Webr. State Historical Society
be
lattsmoutfe Joucna
VOL. NO. xivn
PLATTSMOUTH. NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1931.
NO. 16
I.
Omaha Youth
Shot Here Dur
ing a Brawl
Paul Leihy. 19. Is at University Hos
pital Dangerously Wounded as
Result of Brawl
From Monday's raII-
Paul Leihy. 19, 1823 Capitol ave
nue. Omaha, is at the University hos
pital in that city seriously if not
fatally wounded as the result of a
brawl at the residence property oT
George Rennie. in this city at 5 a. m.
today.
This young man. with Jack Brown.
23. Clearmont hotel. Mike DeSavti.
laundry company employe and Wea
ver Burton, former resident here.
ame down from Omaha last night
and visited the residence of Mr. Ren
nie. who was not at home at the
time. One of the members of the
party had been a frequent visitor at
the Rennie home and had a key to.
the house and accordingly the quar
tet entered the house and according
to the statements of the members of
the party, made merry with some li
quor that they had brought with
them.
This morning as the party wa
waxing strong, according to Leihy.
an argument arose and while he was
not able to give the authorities a
very clear idea of the facts of the
case, he was shot in the abdomen,
the weapon used being a forty-five
revolver belonging to Mr. Rennie and
which had been left lying around th
house where it was found by Brown
who it is charged fired the shot that
wounded Leihy while the whole par
ty was wrestling and milling around
t he room.
Mr. Rennie was not at home dur
ing the night, having secured a roor
at the Hotel Riley and was there
when notified by police this morn
ing of the shooting at his home, and
denied any knowledge of the party
that his friends had staged at the
house.
The officers on visiting the Rennie
home found a jug of whisky which
was claimed by one of the Omaha
men as his possession.
The stories of the men involved
in the affair varies as Mike DeSavti.
states that he was sitting in a Ham
burger place near the Clearmont this
morning about 4 o'clock when
Brown, Leihy and Burton came in
and they had been invited over to
the Clearmont by Brown to do a
little singing, all four being well lit
up. that on reaching there the strains
of music was too strong and the clerk
in charge had ordered them to leave
Burton had then said. "I know a
good place at Plattsmouth where you
can have a lot of fun." DeSavti had
then told them that he had some
whisky ditched near 19th and Mason
street and they had gone there, se
cured the whisky and started for
Plattsmouth. Burton had a key to
the Rennie house and as they came
there DeSavti had let the others go
in first. They had not been in the
house more than five minutes when
the shooting took place but the first
he knew of te ma"er was when he
heard Leihy say, "you have a lot of
crust to shoot me," as he lay on
the floor.
Brown, whom it seems was at the J
Rennie home on St. Patrick's day
night, also, says that he had gotten
th' gun off the bed of Rennie and
was showing it to Leihy when it
was discharged. He stated this
morning as he was being taken to
Omaha for further questioning at the
Central police headquarters that
"Leihy was my best pal." DeSavti
states that Brown had told Burton
to go and get a specialist for the
wounded man and apparently Burton
is still on the hunt for the specialist.
It is thought by the officers that
the trouble arose over a dispute over
cards or dice and which led to the
shooting and in view of this the men
were being questioned by Omaha de
tectives. Rennie claims to have gone to the
hotel at 11 o'clock last night and
to have been there for the rest of
the night, hotel employes support
ing his statement as to his time of
registering and going to his room.
The young man. Burton, member
of the Omaha party, made his escape
from the scene of the shooting as
soon as the affair took place, driv
ing away in the car of Leihy, while
the others remained to await the ar
rival of aid for Leihy and they wer"
then placed in jail and held for ques
tioning. MRS. GOCHENOUR AT HOSPITAL
Mrs. Harry Goucenour of this
citv is at the University hospital
where she has been for the past week
taking treatment for gall stones. The
patient has been at Omaha for a
week and Mr. Gouehcnour was at
Omaha Saturday to visit with the
wife. It has not been fully deter
mined whether an operation will be
necessary or not.
W. G. CLYDE. RETIRED
STEEL MAGNATE, DIES
Pittsburgh. March 23. William
G. Clyde. 62, former president of the
Carnegie Steel Co., died Monday.
