RINGGOLD COUNTY'S NEWSPAPERS

The first newspaper published in Ringgold County was called The Mt. Ayr Republican which was founded in the Spring of 1861, by P. O. JAMES, publisher, and George BURTON, editor. It was continued only about six months, when both the publisher and the editor entered the military service, the former as a private, and the latter as a captain.

The Ringgold Record, was established in April of 1863 with W. R. TURK, publisher, and I. S. BEALL as editor. The Ringgold Record was a weekly news and political paper that was succeeded around the 1st of June in 1866 by George B. ROBY who was both publisher and editor. The paper was sold to D. D. Pratt, editor and proprietor. Mr. PRATT enlarged the paper, which continued to around the year 1908.

C. C. BARTRUFF of Creston, Union County, Iowa, established the publication of the Mount Ayr Journal in 1873, a semi-weekly newspaper. Mr. BARTRUFF ran the Journal for ten years before he sold out. That same year George R. STEPHENS bought half interest in the Ringgold Record. The Twice-A-Week News was also published in Mount Ayr.

The 1875 History of Ringgold County, Iowa noted, "The Record is a newsy, enterprising Republican sheet of four pages, eight columns to the page, published weekly, and enjoys a prosperous business and a liberal patronage." The Mount Ayr Journal was in publication from 1893 to 1920. The Mount Ayr Record-News began publication around the year 1908 and continues to the present day.

The Goshen Gazette was in publication until the town of Goshen moved to Tingley in the late 1800's.

Mr. F. M. WISDOM and Robert WILLIAMS established the Ringgold County Republican in 1885 at Mount Ayr. The following year Mr. WISDOM sold his share to Reverend J. H. TEDFORD. In 1887, Mr. WILLIAMS and Rev. TEDFORD purchased the Ringgold Record and combined its publication with the Ringgold County Republican.After a period of several years, Rev. TEDFORD purchased Mr. WILLIAM's interest in the paper and was the editor until 1907, operating with his son Henry "Howard" TEDFORD when Sam SPURRIER bought a half interest. Then, Rev. TEDFORD and Mr. SPURRIER purchased the rival newspaper, The Twice-A-Week News [published from circa 1892 to 1907], combined the papers and renamed the publication The Record News. Rev. TEDFORD sold out his interest to Mr. SPURRIER in 1910, and Mr. SPURRIER continued to edit the paper as late as 1936. The Record News was the only weekly newspaper in Mount Ayr, Ringgold's county seat.

Shortly after the Granger law had been repealed, a group in Ringgold County formed a stock company with the purpose of building a narrow gauge railroad from Leon to Mount Ayr. The company began publishing a newspaper in 1877, called The Headlight, hoping to arouse interest in their dream of a railroad. This paper was succeeded by the Mount Ayr Onward, established in 1877 and ceased publication in 1884.

The Diagonal Progress was a weekly newspaper coming out on Thursday. It was of the political affiliation with the Independent Party and with C. F. QUINN, publisher and editor, and Tom WAFFLE who was the later editor. The Diagonal Reporter was published from 1918 to 1972, with Harold & Mildred TURNBULL as editor and publisher in the 1950's.

Other Ringgold County newspapers in publication in 1911 were The Kellerton Globe, a weekly local paper, Bert BALLOU editor and publisher; The Mount Ayr Journal, a weekly newspaper with Democratic affiliation, J. S. SHEPHERD and son editor and publisher; The Mount Ayr Press, a semi-weekly newspaper published on Mondays and Thursdays with Republican affiliation, TEDFORD and SPURRIER, editor and publisher; The Redding Register, a weekly newspaper with Independent affiliation, J. G. NORRIS, editor and publisher; and, The Tingley Vindicator, a weekly newspaper published on Thursdays with Republican affliation, W. E. BURLEIGH, editor and publisher.

The Wasp was published by Mr. NOAH in the town of Wirt, present-day Ellston. Mr. NOAH sold The Wasp to John ABRAMS who promptly re-named the paper The News, which was under publication until 1884 with John THRALL as the last publisher.

