Chapter XI

THE PRESS OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES

THE PRESS OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES

SHELBY COUNTY

MOULTRIE COUNTY

THE PRESS OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES
By D. Mackenzie

THE PRAIRIE FLOWER - THE OKAW BANNER - OKAW PATRIOT - BANNER - SHELBY COUNTY LEADER - SHELBY FREEMAN - SHELBY COUNTY UNION - SHELBYVILLE UNION - COMMERCIAL - WINDSOR HERALD - MOAWEQUA REGISTER - DEMOCRAT - ILLUSTRATED BAPTIST - INDEPENDENT - WINDSOR SENTI NEL - DOLLAR SENTINEL - WINDSOR GAZETTE - STEWARDSON ENTERPRISE - GREENBACK HERALD - OUR APIARY - SULLIVAN EXPRESS - SULLIVAN PROGRESS - MOULTRIE COUNTY UNION BANNER - OKAW REPUBLICAN - SULLIVAN PLAINDEALER - MOULTRIE COUNTY CHRONICLE - SULLIVAN JOURNAL - SULLIVAN DEMOCRAT - LOVINGTON INDEX - LOVINGTON FREE PRESS - LOVINGTON ENTERPRISE.

THE Press, the great luminary of liberty, is the handmaid of progress. It heralds its doings and makes known its discoveries. It is its advance-courier, whose coming is eagerly looked for, and whose arrival is hailed with joy as it brings tidings of its latest achievement. The press prepares the way, and calls mankind to witness the approach and procession of the triumphal car of progress as it passes on down through the vale of the future. When the car of progress stops, the press will cease, and the intellectual and mental world will go down in darkness. The press is progress, and progress the press. So intimately are they related and their interests interwoven that one cannot exist without the other. Progress made no advancement against th e strong tides of ignorance and vice in the barbaric past until it called to its aid the press. In it, is found its greatest discovery, its most valuable aid, and the true philosopher's stone. The history of this great industry dates back to the fifteen th century. Its discovery and subsequent utility resulted from the following causes and in the following manner: Laurentius Coster, a native of Haerlem, Holland, while rambling through the forest contiguous to his native city, carved some letters on the bark of a birch tree. Drowsy from the relaxation of a holiday, he wrapped his carvings in a piece of paper and lay down to sleep. While men sleep progress moves, and Coster awoke to discover a phenomenon, to him simple, strange and suggestive. Damped by the atmospheric moisture, the paper wrapped about his handiwork had taken an impression from them, and the surprised burgher saw on the paper an inverted image of what he had engraved on the bark. The phenomenon was suggestive, because it led to exper iments that resulted in establishing a printing office, the first of its kind, in the old Dutch town. In this office John Gutenberg served a faithful and appreciative apprenticeship, and from it, at the death of his master, absconded during a Christmas f estival, taking with him a considerable portion of type and apparatus. Gutenberg settled in Mentz, where he won the friendship and partnership of John Faust, a man of sufficient means to place the enterprise on a secure financial basis. Several years la ter the partnership was dissolved because of a misunderstanding. Gutenberg then formed a partnership with a younger brother who had set up an office at Strasburg, but had not been successful, and becoming involved in law-suits had fled from that city to join his brother at Mentz. These brothers were the first to use metal types. Faust, after his dissolution with Gutenberg, took into partnership Peter Schoeffer, his servant and a most ingenious printer. Schoeffer privately cut matrices for the whole al phabet, and when he showed his master the types from these matrices, Faust was so much pleased that he gave Schoeffer his only daughter in marriage.

These are the great names in the early history of printing, and each is worthy of special honor. Coster's discovery of wood blocks or plates, on which the pages to be printed, were engraved, was made some time between 1440 and 1450, and Schoeffer's impro vement, casting the type by means of matrices, was made about 1456.

For a long time printing was dependent upon most clumsy apparatus. The earliest press had a contrivance for running the forms under the point of pressure by means of a screw. When the pressure was supplied, the screw was loosened, the form withdrawn, an d the sheet removed. Improvements were made upon these crude beginnings from time to time, until the hand-presses now in use are models of simplicity, durability and execution. In 1814 steam was first supplied to cylinder presses by Frederick Konig, a Sa xon genius, and the subsequent progress of steam-printing has been so remarkable as to almost justify a belief in its absolute perfection. Indeed, to appreciate the improvement in presses alone, one ought to be privileged to stand by while the pressman o perated the clumsy machine of Gutenberg, and then he should step into one of the well-appointed modern printing-offices of our larger cities, where he could notice the roll of dampened paper entering the great power-presses, a continuous sheet, and issuin g therefrom as newspapers ready for the carrier or express.

