The Founding of O’Neal,
By General John O’Neill
Discharged Soldiers.
I have received a number of very'
intelligent letters from soldiers in the
army who informe me that they in
tend joining our colony as soon as they
are discharged. I am always pleased
to hear from soldiers and will be very
happy to see any of them when they
are at liberty to join us. Sergeant
James Rorgan late of company “B”
10th United States Infantry, a true
Irish nationalist who had to leave his
native land on account of his devotion
to her cause, has just gone to our set
tlement with his amiable wife, whom
he married since he left the army. I
hope that many othes will follow his
example. Five years is long enough
for an Irish patriot to serve Uncle
Sam in times of peace, and there may
be work elsewhere before another five
years rolls by.
What To Take Along.
Settlers going west, and having a
long distance to tavel, should dispose
of their farming implements and
heavy or bulky furniture. Bedsteads,
takles, chairs, mattresses, crockery,
stoves, etc., etc., stocks, teams,
wagons, tools of all kinds, and farm
ing implements better adapted to that
country than those left behind, can
be purchased there at reasonable
rates, frequently at less than would be
the cost of transportation. Clothing,
bedding, table, linen, books, pictures,
and other small articles, may be
brought with advantage. It is also
well to bring choice graded stock, such
as horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry,
etc.
Land In Holt County.
There is no railroad or speculators
land for sale in Holt county, and none
can be bought there except some of
the settlers may want to prove up on
their claims and sell out. The gov
ernment owns all the land and will
not sell any, except to actual settlers
as explained further on.
Government Land Laws—Homesteads,
Pre-Emptions, Soldiers’ Home
steads, Timber Claims, Etc.
In the early history of the govern
ment, settlers upon the public lands
were treated as tresspassers; buth as
settlements advanced into the new
States and Territories containing pub
lic lands, this harsh system was first
modified and finally abandoned. Our
pre-emption system really commenced
in acts for the relief of settlers who
had violated the law in entering upon
public lands, and these acts were fol
lowed by others, running for limited
periods, permitting settlers to enter
upon and purchase them. This system
was continued, and special acts were
framed almost every year, for more
:an a third of a century, until, or
,he 4th of September, 1841, the aci
known as the pre-emption law was
passed.
General Law of 1841.
This act provides that any citizen
of the United States or an alien hav
ing declared his intention to become r
citizen, may enter upon any surveyed
quarter section of public land, and,
—■— —..
i after having made a bona fide settle
ment thereon, fov six months, may
purchase the samo at the minimum
price of $1.25 per acre.
Homestead Law.
The homestead act of May 20, 1862,
provides that any citizen, or alien,
having declared his intention to be
come a citizen, and who is the head of
a family, or who is 21 years of age
may enter upon 160 acres of public
land, and by residing on the same for
live years may entitle himself to a
patent therefor.
What Is A Homestead?
It is a farm given away by the
United States government to any man
or woman who lives on it and culti
vates it for five years. I say “given
away,” for the charges for one-fourth
of a square mile are only $18 at most,
and four dollars of this sum are not
payable for five years.
How Large A Farm Is A Homestead.
It is a farm of 160 acres, except on
tracts one-half of which have been
granted in aid of railroads or other
public improvements. On such tacts
•the homestead is no more than half
the usual size (eighty acres), unless
the home steader has served at least
ninety days as a soldier. In that case
his homestead is a quarter section
(that is 160 acres) anywhere.
Who May Become A Homesteader..
Any man or woman who is a native,
of legal age, or any foreigner who has
declared his intention to become a
citizen, which any immigrant may do
on the day that he lands in America.
How Soon Must He Occupy His Land
At any time within six months
after his application is put on record,
and he mj*y journey away from his
land at will, if not absent more than
half a year at once, and provided. he
fixes his residence nowhere else.
Can He Acquire Title Before Five
Years?
Yes. After six months’ residence he
can at any time purchase his land by
paying the government price—the
maximum of which, is $2.50, and the
minimum half that sum per acre.
How Is A Full Title Obtained?
