Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-02
Early History Of Marion
County.

The following interesting data we
reprint from Mr.. Donnel's "Pio.
neers of Marion County," as pub
lished in the current number Of
annals of Ioma, just received--omit-
ting only some paragraphs which are
of less general interest:
On the % Of September, 1861, Hen.
ry Hospers, having purchased the
Office of the old PelIa Gazettc, com.
menced the publication Of Q news
paper i'm the Holland language,
called the Peva's Weekblad weekly.
This paper was, and is, in the interest
of the Democratic party, and enjoyed
good patronage, being in commu-
nifty where that party was largely
dominant. On the 18th of June last
(1s7O) Mr.. Hospers, having been APP
pointed by the Legislature to the
office of Immigrant Agent, sold the
paper to II. Neyenesch, by whom it
is now conducted.
The Marion County Republican
was purchased by b. Il. Williams in
Oct. '6l and edited by him till he
sold it to VIZ. &. Cambridge, Aug.
'66. Ia 763--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, 'G7,
Mr.. Cambridge sold it to Sperry and
Barker, by which transaction the
Republican was finally discontinued.
In the Winter of '64-5, Mr.. {. S.
Wilson, since connected with the
Winterset Mddisonion, purchased the
press and type belonging to the Dem
ocratic .TCnddrd, moved them to
Pella, and on the 3D. of Feb, 'G5,
commenced the publication of the
/ Pella Blade. Mr.. Wilson was rad
ical Republican, and a writer of rath-
er more than ordinary genius. In
the local department he made the
paper especially attractive by his
peculiar style. After publishing the
Blade for about a year, Mr.. Wilson
sold the press and type to Melick,
who took them to Waterloo, Black
Hawk Co., and printed the Waterloo
Courier. Soon after this the BLADE
was renewed by Il. Crosby, who
shortly afterward associated with
Jas. ii. Better. In Dec, 'G7, Crosby
sold his interest i'm the concern to II
q. Curtis, and i'm Dec, go, Curtis
sold to A. r.. Better. At this date
the paper became semi-weekly, in
the firm of Better Brothers, and con-
tinues so to the present.
The Marion County Democrd
(Knoxville) was first issued Sept
10Th, 1865, by j. l.. Mccormack, from
press and type he obtained in Mis-
souri. The Democrat is a large, we'll
conducted journal, and commands a
liberal share Of the public patronage.
In March, 1867, another paper was
started in PelIa, called the Pella Ga
zette. 1t was printed i'm the Holland
language, devoted to tire interests OF
the Republican party, and edited by
G.. Van Ginkel. Afterrunning about
eighteen months it was discontinued,
and the press was purchased by Snow
and Huber, mercantile firm in Pei
Ia, who issued a monthly journal for
the purpose of advertising their bus
mess.
In March, 1869, Messrs. Sperry and
Barker, formerly Of the Guthrie Co.,
Neoiette, exchanged printing offices
with w. q. Cambridge, of the Mari.
on Co., Repasttican; and on the goth
OF June issued the first number OF
the Ioarn IOter at Knoxville. The
Voter has large circulation, enjoys
large share of public patronage,
and has rendered itself worthy the
eputation of good local journal.
On the sth Of JAN, 1868, news
paper called "C0pperhead," made Its
appearance in PelIa, under the pro-
prietorship of Bennett, McCully and
Gamble. Owing to the novelty OF
its title, and the peculiar notoriety OF
one of its editors (Bennett) as a radi-
cal Democratic politician, its advent
caused some sensation In political
circles. The name was probably
chosen to offset the stigma intended
to be fixed on the Democratic party
by the Republicans, when they gave
1t the name Of the most poisonous
reptile. Only eleven plumbers Of the
paper were published in Pella. In
the last week in March 1t was moved
to Ottumwa, Wapelo Co., where II
is still pubIihcd by McCully and
Evans. McCuliy remaining at PellA