Nebr. State Historical Society
&u
VOL. NO. SLVIII
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1932.
NO. 39
W. A, Robertson
Made Member of
the Grand Lodge
Prominent local Mason Selected as
Grand Junior Deacon by the
Newly Elected Master.
William A. Robertson, prominent
local Mason and one of the leaders
of the legal profession in this sec
tion of Nebraska, was named Thurs
day afternoon as one of the members
of the grand lodge of the A. F. & A.
M. of the state of Nebraska. The
announcement of the appointment
was made by Edwin B. Johnson, of
Grand Island, newly elected worship
ful master.
A number of the offices of the
grand lodge had been made vacant
by death and when William C. Ran
fey cf Omaha, a former Plattsmouth
resident, was advanced in rank, Mr.
Robertson was selected for the posi
tion of Mr. Ramsey, that of grand
junior deacon.
In the advancement of the mem
bers of the grand lodge this will
bring to Mr. Robertson the office of
worshipful master within six years
at least.
Mr. Robertson has been an un
tiring worker in the Masonic circles
of the state and in the lodge here as
well as In the Royal Arch Masons
and Knights Templar, he has held
all of the positions of honor and
leadership, proving a most capable
leader. At the present time he is a
member of the board of control of
the Nebraska Masonic Home. He is
a son cf James M. Robertson, long
one of the outstanding figures in Ne
braska Masonry and who has served
as grand high priest of the R. A. M.
and grand commander of the Knights
Templar of the state.
The appointment comes as the
source cf great pleasure to the Plattsj
mouth Masonry as there has been no
member of the grand lodge officers
from this city since the retirement of
Hen. Franci3 E. White as grand sec
retary of the order. Daniel H. Wheel
er was the only member of the
PIatt?mouth lodge to attain the posi
tion of master and this wa3 in the
early seventies.
CASE IS DISMISSED
From Thursday's Dally
The trial of the case wherein
Frank Recek was charged with as
sault by Mrs. Bertha Recek, his wife,
was dismissed in the county court
today. The trial of the case was
started before a jury composed of
B. G. Wurl. George E. Hall, J. A.
Pitz, George Born, Alfred Edgerton
and Val Burkle. In the testimony
of the witnesses it was developed
that an error had been made in the
date of the alleged assault by the
complaining witness. The case wa
then dismissed on the request of the
county attorney.
Death of John
Svoboda, an Old
Time Resident
Aged Man Dies Early Today at the
Advanced Age of 89 Years
Here in Seventies.
TO CUT WEEDS
It is proposed by the directors of
the Associated Charities that a num
ber of the men who are being assist
ed bv this organization as well as
others willing, be joined in a force
to cut the weeds in different parts
of the city this summer. The park
board of the city as well as the city
departments are not in a position to
spend a great deal in this work,
altho it is badly needed and accord
ingly the volunteer labor will be
asked.
The flour received through the Red
Cross and government aid. Is on
hand and will be distributed a.-?
needed to those in want. It is ex
pected that the carload received will
last through the summer season and
that in the fall additional supplies
will be received and distributed
among the needy of the county.
EEGDIS LAW PRACTICE
Marshall Pitzer, son of Mr. and
Mrs. W. IF. Pitzer ,who was one of
the graduates of the class of 1932
of the University of Nebraska, is now
engaged in the practice of law. Mr.
Pitzer is associated with his father,
W. II. Pitzer, well known Nebraska
City attorney. The law firm has of
fices in the Building & Loan build
ing. 115 South Sth Btreet, Nebraska
City. Mr. Pitzer is well known to
many of the Plattsmouth people as
ho has visited here often and they
will be pleased to lsarn that the
young attorney is making his start
in the legal profession in such ex
cellent conditions.
MARRIED AT COURT HOUSE
From Friday's Daily
This morning at the court house
occurred the marriage of Miss Ger
aldine Gerber and Hillyer Riehm,
both of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The
wedding ceremony was performed by
Judge A. H. Duxbury in his usual
impressive manner and who sent the
young people happily on their way
homeward.
Phone the news to No. 6.
From Friday's Daily
This morning at 2:30 at the home
cf Mrs. Rose Bookmeyer, occurred the
death of John Svoboda, Sr., one of
the long time residents of the city
and or.r- of the first Czech residents
of the community. For the past few
years Mr. Svoboda has suffered from
the infirmities of his advanced years
and has gradually been failing un
til death snapped the cord of life
Mr. Svcboda, who was born in
Europe, came here as a j-oung man
with Lis wli'e and family to make
their home, they being among the
first of the residents of Bohemia and
Moravia to come to this community
to make their home and to become
part of the community life. Later
other relatives and friends arrived
to form the basis of what is now a
larjre part of the population of the
city. The new arrival with energy
and thrift acquired a home and clear
ed out a part of the then unsettled
section of the city for the homestead
and which is still possessed by the
family. Mr. Svoboda later engaged
in work in the railroad shops for
many years and then in the mercan
tile business for a number of years.
In the last few years he has led a
retired life and made his home with
his daughters, Mrs. Roso Bookmeyer
and Mrs. Josephine Janda. The wife
preceded him in death some twenty
years ago.
John Svoboda was born in Bo
hemia November 14, 1844, and at
the time of his death was aged
eighty-eight years, six months and
twenty-seven days. Growing to man
hood in his native land he was mar
ried in the old home to Miss Frances
Schorr. The family came to the
United States in 1874 and located at
Plattsmouth in the late seventies ana
where they have since resided.
The members of the family circle
left to mourn the passing of this
fine old gentleman are Mrs. Rose
Bookmeyer of this city; Mrs. Mary
Koehnke of Hay Springs, Nebraska;
Thomas S. Svoboda and Mrs. Jose
phine Janda of this city. Two sons,
John Svoboda, Jr., and Frank Svo
boda, have preceded the father In
death. There are thirteen grand
children surviving.
In their sorrow the family will
have the sympathy of a large circle
of friends who have known and re
spected the departed in the many
years of his life in this community.
Platte River
Eats Away Levees
at theSandpits
Raging River Torrent Where Once
Lake for Sand Existed Boats
and Dredges Menaced.
The Platte river which has for
several days threatened the sand pits
of the Lyman Richey Co., northwest
of this city, Friday afternoon swept
away the last resisting barriers and
levees and today the current of the
river flows into what wa3 formerly
the lake of the sand company and
fror which the sand and gravel wa3
secured.
Forces of men labored feverishly
Thursday and Friday to strengthen
the barriers to the river but the
banks undermined by the eating cur
rent of the stream gave way and the
last resfstence to the advance of the
river gave way.
It was a struggle to save the boats
used in the lake and the large dredge
which was used in securing the sand
and gravel was swept into the rag
ing waters and overturned and for
some time as the river current swept
into the lake the men that had bat
tled the stream had hard efforts to
escape from the scene.
The destruction of the pit3 will
make it necessary to open up new
pits for the use of the company and
which may be located at a point
where the river will not offer the
menace. The company has consider
able land in the vicinity where the
present plant is located, some of
which is on the south of the Burling
ton tracks and which would make
the pit safe from the shifting Tlatte
liver.
IS SHOWING IMPROVEMENT
Julius Hall and Albert Snodgrass
the two victrms of the lightning
storm of Wednesday, are uoth im
proving, altho stiii sunenng some
from the effects of the shock that
they have undergone. Both Mr. Hal
and the youth were unconscious for
several hours after the barn in which
they were working was struck by
lightning, n was feared for some
time after they had been taken from
the barn which wa3 in flames that
their injuries might be more serious
than at first thought, but they now
seem to be rallying in excellent shape
from the experience.
