Tehama
County
Biographies
THE CORNING OBSERVER
One
of the most influential and successful evening newspapers of northern
California is the Corning Observer, a democratic organ, now owned and published
by Mrs. T. E. Harper at Corning, California.
This newspaper was originally established in 1882, as a weekly issue, by
Tom Dawson, and was later published by a Mr. McGinnis. In 1908, T. E. Harper assumed control, and in
1918 changed the paper to a daily issue, except Sunday. He and his wife conducted the Observer until
1928, when Mr. Harper died, since which time Mrs. Harper has had complete
charge of the publication. She has a
subscription list of eight hundred, owns the building in which the plant is
housed, and operates on a competitive scale of advertising. She is a member of the California News
Publishers Association. Mrs. Harper has
made an outstanding success of her newspaper, and not only makes of it an
interesting news medium, but an influence for the benefit of the community. The make-up of the Observer is after the
modern style, and is most attractive.
Both
Mr. and Mrs. Harper were born in the state of Texas, and were married in
1902. Mrs. Harper’s maiden name was Buna
Maude Wilbourn. Mr. Harper was active in
Masonry, had attained the thirty-second degree, and also held membership in Ben
Ali Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Sacramento.
He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and the D. O. K. K., also the Rotary Club of Corning. He was the organizer and a director of the
Corning Bank, and was president of the Corning Chamber of Commerce for
years. Mr. and Mrs. Harper both held
membership in the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Harper belongs to the Order of
the Eastern Star and the Coring Women’s Club.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Page 402. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's Tehama County Biographies