A few common cold news photos I found:

William Thomas Yoe


Image by jajacks62
Co. K, 132nd ILL. Infantry
Independence Daily Reporter, Monday, April 30, 1923, Pg. 1:

WILLIAM T. YOE, PIONEER EDITOR DIES SATURDAY
One of Best Known Newspaper Men of Southwest
Here Since 1871

William T. Yoe, aged editor of the Southwest Kansas Tribune, died at his home, Saturday night, after an illness of a week. He was actively in the harness at his desk until stricken with a slight stroke of paralysis Friday, April 20.
Mr. Yoe had been confined to his home for a week. Saturday morning he suffered a slight stroke of paralysis which was followed in the afternoon by two more strokes, from which he died at 1:17 Sunday morning.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jennie Yoe, three daughters, Miss Harriett of the home address, Mrs. G. W. Arey of Washington, and A. P. Bryant of Venice, California; four sons, Roy W. of Tyro; George M. of Bartlesville, Okla,; Warren W. of Chison, Washington, and Earl of this city, and ten grandchildren.
Funeral services will probably be held Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock from the Methodist church of which he was the eldest member. The body will lie in state from 11 o’clock until 2 o’clock on Thursday. Those desiring to view the remains call at that time as the casket will not be opened at the church. Burial will be made in Mount Hope cemetery.
An Appreciation
By Chas. T. Erett

In the death of W. T. Yoe this city lost one of its real builders, a man who not only helped to blaze the way from the great social, civic, industrial and business development that marks the city’s growth and prosperity but one who performed an important and outstanding part in all those things essential to that development. But few individuals, if any, ever made a deeper and more permanent impress on the affairs of this community that did Mr. Yoe during the more than a half century services as editor, public official and active citizen. He was not an outstanding figure in the sense that he was a brilliant editorial writer, or forceful and terse paragrapher, or that he was gifted with any of the exceptional faculties that make conspicuous the noted newspaper man of today, but he was great in his vision and faith, in his ideals and principles of action, in his perception and well balance view pint, in his kindness of heart, his courtesy as a gentleman, and in his devotion to his work, his home town and its institutions and in his unfaltering adherence to those things he believed to be right and in performance of every duty as father, husband, citizen, neighbor and friend.
Denied the benefits of advanced educational advantages in his youth he learned the printer’s trade, and when in company with his brother Charles he established the Tribune in this city, his principal capital was his knowledge of the art preservation of all the arts and his willingness to make the most of his opportunities. With the exception of very few weeks for the fifty-three years he was editor of the Tribune he prepared the larger portion of the copy each week for that paper, and during these early years of struggle for existence he worked every day at the laborous tasks of a printer in a primitive print shop. The columns of the Tribune for those years present an accurate history of this city, it is a history that perhaps contain none of the finished sentence of a Macaulay or the profound analysis of a Guizot, but it is a colorful story pulsating and throbbing with the hopes and achievements, the joys and disappointments, the defeats and victories, the fights, contensions and struggles, the failures and triumphs and the weekly provisional life of a study and determined people transforming a wilderness into a garden and bringing out of wild disorder a social and civic structure marvelous in its magnitude, far reaching in its benefits and admirable in its orderly processes for continuous growth in harmony with the solid foundations on which it rests. And through this whole story so plainly told, there breathes a spirit of optimism and confidence that should be an inspiration for all time, a spirit that never compromised knowingly with wrong or doubted the final