The high school, naturally, had to get in on use of that new communication apparatus. The graduating class of 1883, the largest of the eight that had graduated LHS with fourteen (and four boys)! They had their ceremonies in the Christian Church, there being no school auditorium yet. The audience were said to number a thousand! A telephone was set up in the sanctuary and the public not attending could ring up Central and be hooked up to hear the program and the Freeport Orchestra come to play. It was a phenomenon.

A newer Christian Church (now Faith Reformed) was similarly used in the 1920’s but with WOC Radio, Davenport, Iowa, setting near the dais and broadcasting the sermon of noted local evangelist, Rev. Frank Sword, preaching to listeners on telephones and by the radio. Some audiences were hearing it, multi-media, from as far away as North Dakota as well as Leland Street.

The motto of the Class of ‘83, by the way, was “No Day Without a Letter.” Was that predicting the future in texting?

L.G. Burrows had become editor of the Gazette in 1882 and using his reported “clear cut policy,” the paper flourished. During ‘83 a week of daily Gazette’s were printed because a county-wide teacher’s institute was held in town. In 1890 then Burrows sold to Charles DeWitt and who took a sometime partner at one point, John Laird, local businessman who ran it solo for a time. Dates don’t agree in reference!

But in 1890 a milestone of a sort occurred. The Gazette merged with its direct local rival, the “Lanark News.” The News had been initiated in December of 1882 by Elder G.M. Myers, a Dunkard and a Democrat and who wasted no time letting his opinions be known. Many newspapers leaned towards some political party and even Independent.

The Gazette was strongly Republican, most editors including John Howlett, but apparently such was not always the case. Two items have been discovered in two New York newspapers from October, 1858 that give a bit of Howlett’s background before coming West, the first is from the Utica Daily Observer—”John Howlett once editor of the Vernon Transcript and subsequently the Utica Gazette, an American journal, is an unfortunate man. Leaving this city a year or two ago he became an agent for the “Black Swan” but now is reduced to be a conductor of a Republican paper in Lane, Ogle County, Illinois.”

A typographical error on editor Howlett’s grave marker—only one “T.”

Reduced, eh?! We have searched for what was the “Black Swan.” Doubtless, a political periodical. Anyone? The reference to “an American journal,” however, turned out to be interesting. American journal probably should be in quotes because it was an important segment of the newspaper trade’s past ... They were developed in the 1850’s, a time when large numbers of immigrants were coming to America ... Blacks were imported. Many of the immigrants, too, were Roman Catholic. “American journals” were inaugurated to publicize arguments against those immigrants ... They were rather the white supremacist of that era ... Anti-alien, anti-black, anti-Catholic. The argument played on voters’ insecurities saying that the aliens were terrorists and were plotting to overthrow the government. So successful were they that in the election of 1856 “American” parties elected candidates in several states. They headed their presidential ticket with Millard Fillmore but he was unsuccessful in his bid.

The “American” parties elected candidates in several states. They headed their presidential ticket with Millard Fillmore but he was unsuccessful in his bid.

The “American” parties played up icons already established such as Uncle Sam, the flag, eagles and so forth. They had such names as the “Constitutional Union” (or ‘Do-Nothing’ party) but the one with the most members was the “Star Spangled Banner” party or more well-known, the “Know-Nothing” party so named because they had passwords to get into their meetings, a secret handshake, mysterious rituals and when asked what it was all about, they “Knew-nothing!”

For a few years, the “Know-Nothings” were successful in achieving their goals, controlling many voters direction but then as population began to move West and so many new and exciting challenges bade everyone in so many ways, people began to recall that but one or two generations ago, they too were “aliens.” Didn’t everyone have the right to vote, worship, create their own way of life as they had?

The “American” parties and newspapers fizzled especially with the looming Civil War to occupy their thoughts.

So John Howlett had edited an American journal and then was reduced to a Republican paper? When he came West into Whig/Republican territory as the Northwest was at the time, he was judicious in making the change.

The second item, October, 1858, remarked, “John Howlett who ran the Vernon Transcript and began the Waterville Journal, recently commenced a neat little paper in Lane, Ogle County, Illinois, formerly a “Know-Nothing,” has since moving West repudiated Sam (Uncle Sam) and embraced Sambo and is now an enthusiastic Republican. We wish Howlett success. He made a fortune with the Vernon Transcript but it took wings and flew away so was reduced to humble circumstances as ourself. Howlett is remembered by our citizens as a good natured, wide awake fellow and liberal to a fault.”

That item was taken from the Waterville Times, New York state, to give us some unexpected news of John Howlett’s past. We’ll never know(!) what prompted the change in politics; if it was slight or drastic. Scanning news items we do note that one has a sale of a printing firm belonging to A.P. Tuller in York state. Tuller was his wife’s maiden name. Would there have been a tendency to follow in the footsteps of her family’s politics if they were “Know-Nothings?’ We do not have an advantage now of knowing nor would we change that. History can’t be altered these many years ago. Please Don’t Quote Me!

As before said, the “News” was a Democrat paper that Myers had for about six years and then sold to B.E. Boyle, of a Pioneer Lanark family (1861) but he directed it only until May of 1889 when it went to Charles DeWitt who was editor until January, 1890 when the merger with the Gazette occurred. It was the “Lanark News-Gazette” for four months and then reverted to Gazette. Laird ran it somewhat halfheartedly until 1892 when W.G. Wild and Edward Barklow took it on, two young men experienced and interested in what newspaper could do.

Barklow was a local lad having graduated from LHS in 1884. He was a sometime correspondent, submitting items here and there. He remained with the Gazette partnership about a year then went to move up the ladder with the “Aurora Beacon.” He never forgot his hometown though, periodically returning to visit or to write reminiscences now and then that readers enjoyed.

W.G. Wild brought to the Gazette what it heretofore hadn’t had ... A longtime editor - 1892 until 1947. He began in the newspaper trade as a “printer’s devil” with the “Whiteside Sentinel,” Morrison. Printer’s devils were the go-fers, the odd job kid, the guy who did the dirty little details. He also worked at Fulton, Sterling, Polo before returning to Morrison for a short while. Hearing about a job in Lanark, he applied and became shop foreman for nine years, then editor. The professional touch was evident.

Like the Gazette the News had been on the second floor downtown, too, Notice relates that it was “above Tallman’s Jewelry” which was just north of the National Bank, between it and the drug store ... Long flight of steps also led into its rooms as with the Gazette. Oh, imagine a hot summer’s day up there ... Open the street doors, catch at the meager breeze passing through to the east side door and windows. One summer it became so hot it actually melted the rubber rollers on the press. And cold! Heating those high-ceilinged rooms was a challenge. In the ‘80’s two blizzards occurred in one month to blockade the town. Trains couldn’t get through to deliver the weekly bales of newsprint so a Gazette was printed on a single sheet of stiff, crinkly wrapping paper. Is that what we have ...? It’s printed in lavender ink with a border?

Ads to remind readers that their hometown newspaper was still active.

Next week will be the LAST in this series concerning a history of just one trade that was important in the development of a small town. You may have put your own interpretation on why and how things occurred. History is/was made everyday.