NEWSPAPERS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
One of the greatest institutions in this day of great things is the daily newspaper. Its evolution has been most rapid. Even Horace Greeley. the Nestor of American journalism, if he were permitted to come back to earth, would be ill at ease in his old profession. The fast presses, printing many thousands an hour, the linotype and other inventions that work almost with the precision of the human mind, have produced results far beyond the wildest dreams of half a century ago. Jules Verne's fantastic stories are scarcely more won derful. Indeed. Verne was something of a prophet, for in other lines of progress some of his fancies have been realized in fact.
The scope of the daily newspaper has become greatly enlarged. By the constantly increased use of illustrations, and the introduction of "features," the newspaper has encroached upon the domain of the magazine. The religious journal has also felt the growing prestige of the daily. As in ancient Rome, the Pantheon was dedicated to the worship of all the gods, so the newspaper of today meets the needs of all the people. Interurban lines of railway and the rural route have brought the morning and evening news to the door of the farmer. The special correspondent has traversed all parts of the globe, and is now sighing for other worlds to conquer.
It was said in the olden time, "Despise not the day of small things." The story of the newspapers of Rockford, daily, weekly and monthly, is replete with interest, and will now be told in full.
The first newspaper published in Winnebago county was the Rock River Express. Its publication began in Rockford May 5, 1840, by B. J. Gray. In politics it was whig of the most radical type. In a village of perhaps three hundred in habitants there was very little of a local nature that could be published. The primary purpose of the paper's existence seems to have been to promote the election of William Henry Harrison to the presidency. Its ambition was satisfied, but after it had been published one year the press and printing material were sold and removed from the village. A file of this paper, nearly complete, has been preserved in the public library.
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The Rockford Star was founded in the autumn of 1840, as a democratic paper. The printing material was owned by Daniel S. Haight, Daniel Howell and Adam Keith. The office was located on the southeast corner of Madison and Market streets, in the building erected by Mr. Haight for religious, court, and other purposes. This old building still shelters one of the craft, William G. Conick, on North First street. The editor, Philander Knappen, was simply a tenant. J. H. Thurston was the "devil" in the office, a role which, according to his own statement, he was eminently qualified to fill. He also became quite an expert compositor. Mr. Thurston subsequently obtained employment on John Wentworth's paper, the Chicago Democrat, on the strength of a letter of Mr. Knappen, to the effect that he was a rapid compositor, could set a clean proof, and could sometimes make sense from Knappen's own manuscript.
April 28, 1841. the editor of the Star was married to Miss Eliza Simons, of Harlem. Mr. Knappen sent a special invitation to "Long John" Wentworth, of Chicago. Mr. Wentworth had already started on one of his frequent trips to Rockford. and he expressed his congratulations by following the bride and groom all the evening with a tallow dip in his extended hand, which reached nearly to the ceiling. Mr. Knappen had been in Rockford but a short time when the Driscoll traged y occurred as a climax to the career of the "bandits of the prairie" in northern Illinois. Mr. Knappen did not understand the temper of the people ; and his strong denunciation of the summary execution of the outlaws aroused intense indignation. The citizens proposed to punish the editor. Soon after the issue of the paper, the office of the Star was entered in the night and the tvpe reduced to pi. When the editor beheld this "wreck of matter" he stirred the pi with a stove shovel, and mixed the fonts of type in every case in the office. Mr. Knappen turned over the subscription list to Mr. Howell. of the Rockford House, where the office force boarded, and abandoned journalism in this unappreciative village. Mr. Howell did not realize an ything from the assets placed in his hands. Thirt y Years later Mr. Thurston divulged the fact that D. S. Haight, Charles Latimer and Adam Keith were the perpetrators of the mischief. The democratic luminary had been sidetracked in its orbit.
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The Rockford Pilot began its brief career July 22, 1841. Mr. Thurston says he helped distribute the Star pi, and with this material assisted in issuing the first four numbers of its successor. The Pilot was published as a democratic paper until October, 1842. It could no longer steer clear of the rocks. The editor, John A. Brown, had been defeated for representative : the democrats had sustained a local defeat of their entire ticket, and on the 3oth of October the last number of the Pilot was issued.
