2 SECTIONS — 12 PAGES SECTION I — PAGES I -8
North-Nebraska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper
VOLUME 69 —NUMBER 40._O'NEILL. NEBR.. THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 9. 1950.
Holt REA Lines
Energized Today
*
Informal Ceremony Set for
Mrs. Alice Matthews
Farm at 11 A M.
Today marks a milestone in
Holt county history.
Current will surge through a
portion of the county’s rural
electrification network.
The event will be marked by
an informal switch-throwing
ceremony at the Mrs. Alice
Matthews farm, one mile north
east of O’Neill.
This is a long-awaited day
for many rural Holt countyans
«. as the lines are energized and
electrical fixtures and appli
ances come lo life in dozens
of farm homes.
The Niobrara Valley Electric
Membership corporation, which
has its REA headquarters here,
already has been serving Boyd
county farms which have been
energized for several months
First Holt line to be energiz
ed will be the one extending
north and east from the O’Neill
substation.
Honor Court To Be
Held at O’Neill
* _
Plans are being made for a
district Boy Scout of honor to
be held February 28 at the
American Legion auditorium
here. This was stated Tuesday
by M. E. Jacobson, committee
chairman for Scout troop 210,
of O’Neill.
Scouts that will participate in
the court of honor will be: To
life Scout—Edward Tomlinson,
Dale Strong, Paul and Fred Fet
row and Bill Malloy; to star
Scout—Bill McElvain and Geo.
Tomlinson; to first class Scout
—Edward Gatz; to second class
Scout—James Tomlinson, Don
ald Malloy, Richard Davis, Car
roll Grenier, and John Bowen.
^ At a troop committee meeting
held Monday, plans were read
ied for the construction of a log
cabin at Ford’s park for Scout
activities. Noal Long, of O’Neill,
is sketching plans for the cabin,
Jacobson said.
The committee said that a
registration fee of $20 must be
paid by parents of Scouts ii
parents plan to send a Scout to
the national jamboree that will
be held at Valley Forge, Pa., in
July. The Chamber of Com
merce, the sponsoring organiza
tion, plans to send one Scouf, all
expenses paid, on the excursion.
Simonson post 93 of the Amer
ican Legion, indicated to the
troop committee it would
sponsor an Explorer Scout troop.
Meanwhile, the Scout troop,
I in cooperation with the Cham
ber of Commerce, will hold on
March 8 a fun fair.
Volunteer Firemen
Summoned 3 Times
O’Neill volunteer fire depart
ment during the past 7 days
has answered three calls to
extinguish fires
Wednesday, February 2, at
0:45 p. m. a milk house on the
Clarence Donohoe place, 8 miles
(North, caught afire from an
overheated stove. The Donohoe
children were going to bed
when they looked out of the
window to see the milk
house in flames- Firemen estim
ated $25 damage.
Thursday, February 3, at 12:15
E. m. the roof at the O’Neill
ospital caught afire after a
chimney had burned out. There
was little damage, fi. emen re
ported.
F iday, February 4, at 5:10
p. m., a tractor on the Corkle
turkev farm. 3 miles east of
O’Neill, caught afire when the
operator was filling the start
ing motor of a tractor with gas.
$om<> of the gas spilled on the
battery of the tractor, which
ignited the gas. Fluid sprayed
the f-ont tires, which were de
stroyed.
ANGUS BULLS
AVERAGE $507
Overflow Crowd Gathers
Here Tuesday for
Show and Sale
An overflow crowd of live
stockmen, ranchers, and farm
ers Tuesday thronged to the O’
Neill Livestock Market for the
fourth annual show and sate of
the Holt County Aberdeen-An
gus Breeders’ association.
Some of the world's best
Black Angus were on show and
sale. As many as four- states
and all parts of Nebraska were
represented at the sale. Ray
Siders, sale manager, said Kan
i ■ i., Nebraska, bouth Dakota,
Colorado and Iowa cattlemen at
tended.
fcuxty-five lots were offered,
including 45 bulls and 20 fe
males. Ten of the females enter
ed were ij/ exclusive purchase
by 4-H club members and Fu
ture Farmers of America mem
bers. Free first service is made
available to the purchasers of
the club heifers.
