The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-20
TERRITORIAL JOURNALISM IN MINNESOTA =
Paper Read Before MINI. Historical Society
February roth, 1902, by D. S. B. Johnston
of St. Paul d: ::

politics. The Weekly ran four pages Of
seven columns each in SIZE 1t was first
printed In stone building on Third
street, opposite Franklin street. 1t was a
hree-story building. and Newson nearly
covered the front and east side with enor-
NOUS signs. In 1855 the plant was taken
into the McClurg block on Bridge Square
and there remained until it joined the
Minnesotian in 1859. when it moved over
to the old postofhce building on the same
square After this combination was
broken Newson continued the Times until
Jan. 1, 1861, and it was merged In the
st. Paul Press and Newson gave the
venture a good send off in it's first issue.
Il. M. Newson.
With T. M. Newson politics meant prin-
ciple. He was good Journalist, an able,
efficient writer. and, although he seldom
took the initiative in the personal journal
istic broils Of those days, he never ran
or came out second best when either he
or his party was forced into them. He
was born Feb. %. 1927, in New York city
and in 1847 started the first paper pub
lished at Birmingham, Conn. He came
to st. Paul in 1858. and for about six
months, was associate editor with Joseph
r. Brown on the Pioneer. In the Daily
Times of June 81. 1860, statement was
made by Mr.. Newson to the effect that a
meeting was held in an upper room in St.
Anthony early In 1855, and out Of it grew
the republican party Of Minnesota. At
that time the Times began its republican
career.
After the material OF the Times was
purchased by Governor Marshall. Newson
went into the army as oommissary of sub
sistence, became assistant QuartermasteI
and was brevetted major for meritorious
conduct. He, like John P. Owens. refused
all opportunities to enrich himself at pub
lie expense and came out of the service q
poor man. Say what we may Of the early
Minnesota editors in other respects, none
of them died, as far as I know. with the
| marks of the dishonest dollar grasp upon
them. Major Newson was appointed by
President Harrison CONSUL to Malaga
Spain, and died at his post March 80
1898. -
The Minnesota Republican.
The eleventh newspaper was the Min
nesota Republican Of st. Anthony. 1t was
four-page seven-column republican
sheet owned by a board Of about sixty
stockholders Of which Dry. Fell was sec
! rotary. Rev. Charles G.. Ames was editor
and Daniel L. Paine publisher. The first
paper was issued Oct. 5, 1854. Jan. /
1857, the paper was enlarged to eight col
umns and Sept 10, 1857, it was sold to w
A. Croffut and Edwin Clark, and Ames re.
| tired leaving Croffut editor and Clarl
publisher.
Jan. Z, 1859, Croffut & Clark changed
the name to Minnesota State News. Nov
| S, 1859, Croffut sold his interest to Trial
Thomas April 7. 1860, the News was re-
duced to seven columns and finally, early
in November, 1868, it suspended per.
manently. Sept. %, 1857, the Falls Even,
ing News, a daily, was started. but was
discontinued May 10, 1861.
Rev. Charles G. Ames.
Rev. Charles G.. Ames came to Mime.
sofa as missionary OF the Free Viii
Baptist church in June, 1851. He built 6
church in Minneapolis and became 1t:
| minister. Restive under the restriction:
OF its creed he resigned and became G
Unitarian. He then entered the politica
field and was elected register of deeds o.
Hennepin county for 1857 and 1858. II
! 1861 he was appointed consul at Porte
Rico and in later years went back to the
| pulpit and has been pastor of some O.
the largest Unitarian churches in tn.
east. Ames took an active part in Kan
| sas-Nebraska politics as an ultra anti
| slavery advocate. He was brillian
| speaker. an able editor and thoroughly
| conscientious man.
tate Advertiser. ..
The st. Paul Financial and Real Estat,
Advertiser rounded out the dozen of Min
nesota newspapers. 1t was begun Nov
3, 1854, by Charles H. Parker, banker O
St. Paul. 1t was a three-column weekly
J The disproportion of size and name re-
minds one of Lincoln's description of thu
| little steamboat that had whistle s,
large that when it blew the boat had t,
stop. Joseph A. Wheelock, who, for man!
years has been chief editor of the Pionee
Press, was associated with Parker a.
editor of the paper. Dec. ~, 1856, thu
name was economical to the st. Paul Ad
| vertiser and the size increased to 3 four
page six-column sheet. June Is. 1867, i
was further enlarged to seven columns
July Is, E. S. Barrows became associated
as editor and the next week Wheelocl
became part proprietor. June 49,, 1858
the paper was sold to the Pioneer and dis
continued.
The St. Croix Union,
Joseph A. Wheelock was born in Nov;
Scotia in 1881, came to St. Paul in 1850
\ began his editorial career in the Adver
tiser in 1854. remained with 1t until 1861
became associate editor of the Pionee
and Democrat in 1859, was commissions
of statistics in $780, helped Governo
J Marshall establish the St. Paul Press il
1861, and finally became it's editor in chief
| was appointed postmaster of St. Paul
May 4, 1870; was one of the five commits
sioners who selected our beautiful Com
park and has been for some years presi
dent of the St. Paul park board, where b
has done the city inestimable service.
When I first saw him In 1856 though
he would be in consumptive's grave il
less than q year. That was forty si
years ago. He has been almost continu
ally in editorial harness since that tim
land don't know but he will last forty
six years longer. Certainly he does no
yet need anybody to write his editorial
for him. .La.a.'. Il.
| Joseph A. WheeIock.
| The thirteenth Minnesota newspape,
was the St. Croix Union. It was begu
in saltwater Nov. Z, 1854, was a four-p Jag
seven column weekly, democratic in poll
tics. #. s. Gable was it's editor and Cabl
& Easton publishers. May IL, 1855, Alb
bott G. Easton succeeded Cable & Eastor
M. H. Abbott being editor and publisher
The editor in his first article said he wa
in favor of the annexation of Cuba and tn
Sandwich Islands, as it would material
l aid in building up commercial interest
on our Pacific shores. I quote this to sho1
what a broad latitude of comprehension
some Of our early journalists possessed
Abbott, however, was the right man il
1 &Io lrI,f al in, %I0v ut