I was sorting through
files recently and found one labeled Historical Tidbits. Thought I’d share
some today.
A. History Repeats Itself Today we hear arguments about irradiated beef,
genetically altered plants, and all kinds of additives
Have you read the label on
a package of All-purpose Flour?
There are three important words -- Enrichd - Bleached - Presifted
The best part to me is it
says “presifted” since I spent many years baking before that feature was
added.
It also says “Enriched”
Look at the list of Ingredients:
wheat flour, malted barley flour
Niacin (a B vitamin)
Iron
Thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1)
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Folic Acid (a B vitamin)
And it says “bleached” –
How many of us question bleached flour? Cooks expect white flour
Bleaching flour was a big
issue back in 1909
In that year the Sec. of Agriculture ruled that it was permissible to sell
bleached flour only within the state
where it was milled but could not be shipped outside the state
The millers in Nebr. and Iowa were up in arms because they had gone to
considerable expense to install
machinery to “properly produce flour of the whiteness desired.”
Nebraska wheat was claimed to contain the highest percentage of gluten of
any wheat in the US.
But when ground into flour the color of flour it produced was not very white
So, it was necessary to bleach it to get the desired whiteness the housewife
wanted
A professor from the State University [probably UNL] testified that bleached
flour was pure and healthful
The controversy raged all summer and into the fall
B. Speaking of
Wheat
In 1896 a man in southwest Custer County bet his whole wheat crop on the
election of William Jennings Bryon.
--- He lost
So
he went to Armada, [this would be just before it moved across the Wood River
to become Miller]
He bought a 4 oz. bottle of Laudanum [the
cure-all syrup of the day which was basically opium]
He drank it all
Fortunately the doctor
found out and used a stomach pump which saved him
C. Two Cases of
Insanity
1. Kearney Hub, August 1889
John Schackler [Sheckler] was taken to Lincoln by two of the Sheriff’s
deputies
He was
one of the first settlers of this county He
owned a large ranch on the Loup River and the only natural grove of large
timber in this part of the state
“Had the misfortune to become hopelessly insane which necessitated his
removal to the asylum. “
2. Semi-Weekly Hub,
October 1909
Mr.
Maxley, father of Mrs. Elizabeth Hurley, was judged to be insane – sent to
Hastings
“Now
106 years of age and has become most unruly.”
D. Thoughtless [Not a Bright Move]
1. May 1896 Buffalo
County Sun
C. A. Jackson, put his gloves on and proceeded to wash the gloves with
gasoline
(today we would use cleaning fluid)
He was
enjoying a smoke with his pipe at the same time.
Then in attempting to relight his pipe the gasoline on one of the gloves
caught fire.
He tried to put out the flames with the other hand and both were ablaze.
Before
he could get the gloves off, both hands were so badly burned that the skin
slipped off with the gloves.
Dr. Bastin was called to treat him. He did not lose either of his hands.
2. January 1935
Kearney Hub
[this
was before antifreeze had been developed and alcohol was used to keep water
from freezing]
Police
Judge John Cameron is recovering from injuries suffered when he lit a match
to see if there was sufficient
water in the radiator.
Alcohol in the radiator blew up in his face, inflicting quite painful burns.
He was not seriously hurt
E. Driving
Directions
In January 1890 – Drivers were reminded “when you drive along the streets,
take the right hand side.
Be sure you do this.”
So this
was a practice started back in the horse and buggy days, before automobiles.
F. Obituary –
Shelton Clipper – Jan 26, 1911 [The Golden Record]
Faithful “Old Dick” is Dead
"After a quarter of a century of daily service on the S. A. Thomas dray
[delivery wagon], old Dick, who has probably pulled more loads of
merchandise than any other horse in Buffalo County, turned up his toes to
the daisies and his soul took flight to that barn from which no horse ever
returns.
'Old Dick' passed in his chocks last Thursday morning after having been
ailing for some 4-5 days. He was 29 years of age and for over 24 years past
he has been in daily service on the Thomas dray without having missed a
single day, except Sundays, until a few days before his death. During the
time of his service on the dray, he has worn out three other horses –
Barney, Bill, and Joe."
G.
Divorce September 2, 1889
Kearney Hub
"Mrs. V. J. Moses filed for divorce from William
Moses because of habitual drunkenness and lack of support and several other
acts of cussedness."