Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1952)
9 O o O O ° 12 PAGES—2 SECTIONS o ° @ ‘ ML , '-i* ___ O 4 e 9 North-Nebraska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper * ‘ | fMi * I VOLUME 71.—NUMBER 38. O'NEILL. NEBRASKA. THURSDAY. JANUARY 24, 1952._PRICE: 7 CENTS SOC YEARLINGS PEGGED AT $75 VALUATION Holt Official Opposes Scale Adopted at Omaha Parley Grade yearlings, 6- to 18 months old, were fixed at a $75 per head value and steers, 18- to 30-iponths-old, were set at $100 each at the 48th annual conven tion of the Nebraska County As sessors’ association held Thursday and Friday in Omaha. Holt County Assessor Wil liam F. Wefso, of Atkinson, went on record m opposition to the schedule as adopted. Other opposition came from Ernest Foster, of Cherry county; and Haun, of Sioux county. The valuation prices for 1952 assessment purposes, adopted by the assessors’ livestock commit tee, follows: PUREBRED CATTLE Calves, under 6 mo._$ 35 Yearlings, 6-18 mo._$ 85 Heifers, 18-30 mo. _$110 Milk cows _$160 Stock cows_ $160 Bulls---$200 and up GRADE CATTLE Calves, under 6 mo._$ 25 Yearlings, 6-18 mo._$ 75 Steers, 18-30 mo. _$100 Steers, over 30 mo._$130 Heifers, 18-30 mo._$ 95 Stock cows _$120 Milk cows_$140 Bulls-$170 and up Voting “for” these valuations were: Mouchins, of Buffalo; Sud darth, of Keith; Dunn, of Frank lin; Wilson, of Knox; Winslow7, of Jefferson; Erwin, of Otoe, and Guill, of Burt. Fat cattle on feed over 60 days will be assessed at 75 percent of market value on assessing date, the committee decided: hogs. 75 percent of market value; sheep, 75 percent of market value; ewes, $15 per head. The committee on tractors and cars set the valuation about the same as last year. The committee on real estate made the suggestion that there be a law passed in the legislature that would be mandatory for all counties to have their real estate reappraised so there would be more uniform values over the state. At the close of the meeting, Fred H. Brum, of Seward county, was elected president, and Ernest Foster, of Cherry county, vice president, of the association. 'Angie’ Wc:i Jeweler, A heart ailment proved fatal to Ogden (“Augie”) Wood Wed nesday afternoon, January 23, at the Moore hotel, corner of Fourth and Everett streets. Mr. Wood was stricken about 2 months ago, spent several weeks in the O’Neill hospital and in Uni versity hospital, Omaha, and only recently returned to the hotel. He was a jeweler by trade and for a number of years has been semi-retired. The body is at Biglin Brothers pending funeral arrangements. The late Mr. Wood was born February 25, 1884, at Ewing. He became the father of 5 sons and 2 daughters. Survivors include: Sons—Mar maduke, Robert, Donald and William, all of Oakland, Calif.: Merle, of Coon Rapids, la.; daughters— Mrs. William Stengt and Mrs. Earl Schweisen, both of Coon Rapids. 2d Amputation Fatal to Man, 6? ATKINSON—William (“Bill”) Backhaus, 63, died Wednesday night, January 16, at the Stuart Community hospital 3 hours fol lowing a second amputation on his right leg. A heart attack in December caused a bloodclot in the artery leading to his right leg. A week later an amputation be came necessary. Infection devel oped and the second operation was performed. Survivors include: Widow—Ce lia Backhaus, a teacher in the At kinson public school: sons—John, of Lincoln, and Ted. of Atkin Ison. Funeral services were conduct ed Saturday afternoon. January I 19. at Wesleyan Methodist church. Rev. Asa Wood officiated and burial was in Woodlawn ceme tery. Marine Pvt. Walton Now in 'Boot Camp' Richard W. Walton, husband of Mfs. Elsie Walton, of O’Neill, is now undergoing training at the marine cops recruit depot, San Diego, Calif. The 21-year-old former O’Neill high school student was inducted into the marine corps at Omaha, recently. , . „ During the 8 week Tioot camp, as recruit training is commonly called, Private Walton will be come well versed in such basic military subjects as precision drill, first aid, field tactics and the marine corps mission and his tory. marriage LICENSE Lerov H. Bartling and Miss Frieda Fern Warden, both