fires, inking the press, carrying the weekly issue to the town subscribers and making himself generally useful after the custom of printing shop apprentices since time immemorial. Soon he learned to set type and was well on his way to learning his trade. It is likely that the influences of his earliest association with a printing office had much to do with his after life. From Stout he learned to fight for the principles he considered right, no matter what the cost. Stout was an abolitionist and despite threats, despite the unpopularity of such a course in those early times in Mississippi river towns, openly and boldly denounced slavery. From Israel, it may be, he first learned the evils of intemperance, seeing them exemplified in the life of a man whom he admired and respected. Israel he recalls died as the result of an intemperate life and beyond a doubt this fact made a great impression upon him.

Stout and Israel could not survive the financial difficulties which most editors in those early days were compelled to face and about a year after Mr. Mahin entered the office they gave up the fight.

Under the regimes of F. A. C. Foreman, who came to Bloomington from New Boston, to take over the Herald plant, and of Noah M. McCormick, who bought the plant six months after Foreman had been compelled to suspend publication and changed the name of the paper to the Muscatine Journal, young Mahin remained as an employe of the office. Under McCormick he was allowed, in addition to his services as a printer, to write both editorial comment and accounts of local news happenings.

TILT WITH A PIONEER EDITOR.

"In the elections of 1849," said Mr. Mahin, "the democrats had been victorious in their local contests. The editor of their organ, H. D. LaCossitt, had assisted in the jollification over that event by ladeling out whiskey from a bucket to a number of young men and boys. I saw the incident and wrote a communication for the Journal, in which I roundly denounced the proceedings, signing my communication 'Adolescens' (I was spending my spare time in the office studying Latin and had learned that adolescens meant 'young man'). LaCossit in the next issue of his paper vehemently denied the accusation and rather grandiloquently declared that the person who said that he had seen himself and Sheriff Henry Reece giving out whiskey was a liar. I followed this up with another communication, in which I reaffirmed the statement as to LaCossitt but pointed out that in the first article no reference had been made to Reece, that so far as I knew he was neither concerned in the matter nor had his name been connected with it by any one, and stated that LaCossitt's dragging the sheriff into the case seemed to indicate that he was too cowardly to face the music himself. This second communication brought about a visit from LaCossitt, accompanied by Reece, to the Journal office. The editor of the democratic paper demanded of my employer, Mr. McCormick, the name of the author of the two articles. Much to my surprise, Mr. McCormick winced before the two men and pointed tremblingly at me as I stood by the press. LaCossitt looked at me, turned toward McCormick and with much dignity said, 'Sir, I would have you know that I have no quarrel with boys,' and then stalked from the room. In

the next issue of his paper he made a similar statement in an article intended to reflect sarcastically on Editor McCormick."

A CONSISTENT AND FEARLESS FOE.

Throughout his editorial service, Mr. Mahin was a consistent and a fearless foe of the liquor traffic. He carried his opposition to such lengths that he made some bitter enemies for himself. But neither the enmity of his foes nor the advice of well meaning friends ever turned him from the pathway which he had chosen, because he believed it right. In the darkest hour of his life in Muscatine, his home, together with those of two other prominent residents, was blown up, following the bitterest part of the struggle in Muscatine during the days of the old prohibitory law of Iowa. On the night of May 10, 1903, his home was wrecked and he and his wife and children, together with the maid employed in the house, escaped with their lives only as if by miracle. Not even this dastardly deed served to cool his ardor for the cause in which he had enlisted not for a single battle or campaign, but until the fight was ended. While Mr. Mahin is no longer engaged in editorial labor and therefore no longer has the opportunity to daily set his lance at rest and charge upon his ancient foe, there are no signs that he has changed in his opinions or that his loyalty to the white banner of temperance has grown less warm. Mr. Mahin, in part perhaps by reason of the intenseness of his convictions and uncompromising character of his support of those convictions through the columns of his paper, won for himself a wide reputation as an editor and as an able writer.

