The Colfax County Press publishes a weekly column entitled Peeking into the Past, which is comprised of articles taken from earlier Colfax County Press files, written by Helen C. Evans. A special thank you to the Colfax County Press for allowing me to reprint those articles! The following are selections from that column:
June 2, 1908 - reprinted January 16, 1985A little daughter arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Srb.
Gus Koza, carrier on Route 2 is taking off a month on account of ill health and Jos. F. Jirovec is serving the patrons of the route in his stead.
The 7 year old son of Emanuel Novotny and his wife, fell from a hay loft in the big barn on their farm, 2 miles west of town, and broke his left wrist.
Mrs. Gus Johnson was very ill several days being threatened with lockjaw, the result of stepping on a rusty nail.
At a meeting of the Board of Education, the contract for building a two-room addition to one of the Clarkson school buildings, was let to George Anderson whose bid was the lowest of several submitted for the board’s consideration, being $2,090. Work will start August 1.
Jos. R. Vitek has secured a job on the road with the International Harvestor Co., and will make headquarters in West Point.
The most destructive hail storm in the history of Nebraska swept over a strip of country last Thursday evening from 7 to 8 miles wide and extending from the west line of Stanton county entirely across that county and well over into the western half of the neighboring county of Cuming, leaving wrecked fields, stripped orchards and groves and badly damaging buildings.
The hail was accompanied by high winds and rain and all the creeks ran bank full, carrying away bridges and sweeping away fences along the creek bottom.
Oats and spring wheat were battered to the ground, as also was the corn, but it yet being early in the season, these will recover, but not so with the winter wheat and rye, which is a total loss. The first crop of clover and alfalfa are also a total loss.
Ed Arnold is among the heaviest losers, having 50 pigs and 5 calves killed besides having several hundred dollars damage done to his buildings. The hail was so large and came with such force that in many instances it broke its way through shingled roofs, and of course, windows everywhere were wrecked. Stanton county is one of the heaviest losers, having over 60 washed-out bridges to fix.Firestone had a half page in The Press, advertising 30x3˝ (non-skid) tires for $22.50; Gray tubes sold for $3.75 and red tubes were offered for $4.50.
June 9, 1908 - reprinted February 13, 1985At the beautiful home of the bride, Walnut Hill Farm in Haymow precinct, at 30 minutes past nine o’clock, Wednesday morning, occurred the wedding of Miss Myrtle M. Daniell to Mr. Gustave H. Woeppel, a prosperous and progressive fanner of Ramshorn precinct.
John Hruska and wife have a son at their home, south of town, born Tuesday of last week.
Emil R. Dudek and wife have welcomed their first-born, a little son, Engelbert Emil, who came last Tuesday to add happiness to their home.
Miss Josie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. R. Teply, who has been in poor health for some time, was taken to an Omaha hospital for treatment. Her brother, Joe, went down with her.
Henrietta Bukacek submitted to a surgical operation at the hands of Dr. Allen for the removal of a tumor from the front of her neck. It was a delicate but successful operation.
Jim Kopac returned from a trip to Oakton, South Dakota, where he visited his brothers, Ed and Emil. While there, he purchased a quarter section of land near his brothers’ claims. He says that that part of the country is settling up fast, largely with people from Iowa.
The seven year old son of John Swoboda and wife is very ill at the family home with an attack of appendicitis. Later—Dr. Allen took the little patient to Omaha this morning accompanied by Mr. Swoboda and his daughter, Miss Mary Swoboda, where he will be taken to a hospital for an operation and treatment.
George Ternes of Midland precinct purchased an 80 acre farm in Thurston county, through Joseph Krikac, paying $65 per acre. George has no intention of leaving Colfax county but purchased the land as an investment.
John Calally accompanied his daughter, Maggie to Omaha, where the young lady underwent a second operation following an attack of appendicitis. She is getting along nicely.
Clarkson is to celebrate the Fourth of July in good old-fashioned style. Those in charge of the celebration are W. J. Moore, J. D. Wolf, Emil R. Dudek, Emil Petr, F. W. Noh, and E. J. Polcin.