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The Better Covenant, a Universalist paper, was printed at the Pilot office during a portion of this period. Its editor was William Rounseville.
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February 17, 1843. J. Ambrose Wight began the publication of the Winnebago Forum, a whig paper, with material which had been used in printing the Rockford Star. Mr. Wight was a graduate of 'Williams college, and first came to Winnebago county in 1836. He was a brother of James M. Wight. with whom he read law for a time. Mr. Wight retired from the Forum August 18, 1843, when he sold the paper to Austin M. Colton. The terms were easy. Mr. Wight said: "He asked me my price. I told him if he would take it off my hands, we would be square." Mr. Colton was more successful than an y of his predecessors in the local newspaper field, and his place in local history is that of the best known "country editor" of the old school. Mr. Colton continued the paper under the old name until the close of the first volume, in February, 1844, when it was rechristened the Rockford Forum. After Mr. Colton had "written for glory and printed on trust" for ten years, he sold the paper to E. W. Blaisdell. Jr., who came to Rockford in the latter part of 1853. In January of 1854 the new proprietor changed the name of the Forum to the Republican, and took his brother, Richard F. Blaisdell, into partnership. The Republican was published until 1862, when it was purchased by Elias C. Daugherty, and merged into , the Rockford Register, of which be was proprietor.
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In September, 1848, Henry W. De Puy established the Rockford Free Press, as a Free Soil or Barnburner organ. It was published until February, 1850, when it was discontinued for want of patronage.
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The Rock River Democrat was founded in June, 1852, as a democratic paper, by Benjamin Holt. David T. Dickson afterward purchased an interest. In 1855 Rhenodyne A. Bird became Mr. Holt's successor. The paper was published by Dickson & Bird until May 1, 1864. It was then purchased by Isaiah S. Hyatt, who continued its publication until June 12, 1865, when the plant was sold to the Register company.
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The Rockford Register was founded by E. C. Daugherty in February, 1855. There were alread y two weekly papers in the field, the Republican and the Democrat. But Mr. Daugherty was confident there was always room at the top. In his prospectus Mr. Daugherty said he had "selected the flourishing and beautiful city of Rockford as his future home, believing the field ample for a new aspirant to public favor."
Mr. Daugherty had in him the elements of the reformer, and he founded the Register as a strong opponent of the extension of slavery. He made a declaration of his principles in the following paragraph of his prospectus :
"In the present confused state of political par ties and issues we need not promise further as to the political course of the Register than that, while our sympathies are, as ever, with the cardinal doctrines and faith of the whig part y, we shall also earnestly lend our humble efforts and influence to check the aggressive encroachments of southern dictation and overthrow the monopoly of slave power—endeavoring by all honorable means to advance the interests and sustain the true issues of freedom. We are not among those. however, who believe all the honest y and intelligence belong to either of the great political parties, and shall be as free to commend a political opponent when right as to condemn one of our faith when wrong—according the right of free opinion to all. We may also say here, the Register will be the organ of no clique or club, but will be independently its own exponent.'
Concerning the business side of the enterprise, the prospectus continued : "The paper will be styled the Rockford Register and will be printed weekly, upon new type and good quality of paper, seven columns to the page, at $1.50 per annum in advance, or $2.00 at the end of the year. City subscribers, whose papers are delivered. by the carrier, will be charged fifty cents additional."
Commencing with a limited capital, and contending against strong opposition, Mr. Daugherty lived to see both the original rival papers, and others, merged into the Register, which became a strong and influential paper. The Register absorbed other papers representing an almost unbroken line since 1840. June I, 1859, Mr. Daughert y began the publication of the Daily Register : but it was discontinued at the end of three months.
In June, 1865, the Rock River Democrat was merged with the Register, which passed into the hands of a joint stock company. The impaired health of Mr. Daugherty compelled him to retire from active business life. I. S. Hyatt, who had at two previous periods been connected with the paper, as assistant editor, and later the proprietor of the Rock River Democrat, became, under the new management, the principal editor with E. H. Griggs as associate.
