This was the first paper printed in our little town. Editor H.J. Bedford said in his salutatory that he intended to “fire hot shot into the ranks of the enemies of the people’s interests and whenever we howl you may be sure we are right.”
The Argus was independent in politics.
The paper was a six-column four page concern, with two pages printed at home, and the subscription price was $1.25 per year.
- ADVERTISERS:
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W.G. Moore, oldest established drug house in the city
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Skillicorn & Co., drugs
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Pullman & Hettinger, general merchandise
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M .M. Pysing, farm implements, groceries
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Silver City State Bank, capital $50,000 —Greenwood, Pres. — E.F. Landon, Vice Pres. — W.B. Oaks, cashier. DIrectors, C.G. Greenwood, M. Flanagan, Robert Plumb. E.F. Landon, A. Hirsyey.
Huffaker & Christy, insurance
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Chas. F. Mears, Jeweler
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Livery and Feed Stable, Sid Sidener
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Mains & Reeve, grain and coal
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C.G. Greenwood, Silver City Lumber Yard
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Henry Mass, Meat Market
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Oaks & Jackson, Real Estate
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A.J. Simons, Photographer
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Z.Elliott & Sons, general merchandise
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L.A. Hepler, general merchandise
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B.S. Weidner, harness
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H.Dresler, papering hanging & decorating
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M.E. Huffaker, contractors & builders
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Moore & McCue, Physician and Surgeons
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Agan & Agan, Physician and Surgeons
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W.A. Myers, Veterinary, Surgeon and Dentist
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W.J. Hostetter, Dentist
LOCALS AND GENERAL
George Pullman started yesterday for Pullman, Nebraska.
Our post office is undergoing another change. This
time the office will occupy the rear end of the building facing the main entrance.
Work on Agan & Agan’s new brick building is progressing finely. The building when completed will be one of the finest appearing in the city. A few more good buildings like the one just mentioned are badly needed on West Main street.
THE SILVER CITY TIMES
Silver City, Iowa, May 6, 1897
R.A. Bates, Publisher Vol. 1, No. 1
Editorial---To Our Readers
With this issue of The Silver City Times we enter into a new field of labor, and in so doing we expect to give you a live local paper one worthy of your patronage and support and we will do everything in our power to make
The Times a welcome visitor into every household in this vicinity.
The Times shall be a strictly independent paper, and with “Equal Rights to all and Special Privileges to None,” as our motto, we wish to gain many warm friends and earnest supporters.
We have established a paper in Silver City without one cent of bonus or advance money, simply because we think a town as large as this city, and as many hustling and earnest working business men as it has is
sufficient to make us believe that a newspaper will be a paying investment, if not at present, it will be before many months.
We wish to meet every person in hand clasp or chat, in which we might tell them of our aim and plans to make the Times a looked for visitor to every fireside. We shall strive to make each issue better
than the previous one, of unquestionable moral tone, and of character that everyone can recommend it to their neighbors and friends.
The advertising rates of the Times will be reasonable, and we trust that all will assist us in this line. All church, secret society and benevolent notices will be inserted in our columns free of charge, others from above
will be strictly 5 cents per line for each insertion. Where there is an entertainment given, or benefit for any enterprise toward the upbuilding of our city, you will always find the editor only too willing to lend a helping
hand in any way possible.
To our business men and advertisers who in this issue have placed their “ads”, we extend a cordial welcome and trust the money expanded in this way will return to them with tenfold interest.
In conclusion, we wish to say that the Times is established to stay, and you need not fear to lay down your dollar for a years reading, thinking that you will not receive the paper the year out.
We would be glad to have every person in the vicinity call at our office and get acquainted whether they become readers and patrons or not. Thanking you in advance for any favors shown us, we remain,
Yours Very Respectfully,
R.A. Bates, Editor
- ADVERTISERS:
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F.J. Duerr Co., General Merchandise
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Silver City State Bank, Capital $50,000
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C.Elliott & Co., Meat Market
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Lew Hettinger, The Cottage Hotel
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L.A. Hepler, General Merchandise
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W.A. Murphey, Jewelry, watch repair, ice cream parlor
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F.C. Jackson, Livery and Feed and Sale Stable
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Pullman and Richmond, Hardware
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Agan & Agan, Physicians and Surgeons
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Dr.’s Moore and McCue
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W.J. Hostetter, Dentist
- LOCAL AND GENERAL
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Picked up Here and There and Jotted Down for the interest of the Times Readers
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Come and see us.
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Trade with the home merchant.
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How do you like the first issue?
