Prairieland Talk
Last of Drummerboys
B t ROM AIN E SAUNDERS. Retired. Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN— When Albert WooLson was laid
in his grave up there on the shore of Lake Su
perior amid military rites of burial, the last of the
drummer boys who beat the roll call in the Union
army of the 1860’s responded to the drumbeat of
eternity, and the last of the Grand Army of the
Republic passed into history, at the age of 109
years.
Every state north of the Mason-Dixon line
aad their men in blue wearing
the GAR badge, over two mil
lion of them. Comrades Mack,
Skirving. Slattery, Towle and
many others in Holt county
wore the blue and the badge.
None left who marched through
the streets of O’Neill, stepping
in unison to the drumming of
martial music. Neil Brennan,
John McCafferty, Charley Mil
lard, Moses P. Kinkaid, Doc
Mathews and other boosters for
a Holt county fair that got un
derway in 1884 with a race
track, grandstand, livestock pens and barns and
exhibition hall a mile east of O'Neill.
And survivors of the bloody field of An tie
tain where Gen. George McClellan’s 70,000 blue
dad soldiers put to flight the forces of General Lee
marched up to the grandstand with fife and drum
and thrilled us kids with their strains of martial
music, beat and blown out on the calm evening.
Fife and drum have passed with the GAR. Amer
ican Legions now muster when the bugle call
blares forth. The Legion succeeds the Grand
Army. It, too, will pass away.
• * *
Can there be any good thing come out of
Naaareth? . . Come and see! We Tom, Dick and
Harry■ are ao aet In our ways we can not come
and aee; tied to our way of life, hidebound, go
ing along in our little groove heedless of the
good things along the way that call out, “Come
and see!" Traditions, customs, forms and cere
monies have a place in life but should never be
a barrier closing the soul to “come and see”
what precept upon precept, line upon line, here
a little, there a little can do to enrich life. Come
and see!
* * *
Miss Mamie Cullen, formerly of O’Neill,
whose address now is 324 Livingston street, Eliza
beth, N.J., and who continues a Frontier reader,
writes of her interest and treasured memories of
places and friends in prairieland. Miss Cullen is
a niece of the late Father Cassidy, who for near
ly a century was pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic
church in O’Neill and with whom she made her
home. She is now employed at office work in a
hospital in the New Jersey city where she lives.
But memories of other days out here tinted with
the pleasures of life among her young friends are
now her cherished heritage. She was last among
O’Neill friends on a visit here seven years ago.
And now those treasured ties of human friend
.ships throb anew for Miss Cullen as she reads her
paper from O’Neill each week. Maybe, too, a
thrill of delight would be hers if some former
Twenty miles south of Atkinson on highway
11 you come to a prairieland trail leading west. A
mile or so along that trail and you see a gleaming
white seven-room house in a setting of stately
trees, floral bloom and green verdure—the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Baker and the site of
Holt county’s first purebred Shorthorn cattle ranch
functioning still after more than 70 years. It was
known for more than a half-century as Riley Bros,
ranch. Mrs. Baker is a daughter of the last surviv
or of the three Riley brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Baker
may have been knocked off of their pins by sur
prise when Prairieland Talker’s son, Romaine, and
his wife, Roberta, of Marion, Ind., came to their
door recently. The bogus Hoosiers had been on a
trip to the Canadian Rockies and that mysterious
something that forever haunts our memories lured
son back to where he had lived as a lad, the Berry
schoolhouse where his scholastic career got a start
and the Baker home being places visited. After
service on the high seas before and during the
Japanese war and graduation from the Uni
versity of Colorado, he is with the Radio Corpora
tion of America as research engineer. But prai
rieland has attractions still, and I don’t know of a
more charming couple to visit out there than Tom
and Ruth Baker.
There have come forward one or two of the
military figureheads with avowed approval of
marching recruits to their death as a feature of
training. Fathers and mothers of America give
their sons to defend the flag but not to march to
death in snake and crocodile Infested swamps.
