History of Scott County Newspapers

From "The Centennial History of Austin, Scott County, Indiana"
One Hundred Years of Progress
1853-1953

By Carl R. Bogardus, M.D.

Published by the Historical Committee of the Centennial Celebration, 1953.

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER published west of the Allegheny Mountains was the Pittsburgh Gazette, in 1786. The second was the Kentucky Gazette, publication of which was begun at Lexington in 1787 by John Bradford.

Indiana's first newspaper was the Indiana Gazette, the first issue of which appeared on July 4, 1804, at Vincennes, then capital of Indiana Territory. It was published by Elihu Stout, who had formerly worked with the Bradfords in Kentucky. He had drifted into Vincennes with the necessary materials for a pioneer newspaper loaded on a pack horse. In 1806 a fire destroyed the press and on July 4, 1807, Stout brought out the first issue of a new paper, the Western Sun.

Outside of Vincennes the first newspaper published in Indiana was the Western Eagle, which had been established at Madison, Indiana Territory, in 1813, by Seth M. Leavenworth, who later founded the town of Leavenworth, on the Ohio River in Crawford County, Indiana; and William Hendricks, who later became second governor of Indiana. They had brought the press and other materials with them when they came down the Ohio River from Cincinnati on a flat boat. The first issue of the Western Eagle was published on June 4, 1813. In September, 1813, Leavenworth dropped out of the firm and he was replaced by William Camron. Then in April, 1814, Hendricks became inactive in the partnership, since it interfered with his law practice, and he was replaced by Captain Jacob Rhoads.

The new town of Lexington, in Western Jefferson County (in 1820 it became the county seat of the new county of Scott), had been established at the site of an earlier tavern and trading post on June 1, 1813, by General William McFarland, Jesse Henley and Nehemiah Hunt. Evidently it showed greater promise of becoming a place of importance than Madison did, for in 1815 Jacob Rhoads bought our Camron's interest and moved the press to Lexington, leaving Madison without a paper until 1816. The first issue of the Western Eagle published at Lexington came out on July 8, 1815.

However, the Western Eagle did not long survive in the rough pioneer town of Lexington. Evidently, the citizens of that distant day had their hands and minds too full of other more important matters to be interested in the well-being of a newspaper, for in the last number of the paper, dated January 6, 1816, Editor Rhoads said, "Partly for want of support, but mostly owing to the negligence of those in arrears, I am compelled to discontinue the publication of the Western Eagle." Rhoads was also the official printer for the territory of Indiana and published all of their official reports.

In June, 1816, a new paper with the very intriguing name of The Cornucopia of the West was started in Lexington by Maddox and Brandeberry. However, it was only published there for two months, and then the press was moved to Madison.

There is a gap of about 34 years, from 1820 to 1855, during which we have no definite knowledge as to whether Scott County had a newspaper. It was in September, 1855, that publication was started at Lexington of the National Guard by D. W. Lusk & Co. How long it lasted we do not know. The next paper that we have proof of is the Lexington Express, published by a young doctor, David Campbell (1837-1860). The first issue was dated March 23,1856.

Next came the Western Casket, which was first published March 26, 1857, by E. W. Paynter & Co., of which Jacob Hinkle was a partner. On April 23, 1857, the Paynter-Hinkle partnership was dissolved and James Loughtan associated himself with Paynter in the firm.

On April 15, 1858, with Volume 2 of the Western Casket the paper changed hands, having been purchased by William K. Marshall, a lawyer, and the name of the paper was changed to the Lexington Times. Then on May 27, 1858, Marshall dropped out of the picture and Willis L. Clark took over as publisher, and Dr. David Campbell became editor. The slogan beneath the nameplate of both the Western Casket and the Lexington Times stated that the papers were "Devoted to Literature, Agricultural and Miscellaneous News."

Then on June 17, 1858, with Volume 2, No. 13, the name of the Lexington Times was changed to the Lexington Clipper, said by the slogan to be "An Independent Family Newspaper", of which Clark was the publisher, and Thomas Monroe was the printer, Dr. Campbell the editor. On October 14, 1858, Dr. Campbell severed his connection with the paper.

