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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1955)
Prairieland Talk . . . 0 , Cryptic Note Revives Memories ®y ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier LINCOLN—A line in The Frontier’s 50 years ago items some weeks ago was of special interest to one of our Page friends, Mrs. Dora C. Town send. In a few words it told the story of the birth of her son who now is a mining engineer and mak ing his home in the town of Frontier, in western Wyoming. Mother-like, Mrs. Townsend treasures those few words and wrote the editor an interesting letter which the editor passed on to Prairieland Talker. In addition to the infor mation telling of the where abouts of her son, Mrs. Town send says her daughter, Velva ° Townsend Weir, is the county superintendent of public instruc tion of Cedar county—Harting ton the countyseat. Her grand 0 son, Rcy Ed Weir, is serving in Uncle Sam’s air force in north ern Africa. Romaine This is a period in our his- Saunders 0' tory when the long and irrevocable arm of the fed eral government reaches to prairieland and sends o our boys to the ends of the earth. Mrs. Townsend mentions other friends of other years, among ° them Mr. and Mrs. Page from whom the charming Village of eastern Holt derived the name. Mrs. Page was school teacher and postmaster at a time when the postal department gave the name of the postmaster to a newly-established postoffice. And a little earlier than that, Mrs. Page, babe in arms, faced her first winter on prairieland with nothing to eat but parched sweet com. Mr. Page was Holt’s first county surveyor. Mrs. Townsend says, “E. Roy has been gone 7 Ms years.” Just another of the friends of long ago who. was called, upon to lay off the tattered gar ments of earth to put on the robes of immortality. He and his brother, Clint, had conducted a hard ware business in Page. Before that, E. Roy man aged the Townsend Bridge company which had been the work of his father and doubtless some of their bridges in Holt county, as well as those else where in the state and in Wyoming, have surviv ed the wreck of time. * * * If an ordinance proposed by the Lincoln city council becomes law, do it yourself is hit a blow in the solar plexus. The thrifty citizen who tries to build a home for himself and family will no longer be permitted to drive nails or saw boards at night as that disturbs a nervous neigh bor, if he be a neighbor that goes to bed at night. Nothing yet proposed to reduce the racket in the neighborhood of the toil-worn citizen who works at night and gets his sleep during the day light honrs. * • * “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” A decree by the court of hea ven. The electric chair at the state penitentiary will be heated a night next March after years of remaining cold. The convict to be strapped in the seat of death will be led there because he was con victed of the murder of a citizen of north Nebras ka* who was clothed with the authority of our state highway department. What the jury findings were that send him to the electric chair and gave an other from that part of the state a comfortable home in our penal institution as a reward for tak ing the life of a young woman is not clear to some. Hands and voices will be raised again in horror protesting the execution of the convicted murder er. But neither the tears of the sob sisters, judicial findings, reams of florid prose or sugar-coated lies of rhyme can emblazon evil deeds or consecrate a crime. x * * * The compatriot of the Madison Star thinks there is less danger in trying to keep up with the Jones than in wanting to pass Smith on a bill. In various ways crime is being glamourized by moving pictures, by television, by crime stories. This, and the leniency shown convicted criminals, contribute to the enactment of such revolting crimes as the recent murder of an Omaha univer sity young woman student and the young wife of a Lincoln park forester. Whether the laws providing the punishment for crime should be amended or the officials assigned to meet out the retribution are too lenient, the criminally inclined fear none of it. The one who takes the life of another has bartered away his right to life, but is let off with a life sentence and in time is released on the score of “good behavior,” when another victim may fall by his hand. A crook is taken to court, pleads gulity to the charge and is then put through the farce of a trial instead of being escorted off to prison and the electric chair. We are sympathetic, do not wish that anyone suffer, but to bring an end to the flood of shocking murders all over the country schools of crime should be eliminated, po lice investigating” superseded by crack downs and no mercy shown when the guilty one is caught. * * * Didn’t know that Jim had changed his name that he was known by in the days of neighborly familiarity if we met James A. Donohoe on an O’Neill street. A Lincoln newspaper guy writes it up as “Federal Judge John Donohoe of Oma ha.” Not likely that his