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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 29, 1954)
Holt County Fair Issue "Voice of The Frontier" III IftfL^ Twenty-Eightc JUT pr Mon. — We<L — Sat SECTION ONE l 9:45 A.M. — 780 h.c. 2 TO 12 Volume 74.—Number 13. O Neill, Nebraska, Thursday, July 29, 1934. Seven Cents Sebastian Pongraiz (left) and George . . . reunite on rail sta tion platform.—The Frontier Photo. Carl T. Friedrich Burial at Spencer Native of Germany; in Holt 21 Years SPENCER— Funeral services for Carl Theodore Friedrich, 86, v;ho died Friday, July 23, at Sa cred Heart hospital in Lynch, were conducted at 2 p.m., Mon day, July 26, from the Methodist church in Spencer. Burial was in Union cemetery. Rev. Marjorie Johnson, church pastor, officiated. Music was furnished by a quartette composed of M r s. Ralph Black, Mrs. Harold Haun, Donald Black and Richard Black. The piano accompanist was Mrs. Keith Fellers of Farmington, N.M. , Pallbearers were Ralph Black, Robert Hamilton, Paul Schmidt, Blair Dickey, Russell Angus and Gayle Couch. Carl Theodore Friedrich was born at Groschonau. Saxony, Germany, November 17, 1867. He came to the United States with his parents in 1879 and lived at Columbus. He was confirmed in the Missouri Synod Lutheran church at Columbus and later joined the Presbyterian church at Creston. He married Tonia A. Breih ouwer January 4. 1900, in Hol land. To them seven children were born. In March. 1901, the family set tled in Holt county where they lived for 21 years. They then moved to Boyd county where they lived since. He was preceded in death by a son, Theodore, who died in 1944. Survival's include; Widow; daughter*—Mrs. George Hudson of Pullman, Wash., and Mrs. Carl A. Hagelin of Nallihan, Turkey; sons — Orchard and Ralph, both of Spencer, Allen of Philipsburg, Mont., and Harry of Sedro Woolley, Wash.; sisters— Mrs. E. M. Johnson of Albion and Mrs. Lena Swartz of Hum phrey; brothers—Ernest of San Bruno, Calif., and Otto of New man Grove; 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Murdered Farmer’s Widow Born, Reared in Page Locality PAGE — Wendell Jones, a farmer near Bloomfield, la., who on Sunday was shot and killed by robbers, was the husband of the former Laura Van Connet. She was born and reared in ihe Page community. Mrs. Jones is a niece of Rollie and Rav Snell of Page and Mrs. Dave Pollock of the Riverside community near Ewing. Mr. Jones was murdered in his home in southern Iowa and the two men escaped. presumably into Missouri. Both were later captured ‘Bud’ Cole Named Wagener Chairman EMMET — G. Owen (“Bud”) Cole, Emmet hay and livestock dealer, has been named Holt county chairman of the Wagener fcr-governor movement. Mr. Cole is actively working the county in behalf of Frederick H. Wag ener of Lincoln, who is seeking the republican nominaiton for governor in the primary election August 10. Coynes Sailing Aug. 2 for Europe Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Coyne left Sunday for Chicago, 111., and New York City. They will sail fiom New York Monday, August 2, for Europe. They plan to be gone several weeks and will include Ireland on their itinerary. KIN IS KILLED EMMET—Mrs. Cecil McMillan teceived word on Friday morning of the death cf her nephew, Har old Krueger of Duncan, who was killed in a tractor accident while crossing the Platte river last Thursday. TEACHER SIGNED PAGE—Stanley Bross of Gur ley has been elected to teach mathematics and science in the Page school. Mr. and Mrs. Bross will reside in the Alton Brad dock residence in east Page when they move here. Return to California— Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ross and sons of Weaverville, Calif., who have been visiting Mr. Ross’ mother, Mrs. Martha Ross, and Mrs. Ross’ father, M. A. Schel kopf, will return home today (Thursday!. Visitor Surprised / Only Few People Understand German When Sebastian Pongratz ar rived from Germany a fortnight ago, he and his older brother, George, who lives northeast of Emmet, were reunited on a rail platform in O’Neill. Sebastian, now 62, was only 2-years-old when George left the 35-acre family farm in Bavaria in 1892 to come to the United States. George, who was 11 at the time, eamfe