HAS CASE STOLEN
Dr. O. C.
osteopath of
Hudson, well known
this city, was the Vic
's Saturday nitrht some-
tim of robbe
time when t
bey entered his garage
at the Hero!
d apartments aim pro
n the door of his coupe
case of instruments and
he kept with him Cor
lis. The matter was re-
ceeded to opt
and purloin a
articles that
emergency ca
ported to th
e authorities who are
investigating
have the m
rated.
the case and hope to
issing instruments lo-
Manley Store
Has Visit from
Burglars Sunday
General Store of Theodore Harms
Suffers Loss of Overalls. Shoes,
and Cigarettes
From Mondar'j ra:iy
Some time last night burglars
visited the general store of Theo
dore Harms at Manley and made
away with a large amount of cloth
ing shoes ami cigarettes which form
ed a pa-: of the stock of the store.
The entrance to the building was
gained by prying open doors in the
rear part of the building, the locks
being forced off the doors and allow
ing the parties to get into the main
part of the store.
The loss as far as could be ascer
tained by the owner and employes a'
the store this morning was confine, i
to the clothing, mostly overalls, as
well as a number of pairs of shoes
and a large quantity of cigarettes
taken.
No trace of the robbers could be
found and it is thought that they
made their getaway before the rain
fall as no tracks could be found in the
vicinity of the store.
The value of the goods taken could
not be learned as Hr. Harms had not
completed a check of the stock this
morning.
ATTENDS OMAHA WEDDING
From Monday's Daily
The marriage of Miss Ruth Kap
lan of Omaha to Mr. Nathan Turner
of Macon, Georgia, occurred last
evening at the ball room of the Hotel
Paxton in Omaha, the ceremony be
ing witnessed by some three hun
dred gues:-.
The ball room was very hand
somely arranged for the occasion and
the wedding ceremony was perform
ed by Rabbi David A. Golstein of the
Conservative synagogue officiating.
Following the wedding a reception
and dance was held for the young
people at the hotel and the member.
of the party served a very delicious
wedding luncheon.
The bridal couple will make their
home at Bainbridge. Georgia, in the
future, where the groom is located
in business.
The brid' is a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Sam Kaplan, well known
Omaha residents, and very popular
In the social life of that city. She
is a graduate of Central high school.
Mr. Turner is a graduate of the
Georgia School of Technology.
Among those attending the wed
ding were Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Bates
and Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Busch of this
city.
AR RANTS IN TROUBLE
S. H. Ar-ants, 61. pleaded guilty
in court at Denver, Saturday, to at
tempting a confidence game and was j
given a sentence ot two to tnree years
in prison. Arrants was accused of
attempting to obtain one thousand
dollars from L. S. Loomer, York. Ne
braska, rancher, by posing as Loom
er's son.
Loomer received a telegram from
Denver several months ago, which
asked for one thousand dollars with
which to buy cattle. It was signed
"Carl Loomer." Loomer's son, Earl,
happened to be near home at the time
the telegram was received. Arrants
was arrested when he called for a re
turn telegram. He had been a farm
hand in the vicinity of York.
Arrants was a resident near Cedar
Creek for a number of years, and was
convicted in Cass county of selling
mortgaged property but was later pa
roled. NORMAL TFAINERS TO TEACH
Arrangements have been made by
Miss Pearl Staats with County Sup
erintendent .Alpha Peterson of the
county schools, whereby the mem
bers of the normal training class at
the high school will get a week cf
practice teaching beginning next
Monday. Normal Training students
are not allowed to go out for the
practice week until they have com
pleted at least nine of the teachers
examinations. Six students of the de
partment hav completed nine or
more and rave been assigned schools.
They are as follows: Theresia Bier!.
District 41; Lucille Albert, the Bec
ker school; V'elma Fulton, District
2; Marie Lutz,; Carlyne Thomas
Dorothy Waster District 3. The
other seven members of the class.
Kathryn Stava, (Ed Howard, yen
Hughes. Dorothy Hirz. Kathryn Hirz.
Vivian Moore and Lotetta Taylor,
will visit rural schools on Monday
and Tuesday.
