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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1942)
Seb. State Historical Soci.t, The Frontier ■ i ' .Hi' ■ -.. -- - —— i ■■■■-—■ «f.| VOL. LXIII O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1942 NO. 30 Tragic Accident Saturday Killed Carl Headman A tragic accident at the North western yards in O’Neill last Sat urday evening about six o’clock resulted in the death of Carl Vedar Headman, 54, of southeast of this city, when a truck he was helping to load backed into him, crushing him between the box car and the truck, causing in stant death. Mr. Headman was assisting Glen Williams in loading a truck belonging to Smith Broth ers of Chambers, at the North western tracks. They had the truck partly loaded from one car and drove to another car to get some freight for the firm that was in the car. Mr. Headman went to the car door to open it and Mr. Williams backed the truck to the door, catching Mr. Headman be tween the end of the truck and the car, crushing him and causing instant death. Dr. Carter was call ed at once and he reported that Headman had died instantly. Carl Vedar Headman was born at Ljusne, Sweden, on February 27, 1888, and was 54 years, nine months and one day old at the time of his death. When a young man he came to this country and lived for a time at Genoa, Nebr., and in that city on January 10, 1917, he was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Voxberg. A month following their marriage they came to Holt county and located southeast of this city, east of Chambers, where they had since made their home. Mr. Headman is survived by his wife. Vedar Headman was a splendid citizen and was universally well liked by all his acquaintances in this county. He was a quiet and unassuming man, a hard worker and was getting fairly well-to-do. His sudden and tragic death is a shock to his wife and his many iriends in the southern part of the county. The funeral was held from the Baptist church in Chambers last Monday afternoon, Rev. John E. Spencer, of the Presbyterian church of this city, officiating, assisted by Rev. Merton M. Cox, pastor of the Methodist church at Chambers, and burial in the Chambers cemetery. The funeral was a very large one. attesting to the esteem in which the deceased was held by his neighbors and friends in the south country. Banker Aid For Pork Campaign Bankers all over Nebraska are being urged to immediately start action on the Pork Production Campaign sponsored by the Gov ernment to increase the pork pro duction 40% in 1943 over the fig ure of 1942. Recommendations are going out this week from the office of the Nebraska Bankers Association to all member banks, asking that they cooperate in this state-wide campaign to put Nebraska back to her former high rank in hog production, and to thus give prac tical aid to the war effort. Co operating banks are urged to as sist farmers wherever practicable so that more sows may be bred to farrow in the spring and fall of 1943, and to further assist in the program to save more pigs per sow and to feed them to a heav ier weight. The goal for which Secretary of Agriculture Wickard is striv ing is a 10% increase for the en tire nation. A greater increase is asked of Nebraska because this state’s feed grain production is up 40% this year and there is twice as much corn and wheat stored on farms. Bankers expect that the Government will provide price support that will maintain pork prices at profitable levels for the farmer. Mail Christmas Parcels And Cards Early The postoffice department is urging the early mailing of par cels and cards for Christmas, so as to insure delivery by Christ mas. On account of the great in crease in mail, caused by the war, all branches of the service are crowded and a little co-operation by the public will be of great as sistance. Joe Biglin attended the Nebras ka-Kansas State football game at Lincoln last Saturday. ORDINANCE FOR BLACKOUT Our readers are requested to carefully read Ordinance No. 206A of the City of O’Neill, published in another column of this issue. This a meas ure providing regulations for Blackouts, during the War Emergency, and should be carefully read by our people to familiarize themselves with its provisions. The first Black out will be on Monday night, December 14th. Gerald Sobotka, Inman, Gets Army Promotion Second Lt. Gerald L. Sobotka of Inman was promoted as 1st Lt. in ! the Army Air Corps on Novem i ber 26. Lt. Sobotka received his education in the Inman high school, where he graduated in 1938, and received his military training in the R.O.T.C. at the University of Nebraska, where he graduated and was commissioned 2nd Lt. on May 25, 1942. He was sent to MacDill Field, Tampa, Fla., where he reported for active duty last June 25th, and was made a Squadron Intelligence Of ficer. On November 18 this year he was transferred to base head quarters and was made assistant Base Intelligence Officer. Lt. So botka is the son of John Sobotka, Jr., of Inman, and married Dor othy Langan of O’Neill. - Youths of 18-19 Are To Register Youths who became 18 years of age in July and August will regis ter during the week of December 11th to 17th, according to a proc lamation