If you have any to add, please contact William Haloupek. See the Local Resources page for information on present-day local newspapers.

Note: There were many newspaper articles on the 1886 tornado. I have not transcribed these, because the subject is well covered. See, e. g., the article and links on Wikipedia and the video on YouTube.

NEWSPAPERS.—The first newspaper published in the State, outside of St. Paul and St. Anthony, was at this place [Sauk Rapids]. It was named the 'Sauk Rapids Frontiersman,' and started by Jeremiah Russell, in October, 1854, who took as associate editor, George W. Benedict. This paper was discontinued after a few years, and in its stead appeared 'The New Era,' edited by W. H. Wood and Mrs. Julia A. A. Wood. The 'Sauk Rapids Sentinel' was established by George W. Benedict in 1868, but in 1872, the material was sold and removed to St. Cloud, and on the 25th of March, 1873, the present 'Sauk Rapids Sentinel' came into existence, also under the proprietorship of Mr. Benedict. He continued the publication until December, 1875, when it passed into the hands of W. L. Nieman, the present proprietor. A. De Lacey Wood also conducted a paper here a short time, but removed to Breckenridge about 1879.

History of the upper Mississippi Valley (1881) p. 344

Note: Digital copies of the Sauk Rapids Frontierman (not Frontiersman) and The New Era can be viewed here.

There were three papers published in the territory soon after its organization. The first was the Pioneer*, issued on April twenty-eighth, 1849, under most discouraging circumstances. It was at first the intention of the witty and talented editor to have called his paper "The Epistle of St. Paul." About the same time there was issued, in Cincinnati, under the auspices of the late Dr. A. Randall, of California, the first number of the Register. The second number of the paper was printed at St. Paul, in July, and the office was on St. Anthony, between Washington and Market Streets. About the first of June, James Hughes, now of Hudson, Wisconsin, arrived with a press and materials, and established the Minnesota Chronicle. After an existence of a few weeks these papers were discontinued; and, in their place, was issued the "Chronicle and Register," edited by Nathaniel McLean and John P. Owens.

* The press used in printing the "Pioneer" is said to have been the first ever used north of Missouri, and west of the Mississippi. It was purchased in Cincinnati in 1836, and first used in printing the Dubuque Visitor, published by John King.

The history of Minnesota: from the earliest French explorations to the present times (1882) by Edward Duffield Neill pp. 508-9