Prairie I arid Ialk
Lawmakers Leave Their Mark
H* KOMAINE SAUNDERS. Reurrd. Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN—The state legislature as well as the
national congress launches out for another ses
sion, Holt county members of our state law mak
ing body accomplished some worthwhile things
in years now gine.
Frank Phillips put through a measure a half
century ago that brou^it an end to the county
division movements in Holt
county. B. E, Sturdevant had
a hand as a member of the
legislature in giving the cit
izens the two-cent railroad
fare at one time operative in
this state and I believe had
to do with the passing of a
measure authorizing the
establishment of the state
railway commission.
Doctor Gilligan promoted
and supported a measure as Romaine
state senator setting up the Saunders
vital stastistics department of state govern
ment D. H. Cronin was the author of the state
bridge aid law and served in two or three ses- j
lions of the state legislature. L. G. Gillespie,
when serving in the state legislature, gave the
Amelia community a highway, and probably Sen.
Fr ink Nelson will be instrumental in promoting
legislation that will retain for Amelia their high
school.
IX) you know that there lies up on Prospect
fiiil a former Holt county citizen, a pioneer of
O'Neill, M. P. Kinkaid. who was a member of the
national congress secured the enactment of the
section homestead law as applied to government
land then available for homestead entry in Ne
braska? It became known as the Kinkaid Act
and most of you studied about it in your history
books.
• m m
So Harry White, who has spent a lifetime in
southwest Holt where for endless miles the
landscape is robed in nature’s silken gown of
summer green and autumn brown, goes to the
mountains and hangs his sombrero on a peg in
mile high Denver Harry is the one left of three
White brothers, each of whom had taken root and
grew with the prairie grass in the charming
Amelia region. Harry has gone to Denver but he
will hear the call of the prairie wolf, the song of i
meadow lark and catch the fragrance of the prai
rie rose and will come back where he belongs, !
where Link Sageser, Frank Pierce, Floyd Adams j
*nd the others are who have spent their lives on ;
peaceful prairieland. Others will not return— j
Will Riley, Fred Watson, Rhody Adams, the sen- .
K>r Mr. Berry, Harry’s two brothers and the aged
Grandpa Thompson; they lie now under the sod
their feet once trod.
I walked today on concrete-covered street
Whore city dwellers pass on hurrying feet.
And pause a moment as a friend we greet.
I have stood on wayside mountain trail
And beside the sea where ocean
vessels sail,
Stood before man’s towering works of wood
and stone
Feeling pretty small and all alone. *
Nothing has before my vision rose
Quite like the simple beauty of the prairie
rose.
• • •
Prairieland Talker received a goodly share
of Christmas gifts but happily nothing like that
sent to a lad down in Texas, who with a grin
had his picture taken with a boa eonstrieter
wrapped around him that he received as a
Christmas gift. And maybe those kids over at
Omaha that caught a cat, poured kerosene over
ft and set it ablaze should have a little similar
treatment that was given the eat.
O’Neill's first newspaper editor was one T. J.
Smith who published a little four column sheet In
the late 1870's. He was followed by M. B. Gearon,
he by G. M. Cleveland and then Patrick Hagerty
took over the editorial sanctum. W. D. Mathews
was the next to appear on the sod-bound scene
with The Frontier, and my brother, Ezra, was the
first journeyman printer to land in the pioneer
town. He later published the O’Neill Item. Early
day newspapers were also political organs and
the community had first a democratic paper, but
to get in on United States land office patronage
the switch was made to republican. Mathews was
a democrat before he came to prairieland but
with columns of land notices at $7.50 each the
change over to the other political party was sur
ficient inducement. Upon his removal from O’
Neill he became a citizen of Arkansas and a
democrat again, even went after the democratic
nomination for governor of that state. M. P. Kin
kaid, G. M. Cleveland and H. M Uttlev were the
first disciples of Blackstone to cast anchor among
the group from the Emerald Isle brought here by
Gen. John O’Neill, a group now with scarcely a
representative in the community. The first of
these robed in the vestments of the clergy was
Rev. J. D. Bedard, a French Canadian Catholic
priest, the first to officiate for the group that
started St. Patrick’s church. He was followed
in 1878 by Rev. J. T. Smith. Father Cassidy fol
lowed next. Rev. Bartley Blaine was here early
and founded the Methodist church. Rev. N. S.