It would be interesting to trace more minutely the history of this great art, from its humble origin in Haerlem through all successive stages to the present, and to classify its products. For near a thousand years, previous to its introduction, mankind h ad been sur-

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rounded by the densest ignorance the world has ever known. Teutonic barbarians had swept over fair Italy, had sacked her capital, had despised her civilization as unworthy even the indulgence of men dependent upon muscle and sword for empire and liberty. Vandalism had been christened, and had mocked the wisdom of philosophers while destroying and defacing the masterpieces of Grecian and Roman sculpture and architecture. Attila, the "Scourge of God," at the head of a vast Tartar horde from Asiatic stepp es had traversed the Roman empire, spreading dismay and disaster, till checked at the fierce battle of Chalons. Omar had burned the great Alexandrian library after declaring that if its volumes agreed with the Koran they were needless, if they conflicted they were pernicious. During this period feudalism had kept the noble at war with his sovereign, had unsettled governments, and made men soldiers with scarcely time for necessary practice, at arms; amusements were popular only as they contributed to mar tial prowess; and poetry, in the main, was but a minstrel's doggerel concerning the chivalrous deeds of a listening knight, or the wonderful charms of a favorite mistress. From the fall of Rome there had been but little talent or time to cultivate letter s. A few ecclesiastics scattered here and there were the custodians of the learning saved from the wrecks of Grecian and Roman knowledge. The masses were ignorant. They believed the hand which commonly held the sword would be disgraced if trained to wi eld the pen. Books were for the monk's cell or the anchorite's cave, and the objective points of all study were to escape purgatory, to cast a horoscope, to turn baser metals into gold. Superstition, priestcraft, and thirst for material renown moulded p ublic acts and private training. Piety was best shown in pilgrimages to the Holy Sepulchre. When the dust-stained devotees became objects of Turkish contempt and persecution all Europe rushed to the rescue.

While war destroys and demoralizes, not unfrequently it prepares the way for beneficent reformation. The Crusades broke the power of feudalism, dispelled much geographical ignorance by making neighboring nations better acquainted, gave an impetus to comm ercial enterprise, awakened the sluggish intellect, enlarged the human mind and rendered it more tolerant, introduced the luxuries and refinements of the Grecian empire, and brought about Magna Chartas and Free Cities. With the expanding and increasing c ommerce, arts came to the front, trades flourished, and practice began to test precept. The middle classes, whose condition ever determined the character of an era or nation, obtained concessions and rights to which they had been strangers for centuries. The mental world began to move. Famous journeys and discoveries were made. Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz studied the chemistry of the Arabs, and were among the first devotees at the shrine of physical science. Wycliffe translated the Bible into t he English vernacular. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and England sought new outlets for their surplus products of the soil, loom, and fishery. Mental darkness can make no long-continued stand against such enterprise; and enterprise -- another name for p rogress -- will ever find an exponent to herald its doings from nation to nation, and a medium to make its conquest and discoveries the property of succeeding generations. Europe was in a commercial and intellectual ferment when Coster set up his printin g-office in Haerlem, and inaugurated an industry until then unknown. To understand the effect of that industry upon humanity, compare the enlightenment, civilization, and progress of the present with the superstition, semi-barbarism, and stagnation of th e middle ages. Printing is rolling back vice, ignorance, and degradation, is unfolding the mysteries of nature, and is explaining the mandates of Him who made man in His own image and expects the homage of the creature due the Creator.

The Romans, in the time of the emperors, had periodicals, notices of passing events, compiled and distributed. These acta diurna (daily events) were the newspapers of that age. In 1536, the first newspaper of modern times was issued at Venice, but gover nmental bigotry compelled its circulation in manuscript form. In 1663 the Public Intelligencer was published in London, and is credited with being the first English paper to attempt the dissemination of general information. The first American newspaper was the Boston News Letter, whose first issue was made April 24th, 1704. It was a half-sheet twelve inches by eight, with two columns to the page. John Campbell, the post-master, was the publisher. The Boston Gazette made its first appearance December 21st, 1719, and the American Weekly at Philadelphia December 22, 1719. In 1776 the number of newspapers published in the colonies was thirty-seven; in 1828 the number had increased to eight hundred and fifty-two, and at the present time not less than eig ht thousand newspapers are supported by our people.

