The first newspaper published in Jefferson county was The Herald, which was established at De Soto in 1859 or 1860, by E. E. Furber, and published until the breaking out of the war caused its suspension. In 1869-70 G. D. Clark published a Republican paper at De Soto. In the fall of 1872 Charles E. Moss established the Jefferson County Republican, at same place, and after a short period disposed of it to Rankin & Bro., by whom it was published until its suspension about a year after the date of its first issue. In November, 1873, Messrs. J. J. and S. B. Brady established the De Soto Tribunea paper independent in politics. Its publication was discontinued in September, 1875, and soon thereafter S. B. Brady began the publication of the De Solo Phoenix, and discontinued it in April, 1876. From 1878 to 1881 the De Solo Messenger was published by W. G. Church. In 1880 and 1881 the De Soto Herald was published by C. B. Isham. The Jefferson County Watchman was established at Hillsboro in November, 1881, by S. Henry Smith. It was afterward moved to De Soto, and in 1882 it was purchased by Messrs. McMullin & Stone, and subsequently McMullin sold his interest to Stone, who finally sold the paper to its present publishers, Messrs. J. H. Waggener and John Jenkins. It is now a five-column quarto, and is independent in politics.

The Jefferson Democrat was established at Hillsboro in 1866, by C. A. Clark and C. D. Reppy, under the name of the Jefferson County Leader. In June, 1868, it passed into the hands of R. W. McMullin and others, who conducted it until the following November when it was purchased by C. D. Reppy. In January, 1869, Frank N. Stone acquired possession, and changed the name to the Jefferson Democrat. In September, 1869, Mr. Stone sold the paper to Edmund J. Ellis, and repurchased it in February, 1870. In June, 1871, R. W. McMullin secured control of the paper, and has ever since and still continues its publication. It is an eight-column folio, Democratic in politics, has a large circulation and is ably edited. The Crystal Mirror was established at Festus in August, 1885, by J. J. Wilson and Dr. T. B. Taylor. In March, 1886, Mr. Wilson became sole proprietor, and continued the publication of the paper at Festus until February 17, 1887, and then moved it to Hillsboro, where he continues its publication. Originally it was a five-column but, on being moved to Hillsboro, it was enlarged to a seven-column quarto. It has always been independent in politics, its motto being "The people and country before party." In the campaign of 1886 it advocated the election of the ticket of the Independent Democrats and Republicans in Jefferson County, and eight out of the twelve candidates on this ticket were elected. The Mirror has a large circulation, and is also ably edited.

The De Soto Herald, a seven-column folio, was established February 16, 1888, by G. Y. Dale, editor. Politically, it is Democratic, and starts out with fair prospects of success.

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