Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1957)
. . • • .. . . “Vnke of The Frontier1 T\*7ir I \/IT 9 30-10 A M — 780 k c. • rWLL VL jjr ™ Mon. — Wed. — S*t. I hlS Issue North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper Volume 76.—Number 48. O’Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, Thursday, March 28, 1957, % Seven Cents Mr. and Mrs. John M. Grutsch ... he was born in Canada; she was born in a sodhouse north of O’Neill.—The Frontier Photo. Retired Farm Pair in Golden Wedding Mrs Vincent Jehorck Dies Unxpectedly Stricken at Her Home Watching TV LYNCH—Mrs. Vincent Jehorek, 68. was stricken with a heart attack late Wednesday, March 20. while viewing television at her home. She died within an hour. Funeral services were conduct ed at 10 a.m., Monday, March 25, at Assumption Blessed Vir gin Mary Catholic church in Lynch with Rev. Charles Kam ber, church pastor, officiating Burial was in ABVM cemetery north of town. A rosary rite was held Sunday evening at the Jones funeral home in Lynch. The late Mrs. Jehorek was born December 17, 1888, at Elba, in Howard county. Her maiden name was Pauline Marie Radke. She married Mr. Jehorek Jan uary 19, 1907. The couple moved onto the present farm, located l Vi miles northwest of town, in 1911. The Jehoreks made a trip to California in December. Mrs. Jehorek had suffered a heart ail ment for a number of years and had been in failing health about one year. , , , The Jehoreks recently celebra ted their golden wedding. Survivors include: Widower— Vincent; sons—Martin of Lynch and Albert of San Diego, Cab ; four grandchildren; sisters—Miss Vera Radke of San Diego, Calif ; Mrs. Barbara Carkoski of San Diego' Mrs. Walter (Mary) Woitaszwski of Wood Rive*' brothers—Adam Radke of Chap pell Cashmer Radke of Ashton, and John Radke of Elba. 5 Offices at Stake in Muny Election O’Nei llites will go to the polls Tuesday, April 2. to vote on three city eouncilmen and two members of the O’Neill city school board of education. Voters in the First ward (north of Everett and east of Fpurth) will cast their ballots at the court house basement; Second ward (north of Everett and west SEE POLITICAL ADS Advertisements with refer ence to the forthcoming elec tion, supporting rival slates, may be found on pages 6 and 10. ,i Fourth), youth center; Thud ward (south of Everett), citj hall. Polls will be open from 8 a. m., to 8 p. m. Candidates for the two-year council vacancies are; First ward—M. J. Golden, in cumbant, and Allan V an V leek. Second ward—Dr. E. M. Glee son and C. R. (‘‘Russ”) F'oroe. Third ward—Ray Lawrence and F'red Heerman (incumbent). All council candidates will have tiheir names on the ballot via the petition method. Two veteran members of the board of education, Ira H. Moss and F. N. Cronin, declined to seek reelection. Petition candidates for the ed ucation seats are Harold E. We ier and Dale Fetrow. School terms are three years each. Mrs. Walter Ourt Expires at Stuart STUART—Mrs. Walter (Alda) Ourt, 71, a Stuart resident who had been in poor health about five years, died about 8 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, at her home. She had been seriously ill about a month. Funeral services will be con ducted at 2 p.m., Friday, March 29, at the Stuart Community church. Rev. D. D. Su, church pastor, will officiate and bur ial will be under the direction of Coats funeral home. Survivors include: Widower— Walter; daughters—Mrs. Lewis (Irma) Radcliff of Stuart and Mrs. John (Wilma) Abart of Omaha. One son died in infancy. By a Staff Writer A neighborhood romance was what they called it when Pearl Lulu Moler began keeping com pany with John M. Grutsch in Rock Falls township north of O’Neill. Miss Moler was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Moler, homesteaders who had moved in from Iowa. She was born De cember 12, 1885, in a sodhouse 13 miles northwest of O’Neill. Mr. Grutsch was born at Strat ford, Ont., Can., September 20. 