Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 15: Newspapers of Lafayette County, 1910

Chapter 15: Newspapers of Lafayette County

The newspapers of any given community have long since been recognized as an index of the people residing within such territory. Not excepting the pulpit and rostrum, the press of this country has been the greatest influence in forming public opinion, for nearly all persons read newspapers, while but a minority, unfortunate as the fact is, attend church or patronize the public lecture platform. The daily, weekly and monthly papers and periodicals are to be seen in every town, hamlet and farm house in the intelligent sections of the nation. While it must be admitted the class of population in a community sometimes influence the writings of the local editor, yet, as a rule, the American newspaper editorial writer has a high aim and usually leads instead of being led ; hence he builds up a community in all that tends to make a people noble, progressive and morally good. The state of Missouri now has more than one thousand newspapers, and Lafayette county comes in for sixteen publications, including three college journals.

In the preparation of this chapter the author has quoted as his authority, on early-day papers, from "Chiles' Centennial History" of the county, as well as from a recent article on early newspapers in Missouri in a recent number of the Missouri Historical Review.

The first newspaper established on Lafayette county soil was styled the Lexington Express, the date of its prospectus being October, 1839. Its editor was Charles Patterson and it was printed at first from the office of a paper printed at Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, which was then the only paper published west of Boonville and Fayette. In the month of November, that year, Mr. Patterson went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and purchased his printing material ; but on account of the low stage of water in the Ohio, his press was not shipped until the following February, reaching Lexington in March. He was assisted in his business enterprise by Messrs. James and Robert Aull. Eldridge Burden, Samuel B. Stramacke and Gen. James H. Graham. The initial number came forth from the press March 4, 1840. When the prospectus was issued Henry Clay was expected to be the Whig candidate for the approaching presidential campaign ; but at the Harrisburg convention Gen.

William Henry Harrison received the nomination and the Express hoisted his name at its mast-head. This paper was a weekly visitor to many of the homes of Lafayette county until 1861, under the successive administration of the following : Charles Patterson and Jacob M. Julian ; Patterson. Julian and John R. Gaut ; Patterson, Julian and William Musgrove, Sr. ; W. M. Smallwood and Julian, and Julian and R. C. Vaughan. During a part of i860 and 1 86 1 it was issued as a daily, by Smallwood and Julian. Early in 1861 - first year of the Civil war - it suspended, and the material was in the custody of Ethan Allen at the time of the siege of Lexington. With it he printed an "official bulletin," containing the reports of all the Confederate officers the day following the surrender of Colonel Mulligan.

Hence it will be observed that Lafayette county has had the benefit of local newspapers for more than seventy years, barring the few years of suspension at the time of the Civil war period.

Of the founder of the pioneer paper - Patterson - it should be added that after he sold his paper here, he went to Warrensburg, and from there to Waverly, Missouri. He is the grandfather and great-grandfather of the Patterson boys who have conducted papers at Marshall and Slater. Of John R. Gant, let it be said that he was one of the ablest, truest men Lafayette county ever had. Later he became a steamboat clerk. Julian died at San Diego, California, about 1902, as we are informed by W. G. Musgrove, of Kansas City, who is the son of one of the early editors of the Express.

The second newspaper in the county was the Telegraph, a Democratic paper, established in Lexington in 1845. In its first issue the editor remarked that he "aimed at the political redemption of the country." The Whig contemporary encouraged him by saying that he "might as well aim at the moon with a pop-gun." After six months' struggle, the founder sold out to William T. Yoemans and James R. Pile, and in 1846 they sold to S. B. Garrett, who changed the name to the Lexington Appeal. Its publication ceased in 1850.

The next paper in the county was at Lexington, known as the Advertiser; it had but little circulation and less influence among its readers. The date of its starting was 1845 - *ts obituary is not to be found now.

The Democratic Journal was started at Lexington in 1848. Harrison B. Branch was the publisher. He was a great admirer of Thomas H. Benton and made the Journal one of the strongest Benton papers in the state. In the fall of 1850 George C. Bronaugh came to Lexington from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where he had been editing The People's Press, and bought the Journal, changing the name to Western Chronicle. Dr. Montgomery Bryant, later state marshal of Missouri, became the editor and proprietor in 1852. Under his control it was an anti-Benton paper. It suspended publication in 1855.

The American Citizen was established in 1855, by William Musgrove, Sr. It advocated the principles of the Know-Nothing party, but after two years died with its founder.

In 1856 the Expositor was started by Yost & Stofer, who in 1858 were followed by William Anderson as editor. It was a stanch Democratic organ, and survived until the latter days of the autumn of 1861, when the material was mostly carried away by members of the First Kansas Regiment of Volunteers.

The Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian was established at Lexington in 1850, edited by Rev. J. B. Logan. Later it was removed to St. Louis, where it was continued until 1874. About this time it was bought by the General Assembly and removed to Nashville, Tennessee, where it was still published as late as 1882.

The first German paper within the county was the Lafayette Pioneer, established in i860 at Lexington, by Philip Reichert, but was short-lived.

About 1858-59, and continuing a year or more, was established the Visitor, a weekly edited at% Waverly by Charles Patterson, the pioneer editor of Lafayette county, who established the Express in 1839.

Another paper published at Waverly about i860, was the Waverly Express, the true history of which is now out of record and almost out of memory.

The Citizen's Daily Advertiser was started by Howard S. Harbaugh in i860, but his editorial career was cut short because of his advocacy of Abraham Lincoln for President. He it was who was notified by the "Knights of the Golden Circle" to leave the state within six days or they would hang him. He left and afterwards became editor of the Chillicothe Constitution.

At Lexington, when the Civil war broke out in 1861, there were but two newspapers in the city, the Express and the Expositor, and they soon discontinued on account of the war. In 1862, however, H. K. Davis established the Lexington Weekly Union, which supported Gen. George B. McClellan for President in the 1864 campaign. In the year 1865 it was changed to the Lexington Weekly Express, but the next year - 1866 - gave way to the Caucasian, then owned by Jacob M. Julian, Ethan Allen & Company, the "company" being William Musgrove, Jr. The control of this journal was in the name of legion, including, Peter Donan, Allen, Donan and Charles J. Nesbit ; Allen ; Jacob T. Child, and William Musgrove, Jr. ; Donan. Reavis, Andrew Donan and William G. Musgrove, Jr., all having a hand in its management until it was finally merged into the Intelligencer in 1875. It was always Democratic in its politics.

In June, 1864, was established the Lexington Weekly Journal, by C. C. CorBnberry, who was the editor as well as publisher. Politically, it was a supporter of the Republican party, supporting Lincoln for a second term as President. A bit of history is connected with the founding of this paper, which should be recorded and handed on down to other times and other people. Some of the radical Union men of Lexington thought they should have a newspaper of their own, so they clubbed together and raised the money for that purpose. The treasurer was Henry Turner. William H. Bowen went to St. Louis and purchased the printing outfit, also bringing home with him a printer to take charge as foreman. It was soon discovered that they did not have enough material, so they soon raised three hundred dollars more and sent the printer to St. Louis to buy more type. During 1864, when Price raided this part of Missouri, the paper was stopped and the type all knocked into "pi" by the guerrillas. In April, 1865, Col. Casper Gruber bought the material, and on the 29th he issued the first number of the paper. But that was several weeks after the assassination of Lincoln, for whose candidacy it had been originally established as a party organ.

The Lafayette Advertiser was edited by Rev. Crawford, a Methodist minister, although his name did not appear. Colonel Gruber s name stood at the head as "proprietor and assistant editor." About the end of 1865 it was purchased by Dr. F. Cooley and Lewellyn Davis. The name Was soon changed to that of the Missouri Valley Register and in 1867 Samuel S. Earle bought Cooley's interest. In 1868 Col. Mark L. DeMotte bought out Earle and in 1869 Edwin Turner purchased Davis' interest. It was a Republican paper, and during the 1872 state election campaign it had sharp controversies with the Intelligencer, then edited by L. W. Groves, he being the Democratic editor of the city. This resulted in hasty words of harshness between the two men when upon the street, and finally Edwin Turner shot and killed Groves, at the corner of Laurel and North streets. This was on November 8, 1872. Turner immediately surrendered himself to the authorities and was by Sheriff Taubman taken to Kansas City for confinement, for fear that Groves' friends would break into the home jail and lynch Turner. A change of venue was had and he was tried in Kansas City. After being in jail there more than a year, he was finally acquitted on the ground of self-defense, the testimony of Dr. J. F. Atkison and others showing that Groves had a cocked pistol in his hand when he fell.

The ''Missouri Valley" part of the paper's title was dropped, leaving- it the Lexington Register. In 1874 Henry W. Turner bought Col. DeMotte's interest, but the latter continued as editor until 1877. During the winter of 1874-75 the office was destroyed by fire, but the paper never missed an issue. After De Motte left the editorial chair in 1877 tne paper was owned by Edwin Turner and Cam. B. Wilson, until August, 1881, when W. G. Phetzing took the editorial management. Politically, the paper was always straight, uncompromisingly Republican. H. W. Turner was appointed postmaster in 1877, and re-appointed in June, 1881. Bascom & Keller then became the editors and proprietors and were not over-successful in the publication and in 1890 it suspended publication.

