In July 1889, a group of Republicans in
Pocatello, Idaho founded a periodical called
The Idaho Republican. It was managed by P.E. McCleliand. In July 1890, W.C.B. Allen sold
the Republican to a stock company, who renamed it to the
Pocatello Tribune. The paper was then affiliated with the
Independent Anti-Mormon Party of Oneida County. George A. Robethan of Blackfoot, and Rep. Frank C. Ramsey of Cassia County became the proprietors in April 1891. Robethan left at some point and Ramsey sold the paper to C.E. Arney in January 1892. A fire destroyed the printing plant in July 1892. The paper ceased and was revived in August 1892 by F.W. Eldridge, co-owner of the
Montpelier Observer. Arney stayed on as editor. Arney severed his ties to the
Tribune that December, and it was purchased by George N. Ifft, William Wallin and C.H. Fernstermaker, of Salt Lake City. The Ifft family went on to operate the paper for three generations. Ira H. Masters, who previously owned the
Provo Herald and
Twin Falls Times, acquired the
Journal from Brown in March 1927. At some point
Tribune co-owner Fernstermaker sold out. Masters sold the
Journal to Arthur N. Suverkrup in September 1931. However, the mortgage was foreclosed and the business was sold at public auction. Masters was the only bidder and reacquired the paper for $22,000. He sold it again in November 1932 to the owners of the
Tribune. The
Tribune carried on as an evening paper and
Journal as a morning paper, with the Sunday edition called the
Tribune-Journal. Due to paper shortages amid
World War II, the
Journal was suspended in October 1942. Cady sold his interest to Col.
Millard Preston Goodfellow in August 1947 and joined Nicholas Ifft as co-owner. The paper's morning edition was revived in May 1948. A year later Nicholas Ifft bought out Goodfellow and in September 1949 acquired a rival paper called the
Pocatello Post. The
Tribune and
Post were then merged to form the
Idaho State Journal. At that time a half-interest in the business called Tribune Journal Company was sold to Western Publishing Company, which was co-owned by Robert S. Howard, publisher of the
Dalles Chronicle, and
Scripps League Newspapers. Howard served as publisher until he disposed of his interests in the joint venture in November 1955 so he could focus on establishing his own chain called
Howard Publications. He was succeeded as publisher by Hugh Wagnon, followed by G. Nicholas Ifft III in December 1965, and Alvin H. Ricken in January 1966.
Pioneer News Group split off from Scripps in December 1975 and acquired the company's stake in the
Journal. G. Nicholas Ifft III retired from the
Journal in May 1984 and sold his family's stake in the paper to Pioneer. Three decades later, Pioneer sold its papers to
Adams Publishing Group in 2017. ==See also==