Anecdotal Evidence of Coles Counties First Newspapers
Coles Countys First Newspapers, from History of Coles County, 1876-1976 (Charleston and Mattoon Bicentennial Commissions, 1976); collected in The Coles County Courier, 25, 1, p. 5.
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Mattoon's first newspaper, the Weekly Independent Gazette, was founded in 1856 by R. W. Houghton. Several changes in ownership occurred during the first few years of publication. J. O. and W. P. Harding published the paper until 1866 when it was sold to C. B. Bostwick. According to the 1976 edition on the Coles County History,"months after becoming the sole owner of the paper, Bostwick sold out to a group of Democrat citizens in Mattoon who planned to make the paper the official organ of the Coles County Democrat Party. The name was changed to the Mattoon Weekly Democrat." It was an unsuccessful venture for them financially and for the next owner who changed the name to Mattoon Clarion. "The newspaper folded within months of their take-over."
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In 1872, one of the earlier owners, C. B. Bostwick and George B. McDougall took over and printed the first issue of the Mattoon Weekly Gazette. The two men remained partners until 1874 when Bostwick bought his partner's interest. "The Gazette was eight pages and had a large number of subscribers." The newspaper was very successful under Bostwick who was known for being a trainer of newspaper men. One of his students, G. C. Peck, became a part owner in 1889 and took over when Bostwick became ill.
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"At this time the whole front page was handset matter dealing with personal and general information in short subheaded paragraphs. Local politics received much attention. Representing two factions of the Republican Party, the Gazette and the Journal which had been established later than the Gazette, were great rivals and carried on wordy political battles."
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Charleston's first newspaper, the Courier, was published in 1849 and was owned by Willliam Harr and William Workman. The paper was purchased by Ed Chittendon in 1863 and the name was changed to Plaindealer. James K. Rardin began the Saturday Evening Herald as a third newspaper in Charleston in 1880. It was not financially successful and was finally merged with the Plaindealer and became the Plaindealer-Herald.
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When the Plaindealer-Herald failed Claude Rardin (Jack's son and publisher of the Daily News), "bought the equipment and purchased the title of the dead paper for one dollar." In small print beneath the nameplate of the Daily News, he added Plaindealer-Herald.
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The Ashmore Township News was started by the Ashmore Community Club. It was published for a year, 1955-56.
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The first newspaper in Oakland was the Herald. It was established in 1875 by J. W. Crane. Others associated with the newspaper were Hiram Rutherford, M. B. Valodin and J. J. Pemberton.
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"G. Lay Wolfe bought the Lerna Enterprise in 1901. The Enterprise had been in existence since 1894/1895. Wolfe changed the name of the Enterprise to the Lerna Weekly Eagle and published the Eagle until his retirement in 1905. Adolph Sumerlin purchased the paper in 1912 and the Sumerlin family continued to publish the paper until January of 1943.