Spokesmen for the association
said that the 45 bulls brought an
average of $507 while the 20 fe
males brought an average of
$243. Ed Thorin was auctioneer.
Will Silz. of Denver, for
merly of near Atkinson, show
ed the grand champion bull.
Eve's Lad. The loving cup that
was to have been awarded
was not presented to Sitz. The
association previous to the
show and sale had voted
cup eligibility to the own
er of the grand champion bull
only if the bull was bred by
an exhibitor or bought in dam
by an exhibitor.
Sitz’s grand champ sold to E.
J. Kevell and sons, of Star, for
$1,060.
However, the grand champ
ion was topped in price by Blue
Ribbon of lennonwood 8th. It
sold for $1,210 to Danny and
Billy Putnam, of O’Neill. The
consignor was Howard Pit/er,
of Ericson.
The reserve champion bull,
Bandolier Belmar of Holt 24th,
consigned by Harry E. liessei
and sons, of O’Neill, sold for
>890 to John Shald, of Stuart.
The champion female, Steel
Creek Pamelia, brought $39a.
it was sold to H. J. Cox, of Mul
len, and it was consigned by Ray
Siders, of O’Neill.
The reserve champion female,
consigned by Siders, brought
>35-0. It was Steel Creek Karama
4th and was sold to Danny Put- j
nam, of O’Neill.
The Frontier handled in “pac
kage” form most of the associa
tion’s advertising. The package
included radio, newspaper ad
vertising and two-color catalogs
describing the offerings.
Sale Manager Siders declar
ed following the sale that “the
association was well pleased
with the attendance at the sale
and the prices the Angus
brought.”
Presbyterian Choir
To Dorsey Church
The youth choir of First Pres
byterian church, of O’Neill, will
present a concert of sacred mu
sic at the Dorsey Presbyterian
church on Sunday, February 12,
beginning at 2:30 p m.
Mrs. Ralph G. Gerber is choir
lirector and Mrs. John Harbot
le is accompanist.
Reverend Gerber, church pas
or, said an O’Neill concert Will
be presented soon.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Raymond R. Walnofer, 25, of
Stuart, and Miss Bessie Helen
Peter, 19, of O’Neill, February
).
Frontier for printing.
158 Attend AngusBreeders’ Banquet
One hundred and fifty-eight
persons gathered at the Amer
ican Legion auditorium Monday
r»ght for the first annual Holt
County Aberdeen-Angus Breed
ers’ association banquet.
James W. Rooney was toast
master. He recalled the begin
ning of registered cattle breed
ing in Holt county, pointing
out that Harry J. Ressel, then
of Chambers, was the only reg
istered breeder in 1931.
He borrowed from Chuck Ap
gar's “Voice of The Frontier”
program in bringing the regis
tered cattle picture up-to-daie.
Rooney explained that on Mon
day morning’s “Voice” Apgar
told his listeners that “some of
the world’s best bulls” would
be sold in the Aberdeen-Angus
6ale the following day in O’
Neill. This provoked an enthus
iastic response from the audi
ence, composed of Angus breed
ers, their families, Holt County
Hereford breeders and their
families, snd other guests.
The “world’s best” theme was
carried on throughout the ban
quet.
Rooney explained that the
Angus breeding had risen to a
tine degree of excellency with
the introduction of the Bando
lier strain.
Ray Siders, of O’Neill, presi
dent of the Angus association,
issued the viPelcoming remarks
and expressed hope that the
banquet — on the evs before
the show and sale—could be
come an annual affair. He ex
plained that “Angus men are
anxious to produce better sires
and better foundation females
as a matter of economic policy
in the region." He attributed
much of the success along this
line to the 4-H club and Future
Farmers of America training
and leadership the agricultural
people are receiving.
Floyd Whitaker, of Chambers,
president of the Holt County
Hereford Breeders’ association,
responded in behalf of the
guests. He expressed apprecia
tion for the invitation to dine
with the Angus people, and
thanked the Chamber of Com
merce of O’Neill for inaugurat
ing the silver loving cup compe
tition for both Angus and Here
ford shows.
