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 and Claudia Schuster for transcribing many of them! The following are selections from that column:
September 7, 1909 - reprinted May 31, 1989Emil Zoubek and wife have a little son at their home southwest of town, born on Wednesday last.
George Anderson has been given the contract to build a commodious farm house for Ed Cinfl on his place a few miles northwest of town.
Jos. F. Vitek, Joe Mundil, Bohumil Bukacek and Walter Hahn went to Fremont, where they enrolled as students at the normal.
The names of a number of Clarkson young people appear on the list of teachers in this locality.
The following took up their duties in the schoolroom yesterday: Miss JuUe Telecky is teaching in the Petr disirict, Miss Anna Jirovec is doing likewise in the Brabec district, Miss Anna Bukacek opened school in the Nykodym district. Miss Annie Swoboda in the Konicek district, Miss Bertha Bukacek in the Perry district, Miss Louise Jirovec in the district just east of town, Adolph Dudek in the Sousek district, and Julius Zastera in the Husak district.The Clarkson public schools opened Monday morning despite the rainy weather, there was a total enrollment of 202 pupils.
Principal Jelinek is in charge of the work, and an additional teacher having been added to the corps of instructors, he has six assistants: Miss Stella Folda of Howells, and Misses Mary and Lena Piatz, Theresa Tooher, Mamie Shonka and Eleanor Cech, all of Clarkson.Mr. and Mrs. Anton Cerv are mourning the death of their infant son. He was born on Tuesday of last week and tarried on earth but a short time as his baby spirit was claimed yesterday by the angel of death to dwell in Paradise. The funeral will he held tomorrow in the Roman Catholic church, the services to be conducted by Rev. Zak.
Emil Wolf, who has been employed the greater part of the past year as bookkeeper at the Beemer State bank, has been given an advancement as last week was elected assistant cashier of that institution.
Rev. Swoboda, Albin Fajman and wife, Joseph Tichy and wife, and Joseph Brdicko and wife left for Silver Lake, Minn., where they will represent the Zion and New Zion Bohemian Presbyterians of the United States.
John Travnicek of Midland precinct fell from the hay loft in the barn on his farm and broke his left leg between the knee and hip. The injured man is about 70 years of age but despite that fact is getting along nicely under the care of Drs. Allen & Allen.
John Sperl, who, a short time ago purchased the John Bukacek butcher shop, moved up with his family from South Omaha and is now in charge of the business.
John is not a stranger here as he was formerly a Clarkson resident. He takes hold of a well-established business and ought to prosper.Frank Chleboun left for a visit to the Alaska - Yukon - Pacific exposition now being held in Seattle. Enroute he will visit at Denver and other points of interest. Before returning home he will take in the principal cities on the Pacific coast, and will no doubt have a delightful trip.
September 14, 1909 - reprinted October 26, 1889Ed Zvacek returned the latter part of last week from a trip to Thurston county. While there he purchased an eighty acre farm onto which he will move next spring.
The little five-year-old son of Joseph Najman and wife is suffering with lockjaw with little chance for his recovery. The trouble was caused by a sliver in the child's foot.
John Wisherd who has been spending a few days at his ranch north of town, left for the south after delivering a train load of cattle that he will have fed at the ranch the coming winter.
Frank Hegr, who is making arrangements to move to Clarkson and take charge of the Zelenda dray business which he recently purchased, disposed of his personal property at public sale at the Hegr farm, southeast of town. Phil Roether was the auctioneer, and a little more than $2,000 worth of property was disposed of at good prices.
Mrs. H.W. Hoff of Midland precinct received a telegram stating that her husband, who has been receiving treatment at Excelsior Springs, Mo., was lying at the point of death. She and Mr. Hoffs brother, Albert, left on the first train for the bedside of the stricken man. Last evening a second telegram brought the announcement of Mr. Hoff's death. The remains will reach here this evening, and the funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon, leaving the home at one o'clock and proceeding to the German Lutheran Church in Midland precinct. The deceased was a member of Northern Star camp, M.W.A. of this place, and the member of the local order will attend the funeral in a body.
The excavating for Kopac Bros.' new brick building in completed and work on putting in the concrete footings for the foundation will commence tomorrow.
Dick Vahle has let the contract to Geo. Anderson for the building of a large barn on his farm a few miles northeast of town. Work on the structure is to commence next week.
Tomorrow Joseph Cibulka and his son, Louis, take charge of the hardware and furniture business that they recently purchased at Leigh.
John Hypsa has sold his residence property in the east part of town to Mr. Joseph Novotny of Stanton county. The consideration was $2,600. We understand that Mr. Hypsa will move to Virginia.