Lowrie was the first resident pastor of the Pres
byterian church that with the Methodist was
established in the early 1880’s. Just a few of the
firsts and from such as these the present city of
O’Neill had its beginning.
• • •
A Lincoln school man says there is no way
to avoid it—a five million dollar bond debt will
be the heritage of taxpayers and school pa
trons the next three years. Maybe the voters
and tax payers will find a “way out’’ at the
polls. The state university also has scholarly
hands out for increased cash piles. If our
schools can not function without voting a big
debt on the public, close them up. Ignoranee
is bliss—tls folly to be wise.
• • •
Write it '57. The troubled earth and all thereon
are one year older. We start out again but if you
have come to and beyond four score years for
you January 1 is just another day. And morning
dawns on peaceful prairieland this day that be
gins another year, holding a promise of mild
serenity as the sun travels its course across the
azure depth of eternity above us. The old year
drew to a close as the grim reaper gathered many
sheeves to lay in the abode of the dead among us.
Some that we had known for a lifetime have in
recent days joined the innumerable caravan gone
to that abode from which no traveler returns.
Marching down the highway of time another
year the living know that they, too, must some
where along the way step aside to be numbered
among the lifeless. And so as we start a new
year we may well join that shepherd boy of past
centuries in his prayer, So teach us to number
our days that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom.
• * »
eHadline in last week’s issue of the Sheri
dan County (Rushville) Star: “Dies on Reser
vation As New Year Begins — Too Much Booze
in Too Short a Time.”
* * *
It is up to the fault-finder to propose a
remedy for the ills he discovers.
* * *
No teacher can do much with the brain of a
student who doesnt want to learn.
Editorial
So You Want to Start Smoking
An editor we know was about to take up
flunking, hoping it might curb one of his intem
perances (over eating). Then he ran across an
article associating cancer with cigarette smok- j
»ng.
He brushed the article aside on the propo
sition he wouldn’t bo smoking to excess until it j
was time for him to die, anyway.
Just about then an editorial by Frank Uhlig
of the Ceylon (Minn.) Herald was brought to his j
attention. Now our ravenous friend, about to j
embark on the glories of tobacco, is in a quan- j
dry again.
Here is a portion of Uhlig’s editorial which
suggests that this isn’t the proper time for our I
ever-eating pencil-pushing friend to start
smoking:
‘‘A long as young people remain convinced
shat smoking is a highly fashionable (and there- j
fore correct) thing to do, they will undoubtedly I
continue to enjoy the pleasures (the early-morn- j
mg hack and dark-brown taste), the advantages
(short wind, susceptibility to cancer, stains on j
the fingers and teeth) and the social graces
(burning holes in the host’s upholstery and car
peting, allowing smoke to drift in the faces of
■earby persons trying to eat) of this universally
accepted activity.
“Should a fairly large number of young
people develop enough individuality—aided, per
haps by thoughtful parents—great numbers of
them might be spared learning the hard way.
“Meanwhile, we fail to see why the depart
ment of agriculture should maintain supports on
the price of tobacco."
He Tell* Them So
If people in sparsely settled areas of Ne
braska (geographically this includes most of the
state) are going to kick in money to help pay for
a super-highway program, they are entitled to
a state road leading to their hometown. State
Sen, Frank Nelson told the Omaha World-Her
ald.
The World-Herald headlined the story:
•People Who Pay Bills Deserve Road’—Nelson.
The story continued:
“Nelson is planning a bill which would re
quire the state to maintain a road to any town
■ot more than five miles off the state system.
“The state now maintains connections to ail !
towns with one hundred or more population.
“There has been considerable controversy
since 1955 when the legislature knocked some !
oine hundred miles off the state highway system.
Many delegations have appeared before the state
highway commission asking that stretches of
road removed from the state system be returned
to it.”
The “considerable controversy” the World
Herald refers to is a matter of special interest
to us.
Nelson’s vote against the dropping of nine
hundred miles of state road in Nebraska (includ
ing 45 miles in Holt) was buried with the ob
scure minority back in 1955.
Now let’s examine what has happened since:
Dozens of delegations have gone to Lincoln to
get certain roads restored to the state highway
system. Not infr< quently some of the senators
who voted to lop off the nine hundred miles are
members of these delegations.
Senator Nelson frequently has been a critic
of other legislation which has been enacted and
ultimately turns sour.
All of which makes some of his negative
voting absolutely correct. Time usually vindi
cates his position.
