Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Chapter 37: The Newspapers of the County, 1914

James H. Waggoner

The Eau Claire Times, city of Eaii Claire, Wis., August 21, 1857, by E. B. Spencer, Democratic in politics, an official paper of Eau Claire county, were legends of our first newspaper. The "oldest inhabitant" recalls, also, the Telegraph, by A. W. Delaney, and the Tribune, in the late fifties, and the Herald, in the early sixties (publishers' names not at hand), as others of the pioneer ventures that didn't find "a long felt want" they might have filled. R. H. Copeland started the Argus in 1865. It survived inhospitable conditions longer and the editor and paper were still remembered by inhabitants in the eighties.

The Free Press. The pioneer that made the hit for nearly half a century was the Eau Claire Free Press, October, 1857, Republican in politics; C. G. Patterson, editor. He turned it over to G. E. Porter a few months later, who popularized it and in 1864 sold it to J. B. and H. M. Stocking. Mr. Porter held one of the United States land offices here for several years and later was an active and fortunate participant in the lucrative lumber industry of that period. Porterville, which ceased to be a village soon after the dismantling of the big mill, was named for him. The Stockings continued the paper with success until 1870, when a Mr. Rodman and J. M. Brackett, as business manager and editor, acquired control; and on February 19, 1871, a stock company capitalized at $15,000, for the publication of both daily and weekly issues, was organized, with J. M. Brackett, president and editor; John Hunner, vice-president and city editor, and J. B. Stocking, secretary-treasurer and business manager. The business was increased and the Republican party became numerically strong. Mr. Brackett, in recognition of service in the Union army and for his party, having been appointed postmaster in 1879, J. A. Whitmore, who had acquired an interest in the company, was editor of the paper little more than a year. George A. Barry was business manager and also editor after Mr. Whitmore 's retirement, until September 1, 1881.

Mr. Braekett was postmaster iintil August 20, 1886, and tlieri'- after moved to Nebraska, where he died November 11, 1888. Mr. Hunner, on the Democratic ticket, in 1890 (the year of "The Little Red School House" campaign), was elected state treasurei-, re-elected in 1892, and thereafter moved to Spokane, Wasliington, where he is prominent in the real estate business. J. B. Stocking was deputy collector of internal revenue for several years, and passed away twenty-odd years ago. H. M. Stocking is prominent in St. Paul lumber circles. Mr. Barry is in tlie newspaper business at Monrovia, California.

J. PI. Waggoner, of Richland Center, and J. H. Keyes, of Watertown, successful newspaper men, acquired control of the Free Press September 1, 1881, by purchase of the stock held by Braekett and Whitmore and by W. A. Rust, and subsequently bought the stock held by J. B. Stocking and John Hunner. Mr. AVaggoner became president and treasurer of the Free Press Company, and editor of the Free Press ; Mr. Keyes, vice-president and secretary and business manager. Mr. Waggoner bought the stock of Mr. Keyes and of J. G. Thorp in October, 1887, thus becoming the sole owner; but he continued the business in the name of Free Press Company until - impelled by tlie handicap of impaired sight - he sold the plant and paper to II. C. Ashbaugh, March 9. 1880. As sole owner he discharged the functions of editor, business manager, mechanical superintendent, bookkeeper, etc., and once a carrier boy. His safe and sane party leadership was manifest in the result of the campaign of 1886, when as editor of the Free Press and chairman of the Republican county committee, the election of the entire Republican local ticket was triumphantly scored, for the first time in Eau Claire county, and at onefifth of the expense of the presidential campaign preceding it. Mr. Waggoner had been chief clerk of the state senate for several years, and was chief clerk of the state land department, and Mr. Keyes' clerk of the insurance department at the state capitol in recognition of honorable service in the Civil War and for their party, when they became interested in the Free Press, but each preferred the more onerous thougli less remunerative activities of newspaper work. The former, in 1902, after seven years of exceptionally gratifying newspaper experience at Oconto, returned to his Eau Claire resideuce. Having three papers in smaller towns part of the time, and other interests elsewhere all the time, he has lived here in voluntary retirement from active participation in community affairs except an occasional requisition by friends and neighbors, to which he has willingly responded.

