Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

The Republican Valley Echo

The next two articles will be about the late Herb Crane, a well-known Bloomington publisher, who was active in the local newspaper business for over half a century.

Much of this article comes from a 1931 reprint from the Bloomington Advocate, and is entitled Our Golden Jubilee. Mr. Crane writes about the 50-year history of the local newspaper.

“The first issue of this paper as will be seen by the reproduction of the first page of the old paper which was September 1, 1881 (reproduced first page not used in this article).

“The paper was established by J. F. Zediker and W. R. Robertson, who purchased the outfit of what was once the Argus, operated by Calhoun & Sawyer. While the paper was dated Franklin, it was run for six weeks in Bloomington while the building was made ready in Franklin.

“The present editor acted in the capacity of foreman and devil, which he held until May, 1883, when, with R. F. Miller, we purchased the interest of Zediker, who was then the sole owner. About a year later we purchased the interest of Mr. Miller.

“In 1888 the paper was moved to Bloomington by Carson Hildreth in Exchange for some equities in land. The next year we started the Argus and ran it a short time when we again took over the old paper as full owner. Until 1891, the paper was consolidated with the Prickly Pear run by A. H. Byrum, when the owners were Byrum & Crane, and by mutual consent the name was changed to the Bloomington Advocate. In about a year we purchased the interest of Mr. Byrum. For about thirty-nine years we have occupied the basement under the post office block.

“During this time quite a number of persons had their first lessons in upending the silent messengers of thought. Among them are Frank Williams, now city editor of the State Journal, Lincoln; Robert Ward, of Sacramento, California; John A. Barker, now at Casper, Wyoming; H. B. Holmes, of Leoti, Kansas; Osborn Boyd, now at Owensville, Missouri, and Mrs. V. G. Douglass.

“ In 1886, J. Frank Lantz, now at Republican City, came out from Davis, West Virginia and was in our employ at Franklin and later for several years at Bloomington. From this acquaintance a friendship grew up that has been one of the pleasures of our experience. Frank was always on the job and was efficient and honorable.

“ For about thirty-one years Mrs. V. G. Douglass and her sister, Miss Margaretta Jones, our present, faithful and efficient linotype operator, were in our employ, and they were both efficient and loyal.

“In 1922, we purchased the subscription list and good will of the Tribune from H. B. Holmes, and for a while the style of the paper was the Advocate-Tribune, and this year dropped the hyphenated head.”

If the world is cold, Make it your business to build fires. Anonymous.

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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