The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-04-21
History OF Advertiser
Recounted This Week
With tf2th Birthday
Five Wars Fought,
Many Editors, Many
Changes Effected

begins its ll2th year, having
been founded in 1887, an off
branch of The Record, The Lex
ington Standard Ia Wing paper),
and The Lexington Union. In l84l
it took its present name, The Lex
ington Advertiser.
Five wars have been fought
since the ADVERTISERS early
beginning. Twice the plant has
been burned to the ground and
all the files and records destroyed.
A score of editors have perhaps
shaped the course of this paper,
and a dozen or more so-called
contemporaries have come and
gone or were merged with the
ape that carries on today.
History Recounted
The first Democrat organ here,
owned by W. H. Hines, was sold
to C. S. Smith and in 1889 to John
N. Baskin.
Before the Civil War, Henry W.
Weaver had succeeded A. S. Nit
chell as editor. At the close OF
the war the paper was run by
James ID. Houston, who sold to
Herbert P. Johnson, a young law-
yer reared near West. Sheldon and
Price were co-owners of THE
ADVERTISER in 1870. Before it
was purchased by Captain John ).
Hoskins, o. S. Lee and company
with ]. F. Jordan serving as edit
or, we're publishers.
New life and influence came to
the paper under the guidance OF
colorful Captain Hoskins, confed-
crate veteran who had lost a leg
in battle. During the Reconstruc-
ton period the elder Hoskins was
assisted by his son, William Hos
kins who had much literary tai
ent. and whose published book OF
poems helped lead him toward a
political career.
Was Political Leader
Captain Hoskins served as
mayor of Lexington, sheriff OF
Holmes county, and as member OF
the state legislature.
When public office claimed Cap
tain Hoskins, Edmund F. Noel and
C. c. Groce were found at the
helm of the Advertiser. Mr.. Noel
was an able lawyer, an officer IN
the Spanish-American war, legis-
lator, district attorney, and COVER
nor of the state. A. c. burden
and Captain Cass Oltenburg came
after the regime of Noel ana
Groce. At one time the Advertis-
err moved to Durant and continued
under its own name for a full
year.
Earl Ashley served as editor OF
THE ADVERTISER for a time,
upon the retirement of Captain
Oltenburg. A member of the fam
Gus Merrill family of journalists
who edited the Louisville Courier
Journal, McMath Merrill, served
for two years before moving for
larger fields.
Other Editors
M. j. Peters followed Merrill,
followed by John Kyllingstad,
Tom Shepherd, Paul H. Sanders,
Roland A. Povall, R. u. Galloway,
Cass Oltenburg Povall, Sessions
and George Povall, and M b.
Mabry,
Upon the entrance into the ser
vice by Mr.. Mabry in 1912, Miss
Hazel Brannon, present publisher,
and owner also of THE DURANT
NEWS, purchased the paper.
During the past four years many
changes have taken place in Lex
ington, and THE ADVERTISER
has served as the medium of max
ing these changes known. Many
changes have also been made in
both the Typography, newspaper
policy, and coverage, during this
time.
Policy Stated
The policy of THE ADVER-
TISER remains truly democratic,
but independent; believing and
working toward fairness and JUS
tice to all regardless of social posi-
ton, wealth, race, color, or creed;
firmly believing in the rights of
the individual to voice his opinion
as regards all matters; working for
a more progressive city, COM
munity. county and state, actively
and staunchly, insofar as it is able:
supporting the right against all
odds, and at all costs.
Among the more obvious
changes effected by THE ADVER-
TISER since 1912 are its turning
of advertising matter from the
front into the inside pages; MAX
ing a more readable type; afford
ing better-looking makeup and
headlines. distribution of news,
with more complete news cover
age, and conversion to a seven
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