1856-1857
No. 1 of Vol. 1 made its appearance in Belleville July 1st, 1856. It was a radical, outspoken Democratic newspaper, edited and managed by Louis Didier. With the appearance of No. 38 of Vol. 1, A. Ruoff became editor and publisher. This arrangement continued for a few weeks, when Didier became editor for the second time and G.A. Harvey, publisher. The paper was suspended soon after.
(From the History of St. Clair County, Illinois by Brink, McDonough & Co. 1881).