Plattsmouth
Lady Graduates
from Illinois
Miss Jessie M. Robsitson to Receive
Bachelor cf Science in Li
brary Science.
SAIN BRINGS UP CREEKS
The heavy rain of Wednesday
served to bring up the small creeks
and streams in the south part of the
county. Travelers into thi3 city re
ported that the Weeping Water
creek, usually a placid little water
course was running bank full a short
time after the rain ceased. Those
reaching this city from the south re
port that water wa3 running over
the highway near Union from the
overflowing of the creek. Nebraska
City received one of the heaviest
ains in years, the water flowing
through the street3 and in several
cases overflowing the curb3 onto the
walks and into the cellars of several
of the business houses.
TO PROTECT JAIL
VERY HAPPY EVENT
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Born of this
city are enjoying the happiness of
being grandparents to a charming
little granddaughter, Shirley Ann
Bartek, who was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Bartek at their home in
Omaha, on May 24th. The mother
and little one are doing very nicely
and the event has brought a great
deal of pleasure to all of the family
circle. Mrs. Bartek was formerly
Miss Edna Born.
MOVING TO CITY
The household furnishings of the
Lowell S. Devoe family arrived here
Friday and are now being arranged
in the residence at Eighth and Mar
ble streets, owned by Don C. York.
Mr. Devoe, the new superintendent
of the city schools, will remain at
Lincoln for some time attending
summer school, while Mrs. Devoe is
arranging the home.
The county commissioners at the
request of Sheriff Ed Thimgan, are
having the window in the cell sec
tion of the county Jail repaired. The
window is being arranged so that an
escape by thi3 means in the future
i3 going to be plenty difficult. Two
row3 of heavy steel bars aro being
made for the window and which will
be set closely so that there will be
little chance of anyone sawing the
bars or digging them out of the steel
plate an dconcrete in which they will
be placed. The added' protection has
long been urged by the sheriff as a
means of making the jail stronger
and more likely to hold the hard
boiled prisoners that may be taken.
Urbana-Champaign, 111., June 10
Their undergraduate work finish
ed, approximately 2,300 seniors will
receive their diplomas from the Uni
versity of Illinois this year. The Cist
annual commencement from the Ur
bana-Champaign departments will be
held here Monday.
Of the 2,300 about 400 were grad
uated Friday from the university's
professional schools, the College of
Medicine, the College of Dentistry,
and the School of Pharmacy, in Chi
cago.
The list of Illini graduates in
eludes one from Plattsmouth, Miss
Jessie Marjarette Mcintosh Robert
son, wno receives a bacueior or
Science degree in Library science.
For the first time Illini graduates
will receive an 8 x 11-inch dip
loma, which have superceded the
larger one given in the past. The new
diploma has been printed on a genu
ine sheepskin parchment and will be
handed the graduates in a dark blue
folder, with orange moire lining.
Although only slightly smaller
than last year's graduating group,
the largest ever graduated by the
University of Illinois, the senior class
has watched the University pass
through a trying year. In view of
the economic situation the Univer
sity is finishing the year with a sav
ing of approximately 5500,000 of its
appropriation. A larger saving by
the University is planned for next
year.
Wm. Stewart
Dies at Home
in Missouri
Deceased Well Known in This City
Associated with Late Judge
Newell in Stone Business
From Thursday's Daily
Last evening at his home in Ama
zonia, Missouri, occurred tho death
of William M. Stewart, CS, who was
well known in this community, hav
ing for many year3 been associated
with his father-in-law, :tho late
Judge W. II. Newell, in the stone and
gravel business.
The deceased was a resident for
several years in the west part of
Nebraska, later locating at Wymore
and entering the stone business lo
cated at Amazonia, Missouri, where
the large quarries were maintained
by the company with which he was
associated.
Fer some time Mr. Stewart has
been in failing health, but it was
not until the last few days tnat
his condition grew serious and cul
minated in his death.
Mr. Stewart is survived by the
widow, as well as two daughters..
