■« ■ ■ -«- ^ • * ... - ' avv <. 16 PAGES — 3 SECTIONS SECTION I — PAGES 1-8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * North-Nebraska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper _ _ ____ _ . ________ _ . < "volume 69—NUMBER 27 O'NEILL. NEBR„ THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 10. 1949. PRICE—7 CENTS FRED W. CRONK, 79, RITES WEDNESDAY Holt Resident 69 Years Succumbs Suddenly At Farm Home PAGE—Fred W. Cronk, 79, a Holt county resident since April, 1880, died'at 10:40 a.m. Friday at his farm home 5 miles North east of Page. He died suddenly. Death was attributed to a heart ailment. Mr. Cronk was one of Holt county’s best-known farm *rs. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Methodist church at Page. Bur ial was in the Page cemetery with Rev. T. O. Bownfield offi- j ciating. The late Mr. Cronk was born April 30, 1870, at Mag nolia, Rock county. Wise., a son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Cronk. His mother’s maiden name was Adelaide Van Gild er. With his parents and five brothers and sisters, Mr. Cronk was among the first people coming to this part of Nebraska for the purpose of making a home. The family went from Wisconsin to Colorado, then went to Iowa. In October, 1879, the Cronkg came to Antelope county in a prairie schooner— requiring 18 days to make the trip. On April 16, 1880, the family came to Holt county, settling on a homestead East of Page, the present home of Charles Cronk. Deer were plentiful and sup plied the family with meat. They hauled their grain to a 'mill at Neligh, which was 35 miles away. At the age of 10, Mr. Cronk planted 35 acres of sod corn with a hatchet, follow ing behind hi£ father, who broke the sod. He attended school at Ewing and taught country school for two years. He later was a mem ber of the board of education for 20 years in the district where he lived until his death. Mr. Cronk held a record for having lived in this community the greatest length of time and having voted in Verdigris pre cinct more times than any other person. He began voting in 1891 and served on more than 30 election boards. He was a lifelong Republican and a member of the Odd Fel low and Rebekah lodges. At the time of O'Neill's re cent Diamond Jubilee cele bration the late Mr. Cronk was a strong contender for the title of "king." The honor was determined by longest continuous residence in the county. Mr. Cronk’s family ordered a subscription from The Frontier the week the paper was born and was considered a charter subscriber—a distinction he oft en mentioned. On March 16, 1907, he married Carrie Finch at Inman. They became the parents of two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Cronk died on Septem ber 18, 1937. Survivors include: Sons — Frank and Warren Cronk, both of Page; daughters—Mrs. Dale (Mae) Fetrow, of O’Neill; Mrs. Melvin (Hazel) Lorenz, of O’ (Continued on page 8.) Farmers-Ranchers To Be C of C Guests A record throng is r 'r>eet ed to attend the sixth annual farmer - rancher stag party Monday, November 14, at the American Legion auditorium here- , „ . The “for men only affair, sponsored by the O’Neill Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled to get started at 8 p. m., with the doors slated to open at 7 p. m. L- M Deihl man and F. E. Parkins are cochairmen in charge of tne event- . , -v,. Fred Harris, emcee of tne entertainment troupe will present a variety of fast moving wit and wisdom of the modern times.” Also on the program will be Johnny Gunier and Dale Hammond. James W. Rooney, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday that all fann ers and ranchers in the O - Neill trade territory are in vited to be guests of the Chamber for the entire eve Following the entertainment a dutch lunch and coffee will be served. Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan, of the Omaha Roman Cath olic diocese (center, facing altar), officiated in a pontifical sol emn high Mass here Monday in funeral rites for Rt, Rev. J. G. McNamara, 77, pastor of St. Patrick's church here. Seventy-six Fred W. Cronk . . . spent first years in Holt county in a sodhouse. (See story at left.) WM. PICKERING, 80, BURIAL AT DORSEY DORSEY — Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. on j Thursday, November 3, at the i Dorsey church for William Pic kering. 80, a longtime resident of the Dorsey community. Rev. Chester Anderson, of Butte, officiated with songs by 'he male quartet of the Butte Full Gospel church. Pallbearers were George Bar fa. Ed Carson, H. V. Roscn krans, Erwin Armfield, Jess Veich and Walter Wells. William Charles Pickering son of Syrena and Milo Pick ering, was born September 24. 