Historical society
VOL. LIII. O'NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1932. No. 7
HEAVY HAIL STORM VISITS A
LARGE TERRITORY
IN NORTHEAST NEBR. AND IOWA
A terrific hail storm, accompanied
by a deluge of rain and accompanied
by a fifty mile wind, wrecked crops in |
northeastern Nebraska, eastern South
Dakota and a portion of Western Iowa
yesterday afternoon. Burlington train
men report that the storm struck in |
the vicinity of Randolph, Nebraska,
and traveled east. At Randolph hail
stones the size of golf balls tell by
the thousands, wrecking window glass
and ruining growing crops.
At Centerville, South Dakota, the
storm devastated an erea of fifteen
square miles. At Lemars, Iowa, hail
stones three inches in diameter, and
high wind wrecked crops and did
thousands of dollars worth of damage
to buildings, smashing roofs and wind
ows and cutting tops of hundreds of
cars to ribbons. Hail stones lay like
drifts, clogging the streets. Rain
flooded cellars and telephone wires
were all down. The storm at LeMars
covered an erea of thirty-six square
miles.
ROAD CONTRACTS AWARDED
At Lincoln last Thursday the state
engineer awarded contracts for over
one million dollars worth of road work.
Among those awarded were the fol
lowing in this section of the state:
O’Neill-Bartlett, eight miles, two
inches of gravel, to the Western
Bridge Company, $6,538.
Chambers east four and eight tenth
miles, one and one-half inches of
gravel, $3,160.00, to Western Bridge
Company.
Deverre-Atkinson, Twelve and five-;
tenths miles oil sand, to the Western
Biidge & Construction Co., $37,209.00.
On the O’Neill-Atkinson and O’Neill
Spencer roads action was deferred for
the present. There are rumors that
this project may be readvertised be
cause some contractors were given
certain information by the highway
department office as to where material
was to be hauled from and certain
others did not receive this information.
The bids on the resurfacing of the
one and five tenth miles of oil gravel
road, O’Neill-Bartlett, was rejected as
too high.
IN DISTRICT COURT
The Federal Reserve Land Bank of
Omaha has filed suit in the district
court to foreclose a mortgage given
by Michael Langan and his wife on
the northwest quarter of section three,
and the northwest quarter of section
fourteen, in township thirty-one, north
of range twelve, west of the sixth
p. m. in Holt county, Nebraska, to
collect a balance due on said mortgage,
including taxes and interest, amount
ing to $3,127.75. In their petition
they allege that the defendants are now
deceased, and they have named their
son, Michael M. Langan and his wife
Jane C. Langan, as party defendants
as he is the only heir at law. They
further allege that on April 28, 1926
they made a loan to the defendants of
$2,700.00 which was to be paid in
seventy semi - annual payments of
$84.38 each, payable on the first day
of May and November of each year.
They further allege that they failed
to make the payments due on May 1,
and November 1, 1930; that they failed
to make payments due on May 1 and
November 1 1931 and that they failed
to make the payment due on May 1,
1932. That they neglected and failed
to pay the taxes due on said land for
the years 1929, ’30 and ’31, amounting
to $201.96 and that plaintiff had to
pay them to protect their interest in
said property. Holt county and C. L.
Benson are also made party defend
ants for the reason that they hold
judgments against Michael M. Lagan,
but alleges that they are junior and
inferior to the plaintiff's mortgage.
They ask for foreclosure and sale of
the propetry to satisfy the amount
found due.
The Grattan Stitch In Tome Club
held its last meeting on June 22, at
the home of Mona Melvin. The prob
lem discussed was the remodeling of
garments after which a judging con
test was held on samples of patching
and darning which the members had
brought A demonstration on the
methods of patching and darning was
presented by Hazel Bredehoft and
Catherine Stanton. After the meeting
delightful refreshments were served
on the lawn.
Mike Rotherham is up from Ewing
today.
CARD PLAYERS REAL THRILL.
The thrill that comes once in a life
time to a pinochle player is in getting
a hand that contains one thousand aces
or 1,500 trump. We witnessed a lady
receive this thrill in a card game at
our home last Sunday evening. The
recipient of the thrill was Mrs. John
W. Gleason of Omaha. The securing
of hands of this magnitude aie very
rare indeed when four are playing the
game, with only one pinochle deck.
To the uninitiated we might say that
the game is played with all the cards
above the eight spot in two decks,
making forty-eight cards in a pincohle
deck. In playing a four-handed game
each player has eleven cards and
there are four cards in the “widow”
from which the successful bidder can
choose any cards therein that he or
she may wish, but must discard their
hand down to eleven cards. In order
to secure 1,500 trump a player must
have all of one suit except the nines,
which are not necessary to make the
1,500. At the home of the editor last
Sunday evening the editor and his
wife were playing with Mr. and Mrs.
