Nebr. State Historical Society VOL. NO. LIV PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1938. NO. 37 Tribute Paid to W. C. Ramsey by A. F. & A. M. Address cf Judge A. 11. Duxbury Gives High Praise to Former Plattsmouth Resident. From Friday's Dally The Masonic grand lodge in their session this week in Omaha paused in their deliberation to pay honor to the memory of William C. Ramsey, past grand master or AeoiasKa -among his f,.jemis alui business asso sons and a native son of Flattsmouth. j ciates of this Grand Jurisdiction. The eulogy for Mr. Ramsey was; Those years have been occupied and .imiv..,.! i. r.t. Tiwi-o a IT. by ue ii i e i m ' j vwiii.7 w - - Duxbury of this city, chairman o the committee on tne iraiernai ueau William C. Ramsey was a man of the grand lodge and with thejhighly respected by all elements of following beautiful tribute: the community in which he lived, as "In the Midst of Life We Are in Death" This divine admition was again suddenly when on brought to our attention, May 19th, 193S the news burst upon this Grand Jurisdiction j je was unsurpassed in the breadth that our beloved Most Worshipful j Gf njs human sympathies. His heart brother WILLIAM C. RAMSEY had ! was as tender as it was fearless and been suddenly called from this life! true, and his gracious manner and to his etenal rest, as if to emphasize j winning smile gained for him the in li is going the calm dignity of his j confidence and esteem of all who life among us. knew him. We feel the uttermost - emptiness The smiling countenance, the of words to record the life and ser- pleasing charm of delightful person vice of this illustrious son of Ne- ality and the goodness of heart and braska Masonry. A native son of j mind were those qualities that made Nebraska, born at Plattsmouth. Junejhis life beautiful and shed the sun 10th, 1S84. son of Judge and Mrs. shine of kindness and gentleness all Basil S. Ramsey, pioneer residents ; about him. We who knew him best of this state, he spent his boyhood ! realized that he possessed a stand days at Plattsmouth. graduating , ard of truth which no ambition could from the Plattsmouth high school in i ever cause him to violate. He be the year 1901. He later entered thejiieved in life in it's fairest and high University of Nebraska, and in 1907 jest aspect; he was deeply religious graduated from the Law College of ! by nature and his hope was ever in the University, lie was elected in the j that Higher Lodge above. He lived fall of the same year as county at- the best of lives, because he forgot torney of Cass county, in which ca-self in the sacrifice of others. Turn pacity he made an exceptionally bril- :ing to where man meets man in ab liant record. In 1910 he located in sorbing activities of life, to whom can Omaha aril took up the practice of j we point as a truer example of Am his profession, where from that timejerican manhocd? He was cut down to the date of his passing, he has de-jin the morning of life's afternoon, voted his life to an intensive practice of law. In and out of court his con duct as a lawyer conformed to tne highest standards of professional honor and business integrity. His respect for courts and his courtesy to opposing counsel were marked fea tures of his professional career. Few lawyers bad his breadth of mental grasp, his legal knowledge and his power of analysis. His charming in dividuality and gracious manner won the respect of judge, jury, and aud itors. He was one of the most mag nanimous of men. He manifested a deep interest in civic and political affairs and strove to maintain probity in governmental administration. lie has served as a member of the Omaha board of edu cation, as a regent of the Omaha Municipal University, as assistant at torney general of the State of Ne braska, and at the timeQf his death was assistant general counsel of the Federal Farm Security Administra tion. His final resting place is in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska, the community wherein he had lived the major portion of his busy life and where the triumphs of his legal career were attained. He was taken from those he loved so dearly, while he was yet in the midst of life. These are things we cannot understand. We try to ex plain the reason why. We are caught up in those circumstances, human mind can never explain. "And not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas and ex plain the reason why. "The dark threads are as needful in the weaver's skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned." Yet there is a sense In which good men never die. They live in the hearts they leave behind, in lives they have touched, in influence they have set in motion, in thoughts they have expressed, in deeds they have done. Character is immortal; its seed reproduces itself in the lives of others. As a stone cast into the lake sends its ripples to the farthest shore, so a good life sheds its influ ence abroad, that even death cannot stay. There is a fine tribute to Sir Chris topher vYen. written in Latin over the hoir of St. Paul's Cathedral, which says of Wren. "If you would behold his monument, look around you." If we desire to see the monument of the life of Most Worshipful Brother Ramsey, we need only to look around us. and we shall see the lives he ha3 blest, the god he has done, and the people who have been unlifted and inspired by his Chris tian example. The Lord gave, it was a rich gift. The Lord had taken away, but not the gift. That remains written in the hearts of all those who loved him. To his beloved family, whom he loved so fondly that no language spoken could fathom its depth of meaning, if your loved one could but speak to you audibly here and now, in the language of another, I am sure that this is what he would say: 'Let there be no funeral gloom, my dears. Now that I am gone. No black raiment or graveyard grim- ness. Think of me as having withdrawn into the dimness. Yours still, and you mine. Think and remember only the sweetness of our love together, And forgetting the rest. Where I wait, come thou gently on." l All of his busy life was spent filled with usefulness. rewarded by success, and crowned ! gratitude. by love and well as elsewhere for his sterling character, admired for bis broad vision, keen interest and lofty ideals in civic and business affairs, and revered for his gentility, amiability an(j loyalty to friends and brethren. just when his sun had reached its meridian height, the happiness of a lifetime melted away in one sad moment. Our thoughts turn to resignation and reverence as we honor this good man with the tribute of our praise. In recollection of when he was here moving among us, beautiful unpaint ed pictures appear in the mind of how much sweeter life is that he lived. How distinctly we recall thi; lovable character, whose voice still rings in our ears, whose handclasp j is still warm in our palm, and from j whose eyes there shown the immortal j spirit of the man within. Today that Continued on Page 3) SEARCH FOR "KIDNAPER" Wednesday afternoon and evening Sheriff Homer Sylvester and Deputy! Sheriff Cass Sylvester as well as Chief of Police Barclay and state patrolmen were busy on the outlook for an alleged "kidnaper." The officers were notified from Nebraska City that a resident of that city had taken his infant child from its mother and was thought to he coining north on highway No. 75. The officers were out on the high way to check the passing cars, but the "kidnaper" failed to make an appearance and if making a getaway had taken some other route. GO TO CAMP SHELDON From Saturday's Dally This morning five girls went as delegates from the Methodist Ep worth League to Columbus, Nebras ka where they will attend Summer Institute at Camp Sheldon this week, returning next Saturday. Those at tending are Miss Charlotte Palmer, Misses Kathryn and Helen Barkus, Miss Ruth Ann Hatt and Miss Mary McCarroll. Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Talmer took the girls to the camp. NEW ARRIVALS From Saturday's Ea!ly Mr. and Mrs. Glen Kaffenberger are the parents of a fine little daugh ter which was born yesterday. All are doing nicely. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lenhart was made very happy by the birth of a fine son and heir on Thurs day. BIRTH OF LITTLE DAUGHTER Wednesday a fine little daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Koubek, residing in the northwest part of the city. The little one has been christened Rosalind and with the mother is doing very nicely. Mrs, Silas Long Passes Away at Home in Florida Former Resident of Cass County and Member of One of the Early Day Families. Ida Alice Cole, daughter of aa-,. q eastern wlsconsin rach and Nancy Cole, was born near; expecting to enjoy Ft. Madison, la., on Oct. 18, 18jo. In 18o"r the family moved to Ve- braska, settling near Plattsmouth. She grew to young womanhood in this vicinity. On May 15, 1878, she i was united in marriage to Silas Long at the United Brethren