The Lexington Intelligencer, the organ of Democracy, was established in April, 1 87 1, and was founded by Judge William Young, John T. Smith and R. B. Vaughan, with Mr. Young as its editor. Soon after its establishment, Lafayette W. Groves purchased Smith's interest and succeeded to the editorship, which place he ably filled until his tragic death, in November, 1872. During the autumn of the same year, John S. Davis bought an interest in the paper and became its publisher, it being edited by Michael Steele and Henry L. Haynes until its consolidation with the Caucasian, as before mentioned, in 1875. It was later owned by the Intelligencer Printing Company, managed by Ethan Allen and W. S. Musgrove, Jr. After the consolidation, Capt. A. A. Lesueur was its editor. In 1879 Mr. Lesueur was elected as a member of the state Legislature. In 1881 he was chosen president of the Missouri Press Association. .The original cost of this plant was fifteen thousand dollars, being equipped with a Cincinnati cylinder press and two Gordon jobbers. The plant was then run by steam.

The Dispatch, a sprightly little daily paper, made its appearance in that disastrous year, 1873, but, owing to the financial panic that swept from ocean to ocean, it went the way of all the earth.

The Lafayette County Advance was established at Higginsville July 9, 1879, by George E. King, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and for the first year was conducted by William P. King and H. H. Luce. It was then purchased by H. H. Luce and Frank L. Houx, who conducted the business about four months. Houx's interest was then bought by Mrs. Frances M. Venable, of Savannah, Missouri, the mother of H. H. Luce, and then the Advance Printing Company was made the title of the company. Politically, it was Democratic, but more especially devoted to Higginsville and Lafayette county. It is still successfully published.

The Odessa Herald was established and its first issue appeared on November 13, 1880, by D. Reddington, formerly of the Mexico Herald (Missouri). It later merged with another paper.

Present-Day Newspapers

Of the history and founding of these journals it may be stated that the history of some has already been given, while the facts about the remainder will here follow :

The Lexingtonian, of Lexington, was established August 21, 1909, by Glover Branch, under the business title of Publishing and Printing Company. In politics the paper has always been Republican. Glover Branch is the editor and president and secretary of company. The paper is a live local Weekly journal reflecting much credit upon its founder. As a local paper it ranks second to none in Lafayette county. In size, it is a four-page folio, twenty-four by thirty-six inches. It is run from improved presses propelled by electricity. It brought the first type-setting machine to this county. Its present foreman is Frank Bowman, who has been connected with the press of this city many years, and knows how to conduct all departments of the newspaper business.

The Lexington Nezvs was established by Edwin and Frank Bowman, April 11, 1889, who conducted it until June, 1904, when they sold out to W. D. Meng and C. G. Marquis, who conducted it a short time, then sold to its present proprietor, B. C. Drummond. It is a Democratic paper, devoted to local news of Lafayette county, and especially Lexington city. It may ever be counted on as working for the best interest of the Democratic party.

The Corder Journal was established January 22, 1909, by Thomas D. Bowman. It is a neat five-column six-page paper and is run from a press propelled by a gasoline engine. In politics it is an independent journal, fully up to the standard of excellence found in Lafayette county. Its editor is the founder of the paper.

The Missouri Thalbote, a German newspaper, now published at Higginsville, was established in Lexington in April, 1871, by William P. Beck. During the next years it frequently changed proprietors. They were R. Willibald, John G. Fischer, Egid Kist and Daniel Schlegel, until, in 1878, Albert Althoff succeeded in the proprietorship. He removed the paper to Concordia in October, 1880. For a few years F. Bruening, one of the present owners, was associated with A. Althoff who, in May, 1886, sold the Thalbote to Henry C. Schwartz. In 1888 Richard P. Sevin, who had been associate editor and manager of the paper, became its proprietor. In September, 1893, tne paper was removed to Higginsville, this town being the center of its circulation territory. R. P. Sevin sold the plant, in September, 1894, to Graeff & Henkel, and in February, 1896, became again its owner in partnership with H. C. Schwartz. The latter sold his interest in the publication in June, 1899, to Fred. Bruening, and since then Sevin & Bruening have been, and now are, the proprietors. The Missouri Thalbote is an eight-page paper, fifteen by twenty-two inches, with an "Agricultural Journal" as supplement. The plant is housed in its own quarters, thirty-two by sixty feet, equipped with modern machinery. A German family paper, it is read in almost every household of the members of the twenty-seven German churches in Lafayette and western Saline counties. In politics the paper has always been Republican, but not radical in its views, and fair to all. It is one of the best and most successful German weeklies in the West.

The Odessa Democrat was established in 1883, at Odessa, Missouri. Its founder was J. R. McChesney ; other editors have been Milton Drummond, W. E. Ewing, W. L. Bales, and the present editor and owner, A. J. Adair. Politically, it is a Democratic organ ; in form, a six-page home print, run from presses propelled by a gasoline engine. Circulation, one thousand one hundred and forty. It has connected with it a first-class job printing plant.

