Native of County, Teacher, Lecturer and Agriculture Proponent

Widely Known and Loved

Newton W. Gaines, 69, for 27 years connected with the agricultural extension service of the University of Nebraska, died in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday night, it was learned Friday. He had retired from the University in July of this year. Mr. Gaines was widely and popularly known for his public speaking. He was noted for his rapid-fire delivery and his great belief in agriculture and youth education.

Up and down the state, Mr. Gaines went for 27 years "preaching" the philosophy of a better agriculture in the Cornhusker state. He had spoken in every village, hamlet, town and city in Nebraska and in thousands of rural communities.

After retiring on July 1, 1945, Mr. Gaines went to California for a short rest. He originally intended to return to Nebraska about November 1st. Word of his death came from Mrs. Gaines at Los Angeles Friday morning.

Mr. Gaines was born at Arlington on May 29, 1876. He graduated from Midland College at Fremont in 1905 and later was superintendent of schools at Kennard and Louisville. He went back to Midland from 1909 to 912 as chairman of the English department. He then joined the Lyceum and did public speaking on a circuit until December 1, 1918, when he became a member of the agricultural extension service staff of the University of Nebraska where he served until his retirement on July of this year.

On the Lyceum circuit, Gaines was booked in all kinds of towns and cities. He covered 27 states each year. He worked with Molly and Fibber who later rose to fame on the radio. He also worked the circuit with Senator Bob LaFollette, father of the present Senator LaFollette.

In his capacity as a lecturer, Mrs. Gaines has delivered between 6,000 and 7,000 addresses in promoting the extension work of the university. Mr. Gaines was a gifted speaker who mixed humor and philosophy in his talks, and over the years has been in great demand. He has been especially interested in the problems of rural and small town communities, and speaking and writing widely on these topics. He was active in the Rural Youth movement and in carrying the messages of the college to hundreds of towns and rural districts. He also wrote fiction to a limited extent.

His philosophy was always on the optimistic side when making his addresses or working with rural groups. He never wavered in his belief that Nebraska agriculture couldn't be improved upon.

One of his fellow workers said of Mr. Gaines when he retired, "He's inspired thousands. He's been a friend to thousands. He's been a bear for work and the sort of a Man who has always looked on the bright side of things. He has probably pulled thousands out of the dumps and put them on the boulevards."

Mr. Gaines is survived by his wife, Lura, Lincoln; a son, Orlo, Lincoln, and a daughter, Mrs. L. A. Cranda.., Los Angeles.

Funeral services were held in Lincoln on Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. and interment was made in Kennard, his old home town.

To intimate friends of the deceased, the news of his death came as a shock. A friend had been called. A man whose friends were always anxious to meet and shake his hand. He had always gladly come back to this, his home county, to fill speaking engagements, 4-H Club programs were a drag without him. He has spoken to the Old Settlers at their annual picnic and plans were underway to invite him to speak at the coming picnic. The state and agriculture has lost a real benefactor and the county has lost a real friend.

Pilot Tribune 29 Nov 1945

Dies in West

(Photo)

Newton W. Gaines, 69 is Buried

Native Countian, Long a Leader in Ag Extension Work, Dies

About to return to Nebraska following a five-month vacation in California, 69 year old New W. Gaines, native Washington County and long prominent in Nebraska agriculture extension work, died last Wednesday night at Los Angeles.

The body was returned to Lincoln where funeral services were held yesterday at 1:00 P.M., burial following in Kennard Cemetery.

Mr. Gaines was widely known for his public speaking. He was noted for his rapid-fire delivery and his great belief in agriculture and youth education.

Up and down the state, Mr. Gaines, for 27 years preached the philosophy of a better agriculture, in the Cornhusker state. He had spoken in every village, hamlet, town and city in Nebraska and in thousands of rural communities.

Native of Arlington

Born at Arlington on May 29, 1876, Mr. Gaines was graduated from Midland College at Fremont in 1905 and later was superintendent of schools at Kennard and Louisville. He went to Midland from 1909 to 1912 as chairman of the English department. He then joined the Lyceum and did public speaking on a circuit until late 1918 when he became a member of the agriculture extension service staff of the University of Nebraska where he served until his retirement last July.

On the Lyceum circuit, Mr. Gaines was booked in all kinds of towns and cities. He covered 27 states a year. He worked with Fibber McGee and Molly, who later rose to fame on the radio. He also worked the circuit with Senator Bob LaFollette, father of the present Senator LaFollette.

In his capacity as a lecturer, Mr. Gaines had delivered between 6,000 and 7,000 addresses in promoting extension work of the university. One of his projects was soil conservation which got an early start in Washington County and only this week brought conservation workers statewide honors. Mr. Gaines was a gifted speaker who mixed humor and philosophy in his talks and over the years has been in great demand. He has been especially interested in the problems of rural and small town communities, and as such often came to Kennard, a favorite place of former residence, to give talks. He was active in the Rural Youth movement and in carrying the messages of the college to hundreds of towns and rural districts. He also wrote fiction to a limited extent.

Believed in Nebraska

His philosophy was always on the optimistic side when making his addresses or working with rural groups. He never wavered in his belief that Nebraska agriculture couldn't be improved upon.

One of his fellow workers said of Mr. Gaines when he retired, "He's inspired thousands. He's been a friend to thousands. He's been a bear for work and the sort of a man who has always looked on the bright side of things. He has probably pulled thousands out of the dumps and put them on the boulevards."

Surviving Mr. Gaines are his wife, Lura; a son Orlo, of Lincoln and a daughter, Mrs. L. A. Crandall, Los Angeles. Mrs. Gaines is the former Lura Weed, an 189? graduate of Kennard high school. Mr. Gaines himself was a member of Kennard's first graduating class in 1896.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Note: Newton is buried in Block 3 Lot 3 Space 5 in the Kennard Cemetery. Taken from Kennard Cemetery Records.