DARNALL, JOHN
Darnall, John T.
Democrat, May 14, 1903
ESTABLISHED FIRST PAPER
Aided J. W. Thomas in Launching McKinney Messenger, Collin Co’s. First Newspaper
John T. Darnall, of Pilot Point who with J. W. Thomas, published the first newspaper ever issued in Collin county, was in McKinney yesterday for a short while renewing old acquaintances.
Mr. Darnall is an interesting character, now in his 72nd year. He was born in Jackson, Tenn., in 1831, leaving that state at the age of ten. On Oct. 15, 1841, he crossed the Red River into Texas at the mouth of Mill creek. Texas was then a Republic. For three years thereafter he worked on a farm with an older brother in the lower edge of Red River county who moved to Clarkesville in 1845 and opened up the fourth store to be established in that city.
He began his career as a printer April 29, 1849, in the office of Maj. Charles DeMoss who published the old Clarkesville Standard, serving a three years apprenticeship. At the end of this apprenticeship he clerked awhile in the store of W. P. Dixon, cousin of Capt. Joe Dixon who later raised a company in McKinney and was killed at the battle of Shiloh.
After a few months visit to relatives in Tennessee and Mississippi, he returned to Texas and assisted in establishing the Clarkesville Messenger, which paper was subsequently moved to this city and its name changed to the McKinney Messenger, the first paper ever published in Collin county. The Clarkesville Messenger, Colvin & Darnall publishers, was established in 1854. Later, J. W. Thomas bought an interest in the paper, the style of publishing firm....[missing]
Later the plant was burned out, Mr. Darnall losing his entire possessions. Mr. Thomas continued the paper and Mr. Darnall worked for him at intervals for several years. he also engaged in farming at Vineland, where he married Miss Lucy, daughter of the late John Scott, an early settler of the Vineland community. Her sister, Mrs. J. R. Horn, and brother, J. W. Scott, are still residents of Vineland. In 1885 Mr. Darnall moved to Rector’s crossing on Little Elm in Denton county, moving to Pilot Point seven years later, where he at present resides. Occasionally he still follows his trade as printer in the Pilot Point Post– Mirror office to help out in emergencies.
Mr. Darnall has in his possession an order written by Gov. Throckmorton during the war. The order was written in camp between Honey Grove and Ladonia. It instructed him to bring home for Throckmorton a buggy and team belonging to Abe Rhine and take back a fine horse of his to Bonham the next day. He obeyed orders, delivering the horse to Uncle Alf Chandler in Bonham. Uncle Alf is still living a few miles northwest of town. He is the father of A. G. Chandler, a prominent McKinney merchant.
Many other interesting incidents of early life in Texas was related by Mr. Darnall, especially concerning his newspaper career. J. W. Thomas, his partner, who came with him from Clarkesville to McKinney in 1859, still resides here and was for a number of terms postmaster of McKinney. Mr. Darnall is well remembered by J. H. Jenkins, the Heard brothers, Capt. Boyd, F. Emerson and all our older citizens.
JOHN T. DARNALL
Democrat, Feb 23, 1905
A Pioneer of Texas Journalism Tells of its Early Days
Pilot Point, Tex., Jan. 16, 1905
Editor Lantern:
In compliance with your request, I send you few reminiscences of early newspapers of Texas.
The first paper published in North Texas was the Northern Standard, established in 1842 at Clarkesville by Chas. De Morse. On the inside page were the words: “The Standard, a Democratic, Republican Journal, advocating equal rights and principles before men, and opposed to all chartered monopolies.”
W. J. F. Morgan started the Western Star in Clarkesville in 1846 which was Whig in politics. In the early 50's he moved it to Paris and sold it.
Col. T. J. Crooks started the Carrier’s Own at Clarkesville sometime in the early 50's. It did not last long. C. L. Sutton printed a paper in Paris called Crockett’s Own in the 50's. De Morse & Hunt established the Bonham Advertiser in 1849 or 50. Colvin & Darnell [sic] started the Clarkesville Messenger in 1854. After the paper had changed hands once or twice, J. W. Thomas and J. T. Darnall bought it and in Jan. 1859 moved it to McKinney, contrary to the advice of Col. De Morse, who recommended Fort Belknap. In 1849 or ‘50 J. W. Latimer started the Dallas Herald, Democratic in politics. After running it awhile, he and J. W. Swindells formed a copartnership.
