Richmond Democrat Archive

Colonel Thomas D. Bogie bought the Ray County Chronicle on April 5, 1879, and within a month, he had changed its name to the Richmond Democrat. Bogie published the paper to serve the citizens of the town of Richmond and Ray County, Missouri. The paper was decidedly Democratic in politics and had the reputation of being a family newspaper, presenting content that was considered suitable for both men and women. The Democrat was four pages in length and published weekly on Thursdays except in July-October 1887 when it was published on Fridays.

Bogie was editor and publisher until December 13, 1883, when the paper was purchased by Jim G. Anderson. In the December 20, 1883 edition, one entire column of press notices was devoted to the change in ownership and accolades were paid to both men. The Brunswick News stated: "Thomas D. Bogie has sold his Richmond "Democrat," one of the best pieces of newspaper property in the State, and temporarily retired from journalism. He will go west for the benefit of the health of his family, and the fraternity in Missouri will by his retirement, lose one of their best and most respected members. He is succeed by Jim G. Anderson, at one time proprietor of the Clarksville "Sentinel" who has returned from wild western scenes and mining adventures to resume his old relations to the newspaper brethren who honored him in times past and have always reserved a place in their affections or the genial Jim G. The "Democrat" will lose nothing in interest and ability by the change. Anderson belongs to a newspaper family, and has fully demonstrated his fitness for the work. The "Sentinel," under his management, was one of the best local papers in the state, and the same high standard of excellence will be attained for the "Democrat." Right cordially do we welcome him back into the ranks."

However, a few years later, Col. Bogie returned to Richmond to manage the Democrat. In his first edition as returning editor and publisher (April 21, 1887), Bogie declared that "With this issue I again resume control of the Democrat, after an absence of something over three years. I am somewhat broken in health, just now, but hope to soon regain my usual vigor. I am too well known to the readers of the paper to make it necessary to lay down any line of action I propose to pursue, as I shall commence about where I left off, and with a few exceptions pursue my old policy. I shall be more conservative than formerly and on a few questions perhaps not touch at all...."

Publication of the Richland Democrat ceased in 1906.