The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-03
NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER
MEN Inv ROCK ISLAND
COUNTY.
BY J. h. DANFoRTH, JR.
THE UNIoN-1862.
Concluded


back to Capt. Haverstlck his interest and
retired. Mr.. Merrill is one of our old
citizens IAN excellent man in every respect,
and possesses excellent business qualities.
He was born in Parkman, Maine, March
l6, 1928, and was farmer boy. His
parents came to Winnebago county, this
state, in 1874. He came to this city in
1853 and;was a deputy sheriff until 1858,
when he unsolicited sheriff, and reelected
in 1860. For some years past he has
been connected with the Rockford, Rock
Island & St. Louis railroad, and is still
connected with its successor the st.
Louis, Rock Island & Chicago road,-o
more properly speaking, now, the G. B. &
Q.-"St Louis 4 Rock Island Division. "
He is also member of our board of edu-
cation.
RICHARD CHAMPION.
In the summer of 1869 Richard Cramp-
toSholght of Capt. Hayerstick one-half
interest iGutbe Union and that fall the
office was moved fNtSsto Peter Friess block,
over Champions store. Mr..
Champion was merely business partner.
In the summer of 1872 Capt. HaverstsCc&k.
repurchased Champions interest, and
during that summer he erected the build
ing now used for the Union Office and
moved the establishment into that build
ing in the fall of 1872. Mr.. Champion is
well known as the most; enterprising and
successful book dealer ever in Rock Island.
He was born in Kings county, Ireland,
January 7, 1888, came to this country in
1851 Ito Brooklyn, N. Y y and to Rock ISL
and in 1854, and is still engaged in the
wholesale and retail business here.
OSCAR A. BARNHART
In the aspiring of 1873 Mr.. Barnhart
came to this city and purchased a one-hali
interest in thes Union dating from January
!, 1878, and he sold out In the following
spring, dating from January l, 1874, being
one year connected with the paper, and
acting as foreman Of the job department.
Mr., Barnhart waslborn in Northumber-
land county, Pa, August 6, lS43, re.
moved to Three Rivers, Mich, in lS49
where he learned the art of printing ir
the Reporter Office, commencing in 1860
He was afterwards employed on the Dali,
Transcript, Peoria, Illinois. In 1866 h,
bought one-haIf interest in the Kuoa
County Reporter, at Knoxville, Illinois
and was engaged in its publication until
he came to Rock Island After leaving
the Union Office he established in thi.
city, a job printing Office, which he still
carries on.
THE UNION PRINTING COMPANY.
The Union Printing Co., was organized
in March 1874 with capital of 100000
IS per cent of which was paid up July
when the company purchased the Uniol
establishment of L. NJ. Haverstick 70
$4,000.
The original stockholders and officer
were L. NJ. Haverstick, president, A. (
Wells, vice president, and Walter John
son, secretary and treasurer.
In September of that year the half in
terest of Capt Haverstick was purchase
by II. G. Cleaveland and j. j. Parks
when Walter johnson became presider
and editor, and Ii. G. CleavelanC
secretary and treasurer and bushes
manager.
In July 1875 Fl. c. Cleaveland sold hi
stock to j. j. Parks, and in August j. ,
Parks sold his stock, half-interest. [
A. A. Morey, who became secretary an
treasurer. In February, 1876, Mr.. More
resold his stock to Mr.. Parks, and Nj
Parks subsequently resold a quarter il
tsrest to Capt. Haverstick, who resumes
connection with the paper as editor i
June last, and was elected president agai
in August following.
In March, 1876. Mr.. Parks sold his r,
naming quarter interest to Geo.
Luken. who was made superintendent G
the job department and at the annus
meeting in August was elected treasurer
the Office of vice president being abolished
At the meeting Walter johnson was elect
ed secretary.
In October, 1876 Capt. Haverstick
quarter interest was purchased by W. Fl
Burdettand in November officers were cleo
ted as follows: President-Wa Walter johnson
secretary-W. Fl. Burdett; treasurer-G
W. Luken. Mr.. Wells has continued
director from the outset.
In the division of work Walter Johnso
andW. II. Burdett were made joint editors
G. W. Luken general superintendent of tn
job department, and A. Il, Wells genera
superintendent of the newspaper print
ing.
WALTER JOHNSON.
Mr., johnson was born in London, Eng
land, April 81 lS43, and came to tn
United States with his parents, who set
tied in Clinton county. Iowa, in 1851
lie went to school and assisted in hi
fathers store during the ensuing ter
years, and then went to Chicago. where h
remained some years, locating in Daven
port in 1865, and in 1867 doing his frs
journalistic.work as assistant to j. S. Drake
then city editor Of the Democrat. In 1856
he was engaged as general assistant i
the editorial department of the Rock Is
land Union, on which paper he has labor
ed ever since, with the exception of tn
summer OF 1873, which he spent il