Mrs. S. T. Jackson of Cincinnati,
Ohio, and Mrs. Raymond Pollard of
Clarks, Missouri.
The body will be brought to this
city from Missouri and is expected to
arrive here some time late Saturday
aiternoon. A short prayer service
will be held at the cemetery by Rev.
II. G. McClusky, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church.
RETURN FROM COLORADO
From Thursday's Pally
Last evening Mrs. Bert Reed and
son, Pat, and daughter. Miss Eula,
and Miss Ona Graves, returned home
from a visit of several weeks at Fort
Morgan and Denver, Colorado. Mrs.
Reed was called to Fort Morgan by
Birthday of
National Emblem
is Near at Hand
the illness of her sister. Mrs. Alice Tuesday, June 14th Will
terved Over Nation
Day."
'.Valtz, former resident of near Elm
wood, she remaining there until Mrs.
Waltz had shown fome improvement
in health. The party left Denver
Wednesday morning at 7 o'clock and
arrived in this city at G:C0 last even-
Be
Cb-
"1-lAtr
-- o
On next Tuesday, June 14th, will
be observed the anniversary of the
ing, having a fine tiip and the roads adoption of the American flag In the
in exielteni shape for travel.
Louisville Boy
Scouts to Have
a Fine Cabin
Cement Elock Structure Bern:
pleted p.t Campsite Along the
Platte 'Cost is Small.
present form by the continental con
gress of the American colonies.
The congress on June 14, 1777,
adopted a flag of red, white and blue,
the flag to have thirteen stripes of
red and white and thirteen stars in
the field cf blue, which continued to
be the form of the flag until in 1795
when the form was changed to fif
teen stripes on account of the ad-
Com-; m'1 f'lon of two additional states to
the union.
The admission of other states In
the early portion of the nineteenth
century and the prospects of many
SPONSORS BALL TEAM
DIRECTS SORORITY MUSIC
Miss Hazel Struble, who has
taught in the Plattsmouth city
schools for the past two years and
whose marriage occurs this month,
has been selected as director of music
for the national Kappa Alpha Theta
convention which will be held in
Estees Park, Colorado, June 26-July
3rd. MiS3 Struble, a Kappa Alpha
Theta at the University of Nebraska,
wa3 a member of the Great Cath
edral A Cappella choir while attend
ing the university. Miss Struble is
now at the home of her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. C. K. Struble at Fremont.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank the members
of the Plattsmouth fire department,
tho neighbors and friends who as
sisted so kindly in saving our home
from destruction by fire and in the
assistance given to us at the time
that our barn was struck by light
ning. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Hall and
Family.
The "Vallery Oilers" is the title
of a new ball team formed this sea
son and composed of high school stu
dents who are finding the great na
tional sport a pleasing way of help
ing pass the summer vacation. The
team has played a number of game3
and show great promise in all de
partments of the game. The team is
sponsored by Glen Vallery and who
will assist them in getting their
equipment for the season. The team
has as its hurler, Lawrence Rhodes,
one of the most promising young
pitchers in the city. Others in the
team include Ed Vanlandingham,
Bill Jensen, Earl Lambertson, Clif
ton Clark, Ed Kalina, Wladak Chov
anec and David Taylor.
RECOVER STOLEN CAR
Two year3 ago Frank Cradoville of
this city, who was then teaching at
Schuyler, had his auto, a new car,
stolen from him while he wa3 visit
ing at Omaha. Friday a notice was
received here by Charles Gradoville,
father of the young man, that a car
whose engine bore the numbers of
the Gradoville car, had been found
at North Bend and the man in pos
session being held. The auto theft
department of the Omaha police hav;e
been investigating the case and as
the result of their efforts have been
able to trace down the car. It seems
that the engine with the numbers
of the Gradoville car is now placed
in a coupe while the car which Mr.
Gradoville had stolen was a coach.
