Prairieland Talk
"Paper Men Serve Public Office"
By ROM AIM-: SAUNDKRS. -1110 : *u!h 51st St., Lincoln 6, Nebr.
O Neill, Atkinson anti Stuart still nave their
newspapers and print shops. There were these at
one time at Dustin, Amelia, Emmet, Chambers, In
man, Ewing, Page and Mineola. The Holt Record
was the first to get going in
Holt county out at Paddock in
the 1870’s. A copy of this early
day newspaper in a frame hung
ori the north wall of the old
Frontier building and was de
stroyed when that building
burned some 35 years ago. Holt
county newspaper men served
in public office. Clarence Selah
of the Ewing Item was at one
time federal revenue collector, Romalne
and later served as county ‘
judge. Mathews who started “aun er*
The Frontier was O’Neill’s postmaster in the 1880’s,
later in the U. S. land office here; and when Doc
went to Arkansas he became a candidate for gover
nor of that state. John McDonough of the O’Neill
Tribune became exalted to a place on the editorial
staff of tlii' New York Sun. D. II. Cronin of The
Frontier served as postmaster in O’Neill and was
elected and reelected to the state legislature; and
Clyde King, printer and editor, was mayor of O’
Neill for a time. Cal Stewart, formerly publisher and
editor of The Frontier, was a captain in military
service in the late “world war two” and has writ
ten a book telling tne war story. Editor Prairieland
Talker served on the election Ixiard in Swan precinct
in the ’30’s. Don’t forget that!
* * Jp
Mr. Eisenhower is reported to be writing the
story of his eight years in the White House, to ap
pear soon in h<x)k form. No doubt a work of interest
to readers and of historical value.
* * «
Ed Hershiser, a notable guy in the O’Neill com
munity many years ago, in the days of Doc Middle
ton the notable horse thief, the Dutchers, A1 Ilicl
man, Kid Wade whom the vigilanters took from the
custody of Sheriff Ed a cold night in February 1884
and hung the poor Kid. Hershiser in early days had
an excuse of a drug store on the north side of
Douglas street just east of the Neil Brennan hard
ware store. The village jail serving as a county jail
stood in the alley just back of Ed’s drug shop. From
druggist Hershiser became sheriff of Holt county,
and after that nothing much until one winter he
took over the corner on south 4th street, worked out
an ice skating rink which didn’t pay him enough
to buy loaves of bread for his family. Became post
master in O’Neill and got money enough together
out of that to pull out with his family for distant
parts to the west. Ed had two brothers, Jake and
Eli and his parents moved here from Iowa and
lived some two or three miles west of town, the
ranch that became the last home of Con Keys. Eli
is one of the three brothers to die and be buried
in Prospect Hill cemetery. Ed regreted to the last
of his days that a mob got Kid Wade.
Unless revived on the floor and drought to me
the sales tax proposal is a dead one this session of
our state law makers.
* * *
1 passed tixlay just two doors to the south where
stands a modem beautiful human abode. But that
home lacks today what I knew there a few years
ago, a barn and shed like dwelling of a friendly old
soul who ever had words of cordial greetings and an
irresistible “Come in" to a chance visitor or passer
by. Today the gilded door to the exalted home is
closed, no friendly greeting or welcoming “Come
in." Good law abiding citizens of the community
have erected their castle where Charley’s shanty
had stood, too busy with life’s duties to extend the
welcoming hand.
* * *
He lives in Lincoln today, my good friend and
native son of Holt county Lew Nissen. From where
he holes up in the Capital City he comes from time
to time to whore another patriot from Holt county
now holes up in our Capital City. Just recently Lew
patted me on the back as I walked the street. We
shook hands and greeted each other as only prairie
land blocks can do, then went and sat in Lew’s
shining new car and had a visit. I learned that he
will be going to Atkinson Memorial Day, his people
now at rest in the graveyard in Atkinson. Lew will
also visit his sister and her husband, the Frank
Pierces in the Amelia community.