Journalism, by which is meant the compiling of passing public events, for the purpose of making them more generally known and instructive, has become a powerful educator. Experience has been its only school for special training, its only text for study; its only test for theory. It is scarcely a profession, but is advancing rapidly towards that dignity. A distinct department of literature has been assigned to it. Great editors are writing autobiographies, and formulating their methods and opinions; hi storians are rescuing from oblivion the every-day life of deceased journalists; reprints of interviews with famous journalists, touching the different phases of their profession, are deemed worthy of publication in book form. Leading universities have co ntemplated the inauguration of courses of study, specially designed to fit men and women for the duties of the newspaper sanctum. These innovations are not untimely, since no other class of men are so powerful for good or ill as editors. More than any ot her class they form public opinion while expressing it; for most men but echo the sentiments of favorite journalists. Even statesmen, ministers, and learned professors not unfrequently get their best thoughts and ideas from the papers they read.

For dates and facts relating to the early history of the press of Shelby and Moultrie counties we are indebted to Hon. Anthony Thornton, John W. Johnson, W.A. Cochran, W.M. Wright, Charles E. Woodward, J.H. Waggoner, Dr. B.B. Everett, Judge J.E. Eden, T.M . Bushfield, and to the members of the press generally, who have aided and given information which has enabled us to trace the somewhat indistinct history of the press from its first appearance in Shelby county in 1842 down to the present time.

Previous to the establishing of a newspaper in these counties, the people were dependent upon the St. Louis and Springfield papers for their information form the outside world.

SHELBY COUNTY

THE first journalistic venture within the borders of Shelby county was made by W.W. Bishop. He brought a press to Shelbyville in 1842, and issued

THE OKAW

IT made its first appearance in July, in the year above mentioned. It continued at irregular intervals until 1845, when its publication ceased. Its owner removed to Charleston, Illinois, and upon the breaking out of the Mexican war entered the se rvice. At the close of the war he returned to Coles county, and was elected county judge, and died while in office. During the time that Bishop had

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the office in Shelbyville, there was published and issued from the office

THE PRAIRIE FLOWER

A monthly publication. It was edited by Joseph C. Duncan. It is remembered by the older citizens, as an extremely neat and well edited paper. Mr. Duncan was a man of scholastic attainments, but was not adapted to the rude beginnings of pioneer j ournalism in Illinois. He published a few numbers, and then the Prairie Flower ceased to bloom and spread its fragrance around upon a community who were then more exercised in clearing, and opening up a new country than in reading well-written and scholarly articles upon abstruse subjects. Mr. Duncan removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where he engaged in mercantile business, and failed. In the year 1849 he followed the stream of emigration to California, where in later years he attained some prom inence as a banker. When last heard from he was still a resident of the "Golden State."

After Bishop removed to Charleston, James Shoaff, a printer, well known to Illinois journalists, was his successor. The date of Mr. Shoaff's connection with the newspaper business of Shelby county is somewhat indistinct, but was between the years 1846 an d 1848. From the latter time until 1852, there was no paper published in the county. In the year last named, D.M. Cantrill and W.A. Cochran purchased the old Illinois Globe office, of Jacob I. Brown, of Charleston, Illinois, and brought it to Shelbyville , and on the 31st of July 1852, issued the first number of

THE SHELBYVILLE BANNER

THIS was the first permanent office established in the county, and has continued from that time to the present, under various names, and managements. The Banner was a six-column folio, neatly printed, and ably edited. It was democratic in tone, and vigorously advocated the claims of Pierce and King for the presidency, and Joel A. Matteson for governor. The firm of Cantrill & Cochran continued until the seventh number, when Cochran sold out his interest. Cantrill continued the publication until the winter of 1852-3, when William A. Harrison took possession of the office by virtue of a chattel mortgage. The office was closed up, and remained closed until 1854, when it was sold to Theophilis Short. He resuscitated the Banner, and continue d its issue until October, 1855, when P.L. Shutt purchased the office. He continued until September 15th, 1858, when John W. Johnson purchased the press and materials. He changed the name of the paper to

THE OKAW PATRIOT

THE Banner, under Mr. Shutt's administration, was an independent paper. When Mr. Johnson changed the name, he also changed its tone and during his connection with it, it was an ardent supporter of the Douglas wing of the democracy. He also enlarged it to a seven-column folio. Mr. Johnson continued editor and publisher of the Patriot until February 14th, 1860, when he sold the office to Hon. Anthony Thornton. On the 17th of December, 1859, Mr. Shutt commenced the publication of a s mall three-column paper, called

