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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1946)
STATE HIST SOC xxx . VOLUME 66 — NUMBER 31. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1946. PRICE 5 CENTS SEEKS ACCOUNTING OF HUGE ESTATE Mallory Alleges Estate Shrinks from $729,000 to $198,000 TO SIOUX CITY COURT Lemuel C. Mallory, about 60, a Holt countyan who resides north of here near the Niobrara river, Monday started suit in district court at Sioux City for an ac counting in the estate of his fa- j ther, the late Lemuel W. Mallory, a well-known Sioux City whole sale grocer. The Holt countyan, whose at- j torneys are Julius D. Cronin, oi O'Neill, and David F. Loepp, of Sioux City, former mayor of that place, declares that the net in ventory value of the estate, $729, 000, had shrunk by March,1945, to $193,000 despite established re ceipts of $978,000 since his fath er’s death 15 years ago. The suit is against Jack A. Mal lory and Paul J. Osborne, exec utors and trustees of the estate; Rose Mallory, Bud B. Mallory, Lloyd W. Hirst, a trustee, the Pratt - Mallory company; the Hess-Mallory company, and the M & L Baking company, all of Sioux City, and the Artificial Ice company, of St. Louis, Mo. The only heirs of Lemuel W. Mallory were his sons, Julius A., who died several years ago, and Lemuel Cecil Mallory, of Holt county. NEW UNIFORMS SEEN BY SPRING There is a possibility that the O’Neill schools’ band will be wearing new uniforms come time for the April music contest, it was 1 announced today (Thursday) by Mrs. Harry Petersen, who is chairman of the band mothers group, sponsors of the movement for uniforms. Colors chosen by the commit tee are French blue background, cherry red trim, and white ac cent. Fifty mothers of the O’Neill public school and St. Mary’s acad emy musicians gathered Friday at the band room in the public school to learn the progress of a fund-raising drive which will help purchase more than 90 uni forms. A petition was recently circulated by the group asking the city council to expend $1,750 towards the uniforms. Seven hundred and fifty names were se cured. | The public school board of ed- | ucation would match the city s j figure, according to the band mother’s proposal and the money raised by solicitation would round out the balance required. The solicitation has been fin ished, but all returns have not been collected. Members of the band mothers committee are Mrs. R. L- Bohde, Mrs. D. C. Schaffer, Mrs. Arlo Hi att, Mrs. Lloyd W. Brady, Mrs. Esther Cole Harris, Mrs. Edward F. Gallagher, Mrs. P. B. Harty, Mrs. Hugh J. Birmingham, Miss Bernadette Brennan and Mrs. M. J Golden. At the open meeting of the band mothers Friday, four others were selected to function with the committee in completing arrangements. They are Mrs. W. H. Harty, Mrs. J. J. Berrigan, Mrs. D. D. DeBolt and Mrs. Har den Anspach. 11 Amputees Receive Autos from Uncle Sam During the past 60 days, 11 Ne braska amputee veterans of World War II have received au tomobiles at Government ex pense, Ira M. DeWalt, Veterans Administration contact represen tative of Ainsworth, has reported. An additional 75 Nebraska World War II veterans who lost or lost the use of one or both legs have been approved to receive free conveyances, but deliveris have not yet been made. DeWalt said mat $1,600 is the maximum the VA can allow un der the law for purchase of au tos, tractors, or other conveyanc es for amputee World War II vet erans. Lions Club Will Watch New Year The Lions club will stage a New Year’s eve party at the Golden hotel, it was decided at a recent meeting, and members of the Bassett and Neligh groups as well as former members of the O’Neill organization are being in vited. The affair will be a dinner dance and a program will be in cluded. MARRIAGE LICENSES Duane H. Dorr, 21, and F. Lor raine French, 21, both of Page, December 7. Robert N. Sholes, 24, of Inman, and Marcella I. Johnson, 21, of ’ O’Neill, December 7. AT 86 HEADS 5 GENERATIONS This five generation group, headed by Mrs. Mattie Johnson (seated at right), posed for the photographer recently during their rare gathering. In the photo left-to-: ight are: Seated—Mrs. Christine Walters, of O’Neill, widow of the late William Walters and a daugh ter of Mrs. Johnson; Sandra Lee Long, three-months-old, of Denver, Colo., and Mrs. John son. Standing—Mrs. Noel Long, of Denver, the infant’s mother, and Mrs. Long’s mother, Mrs. bemuei noDerison, oi vr who before her marriage was Miss Louise Walters. Mrs. Johnson, 86, enjoys what her relatives describe as good heSlth. She resides with her youngest daughter, Mrs. John Claussen, about one-quarter of a mile from the old Joy post office. It was on this place that Mrs. Johnson and her husband set tled after they came to Holt county. Mr. Johnson died 20 years ago.