Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Chapter XIII

History of the Press in Marion County - Pella Gazette - Knoxville Journal - Democratic Standard -
Pella Week Blad - Marion County Republican - Pella Blade - Marion County Democrat -
Pella Gazette - Iowa Voter - Copperhead.

Between the years 1847 and 1855, the population of the county was greatly increased by immigration from all parts of the east and south, and a large majority of those who had established permanent homes within her limits were men and women of intelligence and enterprise, if not of great wealth. Farms were made on every prairie, and almost every grove sounded with the stroke of the axe. Here and there the neat frame dwelling was beginning to take the place of the rude log cabin, and yearly expanding fields of corn and wheat, and numerous orchards of all stages of growth, from the lately planted scion, to the young fruit brearer, all betokened the husband-man’s thrift, and promised him ultimate wealth. Villages were laid out in all parts of the county, and many of the most needed manufactories were established in and about them, with merchandise to exchange for the products of the soil. Saw and grist mills were sufficiently numerous to be comparatively convenient to the inhabitants of all parts of the county; and these were yearly increasing in number and enlarging in capacity, as the increasing demands of the county seemed to require. Even at that early period a railroad and river navigation (one or both) were confidently expected. The Des Moines Valley Road, though yet distant, both in time and space, was talked of as a fixed fact, the arrival of which would be the beginning of a new era in the history of the county, as an avenue of trade and means of speedy correspondence with the east. How completely this hope has been realized within the last few years, the people know better than we can express it. And we must not omit to notice that, from the earliest period of our county history, the important matter of education was not neglected. In the midst of the toils, difficulties and inconveniences of pioneer life, school districts were organized in every settlement of a sufficient number of children, a claim-pen, (if one could be had), used for a school house, or a cabin hastily erected for the purpose, and a teacher selected from the more capable members of the community. With such houses, such teachers, and such books as the country could afford, schools were maintained till greater conveniences came along with all the other advantages that are the natural result of growth in population and wealth.

But, so late as 1854 and 1855, one of the great levers of commerce and general intelligence was lacking in Marion county. In the midst of all these evidences of advancement the need of a local newspaper must have been felt. This need was, in a measure, supplied by the publication of the Pella Gazette, early in 1855.

Early in the autumn of 1854, Edwin H. Grant, a practical printer, came from the east to Pella, and entered into Co-partnership with Henry P. Scholte, for the purpose of publishing a weekly newspaper in that town. They immediately set about making the necessary preparations. A press and type were purchased, a building suitable for a newspaper office erected, and a list of subscribers obtained. At length, after a delay of several months after the enterprise was first announced to the public, the first number of the Pella Gazette, the first newspaper printed in the county, appeared under date of February 1, 1855; and it was, just at that time, the most western paper published in Iowa before reaching the Missouri river.

The Des Moines Star, published at Fort Des Moines, had suspended operations just previously.

The Gazette was a large sheet, seven columns to the page, beautifully printed from new type, of a size rather smaller than is generally used for a country paper. The leading editorial was a lengthy article by Mr. Scholte, consisting mostly of a brief history of the Holland Colony. In an article headed “Defining our Position,” Mr. Grant said:

“It is not our intention to remain silent upon the great political questions of the day. But we wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not intend to give a blind credence to the machinations of any of the parties now dominant. We shall boldly avow our sentiments respecting any of the great movements of the age, regardless of political bias. Whenever we can consistently approve of any acts performed by either party, which seem to us to be calculated to benefit our State, or the great national confederacy, we shall cordially lend out influence to sustain and promote such measures.”

In his “Address to the Public,” in the same issue, the same writer added:

“The difficulties and expense which have attended us in reaching this position can hardly be appreciated by any on unacquainted with the business, and with the difficulties incident to a new country.”

Like most pioneers, the Gazette began with a small list of subscribers, and but few of these paid in advance. Evidently, but few persons wished to risk their money in an enterprise of this kind till they could be assured of its success. Notwithstanding this, the paper held its own for several years, gradually increasing its patronage along with its more recent competitors. Mr. Grant continued his connection with the Gazette till some time in 1857 or 1858, after which the paper was suspended for some length of time. In the summer or fall of 1859 it was resuscitated by S. M. Hammond, published by him in quarto form, and edited by Mr. Scholte, as a campaign paper. From November till March, 1860, it was published by Hammond & Hannold, when it was finally discontinued, and the subscription list transferred to the Knoxville Journal.*

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*It may be worthy of note that Mr. A. F. Sperry, at present editor of the Iowa Voter, was an occasional compositor and contributor to the Gazette, and wrote its first carrier’s address.
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On the first of October, 1855, just eight months after the Gazette was started, the first number of the Knoxville Journal was issued by Wm. M. Stone (since governor of Iowa), as editor and proprietor. The press upon which it was printed was that of the old Valley Whig, published at Keokuk.

