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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 P. Felt, whose journalistic experience had been on the Juvenile Instructor in Salt Lake City. Felt would gain the distinction of being president of Utah State Press Association three times while associated with three different publications, one of them the Independent. Felt, on August 7, 1897, handed management of the paper to William F. Gibson while he went on a mission. In later years Felt would recall that Gibson came into the shop as an itinerant with a bedroll, asking for food and lodging. "He was no ordinary tramp and proved it by making a place for himself in the newspaper and in the hearts of the people of Springville," he reminisced. Evidence of Gibson's skill was provided upon his departure by a quotation 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 cleanest and newsiest country papers in the state." During Felt's two-year absence, the Independent was something of a collaboration with the tri-weekly Utah County Democrat, published by Gibson in Provo. Upon Felt's return in September, 1899, he carried out a previous 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 6, 1902, a portion of that time while Johnson was serving in the Spanish-American War. Together with his son, A. Gus Johnson, who became General Manager, Don Carlos then returned as editor. During the years he published the Independent, Johnson wrote a continuing account of crossing the plains as well as a history 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 F. Gaisford and Sons 570 |