honor will cite that newswriter for contempt of court * * * The concrete sidewalk that six months ago would cook an egg, today the winter solstice has frozen. The bleak December marches to the close leaving a record of frost-bitten days and nights with lower temperature readings than for some years past. A little snow but an absence of blind ing blizzards that winter monster may have stored snow and ice and hurricane winds for January 12 with which to sweep prairieland with another 1888 blizzard. And should such be, it will find ’88 sur vivors at their annual banquet board here in Lin coln, eating and drinking—nothing stronger than Arbuckles coffee—and telling the story again of death riding uot of the Arctic. * * * Gents once arrayed themselves in trousers and shirt and closed the openings by looping a button hole over the buttons. Now you begin at the top and fumble and fuss with a cord where there should be a buttonhole to slip a button through and close the collar of your shirt. A thing on the trousers they call a zip that can and does mean embarrassing moments. * * * Another year, another month, another week start 1956 off on the first day of the week. There are but two other months in the year ahead that begin with the first day of the week, April and July. The year of 52 weeks will have in ’56 but 51 Sundays. Moreover, February gives leapyear an extra day. * * * Airbase fire and tragedy, a mysterious murder, fire at the state house, breakins, a couple of the city drops out of sight in Colorado for a week, Indians coming to town from the nearest wigwam, not hunting scalps of the paleface but on a visit to a welfare center where the needy are supplied with clothing and food—Lincoln keeps apace with the times. * » • The estimate (or is it a guess?) has it that Ne braska’s com crop the past year amounts to more than 95,000,000 bushels, about 90 bushels for each citizen to grind into cornmeal for “johnny cakes” and mush. A goodly slice of combread, a lump of country butter with comb honey to adorn it, other delectable products of our “beef state.” Prairie land people feed on the best. Editorial .... Nebraskans Are Not Consistent Nebraskans complain about big government. They snipe at the colossus in a thousand different ways. As a matter of principle they do not believe it is Uncle Sam’s proper role to be passing out consid erable sums of money to the states. However, as the editor of the Lincoln Star pointed out in an editorial this week, as a matter of actual practice rarely do Nebraskans miss an opportunity to get every cent of money from Uncle Sam available to them. Fish and game funds furnish an excellent ex ample. The state collected 197-thousand-dollars in 1955 under the Pittman-Robertson federal aid and wildlife restoration program. Nebraskans had their hands extended for 107-thousands-dollars under the Dingell-Johnson fish restoration pro gram. Almost two million trees and shrubs were planted in Nebraska with federal funds to furnish food and cover for pheasants, quail and grouse. venraskans thrive on federal handouts in ag riculture, military establishments, highway con struction, airport improvements, power, irrigation, telephone, weather services. Some zealots ( a mi ority in this state) want more federal dough for .schools, although the state’s delegation at the re cent white house conference on education took a stand against federal aid to schools. Congressmen have a pet explanation for in creased federal spending in a myriad of projects. They say the folks at home are “clamoring” for such-and-such. Actually, there’s no organized de mand at all for many of these activities. The so called “clamor” is simply a handy excuse for the free spenders. Some of the tremendous spending is recovered on a loan basis and therefore becomes a legitimate business proposition, i.e., irrigation. If you are asking us, Nebraskans are not doing too badly for a people traditionally critical of big government. Exit the Texans Texas—a key state in presidential elections— has come into the political spotlight in recent months. One of the reasons for this is the resigna tion of several prominent Texans from President Eisenhower’s administration. The second man in the defense department, Robert Anderson, left his post in that es tablishment and went home to Texas. Shortly af terward, the secretary of health, education and welfare, Oveta Culp Hobby, also left her post. Mrs. Hobby was a prominent Eisenhower democrat from Texas, of which there were millions in 1952. Other events have also transpired. Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Butler recent ly journeyed to Texas to visit John Nance Garner and much publicity was given this meeting It seemed to be a tacit reminder to democrats that a Texan had been vice-president for eight years with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. There seems to be no doubt but that the national democratic party is wooing Texas and there are indications that Governor Allan Shivers is not “in the bag” for Eisenhower again in 1956. It will be remembered that President Eisen hower split the solid south wide open in 1952, car rying four of the 11 southern states and almost carrying South Carolina, another of the 11 and getting sizable votes in nearly all of these states. Whether he can achieve such a result again is problematical, but it seems that he is still very popular. Even so, one must concede that the president’s administration has stirred up a considerable ruckus in many portions of the deep south with its anti segregation policies and whether this will have much effect on Mr. Eisenhower’s vote totals in 1956 is a good question. About all that can be pre dicted at this moment is that the fight over Texas in 1956 is going to be a spirited one. Most seasoned observers feel that Ike can win for the republicans in ’56 if his ailing heart can hold up. Teen-Age Ten Commandments Four thousand students, delegates to a high school convention on the west coast, recently adopted a “Teenage Ten Commandments.” Here they are: 1. Stop and think before you drink. 2. Don’t let your parents down; they brought you up. 3. Be humble enough to obey; you will be giv ing orders some day. 4. At the first moment turn away from un clean thinking—at the first moment. 5. Don’t show off when driving. If you want to race go to Indianapolis 6. Choose a date who would make a good mate. 7. Go to church faithfully. The Creator gives us the week. Give Him back an hour. 8. Choose your companions carefully. You are what they are. 9. Avoid following the crowd. Be an engine, not a caboose. 10. Or even better — keep the original Ten Commandments. Happy new year, everyone! Frontier CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun ty, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa tion, National Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; rates abroad provided on request. All subscriptions are paid in advance. Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,530 (Sept. 30, 1955) When You and I Were Young . . . Iowa, Illinois Men Buying Holt Land Atkinson Gas Light Plant Studied 50 Years Ago Real estate men report an in creased demand for Holt county land. The buyers mostly are com ing from Illinois and Iowa. A great many are putting then money into the land as a matter of speculation. . . Bennet Martin arrived home from Omaha where he has been for several weeks at a hospital undergoing an opera tion. . . The North Western rail road announces another special train for instructing farmers in crop and soil culture. Free illus trated lectures will be given by the professor of agriculture and other scientific men of the Uni versity of Nebraska. . . Mayor Doyle and City Clerk Saunders went to Atkinson to look over the gas lighting plant in use there and report their findings to the city council. . . Will Hammond, who is attending school at St. Paul, is spending the holiday va cation at home. 20 Years Ago Frank P. Leahy, former O’Neill resident, died at his home at Win ner, S.D. . . Miss‘ Ilene Grutsch, teacher at district 150, gave a program and pie social at the school. . . A party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wayman in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Kuhns and daughter of Chugwater, Wyo. . . Earl Res sel of Chambers is in the hospital for medical treatment. . . A new arrival, a baby boy, is reported at the home of Mr. and Mrs. El mer Coolidge of Amelia. . . Ike, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Van Every, has infection of his foot, caused by excessive pressure of an ice skate strap. . . Judge R. R. Dickson sent in his filing as can didate for re-election to his pres ent post as judge of the Fifteenth judicial district. 1 A TT — A XV x vuia x u George Washington Mellor died at Lynch at the age of 81. . . Frank Nelson of the Meek coun try left for Calhoun to spend the holidays with his brother and family. . . Romiane Saunders spent the holidays with his daughter and family in Lincoln. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Conley Harmon of Scottsbluff spent several days visiting relatives and friends. . . Thomas Coyne, one of the pio neers of this county, died at a hospital in Sioux City after an illness of several weeks. . . Rich ard Cronin, who is attending Nor folk Junior college, is spending the holidays visiting at the D. H. Cronin home. . . The South Side Improvement club of Emmet met at the home of Mrs. John Con ard for a Christmas party. One Year Ago Miss Forence Ponton, who was crippled by polio at the age of 4, now scoots from her home to her office, thanks to an electric car —Christmas gift from her uncle, David Garvis of Santa Ana, Calif. . . . Leading O’Neill merchants will again shower the first-born Holt county baby in the new year. . . . J. V. Johnson, president of the Nebraska Bankers association, has appointed F. N. Cronin, pres ident of the O’Neill National bank, as county liaison banker for Holt county. . . Rev. Earl Schwenk of East St. Louis, 111., has accepted the charge at Me morial Baptist church in Cham bers. . . A prefabricated metal | hangar