Echoes Oct 20, 2004: Sheridan Co. NE GenWeb

Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications

Echoes of the Past
Oct 20, 2004
columns by Helen Selee

Echoes Page Oct 20, 2004

100 Years Ago - 1904

An extra stock train was made up here last Monday. Will Florey shipped three cars, Will Young three, Chas. L. Russell one, Geo. Margrave one, A.B. McDowell two, Joe Fickel three and Michealson one. Joe Fickel, A.B. McDowell, Will and Irwin Young, Will Florey and Charley Potts accompanied the shipment.

Mrs. Margaret Eaton is taking a vacation to visit with Mrs. A.B. McDowell during Anson’s absence.
Hank Clifford and nephew, J.M. Clifford, were in Gordon Saturday to look over some cattle that they wished to buy.

David Snyder was in from his claim north of Albany yesterday. While here he made application for increase in pension.

One of the society members, while out driving with his "best gal" last Sunday, had a run-a-way in which he and his "best" landed on terra firma without injury except a two mile walk to town.

Thomas Woodhouse arrived from Wisconsin last Monday morning and will spend some time visiting his relatives.

ST. LOUIS, MO. The following statement of the attendance at the World’s Fair was given out: Total for the week ending October 15, --939,774; total since the opening of the Fair --- 14,316,230.

The ongoing war between Russia and Japan has been extremely costly for the Russian military, according to figures released by Japan’s Marshal Oyama. He reports that the total number of Russians in this quarter alone is estimated to exceed 20,000 in , and that only includes reports from in front of the Japanese center army. Oyama reports that his men alone have buried 8,850 Russian corpses, and further stated, "The above does not include the result of the fierce engagement with our left army and many more yet undiscovered in all quarters."

The Russians, however, reported, "Our losses on October 11 were comparatively small. In the small division where I was stationed," said a Russian correspondent, "the firing slackened toward evening but recommenced after dark and continued with little intermission all night. On October 12 everyone looked for a crucial engagement, but even though heavy firing developed, the result remained indecisive. The Japanese advanced boldly and fought hotly on the extreme right and further toward the left. All their attacks were repulsed with great loss. We also suffered heavily. The Japanese ran out of ammunition and met our men with stones and clubbed rifles in a bitter hand to hand struggle. In the meantime Japanese reinforcements and ammunition arrived. Lieutenant Grozdieff was shot point blank in the chest. Although we were forced to retire, their losses were far greater than ours."

DESSAU, Germany---A sudden inrush of water and mud in a coal mine at Gerlebock, district of Koethen, yesterday, imprisoned eighteen miners who are believed to have perished.

In a second article of its kind, the Omaha Trade Exhibit of October 22 has been exposing what they call "the catalogue business", and will say it has been shown that over ten cents of every dollar sent in by patrons of catalogue houses goes to pay for advertising, and consequently the customer cannot receive any benefit from this portion of his remittance. The other expenses of the catalogue which must be met before any profit is made will be discussed in this third and final article. Even though the retail mail-order businesses pay starvation wages while the president of the company draws a salary of $50,000 a year or more, the average salary of the employees stands at $500 a year. This would make a total payroll of just one such mail-order house of $1,750,000 annually. Building rent is valued at $100,000 and more. Utilities and incidentals will run up to $50,000 per year. So the total expense will run 20 percent, or 20 cents of every dollar is spent in running the business. The concern has made its brag that it did a total aggregate business of $25,000,000 last year. This same concern also, in a moment of confidence, told the public that its net profits during the year were $2,500,000. In the next article we will show that in reality, patrons of the catalogue houses are paying 55 per cent average gross profit on the great bulk of goods they buy from these firms. Do you still think you are saving money? We will show you the benefit of trading at home.

Married life on an average lasts 28 years.

