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:
July 4, 1918 - reprinted February 17, 1982The remains of Pvt. Joseph Toman were brought to Clarkson and were received at the depot by a multitude of several hundred citizens, including the home guard, in full garb. He lost his life May 12 when he drowned in the Hawaiian Islands. He had served his country one year as a volunteer and was the first Clarkson man to die while in the service. The fUneral services were conducted in the opera house, with Rev. Filipi of the Presbyterian church and Rev. Bata of the Catholic church. Among those attending the services was Stanley Toman, brother of the deceased, who is stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Mundil, Sr., 80, who was making her home with her daughter in Dodge.
Prazak Motor Co. reports the sale of Ford touring cars to Frank Pekny and Joseph Kulhanek and a Ford sedan to Frank Houdek, the latter two reside near Howells.
Mrs. Barbara Hefti returned from Newman Grove where she had been visiting relatives for the past three weeks.
Lada Hanel’s sale was well attended Saturday afternoon. The garage was purchased by Phil. Roether, the carpenter shop by Emil Musil, and the Ford Roadster by Rudolph Palensky.
A fishing party constituted of Adolph Dudek, Jos. M. Bukacek, Clyde Karel, Emil E. Dudek and Frank Humlicek and their families journeyed to the Elkhorn Sunday. They report a pleasant time.
Wolf and Vitek, through the agency of Julius Wacha sold a second-hand J. I. Case steam threshing outfit to Wm. Seebrasse, living northwest of Leigh.
Enjoying a fishing party and picnic at the Elkhorn were Frank Chleboun and family, F.J. Hobza and wife, Edward Hobza and family, John F. Pimper and family and the Misses Mary Bartak and Emma Vitek.
A double wedding was performed at SS. Cyril & Methodius church whereby Miss Kristina Hradec became the bride of Anton Vyhildal of Pierce, and Miss Helen Uhlik became the bride of Joseph Hradec. A sumptuous dinner was served at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hradec, Sr., for only the immediate families.
Frank J. Rychtig sold 26 All-Car truck attachments in recent weeks. He sold an All-Car one-ton attachment to Vaclav Novak and a two-ton attachment to Frank Podany. These will be mounted on Cadillac cars.
Melba, 16-month-old child of Rev. and Mrs. A. Bergt, living north of Schuyler, died after having eaten pills from a box the little one had taken from a dresser drawer. Just how many were taken was not known. The small box of constipation pills were hidden in a drawer below the linens, but the child somehow found them and died after she fell into a spasm.
County Highway Commissioner Conrad reports that there were found 21 bridges — the smallest 20 feet and the largest 60 feet, were torn out by the rains of the past three weeks.
Twins, a boy and a girl, were born last week to Mr. and Mrs. Anton Fendrick of Leigh.
Dr. Eby at Leigh reports the birth of a son to the John Specht’s and a son to the John Claussen’s.
Ed Meiselbach left from Leigh with the contingent from Dodge county. His wife will make her home with his parents in Scribner. John Tesar also left with the same group and his wife, the former Miss Agnes Lapour will make her home in Fremont.
Emil Hobel and Elmer Armstrong of Leigh are now stationed at Camp Mills, Hempstead, N. Y.
Funeral services were held in Leigh for William Ragotske, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ragotske, who died after being hospitalized in a Beatrice hospital. Services were conducted from the Congregational church with Rev. Koolen officiating.
The Farmers’ Educational and Co-Operative Union was organized at Tabor. Membership is increasing weekly and aee added to the original 65 charter members. Officers are: J. K. Semerad, president; F. J. Mejstrik, vice president; B. J. Svoboda, secterary; John Tichota, treasurer; B. Brodecky, conductor and Charles Jonas, door-keeper. Men actively promoting the work are J. R. Novak, F. E. Dlouhy, F. J. Karel, F. J. Houfek, F. J. Krajicek, B. F. Sindelar, W. J. Zrust, Frank Vacha, Jr. and Edward Holoubek.
Mrs. Mary Pekarek and children, Lambert and Adela and Mrs. Charles Dvorak and sons, Carl and John of Howells, went to Uehling for a few days visit with friends.