Knowlton's local newspaper was published under five different names throughout time, which included Knowlton World, Knowlton Sentinel and Knowlton News

The Kellerton Independent was established in 1882, followed by the Kellerton Mentor established in 1881, and finally The Globe were Kellerton's local newspapers. Bert Allan BALLOU, born Lamoni in 1875, start in newspaper business there. In 1909 BALLOU purchased the Kellerton Globe, and ran it for 50 years, selling it in 1959 to Jack and Helen TERRY, retiring at age 84. Celebrity outside of his longevity but antique equipment and handsetting method of printing. died in 1960, interment Maple hill. The last edition of the Kellerton Globe was published by Jack TERRY on May 25, 1961.

Tingley's local newspaper was called The Tingley News which was succeeded by the Tingley Vindicator which was in publication from around 1903 to 1948.

The local papers for Redding were The Redding Reporter, The Redding Independent, The Redding Herald which was in publication from 1915 to 1919 and again from 1926 to May of 1957, The Redding Rustler, and, which was published from 1901 to 1906.

The Battle Axe was published in Ringgold County around the year 1905. Ringgold County's Old Timers Bulletin ran from 1930 to 1946. The Shannon City Messenger was published from 1915 to 1918.

The Ellston Bugle, the high school newspaper was in publication during the 1950's.

The Diagonal Progress is still in publication.

SOURCE:
"History of Ringgold County" A. T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875.
PARKER, Jessie M. History of Ringgold County, Iowa 1941.

RETOLD OLD NEWS
from The Mount Ayr Record-News archives

1879 Eugene Fire

1897 Counterfeiting Ring

1899 Diagonal Fire

1917 Drive in Southwestern Iowa & Chautauqua

1935 Income Tax Law

2010 Iowa State Girls H.S. Basketball Tournament, Mount Ayr's Raiderettes

A

Michael ABDINE Files for American citizenship

Terry ANDERSON to IHSAA Hall of Fame, 2008

ATWOOD-GLORE Wedding

Ray E. AUCKER, 1994

B

Rep. M. Z. BAILEY of Diagonal on Torrens System, 1901

BALL, G. W., 1870

G. W. BALL & R. C. HENRY, 1870

BARROW Gang Stops at Caledonia, July 27, 1933

Beaconsfield Church, 1950

Beaconsfield Food Festival, 1996

Walter BEALL and Dr. P. L. PRENTIS Attend Meeting, 1901

Adam N. BEATTY & Sarah RADBOURNE Wedding, 1891

Sheriff Bob BENNETT, Nomination for Award, 2006

J. C. BENNETT Attends Teacher Meeting, 1901

Benton, 1896

Benton Post Office, 1982

BLUNCK, George D. for Sheriff, 1938

BLUNCK, Tedde
son of Mrs. Pauline STRINGHAM & George C. BLUNCK
Various news articles and wedding announcement

Levi BOOTHE Murder, 2002

BRAMON, Dwight, 1962

John BRIAR and The Buzz Saw, 1901

J. N. BROWN Fire, 1893

BULLOCKS Celebrate 40th Anniversary

C

CASE Golden Wedding, Jacob and Mary, 1892

H. A. CAVINESS, Delphos, 1884

Cemeteries, Of Grave Concern, 1883

CHEESE - EVANS - McDONALD Vehicle Accident, 2008

Chintz Bugs, 1874

Gladys CLARK - Hugh STEELE Wedding, 1934

Old Classified Ads, 1888      Classfied Ads1898     Classified Ads, 1901
    They don't print 'em like these anymore.

