North-Central Nebraska’s BIG Newspaper
Volume 74.—Number 15. O Neill, Nebr., Thursday, August 12, 1954. Seven Cents
STATE HIST SOC xxx
Rohrer . . . improvised mobile chair for newly-trained shoe
repairman.—The Fontier Photo.
★ ★ * ★ ★ ★
Overcomes Handicap;
Launches Shoe Shop
•-? -
Takes Dim View
of Bright Lights
Parole Violator in
100-MPH Escape
Holt county authorities are
looking for Bill Beiermann, 20,
v ho a few months ago was re
leased from the Nebraska pen
itentiary. Beiermann is being
sought for violation of a parole
and for theft of two automobiles.
Beiertnann, apparently, hit
north Nebraska during the week
end, driving a car stolen from L.
F. McCord of Billings, Mont. Au
thorities believe he stopped at
the Dean fiowse place at Bassett
and helped himself to three fire
arms (including two loaded ri
fles), insurance papers and a
movie camera, which bore
llowse’s name.
On *he open highway near At
kinsoi at night, Beiermann slip
ped up behind State Game Ward-'
en Fred Salak of O’Neill, switch
ing his lights off-and-on bright
in Salak's rear view mirror, and
finally passed the warden.
Salak started pursuit and
flashed his red signal, intend
ing to reprimand the passing
motorist for discourteous blink
ing of his lights.
The situation turned into a
100-nules-per-hour chase into O’
Neill. Beiermann finally crossed
the railroad tracks in the resi
dential section and abandoned
the car stolen in Montana and
containing the tell-tale loot. He
hit for the tall weeds.
Salak went for help to comb
the area and, later, Beiermann
helped himself to a 1952 Chevro
let grey club coupe, belonging
to Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Nelson of
Sarles, N.D. The car was parked
in front of the Woodrow Melena
residence on Clay street. The
Nelsons were visiting the Me
lenas.
Holt County Sheriff Leo
Tomj ack traced Beiermann
through the Platte county sher
iff at Columbus, who told Tom
jack Beiermann was wanted
for parole violation there and
for bad checks issued in Mad
ison county.
Beitrmann’s wife lives at Mad
ison. The couple recently lost a
baby. . . ,
Tne investigation was bogged
down w'hen McCord could not
(Continued on page 6)
William Hartland
Succumbs at Lynch
REDBIRD— Funeral services
will be conducted at 2 p.m., to
day (Thursday) for William H
Hartland, 71, Redbird resident
who died about 10:30 o’clock
Sunday evening, August 8, in Sa
cred Heart hospital at Lynch.
He had been in failing health
for several years and had pre
vk rsly been hospitalized at Om
aha. He entered the Lynch hos
pital July 26. .
Orvin Taylor will be speake:
at the funeral rites to be hel<
in the Lynch American Legioi
auditorium. Burial will be in th<
Scottville cemetery.
The late Mr. Hartland wa
born at Chelsea April 23, 1883
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C
Hartland. He was reared in Hoi
county. On April 23, 1906, h<
married Martha Mellor of Red
bird. They became the parent:
of three sons and five daughters
Survivors include): Widow
sens — Lloyd of Winner, S.D.
(Flovd of Niobrara; Orval o
V/eaverville, Calif.; daughters —
Mrs. Alice Whetham of Niobra
ra Mrs. Hazel Crawford of Car
ter, S.D.; Mrs. Ethel Schmidt o
,rttk.inson; Mrs. Virgie Ressel o
Marshall, Tex; 28 grandchildren
two brothers; twro sisters.
One infant daughter died Julj
1, 1919.
A 60-year-old O’Neill man,
badly crippled by the dread dis
ease of polio back in 1919, Fri
day embarks on a new venture.
Henry E. Rohrer, who wears
a heavy brace up to his hips and
is paralyzed from the hips down,
is opening a shoe repair shop in
West O’Neill in the new Asimus
building, sandwiched between
the Hotel O’Neill and Nu-Way
cafe.
