Missoula’s 1st Missoulian newspaper
The First Missoulian
The article below appeared in the Roundup Record-Tribune and Winnett Times – June 1, 1933.
PIONEER DAYS ARE RECALLED IN FILES
Because the early publishers of The Missoulian, Missoula, apparently did not realize the value that the publication would be in the future, no files were maintained of the first issues. It was the apparent custom for the first years of publication to carry the accumulation of papers from the office into the backyard and burn them.
However, copies of the first edition have been found. Even now, after a lapse of 60 years, many of the names contained in the four pages of the first issue are familiar to the present generation. Worden, Sanders, Kennedy, Woody, Leiser, Reinhard, Stuart, Iliff and others are known almost as well as they were during the territorial days, each taking an active part in business and social life of the community as their children and grandchildren do at the University City today.
The advertising columns of the first issue tell stories as interesting as do the news columns. There are found the law practice cards of Col. W. F. Sanders and of O’Bannon & Woody. There, too are the advertisments of the Dana meat market and the Dana hotel, of E. L. Bonner & Company and R. A. Eddy. There is the name of W. H. H. Dickinson, father of W. O. Dickinson, who conducted a notions and cigar store on West Front street. J. P. Reinhard, hardware, advertised his wares at the stand where the Corner Hardware store now is located.
Another advertisement that arouses memories is that of the St. Charles hotel, William Kennedy, proprietor, also on West Front street. A son, Hugh Kennedy, still resides there.
Also, there appears the professional card: “Henke & McFarland, Apothecaries and Doctors.”
Among the announcements for church services is that of the Methodist Episcopal, T. C. Iliff, pastor. He organized the first Methodist church in Missoula in 1871 and continued as its pastor until 1874. His position later as secretary of the board of home missions brought him back to Missoula frequently in later years and he kept in close touch with Missoula affairs.
Missoula lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M., inserted a card telling of the meeting nights. It is the oldest Masonic lodge in Missoula and celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1918.
In one column on the first page devoted to men nationally prominent reference is made to the advices of Washington Irving, Mark Twain and other noted men of letters. Another column devoted to discussion of problems of the farm and home.
In the local news appears announcement that Frank Worden, father of Mrs. Joseph M. Dixon, and Horace Worden, had received word that from the Comptroller of the Currency Knox authorizing the establishment of the First National bank of Montana. This bank still continues to be the oldest national bank in the state. It recently observed its sixtieth anniversary.
A personal notice from Philipsburg stated that Granville Stuart of Flint Creek had gone east. Another item mentions that the Pend d’Oreille and Flathead Indians were returning to their reserves in the western part of the state and in Idaho from Eastern Montana.
http://rrd.stparchive.com/Archive/RRD/RRD06011933P11.php
According to an article about its origins which appeared in the Missoulian Icon series in 2014, the Missoulian first appeared with that name on Feb. 28, 1873.