By reason of breaks in the files, the record of changes in the management of the Register may not be absolutely complete. The possible omissions, however, do not cover more than one or two years.
June 30, 1866, Mr. Hyatt resigned his position as editor, and was succeeded by E. C. Daugherty, who retained the editorial charge of the paper until February 23, 1867, when the condition of his health forced him to retire. Abraham E. and William E. Smith, former proprietors of the Indianapolis Gazette, became associated with E. H. Griggs in the management of the Register. These gentlemen retired June 29, 1867. Mr. Griggs became editor and manager. with J. E. Fox as associate. This management continued until October 7, 1871, when the name of S. M. Daugherty, widow of the founder of the paper, appeared as proprietor. The following week the Register announced that P. S. Martin was business manager.
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January 6, 1873, Geo. E. Wright & Co. began the publication of the Daily Register. It was a morning paper, with no Sunday edition. March 13, 1873, Charles J. 'Woodbury & Co. assumed the management. Mr. Woodbury was a half- brother of Rev. Frank P. Woodburr, D. D.. pastor of the Second Congregational church. Dr. Woodbury had the editorial instinct, and rendered some assistance in an editorial way. November 8. 1873. the Register was changed from a morning to an evening paper. But the time had not come for the success of such a venture, and on February 10, 1874, the daily was discontinued.
April 16, 1875, the names of N. D. Wright and M. Collaton appear as members of the Register company. In January of the following year Mr. Wright was editor-in-chief.
July 27. 1877, the Register was issued under the management of N. D. Wright and C.L. Miller. The latter had come to Rockford from Rochelle, where he had been connected with a weekly paper.
October 1, 1877, the Rockford Daily Register was started upon a permanent basis by Messrs. Wright and Miller, with E. C. Chandler as city editor. A few months later E. M. Botsford accepted a reportorial position, and in 1881 he pur chased an interest. W. P. Lamb subsequently became a third partner.
The firm of Miller, Botsford & Co., continued in the management until January 1. 1891, when Edgar E. Bartlett, W. L. Faton and Eugene McSweeney, all of Kalamazoo. Michigan, purchased the good will of the Daily Register and Daily Gazette. and consolidated them under the firm name of the Register Gazette.
In 1898 Mr. Bartlett purchased the interest of Mr. McSweeney, and in 1901 he purchased Mr. Eaton's interest. In the autumn of that year Mr. Bartlett sold a part interest to Archibald S. Leckie. of Chicago, who became managing editor.
Two years later, in October, 1903, Fred E. Sterling purchased Mr. Leckie's interest, and became manager of the editorial department.
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The Rockford Wesleyan Seminary Reporter was begun as a monthly publication in October, 1857. Only four numbers were issued. It was published by Rev. W. F. Stewart in the interest of the proposed Wesleyan seminary.
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The first number of the Cudgel was issued Januar y 17. 1857. It bore this legend on its title page : "Published somewhere, circulates everywhere, edited nowhere." It was published semimonthly, but only seven numbers were printed.
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Dr. George Haskell began the publication of the Spirit Advocate April 15. 1854. It was an able propagandist of spiritualism. Twenty-three numbers were published when it was consolidated with the Orient. with headquarters at Waukegan. The last number of the Advocate appeared March 15. 1856. A complete file of this paper has been preserved in the Rockford public library.
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The Democratic Standard was founded October 30. 1858. by Springsteen & Parks, as a democratic organ. After about a month, the Standard was published by Parks alone, until February 5, 1859, when David G. Croly became proprietor. On the 18th of May following the proprietorship was changed to D. G. Croly & Co. The company was John H. Grove. On the suspension of the News April 30, 186o, and the retirement of Mr. Crol y the publication of the Standard was continued by John H. Grove and James S. Ticknor for a few months. The paper was then sold to James E. and Joseph H. Fox, who established the Daily News. It was a republican paper, and the first number was issued in December. 1860. A few weeks later they began the publication of the Weekly. News, which was continued until September 21, 1861. The plant was then sold to E.C. Daugherty, and its publication was discontinued.
