Nebraska Newspapers

    Prairieland Talk . . .
The Frontier Is 76-Years-Old
By ROM AINE SAUNDERS. Retired. Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN — The Frontier is 76-years-old. j
Founded in 1880 by W. D. Mathews, the first
editor, seven editorial brilliants have kept the
community informed and in florid prose and
captivating rhyme have had their say in politics,
industry, social, cultural and spiritual affairs. Six J
of the seven editors are now
gone and forgotten, the seventh
is still with us.
The first editor published a
four-page paper, today it comes
out with 12 to 16 pages and en
ters nearly three thousand homes
-an all-time high in north-cen
tral Nebraska journalism.
Tw'enty other newspapers
have passed out of the picture
in Holt county since The Fron
tier began its endless career and
has survived two fires and one
attempt by an envious rival to
wreck the plant without missing an issue.
In length of time published continuously,
the Atkinson Graphic comes next, started in 1882
by a brother of the founder of The Frontier, Harry
Mathews. The Graphic is probably the oldest
established business concern in Atkinson, as The
Frontier is in O’Neill.
This country journal is the oldest business
concern in the county operating continuously un
der the same title.
• • •
After 21 hours deliberation, a district court
jury in Lincoln's most noted murder trial return
eded a verdict of guilty of first degree murder,
fixing the penalty life imprisonment. The accused
defendant in the court action was found guilty of
murdering his young wife. The jury had sat for j
days listening to the story of witnesses and the '
badgering of attorneys and after mature delibera
tion brought in the verdict. One charged with a '
crime, his lawyers and family group resent the 1
findings of a jury that goes against them. They
now demand a new trial, say they will take an
appeal to the court of last resort if necessary. The
American jury, functioning as a judicial body, is
the court of last resort and to set aside jury ver
dicts is an exceedingly rare thing by a court of
appeal. The jury of 12 intelligent citizens weighs
the evidence, sees the witnesses called to the stand
by each side and determines by what they hear
and see what the facts are. The jury verdict in
murder trials should be and in most cases is fi
nal. But it is the privilege of any to go from one
court to another while their bank account holds
out.
* * *
Dr. Ronald F. Lee of the national park ser
vice is quoted in a recent State Historical society
news letter issued from state headquarters in Lin
coln as saying of the society’s museum that it “has
attracted national attention for the quality of its
exhibits, the skill and art work in its presentation
and a layout that permits easy flexibility in ar
ranging exhibits.” The society’s museum at Ft.
Robinson will be ready to open to the public early
in June.
• * *
Baby chicks are being priced at 30 cents each
at some hatcheries. Not so long ago we thought
we were commercial plutocrats if we got two bits
for a fat hen.
As I write this 8th day of May. the broken
,.nd bruised body of l>en Hunt lies on a cot in the
Bryan Memorial hospital here in Lincoln. The
doctors hold out no hope of recovery. Den, 88, and
a pioneer of the O'Neill community, surviving the
struggles of early life on the frontier, a victim in
old age of today’s traffic—he was hit while cross
ing the street at his home at 51st and O streets by
a car driven by a 17-year-old lad. The Stannards,
the Henry Grady household, Lloyd Gillespie, P. C.
Donohoe and possibly a few others walk the
streets of O’Neill today who knew Den and Nellie
Hunt as part and parcel of the community life and
will regret to learn of what has befallen Den. A
son and a daughter of the Hunts have come from
distant states and are now at the Hunt home. Den’s
parental home was a mile or so south of the river
in the days when Doc Middleton, Kid Wade, the
Dutchers and the vigilanters were active, and Den
took a job as roustabout at Pat Hagerty’s trading
post that functioned where the Golden hotel now
stands. He became a brick mason and later in life
headed insurance interests here in Lincoln, where
their home has been for many years.
* * *
Is the custom for the gent to take the outside
a mark of gallant respect or for his lady to be
the object for household dogs to assault as they
walks by?
m » &
Time writes its wrinkles on the brow of man
kind and week-by-week sounds the death call to
which another of the community’s citizens re
sponds after a lifetime on prairieland. Mary Shoe
maker with folded hands, closed eyes and form at
rest has traveled the last mile to the cemetery.
