After a succession of owners, the Webb City Times ended and continued as the Sentinel 130 years ago

The Webb City Times, which later became the Webb City Sentinel, was established in 1879 by Joseph C. Milhollan and John M. Lingle. It was one of the very first newspapers in town, preceded by the Webb City Crusher and the New Century.

Although only a few pages of the Webb City Times are still in existence, it was custom in that era for publishers to send copies of their newspapers to publishers in the region who would run excerpts from those newspapers. Many of those publications have survived, have been digitally scanned and are now available for viewing on newspapers.com and newspaperarchives.com.

The Webb City Area Genealogical Society has subscriptions to both sites, and through these sources we were able to trace the early history of the Webb City Times. Documenting the beginnings of the newspaper was not always easy as it changed hands many times from its establishment until the early 20th century. 

Joseph Campbell “J. C.” Milhollan was only involved with the newspaper for a few short months.  He severed his ties with the Times around March 1880. J. C. Milhollan continued to work in the industry and was known for his involvement with the Third Party Movement and was a long-time editor of the Labor Tribune. He died on Dec. 28, 1908, in Oklahoma and was buried in the Oronogo Cemetery.

John “J. M.” Lingle purchased Milhollan’s interest in the paper. Jess Zook, who would later run the Webb City Register, and Charles Metcalfe, early day Webb City resident and business owner, were editors at the Times. It was also reported that T. P. Fulton and Mr. Yeazell purchased the Times and began publication of the Joplin Daily Dispatch, possibly working with Lingle using the Times equipment to publish both newspapers.

In October 1880, it was reported that W. Henry Stinson, representing that well known solid Democratic paper, the Webb City Times, was visiting Joplin in the interest of his journal.

In January 1881 it was announced that the Webb City Times would be published by the firm of Lingle & Stinson. In March the same year, W. H. Stinson left the paper to go to Leadville, Colo., and by April, Payne E. Lisenbee became connected with the Times and would make some improvements in the paper, running it as an independent. The same month Lisenbee, wanting to start a newspaper at Golden City, sold his interest to J. M. Lingle, who again became sole proprietor. 

Lingle was at the helm of the Times until January 1883 when he sold half of his interest to the Times Company. The other member of the company was the Rev. Ben Deering, and they would run the Times as a Democratic newspaper. The Rev. Deering only remained with the company until March of the same year. 

In August 1885, Jesse A. Zook leased the Webb City Times from J. M. Lingle after Lingle was appointed postmaster of the Webb City post office. Zook ran the Times until May 1886 when Lingle took over as editor.

In February 1887, it was reported that Lingle sold the Times to H. H. Webb, a man of considerable experience in the newspaper business. In August of the same year, Dan W. Murphy of the Empire City Echo and J. G. Dunlap purchased the Times after Lingle decided to devote all of his time to his duties as postmaster.

In March 1888, J. A. Williams of Harper, Kan., was the new editor of the Times. He held that position until June of the same year. Charles T. Allen was hired as city editor in September 1889.

Webb City Times founder John M. Lingle took his own life at the age of 45 on Jan. 4, 1889, after his accounts at the Webb City Post office were coming up short. He is buried in the Webb City Cemetery.

In March 1891, J. G. Dunlap and J. W. Burr were the editors and proprietors of the Times. Another proprietor during this era was J. W. Murphy.

In May 1891, Col. H. S. Millet took charge of the newspaper after Dunlap and Burr announced their retirement. Col. Millet ran the Times for two years then leased it to three of his employees, L. E. Allbright, J. W. Burr and Maud Reed.

In January 1894, William Wenrick took a one-third interest in the Times. Also joining the firm in January was T. S. Fritz in the position of editor. J. W. Burr, Oscar Marvin and William Wenrick were listed as lessees and conductors of the newspaper. In March of the same year, Carlos O. Bishop, formerly with the Pittsburg Evening World, purchased The Webb City Times from J. W. Burr.

In August 1894, copies of the Webb City Times were placed in the cornerstone of the newly completed Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage.

It was reported in the Galena Times that the Webb City Times ceased publication on Feb. 1, 1895.

The first mention of the Webb City “Sentinel” appeared in newspapers in March 1895. Throughout 1895 the periodical would be referred to as the Webb City Times in one publication and the Webb City Sentinel in others. As late as 1923, an article in the Carthage Press about Sentinel editor Hal Wise Sr. referred to him as Hal Wise of the Webb City Times.