Like many another pioneer paper, the Franklin Record began as a medium for publishing the county tax list. Stephen M. Jones and M.S. Bowman were persuaded to leave a Vinton newspaper office, buy the material of the old Vinton Eagle, and try their fortunes in Hampton. On March 28, 1859, they issued the first number of the Record, a six-column folio, all home print, Independent in politics, and containing a goodly amount of local news. Publication ceased in 1863, and a few years later J. Cheston Whitney bought the plant for $350, in order to issue the first number of the Franklin Reporter.

J. Cheston Whitney bought the Franklin Record plant for $350, in order to issue the first number of the Franklin Reporter, May 1, 1866. It continued through 1870 as a six-column outspoken Republican sheet. L.B. Raymond was in editorial charge of the educational department until April 4, 1867, when he was succeeded by N.B. Chapman. The following month, the paper was enlarged to seven columns and generally improved.

The Hampton Free Press was continued from the day of its founding, October 1, 1869, through 1870 by L.B. Raymond.

Real Estate Journal, a monthly devoted chiefly to advertising, lasted during 1870 in Hampton with James Thompson as editor. He sold soon to Davidson and Company, who continued it as the Freeholder only a few months longer.

Originally established as the Franklin Record in 1859, then published as the Franklin Reporter, by 1885 the paper was named the Franklin County Recorder. Located in Hampton, it was a weekly devoted to news & politics with a Republican character. Publisher was I.L. Stuart. (1911, 1916, 1920)

Established in Hampton, 1871 by W.C. Eaton. TheMagnet ceased to exist when he sold it in 1876 to J.C. Whitney.

Originally the Magnet, the paper was purchased by J.C. Whitney who named it the Hampton Chronicle. C.S. Gilford owned the paper from 1884 to 1890; S.H. Shoemaker from 1894 to Dec. 1, 1897, when theChronicle was purchased by T.W. Purcell. The paper was a weekly, published on Thursday, devoted to news & politics with a Republican slant.

Established in 1880 as a weekly, devoted to news & politics. John R. Bell was editor/publisher in 1911. By 1915/16 the publisher was Chester Yelland.

The Globe was a weekly, published on Thursdays in Hampton. Politically the newspaper had a Democratic character. In 1911 M. Bilderback was the editor/publisher. The paper no longer appears on the official list of Iowa publications in 1915/16.

Published for an unknown period of time, Odd Stories was a monthly magazine published in Latimer. In 1911 A.H. Hanson was the publisher.

The Star was a weekly Independant newspaper published on Friday. A.H. Hanson was publisher/editor (1911, 1916). The paper no longer appears on the official list of Iowa publications in 1919/20.

The Advocate was a weekly Republican newspaper published on Friday. Publishers: 1911 J.G. Zimmerman, 1916 F.D. Fillmore & 1920 Albert Johnson.

The Enterprise was a weekly Independant newspaper published on Thursday. L.L. Dolson was publisher/editor (1911, 1916). The paper no longer appears on the official list of Iowa publications in 1919/20.

The Independent was a weekly, published on Wednesdays. Despite the name of the paper, it was Republican in character. J.C. Byrnes was publisher in 1919/20.