History of New Rockford: March 19, 2018

According to an item in the July 12, 1901, “Transcript” J.E. Renfrew had arrived in Eddy County 12 to 14 years prior with little or nothing. Over the ensuing years he had accumulated between 1200 to 1500 acres, and that spring had purchased three quarters from A.J. Brown and three quarters from A.M. Greely, plus a couple other quarters, which added an additional 1,200 acres to his holdings. If he had bought a few more quarters, he would have been able to drive from his farm seven miles northwest of town to New Rockford and never leave his land.

Another item read “Axtle Johnson is erecting the largest and [sic] best barn in the county on his farm seven miles east of the city.” It would be 64’x82’ with a solid stone basement and would cost over two thousand dollars, with the stone work costing a thousand. It would be large enough to house two hundred head of stock and enough feed for the winter. Johnson was also going to build an 18,000 bushel elevator on his farm, so he could store grain until the markets would prove favorable.

Rev. and Mrs. Edward Desbrow arrived from Massachusetts to visit her sister Mrs. May M. Keime. George Williams had arrived after several months in Wyoming. Hy Carr had just returned from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Halvor Halverson and Ole Nelson had been on the trip with him. Martin Fugina, district attorney at Fountain City, WI, was visiting his cousins George and Frank Fugina.

The previous week Mrs. J.C. Smith and children visited Mr. and Mrs. David Henry. Mr. and Mrs. P.M. Immel and family drove overland from Dawson to New Rockford to visit his sister Mrs. H.G. Hudson and her family; on July 8 the two families went to the Chautauqua.

For the previous six weeks L.J. Brown had been on a skim-milk diet and had gone from 285 to 224 lbs.

On July 12, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garvin and Miss Cora visited in New Rockford. George and Harry Dunham returned from the Pan American Exposition. Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg and family took the train to see her parents in Casselton. A.C. Buck went to the Twin Cities on business and then went on to the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. There was a dance at the Hotel Davies that evening; it was described as “a very enjoyable event.” A large crowd attended a dance in the hay loft of the Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson barn. Barlow barber R.L. Allison was in New Rockford, and S.T. Hewes came in from Tiffany. Also that evening Mr. and Mrs. P.M. Immel and family and Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Hudson and family returned from the Chautauqua; the next afternoon the Immels left for Dawson.

On July 12 and 13, there were several cases of sunstroke reported in horses and cattle in the area due to the hot weather.

At 2 p.m. July 13, the Eddy County Teachers’ Association met in the New Rockford schoolhouse. The topic was “Child Study.” The meeting, which was “quite well attended,” featured music and recitations. One of the attendees was Orris E. Wood of McHenry. George Pincott was in town on business. Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Foster were visiting in New Rockford. Mrs. E.R. Davidson returned from a visit to Jamestown. Mrs. W.J. Radtke and son Lyle returned from their eastern trip. J.R. Engberg and his son Sumner of Barlow returned from the Chautauqua. In baseball that afternoon the Carrington “baby” team came to New Rockford and dusted off the home team 19-6. On that day J.J. Anderson of Freeborn took up a dark-iron horse colt with a white stripe in its face; it was about two years old.

On the morning and evening of Sunday, July 14, Rev. Edward Desbrow preached in the Congregational Church. That evening presiding elder M.P. Burns of Jamestown preached in the Methodist Church. That morning Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Maxwell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Prader and family, and Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Fertig drove to Ft. Totten and crossed over to the Chautauqua; they returned the next evening. Walter Schmid rode up from Carrington and visited his sisters and some friends. Fred Belcher and J.F. McCue rode their bicycles from Carrington to New Rockford. That afternoon at a baseball game in G.J. Schwoebel’s pasture south of town “Hit-’em Hards,” a team from west of the tracks, defeated the “Neverswipes” from east of the tracks 30-11.

On July 15, Mrs. Viola Woodward, accompanied by her niece Miss Marion Davis, returned from the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. Miss Davis left for her home on August 21. John Goss was in New Rockford, as were James Knox of McHenry and Nels Mattson from the Sheyenne Valley. Mattson Hotel clerk J.W. Young returned from a week at his homestead. Went Mcgee came in to make his Timber Culture proof on some land near Tiffany. James Walsh went to Courtenay for a week’s visit. R.L. Allison started a confectionary shop in Barlow. That evening J.M. Shannon became a Third Degree Mason and other degrees were awarded, after which W.E. Biggs took the Masons to the depot waiting room where their wives surprised them with refreshments.

On July 15, the Bank of New Rockford had resources of $58,663.65, up $8145.04 from the $50,518.61 of April 24. Checking accounts totaled $29,632.18, up $1825.70 from the $27,806.48 of April 24.

On July 15, the Eddy County State Bank had resources (assets) of $16,722.01, down $3148.78 from the $19,870.79 of April 24. Checking accounts were $5112.02, down $2045.24 from the $7,157.26 of April 24.

On July 16, Mrs. J.R. Winslow was out of her house for the first time since a cow had stepped on her foot three weeks prior. Hans Guler was in from his farm southwest of New Rockford, and Iver Vick was down from Sheyenne on business. New Rockford postmaster M.F. Kepner went to Barlow. That evening “two jolly canvassers” had a foot race for a forty-dollar purse; the winner left on the next day’s train. Barney Engberg was up from his Barlow farm. Thomas and Katie Turner visited Barlow.

On July 17, Ed Martin was in New Rockford. Miss Anna Johnson and Miss Tronsdal were in from Tiffany. Mrs. T.F. McCue and Miss Gussie were in town shopping. Jacob Chamberlain returned from several weeks at the Chautauqua.

At 4 p.m. on July 17, former resident Mrs. J.M. Patch, 55, died at the Patch residence at 1701 Ruckle St., Indianapolis, Ind. She was born on November 5, 1845, in West Martinsburg, N.Y. and married J.M. Patch in 1867. They resided in Owatonna, Minn.; Rose Creek, Minn.; and in Eddy County. In 1893 they moved from New Rockford to Indianapolis because of the illness of their daughter Gertrude. She had been in ill health for the previous two years and took a serious turn for the worse a few hours before her death. She was survived by her husband and three daughters.

On July 17 to 19, Forty Hour Devotions were held in the New Rockford Catholic Church with the following priests: Father J.B. McDonald, of Lisbon, Father J.A. McDonald, and Father P.J. Phalen.