the county and the location of a depot midway between the two places, the petty jealousies existing between us will die out and the twain become one, in fact, as they are already one in interest.

"As editors, we shall, to the best of our ability, strive to promote the cause of universal education, and sound morality among our people. It will be our aim to make a paper, whose contents shall be pure in tone and elevating in sentiment, adapted as well to the family circle as to the office of the professional man or the counting house of the merchant.

"This, then, is our platform. If it suits you we shall be glad of your support. We believe this will be freely accorded us, and thus believing we buckle on our editorial harness and address ourselves to the work before us."

These are not the words of a shiftless adventurer, who had came to stay but a year or two, and then leave for other fields of conquest; they were written by a man of decided convictions, and one whose interests were permanently identified with the town and county. That part of his introduc tion which referred to the bringing about of a better state of feeling between the old town and the new, was prophetic. Not only was the prophecy fulfilled, but Mr. Downing helped to accomplish its fulfillment. He had been one of the first lot purchasers in the new town, and erected the first business houses built in Boone. He had watched for a number of years the struggle going on between the two places, and had come to the conclusion that it was for the best interests of both towns that the struggle cease, and he knew that the better judgment of the people confirmed his own opinion. It is complimentary to the gentleman, and is borne out by the facts, that the beginning of the new era of peace dates from his connection with the "Republican."

After having published the "Republican" in the old town, and carried on a job office in the new town for over a year, Messrs. Means & Downing sold their office in Boonesboro to J. W. Reynolds and fitted up a new print ing office, supplied with a new Potter power press, in the second story of a building on Storey street in Boone. In October of the same year they removed their office to the commodious apartments in Black's new building on Eighth street, where they are still located. At the present time they are adding a new feature to their facilities for doing business in the shape of an arrangement for steam power. The engine is three-horse power, wrought iron, horizontal, of the Skinner & Wood pattern.

This new feature is another evidence, not only of the enterprise but also prosperity of the "Republican" office, and shows that the press is in the advance ranks of progress in the most progressive cities of the State. The introduction of steam power into a printing establishment, in such a young town, is quite an adventure; but the people of the county, and especially the enterprising citizens of the town, will see to it that such evidences of enterprise are rewarded with such a measure of success as awards of encouragement and liberal patronage cannot fail to bring.

With these new improvements, which their rapidly increasing business has for some time demanded, they will have one of the most elaboratelyequipped offices in the State, and will be enabled to fully keep pace with the most rapid strides of the progressive city in which they are located.

As before remarked, J. W. Reynolds furnished the material and fixtures composing the "Republican" office of Mears & Downey in 1874, when the latter gentlemen removed their paper to Boone. Mr. Reynolds immediately

began the publication of a new paper which he called the "Boonesboro Herald." After continuing the publication of the "Herald" for about one year, he sold out to Evans & Ricard, who changed the name of the paper to that of the "News." Evans & Ricard continued to publish the "News" till January, when the paper was discontinued, the material of the office sold and taken elsewhere, and the proprietors went to Dallas county and engaged in the publication of a Greenback paper at Adel. This was the last of the newspaper enterprises of Boonesboro, but whereas in following out the history of the first paper together with the history of those journals which immediately or remotely were its successors, it has been necessary for us to anticipate, it will now be necssary to take a retrospect and consider other journals and journalistic enterprises whose history either wholly or in part was identified with Boonesboro.

In 1858 N. W. Dennison established a newspaper in Boonesboro called the Boone county "Democrat." As indicated by the name this paper was Democratic in politics. Its publication was continued for about a year and a half, when it was discontinued, and the presses, type and material taken to Decatur county, where they were used in the publication of another paper. Dennison died many years ago.

In connection with the founding of this paper there sprang up a lawsuit, unimportant in itself, but by reason of some nove! features and the Statewide notoriety of one of the parties to the suit, it claims a place of mention In those days it was a very common practice for the people to subscribe money to aid in the establishment of papers about to be founded in the community. When this paper was started by Dennison, Judge McFarland subscribed fifty dollars toward raising a subsidy. The judge did not pay his subscription, and after the paper was removed from the county Dennison brought suit against him for the amount of his subscription. In way of defense the judge claimed that the money was subscribed to aid in the establishment of a Democratic paper, and that Dennison had totally failed to carry out his part of the contract; that he had not advocated pure democracy according as laid down in the Cincinnati platform; that he had not vindicated the party in regard to the Kansas and Nebraska act, nor defended the Supreme Court in its decision of the Dred Scott case; that the policy of said paper was not of a character to consolidate the universal Democratic party upon the acquisition of Cuba and South America, and the general spread and elevation of the American eagle.