THE BANNER

ITS publication was continued for eight numbers, when it was consolidated with the Patriot on the same date that the latter paper was purchased by Thornton. The Patriot was continued, with Shutt as manager and Thornton as editor, unt il August, 1860, when the latter retired, and Shutt became editor and sole proprietor. Mr. Thornton's connection with the press of Shelby county as a writer upon political and other subjects, has extended though a long period of years. He was the warm f riend of newspaper enterprises, and gave it friendly encouragement and substantial aid. He is a ready writer, and master of a clear and polished diction, and his articles upon political subjects always show a thorough knowledge of the issues of the day. Mr. Shutt continued the Patriot until the latter part of July, 1863, when the publication ceased. In August of the same year, a number of the prominent and leading democrats of Shelby county formed themselves into a joint stock company, and purchased th e office of Shutt, and placed it in charge of H.H. Coolidge as editor, and W.A. Trower as manager, and on the 29th of September, 1863, was issued the first number of

THE SHELBY COUNTY LEADER

COOLIDGE retired from the editorial management in the latter part of December of the same year. At the same time Mr. Trower purchased the office of the stock company and continued sole editor and proprietor until July, 1865, when he sold a half in terest to Rufus Summerlin. On the 15th of August following, Summerlin bought the remaining interest, and soon after sold a half interest to George R. Wendling. This firm changed the name from the Leader to

THE CENTRAL ILLINOIS TIMES

WENDLING remained in the Times for nearly one year, when he sold to W.W. Hess and L.B. Stephenson. They disposed of their interest to Dr. E.E. Waggoner in October, 1867. The firm of Summerlin and Waggoner continued until 1868, when Waggone r retired. Mr. Summerlin then changed the name back to

THE SHELBY COUNTY LEADER,

WHICH name it retains at the present. Mr. Summerlin continued as editor and publisher until March 9th, 1871, when the office was sold to W.A. Trower. On the 1st of January, 1873, Mr. Trower sold a half interest to W.B. Marshutz, who remained one of the proprietors until April 1st, 1875, when he sold out to Trower. Since the latter date Mr. Trower has been editor and publisher. When he purchased the office in 1871 he changed the form from a nine column folio to a seven column quarto. It was aft erwards changed back to its original form. In August, 1878, it was six column quarto, and on the 1st of February, 1880, changed back to a nine column folio, which form it still retains. The Leader has always been democratic in politics, and the r ecognized organ of the party in Shelby county. It is edited with more than average ability, and exerts a large influence in forming political sentiment in the Fifteenth Congressional District. Mr. Trower is a practical printer, although he never served a regular apprenticeship at the trade, but his long connection with the printing business makes him proficient and well posted in the "Art preservative."

THE SHELBY FREEMAN

WAS first issued in August 1860 by Eli Chittenden, a practical printer, who brought an office from Pana to Shelbyville. The Freeman was designed to represent the republican party in the county. Its publication was continued until the sprin g of 1861, when it ceased. Chittenden was a reasonably good printer, but was not adapted to editorial work in the stirring times of 1861. The paper under his management lingered along and in a feeble way represented the wishes and ideas of the young and aggressive republican party.

THE COMMERCIAL

WAS printed in the office of The Shelby County Leader. Vol. 1, No. 1 was issued in the first week of January, 1868. J. William Lloyd and George R. Wendling were the editors and proprietors. It was intended mainly as an advertising medium for their own private busi-

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ness, although it faithfully chronicled local and passing events. It was quarto in form. Its publication ceased in the winter of 1868.

After the suspension of the Freeman in 1861, the republican party of Shelby county were without an organ, until 1863, when John W. Johnson purchased the presses and material of the Freeman office and started

THE SHELBY COUNTY UNION

THE first issue was May 9th, 1863. On the 4th of July, 1854, he sold a half interest to John A. Young. The firm continued until February 13th, 1865, when Johnson sold his remaining interest to Young. The latter published the Union for a s hort time, when Richard Couch became the owner. Couch sold a half interest to P.T. Martin, March 2d, 1867. On the 22d of June, 1867, they changed the form from a seven to an eight column folio. Couch remained in the Union until July 27th, 1867, when he sold out and Mr. Martin became sole editor and publisher, and so remained until March 2d, 1871, when his brother, E.H. Martin, who had been local editor, became part owner. The firm of Martin Bros. continued until August 1st, 1872, when H.L. Mart in, another brother, came into the firm. On the 11th of December, 1873, P.T. Martin sold out to the remaining brothers, who continued the Union until December 24th, 1874, when H.L. Martin became the owner and publisher. He continued the publicati on without interruption to the present time. On the 18th of December, 1873, the words "Shelby county" were dropped out, and the word "Shelbyville" substituted, since which time it has been known as

THE SHELBYVILLE UNION

THE Union since its first establishment, has been the organ of the republican party in the county, and one of the potential journals in central Illinois. Under the management of its founder, J.W. Johnson, it at once took front rank as one o f the fearless, uncompromising republican journals of this Congressional District. This character it has maintained through all subsequent changes and administrations. It is typographically neat, ably edited, and is a credit to the country journalism of Illinois.

