The Frontier
VOLUME 67.—NUMBER 42. O'NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1948.
★
OFFICIAL
CITY & COUNTY
NEWSPAPER
PRICE 7 CENTS.
Pictured is a portion of the group of 270
and guests attending the annual meeting of the
ley National Farm Loan association here. (See
—The Frontier Photo by John H. McCarville.
stockholders
Elkhorn Val
story below.)
CO-OP'S VOLUME
HIGH IN STATE
$303,800 in Land Loans
Is Greatest in
Nebraska
Stockholders and guests of
the Elkhorn Valley National
Farm Loan association in the
annual meeting here last
Thursday learned that the
three - county cooperative had
accomplished the greatest vol
ume of Federal Land bank
loans in the state during the
past year in comparison with
other associations.
Secretary - Treasurer Lyle
P. Dierks reported that 84
land bank loans were made
during last year for a total
of $303,800.
The association paid divi
dends totaling $9,394 during
the same period.
The Elkhorn Valley group
has members in Holt, Boyd
and Wheeler counties.
Nile C. Kinnick, supervisor
of the service division of the
Federal Land bank, of Omaha,
briefly outlined the history of
the bank’s loan system.
The meeting began at noon
with a dinner in a restaurant,
followed by a motion picture
and business session in the
Royal theater.
JURY CONTINUED
TO APRIL 26
The Holt county district
court jury, which is scheduled
to hear 10 civil and one crim
inal action during the Spring
term, has been continued from
March 8 to April 26, Judge D.
R. Mounts said Wednesday.
Elkhorn Project Club Meets—
Mrs. D. N. Loy entertained
the Elkhorn Project club Mon
day afternoon with Mrs. Ray
Lawrence as assisting hostess.
The second lesson on “Break
fast, a Family Affair,” was
presented.
The leaders were Mrs. Rob
ert Cook and Mrs. Mernice
Fetrow.
The March meeting will be
held at the home of Mrs. Max
Grenier with Mrs. Frank Ellis
as assisting hostess.
Marriage Licenses—
Glenn E. Fink, 24, of Ewing,
and Mildred I. Miller, 20, of
Star, on February 21.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Fetrow
were in Norfolk last Thursday.
GETS CONTRACT . . . Ro
maine Saunders, 76, of Lin
coln, the author of “Prairie
land Talk’’ in The Frontier
and a well-known former
Holt county printer and
newspaperman, has been
signed as a feature column
ist in the Dakota County
Star at South Sioux City.
His first contribution ap
peared in the February 19
issue. The Star (formerly
the Homer Star) is edited by
Paul Wagner, a World War
^ II veteran. The paper dou
bled its circulation in its
first year under Wagner’s
editorship. M r. Saunders
“Prairieland Talk’’ will con
tinue to appear as usual in
The Frontier.
! Spring Unofficially
Arrives, According to
12-Year-Old Reader
Little Miss Dianne De
Backer, 12, a 7th grader at
St. Mary’s academy, tele
phoned The Frontier at
11:33 a. m. Saturday to an
nounce that she had sighted
a robin.
Other “first robin’’ reports
have been varied and fre
quent during the past fort
night, but Miss DeBacker’s
was the first specific and
authentic one. Thus, it can
now be said unofficially that
Spring has arrived.
The week’s weather sum
mary, based on 24-hour pe
riods ending at 8 a. m. daily,
follows:
Hi Lo Moist.
Feb. 20 _ 68 35
Feb. 21 _ 49 10 .06
Feb. 22 _ 35 20
Feb. 23 31 20 T
Feb. 24 _ 33 20 T
Feb. 25 _ 31 20
CARRIERS LEARN
ABOUT ROAD BILL
Alfred Marshal, Walnut,
Conducts Discussion
in Session Here
Alfred Marshal, gf Walnut,
conducted a discussion of the
much-talked - about Schroeder
road bill, which was enacted
at the last session of Nebras
ka’s unicameral,, in the annual
meeting of the Rural Letter
Carriers’ association held here
Monday.
Mr. Marshal also conducted
the business meeting for the
group.
Others appearing on the
program were: Sam Grasmich,
state game conservation offi
cer; Ray Robeson, of the state
safety patrol, also spoke to the
group.
Grasmich thanked the car
riers for their assistance
with the game survey, and
told his listeners that areas
where game had been de
populated have now been
restocked.
He also answered numerous
inquiries about hunting and
fishing laws.
Patrolman Robeson’s talk
emphasized careful driving.
