Grand Rapids Morning Democrat

Grand Rapids Morning Democrat.__ The first newspaper published in Grand Rapids, Mich., was issued April 18, 1837. It was Grand River Times, printed and published every Saturday morning at the rapids of Grand river by George W. Pattison, editor and proprietor. The outfit cost $4,100, and was wrecked three or four times on its way from the office of the Niagara Falls Journal, where it was purchased. Louis Campau and the Kent company bought 500 subscriptions each, paying $1,000 for a years delivery of same in advance. So the Times started with a decided boom. It was, however, only published intermittently until 1841, when J. H. Morse & Co. Assumed control of the property and began publishing under the title of the Grand Rapids Enquirer. Among the editors and regular contributors to the Enquirer were Simeon M. Johnson, E.D. Burr, C. H. Taylor, T. B. Church, E. E. Sargeant, Solomon L. Withey, C. I. Walker, and A. D. Rathbone. E. A. Gordon established a weekly called the Herald, March 19, 1855, and in November, 1855, Jacob Barns & Co. began publishing a daily issue of the Enquirer. Under the management of Mr. Gordon the two papers were consolidated in May, 1857. The business did not thrive financially during the war and the property was transferred to Merrills H. Clark, in 1865, who changed the name to the Grand Rapids Democrat. C. C. Sexton, J. W. Davis, C. B. Smith and A. A. Stevens were Mr. Clark’s most effective co-workers. In 1877 Mr. Clark sold to Messmore & Stevens (Col. I. E, Messnore and Gen. A. A. Stevens), who in turn sold to Frank W. Ball, in August, 1882. Under Mr. Ball’s management the property increased in patronage and influence, was enlarged to an eight page paper, and became recognized as the leading newspaper of western Michigan, a position it has continued to hold. In 1891 Mr. Ball sold the property to ex-Mayor Isaac M. Weston. Under Mr. Weston’s management the telegraph service was placed practically on an equal footing with the Detroit papers, and the Democrat became, in the opinion of many, the best newspaper in the state. Hard times and Mr. Weston's ill-health necessitated some changes after a few years, and in March, 1897, the property was purchased by the Grand Rapids Publishing company, in which J. Clark Sproat, who had been connected with the paper in various capacities for the previous seventeen years, acquired a controlling interest, and as secretary, treasurer and general manager has directed the paper’s business and policy to the present time.

In March, 1899, the price was reduced from two cents to one cent, and the form changed to an eight-column, four page. It has made rapid progress in public esteem and subscription patronage since that date and is recognized as the best morning penny paper published in a city the size of Grand Rapids in the entire northwest.

The Democrat at the date of this publication enjoys an average daily circulation of 17,000 copies. It is printed every day in the year.