FIFTY YEARS AGO: Random Notes.

June 10, 1908

The following letter was written by E. J. Farnum, at one time the editor of the Wheatland Times, the first newspaper established in this town, to the late editor of the Wheatland Spectator, A. J. Gault, some twenty-one years after Mrs. Farnum’s first visit to Wheatland.  The letter was published in the Spectator and was preserved and handed to us by Dr. Thos. D. Gamble, for publication, giving a brief history of the newspaper careers of different editors to the time of his writing in 1881. 

Chicago, Nov 2, 1881.

To the Editor of the Spectator:

            It will be twenty-one years the coming spring since the writer first visited the then new town of Wheatland and left his autograph on the register of the Wheatland House, kept at that time by your worthy fellow citizen, L. Munson.  We were accompanied from Clinton by Wm. M. Magden, Esq., with whom many of your older citizens are acquainted.  The Wheatland Times was then about two months old, having been established by O. D. Crane, whose successor the writer became, and which was continued more or less successfully for longer or shorter intervals during nearly two years.  That it did not become a permanent success under my control was no fault of the citizens of Wheatland or the country surrounding.  I was succeeded in the publication of the paper by M. L. Rogers, Esq., one of the oldest and most enterprising of your former citizens, and who was afterwards succeeded by Dr. Ezra Wharton, by yourself and others with various success, until The Wheatland Times passed away, to be known only in history.

            It is nearly or quite two-thirds of average duration of human life since that memorable year of 1869, when the Times was established in Wheatland.  And what memorable year!  Were we to be set down in Wheatland after so many years of absence, doubtless we would be unable to recognize our old home except from the presence of a few landmarks like yourself, Larry O’Connor, Dr. Gamble, and others.  The babies that were born to us them, have become men and women, soon to displace us on the map of human brotherhood.  We who were then in the prime of life, and exulted in vigorous manhood, are now in the “sere and yellow leaf.”  Our locks are gray from the exposure of many winters, and yet a few years when not one of us shall inhabit our earthly tenement.  We are forcibly reminded of those times when we look upon our little grand-daughter, whose mother then was scarcely able to walk—a grandfather!  The world does move __and we along with it.

            The advertising pages of the The Times were then represented by such names as R. McLaughlin, C. W. Fogg, J. A. Hicks & Co., M. L. Rogers & Co., D. Gamble, L. Munson, G. Leffingwell, G. M. Schricker, etc, etc., most of whom are, years since, gone from among you, some to that “undiscovered country,” and other to more western homes.

            But allow me to congratulate you Mr. Editor, on the business-like appearance of the Spectator, and its external appearance of success.  My heart warms toward Wheatland and its citizens, its newspaper and its editor, from many old associations.  But I cannot say everything in one letter for fear of being “crowded out”—But if acceptable, you may hear from me again.  Yours.  E. J. Farnum