Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1955)
Half Hour Show? ^ • “Voice of The Frontier” ^ TWELVE jur Frontier ™ Mon. — Wed. — Sa*. Pages 1 to 12 9:30-10 A.M. — 780 k.c. North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper Volume 75.—Number 22. O’Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, Thursday, September 29, 1955. Seven Cents Mr. and Mrs. Ed. M. Leach ... on their golden wedding day.—The Frontier Photo. 175 Honor Couple on | Golden Wedding\Day 9 Herbert Stevens, 70, Rites in Atkinson Dies Following Year’s Illness ATKINSON—Herbert O. Ste vens, 70, died Friday, September 23, at Atkinson following a lin gering illness. Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 p.m., Monday, September 26, at the Methodist church at Atkinson. Burial was at Page. Pallbearers were Gene Living ston, Duane Beck, Victor Frickel, Kenneth Jones, Harvey Groff and Lyle King. Rev. E. G. Hughes officiated. Singers were Audrey Coxbill and Artha Pacha, who sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Under His Wings” and “Beyond the Sunset.” The pianist was Mrs. E. G. Hughes. The late Mr. Stevens came to Holt county as a young boy from his “birthplace in Iowa. He at tended Wesleyan university in 1908 and on November 2, 1909, he was united in marriage with Nelle M. Grey nt Page. They settled on a farm near Page, later moving to Inman in the 1920’s. In 1933, they moved onto a ranch north of Atkinson where they lived until the early 1940’s, when they moved into Atkinson. He was employed for several years with the Atkinson Live stock Market. The couple left the farm when their sons entered mili tary service during World War n. The late Mr. Stevens had been a member of the Methodist church here since May 9, 1943. Survivors include: Widow — Nelle; sons—Dale and Dean, both of Atkinson, Leo of New Orleans, La., and Ivan of Omaha; broth ers — Ralph of Page, Guy of Scottsbluff and Lloyd of Lan caster, Calif.; sisters — Blanche Darr of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Evelyn Gray and Mrs. Ray (Lei la) Snell, both of Page, Mrs. Lu lu Townsend of Eugene, Ore., and Mrs. Florence Neil of Kansas City, Kans.; six grandchildren. One daughter, Helen, died in infancy. Sale Calendar Wednesday, October 5: Frank and Melba Spath, 17 miles south of O’Neill on U.S. highway 281; 172 head of cattle, feed, ma chinery, household goods; Col. Ed Thorin, O’Neill, auctioneer; Chambers State Bank, clerk. (Details on page 9.) Tuesday, October 18: Morris L. Harmon, one mile north of north east corner of O’Neill city limits; livestock ahd machinery; Col. Wallace O’Connell, auctioneer; First National Bank, clerk. Wednesday, October 19: Lloyd Bausch close-out, 48 head of cat tle, poultry, feed, machinery, household goods; nine miles north of Bnzelman’s station; Col. Ed Thorin, O’Neill, auctioneer; O’ Neill National Bank, clerk. Ainsworth Man Buys Rieck Ranch Joseph Alberts of Ainsworth paid $65.50 per acre for the 409 acre improved Melvin Rieck ranch, which was sold at auction Friday afternoon, it was announc ed by Virgil L. Laursen of O’ Neill, broker, and E. C. Weller of Atkinson, auctioneer. Mr. Rieck plans to move his family to Washington state. A large crowd attended the sale, 117 head of cattle selling strong. The Rieck ranch is located miles south of O’Neill on U.S. highway 81. TAXES MUST BE PAID Publication of the delinquent real estate the list is scheduled to commence next week. Payment of delinquent taxes must be made before noon Saturday, October 1, at the county treasurer’s office to avoid publication. (Another photo on page 12) One hundred seventy-five per sons, many of them coming from Pierce county, defied Sunday af ternoon’s rain to help Mr. and Mrs. Ed M. Leach of O’Neill ob serve their golden wedding an niversary. The Leaches received their friends and relatives in the parlors of the First Methodist church. Mr. Leach, 78, and his wife, 71, enjoy “pretty good health.” Mr. Leach was born at Grace hill, la., and moved with his par ents to Pierce county. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Leach. Mrs. Leach, whose maiden name was Ida Manzer, was born near Pierce, her parents having taken a pre-emption there. She taught rural school in Pierce county for three years and at tended Wayne Normal school during 1902-’03. One of the highlights of col lege (then equivalent to a high school) was a 16-weeks’ quar antine for smallpox. It wasn’t until she returned to Wayne after a vacation that she broke out and then she was obliged to go to the “pest house.” Mrs. Leach was the oldest ox 11 children. She has two broth ers and four sisters living. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Manzer. The couple was married Sep tember 27, 1905, in Pierce at the home of a minister, Rev. M. In helder. They established their home on a rented Pierce county farm where their only child was born. In 1914 the family moved to Holt county. They have lived continu ously on this 156-acre farm for 42 years. The place is located two miles east of the O’Neill Live stock Market and is the first house south. In recent years the Leaches have rented the farm but con tinue to occupy the house and buildings. They have raised up to one thousand Leghorn chickens in a single season and always tend a large garden. They are members of the Meth odist church and “we usually call for the republican ticket,” ex plains Mrs. Leach. For 28 years Mr. Leach was a director on the school board in district 5. Mr. Leach said this year is one of the few in which his Elk horn valley farm hasn’t produc ed a good corn crop. “It’s been terribly dry here — and every where,” he observed. Their daughter, Mrs. Russell (Margaret) Weingartner, resides in Tulsa, Okla. Mr. Weingartner, who is a native of O’Neill, is a geologist with an oil company. The Weingartners have two daughters and one son and the family was present for Sunday’s celebration. Mr. Leach has three living brothers. Mrs. Henry Peterson of Armor, S.D., spent the weekend at the Don Peterson home. Free Merry-Go-Round Rides for Kids The Continental Baking Company, bakers of the famous Won der products, will provide free rides for kids on a musical merry go-round Saturday, October 1, in O’Neill, 11 a.m., until 8 p.m. The portable fun machine will be set up north of Eby’s Conoco Station on North Second street. Free tickets are available at the food stores: Bright’s Red & White, Council Oak, Fourth Street Market, Neighborhood Grocery, New Outlaw Store, Shelhamer’s Super Market and Stannard’s Store. “Howdy Doody” flip pins will be given to the youngtsers, according to E. S. Muxfelt, who is dis trict supervisor for Continental. Seek Names For Fire Petitions 40 Farmers, Ranchers Hear Fire Marshal; Boundaries Talked Preliminary plans for a rural fire protection district in the O’ Neill locality were developed Tuesday night during an inform al meeting at the American Le gion auditorium. Forty farmers and ranchers were present. E. C. Iverson of Ponca, state fire marshall, outlined the his tory of successful rural fire dis tricts in the state. He said over two hundred districts are either now in operation or in the plan ning stage. Iverson said the maximum mill levy for fire protection purposes is one mill and maxi mum indebtedness cannot ex ceed 10-thousand-dollars. Iverson appeared at the re quest of O’Neill Fire Chief G. E. Miles. Andy Clark, former Holt county supervisor, informally canvassed scores of farmers and ranchers in a half-dozen town ships in helping to setup the meeting, and declared there is “considerable enthusiasm” for a district. Clark was made tem pbrary chairman of the organi zation. Tentative plans for the dis trict embrace all of Grattan township, all of Shields, south half of Paddock, all of Rock Falls west half of Willowdale, all of Antelope (except a portion that might be incorporated in a Page district at a later date), virtually all of Inman, north half of Sham rock, eastern part of Emmet (which is not presently a part of the Atkinson district), and a small portion of Fair view (not in the Atkinson district). Among those who volunteered to circulate petitions and explain procedures for establishing a district are: Rock Falls—William Claussen; northeast Grattan — Robert E. Hanley; southwest Grattan—An dy Clark; northwest Grattan— John Dick; Willowdale— Walter Young; east half of Shields— Lloyd Whaley; west half of Shields—Alfred Drayton; south half of Paddock — Harry Lans worth; Emmet—Homer Maring; Inman — Harvey Tompkins (in cooperation with Inman Com munity club). Antelope and Shamrock were the only townships not represented. Iverson suggested the proposed organization work closely with the city officials here. He said customarily the rural districts provide and maintain the fire