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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1916)
in Fine Shape for the Big Automobile ParadeThursday, August 31 you xxxiv. PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, AUGUST 28. 1916. No. 12i verythin g Getting J ( ANOTHER EARLY PIONEER PASSES AWAY YESTERDAY Harmon Rest or, a Well Known Citi 2n. Died. Last Evening at G:30 After a Lingering Illness of Several Years. From Saturday's Dallv. Iist evening: as the day was draw ing1 to a close Herman Bestor, one of the old residents of Cass county, passed away at his home in this city, where he had made his home since his retirement from farm life, and his declining: years had been spent in a long-deserved rest. The condition of Mr. Bestor for the past few days had been quite critical and each day his strength grew less, marking- the hour when he was to leave the family circle to answer the summons of the Mas ter to his eternal rest. Harmon Bestor was born in Ohio seventy-seven years ago, and while a young man came west to Nebraska, where he engaged in farming, and for a great many years made his home on the farm several miles west of this city. Here he reared his family and developed the land into one of the best farms in that portion of the county. Mr. Bestor during his lifetime was a very ardent democrat, and his in terest in the welfore of the party and its principles was intense, and in the conventions and caucuses of the democratic party he was long a very familiar figure until his failing health would no longer permit his active par ticipation in the work of the organiza tion. He was offered several times the honor of being the candidate for different offices, but declined, prej ferrir.g to be a private in the ranks f the cause that he held so dear. For the past two years he had not been able to be around with his friends as much as he might desire, owing to his affliction with rheumatism, but in this ordeal he bore his trials with patience and fortitude. His last ill ness was of only a short duration and in his feeble condition he soon suc cumbed to it. To mourn the loss of this good and kindly husband, father and friend, there remains the widow and four sons, Henry Bestor of Osco, 111.; Guy Bestor of Cozad, Neb.; Charles and Frank M. Bestor of this city; Daniel bestor, U. S. A., Fort Warren', Mass. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the late home on Granite street. The news of the death of this good man brought to the community a most profound shock, and to the old friends of more than fifty years, a sense of a loss that is irreparable. To all who knew him Mr. Bestor was a most companionable and loving friend, and his associations with his friends were such as to endear him to them as few men can. more complete biograph ical sketch of this splendid citizen will appear later in The Journal. RETURNS FROM TRIP TO WESTERN PART OF STATE From Friday' Dallv. Attorney D. O. Dwyer returned this morning from a business trip out to Sidney, Neb., and Cheyenne, where he attended a land sale to close up .the case of Robert O. O'Brien against Omar A. Coon, and which was tried in the district court in this city. Mr. Dwyer reports the country in the vi cinity of Sidney as being in the best of shape and the wheat yield in that section of the state remarkably heavy. The town of Sidney was also one of . the best that he saw on the trip, and the work and industry very remark able, while the general appearance of the city was splendid. The travel over the Lincoln highway by the auto mobile tourists was remarkably heavy and for miles the cars stretched along the roadway in a succession. The roads through that section are all fine and ideal to travel over at this time of the year. Mr. Dwyer states that the extreme western portion of the state seems to have had more rainfall than the eastern, as far as he could ascertain. MISS ADAMS EIIERTAIIIS III HONOR OF MISS BATTOII From Friday's Dally. Last evening Miss Mable Adams entertained in a most charming man ner at her home at a 6 o'clock dinner, in honor of Miss Jennie Batton, one of the fall brides, and the occasion was one filled with the greatest enjoy ment and pleasure to the members of the party who gathered to enjoy the passing hours with their friends. The Adams home was very prettily ar ranged for the delightful affair and the young ladies enjoyed to the ut most the delicious and tempting din-, ner. Those who were in attendance at the pleasant occasion were: Misses Jennie Batton, Muriel Barthold, Edith Johnson, May Glenn, Ruth Roman, Florence Balser, Mable and Lillian Adams. REMINISCENCES OF MRS. HARRIET SHARP, AN EARLY PIONEER From Friday's Daily. Some of the most interesting pioneer reminiscences, are recited by Mrs. Har riet A. Sharp, now in her eighty-third year, and still an active and wide awake women for one of her age. Mrs. Sharp was born in Syracuse, New York. Afterwards moved with her family into Ohio, and thence to Mich igan where she was raised and taught school, she being educated at Olivet college. Later on she moved from Michigan to Elkhart, Ind., where she filled the position as assistant prin cipal in the High Schools. In the year 