I Miss Family Dinners

2020. 

COVID-19 put a stop on any plans for Easter dinner. Family reunions in the summer were all cancelled. No Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas is not likely, and we will be staying home for New Year's Eve. I'm very grateful that I have not had to deal with COVID personally. But the news has been been so overwhelming at times, so I turned to old newspapers online for more interesting reading. I've found lots of trivial family news in the social columns of the past.

My Great Grandparents, Cicero and Allie Bell, were parents of a total of seven sons. Frank and G O (Oren) were sons of Cicero and his first wife. J W (Bill) Vickrey was Allie's son from her first marriage. In 1901 after both were widowed, they married and had Ben, Ed, Stanley and Virgil. About 1923, most of the family moved to Hamilton County, Nebraska from Jewell County, Kansas. Depending on the year, Oren, Bill and Virgil each may have had to drive in from out of state for family get-togethers.

We have had many family gatherings in the past where some people were unable to be there. Very often they were celebrating with the other side of their family. In this clipping from 1942 at Thanksgiving, it states "All joined in a prayer for those absent because of sickness, and for the boys in service." I'm thankful at least we're not at war right now. At the time of this dinner a few of the grandsons of Cicero and Allie were serving in WWII. Cicero was living in a nursing home, and Frank is not mentioned. Mr and Mrs Bill Dieckman are Ben's wife's parents.

Aurora News-Register, December 11, 1942

In 1943 the Bell family gathered for Christmas at the Grandparents home in Aurora. Two families weren't there, Oren's from Oklahoma and Bill's from Kansas. Cicero and Allie were blessed with 9 grandsons and 9 granddaughters.

Republican-Register, Aurora, NE December 31, 1943

I admit I had to lookup "Salmagundi", and I believe these dinners were the type of the second definition, "a general mixture, a miscellaneous collection". I've been having salmagundi dinners all my life! How did such a great word get dethroned by "pot luck"? 

This clipping says "all of her boys" but Bill, Frank and Oren weren't there. 

Aurora News-Register, December 30, 1949

"Those things mean so much to a shutin." Can't we all relate to that this year! 

Aurora News-Register, January 13, 1950

This big family reunion with the families of Cicero Bell and his sister, Laura Alcorn must have been quite a production. I'll bet the instrumental number by my Mom and her sister was a clarinet and saxaphone duet. From the list of where everyone came from, it looks like Oren's family didn't make the trip from Oklahoma.

Aurora News-Register, September 11, 1955

For Christmas 1955, my Grandparents hosted dinner for Grandma's parents, brother and Uncle Bill. Not mentioned were my Mom and her sister and brothers. This would have been in the same farmhouse where I had my first several Christmas dinners with this family. Great Grandma McGrath and Uncle Bill Negley were gone before I came along, but Uncle Virgil was at all of our family events, often with his movie camera.

Aurora News-Register, December 30, 1955

All of these events were before my time. I don't know if any of these people had a camera to take snapshots, but they would be priceless. These clippings are fund to read, but I think they are making me miss family even more.  When this pandemic is over I'm gonna host a big ole' salmagundi dinner! 

Uncle Orville

His birth day was April 20, 1914, this photo is marked "Orville, 7 weeks". Orville Callahan was the third child of Art & Sadie McGrath. He joined his older brother and sister, Virgil and Alice at home in Eldorado, Nebraska. Little sister Violet, my Grandma, came along three years later. Orville lived in Eldorado just a few years, by 1910 the family moved to Aurora where he attended school, his name appearing on the honor roll multiple times. In high school he received a Remington certificate for his typing skills. 

He displayed some acting skills as well. In the Junior Class play "Take My Advice" at Aurora High School, Orville was "very good" as Kerry Van Kind according to the review in the Aurora newspaper. The Senior class play was "The Ghost Parade", Orville played a character named simply "Jones".  He graduated from Aurora High School with the Class of 1932.

