Baragers and Withee Sentinel

lay foundation for O-W Enterprise 105 years ago

Story and photos by Kris Leonhardt

Today's advances in technology allow us to obtain news by many means -- via the internet, radio, television and fax. Prior to the existence of these information super highways, newspapers were the major source of news in the newly populated Northwoods of Wisconsin. As towns sprang up in settled areas, so did the necessity for a local newspaper to convey local, state and national news.

James A. and Annie Laurie Barager were no strangers to the newspaper business when they arrived in Withee. The couple had already pioneered newspapers in several Wisconsin communities, including:  Washburn, Cadott and Medford.

The Baragers introduced a weekly publication to the newly incorporated village of Withee, with the first copy rolling off the press on February 24, 1902. The newspaper operated under the motto "Protection, Progress, Purity", while printing news items and listing land and other items for sale.

In its first years of production, a single copy of the Withee Sentinel sold for $.05, with a one year subscription costing $1.50.

State and national news included the tragic and bizarre. Train wrecks and robberies were often a subject of these news articles.  The following news story was published in the May 19, 1902, issue of the Withee Sentinel:

How Pat Saved Mike

Pat and Mike were traveling in this country in company with each other when they arrived at Austin, Texas. Not being posted concerning the city laws about expectorating upon the sidewalk, and as Mike was a great tobacco chewer, while taking in the city, he spat upon the sidewalk, which was no sooner done than a bluecoat nabbed him for disobeying the city ordinance.

He was at once arraigned before the mayor and his honor told him the fine for such cases was $2, but he would excuse him if he would answer the following questions satisfactorily to his honor:

The questions were: "How many stars will shine to night?" "How far is it to the moon?" and "What will I be thinking about?"

He was released on promise to reappear at the mayor's office at 9 o'clock: but he went away very much discouraged, for he did not know how to answer the three questions. Upon going to Pat he told him of his trouble.

Pat consoled him and told him not to worry, for he would appear before the mayor on his behalf. At the appointed hour Pat wended his way to the office, and being asked "How many stars are shining to night?" he replied, "48,620,000; and be faith and bedad, if you don't believe it, your honor can go out and count them." "How far is it to the moon?" Fifty-two thousands miles; if you doubt it your honor can measure it." The mayor replied, "Very well; now what am I thinking about?" "Ye think I am Mike, but befaith and bedad I am Pat."

It is unnecessary to add that he was released without fine.

On May 7, 1903, just over a year into publication, James Barager died following an operation for appendicitis. This left Mrs. Barager as sole publisher.  She continued to operate the business successfully while raising her three sons:  Vernon, Irving and Miles.

She ran the weekly paper until August 1, 1912, when she sold her interest to A. K. Stanning.  The Sentinel then became the Clark County Journal and Barager temporarily retired.

On February 14, 1914, Barager and her son, Vernon, incorporated the Sentinel/Journal into the Owen Enterprise and moved the Withee Sentinel office to Owen. Annie Laurie and Vernon use their progressiveness to make advances in equipment and newspaper format. The pair continued to publish the newspaper together until Annie Laurie's passing.