You might say this is a tri
umphant day for little Mr. Rohr
er, who has known nothing but
misery, crutches and wheelchairs
for 35 years.
Mr. Rohrer and his wife, Iva,
farmed for a number of years in
Knox county and lived in O’Neill
during the 1930’s and early ’40’s.
ne was the breadwinner here
because of nenry s predicament.
Henry tried to do auto re
pairing but he needed a helper
at his side constantly in order
to accomplish very much. This
complicated matters.
During the middle and late
’40’s, the Rohrers resided in
Creighton, moving back to O’
Neill five years ago to be near
their daughter, Mrs. Don Clyde.
One day another physically
handicapped O’Neillite, Ralph
Walker, who is blind, suggested
to Mr. Rohrer that he go to Mil
ford and investigate possibilities
at the Nebraska State Trade
school. In a few weeks, he was
installed as a student there. The
details were worked out by Ro
land Lord of Norfolk, district su
pervisor for the Nebraska state
board of vocational education
(rehabilitation department).
The Rohrers resided in a dorm
itory where she performed house
keeping jobs to offset the cost
of board and' room. Henry was
one in a class of five studying
shoe mending—taught by an in
structor, who, like the oldest
member of the class, is a cripple.
In fact, half of the students are
physically handicapped.
The fellows in the machine
shop built Mr. Rohrer a mobile
cnair wiin unr
shop in view, starting from a
motorcycle seat. The chair, which
whirls around, is built up from
grooved rollers which ride in a
track. The track parallels the
bank of machines on one side
and the counter on the other.
Thus, Mr. Rohrer can scoot up
and-down the room doing his
work and caring for his custom
ers without leaving his custom
built chair.
An impressive layout of shoe
repair machinery was moved
in. The counter, built by
fledgling tradesmen in the Mil
ford carpenter shop, was haul
ed to O'Neill—in a slate-own
ed truck — and Friday Mr.
Rohrer will open the shop for
business.
Thanks to the Milford school
and the rehabilitation agency, he
hopes to fashion out a living for
himself and his wife, and, de
spite a formidable handicap, to
again become self-sustaining. His
course lasted 10 months and on
June 17 he was graduated. Mrs.
Clyde was on hand to watch her
father get his diploma. In Octo
ber, 1952, she was stricken with
polio, but, thanks to modern sci
ence and early treatment, she
weathered the attack very well.
Mr. Rohrer says he has been
[ trained to build up orthopedic
! shoes for persons who need shoe
. corrections. “All you have to
have is a doctor’s prescription,”
. he explains with a grin.
Mr. Rohrer and his wife have
’ a comfortable apartment in the
same building.
Life is just beginning for
Mr. Rohrer, judging from his
last-minute activity and ex
citement in preparation for
Friday's grand opening.
r ’The first fellow in my new
‘ shop I hope is Ralph Walker. He
wants to come down and ‘Braille’
this layout. In other words, “look’
; is over—with his hands.”
Attend Picnic—
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Halva
metor Sunday to Niobrara park to
j take in the farmers union picnic.
Vet Auto
Dealer Is
Stricken
Charles Gonderinger
Rites Held Tuesday;
Born Near Atkinson
ATKINSON—Charles N. Gon
deringer, 67, veteran Atkinson
automobile dealer and a life
long resident of Holt county,
twice Saturday morning, August
7, was stricken with heart attacks
—the second attack proving fa
tal.
He died about 10:30 a.m., in
Atkinson Memorial hospital. He
was conscious when taken to the
hospital.
Funeral services were con
ducted at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Aug
ust 8, from St. Joseph’s Catholic
church. Burial' was in St. Jo
seph’s cemetery.
The late Mr. Gonderinger
was born August 15, 1886, on
a farm about four miles west
of Atkinson.
His parents were pioneer' set
tlers in western Holt county.
The late Mr. Gonderinger
farmed until 1919, when he mov
ed into Atkinson. For a time he
was a grain and livestock deal
er.
