Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
Feb 18, 2005
columns by Helen Selee
100 Years Ago - 1905
The members of Hose Company No. 1, held a regular meeting last Monday evening at eight o’clock. W.E. Mitchell was recommended by a unanimous vote to the town board for appointment as Fire Chief. F.J. Gailey, Geo. W. Borders and Fred Duerfeldt were appointed as a committee to confer with the town board in reference to supplying some means to dry the hose after use in cold weather. Foreman Bard assigned the following positions to the members for the ensuing year: Pipemen: Fred Duerfeldt, Geo. Borders; Laddermen: Frank Gailey, Chas. Selbig; Axemen, J.A. Miller, Chas. King; Plugmen: Ira Trueblood, N.S. Gates; Hookman: Clarence Wilson. After the president appointed Gailey, Gates and King as room committee, the meeting adjourned.
Little Lela Hutt, whom we mentioned as being ill from blood poisoning last week, is still lingering and the end is expected at any time.
Last Saturday night the mercury settled the bulbs of thermometers around town until it reached 38 degrees below, which is the lowest point since the corresponding week in February six years ago. At that time the thermometers registered 44 below.
Charles T. Hawk, a full-blooded Sioux, who runs a store at Medicine Root, was in Gordon the fore part of this week after freight. He also left an order with the JOURNAL for some work.
Dan Webster took the stallion he purchased from a Mr. Eldridge out to his ranch at Bailey. The horse is of fine build and action, which will be a valuable acquisition to Mr. Webster’s bunch.
A bounty of one hundred dollars for each of three grey wolves that have their den in the south hills, has been offered by the ranchmen in that vicinity.
Fred Hoyt and George Sasenbery have constructed a potato planter of the rotary type. This is designed as a labor saving machine while at the same time it plants the seed at regular intervals guaranteed not to miss a hill. The Rotary Planter is constructed on principles entirely new and conceived in the fertile brains of the inventors.
Will Wier is back in this neck of the woods.
Sidney Irwin was in town yesterday for the first time since he was stricken with the fever.
Jess Wilson is now freighting for the Overton ranch from here making his initial trip last week.
W.F. Cope arrived from Tennessee last Friday morning expecting to spend several months visiting with his cousin Tom Comer at Porcupine.
Ulia Powell was brought in from Porcupine last Friday evening by Tom Comer. Ulia did not enjoy his bear hunt as much as he expected because he became quite sick last Wednesday and was not able to navigate much.
Geronimo, the most notorious of Indian chieftains, will march up Pennsylvania Avenue March 4th in honor of the inauguration of President Roosevelt.
With the Lewis and Clark Centennial exposition but a few months ahead, the city of Portland, Oregon, is becoming the haven of a gang of criminals, highwaymen and other undesirable persons.
Merriman News
There is some talk of appointing a vigilante committee in town; not to do violence to any body, but just to keep an on Craven until he leaves town. He was reported sick one evening, but was he sick or just “laying for somebody.”The people of our little village, though they may get hot under the collar often, have been hugging the fire pretty close for the past week with the weather so low. We do not understand this new feature of how to register the temperature, unless it is caused by the dark spot appearing on the sun. It may be that this item was prepared by our column of lies and it shot shuffled into our Merriman news.
Mrs. Sam Buckminister returned Sunday morning from her visit to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her husband was in town to meet her and they left for home early.
Arthur Kortz made his final proof Monday. Miss Lulu called as one of his witnesses and Frank Peacock was the other one.
Albany Items
A fine blizzard on the 8th, and 42 below zero Sunday morning.
Charley Clark and wife went to Gordon Sunday evening to attend church.
Miss Snyder closed her school on account of the cold weather.
Everett Robinson, Arthur Eddy and Mr. Sweezy all went to Gordon and got caught in the storm. Everett froze his face.A wreck on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad near Chadron of the Deadwood passenger train, caused by spreading rails, resulted in all the cars being thrown from the track, the baggage and express cars being laid on their sides; the smoker and chair car tipped about half way over. One end of the sleeper car went down an embankment and Superintendent F.A. Harmon’s car was off the track.