The musical portion of the
program consisted of a vocal
solo, “Laddie,” by Marde Bir
mingham, accompanied at the
piano by Mrs. Cronk; vocal
trio, “Three Captains,” b y
Marde Birmingham, Loraine
Simonson and Bernadette
Hynes; vocal solo, “June Is
in My Heart,” by Loraine Si
monson; vocal solo, “You’re a
Grand Old Lady,” by Janet
Enright.
The Catholic Daughters of
America served the dinner in
the Knights of Columbus club
rooms.
Robert Engel New
Gambles Salesman
Robert Engel, 21, ®f Beat
rice, has joined the staff of
the Gambles store here as a
salesman of building materials
and home appliances, accord
ing to Store Manager Gene
Cantlon.
Engel, who is married, serv
ed nearly two years in the
Army.
Swiixers Entertain—
Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Schinck
and family, of Brunswick, Mrs.
Faye Weinberger, of Seward,
and Mrs. Mary Switzer, of
Meadow Grove, spent Sunday
at the C. H. Switzer home.
Mrs. Switzer remained for a
longer visit here in the home
of her son.
Spending the weekend at
the L. C. Walling home were
Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Walling
and daughter, Barbara, of Al
bion.
Mrs. Henry B r u h n ana
daughter, Rita, o f Norfolk,
spent the weekend at the home
of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
H. W. Tomlinson.
SCHRUNK RITES
HELD SUNDAY
Atkinson Woman, 69,
Had Been III for
15 Years
Special to The Frontier
ATKINSON — Funeral ser
vices were held Sunday in the
Methodist church ' here for
Mrs. John F. Schrunk, 69, who
died on February 18 as a re
sult of a heart ailment. She
had been ill for nearly 15
years.
A. L. Loving, of Omaha, el
der of the Reorganized Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
! Saints, and Harold Reid, of
| Stuart, officiated in the funer
al services. Burial was in
Woodlawn cemetery.
Special music at the funeral
was provided by two daugh
ters-in-law of the deceased^
Mrs. Francis Schrunk and
Mrs. John Schrunk.
The late Mrs. Schrunk,
nee Mabel E. Gull, was born
March 1, 1879, in Colesburg,
la. She was married to John
F Scrunk on February 13h,
1901.
They spent the first 6 years
of their married life on a
i anch near Ewing, moving in
1907 to a farm 9 miles north
west of Atkinson.
Retired 6 Years
Mr. and Mrs. Schrurik mov
ed into Atkinson 6 years ago.
Mrs. Schrunk united with
the Reorganized church i n
19i 2.
The Schrunks became the
parents of 14 children, 2 oj.
whom died in infancy. Sur
vivors include: Widower;
daughters — Mrs. Paul (Ina)
Roth, Mrs, John (Ruth) And
rus, Mrs. Alvin (Lusetta) Al
ton, Mrs. Roy (Lois) Ries, all
of Atkinson; Mrs. Gaines (Eth
el) Rzeszotarski, of Emmet;
Mrs. John (Mabel) Banks, of
Elgin; Mrs. Orlin (Pearl)
Moore, of Albion; and Mrs.
Edward (Ida) Boles, of Chad
wick, Mo ; sons—Francis and
John, both of Lincoln; Earl,
of Ewing, and Ralph, of Pine
Bluffs, Wyo.; mother — Mrs.
Mary A. Gull, 89, of Coles
burg, la.; sisters — Mrs. Jesse
Walters, Mrs. Frank Bosh,
Mrs. Mamie Bush and Mrs.
Herbert Olson, all of Iowa,
and Mrs. Matt Kirschboun, of
Pavillion, Wyo.; brothers—Ar
thur, Harry and John, all oi
Iowa; and 29 grandchildren.
Those who attended the tu
neral from out-of-town were.
Robert Gull, of Edgemont, S
D.; Harry and John Gull, ?'
Colesburg, la.; Mrs. Mamie
Bush, Mrs. Frank Bush and
Mrs. Herbert Olson, of Iowa;
Mrs. Matt Kirshboum and
husband, of Pavillion. Wyo.,
and Ralph Gull and Robert
Bush, of Iowa. _
MOUNTS ELECTED
SCOUT CHAIRMAN
D R. Mounts was elected
chairman of the north-central
Nebraska district of the Boy
Scouts of America in a com
mittee meeting here Monday
night. Mr. Mounts is the
judge in the Fifteenth judicial
district. ... , „
Dr. J. M. Pucelik, of Spen
cer was chosen vice-chairman,
and Harry A. Snyder, of At
kinson, was made district com
missioner. _ . „
Scout leaders from Ewing,
Lyncn, Atkinson and O’Nein
attended the north-central dis
trict committee meeting. A
highlight of the session was
the introduction of Robert W.
