November 24, 1932

Members of the Monroe fire depatment are planning an oyster and hamburger feed for next Monday evening. The department seems to be about evenly divided as to those who like oysters and those who like them not. Hence the two menus.

Miss Gwendolyn Kelly spent the week end with homefolk here.

Mr and Mrs Chas Hamner and son, Louis, went to Lincoln this Wednesday afternoon to spend Thanksgiving with relatives.

George Bastron came in from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Monday afternoon for an over night visit at the John and Jake Ditter homes.

Herman Johannes moved here Saturday from Ogalalla, Nebr., to the Gerhart Harms farm north of Monroe.

Joe Killion departed Sunday for his home in Golden City, Mo., after a months visit with relatives here and at Boone, Nebr.

Prof. Milford Mott and Prin. Kenneth Hawkes attended a teachers meeting in Humphrey last Thursday evening.

Mr and Mrs D F Rosenborough of Omaha arrived here Sunday and were guests at the Clarence Sigea home until Tuesday afternoon. Mrs Rosenborough and Mrs Sigea are sisters.

Maynard Watts moved Monday to the house vacated by Mrs. French which he recently purchased. Geo Dickinson is moving into the house vacated by Watts.

Mr and Mrs George Tiaden were pleasantly surprised Saturday evening, November 12, 1932, when a large number of relatives and friends gathered at their home to help them celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. An enjoyable evening was spent and a late hour delicious lunch which the guests had brought with them, was enjoyed. Many happy returns of the day.

Mrs Johnson, the county welfare worker, was here Tuesday afternoon. She informs us that the county is facing a serious problem in caring for the needy of the county. Telling her of the insistance the village buy high priced coal for parties who had "nothing but green cottonwood" to burn, she said that no one receiving any fuel other than cottonwood, with the exception of a man in Columbus who is unable to cut wood, he having but one leg. That should definetley settle the coal question in Monroe. Able bodied parties receiving aid should be requied to cut wood to pay for it, and we believe this is the plan of the county.

Mr and Mrs John Harding with children of Central City visited with relatives here Sunday. Mr Conrad Harding accompanied them home for a few days visit.

December 1, 1932

Fire of unknown origin badly damaged the home of Joe Stephens early Monday morning. Fire was discovered by Fred Ditter about 1 o'clock Monday morning and he turned in the fire alarm. A good number of firemen turned out and soon had the fire under control. The south end of the building was badly burned as well as some of the household goods, and they were also further damaged with water. Mr and Mrs Stephens were in Omaha and knew nothing of the fire until their return home Tuesday.

Mrs Lester Young and daughter, Elenor, departed last Wednesday evening for Lincoln to join Mr Young and where they will make their home.

Miss Clara Gleeson, who is teaching at Spalding, spent the Thanksgiving vacation with homefolk here.

Mr and Mrs M C Killion and children spent Sunday with relatives at Boone. Loneta Killion and Catherine Sands, who had been there since last Wednesday evening, returned home with them.

Mr and Mrs Martin Stohr, Mr and Mrs John Schreiber, Mr and Mrs Reynold Ditter and their families enjoyed Thanksgiving with Mr and Mrs Ed Reiken north of Genoa. Mrs Reiken will be remembered as Miss Rose Schreiber.

Mr and Mrs Lewis Johnson had for their guests Thanksgiving Day, Mr and Mrs Peter Pearson and family, Messers Ferd and Clarence Pearson and families, and Mr and Mrs Raymond Johnson and daughter Donna Rae.

Mrs Jas Elliott returned home Saturday evening from a several days visit at Dannebrog.

GEORGE F ALEXANDER

George F Alexander, only son of Samuel and Jane Ann Cline Alexander, was born in Kewanee, Ill., June 28, 1858. Ater the death of his mother, he and his father came to Platte County in 1877 when he was nineteen years of age. He homsteaded north of Monroe where he lived for many years. In 1892 he went to Omaha where he was a motorman in the street car service for a year. He returned to Monroe in 1893 where he purchased a livery business which he conducted until 1900. On January 3, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Maude Bigley, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Thos H Bigley of Nebraska City. They established their home in Monroe where they have resided ever since. Three children were born to this marriage, the eldest, a daughter, dying in infancy. The other two children, Mrs Truly Moeller and Samuel T Alexander, both of Omaha with their mother survive him. He also leaves to mourn his departure one sister, Mrs Mary Martin, of Kewanee, Ill, and an only grandchild, Billy Moeller, Jr.

