The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-08-06

publican as it was this journal which.
through the process of time, and af-
ter various changes of name and own
ership. became the Independent Re
porter of the present day AS already
noted. the Republican, established In
Norridgewock in 1928 and thereafter
moved to Milburn, became the Show
hogan Sentinel. In 1841 the name
was changed to Skowhegan Clarion
and in 1856 to the Democratic Clarion.
AS its name implies, up to that time
it had been chiefly an advocate of the
principles of the Democratic party
but it now took up the cause of the
recently formed Republican party and
on June IS, 1857 changed the name to
the Republican Clarion.
Beginning with volume 10, No. 81,
January II, 1860, a practically com
plete file of the Republican Clarion
and its successors to the present time
is on file in the office of the Register
of Deeds at the court house. On the
date just referred to, we find the name
of the publishing firm given SIN. &
F. p. Littlefeld, being Moses Little
field and his son. This name contin-
ned until April 10, 1868, when the
name Somerset Reporter first ap-
| pears. The volume of that year was
given as No. q and the serial number
of the paper No. As. In that issue the
publishers, Smith & Emery, refer to
The change of name as follows:
When the present proprietors
took the old Clarion many friends in
the county suggested an immediate
change of name We were not for
chilly impressed with the idea at
first, but upon mature deliberation
and consultation we have concluded
to do so.
We have selected the name Som
erset Reporter as being somewhat
indicative of the design of the pa
per. 1t will be understood that the
change of name will in no way eff
feet any contracts that the Clarion
publishers have made with its sub
scribers and advertisers. All obi
cations made by our predecessors or
ourselves for the paper will be full
filled by us. 1t is simply and only
change of name 1t is the pur-
pose of the publishers to make the
Reporter flrst-class country week
ly paper and to that end we have
concluded to take measures to Sc
cure a correspondent in every town.
We hope that by careful and con-
slant attention to our business we
shall make the paper acceptable
and useful to the county.
Without making any promises
which we may fail to fulfill, we
pledge ourselves to do our utmost to
make an acceptable paper and to
that end we ask the cooperation of
our readers
There are many of our readers in
the county, who could if they were
willing secure us an additional sub
scriber Will they make the effort?'
Two years later the firm of Smith
& Brown became the publishers, the
volume then being No. 20, but the
owners evidently had taken up a new
series intending to include the first
year of the Somerset Reporter as vol
ume one, as at this time they spoke
of their paper as volume two of the
new issue
At that time NJ. c. A. F. Emery
seems to have retired, Mr.. A. j
Brown taking his place. Still anoth-
err change took place April 81, 1871
when the firm name became Moody
& Brown. H. A. Smith, who seems tC
have .een the Smith of the firm oil
Smith & Brown above referred to, IN
that issue refers to his purchase oil
an interest of the Republican Clarion
in 1868 and further announces the
sale of his interest to William X
Moody of Mechanic Falls. The next
change in ownership was June %
1871, when the firm became Moody &
Emery. but October 5, 1872. we find
Mr. William X. Moody became the sole
owner, publisher and editor.
Kilbury & Woodbury. succeeded Mr.
Moody May 7, 1875. Mr.. Moody was
subsequently associated with the Bos-
ton Herald, remaining in their employ
until his death in 1902. kilby q
Woodbury. sold out October 4, 1878, to
Joseph o. Smith and October II, 1873,
f.. p. Mayo came into the business, the
firm name being Smith & Mayo. Mr..
Mayo retired February 3, 1886, and
was succeeded by e. E. McNeelie. the
firm name being changed at that time
to j. O. Smith & Co. In the fall of
1904 Joseph o. Smith was compelled
to retire on account of failing health,
and Mr.. McNeelie became the sole
owner. The business was conducted
by him until September 1909, when II
was merged with the Somerset indie
pendent, the paper taking its present
name, The Observation-Disclosures.
| From this narrative ii would tur-