The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-26
Irue Nortl)erner.
Paw Paw, MoHIeAs, DEC &c, 1879.
HISTORY OF THE PAW PAW PRESS.

(known later as Buffalo Miller, in connection
with the Chicago whisky ring Investigations,
sent his brother-in-aw, one Harris over 10
Paw Paw, with press and printing matena. to
start newspaper, chiefly for the purpose o.
printing the county tax lists. Harris got out a
six column folio paper aud called it the Paw
Paw Democrat. It's politics were Democratic,
and its Office of publication on MAN street
inst east OF the present bank building. Har-
ris was consumptive and did very little work
In August 1912, S. 7. Conway-now publishing
the TRUE NoRTHERNER-was passing through
Paw Paw en- route from st. Joseph to Kalama-
zoo and stopped long enough to get out that
weeks edition OF the Democrat, Harris being
Frustrated so that he could not get about much
Harris died the following winter and his death
ended the history OF the Democrat-Miller car
rving press and material back to Niles
During the next two years the village was
without the blessing OF newspaper, but IN
January 1916 the boon was vouchsafed again
by Samuel y. CAN'T and one Geiger, who came
hither from Detroit with material and 1.-TWO
pull' wooden Rammage press, mounted on
wagon. CAN'T was a politician with aspira-
tiops for seat in the Legislature, and in fur
therance OF his ambition it occurred to him that
newspaper at Paw Paw would be good thing.
Directly upon their arrival CAN'T and Geiger
issued five column folio Democratic journal,
christened it the Paw Paw Free Press, and
awaited renown BY and by Geiger began to
get disguised with the way CAN'T was appro-
priatng the lions share OF the profits to HIM
self. and to get even, he carried of the screw
to the press, one night threw ii into the river
and fed to Detroit. When CAN'T missed the
screw and Geiger, he was dsconsolate, not on
account of Geiger. but because of the screw,
since he could not operate his printing press
without II. A man BY name A. V. Panthnd
happened to know where Geiger had thrown
the screw. and stimulated by promise OF ten
dollars from CAN'T, fshed it out OF the river,
aud thus the Paw Paw Free Press was once
more on its legs, so to speak. CAN'T conducted
the destinies OF the Paw Paw Free Press until
the spring of 1886 when, having failed in his
political ambition, sold the paper TO John Nc
Kinney. then County Treasurer, and began to
practice law in Paw Paw.
Mckinney conducted the Paw Paw Free
Press until the winter OF 1S46-S. T. Conway
having, in August OF that year, entered the Of
fee as printer-when lie sold out to +. O..
Briggs.
After an experience of thirteen months Mr..
Briggs sold the Paw Paw Free Press to S. T..
Conway, in January 1913, and until July 1O'
1854. 1t remained IN the same ownership pass
ing however upon that date TO the control OF
stock company, by whom it was published but
few weeks and then transferred 10 l. W. Van
Fossen. soon after obtaining possession. Van
Fosscn effected change of name to The Paw
Paw Press. and within year changed il again
to that OF The Van Buren, County Press; and
as slch carried it on until January 3, 1868.
when his Office was burned out. Aagau was
but it endured only few months when Van
Fossen revived the publication. and in 1872
leased it to Frcnk Drummond, who flung the
Greeley banner to the breeze. In the winter
OF that year, Van Fossen sold out to Z. A.
Landphere and G. w. Matthews. who started
new paper called The Paw Paw Courier, hoisted
the Republican flag, and pursued their journal
is,ic career untilsthe beginning OF 1877, when
they sold their subscription list to E. A. Black
man aud f. X. Park. who changed its politics
to the Democratic.
During the ownership OF the Courier by
Landphere and Matthews, Z. X. Park and Geo.
f. Seeck, job printers in Paw Paw, started .
new paper, or rather revived an old one, called
the Van Buren, County Press, a Democratic
journal. They soon disposed of it to /. W. Van
Fosssp, who transferred it to o. ID. Hadsell.
who started new Democratic paper and called
il Tue Paw Paw Free Press, from whom on
August 4, 1877, it passed to Z. A. Blackman
and r. x. Park. Blackman q Park consolidated
tho papers under the name OF the Paw Paw
Free Press and Coulter and continued it as
Democratic champion. On November %, 1878,
it passed to the control of the present editor
and proprietor. +. A. Backman.
About 1851 or 1852 ]. L. CAN'T, son OF him
o. the fret Free Press, made bis debut IN Paw
Paw with a printing Office, from which he is-
sued Wing paper. which, in few weeks, !
yielded up the ghost. CAN'T mounted his ma
teriii upon two wagons, and just as the sun
was rising one summer morning, disappeared
from the village in the direction Of Dowagiac. |
whittier it was understood he was bound. to
enter upon similar journalistic undertaking.
Tao True Northerner. now edited and pub- |
tshsi by s. L. Conway, twho did his first news
paper work in Paw Paw in 1922, boasts a con-
tinuous existence OF twenty-five years, and by
that token is fsaeAsdthe Oldest newspaper in |
the village aud county. 1t was founded in
March 1855 asa Republican journal by George
A. Fitch. then publishing the Kalamazoo Tele-
graph, aud has maintained that political status
since then without change. Mr.. Fitch cent
John H. Butler over to edit and publish the
Trus hortherner; bat in August OF that year