The History of Local Newspapers
LEWISBURG
The first newspaper published in Conway County appears to have been the Wide-Awake, started in January, 1872, by Chas. E. Isham, at Lewisburg (Lewisburg, which is not even a post office at this time, was the county seat of Conway County until 1883, when the comparatively new town of Morrilton became the county seat). The Wide-Awake lived about two years.
The Western Empire was started at Lewisburg about the first of May, 1872, by Chas. C. Reid, Sr., whose son afterward became a Congressman, and died in Little Rock in June, 1922. The Empire, in 1874, passed into the hands of Sam T. Watson and B.F. Kerney, who continued to publish it until May, 1874, when Eugene F. Henry became its editor. It suspended in June, 1874.
The Weekly State, was started at Lewisburg, on April 8, 1874, by Rev. W.C. Stout. In the third year, Mr. Stout sold the paper to Edward H. Feltus, who became the publisher, with Mr. Stout as editor.
MORRILTON
The Unit published at Morrilton in 1922, a twice-a-week paperThe Democrat, a weekly
A Voice , a monthly
When Morrilton came into prominence, in 1878, The State, published at Lewisburg, was moved to the former place. In January, 1882, the name was changed to the Clipper, with G.G. B. Davis as editor. After two issues had been put out, it went into the hand of Robert W. Leigh, and the name was changed to the Headlight. Thos. J. Hicks was its editor in 1886. Mr. Leigh owned the paper until 1889. J.O. Blakeney then became the owner, but on June 1, 1891, on account of ill health, he leased it to Vandeventer & Wiley until January 1, 1892, when he again took charge. R.E. L. Turner published it for some time under a lease. W.H. Hines also owned it. he sold to Geo. L. Parker. Claude Snowden seems to have been its next publisher. he sold it in 1908 to Virgil A. Beeson. He continued it until he went into the World War, when Mrs. Beeson took charge. The paper was recently suspended, and the plant was sold to J.H. Beerstecher, of the Malvern Daily Record.
Since his return from the war, major Beeson has served as adjutant of the Arkansas State Guard, and in 1920 he accepted the position of State Manager for the Children's Hospital campaign.
The Plebian was started at Morrilton, in 1878, by H.C. Warner, and edited by Col. E. B. Henry. In 1879, it was renamed The Dollar, with J.H. Coblentz as editor. he was succeeded by Dr. Frank Gordon. This Dollar ceased to circulate in May of the same year, and the material was bought by the Conway Log Cabin.
The Morrilton Messenger was started, in 1881, by a stock company, with Rev. John W. Boswell as its editor. In September, 1882, it was consolidated with the Arkansas Methodist, which was established at Morrilton in May, 1882.
In 1881, the Southern Youth, a children's paper, was printed at the Messenger office by Porter & Boswell and issued simultaneously at Morrilton and at Verona, Miss. After a few months Mr. Porter bought the paper and moved it to Verona, Miss.
The Pilot was established, in 1889, by Robert W. Leigh, former publisher of the Headlight. He continued to make a good paper of it until 1895, when he sold the property to Thomas J. Hicks, formerly of the Lonoke Democrat, and moved to Paducah, Ky., where he was connected with Leigh Bros. in the publication of the Daily Standard. Mr. Leigh had represented a printers' supply house before he embarked in the newspaper business. He was a good business man, as well as an editor of ability.
The Arkansas Republican was started, at Morrilton, march 1, 1884, by Frank Connellery & Co. After publishing six issues, it was suspended, but was revived by J.T. Garland. It breathed its last in September, 1884.
The Evangel was moved to Morrilton from Russellville, in January, 1885, but it later removed to Little Rock.
The Morrilton Star, stated in 1885, by A.F. Livingston, of the Conway Log Cabin, and the Morrilton Clarion, started a short time before, both suspended in 1888. Mr. Livingston died April 3, 1888.
The Springfield College Collegian was started in October, 1888. It was soon discontinued.
The Democrat, at Morrilton, was established in 1896, by C.E. Cruse, who had edited the Greenwood Democrat, and went to Morrilton from Fort Smith, where he had edited the paper which afterward became the Fort Smith Times-Record. He was for 26 years the able editor of the Morrilton Democrat. He died December 28, 1920. He retired from actual service eight years before, to be succeeded by his son, Robin A. Cruce, who had edited the Perryville News.
The Voice ( African American) was started in 1919. J.H. Williams is its editor.
The Conway County Unit, at Morrilton, published on Wednesdays and Saturdays, was among the new papers to be started in 1920. W.C. Moyers and Anna and G.A. Ward, formerly of Leslie, are its editors. The Ward-Moyers Printing Company is its publisher. V.C. Harley, who went to Morrilton in 1917, and who had been employed on this paper, was found dead in that city, on February 19, 1921.
The Gospel Searchlight was started at Morrilton in April 1922, by W.T. Wilkinson.
PLUMMERVILLE
The Plummerville Enterprise, started by C.M. Hoskins, in 1896, died in 1898.
The Plummerville News was started in 1929 by Henry J. Miller, and Miss Lucile Nesler its manager. It has suspended.
The Pilot was published at Plummerville for a while by Mr. Hopper some years ago.
This Addenda is in the back of the book:
RUSSELLVILLE
In the list of newspapers established at Russellville, the two following publications were omitted: The National Tribune, started in 1871 by J.H. Battenfield; the Biblical Review, started in in November, 1881, by J. Tolbert Garland. The office of the National Tribune was destroyed by fire in 1872. A new outfit was procured, and the publication of the paper was resumed, but in 1875 a stock company was organized to purchase it, when it became the Russellville Democrat. In 1873 the Tribune was edited by Judge L.W. Davis, and in 1874 by David P. Cloyd. The Biblical Review was suspended in three months.
Abstracted from "History of the Arkansas Press for 100 Years, and More" by Fed. W. Allsopp It was printed in 1922.