The Aurorean, 1932, courtesy of Ancestry.com

In June, 1933 he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Fort Crook in Omaha. He served in Chadron for one year and worked as a grocery clerk, a plumber and was also tasked with exterminating prairie dogs. For his service he received $30 per month plus room and board, the requirement was that he send $22-25 of that home to his parents. He got to go home for Christmas.

After his CCC service, he joined his brother Virg working in the Produce & Feed Store in Aurora. At age 26, he decided to further his education and in 1940 moved to Washington, DC to attend the Benjamin Franklin University, a school of "accountancy". Maybe it was an ad like this that caught his attention.

Evening Star, Washington DC, January 7, 1940

A year later he started his career with the US Government, which was interrupted by his service in World War II. He was involved in the action at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. My attempt to have his service file retrieved was unsuccessful, it may have been one that burned in a fire at the National Archives.

While in DC, he met Ethel Jaeschke, who had been married to Revedy McPherson whom she divorced. She was employed in the US Treasury Department. She wouldn't like it if I mentioned that she was older than Orville. I remember Aunt Ethel, I liked her, she sent me birthday cards. So I won't say how much older she was (but she was 3 in 1910.)

On Friday, the 23rd of August, 1946 Orville and Ethel tied the knot in Baltimore, Maryland. The ceremony location is not given, they possibly went before a Judge. No one from Uncle Orville's side of the family made the trip as far as I know. I'm not sure when they heard about this event - before or after the fact. It wasn't mentioned in his hometown paper.

In 1951, Uncle Orville and Aunt Ethel moved to Denver, Colorado where he went to work as an auditor in the US General Accounting Office. For several years they lived at 1120 Jasmine Street, Denver. They didn't have any children.

Taken in Aurora, Nebraska in 1956, (L-R) Art, Orville, Sadie and Ethel McGrath

Orville was an active member of several fraternal organizations in the Denver area including the Dawn Chapter #125 Order of the Eastern Star, Rocky Mountain Consistory Scottish Rite Foundation, Colorado Commandery 1 of Knights Templar, Denver RAM Chapter 2 and past master and charter senior warder of Revelation Masonic Lodge 180. He was also a member of the Augustana Lutheran Church. 

On the evening of October 9, 1969 at just 55 years of age Uncle Orville died at his home at 755 S Alton Way, Denver, Colorado. Funeral services were held at Moore Mortuary in Colorado and then again at Higby Mortuary in Aurora, Nebraska. Masonic rites were conducted by the local Mason Lodge 68 AF & AM. His grave in the Aurora Cemetery is near his parents, who both preceded him in death, He was the first of his siblings to pass away. I have no specific memory of Uncle Orville, but I'm sure I saw him a few times. In every picture I have of him, he has a big smile just like in the one above.

A Few Days Illness

There is not much I know about Nellie Gaisford. She was the eighth child of Charles and Henrietta Gaisford, born in 1883 just a year after my Great Grandmother Cora. Nellie never married, and didn't have an occupation in 1910 at the age of 26, but she was able to read and write. 

The Ellis news columns in the Beatrice Daily Sun often told of Nellie and her older sister Mamie going to visit with other siblings and their families. Mamie was 13 years older than Nellie. One of those mentions in 1914 even tells that they "drove" to a sister's place. What did they drive? Did someone in the family have a car in 1914? Checking for an operator's license is pointless, they weren't required in Nebraska until 1929. I wonder if Nellie was involved in the womens suffrage campaign. She didn't live long enough to see women win the right to vote. With no more than I know about her, Nellie appeared to live a carefree life doing as she pleased. 

And then in flu enza.

Beatrice Daily Express, Jan. 11, 1919

Beatrice Daily Express, Jan. 11, 1919

At Auction, April 24, 1962

My Great Grandma Sadie's brother Bill Negley was a bachelor his whole life. He farmed with his father Josiah Negley until taking a job as section foreman for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. In 1914 he purchased a general store and Sinclair gas station in Eldorado which he operated until his retirement in 1937 with no more than an eighth grade education. The store also served as the Eldorado Post Office with Bill as Postmaster. His brother Cal also helped run the store. After retiring from the store, his income came from his investments in cattle and rental properties. Bill passed away suddenly at his home in Aurora on December 10, 1961 at 78 years old.

