The history and trials of community newspapers

The Elbert County Tribune was one of the first newspapers of record in Elbert County, dating back to 1884, when J.B. King published the first edition in the town of Elbert.

At that time, newspapers were largely for the elite and took two forms. The first were mercantile sheets that included shipping schedules, product prices, ads, and some foreign news. The second were political newspapers that were controlled by political parties and used editorial content to share their views with readers.

The Elbert County Tribune was not that kind of paper. It was a community paper that was created to serve and inform the growing population of Elbert County, including local news, local human-interest stories, and general reporting on happenings within the town. Not beholden to any political party, King was free to publish any content he believed would serve the community, with few restrictions.

King, who also owned a dry goods store and was reportedly referred to as “The Old Reliable Merchant,” had no qualms about using his newspaper as a source of advertising and self-promotion.

“Again, it has rolled around to the time of year I must have money. Many of my customers have been carried for months, without statement or any hurry up business, but now I have bills maturing that require me to call on them for prompt payment, and I hope you will respond cheerfully. Come to the front and help me out now and when you need credit or an accommodation you will know where you can always get it. Don’t wait but come in and settle.”

According to a thesis written by Craig William Leavitt, King reportedly ran an ad in the Elbert County Tribune asking customers to settle up their debts at his store. The paper also published information on deaths, marriages and trips taken by community members. The Elbert County Tribune changed hands several times in the years that followed, merging with the Elbert County Banner, the Kiowa County Seat News, and finally with the Kiowa Divide Review, at which time the Tribune name disappeared from history.

Two other community papers came to town nearly a dozen years after the Tribune first went to print—the Western Recorder, which printed from 1897 to 1899, and the Elizabeth Eye, which only printed from 1899 to 1900, after it’s editor, W.L. Holland, was reportedly responsible for the first fatal shooting in Elizabeth.

The story goes that the local principal and a member of the town board had threatened Holland with physical harm if he did not reveal the name of a correspondent called “Handy Andy,” as they had taken offense at something written by him. Holland contacted the local sheriff but found no help there.

“An undersheriff described as a gentleman said he could not prevent any harm when we were roughly handled.”

On August 9, 1899, it is reported that one of the men threatened Holland’s life and followed the editor home. Holland drew a pistol and fired, killing the man instantly. Holland pleaded self-defense, and a district court jury returned a verdict of “not guilty.”

Dozens of community papers were started over the years, including the Western Recorder, the Elbert County Squire, the Rainbelt Echo, Kiowa Record, Divide Review, and the Matheson News, just to name a few. All but three have either ceased publication after a brief period of time or were purchased and merged with other newspapers.

Today the only remaining publications in circulation in Elbert County are the Elbert County News, The Ranchland News, and the Prairie Times. But that does not mean the history of community newspapers stops there. Across the states, it is estimated that more than 150 million people are informed and entertained by community newspapers every week, and the value of community papers continues to grow.