History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
any over-feeding. But that is pretty well understood in the north now, and it is not necessary to give a new recital of what was seen there.
In reference to dealings with patrons, it will be our wish generally to do business, as far as possible, on a cash basis. This we deem to be the best for all concerned, and it will certainly be the best for us. The great bane of the newspaper business in the west is credit—long credit, which often runs to repudiation. -^ It will be understood that Messrs. Priest and Nelson will have the editorial management of the Censor. It will be their aim to give the people of the county a readable paper and one which shall be 'up to time' on all current news and questions of the day. With our editorial brethren we hope to keep on terms of amity, and if we shall ever have any differences with any of them, we shall endeavor to discuss all points in a courteous and friendly manner.
The paper we get out to-day must not be taken as a specimen. There are several neces¬ sary changes to make in the advertising depart¬ ment. We intend to take out of the paper all job type, although, of course, any advertiser may occupy all the space he pays for, but we shall not use flaming type. There are also several foreign advertisements to come out in a few weeks, which we shall replace with local paying advertising, or not at all.
When we get into our new room we shall ha^e better facilities for doing work, and then we hope to receive calls from our patrons.
J. M. Rusk, D. B. Priest, William Nelson. What   became  of Mr.  Somerby, who first established the Times, which, as we have stated, afterward became the   Censor,  is seen by an \irticle published in the last named paper, Nov. 20, 1867, entitled:
ABOUT TO MOVE.
Mr. J. A. Somerby, an old resident of this place [Viroqua] is selling out, preparatory, we
understand, to moving to Faribault, Minn. Mr. Somerby is the man who first begun the publication of a newspaper in this county, under the title of the " Western Times." 1 hat was in June, 1856. The paper was published continuously, part of the time under the name of the "Northwestern Times," until the middle of August, 1865, when Mr. Somerby sold the establishment, and the new proprietors changed the name to that which this paper now bears. In the early days the struggle was hard to make a paper live in such a sparsely settled county as this one was, and Mr. Somerby has seen many disheartening days; but, ever cheerful and hopeful, he pressed on, part of the time under the discouragement of having to divide a business not more than enough for one paper, with a rival.
It is a feast to get hold of the old numbers of the "Times" published in the first years, and read of the old actions done, the old prophesies, fulfilled and unfulfilled, and the way the people felt on various subjects. In fact, it seems little less than mediaeval reading, for the war has placed a great gulf between those times and now, which in ordinary times, it would take generations to make. The war settled so many questions ; it made every one feel so differently on National issues; and it has made us all so fervently realize the benefits of our institu¬ tions, that it is no wonder all seems changed.
"There is no time like the old time; " and the departure of an old pioneer like Mr. Som¬ erby recalls vividly the times past and gone. Let their memory be kindly cherished, for we are not likely soon to see warmer hearts, more ready sympathy, or heartier succor to the needy, than were common in those days.
Mr. Somerby goes from among us with the respect and kindly remembrance of his old friends. May his lot be prosperous and pleas¬ ant in his new home.
^ The Censor was continued under the same management which started it until Nqv. 29