Sheridan County Newspapers & Publications
Echoes of the Past
Sep 15, 2004
columns by Helen Selee
Echoes Page Sept 15, 2004
100 Years Ago - 1904
About three hundred people went to Rushville from Gordon to witness the laying of the corner stone which was done under the auspices of the Masonic Order. They marched in a body to the site of the new structure and with impressive ceremony laid the corner stone. The following articles were deposited in it:
One copy of the Holy Bible by C. Patterson.
The Laws of Free Masonry of Nebraska, Edition 1904.
An outline History of Sheridan County, Nebraska.
One copy of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Nebraska.
A lamb’s skin or white leather apron and two original poems by Bro. G.E. French.
Roster of membership of Amity Lodge, No. 169, AF&AM Rushville, Nebraska.
One Columbian half dollar coin, date 1893, by Dr F. Van Vleck.
One copy of the Rushville Standard.
One copy of the Rushville Recorder.
One copy of the Gordon Journal.
One copy of the Hay Springs Enterprise.
One Mexican silver dollar, date 1880, by John H. Jones.
Two copper coins by E.V. Hippach.A copy of the charter of Garnet Chapter, No. 125, Eastern Star, Rushville, Nebraska.
Then Judge Westover reviewed the history of the county and was followed by W.W. Wood, who spoke in similar strain.Everyone then repaired to the barbeque grounds where mutton, pork, beef, bread and coffee was served to the hungry crowd.
In the afternoon the Rushville Ball team crossed bats with Pine Ridge in a featureless game which was won by Pine Ridge. The other amusements were a tug-of-war, horse race and bowery dance with plenty of refreshments for partakers. The only disagreeable feature of the day was a low thermometer, which made some people decidedly uncomfortable.
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The Gordon Journal will offer a prize consisting of a set of books valued at $5 for the scholar of the Sheridan county schools writing the best essay or composition on the subject, "Resources and Products of Sheridan County." All essays limited from 300 to 400 words in length, to be written by scholars attending school at this time. They must be sent to the JOURNAL by Monday, Sept. 25, in order to have the prize essay displayed at the county fair.There was some excitement in the northern end of town occasioned by a horse race between Barto’s horse and an Indian pony. The Barto’s horse won the prize, which evidently seemed to be a saddle.
Dr. Cremeens was called to the Overton ranch to attend upon Fred Black, who was kicked by a horse in the region of his right kidney. He suffers considerably although his injuries are not regarded as serious.
The spot on the moon recently un-earthed, was not a potato patch. It was the citizens of Gordon and vicinity going to Mack’s shoe shop to have their shoes repaired for the coming county fair.
Dr. Dwyer returned from Chadron yesterday morning having been called there the night previous in consultation upon the case of Ed Eastman, who died before the doctor could arrive.
Frank Gailey, who has been on a trip of pleasure and recreation to New York, partaking of the fountain of his youth, returned Friday afternoon having stopped off at Cody on his way here to look after his ranch interests. He was accompanied by two little nieces who will stay here for some time.
The Maverick Loan & Trust Company will give a cash premium of $25 for the best bushel of potatoes exhibited at the Gordon Fair Sept. 27, 28 & 29, 1904. All entries for this premium to go to the donors to be used by them for advertising Sheridan county potatoes.
Merriman News
Wm. Sears took up his bed and went out to the home of W.M. Weber to live, but there seems to be a doubt as to whether he walked with his bed.The Merriman stock dipping plant has been abandoned and torn up and the material hauled to town and piled up where it is held for sale by Grant Bixler. So many of the ranchmen who were both patrons and stock-holders of this plant had put in dipping vats at their homes, that this public plant had been practically abandoned, so it was thought best to tear it up and get what they could out of the material. The same consists of planks, posts and wire.
An extra stock train was loaded at the yards here Monday evening, of cattle from the reservation. The parties who shipped were Gus Craven - 4 cars for Chicago, large fat steers and the balance of the train, as we understood it, went only to Omaha. There were 3 cars for W.M. Weber, 2 for T.J. Henderson, 5 for Ben Senior and Ben Junior Claymores, 2 for George Cottier, and 4 for Frank, Jules and Joe Ecoffey. The Ecoffey stock was accompanied by Jules and Alfred, and the other stock was accompanied by the parties before named and Clarence Sears and Bill Taylor went along. And we almost forgot Ted Craven and Dan Sullivan. They went along, Ted to enter the Omaha college and Dan wore overalls and was looking as much like a cowboy as possible.
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Rushville Siftings
A heavy frost and freeze visited this section of the country Tuesday night and wiped out of existence hundreds of bushels of tomatoes that the good housewives were counting on for sauce during the winter months.Mrs. E.R. Taylor left Monday night for Illinois for a visit with her mother and other relatives. It has been twelve years since she was last back there and she will no doubt spend a few weeks very enjoyable.
Mrs. C. Patterson went to Lincoln last Saturday. Her daughter, Miss Ethel accompanied her and will attend school in that city this winter.
Mrs. W.D. McIntyre and children left for Clearmont, Wyoming, Thursday morning to join Mr. McIntyre who went up there a few weeks ago to locate.
C.W. Smith, whom we made mention of a couple of weeks ago as being at the point of death, has so far recovered as to walk down town again. He has outwitted and surprised the best of us.
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The czar, owing to the birth of his son, will remit $65,500,000 taxes. He ought hereafter to be able to get the tax dodger vote without much trouble. And still there are numerous married couples right here, not one of whom would consider for an instant a preposition to swap their baby for the czar’s.The news that ex-bandit Cole Younger is suffering from stomach trouble shows that even a man who leads an active outdoor life isn’t certain to avoid dyspepsia.
At their request, Governor Mickey has sent to Moran Brothers, builders of the battleship Nebraska, the names of the state officers, congressmen, judges and others who will be invited to attend the launching of the ship on October 7th. Governor Mickey will be accompanied by his daughter, Miss Mary Nain Mickey, who will christen the ship. Mrs. Mickey will be unable to attend. The launching will take place at Seattle, Wash.
75 Years Ago - 1929
A four-days’ rain which started on Wednesday of last week and continued until Sunday evening, furnished this section with one of the greatest soakings it has received in years. The total rainfall amounted to 2.32 inches but it fell so gently and consumed so much time that every bit of it went into the ground. The rainfall was general over the entire state. The moisture will be of great benefit to the fall grains already sown and will put the ground in excellent condition for the many acres which will now be put in.
Virgil Anderson, star backfield man on the Gordon High School football team for the past few seasons, is reported as being a member of the football squad at Chadron Normal this year. Virgil showed lots of ability while playing with Gordon and could be developed into an outstanding player.
Two new stores open this week in Gordon. Massey’s Fashion Shop and Bil-Thorn 10 cent and Variety store are each opening on Saturday of this week. Mr. Massey is well known to Gordon shoppers, having managed the local Golden Rule store here for several years. His new store here will handle ladies’ and children’s wear exclusively and is now arranging his stock of coats, dresses, millinery, lingerie and hosiery.
The Bil-Thorn store is opening in the American Bank building, in the room formerly used by the Louks Variety store. They will handle a general line and have a big 10-cent department. This store will be operated by Mr. L.V. Billesbach who comes from North Platte.
Based on new evidence contained in affidavits filed by Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Wolf, the only eye witnesses to the accident which resulted in the death of Eugene Clark Williams, the small son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Williams of this city, a complaint was filed in county court charging Floyd Hedrick with causing the death of the boy while negligently operating an automobile. Mr. Hedrick has offered to refrain from operating an automobile in the future if the criminal charge as filed is not pressed, and it is said that the case may be disposed of this way. The affidavits both claim unobstructed view for over half a block of the children in the road, and that Mr. Hedrick not only was speeding but was not paying attention to his driving at the time. They witnessed a man come out of a house and pick up the child after which Mr. Hedrick drove away. Mrs. Wolf stated that "The children were in plain sight from the time they left the house until the accident. It was broad daylight and anyone could see them who looked. There were no trees, shrubs, buildings, parked cars or other things to prevent seeing the children." The Wolf’s were stopped at a filling station on Main street when they witnessed the whole accident.
