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In the autumn of 1855, brothers P. H. and George Binckley founded The Leon Pioneer. It was a seven-column publication
issued weekly on Thursdays. In politics, The Leon Pioneer was democratic. The Binckley brothers sold out to Joe Parsons,
who in turn sold the paper to Sam Caster.
John Finley purchased The Leon Pioneer and changed its name to The Democratic Reporter. Mr. Finley sold the paper to
Jackson & Howard. In 1866, Detrick & Penniwell purchased The Democratic Reporter, and later, Mr. Garrett bought out
Mr. Penniwell's interest. G. N. Udell purchased the paper and later sold it to Frazier & Jackson who changed the
name of the paper back to The Leon Pioneer. Ed D. Pitman purchased The Leon Pioneer in the latter part of 1870. Mr.
Pitman continued publication of The Leon Pioneer in 1871 and 1872. He disposed the office material to the Shinn Brothers
who moved the paper's operations to Hutchison, Kansas.
The Chariton Leader
It is rumored that Mrs. James, the editress, proprietress and publisheress, of the Leon Journal, is about to sell it to a
gentleman from Ill. Old Sam Weller advised young Sam to "beware of the vidders," but our Sam Kirkwood won't find many
"vidders" in Iowa, to stand up to him like the editress of the Journal has done since he has been nominated.
The Chariton Leader
Sure enough, again our prophecy has been fulfilled. A week or two ago we gave the Leon Advocate until snow flew in which
to die, on account of its changing its position and supporting Kirkwood. Last week it obeyed the decrees of inexorable
fate and died the death of the wicked. It issued the last number, and its old, worn out, feeble remains were removed to
this city to be revived in the shape of the Morning Glory. Peace to its bones. Mr. Knapp, its former editor and
proprietor, gave us a pleasant call this week, and announced his intention of starting a new paper soon in some locality
where Democrats are scarce than in Leon and vicinity.
The Decatur County Journal was established in 1868 with Mrs. M. E. James as publisher. It was a weekly Republican
paper. It ceased in March of 1930 when the paper was merged with The Leon Reporter.
O. M. Howard and W. C. Jackson founded the The Democrat in January of 1879. A few months later, Howard and Jackson
merged the paper with The Reporter, another fledgling paper of the 1870's. The combined paper was renamed the
Democratic-Reporter. The Press Printing Company began publishing The Decatur County Press on February 26, 1880, with
J. C. Stockton editor and publisher. The Decatur County Press and The Democratic-Reporter were merged on October
26, 1881. J. C. Stockton was retained as the editor with J. A. Ray as business manager. Lon H. Boydston was the
editor when the paper was changed from a Greenback to a Democratic newspaper.
Lon H. Boydston sold the newspaper to J. D. and O. E. Hull on January 1, 1887. The Hulls renamed the newspaper The
Reporter. In 1915, the newspaper was six columns running from 12 to 16 pages, published weekly, and issued on
Thursdays. Cirrulation was approximately 2,700 subscribers in 1915.
Brannon & Flanders published the Voice and Echo from September to December in 1885. It was purchased and renamed
the Leon Plain Talk, an independent paper with its first issue on April 3, 1886. A few months later, the paper
was discontinued.
Die Wage, a German newspaper, was published for a few weeks in 1869. The paper, written in German, encouraged
German immigrants to come and settle in Decatur County.
D. Frank Knapp established the Decatur County Advocate in the spring of 1873. The paper was published once a year
as an anti-monopoly paper. Mr. Knapp founded the Leon Clipper in 1876, a Republican newspaper that endured for three
months before being discontinued.
The firm of Stockton & Watesbaugh established an independent paper entitled The Fact in 1887. It enjoyed a successful
twenty-year run until it was abandoned in 1897.
The Journal was first published in Leon by P. O. James around the year 1875. Mr. James, an employee of the Des Moines
Register, had served with the 4th Iowa Infantry during the Civil War. He was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows
Lodge, hold all of the offices over time and often serving as the Lodge's representative to the Grand Lodge. When Mr.
James became Leon's postmaster in 1871, Mrs. M. E. James assumed his position at the newspaper. Mrs. James also
assumed responsibility as Leon's postmistress. The Journal was sold to W. T. Robinson in 1875.
W. T. Robinson published The Journal for ten years. During this time, Mr. Robinson upgraded the mechanical operations and
increased the paper's circulation and patronage. An experienced printer and newspaper man, he was held in high
esteem by all who knew him. He was assisted by S. C. Mitchell and J. A. Keaton.
Marion F. Stookey, Millard F. Stookey, and W. A. Johnson purchased The Journal in August of 1885 with Mr. Johnson
retained as editor. The paper became a joint property of both of the Stookeys on January 1, 1893, and on January 1,
1904, it was organized as a joint stock company. The first stockholders were Marion F. and Millard F. Stookey, James
F. Harvey, Thomas Teale, Capt. J. D. Brown, and Stephen Varga. Will F. Lindsey and James F. Harvey became stockholders
at a later date and assumed publication of the newspaper.