success of the right. The day will come when some writer will put the history of this community into concise and attractive form, but no writer, however gifted, can hope to give as complete picture of the past three years, with its rich provincial coloring, its “Main Street” characteristics and all those features big and little that contribute to our daily existence as is found in the weekly news of the Tribune for all that time. But few men had a wider acquaintance than Mr. Yoe in his more active years it is doubtful if there were many families in Montgomery county he was not in touch with to a greater or smaller degree, and certain it is that during those years he knew all the men and women of the country who took a leading part in its religious, educational, political, social and civic life. Generous charitable, friendly, public spirited and ever ready to aid the unfortunate, he made lasting friendships even with those who most bitterly opposed him in his political efforts. The admirable personal traits brought him into close relationship with all the elements of life in the community and enabled him to give his news that personal coloring that made it distinctive, and which gave the history he had left a human touch that the most gifted historian of the future can never hope to equal in dealing with the cold facts of the past.
And when the history of this city is written the name of W. T. Yoe, figuratively speaking, will stand out in letters of god. He may have been narrowly partisan in politics, as his opponents often charged, but when it is remembered that as a young man he was called to duty to fight for the preservation of the union, it is not surprising he tenaciously held to the political organization that developed out of the conflict that so severely tested our very existence as a nation. At the time he had reached the age when the most lasting impressions are made and his whole subsequent career was n doubt influenced by the wounds and scares and bitterness that resulted from the civil war. But however narrow may have seemed his political viewpoint, no political opponent who ever came in touch with Mr. Yoe or who had an opportunity to know of is neighborly kindness, his thoughtful consideration for others, his loyalty to his highest conceptions of duty, and his devotion to family, friends, community and country, every failed to farm for him not only a high opinion but a strong personal attachment. He was a lovable man, and his days in this city were filled with noble acts, kindly deeds and a service to the community never excelled.
In all the fifty-three years his paper never sounded a note of calamity. Its columns were marked by a faith that was sublime, by an optimism that was encouraging. He gathered essential facts and presented them in a way that made them plain to all. He believed in the church, the school, and everything that contributed to the richness and fullness of life. He was often opposed in the editorial field by men far more able as writers and often subjected to attacks from their caustic pens, but through it all he maintained his position and place and was the only one with the exception of his surviving brother to remain in the field through life.
There are but few homes in this county that have been established for a decade but that will feel his death as a personal loss, and there are many homes and countless individuals who will always cherish his memory because of timely assistance and sympathy in the hour of trouble.
It will be a matter for those more intimately associated with Mr. Yoe than the write to properly tell in detail of his useful life and pay fitting tribute to his memory. The writer for nearly forty years was connected with newspaper enterprises in this city either as printer, editor or reporter, which were to a large extent rivals in business and political fields to the Tribune and its editor, and the impressions of Mr. Yoe and his work were formed in this atmosphere. It was an environment to an inflated estimation of Mr. Yoe’s services to his community nor one conducive to fulsome flattery, but it was a place that provided an opportunity for a real appreciation of the worth of a man working in the same filed.

