Neb. State Historical Society
- 1 ■ 1 ---;-;—■-“ - ■ 1
VOL LXII O’NEILL NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18,1941 NUMBER 32
SOUTHWESTERN
BREEZES
By Romaine Saunders
Maybe if everybody first lived
for their country nobody would
have to die for their country.
Let’s doff the sombrero to
Jeannette Rankin, not because
of her sentiments on a grave
national issue, but because she
had the nerve to remain loyal
to her convictions. It would
have been much easier to vote
with the crowd than to register
a lone “no” on the House roll
call.
Time may write no wrinkles
on the oceans’ azuae brow, but
it brings changes in human re.
lations. Not so long ago we
were backing the Japs and us
ing their flag for decorations.
‘ If they were tame apes, as a
friend of mine said they were,
they have now gone wild.
They have been great imitators.
It sort of looks as though they
surpass the copybooks.
i. '
Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Edwards
have added much to home com
forts in adding to their dwelling
on the ranch just lately, the
neat little house formerly occu
pied by the Hazebakers south of
the James ranch. Neighbors
with wagons and sixteen horses,
moved the building a distance of
over two miles.
High priced cattle bankrupt a
good many speculators 20 years
ago. Again the cattle country
takes the same trail. Each
generation has to have its fling
at it. But $90 cows and 70 cent
corn with 32 or 33 cent cream
doesn’t make sense.
The death of Mrs. Frank
Mayne was reported from Lin
coln Monday. Mrs. Mayne was
born in O’Neill the eldest
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H.
Meredith, who built one of the
first homes on First street. Mrs.
Saunders and I had known
Lucille, for so we always ad
dressed Mrs. Mayne, since early
childhood and visited in her
home frequently in Lincoln or
she and Frank in ours. We saw
her for the last time last Aug.
ust. Friends of Lucille out this
way, when thirty years ago she
was engaged in teaching, learn
of her death with regret, their
sympathy goirig out to the be
reaved husband, one son and
two daughters and near relatives
in O’Neill. Mr. Mayne is re
membered out here, where he
was engaged in the cattle busi
ness before going to Lincoln.
When the grey walla of the
penitentiary have taken ohe td
the secure embrace Of life sen
tence for murder he is forgotten
to the world outside, unless a
prison break or something else
unusual happens. The unusual
has happened down at the state
prison. Walter Gregor, sent from
Holt county sixteen years ago
for life, announced he invested
$1,200 in defense bonds, money
he had received as soldiers bonus
for service in the other world
war. His term of incarceration
has been commuted to thirty
years.
I ~
Out of the cold steel-blue sky
of late autumn dropped a dark
object, tipped with white at
each end, circled wide across
field and meadow on out
stertched wings and sailed state,
ly off toward the hills. It was
only an eagle searching the
brown prairie for a morsel of
food. What if it had been one of
those black-winged messengers
of death that now dive from 10,
000 feet above? Our isolated
spot of earth makes us more or
less insensible to the horror,
and chaos, to the human suffer
ing. The mangled and broken
bodies of the countless victims
of air raids. And yet to the fa
thers and mothers who sit in
safety and plenty, there are
anious days awaiting word from
anxious days waiting word from
bomb-riddled ruins—word that
will cheer or word that cuts
through the soul.
On this quiet Sunday evening
nature has spread a picture of
surpassing loveliness across the
southwest sky—a December sun.
* set on the prairie. Above the
prairie’s rim, deep splashes of
fire blend into pink film, above
which hangs a bar of gold
touched by dainty blue fingers,
and across the heavens in a long
reach hangs as a canopy above
the picture mystic clouds ablaze
with the red glow of setting sun.
I am not an artist to transfer
the sccene tocanvass nor a mas
ter of language to put it down in
words, but if your soul seeks
the inspiration such beauty may
hold, open your window at set
of sun and look out. An hour
later stars twinkle out of the
gloom. God has given us another
night on the prairie. “When for
ever from our sight pass the
stars, the day, the night, Lord
of Angeles on our eyes *let eter
nal morning rise, and shadows
end.”