John Blotz, an old time Clarkson resident now making his home at West Point, went up the line to Albion to close the deal for the sale of a 240-acre farm he owned near that place. He purchased the land a year ago and now sold it at an advance of $100 per acre.
Wesley J. Moore and family drove out to the Thos. Moore home, in the southeastern part of this precinct, this afternoon to attend the wedding festivities of Mr. Moore's sister, Bessie, who was married this morning at Schuyler to Clyde Ayers. The young couple will make their home in Howells.
Tomorrow a large delegation of Fremont business men and their wives are to visit Clarkson, coming on a speical train chartered by the Fremont Commercial club. It is thought that there will be at least one hundred in the party, including representatives of the leading manufacturing enterprises and wholesale establishments of the Queen City of the Platte. We are in receipt of a neat folder issued by the secretary of the club, J.F. Hanson. "See Nebraska First", is the motto that appears on the title page. The sentiment is right. When one has seen Nebraska they have looked upon a part of the garden spot of earth, and this section of the state never looked finer than it does today; our Fremont friends will return home more than ever in love with Nebraska after they have seen the beautiful country tributary to the Scribner-Oakdale branch of the North Western.
"Clarkson claims 800 population, and looks it. Handsome hill-side location, embowered in trees almost an exact reproduction of that of Howells. On close view there is seen to be a special attractiveness of its own about the low ascending residence hillocks and rises of ground, crowned with cottages, which builders of good homes in the flat country would give fortunes to possess. The number of handsome modern homes should be noted. A special thing to be seen is the substantial brick and stone-structures with which Clarkson is just now filling its business district. This is a continuation of the great Bohemian and German Catholic district with an admixture of German Lutherans, and Clarkson has a Bohemian newspaper. Notwithstanding this great "foreign" population, however, it is so in command of the English language that Howells and Clarkson support two of the best-edited English democratic weeklies in the state."
September 21, 1909 - reprinted AUgust 23, 1989Last Saturday Albert Hoff of Midland precinct marketed three hogs here the combined weight of which was 1,480 pounds, and for which Mr. Noh paid him $112.50.
Last week P. J. Hajek sold the 120-acre farm he owned in Stanton precinct to Frank Tomka of Howells for $8,800. Peter has owned the place only since last spring but it netted him a profit of $1,200.
Wm. Weachmann, who recently sold his farm north of town, has purchased the Chas. Dubsky place of 120 acres, seven miles southwest of Stanton, paying $87.50 per acre for it. William will move to his new home the coming spring.
Rev. Swoboda, Albin Fajman and wife, Jos. Tichy and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Brdicko returned from Silver Lake, Minnesota, where they had been attending a Bohemian Presbyterian church convention. It was a most pleasant outing for them and they enjoyed the convention very much.
The past few days Jos. Rayman has been marketing his crop of winter wheat at the Clarkson mill. He raised twenty-acres that made a yield of 30 bushels per acre, and as he received 90 cents per bushel for the grain the crop is paying $27 per acre. Is it any wonder that land that can produce such crops is selling high?
The Fremont Commercial club, aboard their own special train, made a twenty-minute stop at this place last Wednesday forenoon on their trip up the branch. There were over a hundred in the party and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy their visit here.
During their stay, they took in the business section of the town, exchanged greetings with our businessmen and citizens in general, and distributed souvenirs and advertising matter.Frank Humlicek returned last Wednesday evening from a short visit to relatives and friends at Riverside, Ia., and Chicago, Ill. John Rybacek of Heun, who accompanied him to Iowa, will remain at Riverside for a few months' stay at the home of his sister.
Frank Svehla of Howells has traded the residence property owned by him in the south part of Clarkson to Joseph Sebek taking in part payment ten acres owned by Mr. Sebek in Wolf's addition. The Svehla property was valued at $3,000 and the Sebek property at $2,500.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Najman, who has been very low with lockjaw, is on the mend.
Last week the sad news of the death of Henry W. Hoff at Excelsior Springs, Mo., was given to the public through the column of the Herald, and as was then stated, the remains arrived here Tuesday evening, accompanied by the bereaved widow and the deceased's brother, Albert, both of whom were with him at the time of his death. Mr. Hoff had suffered for some time with severe attacks of rheumatism, and toward the last of his life complication developed with fatal termination. He leaves to mourn his aged parents, three sisters, Mrs. J. F. Rosenbery and Mrs. Marsh Rosenbery, both of this community, and Mrs. Dr. Guidinger of Fremont, and three brothers, Dr. A. Hoff of North Bend, Albert of Midland precinct and Carl of Cedar Rapids. The children are Anna, Emil, Alvina, Minie, Clara and Alfred, the oldest aged eleven years and the youngest one year. The deceased was born in Germany about forty years ago, and was brought to America by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hoff when about a year old.
The Leigh Red Cross chapter has purchased $50 worth of new garments and a few woolen garments have also been contributed, and these will be shipped the first of the week to the suffering in Europe. The need is more urgent over there than ever and the local chapter is helping to do its part.
A class of over thirty, mostly young people, was confirmed at the Leigh Catholic Church, Wednesday forenoon. Father Brucker was assisted by five other priests in administering the services. Solemn high mass was read by Father Kappius of Howells and Archbishop Harty of Omaha confirmed the members of the class.
The road north of Leigh, along the Van Heufeln and Franzen farms, is soon to be put in proper condition. The commissioners of Colfax County have decided to have a 30-foot steel bridge constructed and the farmers will be asked to help with the work of putting up the proper grade. This should put the road in proper shape, and the bridge will no doubt be large enough to take care of any high water that may come that way. This is one of the projects that the Leigh Commercial Club has been working on the past summer and it is gratifying to learn that their efforts have been fruitful. — Leigh World.
The magnificent new Christ Lutheran Church on Loseke Creek was dedicated last Sunday. Nearly 1400 people were present to help dedicate the new building and Rev. Kuehnert, the pastor, was assisted by several other ministers.
According to the revised law on compulsory education, Mr. Eli Best, the county sheriff, has been appointed by the commissioners to act as school attendance officer. His duties will be to serve notices and assist in the prosecution of those who do not have the proper regard for education. It is hoped that his service will not be needed but judging from the present outlook of affairs he will soon get some work along this line.
According to present records the Stanton city schools have started off with a 98 percent attendance. Very good but we should strive for better.
Present records show that the following schools of Stanton started this year with 100 percent enrollment: District 15, 19, 22, 28 45, 50, 53.
It is hoped that others will soon have a like record and as good a continued attendance. — Stanton Register.C.M. Janecek of Schuyler was taken violently ill last Thursday evening, and continued so with little improvement until Monday, when he was taken to the Clarkson hospitals in Omaha. His ailment was diagnosed a bladder stone. An examination at Omaha, however, disclosed nothing further, and he is remaining for the week, that specialists may observe his condition daily. His condition at present is reported considerably improved and Mrs. Janecek returned home from Omaha, Monday evening.
Continuing the story of last week in reporting the discovery of great cracks in the ground on the Ritchie farm north and east of Schuyler, a report also reaches us that these cracks have also been discovered on the Peter Hansen farm about five miles northeast of the Ritchie place. Water appears to have no filling effect, and long poles have been used to take the depth, but no bottom has been reached yet. The story has been spread broadcast but up to this time no one has come forth with a solution of the phenomenon.
September 28, 1909 - reprinted November 1, 1989Miss Stella Folda was quite seriously sick and unable to teach. The school board secured Miss Mary Ruzicka to take charge of the second primary department so that Miss Theresa Tooher could substitute for Miss Folda in the primary room. On Friday Miss Lena Platz was also on the sick list and Miss Emma Chelbou acted as teacher in her stead in the intermediate department.
J.M. Mundil reports the sale of a 120-acre farm four miles southwest of this place to Jos Blecha. The consideration was $100 per acre.
J.M. Mundil sold Jos. Suchy the Vaclav Bartak eighty, five miles south of Clarkson for $79 per acre. It was a snap, sure!
The Joseph Novotny home, five miles southeast of town, is under quarantine for scarlet fever, his little daughter, Libbie, being ill with the disease.
Will Noh, James Machacek and Will Roether will leave for Idaho each with a carload of farm machinery, grain, livestock, etc. The first two named will go to Buhl and Mr. Roether to Twin Falls. All have land there, Messrs. Noh and Machacek have arranged to have their families join them in a few weeks. The Herald wishes them all success in their new homes in the far west.
While coasting in a small wagon down the hill near the Catholic church on Saturday little Alden Faltys, collided with the iron fence that encloses the church property and had a deep gash cut over the left eye. The wound was dressed by Dr. Allen and Allen who found it necessary to take several stitiches in closing it.
Joseph Krikac sold 160 acres of land three miles southeast of Leigh which belonged to W.J. Panek, to Jos. Suchy who seems to be doing a rushing business in the real estate line.
The fore part of last week Louis Faltys purchased of W.J. Panek of Kearney, a farm of 360 acres owned by him a few miles northeast of Leigh for which he paid $105 per acre, which, location and quality of land considered, is cheap.