E. Junius Foster, who was assassinated during the war, started the Sherman Patriot. After the war closed several of the Republicans of Sherman bought a printing outfit and re-established the Sherman Patriot and employed A. L. Darnall as editor and manager. Finally they sold it and it was burned during a fire in Sherman.
Just before the war (I think it was) Capt. J. R. Baylor and Capt. Hamner had a fight with the Indians in Jack or Wise county and they started a paper in Jacksboro called The Whiteman. The heading of the Whiteman was in white letters.
In 1875 or ‘76 T. E. Bomar started the Blacky Waxy in McKinney. He sold his plant and moved to Sherman. At the close of the war, Col. T. H. Murray, W. A. West and Capt. W. L. Boyd, merchants, bought a printing outfit and started the McKinney Enquirer. Col. Murray was principal editor for some time, then his brother, John Murray, was editor awhile, and finally the plant was sold to Capt. John H. Bingham.
Gen. A. B. Norton (the hairy man) started a paper called Norton’s Union Intelligencer at Austin and Marshall & Oldham started the Gazette at Austin. The Gazette was Democratic in politics; Norton was a Whig. They got to sparring with each other about the state printing and politics, and finally one challenged the other to fight a duel, so they started to Tahlequah, I. T. to settle their differences. Gen. Norton had a talk with J. W. Thomas at McKinney and then went on. They were arrested by officers and the duel did not come off. If I am not mistaken Gen. Norton published a list of all the papers in the state just after the war, giving the names of the editors and proprietors.
Col. T. J. Crooks, in a speech at Gainesville, August 18, 1904, said, “The laws and journals of that legislature (the first) were printed under his (De Morse) supervision and these hands of mine folded the most of them in book form.” I was working for Col. De Morse when Mr. Crooks, then a boy, commenced work in the office, and I also helped work on the laws and journals of the first legislature.
In 1856 while Houston and Runnels were running for governor, there were about 120 counties in the state and 60 newspapers; 14 of the papers supported Houston, and the rest supported Runnels. As well as I recollect, Runnels beat Houston a little over 8.500 votes; and in 1860 Houston beat Runnells, about the same number.
Col. De Morse brought the first power press (a Campbell) to North Texas in 1851. He built his new brick office in 1852. – John T. Darnall, The Lantern, Dallas, Texas, 1905.
JOHN T. DARNALL
Democrat Gazette, January 10, 1907
DEATH OF TEXAS PIONEER CITIZEN AND PRINTER AT PILOT POINTMr. John T. Darnall died yesterday morning at 5:45 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elba Elmore, in the 76th year of his age, after an illness of a few months. While on a visit to his daughter at Clarendon, early in the fall, he was taken with pneumonia and was brought home. He recovered from the attack but was left very weak, and on account of his age could not regain his strength, which gradually faded away, resulting in a peaceful and painless death at the time above stated.
John T. Darnall was born in Jackson, Tennessee, June 25, 1831.... [see article above ESTABLISHED FIRST PAPER]
To Mr. and Mrs. Darnall were born four children: J. S. Darnall of Gunter; J. P. Darnall, who died several years ago; Mrs. J. M. Wattenbarger of Clarendon and Mrs. Eba Elmore of this city. His wife survives him.
The senior editor of this paper has been intimately associated with Mr. Darnall for the last fifteen years, during which time he has, at intervals, and at times quite steadily, set type in our office. He was a good, kind-hearted, Christian man; met everybody with good cheer and was loved by all who knew him. While we knew his remaining days on earth were few, we were deeply grieved at his death, feeling like we had lost an elder brother.
