History of New Rockford: August 27, 2018

At noon on Nov. 20, 1901, Alba E. Hersey and Annie M. Smoot were married by Rev. Samuel VanTassel at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Ruland in rural Tiffany. Hersey farmed near Tiffany and the couple would reside on the farm; his bride had recently arrived from Palmira, Mo.

On Nov. 20, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hoffman, John Dodds, and Ernest Angliss were in New Rockford. George Fields and William Cornish came in from Tiffany. Thomas Adam and James Renfrew were in on business. Peter Butler of eastern Wells County was in town. Rev. C.H. Phillips of Jamestown visited Rev. J.R. Beebe. John T. West was in from eastern Eddy County. That afternoon Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Johnson of Twist Post Office stopped in New Rockford on their way home after visiting their son Charles in eastern Eddy County. R.R. Woodward went to Fessenden on business.

On that day, Dr. Charles MacLachlan sold his half-interest in a stock ranch south of Bowdon to Charles W. Burdick of Burdick & Lincoln of Fargo for $9,750. It contained about 3,000 acres of good grazing land. MacLachlan had stocked the ranch with high-grade cattle: a small herd of Polled Angus, which he had brought from Iowa, and a hundred head of Grade Polls. Burdick was expected to move to the ranch about Jan. 1.

On Nov. 20 to 22, the Eddy County Commission met. On the first day of their meeting, the Commissioners paid $40 to G.W. Johnston and $71 to the Stitzel Bros. on their road contracts.

On Nov. 21, Oscar Irwin was in on business. Cyrus Ruland was in town. B.W. Hersey was in from the Tiffany Flats. Axtle Johnson came into town that afternoon. Louis Mortinson [Lewis Mortensen?] and Charles Hatch were up from Barlow. Gil Radley left for Wisconsin for the winter. Dr. Charles MacLachlan bought the Richard Zehrfeldt farm about four miles southeast of New Rockford, plus all the stock, machinery, and buildings and 400 acres of land for $6,000.

The Nov. 22, 1901, the “Transcript” said the Sunday “Fargo Forum” had begun its 11th year.

During the week the following students had entered school: John Kennedy, high school; Clarence Kennedy, seventh grade; Rose Doyle, fifth grade; and John Whetham returned after being absent almost three weeks. Junior Ida Cure was back after a recent illness. Lydia Hylton, John Cahill, Katherine Maddux and Emma Wenz were absent during the week due to illness, as were Harry West, Harta Dinnetz and Edith Campbell, all three in the intermediate department. Sophomore John Schmid was absent Nov. 21. Pearl Anderson and Hattie Holland had left school. The first primary students were working on Christmas gifts. The second primary students were preparing for Christmas. Due to many colds in the primary department, there would be no Thanksgiving Exercises. Two shelves had been added to the primary department and Miss Frances Thomson had decorated them; she had also decorated some of the walls with pictures. The seventh grade students had started longitude and latitude on Nov. 20. The eighth grade arithmetic class was working on percentages. Most of the grammar students had finished reading their required books. On Nov. 20, the freshmen put their class decorations on the wall. The botany class would soon be over and the students would start on bookkeeping. Hattie Davidson, Vada Aultman and Perry Stanton had all “dropped” arithmetic since the final exams had been given recently [either they had quit the class which was unlikely, or they no longer had to attend since the class was over]. Prof. Thomas had recently suspended music, drawing, and writing in the various departments for several days [no explanation was given]. On the afternoon of Nov. 22, the stove pipe in the high school room fell, scattering soot all over.

Many New Rockford residents were banking their homes in anticipation of cold weather.

Attorney M.T. O’Connor had an office in the Hotel Davies.

George Fahrer & Co. had purchased the lots on the corner of St. Paul and Lamborn, formerly owned by Ben Fay; Fahrer was going to put up a large building to be used as a meat market with its machinery in the basement for making sausages, mincemeat, wieners, etc.

An estimate was given that up to Nov. 22, 300,000 bushels of flax had been shipped out of New Rockford that year, plus a large amount of wheat; the town’s six elevators were filled to capacity due to the lack of railroad cars.

An item said on Nov. 7, Frank Parker left for Minneapolis, but fell ill on the trip and had to be hospitalized at Princeton, Minn,; on Nov. 9 he had an operation for appendicitis and was recovering.

The previous week Julius, the 31 old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Anderson, fell in front of a loaded grain wagon while driving to McHenry and broke his leg. The boy was lucky to be alive.

On Nov. 22, Frank Volbrecht visited in New Rockford. Ed Wright came in from Tiffany; he had purchased a nice herd of cattle from J.H. Bonney. Ole Gronvold was down from the Sheyenne Valley. Henry Knox came in on business, as did Fred Zimmerman Sr. Peter Schaefer came in from eastern Wells County on business. Mrs. William Starke was in town shopping.

At 1 p.m. Nov. 23, L.B. Miller of Barlow sold at auction his 11-room hotel building, with a 16x32- foot barn and lots with 150-foot front; all furnishings included. A horse kicked W.G. Carter in the left leg and broke it just below the knee. Dr. MacLachlan set it. Mrs. E. Campbell arrived from Jamestown for an extended visit with her son C.C. Campbell and family. Fred Allmaras was in New Rockford; William Steinbach was in on business. Martin Anderson came in from Plainview. Mrs. P.J. Hester, son Joe, and daughters Blanche and Nell returned from their visit to Carrington.

From Nov. 23 to 26, Ben Fay was with his father at Velva.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, John Cain was down from Esmond to visit. Miss Ella Swain went to Fessenden, where she would teach during the winter term of school. That evening, Mrs. Lena W. Mickley led a program of song at the Methodist Church.

On Nov. 25, the District Court went into session, Judge S.L. Glaspell presiding and E.S. Rose as court reporter, with only a few cases on the docket. There were 30 petit jurors. Peter Crain visited the court during the week. Cases included:

Eugene L. Greene vs. J.E. Bennett, possession of cattle; verdict for the defendant.

State vs. Keyton was dismissed.

Bank of New Rockford vs. James J. Heltaly, defendant, J.M. Dutee, garnishee; verdict for the bank in the amount specified, but action against Dutee dismissed.

State vs. Leonard; after ten hours of deliberation jury returned a verdict of guilty of maintaining a gambling nuisance.

Peoples vs. Starks, bank garnishee withdrawn by plaintiff.

Baldwin vs. Roe; judgment for plaintiff.

State vs. Leonard (second case); regular jury panel was soon exhausted, as was a second, and then a third, with only three or four jurors selected.

Lawyer J.A. Manly was taken ill the first day of court, probably with typhoid fever, but was able to return on Nov. 28, although still very weak.