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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1937)
Keb. State HistoaUal Saeaaa* Frontier VOL. Lvm * O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, WAV 27.1987. _ No. 2 McCLURG RESIGNS POST AS HEAD OF COUNTY’S SCHOOLS Miss Elja McCullough of Ewing Named By Board To Fill the Vacancy. Miss Elja McCullough of Ewing, is the new county superintendent of Holt county, having been elected by the county board this morning to fill the vacancy in the office caused by the resignation of Clar ence J. McClurg, who resigned last Tuesday and whose resignation was accepted by the county board that afternoon. Since Tuesday the county has had no county super intendent. i'ho final vote on the selection of his successor was four for Miss McCullough and three for Warren J. McClurg, of Inman, a brother of the retiring official. Miss McCullough has been sup erintendent of the Ewing public schools for the past seven years, and is at present filling that posi tion. Before her. election to the superintendency of the Ewing schools she had taught in several schools in the county and had serv ed two and one-half years as deputy county superintendent under Miss Anna Donohoe. Six applications were on file with the county board for the position of county superintendent, as fol lows: Luella Parker, former county superintendent; Lillian Barker and Harold M. Denney, teachers in the O’Neill public schools; Miss Elja McCullough, superintendent of the Ewing public schools, Ewing; Miss Viola E. Haynes of Page, and War ren J. McClurg of Inman. The first ballot to bring out the list of candidates resulted as fol lows: McClurg 3, McCullough 2, Parker 2. A second ballot was taken to pick the second candidate, the holding being that the three votes of McClurg assured him a position on the final ballot. This ballot resulted, Parker 3, McCul lough 4. Then the final ballot for the position, as between McCullough and McClurg resulted as follows: McClurg 3, McCullough 4, and she was declared selected to the posi tion. Miss McCullough will file her bond and will probably assume the duties of her office next Mon day. Considerable interest was mani fested in this city and over the county last Monday when it was learned that County Supt. McClurg was going to resign his position. On Tuesday, shortly after noon, Mr. McClurg submitted the following letter to the county board: “To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Holt county: “A few days ago I was offered another position which will take me away from Holt county, and after giving the matter consid erable thought, I have decided to accept the position. “I feel that I would be doing myself an injustice by staying on when I can accept this other position. It is a position that I feel will afford me greater oppor tunity for advancement than the one I have at the present time. “In compliance with Section 79-1509 of the Nebraska School Laws, I hereby request an im mediate acceptance of my resig nation.” Yours very sincerely, Clarence J. McClurg. As he asked for the immediate acceptance of the resignation the county board complied with his wishes and about 2 p. m., they ac cepted it and since that hour he has ceased to be an official of Holt county. Mr. McClurg informs us that he will leaveO’Neill aboutJune 7 for Omaha and he wil 1 enter the em ploy of the K. B. Printing company and will represent them in the state of Nebraska as a salesman for their school supply line. The man who filled this position for the company for several years was re cently killed in an automobile ac cident near Lincoln. He figures that it is a much better position than that of county superintendent and removed him from the political firing line. Mr. McClurg was elected county superintendent in November, 1934, having a majority of 937 over the then incumbent, Mrs. Luella Park er. He took charge of the office in January, 1935, and since that time has been head of the schools of I Holt county. He has given fairly good satisfaction in the office and has a good many friends over the county who will regret to learn that he has left the ranks of Holt county employees, and wish him success and prosperity in his new line of work. It oftimes happens that men die while in office, but resignations are few and far between. For this reason, if no other, he is entitled to a niche in the Holt county hall of fame. His resignation makes the second in the history of the county. The other official was Robert E. Chittick of Stuart, who resigned as county treasurer of the county over a quarter of a century ago, and Mr. Chittick in formed us a few years ago that he never had regretted his action. Since his resignation he has been active in politics, in behalf of his friends, but has never been a can didate for^ny except local office in his home town of Stuart. SOUTH DAKOTA MAN SENTENCED HERE ON SPRINGVIEW JOB One of Two Men Who Committed Over Four Score Robberies Sentenced by Dickson. A life of crime does not pay is probably what Ray Brown, resid