Newspapers

(from Carr, Daniel, 1903 “Men and Women of Nebraska”)
One of the first papers to be published in Nebraska was started at De Soto in 1856. The was the Bugle, and its editor was Isaac Parrish.  It appears from the evidence in existence at this late day, that it was printed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at first, and that the first paper to be printed in De Soto was the Pilot, which, in  1856, was started by Z. Jackson, as is shown by the county probate judge’s records now in the court-house in Blair, ordering that a legal notice regarding the settlement of the Coon estate ” be published in the De Soto Pilot, published by Z. Jackson,” and in the same record is a copy of the printed notice.  In various histories, and even in the article on “Territorial Journalism,” by J. Sterling Morton, published in Vol V. second series, Proceedings and Collections of the State Historical Society, this fact is overlooked, Merrick & Maguire being named as the pioneer publishers, and the name of the Enquirer given. The last-named paper was the successor of the Pilot, and was published by Merrick & Maguire until 1858, when thy bought the Nebraska Pioneer at Cumming City, and Hugh McNeeley became the editor of the Enquirer. Potter C. Sullivan, in 1858, started a paper called the Sun, which  supported De Soto for the county seat, and himself and Wm. Clancy for the Territorial legislature.  This paper, as well as the others at De Soto, was short-lived.

In the early part of 1857, L. M. Kline and his associates started a paper called the Nebraska Pioneer, at Cumming City.  A man named Dimmock was its first editor and alleged published; the the name of L. M. Kline as editor and publisher was put at its first column.  In March, 1858,  this paper was bought by Merrick & Maguire, and its name changed to the Cumming City Star.  Soon after the plant of the paper was moved from the city, and years later Merrick became a well-known editor at Deadwood, Dakota.  Z. Jackson, until a few years ago, [1902]was a resident of Oklahoma Territory.  In May, 1869. Hilton & Son established the Register at Blair.  In 1871 the paper was suspended. A stock company composed of half a dozen business men of Blair, in July 1870, started the Times.  Its first editor was J. C. Lillie, who was soon succeeded by John S. Bowen, who became its principal owner. In 1880 this paper was sold to C. B. Sprague, its present owner, who changed its name to the Republican, and who is till its editor and publisher.

In 1874, the Pilot, which had been started at Tekamah in 1871, was moved to Blair by its publisher, J. Y. Lambert, who, in 1875, sold it to George Sutherland, and L. F. Hilton became its editor. In 1879 Mr. Hilton became its sole owner, and conducted it until 1886, when he sold it. This paper is now published semi-weekly by L. A. Williams.

In 1889 W. H. Eller established the Weekly Courier, which is now published by Don C. Van Duesen.

The Arlington Herald was started in 1882, and in 1903 absorbed the Review, which had been established in 1899.  The paper is now published under the name Review-Herald.  In 1892, the Danskeren, a semi-weekly paper in the Danish language, was established, and is still published by the Danish-Lutheran publishing House, which also issues a number of religious periodicals.

The Enterprise, which is published at Kennard, was established in 1896.

The Advertiser was started at Herman in 1899, and was succeeded in 1901 by the Free Press, which lived only a few months.

The Knocker, a monthly magazine, was started in Blair in the spring of 1902, and is still published by Will A. Campbell.