with an aunt. A short time later their mother died and rheir father, who was a weaver of linen as well as a small-scale farmer, reared the family as best he could. George and two sisters came to the U.S. Sebastian stayed behind, fcught with his coun trymen during World War I, end raised two children. Eight een months ago his wife died. George, who is a prosperous Holt county farmer, long has yearned for a trip to the old country. With his “kid brother”, Sebastian, the only remaining member of the immediate family still living in Germany, George decided to help arrange for Se bastian’s visit to America. Sebastian left the Bavarian 1 town of Geratskirchen, near Mu inch, in late June. He sailed the 29th from Bremen aboard the Swedish liner Gripsholm, which was a Ited Cross ship during World War II. and he arrived in New York City July 10. The visitor, who speaks no English, was dumbfounded to find relatively few people able to understand German. At the rail platform the two embraced while other kin looked cn. Sebastian busily helps George with the chores and performs odd jobs. He confidently expects to finish his stay by October 6—the Grisholm’s sailing date. His vis itor’s visa would entitle him to stay up io twd years if he wished. Sunday the two brothers will visit their sisters—Mrs. Michael Hausland of Plattsmouth, who has been in the U.S. 15 years, and Sister M. Gerona, who is a nun stationed at St. Francis hos ' pital, Grand Island. Heal 'Unbearable' for Armsteads— EWING- -Maj. and Mrs. Seth Armstead and family of Anchor age, Alaska, are visiting at the home of her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Lydon, near Ewing. * They are enroute to Montgom ery, Ala., and will visit friends and relatives in W'est Point, Fre mont and Omaha before going to Florida where another sister lives. ! The Armsteads have been in Alaska the past 2l/z years and Nebraska’s current heat wave was almost “unbearable” for them. GRADER CRUSHES MAN NELIGH—A Neligh man wras crushed to death between two heavy vehicles in a parking lot for highwav construction equip ment 12 miles north of Kearney. Killed instantly was Leonard D. Muckey, 53, who w*as trying to get the engine of a road grader started by pushing it with a truck. 'Miss O’Neill’ Miss Vavonne Miller (above), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil liam (“BiU”) Miller, was the winner of the American Le gion-sponsored “Miss O’Neill” beauty contest held Saturday evening at the Legion ball room. Miss Miller will repre sent O’Neill in the hay days beauty pageant at Atkinson. Winner of the hay queen laur els will receive an all-expense trip to Hollywood, Calif. Si monson post 93 awarded Miss Miller $25 for capturing the “Miss O’Neill” honor. Others entered were the Misses Joan ne Kallhoff. Verle Ralya, Joan Langan and Louanne Fritton. Hay days dates are August 23-24. Work on 20 Delayed by Moisture Free Water Standing in Grade Is Reason for Quitting Work Moisture “trapped” in the new U.S. highway 20 grade west of F.'mmet has caused work to be temporarily suspended and w'ill delay hard-surfacing of the new route, which parallels for four miles the old road. J. M. Crook of Ainsworth, di vision engineer for the depart ment of roads and irrigation, of fers this explanation for the un usual situation: “This job originally was plan I n£d so that material would be hauled from the pits at each end cf the job to provide sandy ma j terials in the grade rather than i to make deep excavations along the road and thereby use silty j materials. “The sandy material was ex cavated and placed in the grade ; with the moisture content within I ihe limits provided in our speci S fications. During the time of the grading, there was a considerable amount of rain and it now ap i pears that moisture was trapped over and above Jhat naturally contained in the soil. This mois ture has not dissipated itself throughout the sand as would normally be expected. "Examination of the road way will show that free water stands in holes bored in the grade. This water quite fre quently is within two inches of i the surface of the existing grade, at the same time, holes bored in natural ground along the side of the fill are dry for depths of approximately three