History of New Rockford: February 26, 2018

Editor’s Note: The first few paragraphs are continued from the February 19 edition, as this column ended abruptly in the middle of a sentence. We regret the error.

The June 28, 1901 “Transcript” continued its attack on State’s Attorney P.M. Marttson with a critique of the story in his newspaper the “Provost’ about his disbarment proceeding. In the Story he omitted the portion of the judge’s statement in which Mattson was cited as being “extremely negligent” and that if the proceeding had been about his removal from office on the grounds of neglect of duty, it was possible the judge would have ordered such a removal. The “Transcript’ accused Mattson of “moral perjury” for his omission.

Another item said that the previous spring Mattson had circulated a petition calling for a grand jury. However, no grand jury was called because 1) the grand jury might have investigated the state’s attorney’s office; and 2) news of a possible grand jury scared off the blind pigs that might have testified against Mattson in his disbarment proceeding. The “Transcript” also stated that “Snake-eyed Pete” had ordered two kegs of beer “…not long ago.”

There was a rumor that Mattson had gone back on his word to some blind pigs that if they wouldn’t testify against him at his disbarment, he would allow them to reopen without paying any fines. However, public opinion had Mattson so “scart” he had gone back on his word.

The “Transcript” called Mattson a “monkey”; the paper also claimed that the previous fall Mattson had won money from a McHenry man playing poker.

The June 28, 1901, “Transcript” commented on the rainy weather.

L.A. Arbogast was over from Duluth, looking over his elevator business. Wagon maker Robert U. Austin had built a hook and ladder truck and ladders for the NRFD.

E.B. Thomson had a two-year old Hereford bull for sale. Marsh Chamberlain had a fresh mulch cow for sale. P.J. Shanahan had a sixteen-inch Prairie Queen breaker for sale.

During the week Prof. F.W. Soule, eye specialist, was at the Whiteman Drug Store. M.W. Neary, representative of the Champion Co., was assisting the local agent, A.J. Clure. F.I. Lyon was in New Rockford after attending the UND Law School the past term; he was going to sell insurance that summer. Lyon had been the New Rockford school principal frm Sept. 5, 1898-June 8, 1900.

Dennis O’Keefe was a local well driller. George Ackerman was an Eddy County abstractor, bonded for five thousand dollars. Frank Bailey was a new worker at the machinery yard of Prader & Litcher.

Thomas S. Johnson’s wheat located northwest of town stood thirty-eight inches high and was nicely headed out. The previous week J.R. Engberg finished seeding over 2,400 acres near Barlow; Engberg was also a farm implement dealer. Barlow Mayor P.C. Peterson was a lumber dealer.

On June 28, D.D. Dailey was in New Rockford on business.

The school board had a notice to people with accounts against the New Rockford School District #4 to present their bills between June 28 and 29 at 2 p.m.

On June 28 and 29, Ed Winters was in from his Freeborn farm. Theodore Tobias, principal of the Anderson School #1, was in New Rockford.

On June 29, Mrs. Thomas Halvorson, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Studebaker, Miss Frances Thomson, Mrs. William Wilson, Miss Sadie Trainor and Miss Gertrude O’Connell shopped in New Rockford. A.L. Sprecher, B.W. Hersey, Clarence Sheldon and C.A. Parker came in from Tiffany, and James Renfrew was in on business. Anton Haas came up from Superior; Knudt Bymoen and Ole Mattson came down from the Sheyenne Valley; Sylvanus Marriage, his son, and Pat Byron were up from Barlow. Miss Annie Van Heesch and Plainview teacher Miss Inez Sampson was in town. Dr. Charles MacLachlan made a professional trip to McHenry. Eddy County Superintendent of Schools Grace B. Putnam visited Foster County Superintendent of Schools Campbell.

On June 29 to 30, Morris school teacher Miss Lenora Knox was visiting in New Rockford.

