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.