History of New Rockford: Jan. 17, 2022

At 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18, 1904, Phillips Academy principal L.J. Aldrich preached at the Smith schoolhouse in the Sheldon district on “Success in Life.” At 7 p.m., the Epworth League held services conducted by school principal Robert Muir with a lesson on “Is the World Growing Better?”

The forepart of the week [Sept. 19?] the material for the steel bridge arrived; construction was set to begin on Sept. 26. Also “the first of the week” Lawrence Prader threshed his oats, getting 80 bushels to the acre. William Young of the Tiffany Flats was in on business.

On Sept. 19, Mrs. Caroline A. Benson Hall, 71, wife of Horace Hall, died at the home of their son Clayton Hall, located on Stimson Avenue East. She had suffered paralysis two years prior and had been sinking rapidly the previous few days. She was born on Nov. 20, 1832, in Conawango, N.Y. On Sept. 11, 1851, she married Horace Hall and the couple moved to East Randolph, N.Y., where they lived until 1897. Since then, they had resided with their son Clayton and their daughter Vannie Hall. Also surviving were two other sons, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held in the Congregational Church, officiated by Rev. J.R. Beebe, on the afternoon of Sept. 20. “Sheyenne Star” editor C.C. Manning attended. Interment was in the cemetery north of town. [Her grave and tombstone are in Prairie Home Cemetery, along with those of her husband, daughter, son, and a daughter-in-law.]

That evening, two young men who had worked on the Farmers’ Elevator celebrated its completion with a little too much to drink. They began target practice using a revolver, but their fun was interrupted by Sheriff J.E. Bennett and City Marshal Robert O’Neill, who found them accommodations in the county jail in the basement of the court house. Sobered up the next morning, they were taken before Justice J.R. Winslow, who levied a fine of $5 and costs on each of them; which they cheerfully paid. Also that evening, at a meeting of the stockholders of the Farmers’ Elevator, A.J. Larkin was chosen as the manager.

On Sept. 20, Eddy County delegates Messrs. Braman, B.W. Hersey, Hudson, Hyde, Manly, Pike, and Vick went to the Democratic Convention in Carrington, where George M. Pike of New Rockford and Ralph Hall of Carrington were nominated for the N.D. House of Representatives. Mrs. H.G. Hudson and Mrs. R.R. Woodward returned from visiting Mrs. Hudson’s brother Walter Immel in Fessenden. Dr. John Crawford came down from Esmond to visit. Former resident P.J. Hester of Lewiston, Idaho, was in town for a month, looking after his business interests. William Hartl, Sr., was in town from eastern Wells County; his wheat was running 22 bushels per acre, was grading #1 Northern, and he had around 300 acres.

On that day, Charles Edinger, 81, died at his home in the Kiner neighborhood of eastern Wells County. His funeral was the next afternoon in the Germantown Church; a large contingent of friends and family followed the body to its resting place. He left behind nine children, six in the Kiner area and three daughters living in Carrington, Jamestown, and Germany. His daughter came up from Carrington, her brother John Edinger picked her up in New Rockford, and together they went out to the funeral.

On Sept. 21, John T. West was in town for repairs to his threshing machine. Gus Larson came in on business. Mrs. R.P. Allison went to Brinsmade with a line of millinery for the ladies of that community to look over. That evening, Chief Deputy F.L. Bohn of the Workmen Lodge met with members of Rockford Lodge #46 to explain the different plans of assessment. W.C. Beardsley was the recorder.

On the morning of Sept. 22, the Farmers’ Elevator began doing business. Charles Hatch was in town for threshing machine supplies. O.E. Nash came down from the Sheyenne Valley and B.W. Hersey of Tiffany was in town, both on business. David Henry was in from his farm northeast of town on business and to visit.

The Sept. 23, 1904, “Transcript” carried some “School Notes”: Mabel Kennedy and Catherine Robinson entered the eighth grade that week; Ethel Treffry and Margaret Ford entered high school. The Botany class had begun growing plants for future study. The Latin II class was about to take up “Caesar’s Gallic Wars.” The school’s floors had been oiled, the walls calcimined, and the woodwork painted. The high school was now a regularly classified high school and received $200 of state aid annually; for that, the school had to spend the money on equipment and admit all high school students tuition-free.

A card of thanks from Horace Hall and family read, “We wish to extend our thanks to the [sic] friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the recent illness and death of our loved one.”

A notice from W.C. Dresser, secretary of the New Rockford Light and Water Improvement Co., stated that the company would install the pipe and fixtures for acetylene gas at cost. Although the cost was “a little expensive,” getting rid of dangerous gasoline fixtures and “dull” kerosene lamps, the “most brilliant artificial light in existence” would make it worthwhile. J.H. Fitch had a sidewalk built from his new store to the corner of the old Saad Block [from the present-day Vorland Land Co. north for several lots on North 8th St.]

The H. Peoples farm south of town had oats yielding 80 bushels, barley 40 bushels, and macaroni wheat 35 bushels to the acre.

Joseph Dutee had moved his family into town to take advantage of the New Rockford School; they were living in the Oliver house on Villard Avenue East. He had harvested 200 acres of wheat, which yielded 18-19 bushels per acre, but graded #2.

F.C. Davies was able to be up and around after his bout with typhoid fever, but he wasn’t “as spry as usual.”

Father Gallahue warned everyone that there would be no “watch contest” at the fall Catholic Fair, so any chances sold on such a contest were fake.

The meeting day of the Sunday School Teachers’ Training Class was moved from every Tuesday evening to every Thursday evening.

P.H. West had his dray wagon painted green and yellow.

Sealed bids were received until 3 p.m., Sept. 23, at the County Auditor’s office for grading the approaches to the new James River bridge at New Rockford. Rain stopped threshing operations. That day, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Byron from west of Barlow were in town. D.Y. Stanton came into town on business. The part of his wheat crop that he had threshed had run 21 bushels to the acre and he sold it for $1.14 per bushel.

On Sept. 24, the market price for wheat was $1.04, but the elevators in town were paying $1.08. That afternoon, L.B. Miller had a public sale at his Barlow residence of all his household goods, driving team, carriage, etc. That evening, the Christian Endeavor held a “box social” in the Congregational Church.

On Sunday, Sept. 25, Barney Engberg and Fred Hanson were up from the Barlow area to visit.