| (Denton, Caroline County: Robert H. Busteed)
The American Union began publication July 17, 1860 [v. 1, no. 1] and ceased May 6, 1926 [v. 66, no. 43]. It was published weekly; semiweekly November 29, 1860-December 13, 1860. The newspaper was continued by the Independent (Denton: 1926).
The American Union was established by Robert H. Busteed and W. R. Busteed, July 17, 1860. Management of the paper was assumed by John H. Emerson, September 18, 1860. He was succeeded as editor by J. Marion Emerson in 1871. E. W. Emerson appears as editor in 1885 and with the issue of September 10, 1885 James N. Todd had become editor.
In 1897, the proprietors of the paper incorporated their company as the Union Publishing Company. R. W. Emerson was editor of the paper by 1898. On June 19, 1902, the Union appears under the management of H. E. Ramsdell, editor and lessee. Ramsdell was joined by H. J. Ramsdell as publisher, June 9, 1910. This arrangement continued until November 21, 1918, when the Union Publishing Company again appears on the masthead, published by Lawrence B. Towers and edited by William H. Smith. E. D. C. Hegman purchased the paper July 21, 1920 but sold it to Gilbert H. Rue, March 25, 1921. Rue continued publishing the American Union until May 6, 1926 when the title of the paper became the Independent.
The American Union was founded as a paper to support the Republican Party and the Union cause during the Civil War. Its political allegiance remained Republican and the Union also was a vigorous advocate for prohibition. |