Bill bought and sold a lot of properties through the years. I have the deeds to these five tracts and several more. He bought Tract No. 1 & 1-A in June of 1948 for $9600. Tract No. 2 he bought in February 1937 for $2340. Tract No. 3 he purchased in January 1951, no amount was mentioned in the deed. In October 1948 he bought Tract No. 4 for $5000, my Grandpa Stanley Bell bought this one at the auction. Tract No. 5 Bill bought in May 1951 for $2400. The total sales of these tracts brought $55,100.00. 

AT AUCTION!

440 ACRES UNIMPROVED HAMILTON COUNTY LAND

Will be sold to the Highest Bidder - on 

TUESDAY, APRIL 24th, 1962

COMMENCING AT 2:00 P.M.

At East Entrance to the Courthouse, Aurora, Nebraska

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TRACT NOS. 1 & 1-A

NW1/4, Section 27, Township 9 North, Range 6, West of the 6th P.M., Hamilton County, Nebraska, on Highway No. 14. This 160 acres will be split east and west, making two 80-acre tracts.

TRACT NO. 1 - North Half is all in cultivation, has 10 acres of growing wheat, 10 acres of alfalfa, remaining will be milo. Marion Salmon is the Tenant.

TRACT NO. 1-A - South Half has 10 acres growing wheat, and 40 acres of Alfalfa. Stanley Bell is the Tenant.

This will also be offered as a 160-acre unit. The high bid closes the sale.

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TRACT NO. 2

S1/2 SW1/4, Section 35, Township 9 North, Range 6, West of the 6th P.M., Hamilton County, Nebraska, one mile east of Highway No. 14 on Hamilton-Clay County line. Folks desiring pasture, inspect this tract. There is 30 acres of native pasture, 20 acres brome and 30 acres of alfalfa. This is on cash rent basis to Dayton Bauder, Tenant.

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TRACT NO. 3

N1/2 SW1/4, Section 8, Township 9 North, Range 6, West of the 6th P.M., Hamilton County, Nebraska, located 6 miles south on Highway No. 14, 2 miles west and 1/2 mile south. Joins what formerly was Cain Schoolhouse site, all in cultivation, 10 acres growing wheat, balance will be in milo. Theo Janzen, Tenant.

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TRACT NO. 4

E1/2 NW1/4, Section 14, Township 9 North, Range 7, West of the 6th P.M., Hamilton County, Nebraska, located 4-1/2 miles southeast of Giltner, across the road from Seatonville Cemetery. All is in cultivation, 29 acres of growing wheat, balance will be milo. Stanley Bell is the Tenant.

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TRACT NO. 5

SE1/4 SW1/4, Section 23, Township 9 North, Range 7, West of the 6th P.M., Hamilton County, Nebraska, located 1 mile south of Bingville corner and 1/2 mile west, all in cultivation, no growing wheat. Stanley Bell is the tenant.

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Above lands are leased for 1962 crop year. Landlord's crop share and cash rent will be assigned to buyers together with future government payments. These lands are in the Feed Grain Program, 40%.

Any member of Auction Company will be pleased to show any of these lands at any time.

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TERMS: 15% DAY OF SALE. BALANCE IN 30 DAYS!

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Estate of William D. Negley

CHARLES F ADAMS AND VIRGIL C MCGRATH, Executors

SALE CONDUCTED BY

Coblentz-Refshauge Realty Auction Co.