1880 and, at the age of four, moved with his parents onto a "homestead relinquishment” which the Canadian couple had purchased. Married at O'Neill The wedding took place March 27, 1907, at the Methodist church in O’Neill and the Reverend Ab bott performed the rite in ,i quiet and simple ceremony. Wednesday, March 27, 1957, the Grutsches received their friends and relatives at open-house at the Fellowship hall in First Pres byterian church here in obser vance of their golden wedding date. The anniversary cake was decorated by Mrs. Lyle Vequist. Mrs. James McNulty poured. Mrs. Frank Sullivan had charge of the guest book. Other nieces cut the cake and helped with the serving. The Grutsches have three chil dren: Mrs. Leslie (Ilene) Stev- | ens of Oakland and Elwin and J _i_i_*L. 11 on I Mr. Grutsch's ancestral farm— one that had been homesteaded by his grandmother, Anna Gru tseh, in the late seventies. The place is located I3t£ miles north west of here and they still re gard it as home, although they j have spent the past six years in | O'Neill living in retirement at 128 East Fremont. Following the death of his mother, the family returned to Canada for two years. Other wise, Holt has been his home for 70 out of his 76 years. Mrs. Grutsch’s brother, David Molcr, lives on the original Moi led family farm and, occasionally, Mrs. Grutsch revisits the site of the old sodhouse. Big Sod House "It was a big one and a good one,” she recalls. "Most of the families lived in sodhouses in those days. Curtains formed the partitions. Ours was big enough that it used to be a place for the folks of the community to gathe.'. “I spent 10 happy and comfort able years in that sodhouse,” she remembers. “The soddie used to weather the storms in good j shape, but one spring day there j was a terrific wind. When th • storm had passed we found half of dad’s vest hanging on the out side, half on the inside. Appar ently, the wind had lifted the roof momentarily” Mr. Grutsch believes the country is moving too fast, I "farms and ranches are getting too big.” _ _ wny, Ulclc Wdfi d vn every quarter section in those early days. They seemed to be happy; they got along; nobody starved,” he declared. Mrs. Grutsch's living brothers are David Moler of O’Neill, Al len Moler of Haslings and John Moler of Wall, S. D. Two of her sisters and two brothers are de ceased. Mr. Grutsch has one living sis ter, Mrs. William Eckert, of Stratford, Ont. Three years ago he visited Stratford. One sister and one brother are deceased. Enjoy Good Health Both Mr. and Mrs. Grutsch enjoy good health and anxiously looked forward to their golden wedding day. Prior to the cele bration, they admitted the excite ment was similar to that of their wedding day. Mr. Grutsch served a number of years as treasuier of rural school district 150 and served sev eral terms as township assessor and road overseer. “I guess I’ve been mostly a uemocrat,” he mused when asked about his political leanings. "But she,” pointing at his wife, “was the daughter of a ‘red-hot populist’!” WEATHER SUMMARY Hi Lo. Pr. March 21. 51 32 March 22 48 30 March 23 38 31 .15 March 24 36 29 March 25 _ 40 25 March 26_ 47 17 March 27 /_ 50 27 Stroke Fatal to Grandma Davidson Five Sons Served i n Two World Wars; Dies in Hospital Mrs. James Davidson, 84, who nad been a Holt county resident since 1878, died Friday evening, March 22, in St. Anthony's hos pital after a 12-day illness. She suffered a paralytic stroke on Tuesday, March 12 at her home in the southern part of the city and was taken to the hospital. Funeral services were held at 10 a m., Monday, March 25, at First Methodist church with Rev. Glenn Kennicott, church pastor, officiating. Burial was in the family plot in Prospect Hill cem etery, beside the grave of her late husband, James E. Davidson, sr., and son, James, jr. Anna Hansen, only daughter of Hans Peter and Johanna Han sen, both immigrants of Den mark in their youth, was born Mrs. Davidson . . . named “Auxiliary Mother” in state. in New York state on March 27, 1872. When a small child the family moved to Ames, la., where her father worked as a farm caretaker at Iowa State (agricul tural) college. Lives on Homestead When she was 11 she moved with her family onto a home stead in the Joy neighborhood, 11 miles north of O’Neill. Her education was acquired in the rural schools near her home. She was united in