• • •
A group of clerygmen went before anyone
interested via TV to expound and display their
wisdom, understanding, whys and wherefores of
this thing we call a cold war. The nation’s hon
orable secretary of state, with President Eisen
hower, appeared on TV to tell us what they know
about Egypt’s claim to that international canal.
A humble citizen bearing no official title, who
had been there in person, told me that same day
that Egypt and the near East are the world’s pow
der keg that may blow up any day.
• • *
Today a 15-year-old lad is paid $0 for a day's
work, 8 hours of the 24 being counted a working
day. Six dollars a day for a youthful roustabout,
master of no trade or profession. Six dollars a
half-century ago paid for four days’ work of skill
ed hands. Ten hours then reckoned as a work
day. Times have changed. Do the times produce
any better workmen, improved and polished men
and women?
• • •
New moon rose over prairieland August 6.
Stepping then out of a summer furnace that had
been heated “seven times more than it was wont
to be heated” into the deepfreeze of north winds
and cooling showers. The weather-wise prairie
dweller discovered long ago that new moon time
is the time for change. “God made two great lights
and let them be for signs and seasons and for
days and years.”
* * *
The mind has a lot to do with body ailments,
Editorial . . .
Nuts to Interstate Highway
Two important moves in the realm of trans
portation affecting Nebraskans leave us cold:
1. The Chicago & North Western railway
company declares it is going to take formal ac
tion to discontinue the last two passenger-mail
express trains serving much of north-Nebraska.
2. The interstate super highway scheme as it
affects Nebraska and costing several hundred
million dollars.
The renewal of the railroad’s plan to curtail
service comes nearly two years following an ear
lier, informal effort. Train-saving enthusiasts in
tbe area served—and they are legion—are going
to oppose the C&NW’s efforts before the Nebras
ka railway commission, if and when a hearing is
sot (More on this subject will be discussed in
subsequent issues and much train-saving opinion
already has been published herein during these
past two years.)
About the interstate:
We don’t give a good hoot if an interstate
kighway is ever built across the state; at least
aot until unprecedented improvements have been
made on present federal and state highways and
most of our farmers and ranchers have decent ac
cess to their mail boxes and trading points.
It is utterly ridiculous for any Nebraskan to
get all steamed up about the interstate. This gen
eral statement includes the governor, senators and
congressmen (who already have jumped on the
interstate bandwagon with both feet).
We envision as the interstate a 200-ft. wide
oorridor across the state, lined on either side with
a steel fence. Motorists will have access every 10
miles or so. All service stations will be staffed and
•perated on a lease basis by one petroleum firm;
all eating houses by one restaurant chain; every
body else will help pay for the highway under
tbe administration’s super highway program.
The interstate across Nebraska will be east
west and farmers and ranchers whose places are
sliced in two will have the opportunity to clear
the snow daily at the underpasses.
The interstate, primarily, will benefit trans
continental traffic and the volume of that type of
traffic will, without doubt, alarmingly diminish
on the prescent across-state routes—highways 20,
2, 30 and 6.
If the federals have oodles of dough to blow
on highways, why not widen, straighten and re
build portions of highways 20, 30 and 6 and be of
a whale of a lot more benefit for everyone?
Then, by skipping the interstate colossus, per
haps we could nickelplate good ol’ highways 20,
30 and 6 with the funds leftover.
Hints on the 1957 Models
A few hints about the 1957 model automobiles
are out. Some of the features are expected to in
clude smaller wheels, wider tires, lower pressure,
fuel injection systems, and different head lamps.
The new head lamps on some models are ex
pected to feature two lights in each front fender,
so that drivers on long trips will be able to use
all four lights on the highway.
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
ARTHUR J. NOECKER and ESTHER M. ASHER,
Associate Publishers
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—2,559 (Mar. 31, 1956)
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When You and I Were Young . . .
Hail Measuring
11-In. at Ewing
Jack Taggart Says
Crops Ruined
50 Y’ears Ago
Born Friday, July 27, to Mr.
and Mrs Lester Lamison of Page,
a baby boy. . . Doctor Caldwell
sold 1,760 acres of his ranch to
C. M. Hunt of South Omaha for
$25 per acre for 800 acres and
$20 an acre for the balance. . .
E. L. Chapin and wife of Chica
SQ, 111., departed after visiting his
lister, Mrs. Sam Barnard. . . Hail
that measured 11 inches in cir
cumference fell at Jack Taggart’s
place in Ewing, completely de
stroying his crops and some of
the hail stones were driven
through the roof of his new barn.
20 Years Ago
Three feminine figures occu
pied the rear seat of a public
conveyance. The one in the center
struck a match which flared into
a blaze and was applied to the
little white fag held between
seasoned lips, while nervous
glances and hesitant movement
indicated that, common as it has
become, just as soon the man on
the street didn't see. . . Guests at
the Frank Peter home on Sunday
were Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Peter
and Elsie and Lillian, “Grand
ma” Peter, Mr. and Mrs. John
Peter and children and Vine
10 Year* Ago
Miss Helen Peterson, daugh
ter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Aug
ust Peterson, was crowned At
kinson hay queen. . . New busi
ness buildings completed: Mar
cellus Implement, Asimus Bros.,
Hunt’s Recapping. New business
buildings under construction:
Gambles, A. Mareellus Buick,
American Gear Co., West O'
Neill locker plant, Ben Franklin
store. . . The Niobrara Valley
Electric corporation has received
a 520-thousand-dollar REA loan.
. . . Deaths: E. Roy Townsend, 70,
Page; Mrs. William Reige, 74,
formerly of Page.
One Yew .Ago
Dr. H. L. Bennett, active In
city, school and civic affairs,
died. . , Rovlin L. Boshult of
~«ch died from injuries receiv
ed when he and his horse were
struck by a car on the crest of a
hill. , . Miss Helen Engler of Stu
art and Harry C. Stokely of Lin
coln and Miss Joann Beed of
Chambers and Dennis Kaup of
Stuart were married. . . Dale
Fullerton of Amelia celebrated
his !3th birthday anniversary at
a swimming party in O’Neill.
Deloit Clubbers
Feted at Norfolk
DELOIT—Members of the De
loit Pinochle club were guests of
Mrs. Louis Pofahl on Thursday,
August 2, at Norfolk. The follow
ing made the trip: Mrs. Frank
Miller, Mrs. Charles McDonald,
Mrs. Paul Funk, Mrs. Carl
Thiele, Mrs. H. Werkmeister and
Judy.
Drivers were H. Werkmeister,
Dana Sisson and Paul Funk.
Next meeting will be at the
Charles McDonald home in Sep
tember.
Deloit received a few drops of
rain last week.
O'Neill News
Bert Shoemaker left over the
weekend to visit his sons, Lester
and Donald, in Denver, Colo., for
a week
Bob Matthews went to Fuller
ton Sunday to bring back his
mother, Mrs. Alice Matthews,
who will visit here for a week.
Mrs. Ina Wolfe returned witn
them.
Wednesday, August 8, guests
of Mr. and Mrs. Don Petersen
were her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
George Padrnos of Lake Andes,
S.D.
Mr. and Mrs. L. M Merriman
were in Norfolk Monday.
Allen Porter, son of the C. W.
Porters, arrived in Iceland July
27 where he is stationed.
Sunday, August 5, Mr. and
Mrs. V. J. Tielke and family of
southwest of Atkinson were
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne
Philbrick and family.
The Frontier for Printing
Burned Crops Seen
at Elgin, Albion
Deloit Area ‘Looks
Much Better’
DELOIT—Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Reimer on a trip to Hastings last
week, observed the burned crops
south of Elgin and in the Albion,
Greeley and St. Paul communi
ties as well as south of Hastings.
The crops in the Deloit com
munity “look much better,” Mrs.
Reimer stated.
Haying is in progress and the
hay is “much better” than last
year.
Grover Shaw is helping hay at
the Max Pofahl ranch.