The next newspaper that we know definitely of, and the first to be published in Austin, was the Scott County Argus, the first number appearing in October, 1859. It was published by H. F. Cope and W. A. Kuhns, who had come to New Frankfort from Pennsylvania. The slogan under the nameplate said, "Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead." In 1861, John H. J. Sierp (1836-1903), a lawyer, located in Austin and purchased the Argus from Cope and Kuhns. In 1868 he sold the Argus, which then changed hands several more times and finally ceased publication in 1869.

In the fall of 1869 the Austin News, "A Weekly Newspaper, Devoted to the Interests of the Farmer, the Mechanic and the Business Man," made its appearance in Austin, with John H. J. Sierp as proprietor and editor. In 1873 he sold the News to Dr. Sion M. Rogers (1837-1897) of Austin and in 1874 publication of the paper was suspended.

In the winter of 1866 publication was started at Lexington of the Scott County Democrat. This paper carried as its slogan "They Who Instruct Many to Justice Shall Shine as Stars of All Eternity." Although John Sierp did not established this paper, he purchased it in 1873, after selling the Austin News. In 1874 he moved the paper to Scottsburg at the same time the county seat was moved from Lexington to Scottsburg. He continued publication of the Democrat up to the time of his death on October 26, 1903. His son, John E. Sierp, published the Democrat until 1911, when he sold the subscription list and good will of the paper to Samuel B. Wells, editor and publisher of the Scott County Journal. For a time after that the masthead of the combined papers read "The Scott County Journal and Democrat."

In 1869 C. C. McGinnis began publication at Lexington of the Enterprise. which ran until 1871. It was followed by the Express, published by Moses Pickelheimer, who had as his associates two printers, Burkhart and Dillon. This paper did not live long.

On March 4, I 879, Will M. Foster of Austin published the first issue of a four-page, eight-column, monthly amateur newspaper known as. the Dime, because the subscription for one year, postpaid, was ten cents. Publication of the Dime was suspended with Vol. 1, No 12 dated January, 1880, at which time the cost of the subscription had risen to fifty cents a year. A notice in this last number stated, "This issue of the Dime is enlarged to eight times its former size. We contemplate publishing a weekly paper of this size (four columns) commencing in February or March. Patrons of the Dime whose subscriptions have not expired will be supplied by our weekly."

Vol. I, No. 1, of the Chronicle, successor to the Dime, was issued at Austin on February 12, 1880, B. F. Foster & Son, Publishers and W M. Foster, Editor. The slogan stated that it was "A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to Literature, Local and General News." In 1882 the paper was moved to Scottsburg. W. M. Foster died December 24, 1937, and the paper went to his son, Claude E. Foster, who died on July 8, 1938. Then the paper was inherited by Mrs. Lola Barfus, daughter of W. M. Foster, who, on July 25, 1938, sold it to Murl H. Hancock, who was already working on the paper as editor.

On February 23, 1950 Robert and Patricia Willis purchased the Chronicle from Murl H. Hancock, and on November 29, 1952, they sold it to W. Marshall Wells, publisher and editor of the Scott County Journal, who is continuing publication at the present time.

In January, 1882, the Scott County Journal was established at Lexington by Charles C. Foster and Mark Storen. In 1886 it was purchased by James F. Ervin and moved to Scottsburg. Then in 1906 he sold out to his son, Delbert L. Ervin, who published the paper until November 5, 1908, when he sold it to his nephew, B. A. Ervin, (1867-1909) thus making three generations of ownership. Then on August 26, 1909, Barr A. Ervin sold his Journal to Samuel B. Wells, who continued publication until his death on January 1, 1938, at which rime his widow, Mrs. Rachel P. Wells, became publisher and W Marshall Wells, editor. Following the death of Mrs. Wells on August 28,1951, Marshall Wells became owner and editor of the Journal, which brings us down to the present time, 1953.

On May 15, 1902, a paper known as the Lexington Argus was begun by R. E. Wood, Editor and Publisher, with T. H. Campbell as associate editor. This paper was of tabloid size. How long it was published is nor known.

