History of New Rockford- Dec. 24, 2018

On Feb. 25, 1902, J.F. Voigt, editor of the “Oberon Reporter,” purchased the “Benson County News” at Leeds from editor Garver and would take possession between March 1 to 15. Went Mcgee came in from the Tiffany Flats. W.C. Manz of Freeborn was in on business. George Price was in town from near McHenry. David Bailey and Fred Dutee were in town. Pat Byron was up from Barlow. R.P. Allison returned from Jamestown; Mrs. Allison had recovered sufficiently from her recent Royal Neighbors’ initiation injuries to be able to accompany him. Ed College was in from his farm southeast of town. Mr. and Mrs. Axtle Johnson were in shopping. Mrs. William Cahill left for the Magnetic Institute in Fargo for a couple weeks’ treatment of her rheumatism. J.L. Prader, Sr., left on a business trip to Fargo and other points. That afternoon all ladies bowled for free in the bowling alley. That evening New Rockford tailor W.J. Miller was in Sheyenne. At 8:30 p.m. the last lessons for H.L. Lyon’s dancing class were given at the Hotel Davies. The next series of lessons were scheduled to begin on the evening of March 5 with five lessons for $2 and a dance after each lesson. Season tickets for non-members of the class were $2 in advance.

On that day, the following left for Jamestown to attend the wedding of J.L. “Lutzie” Prader, Jr., and Nettie F. Fried of Jamestown: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Prader, Mrs. J.L. Prader, Sr., Mrs. Annie Edwards [Edmond?], Tony Haas and daughter Miss Annie, Lawrence Prader, and Miss Lyle Yegen. The marriage ceremony took place at 3 p.m. the next day at the home of the bride’s parents (Mr. and Mrs. Peter Fried) 9 miles north of Jamestown, Rev. Hess officiating. The couple would live on a farm southeast of New Rockford.

On Feb. 25 to 26, Col. Seth Bailey was at the Gudgell Ranch.

On Feb. 26, W.J. Bailey came in from Tiffany. John T. Olson came in on business, as did Charles Hutchinson from southeast of town and C.S. Bosworth of eastern Wells County. Mrs. A.C. Buck returned from a week’s visit to Jamestown.

On Feb. 27, Hans Jensen returned from Iowa to stay for a while. That evening there was a meeting of the New Rockford Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Matt Fautsch.

The Feb. 28, “Transcript” mentioned the “Courtenay Gazette.” An ad—R.A. Wenzin, contractor and builder, shop near Starks’ feed mill.

That issue commented that the rain that fell almost every day that week caused “slippery footing and difficult travel.”

“Card of Thanks. We desire to extend our heaatfelt [sic] thanks to our friends and neighbors for the many acts of kindness performed for us in the sad loss of our loved one. MRS. EDNA FLATER. MR. AND MRS. N. FATER. MRS. JOS. MAXWELL.”

J.M. Mulvey was having the interior of his hardware store painted. The Clure Implement Company had built a large display platform in front of their machinery warehouse during the week.

J.W. Rager had spent some time out on his farm, where he had his house painted and papered. He cleaned the chimneys, set up a couple stoves, helped the paper hanger and mixed the paints for the painter.

The previous week the Socialists had organized a state party with N.G. Massey of Fargo as the chairman of the state committee.

On Feb. 28, Dr. Charles MacLachlan returned from Fargo and other eastern points, where he went to buy cattle for his ranch. B.G. Arbogast returned from a business trip. Ben Fay came home from a week’s visit to the Twin Cities. J.A. Trembley was up from Barlow on business. The following returned from Jamestown and the J.L. and Nellie Fried Prader wedding: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Prader, and family, Verna Schmid, Miss Lyle Yegen, Anna Haas, Mrs. J.L. Prader, Sr., Mrs. Anna Edmond and Lawrence Prader. That evening there was a Grand Masquerade Ball in the Hotel Davies dining room. Dancers paid 75 cents; spectators paid a quarter. Costumes had to be ordered from J.C. Fay by Feb. 22. A large crowd danced to the four-piece orchestra.

On March 1, Mrs. Jacob Portz was in town shopping. Frank Volbrecht, Ed Wright and Frank Parker were in from Tiffany. J.C. Wold was in on business from his farm east of town, and Axtle Johnson came in from southeast of town. Mrs. A.J. Ford returned from a few days’ visit in Carrington. Nels Mattson went to Sheyenne. That afternoon as Rev. J.R. Beebe was pumping air into one of his large gasoline lamps, it burst into flame. The New Rockford Fire Department was called, but by the time they arrived, Rev. Beebe had smothered the fire with blankets.

On Sunday, March 2, the Saturday train to Esmond came in, preceded by a large snow plow with two locomotives to clear the cuts between Oberon and Esmond. Station agent Cummins, landlord Greene, and druggist Holiday, all of Carrington, were aboard to see the plow buck through the snow drifts. Barney Engberg of Barlow visited in New Rockford.

On March 3, T.M. Huff (his farm was southwest of New Rockford), C.C. Manning of Sheyenne, John Walsh of Harvey, Martin Endres and Peter Schafer of Wells County, Ulrich Sprecher, and Nils Grondvaldson [sic—Gunvaldson] were in on business. Herb Losee, Jacob Ackerman, George Pincott, W.E. Perkins and J.P. Knox (the latter two had farms in eastern Eddy County) were in town. O.O. Wolden was down from Sheyenne. William Cornish and Anton Bonney came in from Tiffany; Bonney arranged for an auction sale for J.H. Bonney. Miss Lena Greitl and Miss Johanna Johnson were up from Barlow to visit friends. McHenry farmers Magnus and his son Walter Anderson, Charles Rue, Sam Herbson and W.A. Brock drove over on business. McHenry attorney W.O. Lowden got off the southbound train and visited in New Rockford a few days. Martin Larson left on an eastern trip. Simon De Bilt of near Tiffany took the southbound train to Carrington and then the Soo Line to Berthold to homestead; he planned on moving his family there in about a month.

On that day, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Clark were in San Diego and would visit Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento and Tacoma before returning to New Rockford.

The Eddy County Commission met on March 3 and paid $30 to W.C. Hayes for his work as courthouse custodian. They granted a petition of J.P. Knox and others for a road from the northeast corner of section 17, T149, R63, [Lake Washington Township] south on the section line to the southeast corner of section 32, T149, R63. They also accepted the bid of G.W. Brownell for lumber for the Sheyenne bridge at $575 and the bid of Thomas Ose for the hardware for the bridge at $35.