Buffalo County, Wisconsin - Chapter 14: The Press, 1919

There are five weekly papers in Buffalo County, the Buffalo County Journal, of Alma, established in 1861 ; the Cochrane Recorder, of Cochrane, established in 1914; the* Buffalo County Republikaner, of Fountain City, established in 1861 ; the Buffalo County News, of Mondovi, established in 1898; the Mondovi Herald of Mondovi, established in 1876.

The Fountain City Beacon, the first paper in Buffalo County, was established in 1856, the first number being issued at Fountain City on Friday, July 18, of that year. The editor was Dr. T. G. Hake. The first publishers were L. M. Rose and R. Beeson. With the second issue, Beeson sold out his interests to Frederick A. Wheelock, who withdrew in about two months, leaving Rose as the sole owner. November 29, 1856, Rose sold to J. Ketchum Averill. He sold out to a stock company. On August 1, 1857, the paper became the property of Charles G. Peterson, who con¬ tinued it until October, 1858, when it was suspended. The press and mate¬ rial were removed to Eau Claire. In December, 1856, the paper had the sub-title "and Buffalo, Dunn, Chippewa, Trempealeau and Clark Counties Advertiser," the addition being made with the hope of securing the print¬ ing of the delinquent tax lists of those counties. The paper supported the candidacy of John C. Fremont in 1856, but later ,vas Democratic.

The Fountain City Advocate was started in September, 1857, by J. Ketchum Averill, after he had sold out the Beacon. It was published for about six months.

The Buffalo County Advertiser, a small four-column sheet, was started at Fountain City in 1860, by Marvin Pierce and C. Bohri. In 1861 it was discontinued.

The Buffalo County Republikaner was started at Buffalo City, in 1861, the first issue being dated March 15 of that year. At that time, Buffalo City had aspirations toward county seat honors, and the paper was for the purpose of presenting its claims. It was published by Charles Lohmann, headed by a committee of citizens. In July the paper suspended, but on October 12 it was revived by G. G. Oppliger, who purchased it from the committee and removed it to Fountain City, May 12, 1864. April 1, 1869, he sold out to John F. Hauser. Mr. Hauser, on November 4, 1871, sold to Joseph Leicht. January 21, 1881, Mr. Leicht established the Westlicher Herold at Winona, and the Reptfblikaner was sold to Frederick Hepp and John L. Uttermoehl, with the latter as editor. Mr. Uttermoehl retired in 1885 and his place was taken by Jacob Meili. John Schmitz and Paul F. Muller acquired the paper in 1887, and the latter became the sole owner in 1888. In 1896 the Republikaner Publishing Co. was formed and took over the paper, selling to Emil Wittzack and Henry Rath in October, 1899. In December of that year, Mr. Rath retired, leaving Emil Wittzack as the publisher. In 1910, Justin Landwehr became the owner. The paper was Republican until Mr. Leicht bought it, since which time it has been Demo¬ cratic. It is published in the German language. The facilities are good, and the office is fully equipped for job and custom printing.

The Buffalo County Journal was established at Alma in April, 1861, by Brackett & Rockwell, the editor being James M. Brackett. In June, 1862, he sold to R. H. Copeland, who changed the name to the Alma Journal. Brackett again came into possession in June, 1864. Ten months later he sold to Jacob Iberg and John Hunner, but was retained as editor. John Hunner became sole owner in 1867, and took C. Moser as partner the fol¬ lowing year. In 1869, Perkins, McBride & Ostrander became the owners and changed the title to Alma Journal and Beef Slough Advocate. The next owners were George W. Gilkey and John E. Stillman, who changed the name to the Alma Weekly Express. In 1871, John Hunner and J. W. De- Groff conducted the paper for a month, after which Mr. DeGroff was suc¬ ceeded by C. L. James, son of the English novelist, G. P. R. James. In 1872, Mr. DeGroff succeeded John Hunner. In April, 1873, A. Rockwell succeeded Mr. James. A few months later Mr. Rockwell retired, and Mr. DeGroff became the sole owner. In June, 1879, he changed the name to the original title of Buffalo County Journal. In 1890, Mr. DeGroff was suc¬ ceeded by Edwin F. Ganz. Mr. Ganz edited the paper for the long period of twenty-three years, and in this capacity had an important influence in shaping the destinies of the county. When he purchased the paper it was an eight-column folio. He soon made it a six-column quarto sheet. He also improved the mechanical facilities, putting in a typesetting machine and other equipment. In 1913 he sold to Stroebel & Buehler, who added further improvements, including a Mergenthaler linotype machine. The office is now thoroughly equipped for newspaper and job printing, having cylinder and job presses, good type, and many modern facilities. Stroebel, who had been foreman at the plant for some time before he became a part¬ ner, has charge of the mechanical features of the work. Theodore Buehler, Jr., the editor, is the son of Theodore Buehler, dean of the Buffalo County Bar, and grandson of John Buehler, a prominent factor in the organization of the county. The circulation of the Journal is 1,800 copies weekly in addition to its exchanges and free copies.

