Nebraska Newspapers

    I
VOLUME 67.—NUMBER 29. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1947.
100%
Paid in Advance
Circulation
★
PRICE 5 CENTS
Recommendatii.n Ignored in
Fixing School Land Vuiue>
9> —
Gillette Casts Only ‘No’
Vote at Land Hearing
in Lincoln
By vote of three-to-one, the
state board of educational l3dds
and funds in session late Monday
at Lincoln accepted the apprais
er’s report raising the average
valuation of 134 pieces of school
land in Holt county by 70 per
cent. i t
The lone dissenting vote was
cast by State Treasurer Ed
ward M. Gillette, a board
member, who recently recom
mended a 55 percent average
crease following a special hear
ing in O'Neill,
v
Monday’s action was a blow to
Holt county’s 200-odd school land
leaseholders, who pay a rental
on the county’s 77,000 acres of
school land on a valuation basis.
In June appraisers had increas
ed the Holt valuation 72 percent,
which followed an 85 percent in
crease in 1945. A controversy
arose with the result that a spe
cial hearing was held here Sep
tember 25 with Gillette presid
ing. » .
Gillette was convinced that the
proposed 72 percent hike was too
great, saying: “I recommend
that the proposed increase . . .
be reduced from 72 ‘ percent to
55 percent and that the classifi
cation of land in Holt county be
re-examined.”
At Monday's hearing, Gil
lette urged lower valuations on
grounds that lessees would be
* better able to finance them
selves through lean years of
poor crop-, and lower prices if
the valuations were not hiked
so much now.
Favoring acceptance of the ap
praiser’s original recommenda
tions were: State Supt. of
Schools Wayne O. Reed, Secre
tary of State Frank Marsh and
Gov. Val Peterson.
State Surveyor Hugh Dillon
made the initial appraisal, and
lowered his own figures follow
ing a stormy meeting with les
sees in O’Neill, arbitrarily ar
riving at the 72 percent mark.
At Monday’s session the board
also voted for a complete reclas
sification of Holt school lands in
’948.
The board will consider Cher
ry county valuations at its De
cember 22 meeting. Cherry and
Holt were the only counties from
which protests had been made in
regard to the new valuations.
When the county treasurer’s
office here is officially advised
of the board’s action, Holt les
sees will begin paying rentals at
the new valuation retroative
from July 1.
CATHOLIC CLERGY
TO RYAN RITES
Most. Rev. James H. Ryan, 60,
S.T.D.. first archbishop of Oma
ha, a widely-known Roman Cath
olic educator, and head of 150,
000 Catholics in the Omaha arch
diocese, died Sunday in an Oma
ha hospital.
Archbishop Ryan’s death was
attributed to an asthmatic heart
attack.
Funeral services will be held
at St. Cecelia’s cathedral at 10:30
• a.m. Friday in Omaha. Rt,. Rev.
J. G. McNamara, of St. Patrick's
Catholic church in O’Neill, will
head a delegation of Holt and
Boyd Catholic clergy which will
attend the solemn pontifical req
uiem high mass.
Born in Indianapolis, Ind., on
December 15. 1886, James Hugh
Ryan was ordained to the priest
hood in Rome at the age of 22.
He had been an O’Neill visitor
on several occasions.
X-Ray Results to Be
Mailed by Lions Club
As soon as card returns are
received from the state depart
ment of health, the O’Neill Lions
club will mail these cards to the
• hundreds of peruons who were
X-rayed by the mobile unit here
during November.
This was announced late Tues
day by Lions club officials.
More than 1,300 persons were
X-rayed in O’Neill during the
week’s stay of the mobile unit,
which was under the auspices of
the Lions. School children from
O’Neill, Chambers and Inman
were checked in addition to
adults during the stay here.
The unit closed its month’s
Holt county visit at noon Satur
day, leaving Ewing, the last stop
on its schedule.
• Deer Sighted at Celia
Believed One of
St. Nick’s Herd
CELIA — A deer has been
seen recently near the R L.
Pease mailbox.
