Prairieland Talk
'“O'Neill's Son - A Drug Clerk"
By ROM AIN E SAUNDERS. 4110 South 51st St.. Lincoln 6. Nebr.
Where my good friend, P. C. Do nohoe now has
his office a door or two north of the First National
Bank entrance in the mid 1880's was P. C. Corigan's
drug store. Johnnie O'Neill the drug clerk, he a
polished young gent and a son of
the General, lived with his
mother and sisters in their
home, a four-room shack across
the street north of the old
Methodist church. Corigan later
moved his drug store two doors
west of the t>ank, sold out to
Picksley and Hanley who went
broke at the drug business, and
the last I knew of poor Tim
Hanley he was trying to get
orders for "tailor made” men’s Romalne
suits, went to his grave a beg- Sanudeni
gar and rests now under the sod. Two drug stores
side by side west of tthe bank in other days. Now
but one where the John Mann store was serving
the public before the turn of the century.
* * *
To the northeast is Dorsey, a community of
patriots for about as many years as there has been
a county of Holt. The Frontier has news from Dor
sey weekly. Doubtless some in that historic com
munity can recall the days and pioneer events of
the time of Back Berry, Mose Eliott and even the
Kid Wade tragedy away to the west. And in south
west Holt there is still a community of worthy
citizens we know as Amelia. Some of the pioneer
patriots are gone from the Amelia scene, such as
Rhodey Adams and Will Riley, but Harry White
still steps about on the sod he cantered over as a
kid 80 years ago. Dorsey—a good community of
loyal citizens; long may it survive. Amelia—Flowing
well water and the homes of honest and industrious
citizens. So may it, also, survive and thrive.
ik * *
Thousands homeless and many dead following
hither to unknown storms and floods in central
Europe. And much rain here—the old earth washed
up.
* * *
The wind raged that day and O’Neill’s only three
story building on south Fourth street, the Evans
Jotter Hotel was wiped out by wind and fire. The
next tq go by fire was the Checkered Livery Barn
and the Millard building at Fifth and Douglas
streets. Other fires from time to time and then one
more great blaze that burned the Biglin and Frontier
buildings. But before all these, fire on the hill wiped
out the building that was the start of the now great
Saint Mary’s Academy.
* * *
Neither flowery prose nor honeyed lines of rhyme
can polish evil deeds or excuse a crime. But “where
sin abounds grace doth much more abound.”
Where Paul Shanner has a furniture repair
shop there stood in the 1880's a low frame building
where a guy served lunches, making a specialty of
pickled pigs feet. And a guy with a blacksmith
business closed up shop once every day to come to
Sam’s joint and naw the tones of pickled pigs feet.
Prairieland Talker did not join in the hog feast but
there I stood stiff and stout with my belly full of
saurkraut.
* • •
When George was broke, which was most every
day, he knew where he could earn a two-bit piece.
He came to our Frontier shop, took the blade out of
our paper cutter and took to his home around the
comer and put it to the grinding stone, brought it
in and fastened it again to the cutter, got his 25
cents and then across to the comer where Bob
stood behind the bar to serve him his drink. That
was George Triggs, a good guy when we needed
the cutter knife sharpened. How is it done now, Mr.
Editor?
• * *
Mike Horiskey, Cowboy Birmingham on the
comer across the street from where Mike holed up,
Montana Jack, Billy McNicols, Frank and Billy
Biglin-you see their smiling faces no more as
you go about on the street of O’Neill. One by otic
friends and loved ones are taken by the hand of
death, and all are marching that way. The ladies
we had known, Mrs. Charley Hall, Alice Coykendahl,
Tess Harington, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Joe Horiskey.
They too are gone from life’s scenes on Prairieland.
But shall we meet again walking the golden streets
in that realm beyond this vale of tears?
* * *
The rain water of a day or two ago turned to
ice and snow again placed a white blanket over the
land. It has been a winter and may continue so
during the month of March. Do not lay away your
overcoats and mittens just yet. It was a day in
March in 1908 Holt county was swept by a blizzard
to remind us of the storm of 1888.