John Gleason of Omaha, Mrs. Gleason
being my partner and Mr. Gleason and
Mrs. Cronin playing together as part
ners. The cards had not been running
very good for Mrs. Gleason and myself
and we were on the short end of the
score and were inclinded to bid high.
I finally secured a fairly good hand
and started bidding. The bidding
mounted and Mrs. Cronin and Mr.
Gleason w'ere forced out and there
was left only my partner and myself
bidding, her last bid being 300. I dis
liked letting her have it as my hand
had great possibilities, but I finally
did so. When I looked at the “widow”
I discovered that had I kept on bidding
I would have lacked only one card of
having 1,500, as my hand would have
been made up of nine spades and
stated so. “Why,” said Mrs. Gleason
“I have 1,500 diamonds in my hand,”
and she did have without any assist
ance from the “widow”. She had all the
diamonds in her hand except one nine
spot and she took every trick, making
1,700 for the one hand, and, although
this was the first hand in this partic
ular game our opponents kindly con
ceded this game to us. During the
past seven years Mrs. Cronin and my
self have played a great deal of pin
ochle in Omaha, having belonged to
a pinochle club of which Mr. and Mrs.
Gleason were members and during all
of our playing have never seen a hand
of 1.500 trump played and it rarely
happens, so Mrs. Gleason is entitled
to all the thrill possible out of this
feat We also want to assure the
members of the Club in Omaha that
Mrs. Gleason came by this hand hon
estly as I did the dealing and they
know that it is impossible for me to
do anything with the cards, except
dealthem out and let them fall where
they may.
While attending a party last even
ing at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
McManus, in the western part of the
city, Mrs. W. J. Biglin had her car
parked outside of the house. After
the party was' over she went out and
got into her car and drove home. It
was then discovered that the cap was
off her gasoline tank and a small
rubber syphon hose was inserted
therein and the gas kept running from
the car on her way home. It is evident
that someone was getting some gas
from her car and was scared away
when she came out and did not have
time to rescue his hose and make his
get away, so he left the hose and dis
appeared. For some time last winter
and spring this was a common prac
time here, but the young fellows, who
it was thought were guilty of these
offenses are now incarcerated, so it
is evident that some others are also
engaged in surrepticiously purloining
other peoples goods. A good many
years ago petty thievery was ram
pant in this city, so much so that
many residents prepared for intruders.
One morning, a certain young man
went to a local physician and had
several grain of very small shot re
moved from his anatomy, the result
of one of the above named residents
watchfulness and good marksmanship.
There was no more petty thieving for
a long time.
Many of the people of this city
drove out to Scottville last Monday
to assist the people of that locality in
celebrating the nation’s birthday. A
fairly large crowd was present and a
good time was had by all those in
attendance. Judge Malone of this city
was the speaker of the day and de
livered a stirring patriotic address
[ well suited to the occasion.
MEMBERS ARE ENTERTAINED
AT COUNTRY CLUB
WITH CELEBRATION ON FOURTH
A Fourth of July celebration was
held at the O’Neill Country Club last
Monday afternoon and evening for the
members and their families and in
vited guests. It is estimated that
there were 200 in attendance during
the afternoon and about 500 in the
evening.
Roy Sauers had charge of the sports
of the afternoon and he had a nice
program arranged, which was eagerly
participated in by both the young
folks as well as the grown-ups. Fol
lowing is a list of the sports and the
winners of the different contests:
Girls Rare Winners
Age 7 to 11 years Nadene Coyne
Age 11 to 14 years Mary Catherine
Coyne
Boys Race
Age 7 to 11 years Billie Biglin
Age 12 to 14 years Bun McNally
Sack race __Robert Sauers
Three legged race Robert Sauers:
and Bun McNally
Driving contest,—Men Ben Hasty
Putting contest—Men W. J. Hammond
Driving Contest—Women Mrs.
Arthur Ryan
Putting Contest—Women Mrs.
W. J. Biglin
Misses Slipper Kicking Contest
Mary J. Hammond
Mrs. Slipper Kicking Contest Mrs.
F. J. Dishner.
A base ball game between the fats
and the leans was won by the fats
with a score of 15 to 13.
A pole race between single men was
won by the team captained by James
i Tutor.
The display of fireworks in the
evening was one of the best ever seen
in this city and was thoroughly en
| joyed by the grown ups as well as
the little tots. The Country Club fig
j ure on making this an annual event.
BRIEFLY STATED
Wesley Sanford spent the Fourth
I visiting relatives at Ainstworth.
