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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1955)
ir on D by DONALD BECKMAN doctor uonwen was one of he very earliest doctor's on the wild western frontier, serving on the "cut-off" trail which came across the Missouri River Valley and joined the Oregon Trail farther out in Nebraska. . The doctor never went out to where the big Indian battles were being fought, but stayed in the east which was now as unruly as the Missouri on the rampage. Nevertheless, she heard about the wars from the Overland Stage Drivers and the Pony Express Drivers who made regular trips right into the heart of the bloody battle grounds. She also heard much from the soldiers who returned to their homes after each up rising. The Conwell company was made up of two covered wagons, three people, and four oxen, two for each of the wagons. One of the covered wagons housed the living supplies such as the bed rolls, cooking utensils, all of the clothes, and the stove. The other wagon was the one where the many bottles of medicine were kept. It was called a trav eling drug store. The doctor and her hus band gathered all of the herbs (pronounced erbs) and made the medicine themselves. They believed there was no disease that a good hot cup of sassafras and some peppermint or cat-nip couldn't cure. When the doctor was called on to go to a homestead where fl W NOTES Wc Keep Watches fir Clocks On the Go Grove Jewelry 601 Main Dial 228 there was a bad disease, she stayed until the patient was cured or killed. She never left until she had tried out all of ner many, many remedies. rney picked and gathered their herbs by the way thev smelled. Their medicines weren't mixed accurately either, just some of this and some of that and it would cure any known disease. In those days cancer was un heard of as was polio and a few more of our modern day dis eases. Doctor Conwell said that most of the diseases were caused by the food they ate and the water they drank. If she were alive and practicing today she might say the same was the cause of today's sicknesses. In those days the 'people raised everything they ate. They butchered all of their own meat, too. Then, a disease was very uncommon. The doctor and her family survived on the donations of the homesteaders given them for their service. In order to save their food they paid their visits to the homesteads early in the morning, mid-day, or late evening. They never called inbetween unless they were asked to, then they were invited to stay for dinner. Any way, it was as close to meal time as she could make it hoping she wouldn't be too early, they'd wait until she had gone, or too late, but right on time. It got so that she knew exactly when everyone in her territory ate and she, with her family, always arrived at meal time right on the nose. They changed off everytime so no one would catch on to her sly scheme. One day, just at noon, she pulled up to the door of one of the homesteads just as the family were beginning to eat there in the "Lean-to." The lady heard a knock on the door and went to see who it was. As she opened the door she met Mrs. Cromwell. They had eaten with them several times before so she - invited them in. Then she noticed one extra wagon. "Who's waon is that she asked?" Oh! said Mrs. Conwell. That is my son John and his wife and children. They can star, too." : ; ' They all stayed but when they left they were told to let them know ahead when tney wouia be dropping by for dinner so that the lady could have enough to eat for all. The Conwell 's never had a home like everyone else, they called their covered wagon their home. They wandered here and there all summer long on the prairie delivering medi cine and taking care of the sick homesteaders. They traveled all summer long, not quitting until the snows of winter when it got too cold to travel around in a wagon. V The doctor wasn't paid in dol lars and cents, but the people paid them in pounds and ounces. Once in a while she took money to buy food, not offered at the homesteads, and for clothes and shoes. In the winter time they lived in a little cabin or with their son. In summer time they were always moving on the trail with their medicine. It was in the spring of 1868. The sun blazed down on the covered wagons of the Conwell Company. As yet the trail wasn't very plain as it wasn't often traveled, but it was get ting more plain as the seasons went by. Since the new land had been opened long lines of wagons were seen moving lazily along the banks of the Platte River in search of the rich land of the new west. The wind had dried the ground made wet by the melted snow. The new layer of green grass was already beginning to cover the prairie, and the golden rod was coming. up, promising