History of New Rockford: Oct. 11, 2021

On June 24, 1904, around 2000 people attended the Early Settlers’ Association’s annual picnic in Peoples’ Grove, despite the heavy rain of the previous night. The Ft. Totten Indian Band played throughout the day. After picnic dinners there was a musical program in the pavilion, with the Indian Band assisting. An election of officers resulted in the following: A.M. Greely, president; F.O. Getchell, vice president; M.B. Hersey, secretary; Peter Prader, treasurer; executive committee—J.W. Richter, F.L. Kermott, Joseph Maxwell, R.M. Kennedy, John Schaefer, and Martin Walsh. On that day, treasurer Peter Prader reported that the Association had $195.44 cash on hand. In afternoon baseball it was Ft. Totten 3; New Rockford Juniors 0; and Ft. Totten 8; Plainview 7. After picnic suppers, there was a dance until dawn in the pavilion. All New Rockford businesses were closed for the day. Swanson and Mostue sent a “bus” drawn by four horses and carrying eight to 10 passengers to the picnic grounds and back for one dollar.

For those who could not make the trip to the Grove, there was an outdoor dinner on Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Mulvey’s spacious lawn. In the donkey race, Orley Couch took first (a bunch of onion tops), G.W. Streeter was second, and G.W. Brownell took the booby prize. In the horse race, Clinton Kennedy took first astride Streeter’s bay, and Orley Couch on Dr. Murphy’s three-year old black filly took second. Some ladies provided both noon and evening meals. Andrew Johnson and A.C. Olsen were the captains of the baseball teams. Olsen’s battery was J.A. McAuley and Dr. G.D. Murphy, while Johnson’s was Von Almen and Davies. Score: Olsen 18; Johnson 3.

On June 25, Sidney Hewes of Tiffany, John Topp from near McHenry, and David Webster and Freeman Shoemaker of eastern Eddy County came in on business. J.L. Prader, Jr., returned from Fargo, via the Old Settlers’ reunion in Wimbledon. Frank Greitl from near Barlow, Dan R. Ducke and Edward Winters from eastern Eddy County, B.W. Hersey from the Tiffany Flats, Nels Faar, Michael O’Keefe, and Elmer Dinnetz were in town; Dinnetz had moved to Benson County. O.B. Tausen came up from Barlow on business. S.J. Strande of eastern Eddy County came in to make proof on his homestead. David Twist came in from northwest of town; he had been ill quite a bit that spring, but was still planning on opening a general store at the Twist post office with J.J. McBroom. Reuben Williams came in from Wisconsin for a summer with relatives. Mr. and Mrs. George Treffry left on a trip that would take them to Minneapolis; Chicago; their former home town of Plattsville, Ontario; some other sections of Canada and some eastern states; and the St. Louis World’s Fair; they returned on August 10.

On the morning of Sunday, June 26, Orley Couch drove to Carrington to pick up his father, who had testified at the federal district court in Fargo, and brought him to New Rockford (the first time he had been in town); he returned to Bismarck the next day. Charles Turner came in from Lake Washington to visit a few days and to do some business. At 8 p.m., Children’s Day exercises were held in the Methodist Church. That evening people were invited to come to the Baptist Church to learn about “The Devil” and the origin of evil.

On the morning of June 27, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Christ Berge northwest of town. A “Bloomer” girls’ baseball team played in Carrington; a few complimentary tickets were available early on the morning of June 25 from New Rockford druggist William Bucklin. Frank Parker, clerk at Prader and Goss, attended the game. O.R. Garnaas came down from Sheyenne on business. W.J. and J.M. Ducke were in from eastern Eddy County on business, as was John Wren from southeast of town. Mrs. John Butler arrived from Oregon to attend her father A.M. Greely during his illness; he had a large, painful carbuncle removed from the back of his head. Frank Snook from near McHenry was in town. Lars Tweet was in town. Fred [Frank?] Richmond left for Carrington, where he would work on the “Independent.” Delegates W.E. Radtke and J.E. Bennett left for the Masonic Grand Lodge in Fargo; Bennett returned on June 30. That evening, the Sherrys appeared at the Opera House: “Two hours of solid fun,” including the comedy sketches “A Happy Pair” and “Desperate Remedies”; “Elegant costumes.”

From June 27 to 29, Master Thomas McKean of Sanborn visited Master Ralph Beebe, and Mrs. E.G. Allison of Jamestown visited her relatives.

On June 28, Al Richter was in from southeast of town, as was Clayton Hall from the Sheyenne Valley on business. John Schmid came up from Carrington; he had resigned from the “Independent.” Axtle Johnson was in from the Pitt precinct. William Chambers returned from a winter in Minnesota. Andrew Knutson, Mrs. Albert Knutson, and Knut Skarbo returned to Rugby after visiting Mr. and Mrs. John Swanson for a week; Knutson was a brother of Mrs. Swanson. Myrtle Swanson accompanied them and would spend the summer in Rugby. Rev. C.F. Choate, who had charge of the Sheyenne and New Rockford Baptist congregations, passed through town on the train to attend the annual Baptist Association meeting in Jamestown. Mrs. R.P. Allison joined him on the train at New Rockford and went to the meeting also. James Graham went to Minneapolis and returned the next day with the body of his daughter who had died during an operation. He took the body to the farm in eastern Eddy County and on June 30 interment took place in the Knox Cemetery. [A gravestone in the Washington Lake Cemetery in Washington Lake Township reads “Mary Graham dau of James and Ellen Dec. 9, 1886-June 28, 1904.]

From June 28 to July 1, Rev. Nathaniel Reutenik and daughter Ruth visited their son and brother Charles in Esmond.

On June 29, John Schaefer, Stephen Walsh, and Martin Walsh of Tiffany, J.G. Martin, Fred Lahue, Sylvanus Marriage from near Barlow, and William Starke were in on business. Mr. and Mrs. Horace Buffington were in shopping. Joe Dutee from the east end of the county, George Fields from Tiffany, and Jacob Adam from Wells County were in town. George Norton returned from his visit to the World’s Fair. Mesdames W.C. Schwoebel, W.E. Biggs, and Viola Woodward went to Fargo for the Eastern Star Grand Lodge. John Hogan and Peter McAvoy left for Stavely, Alberta, where they had land; they planned to stay the summer. Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hayes left for Iowa to attend the wedding of her sister.

On June 30, Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Shauers were in shopping. T.H. Bollingberg was in from eastern Wells County, and Jacob Valer was in from southwest of town on business. M.S. Williams of Stutsman County and Col. Seth Bailey were in town. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Nicolas Immel (parents of Mrs. H.G. Hudson), Mr. and Mrs. Peter Immel (brother of Mrs. Hudson), and Mrs. Vick Smith (sister of Mrs. Hudson) and daughter were in New Rockford on their way to the Chautauqua.