Mr. Whitaker reflected on
the pioneer days—less than
a score of years ago—when
breeders had the idea that
heavy, "box car" type of beef
was the kind to raise. "Then
we turned to baby beeves,"
he continued, "and now we're
swinging back to the heavier
animals."
The O’Neill high school mix
ed quartette, accompanied on
the piano by Miss Rosemary
Vopdracek, sang three selec
tions, “I Passed by Her Win
dow,” the novelty, “Tradinuk,”
and “Country Style.” Voices
were those of Lois Harmon,
Phyllis Harder, John Bowen
and Claude Cole.
Dwayne Booth, Ted Lindberg
and Edward Bridges, played a
cornet trio. They also are O’
Neill high pupils.
Karen Garwood, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Garwood,
of Atkinson, sang two selec
tions. She was accompanied oy
her mother Misses Vondracek
and Esther Kinnier were heard
in two piano duets, “Hungarian
Dance” and “Spanish Dance.”
Rooney introduced the lol
lowing breeders who were to
sell tue “world’s best Angus
(Continued on page 10)
This is Eve's Lad. grand champion of the |
Holt County Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' show |
and sale held Tuesday. Will Silx was owner.
Ev'Vs Lad sold to E. J. Reveil & Son for $1,060.
„ --
Ray Siders, of O'Neill, exhibits the grand champion Angus
female—Steel Creek Pamelia, a heifer calf. Frontier Photos.
Grandma Summers
Turns 90-Years~Old
By a Staff Writer
Mrs. Isabelle Summers be
came 90-years-old on Monday,
February 6
The day was a quiet one for
the frail, silver-haired little lady
who imakes her home with her
son, Frank Summers, on O'
Neill’s southeast outskirts.
Mrs. Summers received a
number of well-wishing friends
and relatives, she opened an
arm full of congratulatory cards
and letters and she reminisced.
Her maiden name was Isabelle
Cruickshank and she was born
in the town of Turliff in North
ern Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
“I came from a good family,”
-he declared. “My father was a
banker in Turliff, one uncle
was a doctor, and another uncle
was a steamship captain.
“My doctor uncle ’ater went
to Africa as a medical mis
sionary and the steamship
captain was the first to com
mand a ship throuoh the Sue*
canal ” she pridefully explain
ed with a keeness for detail
that belies her age.
Her parents came to Ameri
ca—to Omaha, to be exact—
three years before they sent for
their eldest daughter, Isabella,
who had stayed on in Scotland
with her grandparents.
In 1876 she set sail alone from
the port of Glasgow on her
.Vorth Atlantic voyage that was
> require three weeks. Lanci
ng in New York, she contin
1 on to Omaha.
Another uncle, also a Cruick
>hank, had been a successful
try goods merchant in Omaha
nd was partly responsible for
he move for his brother and
lis family.
'Isabella finished her school
ISABELLE SUMMERS
ing in Omaha and her father
chanced to buy a farm from
another Scotsmen in Washing
ton county, near DoSota, South
of Blair. Isabella #took a job
teaching in the Summers school,
Northwest )' Blair. It was there
she met Mil s Summers, and
they were married on Febru
ary 18, 1883 at DeSota.
They settled on a Washing
ton county farm.
Miles Summers, his wife and
three boy made their wav to
Holt coun y, arriving on May
10. 1892. and settled on a farm
6 miles Northeast of Page.
“We were lord of all we sur
veyed." That’s the way Mrs.
Ruraracs described their ar
iv'd ‘*Th re was nothing but
prairieland and little bunches of
(Cont inied on page 10)
ATKINSON FARMER
IS FOUND DEAD
J. Dvorak Dies Suddenly
Monday Night At
Farm Home
ATKINSON — Funeral ser
vices will be held at 2:30 p.m.
today (Thursday) for John Dvor
ak, 73, a farmer. Rev. W. C.
Birmingham will conduct the
rites in the Methodist church
and burial will be in Woodlawn
cemetery here
Dvorak was found dead by
members of his family when
they returned home Monday
evening. The Dvorak farm is
located 3 miles south of here.
Doctors said he suffered a heart
attack, which had proved fatal.