1869, at Newell. Ia., in Bunevesta county. He died at his home at Redbird on Mon day. October 31. When a young man, he came to Nebraska with his parents, settling in the Dorsey commun ity where he continuously made his home except for a short time spent in Iowa soon after his marriage. On August 19, 1894, he was united in marriage to Myrtle Connelly. To this union five children were born: three sons arid two daughters. One son, Harold Dean, passed away in infancy. While health and eyesight permitted he w;as a faithful church attendant and in 1935 was converted during a Full Gospel revival meeting at the Dorsey church. Thereafter he was a member of the Full Gos pel church of Butte. In the Fall of 1939 he receiv ed an injury to his right eye, causing him to lose his sight in it and so weakening the oth er that he became virtually blind. Survivors include: Widow; daughters—Wilma Churchill, of Keswick, la., and Vera Johnson, of Spencer; sons — Oral, of Lvnch, and Claude, of Redbird; 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. JOHN ALBERS, 59, DIES SUDDENLY Gun Shot Wound Fatal To Retired Farmer; Burial Tuesday CHAMBERS — Funeral ser vices were held at 2 p.m. Tues day in the Methodist church here for John Albers, 59, re tired Chambers farmer. He died between 3 and 4 o’clock last Thursday afternoon, November 3, as a result of a gun shot wound. He had been ill for several years. The body was discover ed in an upstairs hall at the Albers home. A coroner's in quest was held Friday in O' Neill. Dr. J. W. Gill was the attending physician. Rev. V. R. Bell, of O’Neill, officiated in the funeral rites and burial was in the Chambers cemetery. The church could not accomodate all who came to the funeral. The late Mr. Albers was born on March 6, 1890, in Platte, county, near Platte Center, a son of Peter Henry Albers and,, Katherine Reese Albers, who were German immigrants. On May 17, 1920, he married Anna Rippen They came to Holt county in 1936 from Platte county. Survivors include: Widow;! son—John D. Albers, of Lincoln; daughters—Mrs. Ruth Walters | and Mrs. Dolores Harley, both of Chambers; brothers—Henry: and Walter Albers, of Costa mesa, Calif.; William Albers, of Fremont; sisters—Mrs. Thomas Thomazin, of Genoa; Mrs. Frank Baltz, of Fremont; Mrs. William Lloyd, of Lindsay; Mrs. Dave Perry and Mrs. Owen Perry, of Monroe; and Mrs. William Bles sen, of Platte Center. He also leaves three grand children. , One son, Richard Albers, died during World War II and his remains were returned to .Chambers for final burial on July 26. 1948. Pallbearers were A B. Hub bard, John Honeywell, Steve Shavlik, Joseph Daas, Lyman Covey and Lewis Harley. Mr. Albers had farmed on the Wheeler-Holt county line Southeast of Chambers for a number of years before retiring. Since then the family resided in town. JOINS NAVY INMAN — Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Heck have received word that their son, Delmont, has joined the navy and is taking his basic training in San Diego, Calif. MARRIAGE LICENSES Loren D. Ulrich and Betty Lou Dorr, both of Lincoln, No vember 7. Mary Alice Biglin and James F. Early, both of O’ Neill, November 9. Catholic clergy were in attendance. (Casket may be seen in aisle in center of photo.)—The Frontier Photo by John H. Mc Carville. Rt. Rev. J. G. McNamara, 77 . . . for 52 years a priest in a half-dozen Nebraska communities—O'Neill Photo Co. _ . *• Msgr. McNamara, Priest 52 Years, Dies in Hospital Archbishop Bergan Officiates in Pontifical Mass for St. Patrick’s Pastor Rt. Rev. J. G. McNamara, 77,'< Nebraskans first native son or dained into the Roman Catholic priesthood, died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 2, in Sa cred Heart hospital at Lynch. The veteran clergyman, who last Spring completed 52 years in the priesthood, had been ill three weeks. Death was attri buted to a cerebral hemorrhage. He had been active until this illness, which proved fatal. Earlier on the day that he died Rev. C. J. Werner, his as sistant at St. Patrick’s, had been summoned to Sacred Heart hospital to administer the church’s sacrament. With Monsignor McNamara when he died were Rev. John Wieczorik and Dr. Wyrens, both of Lynch, and the Mon signor's brother, George Mc Namara, of Beemer. Monsignor McNamara was born at Wiener on March 1, 1872, a son of the late James and Margaret McNamara, who were among the earliest settlers in Northeast Nebraska. For sev Continued on page 4.) Ewing Accident Hospitalizes 2 _ EWING—One person was in jured and another suffered from shock following an accident that occurred three miles West of Ewing on highways 275 and 20 about 6 p. m. Monday. Nona Schneider, 2 Vi-years old, suffered a broken right leg, bruises about the face and a small cut on the forehead. She was given first aid treatment at a doctor’s office at O’Neill and then rushed to the Ortho pedic hospital in Lincoln in a Seger ambulance. Lloyd Schneider, of Ewing, 'ather of the little