of Om aha, on January 18. EARNS PROMOTION . . . Gerald Lounsbury (above), as sistant manager of the J. M. McDonald company store here, has been promoted to store manager at gt. John, Kans., lo cated 27 miles south of Great Bend, Kans. The promotion be comes effective February 1. Mr. Lounsbury has been with McDonalds since 1941. His wife, Helen, was employed for a number of years at the same store. Mr. and Mrs. Lounsbury and daughter, Geralyne, 13, will move, from O’Neill next week. Their home will be oc cupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Johnson. Mr.,Johnson is a Con sumers Public Power district employee. Mrs. Lounsbury is a daughter of Mrs. Lawrence Murray.—O’Neill Photo Co. BIDDING SPIRITED IN LEASE AUCTIONS Siders and Tomlinson Outbid by Derickson on Holt Tract Bidding was spirited during the 3d round of state school land lease auctions conducted Friday, lanuary 18, at the Holt county courthouse. Results: John Storjohann, of O’Neill, paid $6,600 for a lease on oU section 36, township 32, range 13. He formerly held the same land under 2 separate leases. Albert Derickson, of Star, paid a bonus of $3,900 for a lease on the E%, NM-SW^i, SEy4SWy4 section 36, township 31, range 10. I The northwest quarter formerly was held by Robert Tomlinson and the balance formerly was held by Ray Siders. Bidding was competitive among Derickson, Siders and Tomlinson. Guy and Harry Johnson, both of O’Neill, paid $1,700 for the NWy4, section 36, township 31, range 10. The former leasehold er was Guy Johnson. Robert Clifford, of Atkinson, paid $1,025 for a 12-year lease on all of section 36, township 27, •ange 16. He is the former lease holder of this tract. Francis Peters, of Chambers, paid $2,200 for a lease on all of •eetion 16, township 27, range 12. He succeeds himself as leasehold er. T. J. or Howard Graham paid $900 for a lease on all of section 16, township 32, range 9. They also succeeded themselves. All leases are for 12 years dura tion and are subject to confirma tion by the state board of educa tional lands and funds. Other school land lease sales are scheduled for January 31, February 1, February 16 and February 18. Official notices pertaining to the auctions appear in The Fron tier. (Turn to page 7 for legal de scriptions of February 16 and 18 sales being advertised this week for the first time.) MAY BELLE LINES BURIAL AT INMAN INMAN—Funeral services were conducted Monday, January 21, at the Methodist church in Inman for Mrs. May Belle Lines, 80. a Holt county resident since 1897. She died earlv Saturday, January 19, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clyde Ross, south of Inman. Rev. C. C. Chappell officiated and burial was in the Inman cemeterv under the direction of Bielin Brothers. Pallbearers were James Kelly, William Kellv, Charles Young, George Harold, Ernest Brunk horst and Harry Harte. The late Mrs. Lines was born November 18, 1871, at Clarksville, Tex., a daughter o< Henry and Harriet Honeycutt Nicewanner. She married George L. Lines at Ainsworth on March 13, 1890. The Lines family lived in Keya Paha county, at Spring view, until 1897, when they moved to Holt. They became the parents of 4 children. Mrs. Lines was a mem ber of the Methodist church. Her husband died October 3. 1931, and one son and one daughter also preceded her in death. Survivors include: Mrs Clyde (Almal Ross, of Inman: 10 grand children: 5 great-grandchildren: sister—Mrs. Ada Montgomery, of Moscow. Ida.: brothers—George and Dana Nicewanner. both o? Fulton. Mo.: and John Nicewan ner. of Des Moines, la. ARTHUR G. ROUSE, LONG ILL, DIES Expires in Hospital Result of Gunshot Wounds Arthur G. Rouse, 60, a lifelong Holt county resident, died about noon Friday, January 18, in the 3’Neill hospital. Death was caused by facial gunshot wounds. A 22-calibre ri fle was found near him by his brothers, Herbert and Howard, who visited the old home place in the Meek community a short time after the wounds had been in flicted. The late Mr. Rouse had been in ill health for several years and had made successive trips to hospitals. No inquest was held. Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 p.m., Sunday. January 20, at Paddock Union church. Rev. V. R. Bell, of the Methodist church, O’Neill, and Rev. M. H. Grrosenbach, of Wesleyan Metho dist church, O’Neill, officiated. Burial was in Paddock cemetery under the direction of Biglin Brothers. Pallbearers were George Nel son, Walter Egger, Paul Nelson, Edward Kaczor, Virgil Hubby and Merrill Anderson. The late Mr. Rouse was bom August 11, 1885, at Meek on the place homesteaded by his parents, Alphonso and Mary Rouse. The homestead is located about 20 miles north of O’Neill. He was never married and he spent most of his life on the old home place until retiring about 5 years ago due to ill health. Since that time he made his home with his sifter. Miss Maude, in O'Neill. He was a member of the IOOF lodge at O'Neill and was always active in community affairs. Mr. Rouse was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters —Mrs. Alma Young and Mrs. Mobfcl Steinberg. Survivors include: Brothers — Howard and Herbert, both of O’ Neill; sisters—Miss Maude, Mrs. Edith Young and Mrs. Mildred Walters, all of O’Neill, and Mrs. Bertha Hayden, of Wiggins, Colo.; also numerous nieces and ne phews. STENGERS WED HALF-CENTURY LYNCH—Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Stenger, well - known Lynch couple, Monday observed their 5t)th wedding anniversary. A 7:30 a.m. mass was said at ‘he chapel in Sacred Heart hos oital in honor of the Stengers. Open-house was held Mon day afternoon from 2 until 4 o'clock and in the evening from 7 until 9 o'clock. Michael P. Stenger and Mary Ellen McDermott, both of Hum phrey, were married January 21, 1902, at the St. Francis church in Humphrey. They started farming in the spring of 1902 at Enola, later moving to Madison where they lived until 1918. That year they ourchased the farm northeast of Lynch and came here to live. They still live on this farm. Mr. Stenger was bom at Kickapoo, 111.. February 8. 1875. Mrs. Stenger was born at Humphrey April 8. 1882. They have 3 daughters—Mary, of Petersburg; Margaret and Irene, of Lynch; son—Francis, al so of Lynch. Mr. Stenger, known to all as “Mike,” is a staunch democrat and has always taken an active part in furthering the interests of his party. Mrs. Stenger has been an active church worker and has been chairman of the Altar society ma ny years. A. E. Sammons Dies at Amelia AMELIA— A. E. Sammons, a pioneer resident of the Amelia community, died Saturday, Jan uary 19, at his farm home south of here. He had suffered a linger ing illness. The late Mr. Sammons lived near here continuously except for a few years spent in Washing ton state. The funeral originally was scheduled Tuesday at Amelia but was postponed until todav (Thurs day). Burial will be at Chambers. Surviviors include: Widow — Bertha: son — Frank: grandchil dren—Rochelle and Duane Sam mons. Mobile X-Ray Unit at Page Today Five hundred fifty-four persons took advantage of the free chest X-ray service while the state of Nebraska’s mobile unit was at Chambers Wednesday and Thurs day, January 16 and 17. The unit moved to Inman for operations Saturday forenoon and all day Monday. Tuesday the machine was idle and Wednesday began a 2-day visit at Page, which will be terminated at 5 p.m. tonight (Thursday). Next week the unit will be in operation at Ewing Monday. 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. until noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Three hundred persons report ed for blood typing at Chambers. HANNAH STEVENS, PAGE, DIES AT 89 Funeral Rites Delayed 24 Hours Due to Storm PAGE— Funeral services for Mrs. Hannah M. Stevens, 89, wid ow of the late Prince T, Stevens, were conducted at 2 p.m., Wed nesday, January 23, at Wesleyan Methodist church here. Burial rites were delayed 24 hours be cause of severe storm conditions. Mrs. Stevens died at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 19, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Gray, following a year’s illness. She had been bedfast since April, 1951. Prior to that time she lived alone in her homD ot west pHn« , , Rev. George Francis, church pastor, and Rev. C. E. Wilcox, of the Methodist church, officiated and burial was in the Page cem etery under the direction of Big lin Brothers. The lale Hannah Maxilla Jones Stevens was bora Sep tember 20. 