History of New Rockford: May 18, 2020

On March 31, 1903, Nels K. Mattson and his foster brother Bruce came down from the Sheyenne Valley. James Lahart was in on elevator business. Ned Morris was down from Hesper [northwest of Maddock], where he was a grain buyer. August Wolgamuth came in from eastern Eddy County on business. Elmer Dinnetz was in town. Charles Dinnetz came in from northwest of town for spring supplies. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Flater and Harry and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McDowell and family returned from southern California. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walden and family left to live near Vancouver, British Columbia. At 1 p.m. members of the Superior & Eastern Extension Telephone Company met in the courthouse to transact “important business.” At 8 p.m. the Christian Endeavor hosted an April Fool’s social and meal at the Congregational Church; admission was 15 cents. There was a good attendance, despite the “sloppy weather.”

When the NP Pacific Coast train stopped in Fargo, Samuel McDowell went to the vestibule of the day coach for a breath of fresh air. A large man pushed against him and then left.  

After McDowell returned to his seat, he discovered he was missing around $400 in cash, a $600 draft, smaller checks and notes amounting to $2000, and his watch. He stopped payment on the checks and drafts.

At 8:30 p.m. March 31, Glenn R. Sutherland and Mae Miller were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Gooden, 5 miles east of Barlow, by Rev. J.R. Beebe. A four-course wedding supper followed. The newlyweds would live on the groom’s farm 8 miles east of Barlow.

Bids were received through April 1 for setting up poles, stringing wire, and placing instruments of the Superior and Eastern Telephone Company to extend a line from New Rockford to the James Hobbs farm, 25 miles from New Rockford. Lawrence Prader was the company secretary.

On April 1, John Hogan, John Dutee of eastern Eddy County, Fred F. Allmaras, Hans Tuffli from southeast of town, and Fred Zimmerman, Jr., were in New Rockford, as were G.M. Carlson of Barlow, Horace Courtemanche and David Twist from northwest of town, and James Davidson on business. Rev. E.T. Quam was down from Sheyenne. Mrs. Barney Engberg came up from Barlow. Mrs. K.M. Sampson returned from a winter at her old home in Illinois and would spend the summer with her daughter Mrs. G.K. Gullicks and family; she was accompanied by her granddaughter Miss Kate Dodge of Edmunds. Peter Prader returned from the Twin Cities. Dick Bohmbach returned from a winter in Red Wing, Minn. Chris Jensen was back from Concordia College, where he had attended school the past winter. Mrs. Annie Turner went to Barlow to visit her daughter Miss Hattie. Margareta/Margarita Steinweg returned to her home near Casselton after a month’s visit with her sister Mrs. H.F. Rodenberg and family. Martin Walsh took his four-year-old son to St. Paul for treatment of scrofula [a disease associated with an infection and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck]; he returned on April 13 with the news that the procedure “was entirely successful.” That evening the Degree of Honor Lodge met in the Masonic Hall and after the meeting there were cards, a public auction, dancing, and “an elegant lunch.” The Smith Orchestra of New Rockford provided the music for the MWA Lodge dance in Sheyenne.

On April 2, the Tiffany Ladies’ Aid met at Mrs. Peter Crane’s. Grain buyer Fred Dutee came over from McHenry on business. Percy Wiltsie left for his Ward County homestead to prepare for spring work.  

The April 3, 1903, “Transcript” mentioned that the “Provost” (its rival newspaper) had hurled untrue charges in its last issue.

Captain P.H. West was going to add another team to his dray line. H.G. Hudson had received fixtures for a new soda fountain. Bauer & Larkin’s Independent Dray Line had such an increase in the volume of their business that they had added another team.

Col. and Mrs. D.F. Ellsworth had moved into the former A.H. Clute residence on Dakota Street. Former New Rockford banker P.J. Hester and his family had moved from San Jose, Calif., to 49 N. 14th Street, Portland, Oregon.

Andrew Prader, who had last been in New Rockford 18 years prior, was visiting his brother Peter Prader and family; he lived on the West Coast.

Early in the week, F.G. Haver was in New Rockford. For a few days that week bank cashier J.E. Hyde was in Fargo. During the week J.H. Hohl left southern California and would visit eastern Oregon, Washington and Idaho before returning to New Rockford.

On the morning of April 3, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Dresser. Peter Hanson was in on business from north of town. Tim O’Connor was in from west of town. Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Onstott and family left for their new home near Kenmare, N.D. At 4 p.m. about 15 members of the Minnewaukan Eastern Star Lodge and a few gentlemen arrived by train; that evening they presented the play “Female Masonry,” a humorous burlesque, in Brown’s Opera House.

Afterward, nearly 40 couples danced until the early morning hours, during which the New Rockford Eastern Star ladies served ice cream and cake. The next morning the performers were given a tour of the town.

That night Mrs. John Schaefer died in her home near Tiffany of pneumonia, following a severe attack of la grippe (flu); she was ill two days prior to her death. She left a husband and two sons. Her funeral was in the family home on Sunday, April 5, Rev. C.F. Sewrey, with burial in the cemetery north of town. Her large, gray gravestone in Prairie Home Cemetery reads “SCHAEFER” at the top, then “Myrtle M. wife of J.H. Schaefer Mar. 16, 1865-Apr. 3, 1903 At Rest.”

On April 4, F.H. Ewald (Ewals) was up on business from his farm a few miles north of Barlow. Mrs. J.M. Shannon drove over from McHenry to visit her parents Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hayes. Clayton Hall was in on business.

On April 4 and 5, Sheyenne druggist Charles O’Connell was in New Rockford. From April 4 to 7, C.J. Maddux was in the Twin Cities on business.