Frank Gradoville, owner of the
car, is now engaged in teaching in
the Philippine Islands.
The Journal will appreciate your
phoning In news Items. Call Ho.
6. Thanks I
TAKE A WILD RIDE
A
A party cf Omaha residents, con
sisting of two men and a woman and
little child, all contained in the con
fines of a Ford coupe, made things
lively in the main section of the city
late Friday night. The men of the
party were decidedly the worst for
the effects of liquor and the car tore
evidence of having had a collision.
as both the front and rear f&ndars
of the car were mashed and from the
scraped paint it was evident that the
mashup had been recent.
The car was noticed by Officers
Pickrel and Stewart and the erratic
course that it was taking down the
main street of the business section
cause the officers to follow the car.
It was finally overhauled on lower
Main street and the parties placed
under arrest. At one time the driver
of the car had driven up on the
s!dev.alk in making an intersection
turn and that traffic was light was
the only thing that prevented mors
serious damage.
The two men in the party were
able however to throw away their
liquid f-upnly before they were over
hauled by the car containing the
ofTicers.
The men gave the names of Wil
liam Moody and Lund Exleden. the
v.vinan taken with the party claim
ing to be a sister of Exleden. Tha
men were taken to the city jail and
locked u p while the woman and
child were allowed to go to a hotel
for the night.
In the hearing this morning be
fore Judge Charles L. Graves, Ex
leden was given a fine of $23 for
driving while intoxicated and $10
for intoxication, while Moody wa3
iven a fine of 1 10 for intoxication
Tho men were held pending their
securing the necessary funds to II
quidate tho fine and costs.
Louisville Boy Scouts thanks to
the untiring efforts of their scout- more being added to the union, made
master. Rev. Robert D. Murphrcc. ably ncccs?ary the provisions to care for
assisted by parents of the Scouts and the future and the flag was again
others interested in their welfare made one of the thirteen stripes and
arc soon to he able to enjoy the ad-J the provision made that as each state
vantages of a substantial cabin onjv,as admitted to the union, a star
their campsite located along thehould be added to the field in the
banks of the Platte river a mile westjupper corner of the flag and which
of Louisville. has been followed since that time,
Blocks for the structure were pur- today the flag carrying the forty
chased and a part of the work com- eight stars of the states,
pleted last fall, while the laying of The American flag 13 the oldest
the remaining portion of the walls ol the flags of the nations and it has
is the chief order of business at thepvaved over the scenes of great con
camp this week. The roof is all thatjflicts and seen the passing of many
remains to complete the job, although flags of other nations. Its stripes of
a little later a cement floor will beared representing the sacrifices of it3
added. The structure is of ample size defenders, its field of heaven's blue
and contains large windows on ali;and stars of hope has flown as the
sides to insure ventilation.
I outward symbol of freedom and right
Rev. Murphree brought the blocks to the peoples of the world since It3
from the factory in Omaha, where
they were purchased at a real low
adoption.
The greatest observance of honor
HERE FROM MONTANA
price, to the building site in his auto(to tho flag in these days of unrest
trailer used to transport the Scouts !s to strive to see that the principles
on his numerous lengthy camping that this glorious flag represents are
trips over the country, thereby saving! kept inviolate as they were when
the cost of freight and drayag", and 'the first message of freedom was
although it required numerous trips, Riven to the world by a nation of
his interest in Seoutine nromnted him freed men.
to do this and many other things for
the enjoyment cf his troop, number
ing nearly two score of Louisville
boys.
The troop was encamped at the
grounds the early part of the week.
prepara
the
construction work, while experienced KauIS Wcnt Attorney and Mrs.