1862. in Jackson county, la., a daughter of James and Rebecca Eley Jones. She was reared in Iowa and married Mr. Stevens at Walker, la., on September 2, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens spent the early years of their married life on a Linn county, la., farm. The family went to Knox coun ty in 1885, settling near Walnut. They resided there until 1890 when they filed on a homestead near Middlebranch. In 1906 they disposed of their farm and moved into Page where Mr. Stevens op erated a harness mid repair shop as long as his health permitted. Mr. Stevens died in 1949. Su vivors include: Sons—Her bert O., of Atkinson: Ralph D„ of Page; Guy E., of Scottsbluff, and Lloyd E., of Lancaster, Calir.: daughters—Mrs. Blanche Darr, of Sacramento. Calif.; Mrs. Evelyn Gray, of Page; Mrs. Leila Snell, of Page; Mrs. Lula E. Townsend, of Portland, Ore., and Mrs. Florence Neilen, of Grand Is land. She also leaves a sister, Mrs. Sue Golden, of Cedar Rapids, la.; 29 grandchildren; 37 great-grand children and 4 great-great-grand 1 children. MRS. SOBOTKA DIES SUDDENLY Mother, 47, Stricken at Heme in Inman; Rites Today INMAN— Mrs. John Sobotka, 47, mother of 3, died suddenly a bout 7 o’clock Monday evening. January 21, at her home in In man. She had not been ill. Funeral services will be con ducted at 10 a.in. today (Thurs day) at St. Patrick’s Catholic church in O’Neill with Very Rev. Timothy O’Sullivan, church pas tor, officiating. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery under the di rection of Biglin Brothers. A rosary was offered at 8 o’ clock Wednesday evening at the funeral home. The late Margaret Olive Billiter Sobotka was born May 20. 1904, at Wessington. S.D.. a daughter of James and Marga ret McAllister Billiter. She married John Sobotka on May 2, 1933, at Piainview. They established their home at Inman. She became the mother of 3 sons The late Mrs. Sobotka was a member of St. Patrick’s.Altar so ciety and St. Patrick’3 church. Survivors include: Widower sons — Harvey J-, Leo E., and Harold J., all of Inman; brothers —Arthur Billiter, of Pierce; Al bert Billiter, of Meadow Grove sisters—Mrs. William Schuster, o Oakdale, and Mrs. Mary Rose, ol Eureka, Calif. r Region Battered in 30-Hour Seige . ■ <® Guests Overstay at Home of Celia Bachelor CELIA—About 30 persons ov erstayed their alloted time at the Alex Frickel farm home. They had gathered Monday for dinner. The storm developed and the guests were obliged to stay overnight. The storm continued throughout Tuesday and the guests stayed on. Wednesday morning’s clear skies sent the visitors on their way. The guest list included: Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Hoffman and children, Mr. and Mrs. Rollo Ber ry, Alex Forsythe, who lives only 3 miles away, Bob Leisge, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Poessnecker, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Krugman and children and Mr. and Mrs. Her man Schroeder, jr. According to The Frontier’s Celia correspondent, Mrs. O. A. Hammerberg, who was in touch with the Frickel home by tele phone, the larder held out very well. And that spoke verv I0r Mr. Frickel •»« a housekeeper. You see, he’s a bachelor. ■Vrvi~v iw> o-r»nnute oiorm Resume— The “Voice of The Frontier" went on the air at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday while the winds howled and brought WJAG (780 k.c.) lis teners a 5-minute resume of storm news from the O’Neill re gion. It was this sort of yeoman du ty that helped to develop thou sands of listeners for the “Voice" during the historic winter of 1948-’49. Announcer George Hammond gave the weather picture, an nounced the annulment of busses, the tardiness of trains, told of delaying the start of the Holt county basketball tourney and broadcast information regarding the 30 guests marooned at Alex Frickel’s farm home and the res cue of Mr. and Mrs. George Hart ford, who