THE WINDSOR HERALD

WAS started by R.M. Carr, publisher of the Gazette, Pana, Illinois, in June, 1871. It was continued for year, when the office was purchased by A.M. Anderson and removed to Moawequa, in Shelby county, and from the office was issued

THE MOAWEQUA REGISTER

THE first number was issued in June, 1872. Mr. Anderson continued the Register until December, 1875, when it was sold to Arnold Hughes, ten of the prominent and responsible men of Moawequa becoming sureties for the payment of the purchase m oney. Hughes published the paper for two years, when it ceased, and the office passed into the hands of its citizen owners. The Register did not make its appearance again until March 7th, 1878, when T.M. Hughes purchased the office and began agai n its publication, which has continued to the present. The Register was changed from a folio to a five column quarto March 13th, 1879. It started as an independent paper. It is now a democratic journal. The Register office also prints

THE ILLUSTRATED BAPTIST

A four-column quarto. A publication devoted to the interests of the Baptist church organization. The first issue was July, 1879. It is a neat publication, and shows superior typographical skill.

THE SHELBY COUNTY INDEPENDENT

THE press and material of the above-named paper were purchased of the Cincinnati type foundry. Vol. I., No. 1, made its appearance August 6th, 1874. Dr. E.E. Waggoner and J. William Lloyde were the editors and proprietors. The political complexi on and platform of the paper is best explained in the editor's salutatory to the public. We make the following extracts: "In appearance before the good people of this county at this time as editors of The Shelby County Independent, custom require s us to say something about the course we expect to pursue in conducting our new paper, and we comply by saying that we expect to make the Independent, as its name implies, a thoroughly independent local newspaper, free to endorse whatsoever we may think right, or condemn whatsoever we may think wrong, in whomsoever, or whatsoever party found. We expect to stand firmly by the fundamental doctrines of this republic that 'governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed;' that the po wers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people; that 'the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others re tained by the people.' We are in favor of taxing government bonds when in the hands of individuals or corporations, just the same as other property is taxed. We are in favor of paying off the national debt in strict accordance with the contract creating the debt; we are opposed to a protective tariff, to the national banking system, to all monopolies, to all classes of legislation, bribery and corruption. This paper is owned and controlled by the two individuals whose names appear at the proper place a s editors and proprietors, and no other person has one dollar of pecuniary interest in it."

The partnership of Waggoner & Lloyde continued until July 15, 1875, when Waggoner became sole owner and editor of the paper. On the 13th of October, 1876, the name was changed from the Independent to

THE SHELBYVILLE DEMOCRAT

WHEN the change was effected, editorial mention was made of it as follows: "Believing that at least one of the three or four democratic newspapers published in this county ought to bear the family name, we this week send this paper out to its many readers and friends as The Shelbyville Democrat, and hope they may be pleased with its new name." When first issued, the paper was a nine-column folio, and continued that form until Oct. 17, 1878, when it was changed to a six column quarter. The Democrat, under Mr. Waggoner's management, has grown into an influential journal, and one of the leading newspapers of central Illinois. As a writer, he is clear, ready and forcible. His articles upon political subjects show a thorough knowledge, and a re strong and aggressive.

THE WINDSOR SENTINEL

THE office of the Sentinel was purchased by A.M. Anderson, of Joseph Prior of Clinton, Ills., and removed to Windsor. The first issue was May 25th, 1876. Mr. Anderson continued the publication until the 7th of January, 1877, when the offic e passed back into the hands of Prior's friends, and was by them removed to Paris in Edgar county, Illinois. In January of the same year Mr. Anderson purchased an office in Assumption, Ills., belonging to R.M. Carr, and removed it to Windsor, and on the 1st of March following, resumed the publication of the Sentinel. The name was afterwards changed to

THE DOLLAR SENTINEL

IT was continued until August, 1879, when it was sold to the

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Herald Printing Company of Shelbyville, and removed to that city. The Sentinel started out as an independent newspaper, but was afterward converted, and espoused the Greenback cause and Fiat theories.

