Dr. Tolar, later a member of the Texas Legislature, took over in the dry months which produced the Drought of 1887. He spent much of his editorial time predicting rain, hoping for rain, insisting that it would surely rain, but his interest in journalism dried up with the crops.

The paper went into the custody of Attorney Henry Sayles. Sayles hired the local weatherman, Dr. Isaac M. Cline, later the weatherman at Galveston during its devastating flood, to edit about three editions while a sale was being arranged to John Hoeny Jr.

Hoeny, an experienced newspaper man from Weatherford, took over the paper in July 1888 and organized it into the Abilene Print Co. Under Hoeny's guidance, the paper made progress. It became the first to print classified advertisements in a column by themselves; Hoeny and Lowry hosted in 1891 area newsmen who formed an organization no known as the West Texas Press Association; and Hoeny employed in 1894 a young man from Roby, George S. Anderson, who became one of Abilene's leading businessmen, financiers, and philanthropists.

Anderson began acquiring interest in the newspaper and by 1900 was the owner.

He set about stabilizing the newspaper. He continued the involvement in local and area affairs and took strong stands on moral issues. A devoted Baptist churchman, he would put an end to rowdiness. He determined to close the saloons -- and voters did so in 1903.He was deeply involved in cultural and educational causes, a benefactor of local colleges and later of Hendrick Medical Center.

Early in the 20th century, Anderson persuaded a young man named M.B. Hanks to try his hand at newspapering.

(Abridged from Katharyn Duff's April 19, 1981 "The Story of a Prairie Newspaper" You can buy this book online from credit card-secured site shopARN.com.)