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An earlier paper, also called the Daily News, was established by David G. Croly, February 8, 1859. The paper was neutral in politics. Its publication was continued until April 30, 1860, when it was suspended for want of patronage.
Mr. and Mrs. Croly won national reputation in journalism and letters after their departure from Rockford. Mr. Croly became city editor of the New York World and later was its managing editor. He was the author of biographies of Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair, a History of Reconstruction and a Primer of Positivism. He died in 1889.
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The Crescent Age was founded in 1859. Its editors were Dr. George Haskell and H. P. Kimball. It was a Spiritualist publication, and lived only a short time.
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The Rock River Mirror was established September 6, 1859, by Allen Gibson. It was neutral in politics and was printed at the Register office. Later the name of N. C. Thompson appeared as associate editor, and still later the proprietors were Allen Gibson and E. D. Marsh.
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The People's Press was established July 25, 1865, by W. P. Furey, who published it until May, 1866. when a joint stock company was or ganized, which continued its publication until September 1, 1866, when it was suspended from lack of patronage.
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Words for Jesus, a monthly religious publication, was started in October, 1867. by Thomas J. and Hugh Lamont.
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Leaves from Forest Hill, a monthly, was published for some time during the school year, by the young ladies of Rockford Seminary.
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The Rockford Gazette was founded November 22, 1866, by I. S. Hyatt, as a small advertising sheet. It prospered to such an extent that in the following April it was greatly enlarged. April 25, 1867. the name of Benjamin Foltz appeared as editor. August 29, 1867, the Gazette was issued with the names of Abraham E. and William E. Smith as proprietors. This partnership continued for some years. In 1878 the publishers began a semi-weekly edition, and August 4, 1879, the Gazette was issued as a daily. and became valuable newspaper property. In 1882 Mr. Smith admitted Col. F. A. E a stman, of Chicago, as a partner. This partnership was dissolved the following year, and Mr. Smith continued as sole proprietor until January, 1891, when the paper was merged into the Register-Gazette.
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The Winnebago Chief was started November 21, 1866, by J. P. Irvine as editor and proprietor. July 3, 1867, Hiram R. Enoch was admitted as a partner, and the name of the paper was changedto the Winnebago County Chief. Mr. Irvine subsequently retired, and Mr. Enoch remained sole proprietor until December, 1882, when the journal passed into the hands of Foote & Kimball. In March, 1883, the paper was sold to D. Miller & Co., who published it three years. In March, 1886, a Mr. Gardner, from the southern part of the state, purchased a half interest. This part nership was dissolved, Mr. Gardner taking the job department, and D. Miller & Co. retaining the subscription list and business of the paper. In August, 1887, the journal was sold to Hon. Stanley Browne, by whom its publication was continued until the good will and subscription list became the property of the Rockford Morning Star company.
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The Golden Censer was founded May 1, 1868. by John Lemley. It was an undenominational religious and family paper. It was first issued semi-monthl y, and subsequently changed to a weekly. November I, 1877, the paper passed into the hands of a stock company. The principal stockholders were 0. R. Brouse, Rev. C. E. Mandeville. and N. E. Lyman, who was then president of the People's bank. The Censer, under this management, attained a circulation of eighteen thousand, the largest ever reached by a Rockford paper. In time, however, the circu lation was greatly reduced, until August. 1896, when the Censer, with barely two thousand sub scribers, was indefinitely suspended. In March, 1897, the Calvert Brothers purchased the good will and material and resumed publication, with Charles A. Church as editor. The policy of the Censer was greatly changed, and an able corps of local contributors was secured. In less than one year the circulation advanced to six thousand. But this number did not make the paper self sustaining. In April, 1898, Charles A. Church became sole proprietor. June 1st of the same year the good will of the paper was sold to the Ram's Horn of Chicago.
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The Christian Gleaner, a monthly, was published at the Censer office for some years. It was made up of selections from the Censer. and contained very little original matter. The subscription list was absorbed by the Censer about 1891.
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The Rockford Daily Journal was started in August. 1870. by Lumley & Carpenter. It lived two days.
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Andrus' Illustrated Monthly was founded in January, 1872, by D. A. K. and W. D. E. Andrus. It was discontinued in September, 1873.
