The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-08-17
CHAPTER rHlnrYrwo.
The County Prtss--lts Development,
and Growth.


ders 10 unity the sympathies OF civ.
illzed men and convince mankind thar
they are all brothers. The we'll con.
Quoted daily and weekly newspaper
keeps ug IN touch with one another
and our pympathles become broader
than our nelghoorhood as we know OF
the prosperity or Hufrerings OF oarths
multitudes.
IL was quite an undertaking 10
, start q weekly paper IN q town
where its entire population was only
about 500 people, but Mahaska has
never been wanting in enterprlslng
men.
Tho first newspaper in this county
was born in tho brain and heart OF
John II. Needham, and the first mum.
Der was issued July 2, 1861. For
four months ~ was known az The
Iowa Herald. On Nov. ], 1860, II
went TO it's subscribers as the osEn.
Ioosa Herald and has so continued
for fifty.fve years.
John X. Needham and Hugh Nc.
Medley were It's editors and publish.
erg. The paper, when nrst issued,
was six.column folio. Both these
young men were from Ohio. Mr..
Necdham seems 20 have been the
leading spirit in the enterprise. lie
came 10 oBkaloosa in 1S49; was
twice elected senator from this
county and also served one term as
lieutenant governor Of Iowa. From
all that has been said and written
Of Mr.. Needham since his death, he
must have lived a life which insplr.
ed men 20 their highest and best ct.
forts. lie had the unregeryed con.
fdence Of his fellow men.
Mr.. McNeely was a practical print.
or and was the mechanical head OF
the Arm. A printing outfit had been
brought from Cambridge, Ohio. IL
had been used in publishing the
Cambridge Times and had been pur.
chased AZ the suggestion Of Mr.. Need
nam by his father. This was supple
rnented by the purchase Of additional
material by Mr.. MeNeely In b.
Louis. Al was transported 20 Keo-
kuk by the Ohio, and. MLagiaslppL
rivers, thence overland 10 Oskaloosa.
Miles Prime says that nc got the first
paper that came from the old hand
press on the day Of its issue. His
father had subscribed for the paper
and had sent him 20 the Office for a
copy. Tho press work was just rea'
dy 10 begin and ne waited and was
given the first copy.
The first Herald ONCE was located
on the second floor OF q twostory
frame building On the southeast cor.
ncr Of the square, on the ute where
now stands the W. !. Eeagle grocery.
Popular enthusiasm nourished the
paper and II grew with the growth
of tho city and county. In 1853 the
editorial management passed into the
hands OF DR.. Charles BearGsley, who
piloted the paper through the war
period. In tho early sixties a small
Herald Extra--onIy sheet giving
tho latest bits Of newB--was issued
az the news demanded. Eddyville
was then the nearest telegraph and
1ailroad station. A mcmenger from;
tho Herald once daily waited at ia.
dyyilIe for the incoming train that
brought the Burlington Hawk.Eyr,
which contained the latest news.
Then this courier would ride with ali
speed 90 the city and the paper
would be in the hands Of tho people
before the stage coach carrying the
mail could arrive. IL Is said that
four times during tho war every EN-.
ploye in tho Office laid down hls task
20 join the ranks Of the troops 10.
Ing 10 the front
March 1e, 1865, the paper was u.
sued under the management OF Col.
g. w. FBhcr and w. r.. Sheppard.
A few years later Capt w. A. Hun
TER had editorial charge. H. z.
Leighton and w, II. Eeedham, bro.
Their Of John II. Needham, became the
owners Of the paper in 1870. Both
were young men OF skill and ability
ana for eight years the paper saw
good days. Henry G. Leighton, who
was largely responsible for the edi.
torial work, was called 10 lay his
pen aside just when he seemed 70 De
al the zenith Of his usefulness. He
was postmaster At oskalooea at thel
time Of his death, January 81, 1878,
and had ygryed his party two years
as chairman Of the state central COM
mittee, winning state reputation
Tor bis skin and energy. Mr.. Leigh |
ton died when nc war but thirty,nye
years Of age. The editorial work on
tho paper was done for time BY
chas. Leighton, his brother, and Geo.
n. Lee, both n whom we're interest.
cd partners.
A. w. Swain became connected
with the paper IN 1891 He was
an editor Of some Year, experience
and gave the Herald distinct In
dlvldnality.
Tho Evening Herald was published
September 3, 1871 70 meet the pro-
grcgsiye spirit of be times. II was