Doubtless none in the community recall, if any
ever had known, that the first home of the Shoe
maker family in Holt county, when Mary was a
carefree maiden, was three miles east of O’Neill,
in a vast sweep of open paririe where none live
today—a prairie that once was the home of pio
neers, now' the abode of wildlings that trot at will
where herds graze. The Shoemaker family did not
remain permanently in their first prairieland
home, reestablishing themselves in the Dry creek
country south of O’Neill. At least two of the or
iginal family survive and I wonder if either of the
boys recalls their first prairie home in Holt coun
ty, along with the years of struggle that the pio
neers experienced.
* * *
Two Holt county patriots, Richard h. Jonas ol
O’Neill and Robert Brayton of Stuart, have re
cently become members of the Nebraska State
Historical society. Within tho past month a county
historical soiety has been organized at Trenton,
Hitchcock county, and the preliminary steps taken
to perfect such an organization in Omaha. Holt
county is rich in material for such an organization.
Maybe with a little encouragement given them
by Joel Parker of O’Neill, Mrs. McKee of Atkin
son and Will H. Spindler up at Wounded Knee,
that rich treasure of historical interest in Holt
county could be made available to all with these
three and others promoting such a society.
* * *
May 5 closed a week set apart by some in
terested souls as mental health week. Probably
as meager results followed as occasions of this
kind for other things. Mental ill health more often
is heart ache, soul burdened, desolate, alone.
Editorial ....
How Many Deep Wells in Holt?
i uAiiiK uun vn uic (lUlllUU Ul II
rigation wells being drilled in the O’Neill region,
we recently inquired of a man identified with the
business how the extensive use of these wells !
would affect the underground water level.
He quoted a University of Nebraska expert, j
writing in a Sunday newspaper, stating the under
ground level is lower now than at this correspond
ing period a year ago. The writer insisted, how
ever, that the lower level was due to lack of rain
fall rather than the increasd number of wells.
The local expert also referred to the sugges
tion we hear often these days; namely, it is pos
sible that legislation is needed to regulate deep
well irrigation in Nebraska. This talk comes from
responsible irrigators and from others who have
studied the problem. Most agree we face no imme
diate crisis but we should look to the future.
People generally resent restrictions, especial
ly those that affect them. We wait until the horses
.ire out before we close the barn door. In the mat
ter of natural resources we usually wait until the
supply is nearly depleted before legislation for
preservation is enacted.
Water is the most important element on earth
—second only in importance to either dirt or sun
shine. Sound legislative planning to protect our ,
underground water supply is in order — now — I
while we have time to study the problem and to
avoid serious mistakes We are not suggesting har
rassment or oppressive legislation; rather we have
in mind something broad, sensible and unselfish.
—
Public Indifference
Newspapers across the land, in states where
presidential primaries have been held, are deplor
ing Milan lUUlUUU'i III WIC
ern state, where the voting was around 40 percent
of registration, it was estimated that it cost $5 a
vote to set up the election machinery.
Presidential primaries are little more than a
glorified Gallup poll; the party Convention leaders
usually go freelance and the smoke-filled-room
boys carry on.
You will recall that Kefauver had overwhelm
ing primary support at the democratic convention
in 1952 and then quickly faded.
A good product, a fair price, and advertising
add up to profits despite notions or doubts to the
contrary.
CARROLL W STEWART, Editor and Publisher
ARTHUR J. NOECKER and ESTHER M. ASHER,
Associate Publishers
Entered at the postoffiee 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)
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When You and 1 Were Young . . .
Mountain of Soap
Discovered on Farm
Fine Sand Develops
into Lather
50 Years Ago
R H. Mitchell, a farmer at
Beldcn, discovered a small moun
tain of soap near Savage, along
the O Neill line of the Great
Northern road. It is compos
ed of a fine and very white sand,
and when mixed with water
greatly resembles sapolio. . . E
H. Whalen is visiting relatives
in Ireland. . Joseph Schollmey
er of Seottville died at Hot
Springs, S.D . Miss Kate Mann
was taken to Rochester, Minn .
for treatment. . Mrs. S J.
