Prairieland Talk '
Ph D Thesis Written About Holt
B» ROM AINE 8AUVDF.R8. R«lr«l, Former Editor The Frontier
LINCOLN—A teacher in the schools up at
lias&ott has been writing Prairieland Talker for
information about Holt county affairs and people
A paper in Ainsworth published a story
about the Kinkaid section homestead law in
which a “Mr Harrington" was quoted as expres
sing concern that the enlarged homestead from
160 to 640 acres would "pro
duce an inn»h of people.” '0* ' %.
I have been asked to dis- - i
elite the name >»f this "Mr
Harrington o f O’N e i 11."
There were several of that
name in this community, but
my guess is it was M. F.,
who had been quoted. The
tear nor is wTitlng a thesis to
win her university degree,
and Holt county is being
dealt with in her scholastic
literary work As Prairieland Knmaine
Talker has added a bit to the Haunders
Holt county portion of her prodetion, maybe a
Hh D now’ awaits him.
Who would have thought it seventy odd
years ago as 1 stood by the hay burner in our
humble homestead abide where the district school
was held with my sire the teacher and read,
“Give me of your bark O birch tree, of your yel
low’ white skinned wrapped, and I a light canoe
will build me, that will float upon the water like
a yellow leaf in autumn, like a yellow water
Illy "
m m w
King Saud, from out the ancient land of Ar
abia where through the centuries Mohammedans
have dropped to their knees at stated hours to
mutter o’er a formal prayer, has visited us. No,
not us out here on prairieland, but to look in Ara
bian wonder at our national official and military
dignitaries a few steps in from the Atlantic sea
board He visited our noted naval academy but
declined to step a consecrated Moslem foot in the
academy's chapel as he is said to “abhor every
thing Christian." His Arabian scruples did not
stand in the way of eating the “Christian Yankee”
grub served up. ,The King did not get to the
open places out this way, but a half-century or
more ago horsemen from his ancient land were
a part of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show that
was organized and started out down at Columbus.
Cody assembled riders from all sections of earth,
humped up riders from Arabian deserts, from
Russia, from Canada and from South America,
together with our open range riders, the cowboys
of whom Gen. Nelson A. Miles said were the best
of ill horsemen. And do not the Americans ex
cel at everything, even riding a horse?
The December, ’56 number of the Nebraska
History magazine came out two months late.
Are the history stories no nearer the facts?
* * ♦
Again there has reached out from high offi
cial eminence an inexorable hand and turned the
key that closes forever two more historic doors
of the prairies of Holt county. Where now will
go the bundles of The Frontier that for more than
70 years have gone week-by-week to Star and
Dorsey? Will a ruthless hand in Washington
spare us nothing that marks historic spots where
treaured memories cluster? Which will be the
next victim- Amelia, Emmet, Page? “Woodman,
spare that tree; touch not a single bough!”
According to a decision reached by the Jun
ior Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska's outstand
ing young guy in 1956 is a young business man
here in the capital city. Another community
claims the “top young farmer.” Prairieland may
have many outstanding young men whose na
tive modesty restrains them from seeking notice.
I think of one such down there in Swan precinct
in southwest Holt county. He is the third gener
ation, taken to himself a life’s companion, mak
ing his home and carrying on the affairs of the
ranch that is yet the home of his father and
grandfather. HLs father before him remained on
the home place, married and reared a fine fam
ily. The son has not been captivated by the glit
ter and gloss he has seen in the crowded haunts
of men but shapes his future course in the quiet
security of a prairieland rancher where verdant
velvet spreads a blanket across the landscape, as
his sire and grandsire did. His name is Vernon
Berry, son of Mr and Mrs. Howard Berry,
* * *
Frank Spindler, killed recently on the high
way near Gordon, was a brother of Will H.
Spindler, author of that charming story of ro
mance and adventure, “Rim of the Sandhills,” in
which the reader is taken in fancy to the wooded
slopes anl green vales of northedn Holt county, a
land replete in charm and historic interest where
the author spent lus youthful days. Other liter
ary works of Mr. Spindler includes “Tragedy
Strikes at Wounded Knee,” the story of the kill
ing of the Sioux chiefs, Sitting Bull, and the last
of our Indian wars that followed, when 173 Sioux
warriors were killed and three U S. troopers.
