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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1950)
2 SECTIONS — 12 PAGES SECTION I — PAGES I -8 ♦ VOLUME 69—NUMBER 37 _O'NEILL. NEBR., THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1950 PRICE: 7 CENTS Polio Drive Is Underway f - O'Neill Contributions Hit $600; Holt Goal Is $5,000 As the March of Dimes fund I raising campaign got underway | throughout the nation Monday j house-to-house canvass teams in Holt county towns started soli citations. Over three thousand contribution cards were sent to rural residents, according to John H. McCarville, publicity chairman. I On the “kickoff” day, Mrs. Ralph Brown, Holt county di rector, and Mrs. M. E. Jacobson, O’Neill director, gave the “Voice of The Frontier” listeners facts and figures about the campaign on the Monday morning broad cast. The drive started Monday, January 16, and will last until January 31. Wiih the drive in its first week, Mrs. Jacobson announc ed that O'Neill advanced con tributions to the campaign to taled $600. The goal for the entire county is five-thousand dollars. > In addition to the contribution cards sent to the rural residents, the Holt county superintendent of public instruction, Miss Elja McCullough, has informed all rural Holt teachers to give pu pils March of Dimes contribution cards. Meanwhile, American Legion posts in both Atkinson and O’ Neill have completed arrange ments for a President’s ball. Simonson post 93 here will spon sor a dance on January 26 fea turing Skippy Anderson and his orchestra. A “kigmy” (taken from the Lil’ Abner comic strip) booth will be sponsored by the O’Neill chapter of the Lions club, ac * cording to D. H. Clausson, pres ident. Weather permitting, a “kigmy” booth is to be placed on the Northwest corner of the main intersection and anyone who wishes to “blow off” steam can do so by donating 10 cents to the polio campaign and then kick a "kigmy.” The booth is scheduled to be transplanted to the American Legion ballroom the night of the president’s ball, McCarville said. Although initial reports from the outlyng communities have not been received, Mrs. Brown said door-to-door campaigns are being conducted in virtually ev ery community to help swell the total contributions. Mrs. Blake Ott, Amelia direc > tor, reported $39 had thus far been collected there. Other di rectors in county communities are: Mrs. J. W. Walters, in Chambers; Miss Patricia McMa hon at Inman; Miss Helen Mar tens at Emmet; Miss Frances Rotherham, of Ewing, and Mrs. Anton Nissen, of Page. Aberdeen-Angus Sale Date Nears Date for the fourth annual sale of the Holt County Aber ✓ deen-Angus Breeders’ associa tion is Tuesday, February 7, and plans for the sale have been completed. Sale will be held at the O’ Neill Livestock Market begin ning at 1 o’clock. In the morn ing—beginning at 10—there will be a show. Judge will be Charles Reece, of Simeon. Sale auctioneer will be Col. Ed Thor in, of Chambers. Forty-five bulls and 20 fe males are consigned. The con signors include: Leo T. Adams, of Chambers; Hugh Carr, of Amelia; Vernon Harmon, of Plainview; Lois Siders Juracek, of Orchard; E. L. Miner & Son, of O’Neill; Howard Pitzer, of Ericson; Harry E. Ressel & Sons, of O’Neill; E. J. Revell & Son, of Star; Sandhill Angus Ranch, of Atkinson; Ray Siders, of O’ Neill; Rolland Miller, of Mid dlebranch; Fora L. Knight, of O’Neill; Will Sitz, of Atkinson. In addition there will be 10 4-H club and FFA calves. The Frontier this week de livered to the association 500 copies of a colorful 20-page catalog describing the offer ings. Meanwhile, a /close-out farm sale is also booked on The Fron tier’s auction sale calendar. Cot ton Wright and Ray Maguire are quitting the turkey farm business and selling their per sonal property on Friday, Janu ary 20, starting promptly at 1 o’clock. Included in the offer ing are 30 head of cattle and a complete line of farm machin ery. Sale will be held at tire place located 8 miles East and 2Vi miles South of the O’Neill Livestock Market. The Holt County Hereford Breeders’ association has picked