NEGenWeb Project
Merrick County news
Newsbits from the Grand Island Independent (Hall County)
Grand Island Daily Independent, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1919
OFFICE HOLDERS CONSPIRE:--A deep, dark plot was discoverd late Wednesday between two officers of Merrick County. County Judge Edward T. JEFFREYS and Clerk of the District Court Clara T. FARNAM, came to Grand Island and revealed their plans to County Judge Mullin, soliciting his assistance and finally succeeding in making him a party to the conspiracy. After they had disclosed their plans Judge Mullin decided that, after all, it was not half bad, and lent willing aid in the form of the necessary legal license. The Merrick officials were headed straight for the residence of Rev. Mr. Stitt when leaving the court house, and it is believed that the purpose has been achieved--uniting these two office (r) s of Merrick county.
Grand Island Daily Independent, Thurs., Jan. 1, 1920
J. W. BRANDTThe town of Chapman and community was shocked and saddened last Sunday afternoon to learn of the sudden death of Mr. J. W. Brandt. Mr. and Mrs. Brandt had been in their accustomed places in the Sunday school at the Baptist church Sunday morning and he was in his usual good spirits and apparent good health. On the way home he began to feel ill and his wife had to assist him up the steps and into the room. Dr. Triplett was called at once and found that he was suffering from a sinking spell caused by heart trouble. Shortly after one o'clock the patient had another sinking spell and the doctor was summoned at once but before he could reach the home, Mr. Brandt breathed his last, without being able to rally sufficiently to speak to his wife.
Walter Jacob Brandt was born in Cedar Bluffs, Iowa, July 22, 1857. He spent his early childhood there and later moved to Nebraska, locating at Chapman. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Morrill. To this union was born one daughter, Eva, on April 29, 1883. She died at the age of four months and thirteen days. Mr. Brandt was at first engaged in farming, but later entered business in Chapman and for the past sixteen years he has continuously been in the mercantile business here, operating up to the time of his death one of the leading general merchandise stores in town.
His rule of conduct in and out of business, was the "Golden Rule" and was scrupulously upright and honor able in his dealings with his fellow-men. He was a man of positive and determined convictions and what was more he had the courage of his convictions. In any efforts put forth in the town for civic righteousness or improvement he was always a leader and he won the respect of all through his determination and unflinching stand for those things that he considered right.
Mr. Brandt was a member of the Chapman Baptist church since 1885 and he was an earnest, consistant Christian gentleman--a type of man that any community can ill afford to lose. He will be sadly missed by his church, his business associates and the entire community, and not the least by the scores of little children who loved him because of his happy faculty of always remembering to greet them with a smile and a pleasant word.
Left to mourn his sudden and untimely departure are his faithful, loving wife, one brother in Louisiana, two brothers in Colorado and one sister in Oklahoma, besides an entire community which had nothing but love and respect for him.
The funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon, December 30, from the Chapman Baptist church, conducted by Rev. W. O. Samuelson. The large concourse of friends who gathered at the church and the profusion of beautiful floral offerings spoke eloquently of the esteem in which the departed was held. The remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Chapman cemetery.
