The Rock Island Argus., 1877-03-17
Saturday. March II. 1877.
NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER
MEN IN ROCK ISLAND
COUNTY.
By J.. b, DANFoRTH, JR.
THE ARGUs-lS5l.

ting their principles, the Advertiser,
Wing paper, being the only newspaper |
published here. In the fall Of 1851 Fred |
S. Nichols and John W. Dunham pur-
chased Of George K. Budd, of the St. |
Louis Iptelhgencvr, second hand materials |
for a small weekly paper, and on the 18th |
Of October, Of that year, they issued the
first number of Democratic paper called
the Rock Island RepubLican-the name of
which was changed to ARGUS, in Decem-
Der, 1855, because a political party had
assumed the name Republican and to con-
tinue the paper under that name deceived
many as to its political character.
The paper was started in the back room
of the second story of Whitaker & Everts'
store, opposite the Rock Island House, the
store formerly occupied by G. Tegeler q
Co as liquor store. In the summer of
1854 Mr.. Charles Buford built his four
story brick block, northeast corner of 18th
street and End avenue the first four story
building in Rock Island-and THE ARGUS
printing establishment was moved into
that building in November, 1854, and it
remained there for seventeen years In
the summer of 1871 THE ARGUS BLOCK
was erected and the Office moved to its
present location in October of that year.
NICHOLS.
Fred Nichols was born in Macomb
county, Michigan, February 90, 1928.
William Nichols This father removed to
Davenport, Iowa, with his family in the
year 1888. Fred never went to school
after twelve years of age. During the
two years from 1888 to 1910 he attended
school portion of the time, first in Henry
Coltons school on Front street below
Ripley, then at a school in the Catholic
church building established by Father Pela-
mourges, and finally completed his education
with a few months at Parson Hummer
Academy on Ripley street. In Novem-
ber, lS40, he made his first wrestle with
type in the Office of the IOt0a City Stand
ard, Iowa City, William Crum editor and
proprietor. Dislikiug Mr.. Crum and his
manners, Fred returned to Davenport after
a weeks stay, without asking Mr.. g. 8 con-
sent. From that time he worked on
farm given to him by his father (who died
in Sept. lS4O) until IS47, when he again
essayed the types in the Office of the
North,oesterR Advertiser, Rock Island,
WIN. Vandever, editor. Thence to St.
Louis iu lS49 and was employed as com.
pOstor on the ST. Louis Intelligencer until
October. 1851, when, with Jno. w. Dun
ham, he purchased materials for news
paper aud returned to Rock Island. In
this purchase they were much indebted to
the kindness of Mr.. George K. Budd, at
that time owner of the Htelligencer, who
gave them six months credit on their
purchase.
DUNHAM
John W. Durham was born in East
Tennessee about 1922, learned the trade
Of printer in Nashville where he worked
afterward, also was employed in New
Orleans, Memphis, Louisville and at 81.
Louis where Nichols first met him in 1850.
They were compositors on the st. Louis
InteLligencer in 1851, when he joined
Nichols in starting the Rock Island Repub-
hcdH Durham was a genial, whole
soued mana born gentleman in the
truest sense of the word. He remained
but six weeks at Rock Island when he
returned to St. Louis, and afterward
removed to New Orleans where he died
of yellow fever during the epidemic
in that city in 1855. He had rather Wv
id Imagination and was accustomed to en-
bellish his writings with the flowers of rhet.
er would be apt to lose the point cf argu
ment in an endeavor to follow his aerial
fights. And that was the difficulty.
Nichols was practical, wanted to see the
point plainly. lie made but one criticism
but he made that early and often" and
that was to boil it down, Durham" To
the "damnable iteration" of this precept
was due the dissolution of the partnership.
Durham, who was extremely sensitive, felt
hurt, evidently thinking his partner did
not properly appreciate his literary labors.
1t is pleasant to know, however, that the
two men had sincere esteem for each
other which was weakened at the time or
afterward by their want of harmony in
business
Nichols continued the paper alone until
the Oath of November, 1852. when he sold
a one-half interest to j. B. Danforth, Jr.
and on the 10th of March following he sold
his remaining interest to Dantorth, and
soon afterwards left for the gold fields OF
Australia and lived in the mining district
of Beechworth and engaged in mining,
chiefly, during his stay in that country
He returned from Australia in May, 1859,
and lived on his farm in Iowa which he
still owns until May, 1862, when he went
to Chicago and was employed as compost
tor on the Times until Sept. 1864. He
then went to Memphis, Tenn, and since
that time has been employed as foreman
Of a daily newspaper, first on the Democrat,
and successfully on the Bulletin, the Sun,
and for the past five years and at present
on the AUaLanche.
In letter | received from Fred. he
says
Few men have lived so long and seen SO