Crossley, now lieutenant governor of Missouri, and W. C. Kapp, a veteran newspaper man who has editorial charge. A daily edition and a semi-weeklv edition are issued.

"Holden Enterprise," 1867. - The "Holden Enterprise" was establisheil in August. 1867, and since that time has had several changes in its ownership. It is at present conducted and edited by Richard H. Tatlow. It is Democratic in politics and is well supported by the western section of the county. Judge Tatlow was former county judge and has conducted the paper now for a long time.

"Knob Noster Gem," 1878. - The "Knob Xoster Gem" was established by Harris and McFarland in 1878. Shortly afterward, Will D. Carr and J. P. Johnston took charge, and in 1879 Johnston sold his interest to E. B. Earley, and a few months later Carr became sole proprietor. In February, 1889. Carr sold to E. D. Crawford, and in No\ember of same year Crawford sold back again to Carr and brother. The Carrs afterward sold out to George J. Taylor, who conducted it for sixteen years. It was then sold to a company and conducted by O. A. Palmer, then sold to Houston Harte, and now belongs to E. T. Hodges. It is independent in politics. The press upon which the "Gem" was first printed was the one carried by General Fremont in his famous Rocky Mountain tour.

"Chilhowee Blade," 1894. - The "Chilhowee Blade" was established as the "Chilhowee News" by Tol McGrew, twenty-three years ago. Afterward it was conducted by a company of Chilhowee citizens, then sold to Stuart Lewis, and is now owned and conducted by Don H. Wimmer as an independent paper.

"Leeton Times," 1897. - The "Leeton Times" is a well-edited, newsy paper published in the growing town of Leeton, in southern Johnson county, and was established in 1897. J. R. Bradley is editor and publisher and he puts his personality into his publication.

"Holden Progress," 1903. - The "Holden Progress," published at Holden, Missouri, is true to its name and is a progressive, aggressive journal edited by a live wire. The paper is fourteen years old and has been owned by its present editor, C. L. Hobart, for twelve years, in whicli time the prestige of the paper has increased and its circulation grown rapidly. The plant has been improved until it is first class in every particular. The paper is independent in politics.

Newspaper Files. - Johnson county newspaper files running back over fifty years may be consulted at Columbia, Alissouri. The State Historical Association there has the following:

Old Papers. - One is "James K. DufTfield's Land Bulletin," published in November, 1867. (Mr. Duffield was Mrs. Dixon's father.) It lists 212 farms and 40 town properties for sale, at prices of $5 to $50 an acre for farms and $150 to $5,500 for town properties. It gives a short sketch of Missouri and its advantages, tells about Johnson county and its resources and conditions. It emphasizes the fact that peaceful conditions exist, and states that "people are as safe in person and property as they would be in Ohio or Illinois. * * * The Sabbath is duly observed and divine worship is held in ever\- part of the county. '-' * * \\'arrensburg is certainly as cjuiet and orderl\- as towns in New ^'ork or Pennsylvania: and society, with regard to culture and refinement, compares fa\'orably with that of Eastern towns." ( Mr. Duftield's solicitude that the seeker for a peaceful and prosperous home in our county should realize its good character as a law-abiding community, is somewhat explained b}- the fact that in the nine months immediately preceding nine men had been hanged or shot by a vigilance committee in order to bring almut this happy and peaceful condition. The last one was hanged two months before the "Bulletin" appeared. The results of these ministrations by the committee to the spiritual needs of the community fully justified Mr. Duffield's statements. At that time the most exemplary lives were being led bv those whose previous reputations had been even slightly doubtful.)

The "Bulletin" also contains an advertisement of the "\\'arrensburg and Clinton State Line." which states that it "connects with stages at Clinton for Osceola, Ft. Scott and other points south and west. Also at Warrensburg the Lexington for otiier points north," and that "This line has just been refitted with new four-liorse coaches. The most careful drivers and the best horses. Office under Ming's Hotel near the depot. No. 1 Holden street." (This was the first house north of the railroad on the east side.)

Mrs. Dixon also owns a copy of the "Daily Standard" of March 25, 1886. In it appear the following advertisements, all of well-known Warrensbnrg people of today :

"Mother Hubbard, Trimmed with Hamburg Insertion and Edging, and Clusters of Fine Tucks. 95 cents. Well worth $1.25. J. A. Christopher & Co." ("Co." was Charles A. Shepard, who came here with Mr. Christopher in 1875, and is still in business.)