marriage with James E. Davidson, sr., on November 7, 1892, in the Dav idson home at O’Neill. As a bride she moved into the home she has occupied for 65 years. Eleven children were born to this union—10 of whom sur vive. As a child in New York state, Mrs. Davidson was baptized in the Danish Lutheran church. She became a member of Simon son Unit 93, American Legion auxiliary of O’Neill, in 1942, with eligibility established by the service of five sons in two world wars. Wins State Honor In 1949 she was selected by the state auxiliary as Nebraska’s auxiliary mother—at that time having 31 descendants who were members of the American Legion and the auxiliary. In 1942, just a month before the death of her late husband, they observed their golden wedding anniversary. She was preceded in death by her husband, wrho died in 1942, and one son James, jr., who died in 1950: her parents and two brothers, O. L. Hansen and J. P. Hansen. The late “Grandma” David son, as she was affectionately known, was noted for hte hos pitality of her home. Survivors include: sons—John and Owen, both of O’Neill; Ed ward of Casper, Wyo.; Clyde and Ralph, both of Sun Valley, Calif.; Lloyd and Frank, both of Cul ver City, Calif.; daughters— Mrs. J. Fred (Dorothy) Degnan of Buffalo Gap, S. D.; Mrs. O. H. (Frances) Johnson of Hope, Ida., and Mrs. C. A. (Eileen) Bruning of San Gabriel, Calif.; 24 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren. Holt, Boyd Stocked with Adult Pheasants On Tuesday, the Nebraska game commission stocked Holt county with one thousand adult pheasants. The stocking pro gram is made possible as a result uf the $1 pheasant-quail stamp law. * On Wednesday, similar stock ing took place in Boyd county. The birds were purchased in Wisconsin. They were brought to Holt and Boyd from the state game farm near Norfolk, accord ing to game warden Fred Salak. Assisting with the stocking were Jack Osborn and Larry Halsey of die Norfolk game farm and sportsmen of the county. _ _ _ mmmm ^ Hwm ■ I Bandaging Arms Being Taught A first aid class being taught in O’Neill by ert Tomlinson and Mrs. Laura Wright; standing— Mrs. Claire Engdahl. RN, will have two more Mrs. Dale Revell, Mrs. Engdahl and Mrs. Elmer sessions before the class finishes the American Juracek. Forty women have been participating Red Cross course. Proper care of broken arms in the course.—The Frontier Photo, is being demonstrated above: Seated—Mrs. Rob They’re ‘Homes Away-from-Home’— Describes ARC Activity Centers (Another photo on page 10.) Holt county’s 1957 American Red Cross quota has been set at $2,297—approximately the same as last year. Kickoff banquet was held Tuesday evening at the Town House and 50 persons represent ing all communities in the coun ty attended. Kenneth Waring of O’Neill, Holt county clerk, was elected chairman of the Holt chapter; Harry E. Ressel and James R. Lyons, both of O’Neill,- vice chairmen; A. P. Jaszowiak of ' O’Neill, secretary, and J. B. Grady of O’Neill, treasurer. Grady will head the fund-rais ing drive. Among the community chair men already named are: Atkth son—Mrs. Fred Dunn; Chambers —John W. Walters; Ewing—Mrs. James Pruden; Emmet—Mrs. Georgia McGinnis; Inman—Mrs. James McMahan; Page—Mrs. J. It. Russell; Stuart—To be an nounced; Amelia—to be announ ced. Miss Birmingham Reports Highlight of the annual meet ing was a first-hand report on ARC activities abroad presented by Miss Mary Louise (“Lu”) Birmingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Birmingham of O’Neill. Last month she was recalled from Nancy, France, on emer gency leave because of the ill ness 0(f her father. At Nancy, about 200 miles east of Paris, she has been serving as assistant center director. “There are six ARC centers! under the European headquar-j ! ters,” she told her audience. | “Three are in France and three are in Moraceo.” Miss Birmingham, appearing in ARC dress uniform, elaborated ! on the activities of the centers : for about 30 minutes. She said ! they represent the American Red | Cross’s big peacetime effort in that portion of the world. "The centers are open to ser vicemen, their dependents and their invited guests from 10 a. m., j to 11 