Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
July 30, 2003
extracts by Helen Selee
|100 Years Ago - 1903
Owing to the scarcity of news this week, we had intended to have some special articles. Bottenberg thought he could get up an article on the question, “Where Are We At?” Prof. John Wilson was to furnish an essay on “How to Care for the Baby,” and the editor was to put out his latest ballad under the euphonious title of “Oh, Where, Oh Where is Pat Crow; Oh, whither, Oh whither is Pat.” Up to date the spirit has failed to move any of the above geniuses and it seems the public will be disappointed.
A new baby boy was born to W.L. Mills and wife at Atkinson last Sunday. Fred went to Atkinson on Friday of last week.
Steve Brewer has fixed him up a shoe shining outfit and has gone into business. We are always glad to see a boy manifesting industry and we wish Steve success.
Bessie Bresee, aged two years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bresee, died at the home of her parents northeast of Gordon last Monday afternoon, July 27, of bowel trouble, after a sickness of about a week. Rev. Clark went to the home and conducted the funeral services at 6:30 o’clock Tuesday morning, and the body was brought to Gordon for burial. The family has a host of friends in this vicinity who sympathize with them in their bereavement.
Donald Bresee, aged four years, is sick with the bowel trouble, but was improving according to the last report.
Jefferson Winship and wife were expecting to go to Maine on a visit this week, but on account of the death of Bessie Bresee have delayed the date of leaving until next week.
There is considerable sickness in and around Gordon, and we are reminded that it pays to be careful as to what we eat and in regard to a clean water supply. It is hardly worthwhile to say that prevention is better than cure, because it seems very few people pay much attention to it.
“Thos.” Childers has been sick the past week with a typhoid condition but is doing exceptionally well, and we hope will soon be able to take up his duty in the meat market.
Geo. Johnson is sick with the typhoid fever. He was brought up from the ranch Tuesday morning.
George Busick has been numbered among the sick this week.
Robert Dickson and family moved to town Thursday and are living in the Leach property. Mrs. Dickson is sick with pleura-pneumonia.
Mr. Rennholz, who was so sick with typhoid fever, died Monday morning and his wife and brother, Jake Rennholz, left Tuesday morning with the remains for Grand Junction, Ia., where his parents reside. A religious service was held at the home by Rev. Julian, before the departure.
Owing to the new orders from the Post Office Department, we are compelled to have our mails ready for the night carrier at 8 o’clock p.m. Our office hours will be from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Sunday from 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.
J.H. Crowder, Postmaster
Rev. Clark called for a vote of the audience present at the union services Sunday evening to ascertain how they stood on the Sunday baseball question, and it was almost, if not quite unanimous against it.
A baby boy arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith, last Sunday.
There is a jersey cow for sale at $30 by Robert Dickson.
Recently six yards of lace, valued at $6,000, were lost in transit. The balance to match it with the above is valued at $30,000. It belonged to a general’s wife in Washington, but we have no sympathy to offer for such a loss, and if its owner had got lost along with the lace, so far as we can see, there would be no material loss to the world. Lace does not possess such a value, although some persons may have so little sense as to pay it. The idea of a woman wearing on her back at one time lace worth as much as 230 ordinary servant women can earn in a whole year. Possibly this may account for some of the crookedness around the national capital. Such aristocratic fool-ishness is liable to drive any one to fraud.
F.S. Moose, charged with whipping his wife, had his preliminary hearing in the county court at Beatrice and was bound over to the district court in the sum of $200, in default of which he was sent to the county jail.
The ten year old son of Frank Tippen, living southwest of Fairbury, was severely bitten by a rattlesnake. A dog belonging to Mr. Tippen had attacked the snake and after he had torn it into three pieces, the family, supposing the snake to be dead, went to look at it, when the head of the reptile, which was attached to only about three inches of its body, raised up and sank its fangs into the boy’s bare foot. The boy will recover.