The Howells Motor Co. has installed a new device to use in handling the gasoline at retail. It is a Bowser Chief Sentry and can be regulated to measure out most any quantity. Five gallons at a time can be transferred into the car tanks.
Ludwig Luxa and Clara John sprung a surprise on their Howells friends by stealing off to Humphrey and were united in marriage at the Catholic church there. They are making their home in Humphrey, where Mr. Luxa has a position with the C. N. & W. railway.
Markets were: Wheat $1.96, corn $1.40, rye $1.35, oats 65c, hogs $15.00, eggs 25c and butter 27c.
Frank Hampl motored to Dodge to spend the evening at the bier of his mother, who lies in state at the F. D. Janecek home, until funeral services which will be held Friday.
Dr. Myers was in attendance when a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Anton Bukacek at Howells.
July 11, 1918 - reprinted February 3, 1982At a session of the District Court held last week at Schuyler, the permit to conduct public church services but recently granted to Rev. P. Waldschmidt of Howells, was unconditionally revoked and annulled. Testimony was submitted by members of the congregation, that the Reverend gentleman had persisted in holding services in the German language, despite the rulings made by the government that aliens granted permission to conduct public functions, must do so in the English language.
Emil J. Pokorny reports the sale of the Frank Jedlicka 120 acres, six miles southwest of town to Frank Vnuk of Dodge for the consideration of $19,000. Emil also closed a deal whereby John Tomasek became the owner of the Mundil and Petr 160-acre farm located north of Leigh for the consideration of $130 per acre.
Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Karel, Mr. and Mrs. Filip Suchy, John F. and Jos. M. Svoboda were called to Omaha by the death of their father, Frank Svoboda, Sr., who died after an illness of several months.
Gerald Ehernberger and Frank Eller disposed of 120 acres of unimproved to Adolph Zabka at $173.75. Mr. Eller then purchased Mr. Ehrenberger’s interest in the remaining 160 acres at $190 per acre. This constituted the old Guidinger farm, and was purchased by Messrs. Ehrenberger and Eller at $153.70 per acre. The farm originally consisted of 280 acres and is situated about 3 miles east of Leigh. Mr. Ehrenberger then purchased the Wenzel Lodl farm, north of Heun, 160 acres at $170 per acre. This farm has always been the property of Mr. Lodl. He came to Colfax cOunty 46 years ago and homesteaded. The abstract shows: From U. S. to Lodl, and there has never been a mortgage or any other instrument recorded against this tract of land, this in itself is very unusual.
The Powolny Studio had a large ad, noting; “Nothing is more appreciated than a photo of the dear ones at home. Send one to your son, brother of [sic] friend in training camp. They will enjoy it.”
Frank Rychtig reports the sale of Chevrolet touring cars to Frank Prokopec, Joseph Juva, Jr. and Jerry Pacas.
Mabel Moore was in Benson for a week visiting her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Vaclav Kadlec.
Miss Kate Kopietz was a passenger to Omaha, where she will spend several days with friends and relatives.
Mrs. Talcot and daughter of Dunlap, Iowa are visiting here at the home of Mrs. Talcot’s sister, Mrs. Walter Hahn.
A resolution calling for war-time prohibition as a measure of conserving national grain resources, and pledging themselves to avoid waste in handling grain in threshing, was unanimously adopted by Platte county thresher men at their convention in Platte Center. Thresher men also agreed to pay their labor $5.00 per day for operating a threshing machine, and set a maximum price on threshing oats and barley at 5c per bushel and 7c per bushel for wheat.
M. E. Fuller, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Colfax county, passed his 97th birthday at Maxwelln, his country home north of Schuyler on June 27.
The sad tidings were received by telephone in Howells of the death of Miss Bessie Forst, age 23, who died at the state hospital for tuberculosis at Kearney. We offer heartfelt sympathy to the father of late years experiencing but continued sorrow and likewise to the three daughters, Mrs. Jos. Muckendorfer, and Misses Agnes and Josephine, who are the only survivors out of a family circle of seven prior to April, 1915. Tuberculosis first claimed as its victim, the young son, Emil, who died in the month of April, 1915. His little sister, Anna, followed him to the Golden Shores two years later in the very same month, and their mother answered the final summons this early springtime to join her children in the Great Beyond.