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Mrs. Charles Swanburg is on the sick list.
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VanKirk Bros. shipped a car of hogs to Omaha Tuesday. The Van Kirk Bros. are among this sections most extensive shippers.
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Rev. Joseph Wells will preach at the Evergreen school house next Sunday.
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Rev. James Sims who has been sick was able to fill his pulpit last Sunday.
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Frank Ouren shipped a car of hogs to South Omaha Monday evening.
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Miss Jessie Seidler and Miss Nellie Sayles, of Council Bluffs, have opened up a dress making parlors in the Danielson Hotel.
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A bouncing baby boy arrived at the home of Wm. Burgoin last Sunday evening.
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The Dime Social and Literary entertainment at the Baptist Church last Friday evening was a success.
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Swarts & Co. shipped ten cars of cattle to Chicago last Saturday evening. Herb Richman of Malvern opened up a harness shop in the H.C. Mass building Friday.
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Remember the ball at the Opera House next Friday evening.
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Prof. Pitzer orders a copy of the Times sent to Mrs. Mary Phipps, Hillsdale.
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Coll Christy is able to be out again.
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Dr. Hostetter has moved his dental office to the Agan building.
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Mrs. Prouty, one of our school teachers, was visiting in Council Bluffs and Omaha last week.
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Mr. Ben Agan, principal of Mineola schools, was in town Saturday.
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A Grand Ball will be given in the Opera House, next Friday evening, May 14th, under the auspices of the New Silver Orchestra.
O.E. Danielson and mother are preparing to open a cheese factory in Silver City. The machinery arrived from Council Bluffs last Saturday evening, and the factory will be located in the yellow building just east of the hotel,
which they have nearly fitted up for the purpose.
In conversation with Otto, he informed us that machinery purchased will have a capacity of 200 pounds daily, and they expect to manufacture the very finest of full cream cheese,
such as was manufactured in Germany many years ago. The Times extends the right hand of prosperity and trusts that their new venture may prove a success.
Reference: Silver City Times, May 6, 1897, Vol. 1 No. 1., R.A. Bates, Editor
EDITORIAL SILVER CITY TIMES, July 3, 1902
We have but few words to say in taking charge of the Times. It is our intentions to keep the paper up to its present high standard as a local and county paper. Politically, it will remain the same as in the past
— independent of all parties and creeds, reserving the right to commend any public official or party.
To make a good paper the editor must have the support of his readers. We invite all patrons of the Times to come see us, and get acquainted. The Times is your paper and with your help we can make it one to be proud of.
Of the business men of Silver City we would ask a continuance of their liberal patronage afforded the Times in the past. We will do our best to satisfy you, and all such patronage will be appreciated.
Again we ask all to call and see what the “new editor” looks like. E.A. Stevens, “Steve” edited the Times until December 1916 when he and C.W. Bays “more or less traded” publication.
Mr. Bays coming to Silver City as editor of the Times and Steve going to Woodbine where he edited the Twiner.
A WORD OF INTRODUCTORY
People of this vicinity already understand that a change has been made in the ownership and management of the Times.
The Times will continue to be a local newspaper in all that the term implies.
While not coming from a great distance we are a “stranger in a strange land.” In this respect we ask the indulgence and patience of the people and we invite the cooperation of everyone.
Politically the editor is republican and if the paper has much of anything to say in this direction it will naturally incline thus wise. However, the Times will be independent, not neutral, politically and will
endorse men and measures rather than party at all times.
Realizing that it is things done, rather than things said, that count we will stop right here and get busy.
Very Cordially,
C.W. Bays,
December 7, 1916, Silver City Times
ANNOUNCEMENT
The new editor and publisher of the Silver City Times approaches her responsibilities with more or less hesitation and anxiety; hesitation because she is aware that her new duties and responsibilities will be exceedingly great; and anxiety because she is the first time entering a new phrase of her chosen field of endeavor.
We have come to Silver City of our own accord, confident, that the location from a publisher’s standpoint is one of advantage. We hope to make a material success here, which of course, is necessary if we are to continue; yet if we are to remain, there are certain things we owe to the city and community. Hence, it will be our constant endeavor to prove worthy; to publish a newspaper equal to what you have had in the past and to improve it, if possible. In addition, since we are to make this place our permanent home, we hope soon to meet, and know intimately the people with whom we are to live and associate. We want your friendship and cooperation as well as your business.
It is our hope that we will be able to carry on and publish the same excellent newspaper that Mr. and Mrs. Bays have always given the readers of the Times.