fighting equipment but staffing and housing of the equipment usually is worked out in a con tract with the city. In exchange for staff and housing, the city is entitled to use the equipment when neces sary within the city. “Economic losses due to fire are important to everyone in the community, rural and city dwell ers alike”, he explained. “Coor dination and cooperation reduce losses of life and property. The history of rural districts proves the loss ration is reduced the moment protective districts are formed.” If 60 percent of the freeholders in the various townships affix signatures to the petitions, the papers will be submitted to the Holt county board. The board then will conduct hearings and follow a legal procedure neces sary to create a district. Mr. and Mrs. Ora Philbrick of Stuart were Saturday guests at the Dwayne Philbrick home. State Fire Marshal E. C. Iverson (right) addresses group of 40 farmers interested in rural fire district here. Kenneth Barthel of Chambers, Holt supervisor (left), and Ira Watson of Inman study map.—The Frontier Photo. Newtons Quietly Note 63d Wedding Couple Enjoys ‘Quite Good’ Health EMMET—Mr. and Mrs. Wil liam Newton on Friday, Septem ber 23, quietly celebrated their 63d wedding anniversary at their home here. Both enjoy “quite good” health despite their advan ced ages. Mr. Newton makes a daily trip to the postoffice for the mail, and Mrs. Newton per forms all the household work. Mr. Newton and the former Ida Peck were married at Hart ington on September 22, 1892. They became the parents of 11 children—seven of whom are still living. Mr. Newton, 85, was born in Tama county, la., April 23, 1870. Mrs. Newton, 80, was born at Coleridge March 14, 1875. The Newtons resided on a farm three miles east of Coleridge for three years following their mar riage. They later lived on dif ferent farms in Cedar county and spent a short time at Ains worth. Twenty-eight years ago the Newtons came to Holt county and made their home south of Emmet. They made their home on the Maring place 15 years and for the past six years have maintained a home in Emmet. Their four children deceased are: Mrs. Fred (Mabel) Perry, Dewey, who was killed in action during World War II, Bud and a daughter, who died in infancy. Their living descendants are: Sons—Clyde of Emmet, Alvin of Laurel, Paul of Emmet and Howard of O’Neill; Mrs. Marvin (Hazel) Clouse of O’Neill; Mrs. L. F. (Inez) Lindberg of Laurel; Mrs. Gladys Brittell of Laurel; 20 grandchildren, and 37 great grand-children. Ralph Carlson Joins Safety Patrol Here Ralph Carlson of Friend, new ly-recruited Nebraska safety pa trolman, has been assigned toi the O’Neill station and will assist veteran Patrolman Robert Gude, who recently returned to O’Neill after having been stationed at Plainview. Carlson was among 53 men who satisfactorily completed five weeks of training at the national guard camp at Ashland. Donald Fiala of Columbus, also a new patroman, will assist at Ainsworth. Congressman Miller, Aide Visit O’Neill Rep. A. L. Miller (R.-Neb.) and his secretary, Wayne Van Norman, were O’Neill visitors Wednesday evening. They con ducted a clinic at the courthouse assembly room and listened to problems of constituents. Earlier they visited Butte. Today (Thurs day) Doctor Miller and Van Nor man will visit Bartlett and St. Paul and on Friday they will be at Greeley and Taylor. DOG TROUBLE AGAIN Mayor Alva Marcellus said Wednesday the city police and officials have been receiving complaints about dogs molesting pedestrains. “Either the owners will have to be responsible for the conduct of their dogs or our police will have to take a hand,” the mayor declared. 5,300 LICENSES ISSUED Holt County Treasurer J. Ed Hancock reported Wednesday 5, 300 driver’s licenses have been renewed since the sales began September 1. Two years ago ap proximately 8,000 licenses were issued to motor vehicle operators in the county. O’Neill Woman’s Club Plans Year’s Schedule The O’Neill Woman’s club schedule for the 1955-’56 season follows: October—Book review by Mrs. Henry Canjienberg of Bassett; library talk by Miss Bernadette Brennan. November—Travelogue by Mrs. J. LaVeme Jay. December—Members serve re freshments to “The Messiah” cast. January—China and silver talk by William McIntosh. February—Old-fashioned Val entine party. March — Travelogue by Miss Elja McCullough of Blair, former ly of O’Neill. April—Musicale. May—35th anniversary party. Anyone interested in joining the O’Neill Woman’s club is in vited to call Mrs. Vernon Lorenz, Mrs. Cecil Baker or Mrs. H. D. .