Galveston County, TX Death Notices and Obituaries

Early Papers Published

[contributed by: C. Horton - 2008]

Galveston County—As heretofore stated Galveston had its first paper, The Times, by Ferdinand Pinckard.
The Civilian, established by Hamilton Stuart in 1838, and published for a portion of its existence as the Civilian and Gazette by Stuart, Durnet & Co., H. Stuart & Co., with Menard, Brown, Cave, Murphy, and others associated editorially and in its publication. In the more prosperous times it was issued daily, tri-weekly and weekly; and then again only tri-weekly and weekly; then only weekly, as circumstances ordered; after a brief suspension it was revived by W. H. Pascoe.

The Galveston Commercial, in 1838, by John S. Evans.

The Galveston News, from a small weekly in 1842, grew into a mammoth journal with daily and tri-weekly issues and a widely
extended circulation.

Die Union, in the German language, was established by Mr. Moore and bought by Ferdinand Flake in 1857,
and acquired a large circulation among the Germans throughout the country till the secession question came up for discussion; and Flake taking the Union side, his press and material were taken in the broad light of day and thrown into Galveston Bay, in January, 1861, causing Die Union to stop its issue during the frenzy of the times. Ferdinand Flake had been long a resident of Texas, sympathizing with the people, interested in the maintenance of the " domestic institution," being himself a slave holder, yet he adhered with tenacity to the National cause. Upon the termination of the War he re-established Die Union and continued its publication till his death.

Flake's Bulletin was established by Ferdinand Flake in 1865 and was issued until his death, daily, tri-weekly, and weekly and had a very large circulation. It was Republican in politics and, about 1867, '68, '69, it was more sought after for news than any paper in Texas. There was a piquancy and freshness in its articles, and it had M. Whilden and a corps of writers and reporters unsurpassed in Texas journalism. Flake died suddenly at New London, Connecticut, July 18, 1872. A few months previous it had passed into a joint stock company and the paper ceased to exist. Selim Rinker, its business manager, by striking a balance sheet could readily tell all interested how much easier it is for a sought-after and topmost-round-of-the-ladder newspaper to make reputation than to make money. No coin was there left to rattle in his coffers.

The Port Polio was a literary venture of F. D. Allen, supported by Joe A Kirgan, in 1857. It was issued semimonthly,
but with all its bright promise it did not survive the year.

The Galveston Journal, in 1854.

The Galveston Confederate was a handsome appearing and ably edited paper, published in 1855-56 by Waddill and Cherry and advocating the politics of the American party.

The Texas Christian Advocate was established about 1858 as an organ of the Methodist Church and has at different times been edited and managed by I. D. Johns, Veal and Johns, and others. To escape the blockade, it was moved to Houston and there published during the War. About 1869 it was removed to Galveston. It has always had a large circulation, the Church being very strong in Texas.

The Texas Post (German), established in 1869, has been about all its days conducted by O. and H. Dietzel.
It issues daily, tri-weekly and weekly.

The Bulletin, August 5, 1865, Ridge Paschal.

The Galveston Spectator was established by Richard Nelson in 1871, advocating "equal rights for all men."

The Galveston Standard was established by G. T. Ruby in 1871, and was issued in 1871-2-3 semi-weekly; it was a neat appearing journal.

The Dispatch was started in 1869 by an association of printers and for a short time its issues appeared daily, tri-weekly and weekly.

The Galveston Unabbangige (German), was established by J. H. Baker.

The Galveston Mercury, issued daily and weekly in 1873 by J. H. Baker and J. H. Wilson; in politics a hermaphrodite.

The Galveston Times, 1873, B. Rush Plumley editor, Times Publishing Co. publishers.

The Galveston Republican, 1869, by W. T. Clark; it gasped its last in about half a dozen issues.

The Galveston Medical Journal was published in 1866 by Greenville Dowell, M.D., editor and proprietor, monthly, forty-eight octavo pages at $5.00 per annum.