Phone 31     AURORA, NEBR

ORVILLE V NIELSEN, Clerk

Kenneth Menke Farm Sale, 1955

Beatrice Daily Sun, December 9, 1955

Public Sale

Having decided to change farming operations, I will sell at Public Auction, at the place 3 miles east, 1/4 mile south of Harbine, Nebr., or 2 miles west and 2-1/4 miles south of Ellis, Nebr., on 

Thursday, Dec. 15

Commencing at 12 o'clock Sharp

[first column]

29 Head Cattle

9 Yr Old White Cow, milking now

8 Yr Old Spotted Cow, milking now

6 Yr Old White Cow, milking now

5 Yr Old Roan Cow, milking now

6 Yr Old Red Roan Cow, milking now

5 Yr Old Red Cow, just fresh

5 Yr Old Roan Cow, milking now

3 Yr Old Brockle Face Heifer, milking now

3 Black Angus Heifers, coming 2 yrs old to freshen in Spring

Black Heifer, 2 Yrs Old, Fresh in Spring

3 W-F Stock Cows, coming with 2 Calves

W-F Jersey, 1 Yr Old

Blue Roan Heifer, coming 2 Yrs Old

W-F Heifer, 6 Months Old 

2 Black Heifers, 4 Months Old

Holstein Heifer, 6 Months Old

5 Yr Old Black Cow, with Calf at side

5 Black Bucket Calves

Yearling Past Black Steer

Milking Equipment

Wilson 4 Can Milk Cooler

15 Gal. Santimatic Hot Water Heater

Santimatic Wash Vat

Can Rack  6 10-Gal Milk Cans

Radiant Electric Heater with Thermostat Control

Milk Strainers

Electric 600 Watt Heater

8 Head Hogs

8 Red Feeders, Av[g] Weight 183 lbs

Hay and Grain

100 Bu Nemaha Oats

25 Bu Barley

400 Bu Yellow Ear Corn

800 Bales Choice Alfalfa, all 3 

[second column]

cuttings wire tired

30 Bales Wheat Straw

Farm Machinery

1938 F-20 Farmall in good condition

2-14 IHC Tractor Plow

John Deere 2 Row Tractor Corn Disc

G I 15 Ft Disc

G I 1-Row Corn Picker with Cooks Husking Bed

1952 MM, 18x7 Grain Drill with Power Lift, Grass Seeder, Press Wheels

1950 Allis Chalmers Combine PTO, Extra good

Dearborn 2-Row Tractor Cultivator

44 Ft Kelley Ryan Grain Elevator with Power Take Off with Speed Jack

Wetmore Gluten Hammermill with PTO

1946 Case Hand Tie Baler, good shape

Two Wheel Trailer with Large Grain Bed

2 4-Wheel Rubber Tire Trailer with Flat Beds

Old Wagon

1953 MM Side Delivery Rake

7 Ft Mc Deering Mower

300 Gal. Fuel Tank on Stand, Double Compartment

Some old Machinery

Household Goods

2 Piece Living Room Suite

Some Miscellaneous Items

Miscellaneous

Tank Heater, Coal or Cob

Set of Harness.   Oil Heater

Oil brooder Stove     Used Lumber

30 Good Panels, Various Sizes

Open Shed, 22x10 Ft.

1930 Model A Ford

Some Old Iron

Miscellaneous Items

Lunch at noon by Ellis Methodist Ladies

Terms: Cash.   No goods to be removed from premises until settled for.

Kenneth Menke, Owner

Owner's Telephone No. 10803 Diller

First National Bank, Clerk

Beatrice

SIEGEL BROTHERS, Auctioneers

Hubert               Harold

1610 H St        613 12th St

Ph 1135 Fairbury    Phone 1365

Christmas Dinners in the News

A little history of Mann family Christmas dinners as played out through the Beatrice Daily Sun...

Mr and Mrs Oscar Mann of near Goodland, Kas., drove to Ellis the last of the week and visited Mr Clarence Mann and family and Will Camp and family and then drove on to Iowa to spend the holidays with relatives Miss Helen Camp, daughter of Mr and Mrs Will Camp who has been attending school in Kansas, accompanied them and will spend the holidays with her parents here. (December 27, 1929)


My Grandma and her twin brother, children of Clarence, would have been 9 years old. There were likely several cousins around their age that would have come with their Uncle Oscar. They must have had fun with them. Their cousin Helen Camp was twice their age.

