ttebr. Sfefe Zktcriczl Society
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Vol. No. LV
PLATTSJIOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1939.
NO. 35
Captain Frank
Morgan Dies in
Arkansas Home
Member of. Family One Time Resi
dents Here Where He Had First
Taste of River Life.
With the death of Captain Frank
A. Morgan, veteran riverman, at Lit
tle Rock, Arkansas, on April 4th,
there passed one of the long time
river figures along the Missouri, Mis
sissippi and Arkansas rivers.
Captain Morgan was one of the
last of his family and now of the
Miles W. Morgan and Ransom I.
Morgan children, there is but one
now living, Mrs. C. L. Holt of 1017
East Eighth street, Little Rock. The
Miles Morgan children passed with
the death of Mrs. Jeanette Atkinson
Dn April 2Cth and the family of the
older brother is now left in the one
daughter.
The following from the Arkansas
Cazette, tells of the life of Captain
Morgan and days of life on the roll
ing waters of the great rivers:
For more than 50 years Capt.
Frank Morgan operated packets and
ferries on the Arkansas, White.
Fourche la Fave. Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. He witnessed the
development of river navigation from
the days when wood-fired river boats
competed sharply with each other,
serving planters, merchants, manu
facturers and travelers. He witnessed
the decline of river navigation,
Drought on the march of civilization
.vhich destroyed the forests and plow
d the land, so that floods and rains
filled the river with silt. " But even
before navigation was hampered on
waterways unprotected by costly en
gineering, shippers preferred the
quicker transportation facilities of
fered by railroads.
When river traffic declined. Cap
tain Morgan sold his boat and went
to work on a government snagboat,
from which he retired nine years
igo. But retirement offered no satis
faction. Having been a riverman
?Ince he was a small boy helping
his father on ferries and packets, he
was lost without the steamboat's
whistle in his ears and the marshy
smell of the river in his nostrils.
"He was glad to die at 76." said
his sister. Mrs. C. L. Holt. 1007 East
Eighth Btreet. with whom he made
his home. "It almost broke his heart
to see the end of the river packet
days. And I guess it almost breaks
mine. too. Sometimes I catch myself
half listening for the blast of a steam
boat's whistle. I have river water in
my blood, too. and can never forget
that I'm the daughter of a river cap
tain." When Mrs. Holt was a small girl at
Plattsmouth. Neb., her father and
her three brothers operated the ferry
across the Missouri river. Frank was
the elder of the children, and helped
his father almost as soon as he could
walk. His brother, Charles and
David, started life as rivermen. but
later forsook their father's calling
for other trades. Only Frank remain
ed a riverman to the end.
The ferry operated by R. D. Mor
gan, their father, was an old cable
boat which crossed the river on a
cable stretched from bank to bank
after it had been given a start with a
long pole pushed against the bank.
The western trek was at its peak
then and covered wagons frequently
were ferried across the Missouri. The
tharge for a covered wagon was a
dollar, which was considered real
money in those days.
"We children watched for the cov
ered wagons," Mrs. Holt said. "When
we saw one go down to the ferry,
we'd always shout happily: "There
goes another dollar for father!' In
dians often traveled in covered wag
ons, using them to come to Platts
mouth to trade. Some were good
farmers, and brought in produce, furs
and other things. We children were
so afraid of them that when we
paw them cross the river on a ferry
nothing could induce us to go into
town that day."
R. D. Morgan and his boys saved
their money against the day when
they could buy a river packet and
move to a warmer clime. At Platts
mouth the Missouri was frozen over
for three months every winter, which
cut deeply Into the earnings of a
boatman.
"We had one great thrill at Platts
mouth that none of us ever forgot,"
said Mrs. Holt. "That was the time
when the Ringling Brothers circus
crossed on father's ferry. One of the
brothers was greatly upset because
he was sure that father and Frank
never could get them across in time
for the parade. Trying to pacify Mr.
Ringling. rather bet a hat that he
would get them across down to the
last big elephant. Mr. Ringling took
him up. and father won a fine hat."