Debaters Win
District Title
at Tournament
Three Victories at Fremont Give
Platters Right to Argue for
State Championship
By defeating Snyder, -lair and
Valley In three successive debates in
the district debate tournament held
at Fnmoiit last Saturday, the Platts
mouth high school debate team
coached by Mr. G. K. Kvasnicka and
composed of Madge Garnet. Ed Wehr
bein. Robert Bestor and John Becker,
won the district championship and
with it the right to represent the
district in the state tournament to
be held in Lincoln the last of April.
The local team was clearly the out
standing team of the four present
in delivery and presentation and won
the compliments of the judges for
their extemporaneous style of debat
ing as compared to some of the other
speakers who were inclined to read
their remarks. The subject debate 1
was: "Resolved that the nations of
the world should disarm."
Plattsmouth drew the negative
against Snyder and it was clear that
they had their opponents outclassed.
The local team had previously de
feated Snyder in the Midland College
tournament. The locals took the af
firmative side of the case against
Blair and a spirited argument was
the result but Plattsmouth"s super
iority in delivery was again outstand
ing. Fifteen minutes later, the
Plattsmouth speakers took the same
side of the question against Valley
which proved to be the hardest de
bate of the three. The arguments
were exceedingly close and both
teams somewhat tired from the pre
vious matches but again the superior
ity of the Plattsmouth speakers in
extemporaneous delivery was the de
ciding factor.
Blair placed second by defeating
Valley and Snyder and Valley third
with a lone victory over Snyder.
Judges for the debates were: Mr. J.
A. Nelson, coach of debate at Fre
mont high school. Prof. Lightner
Swan. English department of Mid
land College and Minnie Nelson and
Kenneth Burkholder. Midland college
debaters.
The Plattsmouth team was rated
as a championship contender due to
the record made during the year
when victories were chalked up
against the other three schools in
previous contests. Though Madge
Garnet was handicapped by a sorr
throat, she added to her reputation
as a keen, quick-thinking, extempor
aneous speaker. Ed Wehrbein was
complimented by the Judges for his
easy, conversational and impressive
manner of delivery. Robert Bestor
debated on the negative side of the
question and his effective deliverv
and argument did much to win the
victory over Snyder. John Becker
took Robert's place on the affirmative
and alth without as much experience
as the other three, went through two
hard contests in a most commendable
manner. The fact that Robert is the
only speaker lost by graduation,
gives great promise for prospects for
another year. The team finished the
season with six victories and one de
feat at the hands of Creighton Prep.
Mr. Kvasincka, the coach deserves
to be highly complimented upon the
record which the team has made. The
championship is the result of hard
work begun last fall and both Mr.
Kvasnicka and the debaters are en
thusiastic over the possibility of par
ticipating in the state tournament at
Lincoln.
Principal R. F. Patterson, who also
accompanied the team, and who
coached debate for three years prior
to this, complimented this years team
with the statement that it was the
best team Plattsmouth had produced
for the past four years.
The interest of the public and the
school will follow the dehators and
their coach to the state tournament
where they will have the best wishes
of the entire community.
CARS HAVE SMASHUP
From Monday's Daly
Last evening a Chevrolet sedan be
longing to Harry Knight, of Union,
and a Star coupe, driven by a young
man named Lti"d, of this city, crash
ed headon into each other on Lincoln
avenue, the result being that the cars
were reduced to a mass of wreckage,
but fortunately the occupants of the
cars were not seriously injured. The
Knight car was coming north into the
city and when near the Bach store
the car of Lund appeared on the
scene coming south and it is claimed
by the occupants of the Knight car
that the driver was apparently un
able to keep a straight track with the
car and crashed into their machine.
After the accident Lund was placed
under arrest by police officers and
lodged in jail to await the filing of
charges of driving a car while in
toxicated. On being arraigned this morning
on the charge of operating a car
while intoxicated Lester Lund enter
ed a plea of guilty and agreed to have
the car of Knight fixed up and was
accordingly given a fine of $25 and
costs for the offense and also had
his drivers license taken away for a
year.
NUMBER ATTEND FUNERAL
From Wednesday's La!ly
A number ol the Plattsmouth peo
ple, o'd time friends of Hon. Charles
E. Noyes. were la attendance at the
funeral of Mr. Noyes this afternoon
which was held a' the Methodist
church at Louisville of which Mr.
