Crawfordsville Star - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

In 1894 Samuel Fisher, a well known farmer living near New Market, loaned Jere Kenney, Jr. a sum of money amounting to over $900 which with four years’ interest amounts to nearly $1300, taking Keeney’s note secured by a mortgage for the sum on the Crawfordsville Star newspaper. At various times since then he sought to obtain the money loaned, but with no success as is alleged. He determined to foreclose his mortgage and last week employed the law firm of Paul, Vancleave & Paul to collect the claim if possible. It appears, however, that there were other mortgages preceding that of Fisher’s one for $1600 held by Wm. Herron of Illinois, one by the Brush estate and another for $700 held by two sisters of Keeney, the total mortgages of these parties amounting to nearly $2500 which added to that held by Fisher, foots up near $4,000.  By some decision of law or court ruling relating to chattel mortgages the persons failing to renew their mortgages or claims after a certain time cannot have preference over those holding similar claims. Under this law the attorneys of Fisher had the sheriff to levy on the Star office on Saturday evening at 5 o’clock placing a deputy in charge who has still the care of it. Tuesday three practical printers were selected to apprise the value of the presses, type, cases and other material belonging to the office. They reported its value at about $2,000 only. And the chances of those holding these mortgages getting their money in full out of it are decidedly discouraging. It is probably that the office will be offered for sale to the highest bidder. What the final outcome of the matter may be cannot probably be foretold for some weeks, but for the present, at least publication of the Weekly and Sunday Star is suspended. The Crawfordsville Star has been a continuous weekly publication for over 25 years, Jeremiah Keene. Sr, having started it, we believe, about the year 1871, retiring some 10 years ago and turning the property over to his son, Jere Jr.  In some departments of a newspaper he is a success, but it is evident that the financial management is not one of them.   He has friends who will sympathize with him in his financial downfall but many enemies who will hold directly opposite opinions. What his future intentions may be we have not learned.  

Note: He continued with the newspaper with CA Bowers then sold it to SD Symmes, who had the Star for  a very short time then sold it to the Journal who basically absorbed it into their own publication.  (began Feb 6, 1872 – Jeremiah Keeney Editor/Publisher.  Supported the People’s Party – favoring Grangers and Greenbackers.  In 1888 Keeney Jr. took hold along with Willard Harlow who soon sold it all to Jr.  A Sunday Society paper – The Sunday Star began in 1889 accompanying the Weekly Star.  (Miller’s Newspaper Bibliography)