History: Neillsville - The Republican & Press (2 Dec. 1884)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hoffman, Carr

----Sources: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 2 Dec. 1884

A CHANGE

The Republican and Press was sold last week by the owner, Horace J. Hoffman, to I. T. Carr, of Jefferson, Wis., who has taken possession and will edit the paper this week. Mr. Hoffman came to this county in 1873 and for some years conducted the paper in person. Then E. L. Hoffman came to Neillsville and edited the paper until a little over a year ago. J. K. Hoffman, another brother, filled the editorial chair during the last year. Horace Hoffman wielded a facile pen, and under his management the columns were full of interesting matter. E. L. Hoffman conducted the local columns very successfully. He was aggressive and pugnacious and most of the time had some political or personal fight on his hands.

John K. Hoffman was not as successful as a local editor. Being a stranger here he did not become familiar enough with business man and interests to make the paper equal in local matter to what it had been before. But he did his best to accomplish that which was not feasible, to conduct the paper neutral in politics, and please the general public. This was abandoned during the last campaign and the Republican and Press was substantially a democratic sheet.

Horace Hoffman leaves many friends in Clark County. While he have opposed him politically, we have nothing but personal friendship and we wish him success in the new field of business he is entering in Milwaukee. Mr. Carr is a democrat and we presume the paper will no longer occupy an equivocal position in politics. Clark County is clearly republican as demonstrated by the late election, but there is perhaps room for a democratic paper here. If a paper of that faith is conducted fairly it will probably be a good thing. There are two sides to every question and it is well to hear what each party has to say.