In 1896, Joseph L. Bristow, who later was elected U.S. senator, and Henry J. Allen, who later became an editor at the Wichita Beacon, Kansas governor, and U.S. senator decided to buy the weekly Evening Ottawa and turn it into a daily newspaper.

Harris was a farmer, banker and assistant postmaster in Franklin County.

Members of the Harris family continue in the newspaper business to this day.

The Harris Enterprises Inc. is a majority stockholder of the Ottawa Herald, other local newspapers, and small advertising agencies.

In November 2016, GateHouse Media announced it was purchasing the Herald and the other Harris newspapers.