The Journal was published in the interest of the republican party, but devoted much of its space to the interests of Knoxville and the surrounding country. The first few numbers contained some valualble historical matter relating to the county, all of which was, unfortunately, lost on the night of the 4th of March, 1856, when the office was burned. It is a matter of regret to the author that he was unable, after extensive advertising and diligent inquiry, to procure one of these old papers. The office was in a frame building that stood on the west side of the public square, nearly opposite where the court house now stands. It and all its contents were entirely destroyed, together with a story adjoining it.

The Journal was not renewed till some time during the next fall or winter, when Geo. W. Edwards, now managing editor of the Des Moines Republican, came to Knoxville in quest of a location for a paper. Being in possession of a press and type, he and Stone formed a co-partnership and renewed the Journal. In the same year Stone sold his interest in the paper to Edwards, who conducted it alone for a short time, till he sold it to John M. Bailey, and he to E. G. Stanfield, in the winter of 1857 and 1858. During Mr. Stanfield’s proprietorship of the concern, the Journal was, for a time, edited by L. D Ingersoll, since well known as an author. After Ingersoll, it was published by Bigelow & Co.; then, in 1860, by Horner & Hannold, who changed the name of the paper to Marion County Republican, some time during the same year.

The third paper published in the county was the Democratic Standard,* first issued in June, 1856, about eight months later than the Journal, by Claiborn Hall, editor and proprietor. Mr. Hall, not being a practical printer, and also entirely unacquainted with journalism, soon found it “up-hill” work, and , financially, a “losing game” to publish a frontier country newspaper. So, after a short experience, he disposed of the concern to a company. After this the Standard was edited and published by different individuals successively, among whom were S. M. Hammond and M. V. B. Bennett, the latter well known as a lawyer and political stumper. It finally suspended operations some time in 1864 or 1865.

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*Like the Journal, no early numbers of this paper are extant, or, at least, could not be found, and its history must, therefore, be brief.
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On the 28th of September, 1861, Henry Hospers, having purchased the office of the old Pella Gazette, commenced the publication of a newspaper in the Holland language, called the Pella’s Weekblad (Weekly). This paper was, and is, in the interest of the Democratic party, and enjoyed a good patronage, being in a community where that party was largely dominant. On the 18th of June, 1870 Mr. Hospers having been appointed by the Legislature to the office of Immigrant Agent, sold the paper to H. Neyenech, by whom it is now conducted.

The Marion county Republican was purchased by B. F. Williams, in Oct. 1861, and edited by him until he sold it to Wm. G. Cambridge, Aug. ‘66. In ‘63-4 Mr. Williams rented the office to a printer named Griffin, who reduced it to half its original size, and issued it principally as an advertising sheet. In March, ‘67, Mr. Cambridge sold it to Sperry and Barker, by which transaction the Republican was finally discontinued.

In the winter of ‘64-5 Mr. C. S. Wilson, since connected with the Winterset Madisonian, purchased the press and type belonging to the Democratic Standard, moved them to Pella, and on the 3d of Feb., ‘65 commenced the publication of the Pella Blade.

Mr. Wilson was a radical Republican, and a writer of rather more than ordinary genius. In the local department he made the paper especially attractive by his peculiar style. In his salutatory he says:

“Acting, up to the time of the beginning of the rebellion with the Democratic party, I have, since that time, had a heritage in none; but, believing that upon the success of the Republican (or Union) party, and the triumph of their principles, depend the rescue of the country form the hand of treason, and its existence among the family of nations, I have acted politically with that party. The Blade will continue the advocacy of these principles, at the same time its columns will not fail to condemn whatever it judges to be incompatible with the public interest or the national honor.

“In the local department particular attention will be given to the spread of such intelligence concerning our city and county as will be of benefit to them.

“It will be my aim to make this journal acceptable as a family newspaper, and, to this end, the latest news, poetry, tales, agricultural affairs, and items of all kind will find a place in its columns. Believing that nothing tends more to the development of a county than a wide-awake newspaper, I shall endeavor to avoid the Rip Van Winkle style as much as possible.”

