Wood County Democrat
The Wood County Democrat was a newspaper serving Quitman, the county seat of Wood County, Texas. It was founded in 1893 and merged with the Mineola Monitor to form the Wood County Monitor in 2016, ending publication under the Democrat masthead.
History
Alfred Padon was editor and publisher of the Democrat when he founded it in 1893 with financial support from Quitman area merchants.[1] The newspaper's main objective upon founding was the opposition of Populism.[1] Prior to that, he had been publishing the Mineola Monitor.[1] Quitman businessmen approached him about founding a newspaper in the county seat.[1]
The newspaper's original plant included a Vaughan Ideal handpress and the entire operation was reported to cost around $800.[1]
Padon resigned as editor and publisher in 1895, and the paper was briefly operated by Grogan and Goodwin for the owners, which included a Dr. Leath and Hix Rhodes.[1]
In 1896, Perno Thomas became editor.[1] He later assumed ownership and sold half interest in the plant to Earl Jones in 1901, but later repurchased it.[1] In 1903, Clyde Jordan of Alba purchased an interest in the paper, but Thomas again regained his full ownership.[1]