There is an epidemic of scarlet fever in the neighborhood of Elmwood, Nebr. The locality is under quarantine.
75 Years Ago - 1928
At the band concert last Saturday evening, the new band wagon, purchased by the Kiwanis club, was in use, and it proved very effective. The large band was seated on it in the middle of the square and from that elevation, their music carried much better.
The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Thomas was celebrated at the Thomas home at Brennan, S.D. last Saturday evening, only relatives of the family being present. Twenty-five years ago, down at Osmond, in Pierce, County, Nebraska, occurred the marriage of Roy E. Thomas and Ethlyn L. Leedom. Present at the ceremony at that time, and also 25 years later, were J.R. Thomas and Miss Abbie Thomas of Osmond, father and sister of the groom. Miss Grace Thomas of Pine Ridge, a sister, and Mrs. Fred S. Fry of Denby and Joe Leedom of Gordon, sister and brother of the bride.
Francis Martin, who works at the Saults ranch, was quite severely injured Saturday night while cranking a car. The crank slipped, cutting him above the eye and requiring several stitches to be taken.
A large front window of the Gates & Son store was smashed Tuesday when a car driven by a young son of Bert Corbett, went over the curb and struck it.
Andy Conner left Monday evening for Fort Crook, where he will spend a month in a Citizens Military Training Camp. A number of boys from Chadron went down at the same time.
Wm. Forster has put in a new phone.
Mrs. Lewis Larsen and little Reva are visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Jensen.
Will the party who took the lap robe out of Gene William’s buggy at the dance at Valentine’s Grove last Saturday night please return same and avoid having name published.
Mr. and Mrs. John Meyers are the parents of a new baby girl born July 28th.
On Saturday, on July 21st, at Alliance, occurred the marriage of Miss Bernadine Kearns and Mr. Ralph D. Hutton. Miss Kearns is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kearns, who live north of Gordon. The groom is the oldest son of Rev. and Mrs. A.L. Hutton and but recently received his honorable discharge from foreign duty in the Army. Following the ceremony they started on a honeymoon trip through the mountains in Colorado. They plan on making their home in Holyoke, Colo.
On Tuesday, July 21st at Rushville, occurred the marriage of Miss Mildred Stuckenholtz and Mr. Alfred Beyer, Judge Irving R. Butler performing the ceremony. Miss Stuckenholtz is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Stuckenholtz and has been recently employed as stenographer in the offices of E.C. Swigert. She is a graduate of the Bayard High School. Mr. Beyer is an accomplished musician and is very popular as an entertainer, as well as enjoying a reputation as a piano tuner. Both of the young people are popular members of the younger circle. The young couple departed for Batesland where they will reside for the present on the farm of the bride’s father. They have the best wishes of their many friends for a happy, prosperous life.
Gordon emerged victorious in an eleven inning contest with Hay Springs at the fairgrounds diamond last Sunday, putting over the odd counter in a 3 to 2 game. The game was the best of the season and one of the hardest contests ever played in Gordon. Van Fleet, pitching for Gordon, stopped the Hay Springs team with six hits and struck out 15 men. The finish came in the last half of the eleventh inning when Morey singled, was sacrificed to second by Jones and scored the winning run on Rasmussen’s double.
Beginning August 1st, an Air Mail letter weighing one ounce will be carried for five cents, an increase of only three cents over the regular first class mail rate. It is expected by the post office officials that this reduction in rate will greatly increase the number of letters carried and cause more people to realize that airplane travel is an established institution. Letters leaving Gordon will go to Omaha on the train and then be transferred to the planes. It will mean a good deal on mail going to New York or San Francisco, and should be used considerably.
50 Years Ago - 1953
Clifford H. Duerfeldt, native of Gordon, has been selected for the rank of rear admiral, the navy department announced this week. Duerfeldt is one of 29 captains to receive the promotion. He is presently on duty in the office of the chief of naval operations, navy depart-ment, Washington, D.C. Captain Duerfeldt is the son of the late Frederick and Mary Elizabeth Duerfeldt of Gordon. He graduated from Gordon High School and then attended Kansas State University before entering the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. Captain Duerfeldt married the former Miss Jane Holmes Seaman of Boston, Mass. They have a son, Clifford H. Jr., and a daughter Susan Jane.