December 8, 1927 Silver City Times, Bertha G. Peterson
TO PATRONS AND FRIENDS
It is not without misgivings that I am entering into the job of editor and publisher of this paper.
Silver City is my home. I am indebted to her schools, churches, and even the “Times” itself for whatever training and inspiration I have. Her interest are naturally, my interests.
I mean to put into this paper the best of my efforts, and plead with you for patience, forebearance, and the good will that is the heritage of the “Times” and so with the aid of kind providence,
I hope to make the venture a success and the Times a credit to my home town.
November 9, 1933, Silver City Times, Reginald Hendrix.
A WORD FROM THE BAYS’
One score and one year ago my father brought forth from this printing press the first issue of the Times, carrying the Bays' name on the editorial page. For eleven years he sat in this chair, writing things, and heaving them into
a corner which should have been a wastebasket, or draping them on the copy hook over the Linotype.
For eleven years he fed papers to a hungry press and called in the family to help fold them while he gave the forms a bath, throwing the water out the back door. For eleven years, he built the fires, tended the sycamore tree,
collected ads, and cut scrap paper into copy pads.
Then the California bug hit him, and he moved out, to be brought back later to the quiet hill above town.
And now, after nearly another eleven years, circumstances have so transpired that again the Bays’ are back, stepping in their father’s shoes, many sizes too big, perhaps but still traveling. And we, the Bays family,
take this opportunity of announcing that though those shoes pinch in places and need cotton stuffing in the toes, we’ll do our best to walk in them along the inky trail our Dad stepped.
We appreciate your friendship, solicit your cooperation — and thank you for both.
October 7, 1937
Leona Bays Gater
Leona Bays Gater, died June 14, 1940. Silver City will greatly miss the little vivacious, alert, and ever active Leona, as she was known by all who came in contact with her.
We did not come in contact with her as a teacher Though we know that she spent sixteen years of her life as a class room instructor — but as an active community worker. Her first such work here was as Camp Fire Girls
Counsellor and memories of her to those girls will never lesson with the years. Since 1938 we have all realized that when anyone needed a boost or a word of encouragement toward community activities Leona could give
that needed bit.
Many will recall that in Sept. 1938 after the busy three day Festival in Silver City, costuming the Queen, driving her Chevie packed with kids through the parade, in the evening watched the Ferris Wheel
then operated on at the hospital the next morning on Friday and home again on Monday. As Leona in Sept. 15 issue said “Festival, Hospital, Operating Room, and Home, in a Week.” Leona gave freely, gladly and willingly her time,
talent, and effort to her church, her community and her friends because she loved life.
Leona Bays Gater was the last real owner and publisher of the Silver City Times. Her daughter Fern edited it for awhile. Then the Glenwood Tribune bought the Times — published it for a time, and finally consolidated it with the Tribune. And so we say farewell to an old and dear friend “The Silver City Times.”
SILVER CITY SUN
June 2, 1892
Published as part of the Glenwood Tribune
A copy of the Silver City Sun, which seems to have been a part of one of the pages of the Glenwood paper has been nicely preserved all these years by S. Howard, who kindly handed it to us to look over the other day.
- A few items are gleaned there from:
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Christian Schroder has bought the Herman Lyons farm, containing 80 acres. $47.50 is the way it counts up. Possession given at once.
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This fine weather the mechanics are rushing the work at the driving park with a vim, and from the letters received from our sister towns July 4th and 5th will be gala days if the weather is fine. We anticipate July 4th the biggest crowd that ever came together in Mills County.
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David Emerick, and old pioneer of Mills Co., died at his residence southeast of Silver City Sunday May 29, at a ripe old age. The remains were taken Monday to Nebraska for interment.
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Jackson Hardware Co. will move their furniture into the new building next week.
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A large searching party will be sent out this week to find James Linder.
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The colored minister failed to preach in the M.E. Church Sunday.
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Douglas Haines has considerable sickness in his family.
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On Friday last, James Linder, who was farming the Bada land in connection with the Tipton Brothers, came in from planting corn saying that the planter was broken and that it would be necessary for him to go to Council Bluffs to get repairs. He came on to town tying his mules at the rack and took the train to the Bluffs. Dr. Cornish saw him there, Linder remarking that he would not take time to eat but would go and get his repairs. Since that time no information has been had of him. There being nothing wrong with the planter, and other things in connection with his behavior, all tend to indicate that he had become deranged. Each day there has been a large force in search of him. At times word has come that he was seen near the five mile house, and in the neighborhood Mr. Linder was considered a fine. young man, no bad habits, and a great deal of sympathy is expressed for him.
Reference: Reprinted in 