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon with services at the residence at 3 o’clock, conducted by Elder L. N. Clark of Gunter and a large number of citizens paid their last respects to the deceased by attending the services. The Post Signal extends sympathy to the bereaved companion and other members of the family. – Pilot Point Post Signal
Democrat, May 14, 1903
ESTABLISHED FIRST PAPER
Aided J. W. Thomas in Launching McKinney Messenger, Collin Co’s. First Newspaper
John T. Darnall, of Pilot Point who with J. W. Thomas, published the first newspaper ever issued in Collin county, was in McKinney yesterday for a short while renewing old acquaintances.
Mr. Darnall is an interesting character, now in his 72nd year. He was born in Jackson, Tenn., in 1831, leaving that state at the age of ten. On Oct. 15, 1841, he crossed the Red River into Texas at the mouth of Mill creek. Texas was then a Republic. For three years thereafter he worked on a farm with an older brother in the lower edge of Red River county who moved to Clarkesville in 1845 and opened up the fourth store to be established in that city.
He began his career as a printer April 29, 1849, in the office of Maj. Charles DeMoss who published the old Clarkesville Standard, serving a three years apprenticeship. At the end of this apprenticeship he clerked awhile in the store of W. P. Dixon, cousin of Capt. Joe Dixon who later raised a company in McKinney and was killed at the battle of Shiloh.
After a few months visit to relatives in Tennessee and Mississippi, he returned to Texas and assisted in establishing the Clarkesville Messenger, which paper was subsequently moved to this city and its name changed to the McKinney Messenger, the first paper ever published in Collin county. The Clarkesville Messenger, Colvin & Darnall publishers, was established in 1854. Later, J. W. Thomas bought an interest in the paper, the style of publishing firm....[missing]
Later the plant was burned out, Mr. Darnall losing his entire possessions. Mr. Thomas continued the paper and Mr. Darnall worked for him at intervals for several years. he also engaged in farming at Vineland, where he married Miss Lucy, daughter of the late John Scott, an early settler of the Vineland community. Her sister, Mrs. J. R. Horn, and brother, J. W. Scott, are still residents of Vineland. In 1885 Mr. Darnall moved to Rector’s crossing on Little Elm in Denton county, moving to Pilot Point seven years later, where he at present resides. Occasionally he still follows his trade as printer in the Pilot Point Post– Mirror office to help out in emergencies.
Mr. Darnall has in his possession an order written by Gov. Throckmorton during the war. The order was written in camp between Honey Grove and Ladonia. It instructed him to bring home for Throckmorton a buggy and team belonging to Abe Rhine and take back a fine horse of his to Bonham the next day. He obeyed orders, delivering the horse to Uncle Alf Chandler in Bonham. Uncle Alf is still living a few miles northwest of town. He is the father of A. G. Chandler, a prominent McKinney merchant.
Many other interesting incidents of early life in Texas was related by Mr. Darnall, especially concerning his newspaper career. J. W. Thomas, his partner, who came with him from Clarkesville to McKinney in 1859, still resides here and was for a number of terms postmaster of McKinney. Mr. Darnall is well remembered by J. H. Jenkins, the Heard brothers, Capt. Boyd, F. Emerson and all our older citizens.
JOHN T. DARNALL
Democrat, Feb 23, 1905
A Pioneer of Texas Journalism Tells of its Early Days
Pilot Point, Tex., Jan. 16, 1905
Editor Lantern:
In compliance with your request, I send you few reminiscences of early newspapers of Texas.
The first paper published in North Texas was the Northern Standard, established in 1842 at Clarkesville by Chas. De Morse. On the inside page were the words: “The Standard, a Democratic, Republican Journal, advocating equal rights and principles before men, and opposed to all chartered monopolies.”
W. J. F. Morgan started the Western Star in Clarkesville in 1846 which was Whig in politics. In the early 50's he moved it to Paris and sold it.
Col. T. J. Crooks started the Carrier’s Own at Clarkesville sometime in the early 50's. It did not last long. C. L. Sutton printed a paper in Paris called Crockett’s Own in the 50's. De Morse & Hunt established the Bonham Advertiser in 1849 or 50. Colvin & Darnell [sic] started the Clarkesville Messenger in 1854. After the paper had changed hands once or twice, J. W. Thomas and J. T. Darnall bought it and in Jan. 1859 moved it to McKinney, contrary to the advice of Col. De Morse, who recommended Fort Belknap. In 1849 or ‘50 J. W. Latimer started the Dallas Herald, Democratic in politics. After running it awhile, he and J. W. Swindells formed a copartnership.
