H. L. Rann 1824 – 1897

RANN, CLARK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/3/2020 at 16:08:38

Source: Decorah Republican May 6, 1897 P 1 C 5

AN ABLE EDITOR GONE.
A deep sense of personal loss comes to the editor of this paper, in the death of H. L. Rann, the long-time editor of the Manchester Press. We doubt if there was his superior in the state in the joint position of editor and printer. His paper was a typographical model, and he had some sturdy, old-fashioned notions about newspapers that were always admired by his associates, and made the Press somewhat unlike any other paper we know of in the state. For instance: not a line of paid matter, of any kind, was ever by him permitted to appear in the same sized type as that given to news, locals, and reading matter. More than that, the two kinds of matter, news, &c., and advertising, (which included everything paid for, even his own personal business announcements) had to be markedly separated so that no one could be deceived into reading an advertisement. In spite of this rigid principle his paper always carried more home advertisements of a high class than any other paper in the state published in a town of the size of Manchester. Then his paper was thoroughly clean. His editorials were never prolix, but always able, clear, often exhibiting a keen, shrewd wit that was masterful in its incisive force and power of illustrating a truth or exposing a falsity. The telegraphic dispatch which brings us this sad intelligence gives these details as to his life:
Manchester, May 1.—H. L. Rann, senior editor and founder of the Manchester Press, after a long illness, died at his residence in this city this morning: at 12:40.
He was born at Alexander, N. Y., Jan. 24th, 1824. When only a boy he learned the printing business and made his chosen profession his life work. He first engaged in newspaper work in the state of New York, afterwards at Detroit, Mich., and Whitewater, Wis. In 1871 he came to this city and commenced publishing the Manchester Press, which he has conducted continuously since, except from 1873 to 1875, when he was at St. Louis, Mo.
In the death of Mr. Rann the community loses an earnest, faithful public servant, and the newspaper fraternity a clean, puro representative, who know what reading matter should be published to go into the homes for children of all ages to read. His family loses a kind and devoted, husband and father.. He leaves a wife, one son, H. L. Rann, Jr., who succeeds as editor of the Press, Edith V. Rann, a teacher of piano music at Steinway hall, Chicago, and Mrs. R. G. Clark, of Webster City.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he died May 1, 1897 and is buried in the Oakland Cemetery.