Noyes was a long time mem her.
Among those going were County
Commissioner George L. Farley.
County Clerk l.eorge R. Sayles, E. H.
VVeseott and several others. The
holding of the Leihy inquest this af
rernoon prev?nted a number of tli
other county officials from being Iv.
attendance at the perries.
Cass County
Loses Loved and
Honored Man
Hen. Charles E. Noyes, Honored
Figure in Cass County Passed
to His Final Reward.
Hon. Charles E. N':yes. died at his
farm home near Louisville on Mon
day afternoon at 4 o'clock after a
week's illness with flu. Mr. Xoyes
had been at the M. E. hospital in
Omaha for a number of weeks for an
other ailment but was thought to be
doing nicely. It was thought that his
improvement had been such that he
would soon be able to be around and
attend his church, one of his dear
est duties and responsibilities, but his
call was made very suddenly and
came as a great shock to the many
friends.
Mr. Noyes was sixty-four years of
age and a native of Illinois and has
made his home in Louisville since he
was an infant of a year old.
Mr. Noyes was a member of the
state legislature in the session of
1907-1909 and has for the past sev
eral years been chairman of the re
publican county central committee.
and while strong in his political
views was an honest and fair op
ponent and had the respect and es
teem of all who had the pleasure of
knowing him.
Mr. Noyes is survived by his wife
and two brothers, Einier, of Robert
son. Texas, and J. F yes of Louis
ville. Weaver Burton
Tells Story of
Leihy Shooting
Accidental Sax Former Plattsmouth
Boy Brown Showing Revolver,
Accident )y Discharged
From Tuesday's Patty
Weaver Button, 2505 Bancroft
street. Omaha, former Plattsmouth
youth, who figured in the shooting
here early Monday morning of Paul
Leihy of Omaha, at the residence of
George Rennie. was taken into cus
tody Monday afternoon at Omaha by
Detectives Keane and Godeck, and
held for questioning.
The story of the shooting as toll
by Burton sou.'.ds the most plausible
of any and bears out the story told
by other members of the party a?
the shooting being accidental.
Burton, according to the story of
the other members of the ill fated
party at the Rennie house, had se
cured the car of Leihy to go and find
medical aid and had failed to return
and this had caused the authorities
to seek to round him up and have
him questioned.
According to the former Platts
mouth youth and long time com
panion of Rennie. the party had all
met at the Claremont hotel in Omaha
and there the Plattsmouth trip had
been planned, they all getting in the
Leihy car and starting for this city,
reaching here to fine Rennie not at
home but the party being friends
had gone on into the house were
Rennie maintained bachelor Quar
ters, "I want to show you a swell gun
Rennie has," said Brown, according
to Burton, and he brought out a
pearl-handled, gold-decorated revol
ver. Suddenly the gun went off.
"I'm shot!" screamed Leihy, and
fell to the floor.
Burton told officers: "I was so
scared that I jumped into Leihy's
car and pulled out."
HAS BROKEN KNEE
From Wednesday'" Dally
Mrs. Ray Ayler. who was injured
very severely some months ago in an
auto accident in Omaha, this after
noon fell on the steps of the United
States government building on North
Fifth street and as the result frac
tured the knee of her right leg for
the second time. Mrs. Ayler has had
a great deal of trouble with the
member since the injury in Omaha
and this accident will cause her to
go through this trying ordeal again.
Mr. Ayler, who was with the wife
and Dr. O. C. Hudson, who was near
by, carried the injured lady to the
office of Dr. Hudson where she is be
ing given treatment.
Phone your Want-Ad to the Jour
nal office. Call No. 6.
Local People
in Auto Acci
dent at Omaha
Ernest Bintner of Near This City
and Alex Fowlds. Have Acci
dent in Big City
From Tuesday's iaiiy
Investigation was being made by
Omaha authorities yesterday of an
auto accident which was reported to
have occurred OB South Tenth street
in that city about 1:36 Monday
morning in which a man received a
fractured skuH but was not found
until .'? a. m". in a gutter on Castelar
street between Twent v-first and
Twenty-second streets. A parked
car was reported to have been smash
led In the accident.
