CHAPTER XIII

VALUE AND INFLUENCE -- BATES COUNTY STANDARD -- WESTERN TIMES -- WEST POINT BANNER -- BATES COUNTY RECORD -- THE BATES COUNTY DEMOCRAT -- THE BUTLER WEEKLY TIMES -- REPUBLICAN -- ADRIAN ADVERTISER -- THE REGISTER -- RICH HILL GAZETTE -- NATIONAL GAZETTE -- DAILY GAZETTE -- HERALD -- COMING NATION -- THE WEST ERN ENTERPRISE -- THE RICH HILL MINING REVIEW-- DAILY REVIEW -- AMORET LEADER -- AMSTERDAM ENTERPRISE -- THE BORDER TELEPHONE -- THE HUME NEWS -- HUME STAR -- HUME CHRONICLE -- THE HUME GLOBE -- HUME SUN -- ROCKVILLE NEWSPAPER -- THE ROCKVILLE NEWS

The press of a county is always worthy of profound consideration; for nothing more nearly lives and breathes the life of a people than their newspapers. None are so small as to be insignificant or wholly unworthy of mention in a history of a great community. No other influence is so vital and potent. They not only reflect the public mind -- they largely create and direct it. The local newspaper is the silent and speechless visitors at the firesides of the community, and its printed messages appeal to the whole family and thus mold and make public opinion. They not only deliver the news of the day or week, but they point the way to higher and greater achievements to all. Progress would halt without the local press; history would grope, and spiritual life go dead without it.

To write into these pages the origin of letters, and the accidental discovery of the art of printing would be in its nature pedantic. The history of the origin of the printed page is curious and interesting; but all that occurred long before Bates county had any history; and it were manifestly improper to take up a matter like that in these pages.

The Bates County Standard was the first newspaper printed and published in Bates county. It was established in 1858, by a company of men, of whom Jacob D. Wright is the only one now known to history. Its editor was N. L. Perry, and it lived until the fall of 1860, when it was succeeded by the Western Times, with W. Patrick Green as editor. It survived only till April 1861, when it was discontinued. The West Point Banner, established at West Point, Bates county, in September 1860, in its mention of the decease of the Western Times says: "It is hardly necessary to mention here that no paper can keep up without its patrons meet their indebtedness promptly." Thus we see our early friends had their troubles, and that it took money then as it does now to make a newspaper go. It appears that both the the Standard and the Times were Democratic in politics, showing how early Democratic citizens began party labors in this county. In those days they were doubtless hotly pro-slavery, as at that time and for several years prior thereto what was called the Kansas War was raging all through this section.

The West Point Banner was the second oldest paper in Bates county, established, as stated above, by the West Point Newspaper Company, in May 1861. Its editor was T. H. Starnes who resided in Butler and at that time was a law partner of J. T. Smith. It was issued until the fall of 1861, when the press and type were destroyed when Union soldiers burned the town. So states the old history of Bates county. The editor of the old history says, Through the kindness of a gentleman now residing in Kansas we were shown a copy of the Banner dated May 15, 1861, and as the editorial in that paper reflects the sentiments of the people generally who sympathize with the South we here reproduce it:

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What is to be the result of the final disturbance in the United States is a solemn inquiry in the minds of millions of men and women, who are eagerly watching and noting events as they pass rapidly on. That our country is divided no sane man can for a moment doubt; that disunion is a reality and not a seeming or whimsical temporary division, as some would have us believe, is also a fact that all honest men must admit, all their wishing to the contrary notwithstanding. The causes which have led to this unhappy division, have been so much discussed, and so much has been said on the subject, that people have become tired reading newspaper articles on that subject; neither does it matter at the present time, in a practical sense, what the causes were which have acted so powerfully on the minds of the Southern people, as to justify them in their own minds, and induce them to take the step they have. 

