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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 1935)
N#b. State Historical Society The Frontier 9 VOL. LVI. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1935. No. 25 * ——————————————————*—^^. fl¥)UR ADULTS AND CHILD HAVE CLOSE CALL IN NIGHT FIRE IPire Early Tuesday Morning Burns Building And Contents of the Shelhamer Oil Company The most serious fire here in many months broke out last Tues day morning about 5:30 in the Shel hamer Bros, filling station, situated just west of the Hanford creamery building, a little over a block from the center of town, west, and on the south side of the street. The station formerly was a WNAX unit and was purchased by Shelhamers last September. The Shelhamer’s came here from Kim ball, S. D. In the upstairs of the station were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Shelhamer, their eight-months old son, Paul, and Mr. Shelhamer’s father and mother. Down stairs was the night mao, Curley Washechek. The night man yelled “fire” when he saw smoke coming from a lower central room. Upstairs Roy Shel hamer slowly awoke, soon found fire breaking under his bed, got up and tried to put it out on the floor, thinking that the origin of the blaze. Roy now’ realized the dang er, opened a door leading down and met a mass of flame. Half choked, those upstairs made their way to a window. Roy, using his fist, broke glass out and those trapped jumped to a Booth Transfer truck. A traveling man turned in an alarm and firemen arrived and poured water on the building several hours. At times, bursts of northwest wind fanned the fire to fury. The two story structure, of wood covered with tin, was entirely ruined and a nice stock of tubes, tires and accessories burned. The brothers say they are still in business and will remain here afnd continue servicing motor ve hicles. The gasoline pumps were not damaged in any degree. Mr. and Mrs. Roy SJielhamer attended a dance until about 1 o’clock and they found everything in good order in all rooms at that hour. The station is operated by Roy and Ray Shelhamer. Ray and his wife occupy the residence just east of the Mr. and Mrs. Johfi Kersen brock home, three blocks east and one south of the center of town. The parents of the Shelhamer boys are Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Shelhamer. All who were upstairs at the time the fire started were asleep. At the time, the night watchman was busy repairing a tire. Mrs. Roy Shelhamer carried her child to safety. Those who had been sleeping made their escape in their night clothing. Electric lights, turned on, burned briefly and the lights then went out as the wires burned in two. The brothers say their loss is several thousand dollars and that their insurance is light. Busy Hour Club The Busy Hour Club met at the home of Mrs. Vic Johnson on Oc tober 31, 1935. All members were present except Linda Wayman and Irene Hershiser. Mrs. Lowell Johnson was a visitor. The after noon was spent in sewing after which a delicious lunch of cake, doughnuts, fruit salad and coffee was served. The next meeting will be with Mrs. L. 0. Johnson on November 21, 1935. CREST TIRES! If everybody knew what we know, the only Tire on the road w<fuld be Crest. In Crest you get not only high quality but a saving as well. Buy two and save more. 4.75-19, two tires, $14.68. TUBE FREE. Hundreds of taxpayers inspected the court house here today and everyone expressed themselves as surprised at the condition of the Holt county headquarters. Prac tically all of them said they would wte for a new building at the special election in Holt county on November 12. Some have wondered why there are no bats, rats and English spar- j rows in the court house with cracks j one inch wide. The reasor is these ' prowlers have an uncanny sense1 of danger and. know the building is liable to tumble down on them. 1 BRIEFLY STATED Thomas Hanrahan, one of the pioneers of the western part of the county, was down from Atkinson this morning. District Judge R. R. Dickson and Court Reporter McElhaney held a special term of court at Butte Monday and Tuesday. Mrs. Z. W. Credle and daughter, Judith of Omaha, are in the city visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. O’Donnell. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Butterfield, prominent ranchers nine miles south of here, with their children were in O’Neill Thursday on busi ness. Ambrose Rohde, assistant man ager of the Council Oak store, is on duty again after being laid up for several days with an attack of tonsilitis. Walter Stein was in Omaha Tuesday at a sales meet and while there inspected the new Studebaker cars and found them a realized dream of beauty, efficiency and comfort. Roy Andressen, of the A. & B. Drug Company, of Bloomfield, was in the city last Sunday visiting Henry Beckman. Mr. Andresen says that business is fair in his section of the state. .— — ■ E. J. Eby, formerly engaged in the oil business here, has purchas ed lots just across the street from the New Deal Oil station and we understand he intends to erect a filling station thereon. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Godescik, of Omaha, who had been guests here at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bazelman, returned to their home last Sunday. Mr. Godesck hunted pheasants while here. Work was started Tuesday morn ing digging on the two blocks north of Douglas street, on Fourth, in order to put in the copper water connections preparatory to the laying of the pavement in the spring. The whine of the buzz saw, man’s reply to the icy, penetrating fingers of old man winter is, oddly enough, pitched in the same key as the whine of a blizzard as it enters cracks and nailholes of a building. While coming down town last Monday morning Bob Morrison slipped on the icy sidewalk, fell and struck the back of his head on the walk. He was badly shaken up but had not bones broken and will be OK in a few days. Lawrence and Raymond Babcock, of Humbolt, relatives of Mr. and Mrs. John Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Johnson farmers west of town, were visiting here the latter part of last week and the first of this. A dark complexioned gentleman claiming to be of Ethiopean ex traction, who has heen employed here for several months, was a west-bound passenger Wednesday night. He lost his job and city authorities requested him to seek greener fields. Edward Kirpatrick, now station ed at Niobrara CCC camp, was visiting home folks here last Fri day to Sunday. Edward says he is very fond of the camp life. The food is good, beds clean, officers reasonable and the work fascin ating, he says. Playing here on the local pigskin reservation last Friday afternoon, the local public high school foot ball aggregation and the Santee Indians kicked dust in one of those hotcha-atcha skirmishes which race hearts of spectators. O’Neill won by the slendor margin of 7 to G. - 1 The rat-tat of carpenter’s ham mers is heard in every part of town. Much repair work, such as shingling, is being done before winter draws his icycicles and some new construction is also under way. It may be said that this city is making at all times, a steady growth. SAM NELSON, EARLY HOLT PIONEER DIES AT HIS FARM HOME Funeral Services Held Sunday and Burial In the Cemetery At Mineola. Soren Nelson died at his farm home 14 miles northeast of O’Neill about 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, October 31, after a continued ill ness of about one year, at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 13 days. The funeral was held Sunday after noon at 2 o’clock, Rev. May, of the O’Neill Methodist church officiating and burial was in the Mineola cem etery beside a daughter who passed away 20 years ago. Sam Nelson, as he was better known, was born in Norway on January 17, 1856, and came to the United States with his parents at the age of 5 years, they settling at Red Wing, Minn., and then moved from there to Clay county, Ne braska, and then he came to Holt county, Nebraska, in 1880, where he resided and was united in mar riage to Miss Belle Thornton at O’Neill, Nebr. To this union three ’daughters were born, two of whom survive and who with their mother are left to mourn a kind and affectionate husband and father. The children are: Mrs. Dewey Durnell, Hollywood, Calif.; Mrs. Philip Allendorfer, of O’Neill and Mrs. Addie Richter, deceased. There are four grandchildren, Mrs. Frank Seybold, of Hollywood, Cal., and Ned, Billy and Bobby Allen dorfer, of O’Neill. In 1909 the family moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming, making there home there until two years ago when they returned to the old homestead, residing there until the present time. Sam Nelson was a pioneer resi dent of Holt county, widely known and loved by all who knew him. He was always interested in the welfare of his home and commun ity ...id will be missed, not only by his relatives, but by everyone. *** Should Inspect Court House Before Voting If there are any taxpayers in this city who doubt the reported tumbledown condition of the Holt county court house we urge them to inspect the building before cast ing their vote next Tuesday. See the fallen piece of the old foun dation in the furnace room. Crush some of it in your hand. See the ohter numerous defects mentioned in The Frontier some time ago. Someone will show you around. Be sure to inspect the cracks between the rear vault room and the old main building. They have pulled apart about one inch, that is, the courthouse has settled westward. “The vault got a divorce,” the Norfolk News said the other day. Very true, probably on grounds of desertion and non-support. If you inspect this court house you will vote for a new one. To Hold Canning Contest All project Club members are urged to enter the canning contest which is November 25. As announc ed at the project meetings, please take your jars to the Agricultural Agent’s home in O’Neill before the 25th. After that date a window exhibit will be made of the mater ial brought in. Obituary Millard Chris Peterson was born at Verdell, Nebraska, April 14, 1898. He departed this life Octo ber 31, 1935, at the age of 37 years, 6 months and 14 days.. He grew to manhood in Holt county, Nebraska, and. in 