Kebr. Stale Historical Society
VOL. NO. LI7
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1938.
NO. 74
Rev. Bowderoi
Tells of Early
Explorations
Wide Areas of United States Cover
ed by the Misionaries of Jesuit
and Other Orders.
Those who atteneed the public
meeting: held by the local council of
the Knights of Columbus Tuesday
evening: at Eagles hall, enjoyed an
unusual treat in the lecture by Rev.
Thomas S. Bowdern. S. J., dean of
the Creighton university graduate
school and regent of the Creighton
school of journalism.
The meeting was turned over to
the program committee by Frank
Neugebauer, grand knight and At
torney Walter H. Smith, chairman.
presided.
Miss Lucille Meisinger, one of the
talented pianists of the city, gave
two very artistic selections as the
opening of the program.
John Cloidt, always a favorite vo
calist, gave two numbers with Mrs.
Cloidt at the piano.
Miss Theresa Slatins'-iy, high
school student, gave two most ap
preciated numbers on the accord Ian
with vocalization that was a treat all
appreciated and showed the talent
and skill of the young artist.
Rev. Bowdern, in his opening
touched on the history of Christo
pher Columbus, whose voyage in
1492 resulted in the discovery of the
West Indies and paved the way for
the early Spanish settlements of
North and South America. The dif
ficulties of the Italian navigator in
interesting the Spanish government
in his project was told and the doubt
held by many of the ultimate success
of the expedition and whcila-uaeM
had caused . much jealousy at the
Spanish court.
Following the voyages of Colum
bus came the influx of other expedi
tions fitted out by the English,
French, and Holland governments
and which extended along the east
ern coast of the United States and
Canada. With the Increasing expedi
tions there came the missionaries of
the Catholic church, French Jesuits
and English missionaries covering
the Canadian country, down into
the great lake regions and to the
' mouth of the Mississippi river, some
even going to the northern part of
the west coast. The speaker also
traced the explorations of the Jesuits
from Mexico to the lands to the north
and the establishment of a chain of
missions from Mexico City nprtl
ward and into the present state of
California where many of the old
missions are still preserved. The
work of Father Kino, Jesuit, in the
spread of faith in present New Mex
ico, Arizona and Texas was touched
upon, the organization of the Zunl
Indians to oppose the Apache tribes
of the southwest, the most blood
thirsty of all the Indian tribes. It
had been Father Kino, the speaker
stated, who had originated the rais
ing of stock in the southwest and
which provided food for the peaceful
Indian tribes.
Trips of the Jesuits up the Mis
souri river from St. Louis had reach
ed far into the north and led by
Father Smith, they had passed
through this section a hundred years
ago to spend some time in what is
now Council Bluffs and later the
members were sent to Kansas where
they were to found the mission of
St. Mary's. It was In later years that
the central west became thickly set
tled that the establishment .of the
Creighton university was made at
Omaha.
The exploration of the mission
aries had penetrated into Utah and
what is now Wyoming. Rev. Bow
dern told of his own visit to Fort
Bridger, where a hundred years ago
Jim Bridger had established a trad
ing post in the wilderness and which
became a noted spot in the history of
the west and the Oregon migration.
The development of the Oregon trail
was made by Indians from the west
coast and not from the east as so
many had believed, was shown by
the speaker.
At the conclusion of the very In
teresting and instructive talk. Rev.
Bowdern, in response to questions
told of the work of the DeSmet
camp for city boys, which he had
helped organize in 1925 and which
is located at the St. Francis Indian
reservation.
HUNT NEAR CREIGHTON
One of the local hunting parties,
comDrisincr Fred Rowland, Walter
MInniear, Fay Spidell,. Harold Chand
ler, Francis MInniear and Mott Frady
have returned from the northeast
part of the state and with a fine bag
of pheasants- The party hunted near
Creighton, and found plenty of the
birds but heavy foliage and a great
many cockleburs made the hunting
somewhat difficult.
