Prairieland Talk
"Trains -- Now Going Out"
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, 411(1 South 51st St., Lincoln 6, Nebr.
Here she comes! Again it comes to mind- the
Sunday afternoon crowd down at the depot to see
the train come in And as it came in sight down the
track to the east you would hear watchers exclaim,
"Here she comes!" Yes, the
newspaper guys were there to
•ee who might get off the train
coming home after being away
or who might get on the train
for a trip to the Black Hills.
Now no passenger trains rolling
into O'Neill. Save the train
failed to save it. Railroads
were the big IT in the long ago,
but now other means of travel
have taken over. Automobiles,
buses, airplanes. Many gather Romalne
Uxlay at the air flight depots, Saauders
only a few an- seen at the bus depot as we get off
the bus coming up from Grand Island. Those dandy
pnssenger trains we once so loved to see and ride
now going out. Airplanes and buses what next?
* • *
She sat on a stool at a type case by that south
window in the old Frontier building on south Fourth
street, tears in her eyes. A troubled soul, an aching
heart. The little she earned in those bygone days of
hand set type for this paper you have in hand to
day went to support herself and aged parents. A
brother who could and should have been a help
left home and tear stained and heart broken Mary
did not know where that brother was. But father and
mother had that daughter’s love and devotion. Yes,
a bit of human love and human sorrow along life’s
way. Mary’s tears are wiped away, her aching
heart beats no more as her lifeless form rests in
the grave beside her father and mother up there
on the hill in home of the dead.
« • •
Winter days come and go. All are at peace on
Prairieland as they sit by the fireside and read
the stories that come from distant troubled lands.
* * *
Cal Stewart, the 7th to have worn the golden
crown as editor of The Frontier, is now in our
Capital City heading up four newspapers and true
to Stewart traditions is doing a good job of it.
* • *
Write it ’62. And I look ahead to 92, my next mile
post along life’s highway. A voter and taxpayer for
over 70 years. Where are they that traveled the
highway with me? Jim Davidson, Sam Thompson,
Mark Murphy, Hay McClure, Harry Gillespie, Guy
Green and the others. No longer among the living.
And when my time shall come and I am called to
go where friends now rest under the sod I want to
be ready for what is to come next, the step over
into Newness of Life.
Back in the 1880’s it was not only the horse and
buggy days but mostly horse and saddle. Even the
late M. F. Harrington climbed onto a horse at the
Ward bam one day and headed down the street
on a trot, bounced up and down in the sadlle, gave
it up and took his in a l>uggy from then on. J. P.
Mann introduced bicycle riding up and down Doug
las street in O’Neill; first the high wheel kind, then
the so called safety. But Doc Mathews scorned the
safety bikes as a thing that came as a gift when
you bought a can of baking powder. But Fred Al
berts took to the safety bike and made a trip or two
to Omaha on one. Hay McClure, Harry Gillespie
and Prairieland Talker still sat in their double
cinched saddles.
• * •
Holt county has had and still has notable citi
zens. A half dozen or more who served as members
of the state legislature, one of our good citizens
still at it. And that lonely but polished gent in the
upper room above the old bank building, a member
of Congress. But the gent who was “happy as a
clam in this land of Uncle Sam,” held down a
homestead five miles south of Inman.
• • •
Seventy-four years ago the 12th day of January
the Nebraska prairies were the scene of the worst
winter storm up to that time or since. In our Capital
City there functions an organization known as the
Blizzard Club which meets annually to call to mind
again that terrible day so long ago. It has been
the custom to hold these Club meetings on the 12th
of January but this year for some unknown reason
the Club will have its banquet and rag chewing on
the 13th. The 13th 74 years ago was the day after the
storm and the day that gifted old O’Neill printer
Bates coined the word “blizzard” and the day the
tales of the dead began to come in. Today we have
storm warnings, none 70 years ago.
* * *
The old year passed out cold and snow bound
the whole country over. Sunny Florida has caught
cold too. And fog and chilly gloom covers much of
California. Prairieland lies under a blanket of snow
today ready for the January thaw. Cheer up! Spring
days and summer sun shine just ahead. Yes, we
will see the prairieland rose blooming again, hear
the morning and evening song of the meadow lark
and see the landscape robed in green. Then you go
down to Swan Lake and catch a mess of fish.
* * *
The story has been told again of the Babe in
the Manger for whom there was no room in the Inn.
That Babe lived to become the Man, suffered and
died for such as you and me, lives now forever and
will come again when "every knee shall bow and
every tongue confess.”
editorial
Sportsmanship --- Is it Dead?
NportsmanMiip — iVmduct becoming a sport**
snail. Involving honest rivalry, courteous relation
ship with graceful acceptance of results.
After witnessing the O'Neill-Neligh basketball
game Friday night at Neligh it appears Neligh
sports fans have made their sportsmanship conform
to the size of their gymnasium—both fall far short
of being adequate. In fact we would say their
sportsmanship has decreased to the point where it
no longer bears any resemblance to the original
definition.
If the vulgarity and obscene remarks made to
some of the O’Neill fans as they were leaving the
gymnasium are the only way some of the Neligh
fans can express their feelings about the outcome
of a sports event between two rival teams we can
only hope that the Neligh schools will soon add a
course on social behavior.
Rowdyism seems to have replaced natural ex
uberance. One couple reported frozen pieces of ice
were thrown against their car as they left their
parking space.
Surely the Neligh fans need not feel any ani
mosity toward rival schools. Neligh’s teams are
well rated both in basketball and football and have
provided their school with an enviable record. We
feel the teams have done their share toward bring
ing honor to their school. It is too bad to have the
fans bring discredit to Neligh.
We cannot help feel both parents and teachers
are failing one of their most important obligations
. . . teaching and demonstrating sportsmanship.
We only hope the reputation earned by the Ne
ligh team in this area will be earned by the boys
who are playing the game and not by the specta
tors. — BJR
Violets and Violence
From the Chattanooga News-Free Press
Among the numerous unnecessary things the
Federal government does at great cost and little
advantage is publish pamphlets on a variety of sub
jects far from the realm of reasonable governmental
activity. It was natural, therefore, for Senator Mike
Monroney (D-Okla.), when he received a letter from
a constituent for information on the growing of
African violets, to turn the matter over to an as
sistant to get a pamphlet for the consitituent. i
The assistant dutifully called the Government
Printing Office and asked for a pamphlet on
African violets. 1
"I’m sorry,” the voice on the GPO phone said,
“but you'll have to call the State Department for
material on African violence.”
Perhaps we’d all be better off if constituents,
senators, GPO—and the State Department—paid
more realistic attention to African violence (such as
the aggression against Katanga sponsored by the
UN with U. S. financing) than to African violets,
leaving the latter for personal rather than govern
mental attention.
Remember when—if you were late for church
—you could never find the button hook for your
shoes? . . . Remember the cigar store gas flame
burning like the Eternal Light? . . . Ordinary autos
had wooden spokes, but the snazzy ones had wire
wheels? . . . There were 913 dogs in town, but the
hardware store didn't sell five leashes a year? . . .
Frontiers
Ago
SO YEARS AGO
A very pretty wedding was
solemnized at the residence of
Mrs. B. Welton in this city yes
terday afternoon when her young
est daughter, Etha G., was united
in marriage to Floyd L. Pilger
of Plainview, Judge Carlon offici
ating. . .At the annual meeting
of the stockholders of the First
National bank of this city held
last Tuesday, Ed F. Gallagher
was advanced from cashier to
the presidency and J. F. Galla
gher was elected cashier. . Miss
Anna McCafferty returned to her
school duties at Wine toon after
spending the holidays with her
parents. . .Names of persons hav
ing uncalled for mail was print
ed in this week’s issue of The
Frontier. C. C. Liedy, Inman, left
last Wednesday for Hinton, la.,
where he is engaged in the news
paper business.
25 YEARS AGO
S. W. Schaaf, proprietor of the
West garage in Atkinson, escaped
possible death when the motor
of a car he had started, exploded
and the flywheel zoomed through
the floor boards and lodged in
the back of the car. . .A mar
riage license was issued Jan
uary 12 to John Rotherham, In
man, and Miss Adeline Spittler,
Ewing. . .J. E. Stein is elected
chairman of the Holt County
board of supervisors. . .Many
county cross roads were opened
by farmers last Saturday but hea
vy winds again block roads with
snow. . Mrs. John Barrett, for
mer resident of this county, died
in a hospital in Hot Springs, S.D.
last Tuesday after a short illness,
at the age of 50 years.
