About The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905
Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.] (1883-1905)

Kimball Enterprise and The Kimball Graphic

The Kimball Enterprise came into existence on April 12, 1882, in the settlement of Kimball in Brule County, South Dakota, during the railroad and farming boom. Located in what was then Dakota Territory, Kimball had recently been accessed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. The town was settled largely by German, English, Norwegian, and Irish immigrants. In these early days much of the news from Kimball centered on issues surrounding immigration and homesteading. The Enterprise described itself as ". . . lively, spicy, independent, and devoted solely to the interests of Kimball and Brule Co." It also reprinted articles from newspapers around the country, encompassing topics such as farming and household tips, and featured stories with an often moral persuasion. In fact, the Enterprise claimed to be "The only strictly moral newspaper in South Dakota," and boasted of ". . . rapidly increasing circulation among the most intelligent class of people in Brule and the adjoining counties."

One of the first papers to be established in Kimball, the Enterprise started as an eight-page, four-column weekly printed every Friday morning. Its original proprietors were R. W. Butler and Daniel G. Hay. After only a few months, Butler was bought out by a man named Patrick H. Ryan, who for a time became the newspaper's editor. In July 1883, the Kimball Publishing Company purchased the Enterprise, and Daniel Warner became sole proprietor and Clate R. Tinan editor. On August 17, 1883, the Kimball Enterprise was renamed the Kimball Graphic. Tinan became editor and sole proprietor of both the Graphic and the publishing company on April 28, 1884.

Under Tinan's management, the Graphic stayed true to its original purpose as a politically independent paper. It affirmed that it would "keep the public posted on all the current topics of the day, remembering our first duty is to Kimball, our second to Brule County, and our third to Southern Dakota." With Tinan at the helm, subscriptions grew quickly and circulation expanded, having exchanges with papers in New York, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Paul, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Fargo, and Larimore among others. Tinan stayed on as editor and proprietor for the majority of the paper's life and made many improvements. Under his direction, the Graphic eventually evolved into an eight-page, six-column weekly with more editorial space and with better picture quality that made for advertisements of greater effect.

In its 22 years of activity, the Graphic covered many important events, from debates on the location of the capitol--first for the Dakota Territory and then for the state of South Dakota; the issue of statehood for South and North Dakota; and the opening of the Sioux Indian Reservation for further homesteading. Before Tinan took over as editor, he had written for journals such as Forest and Stream of New York and the Chicago Field. Tinan continued to use his influence to promote proper hunting laws and practices. Tinan also had a very colorful relationship with the editors of other local papers such as the Brule Index and the Chamberlain Democrat. There was much friendly--and sometimes not so friendly--editorial mudslinging, showing lively competition among the young Dakota newspapers.

Provided by: South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives