| Show UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION Little wonder then that after leaving the military this well-travelled ex-soldier remained onlymonth in London before coming to the United States He settled in Provo to assist his brother James Wallis in the publication of the Provo Dispatch His travels in search of the right newspaper location began after he was married on October 11 1893 He and his wife Elizabeth Jane whom he had met earlier in London moved from Provo to Randolph where they established the communityfirst newspaper The Round-up Its unusual early distinction was that Volume Number dated July 24 1897 was printed on its own press infloat representing Rich county in the Pioneer Day parade at Salt Lake City Historian Cecil Alter observed Nattily dressed milkmaids distributed the papers free throwing them into the crowds from the float as they were printed The chill Randolph climate was too severe for Mrs Wallis though and they moved on to St George where on June 18 1898 they began publication of the Washington County News The economy was poor in UtahDixie however and Johnhealth was less than durable so they reluctantly departed pledging to return when conditions improved Wallis then launched the American Fork Advance on April 25 1901 Fellow newsmen greeted it with applause The Salina Sun commented This much we will say forsick man John Wallis can do more and better newspaper work than some of the pencil pushers in Utah county who pose as intellictual giants Success wasnto be in American Fork however and John Wallis wasrealist On July 11 1901 he wrote With this issue the Advance will retire We regret to make this announce ment but after publishing for 12 weeks at considerable loss without making any headway withsubscription list we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it would avail nothing to publish any longer Though he left Utah he didnleave newspapering In 640 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