10 YEARS AGO
Hugh Ray retires from manage
ment of the Spelts-Ray Lumber
company and is succeeded by
his son, Elgin. . .Laurence
Haynes is appointed by the board
of directors of the Chamber of
Commerce to succeed James
Rooney as secretary. . .Linda Lee
Tolbert, the daughter of Marine
Cpl. and Mrs. James R. Tolbert,
born January 4, is winner of
Frontier Baby contest. . .Mrs.
Henrietta Lieswald, 77, Cham
bers, dies unexpectedly January
6 at home of daughter, Mrs.
George Ruroede near Orchard. .
A. M. Batenhorst is elected as
chairman of Holt County borad
of supervisors. . .St. Mary's de
feats Inman crew; O’Neill Eagles
win over Neligh. . .Miss Ruby
Fox becomes bride of Francis
Belzer in January 2 ceremony at
St. Patrick’s church.
INCOME TAX
For assistance in filing your self
employment and tax reports,
call on—
GEO C. ROBERTSON, Agency
We work for your interest and
appreciate your business.
Downey Building, O’Neill, Nebr.
Ph. 534 — Res. Ph. 161-W
Jan-Feb-Marc
S YEARS AGO
D. D. Debait leases recently
completed D-X Service Station
from Jack Arbuthnnt, . .Kathleen
Marie Blake, daughter of Mr
and Mrs Thomas Blake, wins
Baby contest sponsored by The
Frontier. . .Frank Crook. Page
farmer, re-elected for sixth year
as head of Holt county board of
supervisors. . .Larry Papke, 11
year-old Stuart youth, fatally
wounded by rifle while playing
with older brother . .M. J.
Baack re-elected as superinten
dent of O’Neill schools. . Retir
ed Atkinson farmer, J. W. Roche,
dies at 66. . Lions club is form
ed at Lynch and Bristow.
The Long Ago
At Chambers
50 YEARS AGO
Despite the severity of the wea
ther the attendance of the revival
meetings is very large and a
gratifying number of convertions
have been made. . .Owing to the
bad roads the stage did not re
turn to O’Neill Monday. . Lien
hart & Bogart, the new owners
of the I. Baldwin store, are get
ting their mercantile machinery
nicely started. . .A high school
is one of the necessary things
that Chambers has in view for
next summer. . .Hunting rabbits
by moonlight is the latest sport
in Chambers. . .Miss Marjorie
Abbott arranged with the neigh
bors to surprise Salen Magnusson
and were received very cordially
by Mr. and Mrs. Magnusson and
highly entertained until about 2
o’clock in the morning.
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Hanna and
children and Mrs. Hanna’s mo
ther, Mrs. Etta Cooke, returned
home Sunday afternoon after a
six-week visit with relatives in
the west. . .Funeral services were
held Sunday for Frank Charles
Urban, who died January 4 at
the age of 67 years. . .Freeman
Rowse of the Ballagh area had
the misfortune of running into
the snow plow in the canyon
badly wrecking his car. . .Mrs.
Clifford Newman entertained a
group of friends at a 7 o’clock
dinner Thursday evening in hon
or of Clifford’s birthday. . .Hi-Lo
Bridge club met Thursday eve
ning at the home of Miss Doris
Starr.
Celia News
Mrs. Merrill Anderson
Mrs. Charles Freouf was hos
tess to the Wesleyan Methodist
Missionary society Tuesday af
ternoon, Jan. 2 at her home in
Atkinson. Fifteen members were
present. Mrs. David Rahn pre
sided. Roll call was answered
with individual assignments. De
votionals were conducted by Mrs.
Merrill Anderson. Mrs. Leonard
Chaffin conducted a study which
will be presented at subsequent
meetings. Mrs. David Hahn, Mrs.