Residents of the Celia com
munity frequently sight a deer
in the locality, but whether it
is always the same one no
body knows. It wouldn’t be
difficult, however, to convince
the small fry that it has wan
dered down from St. Nick’s
home at the North Pole, one
observer said.
SEE HUSKERS LOSE
CHAMBERS — Three carloads
of Chambers high school boys at
tended the Nebraska-Oklahoma
% football game at Lincoln Satur
| day. Charles Grimes and Mr.
Echd?hl took cars and the third
was driven by the Lutheran min
i isler of Clearwater. Rev. L. W
md Steffen.
s
CORA A. WINCHELL
BURIED TUESDAY
Widow of the Late
Ben T. Winchell Dies
After Short Illness
Funeral services for Mrs. Cora '
A. Winchell, 75, widow of the
late Ben T. Winchell, who was a :
well-known Holt county of icial,
were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in
the First Pre byterian church
here. Rev. Lloyd W. Mullis,
Methodist pastor, officiated and
burial was in Prospect Hill cem
etery. *
The late Mrs. Winchell died
at 3 p m. Sunday at her home
in the southwest section of the
city. She had been ill for less
than a month and seriously ill
for only a few days. Death
was caused by a heart afflic
tion and complications.
The former Cora A. Sackett
was born October 8, 1872 at
Black Earth, Wis., a daughter o'
the late Mr. and Mrs. Edmund
H- Sackett. She came to Holt
county with her parents and oth
er members of the family in
1884, settling on a homestead two
miles east and one-half mile
north of Chambers.
Mother of 12
On August 8, 1891 at Chambers
she married Mr. Winchell. They
became the parents of 12 chil
dren, eight of whom survive.
The family moved into O’Neill
in September, 1917. Mrs. Winch
ell was a member of Bethany
Presbyterian church at Cham
bers and later the First Presby
terian church at O’Neill. She
was affiliated with the Rebekah
lodge.
The late Mr. Winchell served
as a county official between
1916 and 1945, holding the
posts of treasurer, assessor
register of deeds, and various
deputy positions. He was dep
uty treasurer when he died.
Survivors include: Sons—Bert
Winchell, of O’Neill; Alva B.
Winchell, of Hastings; Vern H.
Winchell, of Denver, Colo.; Or
ville H. Winchell, of Denver,
Colo. Daughters — Mrs. E. H.
Medcalf, of Chambers; Mrs. Hor
ace Rouse, of O’Neill; Mrs. John
Harvey, of Orchard; Mrs. J. E.
Davis, of O’Neill. There are 22
grandchildren and six great
grandchildren.
Two sons—George and John—
and two daughters—Helen and
Kathryn—preceded their mother
in death.
The pallbearers at the funeral
rites were: A. B. Hubbard, J. Ed
Hancock. Arlo Hiatt, Ned Alien
dor er, all of O’Neill; Carl Lam
bert, of Ewing; Mark Gribble
and Chet McClennahan, both of
Chambers. *
PIPE-LAYING JOB
ACCEPTED BY CITY!
Pump Installation Only
Unfinished Phase of
Expansion Program
The recently - completed pipe
line, which will link the city’s
water system and twin wells
south of town, was formally ac
cepted Tuesday by Donald Price,
of Lincoln, the city engineer.
The Charles Robeck Construc
] tiom company, of Omaha, is the
I contractor for the line. The
i pipe-laying phase of the expan
sion of the municipal water sys
tem required almost four months’
work by Robeck workmen. A
bulldozer is now at work filling
in the ditch, which extends from
the rear of the Spelts-Ray Lum
ber company yard op South
Fourth street to the well sites.
Robeck's biggest obstacle in
the pipe-laying was crossing
the Elkhorn river. Quicksand
held up the operation more
than 30 days and forced temp
orary diversion of the river.
The Wayne Western company,
of Omaha, holds the contract for
installing the two new pumps
j and electric motors at the well
sites. Mayor F. J. Dishner said
Wednesday that he expected
technicians here “within a week
or 10 days’’ to begin installation.
The pumps will be housed in
two new frame pump houses.
When completed, the new
wells are expected to furnish a
minimum of 400 gallons each per
minute and will double the sys
tem’s capacity. At present the
water-pumping facilities are
considered inadequate. During
the summer months, when con
sumption was great, the fire
hazard was of prime concern to
t c ity officials.
With the expansion the ci
ty's water needs are expected
to be adequately filled for a
number of years to come tak
ing into consideration a nor
mal growth.
The expansion program,
launched more thdti a year ago,
is costing in the neighborhood
of 78 thousand dollars. Sixty
six thousand dollars went into
the pipe and pipe-laying and the
balance is being spent on pumps,
motors, pump houses, wells and
engineering.
The new pumps and wells are
expected to be in operation by
January
EARLY ATKINSON
SETTLER DIES
Gilbert R. Davis, 76,
Came to Holt with
Parents in 1878
ATKINSON—Gilbert Rynaldo
Davis, 76, one of the early set
tlers in the Atkinson community,
died Friday at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Wilma Westlake,
at Hay Springs.
Funeral services were held at
St. Joseph’s Catholic church here
at 9 a m. Tuesday with Rev. A.
A. Lehman officiating.
The late Mr. Davis was born
November 12. 1871 near Ma
seppa. Minn. In 1878, at the
age o' 7, he came to Holt coun
ty with his parents, the late
James and Arina Wyman Da
vis, and other members of the
family.
! During hi* early childhood on
i a homestead southwest of Atkin
son, the oouniyseat was estab
lished at O’yeill, the village of
Atkm had been started, and
; the railroad was built
i On September 29/ 1896, he was
| married to Mamie O’Connor at
St. Joseph’s church in Atkinson,
Mr. Davis and his bride
| homesteaded about six miles
southwest of Atkinson, moving
into Atkinson in 1913.
Following the death of his wife
i in 1929, he made his home with
his daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Froh
I man, in Atkinson for 10 years.
For the past eight years he has
I resided at Hay Springs with Mrs.
! Westlake.
j Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the
parents of nine children, eight of
whom survive. These are: Sons
—LeRoy W. Davis, of Camarillo,
Calif.; Errol E. Davis, of Los An
geles, Calif.; James I. Davis, of
Mansfield, Wash ; Neil W. Davis
and Donald R. Davis, both of
Atkinson. Daughters—Mrs. Wil
ma Westlake, of Hay Springs;
Mrs. Jetty M. Inglefield, of Gree
ley, Colo.; Mrs. Evelyn Frohman,
of Atkinson.
Other survivors include: two
sisters,’ Mrs. Mae Cowels, of Car
nation, Wash.; Mrs. Amy Butler,
of Neweprt; brothers—Gilman V.
Davis, of Stuart, (twin brother of
the deceased); Ira E. Davis, of
Carnation, Wash.; and 18 grand
children,
Mrs. Davis died June 6, 1929.
Their son, Stanley, died in 1910.
Pictured is a portion of the crowd that §*lher- |
ed here Sunday to mark the G5th anniversary Ot the
«HK!3<ann«E3nMQHBKaN»> -s mmm mutw *#-*-w- ^ -'-»
founding of the O'Neill Methodist church. The
photograph was made midway in the all-day cele
jr* ' *
bration.—The Frontier Photo by John rf. Mc-Car
ville. '% ..
O’Nei/Z Methodism Has Birthday
Methodism In O’Neill be- '
came 66 - years - old Sunday,
and an all-day celebration,
planned qnd arranged by the
church pastor, Rev. Lloyd W.
Mullis, and the church mem
bers marked the occasion.
Bishop William C. Martin,
head of the Kansas-Nebraska
conference, expressed regrets
at his inability to be present
•and sent the following con
gratulatory message:
To the pastor and mem
bers of the O'Neill Metho
dist church: My dear fellow
HOLT HONORED
FOR P-F-L WORK
Five Nebraska counties—Holt,
Butler, Dundy, Franklin, and
Fillmore—were honored in Oma
ha Tuesday nigh* for having
what were regarded as outstand
ing records in pasture - forage
livestock work during the past
year. -*«f
Representatives of Holt coun
ty receiving the awards were:
Harry Ressel, Lyle Dierks, Lor
enz Bredemeier, J. O. Walker
and County Agent A Neil
Dawes.
The awards were made at
an Omaha Chamber of Com
merce banquet highlighting a
day-long program for more
than 400 p - f -1 cooperators
from all parts of the state.
Other features of the program
were morning tours, and an af
ternoon beef-grading demonstra
tion.
Among the Holt Soil Conser- j
vation district cooperators who1
attended the finishup program
in Omaha Tuesday were: Mer
wyn French, ol Page; Ray Sid
ers, of O’Neill, and Ora Yarges, j
of Stuart.
Mr. Siders and Mr. French i
took part in the ‘swapper ses
sion” during the afternoon. Mr.
Siders discussed the use of le
gumes in crop rotation and soil
conservation practices, while
Mr. French discussed using
brome, crested wheat grass, ana
alfalfa for pasture purposes
Factors considered in the
p-f-1 program were: more trees
for protection for livestock, farm
steads, fields, gardens, and beau
tification; livestock parasite con
trol; commercial fertilizer and
grain test plots; conservation
practices; weed control ,and con
trol of Bangs disease.
Methodists — My heartiest
congratulations to each one
of you on this day on which
you are celebrating the 65th
anniversary of the organisa
tion of your church. It
would be a great privilege
to worship with you today,
but the schedule of engage
ments makes such a visit
impossible.
When we are reminded of
the heroic and sacri icial
courage of the pioneers who
founded churches in Nebras
ka about three-quarters of a
century ago. we cannot es
cape the conviction that we
have a her it age which
should be valued and pro
tected. If the church of to
morrow is to fulfill its mis
sion in pointing the way to
international security and to
a world of righteousness and
peace, the church members
of today are under obliga
tion to exercise the same
kind of faithfulness and loy
alty to the kingdom of
Christ wh'ch were so promi
nent in the lives of the men
and women who opened the
trails into this new land.
With the hope that this
may be an outstanding day
for each of you under the
leadership of your pastor
and district superintendent
and with sincerest good
wishes for your future
growth, I am cordially yours.
WILLIAM C. MARTIN
Formal anniversary greet
ings were also received from
Dr. Everett E. Jackman, Nor
folk district superintendent,
Bus Riders Witness
Results of Tragedy
Passengers on the westbound
Sioux City-O’Neill bus late Sun
day saw the bodies of two
Wayne State Teachers’ college
coeds strewn on the highway 20
pavement, four miles northwest
of Alien. The girls, Charlene
Phillips and Jeanne Hansen, both
of South Sioux City, were killed
instantly and Gale Powell, the
driver of the car in which they
were riding, was taken to a
Sioux City hospital in serious
condition.
Vic Arens, 37, of Hartington,
driver of the truck, was unhurt.
Bus Driver Robert Nesbitt, of
O’Neill, assisted in the care for
Powell and summoned aid. The
bus reached the scene a few min
utes after the accident happened.,
and from at least two former
pastors, Dr. G. W. Bruce, of
Gresham, Ore., and Rev. Virgil
C. Wright, 715 Winston street,
Fayette, Ala.
Dr. Jackman wrote: “It is no
small matter to be building
the kingdom of God in a com
munity for two generations. I ]
am sure that there are many
folks all over the Nation who,
because of one reason or an- j
other, will rise up to call the
O’Neill church blessed.”
Attendance at the all - day
affair exceeded the 400 mark,
Rev. Mullis said, with the
church tilled for the mornirtg
anniversary worship.
Mrs. Dora Walmer, of Or
chard, a charier member of
lhe Epworth league (now a
Fellowship group), was an
honored visitor. She join
ed the league here in 1690.
There are no living charter
members of the church.
Prof. L. E. Mattingly, direc
tor of religious life at Nebras
ka Wesleyan university at
Lincoln, delivered the sermon
at the morning service, and
Rev. Dale K. Westadt, of Til
den, delivered the sermon at
the evening service. Mrs. H.
L. Lindberg was in charge of
a historical program, which
highlighted the afternoon.
EARLY CHAMBERS
SETTLER DIES
Mrs. Philip Robertson, 82,
Influenza Victim;
Buried Wednesday
CHAMBERS—Influenza caused
the death early Monday of Mrs.
Philip Robertson, 82. a resident
of south-Holt county for more
than 57 years. She died at 12:25
a. m. at the Robertson family
home, five and one-quarter miles
west and one mile north of
Chambers, and had been ill less
than a month.
Funeral services were held at
2 p. m. Wednesday at the Bap
tist church with Rev. Lawrence
McElheran, church pastor, of
ficiating. A quartet, including
Rev. Ward Smith, Leo T- Adams,
Mrs. Vernon Smith and Wayne
Rouse, sang. Burial was in the
Chambers cemetery near the
grave of the late Philip Robert
son, who died October 23, 1935.
The pallbearers were: Lewis
Harley, Leo T. Adams, Lloyd
Gleed, Carl Mitchell, Hylas Far
rier and Lawrence Edwards
Born at Brighton. Ia~ on
July 28. 1865 the late Mrs.
Robertson was a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Wa
ters. Her Christian name was
Minnie. She was educated in
Iowa and she came alone to
Holt county in 1889.
On June 12, 1889 she married
Mr. Robertson. They began
farming in the Chambers vicini
ty and lived there continuously
throughout their lifetimes. Fol
lowing the death of Mr. Robert
son, she continued to reside with
her two sons and one daughter
on the family place.
Survivors include: Sons—Ly
man Robertson end Vernie Rob
ertson, both of Chambers;
daughter—Grace Robertson, also
of Chambers; sister—Mrs. Etta
Englen, of California; numerous
nephews and nieces.
Among relatives coming from
a distance for the funeral were
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robertson
and son, Robert, and daughter,
Mrs. Dycke, all of Winona, Minn.
KNIGHTS DECORATE
The Knights of Columbus
clubrooms are being redecorated
this week and fluorescent lights
are being installed, according to
Stephen W. Price, grand knight.
Another Conservation Plea Sounded
In a prepared statement is- <
sued this week to the press, L.
C. Walling, manager of the
Consumers Public Power dis
trict here, reviewed the pow
er situation and again pointed
out that it may be necessary
to curtail some electricity use
during peak periods.
Pointing to the extraordi
nary increase in electricity
consumption, which has cre
ated a nationwide power
shortage. Walling said that
the present facilities were
strained to the utmost Tues
day evening in the O'Neill
network, which serves 11
northeastern Nebraska coun
ties and a number of points
in South Dakota.
Meanwhile, the Consumers
district is extending itself to
replace worn and inadequate
equipment and expand its fa
cilities, but little relief from
the power shortage is seen be
fore 1949.
In a direct letter to all cus
tomers in October, Walling is
sued a plea tnr voluntary con
servation. The peak periods
during the winter months are
between 4 and 7 p. m.
Li ting the major projects
now under way or recently |
> completed to give this area
better electric service, Mr.
Walling said preliminary work
is under way for the new 115,
000-volt transmission line from
Norfolk to O’Neill which will
complete a triangular loop in
the Norfolk - Neligh - O’Neill
area and provide "more de
pendable” service to many
communities and also bring
additional power supply to
this area. Material has been
ordered for this line and will
start about the first of the
year. It was anticipated ' to
have this line completed by
the Spring of 1048, but delays
in obtaining some material
will make this impossible.
Mr. Walling said the cost
of this project, along with
some associated construction
in this area, is estimated to
be in excess of one million
dollars.
In connection with the pro
ject is a 115,000 - 33,000-volt
substation at Neligh to supply
power for both Consumers
loads and rural development.