The state would do well if all state senators
were the like of Mr. Nelson.
Newspapers Popular
A large increase in the use of newspaper
advertising in recent years was reported by the
Census Bureau.
Advertising revenues grew from $1,192,
413.000 in 1947 to $2,058,975,000 in 1954.
Closer to home, here in Nebraska, the state’s
newspaper poulation has dropped to 270. Each
year, there have becomb fewer and fewer. Most
weeklies quit publication because of financial
reasons as communities no longer could support
a newspaper.
However, despite the decline in the number
of newspapers, the total circulation is higher.
More people are reading the good weeklies, and
more people are reading newspapers than ever
before!
“Happiness has to be earned,” writes Arthur
Gordon in a January Reader’s Digest article. “It
doesn’t come in pills.” The writer reports a cer
tain amount of tension is an unavoidable part
of living. “Parents who insulate their children
from any sort of discomfort,” he says, “are cheat
ing them of the chance to acquire the flexibility
and toughness they are going to need.”
“Hollywood or Bust” with Martin and Lewis
drew a “B” on the report card. Our lad, 6,
blamed Dean’s singing.
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 Editoriail 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 (March 31, 1958
• • • '
When You And I Were Young • •
Box of Bon Bons
to Young Winners
Pen, Holder Won by
Father Moore
50 Y ears Ago
Eddie GaUaghter, Eddie Camp
bell and Father Moore won tin
prizes at the new year's banqud
given for the Catholic choir. Th*
tw'O boys received boxes of bon
tx ns and Father Moore a pen ant
pencil holder. . Among the teach
ers attending the convention ir
Lincoln were Misses Kay, Roberts
and Mr. Sweet of Atkinson, Mr
Cahill, Miss Dunham and Miss
Dunten of Stuart, Mr. Mote, Mis?
Horiskey, Miss Grady and Mis;
Spindler of O'Neill, Mr. Mohrmar
oi Ewing and Mr. Bennet of Inez.
.. . Marriage license granted: Jan
uary 3—James G. Merriman of
Memphis and Pearl Greenfield ot
Stuart: January 4 — George W.
Raymer and Gertrude B. Warner,
both of Atkinson; January 5 —
1 Frank A. Pettinger of Stuart and
, Clara Schaaf of Atkinson; Jan
; uary 7—Perry Val Smith of O’
Neill and Florence Abemethy of
Ruth.
20 Year* Ago
Deaths: Michael Holland, 92,
the last of the old Michigan pion
eers, who came to this county in
the latter seventies and the early
vigil tic . Mrs. Mitilda Dailey, 60;
Mrs. Minnie Rosenkrans, 79; Mrs.
Nellie Froelich, 65; Alexander
Athey of Prairie du Chien, Wise.,
a lormer resident of O’Neill. . .
Laurence, 6-year-old son of Mr.
and Mrs. John Young of Inman, is
wry ill with pneumonia at the
home of his grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. William Young. . . A
blizzard struck.
10 Years Ago
Miss Twila Whaley won a $100
j scholarship for an article she
submitted on fire and accident
prevention in the home. . . Au
brey Kreiter, 13, of Oklahoma,
formerly of Ewing, was shot in a
huntuig accident. . . Henry J.
Wayman, 83, died. . . Miss Virgie
Hartland of Redbird and Jack
Ressel of Chambers were mar
ried. . . Dale Braddock of Page
submitted to an appendectomy in
Sioux City. . . Mrs. Alma Farrier
of Chambers returned home from
a visit to Washington, D.C., and
Red Oak, la.
One Year Ago
Mrs. Floyd Spence and 2-year
old daughter of Atkinson were
critically burned in a fire at their
home. . . Deaths: Mrs. Amelia
Werner, southeast of Atkinson;
Mrs. M. R. Marlott of Spencer;
Oliver Cromwell of Creighton;
Mrs. Flora Lautenschlager, a for
mer resident of Orchard. . . Mr.
and Mrs. Rudolph Tusha of Ver
digre celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary.
Yule Dinner Guests—
Christmas dinner guests of
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Krugman
were Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Sonder
and family and his mother, all of
Verdigre, Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Krugman and Daryl otf Spencer,
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Krugman
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Krugman andJVlr. and Mrs. Paul
Krugman and Tamily.
P-TA in Session—
The Parent-Teachers’ associa*
.ion held a meeting Monday eve
ning in the band room. Music was
presented by the combined sixth
grade classes and high school vo
cal soloists.
