JOHN J. STIRLING
John
J. Stirling exerts a widely felt influence upon public opinion
in Corydon and vicinity as the publisher and editor of the
Wayne County Democrat, a newspaper which enjoys a large
circulation in this district.
He was born in Keokuk, Iowa, May 4, 1872, and is a son
of John and Harriet (Thomas) Stirling. The grandfather,
John Stirling, was a native of Scotland, who in 1858 crossed
with his family to the United States and located in New
Hampshire. In
1866 he decided to seek the greater opportunities of the
growing west and came to Iowa, where he located in Bonaparte,
but later moved to Farmington, where he established an
enterprise which in later years became of great importance to
the growth of this city—the Stirling Woolen Mill Company—which
he ran for thirty years, or until his demise. Mrs. Harriet
Stirling, the mother of our subject, was a daughter of George
Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania, who in the early ‘40s became
a pioneer of Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1854 came to Wayne
county, where he followed agricultural pursuits during his
active life.
John Stirling, the father of our subject, married Miss Harriet Thomas in Bonaparte, Iowa, and after this event they removed to Keokuk, where they made their home for some time. He was a printer by trade and on his removal to Bonaparte in 1880 bought the Bonaparte Journal, which he conducted successfully as publisher and editor until 1885. He came to Corydon in 1886 and here bought the Wayne County Democrat, the policy of which paper he directed for nearly a quarter of a century—until May 20, 1910—when he sold the publication to his son, our subject. The father was always a stanch adherent of the democratic party and during the administration of Cleveland served with efficiency as postmaster of Corydon. There were seven children born to the parents of our subject: Alexander, who is a printer and resides in Denver, Colorado; John J., our subject; Hattie, who resides in Canon City, Colorado, and was the wife of Albert McClanahan, deceased; George T., who conducts a printing office in Spokane, Washington; Maude, who runs a ranch in Idaho; David M., who is engaged in the publishing business with our subject; and Roy, who died in infancy.
John
J. Stirling was reared at home and received his education in
newspaper offices. He
early in life became acquainted with newspaper work, learning
the different details of the business. He is well
acquainted with all the different branches of running a
printing plant and became an expert linotype operator and
machinist, working in all the big printing plants of the west. In 1910 he bought
the Wayne County Democrat.
Under his management the circulation of the paper was
considerably increased and its reputation is of a high order
on account of the firm stand which Mr. Stirling takes in
regard to public questions and in promotion of all measures
which may benefit the city of Corydon and the surrounding
territory. Its
news columns are spicy and full of interest and record not
only all local happenings of interest but give a complete and
intelligent review of the political situation as it prevails
in the state and nation and a readable record of the general
happenings in the world.
Under the direction of Mr. Stirling the advertising
columns have increased in space and the paper is considered as
the best medium to appeal to the local trade.
Mr. Stirling was married in 1904 to Miss Olive S. Gaboury, of Colorado. In his political views Mr. Stirling is a democrat and necessarily he has become prominent in the local ranks of the party and has been honored with election to the chairmanship of the county central committee twice. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Yeomen. Early in life he identified himself with the Typographical Union and has remained active in its work, serving as vice president of the Denver Typographical Union, No. 49, in 1905. Mr. Stirling has made a creditable record in the newspaper field in Iowa. He is a man marked by strength of character. He is president of the Iowa Democratic Editorial association, composed of all the daily and weekly democratic papers of the state, and his opinions upon matters of public welfare find ready expression in his paper.