Other Deloit News
Mr. and Mrs. Web Napier were
Sunday dinner guests at the
Glenn Harpster home in honor of
Mrs. Napier’s birthday anniver
sary.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Beaudin
and two children and Vicky Ray
of Omaha arrived at the Ralph
Tomjack home on Monday, Aug
ust 6. The children stayed at the
Tomjack home while the Beau
dins vacationed in Colorado.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Manson
of O’Neill, Mrs. Sidney Anderson
of Elgin and Mrs. Ivan Briggs
of Ord were Sunday, August 5.1
dinner guests at the H. W. Tem
ple home in Hastings. They were
enroute to Sutton to attend the
wedding of Sonny Moore.
The HEO club will meet at the j
Maynard Steams home in Sep
tember.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reimer
spent Sunday with Judge and
Mrs. L. W. Reimer in O’Neill.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Hupp
of Norfolk and Mr. and Mrs.
Rose of Grand Island attended
the Funk-Thiele wedding at St. |
John’s Wednesday, August 8.
Bob Knapp is home after com
pleting his time in the armed j
service.
Mr. and Mrs. Lew Belling and
Rex of Orchard and Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Harpster were dinner guests
at the Glenn Harpster home on
Sunday, August 5.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thiele left
Friday (or Arkansas to attend the
wedding of their daughter, Ger
aldine. which is to take place on
August 25.
Mr. and Mrs Lambert Bartak
moved to their new home across
from the Deloit schoolhouse last
week.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller
went to Grand Island on Friday.
Their daughter, Mary, who at
tends business college ther«, re
turned home with them for the
weekend. They attended a family
reunion on Sunday.
Ash Grove Auxilary
Plans Square Dance
STAR—The Ash Grov1 aux
iliary met at the hall Tuesday
afternoon. August 7, with Mrs.
Lysle Johnson in charge. Plans
were made to have a square
dance this month. Plans for a ba
zaar and entertainment to be
held later on wore also discussed.
Mrs. Otto Matschullat, secre
tary, resigned and the vacancy
was filled by Mrs. Howard John
son.
The next meeting will be on
Tuesday, September 4, at the
hall.
Other Star News
Mr and Mrs. Ben Miller enter
tained about 50 guests at an out
door picnic supper at their home
Friday evening. Present for the
occasion wore: Mr. and Mrs. Dick
Keilholz, Miss Sherry Stewart,
the Nels Linquist, Soren Soren
sen, jr„ Lysle Johnson, Albert
Derickson, Irvon Miller, Roland
Miller and Fred Timmerman
families, Mr. and Mrs. Ewalt Mil
ler and Barbara, Mr. and Mrs.
Donald Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Forejt, Miss Joyce, Melvin and
Harold Miller and John Christ.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Miller and
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Keilholz spent
last Thursday with relatives in
South Dakota.
Mr. and Mrs. Ewalt Miller vis
ited at the Charles Beilin home
in O’Neill Saturday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Boelter
and Merle and Mr. and Mrs.
Lysle Johnson and sons were
Sunday evening visitors at the
Ewalt Miller home.
Marvin Miller left Sunday to
attend coaching school in Lin
coln.
August Birthdays
Are Noted at Meet
STAR—Mrs. Ewalt Miller wn
hostess to the Star Get-Together
club at her home Wednesday af
ternoon, August 8, with 10 mem
bers and four visitors present.
The visitors were Mrs. Clayton
Nelson. Mrs. Nels Linquist, Mrs.
Dick Keilholz and Mrs. Fred
Timmerman.
Mrs. Leonard Juracek and Mr».
William Derickson demonstrated
the handicraft lesson in part, to
be completed at the September
meeting which will be held at the
home of Mrs. William Derickson
on September 12.
The luncheon table was cen
tered with a calendar cake and
two vases of garden flowers to
honor the birthday and wedding
anniversaries of six of the club
members who celebrated these
dates in August. They were Mrs.
Dale Revell, Mrs. William Der
ickson, Mrs. Lysle Johnson. Mrs.
Albert Derickson, Mrs. Ben Von
asek and Mrs. Leonard Juracek.
a
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! _
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