Saturday, February 18, for its annual show and sale to be held in O’Neill. Guests Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Gettert were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Fare well and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gettert and Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Clyde and daughters, all of Atkinson Fred Drayton, 70, Dies at Orchard ORCHARD — John Frederick Drayton, 70, lifelong resident of the Orchard and Ewing com munities, died Saturday about 3:30 p.m. He had been ill only a few days. Funeral services were held Monday at the Masonic temple | in Orchard and burial was in the Orchard cemetery. The late Mr. Drayton’s par ents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John William Drayton, were among earliest settlers In this region. ! Survivors include: Widow — Alma; sons— John, of Valen tine, and Alfred, of O’Neill; brothers—Henry and T. A.; sis ters—Mrs. Herman Link, of Chadron, and Mrs. Albert John son, of Denver, Colo. MEUSCH FAMILY WINS CONTEST 31,000 Farm Improvement Award to Be Presented Monday Evening The William J. Meuseh farm family, living four miles East and 24 miles North of Atkinson, has been named Nebraska state winners in the 1949 farmstead improvement contest, cospon sored by radio station WNAX and the Nebraska agricultural extension service. The selection of the Meuseh farmstead as having the most improvement in efficiency and appearance over entries from 27 Nebraska counties carries with it an award of $1,000 in mer chandise. Active in all of the com- i munity projects, the Meuschs have lived on their ranch for 15 years. Improvements on the farm include: the completion of a full basement with the install ation of a central heating plant, water and sewage disposal sys tems, a hot water unit, a wash room and shower constructed in the basement. The interior of the home was remodeled and a bathroom built. In addition, the house and farm buildings were wired for electricity and a 110-volt power plant put in a cement block house. Metal roofs were put on the farm buildings which were repainted. The yard was land scaped and an orchard planted. An average of 150 to 200 head of livestock are raised on the 1,180-acre Meusch ranch. Of the total acreage, 260 acres are de voted to crops. The Meuschs have three chldren, Evelyn, 19, Donald, 16, and Carmon, 8. and all are ac tive in 4-II club work. A presentation ceremony will take place Monday evening, January 23, at Slat’s cafe in O'Neill, when WNAX will pre sent the one-thousand-dollar merchandise award. C & NW Seeks to Drop 2 Trains The Chicago & Northwestern , railroad has asked permission from the state railway commis sion to discontinue two trains— , numbers 613 and 614—between Chadron and the Nebraska-Wyo ming state line. The request was one of two placed before the commission last week in Lincoln. The C & NW claims it is los ing 90-thousand-dollars a year because of a loss of traffic on the route. FORMER RESIDENT DIES . . Jason A. Gifford, 87 (above) died Saturday, January 7, in Omaha and w9s buried in Prospect Hill cemetery at O’ Neill on Monday, January 9, following funeral rites at In man. The late Mr. Gifford, survived by 5 sons and 4 daughters, came to the Inman community in 190G. 4 The Harry Page and Kurt Harpe families combine to make one big happy family. Left-to-right: Monica Harpe, 6l/a; Mrs. Kurt Harpe, 29; Maria Harpe, 5; Mr. Harpe, 41; Harry Page, Dav.id Page, 12 and Mrs. Page.—The Frontier Photo. Harry Pages Open Home to DP Family Kurt Harpe, Wife and 2 Daughters Come From Berlin By a Staff Writer Harry Page and his wife, who live on a modest 240-acre farm 3 miles North of O’Neill, believe in the Word written by St. Matthew that runs like this: Do unto others as ye would have done unto you. That explains why Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Harpe and their two daughters. Monica, 6^, and Maria, 5, are making their home with the Pages in their small country dwelling. You see, the Harpes are Ger man Jews. Father, mother and the two little girls have spent their entire life in