Rispler, of Bassett, the new
field executive for the district.
A graduate of Omaha uni
versity and an experienced
Scout and outdoor camper, Mr.
Rispler will headquarter at
Bassett, and spend consider
able time each month in Holt
and Boyd counties.
A year’s scouting program
of objectives and activities
was planned, including camp
ing, camporees, rallies, courts
of honor, and training courses.
Efforts will also be made to
organize scout and cub units
in Page, Chambers, Ewing, O -
Neill, Butte and Lynch during
the next 10 months.
Scout Executive H. W.
Haun, of Omaha, was present
at the meeting.
Donna Mae Has Visitors—
Rev. and Mrs. Lloyd W.
Mullis and sons visited with
Mrs. J. B. Hamish and Miss
Ruth Harnish last Thursday.
Later in the day they visited
with Donna Mae Fuhrer and
her family.
Weekend in Norfolk—
Mr. and Mrs. Bartley Bren
nan spent the weekend in Nor
folk visiting friends and in
Wayne visiting Mrs. Brennan’s
parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. H.
Porterfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Benda
spent the weekend in Platte
and Kimball, S. D.
O’Neill Woman, 88, Sells Out to Air Travel
Mrs. Amanda Pace. 88, of
O’Neill, has often stared at
the sky and watched airplanes
buzzing about N o t until re
cently, however, has Mrs. Pace
been convinced that the air
planes are here to stay.
After contemplating for sev
eral months a trip to Miami,
Fla., to visit her son, Charles,
Mrs. Pace decided on her own
that she’d have a go at flying.
Boarding a huge passen
ger airliner at Omaha at 11
a. m„ she was comfortably
resting in her ton's home in
Miami less than 12 hours
later.
“I enjoyed every minute of
it," she wrote her daughter,
Mrs. Lulu Quig, who also
lives jn O’Neill.
Mrs. Pace was overwhelmed
with the luxury and attention
she received. The hostesses
MRS. AMANDA PACE
paid so much attention to their ;
eldest passenger that she was
almost embarrassed. “The
meals were wonderful,” she
wrote.
Mrs. Pace is a veteran of in
numerable surface trips to Cal
ifornia, but her Miami junket
is her first. She doubts now
if she would have made the
trip had she been obliged to
travel by automobile or rail.
The elderly O'Neill air
tourist is the widow of the
late James Pace. The Pace
family came to Holt county
from Missouri 30 years ago.
spending a number of years
on a farm.
When the sojourn in sunny
Florida is over, Mrs. Pace will
return to Nebraska—by air, ot
course.
BIDS SOUGHT FOR
POWER LINES
i Consumers Plans 8 0
! Miles of Construction
in Spring
The Consumers Public Pow
er district is advertising for
bids on the erection of ap
proximately 80 miles of 115,
000-volt transmission line in
the O’Neill area. The new line
will extend from the district’s
network at Norfolk by way of
Neligh and will supply addi
tional power from the high
voltage Nebraska public power
system grid.
The 80 miles of high volt
age line is the first phase of
a large construction project
to be started in this area,
and is the largest single pro
ject in Consumers extensive
statewide construction pro
gram to start this year.
When completed the project
will include, in addition to the
line now being started, high
voltage substations at Norfolk,
O’Neill, Wausa, Cre-^hton and
Belden, reconstruction of the
Belden-O’Neill and Oakland
Twin Church (near Dakota Ci
ty) lines, along with related
equipment, all of which will
run well over one million dol
lars.
The project is a part of the
15 million dollar Construction
program scheduled to be car
ried on by Consumers through
out the state during the ensu
ing five years. It is intended
to enable CPPD to increase
its power supply to keep pace
with the rapidly expanding
use of electricity and to pro
vide more dependable service
to the many communities serv
ed.
According to the adver
tisement which appears in
this issue of The Frontier#
bids will be opened March
22 and construction is to
start as soon as possible
thereafter.
Consumers officials advise
that all of the material for the
line is now on hand or has
been ordered, and it is expect
ed that work on the line will
progress according to schedule
starting in early Spring.'
Chris Roth, Resident
29 Years Ago, Visits—
A resident of the O’Neill
community 29 years ago, Chris
Roth, of Britton, Ontario, Can
ada, arrived Sunday for a short
visit with friends. Traveling
alone, he spent Sunday at the
William Erast home.
