Nebr. State Historical Society
VOL. no. n
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1935.
NO. 40
Fraternal Order
of Eagles Opens
State Convent'n
Public Meeting Held Sunday Even
ing; ; Opening: of Arie This Morn
ing at the Eagles Hall.
From Monday's JJalty
The thirty-first annual aerie state
convention of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles opened this morning at the
Eagles building at Sixth and Pearl
streets, a larje number of represen
tatives being here from many of the
cities in tfis section of the state.
Aniens the early arrivals was
Frank A. Matthews, of Omaha, genial
state secretary of the order, who as
sisted in establishing the official
headquarters and preparing for the
registration of the visiting delegates.
There were several past presidents
and past grand aerie officers arriv
ing late in the day and early this
morning for the opening of the con
vention. Hold Open Meeting.
' Last evening at the Eagles hall
was held an open meeting for the
visitors and the residents of Piatts
rnouth to extend greetings to the
convention delegates and visitors.
W. H. Woolcott, of the local com
mittee presided over the meeting and
Introduced the various features of
the program. In the musical portion
of the program, the llotary quartet,
composed of F. A. Cloidt, George Jae
ger, R. W. Knorr and H. G. McClusky
gave two of their always enjoyed se
lections and Mr. Cloidt favored the
audience with one of his delightful
vocal soles. Miss Janet Westoveri
gave one of her delightful readings
that was very much enjoyed by all.
Mrs. Gilbert Hirz, another of the
popular vocalists pt.the city j;aye two,
of her popular' vocal offerings:"""
President Claude T. Powell of
Grand Island, head of the state aerie,
gave a short talk on the work of the
order and the appreciation that the
members felt In their annual conven
tion that had been located in this
city.
The main address of the evening
was by J. S. Parry, of Kansas City,
Missouri, grand worthy secretary,
who in his remarks told of the prin
ciples of the great fraternity, of the
many accomplishments that had been
made through the work of the order
in the humanitarian movements that
had been sponsored by the Eagles,!
the enter or wince, tne uiu Age ren-,(
sion3. was now being mace a part oi
the national law after adoption by
many states including Nebraska. Mr.
Parry's address was one of the great
est interest and especially to those
not members of the order and who
found In the talk real vital facts as
to the fraternity.
Convention Opening.
This morning the opening session
of the convention was held at 10:00
o'clock at the hall when Edward
Gabelman, presiding opened the pro
gram for the" day in a very pleasing
manner.
Mayor George Lushinsky was pre
sented to the convention and on be
half of the city extended to the visi
tors the cordial welcome of Platts
mouth and extended to them the keys
to the city during their stay in this
community and assuring the mem
bers of the convention the deep ap
preciation that the city has felt for
the selection a3 the meeting place of
the order.
The response was made by Presi
dent Claude Powell, who expressed
the feeling of gratification for the
grand aerie at the fine program that
had been arranged by the Platts
mouth aerie for the entertainment
of the visitors.
With the public opening of the
convention they proceeded to enter
into the business of the session and
the various committees were appoint
ed and started to function as the
convention swung into the business
of the meeting. Reports and recog
nition of the delegates and members
was one of the lrst matters taken up
by the state aerie.
The morning session was also fea
tured by the Inspiring address of
J. S. Parry, grand secretary, who
spoke on the work of the order and
the benefits that the members derived
from their participation in the fra
ternity. Mr. Parry's address was re
ceived with enthusiasm by the mem
bers. While the convention was meeting
the ladies were entertained by the
local ladies committee with a trip
through the plant of the Norfolk
Packing Co., which furnished a great
deal of entertainment as the plant is
now operating at full capacity cn the
spinach pack.
With the adjournment at the noon
hour the members of the convention
and their ladies enjoyed informal
luncheons.
Arthur L. Keif
is Elected State
President Eagles
Prominent Plattsmouth Eagle Honor
ed at Session Today Session
Closes This Afternoon.
From Tuesday' Daily:
The Nebraska aerie of the Fra
ternal Order of Eagles at the session
this morning elected the officers for
the year and honored one of the out
standing members of the order, Ar
thur L. Keif, who has been state
vice-president and Is also a past pres
ident of the Plattsmouth aerie.
