Francis Charles Hodel purchased
The Cooktown Courier with William Pritchard Morgan in August 1876, and continued as proprietor until his death in 1896. He also owned
The Palmer Chronicle for a brief period in 1882 with his son,
Frederick, and
The Northern Standard in Townsville from October 1882 to January 1885 with sons Frederick and
Joseph. Hodel was a well-respected Cooktown identity, serving as alderman, and later mayor.
