Search for the descendants of the
original Stars & Stripes newspaper founders
On Nov. 8, 1861, Col. Richard J. Oglesby, commanding the 8th Illinois Regiment
for the Union Army, captured Bloomfield, Missouri as the Rebels fled south. In this
regiment were 10 printers/newsmen who discovered that the Herald, a local newspaper
office, was abandoned, and they decided to issue a newspaper for their outfit.
They named it the Stars & Stripes.
It is not known how many copies of the first edition were printed, but only three copies
of the original issue are known to exist, one of which is destined for the new Stars &
Stripes Museum/Library in Bloomfield, Mo.
Are you a descendant or relative of any of the following 10 men who were involved
in the publication of the first Stars & Stripes
newspaper? Do you have any letters, photographs or genealogical information about them
that you would be willing to share? If so, please contact Myra Vanderpool Gormley.
Are any of these men in your family tree?
Atherton, Benson. Recruit of Co. G, 18th Illinois Inf.
Regt., a resident of Fairfield (Wayne County) Illinois and publisher of the Prairie
Pioneer; discharged from service 1 Nov. 1862 due to wounds.
Barton, John H. 1st Lt. Co. I, 18th Illinois Inf. Regt., a
resident of Carmi (White County) Illinois, was an owner, publisher and editor during his
newspaper career.
Boseman, James T. Recruit, Co. G, 18th Illinois Inf. Regt., a
resident of Carmi (White County) Illinois; he later transferred to the Regimental Band.
Edwards, Charles M. Pvt. Co. B, 18th Illinois Inf. Regt., a resident of
Shawneetown (Gallatin County) Illinois, he was a newsman before and after the war and rose
to the rank of 1st Lt.
Edmonson, Theodore. Corp. Co. G, 18th Illinois Inf. Regt.; was born in
Illinois ca 1843; lived in Fairfield (Wayne County), Illinois; and was publisher of the Illinois
Patriot.
Martin, Otis P. Sgt.
Major, 8th Inf. Regt.; resident of Peoria (Peoria County), Illinois.
Rhue, Walter A. Recruit
of Co. G., 18th Illinois Regt.; resident of Carmi (White County), Illinois ; was a
publisher before the Civil War; later transferred to the Regimental Band.
Schell, John
W. Corp., promoted to Sgt., Co. D, 8th Illinois; born ca 1838 in Pennsylvania,
was a printer, lived in Fairfield (Wayne County), Illinois.
Stewart, R. F. First
Sgt. Co. B, 29th Illinois Regt; resident of Carmi (White County), Illinois; was an editor
of the White County Advocate prior to the Civil War.
Walsh, Thomas. Pvt.
Co. E., 8th Illinois; resided in Peoria (Peoria County), Illinois.
Atherton and Edwards were the publishers;
Rhue and Stewart were editors
of the first issue of Stars & Stripes.
For non-genealogical matters, please contact Stars & Stripes Museum/Library Association, P.O. Box 1861,
Bloomfield, MO 63825; tele phone: 573-568-3862; or
E-mail: [email protected]
Stars and Stripes (European and Pacific) Association Newsletter
(and how to join)
Stars and Stripes Museum / Library Association, Inc.�
17377 Stars and Stripes Way
P.O. Box 1861
Bloomfield, MO 63825
Phone: (573) 568-2055
E-mail: [email protected]
Stars and Stripes: European & Pacific online
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