History of New Rockford- Jan. 21, 2019

The March 21, 1902, “Transcript” said during the recent storm the barn door on Jacob Valer’s farm was somehow left open and five young cattle wandered out into the driving snow. They were discovered dead three miles away.

During the previous week (March 9-15, 1902) C.E. Clure had sold his large house and barn in west New Rockford to J.L. Prader Sr. The Clure family would move to their farm south of town.

About two weeks prior, two of Walter Priest’s horses strayed. On March 14, one was found dead about 12 miles west of New Rockford after getting tangled in a barbed wire fence. The other hadn’t been found, but there was little hope due to the recent blizzard.

A large number of prairie chickens had been killed by the blizzard.

Recently former resident Imogene Rollins had married John M. Butler in Pocatello, Idaho; they would live in Shoshone, Idaho.

New Rockford had 18 inches of snow on the level until the early morning of March 21 when it began to rain which continued all the next day, reducing the snow banks considerably; the rain kept up until March 26 by which time the snow had disappeared.

On March 21, A.C. Olsen of the “Transcript” returned after a month visiting relatives in the Twin Cities and other points. Robert O’Neill and George Nunn came down from Sheyenne on business. Martin L. Larson was in from southeast of town on business. John Anderson returned after two weeks of papering and painting the Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Hall farm house on the Sheyenne River. Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson arrived home from a winter in San Diego, with Mr. Tomlinson’s health much improved. John W. Richter’s two carloads of blooded shorthorn cattle arrived to improve the stock on his Sheyenne farm. The West Side Whist Club met, as it did every Friday. That evening New Rockford photographer Mrs. W.B. Cole left for a few days in Minneapolis.

On March 22, John M. Alldred from his farm southwest of town, Dan Ducke from eastern Eddy County, Albert A. Morse of Freeborn and Charles Onstott were in on business. Sylvanus Marriage was up from Barlow. Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Litcher left for Minneapolis, where he would be a bookkeeper. That evening Prof Moore’s singing class gave a concert in the Congregational Church. It had been postponed from March 15 due to the blizzard. Admission prices were 15, 25 and 35 cents. Despite the condition of the roads, it was almost standing room only. The program consisted of: Part One: “Come Away” by the class; “Beautiful Queen” by Miss Van Horn, Mrs. Lathrop, R.R. Woodward, and George Norton; “Out on the Deep” by Charles Bosworth; “My Home Is on the Mountain” by the class; “Life’s Dream” by Mrs. Putnam, Blanche Brownell, Sarah West, and Mrs. Lyon; “Sweet Summer Time” by the class; “Larboard Watch” by Charles Bosworth and J.N. Moore; “Adrift” by H.L. Lyon; “May Morning” by Mrs. Miller; “Fairy Bells” by some children; “American Girls’ March” by Mrs. H.J. Mitchell and Mrs. H.G. Hudson; “My Old Kentucky Home” by Miss Van Horn, Mrs. Lathrop, R.R. Woodward, and George Norton; “Merrily, Merrily On,” an obligato duet with Amelia Carlson and Hattie Davidson and the class.

Part Two: “The Hills and Vales,” the class; “To the Woods Away,” Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Tomlinson, Charles Bosworth, J.N. Moore; “Juanita,” Messrs. Dresser, Woodward, Putnam, Norton; “Evening Chorus,” (solo, Miss Van Horn; duet, Mrs. Dresser and Mrs. Lyon; quartet, Blanche Brownell, Sarah West, Mrs. Austin, Mr. Lyon); “Mammy’s Hushaby,” the children; “Daddy,” J. Newton Moore; “Modtmorencie,” the class; “Waiting at the Door,” solo by Mrs. Brownell, the class; “Fo De Wa,” piano duet by Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Mitchell; “Bells O’ the Blue Bunny,” Mesdames Van Horn, Brown, Lathrop, Lyon and Messrs. Woodward, Lyon, and Norton; “A Natural Spell,” by Misses Davis, Hester, West, Alber, and Messrs. Kennedy, Allison, Hester, and Kennedy; “Away the Morning Freshly Breaking,” by the class; “Good Night,” Miss Van Horn, Mrs. Lathrop, R.R. Woodward, and George Norton.

On March 22 and 23, Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Davidson went to Carrington to visit her mother and brother.

On March 24, Henry B. Johnson came in from Plainview. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O’Connor arrived for the summer. “Pomp” Shauer was in from eastern Eddy County. W.W. Overton was in town. R.P. Allison returned from a legal trip to Fargo and Jamestown. Dr. John Crawford was down from Esmond to visit with his friends for a few days. At the Masonic meeting that evening Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Masonic Order W.I. Irvine spoke.

On March 24 and 25, Maddock lumber dealer Frank Woodward was in New Rockford visiting relatives and friends.

On March 25, Major F.O. Getchell of Fort Totten received a telegram informing him that he had been reappointed for another four years as the Indian Agent there. Peter Johnson, the Standard Oil man, came up from Carrington to check on the need in New Rockford for his “illuminating fluid.” He did not drive his oil wagon due to the flooded prairies. Attorney M.T. O’Connor was in New Rockford. Alonzo Neutzel came in from east of town. John T. West came in from eastern Eddy County. D.C. Geiger and his son Bruce were in town. Sheyenne druggist F.L. Kermott was in New Rockford. That evening the dancing school met. Mark Hulbert was in from southeast of town on wet roads for a meeting of the Maccabees.

On March 25 to 26, Patrick Harrington was in town from eastern Eddy County.

On March 26, J.W. Perry came into town to visit. Ray Malone, the brother of Mrs. A.C. Buck, arrived for the summer. Henry Clauson’s father, mother, and their three sons and four daughters arrived to help him with spring work. P.P. Andreas arrived on the train; he had spent the winter in his old home across the Atlantic. Mr. and Mrs. George Treffry and daughter returned from a winter in Iowa. John Wold of Enderlin was in town between trains on business. James Dafoe and Clayton Hall drove down from the Sheyenne Valley. James Renfrew came into town from his farm through mud and water. The passenger train had three extra coaches to accommodate settlers.

On March 26 and 27, water covered several hundred feet of the branch line between Leeds and Minnewaukan. Passengers were ferried across and taken by team to Leeds.

On March 27 to 28, Mrs. L.J. Brown held a Spring Millinery Opening in the R.R. Woodward store; she had purchased a large assortment of spring and summer hats from eastern firms.