had been strand sev eral hours Monday evening. “Incidentally,” Hammond said, “high above this storm a big air liner passed over O’Neill about noon. Sort of inconsistent, this weather. No visibility on the sur face and a big plane buzzing a cross the white prairie high a bove.” He also told of a 24-hour post ponement of the Mrs. Hannah M. Stevens funeral at Page and of the death of Mrs. John Sobotka, of Inman. The late Mrs. Stevens was a charter member of the Royal Neighbors of America chapter at Page, and was a member of Wes leyan Methodist church. The body lay in state at the church from 12:30 p.m., until 2 p.m., the day of the funeral. Pallbearers were William Nie bauer, Verne Hunter, Ralph Lar son, Harry Parks, Harry Harper and Dave E. Bowen. George Hartford. Wife Strand in Auto— Mr. and Mrs. George Hartford, who had gone to the Clarence Ernst place, 4Vz miles northwest of the city, had a close brush with freezing to death Monday night. The Hartfords had helped the Ernsts butcher during the day. About 9 p.m., they decided to drive back to O’Neill. The Ernsts tried to persuade them from making the trip but the Hartfords agreed to telephone the moment they reached O’Neill. After a reasonable lime elapsed Mr. Ernst and his son in-law, Austin Searles. set out to locate the Hartfords. Their car went into a ditch. They re sumed the try by tractor. The Hartfords had travelled little more than a mile when they became strand. It was not until 11:30 p.m., and after considerable effort that the Hartfords reached the Gordon O. Harper residence at the Municipal airport. The Hartfords showed effects of their imprisonment in their strand car while the wind screeched around them. Visibility was so reduced Ernst and Searles said they were very fortunate in finding the Hart fords. PLAN SADDLE CLUB Raddle club enthusiasts will meet at the American Legion club on Wednesday evening. Jan uary 30. to discuss plans for a club. Meeting will begin at 8 o' I clock. Polio Returns I Are Lagging Officials of the Holt county chapter, National Infantile Par alysis Foundation, have been 1 concerned this week over the ‘ “poor response” in the appeal for , funds with which to fight polio. Direct mail appeals went out to rural people earlier in the month but the response todate b.ts been c'sappointing, one of ficial explained. The march of dimes fund-rais- ' ing campaign continues through — i h» (• runner i'liun, .. . . . »,ng j Mrs. Ankney ...» constant booster. tht; remainder of the month. Treatment of 2 polio cases, both adults, is being financed by Holt county chapter funds. Mrs. Ev erett Gorgen, of Ewing, is a pa tient at St. Francis hospital, Grand Island. Earlier she was hospitalized in Omaha. Mrs. C. D. Ankney, wife of St. Paul’s Lutheran church pas tor at Chambers, is convalescing from an attack in the falL The Ankneys asked the Holt chapter to make public the fact that 100 percent of the medical expense connected with Mrs. Ankney’s polio has been absorb ed with chapter funds. (Continued on page 8) 4 Registered Cattle Sale: on Calendar Four legistered livestock sales are on The Frontier’s auction cal endar. In addition, there is a closeout of farm personal proper ty in Holt county and a combina tion closeout of real estate an<’ personal property in Boyd coun ty. The calendar: I Monday, January 28: Harolo Dorr, residing 216 miles north and 116 miles east of Page, per sonal property closeout, includ ing 6 head of cattle, farm ma chinery and some household goods. (See advertisement on Dage 6.) Buv Wanser, auctioneer, Farmers State Bank, Ewing clerk. Saturday, February 2: Annual spring sale Holt County Hereford Breeders’ association, O’Neill, 62 registered ITerefords. Ft r catalog writ! : James W. Rooney, secre tary. O’Neill. Friday, February 8: Sale of 176-acres of Boyd county land, adjoining northwest edge of Spencer: Mrs. Hans Mathisen and John Mathisen, owners; also per sonal property including 10 head of cattle, 3 horses, complete line of farm machinery, household goods. Thorin-Reynoldson Auc tion Service, O’Neill, is handling the sale. (See advertisement in January 31 issue of The Fron