•.. .—---—
Prairieland Talk . . .
Last of the Horiskeys
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Editor The Frontier
LJNCOLfN—The telegram sent me announcing
the death of M. H. Horiskey and telling when he
was to be buried came like a bolt out of the clear
sky, although I had seen where he was in the hos
pital in O’Neill. Death lays a cold hand to
claim all of us in the end.
Now another friend, another worthy citizen,
another of a pioneer family has responded to the
drumbeat of eternity. We will
miss you, Mike, but the memory
of your friendship, of your gen
erous nature, your sterling worth
as a man and upright life lives
on in the hearts of those who
knew you best.
Mike was the last of four
Horiskey boys. He lived all his
life from young boyhood in Holt
county. The family first lived in
the Minneola neighborhood. The
blizzard of January 12, 1888,
swept away their herds and the Bomaine
following summer John Horiskey Saunders
moved his family into O’Neill.
One of the sons, Joe, became a leading gro
cery dealer in O’Neill some 50 years ago. Mike be
came a railway postal clerk and one or both of
his sisters taught in the public schools here.
I take off to attend Mike’s funeral, to look into
his face now cold in death, as other friends will
do. After the rites of burial the living turn away.
Mike rests in the tomb. Goodbye, old pal!
O
t * * *
A half-million dollars blown away and a week
or two child’s pl^iy in the U.S. senate over an
imaginary attempt to bribe a South Dakota sen
ator. All the honorable gentleman needed to do
was to keep an unsullied hand off of that twenty
five hundred, which he did, and let it go at
that But the whole farcical performance carries
with it a hunch not to contribute to political cam
paign funds.
T T »
This mid-February afternoon the glowing orb
of day looks down upon prairieland transformed
quickly from Arctic winter to spring-like days.
Soon the bars of gold on the prairie’s rim will
spread upon the screen a scene of transcending
beauty, a prairie sunset. Winter came to us with
griping cold ’ere autumn days were done and may
have about run its course. Along the pathway of
life the days come and go, days leaving behind
gain and loss, smiles and tears, the record of what
we may have laid upon the altar of achievement,
of a helpful word or aet or a frown. Whether the
day has been well spent or loafed away, if we
have had eyes to see and hearts to respond, nature
has brought to us again a picture of lights and
shadows no hand of man can portray.
* * *
Evangelist Billy Graham is greeted by throngs
on his world tours. When he is gone, what then?
Pioneer clergy in Holt county ministered to their
flocks in simple devotion to duty, unheralded by
fame and certainly no fortune. Father Smith and
Monsignor Cassidy of St. Patrick’s Catholic church,
Rev. N. S. Lowrie of the Presbyterian faith and
Rev. 0. C. Winship of the Methodists, the one
other church in pioneer days, not only ministered
at the altars but traveled the prairies to bring
spiritual solace to the scattered members of their
flocks, received little pay but carried on for what
good they could do.
. * * *
Only one ninety-nine ninety-five — you save
fifty dollars, shouts the speiler. How’s that
again?
Three community boys, just at the early teen
age,” from good homes, and two of them sons of a
capable clergyman, have been dealt with judicial
ly. They had been discovered trying their luck at
shoplifting. The modern merchandise mart invites
just that. Trinkets useful and playful, items of
daily need, things alluring and beautiful, all spread
out before you as if to extend an invitation to help
yourself. Kids and adults do this and walk out. I
recall being in a great food market in a California
city when I asked one of the concern’s members if
they did not have considerable loss by theft. He
said they did but made it up on those who paid.
That a young lad gets involved in “delinquency”
is not always fatal. I knew such a lad who was
sent to the reform school. He is now a physician
and a respected citizen. A kid of a vanished gen
eration who never stole a watermelon would be
hard to find.
* * *
The Hon Val Peterson of civil defense thinks
a more appropriate title for that federal setup
can be discovered and invites suggestions. Here’s
one—national home defense. What’s yours?
* * *
%
In the good old days you read about editors
were given annual railroad passes and traveled by
train with an air of superiority. If a circus came
to town the entire force was handed free passes.
Likewise at public functions and entertainments,
ball games and horse races, editors and printers
had bestowed upon them the gracious gesture of
“freedom of the grounds.” That was a way to get
publicity and curry favors with the press. The
brewery boys now step up at district, and state
press association gatherings to act as host at the
lunchons. U.S. Brewers Foundation Nebraska di
vision are after you, esteemed editors. Do you fall
for it?