Miss Helen Uhlik, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Uhilk of the Tabor vicinity, and Joseph Hradec were married at St. John’s Catholic church in Howells, by the Rev. Zak. Attendants were Misses Anna and Bessie Hradec, sisters of the groom, and the men of honor were John and William Uhlik, brothers of the bride. The couple will make their home on a nice farm, northwest of Clarkson.
July 25, 1918 - reprinted April 7, 1982Twenty-five members of a street show landed in Stanton and went before the city council asking for a license for a street carnival consisting of a snake show, dancing pavilion, and palmist. The council told them that their character of a show should receive no encouragement as there was such a demand for help in necessary occupations, and were denied the privilege of a concession.
A pitiful tragedy was enacted at the John Kment farm home in Maple Creek precinct, one mile east and nine miles south of Howells. Mr. Kment had just returned from a trip to Schuyler, when he shot and killed his wife. The particulars as near as they can, were procured from the two little orphans that survive. Later he took his two little children to the home of Anton Horak, and instructed Mrs. Horak to take care of the children until their grandmother calls for them. He then went home and shot himself. Mrs. Kment was buried in the grave lots adjoining the Mrazek church in Wilson precinct and Mr. Kment was buried in the Sousek cemetery in Midland precinct. Mrs. Kment’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Martin Sloup.
After being laid up for several days with severe agony resulting from a wound inflicted by stepping on a rusty nail, Loraine, 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chleboun was hurriedly taken to an Omaha hospital for special consultation. The child was accompanied to Omaha by Dr. Knight and Mrs. F. J. Miller, who were taken overland in an automobile driven by A. C. Fajman. Mr. and Mrs. Chleboun are staying at her bedside, while the others returned home.
Dr. Kalal reports the birth of a bouncing baby boy to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Konicek in the Heun vicinity.
John Faltys purchased the Mary Folda house at auction, paying $4,500 for the suitable nine-room house and two large residence lots.
Wolf & Vitek sold a new J. L. Case threshing machine to Louis Faltys and the Fajman Motor Co., furnished him with a large Cub tractor to furnish power.
A few figures from the county superintendent’s annual report for the school year ending July 1918:
No. of school districts in county . . . . 60
No. of frame school houses . . . . 58
No. of brick school houses . . . . 6
No. of districts having 9 months of school . . . . 54
Average number of days in all schools . . . . 175
Number of teachers actually needed for the county:
Rural schools . . . . 55
Schuyler . . . . 27
Clarkson . . . . 14
Howells . . . . 10
Leigh . . . . 9
Richland . . . . 2
Rogers . . . . 2
Total . . . . 119.
School census in: Rural schools - 2071; Schuyler - 936; Howells - 427; Clarkson - 370; Leigh - 247; Richland - 71; and Rogers - 40 for a total of 4162.
Number of children of school age in some of the larger rural districts:
Dist. #24 (Vrba school) - 84; Dist. #30 - 75; Dist. #7 (Dublin) - 68; Dist. #41 - 66; Dist. #22 - 57.
Number of pupils enrolled in: Rural schools - 1434; Schuyler - 854; Clarkson - 344; Howells 254; Leigh - 224; Rogers - 52; Richland - 49 for a total of 3211.
Number enrolled in all high schools above 8th grade - 341.
Total enrollment in some of the larger rural schools: No. 5 - 8; No. 7 - 55; No. 30 - 44; No. 41 - 44.
Total enrollment in the smallest schools in the county: Dist. 5 - 8: Dist. # 63 - 9; Dist #15 - 10; Dist. #44 - 12; Dist. #29 - 13.
Total value of all district property $305,380.40. Total indebtedness $106,813.35. Amount of money voted for school purposes for the past year and paid in taxes $103,156.00.
