Russell County Newspapers, 1873-1931

Newspapers are a traditional resource for historians, and the increasing number of papers available online has been a boon to researchers who can now access millions of pages of newspapers from their home. Unfortunately, no Russell County newspapers are available online, although several neighboring counties have papers online, including the Abingdon Virginian, the Bristol News, the Big Stone Gap Post, the Tazewell Republican, and the Clinch Valley News. The Library of Congress website for Chronicling America has a Directory of United States Newspapers, which appears to have been created from various state resources. Unfortunately, the Virginia list only lists newspapers that have existing copies available.

In researching Russell County for over 20 years, I've come across mentions of quite a few other newspapers that existed in Russell County between 1873 and 1931. Below is a complete list of those papers I have found mention of, usually in other papers. The list does not include the Lebanon News, which I will cover in another post.

Russell Register, Lebanon, Va. 1873-1877. No copy known.

"Editorial Change. - Judge Fry has retired from the editorial care of the Russell Register and his place supplied by Mr. Wm. A. Ayers, a former resident of Bristol, who has purchased an interest in the office..." Bristol News, 2/27/1877.

"Saturdays, four pages, size 22x32, subscription $1.50, established 1873. W. A. Ayres, editor; G. M. Snodgrass & Co., publishers; circulation 540." Rowell's American Newspaper Directory, 1877.

"Saturdays; democratic; Geo. M. Snodgrass, publisher, circulation: 500." Pettengill's Newspaper Directory and Advertisers' Hand-book, 1877.

Vindicator, Lebanon, Va. 6/21/1877-1879. No copy known.

"The Russell Register has been changed to the Lebanon Vindicator, and under the editorship of L. A. Wall, Esq., made its appearance on the 21st inst. It is a nicely gotten up sheet, well printed, and bids fair to be a real spicy paper." Abingdon Standard, 6/28/1877.

 "The Lebanon Vindicator has again changed hands. Mr. L. A. Wall has sold out to Mr. Alexander Beavers, of Buchanan county. It must be a desirable investment, so many seem to want it." Abingdon Standard, 8/30/1877.

"ALEX BEAVERS has retired from the Lebanon VINDICATOR, and Dr. L. A. Wall takes the oar. We regret to part with friend Beavers, but welcome and salute the new Editor Dr. Wall. Bristol News, 4/16/1878.

"The gallant little county of Buchanan is to have a newspaper. The Ab. Virginian says Dr. Beavers is moving the Vindicator press to Grundy where he will issue the Va. Vidette. Now we wish the V. V. a career of glory and success, and congratulate those good people, who are generally a Democratic unit, on their good luck. Dr. Wall will soon reissue the Vindicator." Bristol News, 4/15/1879.

"Lebanon, Vindicator: Saturdays; democratic, W. T. Thurman, publisher. circulation 800. The Vindicator is a live democratic journal which took the place of the Russell Register. It is devoted to the interests generally of the people of Lebanon and the county surrounding. Its circulation is among an intelligent and substantial class of people, who supply their wants without stint. The Vindicator is an excellent advertising medium." Pettengill's Newspaper Directory, 1878.

Russell Progress, Lebanon, Va. 1874-1877 (possibly 1881 or later). One issue known.

"A PAPER IN RUSSELL. The Grayson Ensign has been discontinued, and the Editor, Rev. J. B. Jones, announces, that about the 1st of February, he will issue the first number of the Russell Progress, at Lebanon, Va." Bristol News, 1/6/1874.

"NEW PAPER. We have received the first number of the Russell Progress, published at Lebanon, Virginia. It is a very neat sheet." Daily State Journal (Alexandria, Va), 2/6/1874.

"The editor of the Russell Progress is named Irons. His writings have a metalic squint." Daily State Journal (Alexandria, Va), 3/5/1874.

"Rev. I. B. Jones, editor." Bristol News, 7/7/1874.

"Tuesdays, four pages, size 22x31, subscription $1.50, established 1874. J. B. Jones, editor. C. E. Irons, publisher. Circulation 504." Geo. P. Rowell and Co.'s American newspaper directory, 1874. 

"Tuesdays, four pages, size 22x31, subscription $1.50, established 1874. J. B. Jones, editor. C. E. Irons, publisher. Circulation 240, estimated." Geo. P. Rowell and Co.'s American newspaper directory, 1875. 