John Mahin's retirement from the editorial chair in 1903 marked the passing from active newspaper life of Iowa's veteran. editor. That retirement is too recent to make necessary any discussion of the commanding position which he held among the editors of the state. By his evident sincerity and his absolute integrity, as well as by his sturdy fearlessness and his recognized ability, he won the respect of all.

In May, 1859, Mr. Mahin was married to Miss Anna Herr, of this city, who died in 1861, leaving no family. In September, 1864, he married Miss Anna Lee, of Johnson county, Iowa. Their first born, Ella, died at the age of four and a half years, in 1870. Two sons and two daughters are now living. John Lee Mahin, their elder son, is a resident of Evanston, Illinois. In 1895 he married Miss Julia Graham Snitzler, and three children have been born to them, two daughters, Margaret and Marian, and one son, Master John Lee Mahin, Jr. Mabel, the elder daughter, is the wife of Louis Jamme of Chicago, Illinois. The younger daughter, Florence, is the wife of J. Warren Alford, of East Orange, New Jersey. They have two children, Charles and Charlotte. The second son, Harold J. Mahin, is employed in a responsible position by O. J. Gude & Company of New York, the widely known outdoor advertising firm. His home is in New Rochelle, New York. His wife was Miss Nelle Boone, of New York. They have an infant daughter, Virginia.

THE NEWS-TRIBUNE.

The Muscatine News-Tribune is a lineal descendant of the Democratic Enquirer, established by H. D. LaCossitt in 1848, who remained at the wheel until

1853, when for six months W. B. Langridge had the arduous task of steering the craft.

In 1854 the paper was sold to J. Carskadden and T. M. Williams, passing in 1855 into the hands of Williams, Gibson and Company, with Judge Robert Williams as editor. Under this administration the paper became vigorously democratic and was the first paper in Iowa to advance the name of James Buchanan for President. In January, 1856, the paper again changed parents, D. S. Biles and E. W. Clarke becoming sponsors for the firm. Mr. Clarke withdrew in a short time. Mr. Biles continued as editor and publisher until 1859, when he sold the entire outfit to J. Trainor King, who changed the name of the paper to the Review and gave it a daily attachment. The following year another change of proprietorship occurred E. H. Thayer being the purchaser and changing the name to the Courier. In 1864, Barnhart Brothers later proprietors of the Great Western type foundry of Chicago, purchased the paper and for eight years were very successful in their management when there was another change, G. W. Van Horne becoming owner. Another change was made in the name and the Tribune then appeared, which was issued as a weekly for two years when E. H. and W. C. Betts became associated in the proprietorship and a morning daily was established. Mr. Van Horne retired in 1877 and W. C. Betts died in 1879, when E. H. Betts became sole proprietor.

On November 30, 1887, the Muscatine News company was incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 with the following officers:

William Huttig, president; William Hoffman, treasurer; George W. Van Horne as secretary. They began the publication of the Daily News. Mr. Van Horne was one of the most scholarly and gifted writers in the country and remained as editor until his death in 1895, when he was succeeded by Joseph Gerard Van Lent, as editor, who had been the city editor for 7 years, and who still remains as editor of the News-Tribune.

On May 1st, 1889, the Muscatine News Company acquired the Tribune by purchase and both papers were consolidated and were issued as the NewsTribune, a daily and semi-weekly issue being published.

In September, 1902, Messrs. Joseph G. Van Lent, Frank W. Eichoff and John C. Van Lent, decided to acquire the stock of the company. All three were born and reared in Muscatine and were imbued with the idea to give their beloved home town and community a newspaper that would reflect the views and keep full pace with the progress and growth of the city.

Joseph G. Van Lent had been connected with the News-Tribune and the News for 14 years past and enjoyed a wide acquaintance; Mr. Eichoff had a number of years' experience in the office of County Clerk and County Treasurer as well as several years' experience as local editor and manager of the evening paper; John C. Van Lent was a practical job printer and also served as assistant post master of the Muscatine post office for 11 years, under both political administrations, leaving his position to associate himself in the publishing business. The combination looked peculiarly well fitted to win success and on September 16, 1902, they purchased the stock of the company and the News-Tribune passed to the new regime.