After a homesteader has resided
upon his land and tilled it for five
years, if, at any time, within two
years, he proves that fact to the
Register of the Land Office, where his
application was recorded, that officer
will obtain for him, from Washing
ton, a full title to his land, charging
only a fee of four dollars. A person
can get a farm of 80 or 40 acres the
same as 160 acres, the agents fees be
ing less, l ut I would advise every one
to get 100 acres at once; it will be
none too much ten years hence.
Soldiers’ Homesteads.
The law allows soldiers who have
been in service ninety days, a home
stead of 160 acres within railroad
limits, where other persons can get
only 80 acres. The law of June, 1872,
gives homesteads to soldiers and their
unmarried widows or minor orphans,
-1
QUALITY SERVICE
MILK AND CREAM i
For Those Strawberries
Delivered Morning and Evening
THE SANITARY DAIRY I
Phone 84. F. H. LANCASTER, Owner I
...... ■■■.«■...
Parts Supplies Hemstitching
The Singer Shop
New and Second-Hand^Sewing Machines
All Makes'Cleaned and Repaired
W. A Guy, Manager
i O’Neill, Nebraska
I Farm Loans; Fire, Lightning, Tornado, Wind- §
storms, Cyclone, Hail, Auto, Compensation, Public |
Liability, Property Damage, Collision, Accident, |
Health and Life Insurance, see |
Phone 9. L. G. GILLESPIE, O’Neill, Neb. |
MEDICINE, SURGERY, EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT
CANCER HOT SPRINGS CLINIC DISEASES
CLINICAL Specializing in OF CHILDREN
LABORATORY HOT SPRINGS, SO. DAK. TUBERCULOSIS
fDr. J. S.. Rogers, Specialist g
DISEASES OF CHILDREN AND MATERNITY CASES I
ASSOCIATED WITH HOT SPRINGS CLINIC I
HOT SPRINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA §
sooner than others can get them. It
deducts from the five years’ residence
required for perfect title of other
homesteaders, all the time up to four
years that a soldier or sailor has been
in the United States service. If a
soldier was discharged by reason ol
wounds or disability, or died in the
service, his whole term of enlistment
is deducted. A soldier must live upon
and cultivate his homestead for a
period of a least one year before he
can acquire full title to the same. No
one can secure a soldier’s homestead
upon the discharge papers of another
person. A soldier’s homestead right
cannot be sold or transferred to an
other party. No rights are acquired
by purchasing the discharge papers
of other persons. A soldier having
two or more discharge papers is not
thereby entitled to more than one
homestead of 160 acres. These home
steads may be entered by an agent,
but the soldier must, in person, with
in six months, commence settlement
and improvements upon the land, and
thereafter fulfill all the requirements
of this act. This act applies to the
widows and minor orphan children ol
soldiers. The fees to be paid at the
United States Land Office, are as fol
lows:
Making entry of Soldier’s home
stead, cash down .. $18.0C
Making final proof of Soldier’s
Homestead, at the end of
five years . 8.0C
The railroad limits extend twenty
miles on each side of the. track. Out
side of these limits all homestead set
tlers are entitled to 160 acres. There
are millions of acres of government
land in Nebraska just now, which car
be taken up as homesteads, but I am
satisfied that they will not remain long
unoccupied.
Lost Discharges.
A soldier who has lost his discharge
papers, and who applies for land under
the homestead act, must make affi
davit that he served for ninety days
in the United States service during
the war of the rebellion, giving the
number and statd of his regiment, the
date on which he was mustered into
the service, and that on which he was
honorably discharged therefrom. Also
that he has since borne true allegiance
to the government. To this affidavit
he will require the corroborative tes
timony of two respectable wtinesses,
Officers are entitled to 160 acres of
land thelsame as a soldier.
Pre-Emption Claims.
Where a party desires to pre
empt a tract of government land, he
must file at the District land office his
declamatory statement as to the fact
of his settlement on the land within
thirty days from date of said settle
ment, and within one year from that
date he must appear before the Reg
ister and Receiver at the District land
office, and make proof of his actual
residence on, and cultivation of the
land. He then secures the land by
paying cash or by filing warrant or
agricultural college'scrip duly assigned
to him. Should the settler die before
establishing his claim within the
period limited by law, the title may be
perfected1 by the executor, administra
tor, or one of the heirs by making the
requisite proof of settlement and pay
ing for the land. In this case the
entry will be made in the name of
“the heirs” of the deceased settler,
and the patent issued accordingly,
Any person is entitled to the privileges
f the pre-emption law, who isi the
ad of a family, or widow, or single
in ovor the age of twenty-one years,
ad being a citizen of the United
.Jtates, or having filed his declaration
of intention tio become a citizen as
required by the naturalization laws.
