Here is more newspaper history from the book "Sawdust City" by Lois Barland -- The last issue of the "Times," No. 25, appeared on Saturday, Jan. 2, 1858, and contained the following announcement; "Arraignments have been made to consolidate the two papers published here, under the cognomen of "The Times and Telegraph," this being the last issue of the "Times." The reason for this change is the want of sufficient patronage to support two papers. Those who have heretofore received the "Times" will receive the "Times and Telegraph" in its place for their subscription." The compiler of this sketch (Marshall Cousins) was informed some years ago that a considerable proportion of the matter appearing in the "Times" was from the pen of Alexander Meggett. Mr. Meggett was by profession a lawyer and a good one. He located in this city in the summer of 1857, soon after Wm. P. Bartlett had established a law office here. The law business of that day did not furnish a field requiring all of the mental activities of the attorney, and Mr. Meggett used a portion of his spare time in writing for the "Times." Upon the retirement of Mr. Spencer, we believe he took full editorial charge. His colleague at the bar, Mr. Bartlett, in a later day, at times edited the "Free Press." Mr. Meggett lived to see the little settlement of 1857 develop into a thriving city. He died at the age of eighty three years, March 19, 1907, having lived in Eau Claire a few months short of fifty years. In its career from May 9, 1857 to January 2, 1858, thirty-four weeks went by, but the paper missed nine publication dates as the final number is 'No. 25.' The Delany's "Telegraph" was the only paper until nine months later the "Free Press" started. In the issue on March 31, 1859 the "Free Press said, "A. W. Delany, Esq. recently of the Eau Claire "Telegraph", has retired from editorial life, and we believe intends to go to Pike's Peak. Mr. Delany has for many years been identified with the Wisconsin Press, and as a political editor possessed more than average ability. Politically born and bred a Democrat, which hates Republicanism as Satan hates truth, and seemed to vie with 'his Majesty' to see which could do it the worst harm. Socially, he is a good fellow and we wish him a bountiful success in all his future undertakings." The Delanys left Eau Claire, but visited relatives here from time to time. One day in October, 1912, Mrs. Delany was eating lunch at the Eau Claire Club and saw some twenty elderly men march into the room and proceed to a long table reserved for them. At a word from the man at the head of the table, they took their seats. This man, she learned later, was J. Brunnett Demarest, former lieutenant of the company. Mrs. Delany said the feeling came upon her that these twenty men were connected with some past experience, and she asked the cashier as she was about to leave, who they were. She was informed that were veterans of the old "C" Company, of the Eighth Regiment, who were holding a reunion. "Then," continued Mrs. Delany, "time rolled backward, and again I stood with Mrs. Dr. French, on a Barstow Street corner, one day in September 1861, and saw march by those very men, then boys or very young men, and several score more, marching from the Eau Claire House to the levee, where they took the steamboat, on their way to the battle fields." The first issue of the "Free Press," September 23, 1858, Charles G. Patterson, editor and proprietor stated the purpose of the publication, "Its prime object will be to note the improvements, encourage the enterprise and point out the advantages of Eau Claire and the surrounding country lying in the Chippewa Valley in a truthful and unvarnished manner -- to speak of things as they are." It was published every Thursday and the price was $2 per year in advance. In less than two years, Gilbert Porter and E. C. Benjamin were editors of the paper and the office was in Shaw's block, second story. By '62, the office had moved to the Masonic Hall. After the fire of '64 the "Free Press was sold to J. B. and H. N. Stocking and they started out in a building opposite the Eau Claire House. The fire caused damage of $75,000 and it took two months to get going again. Lt. Stocking went to war and in January 1866 the printing plan again burned to the ground with a loss this time of $3,500. The editors purchased second hand material in Hudson and started again after two months time. They started up in Tom Kenyon's new building opposite Toby's hardware but the following year moved to a building two doors below the post office. Again on the 18th of January 1869, fire consumed the office and the heavy presses were dragged into the street. This time they leased the second floor of Jackson Brothers building. The office was only kept here a year when it moved to the Williams block on the corner of Barstow and Gibson. Soon after this move, Mr. Brackett became the editor, and the next year Henry Slingluff took t he place of J. B. Stocking as City Editor. In January, 1873 the "Weekly Free Press" became both a daily and a weekly. Associated Press dispatches were secured in 1880. The office was again almost demolished, this time by the high water of 1881. James Waggoner was editor during part of the eighties and was followed by H. C. Ashbaugh. Ashbaugh as editor of the "Free Press" and Doolittle as editor of the "Gazette," were sued for contempt of court and sentenced to 30 day sin jail. The old "Free Press" was published for the last time December 6, 1901 when Ashbaugh sold it to the "Telegram." Richard Wilson wrote the story of the "Times." Mr. Spencer, editor of the "Times," returned to New York to regain his health after the paper's suspension and never returned to Eau Claire. He served in the Civil War and years later, shortly before his death, Dr. Roy E. Mitchell became acquainted with him and heard the story of the paper. The Delany's "Telegraph" was taken over by the "Free Press" in 1859. Arthur Delany also served in the Civil War and died in 1903 at Sun River, Montana. The fourth paper to appear in Eau Claire was the "Herald" established February 25, 1862 by James Coon. Mr. Coon had been an employee of the "Free Press" but was laid off because of bad habits. The "Herald" was Democratic and lasted only until December 1862. Mr. Copeland established the West Eau Claire "Argus" in 1865 and it lasted about four years. The "Chippewa Valley News" was established in the fall of 1856 by Henry C. Van Hovenberg and F. J. Mills. The office was located in the rear of the drug store of French and Giddings on Water Street. Wm. H. Baily soon purchased the paper, but in January 1871 sold to Copeland and Mills which partnership was dissolved in 1875. The "Eau Claire Leader" was founded by Wm. H. Lamb, H. W. Dusinberre, L. F. Helmann and Charles L. James in 1881. The office was in the Pioneer block over the general store of Theodore Hoffman on Water street. A branch office was maintained in the job printing office of Charles B. Walworth under the Clark and Ingram bank. The "Leader" burned out in the big fire of 1882 and resumed publication in the Thwing building on Bridge Street (Grand Ave. W.) During the seventies and eighties several foreign language papers appeared. In 1900 Eau Claire had 3 English papers, 1 German and 1 Norwegian. The "Leader" was located at 208 Barstow in 1896 and moved to 307 Barstow. That same year 18 carrier boys covered the city and the system gave the news five hours earlier than any other newspaper. ++++++++++++++++ Next, we'll be readding a little about some of the men who ran newspapers -- there are four short biographies for John B. Stocking, Peter Bellinger, Alexander Meggett and William P. Bartlett. See you next time! -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net