Dinner Party

The following families enjoyed Christmas dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mann in Beatrice: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bartlett and son, Arvid, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Bartlett and children, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. Pearle Nickeson and Donald and Betty and Mrs. Eva Mathias. (January 3, 1944)

During WWII, the Mann family was celebrating together with a few of the men off to war. A Grandson-in-law had lost his life in service about six months before this Christmas.

Holiday Mann Reunion
A holiday reunion of the family of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Mann was held at their home at 113 South Sumner St., Sunday, Dec. 28.
All of the sons and daughters were present and most of the grandchildren. A dinner was served followed by an exchange of gifts. (January 9, 1953)

This article goes on to mention everyone present, a total of 67 people. The home at 113 South Sumner Street was a two bedroom home with an unfinished basement. 

Twelve of the thirteen living children of Mrs Clarence Mann, Beatrice and their children enjoyed their annual holiday dinner with her in her home at post-Christmas dinner Sunday. (January 15, 1969) 

This was the first Christmas after Clarence had died. Probably, besides this dinner of the siblings, there was also a grand gathering of the 100 plus descendants of Clarence and Cora Mann. I'm not sure what year the final Christmas gathering of all the descendants of Clarence and Cora Mann was, but this only mentions children and grandchildren. Cora died in July of 1971.

Friday's Faces from the Past - JJ Willy Photo of Four Children

Here I have another photo of children who don't fit in my tree anywhere that I know. Two girls, one boy, one infant of unknown gender were photographed by J J Willy. Children whose parents were probably friends of my Great Grandmother Sadie McGrath or her sister Alice Negley. These children likely lived in Eldorado or Stockham or maybe Harvard, Nebraska around the turn of the century. It would be interesting for me to learn the identity of these children and how they knew my family. I would also like to pass this photo on to their descendants. 

Newspaper Clippings, DeWitt, Nebraska, 1884

When looking for an obituary for my Second Great Grandfather, David A Roscoe, issues of the DeWitt News-Times were missing for the dates immediately following his death on May 13, 1884. Following that date, June 5th was the next issue on the microfilm. I took copies of the Local News as a reminder that I had looked and to share here. Maybe this will help someone else.

My hope is that someday the DeWitt News-Times can be digitized. I'm helping locally to raise funds to digitize all Hall County, Nebraska historic newspapers and I'm aware of the cost and community interest it takes. DeWitt would have my support if they ever consider getting these digitized.

De Witt News-Times, June 5, 1884, top of page

Column I
LOCAL NEWS
Pray for rain.
Two ice cream saloons in De Witt.
The population of Beatrice is 6000
Seed Buckwheat at H D Rogers
Framers report a good stand of corn.
Go to Leeper & Crane for canned goods.
The M. E. Church is receiving a coat of paint.
A. H. Denison has a new sign at his harness shop.
Mr Anderson has started his vegetable wagon.
Don't spend your money to see a one-horse circus.
Nebraska is well represented at Chicago this week.
John Calvin lost his stable a few nights ago by fire.
W. H. Staley has built a fine porch to his house.
George Grant has fixed his saloon up in first-class style.
Beatrice, as well as other towns, has a few burglars.
White and Leacock are shipping corn from Swanton.
Richard Davis is building another addition to his house.
Ladies ready made underware at cost at Miss Allensby's.
Mr. Lewis has put a street lamp at his place of business.
Fall Wheat and Rye will soon be ready for the harvesters.
Carpenters are now at work on Mr. Huestis' new house.
Mr. Adam Bucher, of Castor, was in our village last Monday.
Sixteen carloads of stock went up the road Tuesday evening.
Dunning letters have been mailed this week by the hundreds.
Daily papers have been in demand in our town this week.
Carpenters have commenced work on Wm. Nelson's new house.
Leeper & Crane are agents for the celebrated Prairie Bird cigars.
Western will celebrate the 4th. of July this year in grand old style.
C. S. Doty, representing the state Journal, called yesterday.
Strawberry festivals are in order now in every town in Nebraska.
Dr. Duncan and family returned last week from their eastern visit.
Friend will celebrate the 4th of July by holding a county re-union.
An awning has been put to the building occupied by W. H. Coble.
Mr. J. C. Ogle, late of Illinois, is now proprietor of the De Witt house.