p. m. The centers are well equipped for recreation of all types and fill a big void in the lives of the Americans who have been transplanted into a foreign i land. Hostels Are ‘Meccas’ “’'/he centers are veritable mec cas for the troops, particularly the draft age group,” she declar ed. “But all Americans, wives and children of servicemen, have come to rely a great deal on this service. Hostel and dining ser vices are provided. “It is an off-base home away from home,” Miss Birmingham said of the Nancy cepter. Two more centers are in the planning stage. The centers are open seven days a week and require huge civilian staffs to keep them in operation and to make them clean, comfortable and whole some. In the Nancy area there are two American army units and one air force installation. Oc Hi Waring ... to direct ARC in Holt.—The Frontier Photo. casionally she encounters ser vicemen from this area. Before going to Europe, Miss Birmingham served the ARC in Korea and Jajian. Dr. L. A. Carter, Mrs. McGin nis and Mr. Walters were given special recognition for the many years of volunteer service. The countywide membership and fund drive has begun. In O’Neill the drive will start April 8. Five Dollar Idea Develops— 95 Adults, 6 Others Get Needle INMAN — The Inman Com munity club met Monday even ing, March 25, at the assembly room of the school. Albert Anthony, vice-president, was in charge. Following the regular routine business, Mrs. Anthony gave a report on the result of the first polio shots. But let’s go back to the be Elevated in Church Rev. B. J. Leahy (above), a native of Jackson and a form er assistant pastor of St. Pat rick’s Catholic church in O’ Neill, has been elevated to right reverend. He attended Creighton university, was or dained June 16, 1927, at St. Louis, Mo., successively served as an assistant pastor at O’ Neill and Omaha. He was ap pointed pastor at Genoa in 1936 and was the first priest in the Omaha diocese to be come a chaplain in World War II. He has been pastor at St. Patrick’s church, Fremont, since November, 1946. ginning of the story. January 28 the club voted a community-wide contest for a project idea for the club to work on this year. A prize of $5 was posted for the best idea. These suggestions were read and judg ed by the club members at the February meeting. On February 28, the club again met and the ideas for the project contest—of which there were eight—were written on the blackboard and numbered. It was decided to vote on all eight—then continue voting un til one idea got a majority. Mrs. Anthony’s suggestion on polio shots won. It was her hope that all children in the Inman trade territory could get polio shots. She received the $5 prize, but generously declined to accept the money, saying she would leave it in the club treasury to help de fray expenses of the project. Committee Named The club then voted that the chairman appoint a committee of three, with Mrs. Anthony as chairman to promote the idea. Mrs. James M. McMahan and Mrs. Earl L. Watson were ap pointed. Within a few days a survey had been made and it was found there were in the neighborhood of one hundred children and young adults who had not re ceived polio shots. S. Alan Rouse, director, divi sion of poliomyelitis, state de partment of health, was contacted and the club was informed that any civic-minded, non-profit or ganization or group could spon sor a poliomyelitis immunization clinic if a local physician was willing to cooperate and give the injections. The Anthony family had pre viously received polio shots from Dr. W. G. Fletcher of Orchard. He was contacted and he said he would be “happy to help out” and give the shots free of charge to such a group, and the state department was to furnish the Salk vaccine at no cost to the designated physician upon his request, providing the sponsor ing group agreed to keep com plete records of all injections giv en by number and age. Miss Barbara Brunckhorst, commercial teacher in the In man public school, and her class typed up forms and cards to be sent to parents. Miss Brunckhorst, herself a victim of polio, teaches from a wheelchair. On Friday, March 15, a cara van of cars went to