church i which stood for many years a few J miles south of Plattsmouth. The church was filled with friends for this happy occasion and later a re-1 ception for the relatives was held at the bride's home. Two daughters were born to this union, Stella who lives at home and Fern who is now Mrs. Thurman Wilson of Ft. Pierce, Fla. After the death of her father in 1S88, Mr. and Mrs. Long moved to the farm four miles southwest of town which she inherited from his estate. In 1S91 the Missouri Pacific railroad was built squarely through the place, destroying a fine, young orchard just west of the home. On the west side of the tracks a town site was laid out and was named "Mynard." Mrs. Long sold a number of the lots and a village sprang up which thrived and grew until auto mobiles and better roads destroyed its business. Now it is merely a pleasant place in which to live. In the meantime the Long family moved to Plattsmouth in 189G in order to provide a more advanced education for the eldest daughter. Fifteen years later they moved to Lincoln so their daughters might enjoy further educational advan tages. After the youngest daughter had graduated from the university, seeking a warmer climate, they went to Florida where they have since resided at Vero Beach. There this woman who was so well esteemed by those who knew her as a Christian and a friend, fin ished her earthly pilgrimage as the day neared its close on June 1. Besides her husband and daugh ters and two grandsons, Donald and Merrill Wilson, one sister and one brother survive her. Mrs. Alva R. Venner, Plattsmouth. and Stephen B. Cole, Smithfield, Nebr., who are now the only survivors of a family of eight brothers and sisters. Burial ser vices were held in the afternoon of June 3. Peace to thee, friend, at the close Of a long and useful life. The daughters will miss their mother. The husband will miss his wife, But we know that her steps lead upward Toward a brighter, clearer day. 'Tis God's loving hand that guides her, As she walks the heavenly way. DEATH CF EDWARD SWOEODA From Friday's Caliy Edward Swoboda, 8 6, a resident of this city for many years, died this morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. McCarthy, near Wyo ming, where for the past few months he and his wife have made their home. The deceased was born February 16, 1853, in Bohemia and came to the United States in 18S2 and has since made his home in this city. He was for a great many years en gaged in work at the Burlington shops but in later years has retired and looked after his acreage in the west part of the city. He is survived by the aged wife, Antonia and an adopted daughter, Mrs. McCarthy. TO BE ORDAINED HERE Paul Iverson, recently graduated from the Union Theological Seminary in New York, was passed by the Ne braska synod of the Presbyterian church Wednesday at their meeting at Hastings. Rev. Iverson came through the examinations in high standing and will be received into the ministry of the church. His ordination will take place in the First Presbyterian church in this city, in which church Rev. Iverson has kept his membership since his childhood days. Phone news items to No. . WILL MOTOR TO WISCONSIN Mr. and Mrs. Carl Ofe and son, Carl, Jr., Mrs. Henry Ofe and Mrs. Annie Hummell departed Sunday on a motor trip to Wisconsin for an outing in the lake country. They expect to make their first stop at LaCross, Wisconsin, and from there will go to Gresham, where j Candlelight Ceremony Held Saturday they will visit with relatives and also at the Eaning Home To Re at Breen Bay, the bay of the same j side in Nebraska City. linme niit of thp best known rpsnrt I deal of fishing in the manv , Unkps that, feature that nart of the i . Pioneer of Northwestern Nebraska Here George Horn of Hay Springs Visits !of blush fhiffon patterned by Vion Relatives of This Communty !net- 11 ha(1 a P'aited flounce around Pioneer of Sod House Days. !,he bottom which formed a slight j train at the back. Her bouquet was George Horn, 74. of Hay Springs, 1 of tea roses, sweet peas, swansonia Nebraska, a resident here some fifty i and baby breath. She was met at the years ago, has been here visiting ' foot or the fern decorated open stair with relatives and many old time;way by her father who gave her in friends in this community. Mr. Horn ; marriage. is a brother of Mrs. William Hassler -Miss Louise Foster attended the of this city and a brother-in-law of: bride, and Lucian Banning, brother Mrs. Mary Knoflieek, he having mar-j