History of New Rockford: Sept. 23, 2024

The Eddy County Sunday School Association met from 2 p.m. April 2 until the evening of April 3, 1907; officers elected were Mrs. F.L. Kermott, president; Rev. J.J. Graham of Sheyenne and Mrs. S.H. Bailey, vice presidents; Charles Culp, secretary; Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager, treasurer; and an executive committee: H.M. Clark, Walter Priest and Mrs. A.H. Johnson [née Floy Richter]. The final session ended with the singing of “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.”

On April 2, James Graham came in on business. Peter Schaefer was in town. Miss Sadie Trainor came up from Carrington to visit. Miss Vera Keime returned from Valparaiso, Ind., where she had been studying music. Traveling missionary Rev. E.P. Johnson of Rolla arrived to help Rev. J.C. Burkholder of the Baptist Church with revival meetings. Howard Huff came in from Mandan to visit his brother Toller and many of his friends. That evening, Rev. E.W. Burleson conducted Episcopal services in the Methodist Church.

On April 3, rain caused the melting of most of the remaining snow. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Holmer northwest of town. George Norman was in on business [from Sheyenne?]. C.C. Lyford was in town and rented his farm southeast of town to J.A. Wren. Ruby Hartson left for her home in Towner. Mrs. Nelle McLean of Sheyenne was in New Rockford visiting between trains.

On April 3 and 4, Theodore Halaas was up from Carrington visiting friends. Morris postmaster D.D. Dailey was in New Rockford for the first time since just after Christmas due to the deep snow.

On April 4, John J. Haley and Clara H. Clere/Cler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Cler, came in from the Tiffany area and were married by county judge D.F. Ellsworth at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Johnson, after which they immediately left for their farm home. Earl Adams’ mother arrived from Minneapolis; she and her son would live on the second floor of the German Lutheran parsonage, lately occupied by the William Bucklin family. Halver P. Halverson came down from the Sheyenne Valley to attend the leasing of the school lands. William G. Milne, Jr., was down from the Sheyenne Valley on business. Mr. and Mrs. Roland Omhart arrived from Cherokee, Iowa; he would work for Culp & Perry. She was a niece of B.W. Rantz. That afternoon, John Lies came in from his eastern Wells County farm on business. Frank Treffry left for points along “the main line [of the NP?] where he could start a confectionary store; he returned on April 10. From 5 to 10 p.m., the Methodist Ladies’ Aid hosted a social with games, music, ice cream and cake at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Kennedy; admission was 15 cents. The ladies raised $15 for the church. That night, Fargo Fire Chief Sutherland took two gray geldings, five- and six-years-old, to Fargo to pull a fire engine. He had been in most of the state looking at horseflesh, but finally found what he wanted at the George Pincott farm in the Sheyenne Valley. He put the animals through “a severe test” and they passed “every requirement to perfection.” Price – $750.

The April 5, 1907 “Transcript” said that word had been received from Malden, Mass., of the death of Rev. H.J. Sheridan, who had suffered a paralytic stroke five years earlier that had forced him out of the ministry. [Sheridan had led Episcopal worship services periodically in New Rockford from Aug. 17, 1896, to Sept. 29, 1901.]

George Pincott had a fine carload of horses in town and was going to ship them to Sawyer, N.D. Nathan Stanton had added a machine to his blacksmith shop for the sharpening of discs and coulters. The Post Office Confectionary was selling hot peanuts every day.

An announcement stated that Derk M. Stegenga, the Phillips Academy instructor in the commercial, law, and business departments, had been elected to serve as the principal of the Fessenden schools for 1907-1908.

Early in the week, E.S. Severtson sold his stock and grain farm four miles down the James River from New Rockford to Richard Zehrfeld for around $12,000. George O’Connor had rented the Horace Buffington farm south of town. The previous week, Anton Haas rented his farm southeast of town to Henry Holter and Otto Henning.

On April 5, James Hackney rented his farm southeast of town to A.M. Mabb and sons, who had purchased land in that vicinity from Streeter & Cooling the previous year. Hackney had farmed his land for 20 years. A rumor was circulating that Erwin Forbes had transferred ownership of his large farm (around a thousand acres) and its excellent buildings southeast of town to his three sons for $57,000. F.E. Johnson came up from his farm near Barlow on business. George M. Pike returned from the Grand Lodge of the Knights Templar in Grand Forks, where he had been elected Eminent Grand Captain Guard. George W. Brownell returned from his winter’s visit to his old home in New York state. Mrs. R.F. Rinker went out to the Rinker farm. The Phillips Academy Literary Society met. That evening, the New Rockford Band put on a concert and dance; tickets were $1. Among attendees from Barlow were Dr. Charles McNamara, Frank Fahrer, W.M. Barker and Iver Roaldson.

From the evening of April 5 to April 8, Miss Jeanie Hendry of Carrington was in town visiting friends.

On April 6, druggist Mark Williams received news that his father had died in a Minneapolis hospital that morning; his remains were taken to Columbus, Wisc., for interment. Charles Clouser returned from a winter at Detroit [Lakes], Minn. Henry and Leonard Ewals were in town buying spring supplies and visiting. Miss Vera Tyler returned to her Jamestown home after a week visiting her sister, Mrs. John Von Almen and family. Nick Lies left for St. Paul, where he would undergo an appendectomy. At 8 o’clock that evening, Rev. E.P. Johnson preached at special services in the Baptist Church. That evening, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Blow.

On April 6 and 7, Mae and Sumner Engberg of Barlow were up to visit.

On Sunday, April 7, Rev. Edmund M. Vittum, president of the Fargo College, preached in the Congregational Church in the morning and the evening. At 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., Rev. Johnson again preached in the Baptist Church; he would continue with special services at 8 p.m. throughout the week. Manly Flynn of Carrington was up to visit.

On April 8, the New Rockford schools closed for a week due to the prevalence of mumps and measles, which had affected almost 50% of the students. Eddie Monahan returned from Fargo, where he had attended Dakota Business College. Lawrence Prader, Henry Von Almen, and H.G. Hudson went to Courtenay, where Hudson closed a deal by which he sold his interest in the confectionary store there to Prader and Von Almen.