In 1901 Mr and Mrs Alexander built their home on an acreage west of town, and he ran the Star Mail route to Postville. This delivery was made three times a week. Becoming intested in the added service that the rural free delivery would give his patrons, Mr Alexander began promoting this idea. After devoting a great deal of time and effort in securing the necessary number of patrons this would require, he mapped out the routes and submitted the blue prints to the postal service with the necessary petitions. Upon the merits of his representations, the two rural free delivery routes were established from Monroe on Oct 2, 1902, Mr Alexander being the carrier for Route No. 1, and Mrs Ruth A Kenyon, the carrier on Route No. 2. For twenty-one years Mr Alexander delivered the mail through storm and sunshine along the twenty-seven miles of route going east of Monroe, through Wattsville, up into Postville, and back through the east side of Okay to Monroe. He used horses exclusively until 1916 when he started using a car, but always keeping a team to rely on in bad weather, for it was his policy to distribute the mail in spite of weather conditions. This long and close association with patrons won for Mr Alexander many endearing friendships.

Upon his retirement in 1923 he maintained his residence in Monroe although he and his wife visited in Omaha with their children a great deal. He has been a semi-invalid for several years, but visited his only sister, Mrs Martin, in his boyhood home with his family this summer. He was taken seriously ill Monday morning and went to his reward Nov. 24th, at the age of 74 years, 4 months and 26 days.

During the many years Mr Alexander lived in Monroe he was actively interested in the community and its enterprises, being a member of the first band, and later with his son joining it when it was reorganized. In politics he was a staunch Republican. Fraternally he was a Mason and a Modern Woodman. He was baptized into the Presbyterian Church in his early boyhood. In the death of Mr Alexander, the home loses a devoted husband and father, and the community a staunch friend.

Funeral Services were held Sunday afternoon at the Monroe Union Church with Dr C A Stewart in charge, assisted by Rev Jas Elliott. Burial was made in Friends cemetery. The pallbeareres were: Ed Kelly, Lester Kelley, J H Talbitzer, Chas Lightner, M C Killion and Clarence Watts. The News joins the many friends in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

December 29, 1932

Rev and Mrs James Elliott are spending the week visiting relatives and friends at Dannebrog.

Miss Jane Stowe of Lincoln arrived Tuesday for a visit with her sister, Mrs J M Bible.

Lamoine Bible went to Holbrook Monday for a visit with relatives and friends.

Mr and Mrs L Meston of Fremont spent Christmas with her parents, Mr and Mrs E W Mann.

Ice has been harvested on the F J Potter gravel pit the past week. It is reported of good quality and about ten inches thick.

Mr and Mrs Pete Bitter and children of Shelby and Mr and Mrs Emil Karlin and sons of Fremont spent Christmas Day at the John Ditter, Sr., home.

Mr and Mrs J H Talbitzer and family went to Omaha Saturday morning and enjoyed "Christmas at the S J Percy home.

We have a new firm in Monroe, but your writer can't fnd out much about it. We do not know whether the official title is Ditter & Mann or Mann & Ditter. We do know, however, that they are interested partners in the chicken business, but not so sure of the way in which they are interesed - mostly after they are fried, though, we presume.

Jack Davis, Genoa's sidewalk farmer, was a visitor here this Thursday afternoon. He said he was looking for some farmers here that he could instruct in sidewalk farming. What the farmers want to know, Jack, is not how to make two blades grow where but one grew before; but how to raise a dollar where but a nickel is hard to find now.

Last week we reported the News family sick with the flu. The old man is now better, though not well, Edwin is up and out, Donald is up today and better. The Mrs has been up and around but is not very well. All have been under a doctor's care. Last week we called on Lamoine Bible to help in writing the News and our old friend Tesarek of the Genoa Leader-Times furnished us with some type, all of which was much apreciated. This week the "old man" is on the job alone and it is slow work.