Kebr. State Historical Societj
VOL. no. im
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1938.
NO. 104
Mrs. Rainey
Dies Monday
After Stroke
long Time Resident Here and a
Member of Prominent East
Nebraska Family.
Mrs. Alma Rainey, GO, widow of
W. H. Rainey, one of the well known
residents of Cass county, died Mon
day afternoon at the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Earl Becker, north
west of this city.
Mrs. Rainey had not been well for
some time and on Saturday suffered
a severe stroke from which she failed
to rally, gradually failing until
Monday afternoon when she passed
away.
Alma Farriott, daughter of Wil
liam and Margaret Parriott, who
had homesteaded at an early day In
Nemaha county, was born at the fam
ily home near Peru, October 29, 1S68,
spending her girlhood in that local
ity. On completing her school work
she took up the teaching profession,
teaching a school near Muray for ten
years. While teaching at Murray she
met William II. Rainey, a young
farmer of that part of Cass county,
tbir romance culminating in their
marriage on March 20, 1898, at the
home of the bride's parents at Peru.
Mr. and Mrs. Rainey resided on
the farm near Murray where they
located after their marriage, until
in 190S when they moved to Plaits
mouth and where their children grew
to manhood and womanhood.
There i3 surviving six children,
Merle Rainey, New York City; Mrs.
Floyd Becker, Mrs. Earl Becker,
Isabel Rainey of this city; Donald!
Rainey and Mrs. Jack Hatt, Jr., of
Omaha.
Mrs. Rainey was one of a family
of nine children and one sister and
three -brothers tUFvive her passing.
Mrs. C. T. Edwards, Elm wood; Lee
Parriott, Denver; John Parriott,
Dawson, Nebraska; G rover Parriott,
Plattsmouth.
The interment will be at the Oak
Hill cemetery beside Mr. Rainey who
preceded his wife several years ago.
REPORTS DEATH IN WEST
The message has been received
here of the death at Sacramento, Cali
fornia, of Ida McNatt, formerly Miss
Ida Warstadt, of this city. She has
been in the west for the past two
years and no word had been received
as to her health, until a message
came to one of the friends here from
a Sacramento mortician stating that
she had died and inquiring as to
relatives. Members of the family
wired back to the west coast and so
far have received no definite reply as
to the death or circumstances of the
case. A brother, Henry Warstadt,
was last reported as being at Stock
ton, California, and efforts were made
to get in touch with him.
FUNERAL OF FRANK LEPERT
The funeral services for the late
Frank Lepert were held Saturday at
the Holy Rosary church in the west
part of the city. There was a very
large number of the old friends and
neighbors to fill the church and join
in the last tributes.
The requiem mass was celebrated
by Father J. R. Sinkula, assisted by
the choir.
The burial was in the Catholic
cemetery and the pall bearers were
grandsons and other members of the
family, George and Frank Lepert, Joe
Baburek, Bob Kafka, Joe Straka of
Alliance, Frank J. Koubek.
Mr. Lepert is survived by the
widow and two sons, Phillip and
James Lepert, three daughters, Mrs.
Mary Hafka, and Mrs. Rose Krejci of
Omaha, Mrs. Frances Simon of Oak
land, California.
ATTENDS LAND SALE
Attorney A. L. Tidd was at Au
burn Monday where he attended a
sale of the lands belonging to the
J. D. Graves estate, of which he has
been the attorney. The lands are
located near Peru where for many
years Mr. Graves was a prominent
resident and member of the Nemaha
county bar.
A better and nowsler Journal is
our constant aim. You can help
by phoning news items to No. 6.
YOUNG PEOPLE WEDDED
The marriage of Mr. Mott C.
Frady, of this city and Miss Ethel J.
Sweet, took place Sunday at the
home of the bride, 3414 A street,
Omaha. It was a very quiet cere
mony. Mr. and Mrs. Frady are to make
their home in this city where they
have an apartment awaiting them
and are starting housekeeping at
once.
