July 12, 1808 . . . First Issue of Missouri Gazette Printed
In a little log house in St. Louis, July 12, 1808, young Joseph Charless lifted from a press the initial copy of the Missouri Gazette. The first newspaper in Missouri, it was destined to help mold public opinion for more than a century. The total weekly cost of putting out the paper at first, including the printer's wage, was about $20. The early copies of the Gazette appeared in two languages so that both English and French settlers could enjoy it. Its small size, about 12 by 8 inches with three columns to a page, was made necessary because Charless could not find large-size paper in the city. Some subscribers apparently paid with farm products, for notices later appeared asking for those who had given their notes in "flour or corn" and "beef or pork" to pay as soon as possible.
During its early years the paper was also known as the Louisiana Gazette, the Missouri Gazette and Illinois Advertiser, and then the Missouri Gazette and Public Advertiser. After twelve years as editor, Charless sold out to James Cummins. In 1822 Cummins sold the paper to Edward Charless, oldest son of the founder, who changed its name to the Missouri Republican. During its years as the Republican the paper had associated with it some of the greatest of Missouri's early journalists, among them Nathaniel Paschall, John and George Knapp, and A.B. Chambers.
The Republican became a daily paper, September 20, 1836, printing six issues a week. In September 1848, the first Sunday edition appeared, shocking the strict Sabbath-observers into protest. The next year the disastrous St. Louis fire of May 18 caused a loss of part of the Republican's plant, but in less than two years it was reestablished in a new building, issuing a larger paper which now measured 31 ½ by 52 inches. The paper was known as the St. Louis Republican for a time, and then in 1888 it became the St. Louis Republic, a name which it held until its absorption by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The last issue of the Republic appeared December 4, 1919.
Reprint of the Missouri Gazette, 26 July 1808, from the Alvord Collection (f. 1336) For primary source material on the Missouri Gazette see: