ekr. state Historical Society
euu.
3ourna
VOL. NO. XLVH
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA. THURSDAY, SEPT. 3. 1931.
NO. 62
2 be
JMattsmoutb
Meisinger Fam
ily Holds Reunion
Here Sunday
The Members of the Family Assem
ble at Garfield Park for the
Happy Occasion
Sunday at Garfield park in this
city assembled the members of the
Meisinger family, one of the most
prominent family groups in this part
of .erasKa. meeting tor the an
nual reunion.
The occasion brought a very large
number here of the descendants of
the early settlers of the family who
ame here from Illinois in the late
seventies and eighties to make homes
for themselves and families in the
new west and who have proven real
empire builders in the tilling of the
soil and the making of this commun
ity into, one of the greatest producing
sections of the west.
The first members of the family
s'-ttled in Illinois, in and near Pekin
and later came west to settle in that
portion of Cass county from Platts
mouth to Louisville and where in
the tidy and well kept farms the des
cendants still carry on the splendid
work of their forebears.
The picnic and reunion this year
v;is in charge of L. O. Meisinger.
Henry G. Meisinger and Anton Mei
singer and who had arranged the
date and place of meeting at the
pleasant city park here.
Many of the members of the fam
ily came from distant points and en
joyed the opportunity of fine picnic
dinners in the pleasant surroundings
of the park which was ideal for the
purposes of the reunion.
There was no formal program ar
ranged for the day and the time was
taken up in visiting and a general
family get together and which
brought many here from near
Springfield and Papillion and one of
the family groups from the old home
in Illinois were present to participate
in the pleasures of the day.
The attendance numbered sYeral
hundred and the party were going
and coming for the greater part of
the day. those at distant points re
turning in the mid afternoon to their
homes to look after their farming
interests.
It was an occasion that all enjoy
ed to the utmost and brought to
gether the aged members of the fam
ily as well as the third and fourth
generations of the family circle.
RETURNS FROM RUSSIA
Miss Margaret Fedde. head of the
home economics department of the
University of Nebraska, at Lincoln,
with Miss Bess Bedell, of Omaha,
were here Sunday as guests at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Searl S. Davis,
old time friends. Miss Fedde has just
returned from a three months stay
in Europe and six weeks of which
was spent in Russia. Miss Fedde was
a member of a party of six of the
members of the International Educa
tional institute, sent to look over the
present day Russia and the manner
in which the communistic form of
government was operated in the var
ious lines of the national life. The
party was escorted by the govern
ment officials in the different activ
ities and which afforded them a fine
opportunity of viewing th-i workings
of the industrial system. The resi
dents of Russia seemed to hold the
United States as the greatest of the
capitalistic countries and their great
ambition was to surpass this nation
in production in both agriculture and
industry. The educational system is
carried in the training of the youth
of the country in the principles of
the Soviet system, . making a common
interest in the nation and elimin
ating anything that is individualistic
in any sense. The religious and home
life is made communistic as largely
as possible, the younger people being
given no religious training and the
home ties disregarded by the teach
ings. The trip was a wonderful ex
perience to Miss Fedde and &he made
as close a survey as possible of the
conditions of the new regime in Rus
sia. VISITING WITH RELATIVES
Mr. and Mrs. Julius Sprieck, of
Pilger. Nebraska, have been sf'end
ing the past few days with the old
friends and relatives in Cass county,
in this city and the vicinity of Louis
ville, with the Otto Sprick family at
the latter place and also stopping
here Saturday to visit Mrs. John Al
bert, mother of Mrs. Sprieck. They
report the crop conditions in their
locality as being in fair shape and
feel fortunate that the conditions are
;is well as they are with many sec
tions badly hit.
DIES IN WISCONSIN
From Monday's Daltr
Misses Julia and Albina Svoboda
received a message Saturday an
nouncing the death of their brother-in-law.
August Morawetz, which oc
curred at hiH home in Racine, Wis
consin on Friday. The funeral was
held today at Racine. The deceased
was well known here where he has
visited at the Svoboda home often
and the friends here will learn with
sorrow of his passing.