of the bride, was best man. She ried a sister of the late A. F. Knotli- j wore powder blue chiqon gown of cek here in 1880. Mr. Horn is also j floor length with a plaited jacket related by marriage to many of the and carried yellow roses. Miss old families of this section of Cass Coretta Pfann, wearing peach lace, county and where he farmed in his'played Lohengrin's and Mendels younger years. ;sohn's wedding marches for the pro- Mr. Horn and his wife were pio-! cession and other numbers through neers in the northwest part of the ', out the ceremony and reception. Miss state as at the time they moved there I Evelyn Peters, sister of the bride from here in 1SSS. there were fewigioom. was dressed in a yellow sheer residents, and neighbors many miles ' formal and sang "I Love You Truly" away from each other. Their filings! and "O Promise Me." was on a "tree" homestead, which j The ceremony took place before a required that the settlers make tree i rock fireplace. The mantle was bank plantings 'in order to secure filing ed with ferns and bouquets of tea rights. They made a sod house that roses. A large fern stood in front sheltered them in tit early days of the fireplace and baskets of flow when the livinfr was trulv that of til- ers at either side. Tall seven branch frontier and filled with hard and unceasing toil. Mr. and Mrs. Horn were parents of ten children, four girls and six boys and when the World war came the sons largely enlisted in service and Mr. and Mrs. Horn moved from their large farm into Hay Springs, where they have since resided. Mr. Horn served for eleven years as chief of police of Hay Springs and Is one of the best known and popular residents of that section of Nebraska. OLD RESIDENT VISITS HERE From Thursday's Dally This morning Hoyt K. Pottenger, of Los Angeles, was in the city for a few hours, where he enjoyed look ing over the scenes of his boyhood days and meeting the very few per sons that he could recall from the past of some forty years. Mr. Pottenger was the son of! Judge and Mrs. Willett Pottejiger, the father being police judge and an attorney here for a great many years, being one of the pioneers of this territory. The family ;nade their home on North Sixth street and while here, Mr. Pottenger made a pilgrimage to that locality to try and find the one time home. He was a caller at the Journal office and related that he had served as "devil" on the paprr back in the late eighties, when C. W. Sherman was the publisher, recalling many amusing incidents of the printing business of the days of all hand set type and comparative primative methods of printing. He left here over forty years ago, and it has been twenty-five years since he was here, coining to bring the mother here for the last rest. VISITS IN OLD HOME Mrs. Frank Boyd of Berkley, Cali fornia, who is visiting in Omaha, was in the city Thursday afternoon to look over the scenes here where she was born and spent some childhood years. Mrs. Boyd was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Clark, who resided here in the eighties and the father had charge of the local band while a resident here. Her mother was formerly a Miss Ida Wideman and will be recalled by theo lder resi dents of the city. Mrs. Boyd was ac companied by Mrs. Edna Jamison of Omaha to this city. Banning-Peters Wedding Held at Home of Bride , X()a A Banningf uaugnter of Mr. aland Mrs. Josenh W. Banning Union. I became the wife of Carl J. Peters, son I -------- of Mis M.irv Peters. Talmaere. at . ,,,. ... " ,.,,,,, at the bride's home Saturday evening at S o'clock. The Rev. S. Haferman of Talmage. officiated. Donald and Gerald Peters, neph ews of the bridegroom carried blush satin ribbon which marked the path for the bride. Carol Ann Brehm, a niece, was flower girl. The bride wore a floor length gown candelabra with white tapers lighted the room. The candles were lighted by Mary Becker and Rachel Taylor. A basket of flowers on the stairway post and spring flowers in vases com pleted the decoration of the room. A reception followed the wedding in the dining room. The three-tier wedding cake, frosted in pale pink, formed the centerpiece and two- 'branch crystal candelebra at either side held pink and white candles. Misses Dorthee Meyer and Helen Wil liams cut the cake and Dorothy Pell, Omaha. Delores Brehm, Talmage, Mrs. Rodney Whittemore, Johnson, and Leona Tegtmeyer, Nebraska City, assisted in the serving of the 85 guests. Jane Robb and Dorothea Kropp took care of the punch