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         THE PRESS. The Archimedian lever that moves the world is without doubt found in the printing-press. Louisa County has ever had reason to be proud of her newspapers, which, though they may not have penetrated every nook and corner of the land, yet have wielded a good influence among the people of this county.

The Louisa County Times, afterward called the Wapello Intelligencer, was established by J. H. & J. L. Milligan. They sold it to L. P. Wells in 1855, who ran it as an independent newspaper about two years, and then sold it to Kelly, Ives & Minton, who in turn ran it a couple of years, when Mr. Wells again purchased it and continued its publication two years longer. He then sold out to William Keach, who published it under the name of the Wapello Republican, but later sold it to Dr. Jones, by whom it was discontinued. L. W. Myers purchased the material of the office and re-established it in 1866.

The Wapello Republican, under the management of Mr. Myers, has taken rank among the ablest papers in the State. It is a neatly printed and well-conducted sheet, its local column bearing evidence of considerable care in the collection of local items of interest, while its editorial columns are proof of the ability of the editor, who is thoroughly conversant with the political history of the country. Soon after taking possession of the office Mr. Myers added largely to its stock of type and put in a job press. From time to time new material has been added, so that the office is now one of the best in this section of the country. Not one issue of the paper has been missed since it came under the control of Mr. Myers.

The Louisa County Record, an independent Republican paper, was established by Barr & Ives, in 1870, the first number being issued November 17 of that year. The first number was issued without the name of a single subscriber upon its books. In 1873 J. G. Barr bought Ives’ interest in the paper, and continued its management until March, 1887. He then sold out to E. M. Pike, who continued its publication until August of the same year, when he sold out to G. E. E. Townsend, its present proprietor. The office was burned out in the big fire of Aug. 14, 1873, but the paper never missed a single issue. Its early publishers were among the first settlers of the county. Under its present management the high standard of the paper has been maintained, Mr. Townsend being a writer of fine ability and a practical printer. The Record is an eight-column folio, neatly printed and filled with interesting local matter.

On the 8th of April, 1856, the first issue of the Columbus City Courier appeared. It was a six-column folio, poorly printed, and was started by a stock company. J. L. Grubb, W. M. Clark and Dr. B. G. Neal were the committee on publication, and on starting out Dr. Neal was installed as editor. Subsequently the name of George D. Harrison was substituted for that of Dr. Neal, while the fourth issue contained a handsome salutatory from A. Gamble. The Courier lasted some two or three months, and then winked out.

On the 26th of February, 1859, the Columbus . . .

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. . . City Enterprise appeared under the control of J. M. Edwards. The Enterprise was well got up mechanically, and its editorials showed considerable ability. In July, 1859, Mr. Edwards associated with him in the publication of the Enterprise G. W. Limbocher. The Enterprise was published for about six months, and then followed the path of its predecessor into oblivion.

In October, 1870, the Louisa County Safeguard made its appearance at Columbus City, and several “croaks” were loud in the assertion that it would not last three months. Its history will be given further on.

The Columbus City Nonpareil was established by Allen Hickok and Ralph Miller, its first issue appearing on the date of April 8, 1875. It was subsequently sold to L. B. Coleman, who moved it to Columbus Junction Sept. 20, 1877, and consolidated it with the Safeguard.

The first paper in Columbus Junction made its appearance April 16, 1874, under the name of the Iowa People, with Seahorn & Williams, editors and publishers. After an existence of twenty-three weeks it ceased to exist.