Mr. Keyes bought into the Eau Claire Linen Mills Company after sale of his interest in the Free Press Company, and was its manager for some years. Later his stalwart body yielded to the i-avages of a wound received in battle, and thus he gave up his life that the Union might live. Such sacrifice is the supreme test of courage, patriotism and loyalty. Mr. Ashbaugh came to the Free Press with experience in the publication of a daily in a small city, and his ownership of a dozen years may well express a compliment to him. He christened the daily issue the Evening F'ree Press, continued both issues until 1902, when he sold the lists and good will to C. W. Fiske, then court reporter, who merged his purchase with the Evening Telegram. The equipment of the Free Press was converted into a job printing outfit, successfully developed by the Ashbaugh Printing Company. Mr. Ashbaugh lives in comfortable retirement at Denver, Colorado. The city reporters for the Free Press now recalled were John Hunner, Henry Sliugluff, George A. Barry, Ira Flagler, F. W. Phillips, C. M. Hyskell, W. P. Welch, Frank C. Dougherty, Claude Dunlap, of whom Slingluif and Phillips are dead.

The Eau Claire News. The publication of the News, Democratic ill politics, Avas begun in 1869 by Flavius Mills and H. C. Vanllovenberg. The latter sold a year later to W. F. Bailey, and Mills and Bailey sold to R. H. Copeland in 1874, and Copeland sold to G. 0. Mills and S. S. Kepler in 1876. Mr. Mills died a few years later and his interests passed to W. S. Cobban. Keppler and Cobban sold two-thirds of the jn-oposition to Fred W. A. and M. A. Pauley in 1887, and the other third a year later: and after Cleveland's second election, in 1892, they discontinued the paper that they might give their entire attention to the large job printing business they had developed. Fred W. A. Pauley bought his brother's interest in the job plant ten years ago and is carrying on the business. ]M. A. Pauley went to California and has large interests in mining prospects in lower California. The News was ever a faithful exponent of the democracy of its time, and especially able under the editorship of Mr. Keppler, who was a trenchant writer, and one of Eau Claire's most worthy citizens. Judge Bailey's connection with the paper was merely an incident, as he has been one of Eau Claire's foremost lawyers and was circuit judge six years in the nineties. Mr. Vanllovenberg, by industry and business aciunen, amassed a comfortable property and passed away four years ago. lie was an active churchman and a zealous prohibitionist.

ing daily paper of the Chippewa Valley that carries the Associated Press news of the world, and is issued in a daily form of eight pages, with sixteen or over of its Sunday editions. The publisher is the Eau Claire Press Company, and its present editor is P. C. Atkinson.

When this paper was started it was called the Daily Leader, and its first editor was W. H. Lamb, who began it in May, 1881. From that time until 1885 it saw many different owners and editors, until there entered into the management William K. Atkinson, a Canadian from London, Ontario. For many years the Leader was a sort of family newspaper, W. K. Atkinson being assisted by his sons, P. C. Atkinson and by Harry M. B. Atkinson, who died September 29, 1908, and who at that time was the active business manager. W. K. Atkinson also received great assistance and in a peculiarly valuable manner from his brother, Henry M. Atkinson, whose death came on October 13, 1913. The brothers were known respectively as the "Major" and the "Colonel," and they gave to the paper that personal element that is, perhaps uufortunatel}', passing away in tlus^^ days of co-operation and corporation. What the major or the colonel wrote was distinctively characteristic, and for a score of years they were marked characters in western Wisconsin. Major Atkinson is still a contributor to the paper in a department called "Noithern Sparks," and which deals with incidents and opinions that have to do with the great and growing country north of Eau Claire.

Politically speaking, the Eau Claire Leader is recognized throughout the state as conservative Republican. It is in fact independent and progressive. It does not seek the mission of being "a laoulder of public opinion," but there have come times in its thirty-three years of existence that it has seized hold of, or made the opportunity that meant something for the community. Quite recently it began the effort to make Eau Claire the first so-called "Commission City" of Wisconsin. It succeeded. Before this, at the time of the free silver propaganda, it changed from a Democratic to a Republican paper. In a large sense the Leader is a populai- paper, and easily leads all others jn this part of the state in point of circulation. It has for years maintained a Chippewa Palls department, now edited by Miss Kathryn Gadsby.

