Pioneer journalism: Nevada County newspapers 1850-1900

Editor’s note: A former photographer and staff member of The Union, Robert “Bob” Wyckoff also served our community as a historian.

His master’s thesis “History and Analysis of Newspapers in Nevada County, California 1850-1900” chronicled the birth of journalism in Nevada County’s pioneer days and remains on file at the Doris Foley Library in Nevada City. Wyckoff died last Saturday at the age of 85.

Newspaper — First published — Location — Original proprietor

Nevada Journal — 1851 — Nevada City — Warren B. Ewer

Grass Valley Telegraph — 1853 — Grass Valley — Wilkins Lilly and Moore

Young America — 1853 — Nevada City — Robert A. Davidge

Nevada Democrat — 1854 — Nevada City — Niles Searles/I.J. Rolfe

Campaign Tribune — 1855 — Grass Valley — Unknown

California Mining Journal — 1856 — Grass Valley — Warren B. Ewer

Grass Valley Intelligencer — 1856 — Grass Valley — Edwin R. Budd

Grass Valley Telegraph — 1856 — Grass Valley — Warren B. Ewer

Republican Banner — 1856 — Grass Valley — Unknown

Pioneer — 1856 — North San Juan — Unknown

North San Juan Star — 1857 — North San Juan — Olmstead/Waters

Nevada National — 1858 — Grass Valley — George D. Roberts

Hydraulic Press — 1858 — North San Juan — Benjamin Avery/Thomas J. Waters

Morning Transcript — 1860 — Nevada City — Nat P. Brown

North San Juan Press — 1860 — North San Juan — William Bausman

Grass Valley National — 1861 — Grass Valley — John Rollin Ridge

Nevada Daily Gazette — 1864 — Nevada City — W.H. Searles

Grass Valley Union — 1864 — Grass Valley — H.M. Blumenthal/J.W.E. Townsend

The Phantom — 1865 — North San Juan — Franchre/Butler

Meadow Lake Sun — 1866 — Meadow Lake — William B. Lyon/E.B. Boust

The Meadow Weekly Sun — 1866 — Meadow Lake — Unknown

Freedom’s Sentinel — 1868 — Grass Valley — Benjamin F. Hollis & Co.

The Tanner — 1868 — Nevada City — Unknown

Truckee Tribune — 1868 — Truckee — J.W. Ferguson

Grass Valley Republican — 1871 — Grass Valley — D.B. Frink/E.W. Hayden

War Club — 1872 — North San Juan — Oliver P. Stidger/P.H. Butler

Truckee Republican — 1872 — Truckee — Frink/Hayden

San Juan Times — 1873 — North San Juan — A.J. Patrick/Oliver P. Stidger

Foot-hill Weekly Tidings — 1874 — Grass Valley — S.G. Lewis

Cherokee National — 1875 — Cherokee (near North San Juan) — James Morgan

Nevada Tri-Weekly Herald — 1878 — Nevada City — Gray, Davis & Co.

Independent — 1878 — North San Juan — A.O. Porter/J.R. Robinson

Nevada County Free Lance — Around 1880 — Grass Valley — Unknown

Tidings and Free Lance — Around 1880 — Grass Valley — Unknown

Daily Tidings — 1880 — Grass Valley — J.C. Tyrell/A.B. Champion

Daily Evening Herald — 1886 — Nevada City — B.J. Watson

Evening Telegraph — 1889 — Grass Valley — William F. Prisk/Rufus Shoemaker

Source: “History and Analysis of Newspapers in Nevada County, California 1850-1900”; Nevada Journal, Dec. 24-31, 1858: “Newspaper History of California-Nevada and the Northern Mines.”