1, on May 27, 1881, Durant listed the paper's goals: "It will stand aloof from personalities, petty neighborhood difficulties, and unauthorized gossip.
Its course will be directed with eye single to the dignified position which journalism should occupy, and in the general interests of the valley and surrounding region.
Soon after Pliney took over, John F. Dewey became owner and publisher and, shortly after that, the reins were passed on to Albert L. Hall, who in 1899 changed the name of the paper to the St. Charles Chronicle.
Hall's desire for bigger and better things had him starting the Elgin Daily Courier in 1903, and he sold the paper to his sister-in-law, Lina Paschal, which began a family tradition in town.
In 1966, the Chronicle moved to east Main Street, leaving its old presses downtown and contracting with an offset printing company.