As to the kind of settlement and im
provement the pre-empter is required
to make, the words of the law are—
“that he shall inhabit and improve the
land and shall, erect a house thereon.”
The Right Of Pre-Emption.
For one quarter section, or 160
acres, at $2.50 per acre, extends to
every “alternate” United States or
reserved section along the line of rail
roads. For lands outside of railroad
limits, the price is $1.25 per acre. In
pre-emption cases, the Register and
Receiver are each entitled to a fee of
one dollar. Payment for the land at
the end of one year from settlement,
entitles the pre-emptor to a complete
title. He then becomes owner of it in
fee simple.
Lands Not Offered For Sale.
Where the tract has been surveyed
and not offered for public sale, the
claimant must! file his declaratory
statement within three months from
date of settlement, and make poof and
payment within thirty months after
the expiration of three months allowed
for making his declaratory notice, or,
in other words, within thirty-three
months from date of settlement. Ex
cepting that the pre-emptor can pur
chase ICO acres of government land
within railroad limits, instead of
eighty, to which the homesteader is
restricted (unless he has served ninety
days in the army), there is really no
advantage to be gained by the settler
pre-empting in preference to taking
up a homestead.
United States Timber Law. '
Under a recent act of Congress, any
person who is at the head of a family,
or over the age of twenty-one years,
and a citizen of the United States, or
.vho has declared his intention to be
ome such, is entitled, to receive ICO
u res of public land, on the condition
hat he or she plant, protect!, and keep
n a healthy growing condition, forty
a res of timber for a period of eight
ea; s. Residence upon the land is not
squired; so that a settler may live
"pon a homestead or pre-emption
>m, and, at the same time, receive
benefit of the timber act. Timber
daims are free from taxation, and
rom liability for debt.
None but citizens of the United
States or those who have declared
'• heir intention of becoming citizens
can avail themselves of any of fore
:,o'ng acts.
IRON HOSE.
Best on earth for the money.
2-tf O’Neill Variety Store.
SUPERVISORS’ PROCEEDINGS.
(Continued from last week.)
The entire bridge is out of align
ment and has settled considerable to
the west on which side the floor has
sagged, about a foot making it that
much lower there than on the east side
of the bridge.
The bottom cords are pulling
through the rotted wood.
It is our opinion that the defects
above set out make this bridge unsafe.
We think it extremely dangerous in
its present condition.
We don’t think this bridge can be
repaired. The wood is all very old,
and badly rotted in places. The floor
boards are badly worn. The steel and
part of the wood used in this bridge
were formerly a part of the old bridge
over the Niobrara at Redbird where
used for 10 or 15 years, and has been
used in the present bridge for 12
years; complete new piling, caps,
floor boards, batter posts, beams and
top cords would be required making
the cost equivalent to the cost of a
new structure.
It is our opinion therefore, that a
new bridge should be built here to re
place the present dangeous one.
The bridge carries a lot of heavy
traffic. It is used by all the travel to
Redbird and Lynch from this county.
We recommend prompt action before
a serious accident occurs. Also is on
a Star mail route.
Bridge No. 178 located about 1%
miles north of Inman about 1000 feet
north of the northeast corner of Sec
tion 13, Township 28 North Range 11
West, known as the Gannon Bridge.
We the undersigned members of the
County Board of Supervisors have
examined and found the west top
cord was badly warped and also the
east top cord was badly warped, and
split and the floor was badly rotted
and the entire bridge was out of align
ment and has since fallen in the river
and it will require an entirely new
bridge. For the reason that this
bridge is on the • main traveled road
between O’Neill and Inman.
Bridge No. 150 located* 1% miles
south of O’Neill inspected June 13,
1924.