Young People
are Married at
Lincoln Today
Mr. Georee F. Swatek and Miss
Lorene C. Jones Married at Rec
tory of St. Mary's Cathedral
From Monday's Daily
This morning at 10:30 at the rec
tory of the St. Mary's cathedral at
Lincoln, occurred the marriage of
Miss Lorene C. Jones, daughter of
Mrs. Clara Jones, of Portland. Oregon
and Mr. George F. Swatek. son of
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Swatek of this
city.
The marriage lines were read by
the Rev. Father Rlordan. pastor of
the cathedral.
Their attendants were Miss Mary
Swatek, sister of the groom, and Mr.
Ted Spaustat. of Omaha. Mrs. W. A.
Swatek of this city also witnessed
the ceremony.
The bride was lovely in a plum
colored afternoon dress ornamented
with dull gold. She wore a corsage
of gardenias. Miss Swatek was
gowned in blue with a corsage of
tiny pink rosebuds.
Mr. and Mrs. Swatek departed im
mediately after the ceremony for a
motor trip through the south and
after the honeymoon will return to
Lincoln to make their home. Mr.
Swatek is employed in the highway
department of the state of Nebraska.
with which he has been connected
since his graduation from the col
lege of engineering of the University
of Nebraska.
Sunday the bridal couple were
honor guests at a family dinner party
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. A.
Swatek. The out of town guests
were the bride and groom and Miss
Mary Swatek and Mr. Ted Spaustat
of Omaha.
INJURIES ARE SEVERE
Reports from the Clarkson hos
pital at Omaha are to the effect that
the injuries sustained by Matthew
Sedlak, Sr., late Monday afternoon.
are quite severe and will make neces
sary hospitalization for some time.
It was determined by X-ray exam
ination that Mr. Sedlak had suffered
the fracture of both heels, a possible
cracked hip bone and it may be that
the shoulder has also been cracked,
but this is not certain. It will make
necessary his remaining at the hos
pital. He is resting somewhat bet
ter today, it was reported, altho still
feeling very much the effects of the
shock.
ENJOY HUNTING TRIP
From Tuesday's Daily
A hunting party comprising Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Donat, Mr. and Mrs.
W. A. Gorder, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton
Mark, John Cechal, William O'Don
nell. Sr., and Robert Painter, re
turned this morning from a hunting
trip In the vicinity of Plalnview.
They had great luck in the shooting
and brought home their bag of the
birds. It is claimed that Henry se
cured three birds in one shot on the
opening day.
LEAVE ON HUNTING TRIP
Dr. W. V. Ryan and Dr. L. S.
Pucelik left Saturday for Bassett,
Nebraska on a hunting trip. They
expect to return home on Wednes
day, bringing their limit In pheas
ants. While in Bassett they will
visit at the home of Dr. Pucellk's
sister and family.
VISIT AT ATKINSON
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Bishop mo
tored to Atkinson, Nebraska on Sun
day to spend the day there as guests
of Mr. Bishop's parents, Rev. and
Mrs. John H. Bishop, as well as with
old friends.
Union Folks
Give Program at
Masonic Home
Delightful Afternoon of Vocal and
Instrumental as Well as Or
chestral Selections.
The residents of the Nebraska Ma
sonic Home had a very unusual
fine afternoon of entertainment af
forded Sunday when a group of
Union residents under the direction
of Phillip Rihn, came up to give a
short concert at the home.
The program opened with singing
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds" by all
of the group and Home folks as well
as the orchestra numbers, "The Star
Spangled Banner" and "Whispering
Hope."
Rev. McGaughy of Union read the
scripture lesson for the occasion and
which added to the impressiveness
of the event.
Mrs. Roy Upton and Mrs. Mougey
were heard in a lovely vocal duet
as their contribution to the program.
Miss Esther McGaughy gave a very
artistic reading that was very much
appreciated by the members of the
group.
The orchestra then gave two num
bers. "Sparkling Eyes" and "Flag
of Truce."