* * *
The many friends who had been sending me
cheering word by letter have now no more to tell
me. But my little 5 or 6 year old sweetheart in the
home of her daddy and mama out at Los Angeles
sent me a Valentine. Son nor Bobbby writes no more
but Doris still thinks of grandpa. Is there not one
left in Holt county who still has a cheering word
for the superanuated old Has Beens or shall they
just sit these gloomy days and suck their thumbs.
O, after more than 70 years a voter and taxpayer
they know how to travel the highway of life or sit
and look out the window at the falling rain and
recall pioneer storoies to write about.
* * *
Is He who rules on High your friend? If so, you
need fear no enemy.
Editorial
The Real Tax Test
Pierce County Leader
A race for the governor’s office of Nebraska is
in the offing . . . that plus the races for state
legislature brings up one common subject:
Does Nebraska need . . . does Nebraska want a
sales tax or a state income tax to replace the pre
sent state property tax?
Candidates will try to swing votes by using those
mysterious words . . . “broader tax base.”
There is only one real tax test and it is fair to
ask yourself and to also ask any candidate to put
his opinions to the tax test. Here is the test:
Will a sales tax, a state income tax or any other
change in the Nebraska tax system result in
(a) Lower taxes?
(b) Same tax load?
(c) Increased taxes?
When you meet someone advocating a new sys
tem of taxes just ask them the three “tax test”
questions . . . will taxes be lower, be the same, or
lie higher?
Sometimes you have to keep after the "guy”
you are talking to for quite a while before he will
directly answer your question. Usually they will
wander all over and around the question . . . but
you keep at it and when you finally get a true
answer . . . it’s always the same answer.
Any new tax system adopted except the pre
sent system . . . and that includes in any variations
of the present system, will result in higher taxes.
Why is this true? The amount of taxes collected
is not determined by the method of collection . . .
the amount of tax dollars needed is determined by
the amount of tax dollars being spent at the state
capitol level of state government.
If taxes are to be less . . . then the state
government must spend less . . . that's just common
sense.
If taxes can be lowered under any new system,
they could just as easily be lowered under the pre
sent system.
Think is over . . . when they talk to you they
may try to convince you a sales tax will let you off
easier and make the "the other fellow” pay more
. . . and the next day these same politicians will
try’ to comince the "other fellow" his taxes will
be less because you will pay more.
The trend is for more state taxes, and all sales
tax plans, state income tax plans and any other plan
is for one purpose and one purpose only ... to
raise more tax dollars.
So is you think a sales tax or state income tax
is the answer to less taxes . . . just look a little
deeper into the subject and try to discover what one
state department ... or what one state agency plans
to do to reduce their present spending program.
The truth is evident . . . higher taxes is the
goal of any new taxing system ... so the choice
is yours (11 stick by the present method of taxing
and paying the present tax load, or (2) adopt some
new method and pay more taxes! it’s as simple as
that and nothing can change the facts.
ALTOONA, PA., MIRROR: “ . . . administra
tion policy seems to come out as ‘everyone ought
to get a raise this year that corresponds to what
we can afford without inflation. And everyone who
thinks he is underpaid should demand a bigger
raise than that.’
‘‘So the big drive to combat inflation by keeping
costs and prices in check depends upon how many
union members think they are getting all they are
worth.”
WINSLOW, ARIZ., MAIL: “The old philosopher
who claims we would be a stronger nation if we went
without a few more meals and enjoyed fewer lux
uries, may have been wiser than the present genera
tion of Americans seems to think.”
WALLACE, IDAHO.. MINES: “Foreign Aid- A
Merry-Go-Round for free-wheeling spenders.”
CRYSTAL LAKE. ILL.. HERALD: “The growth
of the United States has resulted from private en
terprise and from the profit earned through trade
and commerce. It has not come about from govern
ment business operations.”
SARANAC, MICH., ADVERTISER: “If Com
munism is as great as the Russians would have us
think, why don’t they take down the iron curtain \
and put in a picture window?”
we are HEADQUARTERS for
RUBBER STAMPS, SEALS, BADGES
AND OTHER MARKING DEVICES
THE FRONTIER
Phone 788 114 N. Fourth St. O'Neill, Nebr.
