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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1957)
14 Pages 2 Sections SECTION ONE « Pages I -1 0 North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper Volume 77.—Number 29. O Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, I bursday, November 14, 1957. Seven Cents Tile Kitlgeways . . . began housekeeping in shanty.—Frontier Photo. Ridgeways Reared in Same Locality Mrs. Keel ... to Boyd in 1 1913. Longtime Boyd Resident Dies Mrs. George D. R e e 1 111 5 Years SPENCER — An 84-year-old Spencer woman, a resident of Boyd county since 1913, died Mon-! day, November 11. Mrs. George D. Reel, who had been ill five years, died at her home. Funeral services were conduc ted at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov ember 13, at the Methodist church here with Elder Leslie llenry of Grinnell, la., officiating, assisted by Rev. Harold Jensen, pastor of the Spencer Methodist church. Burial was in the Western Bo hemian Fraternal association (WBFAi cemetery here under the direction of the Jones funeral home. The late Mrs. Reel, whose maiden name was Mary Simp son, was bom July 18, 1873, in Illinois. In November, 1894, at Lincoln she married Mr. Reel. They homesteaded in New Mexico, where they lived several years, coming to Bovd county 44 years ago. The couple lived on a farm in the Gross community until their retirement six years j ago. when they moved into Spon-! cer. The Reels would have celebra ted their 63d wedding anniversary this month. Survivor* include: Widower— George; sons Roy of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ray of Salem, Ore.; Paul of Spencer and Claude of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughters— Mrs R. L. I Ruth) Spahr of Dixon and Mrs. Leo El. (Dorothy! Adams of Spencer; 11 grandchild ren; 14 great-grandchildren; sis ter Mrs. Fix'd Pawling of Fre mont. WEATHER SUMMARY hi lo pr. November 7_ _ 45 34 November 8 39 23 T November 9 43 14 T November 10 55 23 November 11 _ 49 35 T November 12 . _ 51 40 November 13 _ 52 39 T The trace of preciptation on Fri day, November 8, was in the form of snow and sleet. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fox mov ed Thursday, October 31. to 128136 So. Erwood, Norwalk, Calif. Mr Fox is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fox of O’Neill. Mrs. Fox is the former Kathy Seger of Stuart. Auction Calendar Friday, November 15: Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Clark. 19 miles south of O’Neill, eight miles east, one south; 320-acre ranch and 120 acre school land lease, at auction, on premises. 1 pm.; Col. Ed Thorin of O’Neill, auctioneer-bro ekr. Saturday, November 16: Mr and Mrs' Louis Stofjohann, 19 miles north of O'Neill and five miles west, complete farm close out. 146 head of cattle, full line of farm and haying machinery, some household goods; Weller, Fleming and Pearson, auction eers; First National bank of O’ Neill, clerk. (Details on page 9.) Wednesday. November 27: Mer lin and Gladys Grossnicklaus and Gladys Fittje. owners, 966-acre Holt county ranch, 30 head of diary cattle. 35 head of Hereford stock cows, some household goods some miscellaneous items; Col. Merlin Grossnicklaus. auc tioneer; Virgil Laursen of O'Neill, broker (Details in next issue). Mr. and Mrs. I. R. (“Ross") Ridgeway celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Monday, November 11, at theih home, 218 South Second st. Their four sons and two daugh ters are dispersed throughout the western part of the United States. The celebration was a quiet af fair. A few of the neighbors dropped in and Cal Stewart inter viewed them for presentation on Wednesday's "Voice of The Fron tier" program (WJAG, 780 kc). Mrs. Ridgeway’s maiden name was Florence Wrede. She was bom in Butler county and her parents came to Holt when she was six-months-old, purchasing a ranch in the Agee community in northern Holt county. When she became eligible she filed for a homestead on land ad joining her father's ranch and was successful in obtaining the tract. Mr. Ridgeway was born at Rip ley, la., near Des Moines. His father came to Holt in 1883 and was among the early settlers in the Agee community. Ross, his mother and other members of the family followed here in the spring of 1884 The Ridgeway and Wrede fam ilies lived only a mile and a half apart. Mr. Ridgeway and Miss Wrede were married at Sioux City. They spent a year on her homestead, living in an improvised shanty. Later they moved into the Blackbird neighborhood where the spent four years and where several of their children were born. In 1913 they moved onto the farm which they still own. Mr. Ridgeway’s eyesight be-1 gan to deteriorate in 1940 and by 1947 he had lost virtually all vi sion. It was at that time they retired and moved into