In 18S7 the elder Morgan and his
family moved to Lewiaburg, Ark.,
which in those days was an important
river town. It was the focal point of
much trading and traveling. Three j
year later Mr. Morgan was able to j
buy his first packet, which he named j
the Mary Morgan, In honor of his
wife. He moved his family to Little
Rock, were he and his three sons
prc-spered. The wealthy planters up
and down the Arkansas river liked to
freight their cotton and cottonseed
on the Mary Morgan because it was a
fine, well-kept boat for its day. A
second boat was bought, the New
Mary Morgan. Frank Morgan was
a part owner in both boats.
There the father died and Frank
became the head of the family. He
took his position seriously, and work
ed as hard as though his younger
brothers and sisters were his own
children. He never took time off for
nleasure. And he never married. "I
didn't have time for courting,"
used to say.
he
Scout Camporee
Draws Small but
Diligent Group
Second Annual Camporee of Arbor
lodge Area Held at Camp Wheel
er South of This City.
That's just what the second an
nual Campcree, Boy Scouts of Amer
ica, Arbor Lodge district, held Thurs
aay and Friday at Camp Wheeler
proved to be.
Scventv-fivo Scouts, with fifteen
Fcouters, soent these two days get
ting into camp, pitching their tents.
carrying out a program designed to
cultivate a rpirit of set. -reliance, in
itial ive, good sportsmanship and gen
cral Scouti.fr education. American
Legion troop No. 364 of Plattsmouth.
Bavir.ond Larson. Sj i:tmaster. was
tins, to the visitors, and did what
they could to make their stay pleas
ant and profitable.
The camp-site at "Wheeler" is an
ideal place for such an activity and
was soon transformed into a little
tented village, vibrant with the en
thusiasm of youth. The purpose be
ing, to direct tnis energy, so tnat u
may translate into an actual exper
ience the three objectives of Scout
ing, i.e. "Be Prepared." "Character
Building" and "Citizenship Train
ing." The Campfire at eight o'clock
Thursday night was marked by brief
ceremonials, and an interesting and
amusing contest among the troops to
produce the best yell, song and stunt.
These all were original, entertain
ing and provoked much merriment
imong the boys. This program lasted
until nearly the hour for "taps,"
when the camp became "quiet" (?)
for a long night's rest (?).
From six until eleven o'clock Fri
day morning the several patrols of
the camp engaged in contests of var
ious sorts calling for Scout skill, en
durance and exactness. The judges
for these tests were Messrs. J. II.
Davis, Rev. J. W. Taenzler and Geo.
Dobson, and they also assisted Dr.
R. P. We3tover in the First Aid dem
onstrations. The morning and noon
meals were judged by the Cornhus
ker Council executive, W. V. Elliott,
who acted as general director and
authority during the camp. The
boys had some REAL hunters stew,
corn bread, fried eggs, rice pudding,
and flapjacks. Their mothers might
have thought that they were most
fearfully and wonderfully made but
they tasted good to hungry boys.
The local patrols who represented
the troop, as hoBts, were led by Tom
Solomon and Corbin Davis. Older
Scouts assisting were James Sandin,
James Webb and John Rishel. For
other very necessary help including
transportation, the troop is indebted
to Dow Armstrong, Mayor Lushinsky,
H. L. Gayer, Russell Hackenberg,
Plattsmouth Creamery, Rev. J. C.
Lowson, Ed Ofe, John Turner, Iowa
Nebraska Light & Power Co., Steph
en Davis and the Bintner family, who
each year have kindly furnished the
camp with drinking water.
The boys left camp Friday after
noon in a happy frame of mind, glad
for Camp Wheeler, those who made
it possible, and those who are con
tributing to the activities of the
trocp and their friends who upon oc
casions find it so necessary and use
ul. The American Legion committee
who sponsor troop No. 364 and carry
the responsibilities of its activities
are: E. A. Webb, chairman; Fred
Lugsch. treasurer; Ed Ofe, traffic
manager; J. A. Cap well, patrol , di
rector; Hi.. Wescott, advancement
director.
River navigation will open up a
new industrial field In the smaller
Nebraska river towns.
Socony Vacuum
Gas Convoy on
First Voyage
History Making Incident as Gigantic
Tank Barges Reach Plattsmouth
Dock This Morning.