ence somewhere in South Dakota, today believes true. Brown was be fore Judge Dickson here Wednes day morning on a complaint charg ing him with breaking into and robbing a store at Springview, was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary and he was at once taken to Lincoln by Sheriff Mc Cracken of Keya Paha county. Brown, 36, has served time in the state reformatory and was out of there but a few months when he started out on a life that was going to set all the Dillingers and others in the shade. He had as a partner one Gus Malmborg, who for a time lived at Norfolk and was in trouble several times on prohibition charges during the life of the Eighteenth amendment. In a confession made to County Attorney Weddel of Keya Paha county, according to Mr. Weddell, Brown admitted, that with his partner, Malmborg, from October 23, 1936, up to and including April 28, 1937, they made forty-eight different entries and that during this time they robbed 38 safes, 52 stores, 4 postoffices, 2 court houses and 1 depot. A fairly busy record for six months and if they had not been caught the chances are that they would have enlarged their program. All of the above rob beries were in Nebraska, except one, the court house at Martin, S. D., and a store at Pine Ridge. Among the numerous robberies he confessed to there were three in this county. Brown was thrown into jail on a charge of drunkeness at Winner, S. D., and the Keya Paha officers located him. His partner, Malm 5 minor charge and the officials got both of them together and they began to talk with the result that the officers secured the information about their lives of crime. Malm berg was taken to Alliance, Nebr., where he entered a plea of guilty to robbing stores in that district and was sentenced to six years in the state penitentiary by the dis trict judge there last Monday. Sheriffi McCracken, sheriff of Keya Paha county; T. G. Weddell, county attorney and Oscar A. Jackson, county clerk and ex-officio clerk of the district court of Keya Paha county, were in attendance when Brown was sentenced. Marriage Licenses Clarence Wheeler and Miss Phyllis Keller, both of this city, on May 22. Melvin Maulding and Miss Frances Graham, both of Bartlett, on May 22. Emmet E. Wright of O’Neill, and Miss Mildred Lehmann of Cham bers, on May 24. Anthony Craig and Miss Beulah Walker, both of Page, on May 25. HONEY CREEK POULTRY CLUB The Honey Creek 4-H Poultry club held a meeting at the Henry Vequist home, at which all mem bers were present. The next meet ing will be held June 10, at the Ralph Rees home. O’NEILL HIGH TAKES FOURTH AT WAYNE TRACK-FIELD MEET ■* Bergstrom W ins Low Sticks and Gunn, Spindler Vincent, Benda and Hunt Add Points. Nine members of the O’Neill High school athletic squad went down to Wayne last Saturday where they entered an invitation athletic meet sponsored by Wayne college and the local boys captured fourth place in the tournament. In this meet'Leonard Bergstrom, star of the local team, again won honors, winning the 120 yard high hurdles and the high jump event. In the half mile race Bob Gunn won second place; in the mil^ race Leroy Spindler won second place; Jack Vincent won 3rd place in the high hurdles and in the 220 yard race Allen Spindler won third. In the half mile relay race the O’Neill team won third. The team was composed of Buck Hunt, Clar ence Benda, Jack Vincent and Allen Spindler. The local boys say the meet was a classy one and about as good as the state meet. Mitchell won first; Fremont second; South Sioux City third and O’Neill fourth. Rain Here This Week Totals 1.42-in. of Water A beneficial soaking rain fell in Holt county and over most of the ! state last Tuesday, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the pre ■ cipitation here, according to Ob server Bowen amounting to 1.42 j inches. From the information we have been able to receive the rain fall over the county was practic ally the same as in this vicinity. This brings the rainfall for the month of May to 2.70 inches, or .98 of an inch more than they have reecived at Norfolk so far this month. The rain started falling about 1 a. m. Wednesday morning and continued until nearly 9 o’clock. At 6 o’clock that morning the rain fall measured .83 of an inch, so .69 of an inch fell from 6 o’clock to 9. It was a nice steady rain and the dry ground absorbed all of it and it is a boon to growing crops and corn just planted. From the daily press we learn that the rainfall was quite general over the state and scientists figure that it will prove valuable, not only to growing crops but also to help kill off the grasshoppers that are becoming a pest in certain lo calities of the state. Farmers in the city Wednesday were very cheerful and said that the rain would practically assure a rye crop here. Following is the rainfall chart for the month of May, as kept by the local weather observer, Harry Bowen: May 1 . .03 May 2 - .21 May 3 43 May 4 .07 May 7_ .48 May 8 . .04 May 11 .02 May 25 .. 