July 20, 1864 – In one of his first acts as editor of The State Press – John P. Irish runs a copy of the latest editorial printed by his competition – The Iowa City Republican – which basically called Irish “no better than a snake that hisses at your feet.”

John P. Irish was an Iowa City newspaper editor, state legislator, and a member of the SUI Board of Trustees. John and Anna (above) were married on November 3, 1875 in Iowa City. That man pictured above looks pretty innocent, don’t you think? But don’t be fooled! In Iowa City – between 1864 and 1882 – John P. Irish – staunch Democrat and the owner/editor of The State Press – was known as the Black Knight.

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