Other officers elected the morning
session were:
Junior Past President Claude T.
Powell, Grand Island.
Vice-President F. A. Mohrlng,
York.
Secretary Frank A. Matthews,
Omaha.
Treasurer John C. Miller, Ne
braska City.
Chaplain W. It.
Erunton,
Pederson.
Fre-
mont.
Conductor N. J,
liance.
Inside Guard C.
Al-
S. Funk, Ilea-
trice.
Outside Guard S. H. Rader, Grand
Island.
Trustee John F. Krumei, Colum
bus. Trustee Charles L. Meyers, Lin
coln. Trustee I. C. Dreidburs, 'Alliance.
The officers were installed into
their new stations at the closing ses
sion of the convention this after
noon. The new state president is a son
of Mr. and Mrs. William Keif of
this city where he has grown to
manhood and has been one of the
active young men cf the community
serving with distinction in the work
of the Eagles as well as fire depart
ment has been very active in the
democratic party in this city.
Plattsmouth can feel proud of the
selection of one of their citizens tor
this important office and who will
. . e Easrles a f ine administration
the gTaQd aeHe
AVOCA MINISTER HONORED
Avoca. Neb. Rev. G. Bergstraes
ser, pastor of North Branch Luth
eran church north of Syracuse, was
honor guest at a surprise father's
day program given by members of
his family Sunday. After Sunday
morning services, he returned home
to find nine children, eight children-in-law
and fifteen grandchildren
awaiting him. He was presented by
his family with a pulpit gown.
Following a covered dish lunch
eon, a program was given. Those
attending were Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Bergstraesser and Hazel and Clar
ence, of Cortland; Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Bergstraesser and Walter and Ruth,
Mr. and Mrs. William Bergstraesser,
William C. F. Schacht, Mr. and Mrs.
A. II. Kuse and Lorraine and WI1
lard. and J. A. Wachtel, all of Lin
coln; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Berg
straesser and Dorothy and Wlllard
of Oklahoma City; Mr. and Mrs. Ed
win C. Bergstraesser and Bobby and
Mary Ellen of Beatrice; Mr. and Mrs.
E. G. Schalkhausser and Carolyn,
Bunny and Marian of Peoria, 111.;
Mr. and Mrs. August Stubbendick
and Maurice of Cook, Neb.; Rev. and
Mrs. C. Bergstraesser and Elwln, Lyle
and Myra of Gothenburg, Neb.; Miss
Edna Bergstraesser and August Rein
hart, both of Avoca, Neb.; Mrs. Dor
man, Rev. and Mrs. Fred Hefner and
Francis and Paul, all of Syracuse,
Neb.
ENJOYING VACATION
J. II. Graves, one of the rural
route carriers out of the local post
office is now enjoying his annual
vacation and during which time J. F.
Wolff, substitute carrier will be on
the job in delivering the mail on
route No. 2.
. Rains, Crops, Prosperity. Bet
ter days are here again.
Young People
Quietly Married
at Murray Home
Miss Florence Vivian Schutz and Mr.
Earl E. Mrasek of Murray Join
ed in Wedlock Saturday.
On Saturday evening at S o'clock
at ineir own nome at Murray oc -
curred the marriage of Mi33 Florence
vivian M'uuiz ci mis cuy anu i-ir. i
Earl E. Mrasek of that place, the
young people choosing as their wed-j
dim
scene tne pleasant ana comiort-.
able home that they have
ranged for their occupany.
all ar-
The wedding was very quiet, the(
ceremony being witnessed by only
the immediate members of the fam
ilies of the contracting parties, who
following the ceremony joined in
snowenng ine young people v.m
their well wishes.
m v, . j .j .. ...... . i - nnHnri
iuc unuc uic a nunc iuuuicu
silk ensemble as her wedding gown.
The marriage lines were read by
Rev. Stewart, pastor of the Presby
terian church of Murray, the impres
sive ring service being used in join
ing the lives and hearts of the young
people.
The bride is the enly daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Schutz of this
city where she was born and reared
and graduated from the local high(
school In the class of 1933. She is a
lady loved and esteemed by a large
circle of friends here and who will
join in their well wishes to the happy
young people.
The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs
.1,
is one of the successful and highly
esteemed young businessmen of the
Murray community.
(DESERVE ANNIVERSARIES
A triple event picnic was held at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Schissel, west of Plattsmouth Sun
day. It was the seventy-fifth birth
day of Mrs. Tell Billon; the twenty
eighth wedding anniversary of Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. Ma3on and Father's
day.
The picnic baskets were emptied
and spread out under a glorious
maple tree, where all did ample jus
tice to the food. Hand ball, barn
yard golf and fishing afforded amuse
ments for those who cared to indulge.
These who helped to celebrate were
Mr. and Mr. Tell Billon of Ne
braska City, Mr. L. C. Raikes and
Mr. P. W. Folaom of Ashland, Mr. and
Mrs. C. C. Koke, Mr. and Mrs. R. H.
Fitch Sr., and daughters Jean and
Marjorie, Mr. r.ud Mrs. W. H. Ma
son and family, Ralph Germaine,
Shirley, Donna Pae - and Billy, Jr.,
Tfir. and il rs. C. F. Ma3on and chil
dren. Donald and Jacqueline, Mr. and
Mrs. C. D. Koke and Sonny Boy,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fitch, Jr. and
daughter, Suzanne Bobette. Mr. Cliff
Jewell of Omaha and the host and
hostess, Mr. ana" Mrs. Louis Schissel.
With the exception of a few sun
burns nothing marred the day spent
in the open spaces.
VISIT AT LINCOLN
County Treasurer and Mrs. John
E. Turner and Miss Dorothy Jean
Turner, were at Lincoln Sunday
where they were guest3 of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred A. Rothert at their home
for the day. While at Lincoln they
had the pleasure of meeting a num
ber of the Plattsmouth teachers at
tending the summer school of the
University of Nebraska. Among those
they visited were Miss Florence
Belghley, Wayne Alvord and Miss
Dorothy Downey.
DEPARTS FOR THE WEST
From Monday Daily
This morning S. S. Gooding depart
ed for the west part of the state
where he will spend a few days. Mr.
Gooding will visit with old friends
in that part of the state and will
also make a trip through the storm
swept areas including the devastated
Republican valley.
James S. Plttman, prominent resi
dent of near Union, was In the city
Saturday afternoon looking after
some matters of business and visit - -
ing with friends. j
Frank Mrasek and has grown to man-! the post in the Iowa city,
hood In Murray and where he is now! He will spend some weeks this
associated with his father In the( summer at the University of Nebras
conduct of a trucking business and ka summer school before taking up
SPEND WEEK END HERE
There are a number of Plattsmouth
students attending the Peru State
teachers college thi3 summer, among
those returning home, for the week
end and over Sunday being June Keil,
Wilma Drucker, Lucille Meisinger,
; Anna Mae Sandin and Marie Nolt-
ing. The young laaie3 returned Sun
day afternoon to resume their school
work for the next few weeks.
j j t-
OS ITeiC! 10
Head Sheldon,
Iowa, Athletics'
Selected at Iowa School to Have
Charge of High School Athletics,
Assist in Junior College.
joe lvrejci oi mis c.iy. -w no nas
oeen active in Dom leaciiing ana am -
I letic sports in this section of the
I i . i i 1 .... v.
biaie, ens ueeu eieticu as a uieniuei
of the faculty of the Sheldon, Iowa,
high school, being named as athletic
coach of the school and also to as-.
sist in the coaching work of the;
junior college which is maintained in
connection with the high school. j
The Sheldon school is one of the
leading institutions of northern Icwa
and has many students from all sec-
tions of O'Brien as well as other
counties In that portion of the state.
Mr. Krejcl had been celectcd at
. Fairmont, but in view of the fact
that the Sheldon school offers at
larger field for his athletic work hej
is expecting to secure his release j
from the Nebraska school to take up ;
the fall teaching, taking a special
coaching work.