South Kansas Tribune, Wednesday, May 2, 1923, Pg. 1:

W. T. Yoe, Editor of The Tribune Died Sunday Morning, April 29, 1923.
W. T. Yoe
My Brother Has Gone to His Reward

W. T. Yoe, Editor of the Tribune, passed to his reward on Sunday morning, April 29th, at 1:15. He retired from his desk at the Tribune office on Friday, April 20th, after his day’s work was completed. He remained at home lying down and sitting around as he felt inclined, until Saturday afternoon, when he expressed a desire to go to his bed upstairs, and was assisted by his daughter and son, Harriet and Earl, who saw him safely to bed. The doctor was called but nothing could be done for him and at 1:15 he passed to his reward.
William Thomas Yoe was the son of Walter and Elizabeth William Yoe, and was born at Port Republic, Calvert County, Maryland on March 26th, 1845. He parents moving to Rushville, Illinois in 1848, where he grew to manhood, and resided until 1866. He entered the printing office at 13 to make his way through life, he continued in that business to the last except about four years. Starting for himself at 13 to make his way through life, he continued to work up to his death. His mother who was so proud of him, passed to her reward when he was only 15 years of age. He was then compelled to depend upon himself, with the careful watching of a loving father and an older brother. He looked after his two younger brothers until he went into the army in Company K, 137th Illinois Infantry. On his return home he entered the Dry Goods Store of Thomas Wilson from where he left to enter the service. Later, in 1865, he got the western fever, and with another young man went to Shelbyville, Missouri, and started in the hardware business, which was not large enough for two, and he concluded to retire and return to his printing trade, as he was competent to hold a position in any office at that time. It was not long until he had a place on the Herald at Shelbina, Missouri, the only paper in the county and it was supporting the Republican party, which had few friends in that locality. It was not long until the business increased and the owners wanted him to take an interest in the office. Without means to secure an interest they sold him a half interest on time. In February 1868 Charles Yoe came out there from their old home in Rushville, Illinois, and went into the office with him and they never separated. Frank Yoe joined his brothers at Shelbina in 1870, and moved to Independence in November 1871.
In 1867 he became associated with the Shelby County Herald at Shelbina, Mo., and in 1868 Charles Yoe became connected with him on the paper and to this time 55 years that association has been continuous. In 1870, he concluded that he would like a broader field and in company with Col. A. M. York, his partner, they visited Independence, Kansas, then a new city of little over a year old. On returning home, after a few weeks thinking the matter over, he decided to come to Independence and risk making a success of the new enterprise, and at one organized the Tribune Company, with Col. York and L. U. Humphrey, and decided to close out the Herald at Shelbina and move it to this city. In February 1871, with L. U. Humphrey , Chas. Yoe and Aura Smith, he started for this city to establish the Tribune which has continued to be issued every week since the 8th day of March, 1871. How well he succeeded we leave the public to say.
The pride of his business career was the loyal support of the employees of the Tribune office from the start down to his last day. Many of them served from twenty-one to thirty-five years and he was pleased when C. A. Connelly, a young boy, who came to the Tribune force over thirty-six years ago, and continued in its service for years, made good and became one of the partners in the business. In the last few years it was made convenient to take his son Earl A. Yoe in as one of the Company, as he had long been the head of the mechanical part of the office, and is a growing young business man. With the appointment of C. A. Connelly as Postmaster, his son Glen C. Connelly, was added to the Company and assigned a place fitting a young man of his ability. Thus the last days of his life saw the coming on of younger men to take his place in the business he had built up so successfully in his time with the aid of his partners and the force of young men and ladies that gave him their loyal support.
In October 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Weatherby of Shelbina, Mo. To this union seven children survive: Miss Harriet E. Yoe, at home, who has been the constant companion of her father and mother all these years, and their every want has been looked after and he relied and looked to her as he grew older. Roy W. Yoe of Tyro; Edna May Bryant, of Venice, California; Earl A. Yoe, who has been connected with him in the Tribune office, Ruth Arey, of this city, Warren W. Yoe, of Carson, Washington and George H. Yoe, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. These with his wife as well as two brothers, Charles and Frank Yoe, ten grandchildren and several nephews and nieces living here and in Illinois, are left to mourn his death.
As Editor of the Tribune he has expressed his thoughts and opinions on every subject as it came up each week for over fifty-two years without missing a single issue, and was the oldest newspaper man in Kansas, in constant service for fifty-five years, and fifty-two years of that in the city of Independence. No man ever had a greater pride in seeing his home town grow and advance in every way than he. Today there are but two older business men living in this city than he. He was the oldest member of the Methodist church, a leading member of the Odd Fellow Lodge in his younger days. He served his city in many ways outside of the paper. He was Postmaster in this city under President Arthur. He was a member of the board of trustees that built the present Carnegie Public Library. Under Governor Humphrey, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Charities and held over under Governor Llewelling. During Governor Stanley’s administration he was appointed member of the Board of Regents of the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. In every position he was called to fill his aim was to get the greatest results possible for the public good. He was not extravagant in any manner but wanted the result to reflect credit upon those who had charge of the undertaking.
As a brother in our life work, everything has been as one could wish, nothing but the kindliest feelings in business and social life, and at his going everything is well with us. He watched over us as a brother, always looking to our welfare and success as if it was his own. No brothers could be more in harmony and one accord that were us three, Tom, Charlie, and Frank. He left one of the cleanest records to look back upon than any man could leave to his relatives.
His wife and family that he so cherished and looked after will miss him but his going in peace and without pain is one thing that they can always look to and know that he every want was provided for and it was the way he wished life to end with him.