Weekes and Mrs. C. H. Stout won
an olive spoon and gold bowl cof
fee spoon, respectively, at the
five-course luncheon given by
Mrs. W. T. Evans.
20 Years Ago
Mrs. F N. Cronin, who submit
ted to surgery in Sioux City, re
turned home this week. . Mar
riage licenses were issued to
Clarence A. Olson of Crofton
and Miss Asella D. Ramold of
Stuart, Harry O. Lansworth and
Miss Mary Grutsch, Kenneth
Cadwallader of Stuart and Miss
Rena Riley of Atkinson, and
Frank J. Weber and Miss Wilma
N. Munn, both of Atkinson. . .
Miss Margaret Pruss did practice
teaching in district 90 last week.
10 Years Ago
Dennis H. Cronin, 76, editor
and owner of The Frontier since
August 13, 1896, announced the
sale of the newspaper to Carroll
W, Stewart of Hartington. Mr.
Cronin, who is also a state sena
tor, will retire from active public
life. . Twenty-five men and
women of the Methodist church
varnished the pews under the
direction of Rev. Lloyd W. Mul
lis, pastor. . Mrs. George Bow
en, 61, died at her home 11 miles
east of O'Neill. Romaine
Saunders, 74, had his left eye
removed.
One i ear Ago
Miss Thelma Summers, 17, was
in "grave’’ condition at St. An
thony’s hospital following a two
car accident 13 miles east of O’
Neill. . . Rev. Wayne A. Hall ac
cepted a call to serve at the As
sembly of God church at Broken
Bow. . Jesse Wilkinson, 87, died
at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Hazel Boatman. . . Two airmen,
absent without leave, slugged
Derold Graham at Earley’s sta
tion. . . Carl Hammerberg, 60,
of Atkinson died in Mary Banning
hospital in Hastings.
Lynch Seniors
Hear Doctor Ol son
LYNCH— Commencement ex
ercises for 20 seniors of the
Lynch high school were held Fri
day evening, May 11, at the
Lynch ballroom.
The speaker was Melvin Olson,
consultant in school administra
tion. Nebraska department of ed
ucation.
The seniors are: Abbie Gray,
Delores Carson, Ronnie Carson,
Jaimes Chvala, Velma Crawford,
Doris Halstead, Larry Halstead,
Harlene Holtz, Delores Kalkow
ski, Donald Lueken. Myrl Mer
chant, Gary Micanek, Garnet
Palmer, Leroy Purviance, William
Rosicky, Norma Schindler, Rosa
lie Sexton, Julian Stewart, Ger- ,
aldine Stieffvater and Delores [
Wells.
The eighth grade graduates who
also received diplomas are: Rus
sell Birmeier, Kathleen McDon
ald, Jean Lueken, Janice Craw- '
ford.
ARC Collection
Amounts to $188
EMMET—The Red Cross col
lection in the Emmet community
amounted to $188. Mrs. Bill Gro
the and Mrs. P. W. McGinnis
were chairman of the drive.
Monuments of lasting beauty
made by skilled craftsmen of
the J. F. Bloom Co. . . . monu
ments from the factory to the
consumer. — Emmett Crabb, O’
Neill, phone 139-J. 37tf
WD—Raymond L Verzal, Exec
utor to Joseph Walnofer 3-19-56
$5000- NV2NWV4 25-31-15
Royal Theater
—O'NEILL. NEBR. —
Thurs. May 17
Family Night
WORLD IN MY CORNER
Starring the fighting star of
“To Hell and Back,” Audie Mur
phy, Barbara Rush, co-starring
.Jeff Morrow, John Melntire, with
Tommy Rail, Howard St. John
Chico Vejear, Art Aragon, Cisco
Andrade.
Family admitted for 2 adult tick
ets; adults 50c; children 12c
Fri.-Sat' May 18-19
A DAY OF FURY
Print by Technicolor. Starring
Dale Robertson, Mara Corday,
Jock Mahoney, the “Range Rid
er” of TV—in a great new role!
With Carlton Reid, Jan Merlin,
John Dehner.
Adults 50c; children 12«; matinee
Sat. 2:30. All children under 12
free when accompanied by
parent
Sun.-Mon.-Tues. May 20-21-22
Presented by Warner Bros.
MIRACLE IN THE RAIN
Jane Wyman, Van Johnson
with Peggie Castle, Fred Clark,
Eileen Heckart, Josephine Hutch
inson. Her friends . . . her moth
er . . , everybody said “No” . . .
but she said “My phone number
is REgent 9-9602.” The pickup
date with the soldier—everybody
was against it—but her heart . . .
a star-lit story, tender and stun
ning—and quite, quite unforget
table!
Adults 50c; children 12c; matinee
Sun. 2:30. All children unices hi
arms must have tickets
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District 168 Pupils Visit
Mrs. Alfred Seger, teacher in Holt county ru- Atkinson. Front row — Daniel Ziska, Richard
ral school district 168, and pupils on Wednesday, Weichman, Marcia Ziska and Lee Ann Kaup,
May 9, visited The Frontier and other points of back row—Rita Murphy, Alfred Ziska, Marilyn
inteiest in O’Neill. District 168 is located west of Ziska. Mrs Seger and Barbara Ziska The Fron
tier Photo.
Extension Tour
Trip Discussed—
LYNCH—Mrs. Don Allen and
Mrs. Albert Kalkowski entertain
ed the members of the Excello
extension club at the Allen home
Monday evening.
Mrs. Leland Moody conducted
the business meeting and Mrs.
George Mulhair gave the secre
tary and treasurer reports.
The extension club tour was j
discussed.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
WD—C D Bertolet to Ray V
Carlisle & wf 3-12-56 $13,500
East 52 ft lots 11 & 12 and all lot
13 Blk 10- Atkinson
WD—Lester J Derickson to Os
car D Boettcher or Selma F
Boettcher 5-9-56 $11,200- NV
14-30-14
WD — Gail Boies to Stanley
Sojka 5-8-56 $1- Lots 5 & 6 Blk
10- Kimball & Blairs Add- Ew
ing
WD—Norbert H Uhl to Luella
Parker & husband 4-17-56 $500
Lot 6 Blk A- Goldens Subdivi
sion- O’Neill
WD—Amelia Schrader to Her
man J Schrader 5-14-38 $1- Lots
2 & 3 Blk 17- Bitney’s Add- At
kinson
WD—Gene Hoover to Alice M
Hill 5-11-56 $19,000- Part of
NE hiNWVi Sec 32- Twp 30
Range 14- now occupied by Bous
ka Motel- Atkinson
WD — Gordon D Harley to
Louis C & Ruth Harley 5-9-56
$1- Lot 5 Big G- Adams Home
site Add- Chambers
_ i
South Side Club
Soon 25-Years-Old
EMMET—The South Side club
met with Mrs. Henry Patterson
Tuesday, May 8, Ten members
and seven guests were present, i
The club will celebrate its 25th
anniversary during the first part
of June.
Other Emmet News
The WSCS will meet with Mrs.
Kenneth Ruggless of Clearwater
Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Foreman
and boys of Battle Creek were i
Sunday afternoon guests at the1
Frank Foreman home.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Winkler and
Mary Alice went to North Platte.
They returned Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. South of
Inman were Sunday guests at the
John Conard home.
Mrs. William Newton and Mrs.
Dean Perry and children called
on Mrs. Dale Perry and her
mother, Mrs. Hopkins, of O'Neill
Wednesday, May 9.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Perry were
super guests of the Dean Perry
family Friday.
Miss Beverly Perry celebrated
her fourth birthday anniversary
Monday.
Miss Helen Martens and Miss
Lucille Mitchell were overnight
guests of the Wayne Bates family
Monday, May 7.
Mrs. William Newton visited
the Dean Perry family Saturday.
The -Howard Newton family
were Sunday guests of Mr. and
Mrs. William Newton.
Miss Mary Lou Conard of Om
aha spent the weekend with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Con
ard.
Bob Kramer was a guest of the
Paul Newton family Sunday.
