People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — THE PRESS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PRESS.

The first paper printed in the county was the Jasper Banner in 1854, edited by John McCarty. The Bahner was neutral when first started but soon joined the democratic party. It continued till the beginning of the war In 1856 Davis & Sullivan started the Rensselaer Gazette as a republican paper. Sullivan soon left the concern and Davis continued the Gazette until 1861, when it was sold to Alter & Spencer. In a few years Spencer assumed entire control and in 1865 sold an interest to J. A. H. Green. The name was changed to the Jasper Signal, and sold to R. B. James shortly after. Mr. James changed the name to The Prairie Telegraph and in 1868 sold to Horace E. James. In the meantime Healey & Keiser, in 1867, had started the Irotfuois Press. The Telegraph and Press weie consolidated in 1868 under the name of the Rensselaer Union, Horace E. James and

Joshua Healey editors. Healey retired in 1875 and James continued the paper till 1879, when he sold it to F. M. Bitters Bitters only ran the business a short time, and sold out to Calkins Brothers; they changed she name to the Rensselaer Republican. May 1,1881, Calkins Brothers were superseded by Mr. Overacre and George E. Marshall. In August, 1882, Mr. Marshall became sole proprietor. Mr. Marshall still conducts the paper, making it a creditable publication, and a financial success. The paper being republican in politics has enjoyed the emoluments of that party’s supremacy in county affairs, in return for the able services which its editor has ever rendered his party.

In 1874 Charles M. Johnson started the Jasper Republican. a time. In 187/ James W. McEwen brought here the Democratic S*»«**ael, which is still with flourishing under the control of the same industrious hand that established it. Several other papers have been started in Rensselaer but their lives were so short that it is needless to mention them. The People’s Pilot was estabashed here in 1891. The Farmers’ Alliance organized a joint stock company, bought the plant and placed Leslie E. .Clark in charge as local editor and business manager, the editorial department being under the control of a committee of stockholders. In 1893 Clark was superceded by C. B. Harold, who served as local editor and business manager one year. Following Harold for a short time was Lee E. Glazebrook, who, on Jan. 1, ’95, turned the paper over to F. D. Craig, to whom the plant was leased. A repent addition to the journalistic ranks is the Home News, a bright little weekly, edited by A. J. Bartoo, a brother-in-law of George E. Marshall, editor of the Republican. The Home News now occupies the hitherto unrepresented non-political field. Rensselaer is a good newspaper town, the people liberally patronizing their local papers ,

MISS BIRDIE CHIPMAN.

c. D. ASHBY.