1352, with friends, she came to what is now Harrison county, la., and soon located in Council Bluffs, which was then a small village, settled almost wholly by Mormans. While living at Council Bluffs, she was several times across the Missouri river, where Oma ha and Bellevue now are, crossing the river on a flat boat. On these visits, she frequently met celebrities and men who afterwards became prominent in Omaha, such as Mayor Lowe and Mil ton Rogers, early pioneers. After liv ing in Council Bluffs a few years, she moved to Glenwood, la., where she again taught school and afterwards married Edwin S. Sharp, a son of Col. Joseph Sharp, a prominent pio neer. It is a matter of interest to note that Col. Joseph L. Sharp, al though at the time a resident of Glen wood was elected to the first terri torial legislature ever convened in Ne braska, in the year 1854, and he was elected as presiding officer of the up per house.whije her husband, Ewing Sharp was elected to the position of en rolling clerk. Mrs. Sharp went through many thrilling experiences of pioneer life, as one among these she relates that on one occasion in Glenwood when the rough element was raising a dis turbance, and quite a gathering of men near the postoffice, just as she and a friend were walking in, one man whipped out a revolver and shot an other, he falling dead at their feet, but such things were so usual on the frontier that nothing was done about it and the man was not even arrested. During the civil war Mrs. Sharp cast her lot with the people of Plattsmouth where she has lived all these years, honored and respected. W. D. JONES SEEMS BETTER. From Friday's Dally. W. D. Jones, who has been ill for the last few months at his home in this city, is reported as showing some im provement, and seems a little stronger this morning. Mr. Jones for the last two years has been suffering greatly from heart trouble and has been con fined to his home for the past several months, and his condition has been such as to cause his family a great deal of apprehension. His many old friends will be pleased to learn of his apparent improvement, and trust that he may continue to show such favorable symptoms. ALFALFA SEED. Home grown, re-cleaned alfalfa eed, 99.9 per cent pure, $11.50 to $12.50 bushel; fall rye, $1.40; timothy, $3.25; white hulled sweet clover, $10.90; rape, $5.00; blue grass, $2.25. 1 We pay the freight. Samples mailed. Johnson Bros., Nebraska City, Neb. THE PASSING AWAY OF MRS. JOHN B. BECKER This Grand Good Lady Died at the Home of Her Daughter, Mrs. George H. KaffenhergeT, Fri day Afternoon, Aug. 2.1. From Saturdays Dally. Yesterday afternoon at 4:40 Mrs. John H. Becker passed peacefully away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George A. Kaffenberger, on High School hill where she has been since suffering her attack of paralysis on Wednesday evening. Mrs. Becker had never regained consciousness from the time she was stricken and it was clear to see that her life hung by a thread and that her recovery was not to be hoped for. Death came quickly and peacefully to the sufferer and the fam ily, who were all gathered at the bed side were hardly aware that the spirit of the wife and mother was taken its flight until she had passed on, leaving them alone with their grief. The funeral of Mrs. Becker will be held from the late home on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Friends de siring to take a last farewell may do so by calling at the home from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m., as the casket will not be opened at the services. Harriet E. Fuller was born Decem ber 10, 1839, in Knox county, O., where her tender years were spent and when but eight years of age she was taken by her parents to Mapleton, 111., where the Fuller family made their home and the subject of our sketch resided there until her marriage to J. H. Becker, May 12, 1864, at Pekin, 111., where they made their home until February 28. 1878, when Mr, and Mr3. Becker came west and located on a farm in Eight Mile Grove which Mr. Becker purchased and which they were able to add to until over 1,000 acres of land, was owned by the Becker fam ily. Mr. and Mrs. Becker feeling the weight of the years coming on them on August 15, 1904, came to Platts mouth to make their home and pur chased the beautiful home on Pearl street that remained their home until death parted these two loving hearts. The golden wedding of this estimable couple was celebrated May 12, 1914 at their home and on this event a large number of their friends gathered to assist them in celebrating the happy occasion that marked the half century milestone. To bless their life of wed happiness seven children were born as follows: George H., William A., Philip T., Henry E., Mrs. George Kaffenber ger, Mrs. Charles Peacock and Mrs. Frank A. Cloidt. Three sisters, Mrs. Alice Weinhiemer of Pekin. 