State Journal Wrong Again

It is not entirely unusual that I disagree with an assessment by the State Journal. Here is another egregious error made in an article dated August 12, 1923.

"Boscobel is where the Gideons came into existence."

Granted, this may be where John H. Nicholson of Janesville first met S.E. Hill of Beloit on May 31, 1899, and declared to one another that they wanted to do something to get the Word of God available to more people.

However, it was not until July 1, 1899, that they met with W.J. Knight at the Janesville YMCA that they actually named their mission group as the 'Gideons'.

Contrary to the assertion of the State Journal, therefore, Janesville is actually the birthplace of the Gideons. I demand a retraction by the State Journal as soon as possible.

(H.T. Lance Burri's Wisconsin History sidebar.)