Mr. Frady is one of the well
known and popular young men of the
community, the youngest son of Mrs.
Virginia Frady, and has grown up
in this community, lie is a graduate
of the class of 1932 of the Platts
mouth high school and is now an em
ploye of the BREX shops.
The many friends will join in their
best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Frady
for their future welfare and happi
ness. Former Cass
County Woman
Dies in Canada
Mrs. Minnie Stokes of Chestermere
Dies at Home in Alberta Friday
After a Long Illness.
The Calgary Daily Herald of Cal
gary, Alberta, tells of the death of
Mrs. Minnie Stokes, a former resident
of Cass county and known to a large
number in this section of the coun
ty. Mrs. Stokes has beeh a well known
church worker in Calgary, and a resi
dent of the Chestermere Lake dis
trict, who passed away Friday after
a long illness and at the age cf 70
years.
She was born in Rexville, Indiana,
and upon her marriage in 1S88 moved
to Plattsmouth, residing here and in
this part of Cass county until 1910,
when the family moved to Chester-
mere and where they have since re
sided. Mrs. Stokes was a member of the
First Baptist church of Chestermere
and very active in her work in the
various church organizations.
Mrs. Stokes leaves her husband,
William H.; a daughter, Mrs. E. B.
Higley; a sen, Roy and three grand
children, all of Chestermere; two sis
ters. Mrs. Addie Frans, Plattsmouth
and Mr3. Annie Miller, Weeping Wa
ter; a brother, Alva Long of Murray.
The funeral services were held on
Monday afternoon at the Jacques
chapel at Calgary and the interment
made at the Bursland cemetery.
ATTEND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A. E. Edgerton, Cass county re
creational director and Thomas
Walling, who is assisting in the "Na
ture Trail" project, were at Mur
dock Saturday. They attended the
meeting of the Cass County Historical
Society and report a very fine meet
ing. The program was along the lines
of local history prepared by teach
ers in the various school districts
and which brought out many very
interesting facts relative to the early
days of the Cass county schools.
Mr. Edgerton and Mr. Walling
were at the meeting the interest of
securing support for the creation of
a state park at King Hill, one of
the beauty spots of Cass county.
MANY ENJOY SING
From "Wednesday's Daily
The community sing, sponsored by
the music committee of the Platts
mouth Woman's club, was held last
evening at the Recreation Center,
and was attended by a large number.
The program was under the direction
of Mrs. Robert Reed. Irene Lalloda
gave a dance in the floor show given
last nignt. Carey .Marshall gave a
piano solo. There were several son;5
and dance numbers by Billy Rose
Canterbury, and Elva Olson gave a
piano number. Then there was group
singing of old songs and some of the
new popular songs, which everyone
enjoyed immensely.
GIRL SCOUTS MEET
The Girl Scouts met Tuesday aft
ernoon and had an enjoyable time
They practiced for a program which
is to be given to the Woman's club,
Monday, February 7. Girl Scouts be
sure to come to next meeting.
Platters Coast
to Victory Over
Neb. City H. S.
Locals Hold Wide Margin at Half
and at No Time in Dan
ger of Defeat.
The Nebraska City high school
basketball team again lost to the
strong Plattsmouth cage stars, and
this time by a scoreof 40 to 30 on
their home floor.
The blue and white started early in
the game to score, and at the end of
the first period they had an impres
sive lead of 12 to 3, and it was not
until late in the contest that Nebras
ka City seemed to come to life, but
even then did not really press the
opponents' game long lead, and the
Plattcis coasted to their eighth con
secutive victory. The local lads com
manded a lead of 23 to S at the half,
and 29 to 16 at the end of the third
quarter.
Plattsmouth appeared more adept
at ball handling, and they profited by
the Otoeans many wild shots.
