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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1959)
Johannah Hayes Meals Nears 100 Year Mark; Pioneer Extraordinary! By Maude Sllverstr&nd Special Writer for The Frontier In a few weeks a little white haired lady — a woman of three frontiers will celebrate her 100th birthday. Mrs. Johannah Hayes Meals and her offspring, are part of a living heritage that we may all en joy, that we may take part in, and that we may all read about. Her father, Morgan Hayes, was a personal friend of General Johr O'Neill, the generally accepted founder of the O'Neill commun ity. Mrs. Hayes, now visiting her daughter in Alaska, is still in ar Anchorage hospital with a broker hip bone. She will celebrate her birthday Sept. 23 and said she hopes to arrive home by Christ mas. Grandma Meals, affectionatelj known by many when she lived from 1936 to 1942 at the home ol her son, George, was a staunch Republican, a gay prankster and a challenging character. She laughingly tells how she and her beau stood on either side of the Elkhorn and hollared their con versation across the swollen river Her hobbies are knitting, crochet ing and reading. Like most old people, she recalls the past more vividly than the present but her mind is extremely keen. ROYAL THEATER Thurs. Sept ! Family Night “FRANCIS IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE” Starring Mickey Rooney, with Virginia Welles, Paul Cavanaugh and Francis "The Talking Mule”, Adm.: Adults 65c; children 15c Family 91.00 Frl.-Sat. Sept 4-i First time on the screen! In Cinemascope and color by De Luxe. Cannot be seen on TV! "SON OF ROBIN HOOD” Starring A1 Hedison, June Lave rick, David Farrar and Marius Goring Adm-: Adults 65c; children 15c. All children unless in arms must have tickets. Matinee Sat., 2:30. Sun.-Mon.-Tues.- Sept. Wed. Thurs. 6-7-8-B-H Warner Bros, presents Audrey Hepburn as Sister Luke, who was not like the others, in Fred Zinnemann's production of “THE NUN’S STORY” In Technicolor Co-starring Peter Finch as the cynical Congo Surgeon, Dr. Fortunati. Adm.: Adults 65c: children 15c. All children unless in arms must have tickets. Matinee Sun., 2:30. MRS. MEALS . . . frontier lady It is impossible to picture this remarkable lady without telling something of her background and j that of those who lived close to j her. Her life reads like a story book. Johannah Hayes Meals’ par ents were Morgan and Hannorah Cagney (Canaghy) Hayes. They came to the United States at dif ferent periods between the years 11836 and 1840 but both came j from County Limerick in Ire land. Morgan had studied to become a priest but changed his mind when he came to the United Sta tes. Hannorah was a servant girl in the home of a wealthy family in Montreal Canada. Hannorah could neither read nor write so she lost contact with I her people in the old country for I many years. The servant girl who ' w'rote letters for her wrote in Canadian French, but of course Hannorah did not know this. When she finally got in touch with them she learned that her brother had been sent to a penal colony in Australia for poaching on a land estate in Ireland. She never heard from him again. Morgan and Hannorah were married in Utica. New York around the year 1840. They had one son, Michael, before they de cided to journey west to Iowa which at that time was the edge of the frontier. They settled on a farm near what is now Dubuque and close to the Trappist Mona stery near New Melleray. It was here that Mrs. Meals and her brothers, Jack, Bill and Pat, and her sister, Lizzie, were bom. A sister, Mary, was born on this trip Through Illinois in a covered wagon. Morgan was bookkeeper for the Monastery and he and his sons helped the monks with their hay ing and the cattle. It is not known how he became acquainted with General O’Neill but it is known that he came tc Nebraska with him on his scout ing trip for the O’Neill colony he expected to bring later. It is beli eved that this was around the year 1872 or 1873. He and his son Michael, came out the next year with team and wagon and a plow They built a sod house and other sheds and then returned to Iowa tc ' get their 50 head of cattle. This time they were accorr.p anied by another son, Will. The following fall, Hannorah and their son, Pat, came to Nebraska by train to Sioux City with a car load of household goods and other i gear. Following close behind them bringing a covered wagon and 15 head of horses was the rest of the family, our Johannah, her brother, Jack, and her sister, Liz zie. Johannah is not positive about the year