Page 14 - 2008 DT 12 issues

February “Helen Stewart, continued from p. 1 San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake
Railroad provided the opportunity. They
Desk Schedule to advise Helen to send a team to “. . . needed a midway point between Los
take Mr. Snurd away he is dead.” Upon Angeles and Salt Lake. In 1902, she sold
her arrival, the elder Kiel simply pointed the ranch, except for “Four Acres,” to
Fri/1 P. Gertis P. Williams to a blanket-covered body and then
Sat/2 W. Barbuck W. Barbuck raised it. Helen recalled, “I knelt down them for $55,000. It was the kick-start
C. McLaughlin beside him, took his hand, placed my that got Las Vegas moving forward as a
city. Aware of the railroad’s plans, Helen
Sun/ 3 D. Schoenglod hand on his heart and looked upon his bought nearly 1,000 acres of key land
Mon/4 J. McManus D. Powers face.” There was a trial for Conrad Kiel and another 40 acres near the ranch,
Tues/5 E. Rothfuss W./I. Baumann and Schyler Henry, but without an im- where she lived for the rest of her life.
Wed/6 G. Fazio M./R. Augulis partial witness to the killing, they went The following year, Helen married Frank
P. Herman free. Parrish was arrested later in Ely and Roger Stewart (no relation). He had
Thur7 G. Wojciecowski J. Barrett hanged for an unconnected murder. come to the ranch years before, becom-
R. Rossnagel F. Davis Helen was now on her own with ing far more than a reliable ranch hand.
Fri/8 K. Jackson P. Boghossian four children, and pregnant with a fifth, He had a gregarious personality; people
D. Reid P. Williams a boy named Archibald liked him. So did Helen.
Sat/9 P. Vandooremaal D. Gillette after her husband. She And she continued to
Sun/10 M. Haas K. Nelson was a housewife who had like people, meeting
D. Langdon been thrust into the role them, entertaining and
Mon/11 S./S. Stenzel J. Geier of ranch owner and op- giving a distinct life to
Tues/12 T./N/ Hughes P. Kepner erator. It was a daunting Las Vegas. Ten years
moment. As it turned out,
J. Geier Helen became a success- before, she had become
Wed/13 G. Fazio M. Goessmann ful ranch operator. In the Las Vegas’ first postmas-
ter. It was just one of
P. Herman R. Porche following years she not several “firsts” that lay
Thur/14 G. Wojciecowski J. Barrett only made it pay, but by ahead. She was a charter
R. Rossnagel F. Davis 1890, she had the biggest member of the Mes-
Fri/15 B. Kinn B. Erickson spread in Lincoln County. quite Club, promoting
Sat/16 J. Kisosondi D. Linsmeier Helen desperately wanted community service and
Sun/17 P. Gertis M./L. Utah an education for her chil- enhancing the friendship
Mon/18 M. Goessman T./N/ Hughes dren. She sent the three she felt for the Paiutes.
Tues/19 M. Slagle D. Powers youngest to school in In 1915, she was the
Wed/20 G. Fazio R. Porche California and hired an first woman elected to
P. Herman Oxford-educated tutor Helen J. Stewart the Clark County School
Thur/21 G. Wojciecowski J. Barrett for the other two, James Board, and the following
R. Rossnagel F. Davis Megarrigle. He became year she became the first woman to sit
Fri/22 P. Oleson B. Erickson a close friend and confidant, further on a jury in Las Vegas. She belonged
P. Boghossian stimulating her avid interest in educa- to many women’s organizations, was a
Sat/23 D. Linsmeier P. Kepner tion. When he died, she had him buried prolific writer and became an outstand-
Sun/24 K. Nelson M./L. Utah next to her husband in “Four Acres,” the ing authority on the history of Southern
family cemetery. Young “Archie” had a Nevada. And still she found time to
D. Langdon special place in her heart. She wrote to accumulate the best collection of Indian
Mon/25 S./S. Stenzel P./E. O’Sullivan him in California on January 25, 1899, baskets in Nevada.
Tues/26 M. Slagle W./I. Baumann “This is your birthday. You are fourteen When she died in 1926, Helen
Wed/27 G. Fazio R. Porche years old. I wonder what course you J. Stewart was eulogized by people
P. Herman will pursue. I think you have pride and who came from afar. Her friend, Del-
Thur/28 G. Wojciecowski J. Barrett manliness about you to try and be one of phine Squires, spoke of her as “The
R. Rossnagel F. Davis the best . . . think of you every day and First Lady of Las Vegas.” The name
Fri/29 E. Meeks B. Erickson wonder what you are doing.” Within the endured, and her promotion of good
works lived on in such things as the
P. Williams year, he was killed in a ranch accident. Helen J. Stewart School, where a
Helen was devastated by the loss, specialized teaching program helps
Changes? Call Kate at 515-5350 and felt the need for a change. The handicapped children. q

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