Prairieland Talk
'Old and Full of Days'
By KOMAINF, 8AI NDFKM, 4110 South ,*>lst St., Lincoln «, Ncbr.
Friend Harry White, a kid in sod house days in
the long ago down in the Amelia section of grass
robed and flowing well region of stnjthwest Holt
county spending the past winter with a daughter
in Denver, writes to inform me of the death of
William H McNichols, father of Governor Steve
McNichols of Colorado. The dead man was old and
full of days, had served the city of Denver as aud
itor for many years. He was of the pioneer O'Neill
family of McNichols, a brother of the late Steve
McNichols, one time county clerk of Holt county
and an uncle of the late Billy McNichols, one of the
6,500 lawyers of Ins Angeles county, Calif., and who
visited in O'Neill al»out once a year. Mr. White
plans to return to his Holt county home and friends
by early summer. The sod house is gone, a pleas
ant modern home and other buildings surrounded
by stately trees and charming scenes of nature hold
a lure for the visitor to the White ranch south of
the village o( Amelia.
• • •
It was known in the early days as the Commer
cial Hotel, John O’Neill the landlord and Rosco
Conklin the functionary at the desk. It stands there
today at 4th and Everett streets, and I notice by an
ad in The Frontier that the present owner seeks a
buyer. Headquarters in the long ago for newcomers,
travelers, cow punchers, horse thieves and outlaws.
ONeill, lloscoe, A/ Perry, the Shellharts and others
presided at that hotel and fed you a big feed for two
bits, bed and breakfast for 50 cents. Mr Moore
had shined up ttie old hotel building and made it
over into a modem structure. But there is an aged
one here and there, like Prairieland Talker, who
cherish memories of the old hotel as it was when
a one-time sweetheart of mine presided at dining
room tables.
Another star in the crown of statehood. Hawaii
closes the gate on the last of the country’s terri
tories and liecomes the 50th state. In my school
boy days we were taught that our country con
sisted of 38 states and 10 territories. Next, take
on Canada and the stars and stripes will wave
from the Gulf to the North Pole.
Another of the pioneers of the Minneola neigh
borhood in northeast Holt joins the Addisons, the
Henrys, the Bluebaughs, the Lamonts and others
once dwelling on that grass-rolled level land now at
rest in the dwelling place of the dead. I have a
regret to haunt me that I did not go to the home
of Henry Tomlinson when last I was in O’Neill and
learned that he was sick. We both had been pio
neer prairie kids, both imported to prairieland from
neighboring communities in southern Wisconsin.
Two lads ‘‘grew up” on the prairies of Holt county,
traveled life’s highway to old age and now one is
done with it all, the other lives on. Tomlinson was
a worthy citizen, a loyal friend, a capable official.
Rest in peace, Henry
• • •
Mussolini is scarcely a memory today. From
the height of fame came he tumbling down, no more
to wear an emperor's crown; no —not to die as
kings have died to pass on to a descendant a crown
of glory, but‘crownless and scepterless Mussolini
lay his form at rest in Italian mud. Now comes a
ghost of Worlcf War II, a son of the fallen trouble
maker, Vittorio, just cleared by an Italian military
court of a charge of desertion and pulling out for
South America.
• • •
Millions going into highway construction to take
care of the many running to and fro" that the pro
phet Daniel 2,500 years ago saw us up to out here
on prairieland as he unraveled the history of man
kind.
It was a day in April in the year 1902- Milo Pick
ering, a pioneer of northeast Holt county' and a
worthy citizen, met his death
in an effort to stop a runaway
learn of wild and frightened
horses. . , . There was no coun
ty agent those days to tell clod
hoppers what to plant or not to
plant, but there w'as a Sugar
Beet factory on the go here at
O'Neill and they had a few
beet - growing experts going
about to tell the clodhoppers
how to pull a weed and hill up
_ . their row of sugar beets. . . .
m nci John O’Neill and daughter, Mrs.
lm rs Belle Ryan, returned from a
stay in Omaha and planned to remain in O’Neill.
. . . Miss Alice Cronin retired as a teacher in the
O'Neill schools, . . . Mrs. S. J. Weeks was visiting
friends in her girlhood home in the eastern part of
the state. . . Mr and Mrs. P. C. Corrigan went to
Omaha on a business trip. . . . The talk of the town
was those new patterns in wall paper at Gilligan
and Stouts. . . . Attorney R. R. Dickson went to
Lincoln, having a case in the supreme court.