Orchard and 95 children and six young adults received polio immunization. The group plans to go bad. on Friday, April 5, for the second shots, and sometime next Novem ber the program will be com pleted. Belgium-Bound Missionary Will Be Feted Friday Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Parker will hold a reception at their home Friday evening, April 5, at 7:30 p.m., honoring their granddaugh ter, Miss Lorraine Gail Ernst. Friends and neighbors and j anyone interested in meeting her are invited to attend the recep tion. Miss Lorraine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Ernst and a niece of Mrs. Orville Kemper of Page, will leave soon for New York to make preparations to sail for Belgium Wednesday, May 8, where she will be sta tioned for a time before going to the Belgium Congo, Africa, as a foreign missionary. Miss Ernst will be away for six years on her first assignment. The Friends of St. Mary’s are planning a potluck supper to be held Sunday evening. Mother of 5 Dies After Lon? Illness c* Shoemaker Rites Are Held Tuesday Death claimed the life of Mrs Leonard G. Shoemaker, 42, well known O'Neill woman and mother of five young children, at 4:30 am., Friday, March 22, in st. Anthony's hospital. She suffered of cancer and had been ill six months. Requiem high mass was said at 10 a m, Tuesday, March 26, at St. Patrick’s Catholic church with Very Rev. Timothy O’Sul livan, church pastor, officiating. Uunrial was in Calvary cemetery, A rosary service was held Tuesday evening at Biglin’s fu neral chapel, attended by one of the largest crowds in history. Pallbearers were Harry Sulli van, Bernard Pongratz, Frank Froelich, Edward M. Gallagher, Louis Vitt and Neil B. Ryan. Born Near O'Neill The late Mrs. Shoemaker’s maiden name was Mary Cleta MeNichols, daughter of Joe and Rose McDermott MeNichols She was born January 4, 1915, at O’Neill and was reared at the MeNichols family farm two miles northwest of the city. She was graduated from St. Mary’s academy. On June 11, 1940, she married Mr. Shoemaker at St. Patrick's church. They became the par ents of five children and spent most of their married life on a farm four miles northwest of O’Neill. She was a member of St. Pat rick's Altar society. Survivors include: Widower— Leonard; daughters — JoAnn, 15 (the oldest child) and Mary Ellen; sons—James, Gene and Jerry; sisters—Mrs. Wallace (Stella) O’Connell of O’Neill; Mrs. Gerald (Catherine) Klein schmidt of Lynnwood, Calif., and Mrs. Edward (Helen) Mur phy of O’Neill. Clyde E. Hiatt, 69, Expires at Home Clyde E. Hiatt, 69, lifelong resident of Holt county, died at 11:55 am., Wednesday, March 27, at his residence, 120 South Madison st. He had been ill six months. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. Rites will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic church with Very Rev. Timothy O’Sullivan, church pastor, offi ciating. Biglin’s will be in charge of arrangements. The late Clyde Ellsworth Hiatt was born January 30, 1888, at Emmet, a son of the late Morton E. Hiatt and Amanda Endress Hiatt. Reared on Farm He was reared on a farm nine miles southwest of here and at tended rural school in the Mar ing district. For a short time he attended business college in Lin coln. On June 12, 1912, at St. Pat rick’s church here he was united in marriage with Catherine Frances Slattery of O’Neill. They became the parents of two chil dren. They farmed for a time eight miles southwest of O’Neill and moved into town about 30 years ago. The late Mr. Hiatt spent all of his life in the Emmet and O’Neill localities. Mr. Hiatt, a retired fanner, in recent years had been employed by the Seger Oil Company. He was forced to retire from ac tive work in August, 1956, be cause of ill health. Survivors include: Widow— Catherine; Son—Owen M. of Ralston; daughter—Mrs. Harry (Arlene) R. Larsen of O’Neill; brothers—Arlo A. of O’Neill; M. B. of Seaside, Calif.; sisters— Mrs. Hazel Cleveland of Boulder, Colo.; Mrs. Gladys Ellicott of South Gate, Calif; Mrs. Alice Creenan of Riverside, Calif., and Mrs. Nellie McCaffrey of Bould er, Colo.; and Mrs. Edith White jf Boulder, Colo. Auction Calendar — Friday, March 29: Mrs. Eva Backhaus of Amelia: residence and lots in Amelia. Col. Ed rhorin of O’Neill, auctioneer. Monday, April 8: Rudolph and Della Johnson, 14 miles north of O’Neill on U. S. highway 281 and two miles east; 640-acre im proved Holt county stock and grain farm, including eight-room dwelling; other good improve ments; 26 head of dairy cattle; complete line of machinery; some household goods; Lester Pearson of Spencer and M. Lar sen of Anoka, auctioneers; O’ Neill National bank, clerk. (De ails on page 11.) Friday, April 12: Mrs. Leta Miles of Dorsey will offer a 320 acre improved farm and an 80 acre unimproved tract at auction; also the personal property be longing to the estate of her late husband, H. H. Miles; Col. Ed rhorin of O’Neill, auctioneer real estate broker; O’Neill Na tional Bank clerk. (Details in aext isue). Y argesRites Are Held At Stuart Well-Known Woman Dies At 57 After Lingering Illness STUART—Mrs Ore R. Yargw, 57. well-known Holt county farm woman and veteran librarian at Stuart, died at 2 a. m., Sunday, March 24, in Atkinson Memorial hospital. She htni been hospital ized since December 31, 1956 Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 (). m., Tuesday, March 26, at the Community church at Stuart. Rev. D. D. Su, church pastor, officiated. Burial was in Woodlawn cemetery at Atkinson. Pallbearers were Wilbur Moon, Fred Zink, Leonard Roberts, M. H. Shearer, H. L. Cowles and Donald Krotter, all of Stuart. A mixed quartette, Mrs. Rob ert Brayton, Mrs. Norris W. Coats, Mark Nelson and J. G. Brewster, furnished the music with Mrs. H. L. Cowles at the organ. The Coats funeral home was in charge. The late May Enbody Yarges was born July 2, 1899, at Lin coln, a daughter of James A. Enbody and Minnie B. O'Kane Enbody. As a small child she wai baptized in the Lutheran churck at Lincoln. Weds at O’Neill She was married to* Ora R. Yarges March 16, 1920, at the Methodist church in O’Neill. The couple moved onto a farm in the Celia community which they purchased. It is now known as the Marvin Focken place. Their two sons, Marvin and Vernon, were born on that place. After selling the Celia farm they resided near Atkinson for a number of years and then pur chased a place four miles north I m 1 Mrs. Yarges . . .well known. west of Stuart, where they were living at the time of her death. The Yargeses had lived in the town of Stuart for several years, but had returned to the farm little more than a year ago. Mrs. Yarges was librarian at the Stuart library for 11 years and was forced to resign be cause of ill health. Leadership Roles She .was a member of the Stuart Community church, taught a Sunday-school class and took a leadership role m church and community affairs. She was a past worthy matron of Lily chapter 223, Order of the Eastern Star, at Stuart. Survivors include; Widower— Ora; sons—Marvin and Vernon, both of Omaha; six grandsons; one granda lighter; brothers — Robert Enbody of Kelso, Wash., who was here in December to visit his ill sister; Geary Enbody of O’Neill and Harvey Enbody of Butte. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ira and James; sister, Elsie, who dieif at the age of 12. Jury Finds Wheeler Countyam Guilty A jury Monday found three Wheeler countyans guilty on three counts in Holt county court. The charges involved violation of motor truck laws. Norman and Opal Grothe and Donald R. Fritz, all qf Bartlett, were defendants. The action grew out of weight of grain cargo. They were fined $50 on an over-capacity plate charge; $200 on an over-driving axle count, and $300 on an over-trailing axle charge. The charges were filed by state weighing station employees. In addition the court costs amounted to $50.60 and $6 ini sheriff’s fees. Grain, dealer* involved were subpoened ot the hearing and the jury was out 30 minutes before reaching the ver dict. The fines and costs were not immediately paid, but the trio promised the court the money would be forthcoming “in a few days’’. Meanwhile, Fritz was charged on still another count, over weight on axle. He was fined $80 and paid up. Jurors were George Head, Ed Dumpert, Clarence Strong, Frank A. Murray, Melvin Ruzicka and Roy Parker. 1