feet. “The contractor made several attempts to dry out the surface of the grade and was successful. He placed the oil mat over the top of the dried layer and upon applying the rollers to compact the oil mat a pumping mat re sulted which raised the water from below the layer that had been dried out to the area imme diately beneath the mat. It be came unstable and the mat then broke in small areas three to five inches across. This obvious ly is not satisfactory construc tion,” the district engineer told The Frontier. “Upon the discovery of this situation our department author ized the contractor to suspend work until between the first and the middle of August. It is ex pected that during this time a considerable amount of drying might occur in the grade and also it is desired to have suf ficient time to make capillary tests and to do some other lab oratory work cm the samples ex tracted from the sub-grade. "At this dale we do not have any solution at hand. We are certain, however, that the wa ter exists in about 4,000 feet of the grade; that it will have to be dissipated before a mat can be placed, and we are not at this time certain of the method which will be used to dry the material. “We expect to complete the work this year, at least on a! temporary basis. We have had another location in which such a situation occurred and it was dried out satisfactorily,” Crook concluded Many persons who frequently travel the route and others resid ing in the neighborhood were skeptical about the plan from the beginning. The relocated route is intended to straighten the highway, but to achieve this the new grade is being built through lowlands and tree clearings. The new grade starts on a hilltop one-fourth of a mile east of Emmet and rejoins the estab lished route at a point west of fhe Beckwith place, a distance of four miles. New 281 Mat Is Open to Travel— The five-mile section of U.S. highway 231, extending north ward from the junction with highway 20 (O’Neill drive-in theater corner), this week was opened for traffic. An armor coat remains to be added before the section will be considered finished. Meanwhile, the state highway department will be accepting bids today (Thursday) in con nection with 7.2 miles of hard (Continued on page 6) STATION CLOSES PAGE— The Burlington rail road, with permission of the state railway commission, has closed the depot at Page and Agent William Howell, who has served there more than 23 years, is being transferred to Plain view. A growing family . . . Billy Joe, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Pruss, Johnny Bob, Mary Elizabeth (on her father's lap) and Jean Marie (on her mother's lap).—Th Frontier Photo. *★* ★★★ ★★ ★ 4 Adopted Children in Pruss Family When a tiny auburn - haired bundle named Jean Marie, age 4-months, arrived Monday, July 26, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Prus.s, she became the fourth addition to the family since 1946 via the orphanage route. Little Jean Marie was oblivi ous to all the fuss when The Frontier’s cameraman - reporter called — and there was activity aplenty. Doting relatives and solicitous neighbors had con verged for the reception. Not every day is a little or phan girl lucky enough to land a home where she's welcomed and wanted; a home in which i two new-found brothers and ! one newl/-acquired sister all are adopted. The Pruss family formerly re sided on East Fremont street, hut the growing family forced them out of their original home, which they had built new. About a year ago they moved to the dwelling on East Benton street formerly known as the Seth No ble residence. As the family grows the hous ing requirements increase. The upstairs is being finished off now. “Gotta have room for these kids,” explains Papa Pruss. The first-comer was William Joseph, who is known about town as Billy Joe. He was born December 25, 1945, and acquired the name of Pruss in October, 1946. A year later—in October, 1947 —there came along John Robert, whose affectionate name is John ny Bob. He was born June 11, 1947. A pretty little girl, Mary Elizabeth, arrived at Christmas time. 1952. She had been born nine months before — on March —6, 1952. Jean Marie was born March 26, 1954. The parents, two broth ers ar*J