Berlin. The vivacious little child ren belie the hardship and misery lhal had been their lot in Berlin from the day they were born. When World War II ended the i Harpes hoped and prayed for an opportunity to come to America. In 1946 they made an effort but were unsuccessful in finding a “sponsor” under the U. S. dis placed persons immigraton law. The hardworking Pages, whose own five children are reared and away from home, often hoard on the radio appeals from Dr. Mikkelson, of the First Christian synagogue, of Los Angeles, Calif., urging folks to help transplant worthy Eur opean families to the USA. The Pages were touched. They signified to Doctor Mik kelson they wanted to help. Presently they were in eorre- . spondence with Kurt Harpe. This was in May, 1949. There was an exchange of credentials, photographs, habits, likes and dislikes. Mr. Harpe, who had never even visited a farm in Germany, was willing to undertake anything to get his little family out of sick Europe. They sailed from Bremers haven with 1,300 other immi grants and arrived at New York City harbor on December 17. An American Santa Claus greet ed them at the dock and Moni ca and Maria, along with hun dreds of others, received a stocking filled with goodies. Three days later they were comfortably located in the Page farm home, coming from New York City to O’Neil! bv rail. The Pages have an adopted son, David, 12, and the over night swelling of the family to 7 complicates living some what, but everyone seems per fectly happy. i David enjbys the girls and • ; their German chatter, but he | I holds the key to English story-1 books, the ways around the barnyard, and the getting ac- 1 I quainted with animals. The girls have enrolled in the first grade in district 15. taught j by capable Twila Whaley. Tney , romp down the road with David I every morning. Monica had two months of formal schooling in | Berlin. Their mother, 29, who before he war aspired to be a lawyer, has made good progress in learning English and is passing Her knowledge along to her hus band and daughters. She is, you' might say, the spokesman. But Kurt is coming along fast, too. His last Berlin job was in an employment office with the British in the British sector of Berlin. Because of his Jewish blood Hitler’s officers wouldn’t have him in his army. He was forced to work in a factory where tools were made for the Wehrmacht. Kurt’s job was that of a grinder on precision instruments. Kurt’s boss was a tobacco fiend and Kurt made private arrangements to keep a few cigarettes flowing to his boss regularly. Harpe is quite sure the bribery kept him out of a concentration camp. Mrs. Harpe's father was a victim of Nazi brutality at Auschwitz, one of the most infamous of all Nazi concen tration camps. He perished there along with a few hun dred thousand other Jews, French, Italians, Poles and Russians. During the height of allied oombing of Berlin, Mrs. Htirpe and her babies went to the i country for several days at a i time, fleeing the terror of the I attacks. Once she was injured. She brushed off the incident ! by saying: “That wasn’t import | ant.’’ I Describing Berlin assaults by i American air armadas. Mr. Harpe groped for words but got his point across with aid of ges ticulation. “Interesting but dan gerous.’’ (Continued on page 4j David Page, 12, helps acquaint his new-found "sisters”— Maria Harpe, 5, (left) and Monica, 6Vi. with American story books. The girls and their parents recently arrived in the U.S. from their native Berlin under the displaced persons act.