Miss Mildred Burbee, one of the
talented musicians of Union was
heard in a piano accordian number
and Miss Flora Belle Meade in a de
lightful vocal selection-
Miss Ruth Morris also added to
the interest of the varied program
with a whistling solo of more than
usual charm.
Misses Angria and Mina Ervin
were heard in a piano duet that they
gave very artistically.
The orchestra closed with "The
Stars and Stripes' Forever" and the'
group singing of "God Be With You
Till We Meet Aealn."
A regrettable feature of the after
noon was the fact that Mr. Rihn who
had so generously arranged the pro
gram, was taken very ill as the aft
ernoon opened and had to be taken
on from the Home into Omaha for
hospital care. Rev. McGaughy con
tinued the direction of the program.
HAS CAR DAMAGED
Tuesday evening while L. W. Egen-
berger was returning home after hav-
ng taken George Bell to his resi
dence at the sand pits north of the
city, his car was badly damaged in
an accident south of the Platte river
bridge where the road to the sand
pits joins the main highway. As the
car was swinging into the main high
way for the south, a passing truck
came by and forced Mr. Egenberger
to swing his car out of 'the main
roadway and one of the rear ties blew
out and the car crashed on into a
telephone pole along the roadway.
The radiator was badly damaged and
the motor was forced back into the
car and the windshield broken.
Fortunately Mr. Egenberger was
only bruised and suffered several
small cuts but none of which are
thought to be serious.
VISITS OLD FRIENDS
From Tuesday's Dally
R. L. Propst, for many years a
resident of Cass county, but now
living in Lake. Worth, Florida, was
here today with his daughters, Mrs.
Ed Wilcox and Mrs. Mayola Baughn,
who ihave been with him on the
journey from Florida. They were in
Omaha today to visit relatives and
on their return here will leave for
Floirda. Miss Corrlne Hallstrom,
daughter of County Commissioner
and Mrs. Elmer Hallstrom, of Avoca,
will accompany her grandfather and
aunt back to Florida for a visit.
ATTEND ROTARY MEETING
Tuesday evening a Rotary club
was installed at Tabor, Iowa, the
Glenwood club being the sponsor of
the new group.- W. C. Rathke, prom
inent Rotarian, was the Installing
officer and gave the charter to the
new club. Among those to attend
the chartering of the new club was a
delegation of the Plattsmouth Ro
tarians comprising Elmer Sundstrom,
L. S. Devoe, Fred Lugsch, L. O. Minor
and William Baird. Mrs. Baird, Mrs.
Lugsch and Mrs. Sundstrom also at
tended the event.
JOB'S DAUGHTERS AT SERVICES
From Monday's Daily '
Special services were held at the
Methodist church yesterday honoring
the Job's Daughters who attended
church in a body. There were 16
officers present. The girls, wearing
their white robes, made a very pretty
group as they formed the choir.
Shirley Seiver, honored queen of
the Job's Daughters sang a solo, "One
Sweetly Solemn Thought," which was
very much enjoyed. A very inspiring
and interesting sermon in accord
ance with the occasion was given by
Rev. J. C. 'Lowson, pastor of the
church.
A most impressive feature was
given at the close of the service
when the girls formed a cross and
sang tne closing numoer, wearer
My God to Thee."
RECOVERS PURSE
From Tuesday' Dally
Mrs. Rex Peters, prominent Green
wood resident, was agreeably sur
prised this morning when visiting
here to find her purse and $10 that
she had' misplaced ' Monday while
here shopping, was safe. Mrs. Peters
had been at the H. M. Soennichsen
Co. store to look after some business
affairs and when leaving the store
she had left the purse lying on a
chair. She had returned ' honre by
way of Ashland and it was discovered
on her return that the purse was
missing. Retracing her route she was
delighted to find here that employes
at the Soennichsen store had found
the purse with the contents untouch
ed and which was turned over to the
Greenwood lady.
SUFFERS SUDDEN ATTACK
Alfred Ulrich. son of Mrs. Ed
Ulrich, residing west of Plattsmouth,
was stricken with an acute attack oi
appendicitis Saturday evening. .. He
was in looking after some trading
when the attack occurred and the
patient was hurried on to the St.