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The Methodist Free Press was started by John Lemley in September, 1872, and was continued until January, 1875.
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Vol. 1, No. I. of the Curiosity Hunter was issued in September, 1872, as a monthly by D. A. Andrus, and was continued until July, 1874. In 1876 it was resumed at Belvidere.
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Nowadays was launched by E. C. Chandler & Co., January 1, 187 4. Only one number was issued.
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The Rockford Sunday Herald was started May 11, 1879, by E. C. Chandler. It was discontinued December 21, 1879.
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The People's Champion was launched by E. W. Blaisdell, September 29, 1880. Only five numbers were issued.
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Our Home and Science Gossip was started by D. A. K. Andrus in March, 1881, and was continued about two years.
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The Rockford Seminary Magazine was founded in January, 1873, with the name of Caroline A. Potter, class of 1855, as editor. The first number contained forty pages. In later years the magazine was edited by the senior class. After the seminary was raised to the rank of a college, in 1891 the name of the paper was changed to the Rockford Collegian. Its publication was discontinued in 1895.
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One number of the Stamp News was issued in 1873 by D. A. K. Andrus.
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The Rockford Industrial Times began a brief career in February, 1874, with W. F. Barrows as editor. A few months later the name was changed to the Hornet. The second volume began with a second change in name, the Rockford Times. John R. Coursen and Fred Dayton were the proprietors. The issue of August 4. 1875, announced that Mr. Coursen had sold his interest to Louis A. Manlove. There is a complete file of the Times in the public library for two years ending February 16, 1876.
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The first number of the Rockford Daily News was issued January 26, 1878, by D. A. K. Andrus. Geo. W. Sherer and F. 0. Bennett. Sunday morning, June 3. 1878, the Dail y News created a great sensation by publishing a harrowing story of a communist attack upon the government. When it was learned that the story had no foundation in fact, Mayor Watson ordered the office closed by the city marshal. After many changes the Daily News suspended publication in October, 1880.
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The Western Banner was established as a temperance paper in 1878, by J. E. Hampton, F. Wilson and H. S. Wilbur. The paper was printed on a hand press in the office of the Rockford Journal. It died December 19, 1878.
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The Morning Herald was started June 188r. by Miller & Welch. It was published until October, 1882.
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The Rockford Furniture Journal was founded in 1888. A leading spirit in the agitation for a trade paper was the late Lyon P. Ross. who was then secretary of the Forest City furniture factory. The Furniture Journal company was or ganized, in which A. F. Judd and George W. Sherer were the principal stockholders. The Journal was published monthly nearly two years, when the subscription list and good will of the paper were sold to Abraham E. Smith. About 1894 Mr. Smith sold an interest to P. D. Francis, and a year or two later, he sold his remaining interest to J. Newton Nind. Messrs. Francis and Nind continued its publication for some years in Rockford. In the meantime other trade papers were purchased and consolidated. The publication office was removed to Chicago, and the Journal, now a semi-monthly, is one of the most prosperous trade papers in the west.
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The Monitor, a weekly publication in the interest of the prohibition party, issued its first number in May, 1885. It was published by the Prohibition company, with James Lamont as secretary and editor. In 1890 the Monitor was sold to James Lamont and Charles M. Whipple. Its publication was continued b y the Monitor Publishing company until July, 1 1897, when, owing to business troubles the Monitor suspended.
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The Chicago Lever was purchased in 1892 by the Monitor Publishing company and brought to Rockford. It was published each Thursday and was a national organ of the prohibition party. James Lamont was editor. In July, 1897, the Lever was sold to James Lamont and Liberty Walkup, who in February, 1899, sold it to Dicide & Woolley, and the office of publication was transferred to Chicago. In September, 1899. it was merged with the New Voice of Chicago.
