History of New Rockford: Jan. 20, 2025

On July 20, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bollingberg and family went to Leeds to visit her brother Gilbert Bymoen and his new bride whom he had married in Minneapolis. Fred Utz shipped a carload of cattle to the South St. Paul market.

From July 20 to 23, attorney James Carroll was in Devils Lake on legal business. From July 20 to 24, Richard Sugden, the bookkeeper for the Gribben-Alair Elevator Co., was in Denhoff on business.

About 10 o’clock on the morning of Sunday, July 21, four companies of the U.S. Sixth Infantry, commanded by Major Steadman, came into New Rockford after marching from their encampment on Devils Lake. They pitched their tents on Mill Avenue East and spent the day. A group of “prominent citizens,” acting as a reception committee, saw to their various needs. In the afternoon, the New Rockford Band gave a concert on the encampment grounds in their honor. Major Steadman and his staff paid visits to Sgt. T.P. Morris and Col. D.F. Ellsworth, two old veterans. Sgt. Morris had been with the Sixth Infantry 55 years before at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. At 6 o’clock the next morning, the soldiers resumed their march to their headquarters at Ft. Lincoln near Bismarck. Photographer M. Belgum took a picture of their camp and another of the men in front of the Farmers & Merchants Bank as they prepared to leave. That morning, Phillips Academy principal L.J. Aldrich preached in Carrington; he returned to New Rockford on July 23. Mrs. A.E. Gammell went over to her home near McHenry to look over the crops.

From July 21 to 22, Edwin Reynolds of Maddock was in town visiting.

On the morning of July 22, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kennedy. A son was also born to Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Liles of Minnewaukan. [Mrs. Liles was the former Edna A. Whiteman Flater of New Rockford.] Miss Eva Hawthorne came in from Kenmare, where she had taught school, and would visit her parents. Miss Julia Shirley arrived from Minot to visit friends; she left for Fargo on August 1. Frank Speck came up from Minneapolis to visit his parents Mr. and Mrs. Fred Speck south of town. Mrs. F.G. Haver arrived from Jamestown to visit her sister Miss Gertrude McGeoch. D.C. Rand, the travelling auditor for the Powers Company, drove his auto up from Jamestown, accompanied by his wife; they drove to Leeds the next day. County Supt. Ellen Mattson, Monroe Wilder, Miss Mamie Goodrich, Miss Dora Beer, Miss Pearl Beer, Miss Gertrude Buck and Miss Lena Breck went to Valley City to attend summer school. Farmer C.C. Hanson went to Fargo on business. Lawrence Prader returned to Courtenay after a few days visiting relatives and friends.

From July 22 to 24, Frank Treffry was in Harvey on business. From July 22 to 25, Mrs. C.C. Schmidt of Jamestown visited her daughter Mrs. A.C. Olsen and family.

On July 23, Mrs. Bennett came up from Jamestown to see her daughter Mrs. E.R. Davidson; she returned on July 31. Mr. and Mrs. Isham Burnett returned from Missouri and the funeral of Mrs. Burnett’s mother. Alec Pottner left on a trip to St. Paul, Kansas City, and the major cities of the Pacific Coast. Mrs. Charles Aultman returned to her home in Marionette, Wisc., after three weeks visiting her sister Mrs. Gus Lauch and family.

On July 24, George A. Brown returned from a trip to Helena, Mont. Dr. and Mrs. Charles MacLachlan and Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Couch attended the horse races in Kensal. The Golden West Amusement Co. arrived, and the next day the 75 members opened for business with the Fun Factory; Dreamland; Palace of Mystery; Don Fulano, the Wonder Horse; George, the Iowa Midget; and a Ferris Wheel. There were also some free attractions: a high dive by Kid Mangles and the acrobat and contortionist Harry Rickrod on the swinging rings. Some of their attractions had to be cancelled because of the lack of electricity for lighting purposes. They left on Sunday morning, July 28. That afternoon, Rev. E.T. Quam of Sheyenne married Iver Hjelseth of Plainview and Randa Furulie of Dawson, Minn., in the Hotel Mattson’s parlors.

On July 25, drayman Wayne Johnston picked up a bottle of what he assumed was spring water and took a couple big drinks, only to discover the liquid was concentrated lye; he sprinted to a doctor, who helped him get relief. The bottle was clearly marked “Lye.” Miss Agnes Walsh of Milwaukee arrived to visit Miss Parish Wilson. “Billy” Sanders returned from a trip to some western states. Miss Minnie O’Neill returned from a visit to Bowbells and Canada. D.H. Fowler was up from Jamestown on business and to visit; he was planning on living in Jamestown. Mrs. C.C. Cork and Miss Millicent Strause returned to their homes in Barlow and Minneapolis respectively after visiting Mrs. H.H. Miller and family. Miss Marguerite Casper left to visit her sister at Garrison, N.D. Mrs. J.R. Beebe and her mother Mrs. M.H. Dodge left to visit the old home in Aberdeen, S.D.

The July 26, 1907, “Transcript” contained an ad saying that the Hays & Adams Hardware was the local agent for J.I. Case and Nichols & Shepard threshing machines.

Mrs. Agnes Ewals had taken up at her farm four miles south and one mile east of town on July 24 one dark buckskin mare, one bay horse colt and one black yearling colt.

Miss Ida Norby of Appleton, Minn., was visiting her cousin Miss Minnie Syftestad.

Thomas Adam was having a cement block house built on his farm southeast of town.

Early in the week, Charles Baird went to the Baird Ranch in Kidder County. Mrs. F.J. Whidden and Miss Lulu Lovell came up from Jamestown to attend the revival meetings; they were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Kennedy.

On July 26, George W. Brownell returned from a visit to his old home in New York state. F.F. Fisher came back from Mountain Home, Idaho, where he had checked on his real estate. T.G. Kellington returned from a visit with his family in Valley City, accompanied by his wife, who remained to visit for a while. Erich Lindstrom went down to Moorhead and on July 31 returned with his wife and their month-old son. Mrs. Olof Lundquist was called to Valley City by the serious illness of her sister.

On the morning of July 27, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schuster. Miss Theresa Burger returned to her teaching duties at Aneta, N.D., after visiting Mrs. W.J. Morris. Axtle Johnson, Seth Bailey and B.W. Hersey went to Warwick to help organize an American Society of Equity there. When the guest speaker did not appear, Johnson and Bailey addressed the farmers present and over twenty of them joined the Society. Mrs. Dick Bohmbach returned from her former home in Kansas City, where she had gone due to the illness of her mother.