Column II
Ladies are invited to look over the large stock of Millinery goods at Miss Allinsby's before purchasing
The big Camp meeting of the Seventh-Day Adventists commenced at Beatrice yesterday, June 4th.
The five thousand bushels of corn that spoiled in Col. Stratton's cribs at this place, is being shipped east.
Mrs. Storms and her sister, Mrs. Leacock, passed through De Witt last Saturday on their way to Exeter.
MARRIED - At De Witt, Sunday, June 1st, 1884, by Rev. E. J. Hancock Mr. N. Roberts and Miss L. Sebring.
Contractor Hickman, of Beatrice has been in our town a few days this week figuring on the school building.
A few loads of potatoes would bring a good price in De Witt if brought in before the new crop is grown.
Those persons having magazines belonging to the De Witt Reading Club are requested to leave them at this office.
Two young girls left their homes at Juniata last week without cause and were found working in a hotel at St. Joseph, Mo.
Supervisors Moffitt and Wilkinson were in De Witt Monday viewing the location for a bridge across the Blue north of town.
We depended on a party at Western for the particulars of the death of Superintendent Storms, but we were disappointed.
Candidates for Congress are begining [sic] to spring up in all directions. Nebraska is full of good men, but they can't all get there.
The strawberry and ice cream sociable given at the M. E. Church on last Friday evening, was a success in every particular.
We have held the publication of our paper one day in hopes that we would be able to name the man who is to be our next president.
Go to Leeper & Crane and get prices on Teas.
The date of the Nebraska Sunday School convention has been changed from Jund [sic] 3, 4 and 5, to June 24, 25, 26. The convention will meet at Wahoo.
Our old friend James Fike, of Pleasant Hill, made us a pleasant call Tuesday. Jim is one of our oldest subscribers, and didn't fail to renew while here.
Byron Drum, the ten year old son of postmaster Drum; at Beatrice, accidently shot himself while taking a gun from a boat last Saturday. He died instantly.
Our people are talking of helping the people of Western celebrate the 4th of July, which is no more than...



Column III
Professional Cards
Physicians.
J. K. L. DUNCAN, M. D.
PHYSICIAN and Surgeon. Office one door east of G. H. Hunt's Residence east of R. R. track.
DE WITT, NEB

CHARLES E. ELDER, M. D.
Will always be found in office opposite Post Office, when not professionally engaged.
DE WITT, NEB

DR. B. C. PARKER
Physician & Surgeon
Office in Wehn's Drug Store. All calls promptly attended to.
WILBER, NEB

HOMOEPATHIST
MRS. JAMES E. SHERRILL, offers her professional services to the afflicted.
Address   DE WITT, NEB

Attorneys

W. H. MORRIS
ATTORNEY and Counselor at Law.
CRETE, NEB.

S. S. ALLEY
Attorney-At-Law
And U. S. Pension Agent.
WILBER, NEB

Miscellaneous.
F. M. SUITER.
NOTARY PUBLIC and conveyancer.
DEWITT, NEB

WHITE & LEACOCK
Pay the highest market price for Grand and stock.
DE WITT, NEB

LOCAL NOTICES
TRANSIENT, 10 cents per line, regular customers, 5 cents per each insertion. Announcements for Church services, Marriages, Birth, and Deaths inserted free.
Chandler Sisters have opened a full line of Millinery in Nelson's building. Prices very low.
Leeper & Crane have the Cream of the candy trade.
Go to Mrs. Dann's for bread, cakes and pies.
Ladies Gause underware, Kid Gloves, and ladies and childrens Stockings at the millinery store.
Have you seen those Elegant panels at Perry's gallery? They are just the kind for standing figures. Parties desiring views of their residence, or any exterior pictures, will do well to call on O. H. PERRY.
Wild & Son have received a large lot of Ams, Shoulders and dried beef.
The finest Oil Stove manufactured, at Murray & Hollingworth's.
The celebrated Kansas Flour at E. Hastings.
Go to Mrs. Dann's for bread, cakes and pies.
Bargains in Carpet, Carpet Warp, and Floor Oil Cloth, at E. Hastings.