Robert Hendricks and Mrs. El
more Blain were chosen to ar
range for the Youth Banquet to
be held February 1 at the church
parlors. Lunch was served by
the hostess. Mrs. Elmore Blain
charter No. 5770 Reserve District No. 10
Report of condition of the
O’Neill National Bank
of O’Neill, in the State of Nebraska, at the close of business on
DECEMBER 30, 1961
Published in response to call made by Comptroller of the
Currency, under Section 5211, U. S. Revised Statutes
ASSETS
Cash, balances with other banks, and cash items in process
of collection . $ 875,795.57
United States Government obligations, direct and guaran
teed . 2,180,928.20
Obligations of States and political subdivisions . 511,564.25
Corporate stocks (including $7500.00 stock of Federal Re
serve bank) . 7 500 ^
Loans and discounts (including $579.57 overdrafts) . 976,171.94
Bank premises owned . 3,000.00
Other assets . 10J27.75
Total Assets . 4,565,687.71
LIABILITIES
Demand deposits of individuals, partnerships, and cor
porations .. 3,320,425.62
Time and savings deposits of individuals, partnerships.
and corporations . 163,95000
Deposits of United States Government (including postal
savings) . 115,073.58
Deposits of States and political subdivisions . 313,433.50
Deposits of banks . 169.107.23
Total Deposits .$4,081,989.93
(a) Total demand deposits .$3,918,039.93
(b) Total time and savings deposits $ 163,950.00
Other liabilities . 10,600.00
Total Liabilities . 4,092,588.93
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
Capital Stock: ”nr
Common stock, total par $100,000.00 . 100,000.00
SurT>lus . 150,000.00
Undivided profits . 223,097.78
Total Capital Accounto . 473,097.78
Total Liabilities and Capital Accounto 4.565,687.71
MEMORANDA
Assets pledged or assigned to secure liabilities and for
othel purposes . 681,000.00
I, O. D. French, Cashier, of the above-named bank do hereby de
clare that this report of condition is true and correct to the best of ray
knowledge and belief.
O. D. FRENCH, Cashier
We, the undersigned directors attest the correctness of this report
of condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the
best of our knowledge and belief is true and correct.
F. N. Cronin, J. B. Grady, Julius D. Cronin, Directors
will be hostess for the February
6 meeting.
Linds Chaffin was an all-day
guest Sunday of Evelyn Slay mak
er
Phyllis Lewis returned by bus
Monday evening after ig>ending
the holidays with her parents at
Longford, Kan She resumed
teaching Tuesday.
Mr and Mrs Merrill Anderson
visited at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles McMillian in Atkin
son Friday afternoon
Sunday dinner guests at the
Frank Kilmurry home were Mr.
Kilmurry\s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Pat Kilmurry The occasion was
in honor of the birthday of Mrs.
Pat Kilmurry- and her grand
children, Eddie, 4, and Christine,
2.
Mr. and Mrs Natchel Rxesao
tarski and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Meals, Mr. and Mrs.
Melvin Meals and Mrs. Bertha
Gondennger were guests New
Year's Day at the Harry Van
Fleet home.
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Coifack at
tended the basketball game at
Spencer Monday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Summers
visited at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Natchel Rzeszotarski Wed
nesday evening
New Years Day dinner guests
at the LeRoy Hoffman home
were Mr. and Mrs. Duane Beck
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ger
hard Mommsen, Dale Mlinar and
Dorothy Scott. Dorothy Scott
was a dinner guest Friday at the
Duane Beck home.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Focken
took their daughter, Karen, and
June and Susan Davids to Mel
ler, S. D., Thursday to resume
their studies at the Sunshine Bi
ble academy.
Forty-four attended a New
Year's Day dinner at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Garold Hoyt at
Naper. Present were Mr. and
Mrs. Herman Meyer sr. and
Beverly, the Rev. and Mrs. Ivan
Meyer and family, Wayne; Mr.
and Mrs. Harry Neiman and
family, Wakefield; Mr. and
Mrs. Herman Meyer and Vicki,
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond D»»bias
and family, and Kenneth Mey
er, North Platte. Mrs. Hoyt is a
sister of Mrs. Herman Meyer sr.
Patricia Kilmurry was an over
night guest Thursday in the Vic
tor Frickel home, helping cele
brate the birthday of Bethene,
one-year-old.
New Year’s Day dinner guests
at the Clarence Focken home
were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Focken,
Wakefield; Mr. and Mrs. Clar
ence Focken jr. and family, Bris
tow; Doyle Focken, Stuart, Kar
en and June Focken and Susan
Davids, Norwalk, la.