Rev. J. Anthony Mitchell, who has been here conducting services for the past month in the Presbyterian church, left Tuesday morning for his home at Stockett, Mont., where he has a pastorate. The Presbyterians of Gordon will try to induce him to locate here in the future. He is a pleasant gentleman to meet, and we hope their efforts may not be in vain.
Quite a number of veterans assembled on the Bordeaux reunion grounds on the 4th in a meeting. A new organization for the next year was effected by electing A.S. Mossman of Chadron, Commander; F.C. Plantz of Hay Springs, Senior Vice Commander; Henry Sweet, Junior Vice Commander; C.Dana Sayers of Chadron, Adjutant; and J.H. Crowder of Gordon, Quartermaster. It was decided to hold the next reunion on the Bordeaux grounds.
The Sheridan County Teacher’s Association will hold its first session of the year in Gordon on Oct. 22nd. Topics to be covered this year include: "The Value of Monthly Examinations", "How Reading Should Be Taught in the Grades", "The Advantage of Having Regular Literary Exercises", and "How to Interest Pupils in History and Civil Government."

75 Years Ago - 1929

Announcement has been made by Mr. J.W. Pace of Chadron and Mr. C.W. Pace of Gordon that work will start at once on the erection of a modern theatre building in Gordon. The new playhouse will be located on lots owned by Messrs. Pace on the west side of Main street, between Third and Fourth. The building will be 60x100 feet in size. It is the plan of the operators to install the latest in equipment for talking pictures in the new building. It will also be fitted for stage shows and doubtless Gordon will be able to secure the highest classes of entertainment when the theatre is completed. Excavation work will start at once and the foundations will be put in. Then as soon as spring opens up, the remainder of the building will be rushed to completion.

Miss Helen Hill, a Senior at the State University, has been chosen as a member of the Girls’ Octet there, singing first soprano.

Gordon won their first football game with Rushville, played last Friday at the county seat, by a score of 19 to 7. Gordon first scored when Freitag recovered a Rushville fumble of a punt behind the goal line. Dixon plunged across for the second and Skinner intercepted a pass and ran to the last touchdown. Rushville scored in the last few minutes of play, when Gordon then had many second-string players in the lineup, and this gave them a better chance to make points. Gordon had a chance to score in the last few minutes of the game also, when Dixon intercepted a pass and with a clear field ahead of him, but he stepped into a small hole, throwing him off balance and injuring his knee so badly that he had to retire from the game.

James Motz, manager of the Clinton Grain, Lumber & Fuel company of Clinton, together with Mr. George Wasmund, interested in the organization, were in Gordon Wednesday and informed the Journal that the work of building a new elevator would be started at once. The former elevator was destroyed by fire a short time ago.

Virgil Anderson, a Gordon boy who is a first year student at Chadron Normal, played in the Normal’s backfield in the first two games of their football season. He is not one of the regulars but has seen service in each of their first two contests.

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Clarke on Friday, October 4th.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Scott on Saturday, October 5th.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hatten on Thursday, October 3rd.

The first edition of the Shannon County Herald appeared last Saturday. It is a nice little four-page paper published at Pine Ridge by the Shannon County Educational Association and contains much news and interesting reading. Mr. Forrest M. Kelp is the editor.

The date of the election on the question of establishing a municipal airport for Gordon has been changed to Friday, November 8th. This was made necessary as the law governing this form of election makes it necessary to publish the notice of election for six issues in the newspaper instead of three as is customarily required. Chadron is the only city in this part of the state that has secured an airport, and it is reported that they are endeavoring to get in on an air mail route from Sidney to Rapid City. This would not interfere materially with the proposed route from Omaha to Rapid City.

In his recent message to the International convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in Indianapolis, President Hoover called attention to some facts which have been too often overlooked during the past ten years. The President said: "I am daily impressed with the great need for extended work of education in the moral, physical and economic benefits of temperance. Since the adoption of the prohibition amendment, too many people have come to rely wholly upon the strong arm of the law to enforce abstinence, forgetting that the cause of temperance has its strong foundation in the conviction of the individual of the personal value to himself of temperance in all things." President Hoover in timely fashion points out the value of personal education in temperance. If the reform forces of the country will take up the campaign of education where it was left off ten years ago, they will soon have a brighter picture to contemplate. The best way to help enforce the prohibition laws is to make the serving and drinking of illegal liquor unfashionable and unpopular.