In 1927 he launched the Gon
ciennger Motor Co., one of north
east-Nebraska’s best-known Hud
son dealerships, and was active
in the business until his death.
For 20 years he was a member of
the city council.
On October 15, 1907, he mar
ried Josephine Coufal of Atkin
son. They became the parents
cf two sons.
Survivors include: Widow—Jo
sephine; sons — Norman of O’
Neill and Gerald of Atkinson,
who has been associated with
his father in the automobile bus
iness; brother—Peter of Atkin
son; sister—Mrs. Mary Meals of
Atkinson; seven grandchildren.
A rosary was offered Monday
evening at the Seger funeral
home.
All Roads Lead
to ’54 Holt Fair
CHAMBERS — All roads in
Holt county will lead to the fair
grounds at Chambers where on
Monday, August 16, the 62nd
annual exposition will get under
way. President Lloyd Gleed of
th.e Holt County Agricultural so
ciety predicts a “banner year’’
for the traditional fair at Cham
bers.
Monday will be entry day;
Tuesday, judging day; Wenes
aay and Thursday, entertain
ment days. Features of the enter
tainment will be a rodeo both
Wednesday and Thursday eve
nings under the lights.
See advertisement on page 5
for program details.)
Henry Wood, who is livestock
superintendent, points out there
will be one general saddle horse
open-class this year. All saddle
horse entries will compete for
prize money in being judged for
conformation and performance.
UNDERGOES SURGERY
ATKINSON—Mrs. R. E. Chace
is improving after submitting to
surgery in the Atkinson Memor
ial hospital.
Gonderinger . . . Atkinson
city official 20 years.
Mrs. Flora Bright,
Long 111, Expires
Funeral Held Sunday
at Orchard
ORCHARD— Funeral services
were conducted Sunday, August
ii, from the United' Brethren
church in Orchard for Mrs. Flora
Bright, 74, an Orchard resident
for many years.
The late Mrs. Bright was born
October 4, 1879, at Walnut and
died early Friday morning, Aug
ust 6, in a Norfolk hospital, fol
lowing a lingering illness.
She wras married October 4,
1897, to Harry J. Bright at O’
Neill and lived her entire life in
the Venus and Orchard com
munities with the exception of
three years spent at O’Neill.
For many years, the Brights
operated the Venus postoffice
and store and later purchased
a store in Orchard, which Mrs.
Bright managed as long as her
health permitted.
She was preceded in death by
her husband, who died in Jan
uary, 1941; also by three broth
ers and one sister.
Survivors include: Sons—Ra
mon of O’Neill; E. E. Bright of
Orchard: four grandchildren;
three great-grandchildren; four
sisters and three brothers.
Two persons came a consider
able distance for the funeral:
One granddaughter, Mrs. Bona
Jane Schlussner,, arrived by
plane from Washington, D C., and
a grandson, Cpl. Ardel Bright of
O'Neill, arrived from Camp Rip
ley, Minn., where he was at
tending national guard camp.
Miss Cullen's
1 Sister Dies—
Word has been received of the
recent death of Miss Mary Cul
len’s sister, Nell, of Elizabeth,
N.J.
Camp Witness, the American
Sunday-school Union camp, will
be the scene of much activity as
campers gather from several ad
joining counties for the annual
fall roundup Bible camp August
18 to 22. This camping period be
! gins Wednesday ♦ evening, with
! supper at 6 p.m., and closes with
!flag-lowering ceremonies follow -
| ing the afternoon service on Sun
'dav.
Light Holt Balloting
Reflects State Choices
«
I AAA _A_ ^
Crosby Wins
Senate Nomination—
The temper of the Holt county
voters, both republicans and dem
ocrats, proved to be a fair measur
ing device for the bevy of candi
dates running on the national and
state tickets.
Holt countyans gave Congress
man Carl T. Curtis a thumping
majority over his nearest rival,
Gcv. Robert Crosby, in the bid
for the long-term GOP senate
race.
