The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-07-11
OLD SUBSCRIBERS
Original and Early Members of
The Herald Family.


fortunately when the paper was first
started and subscriptions were solicited
by MIR Needham and Mr.. George Kent
/ field. they did not realize the importance
attaching TO their early records. and
the original list of names has not been
preserved. The first regular subscrip-
| ton book now in the possession OF the
HERALD is dated 1883, 1t is a small
! book made out in Mr.. Needhams own
/ handwriting, the names from which are
! reproduced in this article.
There are still few left who signed
| the first subscription lists, and who still
take the paper regularly. The great
majority of these early friends, how
ever, have passed away, but the list Of
families in which the paDer has been a
regular visitor for fifty years is large,
and this fact is source of great salts
| faction and appreciation to the present
owners Of the paper. No other paper in
| Iowa has had more loyal friends, and
| from first to last we believe no set of
editors of any paper have endeavored
| harder to please their patrons than have
| those who have ~7,ided the destinies of
the HERALD. Between proprietors and
patrons the best OF feeling has steadily
| been maintained through all these years.
Miles Prime AYERS that he got the first
paper that ever came from the HERALD
press. AS boy he had come to town
that july morning with his father, the
late d. S. Prime. The elder Mr.. Prime
signed and paid for the paper for
year and Miles was sent to the Office
ITO get a copy to take home with him
| H.
waited until the paper was put to press,
and he carried off the first number that
went from the Office
Only few days before her death, the
HERALD received the following note
from aunt Sadie Boswell" which is
self-explanatory. and which is highly
valued by this office:
| Editors HERALD: | have taken the
HERALD ever since its first publication,
1850. Mrs. |. G. Boswell.
+. 81 can't see to read, but | can't
do without the HERALD AUNT SADIE
Ellis Dunsmore, who is still living
and in rood health, and who will be 70
years old in August subscribed for the
paper before it was started. He was
a teamster in those days and was one of
the men who hauled goods to Oskaloosa
from Keokuk and Burlington. He haul
| ed some of the first paper used by the
| HERALD He remembers the excitement
| in the village upon the arrival OF the
first printing press, and says it was not
| necessary for the proprietor to hire any
| help in getting 1T up, more help being Of
| fered gratuitously than could be used.
| He has been a regular subscriber and a
constant reader of the paper ever since.
OF late years his eyes have been badly
afflicted, but every line Of news is read
| by him twice a week
Among the other original names who
have responded to our request are the
! following, whose communications are
| given as received. We are satisfied there
are others and are very sorry that we
have been unable to reach them.
Wright, Iowa, April 2. 1000
Dear Sir: | gave George Fiheld one
dollar to help to star hat little paper
and have kept it up eyIt 81, ce.
loHN SHIpEY.
MarshaIItown, Iowa, Jan. ~, 1900.
Dear Sir: Maj. James Pomeroy was
regular subscriber from the first num-
Der of the HERALD, when John R. Need
ham was publisher until his death, 1853.
Brother Stephen L. Pomeroy has been
subscriber ever since Many thanks
to you for sending the daily and weekly
HERALD, which we find every day on the
table in the reading room OF the Iowa
Soldiers Home. Its rewsy columns is
much sought after by the old veterans
from Mahaska county 1t is almost like
receiving a letter from home every day
5 olet the HERALD continue coming and
the old boys will be happy.
Yours truly,
W. K. PoMERoY.
Co. H, 9Th Iowa Init.
New Sharon Iowa, Jan. IL, 1900.
Dear Sirs: l subscribed for the
HERALD in July, 1880. Respectfully,
J. T. RIDPATH.
Cedar Rapids, Ia, Jan, ~, 1900.
HOFFMAN Bros.
Dear SyS: | saw your advertise
ment for old-timers who took the HER
AID from the start. There was Need
ham boy, | think w. H., handed the first
paper that was printed to Miss S. E.
Ballard. Miss Ballard took the pa
per until |. married her, July g. 1853,
and after we were married we continued
taking the paper, and, as you know, still
take it. | landed in Oskaloosa October
3, 1851, and the first thing | did was
clerking in f. & W. Stafford's drug
store, a little from where the Oska-
loosa Dry Goods store and S. ]. Dut-
tons are now located. The building
was 6Ix24. left there in 1890, but |
remember lots of old-timers that
could tell you of, if | were there. /
think will be there this summer to Wis
it my SON. | have got some old dee Is
and notes away back before you were
born Lots of my work still stands as
it did when | left there | built shop
for J. d. Donahue, TIP close to Joe
Jones carriage shop. Miller & Tolbert
used TO use it for shoeing shop.
R. G. PIKE.
Wright, Mahaska Co, Iowa.
March 9, 1900.
Dear HERALD Seeing the request in
your paper for the names OF those that
have taken it from the first week, | will
gladly say that Mr. +. w. Linsly was
nearly the first name on the roll. Mr..
John r. Needham came to our place
in harvest time and took dinner with
us, and took Mr.. Linslys name, and
was sent his way rejoicing and the
HERALD has been a weekly visitor ever
since. At times he has taken several
issues to send to his friends in other
states.
This by favor OF Mrs. F. NJ Linsly
Okolona. Miss, March 26, 1900
HOFFMAN, Bios. My father, Abb
BRAN Hoover, was one of the first sub
scribers TO the HERALD and when he
thought ne would do without ii, would