To this answer the plaintiff filed the following demurrer on the grounds that:

"Said count does not show that the Democratic party ever had any principles, or what those principles were, or whether or not they existed at the time of contract.

"It does not show that the said constitution and Cincinnati platform were sufficient to support said supposed principles of said supposed party.

"It does not sufficiently state what the action of the Democratic party was or was expected to be in regard to the Kansas act at the time of signing the contract.

"It does not charge that the said plaintiff promised that he would support the Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case, or that the principles of said decision were ever comprehended by defendant, or that defendant had any interest in the propogation of slavery as advocated by said

court.

"The said answer does not show that the said universal Democratic party was ever split upon the acquisition of Cuba, or the general elevation and spread of the American eagle.

"It does not show wherein said paper has failed, or defendant suffered damage by reason of being at any loss to know what said principles were through the negligence of plaintiff, or that there ever was one principle of said party sufficiently large to be fully comprehended by said defendant.” The case was finally settled by McFarland paying the costs of the suit. In 1859 Hon. C. Beal bought the press and material of the old "lowa Star," and brought them to Boonesboro with a view of establishing a newspaper. The paper, which was Democratic in politics, was called the "Boone County Herald." After publishing the "Herald" about one year he sold it to J. H. Upton. Mr. Upton continued its publication for but a short time and sold it to H. M. and C. L. Lucas. Soon after buying the paper and during the same year, 1862, John A. Hull bought the paper and continued its publication. He changed the name of his paper to the "Boonesboro Times," and immediately beneath the head-line appeared for a motto the statement of Lincoln: "People of any color seldom run, unless there is something to run from." Mr. Hull continued to publish the "Times" for about two years, part of the time it being published on the press and with the material which he purchased of Lucas and part of the time on the press and with the material purchased from Alexander, after he had disposed of the first office to Potter & Haworth, of Story county. The following racy account of a lively competition among a certain class of traders in those days is reproduced from the December 24th, 1863, number of Mr. Hull's "Times." The extract is herewith published because we judge it will prove a grateful souvenir of olden times and shows the kind of locals John A. was accustomed to dash off during the brief intervals of time he was alloted for this work:

"Boonesboro is far ahead of her sister town Chicago. Beef, flour, pork, game, furs, etc., have been going at higher figures on our streets than on change at Chicago. Woe be to the single-handed countryman that braves the storm to bring butter, eggs, game, fur or poultry to town to sell. If he gets out without being torn limb from limb he is a lucky man. The porters and hack-drivers at the Union Depot, Chicago, pull, haul and yell, but the Boonesboro traders beat them. They curse here. If a man comes into town, he is met and beset by sleek-looking gentlemen, with what you got to sell,' and from that time until he sells out he is in imminent danger.

6

"The railroad is the cause of this,' said we to a farmer the other day, who was struggling to get to Cook's with a bucket of butter, he had engaged and been paid for. Then damn the railroad,' said he, 'I have had forty demands for this batch of butter and I have been two hours getting across the square with it, and I am in a hurry to get home.'

"The fur buyers can smell a rat or mink skin a mile or two, and no sooner do they get a scent than they begin, this way with your rats and minks, I pay the highest price,' etc., and so it is with everything else; even old Johnny Greene and his copperhead companions are besieged in the same way so much that they now come to town painted and armed for the war path, every time they bring in a mink skin, thinking to defend themselves at all hazards. We are glad to see this competition so long as it is good

humored, but we fear a knock-down one of these days, when we wish to be considered out of the ring."

We imagine that toward a farmer with butter or pelts there would not be such a rush from the Boonesboro merchants of to-day, nor would it be necessary to go armed in order to defend one's self from the attacks of innocent butter-buyers.