A few months ago Jos. Suchy purchased the Paydar farm of 80 acres, a few miles northeast of this place, paying $95 per acre for it. Yesterday he sold the same through the agency of Jos. Krikac for $110 an acre, 40 acres going to Jos. Urban and the other 40 to Anton Hamernik.
A daughter was born to John Lacina and wife yesterday.
People who happened to be in the vicinity of the depot at Leigh last Wednesday afternoon were forced to witness a terrible accident. Joe Nebola, a farmer living nine miles southeast of Leigh, had just purchased a load of coal at the Nye Schneider Fowler elevator and started up town when he was struck by the freight. Eye witnesses tell us that at first Nebola paid no attention to the approaching train, but when bystanders warned him he almost brought the team to a standstill on the sidetrack, and then with a flurry urged the horses on and in another second the train crashed into the vehicle.
Nebola, who is a man 52 years of age, was thrown a distance of 15 to 20 feet and in the fall sustained a number of bruises about the head and arms. The injured man was at once taken to the Northwestern hotel where he was given the required medical attention by Drs. Lowery and Boetel. This morning he is quite sore.
The physicians say that does not show symptoms of internal injuries and in that event will soon be on mend. It was fortunate for the horses that the harness gave way or they would surely have been cut to pieces under the cars; as it was one of them had one hoof split and half of it nearly torn off.
The other horse received an ugly wound on the hip and also had one leg slightly bruised. Dr. Chudomelka, the local veterinarian was called and attended to the animals injuries. The wagon is a complete wreck as the tender of the engine struck the front wheels squarely and almost converted the front part of the wagon into kindling wood. There is a diffrence [sic] of opinion among those who witnessed the accident as to whether the man was seated on the wagon or whether he was standing in the wagon box. The most of them, however, say that he was standing in the wagon box and also that he received all of his injuries in the fall and not by coming in contact with the locomotive. The engineer stated that it was the first accident which had fallen to his lot in the twenty-two years of his service and that he did all that he possible could to prevent the collision.
October 5, 1909 - reprinted November 15, 1989A.B. Jones, adminstrator for the Marshall Field heirs, was here several days and sold quite a portion of the ranch northwest of town. Frank Novotny purchased the northeast quarter of section three, Wm. Schlingmann the west half of section ten, J .H. Lowery and Fred Rabeler the east half of section ten, and Thomas Mortimer all of section fifteen on which the buildings are located. — Leigh World
Frank Chleboun returned from a delightful trip to the western coast and a visit to the great exposition at Seattle. He was wonderfully impressed with the roughness and grandeur of western scenery and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
A quiet wedding, but pretty in all its appointments, took place this morning at New Zion church when, at seven o'clock, the officiating clergyman, Rev. Swoboda, united the lives of Miss Frances Blecha and John Kasal in the holy bonds of wedlock.
When a man has once lived in Nebraska, where good crops are the order of the day and failures unknown, it is a hard matter to suit him elsewhere and when such a one returns to again take up his home in the state of the goldenrod it no longer causes wonder. So it surprised none of his old friends when Louis Sixta got off of the train here and announced to friends that he had come to make arrangements to move his family back here. Some years ago Mr. Sixta went to Bolivar, Mo., where he has since been farming. He recently sold out there and will invest in a Nebraska farm, probably in this vicinity.
A brand new little daughter arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Cerv.
Adolf Jindra and his mother went to Howells and from there left in company with Mrs. Frank M. Kopietz and her son, Amos, for New Auburn, Wisconsin, on a visit to relatives.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. George Engel was brightened by the addition of a little daughter to the family circle.
We published an item to the effect that John Blotz had disposed of his Boone county farm at a handsome profit. He seems to be favorable impressed with that favored portion of Nebraska as a place of residence according to the following clipping taken from the last issue of the Albion Argus: "John Blotz bought the Henry Ternes farm (known to old settlers as the John Clark place) for the sum of $112.50 per acre. This seems like pretty swell figures but Mr. Blotz says over at West Point they are selling land right along for $150 that is not a bit better, so he thought he would get in on the ground floor before the rise here. He will move his family here so his youngest son can have a good place to follow his chosen profession—-farming. This excellent family will be a valuable acquisition to our county and we bid them welcome."