Frank Spindler made his home with Mr. and
Mrs. Will Spindler at Wounded Knee.
• * *
From somewhere out of the darkness this
early morning came the plaintive note of a cow
bawling. Maybe a truck with a bovine loaded
aboard and headed for slaughter pens had stop
ped while passing on the streets and the cow
emotions, expressed in cow language, called to be
let out of the truck in order that cloven hoofs
could head back home. Or had a surburban city
dweller had enough of handing out 30 cents for
a pint bottle of “half-and-half,” or whole milk
as it comes from the original source, and has in
vested in a cow, the bovine not yet adjusted to
strange surroundings bawls her protest. Anyway,
the call of a cow this morning before daybreak
touched this superanuated former prairie wolf
with a throb of homesickness.
* * *
Have you written a letter to the Nebraska
members of congress? Maybe they would like to
hear from you; they receive only 125,000 letters
annually. . . Mrs. Belle Mulligan of Falls City is
retiring after 54 years work as a printer. . . A
college bred lady I talked with today did not
know that the Nebraska legislature is in session,
and never heard of the battle of Wounded Knee
that followed the killing of Chief Sitting Bull.
. . . Statistical experts tell us the personal income
of Americans for the year 195(5 totaled 325 billion
dollars. Get your share? . . . Three jailbirds
escaped at Nebraska City and left the state. Let
'em go.
* * *
It is never too soon to be kind, for we never
know how soon it will be too late.
E.d itorial
We Spread Out; Others Draw In
(The Chicago Tribune)
One of the many unintelligible features of
the Eisenhower “doctrine” for the middle east
is that it commits the United States to large new
military obligations at a time when critics are
complaining about the effectiveness of the na
tion’s military establishment and when other
countries allied with us want to cut back their
defenses, not add to them.
For example, Mr. Eisenhower pursues his
policy in the face of these recent developments:
1. Sen. Symington and other Democrats
charged that the administration's defense policy
was permitting American air and rocket power
to “decline relatively as against the steadily glow
ing striking capacity of the soviets.” While poli
tics may color the judgement, this is not the only
expression of concern on this score.
2. Britain is seeking the permission of its
North Atlantic Treaty organization allies to re
duce its contribution of 80,000 troops in Germany
by some 30,000 men Prime Minister Macmillan
plans to cut military expenditures at least 25 per
cent. The British are seeking a large contract at
American exriense to manufacture guided missies
as a “contribution to NATO,” thus enabling them
to convert to pushbottom methods of warfare,
scrap much of their air force, further reduce mil
itary man power, and end conscription. Defense
Minister Sandys says that the draft will be abol
ished as soon as it is practical to do so, while
over here the selective service administrator,
Gen. Hershey, is clamoring for the conscription
even of 4-F’s and fathers.
3. Japan has snubbed American suggestions
that next year’s military bulget be increased sub
stantially. Premier Ishibashi refuses to go be
yond a slight increase, bringing the military bud
get to 280 million dollars, altho the United States
agreed to pay half of any boost. Rejection of
American proposals rules out a planned increase
of 10,000 men in the land army
Before Mr Eisenhower started to barge into
the middle east with an offer to protect the whole
area from Pakistan to the Sudan from soviet at
tack, this country was already committed to the
defense of 42 nations. But, the more we expand
our obligations to protect others, the less they
choose to do in their own behalf. We propose not
only to shoulder the whole task in the middle
east wdthout help, but allied assistance in other
areas of potential trouble is constantly thinning
out.
As Sen. Mansfield remarked the other day.
the exertions of the Eisenhower internationalists
are only succeeding in reducing the nation to a
condition of “isolated internationalism.”
Horned Owls or Men?
Game Conservation Officer Fred Salak of
O’Neill, who doubles frequently as a traffic offi
cer (by virtue of his deputy sheriff’s badge), late
Friday arrested two young men near Inman.
We contacted Mr. Salak at 9:10 a.m, Sat
urday morning—a short time before our “Voice
of The Frontier” radio program.
Mr. Salak told us the names of the two men
were “Joe Blow” and “Jim Blake" and that he
encountered them “up-in-a-tree” near their park
ed car. Salak said he was making a “routine
patrol" when he sighted the car a half-mile north
of Inman.
