History of New Rockford: March 1, 2021

Cases on the docket of the district court, beginning on Nov. 23, 1903, included the following:

Northwestern Port Huron Co. vs. Justice; action on replevin [a lawsuit to get back property wrongfully seized]; settled by stipulation; H.R. Turner for the plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for the defense.

Samuel McDowell vs. W.W. Overton; action on promissory notes; tried to jury; judgment for plaintiff, $155.70; Maddux & Rinker for the plaintiff; J.A. Manly for the defense.

G.J. Schwoebel vs. George E. Fugina; action for rent; tried to jury; judgment for plaintiff for $267; F. Baldwin for plaintiff; S.E. Ellsworth for defense.

Dinnetz vs. James Thomas; Demurrer [a pleading for dismissal of a lawsuit as having no legal basis]; taken under advisement; Maddux & Rinker for demurrer; P.H. Woodward, opposed.

Frank H. Lampkin vs. P.M. Mattson, administrator of the Estate of John H. Smith; appeal from county court; judgment for appellant; J.A. Manly and John Knauf for appellant; P.M. Mattson and S.E. Ellsworth for appellee.

State of North Dakota vs. A.L. Studebaker; prosecution for keeping and selling liquor; defendant not present; bond forfeited; J.A. Manly, prosecutor; P.M. Mattson, defense.

State of North Dakota vs. B.M. Leonard; prosecution for selling intoxicating liquor; continued; J.A. Manly, prosecutor; F. Baldwin, defense.

State of North Dakota vs. Chandler Bowler; prosecution for keeping conveniences for gambling; defendant not present; bond forfeited; J.A. Manly, prosecutor; P.M. Mattson, defense.

State of North Dakota vs. Billy Brandt; prosecution for keeping gambling devices; plea of guilty; $100 fine; J.A. Manly, prosecutor; Maddux & Rinker, defense.

State of North Dakota vs. Fred Adams; prosecution for selling intoxicating liquor; trial to jury and defendant discharged; J.A. Manly, prosecutor; Maddux & Rinker, defense.

On Nov. 23, Mamie Borthwick joined the Intermediate Room in the New Rockford school, which Karl Zehrfeldt did the next day. Mrs. R.P. Allison visited her son Ed Allison and his wife in Jamestown. Miss Kathryn Conn returned to her Keokuk, Iowa, home after six weeks visiting her cousin H.G. Hudson and family. That evening “Michael Strogoff” played at the Opera House before a packed house. On Nov. 23 and 24, Walter Immel was in Jamestown.

On Nov. 24 William Hartl, Jr., and Frances Dusek were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Hartl, Sr., in eastern Wells County by Father McDonald; a reception and an evening dance followed, with music by Andrew Johnson, Jr. Miss Nellie Hester came up from Carrington to visit between trains. Ole Mattson from northwest of town, Fred E. Utz, and August Kiehlow came in on business. Gil Radley left for a winter at his old home near Oshkosh, Wisc. John Bohmbach went to his old home Red Wing, Minn., for the winter. That evening the Symphony Imperial Quartette at the Opera House “…deserved a better patronage than they received.” That night a thief or thieves broke the lock on the door of D. Niven’s smokehouse and stole 20 hams and over 100 lbs. of bacon.

On Nov. 25, a deal made through C.J. Maddux saw H. Peoples purchase P.J. Hester’s 360-acre farm adjoining the New Rockford town site on the southeast, formerly owned by John Williams. The train took Mrs. Ed Starks and her father Isaac Hartson to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hartson at Preston, Minn., where he would spend the winter. That evening there was a Grand Masquerade Ball at the Opera House with music by the New Rockford Orchestra. A large crowd appeared with “a variety of colorful costumes and make-up.”

Nov. 26 was Thanksgiving. Will Steinweg came up from Carrington to eat turkey with his sister Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg and family. Charles Rosenberger went to Fargo for treatment of his rheumatism; a letter on Nov. 30 said he was already feeling better. He returned to New Rockford on Dec. 18, much improved in health. That morning August C. Weber and Martha A. Wilder were married in the Congregational parsonage by Rev. J.R. Beebe. The couple left on the afternoon train for a honeymoon at Wadena, Minn., before returning to live in Eddy County. That afternoon W.A. Evenson of Washburn, N.D., and Anne Casper were married in the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.M. Leonard by Judge W.C. Beardsley. Miss Martha Bishop was the bridesmaid; E.M. Myhra was the best man. The couple would live at Washburn. That evening there was a Concert-Recital in the Opera House, featuring Signora Armista, singer; Signor Valenza, harp; and Roberti Sansone, cellist.

The Nov. 27, 1903, “Transcript” said the New Rockford school staff spent the Thanksgiving holidays as follows: Miss Saunders with her family in Oberon; Miss Richards with friends in Jamestown; Prof. and Mrs. Muir “in the country”; Miss Slocum, Miss Trainer, and Miss Young at their various boarding places.

A letter from Robert Walden in the Northwest Territories, Canada, said that his son Harry had died. Harry Walden had left Eddy County for Colorado [a story from Oct. 9 said that Harry Walden was in Arizona Territory] in hopes of improving his health, but it only worsened. Mr. Walden had gone to Colorado to bring his son home, but Harry died in San Francisco.

Early in the week Ralph Borthwick entered the third grade, while Alberta Borthwick and Eddie Monahan joined the eighth grade. The first primary students learned a Thanksgiving song that began, “Over the river and thro’ the wood, to grandfather’s house we go.” The second primary students were learning Thanksgiving songs and poems and were writing compositions on the Pilgrims. The eighth graders wrote compositions on “Thanksgiving, its origins, meaning and celebration.”

During the week Albert A. Morse was in town from eastern Eddy County for jury duty.

On Nov. 27, Lars D. Tweet was in on business from west of New Rockford. Fergus Falls livestock dealer M.S. Jacobson was in on business. John Kennedy went to Montana, and George William went to Seattle. Miss Ruth Gronvold went to Albert Lea, Minn., and Miss Ethel Bauer went to Velva, N.D., both to visit relatives. Miss Sadie Trainor went to Fessenden to visit her sisters. That afternoon Misses Dora and Lyle Yegen went to Carrington to attend a dance that evening. That evening there was a surprise farewell party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Studebaker in honor of her mother and her sister Miss Elsie Keistor, who left for their home at Everly, Iowa, on Dec. 1; there was dancing, and light refreshments were served at midnight.

On Nov. 28, Dan Ducke was over from the McHenry country. Charles Hatch was in on business. H.P. Halverson came down from the Sheyenne Valley on business and to visit. Peter Halverson, Halver Hendrickson, and Peter Andreas of the Sheyenne area left on a two months’ trip to Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and the larger cities in Washington, Oregon and California.