tier.) Tuesday, February 5: Annual sale of the Holt County Aberdeen Angus Breeders’ association, O’ Neill, 73 registered An.gus. For catalog address: Freeman L. Knight, secretary, O’Neill. Saturday, February 23: North Central Nebraska Hereford Breeders’ association, Bassett, 55 registered Herefords. For cata log address: Tug Phillips, secro taorv, Bassett. Friday, March 7: Niobrara Va. ley Hereford Breeders’ associa tion. Butte, 29 registered Here fords. For catalog address: Walt er G Sire, secretary, Butte. Catalogs in connection with all 4 registered stock sales have been produced or are in production in The Frontier’s printing depart ment. All of the sales receive The Frontier’s “package” publici ty. including newspaper,** radio and handbill advertising. Mercury Skids to 10 Below During Fierce Storm The weatherman unleashed a urious 30-hour attack which be fan late Monday afternoon and continued until late Tuesday light. Strong northwesterly vinds bearing some snow and iubzero temperatures sent the ritizenry reeling under the on ilaught. Winds mounted up tn 65 and 70 mles per hour Monday night and naintained a 40 miles per hour :lip throughout most of Tuesday. Luckily little more than a trace of snow fell during the seige. officially measuring .3 of an inch in precipitation. Western Nebraska and South Dakota received an avalanche at mow, tying up travel and adding misery to weather-beaten citizens who already had experienced a hard winter. ViolUlllly Uiiougheui Um ctorra ranged from 25 feet up to a maud mum of 100 yards. Severity of the storm forced all traffic, save some rail transporta tion, to grind to a halt. All busses in and out of O’Neil] late Monday and all day Tuesday were annulled. Bus service waa resumed Wednesday morning. North Western mainline mail pasenger trains were plying be tween Omaha and Long Pine many hours late. Traffic was tied up west of Long Pine in the Cody vicinity. Trains were turning around at Long Pine instead of Chadron. Tuesday morning's easlbound train 14. due out of O'Neill at 12:16 a.m., ran 9 hours late, Wednesday morning"s east bound train was 3 hours late. Wednesday morning's east westbound mainliner, due out of O'Neill at 6:46 a.ixn, was 5 hours 10 minutes late. A Burlington train left Ferry Junction, near South Sioux City, on schedule Wednesday morning bound for O’Neill. It was the “Burl’’ that was tied up for 5 weeks during the now famous Recurring Blizzards of 1948-’49, when a locomotive lay on its side in a snowbank several miles east of O’Neill. • This week’s storm followed on the heels of a January thaw. Four days last week — Wednesday Thursday, Friday and Saturday^ e mercury climbed above the freezing mark. When the cold wave set in streets became verit able sheets of ice. Most major highways in the O’ Neill region were blown free of snow. No snow removal equipment was dispatched during t h •! storm, but personnel and equip ment were out early Wednes day and reported all highways open. Some county roads, how ever. are snow-choked. Lowest temperature during the ordeal was a 10-below-zero read ing early Wednesday. The weath er bureau had warned the mer cury might dip to 15 below. No loss of life or no significant livestock losses were reported in the O’Neill region. Classes were held Wednesday it both O’Neill public school and ;t. Mary’s academy. No school was held Tuesday in O’Neill be •ause of the storm. There was no school Tuesday it Page because of the weather. The week’s weather summary, based on 24-hour periods ending at 5 p.m., daily, follows: Hi Lo Prec. January 16 - 38 23 January 17-40 9 January 18 —_ 44 21 January 19 - 38 27 .13 January 20 - 29 1 January 21 - 30 11 January 22-13 -4 .30 Tourney Start Delayed by Storm— The start of the 16th annual HoU county high school basket ball tournament was delayed 31 hours due to the storm. The tpur ney was to have started Tuesday evening. Instead the Tuesday night games were played Wed nesday night and so on through the week. The tourney will be climaxed Saturday night instead of Friday night. Tune in “The Voice of f Frontier.” Mon., Wed., and 9:45 a.m., WJAG (780 kc.) 7