88-YEAR OLD FORMER RESIDENT REMINISCES OF EARLY "LEADER,"
FOUNDING OF RUSTON
It was ages ago. The first Ruston Leader was begun by Mr. Z.O. Everite, editor, and Mr. Lannie M. Nelson, Sr. associate editor and type setter. The papers then, according to the now Rev. Nelson, were weekly only and had a circulation of 300 for the first few years.
"I type set by hand and printed same on an old Washington hand press each week which took some time, as all other papers had died and only the "Progressive Age," by Eugene Warren was being published there then and it soon died." says the Rev. Nelson.
"I set my first type and learned journalism in the first issue of the Leader -- weekly -- as I lived there on a farm about one mile out of town." he said.
This message came to the Ruston Daily Leader from Rev. Nelson recently. As a member of the staff of the first Ruston Leader (founded, according to best records here, in 1895), Rev. Nelson is a rare individual indeed. At that time, the type was set by picking by hand each small letter, and assembling it into a "stick".
Printing has changed tremendously during that period, so that the "straight matter" type (that in which this reading matter is set) is molded by molten metal with moveable type "matrices" operated by automatic typesetting machines using coded perforated tape. Pictures are reproduced by electronic engraving machines, and worldwide news is received printed and on perforated tape for automatic typesetting, via long-distance teletypewriter circuits.
The Rev. Nelson is 88 years old this year, and still is interested in the Ruston Leader and the people of his former home.
"I was only seven years of age when the new town of Ruston was named and started to grow to a recognized city of many thousands. The new town was named Ruston for Mr. R.E. Russ, as my father was present and wanted the new name -- but, as Russ had six grown boys and six grown or near grown girls and he and Mrs. Russ made 14 in the family, was named Ruston. The old courthouse was moved from Vienna -- and a four cornered white plain house five miles north -- so I saw the new town grow up what is now and proud of same as my father and mother are buried by the side of Temple Baptist Church in that city now.
The Rev. Nelson says that he lives in an apartment in Austin, Tex., alone now.
"I am not able to do anything now, after all my experience as a printer for years and later went to preaching after ordination and had over 50 years in the ministry over many states, and big churches from Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky.
Ten years ago the Rev. Nelson was hit by a car and was in Breckinridge Hospital for fifteen months and then moved to his present apartment.
The Rev. Nelson and his late wife have six living children, two daughters and four sons.
[RUSTON DAILY LEADER (UNKNOWN DATE) (1964?): Bio provided by George Rogers Park]
======================================
FOUNDING OF RUSTON
It was ages ago. The first Ruston Leader was begun by Mr. Z.O. Everite, editor, and Mr. Lannie M. Nelson, Sr. associate editor and type setter. The papers then, according to the now Rev. Nelson, were weekly only and had a circulation of 300 for the first few years.
"I type set by hand and printed same on an old Washington hand press each week which took some time, as all other papers had died and only the "Progressive Age," by Eugene Warren was being published there then and it soon died." says the Rev. Nelson.
"I set my first type and learned journalism in the first issue of the Leader -- weekly -- as I lived there on a farm about one mile out of town." he said.
This message came to the Ruston Daily Leader from Rev. Nelson recently. As a member of the staff of the first Ruston Leader (founded, according to best records here, in 1895), Rev. Nelson is a rare individual indeed. At that time, the type was set by picking by hand each small letter, and assembling it into a "stick".
Printing has changed tremendously during that period, so that the "straight matter" type (that in which this reading matter is set) is molded by molten metal with moveable type "matrices" operated by automatic typesetting machines using coded perforated tape. Pictures are reproduced by electronic engraving machines, and worldwide news is received printed and on perforated tape for automatic typesetting, via long-distance teletypewriter circuits.
The Rev. Nelson is 88 years old this year, and still is interested in the Ruston Leader and the people of his former home.
"I was only seven years of age when the new town of Ruston was named and started to grow to a recognized city of many thousands. The new town was named Ruston for Mr. R.E. Russ, as my father was present and wanted the new name -- but, as Russ had six grown boys and six grown or near grown girls and he and Mrs. Russ made 14 in the family, was named Ruston. The old courthouse was moved from Vienna -- and a four cornered white plain house five miles north -- so I saw the new town grow up what is now and proud of same as my father and mother are buried by the side of Temple Baptist Church in that city now.
The Rev. Nelson says that he lives in an apartment in Austin, Tex., alone now.
"I am not able to do anything now, after all my experience as a printer for years and later went to preaching after ordination and had over 50 years in the ministry over many states, and big churches from Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky.
Ten years ago the Rev. Nelson was hit by a car and was in Breckinridge Hospital for fifteen months and then moved to his present apartment.
The Rev. Nelson and his late wife have six living children, two daughters and four sons.
