| Show UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION which ratified the constitution and by-laws of Utah State Press Association and created the organization on January 20 1894 The Johnson-led group published the Independent until April 20 1895 when it was purchased by David Felt whose journalistic experience had been on the Juvenile Instructor in Salt Lake City Felt would gain the distinction of being presi dent of Utah State Press Association three times while asso ciated with three different publications one of them the Inde pendent Felt on August 1897 handed management of the paper to William Gibson while he went onmission In later years Felt would recall that Gibson came into the shop as an itinerant withbedroll asking for food and lodging He was no ordinary tramp and proved it by makingplace for himself in the newspaper and in the hearts of the people of Springville he reminisced Evidence of Gibsonskill was provided upon his departure byquotation from the neighboring Spanish Fork Press which said Mr Gibson has been with the Independent for about six years during which time it has been one of the clean est and newsiest country papers in the state During Felttwo-year absence the Independent was something ofcollaboration with the tri-weekly Utah County Democrat published by Gibson in Provo Upon Feltreturn in September 1899 he carried outprevious agreement to sell the paper back to Johnson who during the nine-year interval had pursued his other vocations Gibson however remained as publisher of the Independent until February 1902 portion of that time while John son was serving in the Spanish-American War Together with his son Gus Johnson who became General Manager Don Carlos then returned as editor During the years he published the Independent Johnson wrotecontinuing account of cross ing the plains as well ashistory of the Indians in Utah County He recounted too the history of early dramatics in Springville The Johnsons continued the operation until August 1922 At that time the paper was sold to Arthur Gaisford and Sons 570 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
