A short sketch of J.M. Fletcher
In researching for articles to put in our genealogical journal, I have been blessed in with a wonderful genealogical section in the Atlanta Public Library. Housed on the second floor maintained by the Cass County Genealogical Society, a researcher will have access to a wide range of information including rolls of microfilm of various newspapers.
Certainly, THE CITIZEN’S JOURNAL and THE CASS COUN- TY SUN are history books of the local area. From its beginning in 1879, the editor of the Journal was J. M. Fletcher until it was purchased by editor-owner J. W. Harrell. As stated, from the very beginning THE CITIZEN’S JOURNAL was a strong advocate for the Democratic Party. Twelve miles away in Linden, THE CASS COUNTY SUN with its editor J. W. Erwin (1888-1895) and then followed by his sonin-law, John Banger, were advocates of the Populist Party.
All four of these editors were also heavily involved in politics and by their writings influenced the political thought of their readers. I believe their bios are of great interest to Cass County historians. In an earlier journal the life of J. W. Erwin was printed. In order to get a more complete understanding of politics at this time, I felt a story about J. M. Fletcher was also needed.
J. M. FLETCHER
J. M. Fletcher was editor of the Citizen’s Journal from 1879- 1914. He was born in Henry County, Georgia, October 18, 1840. He came to Cass County, Texas, with his parents in 1853, settling in the big woods on a farm. He attended the summer schools after laying by the crops. He enlisted in the Confederate army in October 1861, joining Crump’s 1st Texas Battalion of Calvary at Jefferson. Following the battle of Elkhorn, he was dismounted and sent to Corinth, Mississippi, but in June 1862, jointed the 32nd Texas Regiment and was wounded in the battle of Murfreesborough, Tennessee.
After the war he came home and attended boarding school for three years while working his way through. He then taught school for ten years an took an active part in reconstruction. In June 1876 made a speech in the courthouse at Linden in reply to the president of the Peter Cooper Club, which was opposing the election of Tilden. This was said to be the first speech made in Texas against the third-party movement.
Mr. Fletcher was elected treasurer of Cass County in 1878 and continued in office for four years. In January 1879, he organized a stock company to publish a democratic paper in Cass County was elected business manager and editor. The paper was named the CITIZEN’S JOURNAL and after being published at Linden for four years, the plant was moved to Atlanta, where it has been published since.
Mr. Fletcher was married to Miss S. L. Leftwich in December 1873, raising three sons and three daughters. He served as adjutant of Stonewall Jackson Camp No. 91, Atlanta, Texas, from its organization until his death in July 1916. He received injuries in a railroad wreck in 1912 while attending a Confederate reunion, which he never fully recovered. His youngest son, Charles C. Fletcher, assisted in the management of the CITIZEN’S JOURNAL from 1912 to September 1914, when he sold the paper to the present owner, J. W. Harrell.
Taken from the CITIZEN’S JOURNAL – fifty-year edition
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY NEWSPAPERS UP TO 1929
The Citizens Journal has been one of the pioneers in the newspaper field in Cass County, it being the third or fourth newspaper born in the county and one of the two still in operation. The oldest one that any record can be found was the Linden Times published by Captain H. F. O’Neal, before and during the Civil War days back in the late (18)50s and (18)60s. Then the Cass County Sun in the early (18)70s, which is still being published at Linden. The Express at Atlanta, which was only published for five or six years was established near the time the Citizens Journal was started in Linden in March 1879.
The Citizens Journal has always been found championing the cause that it has thought to be right, in religion, politics, prohibition, morals, education and the advancement of the citizenship of this county and East Texas.
It has always weathered the lean years as well as the years of plenty and has passed the 50th milestone and is still considered young in years when you think of the future and the work that is ahead of it.
The future is before us and may the Citizens Journal ever be found on the right side of every cause and with its shoulder to the wheel of progress, marching forward up the hill of time. May it be found in the lead and not following, pulling and pushing at the same time—if that may be possible.
A SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL OF OUR READERS
If you are having trouble with your Genealogy or just want to know who your Great Grandfather was and what he did The Cass County Genealogical Society might be able to answer your questions.
Please contact us at:
C. C. G. S.
P. O. Box 880
Atlanta, Texas 75551,
E-mail us at evanjevans@yahoo.com, or call us at (903) 796-3081,
Or just visit us in the Genealogy and History Section on the Second Floor of the Atlanta Public Library.