The Forney Messenger

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Forney Messenger, right there in Kaufman County. Now, some stories start with a bang: a gunfight, a flood, a fortune made overnight. This one starts with ink.

And honestly? That might be the more lasting kind of story. M.

J. Cox founded the Forney Messenger in 1896, and on April 16 of that year, the very first issue rolled off the press. Think about what was in it: a personal column, school news, a local church directory, and news from the surrounding communities.

Nothing earth-shattering on the surface. But here's the thing about a newspaper; it's not any one issue that matters. It's the fact that it keeps coming back.

Week after week, year after year. Now, 1919 brought a chapter that could've been the end of the story. The Messenger merged with the Forney News, and for a spell it went by the name the Forney News and Messenger.

Two years it wore that combined name. Then 1921 came along, and quiet as you please, it went back to being the Forney Messenger. Just like that.

For many years (and we're talking about a paper that was already pushing decades by then), the Messenger kept right on providing residents of Forney and the surrounding area with news of local interest. This marker was recognized as part of the Texas Sesquicentennial, marking one hundred and fifty years from 1836 to 1986. And the Forney Messenger was still standing.

The oldest newspaper in continuous operation in Forney. Not the loudest story. Just the one that never stopped being told.

What the marker says

The Forney Messenger is the oldest newspaper in continuous operation in Forney. Founded in 1896 by M. J. Cox, the first issue was printed on April 16 and contained a personal column, school news, a local church directory, and news from surrounding communities. In 1919 the Messenger was merged with the Forney News and was known as the Forney News and Messenger until 1921, when it again became the Forney Messenger. For many years the Messenger has provided residents of Forney and the surrounding area with news of local interest. Texas Sesquicentennial, 1836 - 1986