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Fuchser entertained Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Waddill and Mr. and Mrs. Dennie Hathorn at a six o’clock dinner, the occasion being the birthday of Mr. Hathorn.

The thermometer registered exactly 102 in the sun at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Pretty hot for the middle of October.

The Batesland mail truck had the misfortune to turn over at the six mile corner between Gordon and Batesland. Fortunately no one was hurt and the mail was safely delivered.

The friends and neighbors of Mrs. Ralph Otis gathered at her home Saturday evening and gave her a delightful surprise, it being her birthday as well as that of Etta Green and Lloyd Hull. Games were played until midnight when a delicious lunch was served.

Mrs. W.D. Reid of Pole Creek celebrated her birthday Sunday by having all her children and families at home. Of the ten children, all were home except Olin who lives in Idaho. The writer can vouch for having lots to eat for there was plenty left when we got through. Mrs. Glen Jackson made the birthday cake, an angel food, which was very beautiful as well as being delicious.

Dr. Flynn, dentist, now has a telephone, the number being 325.

The Denby M.Y.N. club met Oct. 10th with Mrs. Clarence Cargill. This was the first meeting since early summer and was much enjoyed by all present. A dainty lunch was served. Mrs. E.S. Kiernan of Wakefield, Nebr., Mrs. Fry’s sister, and Mrs. Joel Harris were guests.

50 Years Ago - 1954

The Gordon high school band will close its 1954 marching season with the halftime performance at the homecoming football game Friday night. This will mark the 12th appearance of the band this fall. The band received a top rating of "A" at the Chadron Band Day on October 9th. This rating was based on playing and musicianship, fundamental marching, appearance, special features and general impression. The bands were not judged on a competitive basis, but were compared to a national rating scale, and scored in that manner.

Del Snodgrass, of Gordon, is the new president of the University of Nebraska chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, men’s journalism fraternity, Dr. William F. Swindler, director of the school of journalism, announced today. Snodgrass, the son of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Snodgrass, is a senior in teachers college at the University of Nebraska.

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No two people are alike --- and both of them are glad for it. …………………………….

Five Nov. 4 for military service; Robert J. Alcorn and Melvin H. Frederick of Hay Springs; Floyd A. Lincoln Jr. and Rollie R. Eaton of Rushville; and Roger D. Wilson of Gordon. Wilson is subject to enlistment in the navy.

Born at Gordon Memorial hospital were babies born to:
*Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gates, a son, Gary Blaine, Oct. 15, 1954.
*Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Johnson, a daughter, Carol Lee, Oct. 17, 1954.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Holsinger will entertain at dinner tonight honoring the 81st birthday of Mr. Holsinger’s mother, Mrs. Luzetta Holsinger. Mrs. Maggie Reeves will be a guest for the occasion.

Sunday, October 10th was the date of the wedding of Miss Neva Eileen Suhr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Suhr of Gordon, and Dean Edward Bruce, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Bruce, also of Gordon at the Trinity Lutheran church. Following a honeymoon trip to Denver, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. Bruce are at home at 510 Elm Street.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Walton celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary Sunday with a family dinner at their home. Among the guests present for the occasion were four of their six children and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Trimble and daughter, Cherrie Mae, arrived in Gordon on Monday, October 11. The Trimbles had just returned from San Diego, Calif., where Mr. Trimble recently received his discharge from the navy.

Mrs. Jack Harris (Peggy Shald), who was stricken with polio, is reported as improving. She is, at present, a patient at the general hospital in Scottsbluff.