Terrible Terry Carpenter of
Scoisbluff limped in third and
David Martin finished fourth—
an exact reflection of the over
all statewide contest.
Mrs. George Abel of Lincoln in
the field of 16 won the short term
GoP senate bid on both the state
and Holt county levels, and Victor
Anderson of Lincoln enjoyed a
comfortable margin over Fred
erick H. Wagener, also of Lin
coln, in the GOP bid for the
governor nomination. Anderson
von 2!£-to-l in the state; 1M>
to-1 in Holt.
Holt county demos liked Keith
Neville for the U.S. senate long
term nomination by better than
a 2-to-l margin, and Neville
carried the state by a similar
ratio. For the demo short-term
senate berth, Holt countyans fa
vored William Meier—and so did
the democratic voters through
out the state.
William Ritchie of Omaha
easily captured the will of dem
ocratic voters in Nebraska and
Holt countyans posted 398 votes
for him. His closest opponent
was P. J. Heaton of Sidney with
160 at the courthouse level.
It was a miserable turnout
considering the near - perfect
weather and the multitude of
candidates. Voting everywhere
in the slate was light and well
below expectations.
The republican side of the
election bore the most interest,
particularly the heave-ho long
term senatce race which finished
in a mild sort of a flurry. The
Frontier learned in a number of
random interviews, there were
deflections of demos to the re
publican ticket induced by a de
sire to participate in county and
precicnt contests, and further,
there were some conversions in
spired by Terrible Terry, who
v as a worry to the GOP regulars
and a darkhorse.
Only 18 of the county’s 43 vot
ing places had reported to Coun
ty Clerk Ruth Hoffman Baker
by 1:30 a.m., Wednesday. Results
of balloting at 22 voting places
were available at “Voice of The
Frontier” broadcsat time Wed
nesday (9:45 a.m., 780 kc).
The trends were fairly well
established early and some of
the lesser county < and precinct
races were settled and posted
before midnight.
Holt county has more than!
twice as many voting places as
Antelope county; nearly four;
times as many as Boyd county;;
nearly seven times as many asj
Keya Paha county.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bruhn re
turned to their home in North
Platte last Thursday.
K M M
Write-In Flurries
in Boyd County—
BUTTE—Two write-in flurries
helped stimulate interest in an
otherwise dull primary election
in Boyd county.
In district seven, which in
cludes the town of Spencer,
Ciyde Fisher, a fanner, won the
democratic nomination for su
pervisor by a write-in vote. This
means there’ll be a contest in
November with William Braith
wait, the republican incumbent,
who was unopposed.
In district one, which includes
the village of Monowi, J. W. Ri
hanek received the republican
nomination for supervisor, unop
posed. He is the incumbent. But
Emil Michanek was the object of
a democratic write-in movement,
so they’ll be opposed in the fall.
Boyd coUntyans gave Crosby
a 144-122 decision over Curtis
for the senate, GOP ticket; they
gave State Sen. Hugh Carson of
C rd the nod for the short term,
and Mrs. George Abel of Lincoln
end N. W. Anderson 49 votes
each for the short-term.
On the democratic side, Boyd
county voters preferred William
Ritchie to A. E. Swanson, 198-39.
* * *
Nelson, Rohde
to Vie in Fall—
O’Neill’s incumbent State Sen.
Frank Nelson led the field of
tnree in the 28th legislative dis
trict race, but the footings fore
tell a struggle in the general
election. The top two candidates,
Nelson and Donald Rohde of
Lynch, will do battle in the fall.
S. H. Lyman finished in third
place.
Rohde
Nelson | Lyman
Holt _ 1388 526 246
Ke y a Paha _ 144 226 56
Eoyd _ 271 375 63
Rock _ 216 124 287
Totals_ 2019 1,251 652
The O'Neill Saddle club will
meet Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at
Buck Edmisten’s for a trail ride.
Everyone is to bring a picnic
lunch.
