Two of Wisconsin's last locally and family-owned newspapers bought by a publishing group

Two of Wisconsin's last locally and family-owned newspaper companies have been purchased by a Minnesota publishing group. 

The Watertown Daily Times and the Daily Jefferson County Union were bought by Adams Publishing Group. The deal was announced in a news release Tuesday. The prices of the sales were not disclosed.

The family publishers had, until now, bucked the trend of many news outlets across the country that have been bought by larger, national operations in recent years.

The Watertown Daily Times has been locally owned for its entire 123-year history. The Clifford Family has owned the newspaper for the past 99 years. The company also publishes the Dodge County Independent News of Juneau.

The Daily Union, based in Fort Atkinson, and its affiliated Hometown News Limited Partnership publish 13 community newspapers across six counties in southern Wisconsin. The company is owned by the Knox family. The Daily Union was founded in 1870.

James M. Clifford, president of the Watertown Daily Times, said in a news release that the new ownership will bring the newspaper and its 20,000 readers, "the latest in technology, efficiencies in purchasing, a broader group of professional leaders to help us to offer the very best newspaper possible."

Clifford's son, Kevin, serves as the editor and publisher of the Watertown Daily Times. He will continue as an employee. 

Daily Union Publisher Brian Knox said in a news release that constantly evolving technology and escalating newsprint prices strained the business. Daily Union and Hometown News General Manager Robb Grindstaff will continue to work with the newspapers. 

Adams Publishing Group, based in Minneapolis, already owned seven publications in Wisconsin, including the Leader-Telegram in Eau Claire, according to the company website. Adams Publishing Group has more than 30 daily newspapers and more than 100 non-daily publications in 20 states. 

The family company also is involved in billboard advertising, radio, wine and recreation vehicles, the news release said.

Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Be MKE at jsonline.com/bemke.