Clarence W. Barron (1855 - 1928)

Clarence W. Barron was one of the most influential figures in the history of Dow Jones & Company. Barron was born July 2, 1855, in Boston, and graduated from Boston’s Prescott Grammar English School and Graduate English High School in 1873.

He married Jessie M. Waldron in 1900 and adopted her daughters Jane and Martha.

Clarence Barron worked at a number of Boston newspaper, including the Boston Daily News and the Boston Evening Transcript. From 1878 to 1887, he was a reporter covering many beats but then began gravitating toward financial reporting.

In 1887, he founded the Boston News Bureau and in 1897 the Philadelphia News Bureau providing financial news to brokers.

In 1893 he wrote his first book, The Boston Stock Exchange.

In March 1903, after founder Charles Dow Jones died, Barron purchased Dow Jones & Company for $130,000. At that time the paper’s circulation had already reached 7000; by the end of 1920 it reached 18,750. In 1912, he assumed the title of president and set out to expand the circulation of the newspaper.

Dow Jones remained an influential and prosperous entity during the early years of the twenty-first century.

Barron is widely considered the father of American financial journalism.
Clarence W. Barron (1855 - 1928)

Edward Jones (7 October 1856 – 16 February 1920) of Wall Street Journal

In 1880, Charles Dow arrived in New York, having spent his career until that time as reporter. While working for the Kiernan News Agency, Dow met Edward Jones. In 1882, the two men formed Dow Jones & Company located in the back room of a soda fountain in a small basement office at 15 Wall Street in New York.

Edward Jones then converted Customers’ Afternoon Letter into The Wall Street Journal which was first published in year 1889.

Customers Afternoon Letter actually first published in year 1883 before conversion. The first paper of The Wall Street Journal was published in July 8, 1889.

As the Wall Street Journal became more and more successful, Edward Jones, who was in charge of advertising, filled the front page with ads.
Edward Jones (7 October 1856 – 16 February 1920) of Wall Street Journal