Marine Sergeant Leonard Galyen was called to report back to his base at Camp Pendleton, Calif. as his company was sailing for Japan and Korea. Mrs. Galyen and mother, Mrs. Keith McCray, and Sgt Galyen’s brother, Ralph, accompanied him. Mrs. Galyen will return to Merriman to stay with her parents while Sgt. Galyen is overseas.
The Misses Marilyn Metzger, Leah Britton, Janet Rash and Jeanne Dohse entertained at a farewell party Saturday evening at the Metzger home honoring Larry Goodrich, Jay Springman and David Seveland, who left for the armed forces Tuesday. The group attended the dance in Rushville and returned to the Metzger home for a midnight snack. Other guests were Larry Swick, Fred Cox, Jack Long, Arlan Lowe, Rosalie Metzger and Neva and Marlys Suhr.
Mrs. Carl Williams entertain ed at a breakfast Saturday morning honoring Mrs. C.O. McGaughey, who was celebrating her birthday. Other guests were the Mesdames George Comer, L.E. Taylor, Frank Boyles, Ben Beutler, M.W. Mills and Esther Gineau. The morning was spent playing Canasta.
A pretty wedding was solemnized Saturday, July 4, at 2 p.m. at the St Andrews vicarage, Britannia Road, Ipswich, England, when Margarete Lauterbach, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johann Lauter-bach of Bayreuth, Germany, and Russell A. Conway, son of Mrs. Margaret Conway of Gordon exchanged vows. The bride is a graduate of the Kaufmanesch Berufsschulhle school of Bayreuth, Germany. She came to England in 1950 and has been employed at St Helens hospital, Ipswich for the past two years. The groom is a graduate of Gordon High School and is now with the air force in Europe. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the newlyweds. The couple will be at home at 96 Bramford Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England for the next 15 months, and then plan to make their home in Gordon.
Miss Wilma Darlene Leeper became the bride of Blaine A. Benson in a double ring cere-mony performed Monday morning, July 27, by the Rev. Hargarten at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Leeper of Merriman and is a 1953 graduate of the Gordon high school, and Mr. Benson is a graduate of the Gordon high school, class of 1951. Attending the couple were the bride’s sister Marrilyn Leeper and Don Benson, brother of the groom. Following a short honeymoon trip the couple will make their home in Gordon.
Mr. and Mrs. Winston R. Nelson are the parents of a daughter, Doris Jean, born July 22, 1953.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Ambro-sen are the parents of a son, Ronald Wayne, born July 22, 1953.
Mr. and Mrs. William Wood are the parents of a daughter, Jann Alica, born July 25, 1953.
Duane Cerny was visiting Jerry and Kenneth Hood Sunday and had a very hard time getting home after the rain. Kenneth is home on furlough from the army.
Guests at a steak fry held at the home of Tom Scotts Monday evening were Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth French, Tom and Jim Stults, home on leave from the navy, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kubichek and daughter Carolyn of Blairstown, Ia., and Mrs. Mary Scott.
Mrs. Walter Goodin, of Gordon, announces the engagement of her daughter Clara Louise to DeWayne Emmett Hagler, son of Leo Hagler of Patricia, S.D. Miss Goodin attended the Nebraska school of agriculture at Curtis and the Grand Island beauty school at Grand Island. Mr. Hagler attended the Phillip high school at Phillip, S.D.
25 Years Ago - 1978
“Bud” Finkey of Rushville has joined the Gordon Journal staff with duties including ad composition and page make-up as well as in the commercial printing department. He will also assist Neal Ziller with photography. Bud is experience-ed in all phases of newspaper work, having been associated with the Sheridan County Star for 20 years.