—The Frontier Photo. Kestenholtz Infant Expires Suddenly INMAN — Eugene Charles Kesfenholtz, 2, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kestenholtz, died (early Monday, January 16, in the O’Neill hospital. The child had been admitted to the hos pital Sunday after taking ill suddenly. Funeral services were con ducted Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church in charge of Rev. Roy M. Wingate, pastor, assisted by Elder Joseph Coon. Inmar, high school girls sang three hymns and four high school boys, Ronald Cadwallad er, Douglas Butterfield, Har land Morsback, and Lawrence S h o 1 e s, acted as pallbear ers. Burial was in Prospect Hill cemetery at O’Neill. Survivors include: Parents; sisters—Louise and Carol Ann; grandfather — Harry Kesten holtz, of Inman; grandmother . —Mrs. Robert Heck, of Inman Return from Coast— Dr. and Mrs. F. J. Fisher re turned Friday from a visit to California over the holidays. In San Mateo, they visited their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. William Dahms and infant daughter. They also vis ited in Los Angeles at the home of Dr. Fisher’s mother, Mrs. Henry Fisher. Visit Atkinson— Mrs. Charles Havranek and Dottie Lou visited in Atkinson last Thursday. Friday and Sat urday at the home of her moth er, Mrs. Dorothy Barrett and at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Havranek. 1950 Holt Fair Dates Are Fixed CHAMBERS — Officers of the Holt County Agricultural socie ty met in their first 1950 ses sion Friday at the Odd Fellows hall and, among other things, fixed the dates for the 1950 ex position. The fair this year will be held during the week corresponding with last year’s fair but will start one day earlier. The dates: August 29, 30, 31 and September 1. . i Officials discussed the possi bility of holding a livestock sale in conjunction with the fair. Sale would enable owners and exhibitors to sell cattle that will not be entered at Ak-Sar-Ben livestock exposition or any oth er shows. Nothing definite was decided upon because there is ample time to develop the idea if the officers decided to go ahead, they said. SENTENCED District Judge D. R. Mounts Monday sentenced Edward Ev ■rett, 49, of O’Neill, to one year n the state prison after he was found guiltc of writing a .“no fund” check on a ban! at/ Ew ing. Everett, a farm# laborer, hdri previously served 'a Vfnn in ; prison for forgery the records, show. Returns from NYC— Robert Pappenheimer return ed Wednesday, January 11, from New York City where he visited for three weeks. Norris W. Coats Unicam Candidate Norris W. Coats, Stuart mer chant, Friday filed as candidate for the Nebraska unicameral legislature from the Twenty eighth legislatve district. He is the third to enter the senatorial race. Earlier Sen. Frank Nelson, of O’Neill, the incumbent, and Fred Jungman, of Atkinson, fil ed their entries. Nelson is com pleting his first term. Two highest vote-getters in the August primaries will be op posed in the November general election. Other filings: January 17 — John Kersen brock, of O’Neill, Democrat can didate for Holt county sheriff; January 17 — William W. Griffin, of O’Neill, Republican incumbent, candidate for coun ty attorney. NEW SECTION BOSS ATKINSON—Carroll Holmes, of Snyder, has been appointed to take the post formerly held by Herman Schrader, sr., as foreman on the C&NW railroad section crew. Mr. Holmes came to Atkinson Sunday but his wife and family will remain in Sny der until living quarters can be obtained. To Mov,a Soon— William J. Beha spent Tues day and Wednesday, January 10 and 11, visiting his family here. He will move his wife and three daughters to Sioux Falls, S. D , at the end of the month. Mr. Beha is a nurse at the Veterans’ hospital in Sioux Falls Lutherans Mourn Dr. Maier’s Death Missouri synod Lutherans in the O’Neill region are joining millions of other persons of ail creeds throughout the world in mourning the death of Dr. Wal ter A. Maier, 56, of St. Louis, Mo., one of the best-known Pro testant church leaders. Doctor Maier died at 12:55 a.m. on Wednesday, January 12. Doctor Maier earned world fame as founder and principal speaker on radio’s International Lutheran hour broadcast. It has been variously estimated that Doctor Maier’s radio sermons reached 50 million or more lis teners every week. Memorial services were held Sunday at St. Paul's Luther an church at Chambers, Im manuel Lutheran church at Atkinson, and elsewhere. At Chambers a special collec tion was taken to help provide a memorial for the radio pastor. Rev. Clyde O. Cress’s sermon at Immanuel Lutheran church in Atkinson dwelt on Doctor Maier’s influence on Christen dom. Services