Mr. and Mrs, Herman Meyer
and Beverly were guest* at a
steak supper Friday night at the
Herman Meyer jr. home In At
kinson.
Michele Rsesaotandu was an
overnight guest Thursday of
Maxine Baker.
Sign**" guest* Sunday evening
of Mr and Mra. Duane Beck
and family were Duane* mo
ther, Mrs. Helen Beck, and his
grandmother, Mrs Libby Mlinar
and Dorothy Scott.
(Last Week’s News)
Frances Chaffin ami Bruce
Hoffman were Tuesday afternoon
and *upi>er guests at the home
trf Miss Chaffin's brother and
sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs Jim
Mellor.
Mr. and Mrs Mark Hendricks
attended live Klinger-Sandall
wedding at the United Presbyter
ian church Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs Robert Hendricks
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Connie
Fnckel and Kurt, Mr. and Mrs
Mark Hendricks and Arlin, Mr
and Mrs. Omer Poynts, Mr and
Mrs. Richard Klinger and fam
ily and Mrs. Robert Collins and
son. Omaha, were New Year’s
dinner guests at the Paul Nelson
home, O’Neill.
Percy Anderson and son, Ran
dy, Columbus spent New Year's
at the Merrill Anderson home
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Mellor
spent Wt>dnesday at the home of
their daughter, Mrs. Leonard
Chaffin anil family.
Mrs. Omer Poynts and Mrs.
Mark Hendricks spent Tuesday
with Mrs Richard Klinger help
ing to celebrate her birthday.
New Year’s eve guests at a
chile supper at the Merrill Ander
son home were Mr. and Mrs
Herman Meyer and Beverly, Rev.
and Mrs. Ivan Meyer, Karen and
Keith, Wayne, and Kenneth Mey
er, North Platte.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Klinger
and family and Mr. and Mrs.
Omer Poynts spent Sunday after
noon and Christmas eve at the
Mark Hendricks home . A birth
day party with home-made ice
cream and rake featured a part
•»f the activities Richard Kling
er wai the birthday celebrant
Mr. and Mra Ronald Marshall
and family were sujycr gueata
Wednesday evening of Mr, and
Mra . Mark Hendricks. Prayer
meeting was held at the Hen
drkeka home.
Mr. and Mra. Victor Pricked
and family were New Year'* sup
per guests at the Hana Laurtd
sen home.
Bonnie Frlckei spent Saturday
with Joan Straka.
Mrs Robert Hendricks enter
tamed her Sunday School class at
a supper at her home Friday eve
ning Guests were the Rev. and
Mrs Elmore Main. Edith and
Charles Chaffin, Gerold 0*Co»
nel and Ralph Reiser,
Ralph Ernst ami Leon Hend
ricks and sons arrived Saturday
evening to spend New Years with
relatives here and in O'Neill
They were all dinner guests New
Year’s Day at the Robert Hen
drlcks home They left fur Kan
sas Monday afternoon. Sunday
Mr Ernst and Becky Hendricks
visited at the Otto Lorenz Inane
at O’Neill. 1-rsni and mm* apent
Sunday at the Mark Hendrtcka
home.
Mark Hendricks and son, Arlln
went to Bassett Friday. Mra.
Hemirtok* spent the day with her
daughter, Mrs. Markita Klinger.
Mr. ami Mrs. Robert Hendrick*
attended a New Year's party at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan
Wayman Saturday evening
Kay McKathnte spent Friday
with Bonnie Friekel
Attending u New Year's eve
party at the Robert Hendricks
Inline were Rev and Mra. El
more Blain, Mrs. L Chaffin, and
Linda, Edith and Charles, Mrs.
Charles Phipjix and Lloyd, Mr.
and Mrs. Mark Hendrick* mid
Arlm, Mr. and Mrs. Omer Poynt*
and Mr and Mrs Richard Klin
ger and family. Instrumental
music, games, and visiting pro
vided the evening's entertain
ment.
Try the Frontier Want Ada.
James Davidson & Sons
PLUMBING & HEATING
Service Since 1901
■ mm m ■ ^ Winter & Hummer
LENNOX ,r“£,
American Standard Plumbing Fixtures
Youngstown Kitchens
Sheet Metal Work
513 E. Doutchut Phone 264 O’Neill, Nebr.
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