-Idersleeve. Stock Horse Race Planned at Inman INMAN— One of the features of the annual fall festival and community sale, to be held Sat urday, October 8, will be a stock horse race at 11 a.m. Francis Anderl is receiving entries. Another feature will be a greased pig - catching contest. There will be band music, a pa rade, free movies for children, concessions, bazaar and memorial stand. George Coleman and Harry Moore will be auctioneers in con nection with the sale. Items to be sold include saddle horse, Angus heifer, canned goods, fur niture, feed, hay, calves, pigs and chickens. (Complete details in next issue.) Two Iowa Women Are Hospitalized ATKINSON — Mrs. Florence Smith and Mrs. Doris Parson, both of Charles City, la., were injured Sunday when their car overturned three times at a point three miles east of Stuart. They were taken to the Atkinson Me morial hospital where Mrs. Smith is being treated for a fractured shoulder. Mrs. Parson suffered only from shock. Dean Mosher of Creighton stopped Tuesday morning to visit the Gordon Watsons. Lillian May Berger, III 3 Years, Dies Funeral Services Held Wednesday Mrs. Lillian May Berger, 74, a resident of this community since 1905, died about 9 a.m., Monday, September 26, at her home near Opportunity. She had been ill since December, 1952. Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Septem ber 28, from the Methodist church with Rev. Glenn Kennicott, church pastor, officiating. Burial was in Prospect Hill cemetery. Pallbearers were Lloyd Wha ley, Carl Widtfeldt, Melvin Johr ing, William Murphy, Howard Oberle and A1 Fritton. Mrs. Berger, whose maiden name was Lillian May Brady, was born February 2, 1881, at Modena, Wise., a daughter of M B. Brady and Alice Holland Erady. On April 26, 1905, at Omaha she married Charles E. Berger of O’Neill. The couple became the parents of one son, Kenneth Miles Berger, who died in 1935. The family lived in the Opportunity locality for many years. Mr. Berger died in March, 1948. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Berger moved her home nearer her sisters, Mrs. Berger and Mrs. Smith. Survivors include: Sisters — Mrs. Alice Jackson of Los An geles, Calif., Mrs. August (Bab bie) Smith of O’Neill, Mrs. John (Grace) Berger of O’Neill, Mrs. Josephine Schrimp of Omaha and Miss Della Brady of Omaha. Polio Makeup Shots to Be Given Tuesday Holt county children who miss ed their second polio shots will have an opportunity to be inoc ulated at a “makeup clinic” to be held Tuesday, October 4, at St. Anthony’s hospital in O’Neill, starting at 8:30 a.m. Out-of-town children are expected to report at 9 a.m. The facilities and workers’ time are being donated in order to take advantage of the Salk vaccine. Information concerning a “makeup clinic” in Atkinson will be announced. O’Neill high frosh were a rakish appearing crewr at Monday evening’s initiation. Left-to-right: ; Ruby Passieux, Elaine Krugman, Rose Walton, Konnie Kurtz (with windblown basket-type hat), i Nancy Fetrcm (with goggles), Darrell Dexter, Ronnie Smith (partially hidden), Cheriann Knepper, i Merle Pease and Nancy Devall (in overalls).—The Frontier Photo. Peterson to Test Vehicle Tax Law Charley W. Peterson, Atkinson rancher has decided to test the constitutionality of the Nebraska motor vehicle tax law. Peterson has filed a petition in Holt county district court. He is asking the court to order County Treasurer J. Ed Hancock, defend ant, to issue license plates for Peterson’s 1955 Cadillac before he (Peterson) pays the taxes for the balance of the current year. ancock had refused to issue the licenses until Peterson had paid approximately $19 in taxes due in advance on the new car, under Nebraska statutes. 