• * *
Lincoln High basket ball boys, said to have an
illustrious past in sports if not in education, have
added another star to their crowns by defeating the
boys from Omaha, who might outshine our Lincoln
heros on the lecture platform. . . . C. C. Whitcomb,
unknown only in his home community down at Dor
chester where he is Burlington railroad station agent,
has been honored by the heads of that railroad for
his 50 years service, starting when a boy as a sta
tion helper. ... A hundred years now on th£ map
men in the Capital City grow whiskers. Haven’t
seen any ladies out wearing sunbonnets and hoop
skirts.
• * *
And now the days of pain and suffering are over
for Charles Harding. He had been an invalid for
• some years. The Harding family, Charles’ parents,
came to O'Neill after the blizzard of January 12,
1888, from the Swan Lake community; that blizzard
wiping out their heard of cattle, as it did for many
others. The elder Mr. Harding was a Civil War
veteran and his son Charles a veteran of the war
in Cuba.
* * * 1
Life has its ups and downs, a tear for every
smile, a heart throb for every joyous thrill, so many
thorns where the rose buds bloom, so many mis
understanding because I know not you and you
know not me. But all the way along the trail we
go a lot of fun in spite of a bit of woe.
* * •
Mr. Anderson goes to old London as an honored
delegate to a gathering to set the world straight
and make us all happy. Now, Vic, is not that going
to outshine anything that ever comes to one sitting
in the governor’s office down at the Statehouse?
• * *
I can not paint as great artists do, nor reach a
hand to yon distant blue. I can not direct the affairs
of nations of earth nor bring one lifeless soul re
birth. But I can lend a hand to lift a fallen fellow
man as down the stretch of this life I go!
Editorial
O'Neill's New Improvements
O'Neill can be seen growing in more ways than
one.
New places of business and new offices and
equipment for others point to a very healthy business
climate for our community.
Just a few of the improvements include a new
Fetrow appliance store, a new Standard service
station, and a new job printing press for The Fron
tier.
As we look around, we see other improvements.
The city council has just made the necessary plans
to increase the number of wards in the city, there
by making it necessary to elect another councilman.
Juvenile Trouble
From The Koch County I,eader
There is an old saying that a word to the wise is
sufficient, and we hope that the words which follow
will be heeded by youth of our community.
It has been determined that a number of high
school youths have been secretly taking articles
from stores in the city. The practice is said to be
more widespread than might be generally imagined.
Three boys ranging in age from 14 to 16 were
caught and a complaint was filed against them in
county court for juvenile delinquency.
We hope that others who are suspected of having
done the same thing will take heed, and correct
their ways before it is too late.
i ne pfooiem or wneuier ro puniisn names oi
juveniles in newspapers is something which has
been debated for years. Generally newspapers have
followed the policy of not printing names of first
offenders for minor charges. Many persons are now
advocating (J. Edgar Hoover among them), that
youngsters who do wrong be named and forced to
assume the responsibility for their actions.
There are logical arguments on both sides of the
question.
We have talked the problem over with County
Attorney Art Welter and Cbunty Judge Doris Huston,
and have come to this decision regarding the pres
ent case and others which may come up in the
future.
The boys involved in the present episode will not
be named, but from now on names will be used. In
this we have been assured of the cooperation of
county officials who are in agreement with the policy.
It seems that as youth of today more frequently
get into trouble, they need stronger measures to
deter them.
Publicizing names of those who stray may keep
someone else from stepping over the line.
County officials, likewise say that sterner mea
sures will be adopted in the future for those who
appear in the courts.
As we said in the beginning a word to the wise
should be sufficient. Take heed before it is too late.
We would also say this We would much rather
publish things of a pleasant nature about the youth
of our community than to publish unpleasant things.
We hope we won’t have to publish the unpleasant
incidents too often.
The Lost 'Meggs'
Spring is here, but where are the marbles?
Not so long ago it seemed that at every street
comer, at the back of every home or just about any
• * I »
where or everywhere boys with favorite “meggs”
were challenging the prowess of the “best thumbs of
the block.”
Mumbly pefe is gone too, the old timers say. An
other vanishing America?
What’s changing the boys, or is it just the world
around us that is changing even the habits of small
boys with baggy pants?
Bright Easter Children
Let’s hope that little boys and girls going to
church don’t change too much. This observer, at
any rate, is looking forward to the white Easter
bonnets and bright new shoes.
The faces will be clean next Sunday, at least for
an hour or two, no mistaking that.
But they will not walk to church and the old
timers will tell you sadly that the horse and buggy
has gone to the same place as the flying jack
knives and marbles.
Fire Protection
From The Neligh News
At the coming election, April 7, Neligh residents
will be called upon to decide whether or not our fair
city will have adequate fire protection for the years
ahead.