The many friends-" of Mr. Krejcl
here are pleased to. learn that he has
received the offer of this excellent
teaching position as it will give him
a great opportunity for development
in the large school and junior col
lege.
DONKEY EALL COMING
The fans of the city are to have
a real treat afforded them on next
Sunday at the local Athletic park.
A real game of donkey baseball will
be staged in which the chief parti
cipants will be a large array of don
keys trained especially for this sport.
The donkeys come from the moun
tains of New Mexico and know all
of the tricks that their spec! are
noted for. The donkeys are furnished
by a traveling company while the
players will be selected from the local
kittenball players who will endeavor
to win themselves a ball game under
difficulties.
The game will be sponsored by the
local kittenball association and the
admission will be small, the proceeds
to go toward improvements at the
park and the general upkeep.
GOES TO THE NAVY
Prom Monday's D!T-
Thls morning Earl Lamberson, son
of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Lamberson,
left for Omaha and from where he
goes this afternoon to San Diego to
be a member of the naval forces of
the United States. Earl has long de
sired to enter the navy to take a
special course in training and was
awarded a few days ago when he
passed the required physical examin
ation and was accepted in the ser
vice. The young man is a fine clean
cut youth and should make a sailor
worthy of every tradition of the
navy. He was a graduate of the class
of 1934 of the Plattsmouth high
school and has up to this time been
largely engaged in telephone work.
The many friends of Earl will wish
him every success In his chosen field
of activity.
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
Sunday, June 16th, George K.
Staats, one of our old and well loved
residents, celebrated the passing of
his eighty-fifth birthday, the greater
part of this long life having been
spent in this community. Mr. Staats
their guests for the day, S. A. San-L
derson and family of Lincoln and
also Robert Emens, Ron and daugh-
ter who are to remain for a few days
at the Staats home. 1
City Council
Adopts Legal
Liquor Lav
Restrictive Regulations Placed in
City Ordinance to Add to State
law Long Session.
Last evening tlie city council held
speciul meeting for the purpose of
the adoption of the ordinance that
would aain legalize liquor in the
city after an absence cf some eighteen
I years.
hose who have wondered at the
delay cf the legislature to enact the
, state law in its four months session.
could realize something of the diffl
culty of the lawmakers when it re-
! - - I t 0 . . . . r .i . n
pass the city ordinance which in a
larsre was modeled on the state
, y
The mayor suggested an Informal
I
, gessj0jj Q diSCUSS the various Sec
tions of tlie proposed ordinance be-
lore taking up the whole measure to
be voted on.
Tne first discussion occurred when
the section relating to the sale to
minors or intoxicated persons occur
red. The ordinance provided that
the licenseee have the responsibility
as to the age of the party Eold to.
Th;3 was later changed to comply
with the state law that held the
I::inor misrepresenting his or her age
praiiv crntv with thr soller
Section four of the ordinance cov
ered one of the storm centers of the
evening when the matter of hours
of regulation sales came up. The set
ting of the hours of operation of the
liqUor stores from S a. m. to 8 p. m.
with sales to 10 p. m. on Wednesday
and Saturday, had do difficulty of
adoption. The question of beer sales
was another' matter however. The
original-ordinance provided that beer
parlors be closed from C a." m. to 12
noon on Sunday, Christmas and
Memorial day and by the state law
on election days until after the close
of the polls. Councilman Puis
moved that this section be amended
to set the closing hours of beer at
midnight and this brought on some
warm discussion. The vote on the
adoption cf the twelve o'clock clos
ing developed a tie, with Webb, Tip
pens, Palmer, Rebal and Vroman
voting no. This section was later
left untouched in order that the votes
necessary to pass the completed or
dinance might be forthcoming. The
opposition to the closing hours was
that it worked a hardship on local
food dealers and allowed others out
of the city to operate at all hours.
The section of the ordinance that
sought to ban the drinking at dances
or theatres was also amended by the
insertion of the state law which pro
vides that no liquor be drank on the
highways, streets, alleys or on any
property of the state or city govern
ments, or inside vehicles while on
the public streets and highways, or
in other public places. This amend
ment was adopted with Puis voting
no.