New Pastor Here
is the new pastor of Christ Lu
theran church in O’Neill and |
St. Paul’s Lutheran church in
Atkinson. Reverend Smith was
installed Sunday, July 18, by
Rev. Walter Hartman of Ains
worth. He was a June graduate
of the Lutheran seminary in St.
Louis, Mo.
^ m n.
Manson Defeats
Arbuthnot—
Considerable interest centered
on the bid for the republican
nomination for clerk of the dis
trict court in which Howard
Manson of O’Neill, recently ap
pointed to the post to fill a va
cancy, defeated Jack Arbuthnot
of O’Neill, 879-673.
Manson grabbed an early lead
in the O’Neill wards and grad
ually stretched his margin. After
18 precincts had been tabbed,
Manson owned a 100-vote lead.
The democrats had no one enter
ed on the opposite side of the
fence, meaning the showdown
was in the primary.
Kenneth Waring of Page rolled
up 1,285 votes for county clerk,
GOP ticket, unopposed, compar
ed to 615 for Homer F. Mullen of
O’Neill, demo candidate, also
unopposed.
J. Ed Hancock of O’Neill, in
cumbent treasurer, registered 1,
365 votes on the republican tick
et, while Lloyd Cork of O’Neill
and Page, a newcomer in county
pcditics, picked up 575 on the
demo ballot.
County Sheriff Leo Tomjack,
unopposed on the democratic
ticket, counted 765 votes, while
his opposite, A1 Sipes, repub
lican, also unopposed, received
987.
County Attorney William W.
Griffin of O’Neill, republican,
unopposed, was given 1,254
votes while John R. Gallagher of
O'Neill, running without opposi
tion on the demo slate, received
701.
George Collins of Atkinson, in
cumbent county surveyor, receiv
ed 1,134 votes on the GOP ballot.
He was without opposition, and
has no demo foe to face in No
vember.
Fay Brittell of O’Neill was the
darkhorse in the bid for repub
lican nomination for county as
sessor, throwing a real scare into
William F. Wefso of Atkinson,
incumbent. Tabbing was well
down the line before Wefso pull
ed away, finishing 683-507. Joe
Winkler of Emmet had 401.
Wefso had no counterpart on
the democratic ticket.
L. G. Gillespie defeated
Charles Switzer for the GOP
nomination for county super
visor, First district (which in
cludes O'Neill's First and Third
wards). Gillespie got 149 voles;
Switzer, 110.
Ed Flood led the three-way
race for the democratic nomina
tion with 72 votes. He defeated
I>. H. (“Deed”) Murphy, with 32,
and Ed Murray, with 27.
Art Tomlinson was high on
the totem pole for the Second
supervisor district GOP nomi
nation with 88. He was trailed
by: Floyd Frahm, 83; Henry W.
"Walters, 44; N. A. Linquist, 41;
E. L. Miner, 5. Winner on the
demo ballot was Clarence Don
(Continued on page 6.)
Suspended Auto
Falls on Youth
REDBIRD—Walter Kruse, 18,
son of Mrs. Leta Kruse of the
Redbird community, is recover
ing from injuries received Sat
urday while repairing his car at
the Bill Aim place near Redbird.
The jack, which was support
ing the car in the air, slipped.
The car fell on Kruse, who was
in a sitting position. His back and
legs were paralyzed as
the result of the accident.
Young Kruse is in the Lynch
hospital.
Eickhooff . , . lifelong Ne
braskan.—The Frontier Photo.
Henry Eickhoff
Dies Suddenly
Marshal Is Stricken
with Heart Attack
PAGE — Henry Eickhoff. 74,
m lage marshal and water super
intendent here for the past four
years, died of a heart attack
about 8 o’clock Monday evening,
August 9, while seated on the
porch swing at his home.
Funeral services wlil be con
ducted at 2 p.m., today (Thurs
day) from the Methodist church
here with Rev. Lisle Mewmaw
church pastor, officiating. Burial
will be in the Page cemetery
under the direction of Biglin’s.