_ n , , , . /• , ■% . _
we uniu cnai must ui me i/mng ah
two of the bents in this bridge are
badly rotted, and other short piling as
props have been put in to help support
the bridge, but in case of high water
we feel that these supports may be
carried away. We also find that the
stringers are in bad condition, the
upper edge of most of them being rot
ted to a depth of four inches, the
under tear of planks are old and badly
worn also the hand rail is in poor con
dition. This bridge is on a i-oad that
has very heavy traffic being on the
O’Neill and Chambers road and on a
mail route. We feel this bridge is in
a dangerous condition, and would
recommend a new bridge be built to
replace the old one.
L. C. McKIM.
^ E. GIBSON.
JOHN SULLIVAN.
At 12 o’clock noon on motion board
adjourned until 1 o’clock p. m.
L. C. McKIM, Chairman.
E. F. PORTER, Clerk.
O’Neill, Neb., June 16, 1924, 7 p. m.
Board met pursuant to adjourn
ment, all members present but Ha
vens.
Board called to order by Chairman.
Mr. Baldwin with his attoxmey ap
peared before the board in the matter
of alleged damages sustained by him,
his two sons horses and wagon, by the
collapse of the Gannon bridge.
Upon motion Nellis, seconed by
Skidmore, Mr. Baldwin was allowed
$200.00 for said damages.
Report of County Road Commissioner
on Bridges:
To the Hon. Board of Supervisors of
Holt County, Nebraska.
Messrs: I, on the 13th and 14th
inst. viewed certain County Bridges;
and the former location of one now
gone,, to-wit: Bridge No. 5 is 70 feet
long, 14 foot roadway located 1600
feet north of the southeast corner of
Section 11, Township 32 North Range
10 West, known as the “Red Bird
Bridge,” I find it in an extremely
dangerous condition. Woodwork de
caying, main body going down and
sags to the west and is liable to fall
any moment with an excessive heavy
load thereon.
Bridge No. 178 located about one
and one-half miles north of the town
of Inman and described as follows:
Located 1000 feet north of the north
east corner of Section 13, Township
28 North Range 11 West; length of
bridge is 102 feet, Roadway 14 feet.
This bridge is gone, fell into the Elk
horn river presumably of its own
weight. These old bridges were con
structed of wood and iron but should
be replaced by all steel and cement
bridges at once as their prominent
location; and constant use will not
admit of delay.
Bridge No. 150 located one and one
fourth miles soutlTof O’Neill is in bad
condtion but its replacement is not so
urgent as the above mentioned ones.
Signed this 14th day of June A. D.
1924, by ^ F NORTON,
Co. Highway Commissioner.
Resolution.
Whereas, Bridge No. 5 located at
or near the south-east corner of Sec
tion Eleven (11), in Township Thirty
two (32) North, of Range Ten (10),
West of the 6th P. M., Holt County,
Nebraska, known as the “Redbird
Bridge” is in an extremely dangerous
condition and is in need of immediate
repairs on account of the same being
sagged down and the substructure rot
ting away and account of high water
and heavy traffic the said bridge is
apt to topple over, and is therefore
unsafe and is liable to cause damage
and injury.
THEREFORE, Mr. Chairman, I
move you that an emergency be, and
the same hereby is, declared to exist,
and that the public good requires im
mediate action to prevent inconve
nience and damage, and that the Board
of Supervisors proceed to enter into a
contract as by law provided for the
necessary labor and material to repair
and re-construct said bridge and place
the same in a safe and passable con
dition.
AND WHEREAS, Mr. Chaiman,
Bridge No. 178, located about one
and one-half miles north of the town
of Inman across the Elkhom river
along the east side of the Southeast
Quarter of Section Twelve (12), in
Township Twenty-eight (28) North, of
Range Eleven (11), West of the 6th
P. M., has broken down on account of
high water, age, wear and heavy
traffic passing over the same, and that
said bridge is now impassable, and
public good requires immediate action j
to prevent inconvenience and damage.!
I. therefore, move you that an emer-!
gency be, and the same hereby is, de
clared to exist, and that the public
good requires immediate action to pre
vent inconvenience and damage in re
gard to said bridge, and that this
Board of Supervisors proceed to enter1
into a contract under the provisions!
of law for the necessary labor and;
material for the re-construction and;
repair of said bridge, together with
approaches thereto.
