Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
Sep 10, 2003
extracts by Helen Selee
100 Years Ago - 1903
School began Monday morning and a few words in regard to it are in order. We hope all the teachers will be able to carry on their work well and satisfactory. On the other hand, it is hoped that our citizens will probe a help to the teachers instead of a hindrance. Our advice to the teachers in regard to order is to start in from the jump and demand it in strict form. There are some children in this town that will never know law, order and deportment unless they get it elsewhere than at home.
Prof. Stephenson is not married and he is hereby warned that Gordon is the greatest place for matrimony he ever was in, and he should be on the lookout for danger signals. The professor, supposing he was taking up his abode in a foreign land, away from friends and relatives, was surprised to find out that our own Samuel Joice is a cousin of his.
At the meeting of the Rushville town board Saturday evening, the old hose house was sold for $45 in cash.
On Friday of last week while his brother was breaking a bottle with a hammer, a piece of glass struck Clyde Sailor in the forehead cutting a gash that bled quite profusely for a short time.
An Illinoisan who has been through the mill says: “Last spring I was so bad with indi-gestion that I could not even digest soft cooked eggs and the doctor said I must eat pre-digested food and prescribed Grape-Nuts. I changed for the better before I had used one package, eating it three times a day. My improvement on Grape-Nuts food was so wonderful that I concluded to use your food drink, Postum, in place of tea, and to make a long story short, I have not been without Grape-Nuts and Postum since, and my present health proves my doctor’s wisdom in prescribing Grape-Nuts. I have got strong as a horse and well, and I owe it all to your delicious food and Postum.” Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. In the making of Grape-Nuts food, all the indigestible starches of the grain are transformed into Post sugar. Every particle of Grape-Nuts is digestible in the weakest stomach. Physicians have never found a stomach too weak to digest and assimilate it. Look in each package for a copy of the famous little book, “The Road to Wellville.”
A special to the Inter-Mountain from Great Falls, Mont., says: What is believed to have been an attempt to hold up Express No. 151 on the Great Northern railroad almost within the city limits of Great Falls was foiled by the engineer, who ran his train by the spot where it was to have been halted so fast that the robbers could not get at him. Just east of the city the engineer saw figures on the side of the track in the darkness. Some one shouted something, but the engineer paid no attention. There was a shot fired and the ball passed within a foot of his head and smashed a glass in the cab. Detectives were hurried to the scene, but no one was found therein.
A fat and healthy girl baby arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Johnson on Tuesday evening. (Sept. 8th).
L. D. Tice from Pole Creek was in town Wednesday and commenced hauling lumber for a commodious barn, in evidence of this season’s prosperity.
Scarlet fever has developed at Hay Springs in the family of candidate Hopper. It is rather early in the campaign for fever heat to rise.
L.X. Mosseau spent Sunday at Hot Springs. He says that women sliding down a board at the plunge bath and other similar performances is not according to his idea of good manners. The writer being in part of the Baptist persuasion is naturally, like the duck, inclined to the use of much water, but when we mix the scales from off our epidermis with those from the polluted off-scours of Hell in a public plunge bath like that at Hot Springs, it will be when we have less sense than we have for some time been giving ourselves credit with.
The latter part of last week, Al Abbott was up from Valentine negotiating to put in a saloon in Gordon, and offered $800 for the privilege during the balance of the year. He seemed to think the situation favorable to the purpose, but our opinion is it has lost out. We can’t see but what Gordon is getting along just as well as usual, and without any saloon.
There was an alarm of fire in Rushville Wednesday about 4 p.m. The hose company and hook and ladder promptly responded, when it was discovered that an outhouse belonging to J.G. Armstrong was in a blaze. How the fire was started no one seems to know, but it is surmised that it was set afire by some enterprising boy smoker.
The eruption of the volcano at Mt. Vesuvius continues in all its grandeur, but without apparent danger to the neighboring popu-lation. The lava emitted is of an unusually liquid form and consequently has covered a larger area than at previous eruptions.
