Prairieland Talk—
Mathews, King in Great Storm
tty KOMAIN'E SAUNDERS. 4110 South 51st SL. Lincoln 0, Nebr,
LINCOLN—It was the morning of January 12,
1888 71 years ago. Doc Mathews, founder of The
Frontier and its first editor and publisher, was in
company with Clyde King, a F
young printer employed by
Mathews who at the time pub
lished The Free Press that
was printed in the basement
of the Holt County Bank build
ing which still stands at Fourth
and Douglas sts. (King later
became the brilliant editorial
writer for The Frontier).
After a night spent in
Chambers that morning 71
years ago they were headed Roinalne
for O'Neill and home. Saunders
When they had reached Dry Creek that winter
hurricane that old Bates christened a blizzard en
veloped them in a cloud of snow Mathews remained
in the buggy while young King got out to walk
ahead of the horses and keep them in the road. In
the cloud of snow and a wild wind blowing they
lost their way and found themselves at a set
tler's cattle shed; holed up with the cows and liv
ed out the blizzard, arriving in O’Neill by noon the
next day.
Clyde King lies in the abode of the dead just
beyond the northwest limits of O’Neill. The last
we heard from Mathews was in 1931. Then an old
man, he was living down in Arkansas. He, too, now
lies under the sod, his life’s record written in the
courts above. ,
* * *
O destiny! What big and little experiences make
up our lives! So writes an 88-year-old friend out at
Seattle, Wash , a pioneer kid on the prairies of Holt
county in the long ago. And then adds: I have
tasted the dregs of poverty and privation; picked
up a smattering of learning between seasons of un
certainty all the while gaining in experience and
bits of wisdom and thank God for helping me along
♦he way! Yes, Homer, you have traveled life’s rug
ged highway from boyhood here in O’Neill, the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Campbell, pioneers on prairie
land. You as well as many other boys and girls of the
long ago met the problems of life with courage and
fortitude, surviving privation and have reached the
golden years of life conscious of a Guiding Hand over
it all times of want, times of plenty, times of dis
couragement and in the end a life of victory.
* * *
The headline writer who adorns this depart
ment in 24-point type had it that it was “40 below
once in Holt county.” But the story of being out in
40 Ik?1ow weather was telling of weather conditions
in a county to the south of Holt. Up here at O’Neill
that day more than 40 years ago it may have been
50 below.
Following a week of shirtsleeve weather, the
20th found the Capital City citizens out shoveling
snow, the third visit of Arctic weather up to date.
Recently, I grasped the capable hand of Sen.
Frank Nelson, on the job again at the legislative
chamber at the statehouse. Not the problems of
state took our attention but the warm hearted touch
of two prairieland gents that know what life is on
the open prairies of Nebraska. Then Sen. Fern Hub
bard Orme left her desk and came down the un
seated way to extend a polished lady's hand, sat
down l>eside me and she too cast away cares 6f
official life and was once more the charming maiden
we had known in O'Neill It brings a glow of pleasure
to meet thus and have social contact And they ate
devoted to their duties as our representatives in
the state senate. Many bills have so far t>een in
troduced that are to be acted upon and it is
safe to say both Senator Frank and Senator Fern
know what to support and what to oppose. I drift
ed from the senate chamber into the governor’s
quarters, but the governor was out to meet some
speaking appointments. His representatives at their
desks are friendly and invite you to come agaii
as you pick up your hat to go.
* * *
It was a week in January, 1902 O Neill land men
were said to be doing a large business. Attorney
R. R. Dickson had business to attend to that call
ed him to Atkinson. . . . Miss Anna Barrett of the
Dustin community visited .in O’Neill, the guest of
Miss Ada Mills. . .Mrs. C. E. Halj entertained a
few lady friends at her home. .County Attorney
Arthur Mullen was at Atkinson on legal business
Miss Flo Bentley was back in O’Neill from a
seige of holding down a claim in Boyd county.