Dr. S.G. Allen received a hurry-up message to come to the Robert Michaels farm in Midland precinct. When he reached there he found that his services were no longer needed as the man he had been summoned to attend had passed to the other shore—-Joseph Fiala had been accidently killed. The facts as reported to us are that the deceased was engaged in assisting Frank Fiala, his cousin who is a resident of Schuyler, in moving the buildings on the Michaels farm. The house and barn had been moved about a half mile without an accident, and they were engaged in moving the corncrib. It was down grade and the crib was mounted on wheels; the men who were doing the work were guiding the trucks by hand when Joe was either struck by the tongue of one of the trucks or slipped and fell and in an instant he was pinned to the ground beneath the heavy wheels. When the building was moved to permit getting him out there was still signs of life, but the injured man never spoke and passed away in about thirty minutes. The deceased was about forty-eight years of age. He was a widower with one son who is employed at the Union Pacific headquarters at Omaha. Mr. Fiala was a brother of the late James. A. Fiala and had been a resident of the county for many years. The funeral was held at Schuyler.
Joe Navrkal lost his threshing machine by fire. They were threshing at the John Juva place in Wilson precinct when a break-down made it necessary for them to stop until repairs could be secured from Omaha. At between two and three o'clock the Wednesday morning, the machine was discovered to be on fire, and before any in the neighborhood could reach the machine the flames had made such headway that it was impossible to save it. Joe estimates his loss at fully $500, with but $200 insurance which he carried in one of the companies represented by J.M. Mundil. There seems to be no doubt but that the fire was of incendiary origin, and we hope that the guilty wretch may be hunted down and given his just deserts.
The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koza, living about eight miles south of town, died of convulsions and a complication of other diseases. The body was brought to town where, at the grave, Rev. Klopp held a short service before interment. We understand that this is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Koza and they have the sincerest sympathy of their friends — Stanton Picket.
Henry Ternes and wife, formerly of Midland precinct but residents for some years of Boone county, do not intend to leave that locality after selling their farm to John Blotz, for the Albion Argus says: "David Craig sold his little paradise just south of town to Henry Ternes, for the snug sum of $5,100. Measured by the acre this is little better than $500 per acre. But such an improved tract is not measured that way. Dave says all he has left are the rooms over the store, but we imagine it will be a cold day before he takes up his abode up there. Mr. Ternes has a most lovely home to retire on and at the same time enough to make him a living if properly handled."
Clarkson markets ten years ago:
Good milling wheat - $.85-$90; Good milling rye - $.65; Corn - $.46; Oats - $.31; Eggs - $.20; Butter - 20c; Hogs - $7.45.
October 12, 1909 - reprinted December 27, 1989Dr. Geo. Allen left for Chicago where he will take a post graduate course on diseases of the ear, eye, nose and throat. He will be absent about two months.
The sale of thoroughbred Duroc Jursey swine held at the Jaroslav Pokorny place at Heun was largely attended. Those in attendance from here tell us that the forty head sold brought good prices, some selling above the $100 mark.
Dr. S.G. Allen has made another real estate investment, having purchased what is known as the Will McInerny eighty, four miles northwest of town, of a party of Stanton paying $80 per acre for it. He surely got a bargain.
[missing text] living a few miles north of town, fell while playing at school and broke his left leg about half way between the knee and ankle. Dr. S.G. Allen was called and gave the injury the needed attention and the lad is getting along as well as could be expected.
Emil Slama purchased of his brother, Joseph, the lost [sic] owned by him just north of the Clover Leaf livery,also the old Slama saloon building which he will move onto the lots to be remodeled and repaired. The consideration was $800.
Alois Sixta returned to his home at Bolivar, Mo., after having spent a week here with relatives. He bought a farm near Madison and intends to move his family on it next spring. Recently he sold his Missouri land for $50 an acre. He had to pay about double that price for the Nebraska land he bought but thinks the exchange was a good one.
Joseph Suchy has sold the residence property owned by him just south of the Koza livery barn to W.H. Clark. The property was valued at $950.
Quite an elaborate wedding ceremony was celebrated at Fremont at the First Congregational church when Miss Stella Teply of this place was united in marriage to Emil Wolf of Beemer, Rev. Busse having officiated. The bridal party went to Fremont and consisted of Miss Mary Teply, a sister of the bride, and Misses Annie Vlach and Annie Nykodem, and Messrs Emil Teply, Frank Nemec and Andrew Hoff, the first-named gentleman being a brother of the bride, and the last-named a friend of the groom from Beemer.
John Travnicek, one of the old settlers of northern Midland precinct, died at his home six miles south of this place. Some weeks ago the deceased fell from the hay-loft of a barn on his farm and sustained a fracture of the bones of one of his hips, as well as other injuries, since which time he has been confined to his bed and daily grew weaker. On the day of the accident that cost him his life, Mr. Travnicek had purchased a home in Clarkson into which he and his wife had expected to move about the first of next March. There are no children in the family.