History of New Rockford: April 26, 2021

About 8 p.m. Jan. 9, 1904, Charles Ducke, 26 and unmarried, went out of his farmhouse with a lantern to check on the livestock, leaving his aged mother in the house. When he did not return, his mother thought he went to a neighbor’s house and stayed there. He still had not returned by morning, so she thought he had spent the night at the neighbor’s. However, by noon she was alarmed enough to walk to the neighbor’s, only to discover he had not been there. Some men accompanied her home and continued to search. His body was discovered in the barn, in front of the mangers, and had been trampled by the stock. He was covered with bruises, with one very substantial one under his chin. The next day, a telephone call brought County Coroner Dr. William Bartley to the farm in southeastern Eddy County. Bartley ruled that it was impossible to be certain, but it appeared that death was caused by the kick of a horse.

On Jan. 9 and 10, F.G. Haver was down from Knox to visit.

On Sunday, Jan. 10, a 12-lb. son (William F. Milne III) was born to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Milne, Jr., at the Milne farm in the Sheyenne Valley.

On Jan. 11, George Dunham visited the high school. Conrad Lundquist, and Mr. and Mrs. Olof Lundquist, returned from their holidays in Valley City. Hans Moen came back from Aneta, where he had spent the holidays and attended his sister’s wedding. A.H. Johnson was down from Sheyenne on business. William O’Neill was down from Minnewaukan. D.A. McCallum arrived from Valley City to join Arne Pederson in the tailoring business. J.N. Kunkel and C.F. Lyman came over from Fessenden with a large number of jewelry and fixtures from the Kunkel store; Lyman immediately began getting the jewelry shop in readiness to do business in the Maddux Block, where he would have charge of the repair department. Kunkel had bought out Frank Howard’s jewelry business. Kunkel went back to Fessenden on Jan. 12 to close his business and get his family ready to move to New Rockford. Mr. and Mrs. William Wilson left for their new home in Jamestown, where he would be the chef at the Capital Hotel.

On Jan. 11 and 12, Joseph Dutee was in town. From Jan. 11 to 13, James Hackney was in Jamestown for a meeting of the State Asylum Board. On those days, Fred Davies was also in Jamestown. From Jan. 11 to 14, Sam Swanson was in Fargo on business.

On Jan. 12, C.J. Maddux “went down the line” on legal business. That evening, the third dance sponsored by the Pioneer Club (the “Married People”) was held.

On Jan. 14, painter John Anderson came home from Chicago, where he witnessed the Iroquois Theater fire on afternoon of Dec. 30, in which 602 people lost their lives; Anderson had purchased a ticket for the matinee (which played to a standing-room only crowd of 2100 to 2200 people), but instead went with friends to some other entertainment venues. J.D. Twist from northwest of town, and Jacob Allmaras were in on business. Bert Rounds, who managed the Dakota Elevator, left for a winter in Wisconsin. That evening, Carolyn Trainor and Mrs. A.N. Tomlinson were initiated into the Royal Neighbors; refreshments followed.

The Jan. 15, 1904, “Transcript,” said that W.E. Biggs, who had just finished his term as Worshipful Master in the local Masonic Lodge, was called to their hall a few evenings prior, where the entire membership of the Masons and the Eastern Star Lodges had assembled. Rev. J.R. Beebe presented the very surprised man with a gold watch, with an engraved case, for his service to the Masons.

Samuel McDowell said that so far that winter he had gained almost 60 lbs., since his return from southern California the previous year.

A note said that Father McDonald, who had served the New Rockford parish since 1898, had been appointed to the Carrington parish; Father W.A. Gallahue was named to succeed him. J.N. Kunkel had a notice that he had purchased the F. Howard jewelry business in the Maddux Block and invited the public to come in and see his large stock of jewelry and watches. C.F. Lyman was in charge of the repair department.

During the week, A.W. Healey was down from Churchs Ferry on business and to visit. T.L. Beiseker and E.F. Volkman were over from Fessenden to attend the annual stockholders’ meeting of the First National Bank of New Rockford. The old board of directors was re-elected, a five percent dividend was declared, and $500 was placed in the surplus fund. P.J. Braman, H.M. Clark, and E.B. Thomson were in Jamestown for a meeting of the Alliance Hail Association; Braman was made the accountant. Braman and Clark returned to New Rockford on Jan. 13 and 14, respectively. Also during the week, Blanche Anderson and Ethel Bauer returned to school for review work. Simon Ramberget, Fredrick Hendrickson, and Margaret Brown entered the seventh grade, and Swen Myhre joined the fourth grade.

On Jan. 15, R.R. Woodward returned from a business trip to Fargo. Fred Hensler of McHenry was in on business. Mrs. William Bucklin and her niece, Abbe McCormick, left for Crookston and a visit with relatives.

On Jan. 16, Mr. and Mrs. Axtle Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Richter were in shopping. A.O. Nelson, from north of New Rockford, was in on business. That evening, at the Labhardt bowling alley, a team from New Rockford beat a team from Barlow by 48 pins. Another match was scheduled for Barlow on Jan. 23.

On Jan. 18 and 19, the weather was on the stormy side, but nothing too bad. On Jan. 18 to 20, James A. Manly and C.J. Maddux were in Fessenden to attend court.

On Jan. 19, the officers of the Early Settlers’ Association and the Commercial Association met and appointed committees for the upcoming winter meeting of the Early Settlers and the farmers’ institute: Reception—A.J. Ford, W.C. Dresser, W.C. Schwoebel, A.M. Greely, W.C. Beardsley; Music—Rev. J.R. Beebe, H.J. Mitchell, George F. Fahrer; Program—John Goss, A.D. Tomlinson, M.B. Hersey; Supper—Peter Prader, Joseph Maxwell, M.B. Hersey; Hall and Light—J.G. Dailey, Joseph Maxwell, W.C. Hayes; Advertising—P.J. Braman; M.B. Hersey.

The Pioneer Dancing Club (married people only) held the fourth of their dances in the Opera House on the evening of Jan. 19, with the Grand March at 9 o’clock.

On Jan. 19 and 20, Thomas Ose was down from Brinsmade to check on his hardware business and to visit.

On Jan. 20, J.N. Kunkel returned from Fessenden and began putting his jewelry shop, located in the Maddux Block, in order. Mrs. P.H. West, and son Harry, returned from visiting their daughter/sister at Cooperstown. William Milne, Sr., from the Sheyenne Valley, William Erdelbrock, Dick Bohmbach and J.G. Dailey were in on business. Charles Turner came in from his Lake Washington home on business and to visit. Thomas Turner came up from Barlow and did business between trains. Jeweler F. Howard left for Fargo and his jewelry business there. He had been in New Rockford since Jan. 1898.