111., Mrs. Henry Miller, Alvo, and Mrs. F. S. Brinkman of this city as well as two brothers, Henry Fuller of Amasonia, Mo., and Tom Fuller of Lorain, 111., are left to mourn the loss of Mrs. and Becker. Three great grandchild ren and sixteen grandchildren are also left to share the grief at the taking away of this good woman. Mrs. Becker in her youth united with the Baptist church but on mov ing to this city twelve years ago she joined with the Christian church and died firm in that faith. Although in poor health for years Mrs. Becker had been remarking on her feeling so much improved on the day of her last attack of illness and this made her illness a severe shock to the family. FAREWELL SURPRISE TO MISS LETA LAIR AT FIGHT HOME From Saturday's Daily. Last evening twenty young people motored to the home of W. A. Fight to enjoy a farewell surprise given by Misses Grace and Esther Fight in honor of Miss Leta Lair, who is going west to take up her school work for the fall. The evening was one of rare pleasure, and several pleasing musical numbers were given by a quartet of young men, which were much enjoyed by the members of the party. Dancing, games and an ice cream feast made everyone enjoy the evening. After pronouncing the hostesses royal entertainers and wish ing Miss Leta lots of good luck in her school work, the merry crowd journeyed homeward. RETURNS FROM AUTO TRIP OF A THOUSAND MILES From Saturday's Dallv. Conrad Meisinger and wife and .daughters, Misses Mathilde and I,aura .and son, Ixonard, returned home ye. terday afternoon from an automobile trip through the northern part of the state, visiting at Madison and Nor folk with their relatives and friends. The trip was made in the fine Oak land touring car of Ieonard's and the outing was one thoroughly enjoyed by everyone of the party. At Madipr.n they were entertained at the home of their son and brother, M. P. Meisinger and family. The trip covered some thing like 1,000 miles and lay through a very fertile part of the state. They report that the crops in that section are not looking as favorable as they do in Cass county. MISS PETERSON RESIGNS AS TEACHER IN THE CITY SCHOOLS From Friday's Darty. The board of Education at a meet ing last evening elected Miss Irene Scott of Greeley, Neb., as a member of the teaching force of the Platts mouth schools, to take the place made vacant by the resignation of Miss Alpha Peterson. Miss Scott is a graduate of the Peru State Normal and a young lady who comes highly recemmended to the school board as a teacher well qualified for the work she is to take up here. The friends of Miss Peterson will regret very much to learn of her resignation, but as she goes to Beat rice to take up work in the commer cial department of the high school she is advancing Along the lines of her chosen profession. Mrs. Peterson is a lady of ability and has been most successful in her work in the schools here, and the Beatrice schools will find they have secured a very capable teacher for their commercial depart ment. While here Miss Peterson has been teaching in the Columbian build ing, in the south part of the city. DEATH OF OLD AND HIGHLY ESTEEMED CITIZEN YESTERDAY From Friday's Dally. Yesterday afternoon at 3:35 Mrs. Albert Tomaszenski, one of the old residents of this city and a lady highly esteemed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her, passed to her final reward after a long illness, covering the past six years. Mrs. Tomaszenski was born in Germany seventy years ago, and for the past thirty-five years had made her home in Plattsmouth, where the family lo cated at that time, and in her passing she leaves the aged husband and three children, Mrs. Edward Rynott, Mrs. Harry Messersmith of this city, and Frank Tomaszenski of Lincoln, to mourn her death. With the years of suffering, this lady bore them uncomplainingly and with fortitude, and with abiding faith awaited the coming day when she might be freed from all suffering and pain and be called home to her long and well deserved rest. For the last two months Mrs. Tomaszenski had been confined to her bed, and during this time the children have been in constant attendance at her side, doing all that was possible to relieve her suffering and make the last hours as easy as they could as their loved one slowly slipped from their midst forever. The funeral services will be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the Holy Rosary church, at the re quest of the departed mother, and the body laid to rest in the cemetery west of the city. In the death of the wife and mother the bereaved family will have the sympathy of the entire community in their loss, and to those who were priv ileged to know Mrs. Tomaszenski, her loss will be keenly felt. Herman Hough - Avas among those going to Omaha this afternoon to spend a few hours in that city taking in the Ringling Brothers circus. RED SOX SCORE VICTORY OVER THE ALL STARS The Home Team Defeat the "All Stars" of Omaha, By a Score of 7 to t. in the Presence of Fair Crowd. In a wierd exhibition of the na tional pastime yesterday afternoon at ,the Red Sox park, the "All Stars" of Omaha met defeat at the hands of our sterling athletics, by a score of 7 to G. The game was one filled with many surprises, as well as errors on both sides, and during the earlier part of the game it seemed as though the lowly Omaha team had taken the number of the Red Sox, as they ac cumulated a C to 0 score, which they held until the eighth inning, when bunched hits and three errors