Part 22 (2/2)

The paper is one of the brightest and newsiest in the county.

THE MT. VERNON HAWKEYE

That splendid Linn county paper, the _Mt. Vernon Hawkeye_, was established January 1, 1869, by J. T. Rice, as the _Linn County Hawk-Eye_. Mr. Rice was well known in the early history of the county, and in late years was a resident of Denver, Colorado, where he died within the past year.

The _Hawk-Eye_ was bought by S. H. Bauman on June 1, 1869, within five months after the paper was established, and its name was changed to the _Mount Vernon Hawk-Eye_. Mr. S. H. Bauman continued the business and was joined in partners.h.i.+p by his son, A. A. Bauman, January 1, 1892. On July 1, 1899, S. H. Bauman retired entirely, and the paper was then conducted by his sons, A. A. and Fred A. Bauman. This partners.h.i.+p was dissolved November 17, 1909, since which time the paper has been published by A. A. Bauman.

The paper has always been republican in politics and has never been shaken by the winds of temporary popular prejudice or pa.s.sion. It has had an abiding conviction of political honesty and integrity and it has been conducted on a high plane. It has rendered good service in the building up of Mt. Vernon and the county generally.

THE WALKER NEWS

The _Walker News_ was established as a seven-column folio in February, 1883, by David Brant, at present the owner and editor of the Iowa City _Daily Republican_. He continued as owner and editor for seven years, and then the paper pa.s.sed to the hands of Charles A. Durno, Mr. Brant going to Cedar Rapids to become city editor of the _Gazette_.

In July, 1891, Mr. Durno sold a half interest in the business to C. O.

and J. Barry, who, in January, 1892, acquired the remaining half interest, Mr. Durno retiring. Mr. Durno was later appointed to a position in the government printing office at Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C, and died in that city a few years ago. The Barrys are still in possession of the _News_, which is one of the brightest and most influential newspapers in the county.

THE CENTER POINT JOURNAL

The _Center Point Journal_ is a republican weekly, owned and edited by J. A. Mahuran, one of the ablest of the Linn county newspaper men. The paper has had its ups and downs and for a time it was chiefly noted for its ardent campaign for a fishway in the dam across the Cedar river at Cedar Rapids. That was during the days of Editor Barber.

The Journal grew out of the _Lotus_ which was started at Center Point, May 15, 1873, by J. F. Wilson & Co. T. J. Metcalf was its first editor, and he filled the leaves of the _Lotus_ with spice and sweetness until 1874 when W. T. Baker took charge and subsequently committed suicide.

But that was not the fault of the _Lotus_. The office was then sold to H. A. Cook, of Cedar Rapids.

In 1876 T. J. Metcalf and S. M. Dunlap purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to the _Center Point Mirror_, the first issue appearing November 18. Then Mr. Metcalf bought out Mr. Dunlap's interest, and afterwards G. L. Wilson became the owner, changing its name to the _Courier-Journal_. M. A. Oxley and Charles F. Floyd afterwards bought the paper and it finally reached the hands of its present owner.

THE SPRINGVILLE NEW ERA

Springville is one of the best of the Linn county towns and it has one of the best of the Linn county papers, the Springville _New Era_. Its first issue appeared August 9, 1882. It was a six-column folio, independent in politics, and was established by J. B. F. Butler. In November, 1882, C. S. Shanklin became its editor. At this time it was changed to a six-column quarto. It became a democratic paper but lately grew towards independence in politics, a growing tendency among modern newspapers. There were some more changes of owners.h.i.+p and finally the paper was purchased by O. E. Crane, its present publisher and editor, under whom it has risen to a popularity and prosperity never before attained.

THE LISBON HERALD

Lisbon has one good weekly, the _Herald_. The _Sun_ was the first paper having been started August 27, 1874, by J. W. Zeigenfus. It was not a success at the start, or at least it did not bring in the coin of the realm rapidly enough to suit its proprietor, and he soon sold it to C.

J. Weatherbee. He held it for a few weeks and sold it to W. T. Baker.

Baker managed it admirably for a time but he later shot himself through the head in his office and for a time the paper was conducted by W. L.

Davis for his widow. Then the Rev. Dewalt S. Fouse became its editor and did some good work upon it. So did A. M. Floyd, one of the best of Linn county's newspaper men. But finally the _Sun_ went down.

The _Herald_ has been vigorous and active and prosperous since it was established in 1894 and it was never so prosperous as now. Under the able management of Will F. Stahl the paper has grown in size and in circulation and every issue is filled with up-to-date news and interesting comment. It is a paper of which Lisbon should be proud.

CENTRAL CITY NEWS-LETTER

Situated in a valley of entrancing beauty, the valley of the Wapsie river, Central City is one of the most beautiful towns in Iowa and it certainly is one of the most up-to-date. Much of its growth and its prestige is due to the fact that for many years it has had a first-cla.s.s newspaper. The _Central City News-Letter_, which was started in 1888, has had a line of able men as its editors and they have all done their best to make the city grow. None of them ever worked harder at it than E. S. Weatherbee, who is the owner and the editor of the paper, the postmaster, the mayor, and an all-around booster for his town.

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