| Show THE UTAH NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME While something of late starter in Utah Illinois-born William Epperson wasleading figure in the statenewspaper fraternity for 18 years Though he was past 70 when he sufferedfatal heart attack contemporaries insisted it had cut his career short for his enterprising guidance of an outstand ing newspaper andsizeable commercial printing establishment was at its height The only child of Hiram Perry and Suzanna Richardson Epperson he was born in Abingdon Illinois on September 23 1859 His father was also an Illinois native born in Green County in 1830 He spent most of his life asmerchant rancher and farmer in Missouri and in the West ern states including Colorado and Montana At one time he was president of Alma ColoradoTown Board William finished high school which was an accomplish ment in that day After graduation at the age of 17 he went to work asprinterdevil on the Abingdon Express in nearby Galesburg Three years later in 1879 he left the Express and in partnership with Clark started his own paper the Abingdon Argus The venture lasted two years then failed William gave up journalism and followed Horace Greeley advice to go West Settling in Colorado City later to become part of Colorado Springs Epperson engaged in farming and ranching for almost ten years But he couldnforget his first love and became associated with Benedict in publishing the Colorado Iris in Colorado City In 1891 he assumed full ownership of the paper Under his management the Iris wassuccessful newspaper In addition to operating it Epperson became the proprie tor ofmercantile business in adjacent Colorado Springs andleader in community affairs He was married on May 10 1888 to Leonara Ash Colorado City resident They became par 493 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