* * *
My good “Scotch-Irish friend,” Mary Hagerty
Lawson living down at Columbus, cheered me again
with a friendly note and Easter greetings. Mrs. Law
s',n is of the Billy Hagerty household in O'Neill some
years ago and is a neice of the late Col. Neil Bren
nan, a prominent pioneer citizen of this community.
We former citizens of the county seat town of Holt
county retain treasured memories of life’s joys and
struggles here near the flowing crystal waters of the
Elkhorn river and enjoy occasional contact by mail
routes. Mrs. Lawson keeps in touch with her old
home town by reading The Frontier, as many others
do.
* * *
He told me he once got a dollar a day for his
work, hut now pulls down $2.32 an hour, or over $18
a day. High cost of living—its these higher wages
of workers that make it.
* * *
A letter comes to me again from Mr. and Mrs.
Dave Segelman of Seattle, Wash., former citizens
of O’Neill who have cherished memories of life on
prairieland. And in their letters to me they paint
beautiful word pictures of the scenes of nature the
hand of the Creator has placed along our north
west Pacific coast region. They express their in
terest in the story soon to appear of the settlement
here at O’Neill being in the process of completion
by the author, Mrs. Felts of Newport, R. I., a lady
writer of marked ability whose girlhood and later
years were spent in the community of which she
writes an interesting historical account and certainly
many will want her lxx>k. Glad to hear from you
Dave and wife.
Editorial
Sugar Beets In This Area?
Glancing over the exchange papers that come
to the office each week, this item caught our at
tention.
Real estate transfer: Joseph L. Giles, all that
part of SWVi-22-30-22 lying south of C & NW R. R.
right of way, Ainsworth, to Utah-Idaho Sugar Co.
This little item opens up a wide area for the
imagination. A sugar company would be interested
in land in this part of the country no doubt, for the
raising of sugar beets which means the company is
looking in the future to the time when the Ainsworth
irrigation project is a reality.
Further imagination allows to visualize row upon
row of cultivated crops, not suitable for this part
of the country until irrigation is available; possible
manufacturing plants for sugar; a market for more
farm machinery, and a need for laborers.
Two weeks ago The Frontier ran an article
about the Ainsworth dam and the starting of access
roads and other projects in connection with the dam.
Also in the article was the notice that persons look
ing for work could apply at the Norfolk Employ
ment office.
It isn't possible at this time to visualize the way
the country in this area could lx? changed by ir
rigation. However, a compliment should be paid to
the men with foresight enough to plan the Ains
worth project, and also the Chamber of Commerce
committee in O’Neill that has been working so hard
to get data from our farmers and ranchers to in
sure Holt county of being a part of future irri
gation.
A Refreshing Sight
How refreshing it was to see all the young faces
on our streets Friday—when Holt county rural stu
dents visited O’Neill for the Music Festival.
The sight of so many young people downtown
makes one realize that school will soon be out and
the glorious summer vacation will presently be -
here for the kiddies.
Those who took a moment from their work to
watch the junior visitors, remarked on their pep,
happiness and alas, their youth. They never walk—
they skip. They weren’t cross—they giggled and
laughed. Maybe their happy disposition kept them
from getting indigestion from the ice cream, candy,
pop, etc., that they consumed all day. We oldsters
would be up all night from such a diet.
Most important, it’s just plain nice having you
here. Come again—come often. O’Neill welcomes
you.
_._
WE ARE HEADQUARTERS FOR
RUBBER STAMPS, SEALS, BADGES
AND OTHER MARKING DEVICES
■
W I 1
THE FRONTIER
Phone 788 114 N. Fourth St. O'Neill, Nebr.
Frontiers
Aj,o
50 YEAltS AGO
Presbyterian church ladies hold
their regular Easter sale and
exchange . . . C. R. Lewis, en
terprising mail carrier on Cham
bers route has put an Inter
national Roadster type car on
route and is now carrying mail,
express and passengers in
modern style . . . Nels Cain has
purchased four acres of land
south of old mill race near Sam
Barnard’s place and will build
thereon . . . Ernest Goree, Hugh
Bitner and Frank Fowler of In
man return from hunting expedi
tion, bringing with them quite a
number of ducks and coyotes.
