Newspapers of Harrison County, Missouri

The following article, written by Ada L. Wightman, one of the founders of the Bethany Clipper and now deceased, was published in the History of Northwest Missouri: "The honor of establishing the first newspaper in Harrison County belongs to Edwin R. Martin and Samuel Allen, who in 1859 came from Memphis, Missouri, and started the Bethany Star, an independent local sheet, the first number of which made its appearance August 4, 1859. Martin and Allen were practical printers. The paper was a six-column folio. William A. Templeman purchased the Star in 1861 and changed the name to the Weekly Union. The circulation at this time was about 600. In 1863 Henry Howe purchased the office and changed the name to the Weekly Union of States. The next year Mr. Howe's sons, Ed and James Howe, took charge of the office, and continued the publication until 1865. Ed Howe is the well-known editor, writer, lecturer and traveler, now of Atchison, Kansas. Thomas D. Neal then purchased the office and established the North Missouri Tribune. He continued the publication until 1872, at which time it was purchased by William T. Foster, and was regularly issued until 1875, when John H. Phillebaum purchased the office. Mr. Foster now lives in Washington, District of Columbia, and is well known over the country as a weather prognosticator. Mr. Phillebaum changed the name of the paper to Harrison County Herald, and published it until 1876, when the office was purchased by Al. S. Hickman and James P. Berry. The publication was soon suspended for want of proper financial support.

In 1868 the Harrison County Press, a weekly independent sheet, was established by a stock company, with Colonel W. P. Robinson as editor. Mr. Robinson was succeeded by Paul Conner, who failed to make the paper financially remunerative. D. J. Heaston purchased the paper in 1870 and changed the name to the Bethany Watchman. In 1873 the office was purchased by a stock company and moved to Grant City.

The Bethany Republican was established by Thomas D. Neal, May 22, 1873. He continued as editor until the winter of 1875, when he sold out to Walter J. Wightman, who changed the name to the Harrison County Republican. Mr. Wightman had previously published a paper, the Harrison County Eagle, at Eagleville, moving an office to that town in 1874 from Garden Grove, Iowa. Later a co-partnership was effected with Mr. Neal, who subsequently purchased the entire interest, and ran the paper until 1881, when Frank H. Ramer became proprietor and editor. In 1887 Mr. Ramer disposed of the office to a stock company. The Bethany Clipper, which W. J. Wightman conducted in Bethany from January, 1883, to December 12, 1887, was consolidated with the Bethany Republican, and Mr. Wightman was made business manager and editor, which position he held until his death, December 3, 1903. Mr. Wightman had established and published the Eagleville Clipper in 1877 and the Blythedale Clipper in 1880. Since 1887 Nelson Church, Colonel W. P. Robinson, Millard F. Stookey, S. G. McDowell, Alex Reid and W. H. Crouch have been on the editorial staff.

The first number of the Bethany Broad-Ax, the democratic organ of the county, appeared March 8, 1877, edited by D. J. Heaston and B. F. Meyer. In 1881 Mr. Heaston purchased the latter's interest and continued the publication alone about one year. He then sold a half interest to W. L. Robertson, now of the Gallatin Democrat. J. H. Cover purchased the paper in January, 1884, being in charge until 1893, when he sold out to John and Will Templeman. Since then the paper has been owned by W. S. Van Cleve, D. S. DeMotte, and Dudley Reid. At present the editor and owner is S. B. Strock.

The Eagleville Enterprise was established in 1880 by J. Frank Ward and was continued two years.

The Cainsville Signal was started at Cainsville in 1885 by C. A. Brannon, and existed about a year.

The Cainsville News was established by J. H. Rockwell, of Iowa, in April, 1885. S. P. Davidson bought the office in 1887, and later sold to J. D. McDaniel, who is now in charge.

In 1882 M. A. Thorne established the Ridgeway Blade, which existed two years.

The Ridgeway Free Press, by C. C. Bartruff, was started in 1884, and continued until 1886.

The Ridgeway Journal, established by J. F. Jaqua, was afterwards purchased by his brother, C. M. Jaqua, who is now editor of the Warrensburg Standard Herald. Mr. Jaqua sold to Frank Dougherty; Mr. Dougherty to F. M. Spragg and sons, and Messrs. Spragg to Harry Jones, who is now in charge.

One of the first editors of the Gilman City Guide was J. Bowen. The paper is now edited by Albert L. Pratt.

The New Hampton Herald was established by James Graves, who also edited a paper at Eagleville. It is now published by B. W. Lanning.

The Bethany Clipper was established October 14, 1905, and is owned and managed by W. Sam and Ada L. Wightman.

Not often is it recorded that a monument is erected to the memory of a printer. But Harrison County paid this tribute to her veteran printer, Edwin R. Martin, who died in 1889. Mr. Martin had written a book of poems entitled, "Pansy Wreath and Quiet Hours." After his death his close friend and co-worker, W. J. Wightman, had these poems published in book form and from the sale of the books realized the sum of $250, which purchased a substantial and beautiful monument, now marking the last resting place of Edwin R. Martin in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany.

Colonel D. J. Heaston, who at different times was connected with the newspaper of the county, took a special interest in keeping copies of each paper published, and up to the time of his death had complete files of all the newspapers published in the county, including the Bethany Star, the first paper. The fifty volumes were purchased of the estate by W. Sam and Ada L. Wightman, of the Bethany Clipper. 

 Harrison County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Harrison County, Missouri, by Geo. W. Wanamaker, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1921