Name/Title
Democratic Advocate Newspaper 1865-1947Description
The Democratic Advocate was established at Westminster with the first issue appearing November 30, 1865 by William H. Davis, editor and publisher. Davis continued until February 15, 1866 when he sold to Joseph M. Parke. Davis again purchased the interests of the paper November 25, 1867. W.H. Vanderford succeeded Davis as editor and proprietor March 19, 1868. In March 1906, the Democratic Advocate Company was formed with Dr. J. Howell Billingslea as president and William H. Vanderford as editor. Paul Winchester succeeded Vanderford and W.J. Wilkinson followed the brief editorship of Winchester. Edward O. Diffendal was editor from 1906 to 1960 when Mrs. Virginia Minnick became managing editor. The last edition was printed on December 26, 1968. The paper was purchased by the Carroll County Times which produced an Advocate-Times edition until September 25, 1972.
