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SOME SUCCEEDED; MANY MORE DIDN'T John W. Woodring of the Richfield Reaper took a turn at publishing chores (September 18, 1903-October 7, 1904) before returning it to Gibbs. He, obviously, couldn't breathe life into the failing Free Lance. N. H. (Harry) Felt, who'd left earlier newspaper tracks as an editor in Manti, established the Marysvale Optimist in 1912 - but despite his optimism it expired in 1912 as well. Four years later, in April, 1916, Andrew Jensen established the Piute Chieftain, which came under the direction of Thomas G. Dawson on June 18, 1917 upon Jensen's retirement. Then, in January, 1918, it was acquired by another Hall of Fame publisher, Howard W. Cherry, Sr. On March 20, 1919, he snuffed out the Chieftain, bought the Gunnison Gazette and moved the plant's equipment there. On January 1, 1922, Fred E. Eldredge of Panguitch brought the next paper, the Piute Progress, to Marysvale, which now had a population of 927. The type and a Washington hand press came from Panguitch. Wallace Johnson became the owner exactly two years later and was its publisher when the doors were closed on September 8, 1924. F. A. Jackman purchased the plant, moving it to Junction, the county seat with a population of 389. There he launched the Piute County News on December 26, 1924, labelling it "the successor to the Progress. " From June 5, 1925 until January 1, 1926 it was published by his son, F. B. Jackman. At the outset of 1926, Mrs. Eva B. Swanson purchased the paper, continuing to print it on the antiquated Washington press until July 12, 1937, when A. C. Saunders became the owner and moved it back to Marysvale. All prior files were lost in an August 24, 1933 fire. Harry Swanson was a short-term lessee early in 1936 and Charles M. Giffen then took over. He and his wife, Ruth, were publishers when George R. Swain bought the publication February 7, 1941. He sold it in September, 1946 to Norman J. Fuellenbach and James K. Crawford of Richfield. Crawford briefly had the paper on his own before it was entirely taken over by the Richfield Reaper in June, 1948. On March 1, 1949, the News ceased and was merged into the Reaper. 69 |