From Friday's Lany
This morning shortly after 10
o'clock an history making event took
place at the Plattsmouth Missouri
river dock when the first commercial
transport anchored off the dock on
its maiden voyage on the river now
made navigable.
The gigantic gas barges of the
Socony Vacuum Co., of Kansas City,
arrived here promptly on time en
route to Omaha where tanks are
arranged in the new industrial cen
ter for the storage of their cargo of
gasoline, making the first comnier
cial shipment since the long ago on
the old Muddy.
Mr. McReynolds, of the Kansas
City, Missouri, offices of the company
was here with J. K. Durfee. the
Omaha manager of the company, as
well as E. G.. William and Carl Ofe,
local representatives of the oil cor
poration, boarded the Kansas City
Socony. which was towing the cargo
northward on the maiden voyage.
The local party met on the boat
N J. Plyment, head of the operations
of the marine equipment of the oil
company, with headquarters at New
York, and C. E. Heyl, also of New
York, chief of operations of all
coastal end inland waterway oper
ations of the company.
The oil company officials were
very gracious to the group of prob
ably a hundred persons who had
assembled at the dock and they were
invited to visit and look over the
Kansas City Socony.
The boat is a beauty In point of
construction, with her sister ship, the
St. Louis Socony, having made tripB
up the Mississippi river to St. Paul
and is now starting the first of the
trips north on the Missouri river.
The boat carries a crew of some
fifteen and tows the two large steel
tank barges which have a capacity
of 400,000 gallons of gasoline or the
equivalent of fifty railroad cars.
Two of the committee that had
helped secure the local dock, T. H.
Pollock and E. J. Richey were at
the dock when the boat arrived and
it was regretted that A. L. Tidd, who
had worked so hard in the dock
project was not able to be present
when the craft arrived.
The Socony company is planning
four or more trips this season on
the river with their transports and
planning on making these trips a
regular part of the program in 1940.
The transport as it swept under
the bridges over the Missouri river
gave warning of its presence and
soon along the green vendured bank
of the stream was seen the towering
structure of the deep red hued Kansas
City Socony and her large barges
that she was pushing up against the
current of the stream. As the boat
drew nearer the dock the sing song
calls of the leadmen were heard as
they sounded the course of the large
boat and soon it was swinging up
to the dock and where it was tied to
i large barge and the bank for the
time it remained h--re.
This is the first commercial carry
ing freight craft that has come up
the Missouri river since the eighties
when the river traffic that had dom
inated the picture in the western
country gave way to the other means
of transportation and shipping. The
coming of the new navigation offers
a union of rail and water transpor
tation that promises much for the
future of the west and for the grow
ing volume of business for both water
and rail.
A few of those who were at the
dock and boarded the boat were re
minded of the days when the Bteam
boat on the river both as the means
of freight and passenger carrying was
a familiar sight.
The Kansas City Socony made a
stop here of something over an hour
and then cast off for the last lap of
their journey that will bring them
to their destination at Omaha.
Officers of the boat stated that the
trip was made in excellent shape and
the river found to be in fine shape
for transportation from Kansas City
to this port,' well marked for the
channel, they coming through with
out accident or delay from tieups on
the river.
LOCAL STOCK ON MARKET
CHICAGO, June 1 (UP) Boe
dtker and Cottingham, Cass county
stockmen, who farm near Murray,
marketed two loads of heavy steers in
the opening week trade at the Chi
cago stock yards.
One drove averaged 130S pounds
and the other 1297 pounds per head
and both sold at 510. 3i per cwt.
Mr. Boedeker, well known banker
and cattleman, accompanied the ship
ment to look after the sale.
Fidac Costume
Party for Legion
and Auxiliary
Year-End Get Together of the Two,pjCtures shown depicting the work of
Organizations Friday Evening
with a Special Program
June year-end month in Ameri
can Legion and American Legion
Auxiliary circles brings another
get-together opportunity for members
of these organizations and their fam
ilies before the present Commander
and President complete their respec
tive second years in office. In July
new officers, to be elected soon, will
take up their duties.
Jund is also the month set apart
for Fidac (Federation Interalliee des
Anciens Combattants) observance a
tribute to all the allied nations In the
World War, and Mrs. Lora Lloyd j tuat ouly two fatalities occurred dur
Kieck, Auxiliary Fidac chairman, isjjng tne year, a record to be proud
arranging a special costume Firac'of
program for the occasion, in which
those taking part will be garbed in
Roumanian attire, since Roumania is
the nation set apart this year to be
especially honored.