1913, he moved with his parents to Gregory county, South Dakota. In the year 1924 he returned to Holt county where he resided up to the time of his death. He was united in marriage to j Miss Louise Stein, of O’Neill, on j August 5, 1926. To this union! three children were born, one pre ceding him in death, at the age of three months. He leaces to mourn his loss, his wife, Mrs. Louise Pet erson, one son, Robert, one daugh ter, Lois Ann; his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Peter son, of O’Neill, and four sisters i and three brothers, as follows: Mrs. Myrtle Audis, Gregory, S. D.; Mrs. Rose Carroll, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Laura Holmquest, Colome, S. D.; Mrs. Emma Thompson, Greg- { ory, S. D.; Orville, Lyle and Leon ard, of O’Neill and a host of other relatives and friends by whom he will be greatly missed. He was taken ill on Friday, Oc tober 25, and was taken to the O’Neill hospital on Monday, Octo ber 28. His illness developed into pneumonia which was the cause of his untimely death. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Chester Anderson, of An oka, Nebraska, Monday at 2 p. m., at the Pleasant Valley Presbyter ian church, and a large gathering followed the remains to the Pleas ant Valley cemetery, where they were laid to rest. I cannot say, and I will not say That he is dead—he is just away. With a cherry smile and a wave of the hand, As he wandered into an unknown land, And left usdreaming how very fair It needs must be, since he lingers there. And you, O you, who the wildest yearn For the old time step and the glad return— Think of him faring on, as dear In the love of There as the love of Here. *** Hospital Notes Terrance Caulfield, of Inman, is greatly improved from a very sev ere attack of pneumonia. He is now able to sit up in bed and take nourishment. Mrs. Ambrose Slattery, from south of town, came in Wednesday afternoon, threatened with pneu monia. She is resting fairly com fortable at present. Miss Mamie Shoemaker, who was quite ill last week with the “flu” is again able to go about her usual duties. Boys Warned Against Molesting Pedestrians Six young boys Vere before Mayor Kersenbrbck Wednesday and the mayor lectured them on what may happen to them if they do not cease such antics as heaving rocks and milk bottles at innocent pedestrians on sidewalks from the tops of store buildings, which gives an advantage like a machine gun nest on the deck of a battleship. A woman also reported the same boys tore down her fence and made bulls eyes almost every time they aimed brickbats at her chickens. Another pastime of the boys was to steer a toy wagon on sidewalks so a victim could throw up his hands or his feet, but he had to halt and there was no second choice. Distribute Gas Tax Funds State Treasurere George Hall reported distribution of $291,211 in gas taxes to the various counties of the state for the month of Sep tember. Net September collections were $776,662 of which three eights was distributed to the counties on a prorata basis. Count ies in this section of the state bene fitted as follows: Holt, $2,974; An telope, $3,341; Boyd, $1,231; Brown $1,111; Cedar, $2,940; Keya Paha, $647; Cherry, $2,007; Knox, $3,091; Rock, $619. O’Neill Project Club The O’Neill Project Club met at the home of Mrs. John Protivin sky Wednesday afternoon, Novem ber 6. “Holiday Happiness” was demonstrated by Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Burch. A delicious lunch was served by Mrs. Protivinsky and Gertrude Bauman. Two visi tors were present, Miss Eleanor Hotchkiss and Mrs. Claude John son. Last week R. E. Lucas, about twelve miles east of this city, sold a registered Hereford bull calf, less than six months old, to Walter Sire, of Inman, for $250. Mr. Lucas has a fine herd of registered Herefords and looks for an increas ed demand for this type of cattle this winter and spring. H. B. Hubbard and daughter, Miss Fern, came up from Lincoln last Friday and spent a couple of days visiting friends and looking after business interests, returning home Sunday afternoon. Miss Inez O’Connell, efficient deputy clerk of the Holt county district court, returned Sunday after several days visit in Omaha. LOCAL LEGION HAS PROGRAM PLANNED FOR ARMISTICE DAY Program Begins At 10:30 In the Morning—Football Game and Dance On the Program. The local American Legion post members have made elaborate plans to celebrate the day, Mon day, which is set aside here by the entire town to commemorate the aniversary of the day on which hostilities were ended along the greatest battle fronts in all history. Those coming here for the day will find a long program. At 10:3() a. m., there is to be a parade. At 11 o’clock a stirring patriotic pro gram at the K. C. Hall. At noon the ex-service men and their guests will lunch at the Golden hotel and at 2:30 Spencer and O’Neill public school football elevens tangle in a classic struggle that will heat your blood to the limit. At 9 o’clock, evening, the grand Armistice ball at Danceland starts, to music furnished by that dazzling orchestra under direction of Wayne Stuts, 12 pieces and more music than a