The Eau Claire Press Company publishes the Leader in the morning and the Daily Telegram at night from a plant and buildinsr that are suitable and fullv abreast of the times. Their com-

The Eau Claire Telegram was founded by William Irvine in 1894, the date of the first issue being December 16, of that year. It was started as a morning publication, with offices in the Ashland block, South Barstow and Gray streets. In August, 1895, tlie paper was sold to W. P. Welch and A. J. Rich, and soon thereafter the Telegram Publishing Company was organized and took over the property. The incorporators were W. P. Welch, C. W. Piske and G. A. Barry. Mr. Rich at this time retired from the newspaper business and moved to Indianapolis. Mr. W. P. Welch was the editor and continued as such early in 1913, when he retired on account of ill health. To him is largely due the fact that the paper survived the vicissitudes incident to starting a daily paper iu a limited field, already occupied by two dailies.

Soon after the organization of the Telegram Publishing Company the paper was changed from the morning to the evening field. In 1899 Mr. E. S. Welch, now postmaster at Eau Claire, became associated with the paper as stockholder, director and business manager, and continued as sueh lantil April, 1907, when he assumed the duties of postmaster. He was succeeded as manager by C. W. Fiske. In December, 1901, the Free Press was purchased by the Telegram Publishing Company from H. C. Ashbaugh and consolidated with the Telegram. The Free Press was an old established paper, history of which has already been given. This left the Telegram the only evening paper in the field, and from this time on its growth was rapid. The paper at various times occupied quarters in the Laj'cock building and in the Wilson building. In 1894 the Telegram moved into new quarters especially built for it, at the corner of South Barstow and Main streets, where it remained until the Spring of 1913, when it moved into its present quarters in the Eau Claire Press building.

In February, 1912, the property was sold to the Eau Claire Press Company, which also took over the Leader, the Eau Claire morning publication, the former stockholders of the Telegram Publishing Company, and the Leader Publishing Company being the owners of the stock of the new company. The Leader and the Telegram from a news and editorial standpoint are separate and occupy separate offices, but the mechanical work is done by the same i)lant and the same force. It was believed that in making this arrangement better service could be given, better papers could be made, and economies effected on the production end. This belief has proven correct. The mechanical equipment of the

Eau Claire Press Company is modern and complete in every particular. As time goes on the Avisdom of this move to give Eau Claire and this section of the state better papers and better service will become more and more apparent. In polities the Telegram has always been Republican, though independent in its views as to matters affecting the party.

Der Herold, in the German language, was founded in 18S6 by Leopold Kortsch, who published it until 1890, when he disposed of it to Joseph Weiss. Mr. Weiss continued to publish it until 1892, when the present owner, John J. Auer, who had previously bought the extensive job printing plant of D. L. Elbert, by whom Der Herold (edited by A. Weissonfels, who later returned to Germany) had been printed for some time, purchased one-half interest in it, forming the partnership of Weiss & Auer. The business was carried on by them until 1898, when Mr. Auer bought out Mr. AVeiss and became sole owner. In 1900 Mr. Auer received the subscription lists of the "Thalbote, " a German paper at Chippewa Falls, by Theodore Brockman, and of the " Nordsteni, " a German paper at Meuomonie, by Charles Pieper, which, with its own circulation, gave Der Herold a large circulation all over the northwestern part of Wisconsin. Der Herold is now the only German newspaper published in the northwestern part of Wisconsin, and it commands a strong circiilation among the thrifty German population in this part of the state. Mr. Auer being an ardent Democrat and devoted to the principles of that party, has made Der Herold a strong Democratic organ, whose services have been invaluable to the Democratic party of Wisconsin. He is also popular witli his fellow citizens of other nationalities. As his party's candidate for state senator in 1900 he ran ahead of his ticket against a popular Republican nominee. Eau Claire, Buffalo and Pepin counties then comprised the senatorial district.

Mr. Kartsch was a Republican and twice elected to the office of coroner. After selling Der Herold he was employed by other publishers in the city, and was accidentally drowned in the Dells pond four years ago.