one sister went to Oma ha to greet her. All of the children have brown eyes and they're so well matched one could easily be lieve them to be blood broth ers and sisters. When the Pruss family show ed up at the St. James orphan age in Omaha to welcome Jean Marie, it was the first opportun ity for the orphanage personnel to reunite with Billy Joe, John ny Bob and Mary Elizabeth. The children were so young when they were a part of the St. James family they, natural ly, had no recollection of the place But the nuns remembered the children. Mrs. Pruss, upon whom falls the big burden of four busy chil dren, views the growing family philosophically: “Anything that’s worthwhile in this world means work. But with the children, we don’t think of the work. We are so happy to get them for the plea sure we will get out of raising them.” Out-of-T owners Here for Rites Among the out - of - towners here to attend the funeral of J. P. Protivinsky, 73, retired O’Neill grocer and former flour mill op erator at Stanton, Tilden and Rushville, were: John H. Protivinsky of Sioux Palls, S.D., a son; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Johnson and family of Bud Thomas of North Platte Sioux Falls, S.D. (Mrs. Johnson is a daughter); Mr. and Mrs. (Mrs. Thomas is a daughter). Other included Mrs. Tressie Crosby of Omaha, a sister; Mrs. Crosby’s daughter; Frank Cer ny, an uncle, and members of his family from Spencer and Bu+te; R. L Bauman of Worland, Wyo., a brother-in-law; also Mrs. Art Luken and Dave Wier enga, all of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. William Morgan and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wil liam Ulrich, Mrs. Anna Zamfel ler and son, Miss Mabelle Bau man, Miss Bea Morgan, Arthur Miller, Mrs. Claude Brewer, all of the Atkinson and Stuart com munities; also Mrs. Ralph Bau man ^nd family of Big Rapids, Mich. Old Settlers’ Picnic August 3 The 54th annual north Holt county old settlers’ picnic will be held at the Elmer DeVall grove, 17 miles north of O’Neill on U.S. highway 281, 3 miles east and 1 Vz miles south, on Tuesday, August 3. Entertainment will include baseball, sports, stock car ex hibition race and a bowery dance. Axel Borg is president of the association: Mrs. George Nelson, secretary. Mrs. Ross Hostess— Mrs. Martha Ross, Mrs. Alfred Ross and Mrs. Delane Jackson at tended a party at the Oliver Ross home on Tuesday evening. O’Neill Soldier to Raise Flag at Asbury Moseman . . . engineer. 100 Miles REA Line Contracted A Des Moines, la., construction firm Wednesday was awarded a contract for 10-odd miles of additional rural electrification line building by the Niobrara Valley Electric Membership cor poration board of directors. The cost is approximately $105,000. The. line extensions, known as contract D-5, may be built in five counties served by the co operative — Holt and Boyd and portions of Garfield, Wheeler and Knox. All extensions will be relative ly short ones, a spokesman said, to provide REA service to appli cants. TRAIN IS TARDY The westbound mainline pass enger-mail train on the Chicago & North Western railroad reach ed O'Neill 90 minutes late Wed nesday morning. The train was delayed in leaving Omaha be cause of several coaches o f troops enroute to Sturgis, S. D. WEATHER SUMMARY Hi Lo Prec. Julv 22_ 84 58 .60 July 23_ 82 51 July 24_ 87 49 July 25_91 59 Julv 26_ 92 65 Julv 27_ 95 69 T July 28_89 62 XNeorasxa wax De represented Saturday in the seventh annual ■‘Salute to the States’ ceremony at Asbury Park. N.J., by Army Pfc. Paul W. Moseman, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Mose man, sr. of O’Neill. The Cornhusker representa tive in the Asbury ceremony is now serving with the army signal corps at nearby Ft. Monmouth, N.J. Private Moseman was gradu ated from O’Neill high school" in 1948 and then entered the Uni-f versity of Nebraska college of electrical engineering. He was graduated from the university in 1953 and worked for a short lime for the Collins Radio Lab oratories at Cedar Rapids, la., before entering the service. Re cently he returned after complet ing nine months of overseas duty for the signal corps. Selection of Moseman to raise the flag at Asbury in behalf of the commonwealth of Nebraska