Jim Holy Eagle, of Allen, S.D., is assisting in the mechanical department of the Journal this week.
Claude Thomas is the name of the 9 ½ pound son born to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Massey on Wednesday, September 11th.
Rev. R.A. Germany arrived in Gordon this week to take up the work as the new pastor of the Church of God, taking the place of Rev. A.L. Hutton, who was elected County Judge last fall. Rev. Germany is a married man and has two children and comes to Gordon from Trenton, Nebr., where he has had a very successful pastorate.
John W. Waddill and son Dean are here from Texas visiting relatives. J.W. is a cousin of H.T. Waddill and was proprietor of the Irwin Store several years ago.
Automobile drivers should not forget to get their driver’s license this month. It is quite a nuisance but we are hoping that it will accomplish some good. During two sessions of the legislature, we voted against such a bill but finally last winter, we cast our vote for it, hoping it would do some good. Getting the license, of course, accomplishes nothing. But the plan is that after the law is in effect, anyone who proves to be a dangerous driver will have their license rescinded, perhaps first for a short period, and will thus be kept from driving. The penalty of taking the license is added to the provisions for a fine, etc. Something is surely needed to stop some of the careless and dangerous driving and we hoped this law might help. The license fee of 75 cents for life makes the cost nothing provided any good is accomplished. [D. Griswold].
MURRAY S. STARR
Murray S. Starr was born February 11, 1868 at Viroqua, Wisconsin and departed from this life on Saturday, Sept. 7, 1929, at his home south of Eli, Nebraska, being at the time of his death 60 years, 6 months and 28 days of age. Besides his widow and children, he leaves many friends to mourn his passing as he was an old resident of that community. Burial was made in Conley Flats cemetery, south of Eli.
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Mr. and Mrs. John Paul, Mrs. Fred Beutler and Irma and Van Simms were called to Tekamah, Nebraska, last week by the death of Van’s brother, Francis R. He was a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Paul. They returned Saturday evening.50 Years Ago - 1954
Dale Greenwood, White Clay contestant, won the All-Around Cowboy title and was presented the gold and sterling belt buckle offered by the Sheridan County Fair association at the 1954 fair and rodeo. Greenwood also took home the bull-riding buckle donated by Miller Bros. Chevrolet company. Jack Campbell, Rushville claimed the Gordon Clinic’s buckle in the wild cow milking contest. His average was 48.2.
Grand Champion 4H and FFA steer of the 1954 Sheridan County Fair was shown by Don Powless, Bingham; reserve champion by Larry Neumann, Gordon. Virginia Shanks and Carol Gealy, both of Gordon, claimed grand champion and reserve champion, respectively, in the fat lamb class.
Karen Kay Carter, Gordon, daughter of Mrs. J. Wayne Olsson, Los Angeles, Calif. and the late Martin H. Carter, became the bride of Robert B. Palmer, son of Mrs. Mary Palmer, Rushville, at the Gordon Methodist church on Saturday, Sept. 4th. Mrs. Palmer who has lived with her grand-parents, Mrs. Mary Sanders and the late Allen Sanders for the past 11 years, attended Gordon high school. The groom is a graduate of Rushville high school, class of ‘52, and is now employed at the Standard Service station in Rushville.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Trueblood are the parents of a daughter, Valerie Ann, born September 12, 1954.
Pvt. Dean Ohlsen, who is serving with the medical corps in San Francisco, Calif., arrived in Gordon early this month to spend a 25-day leave with his mother, Mrs. Ida Ohlsen.
Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Thayer of Merriman announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Patsy LaVon to Sgt. Thomas Lowell Jensen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Jensen of Merriman. The bride-elect was graduated from Merriman High School with the class of ‘54. Sgt. Jensen is serving with the U.S. Air Force. He just returned from a 21-month tour of duty in Austria and French Morocco. The wedding will be an event of Sept. 17th, after which the newlyweds will leave for Minneapolis, Minn. where Sgt. Jensen will report for orders at Ft. Snelling.
District 20 school in Niobrara opened September 6th with Mrs. Helen Parker as teacher and three pupils enrolled; District 137 with Mrs. Sarah Michaelson as teacher and five pupils enrolled; and District 141 with Mrs. Ruth Russell as teacher and six pupils attending.
OBITUARY
Fred Tuchenhagen: Mr. Fred Tuchenhagen was born at Gordon, Nebr., on Sept. 8, 1891 and died Sept. 9, 1954 at the age of 63 years and 1 day. On Nov. 25, 1929, he was married to Ethel Gardner of Des Moines, Iowa. Most of Mr. Tuchenhagen’s life was spent in the Gordon vicinity except for a few years that were spent in operating a store in Allen, S.D. His occupation was ranching and he became most successful in his chosen work. Just recently Mr. and Mrs. Tuchenhagen leased their ranch. Mr. Tuchen-hagen was in the first World War and spent much time in overseas duty. He was a part of the 39th Infantry Regiment, Company B. He was in many of the major battles, including the battle of Chateau-Thierry; the battle of Saint Mihiel and the battle of the Argonne forest. He leaves to mourn his death, his wife Ethel; one sister, Mrs. Joy Fairhead of Merriman; two half-brothers, John Seveland of Gordon and Sam Seveland of Merriman; nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, Sept. 12th, at the Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Gordon cemetery.25 Years Ago - 1979
T.L. Tausan, Golden, Colo. has been appointed vice-president of the Washington Industrial Bank of Golden. Tausan is a 1968 graduate of Gordon High School and is the son of Peg and Gerald Tausan of Rushville.
The cast has been chosen for the Gordon High School musical, "Where’s Charley?" and includes the following students: Marlene Burleigh, Dave Gran, Starla Sholl, John Meng, Denise Gran, Bill Hupp, Ann Chamberlin, Rogene Frandsen, Mike Mulcahy, Rich Schrader, Terri Hatch, Elizabeth Zlomke, Kirsten Smith, Kay Bruce, George Ehlers, George Meng and Jim Webber.
Greggory Art Gehrig, a junior at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, is among seven U of K students to receive an H.E. Crawford scholarship for study in the school of business during the 1979-80 academic year. Gregg is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Hagenmeier, Gordon. He and his wife Margi and two children live in Lawrence.
Tammy Obermiller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Obermiller, Gordon, received a purple ribbon for her 4H demonstration, "Is There a Doctor in the House?", a presentation on first aid for animals, at the Nebraska state fair held last weekend in Lincoln.
The First United Methodist Church of Gordon was the scene of the marriage of Miss Jami Bussinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bussinger to Randy Stone, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Stone, on Saturday, August 11th. The couple will live in Chadron, where the bride will be a junior in Chadron State College. Her husband, who completed two years at CSC, is employed by Burlington Northern.
New officers for the Pla Mor club for the coming year are: Jean Coon, president; Bette Annett, vice-president; and Freda Wilson, secretary-treasurer. All 12 regular members of the club were in attendance.
A family dinner was held last Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Algot Nydahl to celebrate Mr. Nydahl’s 86th birthday. Many friends and relatives came to join the celebration from Gordon as well as out-of-towners from California, Idaho, Denver, Chadron, Lakeside, Rushville and Gordon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Viher, Rushville, are the parents of a daughter, born Sept. 6, at Gordon Memorial hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Alexander, Gordon, are the parents of a daughter, born Sept. 8, at Gordon Memorial hospital.
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Tuesday, 10-Mar-2009 20:00:37 MDT
submitted by Helen Selee
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