On February 2, 1889, the first issue of the Wellington Monitor, the first newspaper printed in Wellington, by William C. Thornton, appeared. This paper was printed on a marble slab - part of an old tombstone - by means of a rubber roller passing over the sheets. Pieces of boards, with holes bored through, were hung on the ends of the axle of the roller and a box filled with rocks, to give the necessary weight, nailed to the lower end of the boards. The printing office was in the upper room of the old William Corse store, erected of logs on the west side of the public square in about 1841.

The next newspaper of Wellington was the Globe, established December 16, 1893, by W. S. Graves. The third paper was the Qui Vive, established December 17, 1894, by B. C. Drummond, who later located at Odessa and founded a paper there. The next newspaper adventure at Wellington was by the establishing of the Wellington News, by Mr. Logan in 1893. It is now owned by L. E. Heath, or rather he succeeded the News and started the present paper, the News, about 1908. Mr. Heath formerly owned the Waverly Times.

At Waverly the history of the press has been quite varied. The first attempt at journalism there was in about 1859, when the Waverly Visitor was established by Charles Patterson. It was a Whig organ and a red-hot political sheet. It lasted but about one year. Then the Waverly Express came into existence, with this same Whig as its editor and proprietor. Later he sold to a Mr. Frazee, who in 1870 was joined by W. H. Peters, of Illinois. It seems to have been a Democratic sheet at the last. The abstract or chain of Waverly papers seems, then, to be as follows: The Visitor; the Express; the Watchman; the Gazette ; the second Times; the News. The last Times was a seven-column folio, published by L. E. Heath for about one year, and in 1908 he removed to Wellington and founded the Wellington News. The present Waverly News was established by Dr. George B. Williamson. It is on its second year of publication and is a five-column quarto, creditably printed and edited in an acceptable manner to the community.

The Lexington Daily Advertiser was established as an experiment on December 5. 1898, by Samuel W. Williams. It is circulated free to the extent of over nine hundred copies in Lexington each week day in the year, and depends on its advertising and job patronage for its support. It has made a signal success and has been conducted to this date. It gives the daily important news and goes by carriers to the homes of Lexington people. It is a small sized folio and about one-half devoted to local news and the balance to neat display advertisements.

Items From The First Newspaper

and thirty minutes, including all stoppages for wood and to discharge freight. This is the quickest trip ever made by a steamboat from St. Louis to Lexington, if we remember correctly."

"On the Fourth of July, at Harrisonville, Van Buren county, Judge Ryland addressed a temperance society. At the close of the address, sixtyfive persons signed the pledge, and during that evening five others, making seventy in all, and this makes two hundred in the county to date. A good Fourth of July movement, this. A temperance society was organized at Clinton, Henry county, during the last term of court. Rev. Henry Ward addressed the meeting. Judge Ryland also added a few remarks, after which eighty-four persons signed the pledge. Let the good cause advance!"

At a Whig celebration on the Fourth of July, 1843, there were thirteen toasts given, including the following: "The Union - When time is wound up, then, and not until then, may its days be numbered." "Tom Benton - In politics about a match for Joe Smith in religion." "The Town of Lexington - Nature has done her part - let the people do theirs, and be satisfied with the Dutchman's one per cent., instead of two." "Our County - Rich, beautiful and nealthy - the asparagus bed of upper Missouri." "Woman - The jack-screw of creation."

Other Papers

The Concordian was established by H. Homer Luce, who published the first number September 8, 1893. It was then an eight-column folio, independent in politics. In the summer of 1894 Capt. G. N. Richards purchased the paper and changed it to a Republican journal. The Captain sold the paper to the present owner and publisher, John J. Bredehoeft, Jr., March 17, 1896, the latter having worked as compositor for Mr. Richard since February 16, 1895. At that time there was a job press and an old Washington- Howe hand press in the establishment. In 1897 the size of the paper was changed to a five-column quarto, and in 1907 a complete Campbell power press was installed and since the fall of 1908 a gasoline engine is used for power. Business, newspaper as well as job work, is good. The Concordian enjoys a good circulation.

At Mayview, the newspaper business has had a hard struggle. The first attempt there at local journalism was when the little paper, the name of which has now been lost sight of, was established by Floyd Schooley. It only continued for a short time and went the way of many small town sheets.

The May view Progress was established in January, 1898, by John Plattenburg. It was a six-column folio and a very newsy, creditable local newspaper. In March, 1900, it was sold to Lafayette Groves, of the Higginsville Leader, and later the subscription list was turned over to the Intelligencer of Lexington. Mayview has no paper now.