By Beverly Clinkingbeard, Westboro, Mo.

The recent announcement of the three newspapers in Atchison County, Missouri, combining into one is going back to what they once were. At one time there was only one newspaper in the county. Of course, there weren’t many people in the county, but prior to the advent of the other newspapers, it seems the Democratic Mail made an effort to cover the news from all of Atchison County, plus news notes from outside of the county. Considering communication of that day [1879] it was no small endeavor. Some of the news may have been a bit old, but it was news and undoubtedly welcomed by settlers.
As the Democratic Mail, it had a two year run until it became The Atchison County Mail. As Watson, Tarkio, Westboro and Fairfax emerged into small towns and created their own communities, publishers arrived to print their news. Names of newspapers changed with the publisher unchanged, or new publisher and a re-name of the newspaper. In Tarkio, there was The Avalanche and a competitor newspaper, The Atchison County News, edited by Frank Stafford. In Fairfax, the Fairfax Independent & Independent Chief, and Fairfax Forum came to be. Blanchard’s Stateline News and Blanchard Herald (same newspaper) took care of the Lincoln East Township news and the Westboro Enterprise [1901-1921] covered that city’s news as well as neighborhoods west and east of town. Watson published the Atchison County Independent. The Missouri Agitator had a short four year run and became the Rock Port Democrat (it lasted for a few years).
In an October, 1879 edition of the Democratic Mail, “Watson Jottings” penned by Don Cammeron was mentioned, as was the murder of Edward Hagan, the local editor of the Burlington Junction Post. Mr. Hagan also served as the town constable and was attempting to arrest a man charged with forgery when he was shot. Hazel Grove [also known as ‘Chicken Bristle’], a community a mile south of Blanchard, Nishnabotna Station, Centre Point [located near what is now Center Grove Cemetery], and Long Branch [a settlement of ‘Covenanters’ at the bridge six miles south of Blanchard on State Hwy. M]; all this and more were included in the news of the county.
The Democratic Mail also reported that the College Springs Courier had ceased publication, allowing the reason was “caused by the want of a railroad.” Later, The Current-Press was published in College Springs, Iowa, and they had a trolley as well as a small rail line pass through town. Coin, Iowa, eventually had two railroads and published The Coin Courier.
Other news was: “The young man, Eli Walston, who stole a horse from Mr. McIntyre of Hazel Grove, and who waived an examination before Squire McElroy [he was constable/judge for the Hazel Grove area] and was sent to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury, was, at a special term of the Circuit Court on last Friday night, sentenced to the penitentiary for two years.” The editor noted, “It is the opinion of everyone who saw him that he is as much an idiot as he is a thief.”
“Last Thursday, a boy named Benjamin fell from the steps of the Moulton school (located on V Ave., one mile north of 170th Street) and broke his arm. It was set by Dr. Lewis of Center Point.” (The word Center or Centre spelling is used interchangeably in the news.)
“Col. P.A. Thompson has just completed a building on his farm near the railroad tank. We learn that the Col. Intends to put a splendid stock of goods in the building as there is a switch at the place and there is considerable shipping done from there, besides its being a thickly settled community we have no doubt that he will do a most excellent business.” [Col. Thompson was in the Langdon, Missouri, area.]
Newspapers of yesterday often offered personal and editorial opinions throughout their news notes. “Political correctness” and accompanying litigation hadn’t yet arrived and their judgments and editorial opinions were often stinging, such as calling the horse thief an idiot. The process of producing a newspaper was pains-taking as each type-set was put in place. Local news was on the front and back page and prepared at the local printing shop. A local publication contracted with a commercial publisher and the paper would arrive with general world and national news pre-printed with the front and back sheet blank. This was saved for local news and printed locally. Preprinted news from a commercial publisher could be of exotic vacation places, royal families, political opinions, new inventions, social occasions and marriages or deaths (of international or nationally known individuals), household and farming tips. Often continued stories of mystery or romance were very popular. Pictures were rare and printed from wood cuts or etchings. Jokes were used to fill in space that lacked news or advertising.
Today, the traditional newspaper is faced with a changing instant news reality, audience and population shift. When television became popular, the demise of radio was predicted. It turns out the public continues to enjoy both and in due time, Atchison County readers will undoubtedly enjoy county news without having to subscribe to three papers. It’s full circle and as the Biblical preacher said, “Nothing new under the sun.”