"Saturdays, four pages, size 22x31, subscription $1.50, established 1874. J. B. Jones, editor. C. E. Irons, publisher. Circulation 504." Geo. P. Rowell and Co.'s American newspaper directory, 1876.

"J. B. Jones, ed. Russell Progress." Johnson's New Universal Cyclopædia: A Scientific and Popular Treasury of Useful Knowledge, 1881.

"The Russell Progress is the name of a new paper at Lebanon, Va. Mr. HENRY FRYE, a son of the late Judge FRYE of this city, is the editor." Wheeling Register, December 13, 1876.

Issue of 1/15/1876 available at American Antiquarian Society, Newspaper Project, Worcester, MA, all other copies missing.

Lebanon Gazette, Lebanon, Va. 1881-1882. No copy known.

"Thursday, independent democrat, established 1881, size 16x22, four pages, no circulation numbers, subscription $2.00." N.W. Ayer & Son's American newspaper annual, 1881.

"Thursday, four pages, size 16x22, subscription $1, established 1881, T. W. and M. L. Comann, editors and publishers." Geo. P. Rowell and Co.'s American newspaper directory, 1882.

"Weekly, circulation 450." (Edwin Alden & Bro.'s) American Newspaper Catalogue: Including Lists of All Newspapers and Magazines Published in the United States and the Canadas ... Their Politics, Class Or Denomination, Size, and Estimated Circulation. Also Special Lists of Religious, Agricultural, the Various Class Publications, and of All Newspapers Published in Foreign Languages, and a List ... by Counties, Volumes 1-2, 1883 (possibly for year 1882.)

Virginia Protectionist,  Lebanon, Va. 9/11/1885-6/14/1889. Several issues known.

"We are glad to note the growth of the Protective sentiment in the South. The latest evidence of this is the starting of an excellent paper at Lebanon, Virginia, to support the Protective policy of the country. The Virginia Protectionist, the name of the paper, promises from the admirable work of its editor, Mr. W. H. H. Frenger, in the first number, and its neat appearance, to be an able advocate of Protection and worthy of a wide circulation in the Old Dominion. It is not an ephemeral publication, but bears every evidence of having come to stay." The Bulletin of the American Iron and Steel Association, Volume 19, 1885.

"Fridays, four pages, size 24x36, subscription $1, established 1885. W. H. H. Frenger, editor and publisher, circulation K1." Rowell's American Newspaper Directory, Volume 19, 1887.

"The Protectionist, Lebanon has changed editors. Mr. Dickenson retiring, while a Mr. Vickers succeeds him. For the retiring editor we held none but the kindest regard..." Clinch Valley News, June 17, 1887.

"Professor J. F. Vicars...former editor...will resume editorship..." The Educational Journal of Virginia, 1888.

"Friday, Republican, established 1885, size 24x36, four pages, subscription $1.00, circulation 800. J. F. Vicars, Editor; E. K. Harding, Manager." N. W. Ayer and Sons American Newspaper Annual, 1888.

"Friday, Republican, established 1885, size 24x36, four pages, subscription $1.00, circulation 815. E. K. Harding, Editor and Publisher." N. W. Ayer and Sons American Newspaper Annual, 1889.

Issues for 9/11/1885 through 10/2/1885 available at University of Virginia, all other copies missing. The Lebanon News of 6/5/1931 mentions the discovery of an issue from September, 1887.

Southwest Outlook,  Lebanon, Va. 1889-1892, 1901-1903. No copy known.

"We welcome among our exchanges The Outlook, a neatly printed six column paper published at Lebanon, Va., by L. L. and W. W. Bays." Lexington Gazette, 1/17/1900

"Thursday, independent, established 1899, four pages, size 15x22, subscription $1.00, circulation 800. L. L. Bays, Editor and Publisher." N.W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annual, 1902.

Mentioned in 1/11/1901 issue of Richmond Times.

Lost register of subscribers in  1902 Lebanon fire. Asked subscribers (via the Lebanon News) in January, 1903 to report subscription status and pay subscription. L. L. and W. B. Bays.

Southwest Virginian, Bickley Mills, 1890. No copy known.

