The first newspaper published in Ionia was established in 1843 by Ira W. Robinson. He called his paper the Ionia Journal. Mr. Robinson published the Journal for about 4 years but became involved in some rather unpleasant business dealings and soon abandoned the plant and disappeared. In December of 1848, E. R. Powell from Howell, Michigan purchased the materials left behind by Mr. Robinson and began publication of his newspaper, the Ionia Gazette. His first issue was published in January of 1849. Mr. Powell published this paper until 1867 when he sold his business to the new publishers of the Ionia Sentinel and moved on to Stanton, Michigan in Montcalm County where he established the Montcalm Herald.

The Ionia Standard was established in 1868 as a weekly edition, by John C. Taylor and Thomas G. Stevenson. In 1891 daily publication began. The Standard was known as a Democratic paper with a high position among Democratic papers in the state.

The Ionia Sentinel published it's first issue in 1866, in Saranac and became one of the leading Republican papers in this section of Michigan. In 1872 the business moved to the city of Ionia. Initially the paper was a weekly publication that became a daily in 1879.

The newspapers merged in 1922, becoming The Ionia Sentinel Standard.

Ionia Sentinel Standard

114 N. Depot

Ionia, Michigan 48846

(616) 527-2100

It is a morning edition that publishes Monday through Saturday

• The following microfilm editions of the Standard, Sentinel and Sentinel-Standard are available at the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library in Ionia.

Ionia County Sentinel May 1, 1866 - Dec, 27, 1868 - Roll #1

Ionia Sentinel - Jan 1, 1869 - Dec. 25, 1879 - Roll #2, 3, 4, 5

Ionia Daily Sentinel Dec 6, 1879 - Dec 31, 1883 - Rolls 6-9

Ionia Sentinel Jan 6, 1881 - Dec 27, 1900 - Rolls 10-17

Ionia Daily Standard June 30, 1889 - Apr. 21, 1919 - Rolls#18-33

Ionia Daily Sentinel March 10, 1919 - Apr 21, 1919 - Roll # 34

Ionia Daily Sentinel-Standard Jan 28, 1920 - March 3, 1922 -Rolls #35-37

Ionia Sentinel-Standard- March 4, 1922 - present Numerous rolls

• The following microfilms are available from The Library of Michigan.

The Ionia County News. (1956)

............. Mich Flat File 2 N : oversize F574.M853 I555 1956

The Ionia County news [microform]. (1933)

............. Microfilm 2 S : F566 A665z reel 1

The Ionia County news.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N :

The Ionia County sentinel [microform]. (1866-1868.)

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr.

The Ionia daily standard.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr. 70.Ionia daily sentinel.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr. 71.Ionia Free Fair souvenir program.

............. Mich (Non-Circ) 2 N : S 555 .M52 I652

The Ionia gazette.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : (Began in 1849. Ceased in 1867. )

Ionia in 1891 : a directory and gazetteer of the city of Ionia (1891)

............. Mich (Non-Circ) 2 N : F574.I6 I63 1891

Ionia journal.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : 76.[Ionia miscellaneous newspapers] [microform]. (19--])

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : NO CALL NUMBER

The Ionia sentinel.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr.

The Ionia standard.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr.

The Ionia sentinel-standard. [microform] (1933)

............. Microfilm 2 S : F 566 .A665z reel 1

The Ionia weekly sentinel.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel, yr.

Lake Odessa times.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N :

Lake Odessa wave (Lake Odessa, Mich. : 1889)

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : No Call Number

The Lake Odessa wave and the Lake Odessa times.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : No Call Number

Lake Odessa wave (Lake Odessa, Mich. : 1943)

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : No Call Number

Muir tribune.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N :

Portland advertiser [microform].

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel,yr.

The Portland observer [microform].

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N :

Portland review [microform].

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N : reel,yr.

The Sebewa recollector. (1965-)

............. Mich (Non-Circ) 2 N,Mich 2 N : F 574 .S39 S43

Sentinel-standard.

............. Microfilm Papers 2 N :

The Sebewa recollector. Sebewa Center Association, 1965-1995. Main Periodicals