Our people are a jealous people, and when they find the seed of oppression sown and cultivated by the government under which they live, they feel it their duty to resist it by electing such men to office as will respect their rights. When a majority of the people become oppressive and totally disregard the rights and privileges of the minority it becomes the duty of such minority to withdraw, resist or secede from the majority. Whenever a majority pass such laws as will give themselves privileges and immunities they deny to the minority, their acts become oppressive and cannot be tolerated by an honorable minority. Thus it was with the thirteen colonies at the commencement of the Revolution, when the government of Great Britain excluded the colonies from privileges which they retained to themselves. The colonies, after seeking redress in every legal and constitutional manner known to an honorable and free people without obtaining satisfaction, at last seceded from the government under which they had lived for so many years by passing that great and glorious ordinance, the Declaration of Independence, for which they were called "rebels" by the loyal subjects of Great Britain in America as well as in England. The first effort of the King, from whose government they had seceded, was to send out 17,000 men to coerce them, the secession rebels, into subjection. Failing in his first attempt to awe them into subjection, he sent messengers among the savages of the West and raised them against the colonies to wage a bloody and indiscriminate war against the rebels without distinction of age, sex or condition.

How very similar are the present disturbances in this country at this time. A party has taken possession of the government with principles, as avowed by themselves, at war with the spirit and letter of the constitution, claiming to themselves privileges which they declare shall not be extended to the people of the South. They have set forth in their platform of principles that the South shall not enjoy any of the territory now belonging to the United States; that property of a certain kind, if escaping from its owner and getting into a Northern state, shall not be returned, etc., etc.

Hence, the South, seeing by the course of the leaders of the Northern states, a repetition of the old principles practiced by the government of Great Britain towards the colonies, and having, like the colonies, petitioned through their representatives in Congress, through the public press, and otherwise, for their constitutional rights, without receiving anything but insult added to injury, and finding that they must submit to degradation, "insult and injury," or withdraw their connection from a people with whom they could not remain on terms of equality, they (nine of the Southern states) have withdrawn their connection from the government, wherein they could not obtain any assurance of redress for their grievances. Now that they have withdrawn, we see Abraham Lincoln, like old King George III, calling out an army of 75,000 men in the first place, but fearing that not enough, it is reported that he now wants 200,000 to coerce and whip into subjection those states which have yet some of the blood of '76, and enough of the spirit of their fathers to throw off the yoke of oppression, let it come from what source it may. Not satisfied with all the help that can be obtained from the loyal states, we now hear threats that the negroes of the South are to be raised against their masters and mistresses, and it is calculated by the party in power in Washington, that by the help of the African race in the South that short work will be made and the disaffected states will be compelled to abandon their idea of independence, humble themselves at Abraham's feet, overwhelmed by degradation and disgrace, acknowledge their slaves their equals, abolition thieves their superiors, and accept peace on whatever terms it may be dictated them. So old King George thought our fathers would do; but O! how sadly was he deceived and we venture to predict that old tyrant, Lincoln, will be as badly deceived.

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After reading that spiel, with every line loaded with treason, is it not wonderful that Union soldiers "destroyed the press and type" of the Banner office, if, as a matter of fact, any Union soldiers were in that vicinity. It is a fair statement of the attitude and feeling which existed at that time in many parts of the country. And it will be recalled that at the time of this publication it was little more than a month after Fort Sumpter had been fired on, and on that date only nine Southern states had gone out -- two more went out afterward; and such fellows as the editor of the Banner did everything they could to take loyal old Missouri out.

In the same issue of the Banner the historian says: In speaking of a visit to Butler the editor says, "We paid a visit to Butler, our neighboring town, last week. Our good friends of Butler are up to the true spirit of Missourians, for we see that the flag of the Confederate states waves proudly from a pole one hundred feet in height, in the public square in front of the court house. Long may it wave!"

