Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
Aug 25, 2004
columns by Helen Selee
Echoes Page Aug. 25 2004
100 Years Ago - 1904
On Wednesday of last week [Aug. 17] Mr. Ed Winston of Clinton, and Miss Edna Furman were married in Fremont, and went to St. Louis to visit the Fair. Miss Edna, as she is known here, is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Furman, who live on the Niobrara River south of town. She was attending school at the Fremont Normal at the time of her marriage and very few of her friends were aware of her matrimonial intentions. We have not learned whether or not Mr. and Mrs. Winston intend locating in this country, but our best wishes go with them for a long, happy and peaceful life wherever they may decide to locate.
At the home of the bride’s parents four miles north of Merriman, Eugene French and Miss Jessie Bowring were united in the holy bonds of matrimony on Wednesday, August 24 at 4 p.m., Rev. J.A. Scamahorn officiating. Those present at the wedding were the immediate relatives of the high contracting parties. Many valuable presents were received by this worthy couple. They will reside for the present at Merriman in a home already furnished by Mr. French.
Mrs. Clara Sullivan was married to Mr. A.L. Houlett of Omaha at the home of her aunt, Mrs. E. Schleip, at Omaha, on Monday, August 22, 1904. They departed the same evening for St. Louis.Constable Sam Perin went to the extension Tuesday to serve a warrant on Al Miller and Lew Rogers. These are the culprits who, during Sol Dix’s absence, went on his claim and removed hay and other property.
Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Swigert arrived from St. Louis on Sunday morning. Mr. Swigert expects to leave soon in order to join the Buckskin Bill’s Wild West Show at Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Swigert will remain here to officiate as bookkeeper at the Snap.
The work of constructing the Panama Canal is about to begin in earnest.
The International Mercantile Marine company of Liverpool, England, has announced a cut in steerage rates from Liverpool on the Boston steamers to $8.75, a reduction of $3.75.
The Bates surveying outfit on the reservation has been cut down to only one gang now so that the work could be overseen by Mr. Bates. Several of the men from Gordon who have been employed by Mr. Bates returned last week. They report the work to be progressing quite slow as the land is very rough.
Carson Parker is now clerking for Louis Schmitt. John Sassenbery is to take Cars’ place at J. H. Davis. These fellows seem to think that a "swap" is beneficial sometimes.
Glenn Moffatt left Sunday morning for Chicago where he goes to take a course of music in a conservatory. We are glad to see young men and women make such attempts for their betterment.
Edgar Green and Oliver Hackman of Orenville, Ill., arrived Saturday morning for a visit at the J.H. Crowder home. Mr. Green is a nephew of Mrs. Crowder and will remain here this winter.
Gene Brown was up to his ranch the latter part of last week putting up a new house, barn, well and other improvements. He said his cattle never looked better and that he expects a large crop of hay.Frank Waite, Fred Bateman, Jack Davis and Bill Pool quit the employ of Carpenter & Carson last week and left Monday morning for O’Neill with a string of horses.
Prof. T.L. Knight left again Tuesday for a ten day trip in the interests of the American Book company. He will be back in time for the opening of school.
Mrs. Robt. Dickson and daughters, Lillian and Genevieve, returned from St. Louis Sunday morning. They will move into a house as soon as one can be secured so as to give the children our public school advantages. Robert will remain in St. Louis until after the close of the Exposition, when he will enter the employ of Mr. Hysham who has the beef delivery contract for Rosebud reservation.
If there is anything in this whole wide world that Fred Duerfeldt admires it is an apple pie intended for someone else. At the Malleable cooking exhibit a pie was baked with tissue paper over the lower crust, lots of salt and an abundance of pepper intermingling with bits of cotton and then a variety of fruits. This is the kind of pie that Fred put his teeth into last week, but he seemingly forgot that it was intended for someone else.
Charley Green, the jovial story teller of an exaggerated degree, was with us Wednesday spinning tales and exchanging opinions.
Eck Huffman and some young lady, while driving from the Spragg post office Monday, had their buggy and team struck by lightning, killing the team and burning the buggy top and whip, while the occupants escaped with but a slight shock. This was indeed a narrow escape. ---Ainsworth Journal.