county fair band. Music for the day is to be by the O’Neill school band and that as sures the best entertainment in all north Nebraska. Commander C. W. Conklin assures everyone a full and proper observance of Armis tice day, next Monday. Mayor Kersenbrock requests the business places of the city to close from 12 o’clock until 3 p. m., in order to properly observe the day. Suffers Shock In Auto Collision Last Friday near 4 o’clock in the afternoon automobiles driven by ^rs. Arthur Ryan and Joe Madura came together at the street corner just northeast of the Methodist church with the result that two persons suffered shock or injuries. Mrs. Ryan suffered a severe shock and was in bed for several days. In the car Madura was driving were Mrs. Andrew Wet lauffer, her daughter, Evelyn, and an eight months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Strong. The babe suffered a concussion and cuts about the right side of her head and is reported now to be well on the road to recovery. Mrs. Ryan has also recovered and is re ported as being up and around. Mrs. Ryan was driving her machine east and the other car was traveling south. The Mellor Motor Company reported, after viewing the machines, that neither was damaged beyond repair and that the Ryan machine was the most seripusly damaged of the two. Proves Value As An Advertising Medium For the second successive week The Frontier is carrying over 400 inches of display advertising, 428 inches last week and 445 inches this week. Advertisers have learn ed the value of The Frontier as an | advertising medium and for the past year have been very liberal users of its advertising columns. The successful business institu tions are the ones that are the greatest users of advertising in all its forms and it is conceded that the newspaper leads all other forms of advertising as business builders. CARD OF THANKS. We take this means of express ing our deepest thanks and heart felt gratitude to all our friends and neighbors who showed us so many kindnesses and who were so thoughtful during the illness and at the death of our dear husband, father and grandfather. We deeply appreciated the beautiful flowers. -—Mrs. Sam Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Durnell, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Allendorfer and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Richter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Seybold. CARD OF THANKS. For thoughtfulness shown in every way and for sympathy ex pressed by friends and neighbors in the hours of bereavement occas sioned by the death of our beloved wife and mother, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Gatz, we desire to ex press our sincerest thanks. Your kindness will ever be gratefully re membered.—F. C. Gatz and family. PEOPLE AND THINGS The following relatives from out of town were in the city last Sat urday in attendance at the funeral of Mrs. F. C. Gatz: Mrs. A. J. Schroeder and family, Omaha, daughter; Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Clift and family, Long Pine, daughter; Mrs. Frank Stevenson, Columbus, daughter; Charles Gatz, Niobrara, son; Mr. and Mrs. George Engel, Central City, brother; Mr, and Mrs. Henry Engel, of Ainsworth, a nephew; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kluck, Richland, Nebr., a nephew and a granddaughter; Charles and Jake Lewis, Columbus, cousins. They all returned to their homes Sunday afternoon. C. A. Doc Green, of Lincoln, was in the city the latter part of last week and favored this office with a short call. Doc is a candidate for the republican nomination for lieu tenant governor on the republican ticket at the coming primary elect ion next April, and was promoting his candidacy in this section of the state. He was a candidate for the office in the last primary, but failed to land the nomination. He is a traveling sulesman and has many friends over the state and he thinks his chances for the nomination are very bright. Miss Catherine Finley entertain ed thirteen of her young lady friends with a Hallowe’en party last Thursday evening. The home was splendidly decorated with ap propriate emblems suitable for the evening and the young ladies play ed various games, the winners of which received prizes. A delicious lunch was served and all the young ladies agree that they had a de lightful time and that Miss Cath erine is a charming hostess. Last Sunday a party consisting of Levi Fuller, Jr., Clcta and Stella and Laverne Van Every and Kath erine Shoemaker by auto returned Edward Kilpatrick to the Niobrara CCC camp and on the way home visited Mr. and Mrs. Grant White and children at Bristow. Grant, operator here for the Northwestern railway for more than a dozen years is nicely situated at Bristow, members of the party reported. —v Last Tuesday Ben Harty pur chased the brick building on Doug last street, now occupied by his laundry, dry cleaning and tailor shop, of Mrs. Henry Zimmerman, paying $4,000 therefor. Mr. Harty has been in the building for about two years, having leased the build ing for a term of years, but having an opportuity to purchase it de cided to do so. It is a