Born in Czechoslovakia on
February 27, 1876, a son of Jo
seph and Frances Dvorak., he
c&me to the United States when
a boy. On May 2, 1906, he mar
ried Barbara Kodela at West
Point. They came to Holt coun
ty in 1911 and have resided here
since.
A farmer most of his life, Mr.
Dvorak would have been 74
years-old February 27, 1950.
He was a member of the
ZCBJ lodge.
Wednesday noon the body was
taken to his home where it
rested in state until the funeral
services.
Survivors include: Widow,
sons—Rudv, John J. and Frank,
all of Atkinson; William, of Dos
Angeles, Calif.; daughters —
Mrs. Joseph (Anna) Sladelc;
Mrs. Alfred (Mary) Havranek
and Mrs. Robert (Helen) Clif
ford, all of Atkinson; brothers—
Frank, William and Thomas, ail
of Verdigre; and one sister —
Mrs. Frank Veck, also of Verdi
gre.
Aged Holt Pioneer
Dies After Fall
ATKINSON—Mrs Margarltha
Friedt Martens, 88, a resident
of Holt county since 1884, died
at her home here Tuesday. She
suffered a fall about a month
ago and had been bedfast since.
Funeral services will be held
at 2:30 pm. Friday from the
chapel of the Seger funeral
home here. Rev. W. C. Birming
ham will officiate and burial
will be in Woodlawn cemetery
here.
Mrs. Martens is the widow
of the la*e Fred Martens, well
kiown Holt county rancher,
who died March 22, 1945. They
i had retired from the ranch
some 25 years prior to Mr.
Martens' death and moved to
Atkinson.
The late Mrs. Martens was
horn in Brachen, Germany, on
November 3, 1861, a daughter of
Hans and Katharina Friedt She
came to the United States in
1879.
Among the survivors are:
sons—Robert and Alfred, of At
kinson; and a daughter— Mrs.
Cole, of Atkinson.
Pallbearers will be: I R Dick
erson, Lloyd McDowell, Ralton
Jarvis, Earl Collins, Carl Smith,
all of Atkinson and Guy Cole, of
Emmet.
Polio Fund In
County Hits $4.030—
Mrs. Ralph Brown, TTolt r -un
tv director for the March of
D:m°s fund-raising campaign
said late Wednesday that $4.03’)
’ ad hpen turned in thus far on
the camoaign which ended Jan
uary 31.
William J. Biglin
Rites Here Tuesday
Prominent Funeral Director Dies Sunday
Following Extended Illness
William J. (“Bill") Biglin, 59, widely-known O’Neill funeral
director and furniture dealer, died Sunday at 1:10 p.m. at hat
home. He had sulfered an illness that was extended over a period
of about 2*^ years, although he had been active until recent
months
Requiem high Mass was said at 10 am. Tuesday in St. Pat
rick's Catholic church with Very Rev. Timothy O'Sullivan,
church pastor, officiating. Burial was in Calvary cemetery with
Rev. Edward Carpenter, of Cherokee. La., administering
rites.
All business firms in O’Neill were closed during the funeral.
Father O’Sulivan took occasion to mention that the “im
mense congregation that has come to pay respects to Mr. Biglin is
a sign of the esteem in which he was held in the church and in
the community.”
William J. Bigiln . . . mem
ber of a pioneer firm. (See
story at right and editorial
entitled. "Bill Biglin.**)
A Native Son
Is Called
LINCOLN — Word was flash
ed over the wire to me Monday
that, after a lingering illness,
Billy Biglin had found release
from the remorseless ravages of
physical suffering in death.
The Western Union called me
to the telephone as the import
of the message struck inner
emotions all I could do was re
place the receiver and turn
away. Another friend to hve
now only in memory’s cherished
caravan of the loved and lost.
It is 5 years ago this February
that William met the incoming
train on the North Western ana
took charge of the body of Mrs.
Saunders and that day saw her
laid to rest on Prospect Hill
The last personal contact w<
nad was June, 1949, when wt
traveled north where Mr. Biglin
looked over things on his farm
and planned for the summer.
