Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-04-14
Brief History of the Nelus- Budget

TWenty-Seven years ago. FRANK II.
Munroe, now postmaster OF Lady
smith, but until March 1, county clerk
ever since the organization OF the
county, got out the first issue of the
Weekly Budget at Apollonia, then the
most thriving town in upper Chippewa
comfy.
Mr.. Munroe had been employed as
a printer in the Tubbs Medicine co.
plant at River Falls, Wis, and picked
out from that outfit the greater part
of the Budgets small plant.
Mr.. Munroe was editor, publisher,
solicitor, ad man, job man and devil,
and with assistance from his ever-loyal
wife he got out very credltable pa
per. besides doing most of the PRINT
ing for the string of hamlets scattered
along the single east and west line
of the 500 that had then for only
few years traversed the wilderness OF
northern Chippewa county.
Mr.. Munroe made friends rapidly
and when Gates county was organized
June a, 1901, Mr.. Munroe was ap-
pointed the first county clerk. He con-
-inued to conduct the Budget until
September of that year. when he SOLD
the paper to E. w. Hill, who was as
sisted in the editorial work for short
time by DR.. Gobar, then located at Ap-
OllOnia.
r. S. Reeves, who came TO Apol-
lonia in April 1902, from Prentice,
was the next man at the helm OF the
raper. as editor and manager, Mr.. Hill
retaining an interest III the business.
Ladysmith was then forging to the
front. and although the population
then was only few hundred, Mr..
Reeves moved the paper here the first
of July. 1902, Mr. Hill selling his in
terest to Ladysmith parties.
In his salutatory to the people OF
Ladysmith, Mr. Reeves said:
MIR. Reeves SalutatOry
'NThe Budget is not an entire stranger
to the people of Ladysmith, but Tor the
benefit of those who are not so well
acquainted with the paper, will state
that the Budgets former home was at
Apollonia, Gates county, Wisconsin,
where it has been published and is
sued for seven consecutive years. 1t
is moved to Ladysmith because it is
believed that its sphere of usefulness
as well as it's material welfare has
larger and better field to work in. The
chief object of the Budget will be to
promote the material welfare of La
dysmith and Gates county.
1t is admitted that a second paper
in I.adysmith is, as yet, premature,
but it is only matter OF a short time
when circumstances will justify an
other paper, so have taken time by the
forelock and moved in to stay and live
in one of the most progressive villages
in Wisconsin today.
The following persons are the
owners of The Weekly Budget: j. W.
Fritz @. G. Sahin, w. S. Manning, w.
E. Clark, O. E. Peterson, L. E. McGill,
e. NJ. Worden, DR. H. r. T. Ross, c.
X. Gerard, James Prentice and r. S.
Reeves
Mr.. Reeves had the paper only a
short time, the paper being sold TO II.
w. True and NJ. G. Martin Sept. 1,
1902. Both Mr. Reeves and Mr.. Hill
died within the past few years. Mr..
Hill held the office of register of deeds
here for many years and Mr.. Reeves
for almost as long a period was the
local justice Of the peace.
When True & Martin took over the
paper, Con" as Mr. Martin was famil |
iarly known, became the editor and
manager. Ed Worden moved into his |
new store building the week that Con-
got out his first paper. The same week
James Prentice bought the lot now
occupied by the Baker hotel for $500
and commenced the erection Of the ho- !
tel.