issued by President Roosevelt setting the dates for registration of teen-age youths. Those reaching that age in Sep tember and October will register the folowing week, and those at taining that age in November and December will be required to register the week of December 26th to 31st. A continuous regis tration is provided for those be coming 18 years of age after Jan uary 1st, next. Youths of 18 and 19 years who registered last Jan uary will receive questionnaires at once, and they will be called up in the order of their birthday, the oldest first. It is stated there will be no lottery, and youth 18 and 19 years of age, in school, may obtain deferment until the end of the high school year by making written application. . Monroe Halladay, Ewing Reported Killed In Action Navy casualty list No. 17. is sued by the Navy last Friday, an nounced four Nebraska men kill ed. Among them were Robert Monroe Halladay, ensign, hus band of Phyllis M. Halladay, of Ewing. Drueke-Devall Uuptials In Portland, Oregon Announcements were received here by relatives and friends of the marriage of Jeanette Drueke, daughter of Mrs. M. A. Schelkopf, to Clarence Devall, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Devall, pioneer family of the Meek community. The ceremony was performed at the chapel of the church of St. Francis of Assisi at Portland, Oregon, by Father Manik. Miss Agatha Tunic, of Butte, was bridesmaid and Thomas Hynes acted as best man. Mrs. Devall is a graduate of the O’Neill High School with the class of 1938. Mr. Devall is employed at the Kaiser shipyards at Portland, Oregon. R. H. Shriner Purchases Hayes Ins. Business Mrs. J. M. Hayes closed a deal the latter part of last week for the sale of the Hayes Insurance Agency in this city to R. H. Shriner of O’Neill, who took pos session the first of the month. Mr. Shriner has been a resident of this city for seven years, hav ing been the traveling represen tative of the Dempster Mill Mfg. ; Co. in this territory. He is a gen ial, affable gentleman and The Frontier welcomes him to the ranks of O’Neill business men. Roy Sauers spent the week-end in Omaha visiting his wife, who ! is in a hospital there. John Alfs, Early Settler, Departs John Alfs died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Tesch, six miles east of Atkinson on Friday, November 27, 1942 at the age of 77 years, seven months and twenty days. Biglin Brothers ambulance went after the body and brought it to this city and the funeral services were held last Monday JOHN ALFS 1 afternoon at the Methodist church in Atkinson and burial in Wood j lawn cemetery at the side of his wife, who passed away in Aug ust, 1940. John Alfs had always enjoyed good health and was in especially fine spirits this summer and fall. At the recent election he was the democratic candidate for county assessor and canvassed the coun 1 ty in the interest of his candidacy | and appeared as hale and hearty j as he ever was. Last Thursday ] he went to the Tesch home for Thanksgiving dinner, the family being old-time friends. After sup per that evening he went out to the car and was ready to start for home. After entering the car he | had a heart attack. Mr. Tesch got him out of the car and into the house and called Dr. Douglas from Atkinson, who administered a stimulant and in a short time he was feeling fine. He stayed j there all night and was to come i home the following afternoon. He I had another attack about one o’clock the next day and passed j away in a few moments. Deceased was born in Grand Duchy of Aldenburg, Germany, on April 7, 1865. When he was ten years of age his parents came to the United States and located in Lancaster county, Nebraska, where they remained for three years, and then in 1878 they came to Holt county and located north west of O’Neill, in what is now known as Pleasantview Town ship, and here he grew to man hood and lived the greater part of his life. On October 1, 1895, he was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Siebert, the ceremony being per formed at Mariaville, Nebr. Two children were born of this union: Mrs. Minnie Martens of Atkinson, and Mrs. Etta L. Kitchens of Sher idan, Wyoming, both of whom , were present at the funeral serv i ices. He is also survived by one brother, Otto Alfs, of Wall, S. D., who was also present at the fu neral services. John Alfs was a good citizen and always took an interest in the civic affairs of the county and this city, since he moved to O’Neill from his farm home thirteen years ago. At the time of his death he was a member of the city coun cil, representing the Second ward. John was a genial and compan ionable man and had a host of friends over the county who were shocked when they learned of his sudden death. Fire Breaks Out At Council Oak Fire from a defective light wire j or spontaneous combustion in the ! coal bin, started a fire in the base ment of the Council Oak Store about 11:30 this morning. The fire had gained good head way when the fire department appeared on the scene and soon had the fire under control. The fire was burning fiercely when the department got the water on the flames and considerable damage was done to the floor near the furnace, but the only damage