First, I would like to thank Tom and Pam for his patience to my phone calls and answering all my questions, and for providing the information for this page.

The Press was founded by David Wright Barkley in 1866.  The Press is the lineal descendant of the War Democrat.  Barkley changed the papers name to the Wayne County Press.  A bust of him stands in the University of Illinois Journalism Hall of Fame.  The Press has had only five publishers during its 135-year history: David Wright Barkley, 1866-1887; William Goudy, 1887-1909; E. H. Childress, 1909-1943; T.O. Mathews, 1943-1985; Tom Mathews Jr., 1985 to present.

The paper comes out every Monday and Thursday.  The cost for a one year subscribtion for deliveries in:

• Wayne County  $43.00
• out of the county but in Illinois  $46.
• outside of Illinois  $49

To contact the PRESS, the snail-mail address (no!  no email!)