History of New Rockford: March 6, 2023

On Oct. 17, 1905, S.P. Pisel sold his livestock, farm machinery, and household goods at his farm northwest of New Rockford, in anticipation of moving to western Nebraska. Rev. S.F. Beer returned from the annual Methodist Conference in Fargo, where he was reappointed to the New Rockford charge. Henry B. Johnson came in from Plainview on business and to greet friends; he still had eight days of threshing to do with his big Nichols & Shepard threshing machine. Miss Kittie Anderson returned to her Red Wing, Minn., home after a summer with her cousin, Miss Clara Nibbe, southwest of New Rockford.

On Oct. 18, T.F. Frary had a sale of his stock, farm machinery and household goods on the former William West farm southeast of town. J.M. Mulvey, F.D. Norton and H.J. Mitchell went to Minnewaukan to hunt waterfowl.

On Oct. 19, the Cemetery Improvement Society met at the home of Miss Vannie Hall. The partnership between Inez I.S. Gullicks and Jennie E. Allison, doing millinery business as Gullicks & Allison, was dissolved; Mrs. Allison retired and Mrs. Gullicks continued the business. Mrs. John Maloy [Malloy?] arrived from Madison, S.D., for a two-week’s visit with her sister Mrs. Joseph LaPierre and family; she left on Nov. 1. George Pincott returned from Minnesota, where he had sold a carload of horses “at a good figure.” C.O. Tomlinson was up from Barlow on business. William Wiltschko from southwest of Barlow came up with a load of pigs he sold to John McVey. James T. Gudgell came into town after four weeks of checking over his ranch southeast of town; he was planning on moving to the ranch permanently in the spring. Real estate agent George W. Streeter left on a business trip to Mandan and other places in Morton County. Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Pisel and family left for the new farm they had purchased in central Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Hans Tuffli left for their new home in Oregon. That evening, M.R. Fritz, H.G. Hudson, J.E. Cady and H.W. Wilson returned from the Twin Lakes in eastern Eddy County with eight “fine geese” and several ducks.

The Oct. 20, 1905 “Transcript” mentioned the “Lidgerwood Broadaxe” and the “Lansford Times.” The “Lakota American” was starting its third year of publication.

A letter from Charles Rosenberger said that the baby was doing well at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Paul, but that Mrs. Rosenberger had developed appendicitis and might need an operation. They had taken the baby to St. Paul on Sept. 27.

A notice said that anyone indebted to Phillips Academy by note or subscription had until Nov. 1 to settle or an attorney would do the collecting. John F. Goss, secretary.

Ads: Mrs. R.M. Kennedy had a five-room house for rent. “Leave your order for laundry with Miss J.K. Shirley and it will be called for.”

A four-year old bay gelding, 1,100 lbs., with a white star in its forehead had wandered into John Welsh’s pasture in section 6, T149, R64 [Tiffany]; owner could have by paying charges. Welsh had lost a light red yearling heifer from that pasture in June and was hoping someone would return the animal to him

Fena Carlson provided the School Notes: On Oct. 16, Frank Riggle joined the sixth grade and Irene Kennedy and Emil Syftestad entered the seventh grade. Mrs. Martin Freese visited the school on Oct. 12 and S.E. Griffith and Miss Amelia Carlson visited the school on Oct. 17. Rev. S.F. Beer visited the school during the week. Nora and Ethel Johnson were absent from the Primary room due to illness. The eighth grade students had finished “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and had taken up “The Vision of Sir Launfal”; they had also completed the study of North Dakota Civil Government and were about to start on the Civil Government of the United States. The high school students were happy because their pins had arrived. All the students, especially the younger ones, were ready for cold weather because then they could use the gymnasium. The Latin students were meeting very frequently after school dismissal.

Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Davies and son were preparing to spend the winter in southern California.

Peter Lorig was building a 22x42 structure on St. Paul Street between Bert Newport’s billiard hall and Tom Hines’ blacksmith shop; he was going to use it for a furniture store. Blacksmith Nathan Stanton and his assistant Roy Greitl were reported to be as busy as tramps at a free lunch.

Jake Allmaras farmed 21 quarter sections in Wells County. J.E. Renfrew had sold his stock and rented out his 2100 acre farm; he was enjoying a visit with his brother S.S. and J.P. Renfrew at Harvey.

The previous week, Miss Ethel Bauer returned to her claim near Bowdon, where she would spend the winter. Thomas Pickard and two friends from Minonk, Illinois, bought some land in Eddy County through Baird & Dresser; B&D had sold 700 acres in eastern Eddy County that week.

A note said that Art McGahey, who had been a horse dealer in Eddy County about 1898, had been arrested at Williston for horse-stealing.

On Oct. 20, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Utz and son and Mrs. W.J. Morris were in shopping. Sheriff George F. Fahrer went to Fargo on business. George Pincott left on a horse-buying trip to Billings, Mont.; he returned on Oct. 31.

On Oct. 21, a telegram from Illinois informed people of the death of the son of G.W. Streeter at the age of one year and six days. After the death of his mother, Nellie B. Davidson Streeter on Oct. 16, 1904, his grandmother took him to Illinois to raise. He was a “frail flower” and nothing the doctors tried could save him. Mr. Streeter’s father and his uncle arrived with the body, and after a brief service, it was interred in the cemetery north of town beside that of his mother. [There is no gravestone for the little boy in Prairie Home Cemetery at the grave site of Nellie B. Streeter.] John McVey shipped several carloads of beef cattle to the South St. Paul market; Dennis O’Keefe accompanied them and returned on Oct. 25. Tiffany postmaster George Fields and Axtle Johnson were in on business. E.S. Severtson went to Jamestown for a meeting of the Elks; he returned on Oct. 23. That afternoon, a “fractious” horse forced Knut Alfstad’s left shoulder out of joint; he was brought into New Rockford from his farm west of Sheyenne and Dr. Murphy “fixed him up as good as new.” That evening, there was a basket social at the Catholic Church near Tiffany; it was a “great success”; the baskets sold for a total of $292.75.

On Oct. 23, Harry Blakely and Nell Studebaker entered the freshman class Academic Department at Phillips Academy. Cyrus Ruland came in from his Tiffany farm on business.

From Oct. 23 to 25, Thomas Lahart was in Denhoff on business.

On Oct. 24, Mrs. B.W. Rantz returned from St. Paul with much improved health. Martin Walsh came in from Tiffany. Frank Goodrich was in to visit and on business.