St. Joseph Gazette
Encyclopedia
The St. Joseph Gazette was a newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1845 until June 30, 1988, when its morning position was taken over by its sister paper, the St. Joseph News-Press
.
It was the only newspaper delivered to the West Coast on the first ride of the Pony Express
in 1860.
The newspaper was founded in 1845 by William Ridenbaugh
(1821-1874) two years after Joseph Robidoux
founded St. Joseph and just a few years after the Platte Purchase
had opened the former Indian Territory
for settlement. Its printing press was reported to have been retrieved from the Missouri Mormon War.
The newspaper accounts are often used to tell the histories of the California Gold Rush
and travelers on the Oregon Trail
and California Trail
. One of its editors was Alexander Russell Webb
.
In the 1850s and early 1860s the paper would go through a new series of owners including P.S. Pfouts, J.H.R. Cundiff. In 1857 it switched from a weekly to a daily.
On April 3, 1860 the newspaper sent on the Pony Express read:
During turmoil at the beginning of American Civil War
, the paper temporarily ceased publication for many days throughout the war. After the war the newly renamed St. Joseph Daily Gazette was taken over again by Ridenbaugh.
After Riddenbaugh's death, it was sold to a consortium from New York City
led by W.E. Smedley.
Eugene Field
edited the paper in 1874 and 1875 and was to marry a St. Joseph girl during the time.
In 1882 one of its most famous headlines was JESSE, BY BEHOVAH as it announced the death of Jesse James
in the community.
John N. Edwards, who had popularized the Jesse James as anti-hero myth, edited the paper during the trials of Frank James
in the late 1880s.
Chris L. Rutt
was working at the Gazette when he invented and trademarked Aunt Jemima
ready-mix pancake mix. Unable to make it profitable he sold the trademark and recipe to the Davis Milling Company which turned it into a national phenomenon.
In 1896 it was operated by Charles F. Cochran
.
In 1924 Clyde Robert Bulla
would be among 100 third-place winners in a contest on the theme "A Grain of Wheat."
Charles M. Palmer
, who had bought and consolidated the St. Joseph News-Press
, bought the Gazette.
In 1939 Palmer brought in Henry D. Bradley as publisher for both papers. Bradley had earlier been publisher of the Bridgeport, Connecticut
Times-Star. Bradley would buy the papers outright. They would be rolled in the NPG Company.
In December 1980 the Gazette announced that since 1903 it had being using the wrong Old English Font character for its name, referring itself as the St Ioseph Gazette. The character was replaced.
Although the morning Gazette had a higher circulation than its evening counterpart, the News-Press, it was decided to cease the morning publication on June 30, 1988. The new paper was initially called the News-Press/Gazette but the Gazette name was dropped altogether in the early 1990s.
St. Joseph News-Press
The St. Joseph News-Press is a daily morning newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri. It is the flagship of the News-Press & Gazette Company which owns newspapers, television and radio stations and cable television systems throughout the United States.-History:...
.
It was the only newspaper delivered to the West Coast on the first ride of the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
in 1860.
The newspaper was founded in 1845 by William Ridenbaugh
William Ridenbaugh
William Fahnestock Ridenbaugh was a newspaper publisher who started the St. Joseph Gazette in St. Joseph, Missouri....
(1821-1874) two years after Joseph Robidoux
Joseph Robidoux
Joseph Robidoux III established the Blacksnake Hills Trading Post that eventually became St. Joseph, Missouri.-Biography:...
founded St. Joseph and just a few years after the Platte Purchase
Platte Purchase
The Platte Purchase was a land acquisition in 1836 by the United States government from Native American tribes all of which was east bank lands along the Missouri River that added to the northwest corner of the state of Missouri. The area acquired is almost as large as the states of Delaware and...
had opened the former Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
for settlement. Its printing press was reported to have been retrieved from the Missouri Mormon War.