RECEIVES SAD NEWS
From Tuesday's Daily
This morning a message was re
ceived by C. E. Hartford from his
sister. Mrs. J. C. "Kerlin. of Boone,
Iowa, announcing the death of her
daughter. Miss Janet Kerlin, 22,
which occurred last nighi at the fam
ily honif. Miss Kerlin has een ill
for the past two years. Buffering
trom tuberculosis. The many friends
of the Kerlin family here will re
gret very much to learn of the death
of the daughter of the family. Mr.
imd Mrs. Hartford departed this noi:n
foi Boone to attend 'he funeral ser
vices. '
Fitchorn Barn
South of City is
Burned Down
Another Mysterious Fire Destroyed
Structure and Contents with
Loss of $3,000.
For the second time within a few
months the locality of near Rock
Bluffs suffered another serious fire
and which inflicted a loss of $3,000
on S. D. Fitchorn. one of the old
residents of that section, the large
barn on the farm with its contents
being completely destroyed by the
flames.
A few months ago the barn at the
farm of Michael Hausladen, a few
miles north of the Fitchorn farm
was destroyed by fire and the origin
of the fire as that at the Fitchorn
larm is a matter of mystery.
Saturday morning Mr. Fitchorn
and his son and daughter-in-law had
motored over to the town of Rock
Bluffs to visit at the farm of another
son and while they were absent the
barn burned. The fire was first no
ticed by neighbors and at that time
the large barn was burning very
rapidly and while the neighbors has
tened to the scene it was impossible
to do anything to check the fire, the
barn burning very rapidly and was
a roaring furnace of flame when the
neiihbors reached there.
There were two calves tied in the
barn which lost their lives as well
as the wheal, oats, feed, harness and
a binder and the barn and the con
tents is estimated to bring a loss
close to $3,000 to the owner of the
barn.
Mr. Fitchorn and family arrived
home just a short time after the
fire was noticed by the neighbors
but were unable to do anything to
save the structure.
There could be no possible cause
assigned for the fire as far as known
there was nothing in the barn that
might have caused the blaze.
SCHOOL FRIENDS ENTERTAIN
From Tuesday's Dally
Miss Catherine McClusky enter
tained a number of former high
school friends yesterday afternoon
at her home. The afternoon was
spent in getting re-acquainted after
a long absence and talking over old
times and college experiences.
Those attending were Miss Mar
jorie Am and Miss Hilda Johnson,
who are returning to Peru State
Teachers college- next week for their
second year: Miss Maxine Cloidt,
who will attend Stephen's college for
her first year: Miss Margaret Iver
son. who will continue her teaching;
Mlsa Wilhelmina Henriehson, who
will continue her duties as secretary
at the high school building; Miss
Fern Stivers, who will continue
working here in Plattsmouth this fall
and the hostess. Miss McClusky. who
will return to Hastings college next
week for her Junior and Senior
year, after attending summer school
there this summer.
Dainty refreshments were served
by the hostess and her mother, Mrs.
McClusky.
Even the rain didn't dampen the
spirits at this social affair.
ATTEND OLD SETTLERS REUNION
Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Briggs and
Mrs. Lydia M. Davis of this city
with Misses Betty and Jean Stang
enberg. of Lincoln, motored to Salem.
Iowa. Saturday where they attended
a reunion of the old settlers of that
section of Iowa. Senator Smith W.
Brookhart, of Iowa, was the chief
speaker at the reunion. Mr. and Mrs.
Briggs and Mrs. Davis were born in
the vicinity of Salem altho Mr.
Briggs left there some forty-nine
years ago and Mrs. Briggs forty-four
years ago. but later returned to live
there for a short time before return
ing to Nebraska where they have
since resided. They made the trip
going over highway No. 34, the all
paved route to the eastern coast and
on their return came through on No.
3. the southern route through Bloom
field, Shenandoah and to Nebraska
City.
MARRIED BY JUDGE GRAVES
Sunday Judge Charles L. Graves
was called upon to join in the bonds
of wedlock at his office in the city
hall. Miss Cuba Ewing and Kenneth
Kaiser, both of Ewing, Nebraska.
The young people were attended by
Archie Norton and Celia Norton,
friends of the .contracting parties.
Following the wadding the young
people returned to their home.