He indicated the “Blow” and “Blake” handles
were ficticious; however, we asked him to re
peat twice on the “up-in-the tree” angle, and he
did.
On Saturday’s “Voice” we credited Mr. Salak
with the arrests and with the “tree” version.
However, after the program, we went to the
courthouse. We interviewed (tape-recording) the
youths themselves. They gave us their correct
names, home addresses, discussed tying up a
guard and escaping from the Ft. Carson, Colo-,
stockade, and told of acquiring stolen property in
a flight across Colorado, Nebraska and South
Dakota.
Our check into the matter revealed that Mr.
Salak knew the names of his prisoners at the
time he gave us the “Joe Blow” and “Jim Blake”
version. Other news agencies, on the same story,
said nothing about “Blow”, "Blake” or the “tree".
It turns out the 1950 Mercury the two young
men were driving was parked near some bushes.
We have been handling general news for
more than 20 years and never before have had
a public official suppress or distort news, which
is a very serious thing in our business.
When the two young escapees—Allan Rogers
of Isabelle, S. D., and Richard Whitehouse ofi
Stillwater, Okla.—told us their story on tape, we
were compelled to suggest (on the air) that Mr.
Salak probably was seeing horned owls in a tree,
not humans, and, as a game conservation officer
he should be able to readily distinguish a dif
ference.
We had no choice but to present both sides
of the story and permit the public to draw its
own conclusions
Perhaps Mr. Salak has been unhappy with
The Frontier of late on other matters. Arthur J.
Noecker, associate publisher, is secretary of the
North-Central Nebraska Game Conservation as
sociation (which counts over six hundred mem
bers). That association has been somewhat crit
ical of Mr. Salak’s performances, and, on one
occasion, Mr. Salak was sitting in on a meeting.
Asked by the chair if he (Salak) was a mem
ber, the answer was "no”. Whereupon the chair
asked Mr. Salak to leave.
There’s a prominent O’Neill businessman who
tends a cow.
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
»
When You 4 I Were Young . , . I
Phone Line Built
West of Coburn’s
Wearnes, Turners to
Say ‘Hello*
50 Years Ago
Frank Dishner returned from
a trip to Texas. . . Newton Car
son, who lives near Dorsey, was
injured while felling trees near
his home. . . George E. Hansen,
one of the wealthy and oldtime
farmers of the Blackbird country,
has decided to sell out his farm,
and retire. . A phone line is
being built west from Mrs. Co-)
burn’s. George Wearne. Fred
Turner, R Bellinger, Charles J
Keeler, Frank Ellis, and Mr.
Obermier will soon say "hello"
to *he rest of us.
20 Years Ago
Deaths: Walter McDonough of
Miami, Fla , formrely of O’Neill;
Patrick J. Reddin, 79; Mrs. Mary
Sageser, 93. . . A 64-pound son
was born to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Ritts. . . Donald Stannard and
i Miss Betty Branch will be mar
ried Saturday
10 Years Ago
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hertel of
Chambers celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary. . . Miss
Ardes Hansen of Venus was
graduated from Immanuel hos
pital school of nursing.
One Year Ago
Deaths: Mrs. Elenora Dempsey,
64, and M. H Horiskey, 73, both
of O’Neill; Floyd E. Crawford,
79, of Redbird; Harley Everett,
57, of Atkinson. . . Pupils of Miss
Lois Adams were dismissed for'
2 4 days when their teacher was,
married to John Langan. . . j
Mary Claire and James Gilg of
Atkinson, sister and brother,
won speech laurels for 4-H club
members. . . Mr. and Mrs. A A.
Alden of Ewing celebrated their
57th wedding anniversary quietly
at their home. . . John L Bohn
received a bachelor of science in
education at the University of
Nebraska.
TB Seal Sales in
Holt Are Increased
The Nebaska Tuberculosis as
sociation has released informa
tion on the 1956 Christmas seal
sale, revealing that the state to
tal is $154,330.62, which is $16,
442.35 or 9.6% under the final
figure for the 1955 sale of
$170,772.97.
Comparisons by counties in the
O’Neill area:
Jan 15 1956
1957 Final
Holt $1,362.65 $1,190.15
ilovd 646.95 516 10
Rock 383.95 599.16
Antelope 849.70 800.85
Knox 1,389.65 1,690 00
Attend Capping
Rite at Omaha
Mr. and Mrs. James McNulty,
Mrs. Will Grutsch, Miss Joanne
Landsworth, Miss Karen Maho
ney and Lonnie Langan drove to
Omaha Sunday, February 10, to
attend capping exercises at -St.
