History of New Rockford: March 16, 2020

At 9 p.m. Feb. 5, 1903, Barney Engberg and Martha Zimmerman were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hanson, Barlow, by Rev. J.R. Beebe. They would live on the Engberg farm six miles south of New Rockford.

The Feb. 6, 1903, “Transcript” contained a letter from “OLD MAN HANSON” which said he did not write an article in the issue of the “Provost” from two weeks prior, but which had been ascribed to him. The letter had attacked C.J. Maddux of the “Transcript” for his poor handling of a final proof on Hanson’s homestead, but Hanson retorted that no one could have done as much as Maddux did to help him, an illiterate 84-year old man, get his land.

There was a note of thanks from John Cole, who had resigned as the manager of the local telephone exchange, to his New Rockford patrons and friends for the kindness and courtesy shown to him. The “Transcript” said he had made many friends during his stay in the city.

The “Transcript” complained that some New Rockford businessmen were not keeping up with the sidewalk snow removal.

An ad—Independent Dray Line O.W. Bauer A.J. Larkin baggage express and ice delivered at reasonable rates ph. 72a “WE WILL USE YOU RIGHT.”

Blacksmith John Olson had been installing a trip hammer and a 2¼ h.p. Webber gasoline engine to make his work easier.

Mrs. C.O. Johnson and daughter Miss Lucile of Cooperstown were visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs. P.H. West for a couple weeks.

An item said New Rockford had 81 telephones in use on the Noxon & Oglesby Company line.

For the past week Miss Hattie Turner, Mrs. A.M. Greely, and Mrs. J.C. Fay had the grip” [flu]. P.H. West had the grip all week, but managed to keep “…a watchful eye on his big dray line business.” Mrs. M.F. Kepner was very ill with pneumonia. For the previous few days Mrs. Frederick Skidmore had laryngitis. Christina Mattson of the Hotel Mattson was confined to her room all week due to tonsillitis.

On Feb. 6, George Fields of Tiffany and George Pincott from eastern Eddy County were in on business. Mrs. H.G. Lathrop was in from eastern Eddy County. W.C. Beardsley returned from his eastern trip. Christ Flitch was up from Jamestown for a week of visiting relatives and friends. Gus Anderson returned from two weeks in the Twin Cities and other points in Minnesota; the next day he was in New Rockford. R.P. Allison went to Esmond on business about the “Esmond Bee.” John Wren was out shooting with a double barrel shotgun near his home southeast of New Rockford when a barrel burst just where his left thumb was gripping it; he suffered a badly injured hand and there was conjecture the thumb might have to be amputated, which it was on Feb. 16.

That evening Mrs. William Erdelbrock died at her home west of New Rockford from a brain hemorrhage which she had suffered eight days prior. She left a husband and a young daughter. Her funeral was held on the afternoon of Feb. 9, Rev. E.T. Quam. Interment was in the Greenfield Cemetery. [There is a grave in the present Grandfield Lutheran Cemetery: Clara Erdelbrock b. Sweden June 14, 1879-February 6, 1903.]

On Feb. 6, the Bank of New Rockford, Ernest S. Severtson, cashier, had resources (assets) of $123,030.76, down $31,177.28 from the $154,208.04 of November 25, 1902. Checking accounts amounted to $63,198.33, down $37,192.19 from the $100,390.52 of November 25.

On Feb. 6 the First National Bank of New Rockford, James E. Hyde, cashier, had resources (assets) of $65,381.24, up $1142.21 from the $64,239.03 of Nov. 5, 1902. Checking accounts were $18,178.59, up $1899.94 from the $16,278.65 of Nov. 25.

On Feb. 7, Henry Holter was in New Rockford. Rudolph Indergaard from his farm on the Eddy-Foster line; Rudolph Edwardson, who farmed southeast of town; Ed Anderson of Plainview; and Peter Hallquist from northwest of town came in on business. Veterinary surgeon F.W. Tompkins was down from Oberon on a professional visit.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, Henry Westad and Howard Wolf came up from Carrington to visit cigarmaker Art Swearinger.

On Feb. 9, Jacob Ackerman and George Crossen were in on business, as were William Cornish from Tiffany and J.F. Clure from northeast of town. Clarence Sheldon was in from northeast of town. Mrs. R.M. Kennedy returned from a visit to her old home in New York. Miss Anna Allmaras came up from Jamestown due to the illness of her father. Misses Freda and Bertha Adams returned to Reynolds after a month’s visit with their cousin Jacob Ackerman and other relatives. At 2 p.m. there was a meeting in the courthouse of farmers interested in a telephone line west and southwest of New Rockford.

 On Feb. 10, Jens Myhre was in on business, as was Ed Wright of Tiffany. Anson Bonney was in from Tiffany. Esmond farm machinery dealer George H. Dickey was in town. Mrs. W.E. Biggs went to Jamestown to attend the Grand Lodge of the Royal Neighbors of America. That evening Moore’s Concert Company appeared in New Rockford. Also that evening the Barlow Congregational Church members met in Hansch’s Hall; after the business meeting the ladies provided refreshments. Some New Rockford young people piled into bobsleds and went four miles northeast of New Rockford to the home of Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Hall for an evening of music, dancing, and a midnight supper. That evening a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hatch southeast of New Rockford.

On Feb.11 at 3 p.m. the WCTU met at Mrs. W.E. Biggs’s.

On Feb. 12 P.C. Peterson was up from Barlow. Pat O’Connor came in from west of town and Peter Smith from northeast of town on business. Paul Steinweg and his sister Miss Marguerite (or Margareta or Margarita) arrived from Casselton to visit their sister Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg. John McVey returned from his Minnesota visit. Mrs. Frederick Skidmore returned to her Tiffany home after several weeks in New Rockford recovering from her recent illness. Dr. John Crawford visited in New Rockford on his way from Esmond to Bismarck. Fred Belcher and his mother left for three weeks in Iowa. That evening a large crowd attended the Valentine’s Day dance at the Opera House.