Platts Merchants
Win Hard Game
from South Side
Take Measure of South Side Mer
chants 2 to 1 With Local Play
ing Great Fielding Game
The Plattsmouth Merchants base
ball team Sunday at the local Ath
letic park, turned back the South
Side Merchants of Omaha in the last
moments of the ninth inning and
after a contest in which the pitching
of H. Ludwig of the visitors, the
fielding of King PoisaM and Poisall
Herold as well as the stick work
of Carl Hall featured.
The game was one in which the
locals played a great game back of
Walt Connors, veteran hurler, the
only run of the south siders coming
in the seventh inning when a wild
throw to third by Connors allowed
Tuttly to score. Herold and Poisall
at third and short bore the brunt of
the battle in the fielding with seven
and five chances made good apiece.
The hitting star of the contest
was Carl "Stormy" Hall, who was
drafted to fill the vacancy in right
garden and whose blow made pos
sible the final victory of the team.
The locals were unable to hit Lud
wig effectively to the eight inning, he
having the hitters bitting at his wide
open ones, while Connors depended
on the support that he received with
no strikeouts being put over on the
Omaha visitors.
With the game going scoreless up
to the first of the seventh inning
Tuttly of the visitors hit safely in
front of the plate and which "Happy"
Connors, catching, was unable to
field in time to retire the runner, a
bad peg from third base allowed Hass
to reach first safely, while P. Baker
was safe at first on a fielder's choice,
Wall Connors throwing to third to
retire Tuttly, but the ball soared
high over the head of "Pud" Herold
and the runner scored. Baker was
caught trying for second and F. Lud
wig and Zale were retired on short
flies to second and short and the
scoring of the visitors was at an
end.
The locals entered the scoring list
in the last of the eighth inning when
Ludwig weakened, hitting Walt Con
nors, the first man up and then walk
ing Happy Connors and Peter Her
old to fill the sacks with no outs.
Pud Herold was struck out when
Richard Herold lifted a sacrifice fly
to left that allowed Poisall, running
for Connors to score. King Poisall
closed the inning with a strikeout.
With the score tied the visitors
made desperate efforts to bat out a
run but three successive hot ground
crs to Pud Herold resulted in the
retiring of the side. In the last of
the ninth inning with extra frames
looming as a possibility before the
game was decided. "Stormy" Hall
opened with a blow to left field that
was good for three sacks and but for
hitting a pole would have been a
circuit drive. George Spidell was out
on a pop up fly and Garland McCleary
was struck out. when Walt Connors
proceeded to put an end to the agony
by a safe blow to left and on which
"Stormy" registered and the game
was over.
The tabulated score:
Platts Merchants
AB H PO A K
H. Connors, c 3 0 0 0 0
Pete Herold, 2b 2 0 3 2 0
Pud Herold, 3b 4 117 1
R. Herold. If 3 0 3 0 0
Poisall. ss 4 12 5 1
hall, rf 4 2 10 0
Spidell. cf 4 0 3 1 0
McCleary. lb 4 0 14 0 0
W. Connors, p 3 2 0 1 0
31 6 27 16 2
South Side Merchants
AB H PO A E
H. Ludwig, p 4 0 0 0 0
Koch, c 4 2 13 0 0
J. Baker, lb 4 0 5 0 0
Tuttly, 3b 4 13 10
Hass. If 4 110 0
P. Baker, 2b 4 0 2 1 0
F. Ludwig, ss 4 113 0
Myers, rf 2 0 1 0 0
Zale, cf 3 0 0 0 0
33 5 26 5 0
HAS CLOSE CALL FROM DEATH
Mrs. Paul Stangenberg, of Lin
coln; cousin of Mrs. M. S. Briggs and
well itnown in this city, had a very
close call from fatal injuries at her
home in Lincoln Monday afternoon.
Mrs. Stangenberg was engaged in
canning fruit and in this process had
a kettle of paraffin boiling on the
kitchen stove, it suddenly bursting
into flames and threatening to ignite
the kitchen. Mrs. Stangenberg car
ried the burning kettle from the
house and in the process the flames
caught her dress and only the pres
ence of mind of the lady saved her
from death. Her clothes blazing.
Mrs. Stangenberg rolled on the grass
of the lawn and was able to exting
uish the blaze, but suffered severe
burns on the arms and legs before
the blaze was out. She is under the
care of physicians and will be forced
to remain inactive for several days
at least. The two daughters of the
family were here over Sunday and
were not aware of the accident until
last evening when the father came
down to take them home.