The Theo Anderson family enjoyed a family reunion on Sunday, July 16, celebrating the birthday of Theo, who was 93 on Wednesday, July 19. The Andersons, Esther and her husband, Curtis Simpson from Kansas City, Mo.; son Carl from Los Angeles, Calif.; and daughter Ruth and her husband, Fred Schwendemann from Dayton, Ia., were here to spend some time with them.
Among the 108 Nebraska Methodist hospital school of nursing students who received their caps or pins in an 8 p.m. ceremony on Friday, July 21st in Omaha were: Ann Maria Sasse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stan Sasse; Kathryn Wallace, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Wallace, Gordon, and Julia Scott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Scott, Rushville.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hupp of Gordon are the parents of a son, born July 20, 1978.
The marriage of Marsha Winters and Roger Rosane was solemnized at a 7:30 p.m. candlelight ceremony, Saturday, July 15 at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Batesland, S.D.. Marsha is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Winters, Bates-land, and Roger is the son of Mrs. Dorothy Rosane Herfel of Gordon. Following a short wedding trip, the couple will be making their home in Merriman where the groom is employed at Rosane’s Auto Repair.
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Waddill accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Gealy to the Play House near Custer, S.D. on Sunday. They enjoyed the production of “South Pacific” and drove in to Rapid City. The occasion was to honor Jan Waddill’s birthday.
10 Years Ago - 1993
Congratulations to Lena Johns and Leona Hooper, both of Gordon. They are twin sisters whose birthday was Monday, July 26. They are 75 years young. They were born to William Blank and Florence May Nelson in 1918 in Kilgore.
The first graduating class of Denby High School held a reunion Sunday, July 18, at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Ansyl Harris on US Highway 18 just a quarter of a mile from the location of the former school. The four members of the Class of 1935 were Ansyl Harris; Kenneth Lee, of Buffalo, Wyo.; Laurel (Moss) Mielke, of Auburn, WA, and Leonard Eddy, deceased. Invited guests were Becky Lee, Lillian Latshaw and Raleigh Barker of Gordon, and Boyd Barker of Denver. Nostalgia wafting through the continuous conver-sations blended with the savory scents of a buffet dinner , which added further luster to Mrs. Harris’ reputation as an excellent cook.
Ty Krebs, Gordon, was named the Premier Breeder at the 1992 National Junior Angus Show in Wichita, KS. Krebs was presented a silver tray for the honor.
Cheryl Hlava of Denver, CO, spent a few days visiting with her parents, Alice and Fred Hlava, Sr. Guests of the Hlavas for dinner at the Hacienda Friday night were Christy and Bill Wright of Las Cruces, NM. Cheryl, Christy and Bill were here for their 25 year class reunion.
One hundred years ago the talk of Nebraska was the Grand Island Sugar Palace, erected to commemorate the birth of the state’s sugar beet industry. Patterned after the Sioux City Corn Palace, the building housed an exposition devoted to the production and processing of sugar beets. A factory was already in operation in Grand Island and what developed into one of Nebraska’s most important 20th century industries was well launched. Sugar beets were used extensively in decora-ting the interior and much of the outside ornamentation represent-ed sugar in one form or another. From all accounts, the sugar exposition was a success. The railroads cooperated by bringing people to Grand Island from all parts of the west at excursion rates. Newspapers from all over the country carried accounts, frequently accompanied by an illustration of the novel building in the plains of Nebraska.
Two six-year-old and under wrestlers received awards from the Gordon Sandhills Jr. Wrestling Association for being the most improved and outstanding wrestler. They are Dustin Dye, most improved wrestler and Tanner Wiles, most outstanding wrestler.
Ken and Susan Swick and Brandon of Gordon and Rich Cobb of Merriman were supper guests at the Brett Burress’ home on Friday, July 23. The group celebrated the Burress’ wedding anniversary and music was played during the evening.
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submitted by Helen Selee
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