That sounds funny to this generation. It seems incredible that fifty-seven years after that disloyal editorial was published and that alien flag flung to the breeze, both in defiance of the law and the constitution, there could exist the spirit of unity and loyalty in which we rejoice today. It argues that a large per cent. of the people may at any time go wrong, and it requires wisdom and patriotism at all times to keep the Good Ship of State sailing gloriously along upon unruffled seas.

The first paper published in Bates county after the Civil War was established by D. K. Abell, who was editor and proprietor, The Bates County Record, and its first issue was on July 9, 1866. In November 1867 Abell sold the plant to Col. O. D. Austin, who continued to own and edit it until his death in March 1915, or about forty-eight years. W. O. Atkeson purchased the plant from Mrs. Florence M. Austin, the widow of Col. Austin, April 12, 1915, and has continued its publication to this date. On December 27, 1916, the plant was destroyed by fire; but while many valuable things went up in smoke, the bound volumes, greatly injured, were all saved except two years. After the fire, Atkeson donated the mutilated and damaged files to the State Historical Society, which promised to restore and rebind them as far as it is possible. Thus one of the oldest publications in southwest Missouri has been preserved to history intact, except for the years 1886-87. The Record has always been a faithful and consistent Republican paper, and it has come to be historic in the annals of newspaperdom in Missouri.

The Bates County Democrat was established September 16, 1869, by a company of Democrats in Butler and was edited by Feeley and Rosser. On July 28, 1871, it passed by purchase into the hands of Wade and Scudder, with N. A. Wade as editor. January 27, 1882, Scudder sold his interest to N. A. Wade who continued to own and edit it until his death. In June 1904. it was purchased by James A. DeArmond, who edited it until the fall of 1909, when he sold to Charles H. Burgess. In 1915, Harry Henry became the owner, with Sam W. Davis editor, and both the Bates County Democrat and the Daily Democrat have continued to this time under their management. The Daily Democrat was established in 1876. Both papers are Democratic in politics.

The Butler Weekly Times, an eight-column folio, was started as the "Bates County Times" by D. G. Newsome and a printer named Lawhorn in 1878. Lawhorn withdrew after a few months and Newsome continued its publication until April 21, 1879, when Charles T. McFarland purchased an interest and the firm of Newsome and McFarland continued as owners and publishers until January 1, 1880, at which time Charles T. McFarland purchased the interest of Newsome and became sole proprietor. In July 1882, Charles T. McFarland retired on account of failing health, leaving the paper under the management of Capt. J. D. Allen. Mr. McFarland soon afterward died and in July 1884, the Butler Weekly Times and the Archie Herald were purchased by J. D. Allen Company and later Captain Allen became the sole owner of the Times, which he continued to own and edit till April 1910, when he was elected clerk of the Missouri Supreme Court by the judges thereof, and moved to Jefferson City, where he now resides. The Times plant was then leased to his son, R. D. Allen, who has edited and published it to the present time. The Times has always been Democratic in politics.

The Republican was born May 4, 1882, at Butler, the child of about eighty Republican stockholders. It was incorporated by J. M. Mays, A. B. Cline, E. Hand, F. R. Weaver, and J. M. Patty. John Brand was the editor, and was succeeded by Edgar R. Beach, when Brand died, June 17, 1882. This plant had a precarious career and was finally sold for debt and purchased by William E. Walton, and afterwards sold and removed from the county.

The Adrian Advertiser was established at Adrian, September 9, 1882, by E. T. Kirkpatrick, editor and proprietor, and it was Democratic in politics. Kirkpatrick continued with the paper until 1887, when it was sold to M. H. Sly, who ran it until 1889, and he sold it to a company with M. O. Smith as editor. After a few months Hutchison and McBride succeeded to the management, and in 1890 the company sold to J. E. Dowell, who has continued its publication to the present time, having associated with him in recent years, his son, John, now in the service of his country. Just when the name was changed from the Advertiser to the Adrian Journal we do not know, but the Journal has always been an independent paper although its editor and proprietor is a Republican.