[RUSTON DAILY LEADER (UNKNOWN DATE) (1964?): Bio provided by George Rogers Park]
======================================
88-YEAR OLD FORMER RESIDENT REMINISCES OF EARLY "LEADER,"
FOUNDING OF RUSTON
It was ages ago. The first Ruston Leader was begun by Mr. Z.O. Everite, editor, and Mr. Lannie M. Nelson, Sr. associate editor and type setter. The papers then, according to the now Rev. Nelson, were weekly only and had a circulation of 300 for the first few years.
"I type set by hand and printed same on an old Washington hand press each week which took some time, as all other papers had died and only the "Progressive Age," by Eugene Warren was being published there then and it soon died." says the Rev. Nelson.
"I set my first type and learned journalism in the first issue of the Leader -- weekly -- as I lived there on a farm about one mile out of town." he said.
This message came to the Ruston Daily Leader from Rev. Nelson recently. As a member of the staff of the first Ruston Leader (founded, according to best records here, in 1895), Rev. Nelson is a rare individual indeed. At that time, the type was set by picking by hand each small letter, and assembling it into a "stick".
Printing has changed tremendously during that period, so that the "straight matter" type (that in which this reading matter is set) is molded by molten metal with moveable type "matrices" operated by automatic typesetting machines using coded perforated tape. Pictures are reproduced by electronic engraving machines, and worldwide news is received printed and on perforated tape for automatic typesetting, via long-distance teletypewriter circuits.
The Rev. Nelson is 88 years old this year, and still is interested in the Ruston Leader and the people of his former home.
"I was only seven years of age when the new town of Ruston was named and started to grow to a recognized city of many thousands. The new town was named Ruston for Mr. R.E. Russ, as my father was present and wanted the new name -- but, as Russ had six grown boys and six grown or near grown girls and he and Mrs. Russ made 14 in the family, was named Ruston. The old courthouse was moved from Vienna -- and a four cornered white plain house five miles north -- so I saw the new town grow up what is now and proud of same as my father and mother are buried by the side of Temple Baptist Church in that city now.
The Rev. Nelson says that he lives in an apartment in Austin, Tex., alone now.
"I am not able to do anything now, after all my experience as a printer for years and later went to preaching after ordination and had over 50 years in the ministry over many states, and big churches from Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky.
Ten years ago the Rev. Nelson was hit by a car and was in Breckinridge Hospital for fifteen months and then moved to his present apartment.
The Rev. Nelson and his late wife have six living children, two daughters and four sons.
[RUSTON DAILY LEADER (UNKNOWN DATE) (1964?): Bio provided by George Rogers Park]
======================================
FOUNDING OF RUSTON
It was ages ago. The first Ruston Leader was begun by Mr. Z.O. Everite, editor, and Mr. Lannie M. Nelson, Sr. associate editor and type setter. The papers then, according to the now Rev. Nelson, were weekly only and had a circulation of 300 for the first few years.
"I type set by hand and printed same on an old Washington hand press each week which took some time, as all other papers had died and only the "Progressive Age," by Eugene Warren was being published there then and it soon died." says the Rev. Nelson.
"I set my first type and learned journalism in the first issue of the Leader -- weekly -- as I lived there on a farm about one mile out of town." he said.
This message came to the Ruston Daily Leader from Rev. Nelson recently. As a member of the staff of the first Ruston Leader (founded, according to best records here, in 1895), Rev. Nelson is a rare individual indeed. At that time, the type was set by picking by hand each small letter, and assembling it into a "stick".
Printing has changed tremendously during that period, so that the "straight matter" type (that in which this reading matter is set) is molded by molten metal with moveable type "matrices" operated by automatic typesetting machines using coded perforated tape. Pictures are reproduced by electronic engraving machines, and worldwide news is received printed and on perforated tape for automatic typesetting, via long-distance teletypewriter circuits.
The Rev. Nelson is 88 years old this year, and still is interested in the Ruston Leader and the people of his former home.
"I was only seven years of age when the new town of Ruston was named and started to grow to a recognized city of many thousands. The new town was named Ruston for Mr. R.E. Russ, as my father was present and wanted the new name -- but, as Russ had six grown boys and six grown or near grown girls and he and Mrs. Russ made 14 in the family, was named Ruston. The old courthouse was moved from Vienna -- and a four cornered white plain house five miles north -- so I saw the new town grow up what is now and proud of same as my father and mother are buried by the side of Temple Baptist Church in that city now.
The Rev. Nelson says that he lives in an apartment in Austin, Tex., alone now.
"I am not able to do anything now, after all my experience as a printer for years and later went to preaching after ordination and had over 50 years in the ministry over many states, and big churches from Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky.
Ten years ago the Rev. Nelson was hit by a car and was in Breckinridge Hospital for fifteen months and then moved to his present apartment.
The Rev. Nelson and his late wife have six living children, two daughters and four sons.
[RUSTON DAILY LEADER (UNKNOWN DATE) (1964?): Bio provided by George Rogers Park]
======================================
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