Believe my acquaintence with
Mrs.' Agnes Pettijohn covered a
longer period than any other
descendent of early settlers. The
homestead dwellings, a little
better than the average in the
country at that period, of her
father and my father, were a
little more than a mile apart.
Agnes was much older than I
but we were neighbors. When
her father was to make final
proof on his claim, my father,
George Lathrope and another,
Frank Huntley no doubt, ac
companied him on the long ride
by team to Niobrara, where the
land office was located. They
were gone three days and Mr.'
Bentley got his patent to a quar
ter of Holt county prairffi three
and a half miles due ,east of
O’Neill, lying on the south side
of the section line which^is the
north boundry of the /CJty. I
slowly “grew up’’ on th4 ‘home
stead and the last year Mr. Bent
ley spent on his place we work
ed together in haying. As a
young boy I was much disturbed
when meeting Agnes because of
the dignity and poise of her
bearing, but in later years came
to see that she was a jolly, warm
hearted young women and every
inch a lady. She and Mrs. Wise
were more than sisters; they
were inseparable; and to her and
the breaved husband—both fac
ing the sunset of life—a sorrow
ful blow has fallen.
—— ♦ *
Through the courtesy of Lee
Downey, there came to hand—com
prised in 40 pages and cover—an
interesting history of the Bur_
lington railroad covering a per
iod of ninety years. Along with
this attractive and informative
booklet is a folder dealing with
branch railroad lines, written by
that veteran of the composing
room, editorial chair and rail
way commission, printed in 10
point bold, Will H. Maupin. Mr.
Maupin, points out as has been
done in this column, that the
maintenance of rail service on
branch lines is in the hands, not
of the railroads, but the public. A
railroad, as any other industry,
can not continue to operate any
branch of its business at a loss.
The public has been educated to
the convenience of the truck
loading and unloading at its
door and will hardly want to
five this up. Main lines of rail
road will continue an improved
service if taxes and unreason
able demands from the brother
hoods doesn’t floor them, too,
but the stub lines must go. Mr.
Downey has a responsible place
to fill in the Burlington ad
ministrative staff, and the news
rfeminds me that the Zyphyrs
and Sky Rockets today are a
far cry from the stage lines of
his father running out of O’Neill
to Niobrara and Creighton.
Combining art, picture and word
in the panorama of railroad
building the booklet Lee sends
me is an education in the trans
portation lines of the west. From
its last page I take these lines:
We cross the prairie as of old
The Pilgrim crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they
the East,
The homestead of the free!
Hospital Notes
John Sturgen of Chambers, ad
mitted Wednesday evening.
Mrs. Neil Groeling, major
operation on Friday and is feel
ing fine.
Mrs. Donald Grimes of Cham
bers, a girl on Wednesday, and
she will be known as Bonnie
Marie.
Mardell Butts of Chambers,
Thursday.
Lorraine Barrett of Page, dis
missed Thursday.
Morris Parks of Page, penu
monia patient.
Cantata Christmas Eve
At Presbyterian Church
On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at
7:30 at the Presbyterian Church
the choir will present the Christ
mas Cantata—“The Nativity
Song,” by Roy E. Nolte.
This chorus will consist of 26
voices and the personnel is as
follows: Sopranos—Davine Loy,
Ruth Osenbaugh, Genevieve Gra
ves, Betty Williams, Chickie Iler,
Margaret Jean Yantzi, Frankie
Yocum, Eunice Schwisow, Ruth
£>uige, Gene Wnuams. /utoes—
Irene Yocum, Dorothy Yocum,
Bonnie Kurtz, Goldie Sebasti,
Dorothy Larson, Margaret Halva,
Polly Kipple, Mabelle Osenbaugh,
Lydia Halva. Basses—Roy Lund
gren, John Osenbaugh, Fred Hal
va, Orville Lewis. Tenors—Willie
Ramsay, Roy Sauers, Bennet Heri_
ford, D. H. Clauson. Pianist—Mrs.
Oral Fox. Director—H. D. Clau
son.