bowl. Rachael Taylor of Lincoln, cousin of the bride, had harge of the guest book; and Mrs. Merle Heck,' Union, took care of the gift room. The bride attended Stephens Col lege one year and went to Peru a year and a half. She taught in the Union schools three years and in Ne braska City two years. Mr. Peters attended Peru Normal one year and taught in the Talmage schools nine years. He is now district agent for the Banker's Life Insurance Co. for Otoe county. The couple left imme diately after the wedding for a trip to California and other points on the west coast where they will visit friends and relatives. They will be at home at 1218 Second avenue, Nebraska City, after August 1. Out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Pell and family, Omaha; Mrs. Mary Taylor and Rachael, Miss Jane Robb, Miss Naomi Dickson, Hollis Banning and Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Seims, Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. Al Shelby, Dorothee Mayer, Leona Tegtemeyer, Coretta Pfann Eleanor Williams, John Steuteville, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Collins, Bernice Magette and Leonard Hanks, Nebraska City; Mrs. Mary Peters and daughters, Evelyn and Leta. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Peters and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Eirkman and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Birkman and family, -Mr. and Mrs. Frank Peters and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brehm and fam ily, Mr. and Mrs. John George and son, Mr. and Mrs. Harm Bohlken and family, Dr. L. II. Hebard. Jack Car lin and Avon Lowe, Talmage; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Harmes and son, Man ley; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lundin and family, Kearney; Mr. and Mrs. Don Hueston, Rock Port; Miss Gertrude Chiddenden, Clatonia; Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Whittemore, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Banning, Alvo; Mrs. E. W. Keedy, Ashland; Mr. and Mrs. Merle Heck. Falls City; Mr. and Mrs. Merle Young and Mr. and Mrs. Pat Meyer, Johnson. RETURN FROM OUTING Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jacobs and children, John, George and Shirley, returned home Friday evening from trip out in the state. They have visited at Scottsbluff friends. Clay Center, Elsie and with relatives and old Daughters of Revolution Elect New Officers Entertained at the Home of Mrs. F. R. Gobelman and Plan Meet ing for Ensuing Year. Fontenelle chapter of the Daugh ters of the American Revolution held their annual election of officers at their meeting held at the home of Mrs. F. R. Gobelman this week. The Gobelman home was very at tractively arranged with decorations of the garden flowers that made the scone one of great beauty and charm for the interesting meeting. Miss Pearl Staats, regent of the chapter presided, and the reports of the officers and committees for the past year were given and showed the fine progress that had been made in the work of the patriotic organi zation. The election of officers was held and the following selected: Regent Mrs. Otto A. Keck. Vice Regent Miss Caroline Baird. Secretary Mrs. F. R. Gobelman. Treasurer Miss Pearl Staats. Historian Mrs. E. H. Wescott. Registrar Mrs. Pearl Mann. Chaplain Mrs. L. O. Minor. Auditor Mrs. R. W. Clement. The chapter voted as one of the activities of the 193S-39 program to intensify the marking of historical spots in this section of the state and to see that they were properly des ignated for the benefit of the com ing generations. This committee will comprise .Mrs. E. H. Wescott, Miss Pearl Staats and Mrs. R. W. Clem ent. A very interesting program was given, in which many of the im portant questions of the D. A. R. were discussed. Miss Pearl Staats read the letter of the President Gen eral. Mrs. E. H. Wescott discussed National Defense, Miss Caroline Baird reviewed the D. A. R. Maga zine, Mrs. Pearl Mann gave the flag lesson and Mrs. L. O. Minor dis cussed very interestingly the his torical homes. Mrs. P. H. Murdick, Jr., of Cleve land, Ohio, a member of the local chapter, was a pleasant visitor at the meeting. The hostess served a very delic ious luncheon at an appropriate hour. COUNTY COURT DOINGS Walter Sopinski, of Omaha, truck driver for the Continental Baking Co., was in court Wednesday after noon on complaint of the state high way patrol, It being charged that he was operating a truck bearing an Iowa license