Frontiers
Ago
50 YEARS AGO
No. 1 hay reached $13.50 per
ton on the local market last week
and the recent bad storm in the
eastern part of the state promis
es to shove the price up a few
notches. . W. H. Shaughnessey
and family left yesterday morn
ing for their future home at Allan
near which town Mr. Shaughnes
sey will farm the coming year.
. Several residents from O’Neill
went down to Inman last Friday
to hear Governor Aldrich speak
. ,W. N. Coats of Stuart has an
nounced h.s candidacy for state
senator from this district. . .Born
to Mr. and Mrs. George Coventry
of Inman, a nine pound baby girl
February 22.
25 YEARS AGO
Max W. Graver, Ewing, and
Miss Hilda Gunter, Clearwater,
were granted a marriage license
in county court February 15. . .
Prof, and Mrs. fl. L. Beal are
rejoicing over the arrival of a
7 pound daughter at their home
on Wednesday morning.
Michael A. O’Brien, well known
in this city as a conductor on the
Burlington between Sioux City
and O’Neill, died at his home in
Sioux City last Wednesday.
.Prices are up in heavy
run of livestock at Atkinson sale
ring. . Dr. and Mrs. L. A Bur
gess returned last Friday night
from Chicago where they had
spent the week attending the an
nual mid-winter meeting of the
Chicago Dental Society.
10 YEARS AGO
Retirement of L. C. Walling,
manager of the O’Neill district of
Consumers, was announced this
week; has had 45 years in public
utilities. . .Funeral service held
February 26 at Page for Mrs.
Adaline Kelly, 70, who died Feb
ruary 24 at her home. . .John
Eule, Ainsworth, John Berigan
and Paul Moseman are members
of the University of Nebraska
band which will present a con
cert here March 12. . .Barbara
Birmingham is named a princess
in the 19th annual Mardi Gras
festival at Duchesne college at
Omaha where she is a senior. . .
Todd Tomlinson, 50, former O’
Neill1 resident, dies February 29
at Lynch. . .Holt county furnish
es 10 inductees for service.
5 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. John Kee will
celebrate their golden wedding
anniversary March 10. . .Mr. and
Mrs. Carl Boelter, longtime res
idents of Knox county, honored on
50th wedding anniversary Febru
ary 24. . .Mrs. Ida Calkins, 67,
dies February 24 at home of
daughter in Crofton; burial at
Ewing. . .Highway commission
approves O’Neill-Emmet plan
for federal road. . .Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas E. Tikalsky celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary
February 24 at Verdigre. . .Miss
Lorraine Simonson becomes
bride cf Donovan Joseph Becker
in rites held here February 23.
.Robert Young and Carole
Johnson are king and queen in
OHS ceremony.
Good Reading
for the
Whole Family
•News
•Facts
• Family Features
Tha OahHai Saianae ManWar
One Naraar *, Man IS, Mean
mm^irenter. I *
« aM |M Q I an* * Q
-zsi—nr
The Long Ago
At Chambers
50 YEARS AGO
You ought to see the rattle
snake skin James Doherty has
on display at "The Hub" which
he captured while in Florida; it
measures 7 ft. 6 in. long and one
foot wide. .Mr. Hubert L.
Smith of Chambers and Miss
Cordia Davis, formerly of Cham
bers and later of Grand Island,
were united in the holy bonds of
matrimony February 21 at the
home of the bride’s parents. . .
Leap year seems to be bringing
good results with Fred Ermer,
Harry Putnam, Fred Smith, Hu
bert Smith and Glenn Smith set
mg up the cigars in the last two
weeks. . .Miss Pearl Roberts of
Joy is finishing the school in the
Taggart Dist.
25 YEARS AGO
Patrick J. Redden, age 79 years
died last Friday morning after
a short illness of a heart attack.
. . J. W. Walter closed a deal
with the Travelers Insurance
company whereby he became
owner of the farm west of town
the DeHart place. . .Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Porter and family,
Elaine Adams, Letha Cooke and
Ralph and Bernard helped Mrs.
