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About Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920
Doniphan, Mo. (1905-1920)

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Title:
Ripley County democrat. : (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920
Place of publication:
Doniphan, Mo.
Geographic coverage:
  • Doniphan, Ripley, Missouri  |  View more titles from this: City County, State
Publisher:
D.C. Cunningham
Dates of publication:
1905-1920
Description:
  • Ceased in 1920?
  • Vol. 8, no. 1 (Nov. 17, 1905)-
Frequency:
Weekly
Language:
  • English
Subjects:
  • Doniphan (Mo.)--Newspapers.
  • Missouri--Doniphan.--fast--(OCoLC)fst01254938
Notes:
  • Archived issues are available in digital format from the Library of Congress Chronicling America online collection.
LCCN:
sn 89067083
OCLC:
20401069
ISSN:
2378-6809
Preceding Titles:
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Holdings:
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Ripley County democrat. November 17, 1905 , Image 1

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The Hustler and Ripley County Democrat

DeWitt Clinton Cunningham, editor and publisher of the Ripley County Democrat of Doniphan, Missouri, published an editorial on November 17, 1905 concerning the origin of the newspaper. Cunningham wrote that beginning with Volume VIII, "we have taken the opportunity offered, to change the name of the paper from The Hustler, under which cognomen it has journeyed since its purchase by Gus Henry Rife from Robert E. Douglas, and its subsequent lease and purchase by the present owner, to the more euphonious one of Ripley County Democrat."

The Ripley County Democrat was first established around 1895 by Thomas F. Lane, who quickly sold it to Robert E. Douglas. A founder of the Ripley County Republican, Douglas sold the printing plant to Gus Henry Rife who changed the name of the paper to the Hustler. In 1898, Rife sold the paper to DeWitt Clinton Cunningham.

Cunningham had never liked the Hustler as a title for the paper, and in 1905, as soon as it had become contractually permissible, he changed its name back to the Ripley County Democrat. Cunningham published the four-page paper every Friday in Doniphan.

According to his obituary published in the Doniphan Republican on October 27, 1927, Cunningham had become involved in newspaper work at a young age in Texas. He was the first Associated Press representative in the Southwest and accompanied General McKenzie as a war correspondent on his expedition against the Apache leader Geronimo. Cunningham was active in Democratic politics, serving in both the Ohio and Missouri legislatures and as the mayor of Doniphan. The Ripley County Democrat followed him into retirement in 1918.

Provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO