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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1948)
The Frontier 1 OFFICIAL CITY & COUNTY NEWSPAPER VOLUME 67.—NUMBER 38. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1948. PRICE 7 CENTS. BACK TO BOSTON Mike O’Sullivan, native O’ Neillite and now president of the American Farmers Insur ance company, is shown in western garb in Boston, Mass., where last week he attended an insurance con vention. While in Boston last year, O’Sullivan was asked not to dine in a hotel restaurant where he was eating without a coat and in a cowboy shirt. Now headquartering in Phoenix, Ariz., Mr. O’Sulli van will visit O’Neill in the next few days enroute from Boston. SOIL DISTRICT MAKES STRIDES Carl Lambert Points to 1947 As a Year of Progress Soil conservation activities made considerable progress in Holt county in 1947, according to Carl Lambert, of Ewing, ^ ~hain$an or *he Holt district board of supervisors. The district’s annual report shows that during the year 69 farmers and ranchers with 44, 401 acres requested assistance. Fifty-eight farmers and ranch ers developed complete long time conservation programs for their 40,927 acres with the as sistance of SCS technicians. Mr. Lambert pointed out that approximately 14 per cent of the land in the dis trict is already operated in cooperation with the Holt district. He stated that some permanent conservation mea sures have been established on this land which will result in the conservation of soil, moisture, wildlife, and other natural resources. « ♦ Lambert said: “There are ap proximately 40 different con servation practices that can be used to solve the multitude of erosion and soil depletion prob lems on the farms and ranch -GS.” Last year district cooperators planted approximately 87,000 trees for field, sheltertaelts, farmstead and livestock wind breaks and for erosion control. The shelte: belt and windbreak plantings extended a distance of 21 miles. Over 1,300 acres of land were seeded to peren nialgrass for hayland, range and pasture and 1,522 acres of cropland were seeded to le gumes and grasses. 10 Ponds Stocked Crop residue management farming was established on 8,- J 668 acres with strip cropping established on 2,318 acres. Cov-. er crops for winter protection were seeded on 375 acres and contour farming was establish-, ed on 403 acres. There were 17,382 acres of grazing land stocked in accordance with its proper grazing capacity and A 740 acres deferred from graz ing. There were about four miles of terraces and 2,200 feet of diversions constructed. Eigh teen farm and ranch ponds were constructed. Ten ponds were stocked with approxi mately 20,000 fish secured through the district. Many oth er conservation practices were also established, he continued. At the district's annual meeting last week the super visors reported that handled approximately 58. 000 trees and shrubs about 5.000 pounds of native grass seed for cooperators in 1947. The district tractor, tree planter and crew planted some 57,000 trees. Mr. Lambert pointed out that the district will be four-years old this week, the certificate of organization having been dated January 28, 1944, by the secre tary of state. However, the office was not set up and op erations were not begun until April 4, 1944. Mr. Lambert predicts that the next four years will see ev en greater progress. RITES AT ATKINSON ♦ ATKINSON — Funeral ser i» vices were held at the Seger Funeral home here Sunday for Teddy Morell, 41, of Beatrice, formerly of Atkinson. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Morell, he died Friday at Be atrice. HYDROS CHOKED; DIM-OUT RESULTS Ice in Nebraska livers is choking the hydro - electric plants in the Consum e r s Power network to a point where a statewide “dim-out of street lights has been put into effect. Beginning Monday, all ci ties and towns in the state served by Consumers are without street lighting sev eral hours after sundown. In O’Neill the street lights have been turned on about 7:30 to 8 p. m. Consumers officials here say the ice is expected to break later this week. ATTEND FAIR MEETING CHAMBERS — Edwin Wink, of Chambers, and Vern Sages er, of Amelia, went to Lincoln Monday to attend a convention of Nebraska county fair offi cials. FORMER RESIDENT DIES ON COAST Funeral Services Held Tuesday for Mrs. Sheridan Simmons Funeral services were held at 10 a. m. Tuesday in Escondido, Calif., for Mrs. Sheridan Sim mons, 76, a former O’Neill res ident, who died Friday in a hospital at San Diego, Calif. Burial was in Forest Lawn cemetery at Escondido. The late Mrs. Simmons had been in "poor health," rela tives said, for six years, but was not seriously ill until four days before her death. Mrs. Simmons was born in Council Bluffs, la., on June 7, 1871. She came to Nebraska with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Thomas, as a small child. They settled near Fremont and North Bend. , On May 7, 1888, she married the late Sheridan Simmons at Creighton. The couple resided near North Bend until 1894, then moving to O’Neill. The Simmons regarded O’Neill as their home. Mrs. Simmons was a member of the Methodist chu ch. 9 Children Living They became the parents of 12 children, nine of whom are living. . , Mrs. Simmons made her home with a daughter, Mrs. Sara George, at Escondida, Cal if., since 1933. She made two return visits to O’Neill since leaving here. Mr. Simmons died at O’Neill on March 20, 1935. Survivors include: Son s— Charles Simmons, of Venus, and Phillip Simmons, of Ft. Williams, Me.; daughters—Mrs. Pearl Divine, of Cedar City, Ut.; Mrs. Ella Dempsey and Mrs. Zella Cook, both of O’ Neill; Mrs. Melvin Anderson, Mrs. Sara George and Mrs. Clarisso Hoffman, all of Es condido, and Mrs. Maxine Wag mon, of Rockford, 111. HAMILTON SPENCE DIES IN WYOMING CHAMBERS—Word has been received here of the recent death of Hamilton Spence, a former resident. He died at the home of a son in Sheridan, Wyo. No details have been receiv ed regarding funeral arrange ments. ATTEND CHURCH MEET Rev. J. W. Clapper, Assem bly of God pastor, attended a church meeting Monday at Creighton. BITTER COLD GRIPS REGION Mercury Sinks to 23 Below Zero; Busses, Trains Run Normal A severe cold wave whipped act oss the middlewest last wTeek with north - Nebraska bearing a share of the brunt of the biting cold. Early Friday morning the official temperature in O' Neill dropped to 23-degrees below zero—the coldest mark in five years. Government Observer Elmer Bowen said that not since Jan I uary 19, 1943, had the mercury j dropped so low. At that time, a -23 reading wras recorded dur I ing a nine-day seige of subzero j weather. The frigid wave was accom | panied by intermittent light ! snow and strong wind. Despite a general fuel oil shortage there was no suffering | reported here. Coal stocks were plentiful. Most livestock men had am ple warning of the impending cold and steps were taken to protect stock. ocnools L-arry un The city’s schools — O’Neill public school and St. Mary’s academy— carried on as usual although some absentees were attributed to the severe weath er. The basketball program, of course, went on as usual. The Friday double-header between St. Mary’s and Page and O’ Neill and Orchard, attracted a fair-sized crowd despite the 14 below temperture that was reached before the night was over. Busses and trains carried on their normal schedules, al though most of them were running slightly behind time. There were no cancellations and no passengers were stranded in the city for lack of scheduled transport. Temperatures began easing I up the scale Friday after the shortlived icy blast. With the exception of Sun day, the minimum temperature each day has been below zero. The weatherman forecasts “fair and warmer” for the weekend. The week’s summary: Hi Lo Moist. January 22_24 -2 January 23 _ 4 -23 .17 January 24 __ 12 -14 January 25 _ 22 10 January 26 _ 22 -7 January 27 6 -15 January 28 _ 2 -15 CHARLES MULHAIR DIES AT LYNCH LYNCH — Charles Mulhair, ; sr., 86. the senior member of the Mulhair & Sons garage firm here, died January 21 in Sacred Heart hospital here. Mr. Mulhair had been a hospital patient following an apoplectic stroke several weeks ago. Funeral services were held ! Monday in the Catholic church. The late Mr. Mulhair was ac tive in the garage business un til his recent illness. His wife Jdied several years ago. Survivors include: Six sons, four daughters, several grand children and great-grandchil dren. Among those coming from a distance for the funeral were: Mervin Miller and sister Dor ene, both of Winner, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pischel, of Verdel; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Reel, of Spencer; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mulhair, of Omaha; Mae Alexander, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Dan Mc Kenzie, of Winner. "Grandma" Hohndorf . . . an immigrant from Germany . . . leaves survivors on both sides of the Atlantic. MRS. HOHNDORF DIES AT REDBIRD German Immigrant, She Leaves Host of Kin; Burial at Surprise REDBIRD—Mrs. Louis Hohn dorf, 86, better-known among northeast Holt county residents as "Grandma” Hohndorf, died last Thursday at 4 a m. at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Peter More. Death followed a ling i ering illness accompanying her advanced age. Brief funeral services were held at Cfirist Lutheran church here at 9:30 a.m. Sat urday and the remains were taken to Surprise for final rites and burial near the grave of the late Mr. Hohn dorf, who died July 9, 1941. Rev. Clyde , C Cress, of Christ Lirthera/i^church, offi j ciated. Came to U. S. in 1914 The late Mrs. Hohndorf, nee ; Augusta Dackhorn, wras born August 1, 1861, in Windorf, Germany. She was reared in Germany and on September 21, 1884 she married Louis Hohn dorf. The couple became the parents of seven daughters and one son. On May 2, 1914 the couple left Germany for a new home in the United States, leaving behind their three eldest daughters. The Hohndorfs set tled on a farm 21 miles north east of O’Neill in the Oppor tunity vicinity. In 1924 the famliy moved to near Surprise where 10 years later the couple mark ed their golden wedding an niversary. ine late mis. nonnaori en joyed a wide acquaintanceship. She was a member of the Lu theran church. 18 Great-Grandchildren Survivors include: Daughters —Mrs. Peter (Frede) More, of Redbird; M s. Elsa Penneback, of O’Neill; Mrs. Olga Hickstein, o' Grafton; Mrs. Lina Meissner, Mrs. Beitha Horn and Mrs. Helene Keller, all of Germany; j son—Louis Hohndorf, of Shel by; brothers—Fred Dockhorn, | of Festerville, Pa., and Charles Dockhorn, of Clinton, Wis.; 22 grandchild en, and 18 great j grandchildren. Four sisters and one daugh ter, Mrs. Herman (Alma) Eis e:t, of Middlebrunch, p eceded her in death. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kazda . . . they celebrate their birthday anniversaries on the same day. (Story at right.) DIME DRIVE IN FINAL WEEK Polio Campaign Ends January 31; Final Appeal Made A final appeal for contribu tions for the 1948 March of Dimes campaign was made this week by Mrs. Dale Kersen brock, drive chairman for the Holt county chapter of the Na tional Infantile Paralysis Foun dation. "The drive is well beyond the half-way mark," Mrs. Kersenbrock said Wednesday, tui the fund needs additional contributions during the final week to avoid falling behind the 1947 mark." The city of O’Neill alone raised $1,298.14 R year ago, and Holt county raided a total of $3,010.16. Half of the money collected is retained by the county organization for treat ment of local infantile pa al ysis sufferers, and the other half is used by the national oundation for polio research, hospital expansion and for training personnel. Those who have not already contributed may send donations to Mrs. Thomas Greene or Mrs. H. L. Lindbe g. cochai men of the O’Neill drive, or to Mrs. Kersenbrock. Pictured is a portion of the crowd that filled the American Legion auditorium Mon day afternoon for the annual Deere day show.-Fronlier Photo by JohnH. McCarville. FRIENDSHIP TRAIN .... Auctions to Aid Donors Three livestock auctions have been scheduled during the next seven days to boom the Friendship Train movement. The first in the series will be held Saturday at the Ew ing Livestock Market; the second will be held Tuesday at the Atkinson Livestock Market, and the third will be held next Thursday at the Fredrickson Livestock Market in O’Neill. A statement pertaining to these sales follows: “At these auctions every class of livestock will be sold without charge. The Atkinson and O’Neill Friendship Train auctions will be in connection with the regularly scheduled sales. “The p oceeds will be used to purchase a carload of util- ! ity type beef cows and a carload of rye. Both carloads will be shipped to processing centers w'herc they will be processed into food, either rye flour or canned beef, for overseas ship- ! ment. It is estimated that it will take about $9,000 to cover the cost of the two carloads. “In regard to making donations, it is not necessary that rye or beef stock be given, but anything, including money, will be accepted and turned into rye or livestock to fill out the cars. “Those wishing to contribute grain or poultry are request ed to sell them through their grain or produce buyers and do nate the proceeds to the Friendship Train committee. Cash donations may be left at any bank in the county. “It is essential that all contributions be made not later than next week, as the train will leave Lincoln, Neb., for Springfield, 111., on Febiuary 12, Lincoln’s birthday. This is a state drive for foodstuffs for the starving people of Europe.” (See story at right.) FRANK KAZDAS WED 52 YEARS Atkinson Couple Marks Anniversary Quietly; Enjoy Good Health ATKINSON — Mr. and Mrs. ; Frank Kazda quietly observed their 52d wedding anniversary here Tuesday. At 72- and 70 ! years-old respectively, both are enjoying “good health.” The day was marked with the receipt of numerous con gratulatory messages and vis its from relatives and friends. Mr. Kazda was born in Bo hemia and came to the United | States with his parents at the age of one. The family initial ly settled on a homestead in | Iow’a where a few years later the elder Mr. Kazda died. The widow and two sons, Frank and John, came to Holt coun ty in 1902. Mrs. Kazda was born near Avon. S. D. She was 18-year's old when she married Mr. Kaz da at Atkinson. The couple re sided on a farm eight miles northeast of Atkinson for sev eral years, later moving into town. Mr. Kazda worked for many years as a earpe nter, hav ing helped build many of the houses in the town. Rear 7 Children Mr. and Mrs. Kazda celebrate their birthday anniversaries on the same day—February 16. Since John Kazda’s death on October 27, 1938, Mr. Kazda has no relatives in United States except his own immedi ate family. The Kazdas became the pa rents of seven children. One daughter, Mrs. Sylvester (Mary) Tushla, of Atkinson, died June 8, 1945. The others are: Mrs. Carl (Anna) Holz, of -Ewing; John Kazda, of O’Neill; Alfred Kazda, of Atkinson; Mrs. Norbert (Luella) Uhl, of O’Neill; Frank Kazda, of Ew ing, and Mrs. Carl (Ella) Hop pe, of Atkinson. CHAMBERS COUPLE MARRIED 57 YEARS CHAMBERS— Mr. and Mrs. I William Medcalf, longtime1 south - Holt county residents, j were honored Sunday on their i 57th wedding anniversary at' the home of their son, E. H. Medcalf. Present at the quiet gather ing, besides the honored couple, i included: Mr. and Mrs. Emmet Medcalf and daughter, of Clear water; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Medcalf and children, Mrs. Ben Medcalf. The Medcalfs were married on January 28, 1891. For many years the couple resided on a f. rm southeast of Chambers in the Ma.tha community. Mr. Medcalf since has operated a harness shop in Chambers. A is to Tab Sales Lag as Deadline Nears The sale of 1948 auto tabs is lagging. County Treasurer J. Ed Hancock said Wednesday. There were 3.835 licenses is sued up until Wednesday with nearly 1,200 more to be pur chased. Hancock said that there were about 4.200 passenger cars in the county, and about 6,000 vehicles, including pas senger cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, etc., requiring tabs. After January 31 motorists on highways without 1948 plates are subject to five-day warnings from peace officers. After February 15 these delin quent motorists are subject to arrest. , Weekend in Omaha _ Mr. and Mrs. Arlo Haitt and daughter, Carolyn, spent the weekend in Omaha. LEMMER TRAIN'S FIRST DONOR Atkinson Rancher Will Give Heifer; Weller Holt Cochairman Holt county's drive to fill two rail carloads of foodstuffs lor the Abraham Lincoln Friendship Train swung into high gear this week. "Mrs. Guy Cole, of Emmet, or iginal chairman of the Holt campaign, said Wednesday that the early response to the plea for contributions was “gratify ing.” Albert Lemmer, Atkinson rancher, was the first donor, pledging a heifer for the live stock car. The Atkinson Ser vice club followed closely with two hundred dollars in cash. Meanwhile, Ernie C. Weller, Atkinson auctioneer and live stock sales pavilion operator, was named Monday as cochair man of the county organization, serving with Mrs. Cole. Other officers of the county organization are: Rev. W. C. Birmingham, of Atkinson, sec retary, and Edward M. Galla gher, of O’Neill, treasurer. The county committee and many of the community leaders met Monday in O’Neill to fur ther plans. The committee re ported that everywhere the re sponse to the appeal for food to stave off starvation in Europe was encouraging. Contacts Impossible Mrs. Cole said that it would be impossible for the county and community drive leaders to contact very many people with the time so short. The two train cars are to be shipped from the county on Saturday, February 7. Anyone with a contribution is urged to contact one of the drive leaders, Mrs. Cole said. Money contributions, no mat ter how large or small, will be converted into bulk staple foods suitable for export such as primary grains, flour, maca roni, basic cereals, etc. The d ive leaders in the va I rious communities will deter mine the method for collecting the gifts in their respective communities. These leaders are: O’Neill—F. N. Cronin and Mrs. C. E. Lundgren; Stuart — Joe Brewster and Mrs. F. J. Clark; Atkinson — B. H. Wilson and Mrs. Robert Martens; Amelia— | Glen White and Mrs. Vern Sa Igeser; Page— Otto Terrill and Mrs. Harry Harper; Ewing — Rev. C. D. Vogel and Mrs. John Archer; Chambers—Leo T. Ad ams and Mrs. C. V. Robertson; Emmet—Rev. Joseph Lane and Mrs. Agnes Gaffney; Dorsey— H. H. Miles; Phoenix— George Syfie; St. John’s — Rev. J. J. Urbanski. Plan Started at Geneva The Abraham Lincoln Friend ship Train started from -a seed planted by the Community club at Geneva. Todate the wide spread movement has grown far beyond the fondest dreams of the Geneva citizens. Despite an illness this week, which made her bed fast for several days. Mrs. Cole helped with much of the groundwork for the Holt portion of the train. The Nebraska food train will leave Lincoln on February 12 _Abraham Lincoln’s birthday anniversary. Holt’s two car loads of food — one livestock and one grain—are expected to join the train at Omaha. The train is under the su pervision of a committee headed by such notables as Biographer Carl Sandburg, honorary chairman: Gov. Val Peterson, honorary state chairman, and Chancellor R. G. Guftavs-n. of the Univer sity of Nebraska, general chairman. Mrs. Cole said the plans are underway for lome kind °f a ceJebration or “send-o f for Holt's two food-laden iail cars. Details, she said, will be an nounced in the newspapers next week. At Monday’s meeting the committee stressed that con tributors may designate which religious or social group is to distribute their gift in Europe. Thr> Friendship Train has been organized in cooperation with the Christian Rural Overseas Program, which has already been credited with saving un counted lives in war devastated areas. Most churches are sup porting the CROP, Mrs. Cole said. In most communities special events are being scheduled *or Friendship Train purposes. To Hold Coon Feed Members of the American Legion and auxiliary and their guests will have a roast coon feed on Sunday evening at the club.