De Witt News-Times, June 5, 1884, bottom of page

Column I

FASHIONABLE DRESSMAKING - By Miss Nettie Birdsall, of Binghampton, N. Y. Room at Mrs. Dann's, north of bank

It will not be long now till the new school building will begin to loom up.

The weather has been quite cool in Nebraska for several days, but no frost.

Miss D. A. Chinnock, of Lincoln is visiting her friends in De Witt this week.

"What is the Convention news?" has been asked a great many times this week.

Some of our citizens who went fishing last Saturday, came near being drowned.

De Witt has seven base ball clubs but nary a foot ball club. Why not organize?

DRESS-MAKING - By Miss Mary Ambrose. Room at Mrs. Calvins east of Depot.

J. J. Pierce is in Chicago with a lot of stock that he shipped from this place Friday.

All bids for building the new school house must be in by six o'clock this evening.

Several of our business men are attending Surpervisors meeting this week at Wilber.

The De Witt Literary club will have a pic-nic this afternoon in Dr. Goodell's grove.

Miss Emma Craig has returned to her home in Illinois, where she will probably remain.

Capt. O. H. Phillips, of Beatrice, came up Monday to visit his brother, Mr. Jas. Phillips.

Hardware of all kinds at Murray & Hollingworth's.

The houses of Alfred Hazlett and C. M. Emery at Beatrice, were burglarized Sunday night.

The county Supervisors are in session this week with a large amount of business to attend to.

Dr. Duncan has the finest fence in the village. We have not seen it but that is what we hear.

Our job department has had a rush the past two weeks, and we have turned out some fine work.

Go to William Wild & Son for the choicest collection of Flowers ever brought to De Witt. Prices as low as [?] the county.

Column II

...4th of July, which is no more than they should do, as Western helped De Witt last year.

Some hungry devil who was too proud to beg but not too honest to steal, broke into the De Witt meat market Sunday night and helped himself to a few choice cuts.

Dr. J. E. Hiltz gave two lectures on Spiritualism in De Witt last week. The house was well filled with chairs and benches, but very few of our people were sold out by him.

Cole's circus company carried $8,000 out of Beatrice, and still the people of that city and surrounding country, are soon to be swindled out of more of their cash by another show.

News reached us yesterday of the death of Mr. John Burger, who for the past six years has been a resident and much respected citizen of Gage county. Mr. Burger has many frends in De Witt who will miss him.

A gentleman from Friend, by the name of Carnehan, has rented the Blue Valley house and will take possession July 1st. Mr. Dulin, at that time will open the Iowa house and run a first class hotel.

Decoration day was observed by the people of this place and vicinity, and seven soldiers graves were decorated by the school children. A short address was made by Hon. H. M. Wells, at the cemetery, when the exercises closed and the people returned to their homes.

A. W. Carmichael has made the first delivery of his books, "Anecdotes and Incidents of the Rebellion," and they are giving perfect satisfaction, not only with the old soldiers, but everyone is interested. Mr. C. is still canvasing and es [sic] the book is more than worth the price, everybody should subscribe. 

Willard H. Stormes died May 27th, of lung fever after an illness of but a few days, aged 45 years. He came to Saline county in 1872, and located a homestead in South Fork Precinct, where he died. He filled the office of Sheriff one term, and at the time of his death was on his second term as county Superintendent. His remains were followed to the cemetery by at least one thousand friends, one hundred and fifty of them being Masons, to which order he belonged. The many friends of Mr. Stormes, are now in sympathy with the widow and fatherless children of our esteemed county superintendent.