We talked of things that day
that touch the deeper well
.springs of lift4 and I got a new
insight into a warm-hearted,
generous and sympathetic na
ture.
Cheerful, a wholesome sense
of humor, he also had his seri
ous thoughts; charitable for the
follies of fellow wayfarers and
ready to help any in need.
In his death the community
has lost a native son whose lite
scattered sunshine along toe
way. He was loved as a friend,
esteemed as a citizen, honored
as a patriot and looked upon as
one of the Creator’s noble char
acters.
Goodbye, Billy.
—ROMAINE SAUNDERS.
Rev Ralph Gerber spent Tues
day and Wcdntsday Is Kearney
attending a “Faith and Life’
seminar for Presbyterian pas
tors.
i
Father O’Sullivan commented
that the late Mr. Biglin “was a
great friend of all the clergy;
he helped them immeasurably
at all times."
William James Biglin wras
born on August 12, 1890, a son
of the late Owen F. Biglin and
Margaret McCann Biglin.
He attended and graduated
from O’Neill high school m 1910.
He was active in school activi
ties and was a member of one
of O’Neill high’s earliest football
teams.
The late Mr. Biglin was in
ducted into the army shortly
before World War I hostilities
ended.
He attended the University of
Nebraska medical college at
Omaha where he prepared lor
his profession as a mortician.
His grandfather, John Mc
Cann. had founded a pioneer
mortuary firm here in 1879.
Later the firm became known
as O. F. Biglin & Sons. Be
sides furniture and undertak
ing, the firm also handled
farm implements and the lata
William J. Biglin was active in
all phases.
In 1938 the firm was redesig
nated Biglin Bros., William J.
and Frank J., brothers, having
entered into partnership.
The farm implement line was
dropped and the Biglins served
a wide territory in the funeral
directing and furniture fields.
On January 25, 1920, the late
Mr. Biglin and Mary I. Waters,
of Jackson, were married. They
became the parents of four
children: sons—William J. jr.,
and David, both deceased;
daughters — Rose Mary and
Rutn Ann.
All members of Mr. Biglin’s
immediate family were near him
when he died. A lifelong friend,
Hugh E. Coyne, had visited with
him shortly before death came.
Mr. Biglin’s illness had taken
him to Rochester, Minn., and
Sioux City hospitals on Succes
sive occasions. He was conscious
until the end.
He was a member of St. Pat
rick’s Catholic church, Knights
of Columbus, Chamber of Com
merce, American Legion and
Country club.
Survivors include: Widow —
Mary; daughters—Mrs. Donald
(Ruth Ann) Berg, of Rapid City,
S. D., and Mrs. John F. (Rose
Mary) Carroll, of O’Neill; broth
ers—Frank J. and Ambrose, both
of O’Neill; sisters—Mrs. F. N.
(Irenaeia) Cronin, of O’Neill;
Sister M. Eugene, of St. Monica’s
home, Sioux City; Miss Gene
vieve Biglin, of O’Neill; Sister
M. Calixta, of St. Patrick’s
school. Imogene, la.; grand
daughter—Barbara Berg.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; sons—David,
who died in infancy, and Wil
liam J.. jr., who was killed in
action in Europe during World
War II; brother—John.
Among out-of-town clergy
here for the rites were: Rev.
Edward Carpenter, of Cherokee,
la., Mrs. Biglm’s cousin. Rev.
Richard Pair, of Battle Creek;
, v m ter Burke, of Ewing, and
Rev. Barry, of Long Pine.
Among out-of-town relatives
and friends present were: Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Hughes and
Mrs. Mary Kent, all of Norfolk;
Mr apd Mrs. Joseph Hughes, of
Battle Creek; Mr. and Mrs. J.
F. Carroll, of Spencer, la.; Dr.
and Mrs. V. E. Berg, of Sioux
r alls, S. D ; Mr. and Mrs. Rob
ert Cranny, Miss Mary Bennett,
(Continued on page 8)
THESPIANS INITIATE
The O’Neill school chapter of
ity, the Thespians, held initia
tion for 11 new members Wed
nesday evening at the public
school. C. R Nicholas, dramatic*
instructor, presided at Uie aiiaiS