Plan to Move—
The Edwin L. Krugman family
are planing to move to the Robert
Asher house this weekend. The
Ashers arc going to Rapid City,
S.D., where Mr. Asher will be
employed in a Phil Cohn store.
Entertains Tonight—
Mrs. L. R. Sutcliff is entertain
ing the J e u d i club tonight
(Thursday).
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Caskey
and Suellyn visited Mr. and Mrs.
Ora Caskey at Orchard Sunday.
Timber Owners
CONVERT YOUR WALNUT
TREES TO CASH — Contact
Midwest Walnut
PHONE 6621
Council Bluffs, la.
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
Money to Loan
— on —
AUTOMOBILES
TRUCKS
TRACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FURNITURE
Central Finance
O’Neill Nebraska
C. E. Jones, Manager
Echoes from the \ alley
Might Raise Eyebrow!
By MRS. MERRILL ANDERSON
Our state legislature is in ses
| sion again, and we are interested
in the outcome of the K-12 (kin
j dergarten through 12th grade)
I proposal which we're hearing so
much about.
Viewing the situation from
various standpoints and consider
ing the many aspects connected
with such a plan, I question the
ultimate outcome of this type of
reorganization of our school dis
] tricts.
While we would derive some
benefits from this plan, it would
be offset by the tremendous ex
penditures involved. In many in
stances new buildings would be
necessary, equipment and other
facilities added, there would be
increases in teachers’ salaries be
cause there are those in the capitol
who would make it required to
have a bachelor's degree before
being eligible to teach in our
schools. They call it higher teach
i ur certification.
Aside from these facts, we
have our ever-present road situa
tion. If some of our broad-minded
statesmen would tour these parts
and get a glimpse of old Nebras
ka in the rougn, they would bet
ter understand our problem. Our
paths to learning are not paved;
on the contrary, they are mere
cow trails. Usually after the first
snowfall of winter, the roads are
j not to be found!
Feature finding anyone to
charter a school bus under these
conditions!
We in the ranch country have
learned patience through neces
sity; we find it difficult to convey
children to school, even a short
distance. Therefore better roads
would be an absolute necessity.
We offer no objection to any
efforts which would improve our
school system; We arc greatly in
terested in the educational wel
fare of our young generation. We
realize we are living in a progres
sive world and must keep in step,
but we also realize we must ad
vance as our financial status al
lows.
What proposal has been made
to meet this added burden? A
boost in taxes?
We are industrious people, but
not necessarily prosperous.
Let us be referred to as the
“noisy minority" group. We be
lieve in equal rights for all;
therefore, let us exercise our con
stitutional rights and voice our
opinion on this matter and sup
port Senator Nelson as he endea
vors to look after our interests.
Might be well to read the bro
chure by F. B. Decker of the de
partment of education if you
want more information on the K
12 plan.
Might raise an eyebrow!
Out of Old Nebraska. . .
Nebraska Furnished
‘White Ring Hope
McCarthy Career Ends
with Fatal Blow
As 1956 came to an end, the
sports pages of Nebraska news
papers called our attention to the
fact that professional boxing was
all but dead in Nebraska. Old
time devotees of the sport shook
their heads sadly and recalled
the days of departed glory when
Nebraska fighters like Vince Fos
ter or Ace Hudkins commanded a
strong following of the state.
Nebraska’s most famous fight
er was Luther McCarthy, called
the white champion. McCarthy
w as born in Hitchcock county in
March 1892. He came to promin
ence while Jack Johnson was
champion. Then much more than
20 years later, when Joe
Louis became champion, the
pride of the white population was
stirred and there was great in
terest in a “white hope" to regain
the championship.
McCarthy came quickly to the
fore in his situation. Actually he
advanced faster than the present
heavyweight champion, Flovd
Patterson, and he was not yet 21
when he was crowned the “white
heavyweight champion”. He
gained this distinction by defeat
ing A1 Palzer, and over the claims
of such fighters as Jesse Willard.
At the time that he was recognized
as the white champion, McCarthy
followed a common and safe
practice in refusing to fight Ne
groes—it was a safe practice in
that the champion. Jack Johnson,
and Sam Langford were probably
the best heavyweights fighting
then.
