The Democratic party, in the minority numerically and without official patronage, made no attempt to establish a strictly party organ for many years. In 1866, the time seemed favor­ able for such a step. A number of the leaders in the county met in Aledo and organized a company, shares being placed at $10 each, and the stock was promptly subscribed. The name given the new paper was "The Mercer County Press," and John A. J. Birdsall, who had had some experience in publishing a Democratic paper at Keithsburg, was installed as its editor. After Mr. Birdsall's retirement, David R. . Waters, then an attorney in Aledo, took the management of the "Press," and continued as its editor until April 1. 1869, when the plant was sold to Mr. John Geiger, then a resident of Aledo.

On April 13, 1869, Mr. Geiger issued the first number of "The Democratic Banner." While the "Banner" held to the leading principles of the old school Democracy, it frequently found occasion to dissent from the new methods and policies propounded by platforms and leaders of the time. Mr. Geiger in 1872, as a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, voted alone against a resolution favoring the nomi­nation of Horace Greeley for President and declined to support him through the "Banner."

In July, 1872, the "Banner" establishment was purchaseu by 0. P. Arthur, a gentleman possessing a high order of newspaper talent, who conducted the paper as a Democratic organ and gave his support to the party measures. As a consequence of financial conditions in 1873, the Greenback party began to materialize. The "Banner" supported the movement with such vigor that the party promised at one time to become at least second in the county in point of numbers. About this time Mr. Arthur changed slightly the name of the paper, dropping the word "Democratic," the title thereafter being "The Aledo Banner." By articles on the financial abuser of both parties and in­genious plans for increasing the circulation, he brought up its patronage at one time nearly, if not quite, to that of the old established "Aledo Record."

In May, 1878, Mr. Geiger again purchased the "Banner," but sold out the same year to Rev. P. F. Warner. In 1880, at the solicitation of a number of his Democratic friends. Mr. Geiger returned to the newspaper business, establishing the "Aledo Democrat," which was started as a campaign sheet to be issued during the Summer and autumn of that year. The venture proved so successful, however, that about January 1, 1881, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column quarto, and its publication continued until about June 1, of that year, when Mr. Geiger associated with himself Messrs. R. Russell and George M. Eames, two energetic and industrious young men of Aledo, who were well skilled in newspaper work and jobprinting. The style of the firm was Geiger, Russell & Eames. It was about this time that the firm bought the material of the old "Aledo Banner" and ended its career. In August of this year Mr. Russell sold out his interest to the other members of the firm, and the publication of the paper was continued by Messrs. Geiger and Eames, until

October, 1883, when Mr. Geiger died. After hisdeath the interest which he had held was purchased by J. F. Henderson, and the name of the firm became Henderson & Eames. This firm continued the publication of the paper until in 1837, when Mr. Henderson, having been appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, sold his interest to Mr. Eames, and from that time the paper was conducted successfully by Mr. Eames until September 1, 1901, when he sold the entire plant to John E. Mardock and Hugh Durning.

The business was then conducted by Messrs. Mardock & Durning, until September 1. 1902, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Mardock purchasing the interest of Mr. Durning and becoming sole proprietor. The paper has grown steadily from the time it was established and now enjoys a circulation of about 2.000. It is prosperous and has always been Democratic politically, but liberal and untrammelled by partisan leaders. It is the only Democratic newspaper in Mercer County.

Mr. Geiger, so long a prominent factor in the history of the "Democratic Banner," and, later, in connection with the "Aledo Democrat," was a man of fine presence and decided ability —a gentleman of the old school, full of charity and the spirit of kindness towards his fellow­men. In his death Aledo lost a high-minded, upright and enterprising citizen, and the people a strong and earnest champion of the right as he saw it and believed in it.

 

History of Henderson and Mercer Counties

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