O'Neill. j The couple recently returned | from a trip to Colorado Springs i where they visited two of their children. Both enjoy good health. Mr. Ridgeway is 74; his wife, 75. Their sons and daughters are: | Jack (the oldest) who lives in. Sheridan, Wyo.; Itonald of Cas- \ per, Wyo.; Mrs. Dan (Gladys) Sullivan of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Charles ("Chuck") of Colo rado Springs; Joseph of Denver, Colo., and Miss Marguerite of Redwood City, Calif. _ Neligh Firm Will Erect Ad Building The O’Neill city council Tues day evening accepted a $12,835 i bid for building of a new adminis-1 tration building at the O'Neill! Municipal airport. The successful bids came from1 the Udey Construction company of Neligh. The bid was the only one re-1 ceived. The cost breakdown fol-1 lows: Building $12,387; well—I $250; fence $90; gate—$31; total $12,835. It was the second time bids for the building were received and, opened, Mayor D. C. Schaffer said. The Udey firm will not under take construction until spring, Schaffer said, although it is likely j the well will be drilled yet this ! year. The Udey bid was approximat ely two thousand dollars above the orginal estimates. Haunted House Set Friday Evening The junior class of O'Neill high school will present the three-act mystery-comedy, "House for Sale.! Haunted", Friday, November 15. at the school auditorium, start- j ing at 8 p.m. Cast includes; Elaine Krugman, Ronnie Smith, Connie Kurtz, Sharon Marcellus, Betty Rodman, Nancy Fetrow, Perry Dawes, Jeannette Fricke, George Fuller, Keith MeKim, Darrel Dexter, Carolyn Schmeichel, Merle Pease and Veldon Tomlinson. Two Minor Accidents Reported— Two minor accidents were in vestigated this week by O’Neill police. In a two-car accident at the cor ner of Second and Clay streets, a car owned by Matt Hynes of O’ Neill. being driven by Sharon Min er, collided with a machine owned by Vem Reynoldson. Edward G. Winkler was driver of a machine that sideswiped a parked car which had been driven by Ethel Schuman of Anoka. Dam ago was negligible. Mrs. Attah Fosberg CREIGHTON Mrs. Attah Fos berg, 77, died Saturday morning in the Creighton hospital She entered the hospital the day be fore. . • Flu Fatal to O’Neill Teacher Mrs. John Murphy, 53, Holt’s First Victim of Current Epidemic Holt county's first death attrib ! utod to the influenza epidemic oc curred at 8:30 pm.. Saturday, November 9. when Mrs. John Murphy, 33. O'Neill public school teacher, died in St. Anthony's hos pital. She had been hospitalized four days. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and unexpectedly. Death was caused by complications of in fluenza and pneumbnia. Funeral services were conduct ed at 9 a m.. Tuesday, November 12, at St Patrick's Catholic church with Very Rev. Timothy O'Sullivan, church pastor, officiat ing. Burial was in Calvary cem etery. Pallbearers were William Mur phy. jr., Calvin Murphy, Francis Murphy, Donald Murphy, Richard Braun, Arlen Miles, Robert Miles, and Thomas McDonald. Rosary was held Monday even ing at Biglin's chapel. The late Mrs. Murphy’s maid en name was Mildred Marie Tro baugh. She was bom January 23, 1904, at Tobias, the daughter , of Dell Trobough and Ada Tin dell Trobough. The family came to Holt county in 1908. The Trobaugh family liv ed near Atkinson and Marie was gradu ated from Atkinson high school In 1923. She attended college at Nebraska State Teachers colleges at Chadron and Wayne, also Con cordia college at Seward. She married Mr. Murphy at Emmet, June 30, 1934. They farmed in the Emmet and Op portunity localities before mov ing to O'Neill. She was a member of St. Pat rick's church, Nebraska State Education association, and Si monson unit 93 of the American Legion auxiliary. She taught in rural schools,' al so the Ewing, Stuart and O’Neill public schools. For the past three years she taught fourth grade at O’Neill public school. Previously Mrs. Murphy . . . veteran teacher.—O'Neill Photo Co. she had also taught at St. Mary’s academy. Survivors include; Widower— John; son Ronald Edward of Yermo, Calif., who arrived late Sunday; daughter—Mrs. Leo (Maureen Carole) Laible of O’ Neill; brothers — Cleode Tro baugh of Atkinson; James D. Trobough of Sacramento, Calif., Orville Trobatigh of Chula Vista, Claif., and Norman Trobaugh of Sidney; one grandson. Among those from out of town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Clede Trobough Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Spence, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Braun all of Atkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Trobough of Sidney; Mr. and Mrs. William Murphy, jr. of Rushville, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Murphy and family of Wood Lake; Mrs. Marie McDonald of St. Louis, Mo.; Ronnie Murphy of Yerma. Calif.: Mr .and Mrs. Donald Murphy of Sioux City; Miss Corrine Murphy and Miss LuAnn Fritton of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wedige, Clar ence Murphy, Frank Foreman, Mrs. John Conard and Mrs. G. McGinnis, all of Emmet. Vet Program Is ‘Big Success’ CHAMBERS — Veterans day program and turkey supper, spon sored by the American Legion post 320, was reported by those participating, as a ‘‘big success”. In spite of sickness in the com munity a large turnout was on hand to enjoy the roast turkey and also the Old Farm House - Quartette which entertained dur ing dinner. Film was shown and 1 a dance and show in the evening CHAMBERS Mrs. Louis Neil son of Chambers has a meditation in ' The Upper Room' devotional booklet for Deceml^er 19. This is the second time Mrs. Neilson has written a meditation which has been printed in this magazine. Since the publication has a world wide circulation this is consider ed quite a honor. Family of 3 Overcome by Gas Fumes Two-Room HomeScene of Tragedy Bruce Grimes, 24, Is ‘Critical’; Mother, Babe Recovering CHAMBERS A family of three, j including a 20-months-oId hafcy, j was overcome with propane km fumes late Tuesday in their two room cabin-type dwelling one mile east of Chambers Mr. and Mrs Bruce Grimes and their infant daughter, Patsy, were found unconscious about 10 o’clock Wednesday morning. The three were rushed to St. Anthony's hospital at O’Neill where attendants described their condition as "critical” for sever al hours Late Wednesday aftmoon oxy gen was removed from Mrs. Gri mes and the baby. Both had re gained consciousness, hut Mr. Grimes showed no reaction and his condition wns described as "very critical”. Wednesday night he was given a blood transfusion. Doctors held little hope for his recovery. Bruce had been ill with influ enza Tuesday and was eonfinod to his home, situated about 60 feet from the luome of his par I ents, Mr. and Mrs, Charles Grimes. His mother had called at the cabin-home aitout 7 o'clock Tues day evening. When she saw no activity early Wednesday, she assumed the family was ‘‘sleep ing late” because of Bruce’s ill ness. However, at 10 o'clock Wed II nesday morning she went to uv . ' vestigatie and found the mother j I and baby lying on the floor, utv | conscious, and Bruce on the bed, , also unconscious. Itlood Lost ' Some blood had been lost and there were other signs of sick 1 ness. 1 At 9 Tuesday eve a light was ‘ burning in the tiny home and the same light was burning Wednes day morning when help arrived. It was theorized the family had ’ been overcome by fumes from one of three gas appliances—re frigerator, cook stove and space heater. The bulk tank is situated about 35 feet from the dwelling and the gas is piped into the i must?. The space heater has an out side vent Gerald Grimes, 26, function. No official investigation ed the appliances and found the refrigerator and space heater "on” and cook stove "off". He | also said he could detect no maJ | function. No investigation of the had been conducted up until Wednesday night. Bruce, 24, is a three-year vet eran of the marine corps. He was , aboard ship Korea-bound when hostilities ended. DuHpg his high srhool days he letteted three years in both football and basket ! ball. He was graduated from Cham bers high school in 1950. Married in 1955 His wife, Bonita, 19, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil i bur Oslxtrn of Burweli, who re . eently moved from Chambers. The couple was married in ! April, 1955, at Chambers. His wife attended Chambers high ! school until their marriage. Upon his separation from the marine corps, they established housekeeping at the home place where Bruce is in partnership with his father. Brure was horn November 26. 19.32, at Chambers. Chambers firemen who came to the scene with oxygen helped remove the unconscious persons to the O'Neill hospital. Ralph Adams, Duane K. Miller and Bill Thomson took Bruce; Ed Coday and Tim Reed took the 19-year old mother to the hospital, and Gerald Grimes took Patsy. Mr. Coday was at the Grime* home when the tragedy was dis covered. Bonita was confused late Wed nesday and could not recount just what had happened. Relatives theorized the “inverted” air pressure condition Tuesday night might have restricted the ventilation in the tiny dwelling. The area was enveloped in fog, which moved in around 9 o’clock It is believed a leak or a mak function caused the traeedv. _ ———-— Former Verdel Youth Killed VERDEL — Funeral services were held Tuesday in Verdel for Edward Moravec, 18, a Bellevue youth, who was killed in an auto accident at Bellevue. Young Moravac was a high school senior, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Moravac, sr., for mer residents of Verdel. The Moravacs are related to the Hanzlik families at Verdel The services were held at the Presbyterian church at Verdel Burial was in the Verdel ceme tery under the direction of the Jones funeral home. Rev. Joseph Walstad officiated. This is the cabin-type Grimes home in which three members of the Bruce Grimes family were overcome with gas tunics. The dwelling is a short distance from the home of .Mr. Grimes’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. ('hurles Grimes.