Catherine's hospital at Omaha. An
operation was performed at once-and
the patient reported doing as well
as possible.
MTNARD COMMUNITY CLUB
The October meeting of the My
nard Community club has been
changed to Tuesday evening, October
25th at 8 o'clock, in order to secure
the services of Newton W. Gaines of
Lincoln and J. M. Quackenbush, of
Weeping Water, County agent. There
will be special music, vocal numbers
by Mrs. Gaines. The public is in
vited. N
PROGRAM AND PLATE SUPPER
I will give a plate supper and pro
gram for the members of the school
on Thursday evening at the school,
Dist. 13, which is known as the Swan
Bchool, some three' miles southeast
of Union. Ladies bring your boxes
and let the boys buy them. A good
time, a good program-
MRS. ELVA OPP,
o24-ltw " Teacher.
SPORTSMAN'S CLUB
There will be a meeting of the
Cass County Sportsman's club, at
the public library, in Plattsmouth.
on Friday. October 21,' 1938. at 8
o'clock p. m., for the purpose of
electing a president, and secretary
treasurer. Also to make final ar
rangements for the Farm Bird Sanc
tuary. Itt is Important that every
member be present.
COMMITTEE.
LEAVES FOR SEP A LI A
From Tuesday's Daily
Francis B. Toman Is departing
this evening for Sedalia, Missouri,
where he will resume his work at the
Missouri Pacific shops.
ATTEND BAPTISM
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Egenberger
were in Omaha Sunday, going up for
the baptism of the baby boy of Dr.
and Mrs. J. S. Egenberger. The boy
has been named John Louis.
BASKET DINNER
A basket dinner will be held at
the Murray Christian church, Sun-:
day, October 23, at noon. Program
will be given in the afternoon.
o20-lt sw
Golden Wedding
of Cass County
Couple Observed
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wilson of Mur
ray Hold Open House to Large
Group of Friends Sunday.
Sunday the home of Mr. and Mrs.
J. A. Wilson at Murray was the
scene of a vffry pleasant event that
of the golden wedding anniversary
of this estimable couple who have
spent so many years of their wedded
life in Cass county.
John Absolum Wilson and Martha
Elizabeth Cover were married on
October 14. 1888, at the home of the
parents of the bride In Hickory coun
ty, Missouri. Mr. Wilson was the son
of John T. Wilson and Emma Wil
son, his bride a daughter of Fount
and Cyerena Gover.
They made their home in Mis
souri for some years after their mar
riage and later came to Nebraska to
reside in the vicinity of Rock Bluffs
until they came to Murray to make
their home.
There were twelve children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, eleven of
whom have lived to honor the golden
wedding of the parents, one child
dying in infancy. The children liv
ing are James Albert Wilson, Union;
Fountain T. Wilson, Murray; Heze-J
kiah Wilson, Craig, Colorado; Rena
Crumps, Seiking, Oklahoma; Dare
B. Wilson, Sedgwick, Kansas; Wayne
W. Wilson. Ohio, Missouri; Emma
Wilson. Omaha; Levi E. Wilson, Dun
bar; Mary Beins, Murray; Nora
Johnson, Omaha; Anna Pearl Beins,
Plattsmouth. There are also forty
five grandchildren and five great
grandchildren. ; , '' "
The Wilson home at Murray was
filled fron$ 2 o'clock -Sunday ..after
noon by the--relatives, and friends
calling to pay their respects to this
fine couple and in honor of the event
many remembrances were presented
them. Mrs. Levi Wilson, a daughter-in-law,
presented them with a hand
some three tier, five pound angle
food wedding cake which was decor
ated with the tiny bride and groom,
while the Omar company gave them
a handsome ten pound cake that was
fittingly arranged in keeping with
the spirit of the occasion. '
Throughout the rooms there was
a profusion of the fall' flowers to add
their beauty to the scene.
Miss Mildred Wilson, a grand
daughter, was In charge of the guest
book and assisted in the reception
of the guests.