Funeral of W. T. Yoe

The funeral of W. T. Yoe, Editor of the Tribune, will be held from the First Methodist Church on Thursday, May 3d, at 3:30, in charge of Rev. Harry Gordon, pastor. His remains will lie in state at his home from eleven until two on Thursday, where the friends can view them. The casket will not be opened at the church.

From History of Montgomery County, Kansas, By Its Own People, Published by L. Wallace Duncan, Iola, Kansas, 1903, Pg. 311-312:

Yoe, William Thomas Bio

William Thomas Yoe was born in Calvert county, Maryland, March 26, 1845, and reared in a Christian home. His parents were Walter and Elizabeth (Harris) Yoe, a native Maryland and Virginia people. In 1848, the parents left their old home and established themselves among the pioneers of Rushville, Illinois. The father was a carpenter and pursued the arts of peace and won the affection and regard of the community. To the three sons, W. T., Charles and Frank F., the parents left the heritage of a good name and an inspiration to righteous and useful lives.
Thomas Yoe, as our subject is universally known, passed his childhood and youth about Rushville, Illinois, where he had some acquaintance with the common schools. His education assumed a practical turn from the age of thirteen years, when he went into a print shop, from which, as a business, he had never been separated. Toward the end of the Civil War he enlisted in Company “K”, One Hundred and Thirty-second Illinois infantry, and saw service at Memphis, Tennessee.
After the war he located at Shelbyville, Missouri, where, for a short time, he was a hardware merchant, and then at Shelbina, where he became associated with Col. A. M. York in the publication of a Republican newspaper. After nearly five years, he decided to exert his energies among the people of the progressive frontier State of Kansas.
In the winter of 1870, he founded, with others, the South Kansas Tribune, and, in February following brought the plant to Kansas and established it in the new town of Independence, in Montgomery county. L. U. Humphrey, afterward governor of Kansas, was associated with the new paper, on its editorial staff. The proprietorship of the “Tribune: came, later, into the hands of W. T. and Chas. Yoe, where, with a single exception, it has since remained.
Mr. Yoe has been a part of Montgomery county nearly a third of a century and has shared in its development work, both rural and urban. Little that has been of general interest to the county has not known his hand, or felt the influence of his voice or pen; and the confidence he thus inspired warranted the conferring of public honors and the bestowal upon him of public trusts. The practical character of his views, his mature judgment and the evident sincerity of his purpose are traits which have commended him through life and marked him as one of the prominent citizens of his city and county. He has been at the head of his newspaper since its establishment and his personal standing has given it weight and power. He has helped make governors and other state officers and furnished effective advice in the distribution of local offices which showed abundant wisdom and brought a strong current of public sentiment to his party’s approval.
As an appointee to public office, Mr. Yoe has rendered his chief public service. President Arthur appointed him postmaster of Independence and he served three years bur resigned upon the election of Mr. Cleveland. Governor Humphrey appointed him sectary of the State Board of Charities, where he remained three years, and Governor Stanley made him a member of the Board of Regents of the State Agricultural College. As a Republican he has occupied a high position in party councils. He has a single standard of honesty and applies it in business, religion and politics, alike. He is an active and leading member o the Methodist congregation in Independence, and the influence of his life is a potent one in the spiritual and material affairs of the church.
In 1870, in Shelbina, Missouri, Mr. Yoe married Jennie E. Weatherby. The issue of this union are: Harriet E, a teacher in the Deaf and Dumb Institution of Kansas; Roy W., a farmer, of Tyro, Montgomery county; Edna May, assistant in the Independence post office; Earl A., a printer in the Tribune office; and Ruth, Warren and George.

Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.