ISHPEMING — George Newett is best known for being sued by Teddy Roosevelt, but he was so much more than just the libel suit.

Newett was born on October 8, 1856 near Janesville, Wisconsin. He moved to Ishpeming in the spring of 1873 and his father soon followed him to Ishpeming, establishing the Commercial Hotel.

In 1874 Newett started to work at the Iron Home, Ishpeming’s first newspaper and while at the newspaper, he learned the printing and publishing trades.

“In October 1879, Mr. Newett formed a partnership with another printer, John McCarthy and they founded the Iron Agitator, which later became the Iron Ore. Mr. McCarthy did not long remain a member of the firm and the entire business was taken over by Mr. Newett” (Iron Ore, June 2, 1928) Note: The newspaper that was founded was the Weekly Agitator, which then became the Iron Agitator and then the Iron Ore.

The first home for the newspaper was the second story of a frame building on the current site of Nicolet Bank. The paper then moved to the second floor of what is now the Odd Fellow’s building and then to a building on Division Street and finally early in the 20th century, Newett erected his own building on the corner of Division and Main streets, now a parking lot.

“During his younger days, when publication of his newspaper meant long hours of arduous work, he always managed to give generously of his time to civic matters. For years he was a member of the city fire department, giving that service when fighting fires brought many hardships because of inadequate equipment.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1928)

“As a young man he labored unceasingly to make his business a worthwhile factor in the community. He came here in the days when pioneering, even in publishing a newspaper, was the hardest kind of labor. It was common to see him stand at a type case or at the lever of the man-killing Worthington hand press all night in order that his patrons would be served.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1928)

Newett enjoyed sports whether participating in such activities as golf and baseball or as a spectator. He was a huge fan of skiing and was a founder of the National Ski Association of America. At the time of its founding in 1905, he was the only one who was American born and the only non-skier. But he had a love for the sport and promoted and developed skiing, especially ski-jumping. Each tournament had extensive coverage in the newspaper, which gave the sport its first prominence in an American newspaper. He became known as the man who Americanized the ski sport. For his efforts, he was elected to the National Ski Association’s Ski Hall of Fame in 1970.

The Iron Ore had a subscription base reaching far beyond the city limits of Ishpeming. For most of its publication, the first two pages of each issue were devoted to mining. He would give regular reports on area mines and also mines in other parts of the country.

“Mr. Newett long was recognized as one of the leading authorities on mining and it is doubtful whether any man possesses a better knowledge of iron ore formations in the upper peninsula. He also was ell-informed on copper mining and for years served on the board of directors of the Calumet and Arizona Mining company, which owns properties in Arizona.

There were few important mines or explorations of consequence upon which he was not well posted. He never was hesitant in denouncing what he considered to be a questionable mining deal and as a result of his efforts readers of his newspaper were informed of many unsound mining ventures.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1928)

“On several occasions during his career as editor or the Iron Ore, Mr. Newett investigated iron, copper, silver, gold, lead, zinc and other mineral properties. In addition to having a thorough knowledge of underground and surface workings of mining properties, he was a geologist of recognized ability. This knowledge served him well in the publication of his newspaper. When George Newett wrote a story about the physical condition of a mine’s ore reserves it usually was regarded as authentic by the best informed mining men of the country.” (Mining Journal, May 29, 1928)

Newett was a founding member of the Lake Superior Mining Institute and attended each annual meeting, reporting on it in his newspaper. He also published bound volumes of the proceedings of each meeting which included the minutes of the meetings, papers given, and activities during the meeting.

“He was one of Michigan’s most ardent advocates of the preservation of natural resources, particularly game, fish and forests and gave liberal space in his newspaper to the publication of news and editorials on the subject of conservation.” (Mining Journal, May 29, 1928.) He frequently used his editorial pages to advocate for closed hunting seasons when he thought the deer population was suffering.

“Nr. Newett was notably vigorous as an editorial writer, never mincing words. When he thought he was right, he never hesitated to let his readers know, in plain language, what his opinions were on important issues. He was admired for his fearlessness in expressing his views editorially in the Iron Ore. “ (Mining Journal, May 28, 1928) For Newett, the line between editorial writing and reporting the news was, at times, non-existent and many of his news pieces contained editorial comments.

Newett was a staunch Republican, which probably led to the infamous editorial in which he charged that Roosevelt was “addicted to liquor.” “The case, arousing international interest, resulted in a directed verdict for the plaintiff, who was awarded six cents damages.” (Mining Journal, May 29, 1928.) That six cents was ‘the price of a good newspaper.’

Newett served as postmaster in Ishpeming and also held the office of state mineral statistics. He was also appointed the supervisor of census for the Upper Peninsula.

Two of his sons, William and George Jr., were also part of the newspaper staff and gradually assumed leadership positions during the last few years of his life. The newspaper was part of the Newett family for 70 years, until it was sold in 1950.

“For more than three years, Mr. Newett suffered from diabetes and this, together with complications, brought about his death. He was, however, quite active until the early part of the past winter when he made his last trip to the business district of Ishpeming” (Iron Ore, June 2, 1928)

In his last years he went almost blind, but a delicate operation restored his sight. “In spite of this handicap and the fact that diabetes was wearing him down, Mr. Newett continued, until three weeks ago, to be a contributor to the editorial columns of his newspaper, which he published for 49 years.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1928)

Newett died at his home on May 26, 1928.