Presently, the fire house is the home for four
fire fighting vehicles. Two of these vehicles are
modem up to date rural fire trucks. The other two
are outdated modes of transportation.
We are not trying to kid anyone that at most
fires in Neligh, the rural trucks will be used and
very satisfactory, however there is always the
possibility that a rural fire will spring about the
same time as a city fire and then the firemen will
be required to take the rural trucks to the country
and use the present city trucks to take care of the
local fire.
This possibility was brought home to us Monday
morning when one of the buildings at the Neligh
Hatchery was ablaze. Someone casually made the
remark as to the predicument we would be in if
the fire whistle should blow and require us to take
the trucks to the country. Such circumstances would
have undoubtedly cost the loss of another building.
“VOICE OF THE BEEF EMPIRE” «>
122 South Fourth St. — Box 330 — O’Neill. Nebr.
JAMES CHAMPION, Co-Publisher
JERRY PETSCHE, Editor
Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun
ty. Nehraska, as second-class mail matter under the
Act o< 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
year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year;
rates abroad provided upon request. All subscriptions
payable in advance. ;
Frontiers
Ago
THE CENT! RY TERNS
Charles E. Stout was re-elected
mayor of O'Neill by a majority of
101 votes over his opponent, Roy
M. Sauers, at the city election held
i 2 1930 . ... 1 >r W, F
Finley and his sister. Mi's. Frank
It Phalin, were called to Ferry
ville. Wise., on March 19, on ac
count of the death of their mother
The congregation of the
Presbyterian church arranged a
farewell reception fo Rev. H. H.
Beers and family held in the
church parlors. Rev. Beers and
family left March 31 for their new
home in Waukeeney, Kan.
Crow heads are being brought to
the County clerk's office in this
city in fairly good sized quanti
ties. After March 31, the crow
bounty of ten cents per head was
discontinued as usual until the
first of October.
MOST OF I S REMEMBER
The entire teaching and cust
odial staff of the O’Neill public
school has been re-elected for the
1953-54 school year.Work
started March 23 on the new tel
ephone system being installed at
Chambers by Kenneth Werner.
Continental Oil company announced
plans to construct a modern, new
Conoco super service station at
the corner of Second and Douglas
streets.The Bethany Presby
terian church held their first ser
vice in the new sanctuary on the
evening of Good Friday.The
Beef Judging team, Farm Manage
ment team and the Shop team
from the O'Neill veterans class
earned first place honors in an
eight-school ag judging competition
here March 21.... One of the lar
gest crowds to attend a funeral
in O’Neill was at the funeral of
Army Cpl. Lyle C. (Red) McKim,
24, at the Methodist Church, Rev.
W: B. Smith, pastor, officiating.
Deaths: Thomas W. Harding, 85,
O’Neill resident and retired farmer.
THE FRONTIER WAS YOUNG
•
F. M. Raymond, James Galla
gher, Charles Stout and E. S. Ear
ley rode the Woodmen goat March
21, 1899. The boys are now full
fledged woodchoppers. Taken from
the March 23 1899 issue of the
Frontier—"A herd of swine, while
meandering along on the sidewalk
on\the east side of main
street in O'Neill, were
suddenly surprised by the deep and
stentorious voice of the chief of
police, notifying them to clear the
walk. The aforesaid swine did
their best to save themselves from
arrest and dodged the eagle eye
of the said officer by jumping
through the mnus boards in the
afore mentioned walk. The thief
thus seeing himself baffled in me
king arrest of the herd immediate
ly betook himself to the nearest
place of worship where he par
took of the ceremony and emerged
forth, not in sack cloth and ashes,
but vowing vengeance on the swine
and the boards which were not in
the sidewalk.” Mike Sullivan
returned from Park City, Utah 1
and has purchased a farm east of
town and will settle down to tilling
the soil .. John G. Woolley deli
vered an address upon temperance
at the court house.
Dear Editor:
We were shocked this week when
we opened the Frontier (we usual
ly receive our Frontier on Monday
following its publication! and read
of a Sunday public auction of 924
head of cattle.
We don’t question a man’s right
to hold such an auction any more
than many other thinks that are
being done both in work and amuse
ment or recreation. But it is ad
vancing and broadening the fields
of Sabbath breaking. We question
the wisdom of that in an age when
youth delinquency and disregard
for the rights and safety of others
is increasing in alarming propor
tions.
The scriptures teach that indidiv
duals and nations of individuals,
who defy God’s laws for the Sab
bath shall not go unpunished.