—O’Neill Photo Co. CORN WEST AT 70% MARK Farmers Racing Against Flying Snow; Reports of Dampness Nearly 70 percent of Holt coun ty’s 1946 corn crop had been husked up until today (Thurs day), it was estimated by Coun ty Agent A. Neil Dawes as the weatherman continued to favor the farmers, who are racing against the flying snow. Reports indicate that farmers in the northwest section cf the county are further advanced with their husking than in the east and south portions. The county yield is generally good with some exceptionally fine re ports. Some farmers have completed the job, and much of the corn is drying out nicely, but there are continued reports of damp ness. County Agent Dawes pointed out that the excellent weather during the past two weeks has enabled the farmers to practical ly overcome the delay that had been enforced by the wetness in October and November. The Holt region, he said, is normally a week or ten days behind its neighbors in corn picking. The week’s weather summary, based on readings at 8 a.m. daily, follows: Date Hi Lo December 6 49 29 December 7 66 31 December 8 42 28 December 9 55 30 December 10 56 22 December 11 .—- 55 25 December 12 56 20 ELA ALLEN DIES IN WASHINGTON PAGE—Ela Allen, of Blaine, Wash., a former resident of the Page community, is dead. He is a brother of Harvey and E. E. Allen, both of near Page. O'NEILL HOSPITAL NOTES Infant Harry James Suther land, of Ewing, was admitted Wednesday and dismissed today (Thursday) . . . Mrs. James So ootka and infant daughter, of In man, were dismissed Sunday. . . Mrs. Dale Curran, of O’Neill, was jismissed Sunday. . . Mrs. John Shrunk, of Atkinson, was admit ted Saturday. Her condition is improved. . . Mrs. Earl Farr, of D’Neill, was dismissed Saturday , . Mrs. Edward Cilhoun, of Walnut, was admitted Monday and dismissed today (Thursday). Mrs. W. J. Froelich and daugh ter Nancy, Mrs. Edwiard Camp aell, Miss Marion Bosn, and Miss Rosalind Bosn, spent from Fri iay until Sunday in Omaha vis ting relatives and friends. Earl Bentz, of Norfolk, was a Wednesday guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jale Kersenbrock. Page Good Neighbors Hold Two Sessions PAGE — Two husking bees were held in this community last week. All of the corn was picked for Calvin Harvey. Mr. Harvey was a patient in the Or chard hospital this Fall and has spent some time at Rochester, Minn., where his son, Gene, has been a patient in a hospital there. Twenty-five acres were pick ed for Harold Heiss who has has two attacks of erysipelas this Fall. SANTA DETAILS NEXT WEEK Details of Santa’s impending visit with the kiddies of the O’ Neill territory are being withheld until next week, according to Leo Moore, of the Chamber of Com merce committee arranging for Santa’s appearance here. St. Nick will be here Saturday, December 21. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mahaffey went to Omaha Tuesday to visit relatives for a few days. m. BURSELL, 80 DIES IN DAKOTA Mother of 15 Buried Wednesday, Chambers; Born in Michigan CHAMBERS — Mrs. Rebecca 3uisoli, 80, a mother of 15 and a resident of Holt county for near ly 37 years, died late Sunftay at no home of a son, Fred, in Ver million, S. D. Relatives said that death was caused by influenza and a heart ailment. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at a Vermil lion funeral home, followed at 3 pm. with rites in the Baptist church in Chambers. Interment was in the Chambers cemetery. The late Rebecca Shanks was born in Michigan. She came with her family to Holt county after first having settled in South Da kota. The Bursell family resid jed northwest cf Chambers for many years. They were the parents of 15 sons and daughters, 10 of whom j survive their mother. Mr. Bur ; sell died 20 years ago. The survivors include Charles, of Chambers; Mrs. Ernest Arm strong, of Vermillion, S. D.; Mrs Bert Farewell, of Chambers; Ly man, of Spencer; Willard, of Ver million; John, of Burbank, S. D. Fred, of Burbank, S. D.; Alfred of O’Neill. She also leaves three sisters Mrs. Glenn Baker, Mrs. Johr Miatthews, and. Mrs. Jane Hansen all of Sioux City. John Bauld, of Beatrice, ar rived Monday and is visiting his brother Earl Bauld, and family for several weeks. HOSPITAL DRIVE BEING PUSHED The solicitors for O’Neill’s new $200,000 community hospital are busily at work this week in the revived drive for funds. L. D. Putnam, Leo Moore and A E. Bowpn le*Va canvass of the business district. The general committee an nounced last week that wrord had been received from the Depart ment of Internal Revenue, Treas ury Department, declaring that contributions for the nonprofit O’Neill community hospital would be “deductible from tax able net income.” The current drive is expected to rather more momentum during the remaining weeks of the year, a spokesman for the committee said. FULL HOUSE SEES PLAY CHAMBER—The junior class of the Chambers high school pre sented the play, “Grand-Dad Steps Out,” to a full house Fri