Both of said bridges to be repaired
and reconstructed so as to comply with
the requirements of the laws of the
State of Nebraska.
AND WHEREAS, Mr. Chairman,
Bridge No. 150, one and one-half mile
south of O’Neill over the Elkhorn
river is in an unsafe and dangerous
condition due to age, heavy traffic ai\d
high water and that the public good
requires immediate action to prevent
inconvenience and damage.
THEREFORE, I move you that an
emergency be, and the same hereby
is, declared to exist, and that the pub
lic good requires immediate action to
prevent inconvenience and damage in
regard to said bridge, and that this
Board of Supervisors proceed to enter
into a contract under the provision
plan for the necessary labor and ma
terial for the reconstruction and repair
of said bidge, together with approches
hereto and that said work be done in
compliance with the requirements of
the law of the State of Nebraska.
JOHN SULLIVAN.
E. GIBSON.
euium nruius mciwyp VDgqKj znxmnn
Upon same being put to vote by the
Chairman it was declared carried.
At 3 o’clock board went as a Com
mittee of the whole to meet the Boyd
County Board at Whiting Bridge on
a matter of protecting the bridge and
adjourned until June 24, 1924, at 10
o’clock a. m. unless sooner called by
the Clerk.
L. C. McKIM, Chairman.
E. F. PORTER, Clerk.
At a joint meeting of the county
boards of Boyd county and Holt
county, at Whiting bridge, at which
meeting Mr. McQuistan and Mr.
Brown, of Boyd county, Mr. A. C.
Tilley, division engineer and Mr. An
derson, of the Western Bridge! & Con
struction company, and all of the
county board of Holt county, but Mr.
Havens, were present.
Mr. McQuistan, of Boyd county, was
elected chairman.
The matter of jetties or protection
of the Whiting bridge was taken up.
Mr. Tilley explained that the de
partment of public works had decided
to use no protection other than at the
bridge itself.
Mr. Anderson explained a system of
protection which he wished to try out.
Mr. Tilley reported that he would
take the matter up with the state de
partment and it was decided to have
a meeting at some date to consider tihe
matter further.
On motion the meeting adjouned.
E. F. PORTER, Clerk,
w. e. McQuistan, chm.
O’Neill, Neb., June 17, 1924, 9 a. m.
Board of equalization met pursuant
to adjournment, all members present
but Havens.
Board called to order by Chairman.
Minutes of board of equalization for
June 10th, 11th and 12th, read and ap
proved.
Board spent! the forenoon in com
paring the valuations as returned by
the different Oil companies in the
county.
At iz o ciock noon on motion ooaiu
adjourned until 1 o'clock p. m.
L. C. McKIM, Chairman.
E. F. PORTER, Clerk.
O’Neill, Neb., June 17, 1924, 1 p. m.
Bard of equalization met pursuant
to adjournment, all members present.
Board called to order by Chairman,
and continued investigating complaints
on valuations.
At 5 o’clock p. m. on motion board
adjourned until June 18, 1924, at 9
o’clock a. m.
L. C. McKIM, Chairman.
E. F. PORTER, Clerk.
O’Neill, Neb., June 18, 1924, 9 a. m.
Board of equalization met pursuant
to adjournment, all members present.
Board called to order by Chairman.
Board heard several protests on land
assessments which were held over for
further consideration.
At 12 o’clock noon on motion board
(Continued on page four.)
First publication July 24.)
NOTICE OF REFEREE’S SALE.
By virt/ue of an order of court di
rected to me by the District Court of
Holt County, Nebraska, on the re
port of the Referee appointed by said
court, in the case wherein Anna B.
Schmidt is plaintiff, and Anna E.
