Hi All: I wanted to share a note that Frank Myers sent to me -- you'll all enjoy this information... Thanks, Frank!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Nancee, I've been reading with interest the Chariton newspaper articles. I think you'll discover that the author of many of the unattributed historically-oriented articles that appear in The Leader (including The Early Prospects) was in fact The Leader's editor and publisher, Henry W. Gittinger. He was fascinated by local history and tended to do this sort of thing, not bothering to sign his name, assuming that subscribers in that era would know he was using his editor's pen. He also solicited historical accounts from many others, both during his tenure at The Leader and during earlier work at The Russell News, but the source of those solicited articles always is indicated. A sure indication that Henry was writing is reference to Washington Township. That's where H.W. was raised and his grandfather, Xury West, was the first settler of that township. Cheers, Frank