HERE FROM THE WEST
From Tuesday's Daily
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Richardson
and lltle daughter, Ardeth Ann, with
Floyd Richardson; father of- Robert,
arrived this morning from the west
coast. They have been making their
home in Oregon and California for
the past year, but are now planning
on locating here. Mrs. Richardson
was formerly Miss Olive Sylvester,
daughter of Sheriff and Mrs. Homer
Sylvester.
TO ATTEND CONVENTION
Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Taenzler and
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Graves departed
Sunday for Denver where they ( will
attend the international convention
of the Disciples of Christ. This meet
ing will bring together many of the
leading figures of the Christian
church and many hundreds are ex
pected to be in attendance. They
plan on returning Saturday.
UNDERGOES APPENDECTOMY
Monday at the Clarkson hospital
in Omaha, . Otto Meisinger, well
known resident of the community,
was operated on for appendicitis with
which he was suddently stricken
Sunday. The patient is reported as
rallying in excellent shape and it is
hoped will soon be definitely on the
highway to recovery.
HERE FROM LINCOLN
Mrs. Charles Ingrim . and daugh
ter, Frances and Miss Lydia Pautsh,
of Louisville, were here Saturday to
visit friends and look after some
trading. While here Miss Pautsch
called at the Journal to renew her
subscription.
MRS. GABELMAN CRITICALLY ILL
From Tuesday's Dally
Mrs. Edward Gabelman, taken 'to
Omaha Sunday for treatment at the
Clarkson hospital, was in critical
condition there last night and this
morning. She is suffering from pneu
monia and it has been necessary to
keep her under an oxygen tent to
try and give her relief. Mr. Gabel
man with Mr. and Mrs. Cass Sylves
ter and Mrs- John Jordan, were at
Omaha Monday afternoon and eve
ning to be near the patient.
County Farm
Bureau Long an
Aid in County
Matter of Continuance of Appropria
tion by County to Be Voted on
at November Election.
Next month at the general elec
tion several counties in Nebraska
will vote whether or not they will
continue to support a county farm
bureau by taxation. Cass county is
one of them.
County agents have had a part in
making Nebraska better place to
live by their extensive programs.
Counties where there has been an
agent for several years stand out
above the others- The young people
are more progressive as a result of
4-H training. The homes look more
attractive. There are more wind
breaks, and the farmers and farm
home-makers are more progressive
and will be more prosperous when
weather and moisture conditions re
turn to normal.
With abnormal weather and crop J
conditions the past few years, and
with drouth,, grasshoppers, sleeping
sickness t in hqrses, .. hogs sick , and
dying, and hundreds of other discour
agements to face, it is no wonder
that farmers feel they have had j
more than their share of hard luck. J
This unrest is reflected in business.
big and little, everywhere. However
1,000 women enrolled In ex
tension project and study clubs, 525 !
4-K club boys and girls, and a sim
ilar number of progressive farmers
in Cass pounty, are willing and ready
to put forth the effort and work
they take pleasure in doing, for edu
cational purposes, through the Farm
Bureau.
The appropriation made annually
from the county general fund for
support of the Cass County Farm
Bureau is $2,800. The tax assess
ment apounts to 8c per $1,000
valuation paid by town people and
farmers alike. On the average quar
ter section It would amount to prob
ably eighty cents, depending on the
total assessed valuation. Even if
the Farm Bureau were voted out.
you will not notice any appreciable
deduction on your taxes, especially
since the tax levy has already been
made for next year.
