to join him and come to Hampton. Securing the old material of the Eagle, certain of the business men of Hampton were apprised of the new venture and about the middle of February, 1859, George Ryan, Isaac Miller and James Thompson sent teams to Vinton and brought the printing outfit to this place. Jones followed about two weeks later with his family and set up the office of the Franklin Record in a little frame building on a vacant lot that stood on the site of the present Baptist church. On Monday, March 28, 1859, the first issue of the Franklin Record was published. It was a six column folio, all home print, as that was the days before the advent of "ready prints."

The Record compared quite favorably in make-up and general appearance with the neighboring papers of the day. On the edito rial page, of course, was the salutatory. Here also were published the few locals obtainable. On the same page appeared a column and a half article on the schools by the county superintendent, W. N. Davidson. There were two columns of reading matter on the third page and a list of advertised letters at Maysville, signed by the postmaster, William C. Boyles. The firm of Thompson & Beed was represented by a column of advertisement and there were quite a number of local notices.

The Franklin Record did not appear regularly, and in 1863 went out of existence. The founder, S. M. Jones, lived for many years in Hampton and was one of its early postmasters. Mr. Jones died in September, 1908, at the age of seventy-one years.

franklin reporter

In 1866, J. Cheston Whitney bought the material of the Franklin Record for $350, and established the Franklin Reporter, the first issue making its appearance May 1, 1866. This paper was a six column folio, all home print, and was mailed to subscribers at $2 per year. Soon after founding the Reporter, L. B. Raymond joined Mr. Whitney in the editorial work and took full charge of the educational department. He remained in this capacity until 1867, when he was succeeded by N. B. Chapman, county superintendent of schools, and one of the leading attorneys of the place. May 9, 1867. the Reporter was enlarged to a seven column folio and again enlarged in 1872 as a six column quarto, continuing as such until April 3d, when the Hampton Free Press was purchased of L. B. Raymond and

Built in early day; dismantled in 1912. Windsor building stands on the site

merged with the Reporter. The name was then changed to the Franklin recorder.

FRANKLIN RECORDER

The Franklin Recorder was simply the Reporter and Free Press under a new name. It was published under the management of Mr. Whitney until May 29, 1872, when J. C. Harwood, theretofore editor of the Winnebago Press, purchased a half interest in the paper and the firm name became Whitney & Harwood. In August, 1876, Mr. Whitney withdrew and sometime afterward engaged in publishing the Chronicle. Harwood remained as the editor and publisher of the Recorder until the 1st of January, 1878, when he sold the plant to Col. T. E. McCracken and soon thereafter removed to Wright county. Mr. Whitney died at Minneapolis, February 26, 1905.

Immediately after coming into possession of the Recorder, Colonel McCracken made arrangements with L. B. Raymond, then editing the Hampton Leader, whereby the two papers were consolidated under the name of the Franklin County Recorder, the firm name becoming McCracken & Raymond. This made of the Recorder a consolidation of three papers the Franklin Recorder, the Hampton Free Press and the Hampton Leader—and the policy of the editors was promulgated in an editorial in which it was stated the Recorder should always be republican in its partisan affiliations. The form of the Recorder was changed from a six column quarto to a nine column folio, all home print.

The partnership between T. E. McCracken and L. B. Raymond continued until January 1, 1880, when Mr. Raymond purchased the interest of his partner and assumed full control. Mr. McCracken removed to Webster City. Of Mr. Raymond, a sketch will be found further along in this chapter, written by an admiring hand, that of his associate in business for many years—I. L. Stuart, present editor and proprietor of the Recorder, who also penned the following for publication, at the time of the dissolution of the partnership between Mr. Raymond and himself, which occurred January 7, 1910.

"Thirty years today is a long period for one man to be identified with a newspaper as one of its editors and publishers. This is the record of L. B. Raymond, senior member of the firm of Raymond & Stuart, whose retirement from business we are called upon to chronicle in this week's issue of the Recorder.

“On January 7, 1880, Mr. Raymond purchased the paper and managed it alone until the fall of 1884, when he formed a partnership with the writer, who for three years previous had been foreman in the office. This partnership continued unbroken for more than twenty-five years, or until last Friday, January 7, 1910, when Mr. Raymond sold his interest in the paper to his partner.

"The reason of Mr. Raymond's retirement is well known to the citizens of Hampton. Nearly two years ago (in 1908) he suffered from a stroke of paralysis, which has disabled him for work. He has become satisfied that there is no reason for him to hope or expect restoration to health at his advanced age, and in response to his wish and desire, the writer has purchased his interest and thereby become sole proprietor of the paper. The severing of this long time partnership that has been mutually enjoyed during all these years was like breaking home ties.

"The readers and patrons of the Recorder may rest assured that the policy of the paper as adhered to in the past will be continued; in politics, always reliably republican. We want peace to prevail within the ranks and while differences may arise we are willing always to remain with the majority, for it is safe to assume that the majority is nearer right than the minority.

"To the hundreds of subscribers who have year in and year out stood by the Recorder we desire at this time to extend our heartfelt thanks. Your friendship and loyalty is duly appreciated and we shall endeavor to conduct the paper in the future in a manner that will merit a continuance of your patronage. What we desire most of all is to give the people a home paper that is clean and our aim will be to make the Recorder better as the years go by.

"We have no differences to perpetuate, nor enemies to punish, and hope that we may regard all as friends. The Recorder will in the future, as in the past, remain loyal to the interests of Hampton and Franklin county and all that we expect or ask in return is fair treatment."

I. L. Stuart has carefully and consistently followed the lines laid down for himself in the foregoing. His endeavor to publish a clean and loyal local newspaper has met full fruition. The plant of the Recorder is one of the best country papers in the state of Iowa, and was installed in a splendid, modern new home in the basement of the Windsor building in May, 1913.