Clyde King was out from Moline, 111 , visiting his
friends here. . .H. O. Jackson made a business
trip to Casper, Wyo., accompanied by Mrs. Jack
son.
* * *
Clergymen of the Methodist church report a
membership in the United States of nine and a
half million, and an additional one and a half mil
lion children with adults preparing for member
ship. It is reported also that of the members of
congress with church connections the Methodists
are in the majority, Catholics in second plme.
The two church groups poneered in the O'Neill
community. All who knew them can recall that
Rev. Bartley Blaine of the Methodist church and
Father Smith, pastor of the Catholic church up
on the hill, were not here for the money there
was in it but for what good they could do.
* * *
A little lady, the mother of four boys is in
trouble. An abusive husband she found it necessary
to divorce has the boys and they want to be with
their mother. She works hard to sustain herself
and has by court order her boys with her one day
a week. Now the father proposes to send the boys
to his mother’s home in a distant state where they
will not see their mother. She has been ad ised to go
to court and ask for an order restraining the father
from carrying out his designs. _
Editorial—
Leahy*s Homecoming
A native O’Neillite returned to make a belated i
homecoming appearance.
Francis William Leahy, best-known as Frank
Leahy, Monday evening spoke to 125 persons at a
homecoming banquet held in his honor and arranged
by The Frontier anil radio station KBRX.
It was readily apparent to his listeners that here
was a high-type gentleman who would have met a
great measure of success in any chosen field.
Leahy left O'Neill as an infant. He was reared at
Winner, S.D., and became a highly regarded athlete
at Notre Dame university. He pursued football
coaching as a profession and hit the big time at
Boston college at Boston, Mass.
His alma mater beckoned and. except for a stint
in the navy during World War II, Leahy directed
Notre Dame football teams for many years—estab
lishing an all-time, unexcelled record in major col
legiate competition.
Unmistakingly Irish about the eyes and with
finesse and polish of an eminently successful profes
sional man, Leahy recounted O'Neill experiences in
occasional visits including a Fourth of July appear
ance in a prizefight ring in the Seth Noble lumber
yard in 1925.
For more man a nail nour ne uemeu yu«uun» |
from the floor. These were questions that involved
his beloved school (where he resigned from coach
ing in 19531. comparisons between collegiate and
professional football, and quizzes concerning person
alities involved in Notre Dame's long and colorful
athletic history.
But the high point of his homecoming informal
talk involved discipline.
Leahy said that discipline is the cardinal factor
in educating a student or training an athlete.
He also stated that colleges in their quest for
athletes frequently performed an injustice to the
athlete by smothering them with kindness. Too
much generosity and kindness tend to destroy a good
student or a good athlete, he declared.
The former O'Neillite paid high tribute to his
older brother, Gene, who was in the audience. Gene
now resides at Ftushville and sacrificed a-plenty in
order that Frank might obtain a college education.
Frank's words in behalf of his gray-haired brother
were sweet evidence of undying affection.
Leahy, now 50, soon wall be moving his family
from Michigan City, Ind., to Denver, Colo. He is now
a public relations man for the Hamilton Oil company
of Denver.
O’Neillites present at Monday's banquet are ferv
ently hopeful the "old professor" will not permit
one hundred semesters to elapse before he makes a
return visit . . • and another- public appearance.
Human Race Endures
Practically every speaker, including those on
the air and behind the pulpit, and many of our col
umnists, are very busy advertising the crises at
hand for humanity.
"This is the day of great decisions,” they assert,
almost in unisonTand upon the decisions we make,
they say, rests the hope of humanity for years to
come. The general idea seems to be to excite the
emotions of readers and listeners and thus persuade
them to "unselfish action,” which, it is suspected,
they will not accept on the basis of intelligent argu
ment.
While the people of the world do face great dif
ficulties at the present time, there is no reason to
believe that they are insurmountable or that they
are unsurpassed in magnitude. Nearly every genera
tion has heard the same argument advanced, as
men and women battle for aims.
It may be encouraging to note that, so far, the
human race has refused to commit suicide. It evi
dently possesses greater stability than some of its
members would believe. Modem civilization, despite
crises—real and imaginary continues to spread
throughout the earth and men and women progress
toward the goal of better human beings.
Wanted: Constructive Light
Most of us are inclined to admire those who
have strong convictions on the day's major issues.
The man who freely and vigorously argues all the
major topics, knowing correct solutions to them
all, passes in some people’s eyes as a great leader
Quite often the one who listens and says little, and
qualifies most of what he says is considered a bit
slow from the mark.
The politician, of course, must take a stand
on almost everything. It would never .do for him
to say he didn’t know about this or that, or thought
there was a good argument on both sides of this or
that question. A certain percentage of his admirers
want him to take the lead, to espouse one strong
conviction. And that he usually does, and in doing so,
carries with him those who place their faith in him.
Often, too, he knows it is almost mandatory for
him to take a strong stand on certain issues—be
cause his constituents demand it.
We might consider a bit more these days the
man who seldom knows all the answers to the
great questions of the day, but who can consistent
ly discuss both sides, and shed a constructive light
on most conversations.
Seaton For Hawaii
(The Lincoln Star)
It was especially gratifying to the great number
of Nebraskans that Interior Secretary Fred A. Sea
ton appeared before the house interior affairs com
mittee to make a strong case for Hawaiian statehood.
Secretary Seaton s forthright advocacy could be
the telling punch. In any event the character of it
scotched the diversionary arguments whch have
been effective too often in the past. One of these
was the unfounded fear that communism somehow
would make a stealthy entrance into the United
States via the beach at Waikiki. The recorded fact
is that Hawaii has pounded the commies harder than
the homeland has; has stronger provisions against
them in its constitution than does the mainland.
Seaton dealt also with the question of Hawaii's i
economic and cultural preparation for statehood.
He noted that Hawaii has Ijeen preparing for 59
years which is a good deal longer time than was re
quired of most states; that it has a population of
635,000 which exceeds that of six of the states. It is
also noteworthy that Hawaii participated physically
in behalf of the United States in war and acquitted
itself in a fashion that would do honor to any state.
Often the tragedy of old age is found in the stub
born refusal of modern business to give an old man
a chance to work.
“North-Central Nebraska’s Biggest Newspaper”
122 South Fourth St. — Box 330 — O’Neill, Nebr.
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor-Publisher
W. IRL TODD, Copublisher
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 newspaper is
a member of the Nebraska Press Association, Nation
al Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of
Circulations.
Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per
suopduosqns nv isanbaa uodn pepiAcud pecuqB sojbj
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year;
payable in advance.
When You and I were Young . .
Peterson Bags 18
Skunks in One Den
This Report Is Not
Fish Story
50 Years Ago
Married: Miss ZoreUa Dell Mul
lihan and William H. DeWitt; Miss
Marne O'Malley and Bill Wilson;
Laurenda E. Buffington of Deloit
and Fred W. Liddy of Clearwater
and Miss Katie Erb and John E
Beller. . . . Fish stories are out
of season, but Charley Peterson
has a skunk story that will last
until the man with the rod can
get to the lakes again. He raided
a den of the odorous creatures
west of town and tells friends that
he captured 18. . . . Engaged: Miss
| Pauline Day of Springfield, Mass.,
and Lt. Charles Andrew Meals. Lt.
Meals is a brother of Mrs. Ro
maine Saunders. . . . William Bis
bee died of cancer.
20 Years Ago
A second installment of a his
tory of Holt county appears in The
Frontier. ... A supply of mor
phine was taken from Reardon
Brothers’ drug store. . . . Tr.e J.
B. Me I lor Motor company was sold
to Henry Lohaus of Omaha. . .
Mrs. G. W. Cherry of Denver,
Colo., who has been a reader of
The Frontier for 26 years, is al
ways one of the first subscribers
to renew her subscription in Jan
uary. ... No coyotes were killed
in the hunt in the Red Bird local
ity. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lans
worth entertained 50 neighbors at
a card party at their home. . . .
