I
O'Neill Blessed With Chicory Plant in 1890
In this day relative economic
stability, little thought is given the
humble chicory plant but O'Neill
citizens during the 1890 depression
years had reason to place it high
on their list of blessings.
If you will check the record, you
will discover that chicory is not
even listed as a Nebraska crop
Shortly before the turn of the
century there was considerable in
terest in growing chicory in north
east Nebraska.
Chicory factories to process the
crop were established in O'Neill.
Fremont and Omaha. An account
of chicory production in the state
and especially in Holt county is
contained in an article by Bower
Sageser appearing in the June issue
of Nebraska History.
The period of chicory production
was one of near despair in the
state. The depression of the 1890's
was compounded by drought and
farmers were looking frantically,
for more successful ways to earn j
a livelihood than traditional crops i
had afforded. Molt county farmers
in some numbers tried raising pop
corn, and chicory production be
came 'another answer they found
to their problems.
Chicory, then as now, was used
to some extent in the United States
mainly mixed with coffee or as a
coffee substitute. A considerable
amount was imported although j
there was some raised in parts ol
the United States, especially Mich
igan. The production in Nebraska
was designed to fill the need for
imported chicory.
Chicory production is measured
in tons, with estimates of produc
tion ranging from about 4 to 12
per acre. The price for the product
per ton was estimated from 8 to
12 dollars, a very attactive dollar;
yield to farmers who were raising
30 hushel corn and selling it at
about 25 cents a bushel. Chicory
production had another very real
value to the community where it
was produced. It was a very bulky
crop and the processing had to be
done near the site of production
This made local factories or pro
cessing plants necessary and the
factory at O'Neill paid out about
$10,000 in wages per year, a sizable
sum in the depression years of the
1890's. This chicory was an asset
to the community in a double sense.
The legislature in 1895 encour
aged the factories by placing a
bounty on chicory production. Still
it did not become an important
factor in the state's economy.
In spite of efforts of Jhe factories j
to encourage production not enough
chicory was raised to make the fac- 1
tones pay. Discouraging drought
and a bad crop year, difficulty in
harvesting the beets— sometimes
I eet roots were three feet long
•and a rturn of prosperity which
made the production of the more
tradtional crops once again at
tractive, combined to kill interest
in the crop. The chicory factory at
Fremont turned to sugar beet pro
cessing. The one at O’Neill was
closed, ynd major attempts to add
this crop to Nebraska’s agricultur
al production had ended by 1900.
Bristow News
Methodist Church Observe#
Silver Te« at Bristow
The Joy Circle of the Bristow
Methodist church sponsored a sil
ver tea on Sunday.
Mrs. Ben Creamer of Spencer
led the devotions. Solos were sung
by Mrs. Ray Nemee of Spencer
and Miss Donna Hiatt. Mrs. El
vin Allen, Missionary secretary,
introduced the speaker, Miss Eu
nola Adams, who is a Missionary
in Liberia, Africa.
Pouring at the tea were Mrs
Don Drickey, president of the
Spencer WSCS and Mrs Bill Li.u
kota of Bristow.
Visitors from out of town in
cluded Miss Adams and her bro
ther, The Rev. a.id Mrs. Robert
Embree of O'Neill and groups
from Spencer, and Wagner, S. D.
WSCS MEETS
The WSCS met Wednesday, June
24th at the Methodist Church par
lors. Eight members were pre
sent.
The lesson, "A new Ambassador
for Christ the Tourist" was giv
en by Mrs. Lawson Lightfoot.
Mrs. John Truman presided at
the business meeting and lunch
was served by Mrs. Lawson Light
fooi and Mrs. Gertrude Allan.
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Soukup
and family and Mrs Tillio Novak
visited at the Tom Boska home
Sunday evening.
Visitoi's at the Ladd Scheinost
home this past week were Mrs
Fred Scheinost on Tuesday night;
Olga B e n g s t e n on Wednesday
night; Mrs. Howard Harris and
girls and Mrs Carl Harsaas on
Thursday afternoon; Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Boska on Friday night; and
Mr. and Mrs. John Kocian and
Mrs Kenneth Fish and Kenny
Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Evelyn Boettcher and Rob- |
yn were Sunday dinner guests at i
the Olga Johnson home.
Mr. and Mrs. John Wright were
Sunday supper guests at the Fred
Kraft home.
Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Hiatt and
Donna and Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Loock of Spencer took pot lurk
supper to the home of M. R. Mar
latt on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. Evelyn Boettcher, Robyn,
and Julie, Mrs. Olga Johnson and
Fam Bowers were Sunday after
noon visitors and supper guests
at the Thomas Bowers home.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Carr and fam
ily of O'Neill and Mr. and Mrs.