Coal Prospects, 1883

The Revs. Thomas COENEN & Thomas DOOLEY Reassigned, 2010

COULTHARD Anniversary

Court House News
    HOOVER vs. CB&Q Railroad, 1889
    Ringgold Co. vs. CB&Q Railroad, 1889 & 1891

Jean and Mary COLLIER 50th Anniversary

COWSERT, Sami , author of childrens books

Crime Stories:
    Pursuit of Albert BOWEN, Murderer of Philip BOOTH, 1894
    Bank Robbery, Diagonal, 1896
    Bank Robbery, Redding, 1923
    Breach of Promise, GEIGER v. PAYNE, 1895
    Buggy-jacking, 1900
    DENNISON Estate, 1903
    Murder of Samuel EGLY, 1904
    EMERSON Murder/Suicide, 1919
    GRIFFITH Murder, 1869
    Murder of Sam HAMILTON by his cousin Francis HAMILTON,
    Trial of Ira HAMMOND with implications against Dr. CROFFORD, 1902
    The Murder of "Doc" MULLOCK, 1905
    PENNEBAKER Murder, 1929
    Incarceration of George PRICE, 1903
    The Case Against Windsor RICHARDS, with implications against Dr. CROFFORD, 1903
    Ringgold County Crime Stories
    Murder in Ringgold County, 2007
    The Murder of Thomas SHAY, 1883
    The War of The SHERMANS
    Rescue of The TALMAN Girls, 1904
    Charges against John WIRTZ, 1904

D

DAVIS - CHUMBLEY Car Wreck, 2009

Decatur County Personals
    Surnames: DOZE, GATES, KIPP, LANDIS, NORTHRUP, PATTERSON, PHIPPS,
    RILEA, ROBERTS, SILVERS, WARNER

Delphos, Small Town U.S.A.

Diagonal Bank, 2010

Diagonal's High School Boys State Basketball Champions, 1938

Dial Telephone for Diagonal & Redding, 1968

DILL, F. M., 1883

DILLENBURG 25th Wedding Anniversary

The Revs. Thomas DOOLEY & Thomas COENEN Reassigned, 2010

DOZE Divorce, 1901

E

Estray Notice, 1858
Estray Notice, 1876

F

Farm Crisis, 1988

Fatal Train Wreck, 1917
    Otis McCULLOUGH of Kellerton, Iowa Killed

Luis FERNANDEZ Identified as 2007 Murder Victim

Bart & Pat FRENCH 50th Wedding Anniversary

Tammy FUGATE Honored, 2010

Elizabeth FULLER, Car Accident, 1936

G

Grand River buys Mount Ayr Fire Truck, 1979

GORDON - SWANSON Car Accident, 2006

Death of Mr. GREELE, 1880

Kenny and Brenda GROSE house fire, Mount Ayr, 2003
    contribution by Julie Watts

Emma GROUT, 1908

H

HARLAN-PEASLEY Wedding

Rev. D. J. HENDERSON's Revival, 1954

R. C. HENRY & G. W. BALL, 1870

Murder of Homer HOLLAND, Mount Ayr, 1901
HUNTER MURDER TRIAL, Charged with Slaying Homer HOLLAND, 1901

HUDSON Brothers

I

Marjorie IBBOTSON'S 90th Birthday

INGRAM Going Out of Business, Mount Ayr, 1888

Melvin INGRAM and Golda FRAME Wedding

INLOES, Jeffrey to U.S. Naval Academy

ISU 150th Anniversary Quilt, Sharon WASTENEY of Ellston

J

Joan JACKSON, Redding Iowa, Receives Turrett Award, 2008

Jail Escape, 1932

Bob JOHNSON and Ruby Win National Cattledog Trials, 2010

JOHNSTON, Herbert Theodore and
Pearl (DALE) JOHNSTON

JOHNSTON, Horace A. and Martha Jane (YOUNG) JOHNSTON

JONES 50th Anniversary
    Carrie Alice (STEVENS) & Albert Marion JONES, 1945

K

Kellerton Auto Wreck, 1967
    Cecil KNEEDLER, Mt. Ayr injured; Leo BIBLE, Torrington, WY killed