HAS TIRES SLASHED
Henry T. Woster. who in the
hours when he is not engaged in
book work at the Office of the coun
ty treasurer, is a devotee of the
angling and swimming pastimes, was
the victim of a very dirty trick
Saturday night. Mr. Waster, with
several companions had gone to the
Platte river to fish and had left his
car parked near the sand pits, re
turning later to find that someone
had slashed two of the tires and
made a get away. A further investi
gation revealed that two tires on the
car of Ed Yelick, another member
of the fishing party, had also been
slashed. The matter was reported
Monday to the office of Sheriff Bert
Reed and the matter is now under
investigation in the hope of reveal
ing the party that did tbe slashing
and bringing them to justice.
Two Inch Rain
Falls in This Sec
tion of the State
Brings Much Rejoicing to the Far
mers of County and Will Re
freshen Vegetation
One of the best rains of the sum
mer season fell in this city in show
ers Monday from 5 : 30 to 9 o'clo -k
and the total rainfall was some two
inches, doing a wonderful good to all
the crops, pastures and to the relief
of the residents from the sultry and
oppressive condition that prevailed
all day Monday.
The storm swept down from the
north and west where about 4:30 a
heavy wind storm struck north Om
aha and brought with it a rain that
caused water to flow through the
streets in small torrents.
From Hastings and Ravenna east
to Lincoln a one-fourth of an inch
of rain was reported but from Lin
coln east the rain was ranging from
one to two inches.
The rain did no damage as far as
reported in this section, it passing
off nicely in the watercourses and
sowers and with the Bhowcr like fre
quency the sewers were able to car-
rv the flood water with ease.
Reports from the farmers in this
section are that the rain was of the
$1,000,000 variety and has done un
told good to all of the crops and pas
tures which had suffered from the
effects of the intense heat of July.
Many Social
Events Held for
Bride-to-Be
Miss Helen Wurl Honor Guest at
Showers for Forthcoming
Marriage
Miss Helen Wurl. whose marriage
is to take place in this city on Sep
tember 10th. was honored guest at
a large number of social events the
past week in which the friends join
ed in the several happy events for
the bride-to-be.
The first of the pre-nuptial events
was the bridge held at the home of
Miss Amelia Martens on Friday and
on which occasion Miss Wurl was
presented with a large number of
very beautiful gifts in honor of the
forthcoming nuptials.
On Tuesday Miss Helen Farley and
Miss Helen Vallery entertained at
the Farley home at a pre-nuptial
breakfast for the bride-to-be and
which brought a large number of the
old school friends to join in the
pleasant event.
Mrs. C. E. Hartford and Mrs. Evi
Spier were joint hostesses at a bridge
held on Friday at the Hartford home
and where the ladies spent several
hours most delightfully with the
friend who is soon to leave for her
new home. In the playing Miss Ruth
Tidball was awarded the prize. Miss
Wurl was showered with a large
number of beautiful remembrances.
Miss Helene Perry was hostess Sat
urday at her beautiful country home
at a bridge in honor of Miss Wur!,
the home being very attractively ar
ranged for the event. Mrs. Ralph
Petring was prize winner In the
bridge playing, while Miss Wurl was
presented with many atractive re
membrances from the olrt friends.
MARRIAGES R00N IN CASS
County Judge Uuxbury of Cass
county has had two very prolific
months in the way of the marriage
licenses issued and for the two
months of July and August there
were forty-seven licences issued as
against nine for the same period last
year. Depression has failed to make
an impression in the license market
as August this year was the largest
in point of number that has been
recorded in the office of the county
judge, there being twenty-eight is
sued against six last year. In July
there were nineteen issued against
three last year.
The licenses issued largely repre
sent Nebraska applicants and but
few of the number applying here
have been from Iowa points.
Veteran Rail
road Worker
Visits in City
Albert Jones of Niota. Illinois. Is
Here to Visit Half Brother.
F. R. Gobelman.
Frank R. Gobelman of this city,
who has just returned from an auto
trip to Oklahoma to attend a family
reunion held near Edna. Kansas,
brought back with him from the re
union his half brother, Albert Jones,
of Niota, Illinois, who was also there
for the reunion.
