Wiregrass farmer
Encyclopedia
The Wiregrass Farmer is reported to be the second newspaper
created by Irish immigrant Joe Lawrence
.
Lawrence, a devout Christian
, moved his family from Ireland
to the United States
in the latter part of the 19th century. After arriving in New York
, he began a journey south, eventually settling in South Central Georgia
in the community which later became Ashburn
. Mr. Lawrence's first attempt at a newspaper was a religious publication, according to subsequent stories told about him by his daughter Nora Lawrence Smith (December 25, 1886 - July 17, 1971). No copies of Mr. Lawrence's first paper, if it ever existed, have surfaced.
There is reason to doubt the stories of Miz Nora, as she was called, because among other stories she would tell, she led her family's covered wagon
through the woods at night with a lantern. The time frame she gave for this would have her being about two or three years old at most, considering her stated birthday. Miz Nora, for reasons no one really knows, postdated the first edition of The Wiregrass Farmer and Stockman to 1899 in subsequent editions of the paper by changing the volume number. It is believed Mr. Lawrence's religious paper was published in 1899 and she included those editions as part of The Wiregrass Farmer.
The first actual Wiregrass Farmer and Stockman was published on the last Saturday in March 1902. It has remained in business, continually publishing an issue each week, ever since then. The newspaper serves as the official Legal Organ for Turner County
and the cities. The University of Georgia
has microfilmed copies of extant editions on file at the Athens campus in the Newspaper Project archives. These records are often sought out by genealogy hounds researching their families. Most of the microfilmed editions at the UGA Athens Campus may also be viewed at the Victoria Evans Memorial Library in Ashburn. Bound volumes of the newspaper begin in the 1940s with significant gaps which grow smaller as the bound volumes approach more recent times.
Joe Lawrence and unnamed partners were the first owners. The Wiregrass was later owned by Nora Lawrence Smith and the business manager F.M. Tison. The paper was sold to a friend of Ms. Smith's. It was later sold to Trib Publications, the present owner.
The Wiregrass Farmer has had 5 managing editors in its more than 100 years: Mr. Lawrence. Ms. Smith, Austin Saxon and for a six-month period, Dave Taylor. Present M.E. Ben Baker has worked for the paper since 1994.
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...
created by Irish immigrant Joe Lawrence
Joe Lawrence
Joseph Dudley Lawrence Joseph Dudley Lawrence Joseph Dudley Lawrence (born February 13, 1977 in Lake Charles, Louisiana is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in 55 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in , mostly as a second baseman.-Sources:...
.
Lawrence, a devout Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, moved his family from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the latter part of the 19th century. After arriving in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he began a journey south, eventually settling in South Central Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in the community which later became Ashburn
Ashburn, Georgia
Ashburn is a city in, and the county seat of, Turner County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,419 at the 2000 census.The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,898. Ashburn's government is classified as a "council/manager" form of municipal government. The City Manager of Ashburn...
. Mr. Lawrence's first attempt at a newspaper was a religious publication, according to subsequent stories told about him by his daughter Nora Lawrence Smith (December 25, 1886 - July 17, 1971). No copies of Mr. Lawrence's first paper, if it ever existed, have surfaced.
There is reason to doubt the stories of Miz Nora, as she was called, because among other stories she would tell, she led her family's covered wagon
Covered wagon
The covered wagon, also known as a Prairie schooner, is an icon of the American Old West.Although covered wagons were commonly used for shorter moves within the United States, in the mid-nineteenth century thousands of Americans took them across the Great Plains to Oregon and California...
through the woods at night with a lantern. The time frame she gave for this would have her being about two or three years old at most, considering her stated birthday. Miz Nora, for reasons no one really knows, postdated the first edition of The Wiregrass Farmer and Stockman to 1899 in subsequent editions of the paper by changing the volume number. It is believed Mr. Lawrence's religious paper was published in 1899 and she included those editions as part of The Wiregrass Farmer.
The first actual Wiregrass Farmer and Stockman was published on the last Saturday in March 1902. It has remained in business, continually publishing an issue each week, ever since then. The newspaper serves as the official Legal Organ for Turner County
Turner County, Georgia
Turner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2010, the population was 8,930. The county seat is Ashburn.-History:The County is named for Henry Gray Turner, U.S...
and the cities. The University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
has microfilmed copies of extant editions on file at the Athens campus in the Newspaper Project archives. These records are often sought out by genealogy hounds researching their families. Most of the microfilmed editions at the UGA Athens Campus may also be viewed at the Victoria Evans Memorial Library in Ashburn. Bound volumes of the newspaper begin in the 1940s with significant gaps which grow smaller as the bound volumes approach more recent times.
Joe Lawrence and unnamed partners were the first owners. The Wiregrass was later owned by Nora Lawrence Smith and the business manager F.M. Tison. The paper was sold to a friend of Ms. Smith's. It was later sold to Trib Publications, the present owner.
The Wiregrass Farmer has had 5 managing editors in its more than 100 years: Mr. Lawrence. Ms. Smith, Austin Saxon and for a six-month period, Dave Taylor. Present M.E. Ben Baker has worked for the paper since 1994.