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The Rockford Morning Star is the first successful morning newspaper published in the city. Hon. J. Stanley Browne, the editor-in-chief, came to Rockford in 1887. He had served two terms as democratic member of the New York legislature from Otsego count y. and for five years was secretary to Lieutenant Governor Dorscheimer, when Samuel J. Tilden was governor. Mr. Browne's first newspaper work in Rockford was in 1887, when he became editor and publisher of the Rockford Journal. In the following spring a stock company was organized for the publication of the Morning Star, and March 20th the first number was issued. Many changes have been made in the business and reportorial staff, but, with a brief interim, Mr. Browne has been the managing editor from the first.
The Farmer's Monthly was started by A. E. Smith, and sold to Messrs. Bartlett. Eaton and McSweeney, and was published by them for several years.
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In the spring of 1890 the Republican company was organized with a capital of $10.000, of which about $7,000 was paid in. The first board of directors was as follows : W. H. Worthington, H. H. Robinson. H. C. Scovill, W. G. Conick, H. 0. Hilton, W. J. Johnson. Harry Marean, C. H. Godfre y. J. A. Johnson. The first number of the Republican was issued April l0. 1890. with H. O. Hilton as editor ; Harry Marean. business manager, and Will J. Johnson, city editor. The Republican was a morning daily, without a Sunday edition. In politics the paper was radical republican. In 1893 C. D. Allyn, who had been on the staff of the old Daily Gazette, purchased ad interest, and the company issued an evening edi-1 tion. There were several changes in the business management, Mr. Marean being succeeded in turn by Will J. Johnson, W. H. Worthington and C. D. Allyn. In 1896 Charles L. Miller, Harry M. Johnson and John E. Warfield purchased a controlling interest in the plant, and these gentlemen are still the owners of the paper. The name was changed to the Republic.
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The Sunday Mercury, started in December, 1890, by C. H. Seiders and Alex Majors, was a creditable weekly paper, but only a few numbers were published.
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In 1892 Charles A. Church organized a stock company. with a capital of $5,000. for the publication of the Spectator. Abraham E. Smith was business manager, and the paper was printed in the office of the Smith Publishing company.
The first number was issued May 21. 1892. The Spectator was strictly a literary and family paper of sixteen pages, with an able corps of contributors. Among the latter were the late Mrs. Eva T. Clark, Mrs. Marie T. Perry. Mrs. Caroline A. P. Brazee, Mrs. Mar y Urquhart Lee, Mrs. H. M. Johnson. Hon. Chas. E. Fuller, of Belvidere, and the Rev. C. H. Moscrip. of Rockford. From a literary point of view, the Spectator was eminently successful, but the expense of maintain ing it was far beyond the receipts that a new paper of its kind was able to command. After one year the distinctive features of the Spectator were abandoned and the paper was issued as a daily. The first number appeared May 15, 1893. The financial stringency which came so suddenly upon the country during the summer seriously embarrassed the principal stockholders of the Smith Publishing company, which had absorbed the Spectator company, and in August. 1893, the daily was suspended. The following autumn the publication of the Spectator was resumed as a local weekly, and continued until the spring of 1895, when the subscription list was sold to the Monitor company.
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The Weekly Recorder was started in May. 1896, by Will J. Johnson. It kept up a spirited existence until October, 1899, when the paper was sold to H. 0. Hilton, who issued a few numbers„ and about Januar y 1st the paper was discontinued.
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The Owl has been published nearly every year since 1885 as the paper of the Rockford high school. The editor, business manager and staff have been chosen each year from the senior class.
The Rockford Review was issued in June. 1891, by Forest City Publishing: company. It was later merged with the Furniture Journal.
Winnebago County Schools was started by Supt. C. J. Kinnie in 1886, and was continued for a short time.
The Agricultural West launched by Don. Needham in March, 1884, but was soon discontinued.
Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Rockford Labor Journal was issued July 9, 1898. It had a brief career.
One number of the Constitution was issued August 25, 1890.
Journal of Practical Nursing was started in 1888. It was edited b y L. C. Brown, M. D.
The Rockford Air Brush was started in 1891, in the interest of the company of that name.
The Union Printer made its first appearance April 23, 1898.
The People's Journal made its first appearance September 21. 1894. It was published by the Calvert Brothers.
The Advocate was launched in December, 1884, by W. G. Dustin, in the interest of real estate.
