History of New Rockford: July 17, 2023

About 5 p.m. Feb. 9, 1906, W.S. Farquhar suffered a stroke and died at 11:15. He had shown no signs of ill health during the day. For six years he had been the representative of the Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. in New Rockford, but his home was Farmington, Minn., where his wife and daughter lived. They were reached by telephone and went to Minneapolis to catch the train, but another call informed them of his death, so they did not board the train. Instead, his brother-in-law took the train to Carrington, where the remains were put on a different train and he accompanied them to the Farmington home on the next afternoon. Farquhar had been a member of the Carrington Masonic Lodge, so members of the Century Masonic Lodge of New Rockford took charge of the body until it was placed on the train.

On Feb. 9, J.W. Lahart was in on business. The father and sister of Paul Burhans came in from Sykeston to visit him at Phillips Academy; they left the next day. That evening, the Phillips Academy Musical and Literary Society presented the following program: Vocal Music, Glee Club; Roll Call; Address, Harold Townsend; Essay, Ethel Treffry; Instrumental Solo, Lillian Ohrner; Reading, James Chambers; Recitation, Stella Pike; Dialogue; Instrumental Duet, Angelina Kelts and Margaret VanScholach; Reading, Rhoda Miller; Vocal Solo, Harry Burt; Newspaper, Margaret VanScholach; Monologue, Minnie McAuley; Oration, Alvin Keime; Vocal Duet, Rolla and Albert Hill; Instrumental Music, African Band, conducted by Roy Treffry; Comical Stories, Rolla Hill, Albert Zimmerman, Wilson Dafoe; Music, Orchestra.

On the evenings of Feb. 9 and 10, Arnold’s Comedians performed at the Opera House. From Feb. 10 to 12, teacher Miss Sadie Trainor was up from Carrington to visit her sister Miss Elizabeth Trainor. From Feb. 10 to 14, attorney John A. Layne was over from Fessenden, visiting his sister Mrs. James A. Manly, her family and many friends.

On Feb. 10, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Wren were in shopping. F.S. Dunham returned from St. Paul, where he had delivered a carload of stock. That afternoon, the Amateur Music Club presented the following program at the home of Miss Celestia Kellington: Amusement, Gertrude Kunkel; Duet, Celestia Kellington and Lulu Thompson; “Gavotte” by Handel, Celestia Kellington; “Mary’s Bird Waltz,” Ella Dinnetz; “Blue Eyes,” Pearl Goss; Reading, Mrs. H.J. Mitchell; “Largo” by Handel, Mrs. Mitchell and Minnie Syftestad; Polka, Mary Gronvold; Story of Handel, Pearl Goss; “Uncle Josh’s Huskin’ Dance,” Mable House. That evening, Miss Jessie Treffry entertained members of the O.D.B.M. (a girls’ club) and their escorts at her home southeast of town; after the meal there was social time until midnight. Also that evening, A.J. Larkin and George Nunn became 1st Degree Masons.

On Feb. 12, there was no school because of Lincoln’s birthday. A Deputy U.S. Marshal arrested five men in Carrington for counterfeiting; they had been operating for several months, making nickels and quarters that were almost perfect. John Welsh was in on business. James R. Craig came in from northeast of town on a social and business trip. Mrs. E.F. Roach and Mrs. John G. Martin were in shopping. George F. Fahrer went to Fargo to play with the Shriners’ Band; he returned the next day. That evening, the O.D.B.M. girls’ club hosted a dance at the Opera House. The interior was decorated with red, white and blue bunting in honor of Lincoln’s birthday and with hearts in honor of St. Valentine. The stage was set with tables and chairs where guests could partake of sherbet and other dainties. Dancing to the New Rockford Orchestra went from 9 p.m. to after midnight. About 60 people attended; out of town guests were Miss Nell Sheehy of Carrington, Miss Sarah Schmidt of Jamestown, John A. Layne of Fessenden and Victor Wordrope of Leeds. At 8 p.m., Lee Francis Lybarger, humorist and lecturer, gave a two-hour presentation on “How to Be Happy” at the Congregational Church in the Fourth Lyceum Entertainment sponsored by Phillips Academy. Reserved tickets were 50 cents; student tickets were 25 cents. The response was so enthusiastic that Mr. Lybarger was compelled to stay over and do his lecture on “Land, Labor and Wealth” the next evening; the audience interrupted him frequently with applause and signs of approval.

On Feb. 12 and 13, Miss Sarah Schmidt was up from Jamestown to visit her sister Miss Edith Schmidt. From Feb. 12 to 14, Mr. and Mrs. Granville Egbert visited her brother Andrew Johnson and some friends in the Twin Cities. On Feb. 13 and 14, Mrs. Frances Wilson was down from Sheyenne to visit.

On the morning of Feb. 13, Lee Francis Lybarger visited Phillips Academy, spoke to the students at chapel, and addressed the English Classics class. Mrs. H.R. Campbell went to the Twin Cities to select her line of spring millinery; she returned on Feb. 27. Marsh Chamberlin left to spend the rest of the winter at Belvidere and other places in Illinois. C.H. and Mrs. Babcock left for their old home, Worthington, and other Minnesota towns to visit relatives and friends; he returned on Feb. 28, but she would remain for a while. On St. Valentine’s Eve, around 18 friends of Miss Gertrude Kunkel showed up at her house for a surprise party; for two hours there were music, games and a “heart hunt.”

On Feb. 14, contractor Charles F. Culp returned from Sheyenne, where he had worked for several days remodeling the bank.

On Feb. 14 and until noon on Feb. 15, Fargo optician C.J. Sullivan was at Kunkel’s Jewelry Store. On those days, A.L. Spraker was over from the vicinity of McHenry (a 23-mile drive) on business and to greet friends. Also on those days, Fred Von Almen was in Sheyenne on business for the Northwest Lumber Co.

On Feb. 15, Rev. A.F. Choate, who had served the New Rockford Baptist Church for two years, died in Sheyenne after an illness of several months. His wife had been summoned, but he had died before she and a son arrived on Feb. 16. In addition to his wife, the 60-year old Civil War veteran left four children and a sister. Rev. Hover of Jamestown conducted funeral services in Sheyenne on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 18, and Choate’s wife and son accompanied his body to Clare, Mich., for burial.

Also on Feb. 15, Intermediate teacher (fourth and fifth grades) Miss Marie Bolstad passed away in a Valley City hospital after undergoing an operation the previous day for “an insidious disease.” Her body was interred at Viroqua, Wisc., her home town.

On Feb. 15, [Irv?] Spraker was in from Tiffany to do some business and to visit; his rheumatism was causing him much pain, and he was planning on going to Salt Lake City for the mineral baths. A.J. Richter was in on business. George M. Dodds came up from Carrington on business and to visit. Miss Emma Melbraaten went to Sheyenne to visit friends for a few days. Frank Hudson started on a three-months’ trip to Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Arkansas; however, he returned to New Rockford on March 17.