A movement is on foot in Iowa and will be in Nebraska for the passage of a law not permit-ting a man to secure a marriage license, without a certificate from a doctor vouching that the applicant has been under instructions regarding the duties pertaining to marriage relations. The bill is a good one, but we are willing to lay a dollar to a doughnut that it will never become a law. Legislatures and law makers generally are always willing to pass a few laws favoring the improvements of swine, horses and cattle, but ever slow when it comes to improvement of mankind. Thousands of dollars are spent yearly for the importation of improvement of dogs, where nothing is spent towards the breeding of a better people and avoidance of producing degenerates.--Fremont Herald-Leader.
About seven miles from Hay Springs, the body of an old lady, 65 years old, named Krumel, was found on the prairie in a badly decomposed condition, supposed to have been lifeless for about nine days. Her sons claim that while they were away from the home on Wednesday, she left the house and, supposing that she was at some of the neighbors, they never sought for her until Sunday, and not until Thursday was the body found by one of the sons, who discovered it in a kinds of draw, where he had commenced to mow. The coroner’s jury decided that she came to her death from some cause unknown to them.
Grandfather Liptrap, living southwest of Gordon, died last Sunday at an extreme old age. We will try to furnish more of the particulars next week.
The St. Paul school board has decided that pianos in the public schools are a temptation to frivolity, are without legitimate use, and are at best an expensive fad and will have no more of them. The board has ordered that several hundred instruments now used in the various school buildings be removed at once.
75 Years Ago - 1928
Miss Nettie Charbonneaux of Valentine and Mr. Ami Parker of Gordon were united in marriage at Bassett, Nebraska, on August 29, 1928. The bride graduated from Valentine High School in the class of 1920 and for the past two years has taught the school in the Ed Tice district. She is a refined and capable young woman and has made many friends in this community. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are at present living at the home of the father, Mr. Newton Parker.
Attorney A.C. Plantz of Rushville withdrew this week from the race for District Judge, leaving Judge Meyer without opposition. For some time there have been rumors that this was to occur, as Mr. Plantz felt that Judge Meyer was making good and deserved a full term in office.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Clark, at the Mission Ranch at Billing on Tuesday, September 4, 1928, a baby girl. Mrs. Clark was formerly Josephine Cushing.
Dean, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Strong, met with an accident last Thursday evening, when his collar bone was broken while playing.
Relatives here have received the announcement of the marriage of Mr. Eric Martin and Miss Mae Gleason at Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 18, 1928. Eric is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Johnson. He graduated from Denver University in 1927 and spent a part of last year in Europe. Going to Tulsa, he was employed by an oil company and there met his wife.
Miss Oma Monk of Denver and Mr. Delbert Parker of this place were united in marriage in Alliance on September first. The bride is the sister of Mr. Ed Tice and spent the summer here. She has made many friends here and is a woman of charming person-ality. Mr. Parker is an enter-prizing farmer and land-owner who lives southeast of Gordon. A large circle of friends extend their best wishes.
Miss Nettie Hendricks, 52, was brought to an Omaha hospital from Logan, Ia. Needing some money to pay hospital bills, she asked a woman friend in Omaha to go to Logan and look in a certain place in Miss Hendrick’s modest little cottage and get the money out of a tin can. The friend found the can all right, and several other cans tied to it by strings. The cans contained $41,000 in cash and securities.
It seems that this year, we have seen more house-to-house peddlers in Gordon than ever before. We just wonder if they are paying a good stiff license fee before they can start out to take up the time of the house wives. They surely ought to. They pay no part of the city or school taxes, they pay no part of the cost of the improved streets and sidewalks over which they travel. They make no donations when a church or club or any other organization needs help. They do nothing to help anyone and most of the time sell something for a dollar that you can go downtown and get for 75 cents. Certainly, the city should get a good stiff license fee out of every one of them.