The Rockford Chief was published for a time by Mrs. E. Hertherington, beginning October 22, 1892.
The Rockford Union Record was started October 31, 1903, by John W. Aspegren. It is published in the interest of organized labor.
The Forest City was published for a time in 1895-96 by Tomblin Brothers.
The Hammer, published by Dr. E. S. Tebbetts in the interest of socialism, has ceased to exist.
The large Swedish population of Rockford has created a demand for a newspaper published in the language of the fatherland. Several attempts have been made to supply this need.
Nya Sverige was started in March, 1872, by A. W. Schalin. It lived but a short time.
Rockford's Allehanda was established June 18, 1884, by Otto Pallin. The name was changed to Svenska Fria-Pressen. It was published b y C. Ebbesen„ about four years.
January 4, 1889, Mr. Ebbesen launched another paper, the Posten. It was published in the Crotty block on East State street. Subsequently the publication office was removed to the Union block, on Kishwaukee street, where it has since been published. Mr. Ebbesen was succeeded in turn by C. J. Sjostrom, Fred Swenson, and Prof. C. A. Wendell. The present editor is Mr. Linden.
Joltomten. by C. Ebbesen, was published Saturdays, 1st, 8th, 15th and 22d of December, 1888.
Rockford's Harold was established b y Magnus Larson, April 12, 1902. One number was issued.
Framtiden was first issued April 13, 1892, by the Framtiden Publishing company. It was published three or four years.
Forskaren was started September 4, 1893, by E. Fjellander and F. Malmquist.
Folkets Rost was issued by Charles Henry, March 18, 1895. Four numbers were published.
Framat was started by Swenson & Bjork, September 15, 1903.
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The German population of Rockford has never been large, yet it has for many years supported a church and a newspaper. The Germania was fotluded as a four-page weekly by John Pingle in 1883;. The present proprietor is Herr Ferd Steainger, who for many years has been instructor in German at the Rockford high school.
The foregoing is believed to be the first complete story of Rockford newspapers ever published. The list might be continued by the mention of various monthly bulletins issued by the churches from time to time, the Y. M. C. the Business college, and similar organizations. While these performed a legitimate function in their way. they scarcely have a place in the chronicle of Rockford newspapers.
The press of Rockford has not been the exclusive purveyor of local news. Several newspapers have been started in the other towns of the county.
The Rockton Gazette was established at Rockton in 1857, by Funk & Phelps. Mr. Funk retired and the paper was continued about one year b y H. W. Phelps. The office and fixtures were removed to Burlington, Wisconsin.
The Pecatonica Independent was established in May, 1859, by J. E. Duncan. It was published about one year. when the office was removed to Darlington, Wisconsin.
The Pecatonica News was started as a weekly newspaper December 1, 1872. W. A. and Nate L. Colby were editors and proprietors. January 1, 1881, W. A. Colby sold his interest to his brother, who continued its publication up to the time of his death, July II, 1904. Gilbert F., a son of N. L. Colby, is now editor and manager for the estate.
The Winnebago Reflector was established Februar y 11, 1887, published by the Winnebago C. L. S. C. C. F. Trittle is the present publisher.
The Rockton Weekly Echo was established December 15, 1887. L. H. Cook was editor and publisher. There was only one issue.
The Cherry Valley Courier was established in July, 1869, by Dr. L. Foote, editor and publisher. It was published three months.
The newspaper enterprises of Durand are as follows :
Winnebago County Advertiser, established in 1869 by M. G. Sheldon.
Durand Argus. established December 29. 1883, b y E. E. Pettingill.
Durand Free Press. established March 24. 1888, by Johnson Potter.
Durand Weekly Echo, established June 30, 1887, by L. H. Cook, editor and publisher : thirty numbers issued.
Durand Weekly Times, established February7, 1890, by E. E. Pettingill, publisher ; seven numbers issued.
Durand Record, established April 30, 1890, by John R. Bertsch. Discontinued August 1, 1890.
Durand Weekly Clipper, established April 17, 1891, by E. I. Schoolcraft: still published by W. H. Tousley.
Past and Present of Winnebago County
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