* * *
Rumors to the effect that Val Peterson may
be appointed to head the civil aeronautics board
may mean the civil defense setup is on the way
out.
* * *
Not being cognated to the agriculture worries
of the hour, the city fathers of Lincoln, along with
the county board of supervisors, are thumbing over
the problem of a new combination city hall and
courthouse. To most visitors going to these sepa
rate seats of government, city hall on O street and
county house a half mile below on 10th street,
they feel they could make out alright if placed on
the payroll at either headquarters, but when those
who spend most of their lives in these official cir
cles conclude the building “is about to fall down,”
agitation begins for a building program.
* * *
A North Dakota town comes up with a story
of the biggest coyote, a 61-pound common crea
ture of the wild on prairieland. That Dakota big
one may have a Canada timber wolf dad or grand
dad. Out of the west Texas weather bureau comes
the news that the Lone Star state has the biggest
thing in one more line to add to its championship
list—a blizzard that outclassed ours of ’88. I have
paid my dues to the Nebraska Blizzard club for
another year.
* * *
Secretary of Agriculture Benson gets it aplen
ty. He is neither responsible for crop failures, sur
pluses nor market conditions. Supply and demand
have determined the size of mediums of exchange
since the world began. Departure from that to
venture on a program of federal price supports
brought on the present situation. Agriculture and
the flocks and herds have stood on their own legs
through the centuries and will continue to do so.
Editorial ....
Caucus Time At Hand
Each year The Frontier reminds the O’Neill
citizenry that its municipal officers are selected
here via the petition method; that Jormal caucuses
have not been held for a s^ore or more years.
In a^gathering of persons the other day, some
of them city officials, a question was asked: What
is a caucus and how does it work?
Sad commentary.
The caucus method supports the two-party
system of government, which is the traditional
American way. Slates of candidates are drawn up
in meetings that have been formally and legally
called and publicized. Makes no matter what the
parties are called, but with two slates the elec
tion takes on true meaning.
The petition method is a last-minute, make
shift, haphazard method of picking candidates.
The petition method, unfortunately, is the man
ner in which municipal candidates traditionally
are selected here.
Having two slates formalized by regularly
constituted caucuses does not mean the write-in
technique cannot be used. The caucus system,
however, tends to broaden the interest of munici
pal affairs. Norfolk, Ord, Atkinson, Wayne, to
mention only a few cities and .towns, usually em
o ploy the caucus method, which is the best and ac
cepted American form of choosing officials.
Caucu .es must be held 35 days prior to a
municipal election. Next election will be April 3.
Heart Disease Major Death Cause
(Guest editorial by Dr. O. A. Kostal of Hastings,
president Nebraska Heart association)
We of Nebraska face a challenge in the heart
and blood vessel dii>eases—a challenge which can
be met by you through the current heart fund
-drive. These cardiovascular diseases — primarily
hardening of arteries, high blood pressure, and
rheumatic fever, afflict more than 80,000 Nebras
kans. They account for 54 percent of all our deaths,
according to the latest available data (1954). Even
the one-third of these deaths which occur below
age 65 is greater than the next leading cause of
death. And it is even more striking to realize that
rhumatic fever caused seven times as many deaths
as polio among our young people (141 vs. 20—
1954.)
The Nebraska Heart association is your only
voluntary agency devoted exclusively to the prob
lems of the heart and blood vessel diseases. You
can share in the fight against “heart disease”
c through the heart fund and its house-to-house ap
peal Sunday, February 26, 2-4 p.m. Your support
is urgently needed. Your contribution will further
the research, public and professional educatioi.,
c and community service programs of the Nebraska
and American Heart association. Your contribution
° will be an investment in your own heart as well as
in the lives of others.
The Nebraska heart fund drive will be a suc
cess and eventual conquest of heart disease
brought a bit closer with your observance of the
campaign slogans:
“Welcome your heart Sunday volunteer, Feb
ruary 26,” and “Help the heart fund — help your
heart.”
(Editor’s note: Heart fund chairmen in O’Neill
are Dr. Robert Langdon and Mrs. Elgin Ray.)
Commandments for Parents
We so often hear parents say, it is just too
bad the way children are destroying property of
others, but of course, our young people around here
do not do these things. Wish this statement were
true, but it seems that it is true in this county as
well as in others.
In discussions parents come in for a part of
the blame for not properly teaching their chil
dren. We believe many do try, but some do not ex
ert the efforts they might. The teaching of the
youth of today is the job of parents and also every
one of the community.