allowed the Sox to tie up the game and win it in the tenth inning. The fifth inning was the big one for the visitors as they accumulated five runs in this inning. Litton, the first man up for the Stars, was re tired on a grounder to Rockwell, being thrown out at first; Rathke followed and secured a nice single to the right garden, that bounced over the fence and allowed the runner to reach the plate on a freak homer; Frilyson was safe on the bobble of Parriott. Nord strom was able to secure a clean hit to the left garden, which scored Frily son. Penault retired on a foul to Herold. Mallick secured a safety on an error by Parriott, and on which Nordstrom scored. Kinner was safe on an error by Huff at second, and on the hit of Adams to the right field Mallick and Kinner scored. Sehuhart ended the inning by a fly to Mason in left field. The visitors were able to add an other run in the sixth. Litton was struck out by Connors and was fol lowed by Rathke, who hit safe to left field, and on the poke of Nordstrom to center scored, but Nordstrom ended the inning by being tagged at second. With a gloomy outlook for the Sox in the eighth stanza of the conflict, the boys proceeded to even things up. Herold opened the fireworks by a neat rap to left field, and was able to steal second; Rockwell secured a clean hit to second on which Herold scored, while Koop secured a safety to the left garden that Nordstrom was unable to handle. Mason was re tired on a foul to Sehuhart. Craig rapped one to third base on which Rocky was retired while Harry was safe on first. Connors followed with a drive to short which was muffed by Litton, and Koop scored. Another error by Litton allowed Huff to reach first safely, filling the bases. Parriott then proved the hero of the day as his hit to left field, for two bases, scored three runs and sowed the game up tightly. Herold was then called to bat for the second time in the inning, and was hit by one of the slants of Penault, and Rocky closed the inning by a long fly to center field that was nabbed. In the last of the tenth the game was won by the Sox on a timely hit by Beal and a long drive by Herold. Beal was able to rap a safe one to the center garden, was advanced by Parriott, and when Herold hit to left with a long drive Beal came in on the throw in and scored the badly needed run for the Sox. The visitors were a very pleasant and fine bunch of ball players and the best feeling prevailed throughout the game. Will Fahenstock of Avoca officiated as umpire of the game in a very pleasing manner. The summary of the game' follows: RED SOX. AB. H. O. A. E. Beal, cf 5 1 3 0 3 Parriott, ss 5 1 0 5 3 Herold, c 5 1 12 0 0 Rockwell, 3b 5 2 1 2 0 Koop, rf 5 1 0 0 0 Mason, If 5 1 2 0 0 Craig, lb 4 1 13 0 0 Connors, p 5 1 1 3 0 Huff, 2b 4 1 2 7 " 1 Totals 39 10 33 17 7 ALL STARS. AB. H. O. A. E. Mallick, cf 5 0 1 0 .0 Kinner, 2b 5 0 4 2 1 A lams, lb 5 1 12 0" 0 Sehuhart, c 5 0 8 1 0 Litton, ss 4 0 1 3 2 Ratke, rf 4 2 0 0 0 Frilyson, 0b 4 0 1 0 0 Nordstrom, If 4 2 3 0 1 Penault, p 4.1 0 5 0 Totals 10 ; .10 11 4. . MRS. MAGDELENA VALLERY, ANOTHER VERY EARLY PIONEER From Saturday's Daily. One of the most interesting stories of pioneer life, is told by Mrs. Mag delena Vallery, the widow of Jacob Vallery Jr. Mrs. Vallery with her husband came to Plattsmouth in the year of 1853, the only house at that time was a log house so often spoken of as -being built by Samuel Martin near the foot of Main street, just this side of where the present depot is sit uated. It was an eight room, two- story log house, and in addition to be ing used as a dwelling, it also con tained the only store, and it was this stock of goods that her husband and William M. Slaughter purchased of Wm. Garrison. At this time the Paw nee Indians were still here and some of the Sioux were occasionally seen. Often there was minor troubles with the Indians, and frequently alarms, but fire-arms were kept convenient in case of trouble. The pioneer women were as brave at the men. Mrs. Val- ery recites one incident where an In dian intruding into a house and refus ing to go when told to, the young women picked up a stick of wood and smashed him over the head, and this came near causing serious trouble. The Indian went down to camp and put on his war paint and came back with the intention of killing her, but the white men succeeded in changing his mind. Mrs. Vallery calls to mind many of the early pioneers she met, soon after arriving here, covering a period of several years, among them T. M. Marquett, Samuel H. Elbert, afterwards Governor of Colorado; Wheatley Michealwaite, the first may or of Plattsmouth; Joseph H. Harper, merchant; L. G. Good, all of whom came in the years 1854 and 1855. Her husband, Jacob Vallery, Jr., was the first county commissioner of Cass county and Anselmo B. Smith, the first county surveyor. This is only a small portion of what Mrs. Vallery recites of early days in Cass county but it will give some idea of the conditions that existed at the time, and what pioneers had to contend with in laying the foundation for this great common wealth. SOUTH OMAHA PAR TIES ARE FINED FOR ' SPEEDING IN TOWN Yesterday afternoon Chief of Po lice Barclay made