The Itemized statement of expendi
tures of the entire $2,800 appro
priated to support of the Farm Bu
reau is on file in the court house
and the records are available for
public inspection. The $2,800 is used
strictly for maintaining the Farm
Bureau which is the sponsoring body
for agricultural extension work di
rected by the state extension service
of the college of agriculture and the
United States department of agricul
ture.' For twenty years it has been
a permanent educational Institution
organized for the promotion of better
practices and methods in agriculture
and homemaking and was firmly es
tablished before the creation of the
A. C. P., S. C. S.j F. S. A., ana otner
federal programs which were created
by acts of congress in recent years
It is well to remember that every
man and woman voter in the county
may vote on this question, "Shall
an appropriation be made annually
from the general fund of the county
for the support of Agricultural Ex
tension work?" at the November elec
tion. This includes town people as
well as rural people. It is up to every
citizen of tho county to help decide
whether or not we shall continue to
give assistance to 4-H clubs, women's
project clubs, and educational work
along other lines such as livestock
improvement. bindweed control,
grasshopper control, disease control,
poultry work, tree planting, land
scaping and home beautlflcatlon.
Sunday School
Convention Has
a Large Crowd
Unusually Fine Program Arranged
for Afternoon and Evening Sss
sions Officers Re-elected.
The Cass county Sunday school
convention which met at Mynard for
an all day and evening session on
Tuesday was a decided success in
every particular. A few more than
two hundred registered during the
day and evening and the program
was enthusiastically received by all
who attended.
The morning session was taken up
largely by music, group discussions.
devotions and regular routine activ
ities, but was climaxed by an excel
lent, inspirational address by Miss
Flsie Wik. secretary of the State
Council of Religious Education. Miss
Wik demonstrated to all that the of
fice of state secretary Is well filled
and able to give definite, modern sug
gestions for the help of those en
gaged in Christian educational work.
The nominating committee brought
n a report nominating the officers
of last year for re-election and by
motion and the unanimous vote of
the convention the following were
elected: J. Howard Davis, Platts
mouth, president; E. N. Ahl, Louis
ville, vice-president and Mrs. Evelyn
Franke, Cedar Creek, secretary-treasurer.
The noon hour was a pleasant fea
ture of the convention at which
time the ladies of the Mynard church
provided one of their typical fried
chicken dinners with all the trim
mings. The afternoon program presented
nlore Interesting discussions, group
singing and special musical numbers
apd featured two fine addresses that
were an inspiration and challenge to
all who heard them. The first ad
dress was presented by Milo Price
of the Plattsmouth city schools and
in his consideration of his subject
of "The Christian Birthright of Am
ericanism" he brought a message
that deserved and received the high
est commendation from those who
heard him.
The afternoon address entitled
'Christian Adventurers Today," by
Miss Elsie Wik, proved to be an
other feature of unusual quality.
Miss Wik is a young woman with a
wealth of enthusiasm and training
in her field of work and her mes
sage was well received and greatly
appreciated by her listeners.
The evening session brought an
other good attendance and present
ed two entertaining and Inspiratolnal
features. The first feature was a
musical group presenting David Fow
ler in three violin selections and
the Plattsmouth Masonic quartet in
two fine numbers. The quartet was
composed of Frank Cloidt, R. C. Cook,
H. G. McClusky and R. W. Knorr
with E. H. Wescott as accompanist.
Mrs. L. S. Devoe accompanied Mr.
Fowler.
Following the musical numbers
the address of the evening was de
livered by Rev. J. C. Lowson, pastor
of the Plattsmouth Methodist church,
who took as his topic the theme of
the convention, "Mending Their
Nets." - Rev. Lowson very ably pr
sented his remarks and closed the
convention by leaving a wealth of
food for thought in the minds of his
audience.
Thanks to the agreeable weather
and the generous hospitality of the
Mynard church and its members the
convention was a decided success.
The convention next year will be at
the Methodist church in Louisville
and it is hoped arrangements can be
made for a county Sunday school pic
nic some time early next summer.
RETURNS FROM VACATION
Mrs- R. Y. Buchanan nas Just re
turned home from a very pleasant
outing that has taken her through
the scenic portion of southern Mis
souri and the Ozark foothills. She
had the pleasure of a visit at the
Lake of the Ozarks, one of the largest
lakes in the middle west and a popu
lar resort, as well as at Kansas City
with old friends. The crop condi
tion in Missouri this year has been
exceptionally good and some of the
best corn In the west has been raised
I there.