O. Lisby filed a complaint with the board of commissioners on insanity of Otoe county, charging his wife with being insane. The board heard the evidence and dismissed the complaint, finding that there was some malice in the filing of the complaint.
Very low rates to St. Louis will be in effect on nine dates, August 2, 3, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30, for coach excursion to St. Louis via the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. Only $18.80 round trip from Gordon, Nebr, return limit seven days. A great opportunity to visit the World’s Fair at minimum expense. For further information contact the ticket agent.
An enormous tornado struck the twin cities St. Paul and there are at least 16 known dead and hundreds injured. Two major steel bridges were cut down and thrown on top of several small frame houses of the flat dwellers and crushed them. None of the occupants of these houses were hurt, they having seen the storm coming and taken refuge in the caves in the hillside. The storm tore along the flats, uprooted trees on Harriett Island and, with a deafening roar and the hiss and splash of falling sheets of rain, it struck the city at Wabasha Street bridge. The full force of the storm struck the Tivoli Concert Hall and the Empire Theatre, on opposite sides of the street at the bridge, both of which were fairly filled with men watching the performances. The tornado struck them both full on. The damage to property was immense. The downtown district was hard hit, many of the large office and business blocks being completely riddled and the stocks of wholesale houses seriously damaged by the floods of rain that accompanied the wind.
Wallace Merchant of Mitchell found a porcupine on the creek near that place. The fretful porcupine is not common in Nebraska.75 Years Ago - 1929
A petition has been filed with the city council asking that a special election be called at which the question of issuing ten thousand dollars in bonds for the acquisition of an airport will be voted upon. The election will doubtless be ordered by the city council as the American Legion men have agreed to furnish all election boards and ballots free of charge to the city.
H.G. Mielke, prominent farmer southwest of Gordon, called our attention to the fact that not all the big yields of wheat this season were raised on summer fallow ground. As proof he quotes the yield of Ed Kearns who threshed 41 bushels of wheat per acre; George Wasmund 33, and a field of his own which was only disked into barley stubble and which made 30 bushels to the acre. Mr. Mielke contends that summer fallow is not necessary, nor does it pay in any locality that can raise the crops that Sheridan county does.
The east-front residence lots are more popular in Gordon than any others is shown by the recent survey made for the numbering of houses in Gordon, preparatory to establishing city mail delivery. Out of some 412 residences that will receive mail, 180 face the east, 138 the west, 80 the south, while but 14 face the stormy blasts of winter that come from the north. There are 110 other buildings which will be numbered for the delivery of mail. With the usual estimate of five persons to the family, it will be seen that the 412 homes should contain 2060 people. That this estimate is about correct is shown by the fact that the census gave Gordon 2055.
School in Gordon will begin September 2nd with the following list of teachers: Elementary grades: Ruth Winkler, Viola Stanek, Irene Harkins, Elinor Myers, Helen Hartman, Wilma Smith, Gladys Scown, Frances Burtner, Jane Leeper. Jr. and Sr. High: Eva Weddell, Mervin Hunt, (asst. principal), E.M. Huckfeldt, Helen Hart, Margaret Williams, Paul Carroll, Elizabeth Prince, Inez Kemper, Ruth Brainard, Edith Meyers, Anna Smrha, Minnie Sutherland, John W. Mercer, (principal of high school) and Edward T. Whiting, (superintendent).
Obituaries & Death Notices
Elizabeth P. Jones: Mrs. Charles Jones, who lived sixteen miles south of Scenic, S.D. was born September 15, 1874, at Laramie, Wyo., and died August 16, 1929, at the Commercial Hotel in Gordon where she had been brought for medical attention. Her daughter, Miss Mary Jones of the St. Joseph Hospital at Alliance, was caring for her. Burial was made on Monday at the Holy Rosary Mission near Pine Ridge.