—The Frontier Photo. Bruce and Bonita Grimes and their daughter, Patsy . . . all were found unconscious.—O’Neill Photo Co. Gilg, Holcomb Win Club Trips Pair Excels in 4-H Club Work Two Holt county youths are among the 31 Nebraska 4-H club members named winners of trips ! to the national 4-H club congress December 1-5 in Chicago, 111. Jim Gilg of the Clover club re ceived his trip through his farm demonstrations. For two years Jim has been a member of one of the top purple demonstrations teams. This year he and his brother, Jack. demonstrated “making a chute gate.” Each year only one farm demonstrator is selected to attend the national meeting. Last year Jim’s sister, Mary Claire, was selected for the hon or. Their topic last year was “making a picnic table.” Jim. son of Mr. and Mrs. Clar ence Gilg of Atkinson, has been a club member for six years. In that time he has carried 21 pro jects in addition to being active in all other 4-H activities. Pub lic speaking, junior leadership jr? tttt mum; m Jim Gilf Gary Holcomb Atkinton Chamber* Farm Demo*. Tractor and recreation activities as well as school and community activi I ties all contribute to his achieve ment record. Jim who is 16, is a senior at St. Joseph's Hall in Atkinson. Gary Holcomb, 18, is the son of Mr. and Mrs LeRoy Holcpmb of Chambers. He is a freshman in the college of engineering at the University of Nebraska. Gary received his trip through his out standing record and activities in tractor clubs. His 10-year membership in the 212 South Fork club have been filled with activities including public speaking, recreation, lead ership and community service. He has been equally active in school and church activities, all of which contribute to a fine record of achievement. Gary has carri(>d 47 projects during his years of club work. To Omaha— Mrs. W. H. Harty and Mrs. I James Berigan of Atkinson were I in Omaha for the weekend. Mrs. I Berigan visited her daughter, | Miss Joan, a student nurse at St. Joseph's sohool .of nursing. Billie Marcellus Family to Coast Mr. and Mrs. Billie Marcellus were guests of honor at a card party Saturday evening at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Williamson. The Mar cellus family plans to leave Sun day for Whittier, Calif., where they will make their home. Four tables of cards were in progress. Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Hitchcock, Mr. and Mrs. Orville McKim, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Parkinson, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wecker and Mr. and Mrs. I. O. Wood of Page. Since separation from the arm ed forces, Mr. Marcellus has been associated with his father, Mel vin, in the operation of the Mar cellus Implement firm in West O'Neill. Mrs. E. M. Beaver Dies in Wyoming Word was received Monday by Mrs. Hugh O’Neill of the death of her sister, Mrs. E. M. Beaver of Deaver, Wyo., She died sud denly at her son's home follow ing a long illness. Mr. Beaver died May 12, 1957. Survivors include two sons, one daughter and several grandchil dren. Burial will be made today (Thursday) at Powell, Wyo. 54 Turkeys Bought for Nov. 30 Event The Chamber of Commerce | turkey day committee reports that 54 turkeys have been pur chased for turkey day which will be Saturday, November 30. Con centrated effort is being made to call on O’Neill businesses, but ! if anyone would like to cooperate, | contact either the First National or the O’Neill National bank, Committee Chiarman William W. McIntosh said. Persons will register at the C of C office for the turkeys, which will be distributed at three dif ferent times during the day. College Duo Feted in Church Affair PAGE—The young people of the Wesleyan Methodist church met at the Otto Terrill home Fri day evening for a party honoring Miss Faye Rutherford and Miss Marilyn Terrill, who were home on vacation from Miltonvale college at Miltonvale, Kans. Miss Alice Sondaz of Gordon and Harvey Neel of Sidney were guests. Attend Clinic— • Dr. and Mrs. Merlin L. Sucha attended the 25th annual assem bly . of the Omaha-Midwest Clin ical Society at the Fontenelle in Omaha last week. Belzer, Veteran of World War I, Dies Saw Combat Duty in France Carl K. Belzer, 68, a retired O'-! Neill farmer and World War I veteran, died at St. Anthony's hospital Thursday, November 7. He became ill Tuesday evening, November 5, and entered the hos pital the following morning. Death was