Miss Evelyn McManus entertained
; the Martez Club last Wednesday
evening.
Mrs. Ben Grady entertained the
Martez Club at her home last Friday
evening.
P. E. McKillop, of Albion, is in the
city today looking after business
matters.
G. E. Slocum, of Valentine, is in
the city today looking after business
matters.
\\T. H. Graver was looking after
business matters in the city last
Wednesday.
—
Mrs. Oliver Cromwell, of Creighton,
was in the city the first of the week
visiting relatives.
Dick Porter was up from Chambers
last Saturday and favored this office
with a pleasant call.
Dick Tomlinson came up from Oma
ha Saturday and spent the Fourth
| with the home folks.
Mrs. Ralph Mellor entertained the
Delta Deck Card Club at her home
last Thursday evening.
Mrs. Dean Cook and children came
over from Spencer Monday to spend
the day with Mr. Cook.
Mr. and Mrs. Buv Wanser and son,
of Page, are looking after business
maters in the city today.
Miss Mildred Walker, of Page, is
in the city visiting at the home of her
sister, Mrs. L. A. Burgess.
Miss Lucille Hough returned home
Monday night from a few days visit
with friends at Brunswick.
Geraid Phalen came up from Omaha
last Sunday and spent the week end.
visiting w'ith the home folks.
Eldon McPharlin came up from
Omaha last Wednesday for a few
days visit with the home folks.
Miss Fern Hubard returned Tues
| day night from a weeks visit with
| relatives and friends in Lincoln.
! “A ROLL OF HONOR BANK”
REPORT OF THE CONDITION OF
QYUkill Hcitiomtl iBank
AS MADE TO THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY JUNE 30. 1932.
RESOURCES
LOANS AND DISCOUNTS $158,929.19
This consists largely of local loans,
mostly farmers, a large percent of
which are secured by chattel mort
gage or other collateral.
OVERDRAFTS ____ 17.87
This is money we have inadvertent
ly allowed customers to withdraw
over and above their balances. While
this item is small, it is a technical
violation of the law and reflects no
particular credit on us.
UNITED STATES BONDS 166,800.00
These are all interest bearing gold
obligations of the United States.
OTHER BONDS and SECURITIES 134,397.32
This consists of municipal and in
dustrial bonds; county, township
and school warrants, and stock in
Federal Reserve Bank.
BANKING HOUSE and FIXTURES 6,068.00
Consisting of bank building, vaults,
safes and fixtures of all kinds, worth
about double the above amount.
OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED 5,000.00
This consists of a clear 640 acres of
improved farm land in Holt county
and two residence properties.
CASH AND SIGHT EXCHANGE 90,868.43
This consists of cash in vault, due
from U. S. Treasurer, Federal Re
serve bank and other banks.
TOTAL . $561,080.81
LIABILITIES
CAPITAL STOCK ______$ 60,000.00
This represents the cash paid in
on the original investment by the
stock holders.
SURPLUS AND UNDIVIDED
PROFITS 74,117.67
This is a part of the earnings of
the bank that have been set aside
from time to time to cover possible
losses and for the further protec
tion of our depositors. This fund is
46 per cent of all our loans and dis
counts and 148 per cent of our
capital.
CIRCULATION __ _ 60,000.00
This represents the “currency” or
“national bank notes" we have in
circulation for which we have de
posited with the Treasurer of the
United States $60,000.00 U. S. Gold
bonds to guarantee the redemption
of these notes.
DEPOSITS 386,963.24
Represents money deposited in this
bank by firms or individuals, a part
of which is subject to check on de
mand and a part on time certificates
of deposit on which we pay 3*4 per
cent interest.
REDISCOUNTS OR BILLS
PAYABLE NONE
TOTAL . $561,080.81
For several years vve have adopted the policy
of giving in more detail and analyzing more
fully the various items that make up the bank
statement.
The following is a further analysis of the
present statement.
Our cash on hand of $90,868.43, is $69,697.50
more than the legal requirements. United
State* government bonds $106,800. Other bonds
and securities amounting to $134,397.32 con
sists of the following: Holt county warrants,
$43,379.30; Holt county school, city, township
warrants and bonds, $9,120.73; other Nebraska
short term school and municipal bonds and
warrants, $9,969.22; other tax free bonds and
municipal warrants, $24,700.00; Stock in Fed
eral Reserve Bank, $3,000.00; other bonds and
securities, $44,228.07, of which $18,837.00 will
be due in 1932 and 1933. From this it will be
seen that our cash on hand, U. S. government
bonds, and other tax free warrants and bonds
amount to $344,065.75, or over 88 per cent of
our deposits.