The Buffalo County Herald was founded at Mondovi, in 1876, the first issue being dated February 4. The founder was Walter L. Houser, after¬ ward Secretary of State. He conducted it a year and then sold to George E. Gilkey, who likewise conducted it a year. W. H. and Charles E. Edes then had it for a while. In 1879 the paper was suspended for a week, and the material sold to J. W. DeGroff. George E. Gilkey, however, resur¬ rected the paper and acquired the outfit. Mr. Houser again became inter¬ ested in the paper, and from 1881 to 1883 was the sole owner. Then he sold to J. C. Rathbun, but in 1885 again took it over, and in 1893 took W. H. Smith as a partner. In June, 1890, Mr. Houser changed the name to the Mondovi Herald, the name it still retains. In 1912, the paper was pur¬ chased by Frank L. St. John and E. F. Hohmann, and in 1914 Mr. St. John became the sole owner. The paper is well equipped for all kinds of news- paper and job work, having a cylinder press, two power job presses, a large assortment of type, a paper cutter, a stapler and a perforator. A linotype machine was added in 1917.

The Alma Blatter was founded in January, 1889, and published by Schmitz & Muller, the first editor being George Seiler of Alma. In No¬ vember, 1889, it became an edition of the Buffalo County Republikaner, with John Schmitz as publisher. In November, 1890, Paul F. Muller be¬ came the publisher. In September, 1892, the paper was consolidated with the Republikaner, its name becoming a sub-title of that paper. After No¬ vember, 1894, it was again published as a separate edition of the Repub¬ likaner until its suspension in June, 1910.

The Buffalo County News was established in July, 1898, by the Browne Brothers, who purchased the outfit of the Eau Claire Workmen's Gazette, and moved it to MOndovi by wagon. For the next three years it had a checkered career, its proprietors being Browne & Thomas, Kremer & Hoskinson, and Lees & Petzold. Harry H. Scott purchased the paper in July, 1901, and has since been its editor and publisher. Taking a paper which had experienced rather an uncertain career, he built it into as strong a journal as is to be found in the county. Its circulation is in Buffalo, Trempealeau, Eau Claire and Pepin Counties, in all of which it enjoys con¬ siderable influence. Its equipment is good, including a typesetting machine, and in addition to the paper business, a satisfactory amount of job printing is turned out. Its politics are Independent Republican.

The Landsman was established at Cochrane by the leading business men in January, 1900, with Prof. John Schlosstein as editor. The plant was later acquired by a local firm of Meili & Guettinger, and edited by John Meili, present county clerk. August 28, 1914, when in its thirty-fifth issue of its thirteenth volume, the paper was sold to Emil Leicht, of Winona. Mr. Leicht continued it for some time in connection with his Sonntags Winona, retaining the old heading and using it as a supplement.

The Cochrane Recorder was established in December, 1914, by the business men of Cochrane, with D. I. Hammergren, of St. Paul, in charge. It has gone through various changes, and is now edited by Oliver R. Weinandy, the mechanical end being in charge of Emil Uttermoehl.