Norwegian Newspaper Reform. In the eighties several attempts were made to establish a Norwegian newspaper at Eau Claire. The last one, "Arbeideren" (The Workman) was about ready to give up when a "temperance wave" struck the city aboiit 1886. Among the converts was George Alfred Engelstad. He was a well educated man, but a hard drinker. He had done editorial work on the "Arbeideren," and when he changed his views and attitude on the liquor question the paper also changed. Tliis brought Mr. Engelstad in touch with Mr. Ole Br. Olson, at that time publishing a small monthly temperance paper at Chicago. The two agreed to consolidate their publications and started a six-page weekly, "Reform." In 1891 a company was formed - the Dremad Publishing Company - with a capital of two thousand five hundred dollars. Mr. Engelstad returned to Norway in 1890 and Mr. Olson turned over his interests to the company. He was editor and business manager and worked hard. In 1896 Mr. Waldemar Ager engaged as business manager and Mr. Olson continued as editor. In 1903 Mr. Olson died and Mr. Ager was engaged to fill his place. Mr. Alfr. Gabrielseu was manager for one year in 1901, but since that time Mr. Ager has served both as editor and manager.

The capital stock of the company has been increased to four tliousand dollars. They have ]iiihlishc(l many books, and the company has its own plant and liimtyiic macliine. The circulation of the paper is at present five thousaml sfven hundred. The company also publishes a children's paper, the Monthly "Lyngblomstcn," edited by Rev. Olav Repsval, of Chetak. The founder of the paper, Ole Br. Olson, was born at Christiania, Norway, ilay 19, 1857, and emigrated to Chicago in 1877, where he lived until he moved to Eau Claire in 1887. He was the leading spirit in the movement for total abstinence and prohibition among his countrymen. He was a brilliant speaker and a good writer, and was known everywhere where Norwegians had settled. He made a trip to Norway in 1895 and lectured in that country. He was usually mentioned as "The Norwegian, John B. Gough."

Waldemar Ager, his successor, was born in Norway, in 1869, and came to America when six years old. He worked in various printing offices in Chicago until 1892, when he came to Eau Claire to take charge of the "Reform" printing office. Was later engaged as bookkeeper and in 1896 became business manager. He is well known as an author, having published half a dozen books, two novels, three collections of tales and short stories, and one which contains literary essays. He has also found time to write for papers and magazines both in Norway, Denmark and in this country. One of his books is translated into English, two of them are published both in Norway and the United States. He is a leading member of the Norwegian-Danish Press Association, and served as its president for three terms; a member of the Eau Claire library board six years ; member of Anglo-American one hundred years anniversary peace committee; elected honorary member of the Thualian Club at the State University of Minnesota ; secretary of the Norwegian Society of America, etc., and is well known as a lecturer.

Augusta Eagle. The first newspaper established in Augusta was founded by the late Griff 0. Jones, one of the prominent men of northern Wisconsin in his time. Mr. Jones was a native of Wales, born in 1836, and spending his childhood days among his native hills. He came to Cambria in 1847, and the education he received was in English and Welsh. His first newspaper venture was at Westfield, Wisconsin, in 1873, and in June, 1874, he came to Augusta and founded the Eagle, which he owned and managed for twenty-five years. At that time he was appointed postmaster and died January 14, 1901, before the expiration of his term of office. He was a man of unusual qualities of mind, a thorough scholar and poet. In a competition, which was national in its scope, he was pronounced the ablest Welsh poet in America. His editorials were widely quoted, "and the Eagle was always looked upon as one of the strong Republican papers of the state. He Avas a Mason and was the first master of the Masonic lodge at Cambria. At the time he was appointed postmaster he sold the Eagle to D. S. Benedict, who ran it for a short time, finding it rather more than he had bargained for to keep up the reputation which had been achieved for it. He resolved to take up some other business, and in the fall of 1900 he sold the Eagle to Messrs. Wilson and Masters, who came from the office of Hoard's Dairyman at Fort Atkinson and assumed control. They made a success of the paper and continued in charge until 1907, when Mr. Masters retired and Mr. E. J. Wilson became the sole owner. He has run the paper on conservative lines, avoiding that which would work for discord and striving at all times for everything that would be for the best of the community. The paper enjoys a liberal patronage, and Avhile not tlie factor politically that il was in the early days of its liistory, still it is a strong factor for making a home and its surroundings better.

