History of New Rockford: Nov. 8, 2021

On July 20, 1904, bricklayers began their work on the Phillips Academy building. Cyrus Ruland came in from the Tiffany Flats on business. Otto Henning, the manager of Dr. Charles MacLachlan’s farm southeast of town, came in on business. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Forbes were in shopping. Martin Dwzrsman [sp?] was in from his farm northeast of town on business. Ida Radtke of Sparta, Wisc., arrived to visit her brothers W.E. and H.J., and their families; she left on Aug. 8. Mrs. A.A. Pettit left for a lengthy visit in Iowa. In the Maddux Law Offices, Ben C. Larkin transferred his residential property on Stimson Avenue East to Clayton Hall for around $4000. [This is probably the sale in which the deed for lots 9-12, Block 12, is registered Nov. 29, 1904, with the sellers being Benjamin C. and Effie M. Larkin; Clayton W. Hall, the buyer; and $3200, the price.]

At noon that day, Barbara Prader (Mrs. Anton) Haas died at her home southeast of New Rockford of cancer from which she had suffered over a year. She’d had an operation in St. Paul in June 1903, but it had ultimately not provided an end to the disease. She left a husband and ten children [including the first NRHS graduate, Menga Barbara Haas Stockton, 1892-1971, and longtime New Rockford resident John Lucius “Lutzi” Haas, 1890-1968]. Her funeral was at 2 p.m. on July 22 at the home of Rev. N. Reutenik of the German Reformed Church, with interment in the cemetery south of New Rockford. [Her grave is in Prairie Home Cemetery. Her gray tombstone resting on a gray base with the name “HAAS” is inscribed “BARBARA WIFE OF ANTON HAAS BORN DEC. 20, 1862 DIED JULY 20, 1904.” The stone is cracked from top to bottom.] That evening, merchant L.G. Lundin and druggist Maurice Oliver were down from Sheyenne.

On July 21, George Deer returned to New Rockford after a winter in Michigan. Sheriff J.E. Bennett and James G. Dailey returned from Grand Forks, where they had attended a convention. That evening, the Lorig Bros. and Richard Zehrfeld returned from eastern Wells County, where they had built a 42x64 barn for Jacob Pet.

On that day, the Columbia Sunday School held its picnic in Valentine Fertig’s Grove. After a dinner under the trees, a program was presented which featured songs by the Sunday School members; George and Louise Lake, “Keep on the Sunny Side”; Marie Rousch and Amy Crain; Hazel and Marie Rousch, “That’s the Best of All”; Belle Aultman and Amy Crain, “Watch Your Words”; and Emma Rousch; recitations by Olga Dahl, Gladys Coulter, and Mamie Stanton; a reading by George Lake; instrumental music by Mrs. Rousch; and remarks by Rev. Wilson.

The July 22, 1904, “Transcript” said that New Rockford resident H.J. Mitchell was playing the snare drum in the Indian band at the Chautauqua. During the week, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Johns were at the Chautauqua.

J.H. Price advertised that he could modify any rack on a wagon so that it could be unloaded of hay into a stack in less than two minutes; see him at T.J. Hines blacksmith shop. For rent—“one neat five-room cottage on the east side.” R.M. Kennedy.

An analysis of the water in the Phillips Academy well by E.M. Ladd of NDAC found many solids in the water, but he was of the belief that after a thorough and extended pumping, the water would be potable.

Early in the week Earl Fitch was in town, looking at the J.L. Kinnaird building on North Chicago Street as a site for a general merchandise store.

On July 22, Mrs. O.G. Cooling returned from her visit to Bottineau. Mrs. A.C. Buck came up from Barlow to visit; she was accompanied by Mrs. William Miller of Lancaster, Ohio. D.L. Lytle left for Glenburn, where he would go into the grain business; he had managed the Great Western Elevator in town. His family would join him later.

At noon on July 22, George Dunham was driving a team and wagon down Villard Avenue. As they crossed the railroad tracks, a freight train that had been doing some switching in the south yards backed into the wagon. The wagon was “smashed to kindling wood,” Dunham leaped to safety, and the team continued down Villard until they were caught.

On July 23, Nils Gunvaldson was in on business, as was Gus Larson of Twist, A.E. Hersey of the Tiffany Flats, and John Welsh of the Sheyenne River Valley. Col. Seth Bailey was in from the Gudgell Ranch. Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Maddux and Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Rager went to the Chautauqua.

From July 23 to 26, A.J. Ford was in St. Paul on business.

On Sunday, July 24, Rev. N.E. Elsworth conducted Episcopal services in the Baptist Church at 11 a.m., and at the Rocky Mountain School at 3 p.m.

On July 25, Matts Jonson, 55, died at his home three miles north of Sheyenne of dropsy [edema; an accumulation of excess fluids in the soft tissues]. He had been in Eddy County nearly four years and left behind his wife, four sons and six daughters, two of whom were Mrs. F.D. Norton and Mrs. Peter Mattson. The funeral was held at the family home on July 27, Rev. Neander of Sheyenne presiding, and interment was in the cemetery west of Sheyenne. [There is a grave in the Augustana Lutheran Cemetery in Grandfield Township with a stone: Matts. Jonson Oct. 15, 1848-July 25, 1904.]

On July 25, Mrs. W.E. Biggs returned from Iowa and the Twin Cities. Peter Crain of the Tiffany Flats came in on business and to visit, as did Martin and Stephen Walsh. Morris postmaster D.D. Dailey and John Seckinger were in doing the same. Louis Mortinson [Lewis Mortensen?] was up from his large farm near Barlow for haying supplies. James Graham came in from eastern Eddy County for haying supplies. John Anderson came to town, having finished painting, papering, and decorating the interior of William Steinbach’s large residence southwest of town. Marsh Chamberlain left on a business trip to Illinois; he returned on Aug. 4 with a group of potential land buyers. George C. Taft, Edward Munn, and C.E. Linn returned to their homes in Illinois after spending a few days looking over Eddy County real estate; although they didn’t buy any land, they were “greatly pleased” by what they saw. At 8 p.m., the Christian Endeavor Society sold ice cream and cake at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Buck and realized “a neat sum.” That evening, Sheyenne bank cashier S.G. Severtson was down on business and for a visit. Also that evening, Presiding Elder J.G. Moore preached and administered Communion at the Methodist Church.

On July 25 and 26, the Democratic caucuses were held and the convention named the following as delegates to the State Convention in Grand Forks: P.J. Braman, Axtle Johnson, James A. Manly, H.J. Mitchell, Dennis O’Keefe, G.J. Schwoebel, and John Weimals. Johnson and O’Keefe were given the proxies for the others and left for the State Convention; they returned on July 28.