Catherine’s hospital school of
nursing.
The Misses LaDonna McNulty
and Barbara McCarthy were
capped that day
Miss I’latt on
Dean's List—
CHAMBERS — Miss Beverly
Ann Platt, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Platt of Chambers,
has been named on the Bob
Jones university dean’s list for
the first semester of the 1956-’57
school year. This official list is
composed of those students who
made “A” or “B” averages dur
ing the semester.
Known around the globe as
the world’s “most unusual uni
versity,” Bob Jones university is
a eo-educational, interdenomina
tional, Christian institution
which enrolls each year nearly
3,000 students. The student body
this year includes representa
tives from 47 states of the union
and from 25 foreign countries.
Miss Platt is a junior enrolled
in the college of arts and science.
Eight Guests Aid—
Little Gregg Marcellus had a
party Tuesday February 5, to
celebrate his third birthday an
niversary. It was held at the
home of his parents, Mr and
Mrs. Billie Marcellus. Eight little
guests and their mothers were
present
DIVIDENDS on insured
SAVINGS
(current annual rate)
First FEDERAL
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
SIOUX CITY, IOWA
511 Pierce St.
——————'
‘Good Turn Day’
Results Announced
Goodwill Industries, Inc., of
Sioux City has released the fol
lowing results of the "good turn
day’’ used clothing drive' con
ducted by Boy Scouts m the
Covered Wagon council:
Bags Bags Perc't.
Del. Col.
Clearwater 107 112 104.7
Spencer 150 108 72.0
Virdigre 150 87 58.0
Creighton 392 225 57 3
Neligh 446 250 5C.0
Ewing 149 74 49.7
Page 75 33 4 1 0
O'Neill 678 296 13 6
Chambers 100 100 100.0
Kolm Family Moyes
to Mertha Community—
Mr. and Mrs. William Kolm
and four children of Schuyler
have moved into the farm vacat
ed earlier in the winter by Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence Chipps and
family, who have moved to the
West coast. The oldest of the
Kolm children attends high
school in Chambers; three are
attending Martha rural school.
Dinner Hosts—
Mr and Mrs. Duane McKay
were hosts at a birthday dinner
Sunday in honor of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Harley of
Chambers. Other guests were
another daughter of the Harleys,
Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Struebing
and family of Grand Island.
MAKE MOVE
Mr. and Mu. Kenneth C. .lur
an and sons have moved to the I
J. C Bazeiman dwelling. Mr.
and Mrs. Eldon White have
moved into the residence vacated
by the Jurans.
Bridge Club Meets—
Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Liddy were
hosts to the Bridge club Sunday
evening. High winners were Laur
ence Haynes for the men and
Mrs. Haynes for the women.
"Welcome Back"—
Mrs. Edward M Gallagher was
hostess to a “welcome back" tea
Monday. February 11, to honor
Mrs. W. J. Froelich, who had re
turned from a Caribbean cruise.
I llllllllllllINIlllllllllll 11111111IHIIIIIIIIII
Pasture Hooded;
Skating Party Held
CELIA—Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Meyer were hosts to 45 persons
at an ice skating party at the
f lovd Butterfield ranch.
The Butterfields had spread
water over a pasture, and the
ice provided good skating.
Among hose from the Celia
community attending the party
were Mr and Mrs. Joe Hend
ricks and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Leonard Chaffin and family and
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hendricks
and family.
Other Ceclia News
Mrs, William Coleman and
Mrs. Don Coleman and children
of Thedford were Sunday after
noon. February 10, visitors at the
Victor Frickel home
Mr. and Mrs Joe Hendricks
and family were Sunday, Febru
ary 10, dinner guests at the1
Kobert Lewis home. Other
guests were his parents from
Springview.
Mrs. Louise Johns, Mrs.
Bertha Gottsehalk of Silvercreek,
Ore., and Mr .and Mrs. Fritz
Naber were Friday, February 8,
visitors at the Milton McKath
nie home.