were not held at Christ Lutheran church in O’ Neill last Sunday because the ! church auditorium was “too ; cold,” but a memorial service for Doctor Maier will be held 1 on Sunday, January 22. Other Missouri synod churches in the area are: Immanuel, at I Spencer; Concordia, at Clear water; St. Paul’s, at Orchard; ! and Immanuel, at Venus. O’NEILL PCA NOW MEMBER-OWNED Only 3 of 28 Original Incorporators Present For Celebration Members of the O’Neill Pro duction Credit association Sat urday afternoon, January 14, celebrated reaching a 16-year goal—complete member-owner ship of their credit association. The association’s 16th annual meeting featured the final re tirement of the last block of government-owned capital stock. A $5,000 check, measuring 2 feet by 4 feet, was signed by James W. Rooney, secretary treasurer, and presented to Her man W. Frerichs, treasurer of the Production Credit corpora tion, of Omaha, by D. C. Schaf fer, president of the O’Neill as sociation. Mr. Schaffer, in turn, received a “certificate of com plete member - ownership” in behalf of the association. The association was organized in February, 1934. Schaffer explained that orig inal capital was provided by the government, through investing 120-thousand-dollars in the asso ciaton’s stock. As farmers and stockmen borrowed to finance their farming and livestock op erations, they invested in the as sociation’s capital. This permit ted gradual retirement of the government-owned stock. Members now own all the cap ital stock—amounting to $72,825. Reserves total $87,089, giving members a total equity of $159, 914. Mr. Frerichs lauded the as sociation's members for their progress in retiring govern ment-owned capital stock. He said that when the Produc tion Credit system was estab lished "in those dark days of 1934" the aim was to provide a source of credit that could serve the sound operating credit needs of farmers and stockmen "in all kinds ot economic weather." In his annual report, Secre tary - Treasurer Rooney gave some idea of the size of the as sociation the members own. Since organization the O’Neill PCA has loaned over $10,300, )00 to farmers and stockmen in Holt, Boyd, Wheeler and Gar field counties, he said. , Loans closed in 1949 totaled nore than $1,616,000. As the as sociation’s members take over full ownership, the co-op has $577,000 in loans outstanding. Hi hi; remarks, Mr. Rooney rejerred to the 23 original in '•iii j i.iiors who m t n O Neill it i ■ in nary o, 1j>4, with a vis ion that has now become a real ity. Incorporators were: John Schmidt, Spencer; J B. Ableidinger, Spencer; A. J. Fink, Anoka; Frank F. Weber, Butte; A. U. Dix, Butte; K. A. Clifton, Butte; W. J. Fusselman, Anoka; E. W. Moss, Burwell; F. W. Chat field, Burwell; H. H. Franssen, Burwell; Frank Stanek, Bur well; Ray E. Nelson, Burwell; A. E. Jenks, Burwell; Gerald T. Dye, Burwell. George Weber, Stuart; D. C. Schaffer, O’Neill; Warren Gil man. Amelia; Harry Ressel, O’ Neill; R. H. Leinhart, O’Neill; J. A. Beck, Atkinson, Andy Clark. O’Neill; H. C. Mignery, Elgin; Chas. J. Bartak. Ewing; A. L. Bishop. Bartlett; Warren C. Savage, Ericson; Richard F. Lehman, Ericson; Leo Clouse, Ericson; Frank Kaiser, Spalding. Of the 28 incorporators a number have died, some have moved from the territory and only D. C. Schaffer, Andy Clark and Harry Ressel were present at the meeting. Mure than 160 farmers and stockmen and their wives at tended the O’Neill association’s “celebration" meeting, which was held in the Golden hotel. They re-elected Ott Oberg, of Ereson, to the board of directors I for a three-vear term. Other di ectnrs are: C. F. Clark, of Bur well; Otto Krupicka, of Spen cer; Ray Siders, of O’Neill, and Mr. Schaffer. 2,339 Purchase 1950 License Plates— Up to noon Wednesday, 2,339 iwners of motor vehicles in Molt county had purchased their 1950 license plates, according to J. Ed Hancock, treasurer. There is no penalty involved if owners purchase 1950 plates after February 15—the dead line. However, owners are sub ject to arrest and fine if found driving on old license plates 1 after that date. i