Top Story:
Schmitt family ends 73-year Enquirer tenure
By Jim Rawlins

After 73 years, The Carlinville~ Macoupin County Enquirer~Dem ocrat has changed hands. On Monday, Jay and Paula Endress of northern Illinois purchased the newspaper.

Since 1935, three generations of Schmitts have guided the direction of the newspaper. W.L. Schmitt bought the paper in 1935 and became one of the legendary figures in Illinois newspaper history (his last column appeared in the paper in 1985). His son, Dean, took over the newspaper in 1964, turning the paper over to his son, Chris, in 1974.

“We are pleased to pass on the heritage of the newspaper to the Endresses. We are confident they will continue the tradition of family ownership and community journalism,” said C. Schmitt.

“We very much appreciate and are thankful to Chris and Mary,” said J. Endress. “It is an honor to know that they entrusted us with this great newspaper that has been under three generations of the same family.”

Both of the Endresses come from a newspaper background. The couple graduated from Northern Illinois University with journalism degrees.

“It was always a dream of ours to own a newspaper,” said J. Endress, 47. “We had the good fortune to acquire a weekly newspaper in Indiana.”

The couple purchased the Zionsville Times-Sentinel, which serves a bedroom community northwest of Indianapolis. Although they loved operating the paper, they wanted to return to Illinois. “We missed our family and friends, so we came to Serena and moved our print business,” he said.

When the opportunity came to purchase The Enquirer, the Endresses decided to jump at the chance, particularly in a small town like Carlinville.

“We both were born and raised in small towns,” J. Endress said, “and we love what Carlinville has to offer. It’s a great quality of life, with a wonderful small town atmosphere. It will be great for our young son.”

The Endresses look forward to getting to know the people in town, and becoming involved in the community. “We are both strong believers in supporting the community,” he said, “and, through the newspaper, do what we can. Hopefully, we can continue to encourage development and prosperity for Carlinville and the area.”
J. and P. Endress become the latest in a line of owners who have guided a paper that has long ties to Carlinville. The paper was founded by Jefferson L. Dugger in 1852 as The Macoupin Statesman, the county’s first newspaper. Dugger sold the paper to George Holliday on Jan. 1, 1855 – who changed the named to Carlinville Spectator.

Several different people bought the paper over the next 15 years. It wasn’t until 1868 the paper reverted back to its county name, when it became the Macoupin Times. In September 1871, the paper was sold to a new company and became The Macoupin County Enquirer.

For almost 50 years, the Enquirer remained in the hands of the Lumpkin family. J.W. (Jim Will) Lumpkin and his son C.J. (Clement J.) owned the paper from August 1886 until J.W.’s death in July 1903. C.J. continued to run the paper till W.L. Schmitt purchased it in August 1935.

In 2003, there was one more change for The Enquirer. C. Schmitt purchased the Carlinville Democrat, which had served Carlinville for over 140 years. On Jan. 1, 2003, the paper became The Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat.

“We would like to thank the Carlinville community and all of our subscribers over the years for their support,” C. Schmitt said. “It has meant a great deal to my family.
“We encourage our readers, advertisers and customers to continue to support the newspaper under the Endresses’ readership,” commented C. Schmitt.

He also wished to thank the staff at The Enquirer. “They are such a wonderful group of loyal employees – more like my friends, and I thank them for their many years of faithful service.”

He had special words for Bill Neighbors, who has worked at The Enquirer for 49 years. “Bill was hired by my grandfather and worked for my dad,” Schmitt said, “than stayed on with me. I consider him a great friend, and it wouldn’t have been the same without Bill here.”

Endress and his wife are both looking forward to working with Neighbors and the rest of The Enquirer staff.

“Paula and I look forward to working with the terrific staff,” he said. “They are talented and energetic, and it will be great getting to know each other.”

Endress wasn’t sure what changes may occur to the newspaper in the future. But there is one thing The Enquirer~Democrat readers can expect.

“You can expect the fine community journalism that has been a trademark over the decades,” he said.


Source: Macoupin County Enquirer, May 8, 2008