Alex Fowlds. a farmer near thi
city. is in Lord Lister hospital un
conscious as the result of the acci
dent. At the time of the crash he
didn't think he was hurt, his com
panion said.
Ernest W. Bintner. another
Plattsmouth farmer, driver of the
auto in which I owlds was riding was
held for in vvjtigation.
Visited Omaha Theater
Bintner ami Fowlds, accompanied
by Bintner's sister. Eva. and Miss
Astasia Warga, came to Omaha Sun
day night to a theater and after
wards went io the home of Mips
Warga's sister. Mrs. P. M. Egan.
242S South Twenty-first street.
At 12:30 a. m. Bintner and
Fowlds took Eva to the Union station
to catch a train to Schu'k.r. where
she teaches school. At 1:30 Bintner
reappeared at the Egan house, sav
ing: "We had an accident on
Tenth streei.
"Where's Alex?" asked Mrs
Egan.
"He's out in the car."
"Is he hurt?"
"No, we're not hurt." sahl
Bintner. "We just hit a parked
car.
Missing From Auto.
Mrs. Egan went out t,o talk to
Fowlds, and tound no one in the
car. in the seat where he htfd liae.)
was blood. Bintner and Mrs. Egan
began searching the neighborhood
for him. and called police, who also
searched. It is believed that Fowld'-.
got out of the car and stumbled
away.
At 3 a. m. Alex was found in a
gutter around the corner from the
Egan home. Police are investigat
ing a report that an autoist picked
him up and drove him around, re
tuTnine him to the neighborhood in
which he had been found. They are
puzzled over not seeing him at the
time of their first search.
Patrolman Earl Jay found glass
at 1706 South Tenth street which
fit into Bintner's shattered wind
shield, but found no damaged park
ed auto.
R0TARIANS ENTERTAINED
From Tuesday's Panv
The members of the Rotary club
were entertained at the high school
this afternoon by a very cleverly ar
ranged and splendidly presented pro-
cram by the young people oi tne ,
school.
The convocation for the reception
was presided over by Prof. R. Foster
Patterson, principal of the high
school and who introduced Jamer
Begley. president of the student
council, who welcomed the visitors.
The program comprised a fine num
ber of the girls sextette, comprising
Margaret ShePenbarger. Jean Hayes.
Helen Schulz. Constance Rea. Maxire
Cloidt. Madge Garnett. as the open
ing selection and which was a real
hit.
Otto Stodola was heard in a very
fine recitation and which he gae
in the dialect of the land of Italy
and proved a real artist in this num
ber. David Robinson, first prize winner
of the Peru musical contest, was
heard In two tenor solos. "Danny
Boy" and "Sylvia." both being well
rendered and a real revelation to the
visitors of thi. clever young artist
Miss Cora Williams, fieati of the
musical department of the city
schools, was heard in two very fine
piano numbers that was a much en
joyed part of the afternoon program.
Robert Mann and James Comstock.
retiring Rotar school members, gave !
their impressions of Rotary in a very
clever and able manner.
President William Baird of the Ro
tary responded for the club in an ap
preciation of the fine entertainment
that had been afforded them by the
young men and women of the school.
NUMBER LOANS APPROVED
Washington Nearly $20,000,000
In loans have been approved for far
mers in the drouth area. G. L. Hof
man, chtef of ihe farmer's seed loan
office, said thousands of applications
i - . rot nh i n cr trio o o-ri i It n Ma rlono rt I
ment daily. Ke expressed the belief
the total of $57,000,000 available for
loans direct to farmers would be
taken up.
Hoffman sa'd only a few of the
loans approve-! from the $10,000 -000
fund for sgricultural rehabilita
tion were for lood.
VISITING IN CALIFORNIA
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Duda of this
city are enjoying a visit at Los An
geles and other parts of. southern
California, leaving for that section
on Friday and where they will spend
some time. While on the west coast
they will be guests of Mr. Duda's
brother, Fred Duda. Jr., and wife
and many old time friends who are
i making their home In that part of
the west. The little daughter, Joan,
is remaining here with the grand
parents. Mr. and lira, Henry Kaul
niann. Find Leihy Death
Result of Acciden
tal Revolver Shot
Juty Releases Jack Brown From
Criminal Responsibility for
Death of Friend.