The Miriam Society of Trinity Lutheran church met on Thursday, Oct. 14, with 11 members and 2 guests present. The following officers were elected for 1955: Mrs. Joe Huckfeldt, president; Mrs. Bland Oldenburg, vice-president; Mrs. Harold Paul, secretary; and Mrs. Art Schaer, treasurer. Mrs. Fred Schwindt was welcomed as a new member.

Mrs. Ross Rash presented a second group in recital, Thursday evening in the Fellowship Hall of the Methodist Church. Duet and solo numbers were featured on the program. Taking part were Candace Hull, Correne Wilhite, Lana Holst, Shirley Ruse, Johnny Hensley, Mary Jo Taylor, and Hines, Sara Jane Morris, Margaret Ruse, Jimmy Nelson, Patsy Marshall, Karen Huckfeldt, Leonard Hines and Gretchen Pisel.

Obituary:
Mrs. Amelia Boyles. Amelia Matilda Wagner Boyles, daughter or John and Mary Catharine Wagner, was born March 3, 1873 in Cinncinnati, Ohio, and died at her home in Gordon, Nebr. on Oct. 15, 1954. On Feb. 14, 1898 she was married to Joel A. Boyles of Chicago, Ill. They came to live in Gordon in the year 1908. Her husband and one son preceded her in death.

25 Years Ago - 1979

Members of the Gordon FFA chapter traveled to Curtis on Oct. 6 for state range judging. The FFA team members were Mark Kruger, David Kratovil, Kim Letellier, and Cal Williams. The 4H team members that were also there included Kenny Bayliss, Jeff Rucker, Steve Zlomke, Dennis Child and Kenny Child. Verla Schaer competed in the women’s division.

Technical sergeant Barnard Ganshert recently completed his hitch in Germany and he, Mrs. Ganshert (the former Merna Davis) and family have returned to this country. Ganshert was transferred to Shepard AFB in Texas, where he was promoted to master sergeant.

Gordon Memorial Hospital births this week included:
*Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rosane, Merriman, a son, Michael Paul, born Oct. 12, 1979.
*Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Clifford, Kyle, a daughter, Tonia Louvenna, born Oct. 13, 1979.
*Mr. and Mrs. George Janis, Pine Ridge, a son born Oct. 14, 1979.

Renee Saxton, small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Saxton, was kicked in the head by a horse on Sunday. She is at home and getting along fine.

Sharing the celebration of Lloyd Hull’s 83rd birthday were Mrs. Hull, the Jerry Faulk family, Mrs. Gary Goodrich and Bobbi and the Rev. John Baker.

Marlene Burleigh accompanied Gordon high school girls golf team to Chadron Thursday and the team placed second, which qualifies them fort the state tournament in Lincoln this week.

Obituaries:
Oliver (Scoop) Coon was born Aug. 11, 1902, in Albany to Jack and Anna Coon, and died the second week of October, 1979 in Gordon, Nebr. He grew to manhood in the Gordon community. He was married on June 5, 1923 to Ruth Adams. This union was blessed with one daughter, Dorothy Ellen. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Dorothy; his parents; a brother, Raymond Coon; and two sisters, Blanch Tausan and Eunice Parks. He is survived by his wife Ruth; three sisters, Ella Taylor, Elva Parker Nelson and Lula Spindler; two brothers, Oscar and Henry Coon, all of Gordon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Patrick Leo McGuire of Thedford was born Jan. 15, 1907 at Brownlee, and died Oct. 6, 1979 at Gordon, Nebr. He was married to Angie Lund on June 12, 1934 at Mullen. Preceding him in death were his parents, Bernard J. and Anna McGuire; a brother, Bernie, and a sister Annabelle. He is survived by his wife, Angie; one son, Don of Thedford; two daughters, Bonnie of Lincoln and Connie Wheeler or Ashland; five grandchildren, Mikki, Pat and Kate McGuire and Brett and Betty Wheeler; three sisters, Mame Faulhaber, Thedford, Leta Heath, Omaha, and Bernice Cruise and brother-in-law, Dr. T.J. Cruise of Valentine.

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