The newspaper accounts are often used to tell the histories of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
and travelers on the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
. One of its editors was Alexander Russell Webb
Alexander Russell Webb
right|thumbnail|250px|Image of Alexander Russel Webb who was the U.S. ambassador to the [[Philippines]] and an early American convert to [[Islam]].right|thumbnail|150px|Gravestone of Alexander Russel Webb in Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst NJ...
.
In the 1850s and early 1860s the paper would go through a new series of owners including P.S. Pfouts, J.H.R. Cundiff. In 1857 it switched from a weekly to a daily.
On April 3, 1860 the newspaper sent on the Pony Express read:
- Through the politenes of the Epxress Company, we are permitted to forward by the first Pony Epxress, the first and only newspaper which goes out, and which will be the first paper ever transmitted from the Missouri to California in eight days. The nature of the conveyance necessarily precludes out making up an edition of any considerable weight. It, however, contains a summary of the latest news received here by telegraph for some days past, from all parts of the Union. We send it greeting to our brethren of the press of California.
During turmoil at the beginning of American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the paper temporarily ceased publication for many days throughout the war. After the war the newly renamed St. Joseph Daily Gazette was taken over again by Ridenbaugh.
After Riddenbaugh's death, it was sold to a consortium from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
led by W.E. Smedley.
Eugene Field
Eugene Field
Eugene Field, Sr. was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays.-Biography:...
edited the paper in 1874 and 1875 and was to marry a St. Joseph girl during the time.
In 1882 one of its most famous headlines was JESSE, BY BEHOVAH as it announced the death of Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
in the community.
John N. Edwards, who had popularized the Jesse James as anti-hero myth, edited the paper during the trials of Frank James
Frank James
Alexander Franklin "Frank" James was a famous American outlaw. He was the older brother of outlaw Jesse James.-Childhood:...
in the late 1880s.
Chris L. Rutt
Chris L. Rutt
Christian Ludwig Rutt was a managing editor for the St. Joseph News-Press who is credited with coming up with the recipe and name for Aunt Jemima pancakes....
was working at the Gazette when he invented and trademarked Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima
Aunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
ready-mix pancake mix. Unable to make it profitable he sold the trademark and recipe to the Davis Milling Company which turned it into a national phenomenon.
In 1896 it was operated by Charles F. Cochran
Charles F. Cochran
Charles Fremont Cochran was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Kirksville, Missouri, Cochran moved to Atchison, Kansas, in 1860.He attended public and private schools.Apprenticed to the printer's trade....
.
In 1924 Clyde Robert Bulla
Clyde Robert Bulla
Clyde Robert Bulla was the author of over fifty books for children. His first book, The Donkey Cart, was published in 1946. His autobiography, A Grain of Wheat: A Writer Begins, was published in 1985. The book referred to an essay he wrote in 1924 for the St...
would be among 100 third-place winners in a contest on the theme "A Grain of Wheat."
Charles M. Palmer
Charles M. Palmer
Charles M. Palmer was a Midwest newspaper broker who assembled much of the William Randolph Hearst media empire and an organizer of the Associated Press.Palmer was born in a log cabin in La Crosse, Wisconsin...
, who had bought and consolidated the St. Joseph News-Press
St. Joseph News-Press
The St. Joseph News-Press is a daily morning newspaper in St. Joseph, Missouri. It is the flagship of the News-Press & Gazette Company which owns newspapers, television and radio stations and cable television systems throughout the United States.-History:...
, bought the Gazette.
In 1939 Palmer brought in Henry D. Bradley as publisher for both papers. Bradley had earlier been publisher of the Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
Times-Star. Bradley would buy the papers outright. They would be rolled in the NPG Company.
In December 1980 the Gazette announced that since 1903 it had being using the wrong Old English Font character for its name, referring itself as the St Ioseph Gazette. The character was replaced.
Although the morning Gazette had a higher circulation than its evening counterpart, the News-Press, it was decided to cease the morning publication on June 30, 1988. The new paper was initially called the News-Press/Gazette but the Gazette name was dropped altogether in the early 1990s.