Mr. Jones, who is 74 years of ag-,
is a veteran of the Santa Fe rail
road, having served some forty-five
years as a member of the bridge and
traveling carpenter force of the rail
road, starting with them as a young
man back in Illfnois and continued
at that work until a few years ago
when he was able to retire cn a pen
sion, being at the time of the retire
ment a superintendent of the con
struction work. When the Santa Fe
railroad built the bridge over the
Mississippi river near Madison,
Iowa. Mr. Jones was one of the
workmen and forty years later as tie
superintendent he had charge of the
work of building the new structure
that now spans the river.
Since his retirement he has spent
the time largely visiting with the
children who reside in various parts
of the country and in the winter he
makes his home in California, where
he has a sist r residing.
This is his second visit to this city
to spend a short time with his half
brother and today he was a guest of
Mr. Gobelman at the Rotary club
weekly luncheon. The two brothers
are also planting an auto trip to
Omaha and Lincoln to view the many
points of interest in the two Nebras
ka cities.
HEAR FINE ADDRESS
The Plattsmouth Rotary club at
their luncheon today had the pleas
ure of a very fine address from Rev.
Samuelson, pastor of the Presbyterian
church at Valley, who had as his
subject. "Possess Your Possesions,"
touching on the appreciation of the
possessions that are a part of man's
home and family, his business and
social life. The address was one that
was appreciated to the utmost by
the members of the club and was a
broadening and inspirational line of
thought which all gathered much
valued knowledge.
In the musical portion of the pro
gram Frank A. Cloidt, one of the
club members was heard in two very
ucBunu. 8oiib, orown raB muK-
iMSi ami oniiii a i .'.mi.in , given
in the usual delightful manner of
this talented singer.
R. E. Bailey, the club president,
who has just returned from a con
ference of the nineteenth district
presidents and secretaries which was
held at Yankton. South Dakota, gave
l review of the work of the confer
ence and the fine interchange of
ideas among the officers at the meet
ing. The program was given under the
leadership of R. W. Konrr and was
one that was filled with the greatest
interest to all.
WIN HARD HITTING GAME
The Business Men's team of this
City and the All Stars west of this
City staged a great slugfest at the
Graham pasture west of this city
Sunday and in which the Business
Men were the winners by the score
of 23 to 17, making the games now
one alike.
Phil Hirz served as the hurler for
the Business Men with Gilbert Hirz
doing the catching while for the All
Stars, the veteran hurler, Floyd Bec
ker, did his stuff and the catching
was looked after by Ben Speck in his
usual effective way.
The hitting of Pat Reed, Howard
Fullerton, Fritz Tritsch and Roy
Tschirren featured the game while
in the fielding Speck back of the bat
and Pat Reed at second served to
add to the interest of the game. W.
T. Distell. who used to play ball
back in the old bare handed days
was at the third sack for the town
team and showed his old time form.
SUFFERS A RELAPSE
Lyle Lawton. who has been suf
fering from an attack of the mumps,
last week felt so much improved
lhat he took up his work in one of
the local garages, only to be taken
with a relapse on Saturday. The
young man has run a high fever for
the last two days and medical as
sistance was necessary. He is report
ed to he doing just as well as pos
sible at this time and it is hoped
that in a few days he may be able
to be up and around again as usual.
DOING VERY NICELY
The many friends over the city
of Mrs. Vaclav Belohavy will be
pleased to learn that she is doing
very nicely at the Methodist hospi
tal in Omaha where she underwent
a serious operation some two weeks
ago. The patient is doing very nice
ly and it is hoped that the operation
will prove a success in every way
and restore the patient to her former
good health.
ENTERTAIN GUESTS
The home of Mr. and Mrs. John
E. Turner was the scene of a very
pleasant house party of relatives over
Sunday, motoring in to spend the
day and a most pleasant outing.
Those here? were Mr. and Mis. C. N.
Turner, the tormer a brother of Mr.
Turner, of Marquette. Nebraska, lit.
and Mrs. O. I'. Cook and family, Mr
and Mis. N. I). Both well, Mr. and
.Mis. William Winkier and family,
Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Kazmark and
O. S. Turner, father of the county
treasurer, all of Rim wool. Th. day
was one that all will long remember
with much pleasure.
