Claude News
Claude, Armstrong County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Established as the "Argus," Jan. 1, 1890, in the new railroad town of Claude. Later it merged with "Goodnight News" to become "Claude News." First publisher, W. S. Decker, sold paper to B. F. Hines, who sold to J. H. Hamner, in 1892. His daughter Laura V., later a foremost historian of the early great ranches of Texas Panhandle, edited the paper in this period. About 1913 Hamner sold to Spurgeon and Marvin Bishop. On Jan. 1, 1916, Thos. T. Waggoner, founder of 4 Oklahoma weeklies, bought the "News." After his death, his sons Wm. J. B. and Cecil acquired ownership, in 1950. (1969)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded as the "Argus" on New Year's Day 1890 in the new railroad town of Claude, this Panhandle newspaper later merged with the "Goodnight News" to become the "Claude News." Among its early editors was Laura V. Hamner, who went on to become a leading historian of the great Texas Panhandle ranches. The paper passed through a chain of publishers, ending up with the Waggoner family by mid-century.
Why it matters
Small-town papers like this one knit together the settlers of the newly opened Panhandle, and one of its editors helped preserve the region's ranching heritage as a pioneering woman historian.
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Related people
- · W. S. Decker
- · Laura V. Hamner
- · Thomas T. Waggoner
Themes & tags
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