The Nebraska heavyweight met
a tragic end, being killed in a
fight in Calgary. His opponent
was Arthur Pelkey of Canada,
and McCarthy had been criticized
for scheduling the fight because
experts thought that Pelkey wras
not a match for him. In the first
round, after McCarthy had land
ed two good blows, he was caught
by a right to the heart, collapsed
and died very shortly. So ended
the bid of the Nebraska born
white hope He was only 21 when
wat killed on May 24, 1913.
How good a fighter was Mc
Carthy that is something that
will never be determined. Cer
tainly against his claim to fame
is the unexplainable defeat that
nded his career and his life. On
■ * o'her hand he had become a
very good boxer at a very early
a > \> ithout what has been des
cribed as an “unlucky and des
p.’trnnen blOw” he could easily
have .-developed into one of. the
great heavyweights Of ..r . -
: i \ His manager. Billy McCnr
ney. who was active in the fight
game until his death in 1948, be
ing associated with managing
both Max Schmeling and Joe
Louis, made a listing of the great
heavyweights shortly after Louis
became champion In that list he
>r McCarthy first, Dempsey
fourth, lands ninth
Charter No, 5770 Reserve District No. 10
Report of the condition of the
O’Neill National Bank
of O’Neill, in the state of Nebraska, at the close of business on
DECEMBER 31, 1956
Published in response to call made by Comptroller of the
Currency, under Section 5211, U S. Revised Statutes
ASSETS
Cash, balances with other banks, including reserve bal
ance, and cash items in process of collection $ 586,570.44
United States Government obligations, direct and guar
anteed 2,694,290.75
Obligations of States and political subdivisions 182,283.42
Other bonds, notes, and debentures 50,000 00
Corporate stocks (including $4500.00 stock of Federal
Reserve bank 4.500.00
Loans and discounts (including $551.49 overdrafts) 332,958.57
Bank premises owned 3.000.00
Total Assets $3,853,603.18
LIABILITIES
Demand deposits of individuals, partnerships, and cor
porations 3,167,652.91
Deposits of United States Government (including postal
savings) 68,467.69
Deposits of States and political subdivisions 171,295.43
' its of banks 121,704.09
Total Deposits $3,529,120.12
Total Liabilities $3,529,1*0.12
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
Capital Stock:
Common Stock, total par $50,000.00 $ 50,000.00
Surplus 100,000.00
Undivided profits 174,483.06
Total Capital Accounts $ 324,483.06
Total Liabilities and Capital Accounts $3,853,603.18
MEMORANDA
Assets pledged or assigned to secure liabilities and for
other purposes _ $ 500,000.00
I, J. B. Grady, Cashier of the above-named bank, do solemnly
swear that the above statement is true to the best of my knowledge
and belief.
J. B. GRADY, Cashier
Correct — Attest: F. N. Cronin, E. F. Quinn, Julius D. Cronin,
Directors.
State of Nebraska, County of Holt, ss:
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of January,
1957, and I hereby certify that I am not an officer or director of
this bank.
DOROTHY ENRIGHT, Notary Public
My commission expires March 7, 1961
Finally Believed His Eyes and Ears !
He has heard and read a great many wonderful
things about this new 1957 Cadillac since it made
its first appearance a few brief weeks ago—
—about its magnificent new luxury, for instance
. . . its brilliant new power and responsiveness . . .
its marvelous new handling ease . . . and its
extraordinary new smoothness of ride.
And so, quite frankly, he began to wonder if it
weren’t all too good to be true. Could any motor
car be as wonderful as this latest “car of cars”
was reputed to be?
Well, he’s decided to put his eyes and ears to
the test today. And the verdict is unmistakable!
It’s a joy just to lean back into (hose deep, soft
cushions and look out over that graceful hood
into the beckoning highway.
And what a revelation the car is to drive!
A curve in the road ahead? He simply follows
it with the arc of his hands and the car responds
with perfect obedience.
A hill in the offing? ffe just nudges the acceler
ator and the car sweeps up and over as effortlessly
as if it were traveling the level road.
A stop light coming up? He presses his toe—
ever so gently—on the broad braking pedal and
comes to the smoothest, surest stop imaginable.
Yes, it's true what they say about this newest
of Cadillacs. This is Jar and away the finest motor
car ever to travel the world's highways.
* * * *
How about you? Have you heard the wonderful
things they’re saying about the 1957 Cadillac?
Well, the proof is in the driving—and the facts
about Cadillac have never been more convincing.
A. MARCELLUS CHEVROLET CO.
127 North Fourth St., O’Neill, Nebr. Phone 100