Teaching Force
of City Schools is
Now Assigned
Plattsmouth and It was in this enter
Superintendent R. E. Bailey lbfa. StSXt
AnnnnnamATii rr Tno rVi ore t fv
Coming School Tear
The assignment of the members of
the teaching force of the city schools
has been made by Superintendent R.
E. Bailey, preparatory to the open
ing of the school on Tuesday, Sep
tember 8 th,
All of the teaching foree with two
exceptions will be here for the work
this year. Miss Mary Tidball. teacher
of English and dramatics in the high
school having resigned the past wet k
which position has not as yet been
filled and in the grades there will
be one less teacher used unless the
enrollment of the grades is larger
than last year.
In the high school the teaching
force will comprise. R. F. Patterson,
principal: Estelle Baird, languages;
Florence Beighley, mathematics;
Gerald Kvasnicka. history; Pearle
Staats. normal training; Tressa
Haley, domestic science; Harold Jor
dan, commercial; Leland Sterrett.
commercial; Russell Reeder, science;
F. A. Rothert. manual training;
Marie Kaufmann, penmanship and
art supervisor; Cora Wil-iams, music
supervisor.
In the junior high school the
teaching force will comprise the
following: Jessie Whelan, geography
and music; Clara Weyrich, arith
metic and sewing; Helen Struble.
history and civics; Hazel Struble,
English and reading.
In the grades the teachers and as
signments will be as follows:
Amelia Martens. Plattsmouth, Cen
tral Bldg. Principal & Grade 1; Ber
nese Ault. Cedar Creek, Grade 2,
Central Bldg.; Selma Diehm, Sterl
ing. Grade 3. Central Bldg.; Evelyn
May Bearer City. Grade 4, Central
Bldg.; Agnes Muenster, Millard.
Grade 5. Central Bldg.; Amana Hiatt,
Rising City, Grade 5, Central Bldg.;
Alice Bly, Beaver City. Grade 6, Cen
tral Bldg.; Grace Nolting, Plaits-
mouth. Grade 6. Central Bldg.
Vivian Johns. Lincoln. Kdgt.. Cen-
tral & Columbian Bldgs. ; Helen! Ft. Kearney was the immediate
Quinby, Lincoln, Grade 1 & 2. Col-(western terminus for this trade ar a
umbia Bldg.: Gertrude Mortensen, so the routes from all three compet
Herman. Grade 2 & 3, Columbian 1 ing river towns converged at this
Bldg.; Nettie Hawksworth. Burling
ton, Iowa, Grade 4, Columbian Prin
cipal. Ruth Tidball. Plattsmouth, Kdgt.
& Grade 1. Winursteen Bldg.; Edith
Cook, Omaha, Grade 2 Ar J, Winter-
steen Bldg.: Helen Farley, Platts
mouth, First Ward Bldg.; Rose Pro
haska, Plattsmouth. West Second
Ward Bldg.; Alice James, Ord. Mcr
cerville Bldg.
TO ENTER M0RNINGSIDE
Miss Jean Hayes of this city, one
of the popular and high ranking stu
dents of the graduating class of 1931
of the Plattsmouth high school, is
preparing to take up her college work
in the next few weeks, entering the
Morningside college at Sioux City,
Iowa. This is one of the large Metho
dist colleges of the country and the
mother of Miss Jean, Mrs. Robert B.
Hayes, also attended this school, be
ing an alumni of the class of 1907.
The dormatories of ti e school has
been furnished by the alumni of the
school and Mrs. Hayes furnished one
of the rooms in the new wing that
is devoted to the second and third
vear students, the second year in the outset and that this, ocupled with
the school Miss Jean is to have the 'the fact that the freighter had to
room that represents the mother's travel around the loid bend of the
tribute to her school. (Platte, would increase the distance
Miss Hayes is to enter the fine by at least thirty-fiv miles. Fur
arts department of the college and tbermore. the Elkhorn and Loup
expects to major in music. Morning- rivers had to be crossed and when
side having one of the best known Ft. Kearney was reached the Platte
music departments of anv of the still had to be crossed as the Fort
music departments of any of
western colleges.