29 May 26 __ 1.13 Total 2.70 This brings the rainfall for the year up 7.44 inches. The temperature and moisture record for the week follows: High Low Mois. May 20 . 82 57 T. May 21 .. 79 47 May 22 . 77 46 May 23 81 49 May 24 . 88 64 May 25 _ 85 59 .29 May 26 . 65 50 1.13 " • Memorial Day Services In O’Neill Next Sunday All ex-service men are urgently requested not to forget the meeting at the Arbuthnot & Reka service station at 2 p. m., on Sunday, May 30, to join the parade which will march to the K. C. hall for the Memorial Day program, which will be given at 2:30. Fifty Couples Attend Country Club Dance Fifty couples attended the open ing dance Monday evening at the O’Neill country club. Sissell’s or chestra played for the dancing and was very satisfactory. It was one of the best opening dances ever held by the club, and congratula tions were freely given to Max Golden, chairman of the entertain ment committee. Dr. L. A. Burgess, president of i the club has announced that Mar jorie Dickson and Helen Biglin will be in charge of the ladies' activities for the season. They will sponsor an opening picnic and luncheon that will be followed fey similar affairs with other ladies in charge of the parties. The Misses Biglin and Dickson will name the commit tees to manage the summer func tions as well as the committee to aid them at the time of the tourna ment entertainment. A membership that will exceed that of any previous year is al ready assured and recent rains will put the course in the finest of shape for the sixteenth annual tournament to be held June 20, 21 and 22. Uncertain About the Rebuilding of Armour Creamei y Plant Here Men from the Armour headquar ters in Chicago were in the city the first of the week checking over the loss caused by the fire a week ago in the plant here. An insurance adjuster was also in the city the forepart of the week and the mat ter of adjustment of the loss will be taken up directly with the head office of the company in Chicago. Until the fire loss is adjusted the company have held in abeyance their future plans for the plant here. They may rebuild and they may abandon the local plant. SOUTHWEST BREEZES By Romaine Saunders Becoming of age has been moved up from 21 to 65. Some of the Bailey family are up from Kansas visiting at E. E. Young’s. Bernard Kennedy and family made a trip to the county seat last Thursday. Art Doolittle' and family were over this way Wednesday, guests at the Kennedy home. Not doing so bad. Cream is sell ing for enough to buy Cochran’s much taxed gas to haul it to market. It is said the new British queen comes from the ranks of the com mon crowd. She looks to be well endowed with common sense. I see there is a complaint that no American canned beef is on the market. The kind sold around here as “canners” I don’t know what I anybody would want with it. Mrs. Riley, Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Ned Saunders went to Albion and return Sunday. They say that community is in distressing condi tion because of lack of moisture. ! Mrs. Saunders and son, Ned, leave Thursday of this week for Lincoln to bring home the younger son who has been in school. They expect to return early next week. The court packing proposal has at least disclosed a lot of muddled ideas entertained throughout the country concerning the functions of the judicial branch of govern ment. A democratic senator from New York wants to know if farmers have mistaken the capitol dome for a nursing bottle. The Nurse Maid of Capitol Hill began the bottle feeding. A general rain visited the south west Tuesday, the day previous having brought a heavy downpour southwest of Amelia. The rain here Tuesday amounted to one inch, about the same north to Atkinson, somewhat less in central Swan and one inch over thru Wyoming. If the three green heads that were meandering around on the dry pra irie some days ago looking for a spot to wet their web feet will come back they can now float down the creek and spot a few frogs. Two showers within four days brought us slightly more than a half inch of moisture. This Tues day morning finds the fiky heavily overcast with a damp atmosphere. The southwest is robed in gorgeous green, dotted here and there with beds of deep blue floral bloom. The (Continued on page 5, column 1.) ST. MARY S SENIOR CLASS EXERCISES TO BE NEXT WEEK Class Day Exercises Next Thurs day and Commencement Will Be Held Friday. Class Day exercises for the 1937 graduates of Sv. Mary’s academy will be held Thursday evening, June 3, at St. Mary's academy. Graduation exercises will be held Friday morning, June 4th, at 9:30 a. m., at St. Patrick’s church. The following is the program for the Class Day exercises: Greetings, Mary Janet kubit schek; “Brise Printaniere,” Mary Janet Kubitschek, Gertrude Lang er, Elsie Peter and Grace Pribil; Class Roll, Marie Antoniette Stew art; “St. Mary’s,” Class of 1937; Class History I, Eileen Sullivan; Class History II, Ann Pribil; “La Golondrina," Gertrude Langer and Grace Pribil; Ctass History III, Lorraine Murray; Class History IV, Mary Bachelor; “Thanksgiving,” Mary