The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-01-07
BOTH CLAIM HONOR
Dispute Over Location of First
Press in Northwest.
Minnesota and South Dakota Each
Firm in the Belief That They Are
In Possession Of Historic
Old Relic.

The location Of the first printing
press IN the Northwest is being dis
puied by two states, Minnesota and
South Dakota, says dispatch to the
Minneapolis Journal.
The historic printing press, an old
Washington hand-presS. which. II is
claimed, printed the first newspaper in
the Northwest, is now in the hands Of
the Minnesota Historical society. The
Minnesota contention as to the history
Of the press Is substantially as fol-
lows:
cts active career began hack in 1850,
when John King Of Dubuque pur-
chased il in Cincinnati. He arrived in
Dubuque with the new press on May
!. 1886, after tedious trip on river
steamboat The first issue Of this pa
per the Dubuque Visitor, appeared on
May II. 1t is said that the Visitor was
the only paper north o. 81. Louis and
west Of the Mississippi river at that
time.
The press, in 1913. for some reason
or other was sold 10 three representa-
tives OF stock concern, j. Allen Bar
her, Daniel Benfll and Nelson Derby.
who latter was 70 become Wisconsin's
first governor. These men took the
press across the river to Lancaster.
Wis, to print the Grant County Her
AID Of which L. o. Schruder was the
first editor.
The Herald passed finally into the
hands of James NJ. Goodhue. a lawyer
by profession and fighting editor OF
the old school Goodhue in the spring
of 1919 shipped his press up the river
to ~. Paul Mimi, where he founded
the Pioneer which years afterward be-
came the Pioneer Press.
In 1885 the press passed into the
hands Of jeremiah Russell, who took II
70 Sank Rapids to use in printing an
other pioneer venture, the Frontiers
man. After that IL changed hands fire.
quently. 1t printed among other pub
licati0ns the Sank Valley Press con
Quoted by Herman Muhenberg, state
adiutant general. The material of this
publication was later sold to'the Lind
strom Citizen, Swedish newspaper.
Shortly after this old press found its
last home In the state museum IN st.
Paul.
"Gov. Samuel J. Albright, associate
editor Of the st. Paul paper, purchased
the press in 1858, carried 1t 400 miles
across the pralries to Sioux Falls, Da-
kota Territory, where. July 3 1859, he
established and printed the Dakota
Democrat.
During the Indian hostilitles Of
1862. Sioux Falls was abandoned and
the Indians took possession of the
place. They found the old press and /
broke It to pieces The settlers found |
the fragments but could not put 1t to- |
gether again. Senator X. +. Pettgrew |
of Sioux Falls Is understood TO have |
secured the plate and made from II a
doorstep.
"The South Dakota story has been 4
verified satisfactorily SO far as the /
South Dakota department Is con-
cerned. by Governor Albright, who
wrote in regard to It that 1t was so
stated so understood and. ] believe. so
published upon its removal TO Dakota 1
But, on the other hand, in the Min
pesota museum stands a press which
Is claimed TO be the one in dispute.
This one Is simply constructed and
from IFS appearance might have print
cd every pioneer newspaper in the
Northwest Whatever the true story
Of the identity Of the press may be, 1t
is well worth contention"