West Branch Times, West Branch, Iowa, Thursday, November 11, 1926
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 9, 2018
THE WEST BRANCH TIMES
By A. W. Jackson
A recent item in the 45 years ago column reminds me that I should say a few words about the oldest business institution in my old home town ere the sear and yellow leaf engulfs me. Having enjoyed a vivid personal acquaintance with all its pilots save one, it is highly probable that I can do the subject more justice than could a stranger.
My first recollection of a newspaper in West Branch was in the winter of 1871 when a little sheet called The Index was issued by Chas. Craighead and A. M. Russell. The former was a member of the Craighead family living near Cedar Bluff and the latter his brother-in-law as I remember. The paper was issued from one of the rooms of the present hotel building and was printed on a job press operated by foot power. The patronage of course was limited and the venture was soon abandoned.
In April, 1875, L. W. Raber, who with his brother, had been publishing the Cedar County Farmer at Tipton, came over with a hat full of type and a few implements of the craft and established The West Branch Times. He began operations in the little two-room building on the corner where the Citizens Bank now stands, known in those days as Joe Brodhead’s harness shop. Mr. Raber had no press but composed his forms and hauled them across the country to Tipton where he printed them on the press of The Conservative, which had succeeded The Farmer. He kept this up through the summer and in the fall made the raise of a 10x15 old style Gordon job press on which he printed the paper for some time, one page at a time, resembling a child’s Sunday school sheet. Business prospered in a way and a little later on Mr. Raber was able to add a Foster hand press, the like of which has never been seen since. This outfit did duty under all administrations for many years.
The gentle reader will pardon me for alluding to the fact that at the tender age of nine years I determined to make the printing business my life occupation and henceforth never gave a thought to any other. In the little town of Western College, where I then lived with my grandparents, I would hang around the printing office and look in at the open door but was too bashful to go in. So when Mr. Raber advertised for a boy to learn the printing business I walked the six miles to West Branch, to apply for the job. I got inside of the office. Mr. Raber was sitting on a stool sticking type. When he turned sharply and inquired what I wanted I was so flustered that I could only say “nothing” and hiked back home.
Raber was a democrat, a man of fiery disposition and somewhat given to imbibing of the flowing bowl. How he came to locate in this community of people so largely his opposites I have never been able to understand. Yet he prospered in a way. One of his principal backers was J. W. Witter who erected a two-story building which still stands one door west of Christee’s store and turned it over to Raber as a printing office and dwelling combined. If Witter got any rent out of it the sum was only nominal.
Edwin Grinnell, a son of Jeremiah Grinnell, quite prominent as a recorded minister of the Society of Friends, operated a drug store about where the Randall confectionery is now. Ed. had some idea that the newspaper business was more remunerative than that of the apothecary. So he made a deal with Mr. Raber after his whirl for a couple of years, bought The Times and moved it into his building. What became of the drug stock I have no recollection as I was keeping both eyes on The Times. Mr. Grinnell had no experience in either the literary or mechanical end. However, with the goods and chattels of the office he took over a printer in the person of Harry Porter, who had been in Raber’s employ for a time. This Mr. Porter was quite a character with quite a history. Prospecting through the country, he lande3d in West Branch one cool night and attempted to get a night’s lodging in the old hay barn near the stockyards. The vigilant night police dragged him forth and racked him up before Wm. Maris, mayor, where the stranger denied any intention to fracture the law and confessed that he was a printer out of a job and money also. Mr. Raber stood good for him and set him to work. He remained as printer in charge for many years, married Miss Susie Shinn, later a compositor on the paper, and raised an interesting family.
During Mr. Grinnell’s regime, by frequent visits to the office, I learned the “case” so that in the fall he offered to furnish me my board if I would work for him regularly. This offer I embraced with alacrity and put in the winter under his arrangement. In the spring he sold the office to Linneaus Warrington, who was engaged in teaching at Scattergood. Like his predecessor, he was neither a printer nor editor. Mr. Porter was retained as printer and the editorial box turned over to D. E. Mackey, all round citizen sometimes a carpenter, sometimes a butcher, sometimes a harness maker, but a handy man at all times. He was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland and died in office, his term being completed by his sister. Mr. Warrington offered to continue my connection with the shop and pay my board but I demanded a piece of money each week in addition. This he refused, whereupon I hied back to the farm, hoping that a more tender hearted and appreciative man would obtain the reins.
Mr. Warrington’s name was at the masthead but a brief time until he made an assignment to Hon. John C. Chambers then cashier of the West Branch Bank. He kept the paper going, retaining Mackey and Porter. In a few months the paper was purchased by C. H. Wickersham of Springdale. He moved it to the basement of the State Bank, retaining Mr. Porter as master mechanic, with Miss Susie Shinn as compositor.
One bleak day in November I received a postal card from Mr. Wickersham to the effect that he would like to see me. No time was lost in forming his acquaintance. I had never seen him up to that day. We strolled up in the old graveyard and talked things over. He said Miss Shinn was going away on a trip and he would like to have me take her place. He said he could afford to give me five dollars a week. That sounded good and the deal was closed instanter. Board was secured from Mrs. Dorcas Reeves across the street from the school house for three dollars and I went home feeling as rich as Henry Ford does. My room mate was the late Armon G. Hoffman, who was going to school.
Mr. Wickersham changed the name of the paper to the Local Record upon ascending the tripod and so it remained for several years. He was a very good writer, but not a printer. I have always recalled the year I spent with him as one of the most pleasant of my life. He took a fatherly interest in his young printer, telling me much of the political and general history of the county that in later years has proven a source of profit. He also encouraged me in developing the literary gift and printed everything I turned in for publication. Our pleasant associations took place almost 50 years ago, but to this day we have been close friends.
In the fall of 1881 Mr. Wickersham sold the paper to W. W. Gruwell, who was then living on a farm five miles north of town. He, also, was a novice in the business—in fact he often remarked that he never wrote a line for publication until after he was 50 years old. He jumped into the fray with vigor and was the editor for 17 years, getting out a very creditable paper as the files will show. In the course of time his son and daughter became printers, working with him, so that Mr. Porter was compelled to seek another job. In 1889 Mr. Gruwell sold out to S. E. Albin and bought a half interest in a paper at Belle Plaine. Mr. Albin changed its name back to The Times and so it has remained to this day. He of all the men who have had to do with its fortunes and misfortunes I have no personal acquaintance.
In 1892 Mr. Gruwell returned and purchased the paper from Mr. Albin, operating until in February, 1901. By this time the son, Albert C., was the principal man behind the gun. He told me that he was working away one day when Ross Leech came in and casually inquired if the paper was for sale. Albert replied that it was and quoted a price. Without a word Ross pulled out a wad of bills big enough to choke a cow and said he would take it. Mr. Leech was without newspaper experience also and imported the writer of these lines, who was then engaged on the Iowa City Press, to take mechanical charge. The accomplished typo was Miss Maud Branson, who needs no introduction at my hands to the people of West Branch. The times skimmed along very smoothly for the few months that I was pulling the press. A bigger job lured me away.
Then came the present administration. Under the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Corbin, Mrs. Stratton and G. K. Blunt, The Times is one of the best strictly local papers with which I am acquainted. It is well written and well printed. As one who has followed its fortunes from the inception, I hope that it, like the brook, may go on forever, dispensing sympathy and good cheer to the people of the splendid community which it so able serves. The country preacher, the country doctor and the country editor live very near to nature’s heart.
