In the mid-1870s, Susanville was still a one horse town with less than 300 inhabitants. Yet, for a time two newspapers were published there. The first to compete with the Lassen Advocate was the Lassen County Journal that operated from 1874-1875. It was succeeded by the Lassen County Farmer.
This newspaper made its debut on January 1, 1876. The Farmer was published by two experienced newspaper men from Reno—J.G. Law and William Lewis. The paper provided the best local news coverage the area had ever experienced. Making a living was another story. By December, Law had departed leaving Lewis behind. Lewis, too, would soon depart and return to Reno. He noted, “Running an opposition paper in one of these mountain counties is about as neat and easy a way to starve to death as can be imagined.”
However, Lewis was able to find a successor in Susanville resident Thomas H. Dawson. However, Dawson would soon learn how difficult it was to make a living and after six months the newspaper folded. The Modoc Independent newspaper of Alturas relayed the fate of Dawson’s plight: “The editor’s wail is pitiful. He says that during the six months which he has run the paper only twelve subscribers paid their subscriptions.”
On a personal note, I can relate to the above. Some times I have pondered that I made it this long, but I manage some how to cover the costs.
Thomas Dawson was my husband’s great-great-uncle, and he ultimately went to Corning and started a newspaper there, “The Observer.” His wife and children remained in Susanville, although his oldest son, also named Thomas Dawson, joined him in Corning at some point. (The son was censused there in 1900, his occupation listed as “compositor,” so he was working for his father in the printing business.) I’d be interested in any information about why Thomas’ wife Elizabeth stayed in Susanville when her husband was in Corning all those years, died and was buried there!