Mrs. A.R. Shearer: Minnie E. Sowders was born at Clearwater, Nebr., December 24, 1888 and died at her home near Gordon on August 14, 1929, being at the time of her death, 40 years,7 months and 20 days old. She moved with her parents to Gordon 22 years ago. She was married to Abram Shearer on December 25, 1912. Four children were born to this union, three daughters and one son, Delila, Mildred, Dwight and Beulah, all of whom, together with her husband, survive her. Besides the family, her father, two brothers, Earl and Nathan, and four sisters, Nellie, Maggie, Alberta and Mattie survive her. Her mother died some 13 years ago. The funeral was held in the Methodist church on Saturday afternoon, August 17, 1929, being in the charge of her pastor, Rev. Embree. Her body was laid to rest in the Gordon cemetery.
Glenn Webster had his tonsils removed Wednesday morning.
Miss Helen Potts is assisting in the superintendent’s office until school starts.
Several cases of illness are reported in the community due to the extremely hot weather. Last Thursday the mercury jumped to 103 degrees in the shade at 1:30 p.m.
The stork has been quite busy in the Billing area during the past two weeks, leaving fine baby boys at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Sager and Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert Robins.
In Gordon other births included the following:
*Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Rose on Saturday, August 17th, a girl.
*Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Jamison are the parents of a baby girl, born August 20.
*Born to Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Lovelady on Wednesday, August 14, a son.
*Born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schwarting on Wednesday, Aug. 21, a daughter.
*Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hinn are the parents of a baby boy born August 8th.The Sheridan County Fair will be held in Gordon Sept. 10-13 and as Will Rogers says, "If we can believe what we see in the papers," it ought to be a dandy.
With the shortage of men and the many harvest outfits working, a number of women are helping in the fields. Miss Jane Tupper is one of the latest frameset’s assisting in the Tupper-Young header crew and also in the Thomas threshing crew.
Newton S. Gates & Son have added a new morgue table to their equipment, which makes their equipment strictly up to date.
Mrs. Ida Ward of Portland, Ore., has been visiting at the home of her father, J.S. Miller. Mrs. Ward recently returned from Australia and Honolulu, where she spent several months.
Frank Brattan returned home Tuesday afternoon after a short vacation spent at McCook. Mr. Brattan is employed in the Zentmire Barber shop.
The program for this week at the Empress theatre includes "Sal of Singapore" with Phyllis Haver, Alan Hale and Fred Kohler; then "Skirts" with Syd Chaplin; Next Jetta Goudal in "Fighting Love"…and ending the week are two new films, "The Great White North" and "Gentlemen of the Press."
50 Years Ago - 1954
Insurance adjusters were working yet today (Wednesday) in this area, estimating the damage inflicted by a vicious hailstorm that lashed the area Thursday afternoon. The storm, which hit about 3:15 p.m., continued its bombardment for almost 45 minutes. Oddity was that the hail stones were almost perfect spheres ranging in size from golf balls, which were run-of-the-mill, to tennis balls and baseballs. Roofs were riddled, cars dented, house trailers punctured, windows smashed, chickens and pheasants killed and gardens pounded to a pulp. At the high school here 185 windows were broken including the skylight which is of wire-reinforced glass constructed to resist an ordinary storm. Four out of five of the "unbreakable" plastic bubbles in the roof of the new elementary school were shattered and an east window broken. Oscar Van Kerrebrook, who lives eight miles west and five miles north of Gordon, counted 75 holes in his barn roof and picked up stones that measured 3 ½ inches in circumference.
Fire set by lightning in Saturday night’s storm completely demolished a cow shed at the Lyle Hull ranch, about 14 miles northeast of Gordon. The shed, 100 feet by 40 feet, included a grain bin with 900 bushels of grain in storage and a cake room. The loss is estimated at $5,500.
At Denver University services held Friday, Aug. 20, the degree of master or arts (with education major and emphasis on music) was conferred upon Warren McGaughey. He was one of 442 candidates to be presented for degrees. Warren will again be music supervisor in the Kremmling, Colo. high school where Mrs. Warren McGaughey is in charge of the home economics department.
Martha E. American Horse, the only daughter of Charles American Horse of Batesland, S.D., has joined the WACS and is now taking her training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She is the granddaughter of Chief American Horse, at one time a prominent leader of the Sioux tribe.