E. Junius Foster, who was assassinated during the war, started the Sherman Patriot. After the war closed several of the Republicans of Sherman bought a printing outfit and re-established the Sherman Patriot and employed A. L. Darnall as editor and manager. Finally they sold it and it was burned during a fire in Sherman.
Just before the war (I think it was) Capt. J. R. Baylor and Capt. Hamner had a fight with the Indians in Jack or Wise county and they started a paper in Jacksboro called The Whiteman. The heading of the Whiteman was in white letters.
In 1875 or ‘76 T. E. Bomar started the Blacky Waxy in McKinney. He sold his plant and moved to Sherman. At the close of the war, Col. T. H. Murray, W. A. West and Capt. W. L. Boyd, merchants, bought a printing outfit and started the McKinney Enquirer. Col. Murray was principal editor for some time, then his brother, John Murray, was editor awhile, and finally the plant was sold to Capt. John H. Bingham.
Gen. A. B. Norton (the hairy man) started a paper called Norton’s Union Intelligencer at Austin and Marshall & Oldham started the Gazette at Austin. The Gazette was Democratic in politics; Norton was a Whig. They got to sparring with each other about the state printing and politics, and finally one challenged the other to fight a duel, so they started to Tahlequah, I. T. to settle their differences. Gen. Norton had a talk with J. W. Thomas at McKinney and then went on. They were arrested by officers and the duel did not come off. If I am not mistaken Gen. Norton published a list of all the papers in the state just after the war, giving the names of the editors and proprietors.
Col. T. J. Crooks, in a speech at Gainesville, August 18, 1904, said, “The laws and journals of that legislature (the first) were printed under his (De Morse) supervision and these hands of mine folded the most of them in book form.” I was working for Col. De Morse when Mr. Crooks, then a boy, commenced work in the office, and I also helped work on the laws and journals of the first legislature.
In 1856 while Houston and Runnels were running for governor, there were about 120 counties in the state and 60 newspapers; 14 of the papers supported Houston, and the rest supported Runnels. As well as I recollect, Runnels beat Houston a little over 8.500 votes; and in 1860 Houston beat Runnells, about the same number.
Col. De Morse brought the first power press (a Campbell) to North Texas in 1851. He built his new brick office in 1852. – John T. Darnall, The Lantern, Dallas, Texas, 1905.
JOHN T. DARNALL
Democrat Gazette, January 10, 1907
DEATH OF TEXAS PIONEER CITIZEN AND PRINTER AT PILOT POINTMr. John T. Darnall died yesterday morning at 5:45 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elba Elmore, in the 76th year of his age, after an illness of a few months. While on a visit to his daughter at Clarendon, early in the fall, he was taken with pneumonia and was brought home. He recovered from the attack but was left very weak, and on account of his age could not regain his strength, which gradually faded away, resulting in a peaceful and painless death at the time above stated.
John T. Darnall was born in Jackson, Tennessee, June 25, 1831.... [see article above ESTABLISHED FIRST PAPER]
To Mr. and Mrs. Darnall were born four children: J. S. Darnall of Gunter; J. P. Darnall, who died several years ago; Mrs. J. M. Wattenbarger of Clarendon and Mrs. Eba Elmore of this city. His wife survives him.
The senior editor of this paper has been intimately associated with Mr. Darnall for the last fifteen years, during which time he has, at intervals, and at times quite steadily, set type in our office. He was a good, kind-hearted, Christian man; met everybody with good cheer and was loved by all who knew him. While we knew his remaining days on earth were few, we were deeply grieved at his death, feeling like we had lost an elder brother.
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon with services at the residence at 3 o’clock, conducted by Elder L. N. Clark of Gunter and a large number of citizens paid their last respects to the deceased by attending the services. The Post Signal extends sympathy to the bereaved companion and other members of the family. – Pilot Point Post Signal
