Editor’s note: Frank A. Moriarty was the son of Peter Moriarty, whose role in the Council Grove Republican reaches back to the newspaper’s very beginning. Peter Moriarty brought the newspaper plant from Solomon City, Kansas, to Council Grove for Col. John T. Bradley, who published the first issue of the Morris County Republican on Aug. 24, 1872. Bradley later sold the newspaper to Peter Moriarty, who served as editor and proprietor until his death on June 10, 1875.
Frank Moriarty was away in Colorado when his father died. Upon learning of his death, he returned to Council Grove and, in July 1875, took charge of The Republican. Over the years that followed, Moriarty helped carry forward the newspaper his father had helped establish, eventually changing its name from the Morris County Republican to the Council Grove Republican. Fifty years after that first issue, Frank Moriarty sent the following “Greetings” for the newspaper’s anniversary edition.
GREETINGS To The Council Grove Republican: Dear Friend: In compliance with your recent request, I take pleasure in giving from recollection a brief history of the “Republican” under the management of my father, Peter Moriarty, and myself.
My father brought the newspaper plant to Council Grove from Solomon City, Kansas, for Col. John T. Bradley. The first issue of the paper, the “Morris County Republican,” appeared August 24, 1872, with John T. Bradley as editor and proprietor. After publishing the paper during the exciting Presidential campaign of that year, Col. Bradley sold the paper to my father, who assumed the control as editor and proprietor in December, and continued its publication until his death on June 10th, 1875.
He was an experienced editor and a practical printer of the old school, and published a newspaper that attracted the favorable attention of contemporaries in the state. Telegrams announcing the death of my father were not received for some weeks after this misfortune as I was in a remote part of the then territory of Colorado. I returned to Council Grove as soon as this sad news was received, and in July took charge of “The Republican,” and continued its publication until in 1882, when I sold the paper to Dr. O. S. Munsell. Early the following year I became associated with W. F. Waller in the publication of the “Cosmos,” myself as editor, and Will as business manager. W. F. Waller was in that day an A-1 printer, and as business manager developed the most sterling qualities. The lamentable fire of 1886 completely destroyed the printing material, and newspaper files of the Republican, and almost as effectually wiped out the Cosmos.
Mr. Waller and myself sold the fragments of our plant and its subscription lists and good will to Dr. Munsell, who brought on an entirely new printing outfit and resumed the publication of the Republican.
Sometime before selling the paper to Dr. Munsell the Council Grove Democrat had been merged with it by purchase from Fred W. Dunn. After a brief hyphenated existence as the Republican-Democrat the title was changed by me from “Morris County” to “Council Grove Republican.”
Shortly after restoring the Republican from its baptism by fire, Dr. Munsell sold the paper to Mr. J. Q. White. Soon tiring of the arduous duties of a publisher, Mr. White sold the paper to Mr. Waller and myself. Under this management the paper was continued until 1889, when I retired from the paper, and removed the following spring to Colorado.
The Republican, from its first issue, was devoted to Council Grove, Kansas, and Republicanism, and personal interest or individual ambition was never allowed to conflict with this triune devotion. The newspapers of no state or section had a more important part in the development and upbuilding of the commonwealth than those of Kansas, from the early territorial days. The Republican played its part in heralding the advantages of Morris County, and I shall always recall with pleasure my simple part in this field of activity.
During most of the time of my father’s conduct of the paper, those associated with him as employes were Edward and Theo Dill, both good boys and good printers, my brother Will, and Charley White who began his work as a printer in the office with my father. All of these boys were with me during most of the years of my control of the paper. There never was a more faithful hand. W. F. Waller began work on the paper as a compositor and foreman, and later became interested as partner and associate publisher. Minnie Johnson, nee McNay, became an efficient compositor, and worked with zeal and fidelity on the paper for several years. I recall others who worked on the paper at times, and some notable “Knights of the Road” who flourished in that day. Peter B. Lee, Busby and other well known “tramp printers” strayed in from time to time for a bunch of exchanges, a replenishment of wardrobe and a few square meals at the Commercial House or hotel de Corey— the latter, by the way, an inn of no mean degree when a good “feed” was required.
Those old days of newspaper controversies and undying friendships will not be forgotten. Many of those honored, esteemed and loved of the editorial ‘we’ have gone on their journey into the infinite: the Republican has rounded out its half century of useful work and is still serving with rare fidelity the interests of Kansas and Council Grove.
I wish to assure you of my fond remembrance of Council Grove and all her good people. As long as memory lasts in my heart will be enshrined those years of struggle and vicissitude, the unfailing support and true friendships of the years when I guided the destinies of the Republican.
May the paper continue another half century to deserve well and hold to the faith is the sincere wish of this deponent.
Sincerely yours, FRANK A. MORIARTY.