Variety of papers served area before 1904

Reports of wars, legal decisions, political events, speeches, marriages, divorces, accidents and deaths are commonplace in today's news publications. But these reports first appeared in 59 B.C. when Julius Caesar ordered a regular official publication. When the first English Puritans sailed to America they brought with them their desire to be kept informed. The first English-language daily newspaper appeared in the United States in 1702.

As settlers moved west, so did the news. Early newspapermen had to hold down a variety of jobs connected with publishing. They served as reporters, salesmen, typesetters, pressmen, editors, publishers and carriers.

Many early publications failed in part because their main focus was often promoting the political and religious beliefs of publishers instead of overall news. But as one paper left, another was there to take its place.

The earliest papers contained little local news. Editors felt local news would be passed by word of mouth and that their duty was to report the political and world news as it became available. An occasional account on the marriage or death of a locally prominent person might find itself somewhere other than the front page.

Cape Girardeau County's early newspapers played a significant role in Missouri journalism history. The county's first paper, the Missouri Herald, was published in Jackson in 1819 by Tubel E. Strange. The Herald was the second paper west of the Mississippi River. The first was the Missouri Gazette, founded in St. Louis in 1808.

In his 1964 book "Missouri Newspapers," now-retired University of Missouri journalism professor Dr. William H. Taft chronicled Cape Girardeau's early newspapers. According to Taft, Cape Girardeau's first paper was the Farmer, established in in 1831 with William Johnson as editor and publisher. The city's second newspaper, the State Gazette, was started about the same time. By 1851, following a succession of owners and name changes, the press and equipment of both newspapers had found a new home in St. Louis.

Edwin H. White's weekly, the Patriot, appeared in Cape Girardeau in 1836. White's paper was established as an organ for the Whig party. Within a 10-year span, this paper too, saw a series of owners and name changes before suspending publication in 1846.

The Civil War brought new problems to the newspaper industry. "Presses were destroyed, type melted into bullets, and editors forced to flee the state during the war that divided Missouri as well as the nation," Taft wrote.

"Some publishers buried their press and type and went away to fight with guns instead of words; others remained at home, determined to maintain freedom of expression amidst divided communities. Before the smoke cleared, many papers had become war casualties. Some barely survived, while a few grew in strength to lead the state on the road to recovery in the late 1860's."

The Cape Girardeau Eagle, founded as the Western Eagle in 1847, publicly advocated secession from the Union. The Eagle was destroyed by Federal troops.

There was no regularly published newspaper in Cape Girardeau until 1864 when Cape Talk appeared. This twice-weekly publication didn't last long. The Argus began publication in 1864 as well and developed into a fairly strong paper. The Missouri Democracy became the Argus's main competitor, and the two finally merged in 1871.

Other daily and weekly papers made their appearance and departure through the years: the Mississippi Valley Globe, the Censor, the Community, the Baptist Headlight, the Southeast Baptist and the Message.

In 1904, the Naeter brothers -- George and Fred -- appeared on the scene and the news began to change.