THE WINDSOR GAZETTE

THE Gazette started out a diminutive advertising medium. Its projectors were the Warden Bros. The first issue was May 28th, 1878. J.L. Warden assumed entire control soon after its establishment. It grew the first year from a small sheet to a five-column folio, which form it retained under December 25th, 1879, when it was enlarged to a seven-column folio. It is independent in politics, and devoted to home news. Mr. Warden has demonstrated his ability to give the people of Windsor and vi cinity a newspaper of which they may well be proud, and to whose support they can graciously contribute. The office is fitted up with a power press and a full stock of latest varieties of type, and is in every way well equipped to do all manner of printi ng usually done in county offices.

THE STEWARDSON ENTERPRISE

THE Enterprise office was leased, of C.M. King of Altamont, Effingham county, by M.A. Bates, and brought to Stewardson. He issued the first number June 7th, 1878. He continued the paper for one year, when A.M. Anderson and H. Martin purcha sed it. Three months later, Anderson sold to C.D. Shumard. June 13th, 1879, Shumard retired, and W.B. Townsend took his interest. The firm under this new arrangement, was known as H. Martin & Co. The continued until Oct. 8th, 1879, when the firm chang ed to E.L. Vadakin & Co. On the 8th of December, 1879, A.M. Anderson purchased the office, and has remained editor and proprietor to the present. The Enterprise is a six-column folio, and has a healthy circulation. Mr. Andersen is a practical pr inter, and a newspaper writer of more than average ability.

The latest aspirant for journalistic honors in Shelby county is

THE GREENBACK HERALD

THE office of the Sentinel, at Windsor, was purchased by a stock company, composed of the influential members of the Greenback party in Shelby county, and by them removed to Shelbyville. They placed Messrs. Stuart & Cook in editorial charge. They issued the first number October 18, 1879, and have continued its publication to the present. The Herald is the recognized organ of the Greenback party in Shelby county, and under the management of Messrs. Stuart & Cook, both of whom are practical printe rs, it has taken a prominent stand among the Greenback papers of the state.

OUR APIARY

IS the name of a monthly publication devoted to bee culture. It has a large circulation throughout the county. J.W. Johnson and E. Homrighouse are the editors and proprietors. The first number was issued in June, 1879.

THE TRUE DEMOCRAT

WAS the first paper published in the thriving village of Tower Hill. It was partially started as a campaign paper. First issue was August 20, 1880, M.A. Bates editor and proprietor. It is a five-column quarto in form. The material and presses a re new. On November 15, 1880, Mr. Bates sold the paper to Jacob Swallow, of Pana. Mr. S. is also publisher of the Pana Palladium, and is a thorough newspaper man. Under Mr. Swallow's management the True Democrat will be run as an independent paper.

MOULTRIE COUNTY

THE first newspaper published within the borders of what is now known as Moultrie county was

THE SULLIVAN EXPRESS

THE press and material was purchased of the Cincinnati Type Foundry, brought to Sullivan, and the first number issued September 12, 1857. James D. Moudy was the editor and publisher. A copy of the paper now before us shows that the Express received a liberal support from the business men of Sullivan, as there were twelve columns of home advertisements soon after its first issue. In politics it was independent. Mr. Moudy purchased the office, paying part cash and giving his note for the b alance, and notwithstanding the evidences of its prosperity shown on its pages, collections were bad and money scarce, and at the end of six months he found himself unable to meet the deferred payments. The office then passed into the hands of J.H. Waggo ner and B.B. Haydon, they assuming the indebtedness. These gentlemen took charge of the Express February 19, 1858. Both were practical printers. The firm of Waggoner & Haydon was of short duration, and continued until April 9, 1858, when its int erests passed into the hands of E.E. Waggoner. The firm of J.H. & E.E. Waggoner continued until October 8, 1858, when E.E. Waggoner became editor and publisher. He conducted the Express into the democratic camp, and it became the organ of the Dou glas wing of the democracy. We may here add, that through the different changes, names, ownerships and administrations from that time to the present, the paper has been democratic in tone, and the recognized organ of the party in this section of the coun try. Mr. Waggoner continued the publication until February 11, 1859, when he sold out to J.H. & I.V. Waggoner. His reasons for disposing of the office are best told in his valedictory, in which he says:

"Dear Readers -- I have sold my entire interest in the Sullivan Express office to J.H. & I.V. Waggoner. The reason I did so was, you would not pay your little bills, and I am too poor to publish a newspaper without receiving some remuneration. Yo u will please pay to my successors fifteen hundred dollars, the amount of your indebtedness to this office, and oblige your obedient servant,

"NED WAGGONER."