O’Neill high school defeated At
kinson high school 18 to 15. . . .
Miss Eileen Davidson, who grad
uated from St. Joseph’s school of
nursing in Omaha, has accepted
a position with Union Pacific as a
stewardess and nurse on the .Los
illim II rt'VZI WUIKt 4
10 Years Ago
O’Neill is hub of blizzard disas
ter area, 20 more bulldozers are
being sought for Holt relief work,
storms delay Van Dover rites,
Chambers couple perishes in storm
these were headlines in
this week's issue of The Frontier
on the storm situation al it con
tinued on. . . . Featured in the
Jack and Jill Corner in this week's
Frontier were John Patrick Miller,
8-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Miller of O'Neill and Miss
Joan Claire (Jody) French, 1-year
old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.
D. French. . . St. Mary's Card
inals defeated Page by a 29 to 22
score. . . . Holt county tourna
ment opener was delayed 24 hours
because of impassable roads due
to the storm conditions.
One Year Ago
Safeway store ha* grand open
ing. . . Charles Starkweather, 19,
crazed Lincoln youth, and 14-year
old girl companion, Card Ann Fu
gate, were taken in Wyoming. . . .
Atkinson Balers win Holt cage
crown, by defeating the St. Joe
Bluejays in the title game, by a
score of 43 to 36. . . . Two sub
mariners from Nebraska, Lyle J.
Fox of O’Neill and Gary M. Van
derwerf of Pender, recently play
ed hosts to their governor, Victor
E. Anderson, at their "home”
aboard the USS Bashaw at Pearl
Harlxir, Hawaii. . . . Mr. and Mrs.
Earl Coppoc of Seward, formerly
rtf Chambers, observed their gold
en wedding anniversary. ... O'
Neill community concert present
ed Todd Duncan, Negro baritone
of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and
Bess' fame. . . . Deaths: Dr.
William J. Douglas, 80, who prac
ticed medicine in Atkinson for
more than 50 years.
New RNA Officers
Assume Positions
PACE The recentlv installed of
ficers of the RNA lodge took their
chairs Wednesday evening, Janu
ary 21, at the IOOF hall.
The semi-annual audit report
was read and accepted and the
special auditor dismissed.
A letter of appreciation was read
from Mrs. Roy Brownell, a form
er member now of Calif., admit
ting the probable coolness of the
lodge room temperature at the far
end of the room on a January night
and denying any possibility of any
hint of coolness permiating the at
mosphere of friendliness that makes
absentee and former members re
gret circumstances that keep them
from also enjoying a lodge session
in spite of the weather.
Mrs. A. G. Braddock served re
freshments.
To Germany Soon—
S-Sgt. Donald Boyle and family
returned Monday, January 26, to
Ft. Riley, Kans., where he will
remain until travel orders are re
ceived for his family to accompany
him to Germany. Boyle has teen
here for the past three weeks.- hav
ing teen called due to the death
of his mother, the late Mrs. James
Boyle.
Fells trees up to 3 feet in di
ameter. Cuts 181' trees in 18
seconds. Only 18f pounds.
Famous Homelite quality.
Hove a FREE DEMONSTRATION
•FOB factory ties* bar and chatl
Melvin Johring
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Deloit News
Tommy Pofahl, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Martin Pofahl, Becky Huff- '
man, daughter of Mr. and Mrs I
Stanley Huffman and Barbara Bur- 1
ke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pat 1
Burke, started to school at Deloit
in the kindergarten cJass for the
second semester. Merle Sehi is the i
teacher. The semester began Jan- i
uary 12. _ .