Ray Wooster had his sharp basket
eye back in shape, as he sunk five
field goals and two gift shorts for
12 points. Hayes waited until the
last period to start his scoring, but
once started there was no stopping
him and he accounted for four goals
or eight points. Reed and Miller,
the two stellar guards, played their
usual swell game, and seemed to de
light in breaking up opponents'
passes, and Nebraska City soon found
it was almost an impossibility to
wrestle the ball from the fiery red
head. Reed also showed offensively
by sinking four field goals and two
free shots for 10 total points. Jacobs
exhibited some flashy forwarding,
and also contributing five points.
Rebal and McCarty also did much to
help the Plattsmouth cause.
Carpenter was the kingpin of the
home attack as he accounted for
five field goals, which placed him
second for the evening high score
honors. Metz and Eglsaer were next
with nine and five points respectively.
Plattsmouth was well represented
with their cheering section much in
force the entire evening, and a num
ber of local people being present at
the second meeting of these two
quints.
The next Platter game will be on
Thursday evening at the local gym
nasium, when they meet the power
ful Bethany team.
Box score:
Plattsmouth (40)
FG FT TF TP
-5 2 1 12
-0010
-2115
-4018
-110 3
-4 2 1 10
- 1 0 0 2
. 0 0 0 0
- 0 0 0 0
17 6 5 40
Wooster,
Rebal, f
Jacobs, f
Hayes, c
McCarty,
c
Reed, g
Miller, g
Wall, g
Smith, f
Nebraska City (30)
FG FT
PF TP
Eglsaer, f
2 115
10 0 2
5 0 1 10
10 2 2
0 0 0 0
10 12
1 0 1, 2
0 0 4 0
3 3 3 9,
13 4 12 30
Dukes, f
Carpenter, f
Foglesong, c 1
Cowiy, c
Porter, g 1
Porter, f
Kastner, g
Metz, g 3
Referee Craig, Lincoln.
The Platter reserves lost 20 to' 2.
CARD OF THANKS
We desire to express our deep ap
preciation of all the acts of kindness
shown our loved husband, father and
grandfather in his last illness and
for the sympathy and comfort given
us at his passing. We wish to es
pecially thank Commissioner Farley
for having the road fixed for the use
of the funeral party, to those taking
part in the last services and for the
becautiful flowers. Mrs. Frank Le
pert, Sr. and Family.
NEW BOOKS AT LIBRARY
Recent additions at the library
for the intermediate grades are "The
Great Tradition" by Marjorie Hill
Allee; "Prairie Girl," by Lucille F.
Fargo; "A Place for Herself," by
Adele De Leeuw; "Shanty Brook
Lodge," by Fjeril Hess; "Homespun"
by Erick Berry. And for the little
children "The Story of Ferdinand,"
by Munro Leaf, has been added.
WIN 4-H CLUB TRIPS
Whipple Leonard, Plattsmouth,
and Idella Buell, Murdock, are two
of fourteen rural Nebraska girls,
members of 4-H clubs and champions
in clothing and girls' room projects
in their home communities, who have
been awarded prize trips to the 193S
Club Week to be held in June at
the University cf Nebraska, college
of agriculture.
Eight of the girls are the highest;
ranking county clothing champions
in Nebrasa and Idella is one of the
eight. The other six which included
Whipple Leonard, awarded Club
Week trips, are the high ranking
county champions in girls' room
work. The Omaha Chamber of Com
merce is awarding these trips in re
cognition of the successful work car
ried on by the girls.
Plattsmouth
Scores High in
Auburn Meet
Three Superiors in Declamatory Con
test Won by the Local
School Students.
The Plattsmouth high school de-J
clamatory team scored high in the
sub-district meeting held at Auburn j
Saturday, taking three superior!
ratings out of five and which will ,
give them the opportunity of repre- j
senting the local school in the dis
trict meet here on February 12th.
The local winners were L. Stephen i
Devoe in the oratorical section, "The j
Sod House Period"; Jean Knorr in j
the extemporaneous on the subject,
"Is the Wagner Bill a Benefit to :
Labor?" while Flora Belle Meade j
won her rating from a large field in' j
the dramatic class, her selection be
ing "The Murder of K''ng Duncan."