to burst in; bloom before to many more days of warm sunshine. The Conwell wagons moved slowly along on their endless journey that T would end when the prairie grass died and the first snow r of the next, winter would cover the western world. By that time (the Con well's ex pected to have sold much of their homemade medicine. As they slowly journeyed alcng, Dr. Conwell looked down the trail and . saw a tiny black speck in the far, far distance. She thought to herself that she might just be seeing things as she sometimes did. when she looked far away. She kept her eye on it but didn't tell her hus band because he would stop and run for the Winchester and maybe kill a perfectly innocent person. You had to be on the alert constantly on the prairie because there were still so many Indians raiding wagons homes now days. The spot could be an Indian, she thought. Or, it could even be a dog. Finally she did tell Mr. Conwell to stop until they found out what it was wrong with him, acting as if it was just a stomach flu, the kind that only hot sassafras and pep permint can cure. She doctored the boy day and night for several weeks. It was during one night that James turned dark blue. He began to and cough and breathe hard. The doctor knew his throat was go ing shut. She opened the boys mouth and his throat a dark yellow, had almost gone shut. This was something she didn't know any As it came closer thev could 9 thing about but she still doc- see that it was a lone horseman Itored him. riding hard toward them. They She went to her wagon and recognized the figure as that of got some very strong liquid Mr. Judson, one of their best 4 which was hotter than fire and customers who lived far south f then painted the boys throat on the prairie. Mr. Judson f with this while his father held milled un beside the wagons i bis mouth open. It opened his - . . . ' V i. l-.-i. J THE PLATTS MOUTH, NEBRASKA, SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL Thursday, September 8, 1955 Section B PAGE ONE and the doctor and asked if she could come at once . to their cabin. His little boy had taken sick and they thought she could throat but made huge blisters. After this he never coughed and he rested better. The bad part was over and the boy would Shewn with Lift Romance Bra A'o. 566 in crisp, frtsh cotton broadcloth. $2JW. help them Although never believed in the doctor (they bought her medicine mostly to get rid of her even though her; oils and ointments had been proved as good), they said it wouldn't hurt to try out her medicine. The boy would probably die anyway. j The man described the sickness to the doctor and she knew at once that it was diphtheria, the dreaded dis ease of all pioneers. And, yes, she had just the medi cine to cure it, too. The doctor told her family to find a place to camp for a while, until she got back. She told them she didn't know how long she would have to stay but she thought it would probably be a long time if the little boy's sickness was as bad as the fa ther said it was. -. She got into her medicine wagon and: started across the prairie toward the Judson home stead, Mr. Judson following be side her on his horse. James Judson lay on a straw mattress by. the fire place. His face was as white, as the snow that had disappeared. The doc tor, although she was asked many times, never said what was ELRTCNNH) "-"HIGHLIGHT Mrs. Dudley Leavitt Correspondent Rev. and Mrs. N. F. Horn and Mrs. Ed Earnst attended the funeral of Vic Soward at Ash land, Monday, Sept. 5. Burial was at ; Ashland.- Mrs. Sowards is a niece of the late Ed Earnst, a daughter of his sister. - Elmweod Back to College 'Students returning to college omitted from last week are Thomas Godby, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Godby, who will be a senior at Wesleyan University, Lincoln and John Hall, son of Mr. and Mrs. '.Ted Hall, sopho more at University of Nebraska. - . ; :; -r-EImwood " : Peril Student ; .-Frel' Clements;- aon of Mr. and Mrs: Sanf ord , L. -. Clements re cently received v his discharge from the Army at Camp Stewart, Oa. He will take his senior year at. State Teachers College, Peru. He vvil major in. music. . - ;. . f Elm wood No bones about it Skippies are the figure-makers for busy you! Light, freedom giving they never hinder or hamper ... slenderize with wonderful comfort. Here . . . a brilliant example in nylon elastic net, paneled front and hack for further flattery. Come in, see it and many other today I Skippies Pantie No. 843, S, M, L, $7.50. Extra Large, $7.95. Also available as Girdle No. 943. Other Skippies from $3.50. formfit mon . The annual Cook reunion was held Sunday, Sept. 4, at Bethany Park in Lincoln with a gather ing; : of f rom 50 to 60 relatives. Some were from i Beatrice, Fair bury;. Omaha, Ord : and Platts mouth. Those 1 attending from Elm wood were Mr. and - Mrs. Orest Cook, and Olori Jean; Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Cook, Mrs. Wra. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Cook and family. Sharon Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Cook, who has been employed in the record de partment of a store all summer, is home for a few days before returninsr to college. Janet Turner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cloyd Turner of Ash land has been visiting her aunt, Mrs. Orest Cook, over the La bor Day weekend. - - - Elm wood . Minnesota Fishers The following men started at 3 a.m. Monday,- Sept. 5 on a fishing trip to Minnesota: Orest P. , Cook, Orley Clements, Ver-ner-Perry and Marion McCrory. ' . Elm wood Dinner Guests . Mr. : and Mrs. Ralph Greene were dinner guests of the Ralph Keckiers in Weeping water last week. - :. . Elm wood Thursday morning. SemV 1. Mrs. Hazel Deering, sister of Mrs. Ralph Green and Mrs. Ralph Keckler, left for Norman, Okla., accompanied by Mrs. Keckler. Dick Apt has been home on a 21-day leave, staylnsr with his grandmother, Mrs. Addie Felich man. Elmwood Summer Work . Mrs. Howard Stege has been assisting in the Elmwood bank during the summer, as well as helping at a grocery and some times the variety store. Elmwood . Home for Holiday Miss Beth Kampman, daugh ter oi ev. ana Mrs. T. H. Kamn man, was home over, the Labor Day weekend returning to her college studies at Naperville, Ind. Marilyn Mendenhall Heads Union Group The Union Youth Fellowship met Thursday, Sept. 1 rat the E.j comers, too.-' U. B. Church in Elmwood. New officers elected wrere, Marilyn Mendenhall, President; Joyce Miller, Vice-president; David Godby, Secretary-treasurer. The new chairman of committees are Betty Nielson, program; Iva Kay Irons, refreshment and Rayleen Miller, recreation. A meeting will be held twice monthlythe sec ond and fourth Sunday each month at 7:30 p.m. Refresh ments and a social hour was held after the business meet ing. Elmwood Doctor Returns Dr. O. E. Liston has returned from his vacation trip to Cali fornia; He reports the weather not too warm. He left just be fore the heat wave but did not like the smog. Elmwood School Opens Registration and assignment to classes was the principal ac tivities at school the first day, Monday, Sept. 5. School was dis missed at noon and the parents and friends all joined in a pic nic and reception to the faculty at the Elmwood Park in the evening. This was sponsored by the P-T.A. . they i slowly get better. The patient stayed critical for many days. His parents 1 didn't know whether he , would get better or die, but Doctor Conwell did. She never gave up to death. That was as bad as becoming a traitor to your country. The doctor stayed with the family until the child, was better and gaining: weight. From here 'she would go to another home stead where there was more of this disease which was causing so many deaths. One day he was well enough so she could leave him. They thanked her for coming and her reply was that she was only glad she' could help them and If or them to feel free to call upon her at any time. She also told them that she would come again to see how he was getting along. She left lots of medicine so they wouldn't run out and she showed them how to paint his throat. Then she got m her wagon and went down the trail to the place where her family had camped for the past weeks. As more settlers came and built . homesteads along the trail, a real doctor with a more modern medicine came and aid ed the people. They hardly ever paid any attention to old Mrs: Conwell. Only those she had helped came to her. They 'said she could do more with her .old remedies than any new doc tor. , Even though more settlers came and turned to the new Idoctor, she never stopped, she 'still traveled from house . to house1 with her herbs , and oils .offering her services to the new- Mrs. Mabelle Winn Phone 420 !&".""" . . ". ".".. Pinochle Club Mrs. Edith Brown entertain ed the Double Deck Pinochle Club Wtdnesday afternoon with all members present but one. Mrs. Laurce Dreamer was a vis itor Mrs. Mattie Skinner won high score; Mrs. Vera Sutton second high; Mrs. Grace Brun kow low and Miss Martha Dett mer door prize. The next party will be with Mrs. Elmer Klyver Sept. 28. Mrs. Brawn served a danity lunch. . ! , . Alvo - j Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Klyver ! were Sunday dinner and lunch guests of Mrs. Mabelle Winn and Ralph. Aho Brunkows Move Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brun kow attended the sale Of his brother. Bill Brunkow at Mur- dock Friday afternoon. Mrs. Amanda Kelley also attended. The Bill Brunkows moved to Lincoln Monday where he will be employed. Alvo Mr. and Mrs. John Hopkins of Weeping Water were Sunday afternoon visitors of Johns sis ter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brunkow. Mr. and Mrs. . Joe Toscka of Wahoo were Sunday afternoon visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Skinner. Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Lenning drove to Beatrice Sunday to see an aunt of Mrs. Lenning who' is ill. Alvo Polio Patient Mrs. Bill Davis was moved from Lincoln to an Omaha hos pital. Mrs. Davis has been in the hospital several wetks with polio. She is slowly improving a little. Alvo Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Edwards, of Iowa spent the past week with his mother and brother, Talbert Edwards and family. Mrs. Grace Copple attended the funeral of a friend, Mrs. Sarah Spohn, at Weeping Water Sunday. Mrs. Mabel Elliott spent Mon day with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Halvorsen near Eagle. Mr. Charles Ayers and Mrs.! Clyde Hendenckson left Satur- iiosniiiiiniiimiiicniiiiiniSEiiBiiHiiciauKaiiiffli 1-Edwin T. McHugh 1 ATTORNEY I B Office in Corn Growers B g State Bank . . a p'Murdock Nebraska day for Oklahoma to attend the funeral of a sister-in-law of Mr. Ayers and Mrs, Henderickson. They expect to be by Tuesday. Mrs. Mall Kitzel spent the past week in Lincoln visiting her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and: Mrs. Dennie Hinebaugh. ! Mrs. Ada Hamilton of Cen tral City and Mrs. Clara Larson of Lincoln spent Wednesday and Thursday with their brother and with Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Kly ver. Mrs. Hamilton left for her home Friday morning. Mrs. Esther Clark spent the weekend with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Mel vin Adams, Arlene and Billy at Eagle. Mr. and Mrs. Mart Nickel moved their household goods to Murdock Saturday where they will make their home. They have been resdients of Alvo for a long time. , Mr. and Mrs. Dan Rueter at tended the funeral of Mr. Her man Schweppe at Murdock Sun day afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Stewart at tended the County Fair at Weeping Water last Thursday. Sunday evening they wrere guests of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stewart had attended the State Fair Sun day. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brunkow, Mrs. Lloyd Brunkow from Mur dock; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Willis and children from Omaha, vis ited Mr. and Mrs. Herman Brun kow. Mrs. Kelley went home with them to Murdock. Cass County's Greatest Newspaper The Plattsmouth Journal - Rey. Fred Gardner Elected President County Fellowship EIMWOOD Rev. Fred C. Gardner, pastor of the Nehaw ka and Weeping Water Metho dist churches, was elected pre sident of the Cass County Chris tian Fellowship at a meeting of the organization of all churches in the county holding services in the Evangelical United Bre then Church here Sunday eve ning. Others elected were Dr. R. A. Heim, pastor of the Murdock Evangelical United Brethern church, vice-president; Rev. T. H. Kampman, pastor of the Elm wrood E. U. B church, secretary treasurer. August Hieke wa3 elected statistician. The Rev. L. N. Blough, pas tor of the Methodist church at Louisville, bought a message to the gathering on "Faith." Fol lowing the service a young peoples meeting was held and the business meeting. Next meeting of the Associa tion will be 7 p.m., Nov. 6, at Louisville Methodist church. All churches of .the county are urged to take part, FOR ATHLETES FOOT Use T-4-L for 3 to 5 days. Watch the old tainted skin slough off leaving healthy, hardy skin. If not pleased with pow erful, instant-drying T-4-L, your 40c back at any drug store. To day at Schreiner Drug. M D I AM NOW EQUIPPED TO DO TREE SPRAYING WITH THE VERY LATEST TYPE HIGH PRESSURE SPRAY MACHINE Also Yards - Basements - Cribs Grainaries BILL'S PEST CONTROL 601 No. 9th Dial 7142 Plattsmouth, Nebr. Elmwood 15th Anniversary Friday, Sept. 9, regular meet ing of W. S. C. S. will be held in the fellowship room of the Elm wood Methodist Church, 2 p jn. This is to be an observance of the 15th birthday of the society and it is desired that all charter and long-time, as well as for mer members will attend. Mrs. G. R. Eveland is president. Elmwood Convention Set The Annual Cass County Fed eration of Women's club con- Ivention will be held Friday,: Sept. 16 at the Methodist Church in union. Registration will be at 9 a.m. with luncheon at noon, served by Methodist W. S. C. S. Afternoon session will include services for past federated pre sident, Mrs., G. G. Douglas, bv Elmwood Bluebird' club. All members and friends of this club are urged to attend this con vention. 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