Leon Reporter
For a year or more there have been rumors of an effort being made to establish a third paper in Leon, agitated principally
by the ardent suporters of Gov. Cummins, and at last their hopes have crystalized, and the first issue of the Decatur
County Republican will make its appearance next week, with the name of Matthews & Humphrey as publishers. A car load of
presses and material was received at this station last Saturday, a complete outfit having been purchased at Galena, Ill.,
and moved intact to this city. The new paper has secured the west room of the Dorn building on Commercial Street, built
for the Leon Water Works, and the proprietors are getting the material in place to commence business. F.J. Matthews, the
senior editor, comes from Des Moines and has been engaged in the printing business for 14 years. F.W. Humphrey, the junior
member of the firm, is a brother of the editor of the Van Wert Record, and has been employed as a linotype operator on the
World-Herald at Omaha.
There is no field and never has been one for a third paper in Leon. The establishment of the new paper is not because of
an opening for a third paper, but the promoters have induced the proprietors to come here for the express purpose of
getting the scalp of the Decatur County Journal, the Cummins faction alleging they have not received fair treatment from
the Journal, and such as they claimed they were entitled to from the official republican organ. The fight for supremacy of
the two factions of the republican party promises to be a fast and furious one. It's not The Reporter's fight and we shall
simply continue to publish the best paper in Decatur County and take our chances on getting our full share of the
patronage of the people as we have in the past. If there is room here for a third paper we wish them prosperity, but in
view of the experience of the past and the numerous wrecks on the journalistic sea, we warn them they will have a rough
and stormy voyage, and will be entitled to the reward if they can weather the storms.
In 1915, The Journal, a Republican paper, was published weekly with issues coming out on Thursdays. Generally the
paper ran from 12 to 16 pages per issue. The newspaper was later named The Leon Journal-Reporter with Will F. Lindsey's
descendants continuing to run the operations: William and Margaret Lindsey, Gary Lindsey, and Gary's son Corey.
NOTE: Corey Lindsey continues his family heritage as the editor and publisher of the Leon Journal-Reporter.
Sumner E. King of Missouri established The Lamoni Gazette in November of 1885. He sold the paper to Walker & Hansen three
months later. After changing ownership serveral time, the Lambert Brothers purchased the newspaper, changing its name to
The Independent Patroit. It was a great success but was discontinued in 1910.
W. H. Deam established The Lamoni Chronicle in June of 1894. Like The Lamoni Gazette, the paper changed ownership several
times over the next few years. John Scott, an immigrant fron England, published The Chronicle around 1900.
W. H. Blair, H. E. Gelatt, and G. W. Blair purchased The Lamoni Chronicle on April 1, 1913.
David Allen was the editor and publisher of The Lamoni Chronicle for many years. Due to ill health, David sold the
paper to Beth Higdon, the current [2009] editor.
The Clipper was established in Davis City by D. Frank Knapp in 1876. It was discontinued after eighteen months.
In 1879, J. C. Stockton established The Commercial in Davis City. The newspaper was sold to C. W. Lillie and eventually
to C. C. Bartlett who took the business with him when he moved to Kansas.
M. W. Mather established The Press in March of 1884. It was discontinued in June of 1885. The Hornet purchased
the newspaper's material and moved it to Weldon.
The Adams Brothers established an independent newspaper, The Tidings, in October 1885.
In 1910, Grand Mallory established The Davis City News. It was published weekly and contained four pages with five
columns per sheet.
The Davis City Advance
Quite a number of the citizens of this vicinity are glad to hear that The Advance is again a Populist paper.
Dan and A. B. Stearns published the Garden Grove Bulletin, an advertising sheet, from 1854 until 1869. It was issued at irregular dates.
The Iowa Express was established on May 5, 1875 with J. O. Parish, editor. Bryson Bruce purchased the newspaper on
March 1, 1881, and renamed the publication
Garden Grove Express
Having sold out the Express to Mr. W. S. Johnson, the partnership heretofore know as the "Express Printing Co." is this day dissolved by mutual agreement. The subscription list is the property of our successor. All owing us on account will make settlement with S. H. Amos, he having charge of the books. Dated the 31st day of May, 1894.
C. S. Stearns & BRO. S. H. Amos
Several Van Wert newspapers had been published over time. C. S. Fulmer published The Van Wert Record in 1905. It was an excellent publication but was discontinued by 1915. The Grand River Local was published in Grand River during the 1890's and early 1900's. F. A. C. Foreman published The Commoner in Decatur City from 1859 to 1861. C. S. Wilson published The Decatur Enterprise in Decatur City in 1866 and 1867 before accepting a position as the editor of the Des Moines Daily News. The Weldon Witness was established on May 26, 1881, edited by Ed Burleigh. S. L. Daily of Humeston bought the newspaper in March of 1883. J. R. Crichfield published The Hornet, which was succeeded by the Weldon Messanger which was edited by G. M. Smith. F. W. Durnal published a newspaper, also called The Hornet. The Expositor was edited by W. R. Boardman who left Weldon under a "cloud" in 1893. E. E. Graham edited the Weldon News, which was followed by The Weldon Bulletin, edited by H. J. Reger who was assisted by his daughter Blanche.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2015
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