to the stock was caused by smoke. The extent of the damage was unknown at the time of going to press. Miss Dorothy Moore, who at tends Duschene College in Oma ha, left on Sunday after spending the holiday here) visiting her par ' ents, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Moore, I and other relatives and friends. Breezes From i The Southwest By Romain* Saundera Atkinson, Nebr., Star Route No. 5. Ted Walhorki of Elyria, accom panied by a neighbor, Mr Rankie, was ir| this community a day last week and bought a cow and calf of Tom Baker. Ted is just arrived ] in his eighteenth year and is launching out thus early in life in the purebred stock business, his fancy running to Shorthorn cattle and spotted Poland China swine. If you are rolling along at 35 on the highway just east of Inez and pass an underslung with a young lady leaning hard on two sets of lines and doing a good job of piloting four snappy horses, that may be Miss Betty Smith, or some other competent ranch girl, heading for the meadow to run a cable around a haystack, jug gle the heavy four-horse hitch, swing her teams into place and yank half a stack onto the under slung and trot back to the cattle feeding grounds with her load. Maybe we old-timers have been a bit critical of Young America, but when it comes to a pinch they demonstrate that they are made of the right sort of stuff. Cheer up; there may be a job for you if Uncle Sam gets to it before the new cor^gress meets. According to one of the many writers on the staff of the Wash ington Times-Herald — and it takes something of a crew of writ ers, printers, proofreaders and pressmen to turn out a 42-page paper every morning—108 go on the U. S. payroll each hour of the day, night and day. By early fall, th£ executive branch of govern ment had 281,423 on the payroll in Washington alone, while the entire service had a total of 2, 450,759 by the end of August "The incoming congress,” says this Times-Herald writer, “is go ing to insert more riders into legislation than one might ex-: pect. They promise no good to1 many thousands now On the job.” I As I view it, it requires a fa natical mental slant to regard a | salute of the flag as an impious act. Fanaticism has caused un-1 necessary trouble to a lot of good people, and if commensurate re turns have followed they were confined to the inward glow of the martyr. Of the thing itself, there is nothing in the multi-col ored bit of cloth floating from a flagstaff—it is the priceless heri tage which that fluttering flag represents and for which the head is bared in recognizing salute. Sixteenth century England saw the rise of a religious group who got themselves into a world of trouble by denouncing the churches as “steeple-houses” and refusing to remove their hats on occasions when common courtesy seemed to require it. Fanatics are a left-over from the past but they are getting along better to day than formerly. The brown prairie has early taken on the winter coat of white-1 wash and the dawn of December 1 dropped the weather gauge to within six points of zero. The snow has quieted fears of prairie fires, furnish a covering for grass and grain roots, spreads a charm ing picture over the landscape, deepens the chill in the air and makes you step a little brisker., “All beautiful the march of i days, As the seasons come and go; The hand that shaped the rose Hath wrought the crystal of the snow— Hath sent the hoary frost of heaven, The flowing waters sealed, And laid a silent lovliness on hill and wood and field.” Our nation’s capital is overrun with newspaper “columnists” tell ; ing how it is done. One of the no 5 tables in this class refers to the i landing of allied forces in North Africa something like forty-seven time as “luck.” The turbulent flow of waters of the mighty At lantic along the west coast of north Africa renders surf landing at Casablanca something more than luck. Why not say the hand of Omnipotence aided in the land ing? Right as opposed to wrong— that, in the final analysis, is the essence of this world conflict. Call it luck, the breaks or what you will. Providence is forever on the side of right, and in the end no great issue was ever set tled other than right. I like to think it was not luck at Casa Gas Rationing Brings Folks In All O'Neill business places en joyed a brisk business last Mon day, the day before the start of gas rationing. Dry goods stores were especially busy and in many of the stores were customers from several adjoining counties, visit ing the city to make their winter purchases before the gas deadline went into effect. Gasoline dealers had one of the best days in their history in this city. Everyone was driving in and telling them to ‘‘fill ’er up.” In addition to getting their car filled many of them had milk cans, jugs and various other receptacles fill ed with gasoline, so they would not be caught gasless when they really needed it. The people who it will really hit hard are the farmers and ranchmen of the county. To these, many of them living from 15 to 45 miles from town, will not have enough gas oline to enable them to get to town for supplies and then get home again, under the present ration program. But we are of the opinion