The allied nations are Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, now extinct, France,
Great Britain, Creece, Italy, Poland,
Portugal. Roumania ami Yugoslavia.
A set of Fidac flags purchased by
the Auxiliary last year will be dis
played.
The program, to be held at the
American Legion building Friday
evening. June 9. will be preceded by
a covered dish luncheon at 6:30, and
followed by card games.
Members and their families are
invited to attend and bring a covered
dish, together with enough bread
and butter sandwiches for their re
spective families.
Bachelor members are not ask to
bring edibles, but are being solicited
for cash contributions to pay for
prizes for the card games.
In the notices being sent out, it
is requested (but not necessary) that
the members come attired in the
garb of some of the allied nations in
order to make it a real costume af
fair. The Program
The program will take place at 8
o'clock, lasting about an hour, it
will include:
Gypsy Juartet, Schafer Sisters.
Roumanian Dance, Sturm Child
ren.
Duet, "In Roumania." Marjorie
Devoe and Dorothy Cappell.
Hor'a Dance, by six boys and six
girls, sons and daughters of Legion
and Legion Auxiliary members: Don
Webb, Tom Marshall. Dick Duxbury,
Billy Capper, Robert Cappell, Bill
Kieck. Marilyn Lutz, Alice Grado-
ville. Margaret Heineman. Marilyn
Kieck, Mary Jo Rebal and Mary Lou
Walling.
Address, by R. O. Samuelson, of
Omaha.
Accordian Solo, Fred Koehler.'
Surprise Number arranged by
Legionnaire L. S. Devoe.
As stated, all those appearing on
the program will appear in native
Roumanian costume.
Mrs. Kieck has been busy the past
week conducting rehearsals of the
Hora Dance, featured each Sunday
in Roumania.
All members of the Legion or the
Legion Auxiliary and their families
are invited to be present for the cov
ered dish luncheon, program and
card games.
LEAVES FOR PERU
Miss Alice Mae Campbell, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Campbell,
will attend the summer session at
the Peru Normal. Miss Campbell has
been teaching District No. 8 for the
past year, to which she will again re
turn this fall.
Cass County
Red Cross Has
Annual Meeting
.
Fine Showing for the Year in All
Activities Reported Officers
Are All Re-elected.
The Cass county chapter of the
American Red Cross met for their
annual meeting Thursday evening
at the First Methodist church in this
city. Five towns, Murdock, Louis
ville. Union. Weenins: Water, and
Plattsmouth were represented this
year. A large amount of business was
transacted during the course of the
evening, this being followed by a
short program which consisted of
the American Red Cross Nurse,
i Rev. J. C. Lowson, pastor of the
church, gave the invocation. Miss
Augusta Robb, 1938 chairman of the
organization, presided at the general
session. Committee reports was the
general theme of the eveuing'3 meet
ing. Mrs. Ray Nor r is of Weeping Water,
chairman of the first aid and life
saving submitted an interesting re
port telling of the various work that
her department did in 193S. Forty
six new life savers, besides the thir
teen in Otoe county, were formed in
Cass county. One of the most edify
ing statements of her report was
Judge A. II. Duxbury, chairman of
the home service department, was
called upon and presented his report
covering the year from June 25, 1938
to June 1. 1939. Mr. Duxbury also
introduced a distinguished guest of
the organization, George P. Skill
stadt, director of the first Nebraska
district of the American Red Cross.
He described the purpose and work
of the home service department, es
pecially the veteran welfare work In
which he is vitally interested. He
commended Judge Duxbury on the
splendid work and effort that he has
made in the past years in caring and
looking for the financial need of these
veterans, those unable to help them
selves. Mrs. Henry Tool, the chapter's secretary-treasurer
of Murdock, was
present and submitted a financial re
port of the Cass county chapter. A
report of the Plattsmouth branch was
given, this report showing the fol
lowing figures:
Balance, 1938 $440.66
Receipts, 1938-39 155.15
$595.15
Disbursements 155.80
Balance. June 1. 1939 $440.01
Henry A. Schneider, is treasurer of
the Plattsmouth branch of the local
organization.