In 1862 J. F. Ålexander bought the office of the Fort Dodge "Democrat" and removed it to Boonesboro. He started a paper called the Boone county "Index", which continued to appear as a Republican organ under his management for about one year and a half. Alexander then sold the paper to W. H. Gallup, who continued to publish it till the end of 1865, when he removed the office and material to Boone, then called Montana, and began the publication of the Boone county "Index." To show how bitter was the enmity then existing between the two towns, as well as to show the method employed by those who remained in the old town to encourage and build np rival institutions in the new town, we copy the following from the columns of the paper which remained behind:

6

"Died, in Boonesboro, sometime during the month of December, or thereabouts, the exact date whereof is not essential, a thing—a small thing, a very little thing-known to a few of our citizens as the Boonesboro 'Index.' As no physician attended the sickly suckling the cause of its untimely decease is not definitely determined. Some allege that it died of brain fever, but as all its acquaintances firmly aver that the 'thing' had no brains, it is evident that some other cause is responsible for its early taking off' -others declare that it' mashed' its head against the court-house proposition, but as its head was never anything more than a simple mash' it could not have been fatally affected in that direction; some think that it died from remorse, on account of being treacherous to the interests of its best friends, but as it was always a remorseless thing it could not have suffered from such a cause. We opine the thing went up the spout, and departed this life from the effects of a plug in the eye, which it was foolish enough to first consider a precious Boone. The exact origin of this thing is not definitely ascertained. It is supposed to have been born in Boonesboro, some fifteen hundred or two thousand hours ago, and was at the time of its death, about the size of a two-week-year-old pig; in fact it always possessed a swinish disposition and its literary effusions were written in very ordinary hog-latin.

The moving spirit that animated this 'thing' while on earth was often seen in a Gallup, which showed that it was frequently frightened at and fled from its own shadow; but now it's gone, and is undoubtedly with the fire-worshiping traitor.'

This allusion to a very honorable and successful business man, who now publishes a paper in an adjoining town, is not very complimentary to that gentleman, but his reputation is not likely to suffer thereby; and if this page should be scanned by him or any of his special personal friends, they will doubtless rather enjoy it than otherwise.

Mr. Gallup has the honor of starting the first paper in Boone, and his successor, Mr. Brainard, of publishing the oldest paper in the metropolis of Boone county. The "Standard" was purchased by John M. Brainard in September, 1869. On the 25th of that month the new editor issued his

first edition, in the editorial column of which paper appeared the following "First Words:"

"The reading public make law of the custom which demands of a new editor a self introduction. In satisfaction of this proper custom to see what the "new man" has to say for himself, we pencil this initiatory paragraph. The enterprise which is displayed by the business community of Montana and the goodly report of its social life have frequently commended themselves to the writer, who cheerfully accepts the opportunity offered to identify himself with a people in whose favor he has been so happily predisposed.

To advertise the advantages of its town and county is the primary mission of the local press, and to the thorough and intelligent setting forth of these we shall devote our principal energy.

"The census just completed shows the county of Boone to have been distanced in securing emigration by but one of the hundred counties that comprise the commonwealth of Iowa. Its advantages in soil, coal, timber, climate, ready access to profitable markets, and enterprising people, are attracting the lion's share of similar spirits from the Fast, and as a county we are on the high tide to permanent prosperity. With this promising future before the people of Boone county we take our place to labor with and for you.

"Since the organization of the Republican party we have been in hearty sympathy with its principles. Republicanism, which saved the nation, has yet the honorable duty to perform in the preservation of its integrity. The debt contracted in suppressing the rebellion it behooves us to see houorably paid, and not made a national reproach as is the earnest wish of the enemies of our country. Loyalty to the flag when imperiled must be a badge of honor and not a crime punishable by death or exile at the instance of mob courts; until these ends are accomplished and while there exists an organized spirit of death to the State, Republicanism will not have accomplished its mission. We shall contribute our mite to the perpetuation to that sentiment which regards national faith as fully binding in honor as individual obligation, and which disposes the people to regard merit and not the accidents of previous condition or complexion in the bestowal of universal liberty. Many improvements of a material character are in contemplation, which we prefer should manifest themselves as they are adapted, rather than to herald them at this early day. We mention as perhaps chief among such, negotiations for a power press with which we indulge the prospect of being able to print the first paper in the new year. A return to the original size of the paper is contemplated as soon as the inconveniences of a change of proprietors are overcome.

66

Trusting the intercourse between the public and the writer may be as cordial as that which distinguished our genial predecessor and promising our best efforts to present a readable 'Standard' from week to week we settle to our editorial work."

Mr. Brainard's promises, to fit up a first-class office, publish a good paper and to labor for the building up of the town, he has kept. The new power press appeared in due time and no effort has been spared, and no labor shunned, and no responsibility evaded by the proprietor of the "Standard." In recognition of his earnest endeavors to build up the town he was in 1873 selected by the people of Boone and vicinity as their candidate for postmaster, and receiving the appointment from the President filled that