but she does re j member that they landed in O' Neill on St. Patrick’s day and there was nothing there except Haggerty’s store. The Hayes set tled on a piece of land later home steaded by Pat and now owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. John Silverstrand. It is located quite close to the Elkhorn River 2 miles south and 1 east of At i kinson. As a young woman. Mr. Meals taught the first school in Stuart Nebraska in a sod schoolhouse. The term was for three months at $15 00 per month. She remembers the anxious vigil over her father who had ac cidently been shot in the left , arm. It was 5 days before they could obtain competant help. An army doctor came from Norfolk [ and by this time it was necess ary to amputate the arm. The only relief the injured man had was from cold packs applied by Johannah and other members of the family. It was at a neighborhood dance held at the Nick O’Connell place south of Atkinson that she met Andrew Jackson Meals. Andrew led a colorful life all the way from being run off his homestead at the age of 15 by a tough older gentleman, to his job at that time with the Pratt Ferris Co. He had built the first house in Rooks county, Kansas on the Medicine River, driven a stage, located wagon roads, run pack trains, bull trains, the last ones to Pioche and other mining camps in Nevada. He then took a job with Pratt and Ferris who held government contracts to haul heavy supplies for the army post at Fort Meade, Fort Robinson and Sturgis up in the Badlands of Dakota Territory. Andrew was in charge of one of these hauls enroute to Dakota Territory when he made camp that evening near the Nick O' Connell home. They invited him to the dance and there she w'as, the girl who was to become his wife. They were married July 10, 1881 at O'Neill and moved to their homestead located 2 miles south and one west of Atkinson and now owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Warren Marr. About 1885 they moved to O’ Neill. Mrs. Meals remembers that she and her husband rode the first passenger train into Rapid City, South Dakota on the old Fremont, Elkhom and Mis ; souri Valley Railroad. The Blizzard of '88 is well mark ! in her memory. During their years in O'Neill Andrew became county treasurer and served sev eral years in this office during the early 1890 s In 1898 he and a partner, George Hazlett, went to Alaska and pro spected the Copper river and Cop per Center to Chistchena headwa ters. They took the first horse, old Keno, across the Valdez glacier. In May of 1899 they found coarse gold on Chesna Creek and located claims for themselves and theii backers, mostly O'Neill and Atk inson relatives and old friends In the meantime. Johannah, as women have from time memori al, stayed at home but in 1903 Papa decided to take his family to Alaska with him. Capt. Frank Meals says he doesn’t recall the exact date they left O'Neill but school was dismissed so that their schoolmates could see them off. Eddie Gallagher, now president of the First National Bank was one of the kids. Those who have read the hist ory of this period can imagine the trails of the pioneer mother in this raw territory but Johan nah was tough, she had pioneered before. She watched and was and has been a part of this territory, too, from those early days to it s present one of statehood. Mr. Meals died in 1927. Andrew Jackson Meals anu Johannah Hayes Meals had 5 sons and one daughter; 13 grandchild ren and 13 great grandchildren. The sons are: Owen of Valdez, Alaska. He has lived there for many years, promoted, and now owns and op era, es the Valdez Power, Bight and Telephone Co. When air trav el in Alaska became possible he came to Denver Colo, and stud ied flying. His wife is post-mistr ess at Valdez. Capt. Frank M. Meals USCG (Ret.) of Sebastopal, Calif. The Capt. is doing research on the family tree and it is to him and his brother, George, that I am in debted for most of this material. John, is an accountant and lives in Seattle Wash. One son, William was last heard from when he was in Juneau, Alaska. A daughter, Mary and her family, the Whal ens, live in Valdez and Mrs. Whal en cares for her aged mother. Then there is their son George Meals, who with his twin sons, Melvin and Marvin, owns and op erates the Meals farm and ranch 4% miles south of Atkinson on Highway 11. For several years Geo rge was a freighter hauling sup plies by sled and wagon to the mining camps at Fairbanks, Al aska. Other children of George who grew to womanhood in this comm unity are Boretta Meals Black of Denver and Nora Meals Kro ; china of