The Columbus Safeguard, as already stated, was established at Columbus City under the name of the Louisa County Safeguard. It was removed to Columbus Junction by its proprietor, R. H. Moore, and the present name adopted Nov. 24, 1874. L. B. Coleman succeeded Mr. Moore in September, 1877, and was in turn succeeded by Colton & Maclean, and they by Hungerford & Maclean. On the 1st of January, 1883, it passed into the hands of J. E. Eggert & Co., who continued it but a short time. The company retiring, Mr. Eggert continued the paper until Dec. 1, 1885, when J. E. Jenkins purchased an interest. The paper continued under the management of Eggert & Jenkins until May 18, 1888, when O. S. Todd succeeded Mr. Eggert, since which time it has been under the control of the firm of Jenkins & Todd. The Safeguard is an eight-column folio, and is a very neatly printed sheet. In October, 1888, the office was destroyed by fire, but with commendable energy the firm at once secured new material, and not one issued of the paper was missed. In politics it is a radical Republican. The office is supplied with a Campbell power press, one of the latest style Gordon job presses, and a complete outfit of newspaper and job type. The publishers are young men of fine ability, and get up a paper that is a credit to the city and county in which it is printed.

The Columbus Junction Herald, edited by Samuel Crocker, made its first appearance on the date of May 29, 1875, and its last number appeared Sept. 21, 1876.

The Louisa County Times made its first appearance at Columbus Junction Oct. 20, 1876, with A. E. Coffee as editor and proprietor. After the issue of nine numbers it was removed to Wapello, where it was continued until June 24, 1884, when it was returned to Columbus Junction by O. I. & M. J. Jamison. It was purchased by Neal & Philips Jan. 1, 1886, who continued its publication until Aug. 3, 1887, when its last issue appeared.

The Columbus Gazette made its first appearance May 25, 1887, as an eight-column folio newspaper, under the management of F. L. Richardson and J. E. Carpenter. It was published under their management until September of the same year, when Mrs. M. J. Jamison purchased the interest of Mr. Richardson, and in December following also purchased that of Mr. Carpenter. Under the ownership of Mrs. Jamison it has since been published, with O. I. Jamison as manager. The paper was first started in the building owned by Robert Marshall, on the east side of Front street, and later removed to the Moore block on Front street. The Gazette is the only Democratic newspaper published in Louisa County. It is well edited and is a No. 1 local paper, a credit not only to its publisher, but to the city and county as well.

The Morning Sun Herald was established by Lyman Nangle and Richard Howard, two enterprising young men from the Hoosier State, and Vol. 1, No. 1, was issued April 6, 1882. The firm of Nangle & Howard continued to do business until Jan. 14, 1883, when the heading simply read The Herald, by Lyman Nangle. On the 1st of June, 1885, B. F. Thomas became publisher and proprietor, and continued its publication until October, 1887, when E. M. Pike succeeded to its control. In April of the following year A. M. M. Dornon took possession, under whose management it continues at present. . . .

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. . . The Herald is an eight-page paper, 26x40, and is issued every Thursday. It has never missed an issue since its establishment. Its circulation is principally in Louisa, Des Moines and Henry Counties. Since its establishment the Herald has been true to the doctrines and teachings of the Republican party, but has paid more attention to local and county news than to politics. It has always been found laboring for Morning Sun and vicinity, and has done much to bring about the great degree of prosperity which that thriving town now enjoys.

The Morning Sun News was founded in September, 1887, by J. Kirk Latta, of Morning Sun, and Arthur J. Huckins, of Lansing, Mich., the first number being issued on the 17th of September. In February, 1888, Mr. Huckins’ interest was purchased by Robert W. McElhinney, of Morning Sun, and the paper is now published by Messrs. Latta & McElhinney.

The News is a seven-column folio. It is a bright, entertaining, instructive and readable newspaper, devoted chiefly to local news and home interests, and enjoys a good circulation in Louisa and adjoining counties.

In politics it is independent. It is the aim of the managers of the News to keep pace with the march of improvement and fill its columns with news from home and abroad, and interesting miscellaneous matter.

In its editorial columns questions of interest to the public are discussed intelligently with a view to instruct. The paper is read with interest by all classes of the community. In connection with the publication office there is a large job work department, where printing is neatly done. This branch of the business receives a liberal patronage from parties at home, as well as from other parts of the State.