.!. . C. A. Rawls as well as with the other
ui il n laau.ia att nine: iu niir lajiji&i
From Friday's VaUy
Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Rawls and
children. Miss Beatrice and Carlos,
torv to a ceneral clran-un or;arrivcd 1,1 the city last evening from
premises and some of the older their home at Cutt0' Montana. They
ts were also able to aid in the are to cnj7 a vlsit here w,th Mr-
relatives and friends. Mr. Rawls has
for the past thirteen years been lo
cated in Montana and is with one of
t he large stores at Butte. The many
GOES TO BLACK HILLS
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Lillie and
son depart Sunday for an auto trip
through the Black Hills of South Da
kota and expect to enjoy a week at
the various places of interest in that
section of tho west. They will
visit the various cities of the Hills,
including Spearfish, Deadwood, Rapid
City, Belle Fouche, while on the trip
and incldently Mr. Lillie expects to
do some plain and fancy fishing in
the trout streams of the Hills.
START EQUITY TERM
From Friday's Dally
Judge James T. Begley will call
the docket for the June term of the
district court on Monday morning at
10 o'clock. The June term will be
devoted to the hearing of equity cases
by the court.
of the walls.
May Abandon 1S32 Trip
Rev. Murphree, whose trip through
the south In 1930 and to the Black-
hm last vMr. ,nvP the i.ovn of his menaj are delighted to again have
troop a pretty general knowledge oflhc opportunity of enjoying a visit
the U. S.. had planned an elaborate wIth thc ilaw,s familv aftcr the ab"
trip this year, to include a tour of (eei!Ce of 80 ma"y ears ln the west
Yellowstone park. But Old Man De- The party madc the trTP T,om th0
Picsslon stepped into the picture, the WC8t hy auto' d,,vlns Thursday from
cement plant close down leaving thel
fathers of some of the Scouts out of
work, and now it is quite probable the
trip will be abandoned.
However. Louisville Scout troon
will not be deprived of its annual Iowa- v ho has taken over the an"
outing and camping trip, although it ascmcnt of the Sinclair oil and ser-
will be of shorter duration and spent vicc Etat,on in t,lis cttv- I,as arrivcd
R. V,
NEW MANAGER HERE
Critchfield, of Glenwood,
closer to home. Rev. Murphree ha3
several prospective Nebraska sites In ,
here and Is now on the Job. Mr.
Critchfield has had a great deal cf
view and will see that "his boys" en- "
times ' ciever ana courteous gen
tleman In every way and one who It
Is a pleasure to meet. Mr. Critch
field i3 a married man ar.d the fam
ily 3 expecting to mova here tho
joy the best kind of an outin
will permit, filled with all the pleas
ures that are dear to the hearts of
these modern "Tom Sawyers."
PAPPIO AGAIN OVERFLOWS
NEW SON ARRIVES
coming week and become residents
of this fine little home city. The
me neavy rain or inursuay auer- new roSjdcnt8 will have a hearty
noon again set the Pappio creek out Ereeting from the people of Platts
of its banks and in the vicinity of mouth ani wf,o welcome them to our
Fort Crook and north of La Platte city to n,ak2 their futUre home.
the stream was of river proportions.
The water wa3 flowing over the rail
road bridges south of Fort Crook to
me aeptn or several ieci ior nours. Thc many friend3 here of Mr. and
The trains on the Missouri Pacific Mrs George Sedlacek of Omaha, will
had difficulty in getting through last De delighted to learn that this es-
night as the water was running over tiraablo young COUple are now the
txie bridge and track. The farms happy parent3 of a fine seven pound
ulong the creek were covered with son aa1 holn The younR man Vi.a3
the overflowing watorj of the stream born at 11:45 Thursday morning at
and hundreds of acres were convert- the immanuel hospital at Omaha, and
ed into a soi of wate. a', nig the en- Ia doine Qne ag is the mother. Tho
tire course of the stream from west ha3 bcea namcd Richard Wayne
Dougla3 county to the mouth of the and It ls neediess to say that George
stream near La Platte. This is the l3 very pr0ud over the new addition
second large overflow of the creek that nas come to tno famjjy circle,
and which has done much damage
to the growing crops.
j Phono the news to No. 6.