Column III

I am closing out my entire stock of Dry Goods and Clothing. If you want good bargans call and examine my stock. Good Domestics at 7 to 9 cents. Good print 20 yds, $1.00 Standard 16 yds. $.00

H. Hitchcock

All persons knowing themselves indebted to the firm of H. D. Rogers & Son, are requested to call on the undersigned, or cost will be made.

H. D. ROGERS

Our merchant, E. Hastings, has lately received an immense line of Boots, Shoes and Slippers. It takes a great quantity of these goods to supply his trade. It is no secret that the cause of this success is the superior quality of the goods he keeps and the low price at which he is able to sell them.

Avery's corn planters and check rowers at Denny & Pelcer's.

You can buy a hat at Hitchcock from fifty cents up.

H. Hitchcock sells boots and shoes twenty per cent lower than any other house in the county.

Go to Mrs. Dann's for bread, cakes and pies.

G. A. Hunt's stock of clothing is the largest in Saline county.

At the lumber yard of H. Hollingworth you can find Oak and Cedar posts. Illinois and Iowa coal, and everything that belongs to the lumber trade.

A handsome stock of clothing has just been opened up at the Red Lion Store. Call in and get good clothing cheap.

M. G. GREBE

The best variety of Canned goods in the market at Leeper & Crane's.

Free Delivery

Flour and Feed delivered free to any part of the village by,

H. RUPERT

Land for Sale

Eighty acres of land, Forty acres broke, for sale on reasonable terms. Land is located about six miles southwest of De Witt. Persons wishing to buy will receive all necessary information from Mr. Burns, De Witt.

Estray Notice

Strayed from the farm of the undersigned, about ten miles west of De Witt, one black mare pony with white star in face. Any person returning the same or giving information of her, will be liberally rewarded.

GEO. MUMBY

C L Mann Selling Out

In 1940 my Great Grandpa Clarence Mann sold off his farm equipment. As of April 1st in the census of 1940, he was 61 years old, renting a home at 640 West Bismark in Beatrice for $12 a month with 4 people in the household. He noted he was seeking work and had been unemployed for three weeks (that would be about March 4th). He reported income of $200 in all of 1939.

This sale bill would likely have been posted in the Post Office, banks and many other businesses in the area. There isn't much here, probably the last of the farming equipment he ever owned. He had been a full-time farmer for many years. In the next few years, he went to work at Dempster Mills in Beatrice.

PUBLIC SALE

On the R. D. Hemminger acreage on Beatrice Memorial Drive west of Rock Island Railroad, on

Monday, Mar. 4

Commencing at 1:00 o'clock

Horses

Bay mare, 10 years old, wt 1150 lbs.

Implements

Kentuck press drill
Dempster two row cultivator
P. & O. two row disc cultivator
John Deere 12 inch gang plow
Case one row lister
One row cultivator
McCormick mower
Hay rake
Manure spreader


Three section harrow
Mitchell box wagon
Hay rack
Steel wheel truck wagon
Four wheel trailer
Five shovel garden plow

Harness

Two sets of work harness
Set of leather nets

Forks, scoops, 3 rolls slat cribbing
Hog trough, grindstone
Other articles too numerous to mention

Terms: Cash

C. L. Mann

Ruyle & Ruyle, Auctioneer and Clerk

Friday's Faces From the Past - Townsend in Hastings

This is a great photo of five girls - or maybe one or both of the youngest two are boys. The clothing and photo mount seems to date this in the 1890's if I'm learning much about these vintage photos. The photographer's imprint is "Townsend, Hastings, NEB", and the picture measures just about 5" x 7".

Hastings is only 20 miles from Eldorado, Nebraska. This is another photo that someone in the Negley family kept, likely of someone they knew. Unfortunately, they didn't write their names on it. These kids could be from Hastings, Harvard, Stockham or anywhere in the vicinity of Eldorado. I'm interested in finding out how this family knew mine and will be glad to give this to a descendant of these kids. 

See more old unidentified photos I have on the "Faces of Eldorado, Nebraska" on the menu bar above.