that this will be taken care of shortly and those needing gas, not for pleasure driving, but for necessary business activities, will be able to get what they want. At least, for the benefit of all concerned, let us hope so. Tree Orders Are Being Received Local farmers and ranchers will be interested in learning that Clarke-McNary seedlings will be available through the county agent’s office in O’Neill again in 1943. Eighteen varieties will be included and orders will be taken during the winter months for de livery at planting time next spring. Cost of all varieties will be $1.00 per hundred. Applica tions may be obtained by writing to Lyndle Stout, county agent, in O’Neill. The complete list of varieties include: American elm, Chinese elm, mulberry, cottonwood, green ash, hackberry, honey locust, black locust, Russian olive, wild plum, boxelder, caragana, soft maple, chokecherry, yellow pine, Austrian pine, jackpine, and red cedar. Tree planting has become ex tremely popular in Holt county during recent years and Clarke McNary seedlings have had an excellent survival. Last year 36. 550 seedlings were distributed. Tree planting this year may have to be curtailed because of farm labor conditions, but recent ex periences show that often seed lings can be planted before farm work starts. Fall plowing of the ground, where blowing is not a problem, can save labor required next spring. Keep Well Move Being Promoted Posters dramatizing five fun damentals on how to keep well are being distributed throughout O’Neill by the Northeast Nebras ka Life Underwriters Association as part of the nation-wide “Keep Well Crusade” being conducted by the country’s life insurance people to aid in the war effort. The five-point health program outlined in the poster was pre pared by the Institute of Life In surance in cooperation with the United States Health Service and endorsed by Dr. Thomas Parran, Surgeon General of the United States. “Those fundamentals for keep ing well cannot be overstressed today as we go into high gear on war production in this country,” Dorlin Lockmon, chairman of the Holt County Keep Well Crusade Committee, said today, “for every hour lost through sickness' or in jury strikes at the war out-put. The total loss nation-wide from this cause is four billion man hours annually, and every mem ber of this community can con tribute to the war effort ‘just by keeping well’ and thus reducing this great production time loss.” Miss Mary Carney spent the Thanksgiving holidays in Sioux City visiting relatives and friends. j blanca, but the good hand of our God over our men, and may they I conduct themselves worthy of the ; high calling that for which they I were landed. Father Isadore Visits Old Friends Here Father Isadore, who had been visiting at the home of his sister, Mrs. C. E. Stout, for the past two weeks, left Monday for Butte, Mont., where he will visit rel atives and old-time O'Neill folks for a couple of weeks prior to his return to Sierra Madera, Calif. Father Isadore grew to manhood in the Michigan settlement north east of this city and he thoroughly enjoyed his visit here with the few real old-timers that are left in the city and surrounding country. Trial Blackout Set For Dec. 11 Anticipating the state - wide blackout scheduled for December 14th and desiring that said black out shall be as near 100 per cent as possible, it is deemed advisable that we hold a practice blackout in O’Neill on Friday, December 11th, from 9:00 to 9:15 p. m. All civil Defense chairmen, city officials, air raid wardens and civilians are asked to help make this test a success. The object of this test will be to iron out any difficulties' prior to the state-wide test in the Seventh Corps Area, when Army planes will be over head to check on the success of the blackout. We are assured by the Office of Civilian Defense that any town not blacking out will be severely reprimanded. Since our Air Raid Wardens have not yet graduated, and are therefor not entitled to wear the insignia identifying them as such, a white arm band approximately four inches in width, may be worn during both of these tests. All towns in the county have been supplied with a copy of a! blackout ordinance covering the1 emergency and it is assumed that the same or some suitable form J thereof will have been acted upon | prior to the tests. Business houses having outside | signs and window lighting should arrange to have same turned off or provide an outside switch which may be operated by the Air Raid Warden or auxiliary pol ice officer in the sector. Prior to these tests, Air Raid Wardens should have visited all j homes in their sector and distrib uted the leaflets, “Meet Your Air Raid Warden,” which have been supplied to most committees. Ad ditional copies of this leaflet may be obtained upon request from the county chairman or county commander at O’Neill. Wardens’ posts should be estab lished and the city authorities should have designated a place for the control center to be estab lished, with adequate telephone communication to each. Each community will have to decide upon the signal to be used for both the “Air Raid” and “All Clear” signal. These undoubtedly will be determined by the equip ment