Some one has said, “All that is
necessary for the triumph of evil
is that good men do nothing” and
again “Every Christian must fight
the evil he sees. If he doesn’t op
pose it, then he accepts it.”
Sincerely,
Fay A. Puckett
Dear Editor;
I am a stranger to you, but I
lived in Nebraska 63 years, and
mostly in the O’Neill area until
we left there four years ago.
We attended Sunday school in
the church which picture appeared
on the front page of the Frontier
two weeks ago. In 27 years, I have
many friends and many fond me
mories of the place, and in the
O’Neill area.
I hope you can print the enclosed
protest against another form of
Sabbath desecration that could
spread and grow to the detriment of
our great country.
Success to you in your new en
terprise.
Sincerely,
Fay A. Puckett
Money To Loan!
Household Goods, Personal
Property, Oars, Trucks,
•'arm Equipment
HARRINGTON
Loan and Investment
Company
LOW RATES
Inman News
Victory Group Hold
4-H Sign Meeting;
Gary Fick Speaks
The Victory Boys and Girls held
their third regular meeting Friday
at the Inman public school. Gary
Fick, president called the meet
ing to order with the 4-H pledge.
He gave a short talk on the State
Forestry Award he won. The se
cretary called the roll. There were
27 members present.
Gary appointed a committee to
see about erecting a 4-H sign and
material was handed out for some
of the projects.
The next meeting will lie April
17th, with Jim and Kenneth Given
try on the lunch committee.
The meeting was closed with the
4-H prayer,
Raymond Taylor, the recreation
leader, had dancing for recreation !
and Mrs. Bill Butterfield and Mrs. I
George Colman srved lunch.
Garnett Gillogly, reporter, j1
By .Mrs. Carrie McMahan
Among the out of town relatives •
attending the funeral of Mrs. W.
C. Kelley on Monday were Mr.
and Mrs. Sam Kelley, Fairbury;
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Kel'ley and fam
ily, Falls City; Mrs. Walter Nel
son, Lansing. Mich. Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Kelley and family and
Mrs. Lyle Ruth Jackson, St. Paul,
Minn; Ned and Neal Kelley of '
Norfolk and Don Kelley of Wayne,
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Comstock
and son, St. Paul, Minn.
Mrs. Walter Nelson came Sun
day from I^ansing, Mich, being
called by the death of her mother,
Mrs. W. C. Kelley.
The Inman Workers Extension
Club met March 18 afternoon with
Mrs. Rosara Kopecky. There were
13 members present. Mrs. Wood
row Gaughenl>augh and Mrs. Leo
Harte gave the lesson on “Con
cerning Color." A dessert luncheon
was served.
Mrs. John Gallagher returned
to her home March 18 from St.
Anthony's where she was a patient ;
for two weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. James Kelley,
who are employed at Grand Is- (
land, came March 19.
Ivan Couch, who is employed at ]
Geneva, spent the weekend with ;
his family. <
Lloyd Smith has returned home
from St. Anthony's hospital where <
he underwent surgery. |
Dick Coventry , Mrs. Ronald Co
ventry and Joe.of Norfolk -.pent
the vveektnd in the Kenneth Coven
try home.
Mr. and Mrs Dean Stuckey and
family of Graft, n, spent Sunday
visiting in the home cf Mrs. Stuck- !
ey s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eu i
Qiudomelka.
Mrs. Elizabeth Morshneh has
returned front N'eligh -where she
has been visiting in the home of
Mr. and Mrs. I.evi Morsbaoh and
and son.
Miss Wilma Stamp of Omaha is J
visaing her parents; Mr. and Mrs.
William Stamp,
O'Neill Locals
—
Miss Karen Sue Sheihamer, dau- j
ihter of Mr. and Mrs. Wally Shel- j
lamer celebrated her fourth birth
lay at a party in her home March
18. Her mother planned the enter
ainment for ten of Karen's play
nates and their mothers.
Mr. and Mrs. Glen Butterfield,
\tkinson, were Sunday guests at
he C. G. Shellhase home.
In honor of their granddaugh-1
er’s tenth birthday, Mr. and Mrs.
Z.G. Shellhase entertained Mr. and
Vlrs. Keith Shellhase and Margie,
Ukinson, Friday evening.
Guests at the Paul Shierk home
Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. John
Stahlecker and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Oville Sindelar
;pent the weekend in Lincoln at the
rony Sindelar home.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Straka, At
tinson, were dinner guests Sun
lay at the John Schmidt home.
Mr. Mike Schmidt, Atkinson,
tpent Monday with Mr. and Mrs.
