History of New Rockford: Oct. 12, 2020

On July 25, 1903, a fawn-colored Jersey milch cow with a small white spot over her shoulders and branded “D.G.” on her forehead strayed from the reservation just north of the Viola Woodward farm. Contact David Geiger, Barlow. Carl Rude of eastern Eddy County and J.H. Lahart were in town. Miss Kate Henry came in on the northbound train to visit her parents northeast of town. Peter Hallquist, Will Carroll of Washington Lake, Sheyenne druggist F.L. Kermott, and George W. Johnston were in on business. C.S. Bosworth was in New Rockford; he had come from Iowa and settled in eastern Wells County three years prior. Mark Hulbert and his new bride returned from Washington and would live in their new house southeast of town. Miss Elvina Lindstrom came up from Jamestown to visit; she returned on August 12. Mrs. A.J. Larkin returned from a visit to Velva. An item said that Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Severtson left on the first leg of their European trip, but earlier accounts in June said they had already arrived there. Mrs. Lou Smith went to Jamestown to meet her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Williams of Ohio; Mr. Williams went on to Montana on July 29, while Mrs. Williams stayed to visit her daughter. R.P. Allison was in Jamestown on legal business. That evening Mrs. George F. Putnam was severely scalded; she had then been confined to her room, but was improving.

On Sunday, July 26, Rev. Coates of Devils Lake preached in the Tiffany School. Rev. Quam dedicated the Kvernes Church near Barlow that day (or July 19) and returned to Sheyenne. Druggist O.A. Burger and John Algeo came up from Barlow. John Schmid came up from Carrington. The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Angles died at the Butler farm west of New Rockford of cholera infantum.

Mr. and Mrs. John Rockafellow and family drove over from Steele to visit Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Allison; they went home on July 30. George J. Schwoebel left for three weeks in the Twin Cities and his old home, Fountain City, Wisc. Mrs. John Swanson and children left for Fargo to visit friends and relatives. That evening there was a band concert in the park, Lou Smith, conductor.

On July 27 and 28, Miss Hilda Gustafson of Chicago came up with her cousin, whom she was visiting in Melville, to see their old friend, painter John Anderson. Joseph Maxwell was in Jamestown.

On July 28 New Rockford experienced a nice rain shower. Eddie Butler was bucked off a horse; it took several stitches to close the cut on his head. George W. Justice came in on business from southeast Eddy County. John Allred was in town. Telephone manager William Brueske’s mother came in from Wimbledon. Donald Niven went to South St. Paul with a carload of stock and hogs. Barber Lou Smith went to Bismarck on business. That evening a meeting of the Businessmen’s Union was held in the Maddux Law Office, W.C. Dresser, president; John F. Goss, secretary. The Eastern Star Lodge met and afterward Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager and Mrs. C.J. Maddux entertained the ladies at Hudson’s ice cream parlor, where seven members sang as a “Milkmaids’ Chorus.” Also that evening there was a dance at the Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Christ farm in the Superior district; refreshments were served at midnight.

On July 29, Rev. Thormodsgaard, who was on his way to the church dedication in rural Sheyenne, stopped in New Rockford to see County Treasurer Hendrickson and other old friends. Jacob Adam from west of town and Joseph Christ from the Superior district were in New Rockford. Mrs. E.B. Thomson was in shopping. John T. West from eastern Eddy County and J.B. Dafoe from Sheyenne were in on business. Katie (Mrs. Thomas) Turner was up from Barlow for a few hours. Charles Culp and crew went to Carrington again to finish carpentry work on a house there. That evening Dr. MacLachlan drove to Oberon on a professional visit. Also a daughter was born that evening to Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Wren.

On the afternoon of July 29, Bert Prouty and Nora Aultman were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Pettit by Judge W.C. Beardsley; both bride and groom were from the Tiffany area. Immediately after the ceremony they drove to the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Aultman, for a wedding dinner. That evening there was a dance at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Baker, eleven miles east of New Rockford, with music by the Walsh Bros. and an oyster supper at midnight. A “large crowd of young folks—and a number not so young” attended.

On July 30 the train brought in former residents Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Lyon, who had been visiting their former home in Michigan. They would see old friends in New Rockford a few days and then go to their home in Bowbells, where Mr. Lyon had a land, law, and insurance business with his brother Fred; they left August 1. Frank Woodward came over from Maddock. P.C. Peterson came up from Barlow. Henry Garvin was over on business from eastern Wells County, as was H.B. Johnson from Plainview and Merritt Lathrop from Tiffany. Mrs. J.R. Winslow and daughter Georgia returned from a visit to Glenwood, Minn. George Pincott was down from the Sheyenne Valley; his wife’s health was much improved. John Gardner was in from his farm northwest of town; he had over 1,500 cabbage plants under irrigation in his garden. Mrs. James Hyde went to Fargo to take in the Carnival; she returned on August 8. On that day (or July 23) the Tiffany Ladies’ Aid met at Mrs. S.H. Bailey’s. That evening a large number of New Rockford businessmen met to organize a business association. Chairman W.C. Dresser called the meeting to order in the law offices of C.J. Maddux. A constitution and by-laws were adopted. Officers elected were W.C. Dresser, president; G.W. Brownell, vice president; John F. Goss, secretary; J.E. Hyde, treasurer; trustees for one year: E.S. Severtson, C.J. Maddux, and S.N. Putnam.

That issue said that the Committee of the Jamestown Conference of the Congregational Church had chosen to put the new Congregational Academy in New Rockford rather than in Carrington: Carrington and its surrounding area offered $15,000 cash, a building site, and the Soo Line railroad offered to ship all the building materials for free (the cost would have been $3000). New Rockford offered $17,000 cash.

A notice said that Samuel McDowell had started a coal and wood business and would lay in a full supply of soft and hard coal as soon as he could secure a location; he had a couple carloads of wood due the next week.

An ad: “S. McDowell, Coal AND Wood. All kinds of Wood and Hard and Soft Coal Always on Hand.” Another ad: “I am prepared to do washing at your homes or any day work preferred. Would go out nursing also. Mrs. Frank Molyneuwx.” E. Starks had ground feed for sale, 1/3 barley and 2/3’s oats.