Janet Kubitschek and Ger trude Langer; Class Prophecy, Anna Rose O’Donnell; Class Will, Margery Lyons; “Charge of the Uhlans,” Grace Pribil; Class Motto, Colors and Flower, Margaret Don ovan; Farewell, Elsie Peter; “Ave Maria,” Class of 1937. Class officers: President, Marie Antoniette Stewart; Vice president, Mary Bachelor; Secretary, Lor raine Murray; Treasurer, Gertrude Langer. Class motto: “Per Mariam ad Christum”; class colors: Azure Blue and Silver; class flower: White Rose. Following is a list of the grad uates of 1937, with their home addresses: Mary Bachelor, Kennedy, Nebr.; Ventura Callen, Atkinson; Margar et Mary Donovan, Mission, S. D.; Mary Margaret Earley, O’Neill; Arlene Farran, Dorsey; May Gokie, O’Neill; Dorothy Grimme, O’Neill; Mary Janet Kubitschek, O’Neill; Gertrude Langer, Norden, Nebr.; Margery Lyons, Millboro, S. D.; Lorraine Murray, O’Neill; Anna Rose O’Donnell, Emmet; Elsie Pe ter, Grace Pribil, Ann Pribil, Marie Antoinette Stewart and Eileen Sul livan, all of O’Neill. Federal Land Bank Meeting Held Here A meeting was held in this city last Tuesday of the directors of the five associations of the Federal Land bank of Omaha, located in Holt, Wheeler and Boyd counties. The meeting was called by the rep resentatives of th« Federal Land bank and a representative of the Farm Credit administration of Washington, D. C., and was for the purpose of establishing these as sociations under group manage ment. The program as outlined by the representatives met with the ap proval of the association directors present. Under the new manage ment the five associations thus or ganized must have in their employ one secretary-treasurer to handle the affairs of the association, and this officer will have headquarters in O’Neill. Applications for this position as secretary-treasurer will be received by the presidents of the various associations up to June 8, 1937, and they are as follows: Frank Keller, Newport; Sol Fried, Butte; Frank Allen, Page; C. J. Bartek, Bliss; Lewis Barthell, Kola; C. V. Johnson, Atkinson. New Court House Dedication June 16 The dedication ceremonies for the new court house will probably be held^xi June 16. While in the city today, Governor Cochran said that date would be agreeable to him and that he would be here on that day. Arrangements for the dedica tion will be completed within the next ten days. Wallace Johnson Has Read Frontier 55 Years Wallace R. Johnson, one of the real old timers of the county, was a pleasant caller at this office last Saturday and we enjoyed a couple of hours visit with him, talking over old times. Wallace has been a resident of the county for nearly fifty-seven years and has been a reader of The Frontier for over fifty-five years, and still reads it every week and says that he en joys it. Wallace came here Sept. 12, 1880, and ever since has been a resident and one of the leading citizens of the county. He located northwest of this city on the Eagle and has one of the nicest places in that sec tion of the county. His old post office was Ray, which was discon tinued several years ago, when Washington decided to eliminate a lot of little offices to aid the larger ones. He now receives his mail at O’Neill. He is one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in the county and his small home stead has been extended until he is now the owner of several quarters of land in that section and is on easy street financially. THOSE CONVICTED IN LIQUOR STORE THEFTSENTENCED Cornelius O'Connell Draws 1 to 14 Year Sentence for Perjury In the Liquor Trial. Tuesday morning was sentencing day in the district court. That morning, Frank Pitcher, who plead guilty on March 3, 1937, to break ing into the Weber liquor store in Atkinson last fall and stealing a quantity of lqiuor therefrom, was sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary, sentence to begin on March 3, 1937, he day that he plead guilty in district court. Robert Carr, who also plead guilty last March, withdrew his original plea and plead guilty to a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail, sen tence to begin June 1, 1937. Cornelius J. O’Connell, who was convicted last week for perjury, in the case of the State of Nebraska vs. his son, was sentenced to an in determinate term in the state pen itentiary of from one to fourteen years. As far as we have been able to learn this is the first conviction for perjury in the county. Motion for a new trial was filed in the O’Connell case last week and a hearing was held on the mo tion last Saturday. The motion was overruled that afternoon and sentence was passed Tuesday. Sheriff Duffy took Pitcher and O’Connell to the state penitentiary at Lincoln Wednesday morning. Rural School Eighth Grade Promotion Held Wednesday In O’Neill The Eighth grade promotion ex ercises were held at the K. C. Hall in this city Wednesday afternoon. At this graduation 253 students bid goodbye to the grades and were ready to enter high school. It was a splendid class, having fifty-three on the honor roll, that