25 YEARS AGO
The sale of new automobiles
keeps right on in this county
with 38 new cars registered dur
ing March . . . Donna Rae
Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ted Cooper, is singing and
dancing with Frarfkie Masters
and his band . . . Mrs. M. A.
Summers moves from Page to
Bartlett . . . Clem Cuddy, John
Fox, Richard Bowden, Fred Cal
kins, Jack Davidson, Phillip
Dempsey, Lloyd Godel, Les Uhl,
Shobert Edwards and Julian
Rummel have crow meat feast at
Country Club Inn . . . Mrs. Bes
sie A. Brittell dies at Inman.
10 YEARS AGO
First Korean Veteran, Pfc.
Luther Larson, returns to O’
Neill . . . Elkhorn Valley Lodge
57 of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows celebrates 75th an
niversary . . . Ewing voters re
ject liquor by drink . . . J. M. Mc
Donald store completes interior
decoration project . . . O’Neill
voters OK new fire truck. . .
Amelia woman, Hazel Dexter,
first polio fatality.
5 YEARS AGO
D. C. Schaffer wins mayor vote
over Alva Marcellus . . . Mrs.
Catherine Kallhoff, 86, dies April
4 at home of daughter, Mrs. Anna
Miller in Ewing . . . Hospital
kickoff drive beginning at Atkin
son . . . Election confirmed of
Elmer Juracek of Star and Har
vey Krugman of O’Neill as mem
bers of Holt soil district board
of directors . . . Mr. and Mrs.
Don Prill and three children of
Chambers move to Gettysburg,
S. IX, where he is employed on a
ranch . . . Carolyn Watson, a
student nurse at Immanuel hos
pital in Omaha, spends Easter
vacation with parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ira Watson of Inman.
I
The Long Ago
At Chambers
50 YEARS AGO
J. E. Doherty had a summer
kitchen moved from town up to
his residence north of Cham
bers . . . Gladys Baker, Lovena
Adams and Minnie Alderson are
home from O’Neill enjoying a
vacation from school . . . Edison
phonographs and records for sale
by Will Major . . . The WCTT en
tertainment at the Baptist
church was well attended and a
splended program rendered . . .
George Lambert has rented farm
9 miles southeast and wall hold
public sale April 12.
25 YEARS AGO
April 1 finds the Chambers
Valley with real winter weather
as there is a total of 10 inches
of snow on ground and the ther
mometer is just above zero . . .
Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Lybolt have
rented the Newt Wyant farm
west of Chambers . . . Sugar, 100
lbs. at $4.99; oranges, per doz.,
15 cents; wieners, per lb., 18
cents advertised in this week’s
issue. . .County Attorney Julius
D. Cronin is main speaker at
Commerical Club banquet.
Money To Loan!
Property, Cars, Trucks,
Farm Equipment
Household Goods, Personal
HARRINGTON
Loan and Investment
Company
LOW RATES
Rosedale News
Carol Mahlendorf
Phone 7374
Mrs. Martinson
Has Birthday
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Nelson,
Vicki and Douglas and Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Nelson and Kenneth
were Wednesday evening visitors
at the Lew Martinson home, help
ing Mrs. Martinson celebrate her
birthday.
Pastor and Mrs. D. Elroy An
derson and family were Friday
evening dinner guests at the Ed
wood Martinson home.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Anderson
visited with Mrs. Art Lindgren
Thursday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Mahlen
dorf, Steven and Lynette were
Sunday dinner guests at the Har
ry Mahlendorf home.
An Easter sunrise service was
held at the Butte Community
church sponsored by the Youth
For Christ.
There were special numbers
from the following churches,
Bonesteel Assembly of God, Butte
Community, Rosedale Covenant
and Spencer Wesleyan Methodist.
Women of the Butte Community
church served a breakfast. A
very large crowd attended.
Last Week’s News
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Mahlen
dorf, Steven and Lynnette, Carol
Mahlendorf, Carol, Beverly and
Janice Anderson, Mr. and Mrs.
Ivar Johnson and family, Karen
Anderson, Janice Lee Anderson
and the Rev. and Mrs. Elroy An
derson, Elrene and Dorianne at
tended the Sunshine Bible Aca
demey pageant at Avon, S. D.
