PRAIRIE CHIEF.

Much alike in many ways were C. Bassett of the Kewanee press, and Benja­ min W. Seaton of the Cambridge press. Both were Deans of the printers' craft. They took honest pride in their art. They were good men, and careful.

In 1862 Seaton started the Galva Union. In 1864, Eric Johnson bought the office. Six months after, it went to John I. Bennett ; J. M. Edson, editor. In 1867 Seaton again came in. The office was sold, N. W. Fuller purchasing it. Fuller got full of it in a year, and Eric Johnson again took hold. He changed the paper's name to Republican. It was a case of too much Johnson. After sev­eral. spurts, and struggles, and gasps, it ceased to be.

To the fore came one Ward. From the wreck of the Galva Republican he issued the Journal. This was in 1870. Henri W. Young tackled the Journal; but didn't sojourn with it long, adjourning to Kansas, where the cowboys were much mortified with him because he didn't know how to spell Henry, his own name. The fraternity in Henry county used to have fun with Henri's "i," and Smithe of the Cambridge Chronicle's final "e." Well, B. W. Seaton got the old outfit again, and poured forth a few prairie chiefs at Galva, for three months. Then he moved to Toulon, and issued the Stark County Democrat. In 1871 it took up its bed and walked again, settling in Cambridge. Here the good old time printer passed away, full of years, and was succeeded by his sons

 

Portriat and Biographical Album of Henry County

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