Carl Magnuson and crew have begun work on the new post office in Batesland. It is just across the street from the hotel. The building will be 24x28 and will be a big improvement.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rokahr of Batesland are the parents of daughter born September 2.
A baby was still-born to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Buckminster on Friday, Sept. 7. The parents and relatives have the sympathy of their many friends in their sad hour.
The two Hendrick children are staying at Chris Dam’s at the present to attend school. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick will move to town as soon as harvest is over.
Sunday was a day of initiating new cars, as there were four new ones all at once on our street. Ben Olds and wife were here with a new Buick; Chas. Petshow and wife with a new Durant Six; and Splindler Bros. and Carl Anderson with Chevrolets. Also, Freeman Sager is driving a new Durant these days.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Coon went plumming Monday and had fine luck, getting all they wanted. Their daughter, Alva Parker, went with them.
50 Years Ago - 1953
Rain, Rain, Stay Away.
Fair Opens this Friday.
Sheridan County
Wants to Play!!!!!!!!!
The 68th annual Sheridan County Fair and Rodeo is about to begin again.
A total of 68 pupils registered at the Merriman public school on Monday, Sept. 7th.
Douglas Jones of Merriman passed his examination for the army at Omaha last Thursday and is now stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Douglas Tryon left for Lincoln to attend Ag college. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shanks took their son Glenn and Douglas down to Lincoln on Sunday. The boys will live at Brown Palace, 1201 J. Street.
Sgt. and Mrs. John J. (Junior) Shuster announce the birth of a daughter, Sept. 6 at the US Marine hospital, Staten Island, N.Y. Mrs. Shuster is the former Janice McGaughey.
In observance of her sixth birthday, Janice Lynn Dohse entertained 18 little guests at an afternoon of games at the City park on Wednesday, Sept. 2. A lunch of ice cream and birthday cake was served at her home by her mother, Mrs. Harold Dohse.
Births: *Mr. and Mrs. Roger Phillips, a daughter, Karen Janell, Sept. 2, 1953.
*Mr. and Mrs. Homer Black Elk, a daughter, Imogene, September 3, 1953.
*Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Deckert, a daughter, Dree, Sept. 3, 1953.
*Mr. and Mrs. Roger Watley, a daughter, Jolene Marie, September 3, 1953.
*Mr. and Mrs. Glen Homan, a son, September 8, 1953.
Bethel No. 50 of Jobs Daughters met at the Masonic temple on Thursday, Sept. 3, for the installation of officers. Fathers of the members were special guests. The following officers were inducted into office for the ensuing term: Wanda Peters, honored queen; Wanda DeFrance, senior princess; Darlene Hood, junior princess; Phyllis Holmgrain, guide; DeLena Spanner, marshal; Rose Marie Robson, recorder; Rosalie Metzger, corresponding secre-tary; Barbara Cobb, musician; Hildred Bressler, third messenger; E. Mae Spanner, treasurer; Shirley Vollintine and Rosalyn Cobb, pages; Marilyn Coon, sergeant-at-arms; and Karen Roth and Sharon Hale, choir. As the council members were presented at the altar for the oath of office, the girls trio, Carmen Gates, Susanne Evans and Marian Haslow sang, “In Heavenly Love Abiding”. Refreshments were served after the meeting.
Six window panes were shattered by a butane gas explosion Friday morning at the Bob Blacketter home. Mrs. Blacketter was lighting the oven at the time, but was not burned. The stove had just been installed the night before and it is thought that a leak at the connection caused the blast.
Virgil Roth, BT/2C, USS Chevalier and Sally Wycoff of Phoenix, Ariz., were guests this weekend of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Roth in Chadron. Virgil, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Roth of Batesland, has recently returned from his third tour of duty in Korean waters and is spending a 30-day leave visiting friends and relatives in this community.