Two issues of the Johnson (TN) Comet (5/1/1890 and 10/9/1890) reference "The Bickley's Mill, Va., Southwest Virginia" and "Bickley Mill Virginian." No other mentions. Unknown if related to either the above or below papers.

The Bickley Mills Post. Bickley Mills, Va. 3/19/1891 - after 3/10/1892.

Editor Thos. W. Comann.

"The Bickley Mills Post, a four column weekly newspaper, is a new venture in journalism in our neighboring county, Russell. It is a very neat specimen of typographic art and we wish it success." Clinch Valley News, 3/28/1891.

Issues for 3/19/1891 through 3/10/1892 available at University of Virginia.

Honaker Journal, Honaker, Va. 1894-1898. No copy known.

"Fridays, democratic, four pages, size 16x22, subscription $1, established 1894, Humphreys & Honaker, editors and publishers, circulation between 100 and 1000, may have ceased publication." Rowell's American Newspaper Directory, Volume 32, 1900.

"G. H. Humphries, former editor of the Honaker Journal, was in the city today, en route to Pikeville, Ky., where he intended to start a Democratic newspaper. Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 7/7/1896.

Russell County Press, Honaker, Va. 1898[?]-1909. No copy known.

"Friday, Republican, established 1905, eight pages, size 15x22, subscription .75, circulation 630. C. A. Honaker, editor and publisher. " N.W. Ayer and Son's American Newspaper Annual, 1908. Ditto 1909, no circulation numbers. 

"The Russell County Press, which has been temporarily suspended, will resume publication about September 1st." Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 8/23/1908.

"C. A. Honaker, of Honaker, Va., formerly editor and owner of the Russell County Press, came in yesterday with the Norton excursion. Mr. Honaker has just sold his plant and paper to C. C. Bausell, of McLean, Texas. Mr. Honaker will probably look up another newspaper proposition since he has been in the business so long that it has become chronic with him. He was formerly with the Daily Telegraph and is a well known newspaper man." Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 7/25/1909.

"The Russell County press will come out next week under new management. Charley Bausell has purchased the outfit." Clinch Valley News, 7/30/1909.

Lebanon Outlook,  Lebanon, Va. 1898-1901. No copy known.

"A Democratic Banner. The Outlook, published at this place, is no more. It fell asleep Wednesday, February 7, 1901, aged about fifteen months. Judging from the dying statement made about job work, it must have died hard and in a delirious condition. The death of the Outlook did not come as a surprise, as it had lived about as long as any of the Lebanon News' competitors, the News having outlived the Virginia Protectionist, Southwest Virginian, Bickley Mills Post and Honaker Journal. The funeral services were conducted by W. C. Marsh, manager, after which the remains were interred by the side of the above named departed journals. When the roll is called on the judgement day, the Outlook will see, registered in four lined pica on the galley rack of immortality, that the Lebanon News is still doing business at the old stand, flying the colors of democracy. - Lebanon News" Richmond Times, 2/24/1901.

Confusion with Southwest Outlook 1901, 1902?

Honaker Herald. Honaker, Va. 8/17/1909-194?. Scattered issues from 8/14/1924 to 8/22/1935 available at Library of Virginia<1924:8:14> <1927:2:17, 3:10, 4:7, 5:19, 7:7> <1930:12:11> <1932:10:20> <1935:7:11-18, 8:1,22>).

"New Paper. The Honaker Herald is a new weekly paper from Honaker. The first issue came out last week and it starts off splendidly. Charles Bausell is owner and editor. We wish him and his patrons boundless success." Lebanon News, 8/13/1909.

"Thursday, democratic, established 1909, thirteen columns, size 13 1/4 x 19 3/4, subscription $1.00, circulation 900. C. C. Bausell, Editor and Publisher." N. W. Ayer and Sons American Newspaper Annual, 1918.

"Thursday, democratic, established 1909, six pages, 36 columns, size 94 x 280, subscription $1.00, circulation 1300. C. C. Bausell, Editor and Publisher." N. W. Ayer and Sons American Newspaper Annual, 1921.

Bluegrass Enterprise,  Lebanon, Va. 1929-1931. One issue known.

"Wednesday, non-partisan, est. 1929, 7 26 308 1.00, C. G. Combs, editor and publisher." Ayer Directory, Newspapers, Magazines and Trade Publications, 1931.

Issue for 3/18/1931 available at Library of Virginia, all other issues missing.