Yanceyville Newspaper History

Yanceyville Newspapers

The history of newspapers published in Yanceyville, North Carolina, before The Caswell Messenger launched in 1926 is not clear. However, The Caswell Messenger does not appear to be a direct successor to any publication.

Thomas J. Henderson (1883-1959) established The Sentinel at Yanceyville, with an initial issue on April 20, 1908. Henderson was editor for at least two years, being replaced by John A. Massey (1881-1956) in 1911. However, Henderson apparently regained editorship in October 1912, and the newspaper was still in publication on May 3, 1916, the last known issue. When The Sentinel ceased publication has not been determined, but it was not listed in a 1921 national newspaper directory.

Thus, it is possible that for some years before 1926 (possibly up to ten years) no newspaper was published in Yanceyville.

Thirteen-year-old Thomas J. Henderson launched The Little News in 1895. Published in Yanceyville, the newspaper survived for three years (1895-1898).

The News Advocate was published in Yanceyville around 1890, as one issue, dated 9 January 1890, survives.

There may have been a Yanceyville newspaper titled News and Commercial published 1884-1898, but no copies are known.

The Caswell News was launched in 1884, being edited and published by W. H. Thompson in Yanceyville. It apparently was published in the old Azariah Graves building, which now houses a restaurant. Note the lettering on the side of the building: "The Caswell News Office." This newspaper was published until at least December 1888.

At the time of the 1900 US Census (June 21) Albert Yancey Kerr (22) and his wife Willie Myers (18) were living in the household of Albert's father, John Kerr in Yanceyville, North Carolina. Albert is shown as a newspaper editor. This probably was The Caswell News. This is the same Albert Yancey Kerr who purchased The Caswell News Office building (now, in 2015, Hushpuppies Restaurant) in 1906. In the 1910 US Census, Albert Yancey Kerr was described as a newspaper publisher. This provides some support for The Caswell News being published as late as 1910.

However, the 1920 US Census shows him as Post Master, apparently having abandoned the newspaper business. By the time of the 1930 US Census he was an insurance agent. But, he apparently returned to the newspaper business as the 1940 US Census gives his occupation: county newspaper editor. As the only county newspaper in 1940 was The Caswell Messenger, presumably he was working for or with Erwin Duke Stephens at that newspaper.

Known Yanceyville Newspapers:

1. The Caswell Messenger
2. The Sentinel
3. The Little News
4. The News Advocate
5. News and Commercial
6. The Caswell News

Sources:

Newspapers.com (an online newspaper archive, available by subscription).

Powell, William S. "When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777-1977." Durham: Moore Publishing Company. 1977. Print.

Whitlow, Jeannine D. Editor. The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Article #409, "A. Yancey Kerr" by George Yancey Kerr. 1985. p. 329.

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Over the years we have attempted to chronicle here the history of Caswell County newspapers. It appears only two towns produced such: Milton; and Yanceyville.

Here is an item on a proposed newspaper with respect to which little is known:

"Messrs. Rogers & Howard, have issued a prospectus for publishing a weekly paper at Yanceyville, (Caswell County) in this State, to be called the 'Torch Light.' It is to be of the Administration school of politics."

The People's Press and Wilmington Advertiser (Wilmington, North Carolina), 10 May 1839.

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The reference to the "Administration" indicated this would, with respect to politics, be a proponent of the Democratic Party of then US President Martin Van Buren.

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North Carolina Democrat

In 1852, Rufus Graves and B. J. Lea purchased the "Press, Type, &c., &c." of the "North Carolina Democrat," a weekly newspaper formerly printed at Graham, Alamance County, N.C. The new owners proposed moving this newspaper to Yanceyville, Caswell County, N.C., and "commencing there the republication of that paper, in an enlarged and improved style."

It was to be a "Democratic" newspaper. The two principal national political parties at the time were Democratic and Whig.

Semi-Weekly Standard (Raleigh, NC), 11 September 1852.

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I found no record of this newspaper being published at Yanceyville. It apparently was published two years in Alamance County for two or three years by a Thomas B. Bailey, presumably being the person who sold to Rufus Graves and B. J. Lea. While it may have been printed at Graham, the masthead shows: "Hillsborough, N. C." Only a few pages of the Hillsborough newspaper have been placed online.

I have not positively identified the purchasers. However, the Rufus Graves may be: Rufus Yancey Graves (1830-1893), son of Elijah Graves and Eliza A. Gunn Graves.

No candidate for the B. J. Lea has been found.

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For Sale: Country Weekly newspaper plant at Yanceyville, N.C. Equipped with several hundred pounds Person's logotypes, ad type, Diamond hand cylinder, etc.; $350 cash. Write Box 458, Lexington, N.C.

The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), 18 Jan 1917.

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Yanceyville Well Supplied [With Newspapers]

Webster's Weekly: Yanceyville, the county seat of Caswell, now has four weekly newspapers. The Democrat, The Caswell Sentinel, The Union Messenger, and The Caswell Sentinel. Each Sentinel like Simmons' Liver Regulator claims to be the original and regards the other as an infringment on its copyright, and the Postoffice Department has been appealed to to settle the question of priority.

The Evening Chronicle (Charlotte, NC), 1 May 1911.