History of New Rockford - April 9, 2018

The August 2, 1901, “Transcript” said the Northern Pacific was thinking of putting in an Oberon branch line. The repairs on the Monarch Elevator were completed, and the building was painted red.

The paper complained that the backyard weeds were getting too high behind some residences and should be cut down.

That issue reported that when P.M. Mattson learned that his newspaper, the “Provost,” had been indicted by the federal grand jury in Devils Lake for mailing obscene material, he quickly left for that city.

That issue also carried a warning to the young boys who were playing ball on the grounds west of town: if they did not refrain from using foul language they would be forbidden access to the grounds. The “blasphemous and obscene language” was disturbing to the families who lived within earshot of the playground. In the opinion of the newspaper, the boys should be “tanned” for their language and kept at home by their parents.

It was reported that Barlow had a newspaper.

Albert Hendrickson was a new clerk at Thomas Ose Hardware.

J.W. Rager claimed to own the tallest horse in Eddy County. There appeared to be a bumper crop with wheat having four- to five-inch heads and good oats and flax. Freeborn farmers such as J.J. Anderson, Thor Hollum, Ole G. Golsen and Thomas Aikem, and Morris farmers John Dutee Jr., J.T. West, William Farley, George Setz and Fred Dutee expected the harvest to come close to the record crops in the eastern part of the county. J.D. Carroll had five hundred fat cattle and was looking to put up two thousand tons of hay.

It was reported that farmers were begging for harvest help and were offering good wages to workers as soon as they were off the trains.

The Clure Implement Co. was improving its office and machinery building and applying new paint. The Cahill Bros. crew was working on the foundation for the new brick addition to the Bank of New Rockford.

There was a rumor that William Farley of eastern Eddy County and Charles Logan were going to start a hotel and restaurant in the former courthouse building on Chicago Street.

William Hartl of eastern Wells County was hauling lumber for his new 30’x32’ home with 18-foot posts.

Mrs. J.D. Carroll was quite ill at Lake Washington with inflammatory rheumatism.

The previous week F.R. Patterson, a Chicago dentist with 20 years of experience, set up in the Hotel Davies to do dental work for the next week or so.

The previous year a Mr. Baumgardner had purchased and lived on the former Auiler farm four-miles east of town. He was hailed out and returned to Ohio, where he was again hailed out this year.

On August 2, Mrs. Charles Scott returned from a visit with Mrs. Merritt Lathrop in eastern Eddy County. Frank Woodward returned from his claim near Kenmare. Mr. and Mrs. John Goss were in town for harvest supplies. John Seckinger was in from eastern Eddy County for a few thousand pounds of binder twine; he started his wheat harvest on August 5.  

J.T. West also came in from the eastern part of the county for a wagonload of binder twine. Miss Pearl Goss was in from near Kiner in Wells County to visit Miss Katherine West for a few days. Mrs. Otho Lathrop was preparing to leave for her homestead in eastern Eddy County when she tripped near the top of the stairs in the Hotel Davies and fell all the way down the staircase. She was seriously bruised. At 3 p.m. the WCTU met at secretary Viola Woodward’s home to elect officers. In baseball it was the New Rockford regulars, 10, and a team picked by Dr. MacLachlan and F.C. Davies, 8. That evening there was a dance sponsored by the baseball team which raised “a nice sum.” Misses Fuller and McGeoch of Oberon had come down that day to visit Mrs. F.G. Haver, and they attended the dance.

On August 2 and 3, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dutee were in town shopping; he bought a load of twine and began harvesting on August 5.

On August 3, O.R. Pomranke, J.R. Craig, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kronz were in New Rockford. Mrs. Axtle Johnson was in town shopping. A.C. Buck returned from his business and pleasure trip to “eastern parts.” The NRFD met that evening.

On August 3 and 4, George Setz was in from eastern Eddy County. On August 3 to 5, druggist W.L. Buttz visited his brother in Minnewaukan.

On Sunday, August 4, B.G. Arbogast and George Setz received a shipment of 138 cattle, mostly yearlings, from Kansas City, Mo.; they planned on fattening the animals and selling them on the eastern market. O.O. Wolden was down from Sheyenne. Mrs. Nathan Flater visited Carrington. Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Rantz, Mrs. Charles Scott and some Minneapolis friends picnicked in Roberts’ Grove. In baseball at Carrington, it was Carrington, 12; New Rockford, 8. Many New Rockford people attended, despite periodic rain showers. That evening, Rev. C.F. Sewrey presented “The Home and Character Studies in Human Nature” in the Methodist Church.

On August 5, George W. Price was over from McHenry and Nick Majarus was in from his farm, both on business. Martin Walsh was in from Tiffany. David Henry was in town. George Gillette came in from Freeborn and purchased a binder. Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Maddux and family left for a visit to their old home in Indiana and the Pan American exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. Dr. Charles MacLachlan went to Duluth and West Superior for a visit. L.B. Miller re-opened his refurbished hotel in Barlow. Mrs. Benjamin Rantz was returning from a visit in Sheyenne when she started down a steep hill and a holdback strap broke. Her buggy hit the back hooves of the horse, which kicked the dashboard to pieces. One piece of wood hit just below Mrs. Rantz’s kneecap, “causing a very painful bruise.”

From August 5 to 7, John M. Duttee Jr., was in the Twin Cities on business.

On the morning of August 6, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John West. R.P. Allison biked to Barlow to visit his son Robert L. Mrs. B.W. Hersey came in from Tiffany to shop. State Commander E.F. Kelly was up from Fargo to look over the Knights of the Maccabees, New Rockford Tent #4. Burton Hulbert was in town for harvest supplies. F.I. Lyon returned from Minot and other points on the Soo Line. John Cain returned from a trip down the branch line.  

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pake came back from their visit to Hope. Bank of Sheyenne cashier S.G. Severtson was in New Rockford on business.

On August 6 and 7, W.J. Carroll was in from his Washington Lake ranch for harvest supplies.

On August 7, A.J. Ford and Jacob Allmaras were in town on business. Col. Seth Bailey was in from his Tiffany farm, and John Ducke was in from Larrabee. Charles Hutchinson, August Kiehlow and Jake Valer were in town. Mr. and Mrs. William Wilson and Mrs. Peter Butler came in to shop. Buying harvest supplies were Clifford Larkin and Fred Pietzsch. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clure came in from Hastings, Minn., to visit their sons. Miss Fred Zimmermann and Miss Gertrude O’Connell were visiting in New Rockford. Will Steinweg returned from a visit with his parents in Casselton. Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg and her children came back from a three-week visit with her parents in Casselton. James F. Hackney started his wheat harvesting with three binders. Mrs. Rachael Dudgeon left to visit her daughter in Crookston, Minn.