On the morning of Sunday, June 30, a patriotic service with “good attendance” was held in the Congregational Church. Attorney R.P. Allison spoke on “Revolution and Progress”; in the evening there was a “Children’s Day” service. There were so many people that a large number could not get inside. Mrs. George Brown of the Hotel Brown came in from the farm to help with the service; she returned to the farm on July 1. Jack Kelly was visiting from Barlow. Miss Hattie Turner went to Washington Lake for a few days’ visit.

From July 1, 1900, to June 30, 1901, the Rockford School District #4 had receipts of $5402.64 and expenditures of $5331, of which $2502 went to teachers’ salaries. W.C. Beardsley was the board president, P.J. Braman the clerk, and J.H. Hohl the treasurer.

For 1900-1901, the Munster School District #5 had receipts of $1241.60; expenditures of $1179.30; and teachers’ salaries of $778.75.

For the same time period the Plainview School District #14 had receipts of $1562.75; expenditures of $759.93; and teachers’ salaries of $245. W.J. Morris was the president, S.O. Lee the clerk, and H.B. Johnson the treasurer.

Also for that period the Superior School District #19 had receipts of $3088.91; expenditures of $2507.18; and teachers’ salaries of $992. W.C. Schwoebel was the president, S. Marriage the clerk, and Anton Haas the treasurer.

On July 1, D.H. Keyton was bound over to District Court on a charge of grand larceny; bail was set at $300. Mrs. George Fields of Tiffany was in New Rockford shopping; also in from Tiffany was B.A. Daniels. Mr. and Mrs. E. Burnett came in from eastern Eddy County, and Mrs. Peter Butler came in from west of town. Mrs. William Wright was in town shopping. Miss Freda Zimmerman was up from Barlow, as were Mr. and Mrs. L. Martinson [Mortensen?]. Ole Hagen, Gust M. Carlson and his sister were in town. Major F.O. Getchell came down from Ft. Totten. P.A. Anderson came down from his farm north of New Rockford. Frank Ponto was in from the Sheyenne Valley. J.G. Dailey went to Buffalo, ND, for a visit.

On that day Rev. L.E. Gulander and his brother, a missionary from South Africa, were in New Rockford. The brother had left South Africa in February 1900 and was a strong supporter of the Boers in their conflict with the British. On the previous day, he had lectured in Sheyenne on the Boer War.

Also on that day a new barber license law went into effect in North Dakota: no one could be a barber in the state unless he passed an examination prepared by a board of examiners; however, present barbers were grandfathered in, although they had to pay a two-dollar fee for a certificate of registration.

From July 1-3 and 5-6, the Eddy County Commission (Braman, Schwoebel, Halverson) met as a Board of Equalization.

On the evening of July 1, there was a meeting of the Century Lodge #60, AF & AM, in their hall. W.C. Hayes, secretary.

On July 2 Major F.O. Getchell and Dr. Charles MacLachlan tried to cross the Sheyenne River in a buggy, but the water was higher than they thought. At mid-stream the horses were swimming and the buggy was floating. Dr. MacLachlan got on the seat and after the water reached his ankles, he climbed onto the buggy top. Major Getchell attempted to follow, but was unable to because he weighed 252 lbs. In his attempt he slipped and fell into the river up to his armpits. He grabbed onto the buggy and held on until it got close enough to the bank for him to wade to safety.  

William Cornish came in from Tiffany, as did Peter Crain, who was looking over haying equipment. Mr. and Mrs. Augu st Kiehlow, Chris Ramberger, Herb Losee and Orrin Foster were in town. Stephen Roberts came down from his Sheyenne Valley farm. Mr. and Mrs. Nils Gunvaldson went to visit in Leeds; they returned on July 5. Mrs. A.C. Buck and her children went to the Chautauqua. H.J. Mitchell left for the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, where he would meet his family. Afterward they would go to New York City and then to see his relatives in Pennsylvania.

On that day, Frank Dusek’s sorrel horse, nine years old and 1400 lbs., strayed from his farm near Twist Post Office. It had a white strip in its face.