The Chatfield Democrat, the second newspaper to be published in the southeast region of Minnesota, debuted on October 1, 1856, but suspended publication later that same year. A second newspaper of the same name, founded by Constance C. Hemphill, published its first issue on September 11, 1857. Through its run the Democrat ordinarily published weekly with four pages and six to eight columns of content, with poetry, politics, and state and national news covered extensively.

As its name suggests, the Democrat aligned itself, at least at first, with the principles of the Democratic Party. However, the paper was notable while under Hemphill's leadership for the racist virulence it hurled against the Republican Party and for its devotion to political content to the exclusion of most other town interests. In an article in his first issue, entitled "Democrats of Fillmore County?," Hemphill insisted that only politically Democratic principles would ensure "permanent and sure success in the future" in the country, while "Black Republicanism" would usher in "misrule and fanaticism," using racial slurs referencing Republicans' stance against slavery. The Chatfield Republican, a competing newspaper printed by the political opposition in town, was also a frequent target of Hemphill's.