girl, was suf fering from shock and a back njury. He was taken to Veter-1 nns’ hospital at Lincoln. Schnei der’s wife and small boy, who i w re also occupants of the ve-! hide at the time of the accident, were uninjured. According to Patrolman Fay Robeson, the Eastbound Schnei der car was traveling on high way 275 and 20 when the car hit some “rough” road Schnei ''*>• lost control of the car roll ng over twice and ending up n the South ditch. Reserve Corps Meeting Slated | There will be a meeting of all army, air force and naval re serve corps members and other interested veterans at the Am rican Legion auditorium here n Wednesday, November 16 Meeting will begin at 8 p. m. Plans for the formation of a round force reserve unit will be outlined. It is intended that reserve personnel from all branches | nay participate. MOTHER ATTENDS SON'S GOLDEN WED DING . . Ninety-four-year-old “Grandma” Sarah Hull takes her natural position in the center of this group as she poses with her son and his wife on their golden wedding anniver sary and with their children. Directly behind the elderly Mrs. Hull is the honored couple, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hull. The observance took place Wednesday, November 2, at the Niobrara state park dining hall. Their children, left to right, are Doyle, of Alliance; Glen D., of Lynch; Guy L, also of Lynch; and to the right of Mrs. Hull, Claude, Niobrara; Mrs. Mary Ellen Bol ter, Venus; and Harold, Harlan, la.—The Fron tier Photo by Ellen Landon. Hundreds of Catholics and non-Catholic friends thronged St. 0 Patrick’s church Monday morning to pay their final trf buite to a well-loved priest—a priest who had been an O'Neill spiritual leader for the past 15 years, at Bloomfield for 34 years prior to 1934, and who had been known affectionately throughout the Omaha archdio cese as “Father Mac.” Shortly after 9 am. on Mon day, a sunshiny November day, men, women, and children started arriving at the church and continued to come in a con stant stream until by 10 o’clock even the outside aisles and the the rear of the church were completely filled. Seventy-six Catholic cler gymen from all over Nebras ka as well as surrounding states came for the pontifical solemn high Mass said at 10:30 for the Rt. Rev. J. G. McNamara by Most Rev. Ger ald T. Bergan. The occasion was the Archbishop's first visit to O'Neill. Archbishop Bergan comforted the grieving parishioners of St. Patrick’s when he told them that “even though this is a sad occasion, it is also a cause for joy because a priest who was 77 years old with 52 years in the priesthood is en titled to the rest the Good Shepherd has promised. “Put into practice the exem plary advice Monsignor McNa mara gave you from this pulpit," he admonished. Archbishop Bergan pronounc ed Monsignor McNamara one of the outstanding, worthy priests among many in the archdiocese and said the effects of his priesthood at O’Neill have been very potent. Rev. Francis Werthman gave the eulogy for the beloved, 77 year-old Monsignor, who, he pointed out, day - after - day, week-after-week had ascended the holy altar to offer prayers for the living and the dead. "Everyone loved and res pected this great man. He was always a respected citizen, a true Christian gent'eman and a loyal and model priest of God," Reverend Werthman went on, “His priestly life was one of utter sacrafice. He did not pre pare for you an earthly treas ure but something much great r- ln avi v u the Lord Jesus Christ himself. The i lith he iias instilled in your souls will live on.” Assisting Archbishop Bergan, celebrant, with the pontifical funeral Mass were: Rt. Rev. B. H. Lordemann, of Har tington, assistant priest; Rev. B. J. Leahy, of Fremont, and Rev. Raymond Auer, of Madi Continued on page 4.) Collins-Kennedy Plan Big $50,000 Machinery Auction Two new sales are listed this week on The Frontier’s auction calendar. They are: Friday, November 18.—Lor an M Kruse farm sale at the Place located 17 miles South of T highway 281 and I mile East Kruse will sell 116 35 head of hogs, fa,hmaCi hKrses’ a bi8 > un of faim and having machinerv X -eMd goods and mif fn of £YS ebu,nm’nt Ed Thor 'n. of Chambers, will be the auctioneer and tV Chamber! State bank will clerk (See ad vertisement on page 12.) Saturday, November 19 _ | O’Neill GO«11‘hS *mplements, of ^ and Kennedy EauiD ZZv'Co- of Ainsworth. wE ■ j excess farm machinery >nd equipment, including at litu 1J new tractors of popular Seiln a pgantic $50,000 auc .on. The sale will take place at the East outskirts of O’Neill on highways 275 and 20, regardless " l]ain’ ,sn°w or shine. This auction is bined as the bigg^ m kS Vnd ever heId in North Nebraska or Southern South Da k°ta. Auctioneers: Ed Thorin of Chambers; Harry Cooper Sf Clifford Neboi of Oakland. O’Neill Nnttnnat bank will dark.