The 4-year-old boy of Charles Beveridge, living five miles west of Murray, died as a result of inhaling steam from a tea kettle. The mother had left the child in the kitchen alone with his brother while she attended to her duties in another part of the house. The child, seeing his brother blow the vapor from the kettle, tried to do the same, but instead he placed his mouth to the spout and breathed the hot steam, thus scalding his throat and lungs.
After about six hours in the field, the members of two hunting parties returned to Humboldt, bringing 267 rabbits, four crows, four owls and three jack rabbits. There were eight men on each team and an oyster supper was the stake.
Philander G. Loso, a windmill rigger, lost his sense of smell. He is now suing the county of Lancaster for $5,000 damages. While driving over a bridge near Agnew, the horse fell and the rig slipped off into a draw. Loso’s nose was cut in two and thrust down over his mouth, losing the sense of smell.
75 Years Ago - 1930
John W. Mercer, principal of the local high school, has been re-elected to that position for the fifth successive term. Prior to his elevation to that position, he taught in the high school here. Mr. Mercer is an able educator and his retention will be pleasing news to all school patrons.
Finch-Blocke
Melvin Finch and Hazel Mae Blocke were united in marriage at the Lutheran parsonage in Rushville, Tuesday of last wee, Rev. H.M. Roth performing the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones and Mrs. Glen Finch were the attendants. Mrs. Finch is the granddaughter of Mrs. Tom Jones, living east of Gordon. Mr. Finch is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Finch and is an industrious young farmer. This young couple is well known in Gordon and have many friends here. They will make their home on the Campbell place east of Gordon.----------------------------------------
Clyde A. Rosseter, prominent northwest Nebraska stockman, died Monday, February 10th, after an extended illness. The funeral was held in Rushville on Wednesday. An obituary will appear in this paper next week.---------------------------------
Another obituary appearing next week will be that of Will F. Spann, who died Thursday morning at 1 o’clock, after being ill only a short time, being at the time of his death 52 years, 2 months and 24 days old. No definite arrangements have been made at this time for the funeral.-------------------------------------
On Saturday evening the Harry Saxton car, driven by Benny Jacobson and the Ray Bullington car, driven by Clarence Millspau of Merriman, collided on Main Street. The Bullington car was quite badly damaged but both drivers were only slightly injured. Mr. Jacobson received a sprained shoulder and minor injuries.At the Boy Scouts Father-and-Son banquet last Friday night, Charles Versaw, Town chairman, and T.R. Magowan invested seven Scouts with the Second Class badge. Having renewed the Scout oath, Mr. Versaw presented the following boys with their badges: Carl Anderson, Albert McKenzie, Carl Jensen, Tom Annett, Kermit Coon, Fay Steinhaus and Keith Smith.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Ballard of Albany, on Friday, February 7th, a daughter, Eloise Cora.
Dr. J.S. Broz of Rushville, returned last week from eastern Nebraska, where he was quietly married. His bride was formerly Mrs. Bun Gardner.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Spangler and son went to Gordon on Friday evening to spend the night at the Leeper home, north of Gordon.
An English doctor says you can get rid of face and neck wrinkles by standing on your head. If any of you Gordon folks try it, let us know how it works. The same treatment ought to be good for broken arches, too.