An unusual newspaper which serves the Austin area well is the Giveaway, which is published weekly by the Banner Publications, Pekin, Indiana, Victor Green, Publisher. It was started in 1937 as a unique experiment - a newspaper distributed to all residents without cost to them, since it is supported by advertising alone, and which serves several communities equally. Its editorial and news policy is to promote all community affairs.

From "Lexington" by Mary Wilson and Sharon Y. Asher, published sometime after 1975.

LEXINGTON NEWSPAPERS

Indiana's first newspaper, published by Elihu Stout, was The Indiana Gazette, the first issue of which appeared on July 4, 1804 at Vincennes--then capitol of the Indiana Territory. The other existing newspaper in the Territory, The Western Eagle, was established at Madison in 1813 by Seth M. Leavenworth who later founded the town of Leavenworth and William Hendricks who became second governor of Indiana. These two men brought the press and other materials down the Ohio River from Cincinnati on a flat boat.

The first issue of The Western Eagle was published on June 4, 1813. In September of 1813 Leavenworth dropped out of the firm and was replaced by William Camron. In April, 1814 Hendricks became inactive in the partnership as it interfered with his practice and he was replaced by Captain Jacob Rhoades.

The new town of Lexington, located in southwestern Jefferson County, had been established at the site of an earlier tavern and trading post on June 1, 1813 by General William McFarland, Jesse Henley and Nehemiah Hunt. Evidently the community showed a greater promise of importance than did Madison at the time for in 1815 Jacob Rhoades bought out Camron’s interest and moved the press to Lexington, leaving Madison without a paper until 1816.

The Western Eagle did not survive in the rough pioneer town of Lexington for in the last issue of the paper, dated January 6, 1816, editor Rhoades said, "Partly for want of support, but mostly owing to the negligence of those in arrears, I am compelled to discontinue the publication of The Western Eagle." Rhoades was also the official printer for the Territory and published all official reports.

In June of 1816 a new paper called The Cornucopia of the West was started at Lexington by Maddox and Brandeberry. However, it was only published there for two months before being moved to Madison.

A gap of about 34 years exists for which no evidence is available indicating whether a newspaper was published in Scott County during the years 1820 to 1855. It was in September of 1855 that the publication of The National Guard began at Lexington by D. W. Lusk & Company. How long it was published is unknown.

Another newspaper, The Lexington Express, was published by a young doctor, David Campbell (1837-1860) with the first issue dated March 23, 1856.

The Western Casket was first published March 26, 1857, by the E. W. Paynter Company of which Jacob Hinkle was a partner. On April 23, 1857, the Paynter-Hinkle partnership was dissolved and James Loughram and Paynter formed a new firm.

On April 15, 1858, with volume 2 of The Western Casket, the paper was purchased by William K. Marshall, a lawyer, and its name was changed to The Lexington Times. On May 27, 1858 Willis L. Clark became publisher and Dr. David Campbell editor. The slogan beneath the name plate of both The Western Casket and The Lexington Times stated that the papers were devoted to literary, agricultural and miscellaneous news.

On June 17, 1858 the name of The Lexington Times was changed to The Lexington Clipper, with the slogan "An Independent Family Newspaper." Willis Clark was publisher, Thomas Monroe printer and Dr. David Campbell editor. On October 14, 1858, Dr. Campbell severed his connection with the paper.

During 1867 James Amick wrote a bi-weekly paper with pen and ink for the Literary Society. The paper was called The Monitor. It was listed in the newspaper directories of the day and Mr. Amick frequently obtained advertising orders from Eastern houses but could not fill them.

In 1869 C. C. McGinnis published The Lexington Enterprise which ran about two years. It was followed by The Lexington Express, published in the early 1870's by Moses Pickelbeimer who had as his associates two printers named Buckhart and Dillon. The life of this paper was of short duration.

In January of 1883 The Scott County Journal was established at Lexington by Charles E. Foster and Mark Storen. In 1886 it was purchased by James F. Ervin and moved to Scottsburg.

On May 15, 1902, a paper known as The Lexington Argus was started by R. E. Wood, editor and publisher, with J. H. Campbell as associate editor. The longevity of the paper, which was tabloid size, is not known.

No other newspapers have been established in Lexington. The Scott County Journal and The Chronicle have continued to serve Lexington as weekly papers for the past seventy years, although printed in Scottsburg.

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