From Wednesdays naTIv
The death of Paul Leihy. 19, 192o
t'apitol avenue, Omaha, occurred this
morning at 4 '.'50 at the University
hospital at Omaha where Leihy has
been since Monda morning when
he was taken there from this city
following his shooting a. the resi
dence of George Rennie.
The news of the death was tele
phoned by ihospltal authorities to
Sheriff Bert Reed and County At
torney W. G. Kieck, and at once
steps were taken to call an inquest on
the shooting and to determine the
findings as to whether it was an acci
dent or the shot fired with intent to
kill Leihy. The jury impaneled was
composed of John Ledgway, William
Starkjohn. Carl Kunsmann, George
Born. Ray Campbell. Philip Born.
The jury was taken to Omaha and
viewed the body of the unfortunate
youth, the victim of the shooting, as
well as hearing the testimony or
interns at the hospital to whom the
lad had recounted the accident.
The story told by Leihy was that
the shooting was purely accidental,
that he had come with the party will
ingly and had been standing with
the other looking at the elaborately
decorated forty-five revolver that be
longed to Mr. Rennie and which
Brown had taken from where t
owner had left it and was showing
it to the Omaha visitors, when it was
accidently discharged. All of the
party were friends, the young man
had stated to the hospital attendants.
The further testimony was heard
this afternoon at the court house,
with Jack Brown, the man who held
the gun when the shot was fired,
Weaver Burton and Mike Savti.
The testimony showed that the trip
here was the result of a sudden plan
after a drinking party in Omaha, that
Savti had brought with him a gallon
of whisky that he sought to sell and
which was later found in the Rennie
home. The members of the party
were not having any trouble and the
shot from the revolver came while
Brown, Leihy and Burton were look
ing the weapon over and according
to Burton, he and Brown had come
down last Thursday to visti Rennie
and at that time Brown had admired
the gun and when the party was
here early Monday he had gone into
the bedroom of Rennie, who was not
at home, secured the gun. brought
it out and was showing it when it
was discharged, the hull-et, at short
range entering the abdomen of Leihy
and inflicting a very severe wound.
The Jury after the hearing of the
evidence and deliberating on the is
sues, decided that the deceased came
to his death as the result of a bullet
fired accidently from the gun held
by Jack Brown and relieving Mr.
Brown of any criminal responsibility
in the matter.
Other participants are still held
here, DeSavti on a charge of posses
sion of liquor for which he received
a sentence of sixty days in jail and
Burton awaiting a charge of auto
theft.
CHARGED WITH POSSESSION
From Tuesday rar.v
Michael DeS. vti. 21. of 1007 South
Twentieth street. Omaha, one of the
parties detained here by officers fol
lowing the shooting of Paul Leihy.
19. of Omaha at the Rennie resi
dence here, was arraigned today at
the county court on the charge of
possession of liquor. DeSavti. who
acknowledged the ownership of tl 1
gallon of whisky found at the Rennie
house by Sher'ft Reed and the city
police, plead puilty to the charge
After heoring the evidence offered.
Judge A. H. Duxbury gave the pris
oner a sentence of sixty days for the
offense.
Weaver Burton, who was brought
here last night and lodged in th
Cass county jail, will be charged with
taking the auo of Paul Lei by with
out the authority of the owner, it
was stated at the office of County At
torney w. G. Kieck today.
Jack Brown. Claremont hotel, Om
aha, who fired the shot tiat wounded
Leihy. is being held here pending
the outcome of the injuries to Leihv,
as in the case of the deith of Leihy
a coroner's inquest will be necessary.
George Rennie. owner of the resi
dence where the trouble occurred,
has been released as it was shown
that he had no part in the affair and
was not at home at the time.
Journal Want Ada get results.
Pioneer of
the West Called
to Last Reward
C. C. Despain of This City Dies at
Masonic Home in This City
at Age of 92 Years.
From Tuesday Pally
This moralHS at 1 o'clock at the
Nebraska Masonic Home occurr. d the
death of O. C. Despain, pioneer resi
dent of the west and of the city of
PlatlBUHWith after attaining the great
age of more than ninety-one years.
