The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-07-11
"REMINISCENCES OF
"A NEWSPAPER, MAN
Continued from page AZ

my brother, Wesley, and a printer
named Topping, from Michigan. They
changed tho name OF the paper to The
Abba Republican, ran 1t three or four
months, when took over my brothers
interest in the plant. Topping went
back to Michigan to secure money to
pay for his half interest and never
came back. | continued the paper un-
til Dec. 81, 1859 when traded 1t to
Josiah r. Young for an so acre farm
two miles east of Abba. Mr.. Young
changed the name to Monroe County
Sentinel, took a partner named Gray,
and they made it a democratic sheet.
Young found himself In the wrong
crowd, and in the spring of 1868, he
joined the Seth Iowa Infantry and went
south to testify his devotion to his
country. He was made prisoner OF
war at Marks Mills, Ark was sent to
Tyler, Texas, and suffered ten months
In prison pen, which Slapped his vi
tally and left him almost a physical
wreck. On his return from war the
good and patriotic people Of the coun-
ty rewarded his fidelity. They elected
him county clerk, then sent him to the
legislature, and he served three terms
In the office of secretary Of state. 1t
can be truthfully said of him that he
was strictly conscientious in all the
walks Of life, and in the memory OF
all his acquaintances, and especially
those who came to know him best, he
is credited with being one of the most
honorable men who has resided in AL
bia.
A little boy, younger than myself, as
sisted me in getting out the Abba Re-
publican in the years 1889. He was
large enough to enlist in Co. D, 22nd
Iowa, when that regiment was recruit
ed and in the assault at Vicksburg,
Miss, on May ~, 1868, his left jaw was
shot entirely away, and he lives today
a highly respected and honored citf-
zen of Abba. In 1871 he won a gold
printers stick as the fastest type-set-
ter In the state. Billy Needham OF
| Sigourney, will recognize the man, G.
| T. Mcconnell.
An uncle at Eau Claire, Wis, who
had but recently opened law office
| in that town, wrote me to come UP and
visit him. went to that place on the
first boat that assembled the Mississippi
river in 1860, and commenced to quail
lfy myself as disciple of Blackstone
Two printers in charge of the me
chanical department Of the only paper
printed in the village, went to a neigh
boring town to a dance. got beastiy
drunk and did not return until after
publication day. The publisher, learn
| ing that was a printer, came to my
uncle's Office and asked to see me. He
stated the situation and asked me tc
help him out. I set In type briei
apology for late appearance CT the pa
1 per, made. UP the forms, put them or
1.-The press, and with the publisher as
ROLLER boy" we got out the paper at
the midnight hour When l came to the
office the next morning he asked me to
| take charge Of the office at $40 per
I WGGh, anu Sdiu 6OOapy Y W CloSho1O1iS
| forever He discharged the other men
with structures that certainly would re
main with them through life. l visited
! my parents in Abba in the spring OF
1851. and was in Abba when Sumptef
was fired on. returned to Eau Claire
and resumed the foremanship in the
office. and quit the job to join the
Company &C 8th Wis., that carried
"Old Abe" the live eagle, to the war
served my first enlistment of three
years, and came home with broken
health, emaciated and given up to die
! hut my mission is no. ended, and
hope to live till the greatest crime
against humanity Is wiped out.
At the close OF the rebellion war
Val Mendel who had served creditably
in the sixth Iowa infantry. bought the
Abba Union for a consideration Of
| $500. All the county offices were filled
with soldiers who had returned from
1 the war, and the Union received very
generous support In due time Mende
secured the appointment Of postmaster
at Abba, and was an applicant for {
second term. M. e. Cults Of Oskaloosa
was in congress-. There was opposi
ton to Mendel; Capt. J. p. Early, who
had creditable record In an Illinois
regiment and was in the mercantile
business in Abba, was an applican
for the place, and he had such backing
that Cults gave him the appointment
L. c. Nelson, good soldier and {
trenchant writer, had been employed
as editor of the Union. and under tn,
| direction of Mendel, he commenced al
editorial bombardment against Cults
and the men who had opposed Mendel
and party harmony" was lost in thu
battle that was carried on. The matte
OF starting a new paper was consider
ed, the money was partially guaran
4 teed, and the project was about to b
I launched, when overtures were made