Early Gregg editor liked feuding, fussing
By Van Craddock
The Rev. J.L. Terry was a preacher-turned-publisher who founded one of Longview's earliest newspapers, the Texas New Era, in 1872. The ink-stained reverend was a tireless promoter of his adopted hometown, but not everybody appreciated his booster journalism. One opponent was the fiery Ed Ragland, editor of the Marshall Messenger in neighboring Harrison County. We'll have more on that bi-county feud in a minute.
James Littleton Terry was born in Dekalb County, Ga., in October 1831. He and wife Martha moved to East Texas by the 1860s, settling in Titus County with their children. Nine youngsters eventually were born to the couple. By 1866 the Terrys were living in Upshur County. Terry farmed and was a part-time preacher. In 1876 Rev. Terry served as an occasional pastor for Longview's Methodist Episcopal Church, which today is called First United Methodist Church. But journalism had long been in the preacher's blood. In September 1872, the Houston Daily Mercury noted, "J.L. Terry has taken editorial charge of the New Era and says in his salutatory: 'We wish to leave no doubts resting upon the minds of any as to the politics of this paper in the future, and take occasion to say, the Texas New Era is Democratic to the core.'" A month later, the Dallas Herald said: "We have received a copy of the Texas New Era, now published at Longview by J.L. Terry and son, Evans S. Terry. It makes a handsome appearance and is conducted with ability." However, Ed Ragland didn't have a very high opinion of the new Longview paper.
Ragland had butted heads with Terry while editing a rival local paper, the Longview Reporter. In June 1877, Ragland relocated to Harrison County and founded the Marshall Messenger. Ragland didn't mince words, accusing Terry of making a "malignant, lying, slanderous attack" on his character. In the Oct. 6, 1877, edition of the Messenger, he called Rev. Terry an "apostate Bible-slammer" who had established "a delectable little newspaper at Longview, bearing the name of New Era and filled with non-sensical slang and sophomoric balderdash, vilifying and transducing any who might arouse its wrath." Ragland then described Terry as having "a low, receding forehead, thick lips, rough features generally" that suggested "all that is low, mean and depraved." One reason Ragland disliked Terry was because the preacher was prone to rash statements. For example, in April 1877 Terry told readers that despite a building boom in Longview, "Still the cry is for more room É Longview is destined to be one of the most beautiful, if not the largest, city in Eastern Texas." That was quite a boast, considering that at the time Marshall was one of the bigger towns in Texas with some 5,000 residents. Little Longview had about 600 souls in 1877.
By the way, Ed Ragland had a second feud going at the time, this one against F.E. Sloan of the well-established Marshall Tri-Weekly Herald. In June 1877, the Galveston paper reported: "Sloan --armed with a whip and revolver, went to the Messenger office and attempted to cowhide Ragland, who was unarmed -- It is feared by friends that the trouble is not ended." Ragland also battled readers on occasion. In November 1881, the Marshall editor got into a fight with a fellow named Schmidt. The Dallas Daily Herald reported the incident: "Ed Ragland and one of the Schmidt family met in mortal combat this evening. Ragland, instigated by too much liquor, struck Schmidt tenderly. Schmidt returned the compliment by laying on a heavy blow with a large pair of iron shears on the head of Ragland." Both men were arrested and fined $5 plus court costs.
Ragland eventually sold the Marshall Messenger and left town, settling in Morris County. Rev. J.L. Terry's Texas New Era proved popular with Longview readers, serving Gregg County for a number of years. Terry died in June 1917 at age 86. He's buried in Longview's Greenwood Cemetery.