History of New Rockford- March 18, 2019

Probably between April 14-17, 1902, Lloyd Whiteman, his sister Mrs. Edna Flater, and their mother moved into the former John Olson residence, which had been purchased by Mrs. Flater. Jerry Van Heisen [Heizen?] was in town. B.T. Fay had been seen on the streets of New Rockford. H.G. Hudson started up his soda fountain.

On April 18, L.A. Arbogast was in town on Dakota Elevator business. J.W. Perry came over from Cooperstown. P.J. Hester advertised that he had taken up three stray pigs, but by the next morning someone had stolen them.

On April 19, a telegram informed Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Gage of the serious illness of her father at Rushford, Minn.; they left as quickly as possible for Rushford. J.C. Smith traveled to McHenry.

At 2 p.m. April 19, the Eddy County Teachers’ Association met in the high school assembly room of the New Rockford School. The program consisted of a vocal solo by Mrs. William Miller; “School Room Sanitation” by Dr. Charles MacLachlan; a song by Miss Frances Thomson’s Primary class; a Model Class of students in the Second Reader led by Mrs. C.J. Stickney; Principal [school not mentioned, but maybe Sheyenne] Ellen Mattson led a general discussion; an exercise by the Primary students; a song by a quartet (Messrs. R.R. Woodward, A.G. Gardner, W.A. Tucker, and L.M. Tucker). That evening Prof. J. Newton Moore’s singing class held an open meeting in the Congregational Church to help the teachers with music instruction. There were special pieces of music that evening, including “The Sword of Bunker Hill” sung by Prof. Moore in his tenor voice.

On April 19 and 20, Mrs. B.W. Hersey was in from Tiffany to visit friends and relatives.

Sunday, April 20, was stormy and wintry. That morning Nannie (Mrs. Carl) King of Jamestown died of tuberculosis. She was the foster daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dutee Sr., and had lived with them since she was a small child. The next day the train brought the body to New Rockford. Rev. J.R. Beebe conducted the funeral and afterward the body was interred near the Dutee home. [I have no information on a grave for Nannie (Mrs. Carl) King in Eddy County.] Cashier W.L. Bennett of the Foster County Bank and Miss Marguerite Sheehy came up from Carrington to visit Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Hester and family. Walter Schmid was up from Carrington. G.E. Anderson was in from his farm southwest of New Rockford.

On April 21, Carrington photographer Theron Cole was in town. Edward Winters was in from eastern Eddy County on business. Farmer C.S. Hatch was up from Barlow on business. H. Peoples received a carload of buggies for sale. That evening the Royal Neighbors met in the Maddux Hall. Also that evening H.L. Lyon received the Master Mason’s degree.

On April 22, A.D. Tomlinson was in Carrington. J.T. West was in on business from eastern Eddy County, as was Hjalmer Dinnetz from his farm near Twist Post Office. Guss Gullicks was down from Sheyenne. That evening Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Carroll went to Barlow to visit their son-in-law and daughter Thomas and Katie Turner and family. Also that evening W.F. Cushing was in town discussing a North Dakota exhibit at the upcoming St. Louis Exhibition with businessmen at the Hotel Davies. The following were appointed to a committee to make certain that Eddy County was represented in the exhibit: H.M. Clark, M.F. Kepner, J.W. Richter, E.B. Thomson and R.H. Walden. The Employees’ Association committee that was planning the July 4th celebration met and set up a program of trotting, running, pony, and chariot races; double and single carriage horses; an exhibition of four-horse farmers’ outfits; the best two-horse team; lady’s riding; baseball; band competition, and Lodge turnouts. The purses totaled around a thousand dollars. That evening the directors of the Sheyenne Valley Telephone Company met and appointed a committee to visit with some New Rockford businessmen about extending their telephone line to New Rockford

On April 23, Paul Duda of the Hall district, Christ Fahner, and George Treffry were in town on business. Sven Peterson was down from the Sheyenne Valley buying spring supplies. A.F. Prouty was in town to meet his mother and younger sister of Adel, Iowa. Charles Hutchinson was in from eastern Eddy County. Mr. and Mrs. G. Gedrose were over from Cathay. That evening there was a “Hard Times” dance at the Hotel Davies sponsored by the Degree of Honor; prizes were given for “the raggedest dressed.” There was a large crowd, dressed in “rags or borrowed rags.” Prizes went to Mrs. H.L. Lyon and E.M. Myhra. Ice cream was served. That evening Rev. D.H. Clarkson held Episcopal services in New Rockford. Also that evening Johnny Cahill was playing with friends in John Wenz’s hayloft when he fell and broke his collarbone; Dr. MacLachlan set it.

On April 24, Ed Wright was in from Tiffany on business. J.W. Young and Will Thorn were in town. Mark Hunt of the “Fessenden Free Press” visited New Rockford for the first time. Druggist O.E. Couch returned from a visit with his parents in Bismarck. Standard Oil man Peter Johnson was up from Carrington supplying his customers. E.A. Wiltsie and his sons went to the claim near Kenmare; the boys would stay while Mr. Wiltsie was going to return to his work at Rager’s harness shop. Jake Schaefer left for his new home near Kenmare; Mrs. Schaefer would join him as soon as the house on their homestead was done. Brakeman Arthur Doyle was run over and killed on the Bowdon branch line. That afternoon Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson hosted tea to benefit the Congregational Church.

That evening John Weipert and Mrs. Ella Hamberg were married in the Congregational parsonage by Rev. J.R. Beebe. The bride was a recent arrival from Chambersburg, Pa. They would live on the Weipert farm southwest of town.