was announced Tuesday by Gov. Robert Crosby in Lincoln. Moseman spent most of June on leave here with his parents. The young man expects to re join the Cedar Rapids firm upon his separation from the service. New Postmaster’s Commission Arrives; McDermott Quits The formal commission ap pointing Tra H. Moss as O’Neill’s new postmaster arrived Monday, but the installation date has not yet been fixed. There is specu lation, he will be installed on August 1. Mrs. Helen Sullivan has been ac'ing postmaster. Meanwhile, on Monday, Aug ust 2, A1 Fritton will resume carrying mail on the combination route formerly designated as Meek and Phoenix individual routes. The combined routes have been serviced the past 3x/£ weeks bv Dominick McDermott, who was low bidder on the 105 mile merged circuit. McDermott asked to be relieved. Fritton, a veteran carrier, was awarded the contract when bids were sought a second time. To West Virginia— Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Walt ers and family expect to leave Friday for Columbus, O., where they will visit their son and brother, A/3c A. H. Walters. They will also visit Niagara Falls, N.Y.. and West Virginia. They will be gone about three weeks. BALLOTING LIGHT Voting was “very light” in Holt county Friday in connec tion with the voting for wheat marketing quota controls. Of 164 eligible wheat growers, only 18 voted in favor of the controls while 15 cast their votes against. 1 6-Page Fair Supplement This Issue This issue of The Frontier contains a 16-page Holt county fair premium list supplement in tabloid size. It is a guide for fair exhibit ors and also contains numerous features and stories concern ing the 1954 Holt county fair, which will be held at Cham bers August 16-19. Important fair information not included in the supple ment concerns the announce ment the Chambers Commer cial club will provide five tro phies for 4-H club winners and Wink’s Livestock Supply will award a show halter and stick. May McGowan, 81, Expires at Elgin Rites Wednesday at Paddock Union Miss Mav McGowan, 81, re tired O’Neill farm woman, died at 2:30 s.m.. Monday, July 26, at a rest home in Elgin. The late Miss McGowan had been in failing health for several years. Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 28. in Paddock Union church, north of O’Neill, and burial was in the McGowan family ceme tery under the direction of Big lin’s. Rev. J. LaVeVrne Jay of O’ Neill, northeast Nebraska district superintendent of the Methodist church, officiated. Pallbearers were Clyde Bow den, Frank Nelson, George Han sen, Axel Borg, Elmer DeVall and George Nelson. Miss McGowan was bom Feb ruary 25, 1873, in Minnesota. Her parents were the late George and Mahala Goodfellow McGowan. Survivors include; Half-broth er—William Wadsworth of Spi cer, Minn.; half-sister — Ethel Bond of Tacoma, Wash.; nieces— Florence Schultz of O’Neill and Ethel Wells of Sioux City. Harrington Speaks at Fremont— Mrs. John Harrington and daughter, Marlene, have return ed from Chicago, 111., where they had been visiting. Mr. Harring ton returned with them to spend a few days in O’Neill. Mr. Hariington returned to Chicago via Fremont where he addressed an open meeting sponsored by the Chicago and North Western Woman’s club. He discussed the railroad retirement act and proposed amendments now before the congress of the United States. Lightning Blamed For Knocking Out Pumping Controls City Water Supt. Don R. Douglass reported early Wed nesday the automatic switches, which control O’Neill’s three major water pumping units 1% miles south of the city, had been knocxed out, presumably by lightning. Douglass said it couldn’t be determined whether the mer cury controls were kayoed by a bolt of lightning or by over load. In acy event, the incident raised hohb with municipal water department operations between Tuesday and Wednes day evenings. Mr. Douglass appealed for water conservation to “Voice of The Frontier” listeners Wed nesday morning while repairs were being made. The auto matic controls were back in operation by 5:30 p.m., Wed nesday. Douglass explained that wa ter pressui e was very low in the city while the repairs were being made—a bad situation in the event of fire. Douglass said the controls