day evening. It was a hilarious comedy well presented. Displaced Work from West Coc During the past 30 days the No folk office of the Nebraska State Employment Service has been taking work applications from an increasing number of men and women who have been returning to the state from the West coast and from other met ropolitan indutsrial areas, it was stated this week by Walter A. Steffen, manager. Many of the displaced work ers report a loss of job oppor tunities and state that they are unable to pay the high living costs prevailing in those areas. Holt is one of eight counties served by Steffen’s office. Meanwhile, the trend toward unemployment in November is i “far more serious than it has been in recent years,” Steffen declared. During the ’last 20 POLIO EPIDEMIC IS ON DECLINE Clinton Belknap Talks Here; Chairman 1947 Drive Named Clinton Belknap, of Lincoln, head of the Nebraska chapter of the National Foundation of In fantile Paralysis, Wednesday j night told an audience here that the recent polio epidemic in the state has reached its peak and is now on the decline. The occa sion for Belknap’s appearance here was the annual meeting of the Holt county chapter. He said I that polio was its worst since 1916 j in Nebraska. Mrs. Cletus Sullivan, of O’Neill, will head the Holt county infan tile paralysis drive in 1947. Officers of the Holt county chapter are: Mrs. D. C. Schaf fer, chairman: E. F. Quinn, treas urer; James W. Rooney, secre tary; Mrs. H. E. Coyne, Mrs. Ag nes Sullivan, Mrs. Melvin Ru zicka, Mrs. Ralph Rickly, and Miss Elja McCullough, all mem bers of the board; and Dr. J. P. Brown, medical adviser. All are from O’Neill. Holt county had two residents stricken with infantile during the past year. They were Don Lind quist, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ar vid Lindquist, of O’Neill, and Mrs. Lloyd Clemens, 25, of Ame lia, a mother of three children. Mrs. Clemens is still in an Oma ha hospital. KIN IS ILL PAGE — Mrs. Kenneth Brad doek. accompanied by relatives from Brunswick, and her father, F. F. Heiter, of O’Neill, left Sun day night for Kimball upon re ceiving a message that an uncle, Jake Heiter, was seriously ill and I not expected to recover. Mr. and Mrs. Allan P. Jaszow lak and Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Gold en spent Tuesday in Sioux City. Ben Kuroki, American, Visits O'Neill Ben Kuroki, “the boy from Nebraska,” Wednesday visited in O’Neill. The Japanese-American, who fought World War II in Euro ope, North Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific and emerged as one of the Nation’s best-known war heroes, stop ped off here enroute to Neligh, where he lectured Wednesday night. Kuroki is a farm boy, bom and reaped near Hershey, where he went to school, was vice-president of his senior class, and worked with his fa ther and his brother at truck farming. After Pearl Harbor he dove 150 miles to enlist in the Ar my, wangled his way overseas in August, 1942, when most Nisei were being left behind on KP jobs. A combination KP clerk, he trained himself for a gunner’s job on B-24 Liberator and on the first anniversary of { Pearl Harbor he was flying in combat against the Axis. For nearly three years Ben waged a personal fight against the Axis that took him on 29 high level bombing missions in the European theater during a period when the life expectan cy of a gunner was roughly 12 missions. In addition, he vol unteered for duty on the now famous low-level attack on the I Ploesti oil fields in Roumania on August 1, 1943. His was one of two bombers in a flight of nine that returned safely to its base in the Libyan desert. Ben’s 30-ton bomber had flown so low it brought back corn stalks in the bomb-bay. Over Munster, Germany, a chunk of German flak knccked off his earphones and medical officers promptly grounded Ben and sent him to the States. He Ijad had more than the au thorities agreed that any one man could take. Back in the States in early 5 1944, Technical Sergeant Ben Kuroki was a hero. He sold war bonds and he spoke in many States. His principal ad dress was at the Common wealth club in San Francisco, Calif., a group which had heard every president since Andrew Jackson. The war went on and Ben grew discontent with his dull Army life in the States. He violated military regulations and called upon Nebraska Con gressman Carl T. Curtis. Ben wanted to help finish the war against his ancestors—the Jap anese. Curtis fixed things with the War Department and Ben turned up a few weeks later in Saipan with a B-29 outfit. There Ben finished the war, I bringing his grand total of op erational missions to 58. Back in the States once more, Ralph Martin, formerly Stars and Stripes, began writing Ben’s biography and last month it was published (Harper & Brothers, $2.50), entitled, “The Boy from Nebraska.” The book is not only the story of Ben’s amazing war rec ord, in which