This is one of the best showings
that the local school has scored in a
great many years and reflects the
great interest that has been shown by
the young people and their excellent
training by Lumir Gerner and Milo
Price, coaches.
The district meeting here will
bring representatives from twenty
five schools of the eastern part of
the state and will be an all day ses
sion. So extensive is the list as not
only the five cl sses will be heard
but there will be many one act
plays to be staged.
It will be necessary to have two
places for holding the meeting as
there will be large entries.
PASSES 89TH BIRTHDAY
From Wednesday's Daily-
Mrs. John Neitzel, Sr., of this city,
today was observing her eighty-ninth
birthday at the home of her daughter
and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clar
ence C. Cotner, with whom she
makes her home.
Monday, a son. J. H. Neitzel, of
Fairbury arrived for the birthday ob
servance and yesterday another son.
George Neitzel of Lyons, arrived to
join the family party. In addition
to Mrs. Cotner the other children
of Mrs. Neitzel are Jack and Louis
of Omaha, Mrs. Walter Schnelzel
and Mrs. C. F. Glaze.
Mr. and Mrs. Neitzel came to
this city some fifteen years ago and
Mr. Neitzel passed away in 1926 at
the age of eighty-four years.
J. H. Neitzel, who i3 visiting here
from Fairbury, was a resident of
Plattsmouth from 1905 to 1907 and
was engaged in work in the local
shops of the Burlington.
CALLED ON SAD MISSION
rrnm Monday's Dally
Miss Alpha Peterson, county super
intendent, and Miss Gerda Peterson
received a message this morning
from their niece, Olga Enberg, at
Sheridan, Wyoming, that her mother,
gravely ill for several months, was
fast sinking. The t iters are leav
ing today to be with the sister and
family.
HAVE A FINE DAUGHTER
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Carr are the
happy parents of a fine little daugh
ter, born to them Sunday. The
mother and little one are doing very
nicely and the occasion brought much
happiness to the other members of
the family circle.
Historical
Society Has a
Fine Meeting
Local History Prepared by School
Teachers Feature of Cass
County Meeting.
The Cass County Historical society
met at Murdock Saturday, January
23 with one of the largest attend
ances since its organization.
The discussion of the meeting dealt
with local history and Supt. E. C.
Stimbert of Nehawka led the meet
ing with a very interesting lecture
on the requirements in the course of
history study of the sixth grade
where local history is taught in each
school for twelve weeks.
The historical society and the
teachers of local history are well
aware that it is only through the
pioneers that historical data of this
nature can be collected. And it is
urged that all historical material
with maps, sketches and photographs
in each school district be collected,
authenticated and placed in book
form so that it may be handed down
to teachers who are new in the dis
trict and also to prevent distortion
of facts if transmitted by tradition
from one generation to another.
Prof. Stimbert and Dr. G. H. Gil
more, president of the Cass County
Historical society stressed that the
teacher in each district should begin
now to prepare her subject of local
history for next year's course, for it
is the even years that this subject is
taught to the beginners in history.
Miss Loa Davis, a teacher of his
tory in the school at Murray gave a
talk on how she had collected local
history in her district and exhibited
maps, drawings and photographs of
many interesting incidents. She was
followed "by Miss Dorothy Yost, a
teacher from the Sciota school .three
miles east of Union.
To illustrate what might be learn
ed from an interview with pioneers
the president called on some of the
old timers for short talks.
S. W. Gramlich of Sarpy county
possibly one of the oldest pioneers of
the state was called on and gave a
brief but interesting talk on hard
ships, prairie fires and grasshoppers
during the territorial days of Ne
braska. F. M. Massie gave a vivid descrip
tion of the first log school house built
where the town of Weeping Water
is located. Stakes were driven in
the dirt floor, on them were placed
hewn slabs for seats and desks.
Turner Zink, who at one time was
county commissioner of Cass county,
was the postmaster for the Luella
postoffice two miles southeast of
Murdock during its existence. His
son, Oscar Zink gave a talk on this
postoffice and presented the books of
record of Luella. The income from
this postoffice was from $1.57 to
$8.00 per quarter year.