Following this Cantata the Sun
day School Program will be given
ana will be as toiiows. Kecitauon:
Welcome to Our Tree, Thelma
Leigh. Recitation—This Little
Tree. Mildred Crab. Recitation—
Sharing Our Christmas, Marlene
Peterson. Two Primary Songs and
the Christmas Story. Recitation—
Christmas Excuses, Lois Sargent
Recitation—Hang Up the Baby’s
Stocking, Carmile Goodfellow. Re
citation—Some New Arithmetic,
Danny Rustemeyer. Recitation—
The Best Place, Merril Patterson.
Playlet—The Brith of Peace.
Every body is most cordially in
vited.
Prices Steady At Local
Market Monday Last
Receipts of livestock were not
quite so heavy here last Monday
as they were a week ago, yet
supplies were unusally heavy
for so late in the season. Prices
ruled fully steady to_strong and
action was good on all classes.
The war, coupled with higher
prices has stimulated buying
and provided a definite spurt in
the marketing of livestock at
this time and many ranchers
are taking advantage of the pre
vailing advanced price con
ditions.
As a special feature, at the
auction last Monday, the Red
Cross Chapter and the O’Neill
Livestock Commission Co.,
united their efforts to raise
funds for the Red Cross by
auctioning a baby goat to the
public. Bidding was spirited and
a total of $344.50 was collected
which sum will be turned over
to the Red Cross to be used by
that organization in the war
emergency.
Steer calves went as high as'
$13.95 here last Monday with
the bulk paying from $11.50 to
$12.50. A few choice lightweight
heifers sold as high as $11.50
but the long end of these ranged
from $10.25 to $11.00, with
many selling in the upper brae*
kets.
Yearling were her6 1ft rather1
heavy supply and several Straight
loads were sold. Yearling steers
moved in load lots at $11.50;
their heifer mates sold at $9.75.
Other smaller, packages of both
steers and heifers cashed at
higher prices.
Two year olds were not too
plentiful, but prices on those
that were here were fully steady
to strong.
The cows supplies held up well
with another heavy run in this
division. The best fat cows sold
upwwards to $8.75 but that price
was paid only for the extra
choice kind. Bulk of this class
sold from $6.75 to $7.85 with
plainer grades selling for less.
A lot of breeding cows were here
and these were sold mostly by
the head. Bulls were about
steady in price.
Hog supplies were heavy. An
extreme top of $10.90 was paid
for butchers with a practical
top of $10.85. Sows cashed at
$10.05. Pigs reached $13.30.
Around 200 sheep showed up
to complete the day's offering.
These sold mostly by the head
at considerably stronger prices.
Next auction Monday, Dec. 22.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eby, twin
boys on Sunday December 14.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Grimes,
girl on Wednesday, named Bon
nie Marie.
Mr. and Mrs. Elias Timmer
man, girl on Tuesday, named
Helen Marie.
I
Marriage Licenses
Charles Glen Milacek, Lynch
and Betty Oman, Verdel, De
ember 13 th.
Frank Schwager, Orchard and
Marcelene Ilckler, Venus, Dec.
17 th.
Archie E. Kreycik, Verdel and
Irene G. Johnson, December 17th.
Daniel Hitch and Catherine De
seive of Atkinson, December 13th.
O’Neill People Are
Asked To Assist
The people o' O’Neill and sur
rounding community are asked to
give full cooperation to the na
tional defense program as out
lined by the Federal Government.
Your particular attention is call
ed to the present government
campaign for the conservation of
waste materials, such as paper,
metals, and so forth.
Plans now call for the collection
of these materials and their do
nation to the goverment. A later
announcement will notify you as
to the method to be used here
locally for the gathering of these
materials. You are requested to
give all the assistance possible to
the volunteers engaged in this
work.
JOHN KERSENBROCK,
Mayor.
Splendid Farm Bureau
Meeting Last Saturday
A good attendance of inter
ested farm men and women who
attended the annual Farm Bur-1
eau meeting in O’Neill last Fri
day heard Mrs. David Simms,
international traveler from Has
tings, give a very interesting
lecture on conditions and cus.
toms in Hawaii. Other highlights
of the program included the
‘‘Uses of Dried Fruits”, a pro
ject lesson given in the morning
by Miss Maud* Mathews home
demonstration specialist; a report
of his trip to the national 4-H
Club Congress at Chicago by
Ralph Allyn of Stuart, and a
women’s project club report by
Mrs. George Rector.
