In early days, the newspaper of the Fairview area flourished in the Lower Yellowstone Valley. As the case in all early development, newspapers would suddenly spring up in short order, serve a purpose and then quickly die out or consolidate with another paper. Newspapers were a part of a pioneer period and filled a purpose. Probably no newspaper in a town of comparative size in the state has had a more colorful background then the Fairview News. In most instances, newspapers were never really credited with their true worth, and it has taken a succeeding generation to look with dignity and appreciation of the recording of our history.

In general, the early day editors were rapid fire artist second to none, who stood for little back seat driving and therefore created fights and frictions in some instanced to a point of harm for the town as well as the paper. Throughout their story periods, the integrity of the publishers in general was unimpeachable in reference to the town. Their aim was for its development and their labors were honestly motivated.

Although Fairview itself was not much more than a trading post for early ranchers and homesteaders in 1910, its first newpaper, The Fairview Times, was issued July 20, 1910, by J.C Mitchell. The paper received wide acceptance throughout the sparsely settled territory, and the new owner was given credit as one of the outstanding proponets of the Lower Yellowtone Valley during his four years at the editorial desk. In 1914, he sold the Times to T.J. Johns, who took a leading part in all of the boiling fights of State vs. Ellery Avenue and the county petitioning and the battle for county seat. “Jeffy,” as he was known, sold out to E.C. Hicks who operated the Times only a short time and then disposed of the paper to J.H. Willard. Willard later published the paper until the spring of 1920 when it was consolidated by Charles Drake. Drake, who had been editing the Yellowstone News at Mondak since 1907, launched the second newspaper in Fairview, known at the Yellowstone Promotor in 1912. This was published on State Street in a building near the old Long Store. The paper was later discontinued as was the Yellowstone News when Drake moved all the equipment to Fairview and established the Fairview News in June of 1918. Also at that time, he purchased the Tribune plant, another newspaper which had been started here by W.R. Mumby and son Clifford. Mumby died a few years later and Mrs. Drake assumed the editorship, and in the spring of 1920 she purchased the Fairview Times from Willard. The final opposing newspapers in Fairview had now been consolidated under the Fairview News.

The paper was then moved to the Times building on Ellery Avenue, and two years later Mrs. Drake leased the News to C.R. Hurly who came here from Bowbells, N.D. Hurley had published a paper at Ryder and also at Bowbells where his father had been a prominent North Dakota pioneer publisher. Mrs. Drake returned to her home at Santa Anna, Calif., and became employed on the Daily Register.

The Fairview News was purchased by Hurly at the end of the lease, and he continued to edit the paper until 1928. On March 10, 1928, the Fairview News changed hands. It was sold to I.R. Alling, who was a graduate of five years in the department of journalism at the University of Montana. Hurly was quoted as saying, “Mr. Alling upset our ‘can of dope’ when he stepped in an bought this paper.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Continuation of the Fairview newspaper history will appear in next Sunday’s edition.

I.R. Alling purchased the Fairview News on March 10, 1928, from C.R. Hurly, and Hurly was quoted saying, “We have our hands full at Sidney with the Herald, and we were glad of the opportunity to relinquish this responsibility. We were highy gratified at the general enthusiasm here when it was reported that we might take the News off our hands and are more than gratified at the hearty welcome he has received in actually assuming change of the paper. This week his name appears at the top of the column as editor and publisher.” Previous to taking over the Fairview paper, Alling and a partner had published the Three Forks, Montana Herald.

In 1951, Earl Harden, formerly of the Miles City Daily Star, became associated with the Fairview News last week and assumed duties in the reporting and mechanical departments of the paper. Harden has had considerable newspaper experience, particularly in the mechanice of newspaper production. He previously worked on the Pillips County News at Malta, the Miles City Star, the Silver State Post at Deer Lodge and the Montana Standard and Butte Daily Post at Butte. His first newspaper experience was acquired in South Dakota.

Mr. Harden his wife and three children purchased the Bob Ost home in south Fairview. Mrs. Harden was formerly Dorothy Deming, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Deming of Fairview.

In 1955 I.R. Alling, publisher of the Fairview News, was elected president of the Montana State Press Association, at the final session of the three day meet at Miles City, in August. He succeeds T.J. Scanlan, general manager of the Star Printing Co., Miles City. “Bob”, as he is known by friends of the Fairview Community and through out the state, has pledged the Fairview News to community betterment over the years and has tried to live up to the slogan quoted in his first editorial on March 15, 1928 when he said the News would be “Devoted to the interests of Lower Yellowstone Valley and its tributary alliances.” During the three day convention, Montana publishers also voted to incorporate the Montana Advertising Service. This would promote and handle national advertising for Montana’s weekly newspapers.

Alling was introduced to the group Sunday morning by the outgoing president, Scanlan. Also attending the conavention from Fairview along with Mr. Alling was his wife Ruth and Earl Harden. After serving as Publisher of the Fairview News for nearly 30 years, I. R. Alling retires as publisher. In July, 1957, Earl Harden purchased and assumed immediate management of the weekly newspaper and plans to continue to operate it aggressively and much similar in policies to recent years. Harden plans to continue to carry community news events with empasis on agriculture and other local developments. It will be a spokesman for community activities.

The retiring publisher plans to continue to live in Fairview for the time being. Insecure health was somewhat responsible for disposition of the Fairview News. Staying on with the News will be Jack Epperson who has been with the news since 1936 and will continue to assit the new publisher.

Jack Epperson, is given the title of the oldest Montana born citizen in this area. Jack was born August 2, 1877 in what is now a Montana ghost town, the early day camp of comet Mine located between Butte and Boulder. At the age of 77 he was still semi-employed by the Fairview News, in good spirits and determined not to cash in his chips yet, Jack put in several spare hours binding files at the News and showing continued interest in his life-long work. After suffering from a heart attack Jack retired from the tension of newspaper work and worked at the Hotel Albert as a night clerk. In 1897, Epperson headed for Great Falls where he began the trade of printing in the Leader and later for the Tribune.

“I well remember Fred Sevgine,” Epperson said, “a fine man and he taught me a lot in those had set days. FRed was much older and had personally hand set the account of Custer’s massacre in 1874. I recall when O.S. Worden came to the Great Falls Leader as a young, energetic bookkeeper.”

Sometime later Jack went to Belt and worked for the Times until 1905 when he moved to Ft. Benton and entered employment of the River Press. For 17 years he remained at this job. During those years he was married to Hannah Truso and their two girls Gertrude and Ethel, were born at Ft. Benton.

With a change of management on the River Press, Jack then moved around from the coast to N.D. Most papers he worked on were in Montana including, Glasgow Review, old Kalispell Bee, Pioneer Press, Cutbank, Glasgow News, Terry Tribune, the Sweet Grass News and Big Timber Pioneer.

Epperson returned to Belt to take care of his parents. After they passed away jack came to the Fairviw News in 1936. Since then local people know of his dependable work. “I have learned something new in nearly every paper on which I worked,” Epperson said. “Basic hand-setting was aquired at Great Falls. I have handset five sticks of 8 point in an hour and on one shift at Ft. Benton I kicked out (on the old treadle press) five jobs for a total of 6,000 impressions. I have liked my work in this state, especially at the Fairview News and that is why I have stayed here.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information compiled from Courage Enough and the Fairview Times.