The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-07-11

paper at tllS lHIlC WClc iilhuC tiiG SUD
ject of general congratulations. There
had been trials and tribulations for the
nervy men who had been at the head
Of the enterprise In that early day
there were no railroade in the county
and all the supplies had to be brought
by water to Keokuk or to Burlington
and hauled overland to this city. In
this service OSkaloosaS veteran trans
ferman, Milton Janney, will be re-
membered There were discourage
ments and there were times when it
kept the proprietors engaged in thought
over the subject of what next TO do to
meet the demands OF the hour All
storms were weathered, however, and
the paper was kept abreast of hte
times.
Along about 1855, Mr.. McNeely sold
his interests to John w. Murphy. Mr.
Murphy sold to James Fl. Knox, and
he TO James Brown. The paper was
more and more in demand and took IFS
place in line with the journals of the
state. 1t grew and improved with the
little city Of its birth and became a pow
er in the land. There has ever been a
fixed ratio between the growth of the
HERALD and the Improvement and
growth of Oskaloosa and Mahaska
county and the same is apparent today.
There were some occurrences during
the year 1857 in which young Brown
stirred up considerable unfriendly feel
ing toward himself on account of editor
ial utteTanceS. A man known as Bowen
came to the Office to settle the affair
with Brown who shot through clos
ed door and killed Bowen, The young
editor was tried and acquitted, but the
feeling against him was such that he lett
the city.
On January first 1853, the editorial
conduct of the paper passed into the
hands OF Charles Beardsley, later OF the
Burlington Hawkeye. and for over seven
years. until March 9, 1866, he was at
the helm. The course he followed car
ried the little sheet into prosperous
waters. There were storms and rough
ness. but the able skipper sailed on and
came safely to port. These were the
times OF e-bellum excitement and
fast followed by the suspense and I'M
certainty of the war itself. With the be
ginning of the War of Secession, the FIR
ing on Fort Sumpter in 1860 and the
modifying of the militia, increased de-
mands were made on the paper, but the
prOprietors were equal to the einergen-
cies Of the day. A small daily vast start
co that did service during these times.
1t was not a daily as we think of the
term daily" of this day. but a mere bit OF
gossip or a report, days and perhaps
weeks old printed and scattered over
the county. anything to relieve the strain
for relatives and friends OF those at the
front
The nearest telegraph station in those
days was Eddyville. where was also
their railway station. A messenger,
well mounted, daily awaited the arrival
of the train bearing the Burlington
Hawekye," Iowa's then greatest daily
which contained the latest news that
the means of that day supplied. This
courier would ride with all speed to this
citv and the HERALD office where the
matter of the sheet was edited and con-
densed for its readers. The papers were
off the press and in the hands OF the
people before the stage coach with its
regular mail arrived in the city. A per
son securing a copy OF the paper Just
issued was Immediately the center Of an
anxious and eager crowd. He was made
to mount a box or chair or anything at
hand and to read the news to the wait
ing people Mounted courierS were at
the HERALD Office to carry papers to
parts of the county as the HERALD man
had done at Eddyville to get the first
COPY OF the Hawkeye. This p per was
not issued every day, but came from the
office in the form of extras issued as the
news OF the day was important or Who'll
ly lacking These were stirring times
and it is a wonder that the little paper
survived Excitement was too intense
to tolerate business method, but the
HERALD continued on its way and some |
how managed to appear with SEM
bance of regularity. 1t is said that |
four times during the days OF the war |
every empioye of the office laid down Lis |
tools to take up arms in defense of the |
Union. and the proprietors were lett to |
get ont a paper as best they could Sew
eral of the employees returned from the
war to resume their places on the pa
per and did excellent work later.
Mr.. Neeihsm had been interested in
the paper since the first issue and had
been a partner during all of the bust
ress changes through which 1t had pass
ed. He retired after almost fifteen
years of faithful hard work.
The issue of March 70, 1866. was
made under the proprietorship and ed
torial MANAGEMENT OF Colonel c. w.
Fisher and w. F. Sheppard. the paper
having been sold TO them by Messrs.
Needham and Beardsley
w. f. Sheppard who had been al the
business head OF the naper, disposed OF
MS interest to Colonel Fisher Novem-
ger 10Th, 1865.
II. C. Leighton and W. H. Needham
,ow came Ii to part ownership of the pa
yer and were associated with Colonel
Fisher in the man, cement and editorial
york. The next number of the paper
.fter the retirement of W. E. Sheppard,
vas issued under the name OF Fisher,
leighton & Needham.
The expenses of the war days had
,een great. Prior for all material ad-
,anced and the price Of the Weekly o.
.aloosa Herald was advanced TO $3.50
YER year in order to make both ends
meet. These prices were maintained I'M
il May 10, 1866, when with Number "a
4 Volume 10, the HERALD reduced its
nnual subscription price TO S2.oo. Gen.
raj prosperity followed in the land and
,rowth was the watchword of the day,
n dthe date March II, 1867, saw the
aper enlarged. There was a new dress
or the sheet and its general appearance
vas greatly improved.
Captain w. A. Hunter took up the
ditorial part Of the HERALD on January
o, 1868. having bought the interest of J |
:. w. Fisher More Improvements
rere made and the issue Of April 2,