Geneseo Republic .

The first paper in Geneseo was established in 1855 by Col. James Bowie and was Democratic in politics, very modest in its editorials and still more so in its lists of sub­ scribers. The fact was, the paper was not more than fairly launched upon the troubled waters when the politics of the county became intensely anti-Democratic and Democracy went into a quick decline largely moribund, and has so remained ever since save the galvanic jerks that may be noticed around the postoffices since the late national triumph of the Democratic party in the Presi­ dential election.

The next paper, and now the oldest paper in the county, was the Geneseo Republic , started, as stated, by I. S. Hyatt, the first issue of which was June 1, 1856. Mr. Hyatt became a bankrupt in 1858, and the property passed into the hands of assignees, James M. Allan andO. A. Turner, who continued the publication until the sale of the property by order of the court, when it passed into the hands of Merritt Munson, who was one of the able and active men who pushed vigorously and well any enterprise he undertook. He conducted the paper until Dec. 28, 1858 , when he sold to Geo. H. Lewis & Co. The new firm pushed the fortunes of the paper until June, 1862, when George A. Hobbs became the owner. Hobbs and his partners submerged their Independent into the Republic, and moved along in good style.

Nov. 27, 1863, Adam Lieberknecht purchased, of James M. Hosford, its founder, the Union Advocate, established Oct. 1, 1861, a Republican organ, and in a short time the Republic and Advocate were consolidated, with the stipulation that the Republic should be conducted as a Republican organ, or, in other words, the Advocate gave up its name but preserved its party principles ; and this, it seems, permanently settled the politics of the old, reliable Republic, as it has remained unflinchingly Republican in politics from that day to this.

 

Portriat and Biographical Album of Henry County

Submitted by W. Caudell

 

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