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reimer .
were supper guests Thursday eve- i
ning at the Howard Manson home i
in O'Neill and attended the basket
ball tournament
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Munson of
Ogallala spent the past week at the
L. L. Bartak home. They also vis- ,
ited Vonnie Paul and family and ,
Mrs. Alice I^odge in Elgin. ,
A pinochle club party was held ]
at the L. I* Bartak home Tuesday ,
! evening, January 13. Mr. and Mb. ,
Bud Bartak were guests^ lhg
score went to Mrs. Frank Bohn ,
and Bud Baidak received low. Mr. ,
and Charles McDonald won the ,
traveling aw ard. Mrs. Louis Po-,
fahl and Mrs. Frank Miller were ,
assisting hostesses ]
Mrs. Fred Harpster observed | |
her birthday anniversary Saturday. ,
Mr and Mrs. Glenn Harpster and
sons and Mr. and Mrs. H. Reimer .
were evening callers. t
Mrs. Ivan Briggs of Ord called i
on her mother, Mrs. Sidney An- i
rierson. Wednesday. The new dial
telephone had just been installed l
in the Briggs home that day.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reimer i
were Sunday dinner guests at the
Mike Born home n Plainview.
Mrs Reimer attended a postnup- i
tial shower for Elayne Reimer
Born at Plainview in the afternoon.
After almost a week of sub-zero ]
weather, Deloit residents are en
joying the fine weekend. The road
west on the mail route, was block
ed with snow for several days.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Manson
and Sidney Anderson were Sunday
dinner guests at the S. Girnsey
home.
Weekend Here—
Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Timlin of
Casper, Wyo., were weekend guests
at the homes of her sisters and
families, Mrs. Keth Abart and Mrs.
J. Ed Hancock. They returned
home Monday.
I 1 Members Present
for Help U Meeting
VENUS Mrs. Ethel Waring en
ertained the Help U club at her
lome Wednesday, January 21.
Eleven members and one visitor,
drs. J. W. Finch, were present,
rhe hostess served dinner at noon
The afternoon was spent in sew
ng carpet rags and embroidery
vork for the hostess.
Mrs. Ralph Brookhouser receiv
'd the door prize. Mrs. Otto Mat
ichullat will have the next meet
ng Wednesday, February 4.
Other Venus News
Miss Marjorie Finch left Tues
iay, January 27, for San Bern
irdino, Calif., where she has ac
epted a teaching position. Miss
•Inch, daughter of J. W. Finch,
las been attending college at
Vayne since September.
Mr. and Mrs. George Jeffrey
ind Arvid Neuhaus. were Mon
lay evening, January 19, visitors
it the Ralph Brookhouser home.
Nine members of the Work and
fun club worked on a quilt for
drs. Risinger at the St. Paul
.utheran church basement Tuos
lay afternoon, January 20.
Mr.' and Mrs. Francis Boelter
ind Loren visited at the home of
heir daughter and son-in-law, Mr
ind Mrs. Donald Knori and Larry
it Niobrara, Monday. January 19
A good number of the school
ward members attended t h e
ichool redistricting meeting Mon
lay evening, January 19, at the
Valnut district 18 school.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Waring
Irove to Fairbury Friday. Janu
iry 16. AI Fairbury they visited
he Dale Waring and F. Rice
lomes and other relatives. They
--- ■—
also visited with Mrs. Juanita
Waring and sons at Teeumseh.
They returned home Tuesday,
January 20.
William Jeffrey and Paul Loo
Mitchell were Monday, evening,
January 19, visitors at the Clar
ence Finch home.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora Caskey spent
Monday evening, January 19, at
the Lloyd Butterfield home. The
ladies attended the school meet
ing at district 18 which was held
that evening
Mr. and Mrs. Archie Cleveland
and son were Monday, January 19,
business visitors at Center.
Returns from tl.I.—
Mary Dusatko returned Satur
day from Grand Island where she
had been visiting for two weeks at
the home of her son and family,
Mr. and Mrs, John Allen. The Al
lens recently had a new baby,
- —s
Household Goods at PUBLIC AUCTION
The following described personal property belonging to Mrs Eva
Grothe will be sold at public auction on the W R Lamb residential
place (near Wesleyan Methodist church) in connection with Lamb
sale on—
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30TH
1—Double Bed with Spring & I—Dining Table
Mattress 1—Blue Arm Chair
1—Double Bed Mattress 1—Kitchen Cabinet
1— 39-In. Bed Mattress 1—Old Style Sideboard
l—Chest of Drawers t—Old Kitchen Table, two Chairs
1—Wash Stand 1—Library Table
1—Living Boom Suite 1—8x12 Wool Rug
12—Oak Chairs
Several Scatter Rugs. Some old Dishes nnd Many Other Items
O’NEILL TRANSFER
■IOHN J. TTRNFR. Prop.