Election of the officers for the
coming year of 1939-40 was held dur
ing the evening. The result of the
election was that all of the present
officers were re-elected to serve an
other year in their usual successful
manner.
The officers chosen to head the
organization are: Chairman, Miss
Augusta Robb of Union;, vice-chairman,
Elmer Sundstrom of Platts
mouth; secretary - treasurer, Mrs.
Henry Tool of Murdock.
Miss Robb presented the guest
speaker of the evening, George Blase,
the field representative from the na
tional office of St. Louis. Mr. Blase
commenced his address by starting
with the history of the Red Cross.
It wasn't until 1859 that a young
Swiss founded the International Red
Cress. He was visiting in Italy in
which there was a battle between the
French and Italians. He attracted so
much attention to the treatment of
war. that he thought something must
be done to remedy this situation.
In 1862 this session met, and it
wasn't .until 1863 that a group of
delegates from this country were in
vited to attend the conference.
Miss Clara Barton was the person
behind the Red Cross in America and
in 1870, while visiting In Europe,
she was able to see the Red Cross
in operation. In 1881 she made ar
rangements for congress to pass a
bill to establish a Red Cross In Amer
ica. Due to President Garfield's sud
den assassination, he being unable
to sign the bill after it was passed,
it was prolonged until 1882 when
Vice-President Arthur signed the
j bill. A few days later congress con
firmed it without a dissenting vote.
Therefore, Clara Barton served as
the first president of the American
Red Cross and remained so for about
eighteen or nineteen years.
The Plattsmouth branch of the Red
Cross was formed during the World
war and since that time has been a
very active branch.
Sixty-two countries are classed in
the International Red Cross organ
ization with 17,000 branches.
Mr. Blase's talk proved very in
teresting and helpful to his audience.
Following the business session,
County Judge A. H. Duxbury showed
pictures of the work and purpose of
the American Red Cross nurse. The
film showed the many difficulties
that a nurse faces in her line of
work and the many hardships that
she must endure. But, nevertheless,
she goes on bravely carrying out
her part of the job that is so neces
sary at times.
At a late hour, the meeting was ad
journed, a great deal of business be
ing completed during the evening
Upon the invitation of the Louis
ville branch, the Cass county char
ter will meet in that city In 1940.
Local Group at
State C. D. of A.
Meet at Columbus
Large Attendance and Local Girls on
Program Visit at Power Plant
of Loup District.
The state convention of the Cath
olic Daughters of America, one of
the most successful in the history of
the order was held at Columbus Sat
urday and Sunday at the Hotel
Evans.
Miss Marie E. Siren, of Hastings,
dtate regent, was the presiding offi
cer" over the convention which
brought representatives from courts
over the state.
Miss Veronica O'Connor, one of
the best known leaders of the order
in the state, was present, being a
national director of the order, and
who had a large part on the pro
gram. Miss Frances Maher, of Kane,
Pennsylvania, grand vice-regent, was
also one of the highlights of the two
day program.
The convention was closed by the
banquet at which Rev. Paul Waldron,
of the St. Cplumbian's mission was
the chief speaker.
Two Plattsmouth girls, Shirley
Walling and Delores Cradoville, were
heard on the program, Shirley In a
reading and Delores in a flute solo.
Mrs. Dinah Bennett, local regent,
was a member of the committee on
credentials and also chairman of the
tellers.
Attending the meeting was Mrs.
E. A. Webb, vice-regent of the local
council and Mrs. E. G. Ruffner.
While at Columbus the local ladies
had a pleasant treat afforded them,
that of a visit to the plant of the
Loup river power district, near Co
lumbus. Here the large turbines and
other machines for the manufacture
of electric current and power were
being operated and the visitprs were
very much impressed by the great
plant, one that is now seeking to
3irpp!y a large part of eastern Ne
braska communities with electric
energy.
The Plattsmouth party were driven
to and from Columbus by Charles
Bennett.
-HAVE RELATIVES HERE
The home of Mr. and Mrs. M. E.