The Augusta Times was founded in 1884 by the late James H. Williams, who came here and successfully managed the paper for a number of years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, going out with the Forty-eighth Wisconsin Regiment under Capt. Hobart M. Stocking. He was a man of ability and strong characteristics. No one who ever lived in Augusta had a wider circle of friends, and these remained steadfast to the last. He was a thoroughgoing newspaper man, believing that a local newspaper should give the local news, and at all times be independent. The paper took front rank from the first and was destined then to lead all of the northern Wisconsin papers of its class. After a few years Mr. Williams resigned the management and moved to Barron and founded the Barron County Republican. Later he moved to Hayward, and ran the Hayward Republican and later the Sawyer County Gazette. He died in Hayward August 3, 1908. Following the ownersliip and management of Mr. Williams the Times had a precarious existence for fifteen years, during which time it changed its politics frequently and was the organ of first one set of politicians and then another, until only a close observer could tell where it stood. By being as it was - a party organ instead of a local paper - it lost the prestige it had gained under the able management of its founder. In May, 1904, the paper anl outfit was closed out and sold to E. G. Ilerrell, one of tlie home boys, and he has owned and managed it since that time. Witli the exception of the first year or two of his management, when the paper was an active supporter of Senator LaPollette, the paper has been strictly independent in politics, and in fact indejiendent in everything that pertains to its management. The paper is strictly a home newspaper, giving all the local news and the news of the surrounding towns and county seats. Advertisers have been quick to take advantage of the paper's popularity, and the Times has a larger advertising patronage than most countiy papers in this part of the state. Progress is manifest along all lines. An entirely new equipment has been added, the old "ready prints" have been discarded and the Times, in its own building, is now in that class of papers which are profitable business propositions and solid institutions in the state.

The Fairchild Observer was founded in 1900 by Julius Ewald, who conducted it about a year alone, and then took a partner in the name of E. A. Pratt, and the firm of Ewald & Pratt published the paper two years. The plant was then sold to J. H. Netteshern, who conducted it one year, when he sold out to E. A. Harmon, who, after a year, died, and its publication was continued by his widow for one year, and on May 17, 1907, the plant was purchased bj' R. B. Swarthout, who has since successfully continued its publication. It is an eight-page sheet, six column quarto, and had a circulation in 1913 of nine hundred and is not only a credit to the publisher, but Fairchild and vicinity, and Eau Claire county.

Fall Creek Cultivator. The first issue of the "Fall Creek Cultivator" was on December 21, 1910, by Walter Brueski, founder, owner and editor. It is a newsy eight-page folio sheet and enjoyed in 1913 a circulation of five hundred copies, with a rapidly increasing suhscription list. In August of 1913 a handsome cement block building 16x32 feet was erected for office purposes, fully equipped with the latest power machinery for use in conducting a first-class up-to-date newspaper and printing ofBce.

Reminiscence

On April 1, 1869, I left Kendallville, Indiana, with Eau Claire as the objective point, ai-rived in Chicago in the evening of that date and proceeded via Watertown ; had our breakfast the morning of April 2 at Tomah, arriving at Black River Falls at eight a. m., the end of the line. Took Price's stage at ten a. m. and wended our way through ten inches of snow and any quantity of sand toward the then village of Eau Claire, where we arrived at three o'clock a. m., April 3d. About that date the first bridge across the Chippewa was open for ti'avel; previously the crossing was by ferry, operated by Mr. Gans. At this date Eau Claire was without railroad accommodations nearer than Black River Falls ; the most of the shipping Avas done by boats plying between Eau Claire and Reed's Landing; goods from eastern cities came l)y way of Sparta or Prairie du Chien.

