History of New Rockford: April 13, 2020

 On the morning of Sunday, March 1, 1903, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Roach west of town. Former resident John W. Oard of Des Moines, Iowa, was visiting his brother, former resident Prof. Ira Oard of the Capital City Orchestra in Bismarck.

 On March 2, William Thorn, Robert Vivra from eastern Eddy County, and John Topp were in on business. Chris Fahrner returned from the Twin Cities. Grain buyer B.G. Arbogast returned from his company’s “coal fields” around Barnesville, Minn. J.W. Richter came down from Sheyenne. Ben and Louise Fay went out to their eastern Eddy County farm. Mrs. A.W. Cady went to the Twin Cities to select spring millinery for her shop near the Hotel Mattson. Miss Harriet Turner went to McHenry to visit. James A. Hackney’s name was included on a list of applicants for the Asylum Board sent by Governor White to the State Senate.

 Sealed bids were received until March 2 for the purchase of the old courthouse on lots 4 and 5, block 17 [where the Do It Best Hardware is today, 2020]. At 2 p.m. the Eddy County School Board Presidents met in the courthouse with County Superintendent Grace B. Putnam to discuss the following: Consolidation of Rural Schools; School Architecture and Sanitation; Needed Legislation; Free Text Books; and Teachers’ Wages All directors, clerks, and treasurers were invited to attend also.

 The Eddy County Commission (P.J. Braman, James G. Dailey, James B. Dafoe) met on March 2 and 3. On March 2, County Auditor W.C. Schwoebel took his oath. The Commissioners voted to pay $9.65 to Gust Lauch for plastering in the courthouse; $2.50 to Robert E. Miller for work on the courthouse privy; and $60 to W.C. Hayes for his January and February salary as janitor.

 On March 3, bids were opened by the Commission for the old courthouse and lots: F.C. Davies, $1500.25; Logan & Farley, $1800; C.J. Maddux, $1801.75; and George F. Fahrer, $1900.10. The latter bid was accepted. The Commission voted to pay $27.75 to J.M. Mulvey for a coffin, etc., for Richard Cahill; $14 to W.M. Bartley, inquest of Richard Cahill; $6 to A.G. Gardner for recording bonds; and $4 to Noxon & Oglesby for the courthouse telephone.

 On March 3, S.J. Doyle came up from Carrington on business; also John Lunack was in on business. Mrs. Bert Studebaker and children returned from their old home, Pearl City, Ill. Miss Mamie McMillan came in from Langdon, where she had worked the previous two years at the Wm. Flumerfelt & Co. fruit & confectionary store; she would work in the fruit and confectionary department set up in the post office lobby. That evening some members of the New Rockford MWA (Woodmen) Lodge— Messrs. George Crossen, A.G. Gardner, Hammer, Kennedy, Gus Lauch, Olson, George Pike, Peter Prader, W.E. Radtke, Dobson Reams, Reed, A.D. Tomlinson, and J.C. Whiteman— went to Barlow to help the Lodge there initiate four members; the Barlow Lodge served a lunch.

 On March 4, Misses Marion and Emma Adrian of Fremont, Neb., arrived to visit their uncle William Erdelbrock for the summer. A.J. Richter from southeast of town, George D. Setz from eastern Eddy County, and James Thomas were in on business. Tony Wenzin returned from Minneapolis. Charles O’Connell arrived from Duluth, where he was employed by the Leithhead Drug Co., to visit his parents. Paul Steinweg returned to his home near Casselton after a few weeks visiting his brother Will F. Steinweg, who was employed at Rodenberg & Schwoebel. Donald Niven received an incubator and planned on raising spring chickens for the local market. S.J. Small, editor of the “Devils Lake Inter-Ocean” and manager of the Flax Belt Theatrical circuit, was in New Rockford arranging for an appearance of the Musical Hoyles on March 10.

 On March 5, Miss Jeanie Van Horn arrived from Ontario to visit her sister Mrs. R.R. Woodward and family. Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Warner and family came down from Sheyenne. James Hobbs of eastern Eddy County came in to visit and on business. Frank Thelander from northwest of town and George W. Johnston were in on business. James Walsh was in from Tiffany and James Guler came in from southeast of town. O.R. Pomranke was in for the first time in many months; his family had been plagued by illness for eight months. The Tiffany Ladies’ Aid met at Mrs. Frederick Skidmore’s and elected Mrs. Skidmore as president; Mrs. M. Tarbell, vice president; Mrs. Seth H. Bailey, secretary; Mrs. Peter Crane, treasurer. The quilt the ladies had expected to sell in the spring would not be finished until the fall due to the illness of Mrs. Skidmore and Mrs. Tarbell.

 The March 6, 1903, “Transcript” carried a letter from “Old Man Hanson” about southern California. An ad—W.M. Chamberlain, New Rockford, North Dakota, Auctioneer, stock sales a specialty. Another ad—A.W. Dewey, photographer, would be in New Rockford on March 10 to 12 in the gallery formerly occupied by J.T. Syftestad.

 There was a Card of Thanks from Mrs. Andrew Ohrner and family to friends, neighbors, and the members of Rockford Lodge #46 AOUW for sympathy and help during the illness and death of Andrew Ohrner.

 An item said that the previous Saturday [Feb. 28] Peter M. Mattson had the sheriff deliver a subpoena to attorney M.T. O’Connor for him to appear in district court to answer charges of libel for comments he had made about Mattson.

 Another item said that the claim of Edward G. Allison against the Northern Pacific for injuries he sustained in a train wreck near Terry, Mont., had been settled out of court by attorney R.P. Allison (the young man’s father) and the NP claim agent J.S. Taylor.

 Auctioneer M.T. O’Connor would be selling at Public Auction horses, cattle, and miscellaneous goods, wares, and merchandise every Tuesday and Saturday at Rood’s Livery, Feed, and Sales Stables.

 William Steinbach had for sale at his farm seven miles southwest of New Rockford six workhorses, “pick of 20 head,” the mares in foal, 1300 to 1700 lbs., Norman stock; plus 100 bushels of Siberian millet.

 A note stated that from Feb. 1 to March 1, 4965 lbs. of cream had been received at the creamery; 1879 lbs. of butter had been churned, all of which was shipped to New York State, except for 204 lbs. to local customers. Thirty-seven patrons delivered milk and cream to the creamery. Butter sold for 25 cents a pound.

 During the week a few carloads of soft coal arrived in town and were quickly “gobbled up.”

 During the week John Anderson was painting and papering the house owned by J.W. Rager and formerly occupied by the Valentine Fertig family; Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Babcock would live there.

 Mrs. R.R. Woodward had been quite ill during the week. Mrs. William Wilson was very ill with typhoid fever.