John Schmidt.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Anderson,
sturges, S. D., and Mrs. Ruth Gay,
Lincoln, stopped at the Ralph Wal
ter home Saturday enroute to Stur
?es from Lincoln.
Here from Monovvi at the Regin
ald Pinkerman home Saturday
vere Mr. and Mrs. Vigo Christen
sen.
Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ramold and
amily were at the Wendell Babl
lome in Emmet Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Tucker and
Mickey, Ewing, were supper guests
lunday at the Don Richardson
lome.
Mrs. George C. Robertson return
id Thursday from visits to the
lomes of her children, Mr. and
drs. R. P. Orth, Oklahoma City,
md Mr and Mrs. George P. Rob
■rtson, Benkleman.
In Sioux City Monday were Mrs.
1. E. Jones and Mrs. Esther Mor
;an.
ASC Office Reminds
of incentive Plan
Chairman Homer Krnsf of the
Holt Agricultural Stabilization an ,
Conservation office remind* wool
producers to lie sure that the sales
documents they have receded for
selling wool during the past year
contain all the information required
an.ier the wind incentive payment
program.
It is particularly important,
Ernst says, that the sales docu
ments show the true m t sales pro
ceeds including deductions made
for freight and other marketing
charges. Where false information
is filed, Isith the produeer and ihe
wool buyer are subject to penal
ies.
Producers will be eligible for
payments to he made this year
: under the 1958 ptogram for wool
and unshorn lambs marketed not
Inter than March 31 this year loi
ter marketing, will t o eligible for
'payments under the 1959 program
Applications for payment under
the 19fk8 program must be file d not
later Utan April 30 ;ii the ctnutty
i it tee. This cut-off date is neces
sary tt> [termit a final accurate cal
culation of the average price re
ceived by fanners for wool during
the 1958 marketing year. When the
average price received for shorn
wool is known sometime this sum
mer. the payment rate will he an
: nounecd and payments will tv
| made to growers.
-—-- I
WHEN YOU need money fbr any worthy purpose, such as old
bills. Installment purchases, medical attention, home or auto re
pairs . . . see CENTRAL. Quick, confidential service; easy re
payment terms to fit your Income.
CENTRAL FINANCE CORP.
FRANCIS TIOHE, M*r. — BOB HAYTER, Asst. Mfr.
Phone 14 — O'Neill
TOMLINSON'S
TRAILER COURT
At Public Auction
This trailer court sale also includes a 7-room modern dwelling with half basement. The Trailer Court
and house are located at 103 West Everett Street, 1 block south of the New Deal Oil Company in
O'Neill, Nebraska and is to be sold on . . .
Saturday, April 4
Sale Starts at 1 p.m. Sharp
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 22, 23 and 24, Block 37, Riggs Addition, O'Neill, Nebraska.
This very fine trailer court consists of 6 hook-ups to city sewer and electricity. At present there are
three trailers on the property and they are and have been steady income. By removal of two build
ings on the property, much more trailer space could be available. There is pavement on both sides
of the court. During the summer months this trailer court has been full to capacity. The 7-room
dwelling on the property is furnished with two na tural gas heaters which will be sold with the house.
THIS ENTIRE PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD AS ONE UN IT AND INCLUDES HOUSE, TRAILER COURT, AND
TWO AND A HALF LOTS. This is very good investment property and with little care can be a good
opportunity to increase ones personal income.
TERMS OF REAL ESTATE: 25% down on sale and balance when abstract is brought up to date. Clear
title will be furnished.
PROPERTY MAY BE INSPECTED AT ANY TIME.
0
ALSO TO BE SOLD AT THIS AUCTION
Complete Line Of Household Goods
9 cu. ft. Deep Freeze, like new
30-in. gas Cooking Stove
2— Room Heaters, both for
natural gas
Utility Table
3— Easy Chairs
Buffet
Small Stand
Two Dressers with mirrors
Writing Desk
2—Cameras, new
Electrolux tank type
Vacuum Cleaner
9-ft. Refrigerator
Small Gas Heater
Chrome Breakfast Set,
nearly new
Platform Rocker
Studio Couch
9x12 all wool Rug with pad
One Bed, complete
One Chest of Drawers
Spring Cot and mattress
22 Colt Auto. Hi-Standard
Pistol, like new
Underwood portable Typewritei
with case, very good
Shop Tools; Used Lumber;
Garden Tools; Many, many
other articles.
TERMS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY: Cash.
Mrs. H. W. TOMLINSON, Owner
AUCTIONEERS: Col. Vern Reynoldson, licensed rea I estate auctioneer, and Col. Wally O'Connell
Ed Murphy, clerk !fffl!‘!r
* * ••
