It was originally published under the title, the Union County Republican. The first volume of that newspaper still survives in private hands and was put on display at the history exhibit during the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Beresford, South Dakota in July 2009.
The first issue of that newspaper was published on August 2, 1894. H. A. Sturges was reported to have owned the newspaper for twenty-seven years.