Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
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HARRY SANFORD JEWELL. The name of Harry Sanford Jewell is well known in newspaperdom in Missouri for he has long been the motive force behind the Springfield Daily Leader, one of the leading Democratic newspapers of the state and one of the best known papers of the Southwest—an organ that has done much for the upbuilding of the Queen City and the entire Ozark region.
Mr. Jewell was born in Wyandotte, Kansas, August 11, 1867. He is a son of the late J. B. Jewell, a well-remembered publisher, who was engaged in the newspaper business in Missouri for a period of forty years. He was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, having been ordained in 1869, and engaged in regular work as pastor of various churches from that year until 1880, in which year he retired from the ministry and resumed his newspaper career, purchasing The Democrat at Carrollton, Missouri, of which he was owner and editor from that year until 1893. Removing from Carrollton to Springfield in 1895, he became editor of the Springfield Leader-Democrat, the latter part of the name being later dropped. He was connected With the Leader for many years, also had other interests in this city. His death occurred March 23, 1907. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and held the highest honor, grand master of Missouri, during the year 1892, also served as grand patriarch of the Encampment branch. He established the Triple Link, the official paper of the order, in 1875 and was editor and publisher until his death. He also represented the order at various meetings of the sovereign grand lodge of America. His widow still lives at the old homestead here.
Harry S. Jewell, was nine years old when the family located at Carrollton Missouri. There he received a public school education, and learned the newspaper business under his father, associating with him in business in the publication of The Democrat of that city in 1888. He removed to Springfield in 1893 and became business manager of the old Springfield Democrat, a morning daily paper, which was purchased by The Leader in May, 1895, and he has ever since been connected with the paper of which he is now owner and publisher. He is also owner and publisher of The Ozark Countryman, a monthly farm journal. He is president of the Springfield Paper Supply Company. He built and still owns the Jefferson Theatre in Springfield, a popular vaudeville house. The Leader occupies its own substantial two-story brick building, which is equipped with modern presses, type-setting machines etc., being one of the best plants of its size in the Southwest, and a large force is employed here.
Mr. Jewell was married in 1889, in Carrollton, to Abba T. Kelly, a daughter of the late William H. Kelly, of Carrollton, Missouri. She was born at Strathroy, Canada, and moved with her parents to Carrollton, this state, in 1870, and was there educated in the public schools and in a convent of Independence, Missouri.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jewell—John, now twenty-three years of age, was educated in the local schools and at this writing is attending the school of journalism at the State University at Columbia, Missouri; Marguerite, now sixteen years of age, is a student in Drury College.
Politically, Mr. Jewell is a Democrat and while he has never sought political leadership has been a loyal defender of the party's principles through his newspaper. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Travelers' Protective Association. He also belongs to the Springfield Club, the James River Club and the Country Club.
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