Another substation of 115,000
66,000-33,000-volt capacity will
be built at O’Neill to accom
modate power from this line
and the existing transmission
line from O’Neill to Belden
will be rebuilt to increase the
capacity of the line from 33,
000 volts to 69,000 volts This
will help to “stabilize service’’
in the area and increase pow
er supply.
Further improvements are
being made on the Spencer
power plant, where a new wa
ter wheel and generator are
being installed to increase the
power output and a new and
larger substation is being con
structed. The transmission line
from Spencer to O’Neill will
also be rebuilt to increase the
voltage.
Mr. Walling said materials
ordered for a new 33,000
volt substation and circuit
breaker to be installed at
Ainsworth, which, along
wi<h 1,000-kilowatt generat
ing plant and other improve
ments made on the west end
of the line at Valentine, will
further improve service in
this area.
Mr. Walling expressed re
gret that in spite of all efforts
seme service difficulties have
been encountered.
PROTESTANTS IN
UNION SERVICE
Worship to Be Held in
Holiness Chapel; Tables
Bountiful As Ever
The city’s four Protestant
churches were to have joined in
a union Thanksgiving worship
service at 9:30 a.m. today (Thurs
day) in the Holiness chapel.
Rev. J. W. Clapper, pastor of
the Assembly of God, was sched
FIRMS TO CLOSE
All O'Neill business firms,
with the exception of some
restaurants, will be Closed.
Thanksgiving day, in accord
ance with a Chamber of Com
merce policy.
uled to deliver the sermon, en
titled “In Everything Give
Thanks.” Irene and Ilene Searles
were to have been heard in a
vocal duet, and E. Donald Bow
en was to sing, “Now, Thank
We All Our God."
The union services are in keep
ing with a Thanksgiving day tra
dition here.
The participating churches are*~
Assembly of God, Holiness chap
el, Presbyterian church and
Methodist church.
Meanwhile, the well - known
turkey gobbler got the axe at
sunrise in the old-fashioned way
as Holt countyans prepared to
sit down to a table that is as
bountiful as ever. Those that
won’t be feasting on turkey will
be wading into some other
equally-appropriate dish.
Gov. Val Peterson said
Tuesday that Nebraska is join
ing in the "silent guest" plan
of sharing Thanksgiving with
the hungry ol Europe. Peter
son said the plan originated
wi'h Governor Bradford of
Massachusetts, and other
states are joining. The govern
or SBid Nebraskans could send
their gifts to Gus Presle
gaard in care of the governor's
office and the funds would be
used to buy food packages for
distribution to Europe's needy.
The O’Neill schools closeth
Wednesday afternoon for a two
day recess.
1 Family reunions and gather
j ings of friends and relatives will,
as usual, dominate the Thanks
giving scene
College Students Begin
Homeward Treks—
O’Neill students attending col
leges, universities and other in
stitutions of higher learning this
week began their homeward
treks for the holidays.
Among those who were sched
uled to arrive in time for the an
nual Turkeyday festivival were:
From the University of Ne
>raska: Polly Ann Rickly, Iai
^nn Her, Shirley. Schaffer. Gene
dcKenna, Donna Gallagher, Fred
lalva. Warren Burgess, John Ba
cer. Marvin Holsclaw, Marjorie
dcElhanev. Edward Condon.
Jordon Hiatt. John Allen.
From Creighton university at
)maha: George Hammond. Ed
vard Campbell, James Mem
nan, Robert Wallace. George
anousek. Paul Kubitsohek.
From the National Business in
titule at Lincoln: Donna Rae
Elements and Eugene Streeter.
From Nebraska Wesleyan uni
versity at Lincoln: Robert Bow
nFrom Wayne State teachers’
ollege: Allen Ma’tin.
From Rosary college at Chica
o 111 : Betty Gallagher.
From Doane college at Crete:
oan Brady.
From Augustana College at
lock Island. 111.: Roy D. John
on and Helen Andre.
From St. Mary’s college, Xav
?r Kan.: Kathleen Flood
From Barat college at Lake
'ovo-t. 111.: Mary Louise Birm