is in the process of erec tion at the Stuart-Atkinson air port, located on U.S. highway 20 west of Atkinson. January, February Calves Are Best Calves that make the most money for farmers are born in January, February and March, according to Henry Mayo, exten sion animal husbandryman at Purdue university, Lafayette, Ind. Mayo says in the Januarv issue of Successful Farming magazine that calves are worth abcut $10 more for each month earlier in the year they are bom. In other words, a calf born in January is worth $10 more than one born in February, $20 more than one born in March, and so on. Mayo gave two reasons why early calves are worth more. First, early calves are able to utilize all of the milk produced by their mothers, and second, these calves are big enough to start eat ing grass as soon as it becomes available. Honors Daughter on Anniversary— Mrs. D. R. Douglas enter tained Thursday in honor of the fourth birthday anniver sary of her daughter, Dianne. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Newton and Patsy; Mrs. Art Holz and Suzie; Mrs. Frank McKenny, Glea and Bobby; and Rosemary Urban. Centralize Your Debts No need to pay a dozen dif ferent people. Group your debts and pay them off with a Central Loan. We loan on furniture o r automobiles. Small monthly payments. You can borrow $25.00 to $1000.00 NO RED TAPE. LOANS MADE QUICKLY and CONFIDENTIALLY Central Finance Corp. C. E. Jones, Mgr. Harmon Bldg. — Phone 14 O’Neill Ewing Homemakers in Xmas Style Show EWING—A two-act play was presented Tuesday morning, De cember 20, at the Ewing public school. The play featured the an nual homemaking Christmas style show. Special music was played by Miss Marion Finley at the pi ano. The cast of characters in scene one in the living room of the “So and So” home included Sandra Shrader, Patty Wright, Karen Tuttle and Sherry Tuttle. In act two, the scene was at the home of “Mrs. Taylor’s Sew and Sew” home. The cast included Mary Lois Noffke, Beverly Roth erham, Judy Stamp and Vivian Wright. Miss Fern Pruden was narrator. The following were models, each wearing a garment she had made: Freshman group—Lorraine Bar tos, Shary Daniels, Sharon Kropp, Roberta McDaniels, Janette Noff ke, Tamzam Peterson, Gloria Schroeder, Audrey Sladek, Car olyn Tams, Karen Tuttle, Sherry Tuttle and Waunetta Wraggee. Sophomores—Patty Emesti, Mar ilyn Finley, Patricia Hahlbeck, Darlene Latzel, Patty Wright, Mary Lois Noffke, Maryetta Pet erson, Beverly Rotherham, Patty Schindler, Judy Stamp, Vivian Wright and Shirley Wright. Jun iors — Judy Cloyd, Virginia Mc Donald, Patsy Pollock, Alvera Shilousky, Barbara Snyder, Linda Tuttle. Seniors— Vera Del Dan iels, Mona Mosel, Maxine Noffke and Sharon Schmidt. Coffee and rolls were served after the show. O’Neill News Donnie Schoenle spent a few days this week as a guest at the James Conway farm. Miss Bonnie Burival spent a few days this week with Miss Carla Schoenle. Miss Betty Harmon of Scotts bluff arrived Monday night to spend a few days visiting friends and relatives and to attend the wedding of Miss Mildred Crabb and Owen Davis. Miss Harmon was soloist at the wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Elbriage Maynard and family of Norfolk and Mr. and Mrs. Lou Speers of Verdel spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Butterfield. Mr. and Mrs. Arnott Buxton were Monday dinner guests of the George Calkins home. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Psotta of Pil ger came Saturday evening and spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clements. Mr. and Mrs. Claude Kendal of Pierce came Saturday and stayed until Sunday evening at the Don ald Clyde home. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cook and family of Omana spent Christmas with his mother, Mrs. Robert Cook. Capt. and Mrs. H. M. Christen son and family and Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Christenson of Chappell ar rived Tuesday -o spend the week with Mrs. Edna Coyne. Miss Genevive Biglin and Nora McAuliffe of Sioux City spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. F. N. Cronin. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Carrico spent Christmas with her parents at Camel. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Davis spent Christmas eve in Atkinson with Mr. and Mrs. Will Mor gan and family. They spent Christmas day with ner parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rohrer spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Don Clyde. Clarence Farr was also a dinner guest. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel DeBacker and family of Columbus, Miss Dianne DeBacker of Denver, Colo., Father Thomas DeBacker of Omaha and James DeBacker of Cheyenne, Wyo., spent Christ mas with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. C. DeBacker. Mr. and Mrs. D. D. DeBolt and Mass Patricia spent the Christ mas holidays with their son-in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Farrier, and family at Rapid City, S.D. Sidney Frahm was a Christmas dinner guest at the D. R. Douglas home. . Mr. and Mrs. Merl Keiser and daughter, Kay, of Valentine spent the Christmas holidays with T. J. Donohoe. Mr. and Mrs. John H. McCar viJle and family will depart today (Thursday) for Ellsworth, Minn., where they will spend the new year’s weekend with Mrs. McCar viUe’s parents. They will return on Monday. S/Sgt. and Mrs. Henry Mangan and daughter, Susan, of Edward Gary air force base, Texas, spent Monday and Tuesday in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Leo Moore. The Moores had spent Christmas Mangan’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Mangan who are former O’ Neill residents. Sergeant Man gan expects to be separated from the air force in three months. Robert Allen of Omaha spent the Christmas weekend with Ins mother, Mrs. Mary Dusatko. Mr. and Mrs. George Hammond and family spent the Christmas weekend in South Sioux City with Mrs. Hammond’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ryan. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Barnett and Bobby of Lincoln came Sunday and stayed until Monday at the John McClellan home. Brownies in Yule Party— Mrs. Stanley Holly entertained Brownie troop IV and the leaders at a Christmas party Friday af ternoon. The time was spent making Christmas wreathes and playing games. Mrs. Holly served lunch and Mrs. Henry Benze treated them with candy and cookies. This was the last meeting of the girls as Brownies as they will become scouts after the holi days. Celia News Mrs. LeRoy Hoffman was host ess to the Young Homemakers extension club Monday afternoon, December 19, at the Amelia Hoff man home in Atkinson. Eleven members were present. Mystery sister gifts were exchanged and k i ^ ^ " fi "Wi!; ^ : \ | | ... on that new home or business building. WE SPECIALIZE in custom cabinets, fixtures and furniture. FREE ESTIMATES Gerald W. Monk Phone 431-M Box 205, O’Neill INCOME TAX PLAN NOW to use our income tax ser vice. WE SOLICIT your business. We will be pleased to assist you—farmers, ranchers, busi nessmen. Ponton Insurance FLORENCE PONTON Phone 106 — O’Neill Golden Hotel Bldg. I 1 3-Bedroom Custom Line as low as t $500 I DOWN / accepted lot HOME'S • New NATIONAL HOMES available in O’Neill’s North Heights addition, or on your own town or country lot any where in the area. Numerous floor plans and designs from' which to choose. Low monthly payments. NORTH-NEBRASKA BUILDERS FRANCIS GILG — HARRY E. RESSEL Phone 150 Phone 548-M — '■ || new names drawn for another year. Next meeting will be with Mrs. Loren Hickok January 11. Mrs. LeRoy Hoffman attended a meeting of the Immanuel Lu theran Ladies Aid at the church Tuesday afternoon, December 20. Nine were present. Election of of ficers was held. Mrs. Victor Frick el was chosen president; Mrs. Ben Hamlin, vice-president; Mrs. Le Roy Hoffman, secretary; Mrs. George Syfie, treasurer. The ses sion was the society Christmas party with a grab bag gift ex change. Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Hoffman and sons attended the Christmas program at the Presbyterian church in Atkinson Friday night and the Immanuel Lutheran church program Saturday night. Christmas dinner guests of the Frickel brothers were Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Hoffman and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Beryl Beck and fam ily, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Frickel and family and Inez Hayes. Glen and David Frickel visited the Hoffman boys Monday and were overnight guests. Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Hoffman attended the George Syfie funeral Monday afternoon in the Metho dist church in Atkinson, also ser vices at Phoenix where he was buried. HOME DAMAGED ATKINSON—The Owen Galli gan farm home, 4% miles south east of Atkinson, was damaged by fire and smoke Friday, December 9. Most damage was in the kitch en. L. W. Ulrich, a neighbor, dis ?overed the fire. Rex W. Wilson, • M.D. Robert M. Langdon, M.D. PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS 128 W. Douglas St.. O’Neill Phone 138 Paul Shierk INSURANCE AGENCY O’NEILL, NEBR. O Insurance of All Kinds Res. Ph. 235 ^1 SPECIAL ^ Between - Year 2J BARGAINS! COAT BOYS! WOMEN’S WINTER COAT ( CLEARANCE Juniors — Misses Half Sizes. « $18 $20 $22 $24 * * Girls’ WINTER COATS_$8 - $10 Tormi ppg> 1-Pc. SNOWSUITS, Now ...._ $5 WOMEN’S— WINTER JACKETS, Now__ $7 - $9 WOMEN’S— Quilted HOUSE COATS, Now_ $5 BOYS’— WINTER JACKETS, Now ... $5 - $7 - $8 BOYS’— PARKA HOOD JACKETS, Now .... 8.88 Men’s Wool OVERCOATS_$23 - $28 Men’s Fur Felt HATS, Now__ $3 Men’s Flannel SHIRTS, Now _ 1.66 Happy New Year to All! I ^ FOR MELLOW MOMENTS ... the mellow beer! Next time the moment’s right, pour yourself a round of mellow Country Club beer. It’s so smooth—and 80 refreshing! Just one taste will tell you why so many folks every day ask for “Country Club—the mellow beer.” Why don’t you try Country Club today ? • * • e • • ji • • At your tavern or store in botties, cans and in kandy six-pack cartons. M. K. GOETZ BREWING CO. ST. JOSEPH—KANSAS CITY, MO. <* *
