Jasper County, Iowa, has been especially honored in the character and career of her public and professional men, but in every community there are to be found, rising above their fellows, individuals born to leadership in the various vocations, men who dominate not alone by superior intelligence and natural endowment, but by natural force of character which minimizes discouragements and dares important undertakings. Such men are by no means rare and it is always profitable to study their lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as incentives to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of others just entering upon their first struggles with the world. These reflections are suggested by the career of Albert S. Macmillan, the able editor and publisher of the Newton Herald, a man who has forged his way to the front ranks in the exacting field of journalism, and who by a strong, inherent force, directed by intelligence and judgment of a high order, stands today among the representative citizens of a community widely noted for the excellence of its professional talent, although he has only recently cast his lot with the people of Jasper County.

Mr. Macmillan was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 19, 1853. He was educated at the high school in Waverly, Iowa, having come to that city when a boy arid there grew to manhood. Later he attended Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, from which historic institution he was graduated in the class of 1878.

Returning to Waverly, Iowa, well equipped for life's duties, he learned the newspaper business in the office of the Republican of that city, also the Waverly Independent.

He went to Verndale, Minnesota, in 1879 and started the Journal, which he continued to publish with success for a period of fourteen years, then moved his plant to Wadena, Minnesota, and continued the publication of the Journal there for four years.

He established the Motley Citizen in 1888, which he published for two years. He also published the Hubbard Bulletin in 1887.

He moved from Wadena to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1897 and there he resided for a period of ten years during which he conducted a job office and also conducted the Robbinsdale Park Progress (the latter town being a suburb of Minneapolis). This was in 1904 and he continued the publication of the same two years, then purchased the Enterprise at Barlow, North Dakota, in 1908, which he continued three years.

He came to Newton, Iowa, on April 1, 1911, and on October 1st of that year purchased the Newton Herald, of which he is now proprietor. He has increased the circulation of this paper, improved it in mechanical appearance and news and editorial efficiency, rendering it a valuable advertising medium. He is a careful, painstaking, progressive and persevering newspaper, man, who is eminently deserving of the high rank, which is accorded him by the newspaper fraternity of the north middle section of the United States where his efforts have been confined.

Mr. Macmillan has long taken an abiding interest in public affairs in the various communities where he has resided, his support having always been on the side of right as he saw and understood the right in all public matters. He was County superintendent of schools in Wadena County, Minnesota, for one term; he was president of the school board at Verndale, Minnesota, for six years. He was speaker's clerk in the House of Representatives of that state in 1889. He was postmaster at Verndale, Minnesota, and at Barlow, North Dakota. As a public servant he performed his duties in an able and conscientious manner, always to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Religiously, he was one of the first members of the Congregational church at Verndale.

Mr. Macmillan has been employed in the job offices of the Faithorn Printing Company and Donnelly & Sons, of Chicago; the Pioneer Press Company, of St. Paul, and Miller & Davis, of Minneapolis.

Mr. Macmillan was married in 1882 to Eliza Dougherty, daughter of a highly esteemed family of Waverly, Iowa, and a lady of many praiseworthy characteristics. This union has been graced by the birth of three children, namely: Ethel, who was graduated from the University of Minnesota, and is now teacher of English in the high school at Rochester, Minnesota, having formerly been principal and teacher of English of the high school at Sauk Center, that state, for a period of three years; the two sons, Edward D. and Ralph A., are assisting Mr. Macmillan in the publication of the Newton Herald, each giving promise of bright future careers.

Personally, Mr. Macmillan is a genial and companionable, well-educated, public-spirited and honorable gentleman, whom to know is to respect and admire.