Omar McClenehan celebrate her
birthday Sunday. . .Chambers
high school team lost to O’Neill j
42-17 in the Niobrara Valley Tour
nament last week. . Twenty-two
boys of Chambers high school
have organized a rifle club and
joined the National Rifle assicia
tion. >
Alice's
Beauty Shop
325 E. Douglas St. Phone 283
Complete Beauty Service
Slimliner Reducing Machine
I
\tkinson News
Gene Ziskas Return
Following Service
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ziska
and daughter returned to Atkin
son last Friday to visit his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ziska
and son, Dennis Gene has <*>m
pleted his service and the fam
ily plans to make their home in
this area where he will be em
ployed. Mrs. Ziska is the former
Joan Palmer.
Gib Morgan returned Thursday
from McAllen, Tex., where he
has spent several weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Johnson
attended the Gay 90’s Revue in
Stuart Sunday afternoon. It was
held at the Stuart auditorium and
presented by the American Le
gion and Auxiliary of Stuart.
Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy McMul
len, O’Neill, entertained the Sun
day night Pitch ebb at their
home last 9unday night. Mr and
Mrs. Owen Parkinson were al
so guests for the evening. Prizes
were won by Mrs. Owen Parkin
son, Emil Colfack, Mrs. Carl
Schenzel and Owen Parkinson
The group adjourned at a late
hour to meet with Mr. and Mrs
Claude Johnson for the next
meeting.
Irven Parsons underwent
surgery last Tuesday at the
Methodist hospital in Omaha.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Richard
son visited his sister, Mrs ®cs
sie Peterson, in Plain view last
Sunday
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Henry,
Nehgh. visaed last Wednesday
with his brother-in-law and ais
ter, Mr. and Mrs Fred Richard
son.
Mrs Carl Smith entertained at
a birthday dinner last Sunday in
honor of her husband, Carl. Pre
sent were Mr. and Mrs William
Morgan jr. and family. Mr. and
Mrs Lawrence Pacha and Mr
and Mrs. Charles Shane and fam
ily.
Leaders from the local Extra
sion clubs met at the home of
Mrs. Leo Kramer Tuesday after
noon to get the lesson materials
on “Window Treatment,” which
will be the next lesson to be giv
en by the Extension office Cof
fee and cookies were served by
the hostess.
Mr. ami Mrs. Holland Kersch
and family, Spencer, were Sunday
dinner guests of her parents, Mr
and Mrs Frank Enbody and fam
ily
Mrs. Fred Mack and Mrs. Vin
cil Kaplan went to Omaha Weil
nesday where they will visit with
Capt. and Mrs. Norris Johnson
and family and Mrs. Mack’s bro
ther-in-law ami sister, Mr and
Mrs Walter Stevens; also Mrs
Kaplan’s granddaughter, Patricia
Burger.
Mrs. Donald Mills ami Mrs
Tod Manser were in O'Neill last
Thursday on business.
Donald Roth, O’Neill, Saturday
Joined hi* parent*. Mr. ami Mr*.
Fred Roth, and they drove to
Valentine to viait their #»n and
daughter-in law. Mr and Mr* Iv
an Roth and family Other week
end gurata at the Ivan Roth home
were Mr. and Mr*. Jerry Hauer,
Scottabluff Mr*. Hauer is the far
mer Doretta Roth, daughter of
Mr, and Mr* Fred Roth
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I'or proof leading to the arrest and conviction of the person, that
stole the accessories from my Oldsmohlle cur, which was parked
at the farm 2 miles southeast of Inman, known um the Kuther
place.
The hubcaps and radio whip are marked. We have some finger
prints of the thief.
Notify Lester Spragg, Ewing, Nebr.
or Leo Tomjack, Sheriff
43-44-45c
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Atkinson, Nebr. Lynch, Nebr.
D. A. KERSEN BROCK
O'Neill, Nebr.
GAIL BOIES SHELHAMER EQUIP.
Ewing, Nebr. O'Neill, Nebr.