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Here’s a 1771 Matrimonial Ad…
This ad appeared in the Swedish provincial newspaper, the Carlskronn Veckobladd of 1771, recently unearthed and reproduced in a Stockholm daily. It is as follows: “The honorable public will not too adversely note the following well-meant advertisement. As it sometimes happens that a pretty and well-to-do girl long passes unnoticed just because of the fact that honorable suitors do not know her fortune, or how much her parents will bestow on her as a wedding gift, it is herewith announced that, now, an honorable girl, twenty-one years of age, rather pretty, mannerly, a la mode and well bred, who, besides, understands cooking, washing, baking, etc., which, no doubt, will be further improved through her intelligence when she, through marrying, gets more practice in household things, possesses in property, real and movable, about 15,000 Silver Dollars, besides which she expects a legacy from her old grandmother. If some decent bachelor, preferably a noble clergyman or otherwise somehow well-situated man, should speculate, a somewhat more precise address of the girl’s guardian can be had at the printing office of this paper. But it is stipulated as a condition that none but gallant cavaliers, well built and of good carriage, take the trouble of offering their names; in the opposite case no further particulars will be given.”--------------------------------------
50 Years Ago - 1955
Mrs. Junior (Elsie M.) Johndreau, RN, has accepted and taken over the duties as supervisor of Gordon Memorial hospital. Mrs. Johndreau is a graduate of the University School of Nursing in Omaha, and has been on the staff of the local hospital since January of 1954. Recent additions to the corps of nurses are LaVonne (Bonnie Mason) Armani RN; Virginia Borges of Fort Collins, Colo. and Jean Germany. Martha American Horse, nurse here for many years, left last week for service with the WAC’s.
Thomas Kelley, 84, resident of Gordon since 1947, was found dead in his home Monday evening by a neighbor. Death was attributed to heart failure. Mr. Kelley was well known in the Gordon-Merriman area, having lived for many years southeast of Gordon. At this time funeral arrangements are pending notification of next of kin.
Wanda Peters and Dick Roth were married at the Presbyterian church at 4 p.m. Friday, February 11th.
Mrs. Arvid Magnuson and Mrs. Vernon Johnson entertain-ed at a stork shower at the Magnuson home Saturday evening honoring Mrs. Frank Wanek. The pink and blue theme was carried out in the table decorations. The evening was spent playing bridge with the high prize going to Mrs. W. K. Wolf; second high, Mrs. Dale Youel; low, Mrs. Jerome Kruger and bingo prize, Mrs. Bob Connealy.
Mrs. Jack Simms entertained Wednesday, Febr. 9, honoring the second birthday of her daughter, Pamela. Guests were Ricky and Linda Reeves, Troy Trueblood, Gwen Shuster, Kevin Lang and all their mothers.
Mrs. Frank Slaby entertained Monday, Febr. 14, honoring the sixth birthday of her daughter, Sandra. Her guests were Donna Hitchcock, Mickalene Tollman, Judy Case, Claudia Bachmann and Shirley Sowders. Refreshments were served at the close of the afternoon.
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BIRTHS at Gordon Memorial Hospital last week were these:
*Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Claussen, a daughter, Robin Gale, born February 11, 1955.*Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Benson, a daughter, Martha Ann, born February 12, 1955.
*Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ferrell, a daughter, Rodeen Denice, born February 14, 1955.
*Mr. and Mrs. Leo Stethem, a son, Robert Leo, born on February 15, 1955.
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Troy Fuchser, Gordon, was one of two students (both juniors) at the Curtis Ag High School to earn all E’s the past semester. Also qualifying for the honor roll by receiving an average of G or better were Martha Schmidt, junior; Mary Ann Pifer, sophomore; and Jenell Eckerle, freshman.
Sgt. and Mrs. Walter Timm left Tuesday for El Paso, Texas, after spending nearly three weeks in Gordon. They were called here by the death of Mrs. Herman Timm.
Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Johnson will leave on the train Tuesday afternoon for New Orleans, La.., where they will attend the Mardi Gras. Their tour by rail will include many points of interests in the southern states.