Amsterdam, New I York. There are 9 other grand children and 13 great grandchild ren. Among other relatives in the Atkinson and O’Neill area are Mrs. Nora Andrus Hayes, a sist er-in-law; nephew, Lawrence Hay- j es and nieces. Mrs, Leonard Ull-1 rich, the former Nona Hayes and Mrs. John Fax, the former Helen Hayes, all of Atkinson, and nie-, j ces and nephews of the Cronin. ' Grady and Hart families of O'- j Neill- Johannah, herself, had a twin i brother who died at birth and sev- j ! eral other brothers and sisters. Page News By Mrs. Ben Asher September 7, Labor Day, the Am erican Legion auxiliary will hold | their annual smorgasbord. Doors open at 4 p.m. Mrs. Frank Belik accompanied her daughter, Mrs. Cliff Moneial, to Oklahoma City, where she will stay for a couple of months Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wettlaufer plan to go and bring her home. Mrs. Belik is Mrs Wettlaufer's mother. The N.O.K club met with Mrs. Oate Wiseman on Thursday. Mrs. | Carrie Sterner will be the Septem ber 10 hostess. Mr- and Mrs. Edward Sukup were Friday guests at the Del bert Anson home. Karen Heese and Andrea Wett laufer were Friday night and Sat urday morning guests of Roberta Asher. Friday night Mr. and Mrs. Ben Asher took them and Debbie to the Drive-In. The last meeting of the 4-H Nif ty Needlers was held at the Legion club on Friday afternoon. They finished their record books. The “Let's Cook" and the “Beginning Baking" girls brought cookies. Games were furnished by Roberta Asher. Mrs. Howard Hill and baby, Le ah Renee have been at the Edd Stewart home since there dismiss al from the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Heese plan to move to O'Neill next week. Gary Bowen left Friday for Om aha where he will spend a few days with friends. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Mudloff took their son, Norman, to Omaha for X-ray on his back. It’s been bother ing him for some time. Connie Nissen and Juanita Rag land had a combined birthday par ty Friday night at the I.O.O.F hall. All the freshmen and sophomores were invited. Mrs. Don Nissen and Mrs. William Ragland served lunch. Norman Wettlaufer did chores for Mr. and Mrs. R. V. Crumly while they were on a trip to Colo rado Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Stevens of Sioux Falls were Friday evening guests at the Kenneth Wettlaufer home. Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Walker left Tuesday for their new home in Cairo. Eddie will teach 7th and 8th grade English and coach in the Junior high. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Asher and family, Mr. and Mrs Calvin Har vey and family and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Asher and family were Satur day night callers at the Freida Asher home. Mrs. Freida Asher and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Asher and family returned home Friday from their trip. They visited Mr. and Mrs. Al bert Snoeck and family in Van Nuys, Calif. They visited many places including Disneyland and saw quite a few friends and rela ! tives. On the way home they stop ped at Yellowstone Park before go ing on to the Richard Asher home j in Powell, Wyo., where they spent a couple of days visiting. On Thursday night they were ov ernight guests of Mr. and Mrs Cliff Robbins of Rushville. Kenneth Asher, Mrs. Snoeck and Dick Ash er are sisters and brothers, child ren of Mrs. Frieda Asher. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Heiss left for Powell, Wyo., where they will visit with their daughter and son in-law and family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Asher. The drill squad team of the Am erican Legion ha%re been practic ing in preparation for the District 2 convention. The drill squads of Holt county will compete for prizes. "Die convention will lie held at Stuart Monday, September 21. The Page legionnaires will per form on Community day here at Page. A picnic was held at the park Sunday afternoon in honor of Dixie Nissen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Nissen. Dixie will leave September 8 for Lincoln where she will train at Bryan Memorial Nur sing school. Mrs. Otto Matschullat was stay ing at the Dale Matschullat home taking care of her grand children while Mrs. Dale Madschullat was in the the hospital. She and baby, Jan Marie, were released Monday from St. Anthony's Mr. and Mrs. William Fink of Denver have been visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Trowbridge of Page and Mr. and Mrs. Bert Fink of Ewing. Their children, who have been spending a few weeks here, will accompany them home. The Ben Fuelberths of Osmond were Sunday afternoon visitors of Mrs. Frieda Asher. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Harvey went to Sioux City Sunday to visit Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wright. The Golden Rule extension club held their annual family picnic at the Page park Sunday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Parks of Omaha brought their son, Ronnie here on Friday so that he can stay with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Stevens and go to school in Page. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Nissen and family were supper guests at the George dasey home Friday night. Considerable hail fell in the Page community on Friday. Damage was reported to a number of cornfields. Star Community News By Mrs. Ewalt Miller Mr. and Mrs. Bob Tomlinson called at the Ewalt Miller home Friday forenoon. The Frank Kopejtka family mov ed to Page to make their home instead of to Inman as was re ported last week. Barbara Miller spent several days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lysle Johnson and family. Mrs. Ben Vonasek and daugh ter, Ruth called at the Lysle John son home Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hibbs anti sons were Sunday visitors at the Duane Sukup home near Page. Mr. and Mrs. Ewalt Miller and Barbara had supper Sunday eve ning with the Lysle Johnson fam ily. Soren Sorenson, jr. called on Ewalt Miller Saturday afternoon Miss Mary Jo Curran of O’ Neill, spent the past week with Irma Juracek. Mrs. Await Spangler and daugh ter, Mrs. Marvin Johnson left this week to visit another daughter, Mrs. Eva Kurtz in California. Mrs. Kurtz has recently submitted to major surgery. The Gibson, Star and Cedar Comer schools opened this week. The teachers are Mrs. Eileen I<ee, Mrs. Iva G. Brady and Miss Ruth Vonasek. Amelia News Crowded Out last Week’s News Sp-4 Don Peterson returned home Sunday evening from Ft. Knox, Ky., where he had served two weeks in the active reserves. Two friends were also at the caaqp and brought Don to Amelia were Wc Gene Atkinson v>f Medfc cine Bow, Wyo., and SjM Clayton Neptune from Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Leach to Omaha came Monday anti vistoto Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jungi— They plan to attend Hay Days to Atkinson. Friends here recieved word to the recent death of an old Uae Amelia resident. Glen Shivtoh. presently of California. Mrs. SI** ley was the former Ollie Medtoa Richard Flannery of Atkins* helped hts uncle, Ed Jung man. to the hayfield Monday. Little Shelly Miles staytd wto her grandparents, Mr. and Ifen M. B. Kennedy, while her panto Mr. anti Mrs. Arlen Miles we» in Omaha over the weekend Sister Mary Faith of OgaUsie is spending her vacation with he* mother, Mrs. Blanche O'Malha and family. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Blake i-alkd at Dunk Peterson’s Sunday. Blakes are building a new modotn home. DANCE EDDIE STAN and the Style Band Music Up-To-Date That You'll Appreciate PANCAKE DAY Saturday, Sept 5 Butte Legion Ballroom Admission: $1.00 /sms THE MAN WHO USES ONI If you wonder why trucks are used so much to haul the many kinds of freight, ask any of your home town businessmen. Ask him* whether he be shipping or receiving products of farm or fSOtOfy*. He’ll probably tell you — T uck Service if I»aft«r—fllr cause trucks provide direct, dook-to door deliveries and they enable many, many businessmen to keep smaller inventories (smaller invest ment) because today’s order brings delivery tomorrow. Trucks Are More Flexible—be cause they can travel wherever there are roads, serving remote, rural or suburban areas with the same effi ciency they serve cities and towns. Most of Nebraska’s cities, towns and communities are served only by trucks. Trucks Reduce Claims—be cause freight shipments get less handling and easier riding when the/ go by truck. So if* easily understood that ifs the service they give that haa put truck* to work on such a big scale. Trucks are modern transportation. In a sense, their widespread use represents a reaction to the need for a service that never before was available. On* of a Serht of AdrtrHmawnlt Pr*p*r*e hr NEBRASKA MOTOR CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION, S0« ioath ISMi E*r**». LINCOLN, NEBRASKA This Space Paid For By O’NEILL TRANSFER JOHN TURNER Daily Service O'Neill-Omaha PHONE 578 o NEBRASKA’S HIDDEN PARADISE Long Pine, Nebraska DATE: September 6 BAND: The Esquires STEAKS, SEA FOOD AND CHICKEN 5-9 p.m. Daily Sundays 11:30-2 and 5-9 Closed Mondays _ _