The business meeting was in
charge of William Riege, presi-t
dent of the Holt County Farm
Bureau. Ora Yarges of Stuart1
and Mabel Hammerberg were'
re-elected to the board of di
rectors for another term. The re
port of county agnt, Lyndle
Stout revealed another good
year for cooperative extension
work in the county. The fact that
150 voluntary local leaders were
serving without pay to carry on
the work in all parts of the
county is an indication of the ex,
tent which extension work is
reaching the people.
During the year of 1941, 1506
people called at the office for
agricultural information and the
agent visited 160 farms in carry
ing on the year's program. The
office had 643 phone calls re-1
Questing information, wrote 2,
908 personal letters and distri
buted 7,906 bulletins on all agri-1
cultural and home economics
projects. I
4_H club work continued to be
one of the major activities car
ried on in the county. 28 4-H
clubs were organized with 290
members enrolled and 274 mem
bers, or 90% completing their
work. Much of the credit for
this fine work was due to the
splendid work of the 4-H leaders.
4-H members received numer-*
ous awards in the state fair
contests and six members ex_
hibited baby beeves at Ak-Sar
Ben. One member attended the
National 4-H Club Congress held
in Chicago. 4-H activities in the
county included, judging and de
monstration day, achievement
day, two county fairs and the
Holt County Stocker-Feeder
show and sale.
Twenty-eight women’s project
clubs brought home demon
stration work to 385 home
makers during the year.
A handy seed list was pre
pared for use in the spring and
39,700 Clarke-McNary seedlings
were distributed. 97 farmers re
ceived free purity and germ
ination tests on seed samples.
The Farm Bureau has main_
tained the county agent’s office
in the courthouse at O’Neill and
has received funds for this pur
pose from the general fund of
the county. The office has all
available ublications from the
United States Department of
Agriculture, and the Nebraska
College of Agriculture.^ These
may be obtained free by calling
or writing the county agent’s
office in O’Neill.
I
Beauty Operators Held
Meeting Here Sunday
District Number 4 of the N.S.
N.H.C.A. met at the Golden
Hotel Dec., 14, for a 12:30 lunch
eon. Members and guests from
several other towns were pre
sent. Mrs. Alpha H. Fifer of Mc
Cook, district chairman presided
at the business meeting. The
following officers were elected.
Brnice Platt of Chambers, As
sistant Chairman; Trustee Mar
garet B. Clauson of O’Neill for
Holt county; Lois Beebout of
Ainsworth for Brown county
and Darlyne Stahlecker of Spen- \
cer for Boyd county.
Madame Therosa of Grand
Island, gave a very interesting
lecture and illustrative picture
on highlights of the personality
of the coiffure. Mrs. Alpha Fifer
explained the importance of the
suitable make up for women and
how to keep up their personal
appearance at all times.
It Is Now Colonel
Frances M. Brennan
According to the daily press
the first list of lieutenant col
onels of the regular army to be
promoted to the temporary grade
of colonel since the start of the;
war with Japan, was announced
Saturday by the war depart- ■
ment Among those in the list of
promotions was the name of
Francis M. Brennan, of O’Neill.
Jolly Star Club
_ ** *
The Jolly Stars met at the
home of Mrs. William Derickson
for an all day meeting. The meet
was called to order by the Presid
ent, Mrs. C. V. Cole. Four mem
ber and one visitor were present.
In the absence of the leaders
the president dmonstrated the les_
son, ‘‘Toys for Children” Doll
Furniture and a garage were
made. The right kind of games
pictures and books and how to
teach the child the care and use of
them were also discussed.
Plans were made for the Christ
mas party which will be at the
! home of Mrs. Hibbs.
County Court
Ed Gamel of Page was arrested
by Patrolman Meistrel for driving
without an operator’s license.
Hearing was had on December
13. He pled guilty and was fined
$1.00 and costs of $3.10.
Fred Jackson Stuart, arrested
by Patrolman Brandt on the
charge of drivng a car after his
license had been suspended.
He appeared in court on De
cember 13, pled guilty and was
fined $15.00 and costs, taxed at
$3.10.
