HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 547 E. Strange, that first member of the profes- sion in this part of the state until this pres- ent time, there have always been men whose lives and work have adorned the profession of letters. Whitcomb and Martin, of Charles- ton, McGuire and Kies, of Jackson, Ake of fronton, Fisher of Farmington, Bell and Deg- gendorf, of Potosi, Allen of New Madrid, Caruthers of Kennett, Roussin and Holmes, of .Piedmont, Flynn of Cape Girardeau, Wat- kins and Stokes, of Dexter, Mitchim of De- Soto, MeMullin of Hillsboro, Ernst and Janis, of Ste. Genevieve, among the older men have been distinguished for ability, long service and great usefulness. Other men have contributed to the total of journalistic use- fulness in great measi;re also. The younger men of this day are pressing the work and advancing the profession to greater influence. Some of the most powerful and successful papers are now in the hands of men who have not been long connected with the profession in this part of the state. It remains to be said that it is a matter of deep regret that there is not to be found com- plete files of all these papers. They contain much of the history of the times. Out of them must be dug much of that intimate acquain- tance with the course of events and lives of men which makes the story of a co^mtry's progress real and vital.
