Edwin Moss Watson
Encyclopedia
Edwin Moss Watson was a newspaper
editor
and publisher in Columbia, Missouri
.
, on November 29, 1867, the first son and second child of six of Dr. Berry Allen Watson (1833–1918), a general-practice physician
, and Clara Ward (1842–1927), an author
.
In 1872 the family moved from Millersburg to Columbia, a larger city in adjacent Boone County
. Watson's primary and secondary education were at the Mission School and the Columbia Female Baptist Academy (the latter a predecessor of Stephens College
), both in Columbia. He remained in Columbia for his higher education, earning an A.B. degree in 1890 from the University of Missouri
, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa
.
He began his career as a journalist
while a young teenager, going to work in 1881 as a printer's devil
on the Columbia Herald, where he moved through several jobs until 1890, when he became a reporter on the St. Joseph Ballot in St. Joseph, Missouri
. After a year at the Ballot, he moved to Ft. Worth, Texas
, where he worked as a reporter for two years on a predecessor to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
.
In 1894 he interrupted his career in journalism
to return to Columbia, where he entered law
school, from which he graduated in 1897. That year he entered private law practice and was elected city attorney in Columbia.
He resumed newspaper work after a year of law practice, working as editor of the Jefferson City State Tribune in Jefferson City, Missouri
from 1899 to 1901 and as a reporter on the St. Louis Star and the St. Louis Republic in St. Louis, Missouri
from 1901 to 1905.
In 1905 he acquired the Columbia Daily Tribune
in Columbia, Missouri and became its editor and publisher (calling himself "editor and proprietor"). He worked in that position until his death in 1937.
Watson voted the straight Democratic ticket and consistently supported the Democratic Party
in his editorial
s. He also strongly opposed prohibition
. He never drove a car, never married, and lived with and cared for his mother from his father's death until hers. He was known as "Col. Watson" although he never served in the military; he came by the title "more or less honestly," he said, when Guy B. Park
, governor of Missouri from 1933 to 1937, named him an honorary colonel on his staff.
He fell ill on November 14, 1937, the day after he wrote his last editorial, and died at Boone County Hospital in Columbia on November 30, 1937 from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was buried at Columbia Cemetery.
Being cited for "his colorful editorials often calling for community improvements," he was inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and publisher in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
.
Biography
He was born in Millersburg, a small town in Callaway County, MissouriCallaway County, Missouri
Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 44,332. Its county seat is Fulton. The county was organized in 1820. It was named for Capt. James Callaway, a grandson of...
, on November 29, 1867, the first son and second child of six of Dr. Berry Allen Watson (1833–1918), a general-practice physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, and Clara Ward (1842–1927), an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
In 1872 the family moved from Millersburg to Columbia, a larger city in adjacent Boone County
Boone County, Missouri
Boone County is a county centrally located in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the eighth most populous county in Missouri. In 2010, the population was 162,642. Its county seat, Columbia, is the fifth largest city in Missouri and the anchor city of the Columbia Metropolitan Area.-History:Boone...
. Watson's primary and secondary education were at the Mission School and the Columbia Female Baptist Academy (the latter a predecessor of Stephens College
Stephens College
Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman turned it into a college,...
), both in Columbia. He remained in Columbia for his higher education, earning an A.B. degree in 1890 from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
.
He began his career as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
while a young teenager, going to work in 1881 as a printer's devil
Printer's devil
A printer's devil was an apprentice in a printing establishment who performed a number of tasks, such as mixing tubs of ink and fetching type...
on the Columbia Herald, where he moved through several jobs until 1890, when he became a reporter on the St. Joseph Ballot in St. Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
. After a year at the Ballot, he moved to Ft. Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, where he worked as a reporter for two years on a predecessor to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News, which is published from the eastern half of the Metroplex. It is owned...
.
In 1894 he interrupted his career in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
to return to Columbia, where he entered law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
school, from which he graduated in 1897. That year he entered private law practice and was elected city attorney in Columbia.
He resumed newspaper work after a year of law practice, working as editor of the Jefferson City State Tribune in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
from 1899 to 1901 and as a reporter on the St. Louis Star and the St. Louis Republic in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
from 1901 to 1905.
In 1905 he acquired the Columbia Daily Tribune
Columbia Daily Tribune
The Columbia Daily Tribune, commonly referred to as the "Columbia Tribune" or the "Tribune," is one of two daily newspapers in Columbia, Missouri. It is also the only daily newspaper in Columbia, Missouri that has circulation verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and has been a member of...
in Columbia, Missouri and became its editor and publisher (calling himself "editor and proprietor"). He worked in that position until his death in 1937.
Watson voted the straight Democratic ticket and consistently supported the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in his editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
s. He also strongly opposed prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. He never drove a car, never married, and lived with and cared for his mother from his father's death until hers. He was known as "Col. Watson" although he never served in the military; he came by the title "more or less honestly," he said, when Guy B. Park
Guy Brasfield Park
Guy Brasfield Park was a politician from the U.S. State of Missouri.Park was born in Platte City, Missouri and he graduated from law school at the University of Missouri. Park practiced law in Platte City, twice winning election to be the prosecuting attorney for Platte County...
, governor of Missouri from 1933 to 1937, named him an honorary colonel on his staff.
He fell ill on November 14, 1937, the day after he wrote his last editorial, and died at Boone County Hospital in Columbia on November 30, 1937 from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was buried at Columbia Cemetery.
Being cited for "his colorful editorials often calling for community improvements," he was inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame in 2005.