DUBUQUE VISITOR

DUBUQUE VISITOR.

        First newspaper published in the state of Iowa
        Published from 11 May 1836 to 24 May 1837 

The Dubuque Visitor was the first of the early news publications in Iowa. Coming to Dubuque in 1834, John KING, who was not a printer, realized the good possibilities for a newspaper. He returned to Ohio in the fall of 1835 and purchased the equipment and hired William Cary Jones, an experienced printer. Jones was to be paid $350 with suitable board and lodging during one year to serve as the foreman of the printing office. Traveling to Cincinnati, the two purchased a Washington hand press and an assortment of type. Andrew KEESECKER, a printer from Galena, Illinois was also hired.

The first issue of the "The Dubuque Visitor carrying the heading "Dubuque Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory" appeared on May 11, 1836. This heading was progressive since Dubuque was still part of Michigan Territory despite a bill creating the Territory of Wisconsin was then before Congress. (1) Its motto was "Truth Our Guide--The Public Good Our Aim."

The Visitor was originally located at Church and Main STREETS. The building from which it operated, a two-story log structure 20 x 25 feet, was built in 1834 by Pascal Mallet as a residence. By October, 1836 King claimed the newspaper had nearly one thousand subscribers. The paper was moved to the east side of Main Street just above the Globe building.

On June 3, 1837 the Visitor was renamed the IOWA NEWS although it continued to be owned by King, W.W. Coriell and John B. Russell. It was succeeded by the MINERS' EXPRESS from which the Dubuque Telegraph Herald evolved. The operation was moved to the east side of Locust Street near Fifth where it remained. Publication was ended in 1842 and the materials moved to Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Anniversary envelope.

A few years later the press was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota by J. N. Goodhue and used in the publication of the "St. Paul Pioneer." It is believed this press was then taken into South Dakota to print the "Dakota Democrat," the region's first newspaper. During a raid by the SIOUX on the city of Sioux Falls the press was destroyed in a fire. In 1922 it was displayed in the Masonic Museum in Sioux Falls. (1)

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Source:

1. "West's Journalism Born in Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, Sept. 21, 1922

Oldt, Franklin T. The History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880 p. 52

http://iagenweb.org/dubuque/news/pub.htm