were functioning Tuesday mom when he visited the pump houses and wells south of the city, along U S. highway 381. The middle one houses the mercury controls. The fourth well in the muny water system is located at the fire station. It is regarded as the “old well” and water pumping equipment there is not automatically controlled. LAKE IS PACKED ROYAL—One hundred twen ty-five persons were on hand for the formal opening of Grove’s lake, north of Royal, early Sat urday. Those taking to boats in the new state-owned recreation spot guickly landed their trout limit. The road to the area is not finished. People were on hand from Nebraska, Iowa and Illi nois. Californians Here— Last Thursday and Friday guests of the J. B. Grady family were Mr. and Mrs. David Marr of Redding. Calif. Wallinger Rites Held at Stuart o Longtime Resident of County Leaves 83 Living Descendants STUART—Mrs. Grace Wallin ger, 84, longtime resident of the Stuart community, died at 4 p.m., Saturday, July 24, following an illness of one year. About a year ago she suomitted to major sur- o gery and never fully recovered. She died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Aloys Kaup. A rosary was offered Monday evening at the Seger mortuary in Atkinson. Funeral services were con ducted at 10 aun.. Tuesday, July 27, from St. Boniface Catholic church in Stuart. Bur ial was in the St. Boniface cemetery. Rev. A. J. Paschang officiated and six grandsons acted as pall bearers. The late Mrs. Wallinger was born March 17, 1870, at Gra fenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany. Iler maiden name was Grace Babl. At the age of 16 she came to the United States and lived for several years at Plattsmouth. In 1887 she married Anton Wallin ger at Plattsmouth. The Wallingers came to the Stuart community in 1904 and lived on a farm two miles south of Stuart. Mr. Wallinger died about 10 years ago. Survivors include Daughters— Mrs. Aloys (Bertha) Kaup, Mrs. Henry (Martha) Baum, Mrs. Fer dinand (Rose) Kaup and Mrs. Joseph (Cecelia) Kaup, jr., all of Stuart; ions — George and Jo seph Wallinger, both of Stuart; brother — Aloys Babl of New port; 33 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren. Her living descendents total 83. One son, John, and one daugh ter, Mrs. Fred (Mary) Gobel, preceded their mother in death. Hoffman Rites Held at Spencer SPENCER—William Hoffman, 77, Spencer resident, died Sun day, July 25, enroute by car to the Lynch hospital. Mr. Hoffman became ill early that morning. He died in the presence of his 0 wife and his neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Zieh, in whose car he was being taken to the hos pital. The late Mr. Hoffman farmed for many years near Gross. He had been living in retirement in Spencer. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman had planned to go to Plainview for dinner Sunday. Funeral services were con ducted Wednesday, July 28, at 2 p.m., from the Methodist church with Rev. Marjorie John son officiating. Burial was in the Spencer cemetery. Survivors include; Widow; two sons and eight daughters. City Purchases Street - Sweeper The O’Neil city council last weekend entered into a lease rental-purchase agreement with the Austin-Western Co., of Ne braska for the purchase of a me chanical street - sweeping ma chine. The purchase price was $8,500 —to be paid in nine payments of $900 each. Donkey Rodeo Is Scheduled Aug. 2 A donkey rodeo will be staged under the lights at the O’Neill Saddle club arena at 8:30 p.m., on Monday, August 2. The pro ducer is Cliff Dunham of Cres cent. Okl3. O’Neill personalities will at tempt to ride the donkeys in a wild fun scramble. LICENSE SUSPENDED Hans P. Stoltenburg, jr., of Burton has had his airplane pi lot’s license suspended for six months by the Nebraska depart ment of aeronautics and the civil aeronautics administration. The suspension was an oiitgrowth of low - flying complaints filed against Stoltenburg during grouse season, according to Fred Salak of O’Neill, state game conservationist. POOL TO CLOSE The O’Neill municipal swim ming pool will be closed to the general public Friday eyening, July 30. A Methodist group fel lowship from Bassett is bringing a crowd here for an evening of entertainment.