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Janis-Emery
At a recent wedding in the Lady of Sorrows Church in Kyle, S.D., Marie Janis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Janis and Charles Emery, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Emery of Rapid City, S.D. were united in marriage. Wanda Palmer was bridesmaid and James Emery Jr., was the best man. The newlyweds are teachers at the Kyle Day School. Mrs. Emery is president of the OCHS Alumni Assoc.---------------------------------------
AD 3/c Virgil Leroy Havener Jr., of the U.S. Navy, received emergency leave to attend the funeral of his grandfather, J.W. Marshall. On Monday, Virgil Havener and Jerry and Gib Whitlock met Leroy in Sidney. On Friday, they took him to Sidney to catch the train back to his base at Whidby Island, Wash.--------------------------------------
OBITUARY
John Wellcome Marshall, son of George and Olive Louden Marshall, was born Dec. 15, 1877, at Ripon, Wisc., and died at the age of 77 years, one month and 20 days. He moved with his parents to Boone county, Nebr. at the age of 11 years. He was united in marriage to Charlotte Welch, Nov. 6, 1901. To this union were born four sons and one daughter. One son, Francis Arthur, died in infancy. They moved to their farm 8 miles southeast of Gordon in the spring of 1912. His wife died May 30, 1924, and he was then united in marriage to Grace Lenora Havener on August 8, 1925; and to this union was born one daughter, Bonnie Lee, who preceded him in death at the age of three years. He leaves to mourn him, his widow Grace Marshall; three sons, Paul, Wesley and Vernon; one daughter, Mildred Engel; one step-daughter, Mrs. Velma Thompson; one stepson, Virgil Havener; 10 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Also he leaves one brother, George Marshall and one uncle, Pete Louden. His parents, three brothers and one sister preceded him in death.--------------------------------------
25 Years Ago - 1980
Sgt. Charles Lohman has been appointed as acting chief of police for the City of Gordon, effective Feb. 11, 1980. Chief Lane has requested an unpaid leave of absence from the police department in order to pursue some personal and educational interests that he has.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Matake of Sidney announce the engagement of their daughter, Jane, to Kenneth Ross Christoffersen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. Christoffersen of Gordon. The future bride was graduated in December from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Beta Gamma Sigma and Mortar Board. Her fiance was graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1978. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa and the Innocents society. He is presently attending Harvard Law School. The couple plan a May 11 wedding in Sidney.
This year’s theme for Girl Scout Week, March 9-15 is “Where the Future Begins.” Three girls from each troop will do a 1-minute taped interview at 4:00 p.m. for the radio in honor of the week. There will also be a window display and a special welcome for the first baby girl born on March 12th or thereafter. The council decided to have an Irish stew and pie supper at the high school from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 11th. A roving cake auction will be held during the supper and door prizes will be given away.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kammerzell celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary with a family dinner at the West Winds Saturday evening. Guests were their daughters Amy, Sam and Kristi, and Mr. and Mrs. Rick Kammerzell, Mr. and Mrs. Win Saults and Justin, Rick Fair and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Morrison of Corning, Iowa.
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**Steve and Marni Harris are the parents of a new baby boy, Cary Deane, seven pounds, three ounces, born on Feb. 11. Little Cary has a brother Aric and a sister, Donell.
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**Mr. and Mrs. Mike Riggleman of Eugene, Ore. are the parents of a 6 ½ lb. son, Christopher Ray, born on Feb. 9 at Eugene. Paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Riggleman; maternal grand-parents are Mr. and Mrs. Carl Otte; and maternal great-grandmothers are Mrs. Erma Otte and Mrs. Gladdis Mulcahy.
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Jules Alexander Sandoz….
Funeral services for Jules Alexander Sandoz, 82, were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist church in Rushville. Mr. Sandoz, the oldest son of a well known Nebraska pioneer family, died Tuesday in St. Joseph’s Gerontology Center in Alliance. He was born Dec. 27, 1897 south of Rushville and was a cattle rancher throughout his life. Survivors include a son, Ernest William Sandoz of Hebro; two daughters, Celia Ostrander of Rushville and Marguerite Widtfeldt of Harrisburg; a brother, James Sandoz of Ellsworth; two sisters, Flora Sandoz of Ellsworth and Caroline Pifer of Gordon; and by 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, a brother Fritz, and a sister Mari. The Rev. Ray Hamilton officiated and burial was in Fairview cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Cancer Research Fund and may be left at the Stockman’s National Bank of Rushville.
This page was last updated on
Tuesday, 10-Mar-2009 19:59:54 MDT
submitted by Helen Selee
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