Chestef Fees Ghflrtibers, arrest
ed by Patrolman MPlfltrfl Od the)
charge of having a delinquent
operators license. He appeared
in court on December 13, plead
guilty and was fined $1.00 and
costs of $3.10.
Dominick F. Kubik, O’Neill, was
arrested by Patrolman Meistrel
charged with reckless driving. He
appeared before the court on Dec
ember 13, plead guilty and was
fined $10.00 and costs of $3.10,
and his license suspended for
thirty days.
Duven Kipple, O’Neill, was ar
rested by Patrolman Meistrel on
the charge of driving a car while
under age. He appeared before
the court on December 15, plead
guilty and was fined $10.00 and
costs (jf $3.10,
Clark Fordyce, Sterling, Colo.,1
arrested by Patrolman Meistrel,)
charged with having an overload.
He appeared before the court on
December 16, plead guilty and
was find $10.00 and costs of $3.10.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank the kind
neighbors and friends, who so
generously administered to us
in our deep sorrow, and for the
beautiful flowers.—Mr. C. R.
Pettijohn and family and Mrs.
Flora G. Wise.
BRIEFLY STATED
Mr. and Mrs. R. M. George
and son, Tommy, of Omaha were
guests at the home of Mrs.
George’s brother, Irving John
son Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Olson of
Minden were here from Sunday
until Wednesday at the home of
Mrs. Olson’s parents, Mr. and
Mrs. T. A. Lindberg.
Dr. O. W. French of this city
and his father, George French
Rev. Wright Honored
Rev. V. C. Wright has again
been honored by the Commission
on Courses of Study, with head
quarters in Nashville, Tennessee,
by being invited to attend the
College of Preachers in Chicago,
for the week between Christmas
and New Year’s. Only about one
hundred men throughout the de
nomination are privileged to at
tend.
Former O’Neill Girl Dies
At Home In Lincoln
Word was received here Satur
day from Mrs. C. F. McKenna,
who had been in Lincoln at the
bedside of her sister, Mrs. Frank
Mayne, that she passed away that
day and that the funeral would be
on Tuesday.
Mrs. Mayne was a sister of Mrs.
McKenna and was born and grew
to womanhood in this city, being
the eldest daughter of the late
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Meredith. Since
her marriage, some thirty years
ago, she had made her home in
Iowa and at Lincoln, Nebr., but
she will be remembered by all of
the old timers of this city and this
section of the county. She leaves
to mourn her passing her hus
band, one son and two daughters,
one brother, Col. Owen Meredith
and three sisters and a host of
friends.
GREETINGS
FROM ST. JOHN'S
With gratitude and appre
ciation for your friendship and
kindness during the past year,
the Pastor and people of St.
John’s extend to their many
friends in O’Neill, the greetings
of the season, with the prayer
that the Babe of Bethlehem will
remember all of you in a special
manner and that God and His
Blessed Mother will take care
of you during 1942.
C. A. Beyersdorfer, Pastor.
Governor Griswold
Issues Statement
At the request of the Office of
Price Administration and Civil
ian Supply, Governor Dwight
Griswold today issued a state
ment urging all motorists to sur
render their 1941 license plates
and all other unused plates which'
they may have in their possession,
at their respective County Trea
surer’s offices at the time they
receive their 1942 plates. This
move is intended to conserve
needed metal in face of a shortage
which threatens to cut off the en_
tire supply of sheet steel for
license tags in 1943. It is estimated
on thd basis of 1940 motor vehicle,
registrations that more than 10,
000 tons of steel would be salvaged
In the nation—that in Nebraska'
one hundred tons of the approx
imate original two hundred tons
used in the naufacture of 1941
plates could be salvaged.
Garage owners are being asked
to save all license plates scured
when installing new plates for
their customers, and turn these
over to the County Treasure. ,
State Engineer Wardner G.
Scott has instructed the Motor
Vehicle Division to work out a
plan Whereby the County Trea-'
surer would temporarily store
these salvaged plates to be picked
up later by state trucks and
bought to centrally located con
centration points. 3,900 pounds of
unused plates, including surren
dered 1941 plates too battered to
be reissued and extra 1940 plates,
have already been salvaged in
Douglas county and returned to
the Nebraska Prison Industries
who maufacture Nebraska plates.