Buttery on North 10th street, was
the scene of a very pleasant party
this week when relatives and friends
were here to spend the holiday at this
hospitable home. Those in the group
included Mr. and Mrs. George Cun
ningham and son, and Miss Sexton,
all of Shenandoah, Iowa; Mrs. J. H.
Teegarden and daughter-in-law, Mrs.
Roland Teegarden, of Brock, Mr. and
Mrs. Turner Tefft, of Omaha.
AN APPRECIATION
We wish to express our deep ap
preciation of the many acts of kind
ness shown us In the time of the
death of our beloved son and
brother, for the sympathy expressed
by the friends, which served to bring
us comfort. Mrs. Hazel McClain,
Charles McClain.
D. 0. Dwyer
Member Cass Co.
Bar Fifty Years
Came to Nebraska When a Youth, Has
Spent Greater Part of Lifetime
in Legal Profession.
From Saturday' Daily
Monday will mark the fiftieth an
niversary of the admission to the bar
of one of the best known members
of the legal profession in the state.
Attorney D. O. Dwyer, who on June
5, 1889, was duly received and made
a member of the Cass county bar. At
that time the bar of the county em
braced a group that in later years
made legal history by their great
work both at the bar and on the
bench. The committee that gave Its
approval of Mr. Dwyer as a lawyer
comprised Byron Clark, later general
solicitor of the Burlington railroad;
Jesse L. Root, who later was Ftate
senator, county attorney, justice of
the supreme court and attorney for
the Burlington; B. S. Ramsey, later
county and district Judge; A. N.
Sullivan, long a brilliant figure at the
bar and Allen Beeson.
Mr. Dwyer, who was born and
reared on a farm in Michigan, re
ceived his education in the schools of
that state and later studied at the
University of Michigan. In 1886 he
was advised by a former class mate
that a teaching position was avail
able "way out west" in Nebrawka, Mr.
Dwyer accepting the suggestion and
came west, teaching for a term in a
school in the west part of Cass coun
ty, near Ashland, he coming here In
18S6. Replenishing his finances by
teaching Mr. Dwyer returned to Mich
igan to complete his work and was
graduated from the university at
Ann Arbor.
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Dwyer re
turned to Nebraska and once more
took up teaching as a vocation and
served one term as a teacher in the
school at what is now Union. At that
time there was another young man,
Paul Jessen, of Nebraska City, later
to be a district judge and long a
brilliant member of the Otoe county
bar, teaching at the same school.
After his school work was com
pleted Mr. Dwyer started active prac
tice of law and at which he has been
most successful and a leading figure
throughout the state. Early in 1890
Mr. Dwyer became a member of a firm
of young lawyers, comprising him
self. Henry Guy Livingston and
Thomas Walling, which partnership
continued for some two years, later
Mr. Dwyer embarking in business for
himself as did his partners. Mr.
Livingston also maintained an office
until the Spanish-American war
when he enlisted and was killed In
the Philippine insurrection, while
Mr. Walling embarked in the abstract
business at which he was very suc
cessful. Of the members of the bar at the
time of his admission, Mr. Dwyer is
the last of the strong group of at
torneys and among which was num
bered Matthew Gerlng, brilliant crim
inal lawer of more than two decades.
In his long service Mr. Dwyer has
had a large practice in local, state
and federal courts and has for many
years been a member of the American
Bar association.
Mr. Dwyer at this time is engaged
in the practice of law with his wife,
W. L. Dwyer as a partner and col
league in the profession in which
both have shown their great ability.
Aside from his legal work Mr.
Dwyer has been since his advent
here, a leader in the democratic party
and was a close friend and con
temporary of William Jennings
Bryan, from the first days of the
Commoner In Nebraska to his death.
ACCIDENT TO FOOT
Miss Betty Taenzler, three-year-
old daughter of Rev. and Mrs. J. W.
Taenzler, suffered a severe Injury to
her right foot Memorial day at the
Glenwood cemetery in Glenwood,
Iowa. The exact cause of the accident
has not btn determined, but as a
result she suffered a broken blood
vessel and bruised her ankle consid
erably.
Catholic Daughter Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, June 7, from 5 p. m. on.
at Bates Bldg.. corner 4th and Main.
Ice Cream, home made Cake, 15f.
J3, J6 dy; J5 sw