9-County P-TA Meeting Planned O’Neill will be host to a nine county meeting of the Nebraska Fourth district Parent-Teachers’ association. The all-day confer ence will be held on Wednesday, October 19. Details will be dis cusesd at the next regular meet ing of the O’Neill chapter on Monday evening, October 3, at the band room of the O’Neill pub lic school. The Fourth district embraces Holt, Rock, Keya Paha, Pierce, Antelope, Knox, Madison, Boone and Boyd counties. State officers of the P-TA plan to be present. The program will be announced. Jaycees Plan Steaks for Stockmen, Buyers At the Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting Tuesday night, plans were completed for entertaining the Sandhills Cattle men’s association members, buy ers, guests and members of their famihes. A steak fry will be held at the Country club Tuesday evening, October 4. This will be on the eve pf the annual Sand hills stocker-feeder sale to be held Wednesday, October 5, at the O’Neill Livestock Market. Serving will be from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m., out-of-doors if the weather permits. Cecil Baker, Jaycee president, said the organization has under taken the fry as a gesture of hospitality. Tickets are on sale at the O’Neill Agency and O’Neill Livestock Market. Around two hundred persons will be served, according to ad vance estimates. The Jaycees discussed plans for a “welcome” sign at the O’ Neill outskirts, they looked back on considerable progress that has been made toward restoring Car ney park, and they conducted routine business. To Live in Wisconsin— REDBIRD—Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wells and son of Battle Creek were weekend guests at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wells of Bristow and Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Anderson of Red bird. They departed Tuesday morning for Monticella, Wise., where they have employment. Keith Anderson accompanied them and plans to stay for a short time. Airman on Leave; Visits Dakota— S/Sgt. John J. London of Of futt air base is home on a 30 days’ leave to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mike London, and other relatives. Sergeant London and his parents returned from Colome, S.D., last Thursday where they had spent a week visiting their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Tarr, and family. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Bridge and family spent Saturday at Hastings. Page Pair Married for 57 Years Lewis Downey, 90, Is Vet Door - Rapper; Mrs. Downey Active / o By MRS. N. D. ICKES, SR. The Frontier’s Feature Writer PAGE — Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Downey quietly noted their 57th wedding anniversary Thursday, September 22, at their home in the northwest part of Page. Mr. Downey is 90 and hard of hear ing. His wife is 78. Lewis Henry Downey and Miss Bertha Tavener were married at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas Tavener, lo cated 4% miles northwest of Mrs. Donwey . . no excitement. Page, on September 22, 1898, by Reverend George, who was pre siding elder of the Methodist church at Neligh. 4 Their wedding trip included a week spent at the Omaha exposi tion. Upon their return, Mr. and Mrs. Emory Downey were hosts at a reception for the newlyweds at the Downey home in Inman. The Downeys lived at Star for 10 years. They spent six years in O’Neill, they operated a hardware and lumber yard at Inman, and conducted a general store at Page. They spent 20 years of their - Page sojourn on a 20-acre acreage on the southwest edge of town. They have been at their present location three years. Mr. Downey came here at the age of 15 with his parents from Binghampton, Wise., where he was born. * He vividly recalls an inci dent that happened at Star. It was in the late Fall. He and his father were patting op the last of the hay crop. He had a bor rowed horse hitched to an eight-foot rake. Because the weather was very warm, he drove the horse over to Mr. Pike’s place for a drink. Lewis fully intended keeping the horse close enough so a run away could be prevented. But while in the process of bring ing up a bucket of water from the open well by windlass, the horse took off. Lewis felt it necessary to . bring the full bucket up to the top instead of letting it plunge to th^ bottom. This he did, enabling the horse to get a good start. The horse headed for a com field and reached it in spite of Lewis’ ef forts. The corn was so tall he couldn’t keep the nag in sight. (Continued on page 11) Aldersons Moving to Arizona City CHAMBERS — Fifty relatives coming from Lincoln, Omaha, Genoa, Elgin, Atkinson, Wood Lake and Chambers spent Sun day at the Everett Jarman home. The occasion was a farewell din ner honoring the Jack Alderson family. The Aldersons are leaving today (Thursday) to establish their home in Tucson, Ariz.