Friday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Mahlen
dorf, Steven and Lynnette visited
at the Oliver Nelson home after
they attended the “Scared Dra
ma” at the Assembly of God
church in Bonesteel Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dalberg
and family, Mrs. Edwood Martin
son and Wayne, Mrs. Duane
Mahlendorf and Steven, Mrs.
Ivar Johnson and Darwin and
Mrs. Otte Holmberg, Cindy, Judy
and Eugene were Monday after
noon visitors at the Rev. Ander
son home helping Gaylen ai.d Dt
lwyn celebrate their 5th birth
day.
Lou Ann Landholm came home
last Monday to spend her Easter
vacation with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Herman Landholm.
Wednesday evening dinner
guests at the Herman Landholm
home were Mr. and Mrs. David
Landholm, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood
Martinson and boys and Mrs.
Morris Johnson and LaVonne.
Margaret Johnson spent her
Easter vacation with her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Ivar Johnson
and family.
Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Nelson and
family were Easter Sunday din
ner guests at the Bud Snider
home at Butte.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Anderson
and family were Easter Sunday
dinner guests of Mrs. Art Lingren
at Fairfax.
Mr. and Mrs. Denton Colfack
returned from their wedding trip
Tuesday which they spent in Co
lorado.
Mr. anil Mrs. Oliver Nelson
and family were Wednesday
evening visitors ati the Fred
Nelson home helping them cele
brate their anniversary.
Rose Marie Holmberg spent
her Easter vacation with her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Holm
berg and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Martin
son and boys, Mr. and Mrs. Carl
Anderson and Karen, Mr. and
Mrs. David Landholm and Mrs.
Morris Johnson and LaVonne
were Sunday visitors at the Pas
tor Anderson home helping the
twins, Gaylen and Delwyn, cele
brate their birthday.
Ronnie Witherwax was an Eas
ter Sunday dinner guest of Leo
nard and Carol Mahlendorf.
Mr. and Mrs. Low Martinson,
Mr. and Mrs. Olivor Nelson and
Douglas and Vicki, Mr. and Mrs.
Clifford Nelson and Diane and
Bill Heny were Easter Sunday
dinner guests of Fred Nelsons.
Friday evening dinner guests
of Mr. and Mrs. David Land
holm were Mr. and Mrs. Elmer
Bostrom, Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Landholm and LouAnn.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mahlen
dorf and Mr. and Mrs. Glen
Mahlendorf spent Easter Sunday
with their daughter, Mrs. Lyle
Allen and family near Fremont.
Friday guests at the M. B.
Nelson home were Mr. and Mrs.
Bill Snider and family of Butte,
and Mr. and Mrs. Denton Coif ack.
Mr. and Mrs. George Martin
son were Easter 9unday dinner
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Landholm.
Mr and Mrs. Clifford Nelson
and Diane were Thursday eve
ning visitors at the Fred Nel
son home helping them celebrate
their anniversary.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwood Martin
son and boys were Easter Sun
day dinner guests of Mrs. Morris
Johnson and Lavonne.
The Frontier—
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McIntosh jewelry
407 E. Douglas Phone 1M
A Trusted Jeweler Is Your Best Advisor
It’s the unity
i in a community
that gets the job done
The job in Tekamah . . .
A NEW INDUSTRY
The birth and growth of the Minute Man
Company of Tekamah—manufacturer of
a portable, powered posthole digger—
is an example of how native Nebraska
inventiveness, backed by community
wide interest, can build new payrolls.
Founder and owner of the company is 19
year-old Emmett Hennig, who built the
first working model of the digger in after
school hours. Advised and encouraged by
Tekamah business and professional men,
farmers, and civic organizations, he began
production last year and has since estab
lished a number of sales outlets. Meanwhile,
plans are being drawn for other new
products.
This is one of a series of salutes to local and re
gional achievements which have demonstrated the
power of people working together. Interested in
the growth and development of each of the 355
communities it serves, and the state as a whole.
Consumers Public Power District satisfies every
electrical need of industry ... the farm ... and the
home. Power produces progress.
CONSUMERS