Mr. Roth is a son-in-law of
the late C. S. Kennel, and he
formerly resided on a farm 9
miles northwest of the city.
Mayor, Wife Return—
Mayor and Mrs. F. J. Dish
ner returned February 18
from an extended midwinter
visit in Los Angeles, Calif.
James M. Corkle was acting
mayor of the city duiing Mr.
Dishner’s absence.
DRAWINGS MADE
FOR B TOURNEY
Burwell, O’Neill, Neligh,
Ainsworth Seeded in
3-Day Meet
Pairings have been made foi
the annual regional class B
high school basketball tourna
ment which will be held here
March 3, 4 and 5.
The seeded teams are
Ainsworth, Burwell, Neligh
and O'Neill. Burwell and
Ainsworth are expected to
be the finalists by some ob
servers.
Ainsworth started the sea
son strong, but recently has
been polished-off by mediocre
outfits.
The O’Neill Eagles are de
fending regional champions.
The pairings for first-round
games Wednesday: Ainsworth
vs. St. Mary’s (O’Neill); Bas
sett vs. O’Neill, Neligh vs.
Valentine, and Creighton vs.
Burwell.
Visits at Kearney—
EMMET—James Carney left
Saturday for Kearney for a
visit in the home of his sister.
Mrs. J. A. Gibbon. He recent
ly returned from an extended
visit at Waterbury.
Mrs. Charles Benda, ol
Platte, S. D., arrived Monday
for a week’s visit in the homes
of her daughter and son, Mrs.
Roy Shelhamer and Lyle Ben
da.
HOLT MEN ADMITTED TO BAR
John R. Gallagher (left) and Harold E. Connors, two
O’Neill men, were among 42 new lawyers recently admitte
to practice in the courts of the state by the Nebraska - u
j>reme Court. Both are World War II veterans and both at
tained the rank of major, Gallagher in the Marine Corps and
Connors in the Army.
Mr. Gallagher, son of Mrs. Robert E. Gallagher, was
studying at Creighton university, Omaha, when the war in
terrupted his studies. Mr. Connors, son of Mr. and Mrs. w
Copnors, of Bridgeport, taught in the O'Neill public school
during 1940-’41. His wife is the former Evelyn Wallace.
Mr. Gallagher became the father of a daughter on Feb
ruary 18—the same day that he'was admitted to the bar. His
wife is the former Mildred Honke, of Butte.
Both Mr. Gallagher ana Mr. Connors were graduated
from the Creighton university law school on February 16.
Mr. Gallagher has not announced his plans, while Mr.
Connors will report to the department of justice in Washing
ton, D. C., on March 1.
Other recent law graduates admitted to the bar at the
same time were: Warren Eugene Van Norman, of Bassett;
I and John J. Biglin, of Hastings, who is known here.
HRS. BERIGAN TO
HEAD ARC DRIVE
Community Leaders Are
Named Preparatory
to March Campaign
Mrs. J. J. Bcrigan, of O’Neill,
has been named chairman o£
the annual Holt county fund
raising drive for the American
Red Cross. The campaign will
begin Monday, March 1, and
continue through the month.
With final preparations
being made for launching
the drive, Mrs. Berigan has
announced the following
community chairmen: Ewing
—Mrs. John Spittler; Inman
—George Coleman; Atkinson
I —Dr. W. J. Douglas, Harry
Snyder and Mrs. Minnie
Shaw; Stuart—Miss Theresa
Levi; Chambers — John W.
Waller; Emmet— Mrs. P. W.
McGinnis; Page—Mrs. R. D.
Copes.
The drive in O’Neill will be
under the direction of Mrs.
Berigan and Mrs. James W.
Rooney, who is secretary of
the county organization.
The ARC membership and
fund-raising campaign will be
carried on simultaneously
throughout the nation. The
national quota is 75 million*
dollars.
Calls Once a Year
Mrs. Berigan said: “A local
Red Cross worker who is do
nating his or her time and ef
fort to make this membership
drive a success will call on
you sometime during March.'
Be ready to do your bit by do
nating to this worthy cause.”
She continued, "The Amer
ican Red Crow give* to
those in need 365 day* of
the year; you are asked to
give only once a year."
