Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-08-03
THE HERALD.
Some Words Regarding its History and stand
ing as . Newspaper.

The GRANT COUNTY HERALD was
begun March 18th, 1843, by Thomas
Keeling and L. o. Shrader. At the
end of three months G.. Mallett & Co.
became the proprietors. The editor
was III. A. Wiltse. In their hands
the paper began to assume import
ance beyond that of merely print
er's venture. Their "fixed and single
object was to discern fully the inter-
ests of the county"--mineral, agricul-
tural and mercantile There was
enough, they thought, in these to
engross the whole attention of q
newspaper of its size and situation,
without calling for sustonance
through political party. It was a
four-page paper, five columns to the
page, and had all southwest Wiscon-
sin to itself. The file of the HERALD
under their management is peculiar
ly valuable. Ii is repository of
mining and other early taGistics no.
equaled by any other Wisconsin pub
LEGATION. Mr.. NJ allett retired and J.
D, Spalding took his place October
Fl, the same year. The character of
the paper remained the same, Mr..
Wiltse continuing as editor until in
April, 1874. Mr.. Spalding was the
publisher until August 2, 1845. He
aimed to make it State paper and
in the beginning of 1916 added one
column to the page. Through these
two years j. 7. Mills lightnings, and
James M. Goodhue's thunders, and
those of other equally able writer's
flash and resound along its columns.
1t gave to Goodhue reput alton
which called him TO its editorial
chair. He became the partner Of
Spalding, August 2, 1845, and at the
end of that month became solo pro-
prietor and editor. He continued its
publication until the beginning of
1849. In his hands the paper was a
power rarely met with in one of so
limited circulation. He welded a
mighty pen for the Wing party and
against every thing that be conceived
to be wrong doing. He regarded
the Press as the great fountain
through which mind is ever pouring
forth freshness, vitality and power
Believed that editors should be un-
trammelled in expression of thought
and opinions upon all subjects. He
who wrote under bias of other minds,
by favor or through fear of conse-
quences, was like toad under har-
row. Goodhue's enemies were made
to feel that the practicable way to
deal with him was to let him alone
In the Spring of l849 he took the
press on which the HERALD had been
printed to St. Paul where be prin ted
and published upon it the Pioneer,
the first paper Published in Minneso-
tn. The same press, before brought
to Lancaster, had been used to print
the first paper published in Iowa and
was taken from Minnesota to Dakota
where it did tho press work of the
first paper printed in that Territory,
where it was demolished by the Ind
ians, a. the Sioux massacre in 1862
| Goodhue's successor on the Grant
County HERALD was MIR. j. l..
Marsh He was a very different man
from the former. Goodhue was all
storm /; Marsh was always calm.
! Goodhue determined TO make himself
terror whether his paper should
thrive or not; Marsh aimed to make
good paper but carefully piloted bis
little craft so "a to avoid stranding.
Marsh succeeded. He did not write
dashing editorials, but faithfully
chronicled events as they transpired
He was the publisher for two years
making his adieu in the number OIL
June 10, 1851. He was succeeded
by J. G. Cover. Tho HERALD al
that time had but two hundred and
sixty >four subscribers. The new
editor promised to make it peculiarly
q county paper. He would devote
himself to local occurrences and i'm :
por tant matters near homo and give
the go-by to tales of love, murder
theft and "the burning of mill-dams'
thousand miles off. Politically he
promised adhesion to the reigning
administrat ion (Polk) so long as il
pursued "mild, diplomatic and do
nestle policy" The files of the HER
AID show it to have been conducted
upon Mr.. Covers plan. He chron-
icled every local item worthy of req
ord, throughout the county, that
came to his knowledge. We fiud in
it's pages the names of nearly all
teachers of the county st that time,
in connection with educational inter-
ests Who were the religious teach
ers of the county are also pom rec
ord. The lawyers made themselves
known by their advertisements, and
the editor made them further known
when their conduct dealt With public
interests, by criticising their proceed
ings. Localities in need of o mer-
chant, a carpenter, smith, shoemak or
or teacher were pointed out and by
public Introduction the want supplied.