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.