"The Leighton News was first established by Fred W. McCormack in 1890 as a small 5x8 sheet. It soon expanded to a traditional size but later suspended publication because the profit margin was too slim. No issues from that time were available for review. After a while, McCormack kept a promise to the people of Leighton and renewed publication of the News in 1894. Each issue was examined column by column with a view for capturing items of a genealogical interest such as reports of births, marriages, deaths, and obituaries. In addition, other clippings were transcribed having to do with the history of Colbert and Lawrence County, as well as the rest of the surrounding Tennessee Valley area."--Publisher's description

"The Cullman Democrat was established about 25 years after the first newspaper to publish in the town named for the famous German settler, John G. Cullman. While it came relatively late on the scene, its circulation soon grew to match that of the most successful Alabama weekly newspapers. The Democrat was first published by Major W.F. Palmer in June of 1901. Palmer sold the paper to R.L. and J.E. Griffin in 1902, but by the end of January of 1903, the paper was purchased by Joseph Robert Rosson. The Democrat remained in control of the Rosson family for man years after."--Publisher's description

Volume 1 also contains 57 chapters of Col. James E. Saunder's "Early Settlers of Lawrence County" which begins with the Indian days and guides the reader through the early history of Lawrence County up through the description of the men and actions of the 9th and 16th Alabama Infantry Regiments.

"The Cullman Democrat was established about 25 years after the first newspaper to publish in the town named for the famous German settler, John G. Cullman. While it came relatively late on the scene, its circulation soon grew to match that of the most successful Alabama weekly newspapers. The Democrat was first published by Major W.F. Palmer in June of 1901. Palmer sold the paper to R.L. and J.E. Griffin in 1902, but by the end of January of 1903, the paper was purchased by Joseph Robert Rosson. The Democrat remained in control of the Rosson family for man years after."--Publisher's description

Following the first book which covered the years 1886 to 1900, this book continues a comprehensive study of Winston County newspapers from 1901 and 1908. This book draws most of its source material from the New Era and the resurrected Winston Herald. Other clippings come from early Haleyville newspapers. Not many of these issues exist and come from the State Archives in Montgomery. Some of the issues represented are from the Haleyville Enterprise, the Square Deal, the Haleyville News, and the Winston County News. Also, clippings from the Jasper Mountain Eagle were reviewed for news items relevant to Winston County and were included in this volume. Particular attention was paid to capture births, deaths, and marriages, along with other important news items. Whole columns of area correspondents were transcribed and show much of the day to day life of the folks from Winston County. A full name index is provided. The early history of the turn of 20th Century Winston County is found within these pages.

Volume 1 also contains 57 chapters of Col. James E. Saunder's "Early Settlers of Lawrence County" which begins with the Indian days and guides the reader through the early history of Lawrence County up through the description of the men and actions of the 9th and 16th Alabama Infantry Regiments.

This book contains newspaper clippings from the earliest Winston County, Alabama newspapers available. The clippings were transcribed from microfilm and from original issues located in the State Archives in Montgomery. Papers include the old Winston Herald, the Herald's political adversary called the Observer, and the successor to the Herald called the New Era. All available issues were studied and all mentions of births, deaths, marriages, and news items important to the history of Winston County were recorded and included in this volume. The book begins with a long and comprehensive essay on the history of newspaper publishing in Winston County. It ends with a full name index. This book is valuable to any serious student of Winston County genealogy and history.