History of New Rockford: Nov. 18, 2024

This is my 900th submission. Thank you for allowing me to share some New Rockford history.

From May 25 to 28, 1907, T.G. Kellington visited his family in Valley City.

On the evening of Sunday, May 26, the NRHS Baccalaureate Service was held in the Methodist Church. Rev. J.R. Beebe offered a prayer, and the Methodist choir sang. After the scripture reading, the graduates sang. Rev. S.F. Beer preached the sermon. The choir sang and Rev. Beer said the Benediction.

On the morning of May 27, the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Butterfield died of heart failure; the funeral took place that afternoon. Ed McLain was down from Sheyenne. W.M. “Marsh” Chamberlain came in to visit and sell land in Missouri. Tom Phillips went to Fargo for the race association. That evening, H.W. Wilson went to Fargo for a meeting of North Dakota telephone companies. That night, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Allmaras.

The district court was scheduled to go into session on May 27, but Judge Edward T. Burke was in charge of a lengthy criminal case in Cooperstown that day and couldn’t make the court date. He discharged the jury at 5 a.m. May 28, jumped into an automobile, and covered the 70 miles to New Rockford in time to open court at 9 a.m. The jury list was composed of Chris Bakstad, W.E. Biggs, Nels A. Blesheim, P.J. Braman, Jerry Carroll, Joseph Christ, Charles Connant, August Domier, Peter Erickson, Charles Evensen, A.J. Ford, F.O. Getchell, Chris Guler, Gus Gullicks, W.F. Gustafson, Hans Hanson, Iver Hanson, Burt Harris, M.O. Holte, T.M. Huff, S.A. Johnson, R.M. Kennedy, Nils A. Lee, William Mattison, Louis Mortinson [Lewis Mortensen?], O.T. Myre [Myhre?], Donald Niven, O.P. Olson, H.J. Row and Stephen Walsh.

Outside attorneys were Judge John Knauf and S.E. Ellsworth of Jamestown; E.H. Wright of Turner & Wright, Fargo; J.W. White, Carrington; B.F. Whipple, Fessenden; John F. Faytle, McHenry; Judge Longbreak, Minneapolis; and Col. Griggsby, Sioux Falls, S.D. Local attorneys were James Carroll, M.T. O’Connor, Judge D.F. Ellsworth, P.M. Mattson, James A. Manly, and Maddux & Rinker.

The civil cases were the following:

McKelvey vs. Nash, verdict for defendant; Manly for plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for defendant; Moss vs. Nash, verdict for defendant. Manly for plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for defendant. Louisa Justice vs. Souder, time given for submitting written briefs; Turner & Wright for plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for defendant. Goss vs. Griggsby, et al., time given for submitting written briefs; R.P. Allison and S.E. Ellsworth for plaintiff; Griggsby and Maddux & Rinker for defendants.

Chamberlain, et al., vs. Kepner, et al, all compromised and funds in court paid out on stipulation; S.E. Ellsworth for plaintiffs; Maddux & Rinker for defendants. Mr. and Mrs. O.G. Cooling secured a decree of adoption for one of the little daughters of Jerry [John?] VanHeizen [Huizen?]; Maddux & Rinker for petitioners. Cummings vs. M.T. O’Connor, went to the jury; Mattson for plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for defendant.

On May 28, Miss Gertrude O’Connell returned from a nursing job and spent a few days visiting her sister Mrs. Ed Overton and family. Prof. L.J. Aldrich returned from a trip south in the interests of the Academy. William Wilson of Sheyenne was in town. Mrs. Marcus Medved left to visit relatives at her old home Fergus Falls, Minn.

On May 29, Lundell vs. Gilderhus was tried; Mattson for plaintiff; Maddux & Rinker for defendant. Ten jury trials were held over to the next week.

On May 29, Dr. Charles McLachlan received his Pope-Hartford touring car. Fred Von Almen returned from near Elizabeth, Minn. That evening, the executive committee of the Early Settlers’ Association met in the law offices of R.P. Allison. They set June 25 as the date for their annual picnic, which would be held in Peoples’ Grove on the Sheyenne River. If that day’s weather proved inclement, the picnic would take place the next day. Committees appointed were Grounds: Martin Walsh, W.G. Carter; Music and Program: H.J. Mitchell, Carolyn Waters and Andrew W. Johnson; Sports: John Von Almen, H.W. Wilson; Dance and Dance Music: Joseph Maxwell, Martin Walsh.

On the morning of May 30, after serving on the district court jury, William Mattison went to his farm in eastern Eddy County to finish seeding. Miss Anna Haas, who had been a stenographer at Medina, arrived to spend the summer with her father Anton Haas and family. A.E. Wiltsie came up from Barlow, visited his friends, and left the next day for Minot to make final proof on his homestead near Sherwood, N.D. A.J. Clure went to Minneapolis on business. All business places were closed from noon to 5 p.m. Since it was Decoration Day, there was no school. At 2 p.m., the band played a few numbers on the street and then marched to the court house, which was decorated with flags, bunting, sweet peas, ferns and carnations. Memorial services were held under the auspices of the Betterment League: Selection by the Band; Song, “America,” the Audience; Prayer, Rev. S.F. Beer; “Let the Hills Resound,” Chorus; Recitation, “The Blue and Gray,” Mable Foose [sp.?]; Address, Rev. Beer; Selection, the Band; Song, “Our Flag”; Address, Miss Ellen Mattson; Violin Solo, J. Harvey Johnson; Selection, the Band; Address, Rev. J.E. Beebe; “The Pilgrim’s Chorus,” Chorus with orchestra accompaniment; Recitation, “My Captain,” Mary Bennett; “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” School Students. Two Union veterans were there: Erwin Forbes and D.F. Ellsworth. Sgt. T.P. Morris and Horace Hall, two other Union veterans, could not be present due to illness.

After the program, led by the band, the two veterans and the school children were transported to Sgt. Morris’ house by horse-drawn conveyances, where the band played several martial songs and the Sergeant was presented with a bouquet of flowers. The teams moved on to the Clayton Hall residence for more songs and for flowers for Mr. Hall’s father Horace. The caravan then went to the cemetery, where the children decorated the graves of the veterans and Rev. J.R. Beebe offered a prayer, after which everyone returned to their homes.

That afternoon, E.S. Severtson and P.M. Mattson invited several guests to go in their autos to a baseball game in Carrington. In Severtson’s car were James E. Hyde, attorney E.H. Wright, Judge Longbreak and C.J. Maddux. In the Mattson vehicle were Judge E.T. Burke, court reporter C.H. Olsen, James Hackney, J.M. Mulvey and C.J. Stickney. The Mattson auto didn’t arrive in time for the game because of an accident. On good roads the autos made 40 m.p.h.

From May 30 to June 1, Miss Mable Kennedy, who was a school teacher near Leeds, visited her family.

The May 31, 1907, “Transcript” had a new ad: “For a Well Made and Good Fitting Suit of Clothes Go To J.A. FISHER Over Prader & Baeder’s Store.”

O.R. Pomranke had almost 75 bushels of clean seed flax for sale.