Edward Bornemeier from Elmwood
gave an outline of the history of Elm-
wood and vicinity he has compiled.
He was followed by Henry Heebner
who was born in a log house on the
home farm where he now lives.
Charley Beach and A. Bobbet both of
Lincoln and pioneers of Cass county
gave short talks.
The closing remarks on the ques
tion of local history was summarized
by N. C. Abbott, superintendent of
the School for the Blind at Nebraska
City. Being a member of the staJT
of the State Historical society he
strongly urged the collecting and re
cording of the history within each
district for the use in the public
schools. If not recorded now how
will we collect historical facts when
the last pioneer is laid to rest? He
suggested that possibly a definite
program along this line should pass
through the county superintendent's
office.
At the business meeting A. Mc
Reynolds, secretary-treasurer, gave a
report on the petition for historical
markers in Cass county now before
the county board, a plan now fol
lowed by several counties in the
state.
FEELING IMPROVED
Patty Ann, youngest daughter of
Sheriff and Mrs. Homer Sylvester,
who has been confined to her home
for several days is reported as some
better. She has been forced to fore
go her school work since the last
of thew eek.
DISTRICT DECLAMATORY
CONTEST FEBRUARY 12TH
The district declamatory contest
which is to be held at Plattsmouth
on February 12th is going to be one
of the largest events of its kind ever
held in this city. Entries are re
porting rapidly from the better
schools of the eastern part of Ne
braska. A special feature will be
the one-act play contest. These plays
last about one-half hour each and
consist of from five to eight char
acters. There will be a large num
ber in this group in both the Class
A and B schools. This should prove
to be one of the most interesting
parts of the entire contest.
Entries have reported from Au
burn, Shubert, Papillion, Gretna,
Scribner, Tekamah, Oakland, Elm
Creek, Louisville and Humboldt. The
other entries will all have been re
ported by the end of this week.
President's
Ball Enjoyed by
a Large Crowd
Response Is Excellent to Appeal for
Aid to Foundation for Combating
Infantile Paralysis.
The American Legion building was
filled with a large group Saturday
night to honor the birthday anni
versary of President Franklin D.
Roosevelt and aid the foundation for
the warfare on the dangers of in
fantile paralysis.
The local committee was headed
by Attorney W. A. Robertson who
while busy in his legal business and
Masonic work, had given time to
the most worthy cause and i3 well
pleased with the fine spirit of co
operation shown by the residents of
the community.
It has, not been fully determined
just how much will be realized to
send in to the foundation as many
of the ticket sellers in the other
towns of the county have not report
ed. The music for the ball was given
by the Original Avalon orchestra of
which Peter Gradoville is the direc
tor, playing a fine program of dance
numbers that were a real delight to
all of the large group.
ROTARY HEARS DEBATERS
The Plattsmouth Rotarians had
the opportunity Tuesday at their
luncheon at the Stewart cafe, to hear
the points for and against the uni
cameral legislative plan.
The high school debate squad with
their coach, Milo Price, were present
and gave a very fine presentation of
the points for and against the plan
in which the state of Nebraska has
been a pioneer.
The affirmative was taken by John
Kenneth Bestor and Robert Woest,
while the negative was given by Har
riett Case and Jack Barton. The de
cision was left to the club members
and the affirmative proved the win
ners of the vote.
County Commissioner Elmer Hall-
strom of Avoca was present as a
guest of James Mauzy and enjoyed
meeting the old time friends.
The two high school boys, mem
bers of the club for the month of
February were presented, they being
Roy Wilson, of Murray, senior and
Melvin Hughes, junior.
Superintendent L. S. Devoe was the
leader of the meeting.
ATTENDING RATE HEARINGS
From Monday's Daily
J. H. Davis, presiddnt of the
Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce,
departs this evening for Kansas City,
Missouri, where he will attend a
hearing before the interstate com
merce commission. The meeting Is
on the matter of freight rate in
creases asked by the central west
railroads and which will affect this
part of the west.
