History of New Rockford: January 18, 2021

The Oct. 16, 1903, “Transcript” contained a lengthy background written by Rev. J.R. Beebe on establishing Phillips Academy in New Rockford. The Academy was named for Charles H. Phillips, who was born on Aug. 24, 1854, in Fairfax County, Va., but grew up on a farm near Cambridge, Ill. In 1885 he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in North Carolina and immediately moved to the portion of Dakota Territory that became North Dakota. He formed Congregational churches in Cummings and Buxton and served for ten years. In 1895 he took charge of the Congregational Church in Jamestown. On July 1, 1901, he married Mary Frances Bliss in Minneapolis and he and his wife became parents of four daughters.

An ad—“See the Nobby Suits we make up for $25 and up. Scherrer” Also swell overcoats, made to order for $25 to $30.

Mrs. L.S. Ford was selling the property she owned near the creamery.

H. Arveskaug and his mother were living in the James Davidson residence on Lamborn Avenue West for the winter. Mr. and Mrs. P.H. West and family had moved into their new home on New Haven Street. Thomas Hrach was going to sell his farm interests and move to Chicago.

Mrs. Ed Wright of Tiffany had been ill during the week, but she was better.

Richter’s Second Addition in Sheyenne had been platted. Peter Gunderson was looking for a buyer for his Sheyenne farm. The Berglund farm near Sheyenne had been sold to some Iowa parties. Mr. and Mrs. Casper Erickson had sold their Sheyenne residence to deputy sheriff A.H. Johnson.

The Treasurer’s Report for the Munster School District #5 for July 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903, showed that receipts were $1482.06, with teacher’s wages being $693. N.C. Gunvaldson, president; O.H. Olson, clerk; H.M. Clark, treasurer.

On Oct. 16, W.T. Buck of Adel, Iowa, arrived to take over the City Barber Shop; he and his family moved into the J.M. Patch Block on Chicago Street North. E.H. Baker returned from a business trip to Carrington. J. Prochaska was in New Rockford. W.A. Cornish was in from Tiffany on business. M.F. Kepner went to Fessenden and other Soo Line points on business; he returned the next day. Frank Reed was reported as having gone to his old home in Iowa for the winter, but on Oct. 24 he returned from the Twin Cities. Miss Elsie Keime went to Leal in Barnes County, where she would teach in the Primary Department. That afternoon Mrs. S.A. Bacon’s sister, Miss Josephine Stanhope, died in Painesville, Ohio, but Mrs. Bacon was unable to attend the funeral because of ill health. Alice (Mrs. J.W.) Rager entertained the West Side Kindergarten Whist Club at the Hotel Mattson.

From Oct. 16 to 18, Miss Jessie Treffry visited in Esmond.

On Oct. 17 Glenn Hoffman was in from Tiffany. James Hobbes was in on business from eastern Eddy County. John A. Dolle of Jackson, Minn., came in and would spend some time in connection with his real estate southeast of town. Miss Anna Knudson arrived from Devils Lake to visit her sister Mrs. John Swanson before returning to her Madison, Minn., home.

On Sunday, Oct. 18, Rev. Fogelstrom of the Swedish Augusta Synod preached in the Greenfield Church. C.H. Babcock, J.C. Whiteman, Dr. G.D. Murphy, Will Wilson, and Edgar Wilson went to Anamoose to hunt. That afternoon Miss Helen Oliver of McHenry and Miss Edith Marriage drove in from the Marriage farm to visit friends. Barlow merchant Thomas Turner and his family were up to visit. “Bowdon Guardian” editor S.J. McCue drove up from Carrington to visit. Robert Taft came over from McHenry and William Steinweg was up from Carrington.

On Oct. 19 J.A. McCrum was in on business from Tiffany country. Fred Uetz came in from southeast of New Rockford. Attorney M.T. O’Connor was able to leave his room after a three weeks’ bout of illness.

From Oct. 19 to 20, H.B. Sorter was in from eastern Eddy County on business. From Oct. 19 to 21, Loren Weir of Burnside, Ill., visited his friend George Tyner.

At 10 a.m. on Oct. 20, J.F. Clure sold at public auction all his personal property on his farm 3½ miles northwest of New Rockford: work horses, cows, calves, one Durham bull, pigs, chickens, turkeys, binders, mowers, wagons, a cart, a hay rake, a disc, harrows, drills, plows, sleighs, double harness, single harness, 50 tons of hay, hard coal stove, sewing machine, automatic cream separator, Empire cream separator, one wood pump, an organ, a steel range, combination egg incubator and brooder, and 4½ tons of hard coal. F.C. Davies, auctioneer.

Despite a very strong wind that day, J.E. Bennett, A.G. Gardner, Dr. Charles MacLachlan, J.M. Mulvey, W.C. Dresser, and C.J. Maddux went goose hunting north of Minnewaukan. Maddux came home that night with one goose. J.J. Anderson and son were in from eastern Eddy County. Mrs. W.J. Morris was in from Plainview to shop. Henry B. Johnson of Plainview and O.E. Nash were in on business. Cement contractor Henry Larson came up from Jamestown and began putting in a cement floor in J.W. Rager’s harness shop.

That day James Walton, 54, died of cirrhosis of the liver; he was described as one of the oldest settlers in the Sheyenne area, having come in 1884. His funeral was on Oct. 21, Rev. C.F. Sewrey.

On Oct. 21, a strong wind did not keep S.A. Olsness of Sheyenne, George Fields and Martin Walsh of Tiffany, and Charles Richter from coming in on business. Ned Walsh, Frank and David Bailey, and Burrill A. Daniels were in from Tiffany and J.L. Pisel from northwest of town. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Stoddard arrived home from their trip during which they had visited British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Yellowstone Park and St. Louis. That morning Axtle Johnson’s heavy farm team got frightened near the Lahart Elevator and took off south down Chicago Street. In front of Rood’s Livery Stable, they smashed the farm wagon they were pulling into a telephone pole. Leaving the wrecked wagon behind, they headed for home. The telephone pole needed splicing at the top, while the wagon would need several days to repair. That evening a number of young people enjoyed a dancing party in the Opera House.

On that day a Russian Buffalo coat was lost north of the Shannon Ranch; if found, please leave at the “Transcript” office.

On Oct. 22 a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jess College east of Barlow. B.W. Hersey came in from Tiffany with a load of grain. C.S. Bosworth came in on business from southwest of town, and Paul Edinger was in on business from Cathay country. Will Young was in from the Tiffany Flats. His brother Charles Young had been visiting him since the previous week; his health had improved in the two years he had been gone from Eddy County. Dentist F.D. Norton went to Leeds on professional business. Mr. and Mrs. John Weipert left for their new home at Chambersburg, Penn. That evening the Royal Neighbors hosted a social in their Lodge rooms.