As a sample of Mr. Wilson’s wake-awake style, we are over-tempted to copy the following from the local department of his first number of the Blade:

General History of the County. 115

“OUR DRAFT CORRESPONDENT.- - We have secured the services of one of the ablest writers of the age, at a salary of $25,000 per annum, to go West and correspond for the Blade from the Draft Regions. He will report weekly everything of interest that occurs among the numerous class of pilgrims who have so nobly taken their lives in their hands and - - run away. If a rattlesnake should be so uncourteous as to take a nip at the heel of one of these devoted pilgrims; if a grizzley should chance to indulge in a breakfast of pilgram ham, or a Pen Perce fancy to a collation of draft steak, he will duly report. He has also another mission. We are some what related to the Digger Indians, and it will be the business of our correspondent to take steps to prevent any of the valient pilgrims from marrying into the nation of Diggers, as we are careful of our blood, and do not want to have it polluted by such intermingling.”

After publishing the Blade for about a year, Mr. Wilson sold the press and type to Melick, who took them to Waterloo, Black Hawk county, and printed the Waterloo Courier.

Soon after this the Blade was renewed by R. Crosby, who shortly afterwards associated with him Jas. H. Betzer. In December, 1867, Crosby sold his interest in the concern to H. G. Curtis, and December, 1869, Curtis sold to A. T. Betzer. At this date the paper became a semi-weekly, in the firm of Betzer Brothers, and continues so to the present.

The Marion County Democrat (Knoxville) was first issued September 19th, 1865, by J. L. McCormack, from a press and type he obtained in Missouri. In his salutatory he said:

“It is the intention to make this sheet a welcome visitor to the fireside of every household; to give instruction, to afford pleasure and enjoyment in the perusal of its columns, and, if possible, to bring about a little better understanding in the minds of the people as to their true duties of neighborly citizenship.”

After promising a fair share of its space to agricultural and mercantile interests, and also to the entertainment of the lovers of literature, he adds:

“In politics this paper will support the principles, and stand by the organization of the Democratic party. It acknowledges allegiance to none other, and will pay fealty tot he behests of its regular organization alone.

“Believing that the safety of our republican institutions requires a return to the principles of the overthrow of the party now in power, and insist upon a return to the condition of things that existed before traitors endeavored to destroy the Government.”

The Democrat is a large, well-conducted journal, and commands a liberal share of public patronage.

In March, 1867, another paper was started in Pella, called the Pella Gazette. It was printed in the Holland language, devoted to the interests of the Republican party, and edited by G. Van Ginkle. After running about eighteen months it was discontinued, and the press was purchased by Snow & Huber, a mercantil firm in Pella, who issued a monthly journal for the purpose of advertising their business.

In March, 1869, Messrs. Sperry and Baker, formerly of the Guthrie County Vidette, exchanged printing offices with W. G. Cambridge, of the Marion County Republican; and on the 10th of June issued the first number of the Iowa Voter, at Knoxville. In his salutatory the editor says:

“The Iowa Voter will be a radically Republican newspaper, working as best it may to further the cause of Republicanism and the welfare and progress of all advocating impartial suffrage for the whole nation, and striving always to be a prompt and reliable medium of general and local news - in short, a live Republican newspaper.

The Voter has a large circulation, enjoys a large share of public patronage, and has rendered itself worthy the reputation of a good local journal.

On the 8th of January, 1868, a newspaper called “Copperhead” made its appearance in Pella, under the proprietorship of Bennett, McCully and Gamble. Owing to the novelty of its title, and the peculiar notoriety of one of its editors (Bennett) as a radical Democratic politician, its advent caused some sensation in political circles. The name was evidently chosen to offset the stigma intended to be fixed upon the Democratic party by the Republicans, when they gave it the name of a most poisonous reptile.

In his address “To the Public” the editor says in his well-known radical style:

“Our chief aim will be to make it a first-class Democratic paper, devoted to the interests of the great Democratic party and the masses of devoted, industrious, honest men who support the Government, uphold its laws, and stand by it written Constitution, as expounded by the supreme judiciary of the land.”

Only eleven numbers of the paper were published in Pella. In the last week in March it was moved to Ottumwa, Wapello county, where it is still published by McCully and Evans, McCully remaining at Pella to attend to the interests of the firm in this county. During its publication in Pella it and the Blade waged a violent personal warfare, in which the moral character of the combatants was subjected to a rigid scrutiny. When the Copperhead took its departure for Ottumwa, the Blade came out with a roughly executed but amusing caricature of the event, representing a huge serpent borne partly on a hearse and partly on men’s shoulders, followed by several mourners.

In the spring of 1870 the proprietors of the Blade, Democrat, and Voter entered into a written agreement pledging themselves to the advance payment system on subscription, to begin on the first of June. At first this was thought to be a rather hazardous policy where the credit system had so long been the practice. But the new rule, though rigidly adhered to, has proved quite as successful as the publishers could have desired.

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer, 11/06, reformatted by Al Hibbard 12 Oct 2013.