life burdensome to a party of autoists who were seeking to lower the speed record on Main street, when they dashed down the street shortly after 3 o'clock. The chief ran to the Burlington station and seeing that the party were burn ing the dust along the bottom road toward the ferry, he called up Mr. Richardson and had the automobile party detained there until his arrival, when he brought them back uptown to answer to the charge of violating the speed laws. The driver gave the name of Edward Peterasky of South Omaha, and deposited a cash bond of $10 for himself and four companions, which was forfeited this morning in Judge Archer's court. It is claimed that the speed at which the party were traveling was in excess of twenty-five miles an hour, which is going some on the principal street, and the chief was right on the job in seeing that they were stopped from their speeding. There will be a strict enforcement of the speed laws in the city this week during the "Home Coming" festivities in order to prevent accidents and in juries to the automobilists and the people who will be on the street. This is a very wise move and will save great deal of trouble that would occur if the automobiles were allowed to run at will along the' streets at a rate dangerous to themselves, as well as those traveling on foot. Letter files at the Journal oflict. FUNERAL OF MR. BESTOR TOOK PLACE SUNDAY The Funeral of Harmon Bettor At tended by Many Sympathetic Friends and Nein hhors. The funeral of Harmon Bestor, lon a resident of Nebraska and Cass county, was held yesterday afternoon from the late home on West Granite street, and from far and wide over the country where he had long i t-sided the old friends gathered to pay their tribute of love and respect to his memory. The service was in charge of Rev. F. M. Druliner, pastor of the Methodist church, and the ceremony was simple and impressive as the pastor paid his tribute to this splendid pioneer and citizen who was laid to his last long rest. The minister spoke words of comfort to the bereaved fam ily and friends and touched on the long and useful life of the departed, and of the Christian faith and hope that holds the promise of a future meeting in another world where part ings shall never come. During the services several of the old loved songs of faith and hope were rendered by a quartet composed of George L. Far ley, Don C. York, Misses Estelle Bain! and Hazel Tuey. At the close of the service the body was tenderly borne to Oak Hill cemetery, where it was laid to rest in the family lot. Thus is another of the venerable pioneers who have labored and worked for the development of this community taken from our midst, and his place in the family circle and in the link of friendship will be one that cannot be filled. To the family and friends the departed leaves aprecious mem ory of a life well spent in helpfulness to the community where he has made his home. Harmon Bestor was born in Geauga county, Ohio, January 25, 1839, and resided on the farm of his parents in that county until reaching the age of 21, when he decided to come west ward to seek his fortune, and accord ingly located in Henry county, 111., where he engaged in farming for some years. Subsequently he en gaged in work in the Pennsylvania oil fields for a short time, later re turning to Illinois to take up farminir. He came to Nebraska in 1869, and made his home at the farm of William B. Porter, one of the prqminent farm ers in Plattsmouth precinct, and en gaged in the work on the farm. In 1879 he decided to embark in farming for himself and accordingly located on the homestead in Eight Mile Grove precinct, on which he resided until nine years ago, when he came to Plattsmouth with his family to spend his declining years. His earlier days on the farm were largely devoted to the raising of blooded hogs, and his stock was among the finest produced on any farm in Cass county. Durinir the years 1879 and 1880 Mr. Bestor filled the position of assessor of his precinct, and his service was recog nized by the confidence of his neigh bors for fairness and painstaking care. During his years of residence on the farm Mr. Bestor took a great inter est in the work of agricultural socie ties, and attended meetings of the Farmers' congress in the capacity of delegate to assist in the development of modern ideas in farm work, and he was always ready to aid any move ment to advance the interests of his chosen vocation. Mr. Bestor during the civil war, was a member of the militia of the State of Illinois, and served as captain of the company which was used to repel the threatened invasion of the state by the hosts of the south. He was married in Henry county, Illinois, in February 1863, to Miss Sophia Combs, who died two years later, in April, 1865, leaving one son, Henry, who now resides at Osco, 111. After coming to Nebraska Mr. Bestor was united in marriage to Miss Ada R. Porter in 1870, and who, with the following children is left to mourn his death: Charles K. Bestor, Platts mouth; Guy H. Bestor, Cozad, Neb.; Frank M. Bestor, Plattsmouth; Daniel L. Bestor, United States army, Fort Warren, Mass. If you have anything for sale adver tise in the Journal.