Recently we clipped these 10 commandments
for parents. We think they are along the right
line:
Thou shalt make good Americans of thy chil
dren.
Thou shalt take interest in the activities and
schooling of thy children.
Thou shalt share thy hobbies and pleasures
with thy children.
Thou shalt conduct thyself to gain the love and
respect of thy children.
Thou shalt guide thy children in choosing
friends and make them welcome.
Thou shalt guide the destinies of thy children
and respect their wishes.
Thou shalt weigh thy children’s needs with pa
tience and understanding.
Thou shalt commend the efforts and achieve
ments of thy children.
Thou shalt teach thy children the wisdom of
truth.
Thou shalt teach thy children the word of God.
One good thing about having measles in the
household: It’s an opportunity to send the kids’
clothing to the dry cleaners.
After a woman reaches 25, it’s a smart guy
who is dumb enough to guess her age incorrectly.
Capt. Peter Townsend is said to be on the bri
dle path at last. He has taken to horse training.
The Frontier’s circulation grows and grows!
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 advanee
Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,530 (Sept 30, 1955)
When You and I Were Young . . .
3 Prs. Cotton Hose
39c at Cash Store
J. L. Fisher Captures
Large Wolf
50 Years Ago
Ladies’ black cotton hose, four
pairs for 39 cents, at the Cash
store; also men’s corduroy mack
inaw-lined coats at $3.50. . . Char
les H. Milnes of Orchard and Ger
trude M. Scott of Page were
granted a marriage license. . . E.
W. Wilcox has sold his meat mar
ket to F. W. Sparks of Ewing. . .
Rocking chairs given away at
Horiskey’s store. . . J. L. Fisher
procured the hide of a large wolf
captured this week. He has sent
the hide to be tanned with the
head and four legs attached. Hide
will be used as a rug.
20 Years Ago
The weather has ' been bitter
here all week. Thirty-two degrees
below zero Saturday—the coldest
temperature in this city for the
past 36 days, according to Harry
Bowen has been 14% degrees be
low zero. . . Charles Wrede, jr.,
died after an illnss of several
months. . . The fire department
was called to a fire at the D. H.
Cronin residence. . . Phil Demp
sey, Richard Bowen, Ernie Harris,
Roy Johnson, Charles Sterner,
Lou Wyant, Norm Devall, “Red”
Young and a Mr. Peterson were
snowbound at a farm home. . .
James Harty, father of Ben and
Pat Harty, died in Galena, 111.
10 Years Ago
Funeral servces for Mrs. C. D.
Keyes of Inman, a pioneer, were
held at the Methodist church in
Inman. . . St. Mary’s trimmed
Holy Trinity (Hartington), 38-36.
. . . Miss Herberts Russ and
Thomas G. Hutton were married
at O’Neill. . . Mrs. Marne Melvin
and Mrs. Bea Gallagher attended
the funeral of a brother of J. A.
Frenking in Omaha. . . Tax valu
ations on purebred cattle are $55
and stock cattle $45 from 18- to
30-months-old.
One Year Ago
Kenneth Wettlaufer, Harold
Freemeyer and Keneth Asher fig
ure the wolf they bagged is the
mountain lion reported to have
been seen hereabouts. . . Melvin
and Marvin Meals married Della
and Viola Van Fleet at Atkinson.
. . . The D. W. Baab farm home
at Atkinson was destroyed by
fire. Blizzard conditions contrib
uted to the destruction. . . Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Fox, jr., newlyweds,
attended the mardi gras in New
Orleans, La.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
WD — Jack Barr to Adolph L
Latzel & wf 1-26-56 $8500- Lots
15 & 16 Blk H- O’Neill & Hager
ty’s Add- O’N
Engagement Told
Mr. and Mrs. James L. Pru
den of Ewing are announcing
the engagement and approach
ing marriage of their daughter,
Fern A. (above), to Samuel M.
Burtwistle, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Burtwistle of Ewing.
They will be married on May
20.
Rites Saturday for
Former Holt Woman
STUART — Funeral rites for
Mrs. Frank Atkinson, 76, were
held Saturday, February 18, at 2
p.m., in the Community church.
Rev. D. D. Su, church pastor, of
ficiated.
Music was furnished by Mrs.
Norris Coats as soloist and a
quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs.
Norris Coats, Mrs. Harry Cowles
and J. G. Brewster, accompanied
by Mrs. Mark Nelson at the or
gan.
Burial was in the Stuart cem
etery under the direction of the
Coats funeral service.