instead of the Nebraska liceitee. The defendant claimed that the truck was used only as an emer gency vehicle. After hearing the case the court assessed a fine of $10 and costs on the defendant. Petition was presented asking re moval of the guardianship of Wilmer Harshman, of Avoca. The guardians, Ralph Harshman and J. E. Hallstrom of Avoca, were relieved of their duties. t RETURNS FROM HOSPITAL Jay D. Rising, who resides on the Dovey section, east of Cedar Creek has returned to his home after having undergone an emergency oper ation at the Immanuel hospital in Omaha la6t Saturday morning. The attending surgeon was Dr. Herbert Davis of Omaha. Mr. Rising has not been in the best of health during the past few years, having Buffered a breakdown in 1932. Omaha Woman Tells of Trip to Orient Recently Mrs. John Lionberger Guest of Wom an's Auxiliary of St, Luke's Church Many Atttnd. From Saturday's Daily Yesterday afternoon at the Ger ing residence, a "Trip to the Orient" with Mrs. John Lionberger was spon sored by the Woman's Auxiliary of ! the Episcopal church. Mrs. J. A. Capwell, talented pianist, opened the program with a beautiful piano solo, of which the audience showed their appreciation by their intensive applause. Miss Barbara Gering introduced ! the speaker, Mrs. Lionberger, of Omaha, who has recently returned from the Orient. Mrs. Lionberger has been a friend of the Gering family for many years. Mrs. Lionberger told of the many places' of interest in Tokyo, comment ing upon the very modern conven iences in the Japanese cities, which are all greatly electrified. She men tioned particularly one department store which was air conditioned, had electric elevators, fine service, many uniformed clerks, a bronze staircase leading to each floor, beautiful roof gardens and a very elaborate play ground for children. She also told of the coffee shops found in large num bers in Japan. The Japanese, she said, have become coffee-minded and now prefer it to tea, especially the younger people. AVhen she visited a shop and asked for a cup of coffee, she was handed a menu which pre sented 25 different varieties of coffee for her to choose from. She learned too, that the first class restaurant gives its coffee grounds to second class shops who in turn give them to third class shops. She told of many more Interesting and amusing things of Japan. One particularly interesting incident was the burial of broken dolls, which she attended. The Japanese, she said, believe that things the children play with, all household utensils and farm implements have souls and when they are broken they are buried in much the same way in which humans are buried. Especially amusing to Mrs. Lionberger was the fact that the girls marched to the altar to the tune of "Marching Through Geor gia," adding that the Japanese love American music. Mrs. Lionberger also visited with the Yokohama Rotary and Rotary Anns, at the foot of Mount Fujihama and many other places of interest. From Japan Mrs. Lionberger went to Korea where she visited the an cient tombs, one of which is older than that of King David, and the an cient observatory built for a queen in the year 627. The Diamnd Moun tains and Monasteries were also very interesting to Mrs. Lionberger. In the Philippine Islands, where she next visited, she visited Zamba Anga, where strings of orchids hang under the eaves of the sharks in which the people live. At Sibou she saw the pavilion under which stands the cross which Magellan car ried when he landed there, and sailed across to the island where he is buried. Most interesting in the Philippine Islands were the rice ter races, which were well worth the dangerous trip up to the mountains to see them. Because of lack of fer tile land, the head hunters, who live there, built these terraces on the side of the mountains. They are considered equal to the pyramids as an engineering feat. Mrs. Lionberger spoke especially of the missionaries of this country who live there for many years, helping the natives and never seeing a white person. Her talk was very interesting and amusing but was also instructive and was very much enjoyed by the large number who heard her. Delicious refreshments were served by Miss Mia Gering, assisted by a number of girls. APPOINTED AS CONSTABLE Jacob Sterner of Elmwood was appointed by the board of county commissioners Wednesday to be con stable in the court of Justice of the Peace Walter Plybon at Elmwood. The bond of Mr. Sterner was also approved by the board.