THE latter firm continued until March 18, 1859, when I.V. Waggoner died, and J.H. became sold owner and editor. In November of the same year John R. Eden became the political editor of the Express. During his connection he gave the paper p rominence among the journals of Central Illinois, and made for himself a reputation as a strong and vigorous writer of political articles, J.H. Waggoner piloted the management of the Express through the shoals of financial difficulties and hard times up t o July 12, 1860, when F.M. Waggoner, another brother, lent a helping hand. Together they continued the publication until November 1 of the same year, when they announced through its columns that they would close the office for a short time, in order to g ive their undivided attention to the collection of money due the office. The proposed collections were a failure, and the office remained closed until the type foundry at Cincinnati took possession of the office and sold it to Alfred N. Smyser. He conti nued the publication until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted in the United States service and entered the army. The office then passed into the hands of the Perryman brothers, James D., George and Tobe Perryman. They continued the Express at i rregular intervals, (and for a time it ceased entirely) until 1856, when Richard Couch brought a small

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office from Shelbyville to Sullivan, and it and the Express were consolidated.

On the 20th of the same month Messrs. Couch and Perryman commenced the publication of

THE SULLIVAN DEMOCRAT,

a seven column paper, folio form. It was Democratic in politics. The publication was continued until January 1869, when Thomas M. Bushfield took possession of the office by virtue of the chattel mortgage that he held upon the presses and material . He continued the publication of the paper and changed the name to

THE SULLIVAN PROGRESS,

WHICH name it still retains. While Bushfield was the proprietor of the paper W.H. Smyser was editor and foreman of the office. On the 6th of December, 1869, Bushfield sold the paper to P.L. Shutt. Under his management the Progress began for the first time to be self-supporting.

Mr. Shutt continued the Progress until November 27th, 1873, when he sold it to W.H. Smyser and W.J. Mize, who have continued its publication to the present. When Messrs. Smyser and Mize purchased the paper it was an eight column folio, patent, whi ch form it continued until August 12th, 1875, when it was all printed at home. On the 21st of February, 1878, it was reduced to a seven column folio, set in light-faced brevier and nonpareil type, and all advertisements set in nonpareil caps. The Pro gress, under the management and editorial control of the firm, has taken front rank in country journalism in the state of Illinois. It is a model of typographical neatness. The artistic and elegant designs and forms of advertisements as set up in th e Progress are the admiration of the fraternity wherever the paper is known. As newspaper managers Messrs. Smyser and Mize have demonstrated their ability to run a newspaper and make it a financial success, and at the same time furnish their const ituency a journal of which they may well be proud. These enterprising gentlemen have also established an office in Champaign, Illinois, and are editors and proprietors of the Times, a live Democratic newspaper, that is the organ of the party in the Fourte enth Congressional District, as the Progress is of the Fifteenth. Both are experienced men at either the case or in the sanctum, and have in addition, energy, enterprise, and industry the necessary requisites for success in any business.

The first effort of the members of the Republican party in Moultrie county to establish a paper that would be an exponent of their principles, was made in 1863, and originated with W.M. Stanley, the veteran newspaper man, now of the Union, Champaign, Illi nois. He was the prime mover, and succeeded in organizing a joint stock company composed of the best and most influential members of the party in the county. They purchased the office in Chicago, and solicited W.A. Ballard to take charge of it as editor and manager. The first issue of

THE MOULTRIE COUNTY UNION BANNER

OCCURRED July 20th, 1863. It was a seven column folio, neatly printed and soundly republican in its tone. Mr. Ballard continued the publication for nearly one year, when he was deposed, and W.M. Stanley appointed his successor. The latter gentle man continued the management for the company for a short time, and when he purchased the office and became editor and proprietor, and continued the publication until April 3d, 1867, when he sold it to A.P. Greene and J.F. Hughes. The gentlemen changed th e name to

THE OKAW REPUBLICAN,

AND continued one year, when Mr. Hughes withdrew from the firm and Mr. Greene remained editor and proprietor until in February, 1870, when he sold the office and it was removed from the county. Under Mr. Greene's management the Republican was inte nsely radical. Its readers were never left in doubt as to its editor's position upon any question of public interest. He was a strong and aggressive writer, and in ability considerably above the average.

THE SULLIVAN PLAINDEALER

THE material of the above named office was purchased of the St. Louis type foundry. It was well selected, and per consequence the Plaindealer was typographically neat. The first number was issued December 18th, 1872, B.B. and C.W. Everett, editors and proprietors. It was an eight column folio, and Republican in politics. Financially it was a losing enterprise. The publication was continued until May 15th, 1874, when the office was closed. It remained closed some time, when it was trade d to P.W. Shutt for residence property in Shelbyville. Shutt removed the office to Paris, Illinois, where it is now known as the Times office.