at hand. They should not, however, be signals that might be confused with the regular fire alarm signal. Should you be driving on the streets when an Air Raid signal sounds, immediately pull into the curb, extinguish your lights and wait until the “all clear” signal sounds. Air Raid Wardens and auxiliary police will co-operate to see that this is carried out, since it is necessary that the street be kept clear for the passage of fire trucks, ambulances, and various utility trucks which may have to use the streets during such a period. To assist you in complying with the regulations, we list the fol lowing: Don’t leave your home when the Air Raid sounds, and be sure your children are kept off the streets. Don’t light matches or smoke if you happen to be on the street. Don’t attempt to drive your car. Don’t leave lights burning and go away to visit your neighbors. Don’t turn on any lights that will show outdoors— leave them off or make certain your windows are properly covered. Don’t use your phone except in emergencies— the operators will be busy on defense calls. The Air Raid signal for O’Neill will be one blast on the fire siren of about one minute duration. The “All Clear” signal will be two blasts of approximately one-half minute duration. HOLT COUNTY DEFENSE COMMITTEE. J. E. Davidson, O’Neill Pioneer, Is Laid To Rest James Edgar Davidson, son of : O. E. and Rebecca Davidson, was born near Terre Haute, Indiana, j on December 6, 1871, and depart ! ed this life at his home in O’Neill on Saturday morning. November 28, 1942. at the age of 70 years, I 11 months and 22 days, after an j illness of several months. He | came to Nebraska with his par j ents when a small boy and resid I ed in Hamilton county for several I years. The family moved to O’Neill in 1882 and this was his home until his death. On November 7, 1892, he was j united in marriage to Miss Anna ; Hansen and to this union eleven : children were born, eight sons ; and three daughters, who, with ' the mother are left to mourn the | passing of a kind and noble | father. Mr. Davidson spent his early manhood in the employ of John McCafferty, who was engaged in the hardware business. In 1901 he opened a plumbing and heat ing establishment for himself. He was a pioneer in this business and continued in this work, with the help of his sons, until his death. The children, all of whom were present for the last rites, are: John, Ralph, and James, Jr., of O’Neill; Clyde of Sioux City, Iowa; Edward and Lloyd, of Cas per, Wyoming; Frank, of Culver City, Calif.; Owen, who is an av iation metalsmith in the U. S. Navy, stationed at Pensacola, Fla.; Dorothy (Mrs. J. Fred Deg nan) of Buffalo Gap, S. D.; Fran ces (Mrs. O. H. Johnson) of Wau sa, Nebr., and Eileen (Mrs. Cy Bruning) of Los Angeles, Calif. He also leaves to mourn his pass in, one brother, John Davidson, of Long Beach, Wash., and one sister, Miss Dora Davidson, of Chicago, 111.; fourteen grand children, two great grandchildren and a host of more distant rel atives and friends. The funeral was held Wednes day afternoon at two o’clock from the Methodist church, Rev. Daw son Park officiating, and burial in Prospect Hill cemetery. The fu neral was very largely attended. James Davidson was one of the real pioneers of this city. Hb par ents came to O’Neill when Jim was eleven years old and he grew to manhood and spent the bal ance of his life here. He liked to tinker around with tools, and at an early age he went to work in the tinshop of John J. McCaf ferty, where he was employed for many years, until he started in business for himself forty-one years ago, he having started the first exclusive tin, heating and plumbing shop in the city. As his sons grew up they went into the shop and learned the business. He always enjoyed a good bus iness and as the years passed he soon outgrew the little shop he started business in and moved it further east on Douglas street and added an addition, later moving the building back and erecting a modern brick and tile building, which has housed the firm* of Davidson & Sons for several years. Jim was a good workman and always took an active inter est in the welfare of the city and its inhabitants. He always enjoyed good health until a few months ago when he began to fail and lost his appe tite. A trip to specialists in Oma ha was taken about six weeks ago, but it was discovered that he was suffering from that dread malady, cancer, and there was no hope, so he passed away peace ably last Saturday morning. He had a host of friends in this city and county who heard with re gret of his passing. Another old. landmark, after living here for sixty years, has passed to the great beyond. His was an active and useful life and he will be missed in this city, and The Fron tier joins the many friends of the family in extending to them, in their hour of sorrow, its sincere condolence. County Court Ray R. Davis of Venus was ar rested by Patrolman Meistrell on November 28. He was charged with reckless driving, pled guilty, and was fined $10 and costs of $3.10. Harry E. Lampert of Orchard was arrested by Patrolman Meis trell on November 25. He was charged witK*naving no rear lamp, pled guilty, and was fined $2 00 and casts of $3.10.