Kellerton Bank, 1930

Kellerton Boosters, 1912

Kellerton Businesses
History of Kellerton's Newspapers

Kellerton's Muncipal Building, 2006

Kellerton Celebrates Street Surfacing

Kellerton and Mount Ayr Telephone Companies, 1901

Kellerton Tornado, 1984

Adam B. KEPLINGER elected mayor of Blockton, 1912

Korean Vets Involved in Law Suit, 2009

L

The LARSON Brothers of Mount Ayr, 2008

Lesanville, 2003

Letter Carriers Convention, 1913
    Contribution by Nancee (McMurtrey) Seifert

Lyle LEONARD Death, 1999

Deputy LILIENTHAL Honored with SULLIVAN Brothers Award of Valor, 2005

Miss Vera LUTZ'S Birthday Surprise
    Contribution by Delbert Spencer

M

Maloy, Iowa Robbery, 1956

Dorothy (HOLMES) McDOWELL
    Celebrates 95th Birthday

McGEHEE Birthday

Coach Dan McGUGIN, of Tingley

McCAMMOND v. MACE, 1921

Wanda McGAHUEY'S 80th Birthday

McNEAR Fire, Mount Ayr, 2000

McNEIL, G. N. & McMEEKIN, C. W., 1884

Medical Society Meeting, 1900

Methodist Episcopal Appointments, 1912

MILLER, Henry J.

MOORE 25th Wedding Anniversary, Claude D. & Nira "Glee: (STEVENS) MOORE
    Contribution by Deloris (Gravett) & Ramon L. Bear

MOUNT, Edwin R., 1883

Mount Ayr Local News, 1888

Mount Ayr Auto Wreck, 1952
    surnames HARWOOD, MILLS

Near Mount Ayr, A Buggy - Truck Accident, December 31, 2007

Mount Ayr Electric Company, 1917

Mount Ayr and Kellerton Telephone Companies, 1901

Elementary School Comes Down, March of 2010

Mount Ayr Record-News, old news items:
    Signs Around The Square, Bird GILLILAND & William DOWLING, 1916
    Star Theatre, 1913

Murder in Mount Ayr, 1880
    Surnames: ASKERN, BAILEY, BENSON, BROWN, BUCK, CONLEY, CYPHERS, DOBBINS,
    FARRIS, FITZIMMONS, GOLDEN, HOOKER, LANDES, McDONALD, MERRILL, MILLS, WILEY

Murder in Kentucky, 1901

N

NEWTON, Don Drowning, 1999

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis NORDINE, 1971

O

Oldest Horse, J. W. ZEZEK of Diagonal, 1929

P

PALMER Drowning, Sun Valley Lake, 2004

John PARKER Death, 1877

HARLAN-PEASLEY Wedding

PETERS - WHARTON Wedding, 1883

Hon. T. J. PHILLIPS, Democratic Governor Candidate Speaks at Mount Ayr, 1901

Hon. T. J. PHILLIPS Notice by Ringgold County Chairman CURRIE, 1901

Poetry and The Ringgold Record, 1902

Jackson POLLOCK Painting, 2008

Dick and Marj PRENTIS, 50th Anniversary
    contribution by Julie Watts

Dr. P. L. PRENTIS and Walter BEALL Attend Meeting, 1901

Dr. P. L. PRENTIS, Delphos IA, Candidate for State Auditor, 1901

Dr. Percy L. PRENTIS    New York Times article, 1913
    contribution by Julie Watts

Seaman Raymond PRENTIS Promoted

Senator PRENTIS' Children, 1941

Senator X. T. PRENTIS' house fire, 1955
    contribution by Julie Watts

Renovation of The Princess Theater

Princess Theater Shines

R

RAINS, Asa Shin

RAMSEY Divorce, Mount Ayr, 1888

Timothy Davis RATLEY Death, 2008

Frank RICHARDSON Murder Trial, Savannah, Missouri, 1901
    Involves W. W. PEASLEY and Matt HIGGINS of Kellerton

Bob RICKER Inducted into Hall of Fame, 2010

Ringgold County's New Courthouse, 1926

Ringgold County Bulletin, Feb. 22, 1945

Ringgold County Jail, 2007

Ringgold Record, old news items
    Buffalo Robes, 1874
    Call for Whittlers, 1876
    Chicken Ordinance, 1876
    Crime and Punishment, 1876
    Egg Fight, 1876
    Good Advice, 1878
    Left Horseless, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry BRANUM, 1874
    Minstrel Show, 1875
    Mud Wrestling, 1877
    Onion Sociables, 1895
    Pay or Else!, 1877
    Pound Parties, 1877
    Smoochin' on the Sabbath, 1877
    Tardy Reverends, 1877
    What a Cad!, 1874