The penalty section of the ordin
ance was read and provided for not
more than $100 fine for the first of
fense and from $25 to $100 for the
second and subsequent offenses.
One of the most hotly contested
sections was that in which it was
designated as to the number of pack
age stores in the city. This had been
left in blank for the consideration
of the council and drew a great deal
of discussion as to the merits of the
case. It was moved by Puis that the
number of liquor stores be fixed at
two and on this the council again
tied, Bestor, Puis, Tippens, Seiver,
Schutz voting for the two and Webb,
Rebal, Palmer, Brittain and Vroman
against. The mayor then cast his
vote for the two and which was later
written in as the proponents of the
two stores conceded the beer hours
to the opposition. The stores must
be exclusive liquor stores, however.
The matter of the regulation of
the number of beer places in the city
also brought out considerable dis
cussion from the councilmen but this
section was stricken from the new
ordinance as the present beer pro
visions retained without limit to the
The members felt
that:
where the owners were not com
plying with state law or city ordin
ances that the matter could be best
served by the revokatlon of license or
the denial at the next application.
Councilman Vroman suggested that
a section setting the age of those who
were to be left in charge of places of
beverage sales be regulated at not
less than eighteen years. This was
later dropped, however.
With the hour fast approaching
midnight the ordinance was finally
taken up as a whole and passed on
the suspension of the rules and will
become a law when published as pro
vided. The city clerk had received back
from Lincoln two applications from
the state liquor commission for the
approval or disapproval of the coun
cil. These were laid over until the
meeting on Monday as there are oth
ers to be reported and from all of
these the city council must Belect the
two that are the most desirable.
Well Known
AIvo Lady Dies
at Lincoln
I
Mrs. Lanra Etta Hardnock, 53, Dies,
After Short Illness Funeral
at Alvo on Thursday.
The death of Mrs. Laura Etta
Hardnock, 53, of Alvo, occurred
Tuesday afternoon at 1:40 at Lin
coln where she has been for some
time undergoing medical treatment.
Mrs. Hardnock is a daughter of
Henry J. Miller, former county com
missioner, and is a niece of Mrs.
Frank Brinkman and cousins of the
members of the Becker family.
She is survived by her husband,
Jesse L. ; a Ecn!, Forrest M.; her fath
er, Henry, J. Miller, Alvo; four sis
ters, Mrs., John Wood, Elm wood; Mrs.
Sam Hardnock, Alvo; Mrs. Floyd
Lovett, Lincoln; and Mrs. Earl Bow
man. , Philadelphia r two brothers.
Archie and Lyle Miller, Alvo.
Funeral services will be held at
2 o'clock Thursday at Alvo Methodist
church, Rev. Leonard Birkin officiat
ing, assisted by Rev. R. J. McKenzie.
Burial will be in Alvo cemetery. Pall
bearers: Harvey Gerhardt, Elmer
West, Carl Johnson, Elmer Klyver,
Frank Edwards, L. D. Mullen.
RAIN BRINGS FRESHET
The heavy rain of Monday after
noon converted South Sixth street
into a small sized lake as the result
of the surface water that was car
ried down into the business part of
the city.
The 2 Inch and .41 rain that
fell from 4:20 to 5:30 caused the
creek in the south portion of the
city to rise and overflow the mouth
of the sewer and the result was that
the water was borne on down into
the main part of the city.
Tlie box eewerB on South Sixth
street were able to carry practically
all of the water and very little was
carried on into Main street.
Dr. O. Sandin of the fire depart
ment maintained a watch to see that
the sewers wer kept open and also
in the directing of traffic along the
street. The water made travel
through the street difficult for some
little time but was soon carried off.
The creek that flows through the
west and north portions of the city
ran bank full following the heavy
rainfall but fortunately was carried
off without any damage to property.
The rain Is reported to have caused
some damage in washing gardens lo
cated on hillsides.
VISITORS IN CITY
Mrs. Chas. Contryman of Oshkosh,
Nebr., departed for her home Tues
day moraine, after spending two
weeks in the city, at the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Oliver.