ENTERS D0ANE COLLEGE
Miss Rachel Robertson, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Robertson of
this city, was enrolled Monday as a
student at Doane college, at Crete,
where also Harriett Goos and Joe
Hendrix of this city are students.
Miss Robertson and Miss Goos are
members of the 1937 class of the
Plattsmouth high school and this is
their freshman year.
Death of Mrs.
Jas. B. Higley at
Council Bluffs
Had Been a Resident of This City
and Mills County Since Her
Childhood Days.
From Monday's Dally
The death of Mrs. J. B. Higley, 77,
one of the long time residents of thi3
community, occurred Saturday night
at 11:59 at the home of her son,
J. R. Eledge, at Council Bluffs,
where she has been for some time in
failing health.
Catherine Richardson was born in
North Carolina, March 7, 1861, and
when a child was brought by her par
ents to Mills county, Iowa, where
the family settled and made their
home for many years, she growing
up in that community.
On July 3, 1875 she was married
to W. I. Eledge, the family making
their home near Pacific Junction
and Plattsmouth. Mr. Eledge pre
ceded the wife in death in 1902.
In her girlhood she affiliated with
the United Brethern church and has
been a devout member of that faith.
In later years she was married
to James B. Higley of this city and
they made their home here until the
death of Mr. Higley and since which
time she has largely made her home
in Council Bluffs, she having pur
chased a home.
She is survived by five children,
J. R. Eledge of Council Bluffs; Mrs.
I. J. Homan, Omaha; Mrs. Lee John
son, Auburn; Mrs. George Barr,
Plattsmouth and W. H. Eledge, Om
aha. There is also surviving her
passing twenty-five grandchildren
and seventeen great-grandchildren.
There is also two brothers and two
sisters, John Richardson of this city,
ISahlan Richardson of Pacific Junc
tion. Mrs. Roda White, Council
Bluffs," Mrs.' George Eledge' of Long'
Pine, Nebraska. One son, Grover
Eledge, preceded her In death last
June.
The funeral services were held this
afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Sattler
funeral home.
Dr. H. G. McClusky, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church conducted
the services and paid tribute to the
long and useful life of the departed.
During the services Frank A. Cloidt
gave two of the hymns that had been
favorites of the departed, "Nearer
My God to Thee" and "Beautiful Isle
of Somewhere."
The kjterment was at the Oak Hill
cemetery and six of the grandsons
serviced as pall bearers, Harold
Eledge, Paul Brock, Bill Anderson
all of Council Bluffs, Melvin Barr,
Walter Eledge and D. D. Haley of
this city.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express to the many
friends and neighbors here and at
Council Bluffs, our deep apprecia
tion of their acts of kindness and
words of sympathy in the death of
our beloved mother, grandmother and
great grandmother. Especially do
we wish to thank Dr. McClusky, Mr.
Cloidt and all those taking part in
the services and for cars and the
flowers. The children, grandchil
dren, great grandchildren, brothers
and sisters of Mrs. J. B. Higley.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our heartfelt
thanks to all our relatives and
friends for their sympathy and many
acts of kindness during the sickness
and at the death of our beloved wife.
mother and grandmother Edith Hat-
cliff. We especially wish to thank
Rev. W. A. Taylor, the singers, pall
bearers and the Hobson funeral direc
tors and for the beautiful floral offer
ings. C. E. Hatcliff and Sons; Mr.
and Mrs. S. D. Litten and family.
VISITS COUSINS HERE
The Cloidt family here had a
very pleasant visit Saturday with a
cousin, George H. Beine, of San Fran
cisco, who is visiting in this section
of the west and stopped here for a
short time. Mr. Beine is the repre
sentative of the Metropolitan In
surance company in the San Fran
cisco territory. While here he call
ed on Frank, John and August Cloidt,
the cousins, whom he had not seen
for several years.