Frank M. Johnson
Founder of Ledger

R. G. Jefferies
Present Publisher

The Lowell Ledger was founded in June, 1893, by Frank M. Johnson and Myrtilla, his wife, with a Washington hand press, a foot power jobber and a meagre outfit of used type backed by an experience in the printing and publishing business of 13 years, plus a credit with paper and supply houses because after a seven years struggle at Mayville they had managed to quit square with the world.

They were kindly received by the good people of Lowell and the first issue went out to 150 subscribers, most of whom paid but 25 cents for three months, remarking as they parted with the coin that if the paper lasted that long they would pay another quarter. This feeling of distrust was shared by good brother Charles Quick who called at the office in the old wooden row and informed the prospective new Lowell journalist, "I will give you six months to get through in."

Well, fact is stranger than fiction, time came when the same 150 people were joined by upwards of 1,400 others, who afterwards paid $1.50 a year for the Ledger, and still later $2 without a single tremor.

The business and outfit grew with the years until the original business went piece by piece into discard, until 1930, when time and bereavement had done their work on Uncle Marcus he passed over his worthy successor, R. G. Jefferies, a flourishing business with a modern equipment, including a linotype, a fast Miehle press, two jobbers, electrically driven and a large force of local reporters.

The Ledger takes pardonable pride because of its part in promoting Lowell’s centennial anniversary. In its issue of Nov. 20, 1930, there was published on the front page a double-column headed article reciting in detail the fact that the coming year 1931 would mark the one-hundredth anniversary of the town’s beginning. Many articles of similar import were published in subsequent issues, urging the proper observance of this great event in the town’s history, receiving much encouragement in our efforts from Verne E. Ashley, the 1930 president of the Lowell Board of Trade, and from Norman E. Borgerson, the 1931 president. In March, 1931, Mr. Borgerson brought the matter before the Board in an official way, with the result that machinery was set in motion for what proved to be one of the most outstanding events of the town’s history.

Mr. U. B. Williams, of East Lansing, for many years a Lowell resident, should also be given credit for calling attention to the fact that the year 1931 marked the town’s centennial. From this hint, first conveyed to Mr. Ashley, the Ledger began its advocacy of a fitting celebration.