Vandalia Free Press and Illinois Whig

City: Vandalia

County: Fayette

State: Illinois

In May 1836, William Hodge established the Free Press in Vandalia, Illinois. Hodge edited and published the paper as the Free Press until sometime between May and October 1837, when he changed the name to the Vandalia Free Press and Illinois Whig. Hodge remained editor until the fall of 1839, when publication was suspended for a time. James Kennaday purchased the paper sometime between 1839 and 1841, and continued its operation until 1843. As the name suggests, the paper was strongly associated with the Whig Party and Henry Clay.

History of Fayette County, Illinois (Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough, 1878), 40; Franklin William Scott, Newspapers and Periodicals of Illinois, 1814-1879 , vol. 6 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1910), 342.