Comparison of school census during the past 20 years in Colfax county:
1918 . . . . 4162
1917 . . . . 4294
1916 . . . . 4266
1915 . . . . 4276
1914 . . . . 4190
1913 . . . . 4190
1912 . . . . 4055
1911 . . . . 4051
1910 . . . . 4124
1909 . . . . 4046
1908 . . . . 4061
1902 . . . . 4380
1901 . . . . 4410
1900 . . . . 4400
1899 . . . . 4464
1898 . . . . 4565
1897 . . . . 4489
1896 . . . . 4511
1895 . . . . 4469
1898 with total of 4565 was the highest enrollment in the history of the county on record.Anton Novotny purchased the old Vaclav Svoboda farm consisting of 240 acres at $190 per acre. The land is situated in the Heun community.
Mr. and Mrs. P. Hampl retained possession of the 80-acre farm they sold last spring to Harry May, who in turn purchased an 80-arce farm from Rudolph Fiala at $225 per acre. This farm is located 3 miles southwest of Howells.
Relatives received word that Rudolph Tomes, now taking a training course in the government mechanical school in Lincoln, sustained injury while repairing a large engine. The palm of his foot was caught in the gearings and cruelly mangled. He will not however lose the member.
Clarkson markets: Corn $1.37; wheat $2.00; oats 65c; rye $1.40; hogs $17.50; butter 30c and eggs 30c.
Noh & Vlach disposed of their lumber yard to the local Farmers Cooperative Union, the new owners to take over the forepart of September.
Albert Henry of Leigh has been using an artificial arm for some time and was just getting used to it when one day the fingers locked on the hand while he was driving and he had to send the thing back to where it was made, and had it adjusted. It is a wonderful thing and he can use it almost as well as his natural arm.
Harold, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. William Reick, Leigh, received a bad fall and broke his right arm in two places. The lad climbed a ladder to get on top of a shed and when he had nearly reached the top, the ladder gave way and the lad fell with the above mentioned result. The bones were badly crushed and Dr. Lowery, who was called, deemed it best to take the boy to Omaha, which they did. Mrs. Reick and Dr. Lowery accompanied the boy to Omaha and we trust that the bones may be set so that he will soon regain the use of his arm.
Henry Barjenbruch, Sr., passed away at the home of his sons, Louis and August at Leigh. Rev. H. Erck conducted funeral services at the home and at the Lost Creek church.
William Louden with his threshing equipment started work of threshing wheat around Schuyler and reports the yield from 12 to 15 bushels per acre. On the Gerald Ehrenberger farm northeast of that city, wheat is expected to reach in the neighborhood of 35 bushels per acre.
Miss Louise Lorenzen and Frank Heun were married at St. Augustine’s Catholic church in Schuyler. Father Dobson officiated. The bride and her attendant, Miss Helen Ternes of Albion, wore becoming suits of blue taffeta and hats to match. The groom's attendant was his brother, William Heun. They have gone into housekeeping on the groom's father’s farm, 7 miles north of Schuyler. The bride is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Lorenzen and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Heun.
John J. Sindelar of Howells has the dealership for the Delco-Light Agency. Delco-Light brings city conveniences to country homes, which consists of an engine, generator, switchboard and set of batteries. The engine and generator are direct connected, which does away with any transmission losses or belt trouble, increasing efficiency of the machine.
Anton Drahota, Sr., father of James A. Drahota, died at the family home at Leigh July 19, after a lingering illness. He was born in the year 1857, in the little village of Horni Kruty, Bohemia. When he was still in his native land, he was united in marriage to Miss Alzbeta Krutsky in 1880. To this union five children were born, Namely Joseph, James A., Anna (wife of Joseph Stodola), Antonia (wife of Thos. Novotny) and Anton. All survive but the last named, who died at the age of 7. In the year of 1890, while still in Bohemia, Mr. Drahota remarried, taking as his wife, Miss Antonia Cihak, who survives. They emigrated to this country in 1892, and first moved to Howells. Five children were born to them. They are: Anton, John, Bessie, Willie and Frank.
M. L. Shiley, Leigh, was disposing of his business and offered the following specials: Blue Tip matches 5 boxes 25c. Coffee 23c lb. Dutch cleanser 7c. Pork and beans 19c. Underwear 38c. Shoes from $1.98 to $2.19. Brooms 79c. Men’s dress shirts 98c. Men’s all wool suits $14.98 and Young men’s suits $9.98.