John "J. K." Knight Calkins

John Knight Calkins, Founder of The Herald, Died April 13 in California

News of the recent death of John Knight Calkins, founder of this newspaper, The Lusk Herald, first published May 20, 1886; passed away at his home in Tujunga, California, Saturday, April 13th.

Prominent in the early days of Wyoming, Calkins after leaving Lusk established and published newspapers in Casper, Lander and Cody, before going to California. Calkins came to Lusk and established The Herald about the time the railroad was being built into eastern Wyoming. After the boom subsided, in less than a year, Calkins sold his paper and plant to James E. Mayes, who was his typesetter.

Wyoming people were sorry to lose the Calkinses when they moved away from the state and the news of Mr. Calkins' death makes oldtimers realize once more that their ranks are thinning out and that they must stand closer together than ever before they are so few.

A Southern California newspaper has this to say about Mr. Calkins:

"Before making his home in California, Mr. Calkins was a newspaperman, having owned and edited newspapers in Fullerton, Nebraska and Lusk, Casper and Cody, Wyoming, Sine 1890 he had been interested in monetary reform; was a member and president of the Ruskin Co-Operative Association, Tennessee, and editor of their paper, "The Coming nation", during the years 1896-1897.

"He was an enthusiastic supporter of and worker in the Life Payment organizations since October 4, 1937, terming it 'the flower of the ages' as given to us by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster and other great statesman.

"Those to mourn his absence are his widow; grandson, Hugh I.Calkins; son, Ruskin R. Calkins; Mrs. Vivien Wilson, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who was at his bedside; Mrs. Ethel M. Easton of Lancaster, Pa., and Mrs. Z. A. Hurt, Mitchell, Nebr.

Christian Science funeral services were held at the Bade's Funeral Parlor, Thursday, April 16th, 1940.

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