Biography - Mr. Boulton
BOULTON & CORNELIUS. The enterprising firm composed of the two gentlemen as given above conducts with marked ability the crisp and newsy sheet known as the daily Herald. This is also supplemented by an issue called the weekly Herald. Under various managements the paper is one of the oldest established in the county, but under its new proprietorship it was re-christened with its present name.
In March, 1888, Mr. Boulton purchased the plant and good-will of the sheet before issued. He edited it alone until 1890, when he associated with himself Mr. W. S. Parrott, of the Raymond Leader, and the two papers were consolidated. The first issue of the daily dates from April 28, 1890. It is a seven-column quarto page and so ably is it edited that it meets with a flattering degree of success in circulation, both locally and throughout the county. Mr. Parrott was succeeded in the associate editorship by Mr. Cornelius, who began work upon the paper January 1, 1891. Under the combined efforts of the present firm, the local and agricultural interests have little more to desire in the way of news. Its editorials are timely and well considered, while all the local items are reproduced with care and exactitude. The weekly paper is an eight-column quarto, also having a good circulation both in Montgomery and Macoupin Counties.
Mr. Boulton, the senior editor of the Herald, is a native of Boone County, Mo., where he was born June 29, 1854. He is a son of Jesse A. and Clara D. (Perrine) Boulton, both of Mason County, Ky. The former was born in 1817 and was, during the greater part of his life, engaged as a farmer. Their marriage took place in Kentucky, whence they removed to Missouri. They continued their agricultural interests there until removing to Virden, Ill., where Mr. Boulton still lives. He is a man who has always commanded the respect of his associates and fellow-citizens. While in Missouri, he held the office of County Judge, and that State continued to be his home until 1891. He and his wife, who still survives, have reared four sons and one daughter, also another child by a former marriage. The children are as follows: Mrs. J. H. Darneille, the eldest, of Chatham, Ill.; Walter E., Payne A. and John W. The half-sister mentioned is now Mrs. Monroe Bateman, of Columbia, Mo.
Our subject received his education in his native State and finished at the State University of Missouri, where he earned the degree of L. B. in the Class of '77. Three years later, he added to his diploma the degree of M. L. Thereafter for some time he was engaged in teaching in the public schools in Boone County, Mo., and was also in the Christian University at Canton, Mo. He finally located at Hannibal, Mo., and remained there until June 1, 1887, when he became editor and proprietor of the Hannibal daily and weekly Journal. At the date above mentioned, he disposed of his interests in the Journal and purchased a one-half interest in the Troy (Mo.) News, which was consolidated with the Free Press in January of 1888. He sold out his interest the following August, and two months later came to Litchfield and associated himself as above narrated. Besides his journalistic interests, he is also a stockholder in the Litchfield Thresher Company. While in Missouri, he was several times a delegate to the State Democratic conventions and took an active part in politics. Socially, Mr. Boulton belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his church relations he is a member of the Christian organization.
Extracted 04 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 184-185.