Pallbearers will be Alton Brad
dock, Cordes Walker, Melvin
Smith, Anton Nissen, Carl Max
and Lester Riege.
The lafe Mr. Eickhoff was
born April 30. 1880. on a farm
near Tilden. His parents were
Henry and Christina Eickhoff.
He farmed for a time near
there, later near Page for several
years. Upon moving into Page,
Mr. Eickhoff was engaged in the
trucking and drayage business
for many years.
On June 15, 1904, at New bor
ough, south of Ewing, he married
t h e former Lucy Catherine
Steele. This past summer they
celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary with an afternoon
and evening open-house observ
ance.
' Survivors include: Widow- _
Lucy; son—Donald H. of Page;
daughters — Mrs. Earl (Viola)
Anderson of Fremont and Mrs.
P. H. (Eileen) Gallagher of Long
Beach, Calif.; brothers—Emit W
of Fremont and William W of
Tilden; sister— Mrs. Emma Wag
ner of Tilden.
State Legion Post
to Stanley Huffman
DELOIT—Stanley Huffman of
Deloit was elected senior vice
commander at the state American
Legion convention held in Om
aha last week.
Take Part in Style Revue
Among those taking part in the 4-H club
girls’ style review, in connection with the an
nual countywide achievement day program,
were these entries in the school clothes division
(left-to-right): Alta Lyons, Kitty Clover club
of O’Neill; Loma Mareellus, Kitty Clover club
of O’Neill; Jennie Halsey, 212 South Fork club,
and Marlene Ermer, 212 South Fork club. Miss
Marcellus’s entry w^s judged best in the group.
—The Frontier Photo.
Returns After 65 Years
Oscar R. Kirschke, 75, retired
architectural engineer now re
sting in San Diego, Calif., Tues
day revisited scenes of his child
hood, having been away from
Holt county for 65 years.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Kirschke, and their five children
—Leo, Oscar, Edward, Ella and
Della — came to Holt county in
1882 from Michigan City, Ind.
Two children, Henry and Cora,
were born on the quarter-section
homestead located 10 miles north
of O’Neill and one-half mile east
(or a half-mile west of the old
Joy postoffice). The Kirschkes
also had a timberclaim.
Mr. Kirschke spenf a few
hours trying to look up old
neighbors (he was only 10
years-old when the family
abandoned Holt). He remem
bered the Bill Hagensick black
smith shop and the Ernsts —
Mott, Jake and several sisters
— who lived west of the
Kirschke place.
.Mr. Kirsehke said he lived in
Grand Island 40 years after leav
ing the O’Neill community. From
there he moved his family to
San Diego. His wife, Georgia,
and one daughter, Mrs. Kathryn
Rankin, live in San Diego.
Another daughter, Carolyn,
mother of five children, died
several years ago. Her husband
and two of the children now re
side at St. Paul where Mr.
Kirsehke has been visiting.
"I've been threatening to
come back to O'Neill and to
ihe old homestead for 25
"years," Mr. Kirsehke told The
Frontier. "I'm delighted with
the community—it's prosper
ous and very nice."
Mr. Kirsehke was a bit disap
pointed he couldn’t locate people
with whom he had something in
common.
“I talked to Ed Gallagher at
the bank. He was born the year
we left this country. P. C- Don
ohoe is too young to remember
the people I knew.
“The year we pulled stakes our
cash crop was critter bones. We
used to scour the country in the
spring of the year, after the snow
had disappeared, pick up all the
bones and ship them to Michi
gan. Somehow lime was extract
ed from the bones. We used to
get $4 per ton.
“Times sure have changed,’’
reflected Mr. Kirschke as he
climbed into his car and headed
for the old homestead on Honey
creek.
BACK FROM KOREA
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Cava
naugh and Mrs. Henry Kufahl
met A/3c Marvin E. Cavanaugh
in Grand Island last Thursday.
He will spend a 30-day leave
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Maurice Cavanaugh. Airman
Cavanaugh has just returned
from Korea, where he spent one
year.
O