The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-22
Pioneer Printer-Editor
petar Richards.

Peter Richards.
And still old memories come back
to us like trooping angels" rsmino-
ers OF the rapid progress we are max
ing from "auld lang syne,'' toward
that undiscovered country Here
comes the Lodi (Wis.) Enterprise, a
sprightly little newspaper from UP to-
ward tina frozen land, bringing us It'd
ings OF Peter Richards, longtime
printer OF that locality, one OF the I
pioneer printers Of the country, who
is said to have set type on the first
daily paper printed in Keokuk, the
old Daily Whig, the name Of which |
was soon changed to The Daily Gate
City, by which familiar name, the pa
per continues to flourish and be
known. It would seem, from tho ac-
emulation OF "reminiscences OF pio-
near days In this vicinity, that q de-
tailed history Of The Gate City's pro
longed and honorable career, from It's
initial number, the conception Of the
late Judge j. B. Howell, whose mem
DRY Is still green In the hsarts OF
those who knew the gifted man, to the
present time; yes, 1t would seem that
a detailed history Of this paper would
prove a full and interesting history,
not only Of thu city, but Of southeast
ern Iowa and OF the republic, all OF
whom he served with honorable and
marked distinction. No man or woman
have lived here and no measures or
incidents Of interest have transpired
that The Gate City has not had to do
with. No marriage or death has scar
cely occurred Of interest to the pub
lie Of this locality since a very early
period of the city's existence that The
Gate City has not made proper and
speedy record Of 1t. Men may come
and may go but these archives remain
among us, holding valuable and silent
records Of the golden past.
Peter Richards, the venerable and
venerated link which binds the first
issue Of The Gate City Of the almost
forgotten past, to the promising pres
ent comes to us again in the maturen
reality OF life and he is hailed with
the tenderest greeting. He was prob
ably not 80 we'll known In this local
| ity as his brother William Richards,
who was at one time partner OF Mr..
Howell. Mr.. Howell married their
sister. An incident told in the clip
/ ping which follows, may be taken as
a remarkable occurrence that a print
/ CHI hu
1.-THE editor to furnish his own copy If
he needed it. But it should be re-
membersd that printers in those olo
days were among the most intelligent
men OF their locality. The followers
4 of the art preservative' were con-
sidered thu connecting link between
the trades and professional life with
4 a recognized leaning toward pro-
4 fessional life. It will be remembered
4 of those days that the boy In print
ling Office had professional ambition,
i to be we'll versed in the English Ian
/ guage and informed in general and
public affairs. Lacking in these he
\ was lacking In the qualifications that
went to make well-rounded and good
printer. Many of the successful old
4 editors and even statesmen had their
\ best education from the printing OF
flee And this seems to have been
the case with our venerable friend
/, and co-worker, Peter Richards, and he
must have learned his lessons we'll
alI.ong may his life be continued. What
s / D.,
What is it but map of busy life
its fluctuations and its vast con
Germs
i Aud far along in life, each past in
3 cident comes back in vivid memory
and makes each incident an atom o.
y his life history, and he can smile con
: tentedly as he repeats:
why grieve that ttn,s has brought 81
Y soon
The sober age of manhood on?
/ AS idly should weep at noon
: To see the blush of morning gone
t No thought of recrimination there
i. land yet as he sees his picture reflect
9 ed from the mirror, IAN old, old man
with beard as white as snow" for ;
h moment he feels the touch Of age, blu
e without the slightest touch of remors'
# for having ussh the pen instead Of thu
d sword.
The Gate City sends friendly, fra
ternal greeting and tender congratu
llations to this faithful worker in al
/. honorable calling and gives beloy
= what the Wisconsin paper says OF thi
!, resident of Keokuk in "auld lam
el syne:"
= This following article written b
!. Lieut.. Col. ]. A. Watrous, the wei
I L