The paper began publication on October 3, 1904, as The Daily Republican.

May 14, 1869, d. 1956) and Fred Naeter (b. Jan. 8, 1874, d. Sept. 18, 1965) of St. Louis purchased a defunct paper of that name after visiting the town in September 1904 and revived it.

With the Southeast Missourian as its flagship publication, as of 2009, family-owned[7] Rust Communications had full or part ownership of 18 daily papers, 30 weekly papers, and 17 radio stations in eight states.

[8] The Southeast Missourian Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

[9] An earlier paper which went by the name Southeast Missourian was founded in 1895 by W.W. Wright in New Madrid, Missouri.