Mrs. E W Snmms, Carla and
Dickie of Wichita, Kans. Mr.
and Mrs O. A. Hammerberg
and Miss Dorothy Scott were
Sunday, February 10, dinner
and supper guests at the William
Maloun home. Mr. and Mrs.
Duane Beek and Sheryl were
evening visitors and showed
pictures they had taken.
Arlin Hendricks celebrated
his eighth birthday anniversary
Friday, February 8, while at
school. His mother brought icc
cream and individual angel food
cakes.
Mr. and Mrs Mark Hendricks
were Friday. February 8 visitors
at the Leonard Chaffin home.
The men worked with cattle.
Notes 7th Birthday—
Bonnie Williamson, daughter
of Mr .and Mrs. Harold William
son, celebrated her severiih
birthday anniversary, Wednes
day, January 30, at a party for
15 little guests.
Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I
llostf<ii for Merlin*
of Two dub*—
Mi's. Ira Moss was hostess to
Marteiz club and Delta Dek clubs
Wednesday evening, February 13,
at the M and M Cafe. Among the
guests were Mrs. Margaret Boler,
Mrs. William J Biglin. Mrs. L, A.
Burgess. Mrs Frank Dishner, Mrs
W. H Harty. Mrs. R R Morri
son. Mrs J J Harrington, and
Mrs. John Conard of Emmet and
Mrs. Earl Beulow of Racine, Wise.
Winners were Mrs. Boler, Mrs.
Burgess, Mrs. Dishner and Mrs.
M J. Golden
Buffet for Friends—
Bill Miller and Mr. and Mrs.
D. A. Kersenbrock were hosts at
a buffet at the Town House Mon
day evening for a number of
friend*.
Wed Jt> Year*—
Mr anti Mrs Harry Graham
celebrated their 26th wedding an
niversary Sunday at a family din
ner Among those attending were
Don Graham and Miss Marge Nor
man of Omaha, Mr. and Mrs.
Burton Kimball of Osmond, Mr.
and Mrs David Maughan of Tild
en. and Mr. and Mrs Phil Demjy
sey and Mi's. Bob Cook.
Try FRONTIER want ads!
Never An After-Thirst
SWITCH TO
SQUIRT
RANCH
AUCTION I
:
* * *
• _ if
3,320 ACRE
ROCK COUNTY RANCH
MONDAY, MARCH 4 1957
— 1 P. M. —
On premises, located 1 3 miles south of
» Bassett and 2J/2 miles west
LEE ANDERSON & SONS
— OWNERS —
I
THE LAND
ft <
1,1 zU Acres of Hayland, Balance Range.
I his is a well-balanced unit as to good
•j quality hard grass and sand grass range
: land. Ranch carries reputation for heavy
| carrying capacity.
THE IMPROVEMENTS
Consist of a 2-story, 10-room modern
j home, a I-story 5-room modern house. 2
story barn, 28 by 40. Double garage and
shop 32 by 36. 1 wo attached cattle sheds
1 6 by 40. Cattle shed 20 by 60. Chicken
house I 0 by I 4. 400-ft. windbreaks.
Fences and cross-fences in excellent
condition. Corralls to accomodate 250
cows. Eight wells and mills. Early pos
session available.
FOR INFORMATION CALL OR SEE:
R. J.REINEKE
Realtor
. . . or . . .
CARL ROGERS
Auctioneer
Phones: DI 6-7895 or DI 6-6815
I H
Burwell, Nebr.
.....MU....MM...|
Baby
Chicks
Leave your order for Norfolk Hatchery
baby chicks. Chicks will be delivered to
O’Neill every other week. Order now
from
GEORGE PETERSON FEED STORE
i
We have something special for you at
SMITH MOTOR CO.
The Silver Hawk
Special value! There’s something special about Studebaker that you sense the first time you
drive it. The easy precision with which the doors click shut. The fine tailoring touches you find inside.
The special Craftsmanship that adds up to special value for you. Come in, drive a Studebaker and see.
SPECIAL TRADE-IN! I I USED CAR SPECIALS
We’re offering extra special trade-in allowances yen J l i
this week only. So drive in and get our appriis- 56 models as low as $2,00Q.00
ai today. ’52 hardtop as low at $695.00
t
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY
A PRODUCT OF STUDEBAKER-PACKARD CORPORATION
SMITH MOTOR CO.
Phone 562_O’Neill, Nebr.
