The Neue Yolks Zeitung
On the 30th of August, 1875, the first number of a handsome
semi-weekly, entitled Neue Volks Zeitung, was issued from Zeis' Building
on the northeast corner of Eighteenth Street and Second Avenue. It was
started by Charles C. Winter, one of the editors of the Westliche Post, of
St. Louis, who had come here during the April previous to inspect the
prospects for such an enterprise. The paper was a success from the start.
In politics it was thoroughly independent, and it maintained that position
admirably through out, until its name was changed.
Mr. Winter's paper flourished until March 1, 1882, when he sold the same
to George S. Lechner, who came here from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Mr.
Winter moving from here to Danville, Illinois, where he published
successfully the Deutsche Zeitung until five years ago when he died in
London, England, on a journey to the fatherland. Mr. Lechner after a few
months sold the Neue Volks Zeitung to F. Protar, through whose efforts the
paper was brought to a flourishing condition. He changed the name to Volks
Zeitung. After a prosperous ten years' career Mr. Protar, on April 1,
1893, sold his journal to the Rock Island-Moline Volks Zeitung Publishing
Company, consisting of prominent German citizens of Rock Island and
Moline. The paper was managed by Messrs. Paul Kersch and August Hansgen.
These men were less successful than their predecessor, and July 1, 1897,
John P. Kieffer, of Remsen, Iowa, undertook the' publication of the paper,
which he continued for exactly two years. Gustav Donald, of Davenport,
bought the Volks Zeitung July 1, 1899, and published the same until July
1, 1901, when it came into the hands of Val. J. Peter, of Peoria,
Illinois. Mr. Peter began his newspaper career seventeen years ago as a
compositor for the Volks Zeitung. He has always considered this City his
home. He went from here to Peoria, where he was engaged until his return
to this City as city editor of the Daily Peoria Sonne, one of the largest
and most influential German newspapers in the west. During the period of
Mr. Peter's management of the Volks Zeitung, which is issued every Tuesday
and Friday, was brought to a degree of excellence beyond that of any
previous time in its history. On October 3, 1903, Mr. Peter bought the
two-story brick building, at 1906 Third Avenue, of Henry Frick, where his
thriving business is now comfortably enconsed. He also purchased a Hoe
newspaper press, and on October 23, 1903, the Volks Zeitung was for the
first time in its existence, printed on its own press. Mr. Peter has added
a job printing department to his newspaper interests and has now a model
plant. To commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Volks Zeitung in a
fitting manner, Mr. Peter issued on August 30, 1905, an elaborate
forty-four page anniversary edition, artistically illustrated and teaming
with interesting matter, containing a complete history of this locality in
general' and of the German element and its achievements in particular.
which is recognized as a publication of historic merits and one that has
won honors for the enterprising young publisher.
The Press Of Rock Island County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908