The above represents the amount at which
the above securities are carried on our books
after such charge off has been made for market
depreciation as recommended by National Bank
Examiner C. W. Lyon, at his last regular ex
amination on April 8, 1932.
Our loans and discounts amount to $158,
929,19. This is made up of something over
400 notes, most of which are secured, or ac
companied by financial statement.
We have what may be properly termed 215
cattle loans amounting to $104,141.86 secured
by chattel mortgage on 6568 head of cattle
(an average of $15.84 per head) and in addition
thereto there is additional collateral in the
mortgages on 662 horses and mules and 1140
hogs, farm machinery, etc. Our largest in
dividual cattle loan is $3,600.00. With this con
dition of liquidity we could if necessary pay
off every depositor we have within a week’s
time without calling a single local loan. Such
a policy results in reduced earnings but is the
only safe way known of to avoid difficulty
under present conditions. Those who are un
informed and ill advised may sav this policy
puts an undue restriction on local credits, but
banks have no right to jeopardize funds of their
depositors at the dictation of borrowers.
OFFICERS
S J WEEKES "resident ED. F. QUINN Assistant Cashier
(' P HANCOCK _ Cashier F. N. CRONIN - Assistant Cashier
THIS BANK CARRIES NO INDEBTEDNESS OF OFFICERS OR STOCKHOLDERS.
'"- ..
Editor and Postmaster Jackson of
Inman was transacting business in
this city the latter part of last week.
Miss Peggy McLeod came up from
Omaha Sunday for a few days visit
at the home of her mother, Mrs. Mary
McLeod.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Conklin and
daughter came from Lincoln last Sat
urday to spend the Fourth with the
home folks.
Pete Soughey, a former resident of
this city, was up from Lincoln the
forepart of thqr week visiting old
time friends.
Roamine Sounders was up from the
ranch last Wednesday. “Pete” says
that everything is looking fine in the
south country.
Deputy Game Warden William Web
ber and Gib McCreath, of Atkinson,
are looking after business matters in
the city today.
Mrs. Hess Baker, of Chambers, was
in the city the latter part of last
week visiting at the home of her
mother, Mrs. Mary McLeod.
Mr. and Mrs. William Gatz re
turned last Sunday evening from a
weeks visit with relatives and friends
in Omaha and eastern Iowa.
Father Clement Ryan, son of J. B.
Ryan of this city, will be one of the
instructors at Creighton University,
Omaha, for the coming year.
Dr. W. F. Finley returned last
Sunday night from Chicago, where he
had gone to witness the sights at the
democratic national convention.
The County Board is in session this
week, sitting as a board of equaliza
tion, the meeting having been ad
journed over from last month.
Thomas Sladek, of Verdigre, and
Miss Agatha K. Morrison, of Royal,
were married Thursday morning at
the Methodist parsonage in O’Neill.
Five binders have been sold by
Biglin’s during the past ten days,
which is a good criterion of the con
dition of the small grain crop in this
section.
Mrs. John Osenbaugh and Mrs. Arlo
Hiatt will entertain the Presbyterian
Ladies Guild at the home of Mrs.
Osenbaugh at 2.30 p. m., Thursday,
July 14.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Warner and child
ren drove down to Stanton last Sat
urday and spent the week end visit
ing relatives and friends in that
vicinity.
Mr. and Mrs. Kyser, of Gary Indi
l ana, arrived in the city last Sunday
1 for a visit with relatives here. Mrs.
Keyset* is a niece of Sheridan
' Simmons.
Miss Jean Schroeder, of Omaha, is
in the city for a few weeks visit at
the home of her grandparents, Mr. and
Mrs. F. C. Gat: and with other rela
tes here.
Mrs. Donald McClellan, of Omaha,
came up from that city the latter
part of the week for a visit with her
fa her, Arthur Ryan, and other rela
tives here.
Mis3 Nellie Brown, of Omaha, ar
rived in the city last Sunday for a
visit at the home of Dr. and Mrs. J. P.
Brown. Miss Brown is a sister of
Dr. Brown.
Gene Leahy, who was a resident of
this city for several years, but who
! now lives at Casper, Wyoming, was in
the city for a few hours Friday last
visiting old-time friends.
Ezra Moore, of Inman township,
was a pleasant caller at these head
| quarters last week. Mr. Moore is one
[ of the pioneer settlers of this county
and says that he does not ever remem
ber crop conditions here to look any
better at anytime than they are today.
Dean Selah came home last Monday
night from Chicago, where he had been
employed the past two months. Dean
says that Arthur Mullen furnished
him with tickets and he was able to
take in the sights of the democratic
national convention during two days
I sessions.
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