Serving The Mediapolis Area Since 1874

                                                         151 Years Of History   

  James Warren Merrill was born to Joshua and Rhoda Crosson Merrill in Moscow (Clermont County), Ohio on July 31, 1833 and died October 16, 1908. He learned the printing business in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. 

  He then travelled through several states working his trade. He came to Iowa in 1855, and lived with his sister, Mrs. Thomas Davis in Northfield, just outside of Mediapolis. 

  He married Jessie R. Telfer on December 17, 1863. Eight children were born to the couple, four of whom lived to adulthood. Stephen Curtis; Anna Mae, who was an instructor for the Deaf at Council Bluffs, Iowa; Thomas Arthur; and Vida Helen, a school teacher.

  Mr. Merrill purchased the printing plant and office of O.S. Green. He conducted the paper in Mediapolis until 1904 when he sold the office to his son, Thomas Merrill. 

  He was the author of a book, History of Yellow Spring and Huron, which was printed in 1900. It was a history of the people, churches, schools, etc., of the two townships.

  Mr. Thomas Author Merrill, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Merrill was born January 2, 1878 and died November 11, 1957. He married Mattie Bell Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miles on October 17, 1900. She died April 15, 1955.

  Mr. Merrill learned the printer's trade as a boy in his father's shop.

  For four years (1900-1904) he was the publisher of the Nichols, Iowa Gazette. In 1904 he purchased the New Era office from his father, J.W. Merrill.  He was the Mediapolis correspondent for the Burlington Hawkeye Gazette for several years. He was also active in the Methodist Church affairs. For many years he was the secretary of the Mediapolis Chautauqua Association and the Kossuth Cemetery Association and took an active part in the Tubercular and Heart Association. 

  Thomas was a member of the Masonic Progress Lodge A.F. and A.M. and a member of the Eastern Star Lodge and Modern Woodman of America. Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Merrill adopted a two year-old girl, Sarah Jane in 1921, who married Mr. Virgil Lyons. They had a son named Thomas and live in Wilmington, Delaware. 

  Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Merrill are buried at Kossuth Cemetery. 

  He published the Mediapolis New Era until he sold it to Walden Smith in June 1942, who printed the paper until he sold it to Richard and Virginia Goughnour in 1957.

  Richard and Virginia, along with son Rick moved to Mediapolis in March 1956, from Des Moines, Iowa. Richard accepted a job with Walden Smith, who then owned the Mediapolis New Era. In May of 1957, the Goughnours purchased the newspaper and job printing pant from Smith and took possession on June 1, 1957. The establishment was moved from the rear of the Patterson building in 1972 to a new location.

  Paul Richard Goughnour, born 12-1-31 in Appanoose County, and his wife Virginia Marie Carter, born 7-30-32 in Appanoose County, were both graduates of Moravia, Iowa High School, and were married at the Moravia Methodist Church. One son, Richard Alan was born 2-18-54, graduated from Mediapolis Community School in 1972, Southeastern Community College in 1974, Northeast Missouri State University in 1976. He married Lisa Ann Levins in Burlington on 6-15-74. 

 Reta Marie, born 7-14-57, graduated from Mediapolis in 1975.

  Randal Craig, born 11-19-58, and Rhonda Kay, born 11-18-63, both graduated from Mediapolis.

  Mr. Goughnour eventually sold the paper to David Tapp and wife, Phyllis. 

  Originally from Galesburg, Illinois, he was the son of George Stanley and Willa J. (Aby) Tapp. He graduated from Galesburg in 1963 and served in the Air Force. In 1968, he married Clara Phyllis (West) on February 25, 1968 in Abingdon, Illinois. 

  Mr. and Mrs. Tapp had four children, Brian, Rob, Tricia, and adopted son, Greg.

  Mr. Tapp began working in the newspaper business in 1967, and worked at the Burlington Hawkeye, the Daily Democrat, West Point Bee, Donnelson Star, and Marion Times. He eventually purchased the Mediapolis News.

  In August of 1996, Mr. Tapp sold the paper to B.J. and Kendra Jahn. Kendra had worked for Mr. Tapp since September, 1994. B.J. and Kendra have two children, Charlie and Ruthie.

  Kendra published the paper until she sold it to Mr. Danny Davis, of New London, Iowa in September, 2007. 

  Mr. Davis began his career in the media in 1988 as a radio announcer at KILJ Radio in Mt. Pleasant. He would go on to work in radio in Branson, Missouri, before moving to Galesburg, IL where he managed the Orpheum Theater and wrote for the Knoxville Journal and Galesburg Post. 

  Mr. Davis has one son, Brandon Louis Davis, who graduated from Galesburg, Illinois.

  He continues to publish the Mediapolis News.