The Register was started in 1887 by W. H. Gibbons and continued only about one year.

The first number of the Rich Hill Gazette was issued August 5, 1880 by George P. Huckeby and Frank Eldridge. It was continued about a year as a Republican paper, when Eldridge and Dell Cobb became owners; then Cobb bought out Eldridge and sold an interest to E. T. Kirkpatrick. These parties sold to W. H. Sperry and R. B. Parrack in August 1882, and W. O. Atkeson became the editor until after the election in November 1882, and the weekly was called the National Gazette which advocated the Greenback policy, but the Daily Gazette was run as a local paper only. A man by the name of Parker succeeded to the editorship for a time, and the paper was discontinued some time in 1883 or 1884.

Dell Cobb afterward started the Daily Herald which was continued a year or two and discontinued. As we recall it, this plant finally got into the hands of the Warren Brothers -- Fred and Ben, and was used in printing a Socialist paper called the Coming Nation, which was later consolidated with the Appeal to Reason of Girard, Kansas, the boys going to that paper with their plant; Ben as foreman and Fred as editor of the Appeal to Reason.

The Western Enterprise made its appearance in Rich Hill September 16, 1881, with F. J. Wiseman and G. M. Magill as editors and proprietors. Later Magill sold to Wiseman who continued the paper until he sold the plant to G. M. Devers, and he continued it until his recent death, since which time it has been continued by his widow, with Leon Mathews editor and manager. It is Democratic in politics.

The Rich Hill Mining Review was established by Col. Thomas Irish, formerly of Norborne, Missouri, and its first appearance was October 29, 1880. The Daily Review was started later, and both papers have continued to the present time. Irish sold out to his partner, C. R. Walters and he continued both papers until his death, July 7, 1914, when the plant was operated for several months under the direction of George Templeton, administrator of the estate of C. R. Walters, and then sold to E. E. Bean, the present editor and proprietor.

Amoret Leader was established in January 1913, by the Pattees and was sold in December 1915, to Charles W. Ellis, who is the present proprietor, and it has been published since the fall of 1916 by Howard A. Ellis, lessee.

Amsterdam Enterprise was established by Dick Howard in December 1902, who retired in 1910, sold to Everet McNutt, who sold to Homer J. Thomas in 1912. Within the next year it was owned by several parties, and in 1915 the Pattees bought the list and put in a new plant, which was destroyed by fire February 3, 1917. A new steel garage 12 x 19 1/2 was reequipped. Later, a new Dicky tile building 25 x 50 feet was built specially for a print shop. At present Frank E. Pattee enlisted for service in the Ordnance department and the office is continued by Elmer Apgar as lessee.

The Border Telephone was founded March 8, 1889, by John P. Trussell, who sold the plant to S. Moore & Son, November 1, 1889. Lewis W. Moore, the son of the firm, has conducted its publication alone up to January 1, 1917, when he associated with his brother, C. E. Moore, in the business.

In the winter of 1881, Dr. W. A. Williams started Hume's first newspaper, The Hume News, which continued until the fall of 1884, when Thomas B. Harper began the Hume Star, which lasted until the fall of 1888.

During the political campaign of 1888, Routzong Brothers started a Democratic organ, known as the Hume Chronicle. It only survived the campaign.

The Hume Globe was launched in the spring of 1894, by the Palmer Brothers, John and Edward. This publication lasted a little over a year.

In 1901 Warren H. Clifford started the Hume Sun, which has continued only a few weeks.

The following newspapers have been published at Rockville: The Globe by W. W. Graves and Charles Boyson; The Star by Carpenter & Schaumloffel; The Gimlet by F. H. Lowry; Reflex by Sanford Hardy; Leader by Miss Florence Duley; Booster by E. M. Bozard.

The Rockville News, published by C. A. Cummins, was established February 1, 1918.