One of the ABC’s 1948 ob
jectives is the establishment ol
80 blood banks in strategic lo
cations throughout the United
States. Blood plasma in these
banks will be available to
anyone in need of its life-sav
ing properties, Mrs. Berigan
pointed out. There is need in
the nation for nearly 4 million
pints of blood for hospital and
emergency use. This will cost
9 million dollars this year
alone,
John H. McCarville is cap
tain of the solicitation team in
the O’Neill business district.
Team members are: C. E.
Jones, John Havelka, Mrs.
Halsey Moses, Lester Jonas
and Mrs. Stephen Price. Resi
dential distirct captains are:
Mrs. D. C. Sthaffer. Mrs. J. D.
Osenbaugh, Mrs. Ted McEl
haney, and Mrs. H. E. Coyne.
PETER DONOHOE
SUFFERS BURNS
Tetcr Donohoe, about 38,
vas seriously burned on the
abdomen and left leg about
2:40 a. m. Tuesday while at
tempting to remove a flaming
gasoline stove from a building
in which he was residing.
He was taken to the O'N i'1
ho"D’tal for treatment, and he
was later removed to the Vet- *
rans’ hospital at Lincoln. Dr.
O. W. French, the attending
physician, said the man may
be suffering second degree
bu ns.
Only a handful of firemen
responded to the first alarm,
because of wind. The alarm
was sounded a second time.
The small one-room struc
ture in which Donohoe lived
alone was virtually destroyed
by the fire. The building is
located outside the city limits
on the south edge.
Mr. Donohoe is a veteran of
World War II, having served
in the Army.
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Tomlin
son spent February 14 and 15
visiting relatives at North
Platte.
RITES HELD FOR
FRED BECKWITH
Well - Known Farmer,
AAA Chief Buried
at Oakdale
SPECIAL TO The frostier
ATKINSON—Fred F. Beck
with, 78, a Holt resident for
37 years and one of the coun
ty’s agricultural leaders, died
at 2 a. m. last Thursday in At
kinson. He had suffered a
paralytic stroke two days be
fore his death and was remov
ed to a nursing home here
where he died. He had been
in “good health," relatives
said, in spite of his advanced
age.
Funeral services were held
Sunday at 1:30 p. m. in the
Presbyterian church here,
and burial was at Oakdale.
Rev. Orin C. Graff, of At
kinson, officiated.
The late Frederick Fremont
Beckwith was born March 18,
1869, near Fremont, the fourth
child in the family of the late
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Beckwith,
who came to Nebraska from
Pennsylvania shortly after the
close of the Civil War.
At the age of 16, the late
Fred Beckwith was the driver
of the “hack" which met the
construction trains at Valen
Fred F. Beckwith . • • one
of Holt county’s agricultural
leaders.
tine—then the end of the rail
road which is now the Chica
go & North Western. Young
Beckwith’s father was the
proprietor of the hotel and
livery stable there.
On September S. 1893. he
was married to Irene Ellora
Palmer at Oakdale, and lat
er they became the parents
of 8 children.
The late Mr. Beckwith
worked as a paper hanger and
as a painter until 1906, when
he began farming. In March,
1911, he moved his family
from Antelope county to a
farm southeast of Atkinson,
.where he resided until his
death.
He was a member of the
Methodist church for many
years before affiliating with
the Presbyterian church in At
kinson.
Mr. Beckwith served several
terms as chairman of the Holt
county organization of the Ag
icultural Adjustment Admin
istration, having been elected
a committeeman in 1933.
Ha was active in the es
tablishment of the early
shelterbells in the county.
Survivors include: Sons —
Guy, Rex, Leon and Dean, all
of whom reside near Emmet;
Ralph and Vern, both of O’
Neill; daughter — Mrs. Edith
Garvin, of Scottsbluff; sister—
Mrs. Pearle Hall, of Neligh;
brothers—Ed and Clyde, both
of Neligh; 15 grandchildren
and 7 great-grandchildren.
His wife died on January
30, 1933, and one son, Ken
neth, died at the age of 10.
M. F. MULLEN DIES
IN PORTLAND, ORE
M. F. Mullen, brother of
Mrs. W. H. Harty and a for
mer O’Neill resident, died e *r
ly Sunday in Portland, Ore.,
where he had been reridinj.
Reared in O’Neill, the la e
Mr. Mullen left here more than
25 years ago. He attended
Creighton university at Oma
ha and settled afterward in
Portland.
Mrs. Harty departed late
Sunday for Portland to attend
funeral services.
Survivors: Mother — Mrs.
Mary Mullen, of Portland; sis
ter—Mrs. Harty; brother—Ber
nard (“Barney”) Mullen, of
Longview, Wash.
■roivi