Call Us for Prompt, Efficient Service
DAILY direct service to and from Omaha
Pick up & door-to-door Delivery in O’Neill
Also: Emmet, Atkinson, Stuart, Bassett, Newport and Sprlngvlew
Moving our specialty anywhere in Nebraska (U. S. and Canada
by agents interline)
If You’ve Got It — A Truck Brought It
Tour business will be appreciated
Patronize a Home Owned and Operated Firm
j Phone: O’Neill 578 Omaha AT 0500
—
----
AS WE HAVE MOVED from the farm, we will dispose of our personal property at the
place, located 2^4 miles west of the O’Neill Cemetery on the Airport road, OR 114 miles
west of the O’Neill Airport Hangars, on —
Wednesday, Febr. 4th
l Sale Starts at 1 P.M.
10-Head of Cattle-10
5—Hereford HEIFERS 4—Whiteface Yearling STEERS
Coming with their first calves; starting calving May 1. Weighing >75 lbs.
1—Yearling OPEN HEIFER 2-Stacks Alfalfa Hay; 1-Stack Millet Hay
Machinery & Equipment
1941 John Deere Model 1HC Two-Row Eli Wood Bros. 6-Ft. Combine
B Tractor J-D 10-In. Hammermill 1HC No. 200 Tractor
1943 John Deere H 14-Ft. A-C Tractor-Disc Manure Spreader
Model Tractor Case Cornpicker, one-row 7_Ft. Stock Tank
Cultivator for B J-D McC.-D. Grain Drill, 10- g.In Burr Grinder
Clipper Fanning Mill ft., all-steel box, 3-Feed Bunks
J-D No. 5 Mower, 7-Ft. mounted on rubber
Case 12-Ft Hay Rake Two-Bottom 14-In. Plow Reg* Brand and Irons
Stubble Mulcher and Hay Rack on Rubber 6-Volt Fence Charger
Two-Row Lister Rubber-Tired Wagon Tractor Sweep with
14-In. Gang Plow with box Dempster Leaver
Two-Row Cornplanter Three-Section Harrow Winch for M or H IHC,
Some Used Pipe 6-Ft. Deering Binder never used
’5 1 Ford tractor, overhauled 1 yr. ago, over and under drive transmission; Wagner loader
to fit Ford tractor; A-C silage cutter; cultivator to fit Ford; Ford hay baler, I year old.
Tools, Miscellaneous Items
Vise, Anvil, Posthole Digger, Sledge, Lots of 1 ools, two Jackscrews, ^et ot 1 ractor
Chains, Small Stock Tank (combination hog and cattle), Mail Box, 5 Sacks of Fertilizer,
Electric Tank Heater, Some Stucco Screen, Sickles for J-D Mower, Roll of Roofing Paper,
2—Brooder Stoves (one oil and one electric), Some Used Lumber, Garden Cultivator
Set of Harness, Hog Troughs, 50-Ft. Endless Belt, 2—Old Junker Cars, Fuel Barrels, Fuel
Cans, Pickup Attachment for A-C Combine, 3—Rolls of Lattice Cribbing, TV Antennae
with Rotor, Surge Milking Machine (single units, pump and stall pipes), DeLaval Cream
Separator, Milk Pails, Cream Cans, 12-Ft Ladder.
HOUSEHOLD GOODS, ETC. — TERMS OF SALE: Strictly Cash
FRANK SEARLES, owner
COL. WALLACE O’CONNELL, LLOYD WALDO,
O’Neill, Auctioneer Amelia, Clerk