Cpl. Billy Dahlgren, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Dahlgren of Merriman, recently took part in ceremonies dedicating a new government office for the citizens of Sangu-ri, Korea. He is serving in Battery A of the 936th field artillery battalion. In the Far East since April 1953, Cpl. Dahlgren entered the army during November 1952 and completed basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark.
Pvt. Richard W. Haslow, son of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Haslow of Gordon, is assigned to an 8-weeks cooking course at the food service school at Fort Meade, Md., starting August 16 and ending Oct. 8, 1954.
Friends called a the J.J. Moreland home in Merriman on Sunday afternoon and evening to wish Grandma Fairhead much happiness on her 91st birthday. Mrs. Moreland served ice cream and cake to the guests and many signed the guest book.
The First Presbyterian church of Gordon was the setting for the Saturday, Aug. 14 marriage of Miss Phyllis Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Martin of Gordon, and Troy R. Green, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Green, also of Gordon.
Our Savior’s Lutheran church was the scene of the marriage of Miss Shirley Ann Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Morris of Gordon, and William A. Rasmussen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Rasmussen of Rushville on Sunday afternoon, August 15.
Births at Gordon Memorial hospital were those of:
*Mr. and Mrs. George Bishop, a son, Michael Wayne, Aug. 19, 1954.
*Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hamilton, a son, Randall Frank, Aug. 24, 1954.
*Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cook, a son, Frank James, born Aug.24, 1954.
*Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fisher, a daughter, born August 24, 1954.
*Mr. and Mrs. Frankie Buckles, a son, Donald Lee, born August 24, 1954.25 Years Ago - 1979
Never before in the memory of those who have fair-watchers for many years has foul weather caused postponement of the parade, one of the glamour events. The parade was set for noon Saturday, but rain poured down without abatement. To bring floats out under such conditions would have reduced the decorations to a soggy pulp and the only costumes that could have been worn were slickers, raincoats and rain hats. Postponed until 5:30 p.m. that same day, there was no postponement in the precipitation. In desperation, Sunday morning at 10:30 was set, rain or shine. It didn’t rain on the parade but before long the skies opened up again and the fairgrounds, the community and the area received another all-day, all-night soaking.
Bernice Harris of Gordon was among the 67 graduates of Chadron State College on Thursday, Aug. 9. She received a master of science in education degree.
Nineteen members of the Gordon High School class of 1954 gathered Saturday evening, August 11th at the Hacienda for a 25th year reunion. They came from such diverse points as Chile, Fort Collins and Greeley, Colo., Baldwin, Kan., Casper, Wyo., Gering, Arnold, Hay Springs, Rushville and right here in Gordon where it began. Those attending were: Dwaine Downing, Dale Shanks, Dick Roth, Darrel Frey, Bob Chamberlin, Donna Shedeed, Donna Wilson, Joan Buckles, Selma Barker, Wanda Roth, DeOnna Anderson, Gladys Johnson, Barbara Edwards, Carlyle Wilhite, Lyle Suhr, Hildred Cyr, Marilyn Watson, Anita Stanczyk and Ruth Johnston.
Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Moss of Gordon announce the engagement of their daughter, Patricia to Tom Schumacher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Les Schumacher of Ainsworth. A Sept. 15th wedding is being planned.
Under cloudy skies, 21 long distance runners were at the starting line Saturday morning for the first annual marathon race held in conjunction with the 94th Sheridan County Fair and Rodeo. The first runner to cross the finish line at Second and Main was Rick Reeves, with a time of 54 minutes, followed 30 seconds later by Harold McGaughey. Winners in the Huff and Puff race were Jan Albro, Jennifer Plenty Wounds, Damon Gran, Pam Richards, Rick Reeves and Scott Prusia.
Births at Gordon Memorial:
*Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunnick, Rushville, a son born Aug. 20.
*Mr. and Mrs. Roy Johndreau, Gordon, a son born Aug. 21.
*Mr. and Mrs. Steven Kime, Gordon, a son born Aug. 17.
This page was last updated on
Tuesday, 10-Mar-2009 19:59:40 MDT
submitted by Helen Selee
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