Duane Lihs and family of Califor
nia were Wednesday evening vis
itors at the Fred Kraft home.
M r s. Louis Scheinost, Robyn
Boettcher and Mrs. Thomas Bow
ers were Wednesday afternoon
guests of Mrs. Olga Johnson.
Mrs. Howard Anderson and chil
dren were Friday evening guests
at the Melvin Johnson home.
Miss Donna HiaLi accompanied
Mrs. Dorothy Johnson and La
Vonne to- the Rosedale Covenant
Church for their midsummer pic
nic on Wednesday, June 24.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sauers, Mr.
and Mrs. Johnny Sauers and son
of Salem, Oregon and Mrs. Louis
Scheinost spent June 15 morning
with Evelyn Boettchen
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Loukota at
tended a state convention in Kear
ney last week.
Five girls left for Camp Cove
nant Cedars Sunday. They arc 1
Verneue rcuoa, amney nuua, jhh
ice Peterson, Phyliss Johnson and
Lois Hamilton. Rev. and Mrs. Ber
ard Nelson drove them there.
Thursday afternoon coffee guests
of the Ben Nelsons’ were Mrs.
Vem Carmichael of Foreston, Illi
nois, Mrs. Joe Katzer, Mrs. Don
Carmichael and family, Mrs. Bill
Hansen and sons, and Mrs. Bill
Snider and Kelley, all of Butte.
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Landholm
visited at the Ed Martinson home
Friday evening.
Thursday evening guests at the
Ben Nelson home were Dean Olson
and Laurie from Pauper, Wiscon
sin.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pearson
called Sunday evening at the
Swam Pearson Home.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pitzer of Las
Vegas, Nevada and Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Merrick of Bozeman, Montana
visited Friday evening at the Ben
Nelson home.
Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nel
son and Todd went to Lyons, to
attend a wedding.
Tuesday evening June 23 guests
at the Gottfrid Danielson home
were Mr. and Mrs. Pete ltuda and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Dan
ielson and Roger, Mr. and Mrs.
Eddie Danielson, and Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Peterson and Janice. This
was in honor of Mrs. Pete Ruda's
birthday.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Snider were
Friday dinner guests at the Ben
Nelson home.
George Soukup is leaving this
week for Long Beach, California
after a 30-day leave from the Na
vy.
Mr. and Mrs Ben Harrison ot
Omaha were Thursday eanjig
dinner guests at the Wulayci L nd
holms.
Mi. and Mrs. Robert Whetham.
Mr. and Mrs. Mel Jay Long and
, Randy. Mr. and Mrs. Willard
Landholm and family. Mr and
Mrs. Ray Long, Mr. and Mrs
Gary White and girls of Hampton.
N. H., and Mr. and Mrs Floyd
Long of O'Neill spent Sunday in
O'Neill pienicing.
Saturday noon Mr and Mrs
Carl Anderson and Karen and Mr
and Mrs. Ben Harrison of Omaha
' were dinner guests at the Dave
Landholm homo.
Mr. and Mrs. Veldon Lee and
family called at the Bill Stauffer
home Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. John Lightfoot took
Mrs Lillie Pearson and Ronnie
and Christie Uribe to Norfolk
where Janet Uribe met them to go
to Lincoln.
Mr. and Mrs. Veldon Lee and
family attended a family picnic
at the Fort Randall Park Sunday.
Sunday noon dinner guests of
the Dave Land holms were Mr.
and Mrs. Herman Landholm.
A birthday party was held at
the John Lightfoot home for Mrs.
Bainhridge Thursday Th se pre
sent were Mrs. Laws ■ 1 Lightfoot 1
and Nancy, Dorothy Johnson and
La venue. Rev. Jensen Mrs. Var- :
and Mrs. Lillie P':vso:i.
• "•''•''■I ass?.'.- & * aPWtBr v* »
Randy and Christine Harris are
spending the week at the Veldon
I^ee home
Mr. and Mrs. Mel Jay Long and
Randy were dinner guests at the
Tom Boska home Sunday
Mr. ami Mrs. Melvin Johnson
and Rosemary motored to Winner
Sunday where they spent the day
with Harold IVan Johnson of Mer
riman. They also called at the
Lawrence Johnson home.
Cliff Bennett and Mrs. Dorothy
Hinkle of Dakota City were Sat
urday visitors at the Van Hove
home.