Mrs. Atkinson died suddenly
Saturday evening, February 11,
at the home of her son at Drain,
Ore.
Edith Martha Papke was bom
September 23, 1879, at Platte Cen
ter. She was married October 15,
1898, to Frank T. Atkinson at
Kirkwood and they made north
west Holt county their home until
Mr. Atkinson’s death in 1943.
Mrs. Atkinson lived in Stuart
until three years ago when she
accompanied the Clyde Brainard
family to Oregon where she has
since made her home.
The late Mr. Atkinson was a
member of the Methodist church.
Survivors include: Sons— Ray
T. of Drain, Ore., and Ralph M.
of Naples, HI.; daughters— Mrs.
Joe (Margaret) Timmermans of
Sutton and Mrs. Clyde (Faye)
Brainard of Yoncalla, Ore.; broth
er—John Papke of Payette, Ida.;
22 grandchldren and 14 great
grandchildren.
HEO Club Will
Enterttain Husbands
DELOIT— The HEO club will
meet Thursday, March 8, at the
Ewald Spahn home.
A covered dish dinner will be
served at noon. The husbands of
club members will be guests at
dinner.
• Other Deloit News
Mrs. Scott Clow of Denver,
Colo., is visiting at the home of
her mother, Mrs. Reimer, in Ew
ing.
Pat Squire and Don Werkmeis
ter were home from Lincoln over
the weekend. Pat is taking nurse’s
training and Don is attending the
university college of agriculture.
Mr. and Mrs. Pat McLain of
Grand Island spent the weekend
at the Adolph Bartak home.
The following attended the
homecoming basketaball game
and crowning of the queen at
Bartlett Friday evening: Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Squire and daughters,
Mrs. H. Werkmeister and family,
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Bartak and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Tagel
and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Roy
van Day and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Bowen and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Lyle Kruntorad and family, Mr.
and Mrs. A. E. Bartak, Mr. and
Mrs. Foster Felker and family
and Mr. and Mrs. H. Reimer and
Elayne.
The pupils and teacher at the
Deloit school enjoyed a dinner
and valentine party at the school
Tuesday, Febuary 14.
Sunday dinner guests at the
Don Larson home were Jessie
Angus, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Larson
and Mr. and Mrs. H. Reimer and
daughter of Ewing, Mr. and Mrs.
Elmer Pahl and Mary and Mrs.
Lina Smith, all of Oakland.
Mrs. Ivan Briggs and Mr. and
Mrs. Lynn Briggs of near Ord at
tended the basketball game in
Bartlett Friday evening. Nancy
Paul of Elgin also attended.
Paul Shierk
INSURANCE AGENCY
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Insurance of All
Kinds
Res. Ph. 23S
Rex W. Wilson,
M.D.
Robert M. Langdon,
M.D.
PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS
128 W. Douglas St., O’Neill
Phone 138
Marvn Werkmeister, who is in
service in California, is visiting
at the home of his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. H. Werkmeister, and
family.
The weather and roads are
somewhat improved.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Harpster
and sons were Sunday dinner
guests at the Alfred Napier home.
Sunday guests at the Reimer
home in Ewing were Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Harpster, Mr. and Mrs.
Glenn Harpster and sons, Mr. and
Mrs. H. Reimer and daughter,
County Judge and Mrs. Louis W.
Reimer of O’Neill and Mrs. Scott
Clow of Denver, Colo.
SERVES ON TENDER
CHAMBERS— Serving aboard
the Atlantic fleet seaplane tender
USS Currituck is Robert R. Lo
seke, seaman apprentice, USN,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson H.
Loseke of Chambers.
Guests of Johnsons—
Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Anderson
and their daughter, Debra, were
dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.
Victor Johnson on Sunday, Feb
ruary 19.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
GUARDIAN’S DEED—Cathryn
Adler, Grd to Joseph S Dvorak
2-2-56 $6000- Ms Int in Lot 1 Blk
1- Morningside Add- Atk
WD—Helen Young to Lloj’d A
Rouse 2-11-56 $275- Undivided
interest in SWy4 10-31-11
QCD— Joseph D Daas to Vic
toria Abdo, Trustee 1-21-56 $1
NEy4 13-26-14
— 1 - --- o
o
I Jr'l •
DR. H. D. GILDERSLEEVK
OPTOMETRIST
Northeast Corner ,
of 4th & Douglas
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Phone 167
SCye« Examined . Olaaaea Kit tad
1tflo» Houra 0.6 Hon. thru Bat.
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