attributed to a heart attack. Mr. Belzer who had been ill aliout two years, farmed southeast ; of O'Neill. He retired in 1950. Funeral services were held Monday, November 11, at 9 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic church, j Very Rev. Timothy O'Sulli v a n officiated. Burial w a s i n Calvary ceme tery. A rosary was recited at Big 1 i n’s chapel Sunday at 7:45 p. m. Pallbear ers were Joe Nekolite, Hur ley Jones, An drew Wettlauf er, Peter D o n oh o e, Harry, Jolly and Emil Belzer Adamson. The late Carl Kastner Belzer, the son of August and Elizabeth Suster Belzer, both natives of Germany, was bom August 4, 1889, at St. Paul. He married Barbara Mudloff at Loup City and they came to Holt county in 1921. They became the parents of two sons and four daughters. One daughter, Mary Kathryn, died in infancy. He spent considerable time in France in combat during the first conflagration and was a member of Simonson post 93 of the American Legion. Survivors include: Widow—Bar bara; daughters—Mrs. John (Le ona) Berghiuis of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Don (Annabelle) Carroll of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Clifford (Mary) Burival of O’Neill; sons— Francis of O’Neill; Edward of Norfolk; sisters— Mrs. Marie Geotcin of Oakland, Calif., and Mrs. Lillian Halpap of Chicago. III. ANNUAL MEETING SET CHAMBERS—The annual meet ing of the Holt County Agricul tural society will be held at the town hall in Chambers, on Sat urday. November 16, at 1:30 p.m., according to J. H. Gibbson, sec retary. STUART — The Knights of Co lumbus at Stuart have purchased the Rocket Recreation building from Ralph Shald. Pool Gets Four Absentee Votes But Atkinson Issue Stymied ATKINSON The second Kind issue try in six months in an ef fort to acquire a municipal swim ming pool here apparently has I failed. Following the Tuesday, No vsember 5, balloting, the proposal lacked six votes of getting 60 percent voter-approval. The un official ballot count was 308 "for” and "216 against”. Monday the city council con vened and canvassed the voting record. Four absentee votes were counted, all favoring the 33-thousand-dollar I Kind proposal. This narrowed the margin to two votes. In June the proposal lost by 21 votes. It'll be another six months be fore the issue can be raised again. There was speculation some of the negative votes might be for mally challenged but Wednesday there were no indications there would be court action. Some irregular voting practices were charged in street-comer talk, but none became a matter of record. Holt Native, 62, Expires in Idaho EMMET Mrs. Birdie Delong Hickey, 62, of Boise, Ida., died in a Boise hospital Friday night, November 1, following a brief ill ness. She was born at Redbird Jan uary 3, 1895 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hamilton. She has been a resident of Boise for 20 years. She was united in marriage to Peter J. Hickey December 17, 1921. Six children were bom to this union. They lived in Holt, Boyd. Pierce and Cedar counties for 27 years before moving to Boise, Ida., where she had made her home until her death. Survivors include: Widower— Peter J. Hickey; sons -Robert F. Hickey and Arthur M. Hickey both of Boise and Frank H. Hick i ey of St. Maries, Ida.; daugh ters Mrs. Etta McDonald of ■■Hi' A HH Mrs. Hickey . . . born in Rcd bird locality. Randolph and Mrs. Ruth Perry of Emmet; brothers- Robert Hamil ton of Spencer, Harry Hamilton of Fremont; Fred Hamilton of Kennwick, Wash . Jason Hamil ton of Benton City, Wash., and Peter Hamilton of Moscow, Ida.; sisters Mrs. Myrtle Hickey of San Gabriel, Calif., Mrs. Kath erine McDade of Temple City and Mrs. Anna Nissen of Omaha; 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Summers funeral chapel at Boise. Ida., at 10:30 a.m., Tues day, November 5, with Rev. Wes ton W. LaMunyon officiating. Burial was in Morris Hill ceme tery. Mrs. Hickey was a member of the Lutheran church. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathrine Myrtle, who died in infancy. Mrs. Arvid Erb Reaches Africa VENUS—Word has been re ceived that Mrs. Arvid Erb ar rived safely at Asmaraeritrea, Africa. Her father, George Mottv took her as far as Omaha. She went by plane from there to join her husband, who is stationed there with the armed forces. Mr. and Mrs. Reed Risinger are grandparents of Sp-3 Erb. Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Wichman and family were Sunday dinner | guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bouska of Atkinson. Others attending were the Bous ka’s sons, Roland of Casper, Wyo., and Donald of Grand Is land and Miss Patty Wedige of Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Grady left Tuesday, November 6, for Baker, Ore., to spend the winter with their daughter, Mrs. Paul Montgomery..