Her daughter, Miss Dorothy, remain
ed for a longer visit with her grand
parents. Miss Dorothy Contrayman who has
been visiting in Lincoln the past
week at the home of Captain and Mrs.
G. W. Spoerry, returned to PlattB
mouth Sunday, accompanied by Lieu
tenant Jack Spoerry who spent the
day at the Oliver home.
SPEND SUNDAY HERE
Miss Mary Jane Hughes and Rob-
ert DeJoy of Omaha with Homan
Walsh, of Lincoln, were visitors in
the city Sunday where they spent a
few hours at the home of Miss Max
Ine Cloidt, a schoolmate of the visi
tors at the University of Nebraska,
Cook Family
Gathers for Its
Annual Reunion
Descendants of Joseph and lary
Cook Meeting 22nd Annual
Family Gathering.
The 22nd annual reunion of the
members of the Cook family was held
in this city at Garfield park on Sun
day, June ICth, where a large group
of the members of this pioneer fam
ily were present to join In the pleas
ant event.
This large group comprised de
cendants of Joseph and Mary Cook,
who came west in the very early fif
ties from their home in Ohio and to
settle on a farm near the new settle
ment of Plattsmouth, in the then ter
ritory of Nebraska.
With the parents were four chil
dren that had been born to them in
Ohio and later on the old homestead.
eight more of the children came to
bless the home, of these most living
to ripe ages. The family home set
tled in the pioneer days is a part of
the farm now owned by Roy O. Cole,
a grandson of the pioneers.
At the gathering Sunday, two of
the members of the original family,
John and Phillip Cook, living at
Beaver City and Hadar. Nebraska,
were unable to be in attendance, also
they sent messages of regret to the
others of the family as did F. E.
Cook of Tacoma, Wash.
All those attending had come well
provided with the good things to eat
and which at the noon hour provided
a most bountiful repast for all of the
members of the group.
Fallowing the dinner the business
session of the reunion and th pro-
Cram was enjoyed, the program be
ing presided over by tho president
of the association, A. II. Welchel, of
Elm wood.
One of the striking features of
the reunion was the quartet com
posed of four of the original chil
dren, Mrs. T. W. Vallery, Mrs. S. O.
Cole, Charles E. Cook and Joseph
Cook, all of this city, who sang that
grand old hymn of faith, "Jeeu
Lover of My Soul."
The prayer was offered by Rev.
II. E. McKelvey of Mynard, pastor
of a large part of the family group.
The election of officers for the en
suing year resulted in the following
being named:
President A. H. Welchel. Elm
wood. Vice-President Orreat Cook. Elm
wood. Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. Robert
Patterson, Plattsmouth.
On the program there was a very
delightful reading by Janet West
over and a charming piano-accordian
number by Beverly Jane Welchel of
Omaha.
All of the younger children of the
group from the babes to those fifteen
years of age were brought to the plat
form and Introduced to the members
of the family.
In the family history of the year
there was reported one death, that
of Mrs. E. M. Stone, Alvo, a daugh
ter cf the late Mrs. Bina Kltcel. eld
est member of the original Cook fam
ily. There were no marriages report
ed and two new additions to the
family circle were Sarah Lee Dixon,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon
Dixon of San Jose, California, and
Charline Claire Patterson, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patterson.
The 1936 reunion will be held at
Garfield park in Plattsmouth on the
last Sunday in AuguBt.
HERE FOR FATHERS DAY
Mr. and Mrs. John Iliber, Jr. and
son, Richard and daughter, Mar
guerite, of Hastings, were in the city
Sunday to enjoy father's day here
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
Hlber, Sr. They returned in the late
afternoon to Hastings after the
pleasant stay here.
VISITING IN THE CITY
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kalina and
family of Dwight, Nebraska, arrived
here Saturday to enjoy a visit over
Sunday at the Cyril Kalina home, Mr.
Kalina being a brother of Cyril. Mr.
Kalina has long been active la the
business life of Dwight where he has
made his home for a great many
years