William W. Sturdivant
Sturdivant Sells News-World; 22 Years as Editor
William W. Sturdivant, editor
and manager of the News-World for more than 20 years, sold the publishing business last Saturday afternoon to D.
J. Zerbe of Algona, Iowa, with the transaction in effect at the beginning of business Monday.
Sturdivant, known as"Scoop" by friends and associates through out this territory, has no plans for the
immediate future, but reports that he and his wife intend to become established on a poultry farm next spring.
Coming to Wesley nearly 25 years ago as a printer, Scoop worked for the Dewels, now publishers of the Kossuth County
Advance, for three years before acquiring the News-World as his own on January 21, 1913.
From 1920 until 1924, Scoop served as assistant postmaster here under his wife. From then until 1934 he served
as the local office as postmaster. Meanwhile he continued to manage the News World.
His nick-name "Scoop" came by casual talk soon after he had taken over the News-World. W. W. Finn, a
former postmaster here, now living at Lake Helen, Florida, and incidentally still a subscriber of the paper, is
credited with having used the term first in connection with the former editor. It came out of a clear sky as the
familiar Sturdivant approached the post office one day. "Here comes Scoop", Finn casually said, and the
name was picked up immediately, to remain in common use ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Sturdivant expect to leave Thursday morning for points Minnesota where they will spend a vacation,
well deserved by both Scoop and his wife, who is every active in social and lodge circles of Wesley. [Kossuth News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy]
Good-Bye
With this issue, the Wesley News World is being published by D. J. Zerbe, who comes to Wesley well recommended.
He is a young man 26 years of age, overflowing with the enthusiasm of youth-a newspaper man by profession, and
it is his aim to publish a paper that will meet with the approval of his readers. In our opinion Wesley is fortunate
in securing a young man of this type as a citizen and their publisher. Wesley needs a newspaper, as does any other
town or city-and they do not know how badly they need one until it is gone. We ask you kindly to give your new
publisher the support he deserves. He needs you and you need him, and we believe he will merit your support and
good will.
The time has arrived when we must say good-by, and really and truly it is hard to say. We came here about 22 years
ago with very little of this world's goods, with a wife and two little children, and the people of Wesley took
us in-gave us their support, friendship and goodwill, for which we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. We
don't believe there is a little city and community on earth that has more good people within its limits than has
this one-it has been a good home to us and we will never forget them. Let someone knock Wesley to us and they will
get told the truth then and there. The sun never shown on a brighter spot, nor where there is more good fellowship
and good cheer. The Wesley people stand shoulder to shoulder and if anyone slaps a Wesley face he must slap them
all-because one is all and all is one.
Bye bye, and may the good things of this life and the next be showered upon you.
[Kossuth News 1934, submitted by a Friend of Genealogy]
Sturdivants Given Farewell Party
The W. W. Sturdivant family were given a farewell party by their many friends of the vicinity at the lodge hall
Wednesday evening. Besides several talks by business men a program of music and drama was presented.
The program included a piano solo by Lavon Gerdes, a vocal duet by Mesdames Lawrence Hansen and Milton Giddings,
music by the high school mixed double quartet, a one act play with a cast of Robert Lawson, Marie Reno and Mary
Agnes Kunz, and a vocal solo by John L. Grattidge.
Light refreshments were served at the close of the evening.
The Sturdivants were given a purse of money, collected from the group, as a gift from their many friends here.
H. J. Braley made the presentation. [Kossuth County News 1934,
submitted by a Friend of Genealogy]
