History of New Rockford: Sept. 20, 2021

The June 3, 1904, “Transcript,” carried a notice from Judge S.L. Glaspell defending his supporters at the Judicial Convention in Carrington from the unwarranted attack on them from a New Rockford newspaper [the “Eddy County Provost”].

A two-year-old brown mare colt, 500 lbs., with a “large bunch” caused by a wire-cut on her left hind leg, strayed from the H.T. Kennedy residence in New Rockford. Fred Neiman, three miles southwest of New Rockford, had taken up a bay gelding, 1,300 lbs., white star on forehead, and a bay mare, 1,200 lbs., white spot on right hind leg, split right front hoof, old barb wire cut on left front foot, and white star on forehead.

It was reported that Dr. Charles MacLachlan had refused an offer of $3500 from a Minneapolis party for his stallion High Noon.

The frame was being raised for Mr. and Mrs. Olof Lundquist’s new house. The interior of the large house of Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Tomlinson, just north of town, was being plastered, and then would be finished in hardwood. Grain buyer J.A. McAuley had just moved into the former Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Rantz house on the east side.

H.M. Clark was the local agent for the Old Reliable Hail Insurance Company.

Maggie Morris was improved enough from her recent illness that she could be outside. Frank Fahrer was not feeling well due to some heavy lifting. Sgt. T.P. Morris had been sick during the week. Robert Miller had a bad case of pneumonia.

Rev. N. Reutenik of the German Reformed Church spent the week visiting his son Charles in Esmond, where he was a butcher.

The previous week, James Wiltsie came in from Sykeston to visit for several days; he was helping build elevators on the branch line there. J.H. Tompkins of Minot bought a carload of hogs for the Minot market from Donald Niven.

On June 3, an all-day rain was “just what the doctor ordered”; it also rained the next day. A drawing took place at the H.G. Hudson confectionary for a free trip to the World’s Fair in St. Louis, sponsored by McKusick, Towle and Co. Ferd Brueske was the winner, holding number 28. The tickets were sold with candy.

On June 4, Herbert Treffry returned from Illinois, where he had been a railroad engineer during the winter; he would be in Eddy County for the summer. Thomas Adam was in on business. That afternoon, the executive committee of the Early Settlers’ Association met at the H. Peoples’ machinery offices to set a date for the annual picnic (June 24) and to name committees: Sports: F.L. Kermott, J.A. Manly; Music: H.J. Mitchell, F.P. Roush, J.W. Richter; Finance: Peter Prader, M.B. Hersey, Joseph Maxwell; Grounds: John Schaefer, Martin Walsh, J.G. Dailey; Program: A.J. Ford, Mrs. W.T. Buck, and Mrs. R.R. Woodward. Rain kept some members away. Those on the Grounds Committee said they would pipe pure water from the springs nearby to a central location on the picnic grounds beside the Sheyenne River, and they would expand the grounds by clearing away much of the underbrush.

From June 4 to 6, Dr. and Mrs. Charles MacLachlan were in Esmond visiting.

On June 6, the Eddy County Commission met with commissioners Braman, Dailey, and Dafoe all present. They voted to pay the following bills: $40, W.C. Hayes, May janitor’s salary; $2.25, Ruth Reutenik, meals while nursing W.S. Lyon; $14.50, Bauer and Larkin, draying and repairing bridges and crossing; $43.20, Rodenberg and Schwoebel, merchandise to county poor: Mrs. Swantz, Lewis, and Molyneaux; $2, Noxon and Oglesby, May telephone bill; $21.75, New Rockford Machine Shop, repairing chairs, gas fixtures, and gas heating plant; $12.75, Henry Schuster, planting trees in court house yard; $25, J.L. Kinnaird, funeral for W.S. Lyon; $90, Mrs. A.G. Gardner; clerk in Register of Deeds office, April and May; New Rockford Light and Water Improvement Co., lights for April and May.

On June 6, Dr. J.W. Sifton was up from Jamestown on a professional visit between trains. Mrs. E.A. Neasmith arrived from Pasadena, Calif., to visit Mrs. C.J. Maddux and family and many other friends. Michael O’Keefe from west of town, Jerry Carroll from western Eddy County, and Rudolph Indergaard from southeast of town were in on business and to visit. Mr. and Mrs. Will Rager came in to shop. “Doc” Baird came in from his Kidder County farm to visit. J.W. Rager went to Fargo to serve on the federal grand jury (he returned on June 13); Donald Niven went to serve as a petit juror in the federal district court; he returned on July 1. W.E. Biggs, James E. Hyde, Frank Reed, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Severtson and June, went to Fargo for the Shriners meeting the next day, which commemorated the Great Fargo Fire (June 7, 1893). That evening, J.W. Richter was down from Sheyenne on business and to visit. Also that evening, William Mattison of eastern Eddy County was in on business.

From June 6 to 7, Frank Graham was in on business from Tiffany. On June 6 to 8, James Hackney was in Jamestown for a meeting of the State Asylum Board.

On June 7, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nels Kunkel. Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Johnston were in shopping. Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Carter and daughter were in town. Tim O’Connor was in from western Eddy County on business. Albert West went to McHenry, picked up his sister Mrs. C.O. Johnson and daughter Lucile of Cooperstown, and brought them to New Rockford; the Johnsons returned home on July 11. R.M. Kennedy returned from St. Paul with his young son Harold. H. Peoples was at a Shriners meeting in Fargo.

On June 8, Dr. F.W. Tompkins, veterinary surgeon, came down from Oberon for a few days of professional business and visiting.

On June 9, Henry and John Jenssen arrived from Green Bay, Wisc., to visit their brother Peter Jenssen. Mrs. Matilda Zimmerman, the mother of Mrs. Gus Lauch, left for Fargo to have a specialist examine her arm, which had been broken in a fall during the winter, and had never healed properly. That evening, the Royal Neighbors met. Mrs. H.J. Mitchell presented a program of vocal and instrumental music by her music class. The class members were H. Arveskaug, Olive and Mary Bennett, Mont Biggs, Gertrude Buck, Harta Dinnetz, Alberta Gardner, Mable House, Celestia Kellington, Harland Mitchell, Florence Schwoebel, Minnie Syftestad, and Elsie Tarbell. Light refreshments were served.

A report on June 9 showed the following: The Bank of New Rockford, Ernest S. Severtson, cashier, had resources (assets) of $124,826.12, up $6633.86 from the $118,192.26 of March 28. Checking accounts amounted to $57,040.54, up $12,921.14 from the $44,119.40 of March 28. The March 28 statement of the First National Bank of New Rockford, James E. Hyde, cashier, was illegible; but on June 9, the bank had resources (assets) of $73,614,52, up $10,567.75 from the $63,046.77 of January 28, and checking accounts of $21,068.83, up $8823.23 from the $12,245.60 of January 28.