good piece of property. The sidewalks from the Nebras ka State bank building to the Nay lor building, occupied by Dr. Sher bahn, mostly have been replaced. New concrete has been placed in front of Suchy’s, Horiskey’s, Quig's, Bowen’s, Harrington’s Melvin’s Harty’s and Naylors bus iness places and several others may replace walks. The south side of that street now looks like a million dollars. Mrs. Anna Kubichek, 98 years, old, of Harrold, S. D., arrived in ONeill Friday for a few days visit with her son, Frank Kubichek and family. Grandma Kubichek was one of the early settlers to home stead nine miles northwest of O’Neill. She left here about 37 years ago. She is still in fairly good health. Her daughter, Mrs. Mary Winkler and son accompanied her. Chief of Police Chet Calkins Tuesday morning at the Shelhamer Bros filling station fire suffered a severe electric shock in the hand ling a wire while trying to reach Mr. and Mrs. Roy Shelhamer who were trapped upstairs with their eight-month old child. Chet seems to suffer no serious consequences of the shock. The funeral of Mrs. F. C. Gatz was held from the Presbyterian church last Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. Vahle, Lutheran minister of Atkinson officiating. The funeral was very largely at tended attesting the esteem in which the deceased was held in this city where she spent the most of her life. A. L. ROUSE IS DEAD AFTER AN ILLNESS OF HEART DISEASE Funeral For Early Pioneer Will Be Held Friday Afternoon In Marquette Chapel. Alphonza L. Rouse died at his home in this city about 1:30 Wed nesday afternoon, after an illness of several months of heart disease, at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 14 days. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock services in the Marquette chapel. Rev. A. J. May of this city officiat ing, and burial in Marquette ceme tery. A. L. Rouse was born in St. Clair county, Michigan, on Febru ary 22, 1858. His folks moved to Seward county, Nebraska, while he was in his teens and he came Xo this county in 1879 and took a homestead in the Blackbird valley northeast of this city. He entered actively into farming and on Oc tober 11, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Griffith, the ceremony being performed at Blackbird. Nine children were bom of this union, three sons and six daughters, eight of whom are liv ing and are left to mourn the pass ing of a kind and affectionate father. The children are: Miss Maud, Arthur, Mrs. Edith Young, Herbert, Mrs. Alma Young, How ard and Mrs. Mildred Walters, all of O’Neill, and Mrs. Bertha Hay den, Valentine. One sister sur vives him, Mrs. Frank Griffith, O’Neill, and several grandchildren. Alphonza Rouse was one of the real pioneers of the county, coming here in 1879, 56 years ago, and since that time he had been a resi dent of the county. He was a splendid citizen, a loving husband and father and a splendid neighbor. He was a successful farmer, frugal and industrious and built up one of the finest farms in his section of the county. As a citizen he al ways took an active interest in everything pertaining to the wel fare of the county as a whole and was always ready with money or work to assist any worthy cause. He retired from active work on the farm about fifteen years ago and moved to this city, where he had made his home since that time. He always enjoyed good health until a few years ago when he had a heart attack. He got over that and then spent a summer back on the farm, saying that he always felt better when out in the section of the country that he loved and where he had spent so many years of his life. During the past year he has had several attacks, but they would pass away in a few days and he would again be able to be Around. He got up Wednesday morning feeling fine and asked his daughter, after breakfast, to come down town and get the paper, as he was a great reader and thoroughly en joyed himself when perusing the,, columns of his favorite paper. A short time afterward he was taken with an attack and he passed away in a few hours. The writer had known Alphonza Rouse for over fifty years and al ways found him to be a man, straightforward, honest and sin cere. A loyal friend and a man who was always true to his con victions. We will miss him and so will hundreds of other friends in different parts of the county, for no man had more friends than he had. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Bowen and son, Robert, and Miss Gertrude Conrad are to leave Sunday to at tend a convention of members of the Ben Franklin league to be held at Omaha. Rev. D. S. Conrad is to accompany the party for the purpose of visiting friends. All expect to return home Monday night. An automobile driven by J. B. Ryan last Monday, traveling south, at the Dr. H. L. Bennett corner here collided head-on with a truck from Gordon, Nebr. The truck was not seriously damaged but but Ryan’s car was damaged con siderably. Ice on the highway caused the collision. Mrs. D. H. Cronin left last even ing for Omaha, where she will vis it friends for a few days and then go on to Nebraska City for a weeks visit with relatives.