The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-05-12

acted as edltOr. Inc paper was HTSl
printed and published for the proprie-
tors by Samuel Homer Noyes. then
by Increase Adams, and afterward by
George V. Edes. Its circulation IN
1881 was about four hundred copies
1t was then purchased by Asa Wyman
and Son and removed to Mllburn-
now Skowhegan-the first number is
sued in that place bearing date Dec
-. 1881. Asa Wyman was afterward
/ one of the county commissioners for
Somerset County. and highly es-
i teemed citizen He died in 1852. Asa
N son of Asa Wyman, edited the pa
per while it was published by them.
! In 1849 he went to California and
never returned.
SKOWHEGAN SENTINEL
When the paper was removed to
Milburn the name of Skowhegan SEN
tinel was added to it, and 1t appeared
as the Skowhegan Sentinel and Som
erset County Republican. Subsequent
ly the latter part of this name was
abandoned The paper was published
by Asa Wyman and son until Oct. 8,
| 1888, when it was purchased by Moses
Littlefield and JabeZ d. Hill. Its cir
culation at this time was nearly seven
hundred copies. Mr. Littlefield never
served any regular apprenticeship at
printing, but was, originally halter,
having served his time at this trade
in Norridgewock. Jabez ID. Hill was
a native of York County and came to
Milburn in 1881 The firm of Littlefield
and Hill was dissolved In 1910, and,
to use the words of Mr.. Littlefeld,
"one thousand dollars had been sunk
during the two years they published
the paper" Mr.. Hill then assumed
the responsibility of publishing 1t
alone which he did for six months,
after which Mr.. Littlefield again pur-
chased the entire establishment From
April 1871, to July of the same year
its publication ceased; and when, it
again appeared, at the later date, 1t
assumed the name OF
DEMOCRATIC CLARION
In 1856 F. P. Llttlefeld, son of the
publisher, was admitted to joint pro-
pretorship in this paper. June Is.
1857, the name of the paper was
changed to Republication Clarion. In
June 1863 the publication of the pa
per was suspended two weeks, lin
order said the publishers, ito give
all hands a vacation" For "a years
previous to this time, the publishers
also stated, an accident never occurred
in the Office to form, mater al or oper-
alive, from no cause was the regular
weekly issue delayed single hour.
It's circulation at this date had reached
eleven hundred copies.
i In August, 1857, Z. A. r. Emery pur-
chased the interest in the paper owned
by F. P Littlefield, and cont nued his
connection with Moses Littlefield until
Feb |, 1868, when the latter. admon-
ished by failing health that he must
relinquish the business in which he
had acquired competency and good
reputation as a journalist sold his in
terest in the newspaper to Y, A. Smith
who had published, during the great
er part of 1866, the Hancock Journal
at Ellsworth Mr.. Littlefield, however,
retained his interest in the job print
ing department of his Office, which he
continued to carry on until death,
Aug. 10, 1868. He was man of in
tegrity. of shrewd business character,
and more than ordinary ability. The
name of the paper-was changed in
April 1868, to Somerset Reporter; and
was enlarged in size July 20, 1853.
E, In June 1870. Mr. Emery sold h 8 part
to Mr.. Smith and the latter, during
the same month, disposed of half in
terest in the establishment to A. L..
Brown. Mr.. Smith. having accepted
position on the editorial staff of the
Portland Daily Express, sold his in
terest, April 10, 1871 to w. X. Moody,
who had been one of the publishers
of the Androscoggin Herald at Me-
chanics Falls C.. A. F. Emery again
purchased Mr.. Browns interest, June
IS, 1871. August 25, 1871. the paper
,appeared in quarto form, eight pages
size of printed page Is IL IL inches,
five columns to the page, with the
motto progress and Literature; Truth
and Justice; for the Public Good.
: Published by Moody e. Emery, w. n
Moody. editor. In 1875, c. Fl. kilby
and C. A. Woodbury. purchased the
paper, running ii two years under the
firm name CT Kilby & Woodbury.. Mr.
Woodbury. then acquired Mr.. kilby
interest and published the paper about
one year. Oct. /, 1878, Joseph o.
Smith, then Deputy Secretary OF state
at Augusta purchased the Reporter
and plant and very soon thereafter
E. p. Mayo. then city auditor OF the
Portland Daily Press, was associated
with him in the conduct of the paper
under the firm name of Smith & Mayo
until 1885, when M. Smith bought MT
Mayo's interest, and in 1888 sold an
interest to Elmer E. McNeelie, who was
connected with the paper as appren-
tee. journeyman. foreman, and local
editor for sometime. From 1888 until
1905 the paper was conducted under
this firm of j. o. Smith & Co. Joseph
Smith was editor and L. T.. McNeelie
was manager In 1855, Joseph L. Pat
ten began the publication OF the Som
erset Telegram. In 1861 the name OF
this publicat on was changed to SOM
erset Farmer. and In 1855 was
merged with the Republican Clarion,
the Immediate predecessor OF the SOM
erset Reporter.
INVESTIGATOR
During the political campaign OF
1874 a small sheet called the lnves-