The pupils of district 20 pre
sented a patrons’ day and moth
ers’ day program <>n Wednesday,
morning, May 9. They made gifts
for the mothers and a lunch was
served.
The teacher. Miss Helen Mar
tens, and pupils of district 20
went on a field trip to O’Neill
Tuesday, May 8. Among places
visited were the police station,
hatchery, bakery, The Frontier,
pop factory, St. Anthony’s, the
new school building, telephone
office and cleaning establish
ments.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kloppen
borg and Mr. and Mrs. F.d Way
man were dinner guests of Mr.
DR. DONALD E. DAVID
OPTOMETRIST
Eyes Examined
Glasses Fitted
Phone 2101, Spencer, Nebr.
I and Mrs Norman Wavinan and
' girls Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. South of
Inman and Mrs. P. W. McGinnis
were dinner guests of Mr. and
Mrs. John Conard and Mary Ixm
at. the M&M in O’Neill Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pottgratz
celebrated their 25th wedding an
j niversary last week.
Mr. and Mrs. John Conard will
U IVUieii ihv •*
niversarv this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Grothe will
celebrate their 25th wedding an
niversary this week
Miss Rose Mary Babl spent the
weekend with her parents, Mr
and Mrs, Joe Babl Rose Mai> is
employed in Omaha.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Cole, Mi and
Mrs. Arthur Humpal and Jim
Humpal were mother's day dm
1 ner guests of the Robert Cole
family.
Mrs G Owen Cole. Mis I-.rrv
Schaffer, Mrs. John Baker and
Mrs. Robert Cole drove to Lan
coln on Friday.
Jack and Pat Cole spent Friday
with their grandparents, Mr. and
Mrs Arthur Humpal.
Mr and Mrs. Dean lYrry vis
ited Mrs. Alex McConnell at the
Walter Puckett home Saturday.
Navy Promotion
Follows Exam—
SPENCER— The navy depart
ment announced the promotion
April 16 of Howard R. Friedrich,
son of Mr and Mrs. P. O. Fried
rich of Spencer, to electronics
technician second class, I'SN.
while serving aboard the Pacific
fleet destroyer USS Uhlmann
The promotion followed jmc
1 eessful completion of a navy-wide
petty officer examination ccti
I ducted m February.
Edw. M. Gleeson
DENTIST
2d Floor Qilligan
Rexall Bldg.
Ph. 240 - Box 149 - Hrs 8 30-5
John R. Gallagher
Attorney-at-Law
First Nat’l Bank Bldg.
O’NEILL PHONE 11
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Stock Car Racing — Norfolk
KING’S SPEEDWAY
’’The Midwest’s Finest Speedway’’
Will Open Sunday, IVlay 20
Gates Open 6:30 P M. — Races at 8 P.M.
Adults—$1 tax paid — Under 12—50e
_________y
..DANCE..
AT O’NEILL
J
! AMERICAN LEGION AUDITORIUM
j AND BALLROOM
j THE JOLLY COPPERSMITHS
i ORCHESTRA
i -
I Saturday, May 20th
Adm.: Adults—$1; Students—50c
1_
Drive with care ... everywhere!
4
“One-Fifty” 2-door Sedan—with beautiful Body by Fisher! “Two-Ten'’ 2-door Sedan—one of 20 frisky new Chevrolet!
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with heart-warming prices!
The Une-tijty ana
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You won t find us playing favor
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in "Two-Ten” and “One-Fifty”
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too —the wide-awake kind that
rates Chevy the peppiest, easiest
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And look at tne mooei cnoiee
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four hardtops—two of them “Two
Tens.” Six station wagons—three
“Two-Tens” and one “One-Fifty.”
So even among the lower priced
Chevrolet? you have plenty of
choice. Come in and look them over!
Bel Air Sport Sedan—here’s your buy for the most luxury and distinction in Chevrolet's field!
a * a
AIR CONDITIONING-TEMPERATURES MADE TO ORDER-AT NEW LOW COST. LET US DEMONSTRATL
KEN BENSON MOTOR CO.
Third and Douglas ONeill, Nebr.
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