ROACH Anniversary

ROBERG Iowa State's Conservation Officer of the Year, 2008

ROWE, Ralph and Judy, 50th Wedding Anniversary

Jerry & Patty RUCKMAN, 50th Anniversary

New Rural Mail Routes, Ringgold County, 1902

S

Viola Marie SAGE and Willard S. LEWIS Wedding

SCHRADER, Herman

SHIELDS' Prize Is No Prize, 2003

Shooting in Middle Fork Township, MILLER & SHAFER, 1901

Society News, June 3, 2010
    Surnames: BRECKENRIDGE, FELL, KIBURZ, LANDPHAIR, McDANIEL, RICHARDS, WEEHLER,

Society Pages News Clippings

Samuel SHELINE'S Birthday Surprise, 1893

Jim SMITH Inducted into 4-H Hall of Fame

The SPENCER Family, new clippings 1875-1900
    Contribution by Delbert Spencer, research of Loren Spencer Elliott

Sports Notes, To be updated as new information is received
    1936 Boys' State Basketball Tournament

Miss STAHL and the Dajeeling, India Flood, 1898

State Candidates, 1901
State Candidates, STRANAHAN and WALL of Ringgold County, 1902

Stranded by a Snow Storm, Redding, 1961

Hugh STEELE - Gladys CLARK Wedding, 1934

STEVENS 50th Wedding Anniversary
    Homer R. & Edith May (BEADLE) STEVENS
    Contribution by Deloris (Gravett) and Ramon L. Bear

Hilary SWANK, Wins Oscar for Best Actress, 2000

Iowa Supreme Court Sets Value of Loss of Limb, 1901

T

TEAL Family News Items

Tea Time
    Mrs. Harold HUGHES, Mrs. X. T. PRENTIS, and Mrs. Quentin V. ANDERSON

Tedrow Cemetery Vandalized, July of 2010

TERREL, Brian of Malory Iowa

THOMPSON, Stewart L. & Barbara (SALTZMAN) WOOD Wedding, 1906

Tingley Bank, 1893

Tingley Fire, 1894

TONEY Divorce, 1902

1984 Tornado
2001 Tornado

Train Wreck, Lotts Creek Bridge, April, 1910
    Submission by Nancee (McMurtrey) Seifert

Train Wreck, April, 1946
    Dexter A. SEXTON of Mount Ayr, critical condition

U

Undertakers Convention, 1921

V

Jack Van LAAR, Leon Citizen of the Year, 2009

VREDENBURG Memorial, 2003

W

WALTERS Family Row, 1904

Tragic Death of Miss Delia WATTS, 1902

WEBB Family Race With Death, 1916

Astronaut Peggy WHITSON Home from Space, April 29, 2008

WHITE Murder, 2000

Death of John D. WILFONG, Tingley, Iowa, 1898

WOLFE-EWING Wedding, 1890

WURSTER Anniversary

Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, 1942

Z

J. W. ZEZEK of Diagonal, Oldest Horse, 1929

 

Ringgold County Vital Records which have been transcribed from newspaper abstracts, are available for births,   marriages, anniversaries, and divorces,   deaths,  surnames A - M &   surnames N - Z,
pioneer certificates, and wills.

now on-line

Ringgold County's Tales from the Front Porch Project
Share and preserve Ringgold County's oral legends, memories, tall tales, reminiscences, and so on before they are "lost" forever.

 

IOWA OLD PRESS
An Iowa GenWeb project that collects articles from old Iowa newspapers. Have a look back at the lives and times of our Iowa ancestors as reported in early newspapers. The home page for Iowa Old Press Project, complete with a searchable database, may be accessed at:http://iowaoldpress.com/

 

To submit your Ringgold County news articles and items, contact Sharon R. Becker srbecker@iowatelecom.net. Please type the word "Ringgold" in the subject line. Thank you.