F.W. Rockwell

ROCKWELL, MADISON

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/6/2001 at 12:24:02

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
F.W. ROCKWELL
F.W. Rockwell, who with his brother Ed H., owns and edits the Farmington Herald, is a native of Pleasant Mills, Indiana, born March 15, 1861. With his parents he came to Iowa, and in Harrison County, where the family located, he acquired his education, attending the public schools of Little Sioux. Almost his entire life has been devoted to journalism. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the printer’s trade, and two years later he trod the rough and thorny path of a pedagogue. Before he had reached his majority he was editor and publisher of the LaHarpe Illinois Sun, and subsequently of the Dallas Spirit; also was for some time connected The Burlington Hawkeye as telegraph editor, and later became manager of the mechanical department of the same. In 1886 he established the Herald, and the following year, was joined by his brother, Ed H. Several efforts had been made to carry on a paper at Farmington, but so often had the project failed that the people were afraid to subscribe for a whole year; many would only take the paper for a quarter, so as not to lose so much if it went down. Such was the character of the Herald and such its management, that it soon gained the favor of the people and was placed on a sound financial basis. The Rockwell brothers deserve no little credit for the masterly way in which they have worked up the enterprise, giving to their subscribers one of the best journals in the country. The paper is devoted largely to local interests and deals but little in politics. However, in May of 1890, they started the Radical Jeffersonian Democrat, which shoots the grape and canister of the old line Democracy regardless of whom it hits. These gentlemen are also interested in the Farmington Music Company and other business enterprises.
In 1883 F.W. Rockwell was united in marriage with Clara A. Madison, a lineal descendant of the President. She is a native of Dallas City, Illinois and they have two children—G. Idylmarch and an infant. Mr. Rockwell is a gentleman of considerable literary taste and ability, and has won a place among the local poets.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.