Newman, Nee Schmidt, et-al are de
fendants, to sell at Public Vendue at
the Front door of the Court Heuse in
the City of O’Neill, Holt County, Ne
braska, the following described real
estate, to-wit:
The South 45 feet of Lots 9, 10, 11
and 12 in Block 17 of Hazeletts Ad
dition to O’Neill, also beginning at a
point 35 feet South and 45 feet East,
of the S. W. corner of Block 17 of
Hazeletts Addition to O’Neill, Ne- |
braska, Thence South 225 feet, thence
West 45 feet, thence South 203 feet ,
more or less to the section line on the
South side of Section-30, Township (
29 North Range 11 West 6th P. M.,
thence East along said Section line
602 feet, thence North 428 feet, thence ;
West 557 feet to the place of begin
ning, being a part of the W% of the
S. E. 14 of the S. W. Y* Section 30, i
Township 29, North Range 11 West ]
6tih P. M. being all of Blocks 19 and c
20 of Hazelets Addition to O’Neill,
except Lot 8 of said Block 20 as sur
veyed and recorded, for cash, and in l
compliance with said order I will offer '
said real estate as above described 1
for sale and will sell the same to the
highest bidder for cash in hand on
the 4th day of September, 1924, at
the hour of 10 o’clock A. M., at the
front door of the Court House in the
City of O’Neill, Holt County, Ne
braska.
Dated this 23rd day of July, 1924.
STEPHEN J. WEEKES,
8-5 Sole Referee.
r
NEBRASKA CULVERT AND |
MFG. CO. I
AUSTIN-WESTERN ROAD I
MACHINERY |
ARM CO CULVERTS g
Everything In Road Machinery I
Western Representative f|
L. C PETERS I
O’Neill Nebraska!
DR. L. A. CARTER
.Physician and Surgeon j
Glasses Correctly Fitted.
Office and Residence, Naylor Blk.
-Phone 72
O’NEILL :: :: NEBRASKA
W. F. FINLEY, i>I. D*
Phone, Office 28
O’Neill Nebraska
puimmwBMaiiiii
George M, Harrington I
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
PHONE 11. I
O’NEILL. NEBRASKA. |
^ Til. Ill.II HIM.■ ■■■■I
NEW FEED STORE!
In the Roberts Bam
in connection with the
Feed Barn. All kinds of
feeds and hay carried
in stock. We make de
livery.
We do custom grinding.
Office, 336. Res. 270 or 303
ROBERTS & HOUGH
THE O’NEILL
ABSTRACT COMPANY
—Compiles—
“Abstracts of Title”
THE ONLY COMPLETE SET OF
ABSTRACT BOOKS IN
HOLT COUNTY.
DR. J. P. GILL1GAN
Physician and Surgeon
Special Attention Given To
DISEASES OF THE EYE AND
CORRECT FITTING OF
GLASSES ,
H. L. BENNErF
GRADUATE VETERNARIAN
Phone 304. Day or Night.
O’NEILL, NEBRASKA.
O’NEILL CONCERT BAND.
Meet Monday night of each week at
band hall at 8:00 o’clock.
Clifford B. Scott, Leader.
E. D. Henry, Secretary-Treasurer.
rUBLHJ LlhKAlvi HOUno.
The Public Library will be open
each day except Sunday and Monday,
from 2:00 until 6:00 p. m.
MARY MCLAUGHLIN, Librarian.
ST.PATRICK’S CHURCH CATHOLIC
Sunday Services: First Mass 8 a.
m. , Second Mass 9 a. m., High Mass
at 10.30 a. m. Vespers 7:30 p. m.
Daily Mass 8 a. m.
Catechetical Instruction for First
tommun’cants 3 p. m. Tuesdays and
rhursdays.
Confession, Saturday from 3 p. m.
■o 8 p m. and from 7 p. m. to 9:30
r. m. Children’s Confession, First
fhursday every month at 1:30 p. m.
Very Rev. M. F. Cassidy, Pastor.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SERVICES:
Sunday School at 10 o’clock.
Preaching service at 11 o’clock.
Sunday evening at 8 o’clock.
Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock
>ible study.
You are welcome to all of these
iervices.
Please note the change of time and
hange in the order of the services.
__GEO. LONGSTAFF, Pastor.
flETHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Sunday Morning Service, 10:00 a.
n. , Sunday School 11:00 a. m., Young
’eople’s Service 7:00 p. m., Evening
iervice, 8:00 p. m.
Midweek Services: Tuesday, 8:00
'. m.; Young People’s Prayer Ser
ice Wednesday 8:00 p. m., Regular
’rrayer Meeting, Thursday, 8:00 p. m.
Rev. J. A. Hutchins, Pastor.