Rhoda Murray and Arlie Reim
er were Sunday overnight guests
at the Dave Landhoms. Pauline
Johnson and Miss S. Young were
house guests at the Duane Mahlcn
dorf home and Rev, J. M. Murrav
was an overnight guest at David I
Andersons in Spencer. They were
all Sunday evening dinner guests
at the Duane Mahlendorf home.
They are members of the Prairie
tiihle Institute at three Hills, Can
ada. They presented a program
at the Rosedale Covenant Church
Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Soukup and
Richard visited Mr. and Mrs. John
bVhite, D n. Eileen, and George
Soukup in Omaha a couple days
last week
i Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Danielson
1 and Roger. Mr. and Mrs. Eddie
Danielson and Pattey ami Paul
McCracken enjoyed a picnic at
the Niobrara State Park Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bowers,
Mrs. Tony Bowers and Robert
Bowman called on Mr and Mrs.
Ed Dreher Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Canning
were Friday evening supper guests
at the Con Thorell home.
Mrs. Delbert Haselhorst and
girls spent Thursday at the C. L.
Haselhorst home.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Olson and
famly of St. Edward and Mr. and
Mrs. Emery Olson and family of
FaifTax were Sunday dinner guests
at the home of Mrs. J. T. Olson
and Florence. Afternoon callers
were Mr. and Mrs Clarence and
Waldon. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pear
son, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Martin
son and Grandpa Martinson, all
of Fairfax and Mrs. Swan Pear- '
son.
Mr. and Mrs Carl Anderson’s
guests this past week were Mrs.
Anderson’s sister and hrother-in
low, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Harrison of
Omaha.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Audiss and
family and Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Vonasek and family were Wednes
day dinner guests at the C. L. Ha
selhorst home.
Patty and Paul McCracken of
Lincoln spent from Thursday un
til Sunday with their uncle and
aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Daniel
I son.
Mrs. Edith Hewitt returned to
her home in Sioux City on Satur
day for a weeks stay after help
ing to care for her mother, Mrs
J. T. Olson.
FIREWORKS
OPEN THt KSDAV & EKJim
NIGHTS A SAT. MORNING
Scovie's Western Auto
O’Neill
T. R. Poessnefber, above left, has 40 acres In irrigation north of Atkinson. One of the smaller
Irrigators, he is using gated pipe and is terracing. Ills son James, 9, is in the middle and Hud Sholes is
at the right. See' the other irrigation stories on the inside pages ami on the front page.
■--5 wig v-*TTY---% '
Henry Meyer, who farms between Clearwater and Orchard inspects a field of rye that was com
pletely ruined by last week's 33 minute hail storm. Hail piled up to four Inches deep on the level and
was the most severe in Mr. Meyer’s memory of 45-years of farming in the vicinity. Also ruined on the
Meyer farm were several fields of corn, wheat and oats. Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Record. ,
WHOLB
PICKLES 4kilter
OCP room msH mom»
*' Butter Fish Steak* „... .. kT 29*
' “BiF” ssr?..“ a 43* JF*1
j j “MOR” Ssr ” s 43* Soldi,t
B.V. EXTRACT .“£51* a? PORK & BEANS
HASH ST.» a 39* ~.jk
SAUSAGES ssr...4 a 25* *
Stuffed Olives 39*
■ TUNA ' '* DEWT-msR sumnsT
3 S]00 —Lemons_w 39'
Starkist Bin9 Cherries lwfd"uwi«»» u 39*
FRESH FROZEN ^Ak GOLDEN VALLEY
TMMA niCC SALAD DRESSING
TUNA PIES -39.
4 ^100
\ M|^B Wed.-Thun..
doted All DtyUie 4th
Kovorotfi BONDWARE PLATES omo49c pAon o**«-99c 9 G,1,a"f 49®'
charcoal NORTHERN 8rr...:.?J533c K.' J’t33 It *
briquets NORTHERN 5S?.2!»; 39‘ LIQUID CHIFFON .|
“—69* WAXTEX Ss*..?& 23' DIM.ESf!'2to29‘ 212. 39*
I REACH FOR
ROBERTS DAIRY PRODUCTS
COTTAGE CHEESE
12-oz. ctn. 23c
CHOCOLATE MILK
quart . 23c
ORANGE DRINK
per quart. 19c
ROBERT S SWEET CREAM
BUTTER .. ....... .. lb. 79c
MARGARINE . pkg. 30c
CREAMERY
BUTTER lb. 67c
BANNER
OLEO_2 lbs. 39c
DEL MONTE—No. 2 Cans
Tomato Juice.. 3/49c
OCR FAMILY—No. 303 Cans
APPLE SAUCE. 3/49c