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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.