It was and is the determination of the present owners to make the paper in all respects a worthy newspaper in the broad and modern meaning of the term. The news service is ample, reliable and wholly independent of its political opinion. It faithfully gleans and presents city, county, state and general world wide news with celerity and accuracy and publishes information that will instruct, interest and enlighten its readers.

In politics the News-Tribune is clearly and distinctly democratic, ever loyal to the principles and policies of the grand old party, the name of whose father and founder Thomas Jefferson, is enshrined in every American heart. In so doing it lends its influence toward advancing the cause whose triumph will redound to the individual and National welfare.

In matters of municipal concern the News-Tribune will aspire in the future as in the past to occupy advanced ground. Its unswerving fidelity to a policy of progress is known to all. Public spirit has prompted it in taking the initiative in the successful agitation leading to the construction of the high bridge, inauguration of the electric railway, brick paving and sewerage system, the acquiring by the city of its own water plant and the location of important industries, and in every way made itself an active factor in promoting the best interests of the city. The News-Tribune's loyalty to the city in the past is the best possible guarantee that it will be equally loyal in the future.

It is the first and highest purpose of the News-Tribune to excel as a purveyor of news and a reflection of public sentiment and it has invariably had the co-operation and support of a valued constituency and a generous patronage.

With the paramount desire to give all subscribers the benefit of current news and to deal fairly with the individual and with the public, the publishers are confident that they will have the continued good will and patronage of the community.

The News-Tribune is conveniently located on Iowa avenue and occupies a three story building including a basement, for its home. Its mechanical equipment is of the best with perfecting press, a battery of linotypes and all the accessories for printing a live daily newspaper. The first linotype in Muscatine county was installed by the News-Tribune in April, 1897.

CHAPTER XX.

BANKS AND BANKERS.

FINANCIAL CONCERNS OF MUSCATINE COUNTY-EARLY BANKS AND BANKERS-IN THE "FORTIES" CURRENCY CHIEFLY CONSISTED OF COUNTY ORDERS-DEPOSITS MUSCATINE BANKS OVER FIVE MILLION-RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER

IN

BANKER.

GREENE & STONE, BANKERS.

The private bank of Greene & Stone was the first concern of its kind in Muscatine and was started early in the year 1851, by Joseph A. Greene and George C. Stone, both of whom had formerly been engaged in buying grain, packing pork and general merchandising. Joseph Greene came to Muscatine in the '40s from Vermont and opened a store under the firm name of Enders & Greene, which was later changed to Greene & Stone. He became very prosperous, was one of the men who laid out the towns of Wilton and Letts, erected the first frame structure in the last named place and owned several farms in that vicinity. He was enterprising and fearless,-a town builder, erecting a number of business blocks in Muscatine. He dealt largely in real estate and raised many fine horses, for which he had a decided predilection. One of his blooded equines was the noted "Greene's Bashaw."

The bank was opened in a small frame building, later the site of F. W. Swan's store. The business room was about fifteen feet square. The safe was an ordinary affair, its contents being secured from intrusion by a lock, the bolt of which was shot into a socket by the turning of a key. Time locks were undreamed of in those primitive days. Later, the firm erected a brick building for the bank on the south side of Second, between Iowa avenue and Chestnut, and placed therein a "fire and burglar proof" safe, a very pretentious venture at that time. And the bank prospered until the panic of 1857, when it was compelled to make an assignment, the first and only bank in the history of Muscatine that failed to meet its obligations-a financial record any city can well be proud of. This wound up the affairs of the banking firm of Greene & Stone.

Like in all new, undeveloped communities, Muscatine county for the first several years of its existence had a greater fund of hopes, ambition and determination than ready cash, with which to carry on the various enterprises of her hardy and practical settlers. Money,-real money, certainly was a scarce article in those strenuous days and difficult to obtain. County orders largely were the prevailing currency and legal tender in the community for all debts, public and private. The first one of these orders, drawn upon the county, was in favor of