THE MOULTRIE COUNTY CHRONICLE

IN 1874 Cicero V. Walls, now of the Newman Independent, Douglas county, Illinois, brought an office from Tuscola to Sullivan and commenced the publication of the Chronicle. The first issue was October 9th, 1874. He continued the paper for eleven weeks when its publication ceased, Mr. Walls being convinced that the Chronicle would not receive sufficient patronage to justify its continuance. He shipped the material to Arcola, and from thence to Newman.

The Chronicle was brought to Moultrie county and designed as a publication in the interest of the "Farmers' Movement," but the "movement" being irresponsive and not materializing to the extent desired by its too sanguine and mistaken supporter, it was shipped back as stated above.

After the decease of both the Plaindealer and Chronicle, the Republican party was without an organ until December, 1875, when W.A. Chapman brought an office from Tuscola to Sullivan, and on the 18th of the month and year above named issued t he first number of

THE SULLIVAN JOURNAL

IT was a seven column folio. Chapman continued the publication until May 13th, 1876, when he sold to A.S. Lindsay and J.W. Rohr. On the 19th of August, J.T. Williams became editor, and Rohr retired. That arrangement continued until the 2d of Sep tember, 1876, when Mr. Lindsay sold the Journal to W.G. Cambredge, of Tama City, Iowa. On the 9th of the same month, Mr. Cambredge enlarged the paper to an eight column folio. He continued the publication until April 6th, 1877, when he sold to T. L. McGrath and J.C. Stanley. Mr. McGrath sold his interest on May 4th of the same year to W.M. Stanley. The partnership of W.M. Stanley and Son continued until March 22, 1878, when J.C. Stanley became the editor and owner of the paper. He published the Journal until April 28th, 1880, when he sold the office to Fred. T. Magruder and James R. Sedgwick. On the 28th of July, 1880, these gentlemen reduced the paper from an eight to a seven column folio in form. The Journal is neatly printed and ably edited, and exerts considerable influence in this congressional district. Both of the proprietors are young men, and yet upon the threshold of editorial and newspaper experience, but from evidences already given we have no doubt that they will i n time take front rank in the journalism of the state.

Page 87

The first newspaper published in the village of Lovington was

THE LOVINGTON INDEX

THE office was brought to the village from Farmer City, DeWitt county, Illinois. D.C. Whetzell was the editor and proprietor. The first issue was in the latter part of October, 1875. Whetzell continued the Index until April, 1876, when the offic e passed back into the possession of W.C. Devore, to whom it originally belonged. The latter gentleman changed the name to

THE LOVINGTON FREE PRESS,

AND continued the publication for several years, when it was suspended and office removed to Farmer City. The people of Lovington were without a newspaper until the 26th of November, 1879, when Benjamin Biddlecome brought an office from Danville, and established

THE LOVINGTON ENTERPRISE

IT was an independent paper, devoted to home interest. It was a seven column folio, neatly printed, and was a spicy paper, containing all the home news and whatever was of interest to its readers. When the paper was first brought to Lovington, W. J. Priest was associated with Mr. Biddlecome in the publication. He remained until February 18th, 1880, when he retired and W.S. Tobey took his place. In July of the same year, the heading was changed to the Weekly Enterprise, and the paper was m ade a five column quarto of eight pages. The firm of Biddlecome and Tobey still continues, and from the evidences of prosperity and industry plainly observable around the office we have no doubt that the Enterprise is destined to be one of the pro minent institutions and industries of Lovington.

The history of the Press of Shelby and Moultrie counties has been briefly traced. There have been but comparatively few failures, and it is fairly representative of the business growth of both counties. No industry can show a better record or less failu res, or number more enthusiastic or patient workers. The influence and character of the press have grown with the material wealth, and intellectual growth of those they have represented. The number of newspaper enterprises organized, and now in existenc e in the counties and the character of their support, shows well for the liberality of their citizens, and it further shows the power and appreciation of printers' ink and editor's pen when used for the advancement of the country. We boldly and truthfull y say, that to the press more than to any other industry, belongs the honor and credit of building up and making known to the outside world the wealth of soil, advantages of agriculture, excellent schools, business growth, and moral tone of the people of Shelby and Moultrie counties. It is the press that spreads these advantages before the world and invites emigration within its borders. As before said, the press is progress, and progress is the press.

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