25 Years Ago - 1978
Frank Shedeed broke a record with the 25 ½ pound, 40-inch long striped bass he caught at Lake McConaughy early in August. However, that record was broken last week by someone who caught a 28-pounder.
The Gordon Broncs opened their football season by defeating the Chadron Cardinals last week with a score of 20-0. Scott Mills was Gordon’s leading rusher with 61 yards in 15 plays. Defensive leaders were Jeff Ford and Jim Connealy.
Miss Colleen Morrison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Morrison of Corning, Ia., became the bride of Rick Kamerzell, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Kamerzell of Gordon on Aug. 26 at the Grace Lutheran church in Gordon. The bride is a graduate of Corning Community high school and her husband, a Gordon High School graduate, received his degree in physical therapy from the University of Nebraska. After a honeymoon trip to the Black Hills, the newlyweds are at home at 1211 West 23rd Street in Clifton, Tex. where Mr. Kamerzell is the director of physical therapy in Goodall Witcher Hospital and Mrs. Kamerzell is employed by the Clifton Bank.
Obituaries: Ruthe Celestina Baker was born near Irwin in Cherry county, the daughter of Celestina Alexander and Levi Ray Baker. When of school age Ruthe moved with her parents to Gordon where she entered school. She became a school teacher and taught in Grand Island and Casper, Wyo. She married Marshall T. (Slim) Rice of Casper, an employee of C&NW Railroad. In 1940 the Riches were transferred to Chadron. Mr. Rice died in October, 1955. A month ago, Ruthe decided to convalesce in Gordon to be near her sister, Mrs. Wayland Case. She died on August 28, 1978, at Gordon Memorial hospital. Her husband, parents and brothers, Rev. Ray M. Baker and Howard C. Baker, preceded her in death. Surviving her are her sister, Mrs. Case, a brother, Ralph A. Baker of Valentine, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Burial was in the Gordon cemetery.
LEWIS PRUDEN
Lewis Peter Pruden was born July 6, 1918, near Merriman at the ranch home of his parents, James and Alice Nelson Pruden, and died Sept. 4, 1978, at Bemidji, Minn. He attended the Gordon public schools where the family moved after the death of his father in 1924. Lewis served in the Air Force during World War II. Surviving are four brothers and a sister: Harry of Springfield, Ohio; Arnold of Gordon; Keith of Beaumont, Tex.; Leland of Gordon, and Mrs. Arlene Gorton of Crawford as well as nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Sidney. Burial was in Gordon cemetery.
JESSE MERLE SPINDLER
Jesse Merle Spindler was born July 26, 1903 to George and Margaret Spindler of Atkinson. He was one of nine children. He attended school at Spencer and Atkinson, graduating from Atkinson high in 1925. He taught public schools in Bolt and Sheridan counties for ten years and one year Hisle, S.D. in the BIA schools. In 1931 he was united in marriage to Myrtle Forster at Rushville. Three children were born to them: Peggie Johns of Chadron, Rosa Sullivan of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Dick, deceased in 1959. Merle and Myrtle held a star route mail contract from 1942 until 1974 when they released it. Merle served on the Gordon Police force from 1951 to 1967. Ten of these years he was chief of police. He worked part-time for nine years at the Gordon Journal. He also worked at Kirby Vac-Chadron for a time. In 1967 they were semi-retired and traveled extensively; camping was their hobby. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, of Chadron, the three daughters, brother Floyd of Atkinson and one sister, Rose Johns of Atkinson, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His other brothers and sisters preceded him in death.
The class of 1991 contains five sets of twins, with three of the sets attending school in town at present, while the other two sets have started rural schools this year. The twins are: Ryan and Randall Ballinger, sons of Wilma Ballinger; Aaron and Steven Paul, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Paul; Andrew and Nathan Swick, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Swick; Brenda and Becky Adkinson, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Adkinson, and Tiffany and Tricia Taylor, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Taylor.
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submitted by Helen Selee
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