is students with an average in the examinations of over 90 per cent. Leading the students was Helen Johnson of District 142, Spencer, with an average of 97.7 per cent. She was closely followed by Marion Prill of District No. 23, Page, with an average of 96.4 per cent. The graduates met at the court house shortly after noon and they were all photographed on the steps of the new court house, then marched to the K. C. Hall, led by ex-County Superintendent McClurg whose resignation as County Sup erintendent was accepted the day before by the County Board of Supervisors, but who had charge of the exercises. At the hall the fol lowing program was rendered: Music, high school band; Invoca tion by Rev. H. D. Johnson; Song, “America” by the audience; Wel come, County Supt. C. J. McClurg; Address by Valdemar Pterson, Sup erintendent of Schools, Elgin, Neb.; Presentation of Scholarship Awards and Diplomas, C. J. McClurg; Bene diction, Rev. H. D. Johnson. HONEY CREEK SHEEP CLUB The Honey Creek 4-H Sheep club held a meeting at the Henry Ve quist home Sunday, May 23. All members were present. The next meeting of the club will be at the Henry Vequist home June 17. The many friends of Mrs. Cath erine Matthews north of this city, who has been in a hospital in Nor folk for the past three weeks re ceiving treatment for diabetes, will be glad to learn that she is improv ing and is expected to return home within the next ten days. GOVERNOR STOPS IN CITY THURSDAY WITH ENGINEER Routing of Highways 20 and 8 Settled During Governor’s Brief Visit Here. Governor Roy Cochran and State Engineer Tilley, of Lincoln, were in the city for a couple of hours today, stopping for diner on their way to Chadron, Nebr., where the Governor delivers a graduating ad dress tomorrow morning. Several of our citizens met with the govern or at an impromptu dinner party at the Golden at noon. The question of the route of highways number 20 and 8 into this city was taken up with the Governor and the State Engineer by some of our local business men. The Federal highway department was holding up the building of the highway on the route surveyed over a year ago along the north side of the railroad tracks into this city. Number 20 was to start west at the junction of No. 8 southeast of Page according to these plans. In a. telephone conversation from this city today State Engineer Tilley got the Federal highway depart ment to approve the route already surveyed on the north side of the Northwestern tracks, and work on the highway will probably com mence late this fall. Atkinson Hogs Steady To 25 Cents Higher— Horse Demand Good Atkinson, Nebr., May 25.—Fat hogs sold steady to 25 cents higher than a week ago with the bulk of the best 200 to 300 pound weights going at 11.00 to 11.20. Fat sows sold at 10.50 to 11.00; wet sows at 0.50 to 10.15; piggy sows at 10.00 to 11.00; heavy feeder pigs at 10.50 to 11.50; light feeders at 11.00 to 12.50; weanling pigs at 14.00 to 22.00 a hundred. The days re ceipts totaled 268 head. Altho cosiderable rain was re ported in a good many places the cattle market did not carry the snap of a week ago and prices gen erally tended lower. The cow and heifer market seemed most affected with prices ranging from 25 to as much as 50 cents a hundred off from last week. Good quality yearlings and the better calves were about steady while the plainer kinds looked 25 cents lower. A load of good quality black steer calves sold at 8.45 for the day’s top, with the bulk selling around 7.25 to 8.00; heifer calves at 6.25 to G.75; best yearling steers, at 6.75 to 7.50; yearling heifers at 5.50 to 6.80; plainer yearling heif ers at 5.00 to 5.50; plain steers at 5.00 to 6.00; best fat cows at 6.50 to 7.50; heavy heifers at 6.75 to 7.40; canners and cutters at 3.35 to 4.65; bulls at 4.75 to 6.00. About 20 head of horses were in cluded in the days run. Demand for horses showed improvement and all sold readily at the seasons best prices. Next auction, Tuesday, June 1, starting at 1 p. m. EMMET BEST COOKS The meeting of the Emmet Best Cooks was held at the home of Shirley Bates Wednesday, May 19. The meeting was called to order by the club president, Darlene Ses ler. All members were present ex cept Armella Pongratz and Marion McNally. The guests were Irma Luben, Mrs. Claude Bates and Miss Halbert. During the meeting the leader explained the next project. It was also decided to hold a meeting of the club each week, the next meet ing to be at the home of Clara and Sadie Marie Lowery. After the business meeting a demonstration was given by Shirley Bates and Mary Welsh on how to measure. At the close of the meeting a de licious lunch was served by the hostess. E. J. Renwald of the Food Cen ter, drove over to Gregory, S. D., last Tuesday and spent that day and Wednesday looking after busi ness matters in his old home, re turning Wednesday afternoon. John D. Rockefeller, the Standard Oil multi-millionaire and one of the richest men in the United States, died at his winter home in Florida last Sunday at the age of 97 years.