[3] The late John Mahin played the most significant role in the newspaper's early history and headed the Journal for more than a half-century.

With them came their youngest son, Alfred, to take a position in the Muscatine post office under John Mahin, who was the postmaster as well as the newspaper editor.

Lee and his associates purchased the Muscatine Journal in 1903, when John Mahin had reached the age of 70 years and was ready for retirement.

Walter Lane was named as the Journal's publisher when the Lee group assumed control and served until death, in 1907.

That remodeling was made to accommodate a new Goss Community offset press, and coincided with the Journal's conversion to cold type composition.