; Mr.. Deepain has been very active
ir. his lifetime and the story of his
lite is filled with much of the glam
our anil romance of the old west,
when the hardy fdoneers engaged in
the task oi empire building In the
little known sections o: the coun
try. He was born October 4, 1839,
at Macomb. McDonaugh county. Illi
nois, to which section his pa-ents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Despain had
come from their native home in Ken
tucky in 1S31. When he had attain
ed the age of fifteen years the par
ents came on farther west to the state
of Iowa and settled near Albia in
Monroe county. Iowa, and here Mr.
Despain grew to manhood. In the
winter of 1851-52 Mi. Despain at
tracted by the stories of the great gold
tiaos In northern California and In
the Nevada gold fields, took the
train at Eddyville, Iowa, for New
York and from where he departed
by boat for Panama, lauding at
Aspinwall and going by rail across the
isthmus to the town of Panama and
from where he embarked on the
steamer "American" for San Fran
cisco, reaching his destination in the
middle of March and with two com
panions at once starting for the goal
of the gold fields where he spent
some time. Not finding the gold in
the Nevada fields as plentiful as had
been pictured, Mr. Despain tok a
journey northward into Idaho, then
a wild and unsettled country that
was largely the domain of the In
dian and here he had many adven
tures. Finally tiring of the life in
the far west he came to Salt Lake
City find there joined a wagon train
of the. Mormons that was starting
ent"nd which took the members oi
the party as far east as old fort
Kearney, on the banks of the Platte
river in Nebraska where the party
was split up and Mr. Despain came
on to the frontier town of Omaha
where he arrived on June 18 1804,
and has since that time largely made
his home in this part of Nebraska.
Mr. Despain moved to St. Mary's.
Iowa, a pioneer trading post along
the Missouri just below Council
Bluffs and where he met and became
acquainted with Miss Elvira Hep
net, a daughter of Major George
Hepner. who had settled there in
1851 and was one of the represen
tatives of the government in deal
ing with the Indians. At the Hep
ner home on December 25. 1864,
Mr. Despain and Miss Hepner were
united in marriage and after a few
months in the old home in Iowa,
crossed the river at Plattsmouth and
settled in Eight Mile Grove where
Mr. Despain farmed for the summer
and in the fall of that year moved
into Plattsmouth where his parents
in the meantime had settled at the
home at 8th and Vine street which
is still occupied by the daughter of
Mr. Despain. Mrs. Stella Persinger
and family. Since 1865 the family
largely made their home there, al
tho Mr. Despain was engaged for
some vears in shipping and feeding
cattle in the Ihikotas, the family
making 'heir home here. While a
resident of Iowa. Mi. Despain was
raised in Masonry in Excelsior lodge
at Council Bluffs, demitting to
Plattsmouth lodge No. 6 some thirty
seven years ago.
Mr. Despain was one of the two
surviving children of a family of ten.
and on November 27. 1928. suffered
the bereavement of the loss of his
life's companion who was called to
the last long rest. Mr. Despain has
throe children living. Mrs. Stella
Persinger of this city. Albeit N. Des
pain of Seattle . Washington, and
IHmald Despain of Chicago.
Seme seventy-two years ago Mr.
Despain was converted and joined
the Methodist church and or which
faith he remained a very devoted
member in all of these years.
VISITS OLD HOME
From Wednesday Patty
Leon J. Pepperberg, second son of
the late Mr. and Mrs. Julius Pepper
berg. who in his boyhood days made
his home lice in Plattsmouth where
his father was a cigar manufacturer,
was here yesterday to renew ac
quaintances with the school friends
cf many years ago. This is the first
time in twenty-seven years that Mr.
Pepperberg has been here and the
passing years has taken away many
of the old Bchool friends and ac
quaintances of the days of residence
here of the Pepperberg family. Mr.
Pepperberg arter graduating fiom the
high school here and the University
of Nebraska .studied in the east and
was for a great many years a Dallas,
Texas. He is now located at Colum
bus. Ohio, and engaged in looking
after the interests of a large gas
company in that city.
.Tnst a few of the Cass county maps
left. While they last, 50c each.