Here let me quote a few of the prevailing prices of grain and foodstuifs: Pork, $40 per barrel; young Hyson tea, $1.50 per pound; "Black Strap" molasses, 75c by the barrel; fresh beef, lOe by the carcass ; flour, $8 per barrel ; potatoes, $1 per bushel ; plug tobacco, $1.50 per pound; fine cut tobacco, $1.50 per pound; oats, $1.25 per bushel; hay, $15 per ton; stumpage for pine. $1 per thousand feet. There were located on the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers twenty-seven sawmills. At the time of my arrival in Eau Claire there was but one house beyond the Omaha station, and that the residence of Tom Randall. In order to reach the East Side hill one had to go by way of the street now leading up from Eau Claire street. Tlie population of the city at this time was estimated at 2,500. On May 26, 1869, the "Big fire," which started in the Chandler Hotel, spread, laying in ashes all of tinbusiness places on Barstow street from the building now owned by Bruce B. Brown on the east side of the street, and from tlu> Peoples' store on the west side as far down as the opera house building. The west side of the river on Water street at this time did quite an important share of the business of the then flourishing village, having a steamboat landing for receiving and shipping, not far from the Niagara and Monongahela Hotels, which at this date did a flourishing business, but after the fire wliich later burned the larger portion of the business places on Water street, though rebuilt, were unable to regain their old time luisiuess, as the natural tendency of trade was toward the railroad which reached Bau Claire in 1871.

There was not much business on the North side of a commercial character, mostly confined to boarding houses and hotels. The principal hotel on the East side at this time was the Eau Claire House, owned and operated by Mr. Newton, who later on sold the building which was moved and became part of the Hart House, which was removed to make space for the Y. M. C. A. building.

The Chippewa river, which 1 recently had the pleasure of tracing from Eau Claire to "Lake Hallie" (originally known as "Blue Mill") and return, gave the writer the opportunity to dnnv the contrast of the appearance along its banks as compared after a lapse of forty yeai's, since floating on a lumber raft over this same distance. Forty years ago the river was lined with mills, piers, booms and logs, which took away all of the natural scenery which now pleases the eye of all true lovers of nature who may chance to pass over this portion of this beautiful stream, where one can feast the eye on the beautiful camping grounds and the changing view of foliage interspersed with trees and shrubs in full bloom, which cast their fragrance on tlic twilight breeze as if inviting admiration.

But few reminders of the olden days remain, and those in the form of piers and "deadheads" remain to mar the beauty; hope is entertained in the near future the "deadheads" at least will he removed for commercial profit. At Chippewa P"'alls was tlie Tnion Lumber Company mill, at French Town (now South Chippewa) Mitchell & Co., at "Gravel Island" "Jim Taylor," at "Blue Mill" (so named from the original owner, whose face always took on a blue appearance and he was known as "Blue Tom"), now owned by John Barron, xuicle of John E. Barron, of the Tiiion Savings Bank. The LaFayette mill, owned by John Robinson, just above the Dells (now obliterated by flic jiapcr mill dam) were the mills of J. P. Nelson, Prescdtl-l'.iiKJrtlc Company and Ingram & Kennedy. At Eau Claire wcic tlir mills of Ingram & Kennedy, Smith & Buffington, Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, W. B. Estebrook and Boyd and Randall and the Pioneer Mill of R. F. Wilson. All of these ceased operation, the Daniel Shaw Company mill being tiie only one still operating under a new ownership. The New Dells Lumber Company and the John E.

The writer has seen the thinking village of forty-five years ago grow steadily in business and population until today Eau Claire is recognized as one of the thriving cities of the state. Many industries have come in to fill the places made vacant by the departure of the several lumber mills, which have more than filled the call for employes, and by the combined action of our commercial club, and the booster spirit of our citizens, may we not in the near future see Eau Claire doubled, not only in population, but in our manufacturing and general business enterprises. If all will pull for that success, with no North, South, East or "West side to raise its hand, but in one united effort to build up Eau Claire to the point where all as citizens can justly feel a pride in having it known that they are residents of the beautiful, prosperous city of Eau Claire. This is no dream, but can be made an accomplished fact if all will boost for Eau Claire, so get at it, you slow ones, and "boost," help the "Booster Club" to boost! boost! boost! for your home city, P]au Claire, first, last and all the time.