Rock County NewspapersThe following was printed in the Rose History in 1911: "For the purpose of publishing the News, the Rock County News Company, composed of prohibitionists, was organized and the plant of the Democrat was purchased Oct. 4, 1888. N.R. Reynolds was selected to edit the paper and Clifford Reynolds, was for a time, associated with him in the business management. Harmony did not dwell among the stockholders of the company and there were several changes of stock within the next few months. Mr. Reynolds conducted the News as a prohibition paper until October 1889, when he was succeeded by F.N. VanDuzee. The latter leased the plant for a time and then became one of the stockholders, later still becoming sole owner and conducting the paper in the interests of the alliance party. Mr. VanDuzee published the News until August 1893, when he sold to John E. King, publisher of the Nobles County Democrat, and S.S. Bellesfield, who was the local representative. They made the paper a democratic organ. In the latter part of October, 1893, the News was purchased by a syndicate styled the Rock County News Publishing company and composed of John J. Ryer, Max H. Voelz and W.M. Cutcheon. The company was capitalized at $3,000. Messrs. Ryder & Voelz, who had previously been connected with the St. Paul Globe, took the local management and published a democratic paper. Later Mr. Voelz became the sole editor. Early in January 1898, F.N. VanDuzee, the former proprietor, foreclosed a mortgage on the plant and at once sold to E.S. Holman. The latter conducted the News as a democratic paper (for a short time in partnership with Edward S. Peterson) until Nov. 28, 1900, when publication was suspended. The subscription list and good will were sold to the Luverne Journal, which had then been founded, and the plant was moved to Hardwick, where it did duty in publishing the Hardwick News, which had been founded the year before but which had no plan of its own. During a part of its career the Rock County News was ably edited and enjoyed a statewide reputation. Western Literary Journal was the name of a little monthly magazine devoted to literature which was issued a few times in the fall of 1889. F.M. Bailey and F.L. Hinkly were the publishers.The last paper founded in the county seat was the Luverne Journal which is still published. The Journal came into existence Aug. 18, 1898, and was founded by W.H. Workman. It was founded as a five-column quarto and as a republican paper, but at the end of two years became a disciple of the democratic faith. Mr. Workman presided over the new paper four years and eight months, selling in April 1903 to Daniel Gagen. The latter managed the Journal only a few months, selling in November to P.I. Niester and J. Edward Jensen. The latter took charge of the office but remained only a short time. In April 1904, R.R. Hickie located in Luverne and assumed control of the Journal under contract with Mr. Niester, who was the owner, the two publishing the paper together. The plant was sold under a mortgage in July 1904, being bid in by the former owner, W.H. Workman. The following day he sold to R.R. Hickie and A.H. Osborne Jr., and in September the latter became sole owner by purchasing his partner’s interest. Mr. Osborn published the paper until July 1905, when W.V. Olin took the management, being assisted by J.L. Marshall. Later A.E. Smalley was the manager. The ownership became vested in A.C. Finke, A.J. Daley and C.D. Edkliff. Mr. Finke bought his partners’ interests and on Feb. 1, 1909, sold to C.C. Lowe. The latter greatly improved the Journal and made it an excellent publication. Mr. Lowe sold the Journal in August 1910, to E. D. Lum, who published it until the following spring. R.H. Ross became the managing editor in February 1911."Next week we will write about the early papers in Beaver Creek.
