History of the McHenry Plaindealer Newspaper 1875-1985
The first issue of the McHenry Plaindealer was published on Aug 4, 1875. Jay Van Slyke was the paper's owner, publisher and editor for twenty-four years. Prior to establishing his newspaper, The McHenry Plaindealer, Jay Van Slyke had been the editor and business manager for the Woodstock Sentinel, from 1870 to 1875. The Plaindealer's circulation covered the areas of McHenry, Johnsburg, Ringwood, Volo, Spring Grove, Solon Mills, and Terra Cotta.
Jay Van Slyke sold the McHenry Plaindealer about 1898. He then went to Algonquin, McHenry Co., IL and started the Algonquin Citizen. The area was not large enough to support a newspaper, and shortly thereafter, Jay Van Slyke returned east. He passed away in Gouveneur, New York on September 23, 1906. The McHenry Plaindealer continued to thrive even after Jay Van Slyke sold it, under the following owners/publishers:
On October 4, 1967, the McHenry Plaindealer published its first semi-weekly issue. The McHenry Plaindealer became a division of the Northwest Herald in [1985].
Obituary indexes for the years 1949-1984 were printed in the following issues of the McHenry County Connection Quarterly:
MCIGS Connection Quarterly Issues, Volume, Issue No., Year
Microfilmed copies of the newspaper are available at the McHenry Public Library, 809 N. Front St. (Hwy 31), McHenry, IL 60050.
Jay Van Slyke sold the McHenry Plaindealer about 1898. He then went to Algonquin, McHenry Co., IL and started the Algonquin Citizen. The area was not large enough to support a newspaper, and shortly thereafter, Jay Van Slyke returned east. He passed away in Gouveneur, New York on September 23, 1906. The McHenry Plaindealer continued to thrive even after Jay Van Slyke sold it, under the following owners/publishers:
- James B. Perry, 1898-1906
- Mr. & Mrs. Frank G. Schreiner, Nov 1, 1906-1921
- Mr.& Mrs. Charles F. Renich, 1921-1947
- Mr. & Mrs. Howard Mosher, 1947-1949
- B. F. Shaw Printing Company, Sep 1, 1949-.
On October 4, 1967, the McHenry Plaindealer published its first semi-weekly issue. The McHenry Plaindealer became a division of the Northwest Herald in [1985].
Obituary indexes for the years 1949-1984 were printed in the following issues of the McHenry County Connection Quarterly:
MCIGS Connection Quarterly Issues, Volume, Issue No., Year
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1949-1954, XXIV 3 2006
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1955-1959, XXV 2 2007
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1960-1964, XXV 3 2007
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1965-66, XXVI 1 2008
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1967-1968, XXVI 2 2008
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1969 - 1972, XXVI 2 2008
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1973-1975, XXVI 3 2008
- Obituaries Listed in the McHenry Plaindealer 1976-1978, XXVI 4 2008
- Obituaries from McHenry Plaindealer 1979 - 1981, XXVII 1 2009
- Obituaries from McHenry Plaindealer 1982 - 1984, XXVII 2 2009
Microfilmed copies of the newspaper are available at the McHenry Public Library, 809 N. Front St. (Hwy 31), McHenry, IL 60050.