COMBUSTION STARTS FIRE
A roll of tar paper in the cellar
of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Nelson on North 5th street. Tuesday
l t'Jlr i Ucl i ' nit i dill ifcf i vj uic cphio .
i.int, ii... o.,h filial th.
bouse with smoke. Th? combustion
- V - nnnnv n t i t -. rl rt c , i ! f I"l n ITT
vTiT-! -ti ih nt
j , ' 4itook their place. These comments
smoke ana the alarm was turned In i, . ... .. . .
. , , ,-. i have no particular bearing on the
for the fire department. On the ar- i . ' , , . . .
. r ' ;t .D . . , . point under discussion in this chap
rival of the firemen it was but the . , , , . , , .
matter of a few moments until the
fire was out and the spread of the
blaze checked
Watch for the opening of The Re
liable 5c to $1.00 store. a31
Early History
of Plattsmouth
is Recounted
j Bosun ronn MtfMMVi
I'rliM iinl rintltmiilli II. .
CHAPTER II
The Scuth Platte Route and
Steamboating
j In the decade between 1 Mi 0 and
1870, Plattsmouth waged a valiant
fight with Omaha and Nebraska City
in an effort to secure th lions share
of the business incident to the over
land trade to the gold fields of the
west which lured thousands of immi
grants westward during this period.
The leaders of Plattsmouth exerted
their untiring efforts to divert as
much traffic possible through
I eepi ion.
The entire movement was wholly
mercenary despite the exaggerated
and glittering allusions to the bene
fits to be derived from using Platts
mouth as a point of embarkation for
the west and as a base for the pur
chase of supplies. If immigrant
trains came to Plattsmouth. they
would naturally purchase their sup
plies at Plattsmouth and it was to
capture this business that Platts
mouth became the champic n and
chief advocate of the South Platte
Route.
Enterprising citizens of this west
ern river town began to dream of
becoming a vast western trade cen
ter as early as January 11. 1861.
when the Plattsmouth, Oreapolis and
Denver Express Freighting Company
was incorporated with a paper capi
tol stock of $50,000 and another
even more pretentious in its ambi
tions was chartered at the same tim
known as the Chicago. Plattsmouth
and Pike's Peak Express Company
with a capitol stock of $ 100. 000.
While there was considerable freight
ing to the west beginning at this
time, no evidence has been found
to indicate that either of the afore
mentioned enterprises were any
thing more than speculatory, more
Indiactive of asperatlon than of
actual operation.
With Omaha, Nebraska City and
Plattsmouth vieing with one another
for the western business, there arose
a spirited and vitriolic controversy
as to the relative merits of each
place as a starting point westward.
During the period 1H60 to 1870,
there was no railroad paralleling the
Missouri River north of St. Joseph.
Missouri, where the Hannibal and
St. Joseph had its western terminus.
The Burlington and Missouri Rail
road had for its western terminus,
Ottumwa in central Iowa and goods
freighted from the east came over a
wagon road to Glenwood, Iowa, or to
Council Bluffs while freight from
:St. Joseph came up the river by boat
point. From Nebraska City, the
freighter could follow wl at later
became famous as the Steam Wagon
Road in a northwestern direction to-
ward Ft. Kearney or go in a more
j northerlv direction and connect with
the South Route in the vicinity of
the present site of Ashland.
The South Platte, originating at
Plattsmouth. got its name from the
fact that it followed th south bank
of the Platte River directly from
Plattsmouth to Ft. Kearney. The
advocates of this route argued that
it was the most direct route with
no troublesome streams to ferry en
route. Opposition to the Nebraska
City route was based on the con
tention that there was a scarcity of
water along this course for both
travellers and teams.
The North Platte Route originated
at Omaha and struck the Platte river
near Ashland and followed its north
bank to a point opposite Ft. Kearney
on the frontier where the Platte had
to be crossed by fording or ferrying
to get into Ft. Kearney.
It was argued against the North
Platte Route that Omaha was located
twentv m'les north of the Platte at
j was on the south side. The Platts
I mouth advocates pointed out that
j there was a distinct advantage to
I be found on the South Platte route
I where tnere twerhe on Btre,a,ns of :m
consequence to be crossed
L , ' SXJX?
arguments for the respective routes
which each advocated but when thes--were
exhausted, vituperation and
caustic personal investive and abase
ter aside from showing the temper
"f frontier journalism Md tkh, too.
is out8lde the Province of this work.
Nevertheless, the Herald charged
the Republican with having men on
(Continued on Page 3)