Howard, Kansas, First Newspaper

[W. Gray]

From the Howard County Ledger (Longton), February 22, 1872.

"...We hail with pleasure the first number of the Howard City Messenger, published at Howard City, Kansas, by Messrs. R.S. Turner and H.B.  Kelley, Editors and Proprietors. The Messenger presents a rather neat appearance for the first issue, and its twenty-four columns are filled with interesting matter."

A little over a year later, the two sold out to a man who initially intended moving the newspaper out of the county but renamed it the Howard County Messenger, stayed a few months, and then moved it to Boston.

Eventually, Turner and Kelly moved to Elk Falls and then to Sedan publishing as they went. Kelly's name is spelled in different publications as both Kelley and Kelly.

He may have been related to the future Emmett Kelly, Weary Willie, the famous Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey clown.

As with the Elk Falls Examiner, Elk Falls Journal, and the Howard City Censorial, there are no copies of the Howard City Messenger in existence.