* ■■■
of Page, spent Tuesday and
Wednesday in Omaha.
Mrs. H. J. Hammond and
daughter, Mary Lois, and Ira
Moss were in Sioux City Wednes
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Donohoe
and daughter, of Holdrege, spent
the week end with relatives and
friends.
The Worth While Extension
Club had a Children’s party at
the home of Mrs. Louis Reimer
Wednesday afternoon. A lesson
on “Xmas Toys” was given by
Mrs. Reimer and Mrs. Dorlin
Lockmon. A lovely lunch was
served.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Martfeld and
son, of Spalding, visited Mr. Mart
feld’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John
Martfeld, and Mr. and Mrs. Ivan
Pruss, Saturday.
St. John’s Church
Destroyed By Fire \
St. John’s church at Deloit
burned to the ground last Sunday
morning, December 15. First mass
was held in the church and be
tween that time and the com
mencement of second Mass the
fire was discovered and it had
gained great headway and with
out fire equipment it was im
possible to do much. Those ga
thered there for Muss got busy and
saved the side alters and some of
the pews. The cause of the fire is
not definitely known but it is
thought to have been caused by
an overheated furnace. The loss
is partially covered by insurance.
Many O’Neill people drove down
from here last Sunday morning to
witness the damage caused by the
fire.
The loss of the church building,
which, while a frame building,
was only about seventeen years
old and was in a good state of pre
servation, is a severe loss to the
members of St. John’s parish.
Navy Announces
Physical Bars Down
A relaxation of physical stand
ards for enlistments in the U. S.
Navy and the Naval Reserve was
announced this week by the
Navy Department. In comment
ing on this action, the Navy De
partment announcement stated
that numerous men who in past
months have sought to enlist and
have been rejected on the basis
of minor physical defects will,
because of the modification of
physical standards, be encouraged
to re-apply for enlistment in
either the regular Navy or the
Naval Reserve for the duration of
the emergency.
The Navy Department has re
quested than any person knowing
of young men who had been bar_
red from enlistment in the Navy
or the Naval Reserve because of
minor phyiscal reasons should
bring this modification in phy_
sical requirements to the attention
of these young men. ■*» v
Applications with varicose veins
will be acceptable under the
changed standards, this varico
cele conditions to be corrected, if
the condition is painful, at the
Naval Training Station to which
the new recruits are sent. Hydro
cele, another defect that formerly
ruled out numerous applicants,
will be corrected, if necessary,
after enlistees arrive at Training
Stations. Applicants suffering
from hernia will be accepted pro
vded their I. Q.’s are 75 or better.
Recruits suffering from hernia
will be treated at the Training
Stations and will be enrolled for
schooling during their periods of
convalescence. . ^
Other physical defects which
formerly prevented men from be
ing accepted as recruits, but
which now are waived, are seSsoh
al hay fever; correctible nasal
formities or nasal deformities of
such a degree as not to inter
fere with duty; undernourished
and underdeveloped applicants,
providing the condition is not due
to organic disease; and minor
surgical defects which can be cor
rected within a month. Ap
plicants who possess 18 natural
serviceable teeth, with at least
two molars in functional occlusion
and not more than four incisors
missing, will be acceptable. Den
tal treatment will be given at the
Training Stations.
Any applicants who have been
rejected because of any of the
defects noted above is urged to
re-apply for enlistment in the
Navy or Naval Reserve immedi_
ately.
All applicants accepted with
defects requiring correction will
| be hospitalized. After correction
of these defects recruits will be
returned to their Training sta
tions at the earliest practicable
time.
These modified physical stand
ards will apply for applicants for
enlistment in either the regular
Navy or the Naval Reserve with
| th exception of applicants for en
I listment in classes for prospective
commissioning.
Mrs. S. J. Weekes left Sunday
evening for Omaha, where she
will make her home this winter.
Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Young vis
ited Mrs. Young’s parents Sunday
in Elgin. *
Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Parkins en
tertained the “Dutch Treat” club
at a Christmas party in their home
| Sunday evening.