he accumulated three-decks of ribbons, but it is the story of Ben’s struggle against the prejudice and intol erance of a good many Ameri cans. Ben relates that he went through “plain hell” during his early Army days. Many times the pressure was so intense be cause of his color that he wept. In combat his comrades quickly accepted him. He belonged. But outside his own circle there were too many who did not accept him. He didn’t look right to them. His skin was yellow. After war’s end, Ben and his story were in great demand. He appeared on the New York Herald-Tribune forum with General of the Armies George C. Marshall, and he was heard ’ on the Town Meeting of the Air, broadcast nationally. His life’s story was dramatized by Treasury Salute program and The Readers’ Digest published it. Ben is currently fighting what he terms his “59th mis sion.” He is on a nationwide lecture tour, which will cul minate next Fall when he will enter the University of Ne braska. Kuroki says that “America must choose between communism and democracy, and if America is to have a true democracy, then it must aban don the prejudice and hate that threaten our country from within.” A true democracy, he says, must apply to all men. He says he will go on fighting his “59th mission” until folks learn that skin, color, ancestry or relig ion doesn’t tell you all there is to know about a man, and that the blood spilled during the war was all the same color. While in O’Neill, Kuroki and his bride of two months, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. George Kuroki, of Denver, Colo., were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll (Cal) Stewart, and Mrs. R. E. Gallagher. Mr. Kuroki and Mr. Stewart, now the publisher of The Fron tier, went overseas in the same organization in August, 1942. i The late Lt. Harold Tusch la, of Atkinson, who lost his life in early 1943, was also a member of the same unit. The Kurokis are enroute to Pocatello, Ida., to visit with Mrs. Kuroki’s people. Mr. Kur oki has made four appearances in Nebraska. He spoke at con vocation at the University of Nebraska last Thursday, at Central City Friday, at Neligh Wednesday and at Albion to day (Thursday.) ers Returning ist, Steffen Says days of November, job open ings on llie with the employ ment service dropped off 39 percent, while active applica tions tor work increased 49 per cent. “The serious extent of the slump,” Steffen pointed out, “is emphasized by the drop of approximately 50 percent in demand for service workers j (hotels, cafes and other service businesses). This is the first time in five or more years that the Norfolk office has had so few calls for service workers." The Ainsworth office has re ported a substantial let-down in the demand for all types of workers, while the supply of unskilled labor increased 10 percent as agricultural work was finished for the season. FLIP DECIDES ASSESSOR RACE A flip of a coin gave William Hanley the victory over Mar j vin Clouse in the race for as ' sessor in Grattan precinct. Theirs was the only contest affected by the official canvass of the general election ballots. The canvass, completed last week, disclosed an equal num ber of votes in Grattan for both Hanley and Clouse. County Clerk Ruth Hoffman explained that the laws of the state provide that in the event of a tie, "lots should be drawn." Mr. Clouse was ill and was not present when the coin was flipped in the presence of the canvassing board. Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Wallace were in Grand Island Wednes day on business. — FUEL SHORTAGE EXTENDS VACATION Apprehension Lingers at Public School Despite Strike Settlement John L. Lewis’ United Mine ; Workers trudged back to the coal pits this week and their produc tion is nearly back to normal. But apprehension lingers at the O’Neill public schools where a dwindling coal supply may yet require emergency action. Supt. Ira George said that, ac cording to present plans, the Christmas vacation will be ex tended to a full-two weeks, and classes dismissed on December 20 will be resumed January 6 on a limited schedule, which has al ready been in effect for two weeks. Most extra curricular ac tivity has been curtailed. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to replenish the supply so that it will not be necessary to take further action. The public school is the only principal building in the city where conservation steps had to be taken. As the miners went back to their pits, the Government’s par cel post and freight embargos were lifted, and the Christmas rush is now in full swing. Most transportation in the O’ Neill region was quickly restored to normal. The coal dealers here have not yet received fuel mined by the j retu ned strikers, but several car loads of coal from independent Oklahoma mines have been re ceived recently. Fuel is still be ing rationed by the Moore-Noble Lumben & Coal company, but the crisis is over, according to Leo Moore, manager. Brennan to Captain Army’s Soccer Team Cadet Jack Brennan, of O’Neill, has been elected captain of the 1947 soccer team at the United States Military academy at West Point, N. Y. The 21-year-old O’Neill youth, who never played soccer until he turned out for the cadet squad last Spring, distinguished himself last season by playing every min ute of a 13-game schedule . EFFECTS SOLD TNMAN—(Mr. and Mrs. James McMahon spent last week at Ly ! ons where they helped with the ' sale of effects belonging to Mr. McMahon’s father. Among those from Inman attending the sale held Friday were Mr. and Mrs. George Coventry and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Smith. 9 MORE EX-GI'S The following Selective Service registrants have been released here this week: William J. Lan gan, Spencer; Clarence E. Ward, O’Neill; Roy W. Landis, O’Neill; Irvin E. tiaughenbaugh, Atkin son; Gerald E. Lewis, O’Neill; I Walter J. Fuelberth, Stuart; Ray- ' mond A. Estes, Stuart; Daniel E. I Murphy, O’Neill; David J. Wag ner, Star, SPENCER OUTPUT TO BE UPPED Consumers Plan New Hydroelectric Generator WILL COST $137,000 Plans for a new 2,000-KVA generator and a new, improved 2,200-horsepower water wheel to be installed at the Spencer hy droelectric plant were approved recently by the board of direct ors of the Consumers Public Pow er district. The move to almost double the Spencer power output has been rpade to meet the rapidly rising power requirements, which are up 26 percent over the first eight month period last year. Manager L. C. Walling, of the Consumers headquarters here, said that the expansion at the Spencer dam would cost the dis trict approximately $137,000. He pointed out that the increased output would be achieved “with the same volume of water that has been used with the 1,140 KVA unit currently in opera tion.” Earlier the directors had auth orized an expenditure of $20,000 to convert the transmission line between the Spencer plant and O’Neill and improve substation facilities to accommodate the in creased power supply. This additional power, which will be fed into the network at O’Neill and will be distributed throughout the area, will be a “big help in meeting the con sumption requirements and in improving the service,” offcials said. Revenue Experts to Assist in January In order to be of most service to Holt county taxpayers, a dep uty collector of internal revenue will be at the following places 03 the dates specified: January 2 and 3—O’Neill, zone office; 9—Chambers, bank; 9— Atkinson, post office; 10— Cham bers, bank; 10—Atkinson, post office; 11, 13, 14, 15 — O’Neill, zone office. Individuals other than farmers may make a new estimate on or before January 15, 1947, either increasing or decreasing the es timate filed before March 15, 1946. Farmers may file an estimate on or before January 15, 1947. They may also file the final re turn on or before January 15, 1947, paying all the tax due for the year. Farmers filing estimates on or before January 15, 1947, will not be required to file the final re turn on or before March 15, 1947. The internal revenue office does not have the personnel to assist all farmers between Janu ary 1 and 15, according to G. W. O’Malley, of Omaha, collector of internal revenue in this district, and for this reason the Holt schedule was devised. ATTEND STATE MEET The 52nd annual convention of the Nebraska Association of County Officials is being held in Omaha. The meeting began Wed nesday and closes tomorrow (Fri day). Most of the Holt county officials concerned are attending. Mrs. J. P. Protivinsky returned December 4 from Sioux Falls, S. D., where she hac! been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Claude John son, and family for several weeks. F’uture Subscribers COLMAN — Mr. aid Mrs. George Colman, of Chambers, a son, weighing nine pounds, born Thursday, December 12, in the O’Neill hospital. HILl — Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hill, of O’Neill, a son. born Thurs day, December 12, in the O'Neill hospital. KTRSCHMAN — Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kirschman, of Ewing, a daughter, weighing seven pounds, born Thursday, December 12, in the O’Neill hospital. LUND—Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lund, of St. Paul, a son, Larry Robert, weighing seven and one half pounds, born Sunday, De cember 8. Mrs. Lund was form erly Miss Dorothy Gray, the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Gray, of Page. KROPP—Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kropp, of Ewing, a son, weighing eight pounds, born Wednesday, December 11, in the O’Neill hos pital. HUTTON—Mr. and Mrs. Grad on Hutton, of O’Neill, a daughter. Mrs. Hutton is at the home of her mother, Mrs. Russ, in O’Neill. The father is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hutton, of Inman.