Newspaper content in early Iowa was much different than we read today. The news consisted of local events primarily; rarely did they read about events in other states, much less other countries. In 1855, the Clarkson family moved to Grundy County, Iowa. In 1870, Mr. Clarkson and his two sons, James and Richard, purchased the Iowa State Register (now the Des Moines Register). The elder Clarkson was the agricultural editor until his death in 1890. Both sons, Richard and James, learned the printing and newspaper business from their father.
James was an editor for the family newspaper. In addition, he has become known as the greatest editorial writer in Iowa. He was also the Des Moines postmaster for several years. James received offers from four U.S. Presidents to join their cabinets and for reasons unknown, turned them all down.
His brother, Richard was the business manager of the Iowa State Register and later became the sole owner and editor as well. In 1902, he became the pension agent for Iowa and Nebraska and sold the paper. For just over thirty years, the Iowa State Register was totally owned and operated by one Iowa family, the Clarksons.
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